Years Gone By, written by The Milk Carton Kids.  This version is based on a live performance of the song, with Sarah Jarosz.

Recorded November, 2022

Paul Johnson: Vocal and Lead Guitar
Peter Schmitz: Vocal and Rythym Guitar, Synthetic Bass
Laurel Elkjer: Vocal and Flute, Synthetic Bass

Years Gone By

Traditional Carol.

Recorded November, 2022

Tricia Bell: Soprano
Laurel Elkjer: Alto
Peter Schmitz: Tenor
Jack Miller: Bass

Angels We Have Heard On High

Lulay Mine Liking
Words from Sloane Manuscript  2593 15th Century
Music by Gustav Holst

Recorded: November, 2022

Tricia Bell: Soprano
Laurel Elkjer: Alto
Peter Schmitz:  Tenor
Jack Miller: Bass

Lulay My Liking

A Keb Mo song to celebrate life.

Recorded in December, 2022

Erica Hamson: Vocals
Paul Johnson: Guitar, vocals, synthetic bass
Laurel Elkjer: Melodica
Peter Schmitz: synthetic drums

Life Is Beautiful

A beautiful song by the Secret Sisters

Recorded December, 2022

Laurel Elkjer:  Lead vocal, Flute, synthetic strings
Peter Schmitz:  Harmony vocal, guitar

Hold You Dear

A song to my wife, Laurel.

Written and recorded: 2020
Peter Schmitz: Music and Lyrics
Peter Schmitz and Laurel Elkjer: Arranger/Mixer/Engineer
Peter Schmitz: Vocals
Peter Schmitz: Guitar, Piano
Laurel Elkjer: Melodica, Synthetic Strings, Synthetic Bass

I remember the moment when I noticed the change
Like a photograph frozen in time.
You lifted your eyes like a child’s long stare
Forever, all doubt set aside.

From that quiet instant, with the wind at our backs
Our destinies bound like a braid.
Laughter and sadness, boredom and thrills,
A jumble of sketches we’ve made.

Now make us an omelet
I’ll sing you a song
We’ll drink a good bottle of wine.
And when you look up,
I’ll still be here.

From the moment the mockingbird calls out the dawn
Til the tired sun sinks in the sea
In the wind, and the mist,
The quiet and storm
I’ll always come back
With stories to tell
To find out your wonders and fears
And when all’s said and done
I’ll still be here.

I'll Still Be Here

A very old (lyrics from the 1600s) Scottish ballad.

Peter Schmitz;  Vocal, guitar
Laurel Elkjer:  Vocal, harmony arrangement

The water is wide  I can not cross o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row my love and  I

O love is handsome and love is kind
The sweetest flower when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the mornin' dew

There is a ship and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
I know not if I sink or swim

The water is wide I can not cross o'er
And neither have I wings to fly
Give me a boat that will carry two
And both shall row my love and I
And both shall row my love and I

The Water Is Wide

A beautiful and uplifting Bob Dylan song, from the late 1980s album "Oh Mercy".  Our version is pretty energetic, which we think fits the lyrics well.

Peter Schmitz:  Vocal, guitar
Laurel Elkjer: Vocal, harmony arrangement
Peter Schmitz and Laurel Elker: Synthetic Bass, Classical Guitar

Ring them bells ye heathen from the city that dreams
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries cross the valleys and streams
For they're deep and they're wide
And the world on its side
And time is running backwards and so is the bride.

Ring them bells Saint Peter where the four winds blow
Ring them bells with an iron hand so the people will know
Oh it's rush hour now
On the wheel and the plow
And the sun is going down upon the sacred cow.

Ring them bells Sweet Martha for the poor man's son
Ring them bells so the world will know that God is one
Oh the shepherd is asleep
Where the willows weep
And the mountains are filled with lost sheep

Ring them  bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them  bells for all of us who are left
Ring them  bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Ring them bells for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When innocence dies.

Ring them bells Saint Catherine from the top of the room
Ring them from the fortress for the lilies that bloom
Oh the lines are long 
and the fighting is strong
And they're breaking down the distance between right and wrong.

Ring them  bells for the blind and the deaf
Ring them  bells for all of us who are left
Ring them  bells for the chosen few
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Ring them bells for the time that flies
For the child that cries
When innocence dies.

Ring them bells ye heathen from the city that dreams
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries cross the valleys and streams
For they're deep and they're wide
And the world on its side
And time is running backwards and so is the bride.
And time is running backwards and so is the bride.

Ring Them Bells

A family version of a newer Christmas classic.

Robert Elkjer:  Piano and synthetic strings
Zoe Schmitz: Vocal

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I'm all grown up now
And you still help somehow
I'm not a child but my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up Christmas list
Not for myself but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

Then there'll be no more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Oh and every man would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up Christmas
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown up Christmas list

My Grown Up Christmas List

A folk version of the old Christmas classic.

Laurel Elkjer: Vocal, flute, dulcimer, synthetic cello
Peter Schmitz: Vocal, guitar
Arranged by Laurel Elkjer

What Child is this
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come Peasant, King to own Him
The King of Kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

What Child Is This

Life goal is a set of 10 original songs, which are now available in the A Boy's Life Playlist.

xenomera

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