Scottish song by Jimmy Copeland (1966), arr. John McIntyre. Recorded live at its premiere, April 23, 2017 as part of the spring choral concert, Songs of Earth and Sky, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Indiana). SMWC Chorale, Michael Boswell, conductor. Ronald D. Maurey, piano. Kristin Foster, soprano descant

For These Are My Mountains

**LYRICS BELOW**
Writing songs about the people and the places where you've been. That's lesson number one from Jerry Jeff Walker. There's lots of artists whom I admire, but only one who caused me to move half way across the country. That was Jerry Jeff Walker. We even ended up frequenting the same coffee shop in our neighborhood. I love his music and I always will. Thanks Scamp!!!

"Just Like the Gypsy Songman"
By Zach Whitney © 2016

This is the song I sing for the gypsy
Who taught me to ramble with words and for miles
This is the song I sing for songman
Who taught me 'bout turnin' my tears into smiles 

This is the song I sing for Ron Crosby
An unknown to many, but a hero of mine
It's the same song I sing for Jerry Jeff Walker 
Who made a career outta crossing the line

Yo-da-lay, yo-da-lo... I gotta go
Gotta go back to Texas, she's calling me home
Yo-da-lo, yo-da-lay... I'm on my way
With the shirt on my back and my guitar to play

And just like the Gypsy Songman
I'm bettin' on my losing friends
And my basket of songs

It comes down to a moment in time
When I'm laying my life on the line
And my whole soul's rolled up in a song
And I'm getting' by and hanging' on

His songs are as real as the days that he lived ‘em
Pickin' his guitar and tellin' tall tales 
Like meeting that street dancer down in New Orleans
The night he got so drunk he wound up in jail

Or cruisin’ to Florida crammed in that Packard
With the windows rolled down 'til the "southern most" sign
It was fun while it lasted, but after a season
He hitched back to Texas, left Buffett behind --> 

Ok Buckaroos, this song ain't just for Jerry 
It's for Rusty and Ray and for the Lost Gonzo band
For late night sangria at the old Armadillo
Or kicking up good times on the Luckenbach sand

Singing your friends’ songs can be life's greatest pleasures
Or making ‘em up about the folks you've known
These days my friends are mostly hairy-ass hillbillies
But you can bet that they're still up and hanging on

#2016

Just Like The Gypsy Songman

Wow...this is a big one.  This song was written about becoming more vulnerable about my own mental health in effort to raise awareness about the importance of mental health for everyone. I paired up with Ariana Ortiz to collaborate this sensitive subject. The entire song was written in about fortyfive minutes. A month later we recorded it.

If you can in any way relate to emotionally unstable times first hand or second hand or if you're just a little sensitive this dynamic duet might be right up your alley.

          Hidden Faces

I find it easy to find the light in the faces you hide behind
If you looked like the things you've been through
I would fight with you
Hidden Faces

These hidden faces were raised to erase all this pain
How can I change who I am if I don't know who I am
Embracing these changes that break just like waves on the sand
Serenity is in such high demand
I'd better change while I can

Hidden Faces

Hidden Faces

Zach Pohl pursues his passion for songwriting with a childlike enthusiasm and grown-up commitment. He began as a solo acoustic artist in 2008 with nothing more than a handful of songs and a hopeful heart.  Soon after recording a demo, a live album and two studio albums (Zachary Scott Pohl Band/Back to Zero)  Zach took his recordings on the road and toured the continental United States for four years. Ah yes, the glories of music, adventure and living in a car for months on end.  The annual tours stopped when the car got sick but that didn't stop Zach in his Ahab-like monomaniacal quest for truth, melody and lyric. So, where do we find Zach Pohl today?

Currently Zach is in the studio recording and releasing a single per month for 2020. The new singles reveal a musician aged with practice and a songwriter steeped in life experience.

Hidden Faces

Zach Pohl

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