Terry Scott Taylor

Driving In England -2023 (Bedroom Demo # 276)

"Driving In England"

words and music: Terry Scott Taylor

Some people get so bored

They start turning into cannibals

Eat each others hearts out

They like to sacrifice to animals

Deep-freeze their own souls

Shut down their brains

I think the only way to go

Is against the grain

I go driving in England

Down the Santa Ana freeway

Somebody’s cryin’ out

“You’re going down the wrong way!”

They wanna believe the worst

They’ll believe in anything

Shoot their own wounded

Sacrifice their offspring

Don’t you get too cynical

They’ll put you on a cross

Some leaders are tyrannical

And everyone’s a boss

Repeat chorus

Roadblock on the road to glory

Gridlock on the golden highway

I’ll stop at nothing to get to you

Repeat 1st vs and chorus

Big surprise,

We’re still alive!

Big surprise,

We’re still alive!

Big surprise,

We’re still alive…

All instruments and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

“If you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

-Galatians 5:15

“Therefore come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord.”

-2 Corinthians 17

“Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and the perfect will of God.”

-Romans 12:2

Here’s another one “by request.”

Reading the above lyrics again after all these years, I must say they are, (even if I say so myself), more relevant today than they were back when I first wrote them in 1989. Let’s take the line “everyone’s a boss” for instance; this was written pre-internet! I don’t need to tell you that every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Mary now has a platform through which they have the means to spew into the world almost any ill-informed, obnoxious, perverse, malicious, hateful, and sanctimonious inanity which happens to enter their minds. And I’m only talking about the Christians! Now before you get your Fruit O’ The Looms in a knot, I’m only kidding. Well. Sort of. Truth is, there are plenty of people who call themselves Christians who are guilty of using the social network to throw their weight around in all sorts of unloving, self-righteous ways. The point is, most all of us, the religious and the nonreligious, are guilty of this to some degree or other, and the power to impact the lives of others in negative, sometimes destructive ways, is at our fingertips 24/7. No need here to make an extensive list of the various wrongs done to others through various social network platforms; you hear about it almost everyday of the week i.e. “mean girls” who have driven their victims to commit suicide or some lone hacker in his parent’s basement with the ability to wreak havoc in another person’s life. The list goes on. This is all done to the delight and the cheers of likeminded, cowardly goons hiding behind their user names. “With what judgement you judge, you also will be judged,” Jesus tells us, and something tells me that this Judgement (with a capitol “J”) is closer to its implementation than most of us think.

Singer/songwriter Nick Cave,(frontman for Birthday Party and The Bad Seeds), whose Post-punk/alt-rock/goth-rock stylings have gained him critical accolades and a dedicated following, was recently asked by a TV personality who he thought qualified as a “punk” in today’s world. “Being a conservative and going to Church,” Cave answered matter of factly. As far as anyone knows, Cave is no conservative, and whether you agree with him or not you gotta hand it to the guy for being brave enough to say something so…. flagrantly uncool for a cool rocker to say. As for me, I’m up for fighting The Machine, and for speaking truth to power, which includes religious power. I’m also into questioning "group think" and conformity. Because I’m the follower of a true revolutionary, I am called to be like my leader in every way; this includes adhering to a radical, world changing admonition: “love your enemy.” Jesus Christ has taught me that “the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man,” (1 Corinthians 1:25). In other words, He’s telling us, his followers and fellow revolutionaries, to “go against the grain,” to swim against the tide, to take the narrow path, to be a “peculiar people, to be “fools for Christ.” We can’t afford to play it safe anymore. The times call, now more than ever, for a revolution of wild abandonment to His will. Wild abandonment in our relationship with him is in having the courage and faith to join the counter-culture by hanging a U turn and “go driving in England down the Santa Ana Freeway” where the “wrong side” of the road turns out to be the right side, and where risking our lives by deliberately going against oncoming traffic is necessary to reach our true and final destination.

My apologies to James who requested a “relaxed/quite version” of “Driving In England.” I’m afraid I just couldn’t help myself; one thing led to another and, well, I wound up going full bore. I promise to try doing a “relaxed” version in the future, James. Until then, I hope you enjoy this one.

Ghost Of The Heart - 2023 (Bedroom Demo #275)

"Ghost Of The Heart"

words and music: Terry Scott Taylor

Way back of my heart is the motive for this

I ask the question “Did I do it for self?”

I need the light on

The monster of vanity

Gets frightened by the ghost of the heart

An observation that’s pertinent to

The subject which I want to address is

When I seek the kingdom

The master of disguises gets

Frightened by the ghost of the heart

Shed the light on

Shed the light on me

Oh no, who is that?

Oh no, it’s me

It’s gonna leave you in the dust (I’m goin’ down)

It’s gonna leave you in the rough (I’m crawlin’ ‘round)

It’s gonna leave you in the dust (it’ll leave me in His hands…)

And in conclusion, when I stand alone and

I’m asked the question ‘Did I do it for self?”

Can I then answer “The demon of hatred was

Frightened by the ghost of the heart”

Oh oh oh oh oh woah oh

Oh oh oh oh oh woah oh…

instruments and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourself.” Philippians 2:3

This one often gets requested. As always, I’m happy to oblige.

Like a number of my songs, I don’t remember writing Ghost Of The Heart. Obviously I wrote it, but I don’t know exactly when (other than sometime in 1981 for the Alarm album), or where I wrote it, or why I wrote it. What I mean by the latter is that I don’t know exactly what inspired it. My guess is that by that time I’d become mature enough in my faith walk to be more willing to recognize arrogance in myself and to question (from time to time) the motives behind my “service to God.” Were qualities such as love, humility, and self sacrifice fueling my desire to write, record, and perform music, or was pride more often the compelling force; the need to be recognized, admired, envied, etc.? In my younger days of my musical pursuits, those heady days of growing popularity, relatively impressive record sales, radio airplay, and seemingly inexhaustible creative energy, the temptation to fail to differentiate between self-promoting, ego driven motives and Holy Spirit inspired directives, was never stronger. I can’t help but think that God took extra pains in considering my youth when it came to chastising me for my occasional arrogance; What I got from Him was something like a father’s scolding, when what I really deserved was a swift kick to the gluteus maximus. It’s important to know however that asking the Holy Spirit to search our hearts for any vestige of spiritual pride does not cease to be an imperative once our youth is behind us. The question the song asks, “Did I do it for self?,” is just as relevant and sobering today as it was back in 1981 when a young man first wrote it down.

My Back Pages (Bob Dylan Cover)

My Back Pages

words and music: Bob Dylan

Crimson flames tied through my ears

Rollin’ high and mighty traps

Countless fire on flaming roads

Using ideas as my maps

“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I

Proud ‘neath heated brow

Chorus

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth

“Rip down all hate,” I screamed

Lies that life is black and white

Spoke from my skull, I dreamed

Romantic facts of musketeers,

Foundationed deep, somehow

Chorus

In a soldiers stance, I aimed my hand

At the mongrel dogs who teach

Fearing not that I’d become my enemy

At the instant that I preach

My pathway led by confusion boats,

Mutiny from stern to bow

Chorus

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats,

Too noble to neglect

Deceived me into thinking

I had something to protect

Good and bad, I define these terms,

Quite clear, no doubt, somehow

Chorus

guitars and vocals: T.S. Taylor

percussion: Andrew Taylor

note:

Yeah, I know. I posted on Patreon recently that I was going to get back to recording some of your requests. I still intend to do so. I promise. The problem is that I committed to the request thing before I realized that I had already promised my wife and kids (my big kids!) that I would record “My Back Pages” as soon as I was done recording the “Short, Sweet, and Stupid” collection. You see, a couple of months back my son Andrew was listening to various songs on his iPhone and when “My Back Pages” came up. Andrew, along with me, my wife, and my daughter, got all enthusiastic about how much we all love this classic tune. This isn’t the first time this has happened. In the past, all four of us have made it known that this is arguably our favorite Byrds cover of a Bob Dylan song, (If you’ve lived under a rock and don’t know who “The Byrds” are, please do a Google search). The Byrds have covered over a dozen Dylan songs, (if you include live versions not found on their albums). Among the band’s most popular album cuts are “Mr. Tamborine Man,” “The Times They Are a-Changin,’” and “All I Really Want To Do.”

Another reason I wanted to record “My Back Pages” is that Dylan and I share a birthday; May 24th. Invariably, every year on Facebook, a few people make mention of this and some of them make favorable comparisons between the two of us, which is sweet and humbling, but a little embarrassing too. Even if this could be proven to be objectively true (which, being an opinion and therefore subjective, is impossible), I could never believe it myself. Then again, maybe I’m just saying this to appear humble in your eyes and the reality is that I think I’m every bit as good as Dylan, maybe even better. Or maybe, in reality, I think that he’s written some songs that are better than mine, and vice-versa, I’ve written some that are better than his. Lastly, maybe I never make the comparison at all. I figure people will always make such comparisons like this about all kinds of artists, which is fine, but in the end, who really cares? OR, it’s possible I really am better than Bob Dylan. Then again, maybe I’m better than Bob Dylan. And yet again, it could be that I’m better than Bob Dylan.

Dinner's on, so I don’t have time to fully go into the history of “My Back Pages.” If you want to know more, there’s this thing called the….uh….the…..the inner….THE INTERNET! Ask somebody, someone younger, about it and maybe they can show you how to go on there. I think it has all kinds of stuff you want to know about, like stuff about The Byrds, Bob Dylan, "My Back Pages," how to make a sandwich, where to go to get your pus-filled gum boil lanced, who died today, what state has more pants, and so forth. It’s pretty cool. Anyway, what I do want to talk about are the lyrics to “My Back Pages,” which, in a way, kind of goes to what I was talking about earlier; is Dylan a brilliant songwriter, or is he overrated and maybe just average, or is it possible, at times, that he’s a bad, self-indulgent, lazy, and incredibly pretentious songwriter (like me at times). Well, here are two lines from “My Back Pages” for your consideration. Then you tell me if he’s brilliant, good, mediocre, or bad; one of these, two of these, or all of these? The first line for your consideration is this: “Fearing not that I’d become my enemy, at the instant that I preached.” Now let’s compare this to another line in the same song. It goes like this: “Romantic facts of musketeers.” Okay, what do you think? Are you unsure as to which line is good/brilliant and which line is…well…. stink-o? Do I need to give you a hint? What I can tell you is this: the song was written by an older and wiser Bob Dylan who is lamenting his realization at this point in his life just how arrogant and overly “preachy” he was in his earlier music. Strangely, this is exactly the same regret I have in regard to some of my non-musical interactions with unbelievers early in the days following my conversion. I chalk this “boldness” up to youthful excitement, earnestness, and zeal which, though absolutely understandable, could have been tempered by a good deal more humility, nuance, sensitivity, and empathy toward those who I wished, in all sincerity, to “bring to Christ.”

Anyway, thanks Bob for all the great music, even though I’m better than you. Oh, and a “happy birthday” to one of my favorite songwriters of all time….me!

The Uses Of Adversity (actual demo)

this is my actual demo for the song "The Uses Of Adversity"

"The Uses of Adversity"

from the album Dig Here Said the Angel

I found your handprints on the pages of history
I said your ways are past finding out
'Cause you're much too small if you're not a Mystery
So don't send me rain if I bloom in drought
No don't send me certainty
If it's best for me I doubt

In the days of the nails and nights of the lash
In the season of the quake and the lightning flash
You become a slight impression on a threadbare shroud
While you hide yourself somewhere behind a thundercloud
So don't send me certainty  If somehow it's best for me to doubt

'Cause I'm inclined to thrive in misery
When I'm kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane

Crying Oh Oh Oh My God, my God, have you forsaken me?
I will be mindful of the uses of adversity

I found your handprints on the pages of history
I said your ways are past finding out
'Cause you're much too small if you're not a Mystery
So don't send me rain if I bloom in drought
No don't send me certainty if somehow it's best for me I doubt

Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes.

I turned 73 years old on May 24th! Wow...God is good. Thank you for all the wonderful well wishes. I loves yas!

Ok, back to the business at hand...Requests?

Now that I've gotten silly songs, hymns, instrumentals and covers songs out of my system, (for a while anyway), I need you good folks in the Inner Circle to help me out in picking some new songs to present to you in the "Demo" style upon which this site was originally founded.

Please suggest a song from my catalog that you'd like to hear as I may have originally conceived it, before the band got ahold of it or before another artist recorded it. I can't promise I can get to every one, but I'll give it a go and we'll see where it takes us. Thanks!

Love, yer Unkie Terry

Dr. Ironbeard (and another doltish ditty)

Doctor Ironbeard

words and music: German folksong

I am Doctor Ironbeard….

People think I’m really smart

Twilly willy witt boom boom

I cure your ills with healing art

Twilly willy wit boom boom

Oh I can make the blind man walk

Twiilly willy wit boom boom

The deaf to see, the dumb to walk

Twilly willy wit boom boom

chorus:

Sing for ee eh! sing for ee eh!

Swing twilly willy with boom! boom! boom! boom!

Sing for ee eh! sing for ee eh!

Sing twilly willy wit boom! boom!

There was a man from London Town

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

Who had no wits beneath his crown

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

He asked me to improve his head

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

I used an axe, and now he’s dead

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

chorus

To sleep the patient tried in vain

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

For in his neck he felt great pain

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

I tied a noose and pulled it tight

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

And now he sleeps both day and night

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

chorus

Good friend, now you can clearly see

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

How quick and cheap each remedy

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

For if you come in with your pain

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

You’ll never need return again

Twilly willy wit boom! boom!

chorus

guitar and vocals:  T.S. Taylor

note:

This is the last song in our series “Sweet, Short, and Stupid,” so it’s now official; our national nightmare is over.

“Doctor Ironbeard” has taken up residence inside a tiny space in the back of my brain-pan ever since I first learned it in 3rd grade. Over the years, the very rare times the song managed, (for whatever reason), to leap to the forefront of my childhood memories, I could only ever recall one verse; the full chorus, however, has never eluded me. The unique wackiness of it’s refrain, which includes the line “twilly willy wit boom! boom!,” obviously makes the chorus hard to forget.

Before I began trying to find information on the Internet about any of the Loony Tunes in this series, I wasn’t that confidant that anything substantial would turn up; I figured this stuff was probably obscure enough to be have been buried long ago in the landfill of history. But oh contrair! Never underestimate the power of the Internet, my friends. Granted, since most of this stuff is as old as Mick Jaggers’ great great great great grandfather, there isn’t exactly a warehouse of historical material with which to work; still, there was at least some. The only song in the collection whose origin remains a complete mystery, is our “ode to the spotless commode” called “Kibo Kids” which also has the ‘dis-stink’ honor of being the shortest song among the four. My guess is that both the mystery of it’s origin and it’s brevity can be attributed to my Dad, who was most likely the one who made it up.

Essentially a drinking song from Germany about a dangerous quack, Doctor Ironbeard is based on a real German doctor and a native of Oberviechtach, Bavaria who went by the name of Johann Andreas Eisenbarth (1663-1727). Eisenbarth was an occultist, barber-surgeon, and “traveling surgeon” who had no formal medical credentials, but who performed various surgeries, among them being the treatment of cataracts, calculus surgery, and the treatment of bone fractures. Nevertheless, Eisenbarth was considered a skilled surgeon and was bestowed with privileges by members of German royalty. Eisenbarth often traveled with a large entourage of people made up of entertainers, harlequins, and musicians who performed in a carnival-like atmosphere while the good doctor plied his trade. The loud music helped to drown out the shrieks of pain from his patients. Eisenbarth also designed his own medical instruments and sold impressive amounts of homemade remedies.

Around 1800, a student drinking song called “Ich bin der Doctor Eisenbarth” (My name is Doctor Eisenbarth), became very popular in Germany. Unfortunately, it unfairly mocked the doctor.

While I was recording the vocal on this song I couldn’t help but turn my thoughts to the various “snake oil salesmen” who, back in the day, populated the religious landscape, especially the world of religious television. Their false “name it and claim it” heresies and cringeworthy spectacles of supposed miraculous healings and hyperbolic testimonies, inevitably turned out to be fraudulent. The “name it and claim it” prosperity doctrine was often derided as the “blab it and grab it” doctrine by those who considered it to be a scam and a heresy.

I believe the Daniel Amos song “I Didn’t Build It For Me” may have been the first to song to mock this false and dangerous dogma by recording a song about one such infamous “Doctor Ironbeard" who, back in the day, managed to snooker millions of dollars out of his followers, primarily the elderly and the poor who made up a large portion of his congregation and his television audience. The promise of health, wealth, and prosperity was the carrot on a stick dangled in front of millions of poor gullible souls “led” to support this charlatan’s so-called “ministry” with contributions they often could ill afford. Of course this “ministry” included such pastoral necessities as this false teacher’s multimillion dollar estate, his yachts, his lear jet, and his foreign missionary trips to Hawaii and the Bahamas. It continues to sadden me that things haven’t changed very much since the heyday of these religious scam artists. Go on Youtube, search “religious charlatans,” and you’ll see what I mean. BTW, if the clip of Kenneth Copeland “binding” the Covid virus a few years back doesn’t conjure up in you thoughts of a possessed Linda Blair cursing the priest in “The Exorcist,” I’ll legally change my name to “Terry Willy Wit Boom! Boom!”

Catalina Magdalena (yet another silly song!)

Catalina Magdalena

music and lyrics: author unknown

There was a girl who had a funny name

Her Poppy gave it to her just the same same same!

Chorus:

Catalina Magdalena Oogansteina Walendina Hogan Logan Bogan

Was her name

She had two eyes in her head

One was yellow and the other was red

She had two teeth in her mouth

One pointed East and the other pointed South

chorus

She had two hairs on the bottom of her chin

One pointed out and the other pointed in

She had two feet, size ten and a half

One took a shower and the other took a bath

chorus

Some say her breath smells quite sweet

But as for me, I’d rather smell her feet

She had two holes in her nose

One for her finger, the other for her toes

Chorus

guitar and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

At this point some of you are probably asking yourselves “Why would Unky Terry stoop so low as to waste his time and ours by recording these ridiculous kids songs for Patreon?”

Well, I’ll tell you why: Because I’m old, I feel like it and, by cracky, I don’t care what anyone thinks! Now get off my lawn, ya gaul dern whipper-snappers! Then again, I could say I’m doing this for my granddaughters who happen to love this stuff, and I’m doing it for the child inside all of us. (Yeah, I know, this last one’s one of those tired cliches, but I couldn’t come up with anything else just now). Wait! I’ve got it! I could also say that, for me, this is a little trip down Memory Lane, and since I haven’t yet taken too many trips down said lane, I would hope you would indulge me in at least one more. I could also say that I’ve recorded this silly stuff because some of you will go “Wow! I remember (Dad, Mom, Grandpa, etc.) singin’ that to me when I was a kid!” I suppose I could give you a number of other reasons for my decision to barge ahead with this particular collection, but I won’t because I’m old and don’t feel like it and, by cracky, I don’t care what anyone thinks! Now, get off my lawn, ya gaul dern whipper-snappers! Wait! Did I already say that?! Well, if I did, it’s cuz I’m old and, by cracky,……

Catalina Magdalena has been around since the 1940’s. No one knows who wrote it and, I believe I can safely say, know one cares. It’s just an amusing little campfire song which practically begs for the listener to make up his or her own silly couplets. In fact, there are many different versions of the poem, including the name of the central character; “Catalina Magdelina Oogansteina Wallendina Hogan Logan Bogan” is the name of the girl in the version my mother taught me, and I believe there’s now a popular kids book by this same name. It’s cool to me that something this old and relatively obscure is now being enjoyed by a whole new generation of young……whipper-snappers.

The Ki-Bo Kids

Terry Scott Taylor

presents

Short, Sweet, and Stupid

A compendium of old and obscure novelty tunes

guaranteed to get into your head at night in bed and make you

regret the day you were born

"The Ki-Bo Kids"

(music and lyrics: Composer unknown)

guitar: T.S. Taylor

vocals: The Ki-Bo Kids

note:

This one hardly gets started before it’s over. Never the less, it’s brevity appeals to me; it’s funnier because of it.

My Dad use to sing “The Ki-Bo Kids” to me when I was but a wee lad. I don’t know who wrote it. For all I know, my Dad may have made it up himself. Neither do I know who these mysterious Ki-Bo Kids are or, considering the lowly nature of it, why they appear to be so enthusiastic about their unusual profession. And what, in heaven’s name, is a “Ki-Bo”? Dad never told me, and I never asked. What continues to intrigue me most about the song however, (aside from who the author may be), is the specificity of the Kibo-Kid’s labors; why only the “lids”? Which begs the question “Was there another team assigned to maintain the cleanliness of the rest of the…… “object”? (I don’t want to give anything away, which is also why I didn’t include the lyrics here). It’s amazing to me how much intrigue and mystery is packed into such a short, seemingly inconsequential, novelty song! Then again, it’s also amazing to me how much time I spend thinking about such idiotic nonsense!

This month marks the anniversary of my Dad’s passing, something I wasn’t conscious of until after I had decided to record this little ditty. This “coincidence” makes me happy. You would not in any way describe my Dad as a “jokester.” he could be occasionally funny, but he was a man of few words who often fell into dark, silent, moods. This silly song reminds me of Dad’s lighter side. I can see him singing it to me with a twinkle in his eye.

This one’s for you, Dad.

Through The Speakers (Weirdness Mix)

Here's yet another fun alternate mix by Eric Townsend of this ¡Alarma! classic.

We didn't put this on any of the bonus discs so you guys are hearing it first!

Enjoy!!

Dunderbeck (Bedroom Demo #274)

Terry Scott Taylor

presents

Short, Sweet, and Stupid

A compendium of old and obscure novelty tunes

guaranteed to get in your head at night in bed and make you

regret the day you were born.

"Dunderbeck"

music and lyrics: Traditional

La la la la la la la la la la la la la

Oh Dunderbeck, Oh Dunderbeck

How could you be so mean?!

I’m sorry you invented such a wonderful machine

For dogs and cats and long-tailed rats

Will never more be seen

‘For they’ll all be ground to sausage meat

In Dunderbeck’s machine!

La la la la la la la la la la la la la

Once there was a dutchman. his name was Dunderbeck

He was fond of sausage meat, sauerkraut, and speck

He owned a great big butcher store; the finest ever seen

And he took out a patent on a sausage meat machine

chorus

One day there was a little boy who came into the store

To buy a pound of sausage meat that he laid upon the floor

And while the boy was waiting he whistled up a tune

And the sausages, they all got up And dan red around the room

chorus

One night there was a problem, the ma chine it would not go

Dunderbeck, he climbed inside, the reason for to know

His wife, she had a nightmare in the middle of her sleep

She gave the crank a terrible yank and Dunderbeck was meat!

chorus

guitar and vocal: T.S. Taylor

chorus vocals: T.S. Taylor, Deborah Taylor, and Noel Ferro

note:

My research on this gruesomely happy little ditty produced very little in the way of it’s history beyond the fact that the author is unknown and that the song appeared in print late in the 19th century. There has been some speculation down through the years that the song was inspired by an actual murder, a quite bloody and gruesome one at that, but no one is certain of this.

There are currently a good number of first-hand accounts of people around my age attesting to the fact that they remember this song being sung to them when they were youngsters by various members of their family (grandfathers, grandmothers, etc). I must confess that in my last introductory note to this series, I had a brain-fart when I stated that it was my father who taught these ridiculous little tunes. While this is partially true, I forgot to mention that my mother, grandmother, and grandfather were also contributors. Dunderbeck was most often sung to me primarily by my mother who learned it from her mother. Mom was the one who passed it on to my daughter who has been singing it to her young daughters for some time now. I assume this tradition will keep going until the Lord returns. Dunderbeck has also been a favorite Campfire song for as far back as anyone can remember. Apparently the lyric “terrible yank!” is said to have been shouted with great gusto by many a Boy and Girl Scout down through the years.

There are a number of versions of Dunderbeck, distinguishable by some slight lyrical variations here and there. Also, some versions start with the chorus while others start with the first verse. The details and the plot of the story itself, however, remain essentially the same in every version.

I told you in the opening lines of this note that in my research I didn’t discover much about the historical origins of Dunderbeck, but I would be committing a grave sin of omission if I didn't come clean in making a really embarrassing confession; in all the years that my family has been singing Dunderbeck we have been making an egregious error for which there is little excuse. Let me just come out and say it: In the many years we’ve been passing this cherished, rather ghoulish little number down to other family members, generation to generation, well, we’ve…we’ve….had Dunderbeck’s name all wrong! It wasn't until I did my search that I discovered we’d been calling the central character of the story Dun-Duh-Beck, not Dun-Der-beck! That's right, Dundabeck. Let me tell you, it broke my heart to break this to the family. At first they gasped, then they denied it was true, then they got really angry with me. Now they’re in mourning and I don’t think they’ll ever recover.

Were You There? (Bedroom Demo #273)

Were You There?

words and music: composed by enslaved African Americans during the 19th century)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble tremble tremble

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble tremble tremble

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble tremble tremble

Were you there when the laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

Oh sometimes it causes me to tremble tremble tremble

Were you there when He rose up from the grave?

guitar and vocal: T.S. Taylor

note:

“Were You There?” Is an African-American spiritual composed during the 19th century and first printed in 1899. It is the first spiritual to be included in any major Church hymnal. It’s also unique in that it is the only African-American song included in the Catholic Church’s Liturgy of the Hours. One of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorites, the song has been recorded by a number of artists, including Johnny Cash, Phil Keaggy, and Harry Belafonte.

In some versions of the song (mine included) the words “the tree” is substituted for “the cross,” creating a strong metaphor between Jesus’ suffering and the suffering of the slaves who composed the song. The present tense, first-person perspective of “Were You There?” reflects the Christian principal that all of humanity, past, present, and future, bears the responsibility for our complicity in the sin that resulted in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was a hard one to record. I kept getting choked up, so it took a number of takes to get through it. I chose to leave some of the rougher emotional moments in the final vocal, so if you hear a few “dicey” notes please know that they were left in intentionally. In other words, there’s no need to write to me with the intention of pointing it out! Ha!

To all of my beloved Patreon members, may God grant you a blessed Easter. He is Risen!

Bill Puts Out Fires (Bedroom Demo #272)

Terry Scott Taylor

presents

SHORT, SWEET, and STUPID

A compendium of old and obscure novelty tunes

guaranteed to get in your head at night and make you

regret the day you were born

Hey Kids!

Unkie Terry here! Today, boys and girls, we launch our series of short, silly novelty songs from the distant past. Many of these tunes are so old that various versions of them have been circulating around the world for centuries. A few of them were taught to me by my Dad. Many of them cannot be traced to a particular song writer, and in my research I found that a few of them have been falsely attributed to songwriters who weren’t yet born until after the song was already making it’s rounds! Some of you will find these ditties fun and funny. Some of you will just smile or maybe emit a little chuckle or two. Some of you will be indifferent to them. Some of you will cringe. Some of you will upchuck. Some of you will want to (in the words of Frank Sinatra), “roll yourself up in a big ball and die.” But ALL of you will agree that your Unkie Terry is scrapping the bottom of the barrel here to keep you ingrates entertained! So without further ado,

we present….

Song #1 in our series:

Bill Puts Out Fires

writer: Unknown

arranged by: T.S. Taylor

Guitar and vocals: T.S. Taylor

Note:

*I’ve decided not to print the lyrics here. This is in order not to give away the so-called “joke.”

Columbia River Song Cycle (full download

Here's the full download for this one, including the older songs.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aw35l8a5lo2k4ah/The%20Columbia%20River%20Song%20Cycle%20%28Bedroom%20Demos%20Vol.%2041%29.zip?dl=0 

Imaginary Places (Bedroom Demo #271)

Imaginary Places

music: Terry Scott Taylor

guitars and keyboards: T.S.Taylor

note:

As you know, every once and awhile I get the urge to do an instrumental. Here’s one. Enjoy.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bedroom Demo #270)

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

words and music: Bob Dylan

Ooh, Ooh

Ooh, Ooh

Mama, take this badge off of me

I can’t use it anymore

It’s getting dark, too dark to see

I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Mana, put my guns in the ground

I can’t shoot them anymore

That long black cloud is comin’ down

I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door

Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door…..

Ooh Ooh Ooh

Ooh Ooh Ooh

Ooh Ooh Ooh

Ooh Ooh Ooh….

guitars and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

Described by Bob Dylan’s biographer as “an exercise in splendid simplicity,” “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” was originally written to be used in Sam Peckinpah’s movie “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” for the scene in which the frontier law man (played by Slim Pickens) lies dying while his wife, who he calls “Mama,” attempts to comfort him. The song was released as a single in 1973, two months after the film’s release, and it became a global hit, occupying spots in the Top 10 on charts all around the world. KOHD has been covered by over a 150 artists, including Neil Young, Nick Cave, Patti Smith, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Bono, and Jerry Garcia. The song became popular again in 1990 when “Guns and Roses” released a more elaborate version of it, which went on to become an international hit. My band, Lost Dogs, also covered KOHD in our live performances, often inviting audience members on stage to sing along with us.

Obviously the song is about death, which is an inevitability we will all face. However, the song’s solemn subject matter is offset by an air of sad peacefulness. Featuring only two brief verses KOHD nevertheless has a timeless feel to it.

For me there is a dying-breath kind of weary surrender being expressed in this simple but profound gem. As my days go swiftly by, my curiosity increases: what is it like to have my knocks at the door finally answered; to see it open, to take those first steps into the unimaginable world that lies behind it?

Unkie Terry’s Book Nookie

Some recommended books I’ve read lately

The Splendid and the Vile

A saga of Churchill, family, and defiance during the blitz

Eric Larson

Larson is as good as it gets when it comes to turning historical events into fast-paced, immensely readable novel-like accounts. His “The Devil In The White City” is a must-read classic of the genre, and this one too is top notch, turning the story of how Winston Churchill taught his countrymen “the art of being fearless” into an enthralling page-turner.

Defiant Joy

The remarkable life and impact of G.K. Chesterton

Kevin Belmonte

With wit, kindness, tenderness, generosity, and an explanation of Christianity that “makes complete sense of the world,” Chesterton teaches us the art of maintaining joy in a tragic world through. I don’t know about you, but I could use more joy in my life right about now. Reading this often hilarious biography gave it to me in spades. Delightful.

Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clark, and the making of a masterpiece

If you’re a fan of the movie (I’ve watched it a half a dozen times) and you think you know all there is to know about it, think again. I’m a sucker for these types of behind-the-scenes “the making of” accounts, and this is among the best. Great color pics inside as well.

Aimless Love

New and selected poems

Billy Collins

This guy manages to take the little occurrences of everyday life and turn them into imaginative events of wonder and inspiration. He has been quoted as saying that he hopes his poems “begin in Kansas and end in Oz.” If you’re not a particularly enthusiastic fan of poetry, you might wanna give Collins a try. Who knows; by the end of the year you might be reading the Iliad!

Return of the God Hypothesis

Scientific discoveries that reveal the mind behind the universe

Stephen C. Meyer

We are fortunate to have a Brain like Meyers on “our side.” With the modern onslaught of atheistic rhetoric coming from the so-called “New Atheists,” Myers does great damage to their arguments. With it’s lucid scientific case for the existence of God, this “almost impossible book to put down” is a true faith builder.

So there you have it, kids. In the future I’ll keep you updated on other recommended books. Next time I’ll talk about my fav fantasy books of all time, just to see how many of you I can enrage by not including your favorites! Until then, cheers!

All outdoor sports have officially been cancelled!

Time to bust out the board games. Suggestions?

Lord, Protect My Child (Bedroom Demo #269)

Lord Protect My Child

words and music: Bob Dylan

For his age he is wise

He’s got his mother’s eyes

There’s gladness in his heart

He’s young and he’s wild

My only prayer is if I can’t be there

Lord, protect my child

As his youth now unfolds

He is centuries old

Seein’ him at play makes me smile

No matter what happens to me

No matter what my destiny

Lord, protect my child

Protect my child

Protect my child

When the world is asleep

You can look at it and weep

Few things you find out are worth while

Though I don’t ask for much

No material things to touch

Lord, protect my child

He’s young and on fire

Full of hope and desire

In a world that’s been raped, raped and defiled

And if I fall along the way

And can’t see another day

Lord, protect my child

There'll be a time I hear tell

When all will be well

When God and man have been reconciled

But until men lose their chains

And the righteousness reigns

Lord, protect my child

Protect my child

Protect my child

Protect my child

guitar and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

I believe Bob Dylan’s “Lord, Protect My Child” has been recorded twice by the Lost Dogs; the first time was on our debut album, 1992’s “Scenic Routes.” The second time was an acoustic version for the "Come As A Child" compilation for my friend, Theo Obrastoff, in honor of his son Andy.

The Dogs have been very selective when it comes to cover-tunes. Since all of us are songwriters, there’s been no real need to go outside our circle to find songs to record, which is is why we’ve recorded so few of them over the years. However, if a song we haven’t written strikes our fancy, or resonates with us to the extent that all of us are enthusiastic about recording it, then it qualifies. Obviously “Lord Protect My Child” is just such a song.

I believe it was Gene who first suggested we cover the tune. Ironically, Gene was the only one of us who didn’t have any children. Being fathers, Derri, Mike, and I immediately jumped on board. How could we resist? If Dylan’s “prayer” for his child doesn’t strike a chord in the deepest part of any parent’s heart who hears it, then I would suggest that they have no heart to strike. Especially because of my grandchildren, and in light of their innocence in a world hungry to devour it, this song not only becomes increasingly relevant to me with each passing year, but it may well be the foremost cry of my heart. Were it not for my faith in Christ, and my belief in a faithful, sovereign God, I would no doubt be undone by fear; fear, not for what lies ahead for me, but for those I will relatively soon leave behind. What will happen to my family when Poppy is no longer here to help protect them? 

I confess, this is my achilles heel. This is where the enemy strikes. “…….and if I fall along the way, and can’t see another day, Lord protect my child!” cries Dylan. It is a cry that seems to me to be on the verge of a desperation dispelled only by a promise I now cling to like a man clinging to a cliff’s edge: “Fear not,” says the Lord, “ for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God…..I will help you….”

That’s Where Jesus Is -2023 (Bedroom Demo #268)

That’s Where Jesus Is

words and music: Terry Scott Taylor

He’s not sittin’ up in the Whitehouse

Not subject to your big debates

Keeps his hands completely off Wall Street

Don’t own stock, bonds, or real estate

He ain’t up droppin’ bombs on people

Or workin’ on a college degree

He tunes out all them radio blowhards

Can’t stand the networks and religious TV

Chorus:

That’s Jesus in the homeless faces

With the junkies in their living hell

That’s Jesus with the drunks and in the lonely places

The rest homes and prison cells

That’s where Jesus is

He don’t hug trees or kill ‘em

Or drive a particular car

Won ’t help you write a big hit song

Don’t care how good lookin’ you are

And Jesus won’t be votin’

He’s not your party crashin’ dog in this fight

Not a fan rootin’ for your home team

Don’t insure that your future is bright

That’s Jesus in the homeless faces

With the junkies in their living hell

That’s Jesus with the drunks and in the lonely places

The rest homes and prison cells

That’s where Jesus is

Where we ought to be

Here’s where Jesus works:

Inside you and me

With the folks with aids

And the suffering kids

That’s where Jesus hangs

That’s where Jesus is

On the corner ‘round the prostitutes

Is where he’ll probably show

He gets invited to church sometimes

And sometimes he don’t go

Don’t care nothin’ about your status

What you can or you can’t afford

Don’t care if you’re voted best actor

Not impressed with your big award

He’s not in a five star restaurant

Eatin’ a six course meal

He’s not over on some golf course

Discussin’ the oil deal

He wants or voice

That’s how he talks

He wants our feet

That’s how he walks

And he wants our faith

But that’s never enough

He wants our hearts

That’s how he loves

That’s Jesus in the homeless faces

With the junkies in their living hell

That’s Jesus in the tenement spaces

The rest homes and prison cells

That’s where Jesus is

That’s where Jesus is

That’s where Jesus is

That’s where Jesus is….

guitar and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

“Which of the two did the will of the father? The chief priest and elders

replied “The first one.” Jesus said to them “I assure you and most solemnly

say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into heaven

before you.”

—Jesus Christ (AMP)

I’ve had a number of requests for this one. I’m more than happy to oblige. Since the song is fairly self-explanatory, I don’t have much to say here other than, when it was first released, “That’s Where Jesus Is” got some of the same kind of push-back from a few disgruntled Believers that “Breath Deep The Breath of God” received when the Lost Dogs released it. Still, most listeners loved TWJI and took it’s message to heart. I do think it ironic however that a song which alludes to the Pharisee’s self-righteous objection to Christ’s association with “prostitutes” (along with a bevy of other sinners), was being criticized for stating that Christ associated with prostitutes! You’d think that after almost two thousand years we would have finally gotten the Lord’s “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” thing through our thick skulls. Obviously these weren't the only criticisms aimed at TWJI; it saddens me to say that there appears to be a number of us who actually believe that if Jesus were physically here on earth today he would be “….up droppin’ bombs on people”!

"And The Word Was..." (Bedroom Demo #266)

And The Word Was…

music: Terry Scott Taylor
words: Gospel of St. John: verse 1-5, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness hasn't understood it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen the glory of the only Son of God, who came from the Father, full of grace and of truth.

instruments and vocals: T.S. Taylor

note:

My Grandmother’s mother, who we called “Old Old Grandma” once commented on a piece of meat that she brought home from the grocery store. She said she cooked it up for dinner one night and when she sat down at the table and took a sizable bite of what she anticipated would be the centerpiece of a delicious meal, instead she got an unexpected, rather unpleasant surprise. “The more I chewed that meat,” she said to us in her uniquely droll manner, “the bigger it got.”

Unfortunately, my intent to finish composing and recording “And The Word Was…” in time for Christmas was undermined by the unforeseen complexity of the piece. Much like my Great Grandma’s “piece of meat,” the more I worked on it, the bigger it got.

I owe you all an apology. You see, the song was intended to be my Christmas gift to all of you, my Patreon family. I wanted to give you something profound, inspirational, and apropos for the celebration of our Lord’s incarnation. Instead, what you got from me for Christmas was a ridiculous family play, devoid of even the remotest redeeming quality, in which everyone in our family gets repeatedly hit over the head with bottles of eggnog wielded by my maniacal daughter! While the play was born of good intentions (to give you kids a few good laughs after going through several years of dire, soul-crushing events in which we’ve all been mentally and spiritually pummeled by an endless array of really bad stuff, I fell woefully short of my goal. I could do a whole thing here about how it’s inconceivable to me how people can live in this world without the kind of reassurance and hope found only in our Lord Jesus, but I’ll just leave it at that. The point is, I originally thought I’d be able to give you two kinds of Christmas gifts for 2022, a ridiculous, but hopefully funny, Christmas play, offset by a sober, reverent, and inspirational Christmas song. Like I explained, it obviously didn’t work out. Still, as they say, “better late than never.”

Believe it or not, ever since its release there’s been an ongoing debate among fans af the Bruce Willis action movie “Die Hard” as to whether or not it is a “Christmas movie.” While I think valid arguments can be made either way, unlike “A Christmas Story,” or “Miracle On 34th Street” you can watch "Die Hard" any time of the year without feeling that it’s a transgression of some sort, similar to something like listening to “Silent Night” on the 4th of July. In much the same way, it goes without saying that, just like the account of the birth of Christ found in Matthew’s gospel, the first chapter of St. John’s gospel, (while certainly an apropos read during the Christmas holiday), transcends seasonal confinements. The power of John’s words in describing ‘The Word’ never fails to stir me whenever I read them. In my opinion there is no greater passage in the scriptures confirming the deity of God’s unique Son, and I am truly blessed to have at last fulfilled my ongoing desire to set some of John’s 1st chapter to music. This is my gift to you, my friends; happy belated Merry Christmas and all glory and honor to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

A Merry Little Christmas (Bedroom Demo #265)

A Merry Little Christmas

words and music: Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be gay

From now on our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us

Once more

Someday soon we all will be together

If the Lord allows

Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

guitars and vocal: T.S. Taylor

note:

As a song writer I’m always fascinated by stories concerning the origins of certain popular songs. Of particular interest to me is the evolution of a song’s lyrics; fascinating because some song lyrics which we’ve come to know and love, are radically different than what they were when they were first conceived by their authors. The most striking example of this would be Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday,” whose original title was “Scrambled Eggs.” The evolution of the lyrics to “A Merry Little Christmas” may not be quite as dramatic as the title change to Paul’s ‘Yesterday,” but I’m certain you’ll react as incredulously as I did when encountering the original lyrics. Here’s the story of why they were changed from the strange and absurd into the lovely, melancholy version we sing today:

Songwriter Hugh Martin was hired to pen a somewhat sad but hopeful and comforting Christmas song for Judy Garland’s character to sing to her younger sister Margaret in the film “Meet Me In St. Louis, (1944). Martin, the primary writer of the song, says “it began with the melody,” but that he soon concluded that it wasn’t working, so he threw it in the trash. His collaborator Ralph Blane had heard it however and told Martin he was “mad to throw it out.” “We dug around the wastebasket and found it,” Blane recalls, “Thank the Lord that we did.” Thank the Lord indeed.

Strangely, the songs original lyrics evoked a far different Christmas feeling than the ones that eventually wound up in the film. Imagine what your reaction would be to the scene in which Judy Garland, (as the older sister), sings to her little sister, if the following original lyrics had been left in the movie:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

It may be your last

Next year we may all be living in the past

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Pop the champagne cork

Next year we may all be living in New York

No good times like the olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who were dear to us

Will be near to us no more

But at least we all will be together

If the Lord allows

From now on we’ll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

(italics are mine)

This is supposed to comfort little Margaret?! Yikes! Judy may as well have gone ahead and closed the scene with her telling her little sister that there’s no Santa Claus. And what’s with the “popping the champaign cork” line? Yeah, that’s good advice for a nine year old!

It goes without saying that the studio execs were not happy with the song lyrics. Judy Garland herself was appalled by them. “If I sing this to little Margaret she’ll cry,” she complained, “The public is going to think I’m a monster!”

Hugh Martin, who admitted that back then he was young and arrogant, at first refused to change the lyrics to what the studio envisioned as “a sad song in which she (Garland) is smiling through her tears.” Eventually Martin came around and did a rewrite. The result is in the film.  Today, two versions are popularly sung. There’s the version that Martin tweaked for Judy, and another later version sung by Frank Sinatra on his “Jolly Christmas” album. Sinatra reasoned that since the song was a bit of a downer for an album supposedly made up of “Jolly” and bright Christmas songs, it needed yet another tweak from Martin that would “sprinkle some festive joy” on an otherwise downbeat line. Thus “We’ll have to muddle through somehow” became “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.”

In my version of the song I’ve reinserted Martin’s original line “Someday soon we all will be together if the [Lord] allows. Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” It seemed fitting and poignant to me to, in retrospect, acknowledge the heartache of families around the world who were kept apart by the Covid epidemic and its resultant protocols. I also prefer the original’s “Lord” over “fates,” for the obvious reason.

Christmas Tree farm

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

And The Ship Sails On (Bedroom Demo #264)

And The Ship Sails On

(The Colombia River Song Cycle)

music: Terry Scott Taylor

guitars and effects: T.S. Taylor

Note:

With “The Ship Sails On” we come to the end of our song cycle celebrating the Colombia River and its surroundings. I hope you’ve enjoyed the voyage as much as I have. As I’ve shared in one of my past notes, these compositions were, creatively speaking, like the early explorations of the river, essential forays into uncharted waters. I wasn’t at all sure I had the navigational skills to make good on my intentions. While I consider some of these musical pieces to be stronger than others, I am nevertheless pleased with the overall collection. My only real frustration is in knowing that the probability of these demos becoming fully realized recordings with actual instruments (violins, cellos, French horns, etc.) performing the various parts, is not likely. I say “frustrating,” but not inordinately so, since I had such a pleasurable time with the project. A special thanks to the many Patreon members who, throughout the course of the project, wrote to express their enjoyment of it, as well as encouraging me to keep going. A feller couldn’t ask for greater cheerleaders!

Although the Song Cycle voyage has come to an end, the journey of creating original instrumental pieces will continue periodically. Thanks again, kids. Yer the best!

P.S. One of my faithful Patreon members wrote to ask me what instruments and effects I used on the “Colombia River” recordings. I primarily worked with a Vox AC10C1 amp, a custom designed Strat/Tele combo guitar, with effects that include an Actone Joyo JF-13 AC distortion vintage tube pedal, an Electro Harmonix Synth 9, and my go-to Electro Harmonix Mel 9 tape replay pedal which mimics the sounds of one of my favorite instruments: the amazing Melotron.

The season begins.

These little girls make it so joyous. Happy Thanksgiving friends!!

Daniel Amos (Less Than An Hour) Podcast- Songwriting- Part 2

Unkie Terry lets us in on a few of his special secrets. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!

It’s pumpkin time again

Bridge Of The Gods (Bedroom Demo #262)

Bridge Of The Gods

(The Columbia River Song Cycle)

music: Terry Scott Taylor

guitars: T.S. Taylor

note: 

We now travel back in time (approximately the year 1450), when a major landslide, called the Bonneville Slide, dammed the Columbia River near present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon. The landslide created a natural dam of debris which Native American lore tells us was a “bridge” between the Chief of the God’s two sons. The sons had quarreled over where they would each settle on the beautiful land surrounding the Columbia River. Eventually the sons’ Father resolved the dispute by shooting two arrows. One son followed one arrow to the North, while the other son followed the second arrow South. The Chief Of The Gods then created a land bridge between the two sons so their families could meet periodically. Eventually a war between the two sons erupted over their love for the same beautiful maiden, and as a result of the conflict the area was devastated, the earth shaking so violently that the huge bridge fell into the river, creating the Cascade Rapids of the Columbia River Gorge.

Although the natural bridge, which no longer exists because of the river’s breach, a modern man-made bridge, called the Bridge Of The Gods in honor of its predecessor, now spans the Columbia river between Oregon and Washington.

While composing this song, I found myself thinking about Saint Paul addressing his Greek audience in Athens concerning the altar they had erected in honor of “the unknown god.” Paul then masterfully uses this altar as an opportunity to share with them the One true God. This thought led me to another: Jesus as the link between us and this one true God. In this sense, our Lord is truly “The Bridge Of God.”

Still celebrating 50 years

The whole family went down to the beach for a little getaway. So thankful for them.

Around The Bend (Bedroom Demo #261)

Around The Bend

(The Columbia River Song Cycle)

music: Terry Scott Taylor

Guitars: T.S. Taylor

note:

Our song-cycle continues.

Imagine ourselves among the first Europeans to discover the Columbia River. Our vessel, unlike many others before us, has somehow managed to navigate the treacherous tides of the river’s mouth, (also known as “The Graveyard of Ships),” making its way eastward. As we then head south for a time then once again resume our eastward course, we continue to explore the contours of the river, its tributaries, and the surrounding terrain. A sense of excitement, adventure, mystery and, for some of us, a degree of fear permeates our every waking hour; what will be revealed around the next bend in the river? Still waters and smooth sailing? A spectacular panorama? The first sight of a towering, snow-capped mountain? Or might there be enemies of some sort, a sand-bog on which we run aground, or an encounter with treacherous waters whose rapids are so intense we are certain our vessel will disintegrate under our feet and we will drown beneath the river’s bitter cold waters. Perhaps all of these things. Yes, the possibility of danger ahead is most certain, but so is the possibility of discovering not only grander vistas, but also the answer to the central question this quest is commissioned to answer: is there a Northwest Passage between inland North America and the Pacific Ocean? May God spare us from death in our attempt to answer that question.

My thanks to a certain member of our Patreon family who wrote to encourage me to continue with the Song Cycle. Although a challenge, I find myself really enjoying the process. It’s definitely put me in a mood to do more instrumentals in the future, that is if I am confident that this would be groovy with the rest of you fine people.

Like the ships which came to explore the Columbia River, I am setting out to discover places unknown whenever I compose one of these image-invoking soundscapes. Let me also add that I am prepared to not be entirely satisfied with the results; having pushed the boat into the water, jumped in, grabbed the oars, and headed out into the darkness, I’m never quite sure of exactly where I’ll wind up; the hope is that it’s neither adrift, stranded on a bog, or worse; as wreckage on the rocks of another misguided pursuit; anything is possible since these songs are somewhat unlike anything else I’ve written. As to the performance of the pieces, they are frequently a challenge to my skill level, which is a very good thing. It’s always a joy as a musician to discover that when I push myself to do so, I am often capable of much more than I give himself credit for. I’m thankful for the opportunity to stretch out musically, and equally thankful for your forbearance in allowing me to do so.