What's It Worth To Ya?

Oh, I sat through so many hours of rock'n'roll shows and hillbilly shows and rhythm and blues concerts and dances at my mom's side. Always had my eye trained on the bass player. It was the perfect job for me.

When I began playing at the age of sixteen I knew my station in life. There are the guys born for the spotlight. Stars. The ones who could thrill you. I always wanted to be a part of the team. A member of the band.

Somehow, over time, I've ended up the showoff, the singer-songwriter, the front man. It was never my destiny, never meant to be.

Now I realize that I want to give my music away. I have never been able to sell anything any way. Anything. I would make a record a month and they would be free to anybody who wanted one if I could figure out how to finance that business deal.

They say that folks won't value anything that they don't have to pay for. I remember to this day that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's explanation for charging to learn TM was that the people wouldn't place any value on meditation techniques unless they shelled out a few bucks for a mantra. I'll bet he was right. I shelled out a few.

Here we are. I play rock'n'roll for you. I have to. I'm blessed and I know it. It's a little late to die young and it's a little late to get rich. It's always time to rock'n'roll.

Give us peace on earth and end this dreadful, dreadful war.

Garbage

Who decides if it's a rare, beautiful, exotic plant or some weed that threatens the native flora? What separates bebop genius from noisy kids who can't play? Why do we find "beach glass" for sale for big bucks on eBay and cuss the broken glass in the road? Why is love so very grand while other things that hurt your heart are considered health problems? It's a wonder that I ever get to sleep at night.

For Better, For Worse

If we're going to make every second count we had better get started, hadn't we? Go! How about Pope Francis? Yeah, he's still got a lotta 'splainin' to do but he's turned the train around.

The Affordable Care Act? Well, besides being the grandest tool in the Republicans quiver, it is, at least, a beginning for Americans to have some form of health care.

Now, we shouldn't be settling for second class choices. At this point, however, I'm grateful and thankful to be on a planet that inches forward at any pace at all. 

Peace and love.

Back To The Well

Sometimes I worry about all the books and all the music and all the fun that I won't get around to by the time the party's over, if you know what I mean.

I read somewhere that more than 50% of us are with someone other than our first choice. That's not good. Look around. If it's not you, then odds are, you're pardner there has other aspirations.

Mix that stuff up with my hand wringing over turkeys' stress over the holiday and you've got a mess.

I shoulda' stayed in bed.

Making Memories

Every friend that I talk to on the phone. Every stranger who comes up and thanks me for the music. Every walk around the block with my lovely Jamaica. Each and every squabble that ends with love and affection. Do the memories just keep getting better and sweeter?

I've cleared room in my heart for the new memories. I gotta tell you, I've never heard prettier songs; never seen grander sunsets.

If you've got love to spare, somebody out there needs it. If you're lucky enough to have the rock'n'roll running through your veins, somebody out there is waiting to dance.

A-wop-bom-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom!

Amazed

I suppose that if there's one thing that I'm thankful for it is that I am always amazed. Broken glass, the kindness of people, the love all around. What about puppies and kittens?

Fight for peace and do it with love. Use some rock'n'roll, too. Maybe I should write a cookbook.

Nah.

No Club, Lone Wolf

Re-invent yourself. Yeah, good plan. I surely admire the ones who can, the ones who have. Me? I have to wade through long droughts of bleak nothing, waiting for some part of my "show" to become fashionable again. Then it lasts for a short time and I'm back to familiar ground. As I examine my repertoire I'm lucky to have ever had anything at all. Someone recently noticed, "That sounds like something you wrote before." 

Yeah. They all do!

If it sounds like I'm whining and feeling sorry for myself, you're right. It's not this music business crap; my real life works the same way. The two are joined at the hip. My "act" is who I am. Oh, for the makeover. What I wouldn't give to be the suave leading man. You know, the one who gets the girl.