NEWS
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Dan has posted two new blogs about his Australian adventure. Read Oz & Obama and Boys.
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The National Wildlife Federation has used Dan's song "Free Life" in an inspiring clip about Alaska. Click here to check it out. Read Dan's blog about the clip here.
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| An Evening with Dan Wilson | |
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DW will be appearing at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis on Saturday, December 13! Tickets on sale now at ticketmaster.com |
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| DW Produced Album | |
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The Dan Wilson-produced Jeremy Messersmith album, "The Silver City" (Princess Records), is now available. Fans of DW's singing will dig Jeremy's voice and music. His album's ten songs about the joys and perils of relationships, daily commuting, and information-age employment form an unexpectedly gorgeous love song to urban life. Plus, "Franklin Avenue" and "Miracles" rock. Click here for Jeremy's site or Click here to buy the album right away |
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| James Morrison co-write | |
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A song DW co-wrote with British folk & soul singer James Morrison, entitled "Once When I Was Little," is on Morrison's album "Songs for You, Truths for Me." Click here to listen!
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| Co-Write CD Release | |
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Fans of DW's songwriting should be aware that the Gabe Dixon Band has released their CD, "The Gabe Dixon Band," on August 26th. Dan co-wrote three of the songs on the album with Gabe, "All Will Be Well," "Five More Hours," and "Find My Way." This album has been a long time in the writing, making, and waiting - DW fans can relate to that - and it has been worth the work and the wait. Click here for more info
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| New Carrie Rodriguez Co-Write | |
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A song Dan has written with singer/songwriter/fiddler Carrie Rodriguez, "She Ain't Me," is the first single on Carrie's new album, also titled "She Ain't Me." You can hear the song on Carrie's myspace page. Click here to listen
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New Blogs Posted 2 blogs by Dan have been posted! Check out the blog section for his May and July entries. |
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| Live Electric Fetus EP | |
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Dan Wilson's live at the Electric Fetus EP is now available at iTunes, Amazon Digital, Napster, Real Music, and Rhapsody. Features his performances of "Hand On My Heart," "Free Life," "Easy Silence," "Sugar," and "Breathless" at his in-store at Electric Fetus in Minneapolis in October.
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| Be Free EP | |
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To accompany the release of "Free Life" as a single, DW has created a five-song EP, called "Be Free EP." The download-only record includes Dan's new, unreleased versions of The Dixie Chicks' "Lullaby" and Jimmy Webb's "All I Know." Rounding out the set are "I Can't Hold You," and "Hello Stranger," both tragically cut from the Free Life album. EP available at: iTunes Rhapsody Real Player Music Store Amazon Digital Napster  |
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| A Short Film About 'Free Life' | |
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Click here to watch
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| AT&T Blue Room | |
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Click here to listen to Dan tell the story behind some of the songs from "Free Life" and watch his exclusive performance for AT&T's Blue Room.
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| New Store Launched | |
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Check out Dan's new online store, featuring new T-shirts for the album "Free Life"!
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| MAKING OF "NOT READY TO MAKE NICE" | |
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Click here to watch a clip from the Dixie Chicks about the making of the single "Not Ready To Make Nice" with commentary from Dan.
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| Buy "Free Life" | |
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Get "Free Life" on iTunes or click here to buy the "Free Life" CD from Amazon.com.
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| Electric Fetus EP | |
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The "Electric Fetus EP," recorded live at Dan's October in-store appearance, available in all CIMS stores in February!
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| Top 10 of 2007 | |
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"Free Life" in Boston Globe and NY Daily News lists of top 10 albums of 2007!
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| Interview with City Pages | |
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Read Dan's interview with City Pages.
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| And in case you didn't hear... | |
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Dan won a Grammy for "Song Of The Year" in 2007.
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BLOG
Monday, November 24, 2008
Oz & Obama
Just got back from Australia, a short and sweet tour. For a lot of the trip I wore the Obama shirt my brother Matt gave me, a limited edition gift he made for friends and family a few weeks before the election. The shirt shows a victorious Muhammad Ali exulting over his defeated foe (Joe Frazier?) at the end of a boxing match, with the simple title "Obama" over the image. Matt said he saw this photo in the background of a picture of Barack Obama's office in Chicago. To me it's the expression of not only victory but of the toughness and single-mindedness that it took for Obama to win the election.
While I was in Australia, many people asked me about the shirt, both on the street and at the shows. It gave me a chance to talk with Aussies about our election, which I was hoping it would. Even so, I was pretty blown away by how emotional they were about it. During my shows I mentioned Obama's election and how relieved and happy I was about it, and how even some of my Republican-voting friends are kinda excited about it. I also told the people there that I was aware that our country has lately been like a dark cloud on their northeastern horizon, but that the weather hopefully is changing. People cheered wildly.
After my shows, the Aussie fans really wanted to talk more about this, and many of them got tears in their eyes while trying to express to me how much this change meant to them.
Here's me performing on the TV show "Rockwiz" with Matt's home-made Obama shirt.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Boys
On the flight home from Sydney, I had the leftmost seat in a four-seat row with an irritable Aussie Mom and her two boys aged 11 and 7. They were all blond with very short haircuts. The older one sat down next to me looking pale and peaked and made gagging noises. He turned to me and said in a very cute Australian accent, "I got a piece of lolly THIS BIG stuck in my throat and I'm choking on it." I told him I hoped it came out. He then gagged until he threw up on his brother and his blanket. His mother yelled at him in a harsh Australian accent.
The 11-year-old told me that they were all going to fly to America where they would see their Dad. "My Dad is going to take us to the place where he makes special dune buggies with a Jamaican dude!" he said. "I bet you wish you could have done something that cool when you were my age! Do you ever wish you could turn back time and live your childhood again?"
"Not really," I said."Only a few small things I'd do over."
"When you were naughty," he said, nodding in agreement.
A little while later, after I had told the 11-year-old to stop violently elbowing me during the process of deeply scratching his ass within his pants, he went circling in his seat with his blanket wrapped around him to find a comfortable position to roll up and rest. Literally going in circles like a puppy on a big floor pillow. The vomit spot on the blanket passed me several times, rubbing against our shared armrest each time.
I fell asleep to the sound of the tykes listening to "The Dark Knight" on their in-flight headphones at earsplitting volumes, the two soundtracks slightly offset in time.
A sensation of cool wetness along my right leg woke me up.
"What are you pouring on me?!?" I loudly asked them. Luckily it was a large glass of water which the older boy had spilled, and not orange juice or Sprite. The mom asked the older boy (who somehow was now two seats from me) if he had lost the use of his mind. She then flung her airline blanket across the older one onto the soaked lap of the younger boy, who began wiping off his share of the water. None of them spoke to me as I stood up to find paper towels to somewhat dry my pants.
I fell asleep to the disconcerting flurry of the two boys surreptitiously provoking each other.
I woke up in a drowse to find that my carry-on bag had migrated to a position directly under my feet. I hooked my foot under the bag to shove it back into its place deep beneath the seat in front of me. But it was stuck and didn't move. So I gave it a second, stronger heave, and it gave me a defensive slap. My eyes opened to reveal that my foot was grappling not my bag but the older boy, who had taken up a supine position to sleep under the seats. His little brother's bare feet were resting on his chest, footrest style. I guess that's where my large shod feet had been in relation to his head before I woke up.
The next time I opened my eyes it was to discover the older boy next to me making a tower of drink cups with his full and opened can of lemonade at the top.
"I don't want that lemonade on my pants," I said, "So please stop playing with it."
"I'm not playing with it," he objected.
"It looks like you're playing with it. Put it on your tray right now."
"Sorry." (Cute Aussie accent.)
I could go on. The breakfast meal came and both boys ate their scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes with their hands. The excess was wiped on the blankets, but only when their hands were excessively covered with wet food. Their mother said, "I suppose you're going to eat with your hands in the restaurants in America!" They said no, they wouldn't.
Twelve hours into the flight the older boy said, "We've been flying for so long, I feel like I'm in a dream of being on an airplane."
Sunday, November 9, 2008
National Wildlife Federation Clip
The National Wildlife Federation has created a short film about Alaska set to the song "Free Life" which I found to be simple, beautiful, thought-provoking. I was proud that they thought my music could help them get people involved in protecting our environment from harm. I'm not prepared to have a debate with the "climate change debunkers" out there; all I know is that I hope a lot of talented and energetic people will be drawn into the environmentalist movement in the coming years. Look at the pictures in the clip and ask yourself, do I want these beautiful animals and settings to exist only in video clips for future generations to look at? They will be so mad at us if we let that happen!
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Waiting is the Hardest Part
Less than a week before the election, and the world seems to be moving in slow motion. I have been anxious and jumpy about the outcome - will my candidate win but then have the victory stolen? Will my candidate lose and confirm my worst fears about my country? It all seems so crucial and our country seems to balance on the edge of a knife.
Yet the other day I read a newspaper article featuring several small interviews with voters supporting my candidate's opponent. And they were expressing the same fears, the same anxious conviction that the "wrong" decision would lead to disaster, to a country that they no longer understand.
National affairs of recent years have been so discouraging, so vengeful, so muddled, so seemingly guaranteed to emphasize our divisions and differences, and I am no less susceptible to this effect than anyone else. But I have to admit that when I read about the fears of those who oppose my candidate, I felt a pang of sorrow and brotherhood. In that sharp moment I felt a unity with and compassion for them that I rarely allow myself to feel.
I am trying to remember that presidential terms are short, the history of our country longer, and our hope for humankind's future is longer still. As MLK said, "Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." The waiting of the next few days is nothing compared to this arc whose slow bending we await and try to hasten, each in our own way.
Peace and Love
Friday, October 10, 2008
Anathem" by Neal Stephenson
Okay, every several years I get sucked into a new Neal Stephenson book and it's happening again: "Anathem," the latest, is chewing up and digesting great chunks of my time and I am very happy about it.
This is all the better because the past several weeks have found me in airports, planes and train stations, with just the right kind of time for escapism. This book is so beautiful; it's like an extended discussion between really smart but also funny and entertaining philosophers, scientists and mechanics, punctuated by occasional bursts of action and violence. It starts out like "The Name of The Rose" but ends up more like "Foundation and Empire." Okay, I'm not going to try to explain any further, just to say I love it.
And, just to warn you, "Anathem" is putting you all in grave danger of me going on another Douglas R. Hofstadter blogging bender, because I can't help but thinking that Stephenson has been reading "Godel, Escher, Bach."
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Went out to see Gabe Dixon at the Varsity the other night - they invited me onstage to sing "All Will Be Well" with them and I was reminded how proud I am of that song. Every once in awhile I write or co-write something that I can listen to with utter unself-consciousness: no self-criticism, no would-a, no should-a; in the case of this song, when I hear it I even forget that I wrote it with Gabe. Everyone likes to get out of themselves, and I'm no exception.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Me and "Against History" back in love
John Munson and Steve Roehm and I were rehearsing this morning for my set at the ProVention concert on Tuesday. I had figured out the six songs I was going to do, there are lots of performers so we all have to keep it short. Anyway, when I told John and Steve the songs I planned on singing, John said, "You aren't going to play 'Against History'?"
"Your best song," interjected Steve (I'm not sure if he was serious or not, a common experience with Steve.)
I said, I think it's a good song that makes a great point. John liked that comment but he said, "It really would be a perfect song for the ProVention."
Which suddenly struck me as completely and obviously true. So I started playing it in a way very different from the version on "Free Life" and the three of us ran it down a few times. I think I'm in love with the song again. "It's you and me against history; it doesn't have to be the way it's always been. You and me against history; we'll never let it be that way again."
People can never be perfect, we are by nature flawed; but songs can express perfection and righteousness and immortal love, and be the things that we only dream of.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Connectivity 1 - Douglas Hoftsadter
The past month has been a flurry of connection for me - both musically and otherwise. Once again it seems linked to Douglas Hofstadter, whose "I am a Strange Loop" I devoured in June.
Before I read the book, I had been wondering about immortality. I had been speculating that our minds might be spaces where many internal personalities can reside and interact (a democracy of inner voices?). And I had been thinking that maybe our minds are actually perfectly suited to having several (many?) different personalities in action within them at all times. After all, why should one personality necessarily take all of one's brain to operate? The leftover space might be enough for lots of smaller, mini-personalities to work.
So maybe our loved ones' personalities can slowly become implanted in our own minds, after years of love and what might be called programming. I feel like I can ask my long-passed Grandma Wilson her opinion about things and she will occasionally answer from within my mind. I think she's still there to some degree, separate and yet part of me, and once in a while I can initiate that program which she implanted in me so long ago with her voice, her love, her actions, her attitudes.
I have friends who seem to be able to channel other singers' voices in a way that seems as though the other singers have taken up residence in portions of their minds - I once heard Cory Chisel sing the same story idea in the voice, rhythm and lyric style of 3 or 4 different eras of Bob Dylan!
So I was thinking that in that kind of practical way, we might live on past our own deaths in a very real way - speaking to our loved ones, or perhaps singing to them, from within their minds. Maybe we won't be able to share the consciousness of our personality within their minds, but maybe our personality within their minds is conscious and alive in some way that we just can't quite describe yet.
And so our connections with those we know and love might be active whether or not they are with us, conversing internally, even as we sleep.
Imagine my joy then to find "I am a Strange Loop" in a bookstore and discover that it is about just this stuff. Hofstadter isn't quite on the same crazy train that I am, but his is close. That's a little reassuring.
More on connectivity later.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
London
I took a plane to London the week before last. Rode from the airport to my hotel past the place where, in 2001, MCA/Universal erected a billboard with a giant three-dimensional "All About Chemistry" beaker couple. I still can't believe they did that. I wonder if the Universal staff who okayed it are proud or horrified now. I'm sure it wasn't cheap. I loved it then and still do.
I spent that first day as a tourist, just trying to get some sun and stay awake. Took a bus from my hotel in Shepherd's Bush to Notting Hill, then got out and walked to Trafalgar Square. I ran into some tourists who asked me where Nelson's Column was and I helpfully pointed them to another column, built of dreary concrete-looking blocks, with a somewhat recent and perhaps less-than-heroic king atop it. I slowly concluded that this was not Nelson. I continued around the Institute for Contemporary Arts (knowing that what I wanted was old art, not new), and passed beneath the Admiralty Arch. Whoops! There's Nelson's Column - gleaming in the sun, Nelson high above with great thick cable ropes coiled around his feet. The sight was so inspiring, it almost made me want to join the navy.
Britain's National Gallery my goal. Amazing as usual. Turner's "Fighting Temeraire," Van Eyck's Arnolfinis. Holbein's "Ambassadors," I'm in for all the greatest hits. Closed the place down. All we stragglers, craning our necks into closed rooms, got hustled out by guards accustomed to "one-last-peekers".
The interior stairwell to the front door is a work of art in itself. The guards all gather at the top of the stairs, sheepdogs having herded us down to the threshold. Then as a parting gift, the front door of the gallery reveals Nelson again, symmetrically framed across Trafalgar Square by two columns of the museum's front collonade. I laughed out loud.
Then I walked back through Hyde Park to Notting Hill again, where I caught the bus to Shepherd's Bush.
I'll tell you about the next three days, which were wonderful but very different, soon.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sitting
Sitting on my own, all by myself... I spent the morning waiting for the phone company to come repair the line. This particular repair "window" was between 8am and 6pm. Isn't that evil? Strange is the way that I can never do anything useful or constructive while waiting for a repairman. I co-conspire in the killing of the time. Why does waiting for a repairman negate the day this way? I could have written a song during this time. But I was waiting for a repairman.
Luckily, waiting for a repairman does allow for the other time- negating activities of life, including answering e-mail, making medical and dental appointments for the kids, calling other utilities and staying on hold for 30 minutes, and perusing the websites of the world.
Particularly exciting is one called "Strange Maps." You really should look at it if you have any nerd characteristics at all.
Luckily he's now come and gone and my life is my own again.
Unluckily, he couldn't find a problem and there is still no phone service.
This weekend I am going to write songs with James Morrison. Wish me luck. He is a wonderful singer. I heard his song "The Pieces Don't Fit" on K-Rock in Los Angeles and had to pull over to the side of the road. It was like an oasis of mournful beauty on the radio. I am looking forward to meeting him.
My stint opening for Kathleen Edwards ended in sheer glory at Mercy Lounge in Nashville. Kathleen and her band were extremely hospitable and kind to me throughout the tour (remind me to open for Canadian artists more often.) So the last night was a little bittersweet. But making up for that were: great audience, who quieted themselves down to my level very kindly at the top of the set; my parents in the crowd, visiting from Little Rock and glowing with pride (who wouldn't love that?); Ruby Amanfu, whose singing with me on "Sugar" brought tears to many eyes in the room; and Kathleen inviting me to sing "Secret Smile" with her during her encore. She played mournful, beautiful violin and traded verses with me, and made me want to re- record the song with her.
The night was particularly sweet as I usually associate Nashville with ultra-talkative crowds crammed with well-meaning but jaded music executives. Instead, there was a general sense of hush and attention that makes a performer want to do better.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Maude Maggart
On Wednesday in New York I went to the Oak Room to see Maude Maggart sing. He show was a collection of mostly very old songs about dreams and rainbows, show tunes mostly, with a few sixties songs by Judy Collins and Joan Baez, as well as Jim Henson's "Rainbow Connection," thrown in. What a wonderful night! It was like a personal reminder of the reasons I love songs, both listening to them and writing them. I might be biased, because many of the tunes are songs that I play for myself on the piano, just for fun: "Isn't It Romantic," and "Over the Rainbow," for example. So to hear these very familiar numbers rendered in luminous tones by such a master interpreter… it was transporting. I wept several times during the last 10 minutes of the gig.
One of the best things about the show was Maude's willingness to expound on the songs she was about to play, or had just played. So her choices of songs felt like they told a larger story over the course of the night. I should also confess that she's very pretty and gestures angelically with her arms and hands as she sings. (There was a two-piece backup band, piano and cello, and they kicked ass as well.)
Now, strangely wonderful was the additional fact that right next to us at a table was Cornel West, famed Princeton professor, author, and sometime rapper. After the gig as we fans were standing around getting autographs, I chatted briefly with Professor West about Maude and her charms. I love the thought that he was digging the same old tunes that I was.
"Rainbow Connection" was a lovely surprise during the gig, as I have been listening rather obsessively to Sarah McLachlan's version of the song for several weeks, and scheming about creating a way for me to sing it at shows too. Just how much earnestness can people take? Well, I sang "Annie's Song" by John Denver at the Hotel Café gig in Chicago a few weeks ago and the people whooped. So I guess quite a bit. If I did it as well as Maude Maggart I think no one would complain.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter Blog in Prog
Minneapolis, being once more covered in snow, overcast and gloomy, is challenging my effort at an Easterish awakening of hope. I know, I know, this holiday is about more than just a sunny day, but I for one have the cabin fever blues.
What a month. With the Hotel Cafe Tour and my opening gig for Kathleen Edwards both coming up, and feeling like I would have little time to write while on the road, I organized a ridiculously frenetic stretch of writing. I might have overdone it. Wrote songs with (in no particular order) Emily Robison & Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks both), Cory Chisel, Kara DioGuardi & John Fields, Will Anderson of Sparky's Flaw, John Hermanson (go Storyhill!), Carrie Rodriguez, Mitch Allan, Nerina Pallot, Michael Tolcher, plus worked on an unfinished song I started with Aimee Mann (still unfinished.) If I'm forgetting anyone, it's because my brain is now completely emptied of thoughts and ideas. Oh, and I mixed both the Jeremy Messersmith and New Standards albums I've been producing.
Whew. Glad to be heading out on the road (my stretch of the Hotel Cafe Tour begins on Thursday in Pittsburgh), where a form of pacing is at least enforced by daily shows.
Thank you to various e-mailers and commenters regarding "Escher, Godel, Bach." I'm going to take Jodi's advice, among others, and try to get through the Watson "DNA" book; it seems a likely starting point.
Listened to Yes this morning, "Tales from Topographic Oceans." Thrilling! What did they think they were doing? Who told them it was okay to write so many 9 minute songs? My fave is still "Close to the Edge," but "Tales" is outlandish and occasionally heartbreakingly beautiful. Mainly, though, I find the band's willingness to go way over the top very exciting. And track one, "The Revealing Science of God," might have given me the dose of Easter joy that I was lacking.
"Spoon" has a video for their song "The Underdog," which is another excercise in over-the-topness, (although in the usual dry-as-a-bone Spoon manner), and which I recommend that everyone watch on Youtube. I might like it partly because it reminds me of the video for Semisonic's "Closing Time", but I assure you, that's not the only reason.
Finally, I have been listening at least once a day to "Broken Afternoon," by The Helio Sequence - every day for three weeks, sometimes several times. It's the first Dylan-influenced music I've heard in a long time that I've loved as much as new Dylan. I can't figure out why this song holds such mystery for me. But it's a nice feeling.Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hoot
I am reading a book called "Godel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid." Anyone who has read it and understands it, I ask you to point me to some other books that might help me to also understand it better. It's blowing my mind, to put it simply. One of the most amazing sections of the book outlines the structure of DNA and the basics of how cells work. I'm sure someone tried to teach me this stuff when I was a kid, but I expect I wasn't listening! I'd really like to learn more about this.
Last night my friend Jim Walsh asked me to come and play at his Hootenanny at Java Jack's in South Minneapolis. If you haven't been there, the Hoot is a weekly (sorta) round-robin of singers who share the stage and take turns singing songs, and also play and sing along with each other's songs. It's a fun way to try out new songs and also to play whatever you want to. I've done the Hoot a few times, it's always a blast, Jim is a unique master of ceremonies, he doesn't hesitate to yell loudly at his fellow performers if he feels the need to correct their actions or adjust their agenda. I managed to dodge that bullet last night but a few of the other singers got some serious whipcracking from Jim a few times.
Two of the other singers on the stage were Craig Wright and Peter Lawton, otherwise known in these parts as The Tropicals. Craig and Peter haven't performed together in Minneapolis for years, I think, so it was sweet to hear their amazing songs and sing along. I have listened to their songs so many times, I was able to join in on guitar to almost everything they played. What a gas.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Water
My daughter Coco and I try to go swimming every week. I wish we lived near an ocean, but this is Minneapolis, so the pool will have to do. We don't have much of an agenda: splash around, try to stay in the water as long as she doesn't get cold, have fun. The pool we go to is often nearly empty when we're there, and if we find ourselves alone in the water, then we do a lot of yelling and whooping. The ceilings are extremely high, all that tile and glass make for a very reverberant space. Coco wears hearing aids most of the time, but not in the pool; I've always wondered what our echoing whoops sound like to her.
I'm not sure why this would be, but I have the impression that she is a lot smarter for a day or so after swimming. This effect is way more pronounced when we have the chance to swim in the ocean - it is as if the jostling and pushing-around of the waves stimulates Coco's mind through her muscles. I wonder if I'm smarter after swimming, too, but because it's my own brain, I don't notice it.
Does anyone have anything to tell me about this?
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year
I'd say the man in the picture is happy to be singing for you all. Guthrie Theater 12/7/07. Photo Steven Cohen.
Okay, let's get it out of the way - "Free Life" is out! So this New Year's blog entry doesn't have to include any references to "hopefully somehow this year," etc, etc. The CD's out, and I am overjoyed about it.
Now onto 2008. I'm hoping this year's calendar will have a lot of shows on it, so I can get out and play for you all. Lots of shows will also mean chances to unveil some new songs, a scary and exciting prospect. January looks like a good time to do some writing all alone, for the first time in a while.
In February I think the statute of limitations runs out on me casually mentioning my Grammy Award from the stage. Somehow I think I'll figure out other things to talk about.
2008 is a year of round numbers for me - here are some musical ones:
20 years ago this year, Trip Shakespeare released "Are You Shakespearienced?" This was the first LP I'd played on and my first release with Trip.
15 years ago this year, Semisonic played our first show at the 400 Bar as Pleasure - "If I Run," "FNT," "Falling" and several other songs from the Great Divide album already on the setlist.
10 years ago this year, Semisonic released "Feeling Strangely Fine." "Closing Time" came out in February and a lot of things started to happen very fast.
5 years ago this year I was offerred a record deal with American Recordings/Lost Highway, which led (very slowly) to "Free Life" coming out.
What will 2008 bring? Joy? Hope? Something reasonably hard to work on? Maybe even a few things to talk about in 20 years.
Peace and Love
DW
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Peace
Last night at the Fitzgerald I kicked off my own Christmas season for the year. I sang a few songs, holiday and otherwise, with the New Standards and a huge cast of guests. The holiday songs and more specifically the Christmas carols we sang last night filled me with joy and hope, as they always do. Those carols are like the greatest hits of western music: only the very very hookiest and best and most beautiful have passed the test of time, and when I sing them, I often thing of the many, many generations of people who sang them before me.
All of these songs share the same message of peace and joy. On a very long, dark, winter night, all of the people got a glimpse of a great light, which filled them with hope. Peace, heavenly peace, is the refrain.
Last night was also the anniversary of John Lennon's death. Peace was so often the refrain of his songs, and although they may not become Christmas carols, a lot of them are getting passed from generation to generation. I like to think that they will be sung for a long time to come.
Now I have to tell you that I am afraid for the prospects of peace this winter. Our government has stumblingly begun its drumbeat for another war. The signs are the same as they were the last time around: the talk of nuclear holocaust, the marshalling of arguments (false ones and true ones) for preemption, the constant mentions of the new enemy: Iran. Last time around, when they started building up the public's anger towards Iraq, it was a mistake, and not only that, it was timed in the most cynical way as a centerpiece for an election campaign. It's happening again. The election approaches and the administration is obligingly cooking up another setting for shock and awe. Those of you who felt obliged to vote for the war in Iraq to support the troops are going to be held to a similar standard again.
I would like to ask you to think about peace instead of war this time around. At least don't let a needless hurry be your deciding factor. Are there any other options short of launching missiles and bombs? Please think hard about alternatives before you cast your vote for another war.
Peace and Love
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Whew
Whoa, that was a trip... The Sondre Lerche tour is over and I am beat. But it was really good. Sondre was what I can only describe as a wonderful and gracious host. And I loved getting to know his music better. What a talent.
It's funny, after all the travelling I've done over the years, and all the touring and performing, I've never even done a week of solo shows, with just me and my guitar, never mind a month of them. For all of you who came, I thank you for your indulgence - I told a lot of stories, I know, and maybe I could have shut up and sung one more song per night. But it seemed right to shoot the breeze a little more than usual. Meanwhile, I send out thanks and respect to those who sang along when the time came. I was actually amazed how willing you were. (And in tune, too.)
Last show, Maxwell's in Hoboken. The bar-iest of the gigs and most mixed in its outcome. I try not to get into it with hecklers - I tend to say things that are actually evil to them, rather than being able to cleverly one-up them. Kinda blows the mood. It's a little like the times I try to join in with masculine locker-room humor; when I interject my joke into the conversation, even the pirates in the room find it revolting.
But everyone survived the slights pretty well and I managed to have a very fun post-rock party with some very beloved friends from all over the country, who just happened to have converged in Hoboken. What a world.
Now there is a snowstorm in Minneapolis and everyone here is actually excited about it. No one will be going out lightly tonight.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
"The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting" by Jim Walsh
I've been on tour in various ways for most of October and November, the most performances I've done in a long time. The traveling is tiring but the shows are exhilarating. Most nights I've been asking folks to sing along to "All Kinds" at the end of the show, and sometimes the crowd raises up such a churchy harmony that this whole crazy life seems to come into focus.
Austin last night was no exception to the singing, but it was also the talkiest crowd yet - I think I've been spoiled lately.
One of the little untold perks of touring is that you get to read a lot. I've been on so many planes in the past 3 months that I've done about 2 years' worth of reading. The most recent: "No Country for Old Men" by Cormac McCarthy, which scared the heck out of me but I still read it twice; "Bono", an interview biography with you-know-who; "Godel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid"; and the one I've been most deeply affected by, "The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting," by my friend Jim Walsh.
Anyone who paid attention to music in Minneapolis in the 80s and 90s is intimately aware of the rock four-piece The Replacements. I think awareness of the band is actually increasing these days. "I Will Dare," their most widely-known song, is a standard now, I think. And their brilliance, when they were brilliant, shines through on dozens of great tracks on their albums.
I loved their music. I loved listening to it, and I found it so inspiring that a band from Minneapolis could have won so many fans all around the world. But my impression during those years was that the band also made a maddening practice of making sure they didn't become too successful, of turning away from a larger audience whenever it threatened to embrace them. Jacob Slichter once called the group a "heat-avoiding missile." Drug and alcohol addiction and the chaos and confusion they bring were part of this pattern, but that wasn't all. The Replacements weren't a punk band but they made a great punk show of always biting the hand that fed them.
Jim Walsh's fantastic oral history of the Replacements makes that perverse quality intimately clear. In a way, it was already going to be a grueling read - after all, everyone knows that lead guitarist Bob Stinson died at age 35, a few years after being fired from the group. So I knew that was coming.
But also I guess it was kind of exhausting reading the words of so many friends, fans, and colleagues, all confirming my suspicion that the Replacements consciously avoided the success that we all wished for them. They made damned sure to remain our little secret.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Cold in LA
No, it's not cold in LA, I have a cold in LA. So much for the glamour of tinseltown. More like humidifier in your hotel room town.
Somehow the shows manage to be fun through this fog. I hope I get better soon.
Sondre Lerche has been very inspiring to watch and very nice to tour with. He and his sound engineer Atle are from Norway, they look like various Minnesota cousins of mine but their Norwegian accents are stronger.
I'll check in here when my head is clear.
D
Sunday, October 28, 2007
New York was great but the upright bass fell down.
Someone stood the rented upright bass against the wall. It was in its soft travel case, a big black pajama useful mostly for the prevention of dings and scratches. The bass didn't stay upright for long. The bass fell down. The neck of the bass broke. This happened at City Hall, where the act of bringing an upright bass up to the WNYC radio studio was perceived as a security threat of some kind. The security staff brought the bass over to the wall while its legitimacy could be checked. Everyone looked in other directions. Nobody saw it fall, but I'm sure they heard it.
The bass remained in its case, the broken neck flopping now loosely down. It had the cringe-inducing vulnerability of a broken bone still within skin. Nobody in our group knew how much it would cost to put a new neck on a bass but we all had our suspicion that it might be around the same amount as putting a nice new cedar deck on your house.
I guess I have to get writing. That broken bass neck ain't going to fix itself.
Joe's Pub, what a great venue. I think it went great, what a great feeling to leave the city on such a high.
SIGNUP
TV APPEARANCES
Coming soon!
STORE
DOWNLOAD FREE LIFE (EP)
iTunes
DOWNLOAD "CRY"
iTunes (as part of Free Life EP) | Rhapsody | Real | Sony Connect | Walmart
LInks
Coming soon!
MP3
Coming soon!
TABS
Against History
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Against History
Album: Free Life
Intro/verse chords:
A: (x07650)
G: (x05430)
D: (x04230)
Other chords:
Bm/A: (x04432)
Asus: (x07750)
INTRO
=====
8 bars of melody, then 8 bars of strumming.
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--5---5---5---5-|--5---5---5---5-|--3---3---3---3-|--3---3---3---3-|
G|6-------7-------|6-------7-------|4-------6-------|4-------6-------|
D|----7-------7---|----7-------7---|----5-------5---|----5-------5---|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--3---3---3---3-|--3---3---3---3-|--5---5---5---5-|--5---5---5---5-|
G|2-------4-------|2-------4-------|6-------7-------|6-------7-------|
D|----4-------4---|----4-------4---|----7-------7---|----7-------7---|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
| D / / / | D / / / | A / / / | A / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
Give in In to the blue sky In to the...
| D / / / | D / / / | A / Asus / | A / Asus / |
...gold eye of what is possible
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
Give in One in a million You be the...
| D / / / | D / / / | A / Asus / | A / Asus / |
...engine of what is possible
PRECHORUS
=========
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
When tomorrow comes we'll be there after all
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | D / / / |
All the oracles are fading
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
When our odysseys are hanging on the wall
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | D / / / |
And our yesterdays parading
CHORUS
======
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / | A / / / | A / / / |
It doesn't have to be the way it's always been
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / | A / Asus / | A / Asus / |
We'll never let it be that way again (w/intro lick)
VERSE 2
=======
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
Sell off all of your old lives all of the...
| D / / / | D / / / | A / Asus / | A / Asus / |
...cold lies and get impossible
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
Sell off all of the no ones we'll never...
| D / / / | D / / / | A / Asus / | A / Asus / |
...be dones and get impossible
PRECHORUS
=========
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
When tomorrow comes we'll say it after all
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | D / / / |
All the monitors are ringing
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
When the cold day dawns we'll be there on the lawn
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | D / / / |
Now another world's beginning
CHORUS
======
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / | A / / / | A / / / |
It doesn't have to be the way it's always been
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / |
We're never gonna be the same as them
BRIDGE
======
| Dm / / / | Dm / / / |
And all of the days of my...
| Bb / / / | Bb / / / |
...life unwind like the towers of a...
| F / / / | F / / / |
...telephone line alongside the...
| C / / / | C / / / |
...interstate
| Dm / / / | Dm / / / |
And either direction is...
| Bb / / / | Bb / / / |
...far from home The stars make a line leading...
| F / / / | F / / / |
...from the road And I am an arrow that...
| C / / / | G / / / |
...knows where to go
GUITAR SOLO
===========
Chords:
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | D / / / |
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | E / / / | D / / / | A / / / |
| A / / / |
Solo (with slide):
e|--------12------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|------------12--|-14-----5-------|-------------7--|
G|-13-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-9--------------|----------------|-----8---7------|----------------|
G|--------4-------|------------6---|-7----------7---|-9--------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
e|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|-2--------------|
D|----------------|
A|----------------|
E|----------------|
CHORUS
======
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / | A / / / | A / / / |
It doesn't have to be the way it's always been
| E / / / | E / / / | Bm / / / | Bm / Bm/A / |
It's you and me against history
| G / / / | D / / / |
We're never gonna be the same as them
OUTRO
=====
| A / / / | A / / / | G / / / | G / / / |
(w/intro melody)
| D / / / | D / / / | A Asus | A Asus |
| A |
All Kinds
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: All Kinds
Album: Free Life
Capo at 1st fret; all chords relative to capo (song is in Ab).
G/B: (x20003)
C: (X32013)
VERSE 1
=======
| Am / / / | D / / / | Bm / / / | Em / / / |
You've got the kind of beautiful
| Bm / / / | Em / / / | Am / / / | D / / / |
Makes the boys want to give up running all around
| Am / / / | D / / / | Bm / / / | Em / / / |
You know the kind of magic spell
| Bm / / / | Em / / / | Am / / / | D / / / |
Makes the wild, wild horses lay down on the ground
CHORUS
======
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
VERSE 2
=======
| Am / / / | D / / / | Bm / / / | Em / / / |
One life is all we ever get
| Bm / / / | Em / / / | Am / / / | D / / / |
And all we ev- er give up for it in return
| Am / / / | D / / / | Bm / / / | Em / / / |
Is all the ones we might have been
| Bm / / / | Em / / / | Am / / / | D / / / |
Just one kind of beautiful each in our turn
INTERLUDE
=========
| Eb / / / | Bb / / / |
Innocence and consequence
| F / / / | C / / / |
I only hope we never learn
CHORUS
======
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
BRIDGE
======
| D / / / | D / / / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
Hey now every little thing you gave to me
| F / / / | F / / / | C / / / | C / / / |
Made the time pass faster than my eyes could even see
| D / / / | D / / / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
You are true improbability
| F / / / | F / / / | C / / / | C / / / |
You're the proof of when they say you never know what's gonna be
CHORUS (double)
======
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C G/B C |
All kinds of beautiful
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
Run- ning all around all around
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | G/B C C D |
All kinds of beautiful All
| G / / / |
kinds
Baby Doll
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Baby Doll
Album: Free Life
Capo at 3rd fret (song is in Cm).
E/G#: (4x2400)
C/G: (332010)
D/F#: (2x023x)
Bdim7: (x23230)
E7: (022130)
INTRO
=====
| Am / / / | Am / / / | Am / / / | Am / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
Baby doll You've been lonely I've been...
| E/G# / / / | E/G# / / / |
...out of town Playing the unintended...
| C/G / / / | C/G / / / |
...circus clown Looking for someone just like...
| D/F# / / / | D/F# / / / |
...you girl
| F / / / | F / E7 / |
But now the stars are going out and old familiar halls are...
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
...falling off the grid
| Bdim7 / / / | Bdim7 / / / |
I wanna get back on your list and resurrect the things we...
| E / / / | E7 / / / |
...did
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
Baby doll I've been circling the...
| E/G# / / / | E/G# / / / |
...whole world 'round Trying to find the ones who...
| C/G / / / | C/G / / / |
...stole my sound So I could bring it back to...
| D/F# / / / | D/F# / / / |
...you girl
| F / / / | F / E7 / |
You'll be sashed in satin I'll be purring like a kitty cat and
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
You won't sit in silence like you do
| Bdim7 / / / | Bdim7 / / / |
Then you can tell me I'm the only one You'll...
| E / / / | E7 / / / |
...make love to me too
CHORUS
======
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to love no one else, to love
| G / / / | Am / / / |
no one else to love no one else
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to love no one else, to love
| G / / / | E7 / / / |
No I only want to love my baby doll
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
VERSE 2
=======
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
Baby doll I've been melting candles...
| E/G# / / / | E/G# / / / |
...into wings so I can fly up high and...
| C/G / / / | C/G / / / |
...buy you things diamond rings and pretty...
| D/F# / / / | D/F# / / / |
...hors- es too
| F / / / | F / E7 / |
It's much less than you deserve but if I don't I'm guessing
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
I won't get the chance to make amends
| Bdim7 / / / | Bdim7 / / / |
While I'm paying you'll in the ladies making contact with your...
| E / / / | E7 / / / |
...friends Then you'll disappear again
CHORUS
======
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to lose no one else, to lose
| G / / / | Am / / / |
no one else to lose no one else
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to lose no one else, to lose
| G / / / | E7 / / / |
No I only want to lose my baby doll
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
When I saw you...
BRIDGE
======
| Gm / / / | Gm / / / |
...laugh- ing You would shine like the...
| F / / / | F / / / |
...sun And reflected in...
| D7 / / / | D7 / / / |
...your lies I would...
| E7 / / / | E7 / / / |
...shine like no one
CHORUS
======
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to love no one else, to love
| G / / / | Am / / / |
no one else to love no one else
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to love no one else, to love
| G / / / | E7 / / / |
No I only want to love my baby...
| F / / / | C / / / |
...doll no one else, to lose
| G / / / | Am / / / |
no one else to lose no one else
| F / / / | C / / / |
and I don't want to lose no one else, to lose
| G / / / | E7 / / / |
No I only want to love my baby doll
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
my baby doll my baby doll
| Am / / / | Am |
Breathless
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Breathless
Album: Free Life
Capo at 2nd fret; all chords relative to capo (song is in F# minor).
NC = no chord
VERSE 1
=======
| (NC) |
I'm hunting shadows in the...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...dark In steaming jungles of the...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...world Either to kill or to be...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...killed By creatures never named or...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...heard I'm lifting wishes to the...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...stars The gleaming satellites of...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...time Orbiting circles over-...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...head To futures when your love is...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...mine But you were always pretty...
CHORUS
======
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...reckless with your love Come with the sun and getting...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...restless when it's gone And when you go you leave me...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...breathless and alone You leave me breathless when you...
| Em / / / | B7 / / / |
...close the door it feels just like you took the air out of the room with...
| C / / / | Am / / / |
...you Your voice is echoing...
VERSE 2
=======
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...again Through catacombs inside my...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...mind And I've been dreaming of...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...revenge To make you love me more than...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...even you can try All words converge to where you...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...are If I follow I will...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...surely find The horse is gone the fire's still...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...warm You've moved on an hour before, You like to keep me just one...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...step behind But you were always pretty...
CHORUS
======
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...reckless with your love Come with the sun and getting...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...restless when it's gone And when you go you leave me...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...breathless and alone You leave me breathless when you...
| Em / / / | B7 / / / |
...close the door it feels just like you took the air out of the room with...
| C / / / | Am / / / |
...you Breath-...
INTERLUDE
=========
| Em / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | C / / / |
...less Breath- less Breath-...
| Em / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | B7 / / / |
...less Breath- less
GUITAR SOLO
===========
Solo is over 8 bars of verse chords. Frets relative to nut, not capo.
e|-14------------------------------|---14-16-17---16---14h16p14------|
B|---------------------------------|-----------------------------17--|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B|-14---------------14h15p14h15p14-|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|-16------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
(Played twice)
CHORUS
======
(Yeah you were always pretty...)
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...reckless with your love Come with the sun and getting...
| G / / / | D / / / |
...restless when it's gone And when you go you leave me...
| Em / / / | C / / / |
...breathless and alone You leave me breathless when you...
| Em / / / | B7 / / / |
...close the door it feels just like you took the air out of the room with...
| C / / / | Am / / / |
...you
| Em / / / | B7 / / / |
Restless when it's gone
| C / / / | Am / / / |
Breathless and alone You leave me breathless when you...
| Em / / / | B7 / / / |
...close the door it feels just like you took the air out of the room with...
| C / / / | Am / / / |
...you Breath-...
OUTRO
=====
| Em / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | C / / / |
...less Breath- less Breath-...
| Em / / / | C / / / | Em |
...less Breath- less
Come Home Angel
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Come Home Angel
Album: Free Life
Capo at 3rd fret; all chords relative to capo (song is in Bb).
D9: (x00230)
C/B: (x2x010)
INTRO
=====
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
Oh love the moment that we live now
| Am / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
Will stay with me forever and ever and ever
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
Too good you're too perfect for this world
| Am / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
A visitor a wanderer from somewhere better
PRECHORUS
=========
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
When they're calling all the angels to a great departure place
1 3 +
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C C F |
Leave us earthly creatures to our fates
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
I'll be riding cross the desert trying to find you on your way
3 +
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C C C/B |
Change your mind before they close the gates And it's...
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
...too late Come home...
CHORUS
======
1 + 3 +
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B G/B C |
...angel Angel don't...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B G/B C |
...go Come home...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am / Am/B / |
...angel Angel don't...
INTERLUDE
=========
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
...go
VERSE 2
=======
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
Some nights I lie up and watch you sleep
| Am / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
And wonder what places and planets you dream on
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
Some day I'll come to an empty house They'll...
| Am / / / | C / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
...call you back your silent celestial beacon
PRECHORUS
=========
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
When they're calling all the angels to a great departure place
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C / C D |
Leave us earthly creatures to our fates
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
I'll be riding cross the desert trying to find you on your way
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C / C C/B |
Change your mind before they close the gates And it's...
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
...too late Come home...
CHORUS
======
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B C D |
...angel Angel don't...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B C D |
...go Come home...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am / Am/B / |
...angel Angel don't...
| E / E7 / |
...go
BRIDGE
======
| Am / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
They're imaginary people in a dream of seas and mountains and the
| Am / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C / / / |
Cities and the towns will all be gone when they wake up
GUITAR SOLO
===========
Solo is over first half of prechorus chords. Frets relative to nut,
not capo.
e|--------------|-------------|-------------------|------------------|
B|------3-4-3-4b|6--------4-3-|-4-3---------------|------------------|
G|--------------|-------------|-----3--3h5-3------|--------------3-5b|
D|--------------|-------------|--------------5-3--|-5-3--------------|
A|--------------|-------------|-------------------|-----6------------|
E|--------------|-------------|-------------------|------------------|
e|--------------|-------------|------------|--------------------|-----
B|--------------|-------------|------------|--------------------|-----
G|7--------b7r5-|--------b7r5-|------------|--------------------|-----
D|--------------|-3-----------|-1--------0-|-1-0----0-1-0-------|-----
A|--------------|-------------|------------|----------------3-1-|-1---
E|--------------|-------------|------------|--------------------|-----
PRECHORUS
=========
| G / / / | D / / / | G / / / | C / / / |
I'll be riding cross the desert trying to find you on your way
| Em / / / | D / / / | C / / / | C / C C/B |
Change your mind before they close the gates Before it's...
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
...too late Come home...
CHORUS
======
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B C D |
...angel Before it's before it's too...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B C D |
...late Angel don't...
| G / / / | D / / / | Am / / / | Am G/B C D |
...go Come home...
| G / / / | D / / / |Am/C / / / |Am/B / / / |
...angel Angel don't...
OUTRO
=====
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / |
...go
| Em / / / | D9 / / / | E |
Cry
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Cry
Album: Free Life
INTRO
=====
| Am / / / | Am / / / | G / / / | F / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
One more long and lonely night left here on my own
| G / / / | F / / / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
Lost my baby in the fight I don't know where you've gone
| G / / / | F / / / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
CHORUS
======
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel like I'm a thousand stories high?
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel I'll never fail I'll never die?
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna set me free we'll override the history
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Turn to find our destiny and never turn away
INTERLUDE
=========
Chords:
| Am / / / | Am / / / | G / / / | F / / / |
Guitar melody:
e|----------------|--/10-8-10-10b12|8h10--8---------|---/8-10-8-10-8-|
B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
VERSE 2
=======
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
The devil was an angel once beautiful like you
| G / / / | F / / / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
| Am / / / | Am / / / |
I don't care how far you fall I'll catch you when you do
| G / / / | F / / / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
PRECHORUS
=========
| C / / / | G / / / | C / / / | F / / / |
So I close my eyes try to hold my head up high
| Am / / / | G / / / | F / / / | Dm / / / |
And I pray my soul not to break
CHORUS
======
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel like I'm a thousand stories high?
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel I'll never fail I'll never die?
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna set me free we'll override the history
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Turn to find our destiny and never turn away
| Em / / / | Dm / / / |
Do you really wanna say goodbye?
| Em / Dm / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
GUITAR SOLO
===========
Solo is over 12 bars of verse chords.
bh = bend and hold
e|-0-----0------0------0-----0-----|0-------0-0----0-------0-------0-|
B|/10-------10--10-------10--10/12-|12bh13----13---13br12--10---10---|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
e|-0--------0----0-------0-------0-|-0----0-----0----0-----0------0--|
B|-10bh12---12---12br10--8----8----|/10-----10--10-----10--10--10----|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
e|-0----0------0-----0-----0-----0-|0-------0----0-0-------0---0---0-|
B|-10------10--10------10--10/12---|12bh13----13---13br12--10---10---|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
e|-0-----0-------0-------0------0--|-0----0-----0----0----0---0---0--|
B|-10h12---12----12------10-----8--|/10-----10--10-------/5---5---5--|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
e|-0---0---0---0-----0------0------|-0------0------0-----0-----0-----|
B|-5---5---5---5----\3------3------|-3-----\1------1-----0-----0-----|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----
B|---------------------------------|-0h1p0--0h2p0--0h1p0--0h2p0-0-1-3|-5---
G|-0h2p0--0h2p0-0h2p0-0h2p0-0h2----|---------------------------------|-----
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----
CHORUS
======
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel like I'm a thousand stories high?
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel I'll never fail no matter why?
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna set me free we'll override the history
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Turn to find our destiny and never turn away from me
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel like I'm a thousand stories high?
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Don't you wanna make me feel I'll never fail I'll never die?
| C / / / | G / / / |
Don't you wanna set me free we'll override the history
| Am / / / | F / / / |
Turn to find our destiny and never turn away
| Em / / / | Dm / / / |
Do you really wanna say goodbye?
| Em / Dm / |
Do you wanna make me wanna cry?
OUTRO
=====
Guitar ad lib a la guitar solo.
| Am / / / | Am / / / | G / / / | F / / / |
Do you wanna make wanna...
| Am / / / | Am / / / | G / / / | F / / / |
...cry?
| F / / / | F / / / | F |
Easy Silence
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Easy Silence
Written by: Emily Robison, Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Dan Wilson
Album: Free Life
Capo at 2nd fret (song is in B).
F#m: (244200)
INTRO
=====
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| D / / / | A / / / |
When the call and conversations accidents and accusations
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
Messages and misperceptions paralyze my mind
| D / / / | A / / / |
Busses, cars, and airplanes leaving burning fumes of gasoline
| C#m / / / | F#m / / / |
And everyone is running and I come to find a refuge in the...
CHORUS
======
| D / / / | A / / / |
...Eas- y silence that you make for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
| D / / / | A / / / |
And the peace- ful quiet you create for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
And the way you keep the world at bay from me
| E / / / | D / A / |
The way you keep the world at bay
INTERLUDE
=========
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
VERSE 2
=======
| D / / / | A / / / |
The monkeys on the barricades are warning us to back away
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
They form commission trying to find the next one they can crucify
| D / / / | A / / / |
And anger plays on every station answers only make more questions
| C#m / / / | F#m / / / |
I need something to believe in breathe in sanctuary in the...
CHORUS
======
| D / / / | A / / / |
...Eas- y silence that you make for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
| D / / / | A / / / |
And the peace- ful quiet you create for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
And the way you keep the world at bay from me
| E / / / | D / A / |
The way you keep the world at bay
INTERLUDE
=========
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
VERSE 3
=======
| D / / / | A / / / |
Children lose their youth to soon watching war made us immune
| C#m / / / | F#m / / / |
And I've got all the world to lose but I just want to hold on to the...
CHORUS
======
| D / / / | A / / / |
...Eas- y silence that you make for me
| C#m / / / | F#m / / / |
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
| D / / / | A / / / |
And the peace- ful quiet you create for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
And the way you keep the world at bay from me
| D / / / | A / / / |
The eas- y silence that you make for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
It's okay when there's nothing more to say to me
| D / / / | A / / / |
And the peace- ful quiet you create for me
| E / / / | D / A / |
And the way you keep the world at bay from me
| E / / / | D / A / |
The way you keep the world at bay from me
| E / / / | D / / / |
The way you keep the world at bay
OUTRO
=====
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | F#m / / / |
| D / / / | A / / / |
| E / / / | D / A |
Free Life
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Free Life
Album: Free Life
Drop D tuning; capo at 2nd fret. All chords relative to capo (actual song is in
E).
Em: (2x2000)
G: (5x0003)
A: (x03330)
D9: (000230)
D/F#: (4x02x0)
Intro/end of chorus lick (fingers 2 and 3 hold D9 during bars 3 and 4, frets
are relative to capo):
e|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
D|-----2-----0---2---0-2---2-0---|-----2-----0---2---0-2---2-0-------|
A|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E|-2-----------------------------|-2---------------------------------|
e|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B|----(3)------------------------|-----------------------------------|
G|----(2)------------------------|-----------------------------------|
D|-----2-----0---2---0-2---2-0---|-----2-----0---2---0-2---2-0-------|
A|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E|-0-----------------------------|-0---------------------------------|
INTRO
=====
| Em / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / | D9 / / / |
| Em / / / | Em / / / | D9 / / / | D9 / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| Bm / / / | G / / / |
Let's take a little trip down where we used to go
| D / / / | G / / / |
It's way beyond the strip a place they call your soul
| Bm / / / | A / / / |
We'll sit down for a while and let the evening roll
| Em / / / | Em / / / |
(w/intro lick)
| Bm / / / | G / / / |
Don't worry about the time we'll find a place to stay
| D / / / | G / / / |
The people 'round here seem familiar in some way
| Bm / / / | A / / / |
Look kind of like we did before we got so cold
| Em / / / | Em / / / |
(intro lick) In the air the...
CHORUS
======
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
Ques- tions hang, will we get to do some- thing who we gonna...
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
...end up being, how we gonna end up feeling, what you gonna...
| Bm / A / | G / D/F# / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...spend your free life on? (intro lick) Free...
| D9 / / / | D9 / / / |
...life
VERSE 2
=======
| Bm / / / | G / / / |
Let's fall in love again with music as our guide
| D / / / | G / / / |
We'll raise our ready hands and let go for the ride
| Bm / / / | A / / / |
Down into unknown lands where lovers need and hide
| Em / / / | Em / / / |
(intro lick)
| Bm / / / | G / / / |
We got these lives for free don't know where they've been
| D / / / | G / / / |
Don't know where they'll go when we are through with them
| Bm / / / | A / / / |
Starlight of the sun dark side of the moon
| Em / / / | Em / / / |
(intro lick) In the air the...
CHORUS
======
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
Ques- tions hang, will we get to do some- thing who we gonna...
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
...end up being, how we gonna end up feeling, what you gonna...
| Bm / A / | G / D/F# / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...spend your free life on? (intro lick) Free...
| D9 / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...life Free life Free...
| D9 / / / | D9 / / / |
...life
VERSE 3
=======
| Bm / / / | G / / / |
It seems so long ago those empty afternoons
| D / / / | G / / / |
With nowhere much to go and nothing much to do
| Bm / / / | A / / / |
Just sit up in my room and let the world unfold
| Bm / / / | NC |
In the air the...
CHORUS
======
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
Ques- tions hang, will we get to do some- thing who we gonna...
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
...end up being, how we gonna end up feeling, what you gonna...
| Bm / A / | G / D/F# / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...spend your free life on? (intro lick) In the air the...
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
Ques- tions hang, will we get to do some- thing who we gonna...
| D / A / | G / / / | D / A / | G / / / |
...end up being, how we gonna end up feeling, what you gonna...
| Bm / A / | G / D/F# / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...spend your free life on? (intro lick) Free...
| D9 / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...life Free life Free...
| D9 / / / | D9 / / / | Em / / / | Em / / / |
...life Free life Free...
| D |
...life
Golden Girl
Artist: Dan Wilson
Song: Golden Girl
Album: Free Life
Capo at 5th fret (song is in Dm).
Dm6: (10020x)
Bdim7: (x23230)
INTRO
=====
| Am / / / | E7 / / / |
VERSE 1
=======
| Am / / / | E7 / / / |
The golden girl golden fire
| Am7 / / / | Dm6 / / / |
golden eyes read my desire
| F / / / | G / / / |
I've wand- ered through the world so long
| F / / / | G / / / |
Looking for the gold- en girl
| Am / / / | E7 / / / |
I watched her walk