The Hollands Come To Town

The Hollands are a family band touring the states from Australia. We met them a while back when we did a show with them at the now defunct Hoi Polloi venue on Division Street here in Grand Rapids. Their music is rooted in Celtic folk but feels contemporary and not a tired reworking of that genre.  They are known to make room in their performances for audience interaction. Their music comes across with a lot of warmth and soul.

The Wealthy Orphans look forward to sharing the stage with them again at the DAAC, September 6, 7:30PM along with the truly amazing Illogical Spoon from Jackson MI. The show is $6 at the door. We would love to see you there

Swallow The Sea

Swallow The Sea

I wanna meet the Chinese brother who could swallow the sea
I wanna make a canoe from the big birch tree
I want the records in the collection of Robert Crumb
A movie star face and a silver tongue

I wanna dream the dream of Martin Luther King
I wanna know just why the mocking bird sings
I wanna look up in the sky and see a falling star
Sit behind the wheel of Elvis Presley’s car

I wanna run with the wolves in the forest dark
I wanna camp for a week in Central Park
I wanna hang out on the corner with Lou Reed
Move our mountain with the mustard seed

I wanna hit the base string just like Johnny Cash
I wanna move with the grace of the ally cat
I wanna needle and thread to mend my pants
And stroll through the streets of Paris France

I wanna eat the food of the Latin Kings
I wanna make old silverware into pretty rings
I wanna pay all my bills with one fat check
Hang a necklace on your long white neck

I wanna sing with the rhythm of the Blind Boys 5
I wanna save every single tear that I cry
I wanna drive this train to the end of the track
You give up the ghost then you never come back

I Want What I Don't Have

(A sketch book drawing)

This is a song I am working on called, "I want what I don't have". I have children who I live with from 8-18 years old and they all have strong desires.  They often come to Brenda and I with their wants and some times the answer is no and they push forward to get a yes anyway.  This is human nature.  Mom and Dad live with their unrealized desires as well.  This song has something to do with those hungers that we all live with, some good and some bad.

I want what I don't have

I got a sliver in my finger, a name on the tip of my tongue
A bee in my bonnet, I feel like I’m in an iron lung
I got a crook in my neck, I got stuck in the past
A team of wild horses but I going nowhere fast

A penny for your thoughts but don’t throw me down the well
When I get what I want there will be snow balls in hell
Kick the bucket kick the can, shake it don’t break it
I picked my battle now I’ll take my stand

I want what I don’t have, and I want it real bad

You can say I’m for the birds, you can throw me to the dogs
You can say I’m just a loser climbing out from an o’l log
But I know what I want, I can feel it in my bones
So you can do what you want with your sticks and stones

Roll over Beethoven, I’m gonna paint this town
I’ll shake every tree ‘till the fruits all laying on the ground
Knock it out of the park, no fire with out a spark
I’ll make rocket science look like a walk in the park

I want what I don't have and I want it real bad

Find the genie in the bottle, shoot the moon pull down a star
Take this message to my lover like a moon beam in a jar
I just got tired of wait’n, pulled back the curtain, rang the bell
Now I’m flying to the honey like a bat out’a hell

Making history, making hay. I gotta go I just can’t stay
Cross my heart and hope to die, I want it so bad I could cry
make the planets all get in line, this time I’ll take what’s mine
The first now is last, moving up real fast

I want what I don't have, and I want it real bad.

The Killer Speaks His Mind

"Thats when you got something ya know"

I have had my attention on this man lately.  I have always loved his music and the full throttle passion that has rocked through him now for so many years.  I particularly enjoy this candid interview and the insights he shares regarding his life and memories of people who have influenced him.  This is a man who was given an incredible gift as well as multiple deep tragedies and he has sung and pounded his way through all of them thus far.  God bless you Jerry Lee.

Up In Flames

Ya gotta love those dance moves!  I have been dropping down into the early rock years for the purity of what was at the time new and fresh.  These songs feel so simple and right.  This was the beginning of an era, the breaking through into a new way of doing music and living life.  It was like the youth culture caught fire and just went up into flames.