Years ago, my eldest sons and I began recording a series of songs that was meant to follow up our Full Fathom Five EP. My good friend, Jeff, who has run sound for many of our concerts, invited us to his basement to lay down the tracks in a more professional manner and away fromContinue reading “For Such a Time as This: “God Who Hears””
Category Archives: songs
For Such a Time as This: “Casting Off”
None of us willingly chooses to live life without safety and happiness. Those ideas permeate our very Declaration of Independence. Only fools, anarchists, or sadomasochists would welcome perpetual danger, fear, and sorrow. And yet, setting up safety and happiness as the sole pillars for living are weak constructs at best. I’ve commented on this veryContinue reading “For Such a Time as This: “Casting Off””
For Such a Time as This: “Ballad for the Obdurate”
Obdurate (adj): stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing, hardened in feelings; resistant to persuasion or softening influences https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obdurate Let’s be honest. We all have the propensity to choose the narrative we want to believe and refuse to consider other perspectives. But what concerns me is the growing trend to remove access to any dissenting point of view.Continue reading “For Such a Time as This: “Ballad for the Obdurate””
For Such a Time as This: “Let’s Away”
The timeless nature of literature never ceases to amaze me. How is it that writers from centuries past and different cultures can so clearly understand me and prophetically address the struggles of our time? It’s actually quite simple: we’re all human and there are universal struggles that continue to play out throughout history. The epicContinue reading “For Such a Time as This: “Let’s Away””
“Ballad of the Ideal Citizen”
Years ago I came upon W. H. Auden’s poem “The Unknown Citizen” in preparation for my AP English Literature course. I had been an Auden fan ever since I read “Musee des Beaux Arts” (another worthy read). Ironically, though I teach “Musee” nearly every year in at least one of my courses, I have rarelyContinue reading ““Ballad of the Ideal Citizen””
At the In Between
Here’s the studio album produced back in 2012 by the now defunct Tate Music Group. Members of Treebeard Brown appear on both “Ballad of the Ideal Citizen” and “Noiselessly,” two of my favorite tracks on the album. “Song of the Broken Man” appeared on the indie radio show Under the Radar with other great indieContinue reading “At the In Between”
“Leo”
When I began researching to write “Leo,” the idea of hiding behind lies emerged primarily from the version that ties Leo to the lion Hercules had to kill as one of the Twelve Labors. Although the Pyramus and Thisbe story, the fertile ground for one Romeo and Juliet, had its merits, the idea of aContinue reading ““Leo””
Chest Full of Straw EP
It’s late and I’m inspired! Here’s a still active link to a joint musical venture with my good friend and writing brother, James Witmer. (If you have children and enjoy Beatrix Potter and Thornton Burgess, you need to get his book! Go to his webpage; I’ve linked it for you! You can thank me later.)Continue reading “Chest Full of Straw EP”
Full Fathom Five EP
After being contacted by a Salvation Army captain a few month ago seeking permission to use our version of the William Booth song “Boundless Salvation” in a podcast, I rediscovered the Bandcamp page my sons and I developed back when we were performing more regularly. Now, eight years later, simply follow this link (full EP)Continue reading “Full Fathom Five EP”
“Canis Major”
Deep within me there’s a longing for a rest and peace – a sabbath, if you will – that everything in life seems diametrically opposed to me ever finding. “Canis Major” addresses the life of the endless pursuit. According to the myth, Laelaps, the fastest dog in the world, was destined to catch anything itContinue reading ““Canis Major””
