St James Ukulele Blues

Its nice to know I'm not the only one who plays classic blues songs on a ukulele :)

George on the Walk of Fame

George Harrison was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Video courtesy of Ukulelia:

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Now playing: George Harrison - Beware of Darkness
via FoxyTunes

Amazon Censorship

I just ran across this @ Rich's ComixBlog and thought it worth quoting here:

Due to Amazon’s apparent new censorship policy, which includes de-listing books with LBGT content as “adult” and inappropriate, we have temporarily disabled our affiliate links. We ask that you read up on the issue and think before making any purchases from Amazon, through us or otherwise, until the rankings and search capabilities are restored and an apology is tendered to the authors affected.

A company which censors non-explicit LBGT content, including academic histories and biographies (”Heather Has Two Mommies” is suddenly erotica?) while continuing to openly promote explicit heterosexual pornography (Playboy Centerfolds isn’t erotica?) is a company that we cannot morally support.

You can read more here: Open Letter To Amazon

And here: Ed Rants

And here: Mark Probst: “Amazon Follies”

Thank you.

I know I'll be thinking twice before supporting Amazon again

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Now playing: The Traveling Wilburys - End of the Line
via FoxyTunes

Update: Neil Gaiman is also blogging about this and Amazon has said that it is due to a "glitch" in the system.

Our Wedding Song

This is a piece that I've been working on for some time now. The current plan is to perform it at my upcoming wedding in July. A demo recording should be following in the not too distant future:

Our Wedding Song
For Justine
Lyrics by John W. Leys, Music by Elijah K Wilbury

E7
Tongue tied and stuttering
A7
Looking for the words to say
E7
To tell how much I love you
D G
Gotta keep from spitting up cliches

E7
You opened a door, shone a light
A7
And made my life complete
E7
No more lonely nights spent
D G
Wandering like a hobo in the street

E7-A7-D

E7
I was a man of constant sorrow
A7
Knowin' nothing but trouble all my days
E7
Now reborn like a flower
D G
Touched by the spring sun rays

E7
I followed my footsteps
A7
Ramblin' down a lost highway
E7
'til your love found me at that truck stop
D G
Finally giving me a reason to stay

E7-A7-D

E7
The prospect, it chilled my soul
A7
Can life really be this way?
E7
All my years on the road
D G
Love was just another way to betray

E7
But you made me a father; gave me a son
A7
Created a new family
E7
The light you shown opened by eyes
D G
Finally allowing me to see

E7
With your love in my heart
A7
And your pillow for my head
E7
There's really nothing left to fear
D G
For the past is truly dead

E7-A7-D

Self Preservation Blues

This is a set of lyrics I've been working on lately. Not 100% satisfied with them, but close enough to show them in public ;)

Self Preservation Blues
by John W. Leys

I've seen this movie before and never liked the ending.
So why would I sit through it again?
I can see the plot twists all a comin'
I know what'll happen, its just a matter of when.

The lead is a self absorbed princess
Living in a run down trailer tent
All the other actors are there to serve her
Displease her and be prepared to repent

“What happened, where're you goin'?”
Words have no meaning if you don't listen.
“I don't understand what you're doin'”
Your eyes must be open to see the sky

She fancies herself a high class princess
Though she's just a burned out trailer tramp
Using people like disposable needles
She'll jump a thousand cars using you as the ramp

Like a newborn baby, she's blameless in every situation
Though her dress is scarlet red.
Kindly, she'll show you your every misstep
Though it was you down this path she led.

“What happened, where're you goin'?”
Words have no meaning if you don't listen.
“I don't understand what you're doin'”
Your eyes must be open to see the sky

So, without a word, I left the theater
Not stopping for a refund, nor to complain
Behind me the projector screened the second act
While I slept in comfort on an outbound train.

“What happened, where're you goin'?”
Words have no meaning if you don't listen.
“I don't understand what you're doin'”
Your eyes must be open to see the sky

Happy Birthday, Mr President!

Abraham Lincoln
(February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865)
16th President of the United States of America
(March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

A New Life

New Life
For Justine

As I traveled, the path ahead seemed clear
I walked alone searching, yet not finding
A companion within the road windings.
Someone in the darkness to fight the fear
That wrapped my heart and drained me of my tears.
Many promises made; few still binding.
A mask pretends a heart is not minding
Liars and thieves, though the cost is so dear

But the moment before all hope is lost,
A hand offered to dust away the strife.
A soul so warm to thaw a frozen heart,

Ne'er asking what, to her, would be the cost
To risk her soul to save my broken life
So a new life together we can start

14 Dec 2008

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Now playing: The Beatles - Something
via FoxyTunes

Ukulele Player Magazine

I found this via Ukulelia. A Free Ukulele enthusiasts magazine in pdf format! And its FREE!

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Now playing: Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell
via FoxyTunes

St Jame Infirmary Blues

I recently found this article vis a link over at Expecting Rain.com. It is an article about Robert R Harwood's new book on the history of the St James Infirmary Blues, which has long been one of my all time favorite blues songs (I've even recorded it myself!). Harwood says of the song:

There is something mythical about St. James Infirmary. It seems to have always been here, although in its present state it is perhaps a hundred years old. The late American trombonist Jack Teagarden called it "the oldest blues song I know," but it's also jazz, country, pop . . . it even migrated to modern classical music. A number of people claimed authorship in the early days, but when blues singer Mattie Hite released her interpretation in 1930, the composer credit was to "Everybody" -- and that's about as accurate as it gets.

More information about the book can be found on Harwood's website, from which I found a great blog on Pre-War Blues called 'Honey, Where You Been So Long?' Not only does the blog post mp3s of hard to find blues tunes, they've recently posted a huge anthology of virtually every version of St James ever recorded: So Young So Cold So Fair & Standing Pat



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Now playing: Blind Willie McTell - Dying Crapshooter's Blues
via FoxyTunes

History in the Making

Barack H. Obama
44th President of the United States of America

An interesting historical note: Obama is the 3rd US President from Illinois. The first two: Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant.