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

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated by Mark Twain

I recently ran across these lyrics while looking for some songs to record. They're Mark Twain's "updated" version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Twain wrote it in 1908 as a satire on American Imperialism in the wake of the Philippine-American War. Sadly, it seems just as relevant today in many respects. I may have to record this one myself.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated
by Mark Twain

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps—
His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;*
Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom—and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich—
Our god is marching on.

* NOTE: In Manila the Government has placed a certain industry under the protection of our flag. (M.T.)

Tom Dooley

I just posted a new song to Elijah Wilbury's EZFolk Page. Its my rendition of the old Folk Song "Tom Dooley". The song is based on the real life murder of Lorie Foster in 1866. Civil War veteran Tom Dula was hanged for the crime in 1868.

More information about the development of the song and the story behind it can be found at Tom Dula.com.

Let it Be

Some more SingSnap fun. My girlfriend, Justine, and I duetting on the Beatles' "Let it Be"

The Shape of Love

I just posted a new song to my EZ Folk page. This is a song written by my friend Tony III and recorded by me a few weeks ago.

The Shape of Love - Download

The Shape of Love - Stream

Rachel Redux

This is a rerecording of a song I did some time ago. Its a reworking of the traditional spiritual "Mary, Don't You Weep" into a Jewish version I call "Rachel, Don't You Weep." For this new version I've changed the song from Dm to Dmaj, since it is traditional played in a major key. This is also my first recording featuring my newly acquired banjulele.

Download Rachel, Don't You Weep

Stream Rachel, Don't You Weep

This Isn't How the Story Ends (song)

I finally did an acceptable demo recording of This Isn't How The Story Ends. Its been posted to my UkeLand page:

• This Isn't How The Story Ends
• Direct Link to Mp3
• Lyrics/Chords (PDF)

This Isn't How the Story Ends

This is a revised version of a song I posted here earlier (and played live last night). Studio recording to follow (eventually).

This Isn't How the Story Ends
by John W. Leys

A casual wave good-bye
Her other hand clinging to another
An unfaithful, unworthy rake
His tequila soaked drinking brother

The tear-stained photograph
By his fingers often traced
A mind obsessed with the whys
Of a love lost that will never be replaced

He quietly watched her walk away
The bridges as she passes they burn
The question asked; the answer known
“Will she ever to me return?”

But this isn't how the story ends

In the courtyards of academia
Too public a place to cause a scene
Quiet reasons and no desire to continue
Calls a waking from this nightmarish dream

With walls crashing down around him
Remains of a romance that should never have been
The final stab thrust through him:
“I hope I can always be your friend”

Stunned, he watches her walk away
A lesson his heart doesn't wish to learn
The question asked; the answer known
“Will she ever to me return?”

But this isn't how the story ends...

It doesn't end this way
Traveling down our lonely roads
It doesn't end in tears, nor pain
That strangles until your soul explodes

This isn't how the story ends...

A lonely letter down an endless wire
Long expected, arriving from nowhere
Detailing coldly and concisely
All the ways this perfect love they can no longer share

But this isn't how the story ends...

Facing a fork in the road,
He calmly decides to take it
Not giving her another chance
To grip his heart and break it

The phone in the cradle he lays
A chapter here is finished
So often left behind, he now leaves
His love for her never truly diminished

Stunned, she watches him walk away
Desperate to mask her panic and concern
The unspoken answer known only in his soul
“Someday, to you, I promise to return”

But this isn't where the story ends...

It doesn't end this way
Traveling down our lonely roads
It doesn't end in tears, nor pain
That strangles until your soul explodes

This isn't how the story ends...

Stunned, she watches him walk away
Desperate to mask her panic and concern
The unspoken answer known only in his soul
“Someday, to you, I promise to return”

This isn't how the story ends..

New Song Lyrics

These are the lyrics to a song I've been working on for the past few days. Any feedback or suggestions are most welcome:

A casual wave good-bye
Her other hand clinging to another
An unfaithful, unworthy rake
His tequila soaked drinking brother

The tear stained photo
By his fingers often traced
A mind obsessed with the whys
Of a love lost that will never be replaced

He quietly watched her walk away
The bridges as she passes they burn
The question asked; the answer known
"Will she ever to me return?"

In the courtyard of academia
Too public a place to cause a scene
Quiet reasons and no desire to continue
Calls a waking from this nightmarish dream

With walls crashing down around him
Remains of a romance that should never have been
The final stab thrust through him:
"I hope I can always be your friend"

Stunned, he watches her walk away
A lesson his heart doesn't wish to learn
The question asked; the answer known
"Will she ever to me return?"

A lonely letter down an endless wire
Long expected, yet coming out of nowhere
Detailing curtly, coldly and concisely
All the ways this perfect love they cannot share

A tactical retreat to tend his wounds
So often left behind, he now leaves her
Sidetracked from his grail quest this knight
Convinces himself foolishly that he no longer needs her

Stunned, she watches him walk away
Desperate to mask her panic and concern
The unspoken answer known only in his soul
"Someday, to you, I promise to return"

Dick Mouse

In response to my Jackass inspired song, ukulele buddy John Rockwell has penned a tune called "Dick Mouse" (inspired by the opening stunt in Jackass Number 2). The finished song has little to do with the stunt, but is well worth a listen:

• Dick Mouse (Mp3)

The Big Red Rocket

A new song has been uploaded to the Elijah Wilbury page at Ukeland. This time its an original tune I wrote over the past couple days. Inspiration comes from the strangest places sometimes. This song was born from me watching Jackass Number 2 one too many times. It ocurred to me that the Big Red Rocket stunt was the perfect metaphor for a certain kind of relationship that some (all?) of us find ourselves in from time to time.

• Our Love is Like a Big Red Rocket
• Direct Link to MP3
• Lyrics/Chords PDF
  

And this is a video clip of the scene that inspired the song:

Hamlet in 4 Minutes on a Ukulele

This is just to bizarre and funny not to share (And its better than Cliff Notes!).

And check out more of John Rockwell's music at his website.

Angel Dream

I just posted a new song to the Elijah Wilbury page over at UkeLand. This time its a cover of one of my favorite Tom Petty songs, "Angel Dream" from the She's the One movie soundtrack:

• Angel Dream
• Direct Link to MP3

I Will Always Love You (New Song)

I've posted a new song to my page over at Ukeland. Its a fairly rough take of an arrangement I've been working on of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You"

• I Will Always Love You
• Direct Link To Mp3

I Have Found Me a Home

My latest ukulele recording has been uploaded to my page over at UkeLand. I took a shot at another Jimmy Buffett song, "I Have Found Me a Home." My playing is definitely improving, though I am still unsatisfied with my vocals. But there is a good chance I'll never be satisfied with them, so that may not mean much!

• I Have Found Me a Home
• Direct Link to MP3

Stop Hurting People

This has always been one of my favorite Pete Townshend Lyrics:

"A love born once must soon be born again
A spark that burned, then died, leaving cinders to be fanned
By the wind and thrown flame
Flames like tongues impassioned in a moments burst.
Tell me my friend, why do you stand aloof from your own heart?...

Love conquers poses, love smashes stances,
Love crushes angels into black
So you, without question, know your first love is your last.
And you will never, you'll never, you'll never love again...

May I be matched with you again

I know the match is bad
But, God help me,
Without your match there is no flame..."

- from "Stop Hurting People" on All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982)

The Dance

I've just posted a new song to the Elijah Wilbury page over at UkeLand. This time I took a shot at Garth Brooks' song "The Dance."

• The Dance by Elijah Wilbury
• Direct Link to Mp3

All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)

Another new song has been uploaded to the Elijah Wilbury page over at UkeLand. This time its my version of Hank Williams, Jr's "All My Rowdy friends (Have Settled Down)"

• All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)
• Direct Link to Mp3
  
  

Me and Bobby McGee

I just posted a new song to Elijah Wilbury's MySpace page. Its a cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee," heavily influenced--of course--by Janis Joplin's definitive version.

Elijah Wilbury @ MySpace

Can't Help Falling in Love

I've posted a new Elijah Wilbury song to my UkeLand page. Its a version of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" I recorded while testing some new recording equipment I received over the holidays.

• Can't Help Falling in Love @ UkeLand
• Direct Link to Mp3