Prairie Lights

This song was written sort of by request while living in a trailer in the backyard of a friend of a friend. It was first recorded for a Christmas project in December, 1990. I first heard the reference to “prairie lights” in a Gordon Lightfoot song called “Alberta Bound.” It also is the name of a fairly famous bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa…I suspect they may have heard it from the same Lightfoot song. Thanks to Frankie Lafayette for supplying the 8-string console steel and Diana Hengerer for background vocals and improvised LSD scatting on the fade.

Can You Hear The Train?

woke up from a dream with the chorus in 1993, the rest came in about 30 minutes (lucky for me a great harp player was in town and helped out with the track}

Heart Of America

Written in the mid 90’s…recorded in the past few months (2018). Back then, what it meant was a lot more abstract…now it seems pretty specific and direct. I’m thinking someone out there will appreciate coming across it.

Only You

Mostly written in 1986…updated in 2018. Not surprisingly, a song to myself.

Pretty As U

Written in the same time zone as the previous tune…although it was a different place in the universe.

Calm After The Storm

written in 1990 while me and my dog Bart lived in a spare upstairs room of a friend of a friend (not really a love song, possible foreshadowing)

New Beauty

my father-in-law was in the hospital on his final approach and he sent this message through me as a way to comfort his gathered family

We Could Go And Start Again

a song written by Shawn Mullins (yeah, ask me about my Mandela effect experience with this tune)