Mark Shepard: Singer Songwriter
30 Years of Underground Music & Indie Songs
Hey Everybody,
I know it’s a bit last minute but HAY! Spontaneity is the spice of life.
Just got word that I’ll be performing tomorrow, Saturday, January 24, 2009 at my favorite Starbucks in downtown New Haven, CT. It’s the Starbucks on the corner of High St and Chapel across from the Yale Museum of British Art and the Yale Art Gallery.
I start my first set at 8 PM and I would love to see any and all of you who are in the New Haven area!
Here’s a couple of clips from my last gig…
Hope this song helps you make it through the snow and ice until Spring...:o)
January comes to my town just once a year
Visits for a while and then kicks on out of here
Leaving ice on the telephone wires
And a blanket of snow on the dormant backyard sapphires
Of the swimming pools, the summer jewels...
The streetlights through my window
Look like ghosts veiled in snow
Haunting the cars that struggle through
The drifts of the road below
The wind sounds like an interstate.
It threatens to take my home away
And a friend or relative asks me to play
A "summer song"…a “right where they belong” song...
So I create…
Kids playing tag outside the screen door
They laugh a little now and they laugh a little more
The grass is green in the yard and
There’s plenty to eat from the garden
Sing a summer song for the summer folks
Sit into the night on the porch telling jokes
Watching the moon and the starts for hours or
Sitting inside during thunder showers
Singing of blue skies and ice cream cones
Bare feet on sun warmed stones
Sing a summer song for the summer folks
Sit into the night on the porch telling jokes
But no matter what song you sing
You must have patience in the end
Because sooner or later Spring will push
Winter round the bend…
January comes to my town
Once a year
Visits for a while and then
Kicks…on…out of here….
Tuning DADGAD
© 1978-2009 by Mark Shepard, ASCAP. All Rights Reserved
Commentary: This is one of the early ones. Pretty self explanatory. I was 17 years old when I wrote this. recorded it sometime in the 1990's. I hope it helps to make it through the tough months if you live somewhere cold. If you live somewhere warm...well send us some sun okay? - Mark
Here's a high quality studio version of the song featured in my previous post "A Drum For X-Mas: A Mark Shepard Christmas Story"
Download this mp3 for a limited time FREE! (my gift to you)
Right click the link below and choose "save as" or "save link as"
This song is from the CD "Thirsty For The Sky: Songs of Empowerment & Healing vol 1"
Children of the Drum | 11/27/2001 | Song # 323(dedicated to Kevin “Kazi” Oliver, Master African Drummer)
He was born in Trenton New Jersey
Where the boom box ruled in the streets
He was born in Trenton, New Jersey
But he lived for an older beat
Kevin wanted a drum for Christmas
Kevin wanted a drum (2X)
I was born in suburbia just
Wondering what I was worthy of
I was born in suburbia
With a passionate rhythm love
I just wanted a drum for Christmas
I just wanted a drum (2 X)
Refrain:
Play on my brother
Play on my friend
Play on my brother
We are brothers of the drum
Kevin joined the marines for music
They said that he could march in the band
Kevin joined the marines for music
But they put a gun in his hand
I got a job just to pay the rent
And soon I felt like a rat in a race
I got a job just to pay the rent but
My dream still showed on my face
Refrain:
Life somehow brought us both together
To the beat of an African drum
Life somehow brought us both together
Two souls playing as one
Sometimes it takes a while to live
The dreams you had as a kid
Sometimes it takes a while to live
But aren’t you glad that you did…
Last Refrain:
Play on my brothers
Play on my friends
Play on my sisters
We are children of the drum
Kevin wanted a drum for Christmas
Kevin wanted a drum
I just wanted a drum for Christmas
I just wanted a drum...
© 2001-2008 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved. ASCAP
I need your help to get this music out into the world where it can do some good!
Please leave a comment below or "Stumble" or "digg" or "facebook" this or share the link by e-mail. Thanks! - Mark
