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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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August 11, 2010 · Life In Song 1970's

Formica Bartop Blues-Song 001

Here’s the very first song I wrote that I still remember…It’s called Formica Bartop Blues and I wrote it in the December of 1976 while I was shoveling snow. It’s also the first song that I wrote “in character” stepping into the shoes of someone other than myself and writing the song through the eyes of that person. Lyrics are below.

PLEASE! Use headphones or decent speakers to listen to this instead of your tinny little computer speakers. It’s recorded in crystal clear digital sound and the headphones really make a difference!

Video:

Audio:

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Lyrics:

Formica Bartop Blues | Song #1 | December 1976

I will sing for you my buddy
Formica Bartop Blues
And you know that we are brothers
We’re standing in each other’s shoes

We get buzzed ‘bout every night now
In the Firefly Hotel
They got a good dark bar in the basement
Where we drink our souls to Hell!

Refrain:
Let me tell you that
There ain’t no easy winners
In this world of wounds and woe
If you want to get to the top man
Something’s got to go!

And we love to roam dark alleys
With switchblades in our fists
And we want to get from Sally
Much more than a kiss…

Refrain:

And these sneakers have seen ‘Bout a million miles
Of New York’s cracked blacktop
And this body has seen it’s share of trials
Mostly from those blue bellied cops…

Refrain:

Standard Tuning

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Creative Commons License
Formica Bartop Blues by Mark Shepard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
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Get Your Back Stage Pass! (it’s free for a limited time) and you get unlimited downloads of the entire Life in Song Project

Filed Under: Life In Song 1970's

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Some reviews & testimonials

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

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