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Mark Shepard Sings

A Life In Song: 4 Decades of Original Music

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LIS 021-Adolescent Blues

“Life In Song” #21: “Adolescent Blues” is a humorous look back on childhood and early teen experiences from the nostalgic perspective of the soon to graduate high school senior that I was in 1978. The 1st verse refers to my childhood friend Mike McTygue. The 2nd verse describes a bit of what it was like at my grandparents house in Western NY (the source of many bug phobias). And the 3rd verse make reference to a certain girl who introduced me to…um…let’s say “several new experiences”. “Hester’s Pearl” is a reference to “The Scarlet Letter” which we all had to read in 9th grade…

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!

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Audio:

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Lyrics:

Adolescent Blues | May 1978 | Song #21

Chorus:
I got those Adolescent blues
The time in life to choose
Between religion, women and booze

But let’s put that aside for a while
And go back in time
To me and Mikie on the dirt pile
We had our match box cars
Never dreamed of hopping bars
Oh no, no, no, no
We had our share of playground fights
Hot summer nights,
Hide and go seek with flashlights
And our cowboy hats
Went well with baseball bats
As I remember….

Chorus:

And it ain’t so long ago
We’d go to grandma’s a lot
Be it rain, sleet, hail or snow
There were fields of cows and wheat
And plenty of good things to eat
Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmm, mmmmmmm
There were varmints all around
Creeping and crawlin’, crawlin’ all over the ground
Caterpillars and bees
Seemed to have an affection for me that continues
To this day…

Chorus:

And as I squint back through the haze
Of courtship clichés
Locker steaming high school days
I can see one wild girl
Surely she was Hester’s Pearl
Uh, huh, huh, huh
My voice was changing at the time
She said her heart would break if I dumped her…
When she dumped me I broke mine
Well I’m ready to enter the world now
I just need someone to please
Tell me how…

Chorus:

Tuning: Standard


Creative Commons License
“Adolescent Blues” by Mark Shepard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
.
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Some reviews & testimonials

Brilliant!

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

Mary F.

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

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

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

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

Enjoying your songs so much…

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

Marianne

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

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

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

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

Just awesome…

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

Eric

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

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

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

Never fails to move me…

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

Paula

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