Members LCK Posted September 14, 2014 Members Share Posted September 14, 2014 I left some music on for the dogs while I was out earlier, and when I came home this blast from the past was playing. In some ways it's cringe-inducing, in others it's not half bad. And definitely a Dylan-Wannabe type song. I wrote it in 1973. For some reason, in those days, I sang songs like this with a strange twang in my voice. Oh, and the line about my friend Joe keeping his beard out on display? He actually cut off his beard one day (which was ZZ Top long), wrapped it in a leather band, and hung it on the wall of his bedroom!! It was recorded in 1983, with me on acoustic, my friend Rich Dixon on lead acoustic guitar and bass, the guy who owned the studio on piano, and me doing the harmonica solo. "Under Maggie's Tree"(7: 07) 1.This April morning breezeblows politely through her hair.She says, " That's fine."New leaves upon the treeslook like feathers in the airand that's the sunshine.But it's also Maggie's magic,like witches casting spells upon Macbeth—something comic, something tragic,a touch of beauty brought with ev'ry breath. And me, I feel like Bottomas I revel in my sad simplicity.Ah, those mad midsummer dreams, it seems I've got 'em.Dreams come easily to me under Maggie's tree. 2.He's got a portrait spun from goldbut still Joe keeps his beard out on display.His tragic history is toldby a chinless souvenir of yesterday.I know since then he's traveledon the King's Road on the highway to repair.Meantime, springtime has unraveledall the silhouetted yarn of Maggie's hair. And I know there's so much more to give her,than these allusions and this purloined poetry.But with a voice that's like a lazy river,she says, "Don't bother. Take iteasy, under Maggie's tree." 3.So I sat without my bootson her newly-greenin' grass one afternoon.My stockinged feet upon the rootsof a friendship come to pass too late or soon.She's Ophelia undercoverand everybody knows I'm just a ham.So, I'll sing this song and love herlike the rogue and peasant slave I truly am. And like a tired transistor RomeoI don't know if it's to be, or not to be.But there's no point in even turnin' on the radio.I've got the music of the wind in Maggie's tree. 4.The wild Wyoming windstreaks across the landscape of her heart.See the dimes and dollars spin,she tries, but she just can't escape her art.There's snakes she's got to wrestle,crows and lizards she must tame.While on a frameless wooden trestlea nameless actor grapples with his fame. And all the world's a little stage, my friend.And I've been hidin' in the balcony.I've been wonderin' where this play will end;up in the lights, or in the shade under Maggie's tree. (harmonica solo) 5.This broken road leads on forever,or maybe to Vermont, or maybe Maine.And if you're quick and if you're cleveryou'll get what you want, just trade your joy for pain.Ah, but it's friends and part-time strangersthat see the things that she alone reveals;all the subtle traps and dangersas she redesigns the dramas that she feels. All's well that ends, they say, in endless leisure.But when you've lost love's labors in security,there's no use exchangin' misery for measure,it doesn't matter, under Maggie's tree. It's no use, your tradin' tragedies for treasure,'cause gold won't glitter,not while it's under Maggie's tree. Words & Music © 1973 by Lee Charles KelleyWest Sixty Ninth Street Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tbry Posted September 14, 2014 Members Share Posted September 14, 2014 Really nice...sounds a little like Lightfoot and Taylor and others I can't place but I like this very much. You play a different style today but I would like to hear more like this. Straight forward honest and just plain good. ...Very well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rsadasiv Posted September 15, 2014 Members Share Posted September 15, 2014 Put together a mix of all the Motown covers I've done over the past 7 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted September 15, 2014 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2014 Really nice...sounds a little like Lightfoot and Taylor and others I can't place but I like this very much. You play a different style today but I would like to hear more like this. Straight forward honest and just plain good. ...Very well done. Thanks! I'm glad you like it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oswlek Posted September 15, 2014 Members Share Posted September 15, 2014 That's great, Lee! Your lead in set up low expectations, but I really enjoyed it. You definitely had a southern twang back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Foose31 Posted September 16, 2014 Members Share Posted September 16, 2014 LCK, man this has to be my favorite of yours that I've heard from you. Enjoyed the listen!! Originally posted by tbry View Post You play a different style today but I would like to hear more like this. Straight forward honest and just plain good. ...Very well done. Agree, I'd like to hear more of this also if you have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted September 16, 2014 Moderators Share Posted September 16, 2014 I left some music on for the dogs while I was out earlier, and when I came home this blast from the past was playing. In some ways it's cringe-inducing, in others it's not half bad. And definitely a Dylan-Wannabe type song. I wrote it in 1973. For some reason, in those days, I sang songs like this with a strange twang in my voice. Oh, and the line about my friend Joe keeping his beard out on display? He actually cut off his beard one day (which was ZZ Top long), wrapped it in a leather band, and hung it on the wall of his bedroom!! It was recorded in 1983, with me on acoustic, my friend Rich Dixon on lead acoustic guitar and bass, the guy who owned the studio on piano, and me doing the harmonica solo. " Under Maggie's Tree" (7: 07) 1. This April morning breeze blows politely through her hair. She says, " That's fine." New leaves upon the trees look like feathers in the air and that's the sunshine. But it's also Maggie's magic, like witches casting spells upon Macbeth— something comic, something tragic, a touch of beauty brought with ev'ry breath. And me, I feel like Bottom as I revel in my sad simplicity. Ah, those mad midsummer dreams, it seems I've got 'em. Dreams come easily to me under Maggie's tree. 2. He's got a portrait spun from gold but still Joe keeps his beard out on display. His tragic history is told by a chinless souvenir of yesterday. I know since then he's traveled on the King's Road on the highway to repair. Meantime, springtime has unraveled all the silhouetted yarn of Maggie's hair. And I know there's so much more to give her, than these allusions and this purloined poetry. But with a voice that's like a lazy river, she says, "Don't bother. Take it easy, under Maggie's tree." 3. So I sat without my boots on her newly-greenin' grass one afternoon. My stockinged feet upon the roots of a friendship come to pass too late or soon. She's Ophelia undercover and everybody knows I'm just a ham. So, I'll sing this song and love her like the rogue and peasant slave I truly am. And like a tired transistor Romeo I don't know if it's to be, or not to be. But there's no point in even turnin' on the radio. I've got the music of the wind in Maggie's tree. 4. The wild Wyoming wind streaks across the landscape of her heart. See the dimes and dollars spin, she tries, but she just can't escape her art. There's snakes she's got to wrestle, crows and lizards she must tame. While on a frameless wooden trestle a nameless actor grapples with his fame. And all the world's a little stage, my friend. And I've been hidin' in the balcony. I've been wonderin' where this play will end; up in the lights, or in the shade under Maggie's tree. (harmonica solo) 5. This broken road leads on forever, or maybe to Vermont, or maybe Maine. And if you're quick and if you're clever you'll get what you want, just trade your joy for pain. Ah, but it's friends and part-time strangers that see the things that she alone reveals; all the subtle traps and dangers as she redesigns the dramas that she feels. All's well that ends, they say, in endless leisure. But when you've lost love's labors in security, there's no use exchangin' misery for measure, it doesn't matter, under Maggie's tree. It's no use, your tradin' tragedies for treasure, 'cause gold won't glitter, not while it's under Maggie's tree. Words & Music © 1973 by Lee Charles Kelley West Sixty Ninth Street Music That's wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rsadasiv Posted September 16, 2014 Members Share Posted September 16, 2014 Quite a tale. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted September 16, 2014 Author Members Share Posted September 16, 2014 Wow, I'm stunned. I've always liked the song but I didn't think it was that good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LCK Posted September 17, 2014 Author Members Share Posted September 17, 2014 This is me (in Dan Hicks mode), standing in front of a painting by Maggie Greever. Another of Maggie's paintings... When I wrote the song she was working on a lot of southwest desert scenes, including a broken road that seemed to go on forever, and a series featuring animal motifs of crows and lizards. The guy in the headband (above) is the "Joe" mentioned in the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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