September Showcase Thread

[LCK]

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

 

 

 

[tbry]

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.

[rsadasiv]

Put together a mix of all the Motown covers I've done over the past 7 years.

 

[LCK]

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...

[Oswlek]

That's great, Lee! Your lead in set up low expectations, but I really enjoyed it.

 

You definitely had a southern twang back then.

[Foose31]

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.

 

 

 

[Lee Knight]

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!

[rsadasiv]

Quite a tale. Very nice.

[LCK]

Wow, I'm stunned. I've always liked the song but I didn't think it was that good!

[LCK]

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.