Awaken Now Kristen

we sat on
the sofa
a laugh and
a smoke
we stood in
the kitchen
and listened
to what

she was workin on
she was workin on
practicin her horn
she was workin on

the next piece
her lessons
her songs
her sound

it was in her bones
it was in her bones
it was in her bones
it was in her bones

her music
her laughter
her anger
her tone
her mischief
her cancer
her wonder
her own

she had to go home
she had to go home
she had to go home
she had to go home

to her father
so tender
her mother
so strong
she fought it
and fought it
it twisted
her arm

when finally
no remission
was given
permission
was given
to give in
to give in
to give in
and taken
with mercy

awaken
now Kristin
and straighten
your fingers
on your horn
and blow

on your horn and blow
on your horn and blow
on your horn and blow
on your horn and blow

 

Being Odd Has Been Good To Me

Stopped down by the coffee shop, med-books in my hand
Watched the Georgetown girls go by, met a homeless man
Talked about a state of grace, did calisthenics and prayed goodbye
More compelling than a soft pretty face is a crazy old rambling guy

When I was a little boy, I kicked a little ball
Back then the whole of life was to juke a guy and get a goal
I’m still confounding with my fun, nobody’s got a clue
I’m having a ball but I can’t find the goal and I’m not really sure what to do

But I’m very seriously amused
That the whole world is confused
At innocence reused and reused and reused
And I try to put it into words
And it might sound a little absurd
As I utilize every buzzword but use them cryptically
Being odd has been good to me

Rolled into the Hela spa, about half-past ten
Somewhere round a quarter past 11 a rich young lady walks in
She said I’ve got too much underarm hair, shoot me with your laser gun
Who woulda’ guessed being a doctor would be so easy and fun

Scootered over to the hospital, surfed the Web all night
Except for the guy who came in to the ICU with an umpsi doodle mongoose bite
Somethin bout a fight over Christmas ham with a spoiled snake
I swear you can’t make this stuff up but you can dream about the movie you’ll make

Walked up to the psych ward, clipboard and a pen
Asked all the standard questions and then the exam really began
Talked about God and shame, the devil’s sexuality
Told him God is good, take your meds, and the truth will set you free

Wrapped up in a pure white coat
Writing my own doctor’s note
Allowing myself to float
On down the stream that leads to Ashley
Talking with the nurse for a while
Slacker with a savior style
Milkin’ it mile after mile after mile
Being doc has been good to me

I need 20mg of prayer for this girl stat

Might even need a laying on of hands

Straight through every red light
Beepin’ to the guy that wants to fight
Magic tricks out on the street
Every corner is a meet and greet
Saying slowly what I have to say
Taking my sweet time to pray
Inventing new dances every day
Eating my curds and whey
Forgetting that I needed to pay
Charming my way away
Life is like a game of croquet
Weaving round on the highway
Contemplating modern decay
Working it into a screenplay
For when I move to LA someday
What can I really say, except
Being Jono has been good to me

 

Apply Obama’s Marketing Strategy

How did Obama do it? Here are five easy steps to a dynamite campaign.

“The market for something to believe in is infinite.” - Macleod

The Rules Of Engagement

  1. Truly believe in your cause. Work harder than anyone for the cause.
  2. Spread the word. Be ready to tell it in 1 word, 10 words, 100 words, simple and powerful, all the time. Know it’s essence and never stray from the core message. Constantly champion the stories of those behind the cause.
  3. Make it urgent. Always be beating the drum for some impending deadline to advance the cause.
  4. Give the power to the people. Let it sell itself. Give them the microphone, the communications tools, the community building tools, the network and get out of the way. Create environments where it flows. Ride the movement with everyone else. Give up control of your movement, open up to THE movement.
  5. Report from the front-line. Hard-working, open, authentic, sharing, available communicators gather supporters by simply participating in our hyper-networked world.

Short and sweet: Believe in your cause, spread the word, make it urgent, power to the people, and report from the front-line.

The Rules of En-J-ment

  1. Truly believe in my cause: Nothing is more important than making and sharing great art, song. This year I need to make a great album, site, and share it with Austin (DC, New York, San Diego…) and the world.
  2. Spread the word: I am a songwriter who cares about lyrics and poetry and uses a palette of folk, funk, soul, jazz, latin, rock and reggae. Everyday J making poetry pop.
  3. Make it urgent: Countdown to the next album: 5 months. It’s been 4 years since my last album and I’ve got scads of unrecorded songs. I’ve been in Austin for 13 years and am almost completely unknown beyond my friends. The time is NOW! Make a great album, show, site. Get on the map in Austin, at the very least.
  4. Give the power to the people: Solicit fan feedback on everything I do. Listen, write, record, perform for them. Create ways for fans to easily share it with their friends.
  5. Report from the front-line: Progress reports all the time from the center of the action.

In a nutshell: Make music, post songs, live for deadlines, share and engage with fans, always be broadcasting cool new stuff. Break!

I’ve got 5 months to make an album and 6 to sell it. I’ve got 8 songs picked for a theme and want it to be a soul album called Folk Dub for its personal funky acoustic beach reggae feel. Songs stripped down to rhythmic essence adorned with funky jazzy bass, guitar, organ, horns, and back-up singers. Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder and Jobim. Manu Chao,  D’Angelo, U2/Eno/Lanois.

  1. I Can See You -  reggae soul
  2. God Has Been Good To Me1 and 2 -  gospel funk
  3. Sat Morn (video) -  funk folk
  4. Mi Estilo Es Tranquilo -  reggae tejano
  5. Un Momento Perfecto – folk samba jazz
  6. Lake Rules  -  reggae kids fun
  7. All The Above -  pop folk rock funk vocal
  8. Speeding1 and 2– reggae folk rock bluegrass
  9. Nobody Knows What It Means – soul pop horns and harmonies
  10. Dub Lub – stone cold reggae jam (needs lyrics?)

 

Sat Morn

Got some buddies there I see
the runner said to me
as me and Townes and Frids lounged in the sun
Twas a gorgeous Sat’day morn
cool breeze, warm sun
the day barely begun already runnin’ round

Townes chewin on a stick
Frida chewin’ on her leg
all rollin on our backs in our grassy gowns
Under the trees by the stream
across from where I’ve been
I can see the rut I’m in and how well worn
How I sit day after day
dreamin’ of places I’ll play
instead of finding ways to get it done

And Townes said Let’s jump in the pool and chase things
and Frida said Don’t mind me, I’ll sneak along behind
and I said Come on, move along, let’s go now
And home we flied

Takin advice from the dogs is a mugs game
Takin advice from the cats is fine
Take me some good advice for when you need relaxin
Take yourself a little time

Cause I know that Townes is right
a dog needs his exercise
but I feel like some catnip and following behind
Now they’re dozing on the porch
and I’m strumming a few chords
to get my head restored to the how and why

I know that I need a plan
that details who I am
defines the discipline to win the war
To forget about my worst
put out my best and bust
on to the scene like the first one to be born

And Townes says Please don’t be gone all the time
and Frida says I’ll wander off into the night
so I told them that I’ll stay and myself that I’ll play
and walk them everyday forevermore
walk them everyday

I Can See You

With a name like Maile how could you be anything but
An island child, laying by the water in the sun
Drinkin’ tea and reading magazines
Taking naps in your bikini
Hey mama what’s your name? You’re my one.

I can see you
I can see you
I can see you playing on the beach
I can see you
I can see you
I can see you comin up and kissin me

Yes there is something inside me you alone stir with your strut
I do a funny little dance cause I can’t contain my love
Walkin hand in hand, strange city streets
Takin’ pictures, loving who we meet
Sittin in a restaurant long after we are done and everyone’s gone

I can see you
I can see you
I can see you sittin there with me
I can see you
I can see you
I can see you lookin’ so sweet

Your eyes told me hold me
Your map told me unfold me
Your lips practice poetry
Your stars a certain symmetry

And so you called me Jabie, your singin twin, your bean-headed nut
Whistlin love songs for you all day, all night touching toes under the covers
Still remember when I saw you in the store
Still want you everyday a little more
You’re my constant question, my how, my why, my when, my what

I can see you
I can see you
I can see you standin there right next to me
I can see you
I can see you
I can see you marrying me