Tunesmith Tavern

Life in the Key Of

2012-02-28T14:18:00.002-08:00

Life in the Key Of
by Keith Birmingham
130bpm in 4/4 time

A rising moon,
A setting sun,
It's all good.
It's all fun.

From valleys low,
To mountains high,
A deep green meadow,
Or a clear blue sky.

Radio blastin' from
The back of my car.
I was gonna be
A Nashville star.

A country song and
The girl of my dreams,
The world by the tail,
Or, so it seemed.

Life had losses..
Life had gains.
Life moved on,
And, I remained.

Although life moved on,
My dreams won't die.
And,I've paid my dues to
The corporate lie.

From valleys low,
To mountains high,
A deep green meadow,
Or a clear blue sky.

A rising moon,
A setting sun,
It's all good.
It's all fun.

Water in a Stream

2012-02-27T08:34:00.001-08:00

Water in a Stream - Keith Birmingham
Copyright, 2009 by Keith Birmingham
As usual, you can message me for chords.

True love was the reason,
And, summer was the season,
And, we were always dancing’ in the rain.

We knew when we were dancing’
Our love was more than passion.
And, we would never cause each other pain.

But, time it passed us by.
Like water in a stream,
And, we found our love was left out in the rain.

You went off to college,
While I went in the service,
And, we were busy chasin’ other dreams.

When life began to change us
We answered different callings.
Our world was truly bursting at the seams.

And, time it passed us by,
Like water in a stream,
While we were busy chasin’ other dreams.

Time has come between us,
We know that life has changed us,
And, we know we cannot live on memories.

But, still I want to tell you,
That I have always loved you,
And, you are still a part of all my dreams.

And, time has passed us by,
Like water in a stream,
While we were busy chasin’ our own dreams.
************
(repeat)

A Rainy Day

2012-02-25T12:10:00.001-08:00

A Rainy Day - Keith Birmingham
Copyright: 02/25/2012
A very simple tune. Try GCD.

What do I do on a rainy day,
And, when life don't go my way,
When it's cold and I can't go out,
What do I do and think about?

When the rain doesn't stop all day,
I like to go outside and play.
I like to dance through the pouring rain.
I like to act like I am insane.

When my life seems like it's a mess,
It doesn't matter if I've done my best.
I sing a song or I hum a tune
And, I howl at a rising moon.

And, when it's cold and I can't go out,
I open windows and I like to shout.
And, my life won't get me down.
If I find my way downtown.

So, put on a happy face,
Be a star of the human race.
Be someone that you want to be,
And, your smile will be set free.

That's what I do on a rainy day,
And when life don't go my way,
When it's cold and I can't go out,
That's what I do and think about?

What If I - Keith Birmingham.lyrics

2012-02-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

What If I - Keith Birmingham.lyrics
Copyright, 02/08/2012

What if I
Could venture back in time
Erase the past
Of the life I‘ve left behind?
How would I
Ever find my way
Back to the place
Where I am today?

Will I ever know the answer
To the questions on my mind?
Will I ever find the reason
Of why I was so blind?

And will I
Find that I can carry on?
Will I find
That I’ve done it all so wrong?
Where will I
Find the courage I will need
When the answers to these questions
Are staring back at me?

Will I ever know the answer
To the questions on my mind?
Will I ever find the reason
Of why I was so blind?

And will I
Ever know a way to find
Forgiveness for pain I’ve caused
Forgiveness for my crimes?
And, will I
Find a way that I can be
Free to live the life I’m after
Will I ever be set free?

Will I ever know the answer
To the questions on my mind?
Will I ever find the reason
Of why I was so blind?

Busking Song Lists

2012-02-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

This is a list of song that I think make good "busking as a one man act" songs. These, plus the songs that I have written, are the songs that I am working on the most at this moment. I have a tendency to forget to sing once I start playing a song, so I may start a search for someone who sings to join me. And, if I can find the nerve to do it, I should be playing on a sidewalk near you sometime this spring, - summer at the latest.

Rock Busking Song List

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Dock of the Bay
And I Love Her-Beatles
As Tears Go By-Stones
Everyday-Buddy Holly
If I Were A Carpenter-Tim Hardin
If You Could Read My Mind-Gordon Lightfoot
In My Life-John Lennon
Knockin’ on Heavens Door-Bob Dylan
Lay Lady Lay-Bob Dylan
Love Hurts-Everly Brothers
More Than I Can Say-Leo Sayer
Pied Piper
Play With Fire-Stones
Promises-Eric Clapton
Reason To Believe-Rod Stewart
Sea of Heartbreak-J. Cash
Since I Met You Baby-Sonny James
Solitary Man-Neil Diamond
Summer Wine-K. K.
Sundown-Gordon Lightfoot
Teach Your Children Well-C.S.N. and Y.
Well, All Right-Buddy Holly
Young Love-Sonny James

Country Busking List

Back When - Tim McGraw
Between the Devil and Me
Busted-J. Cash
Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow
Bleed Red-B and D
Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses
Everything I Love
I’m Alive
Hurt
I’m So Lonesome-J. Cash
In My Live - Beatles
It Ain’t Me Babe-J. Cash
Just to Satisfy You-Waylon
Killin’ Time-Clint Black
Long Black Train-Josh Turner
Lord I Hope This Day is Good-Don Williams
Loving Her Was Easier-Kris K.
Neon Moon-B and D
Nothing I Can Do About It Now
Ny Heroes have Always Been Cowboys
Pancho and Lefty
People Are Crazy-Billy Carrington
Remember When-A. J.
Sea of Heartbreak-J. Cash
Seminole Wind-John Anderson
Since I Met You Baby-Sonny James
Summer Wine - K. K.
The Cowboy In Me-T. M.
This Time-Waylon
Tulsa Time-Don Williams
When You Say Nothing At All-Allison Krauss
Where Were You-A. J.
Who Are You When I’m Not Looking-Blake Shelton
Young Love-Judds
Young Love-Sonny James
You’re Gonna Miss Me-Band D
Why Me Lord-K. K.

I Still Miss Someone.cover

2012-02-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

Lost - Keith Birmingham

2012-01-07T12:11:00.001-08:00

Lost - Keith Birmingham
Copyright, 01/02/2012
This song was written by the author of this blog. Please contact Keith Birmingham if you think you would like to use the song.

D
Well a nieve kid from lost small town
A
With a dream of becoming a star
G
Left his home and his friends and his family
D A
In a search that would take him afar.

D
Well he thumbed his way to the west coast
A
Became the front man in a band
G
Well, his records sold, and he was the toast
D A
In the land of the golden sand　

G
But, when the lights grew dim something
tortured him
A
And, he could not find his way
G
Something called to him from a distant place
A
And, he found that he could not stay.

　

D
And, a lost young man from a lost small town
A
Made his way to the eastern seaboard
G
And, he found a life of fortune and fame
D A
It was clear that he could go far.

D
Well, he worked the bars with another band
A
All the people were loving him
G
Well, his records sold, he was rollin’ in doe
D A
And, the offers were coming in

G
But, when the lights grew dim something
tortured him
A
And, he could not find his way
G
Something called to him from a distant place
A
And, he found that he could not stay.

Lead - DAGDA
D
Well, his car broke down in a lost small town
A
Somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line.
G
And, a small town girl showed him the light
D A
He had finally found his way

D
Now his days are filled with the light of his life
A
With his woman and his kids
G
And, the dreams he had of being a star D A
They were lost along the way

G
But when the lights grow dim nothing tortures
him
A
And, he finds that he doesn’t need
G
All the lights and the glamour of the hustling
crowd
A
All he needed was his family

Lead - DAGDA

Chasin' Dreams - Keith Birmingham

2011-08-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Chasin' Dreams (on the Dotted Line)
Copyright, 2011: Keith Birmingham
126 bpm in 4/4 time

C D
C D
C D A
A G A
Something told me a long, long time ago.
A G A
That I should cut the strings and let her go.
A G A
And, today she's in the arms of another man.
A G A
And, tonight I'll sleep with another one night stand.
C D A

A G A
I've spent my life rollin' down the dotted line.
A G A
I was chasin' dreams that never would be mine.
A G A
Now I find my self at the end of the dotted line.
A G A
And, the dreams I've always had are all that's mine.
C D A
C D A

LEAD: Chords and notes of the verses.

A G A
Though some may say I am a broken man.
A G A
I've always known exactly where I stand.
A G A
And when the piper calls I'll hold my head up high.
A G A
I'll kiss the moon and then I'll dance in a stary sky.
C D A
C D A fade

I Was Young - Keith Birmingham

2011-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

I Was Young - Keith Birmingham
04.20.2011
Copyright, 2011 -Keith Birmingham
C G C
C Am C
Life was good when the weather was fair and the sun was shining.
C Am C
The women danced through my mind like the songs that I was singing.
C Am C
The booze it flowed like a river and I never knew that I was sinking.
G C
But, I was young. And, I was dumb,

C Am C
With dark grey clouds rolling in I began my search for shelter.
C Am C
And, I found warmth in the arms of a woman I thought would care.
C Am C
But the love she had was the love of my misfortune.
   G C
And, I was young. And, I was dumb.
   G C

C Am C
   G C

C Am C
So, I moved on in my seach for the life that I was after.
C Am C
Elusive dreams that I had would haunt me everyday.
C Am C
I count the cost of the friends and the family I have squandered
G C
And, I was young. And, I was dumb.
   G C
And, I was young. And, I was dumb.

C Am C
Now those dreams have faded to a life in the here-after.
C Am C
But, I have found the love that I have searched for anyway.
C Am C
I found the love I was seeking was the love of myself.
   G C
But, I was young. And, I was dumb.
   G C
I was young. And, I was dumb.
repeat and fade G C

In The Past - Keith Birmingham

2011-07-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

In The Past - Keith Birmingham

by Tunesmith Tavern on Monday, July 4, 2011 at 2:27pm

This may or may not be the final version. I just wrote it this morning. I usually takes a few days and come back to it to see what I may want to change. We shall see.

I could tell by the way that you turned your head
When I looked into your eyes.
I could tell by the way that you looked away
When those tears were in your eyes.
I could tell by the way that you held your hands
That you had been with another man.
And, I know your love is in the past,
And, I've lost you for all time.

There's no reason why I should hold on to
A dream that we have lost.
There's no reason why I should find someone
Or reason to point the blame.
We can argue about our innocence
But, I'm the one who will bear the cost.
And, I know deep inside I will never find
A love that will set me free.

Even now as we go our seperate ways,
Even now, I cry for you.
Even now when the pain that you have cost,
Burns inside my brain.
I still long for the love lying in the dust,
Of broken, shattered dreams.
And, I know your love is in the past,
And, I've lost you for all time.
Yes, I know your love is in the past,
And, I've lost you for all time.
And, I know deep inside I will never find
A love that will set me free.

Old Wood - by Keith Birmingha

2011-03-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

From "Wise Words and Quotes" - a book of quotes by Vern McLellan:
There are three things that grow more precious with age: old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy. -

Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. ~Quoted by Francis Bacon, Apothegm

OLD WOOD

When you burn that bridge behind you.
Just be sure you know your way.
Or you may loose yourself in sorrow.
It's the price you have to pay.

Old books are best to read.
Old whisky's best to drink.
Old friends are best to trust.
And old wood is best to burn.

Some new love may strike your fancy.
Some new love may pass your way.
You'll be happy in the moment.
But, in the end your gonna pay.

Old books are best to read.
Old whisky's best to drink.
Old friends are best to trust.
And old wood is best to burn.

So, open up your eyes my friend.
And, look at what's at steak.
For the life you want to search for.
And the hearts that you will break.

Old books are best to read.
Old whisky's best to drink.
Old friends are best to trust.
And old wood is best to burn.

Ten Years Later

2011-02-12T05:33:00.000-08:00

This is probably not the final version of this song. It is meant as a tribute for the U.S. Military. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Ten Years Later by Keith Birmingham
220bpm, 4/4 time with strong Native American drum beat.

Em x 32
Em
Ten years later
G
After 9-1-1.
Em
Ten years later,
G
And your on the run.
C
You thought that I would give up.
D
You thought I'd go away.
C
I'm here to let you know,
D
That I've come to make you pay.
Em x 32

Ten years later
After 9-1-1.
Ten years later,
And your on the run.
Mohammed was the reason
That you gave to all the world
For the horrors that you caused us
On 9 -1 - 1
Em x 16

(Em) Ten years later,
(Em) Are you getting tired yet?
(Em) Ten years later,
(Em)Are you getting tired yet?

Em
Ten years later
G
After 9-1-1.
Em
Ten years later,
G
And your on the run.
C
The cowards mask that hides your face
D
Will not save your life,
C
You stinking piece of garbage
D
I am here to take your life.
Em x 32

Ten years later
After 9-1-1.
Ten years later,
And your on the run.
The caves in which you hide
Will not protect you from.
The vengeance I will reap upon
your brothers and your son.
Em x 16

(Em) Ten years later,
(Em) Are you getting tired yet?
(Em) Ten years later,
(Em) And I‘ve only just begun?
Fade repeating:
(Em) Ten years later
(Em) And I‘ve only just begun?

Band Promotion

2011-01-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

Band Promotion 101

By Megan Lambert

Band promotion is really important for the success of any band. There are many things you can do to promote your band. First, you have to let people know that you have arrived. This does not mean that you have to start bombarding them promotional stuff like ads and links. Do it in subtle way. Otherwise, your name will be lost.
Talk to your fans. They will get a feeling that your band is real and human, and not some robot out their trying to get their attention by sending those tons of promotional messages.
Set up an account on a social networking site. You can befriend people who have same interests in music as you do. You can talk to them. Answer their queries, and put across questions of your own.
You should work to establish a relationship with them. Once you are successful in doing that, drop them a link to your webpage. You should also provide your visitors a chance to register at your website. If they register, allow them a chance to listen to some free music of yours as a token of your appreciation.
This is great bargain. You will get to know many people this way. You will get their e mails, and you can get in touch with them regarding any new updates. Do not ignore these subscribers. Write to them every once in a while.
Live performances count a lot. It really gets the crowd coming in your direction. However, do not just get on the stage and start playing your music. Make the best of the chance to perform live. Prepare well for your performance that it becomes flawless. Do not disappoint the crowd.
It is wise to play professional. Arrange for your merchandise and music to be sold at the venue. Also have a mailing list available. You should ask people to provide information like e mails and names. This will gain you more contacts.
The above recommendations are real good. You should follow them as well.

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Thirty-five Years (Taking Back My Life)

2011-01-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Thirty-five Years (Taking Back My Life)

Copyright, 2010 by Keith Birmingham
4/4 time.
Am G=verses
F, Em=chorus

Am
For thirty-five years I’ve been breakin’ my back
G
In the heat of a July sun.
Am
For thirty-five years I’ve busted my butt
G
On those cold December runs.
Am
For thirty-five years I gave the man
G
The best years of my life.

F
And now I think it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my life.
F, Em

Am
For thirty-five years I gave the woman
G
Everything I could
Am
For thirty-five years I have done exactly
G
What I said I would.
Am
But now she’s gone. I’m on my own.
G
And, Lord I love this life.

F
Cause now I think it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my life.
F
Now I think it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my live.

Am
Thirty-five years of sorrow and pain
G
And now I’ve been set free.
Am
To talk the talk, and walk the walk,
G
Of the man I want to be.
Am
So look out world I’m steppin’ out
G
In the prime of my life.

F
And now I know it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my life.
F
And now I know it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my life.
F
I said now I know it’s time for me
Em
To be takin’ back my life.
F
Blank
Em
And, I’m takin’ back my life.