Album Notes for: John Roy Zat -- Solo
These songs are pretty much presented as I perform them solo, and all words and music are mine except as noted. Some comments on the songs:
"Headed For The Promised Land" -- After much reading, discussion and pondering, this is what I have been able to figure out about the Big Mystery.
"Irish Waltz" – The true story of how I met the gal I married. The melody is adapted from Turlough O’Carolan’s beautiful tune “Sheebeg Sheemore”. (This is the one song that is not quite “live”. I haven’t figured out how to play the guitar and the fiddle at the same time.)
"Crazy Glue" – There is new love and true love. And there is real love, which you don’t discover until after the first decade or so of being together.
"Broken Hearted Love Songs" -- We all have to face endings. The longer and sweeter the time together, the greater the hurt.
"Little Rabbit" – Loss and acceptance, wrapped up in a happy traditional fiddle tune.
"Trouble Why Do You" – If trouble were money, we’d all be millionaires . . .
"Moths To A Flame" – This is about a high school pal. When I wrote this we had lost touch. Ten years later we reconnected, and he is free.
"Thinking About You" – Ah, new love is such a wonderful thing !!
"Shelter From The Storm" – The world can be too much, and when we are battered by the struggle, our love is shelter from the storm.
"Cry For Me" – When things don’t work out, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone do the crying for you.
"Down In Mexico" – For a change of place and a change of pace, there is nothing like a beach town.
"Long Train Coming" – Do what you have to, do what you love, and don’t do nothing you’re not proud of.
On this project, I relied on and greatly appreciate the skills and talents of: Randy Rood, recording engineer and tool pro at El Cerrito Recording Company; Cynthia Navarro for graphics design; and Maria Kersey and Lynn Landor for photography. Thanks to Joanne Goaux for brainstorming and to Paul Herzof for the loan of his fine family fiddle.
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