"1898" - new song

  1898 by John Statz

It was carnival, 1898,
when they blew up the Maine in Havana.
The young across the country, they all called for blood,
but the elders they remembered.

'Cuz they'd fought a Civil War,
they'd seen the bodies piled.
They were in no rush to send young men to die.
But them yellow journalists, they got the nation riled,
and the war drums kept on a-beatin'.

Chorus:
The world it never knew what hit,
the American century begun,
and that short, little war that they had themselves with Spain,
Old Glory never was the same,
oh, after 1898.

Well they raced the Riders down,
was Teddy at the helm,
and they set their sails for Cuba.

Was Dewey in the east,
with his white, shining fleet,
and he took them Philippines in a day.

(Chorus)

No Memories

a collaboration with poet Joe Briggs (work in progress, this might see some changes yet)

words by Joe Briggs 
music by John Statz


performed on the banjo


 No Memories by John Statz 


The snowlakes falling slow & bb size,
covering our roof, covering this tomb where I must live
My wife, my love died on the cusp of December,
She's painted in the walls, and makes the floor boards cry.

Need to go outside and feel the snow on my face,
Need to have the wind hit me like a morning alarm,
Want a light to turn on on this empty street,
Want to have...
No memories.
No memories.

Car is low on gas so I take the neighbor kid's bike
Pink with bad brakes, not looking to impress anyone.
Clouds in front of the sun like gauze over a wound.
Turn down main street, where the traffic lights flash and die.

Need to be outside and feel the snow on my face,
Need to have the wind hit me like a morning alarm,
Want a light to turn on on this empty street,
Want to have...
No memories.
No memories.

Tired of Telephones

 Tired of Telephones by John Statz

Wrote most of this song back in mid-January, but I finally settled some of the lyrics and the chorus melody.


Chorus:
We could make this place our own,
and I'm so tired of telephones.
Stay awhile and rest your bones,
this lonely heartsick needs you home.

It's been half a year,
the mercury has dropped.
Winter lasts too long, and I've been,
Waiting for you dear.

I'm a patient man,
but I've filled a page or two,
with thoughts on how impatient I get,
when I think of you... waiting to see you.

(chorus)

I still mark the days,
it helps me pass the time.
Winter's end, it brings good news,
it will be just fine... it will all be fine.

(chorus)

Well we could make this town our home,
and I'm sick of bags and telephones,
stay with me and rest your bones,
and we could make this place our own.

Rust Belt City

 Rust Belt City by John Statz

Heavy smog hung over east,
where three rivers came to meet,
United Steel could not compete.
Now its a sad rust belt city,
Pittsburgh lost to 'cross the sea.

On the banks of Lake Erie,
where the river's flames burned free,
all the people they did flee.
Another sad rust belt city,
Cleveland burned and so did we.

Hark back the glory days,
when steel mills paid a living wage.
But now the nation only sees,
between the sea and shining sea,
a trail of sad rust belt cities.

Down the trail, down the stream,
will our cities still shimmer dreams?
Or will they dry up from underneath?
Like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati,
another sad rust belt city,
another sad rust belt city.

One Night Stand - Rick Franz

One Night Stand (Rick Franz) by John Statz

Words by Rick Franz

Music by Rick Franz and John Statz

You’re wise to tell this cowboy goodbye
The mountains between make it
hard to be seen, by you… … … …

I wish I had,
the hombre in my hands,
who took you to the cleaners

Made yer heart such a wreck
Im glad I cant find him
cuz Id shake him up hard by the (his) neck … … … … … … …

Guess I’ll be movin on
Out on my own
You sure are lovely
You make me feel home

If timing was better aligned
(well) We mighta had better times
It’s probably, about time a man… ..
Knew the sting of a one night stand.

Ain’t it always a lady who writes the song
The one where the fella,
Ends up all alone, in the end.. … … …

Well I’ll hit the highway
and just ride it my way
And think on you fondly my friend.. … … ..

I­ hear them sing
Yippy yo yippy yay
Toward the sun, toward the moon
And day after day, of
wrestlin a dollar
from dried out seed.. … ..

Yer the finest thing
Ive ever seen.. ..
I hope that you’re happy
And get all you need.

I’ve heard them sing
Yippy yo yippy yay
Toward the sun I’ll be ridin
And another fine day… … … …

It’s probably, about time a man… ..
Knew the sting of a one night stand.

It’s probably, about time a man… ..
Knew the sting of a one night stand.

Young and In Love

Young and In Love by John Statz

Chorus:
I remember being so young and in love,
the foolishness of thinking that we were above,
and when it's time came ended, I'd be so broken up
but now it seems so silly, looking back at us.

Young man, I know, that you are freshly out of school,
and you think that you know where this world is headed to.
Draw your line in sand and refuse to step across.
You got all your years ahead, don't waste them on a loss.

(Chorus)

Young man, I'm sorry that she tore your heart in two.
Learn here, a lesson, 'cuz a woman's likely to.
Hold your back up tall and breathe a sigh relief,
'cuz you have more to live for now that you have been released.

(Chorus)

Now you just keep moving, and see what happens next.
You can go to England or maybe south of France.
What I'm trying to say to you is just have a blast.
Don't worry 'bout the women, let them fall into your lap.

(Chorus)

I'm so tired of telephones...

I'm a patient man,

but I've filled a page or two,

with thoughts on how impatient I get,

waiting to see you.

(in the works...)

2nd New Song This Week - "To My Dismay"

Apparently I'm on a roll, two new songs in one week? That is rarity for me.

This is "To My Dismay", which for some reasons seems like a Christmas song to me, but is most certainly a childhood sweetheart song. You know, the kind where the boy annoys the girl because thats how you flirt. Duh.

On my mother's front porch,

In the month of May

You just looked so happy,

To my dismay.

to my dismay.

And the measles came back,

and then they went away,

but you were always laughing,

to my dismay.

to my dismay.

Sitting by the ice,

covering the bay,

you would always break it,

to my dismay.

to my dismay.

Running through the wheat fields,

to the sounds of trains,

You could always get me,

to my dismay.

to my dismay.

New Song - "Sneakers"

So there will be a couple of big news posts coming up in the next couple of days, as next week I will have copies of the new album, Ghost Towns, in hand, and will fly up to Fairbanks to begin the Alaska tour. But, before that excitement, I wanted to share some lyrics from a new song I wrote the other day while flipping eggs at the diner. I'm calling it "Sneakers" for now, but we'll see, I haven't exactly been on top of the naming game lately. Enjoy!

Well the farm lights off in the distance flicker,

and you're driving home on the 94.

The band on the stereo, begging you to listen,

but your mind is stuck on the night before.

When the summer's half gone and you've beat it to death,

and the days come and go like the feeling in your chest.

Don't you think about what you almost had,

suitcase and telephones ain't bad.

Mmmmmm, and you're up all night.

Mmmmmm.

Mmmmmm, and you're up all night.

Mmmmmm.

You told me you'd be trouble,

you were right, you were right.

and the devil's in the distance,

in the night, in the night. (x2)

And the drive was short,

'cause you weren't really thinking

'bout the road, its straight,

but your brain is a twisting.

And the red lights have all started looking,

like the landing strip if the plane mistook it.

Mmmmmm, and you're up all night.

Mmmmmm.

Mmmmmm, and you're up all night.

Mmmmmm.

You told me you'd be trouble,

you were right, you were right,

and the devil's in the distance,

in the night, in the night...

New Song - Lyrics and such...

So I wrote a new song last week, and wanted to share it with you as best I can over a blog.  They lyrics aren't the deepest I've ever written, and I'm a little hesitant about them as they are more risque than those I usually write (and I know my family reads this blog), but I really like the feel.  Its a shame I can't transmit that feel over a blog, but you will just have to come out to a show sometime soon and hear it live!  It doesn't have a name yet, but for my own purposes and amusement, I am temporarily labeling "The Booty Call Song".  

Phone rings, every other week,
You've had a few, and say I'm what you need.
Some day, I swear I'll say no.
But you had me persuaded at hello.

Chorus:

And you take your dress off fast,
and you take your dress off fast,
and I'll always be your last,
Yes, you'll always call me last.

Leave you, when you fall asleep,
And walk home through the empty late night streets.
Leave you, by yourself,
That's the way you like it, just you and no one else.

(chorus)

When you, when you call again,
I'll come over back into your bed.
When you, when you fall asleep,
I'll say goodnight and kiss you on your cheek.  

(chorus)

The feel of the song is in 6/8 time, and it switches between the measure being broken up into two groups of 3 beats and three groups of 2 beats.  I hope to record the song in Budapest in January, but until then, you can catch it live!  Check my website for tourdates.

"Best Girl of '16" v. 2.0

I believe it was February or March of 2008 when I wrote the song "Best Girl of '16", a happy, coming home from the war sort of tune. I had written plenty of World War I tunes before, but this was the first one with a happy ending, I guess you could say. The song found its way onto my last album, An Evening With John Statz, which was recorded live in Chicago in April of '08.

Since then I've written a bunch of new tunes, and am gearing up for a new album. On July 10th my band, John Statz and the Cheap Shots, will record a live album at the Cafe Montmartre in Madison. This will be my first rock'n'roll, full band album, and I'm really excited to capture the guys live, as I'm very fortunate to have some fantastic players in the band.

More on that later. I really wanted to re-write "Best Girl..." for the full band, as the original song is in an open tuning and just wouldn't work well with a rock treatment. This morning I set out to work on the song, and couldn't be happier with what came out of it. It is now a very different song, with different chord changes, and some different lyrics. If you have the last album, I think you'll recognize it. The new version has more of a bittersweet ending with an anti-war message, a bit more my style :). I plan on keeping both versions alive and well, but for now, here are the new lyrics:

Well back in the summer of '16
There was a young woman I was seein'
Well I'd pine for her, and sometimes she'd respond to me.
Oh back before the war, and everything came in between.

Well when I got back was March of double 19's,
Had gone 'cross the ocean protecting the land of the free.
Well France was as much of the world as I wanted to see.
Oh back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.
Back to Kansas City to find my best girl of '16.

On the train through Illinois
Well she is restless on my mind.
Hoping that she is unwed.
And that she took her time.

Well pulled into Union Station, military bands played loud,
nothing there was ventured, and nothing there was found.
Climbing from the rail car, my eyes gleaming 'cross the crowd.
Well I found my best girl waiting, and I kissed her on the mouth.

Well we got us a place in Jackson County,
my God and my country say they love me.
But Uncle Sam well he still owes me money,
so I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.
I'm flying home cuz my girl is my country.


As for the rest of the info on the new album:
It is untitled as of yet, though I have some ideas. The band members are Ben Johnson on the 'lectric geetar, Matt Donoghue on the bass, and Greg Schmitt on the drums. These guys are a blast to play with, can't wait to do this new album with them.

the other songs on the album (this can change yet):
Ghost Towns
How Best to Survive the Flood and Save the Girl
Jackson Hole
Everything to Me
Ugly Like I Should
Disclaimer
Night Train to Sarajevo
Zia
Somtimes (Quittin' Don't Feel Half Bad) - Ben Johnson tune
and full band versions of older songs "Absentee" and "Silverton Mines"

Friday, July 10th - 9:30pm @ the Cafe Montmartre in Madison, WI
tickets are $8, and the night will also feature: Cameron McGill and What Army & Jeremiah Nelson. Hope you can make it out!

New Song - untitled as of yet

So here is a song I wrote last night in Winter Park, CO. It is definitely the sappiest song I've written in... a long time, but its going to be a rocker with the full band. I just sang it for the barista at the coffee shop in Cheyenne, WY and she gave me a free piece of carrot cake for it.

When you going down to Idaho?
Give me a call when you first know
I can come down, I can come down for you.

Where you going next in this big land?
I think it might fit my plans,
I can come down, I can come down for you.

Drive all night, drive all day
Drive too far, cuz I can't stay away.

I'll drive two weeks, I'll drive two months,
Drive from work, from dawn till dusk for you.

When you coming through my hometown,
I think we can get around.
If you came down, then I'd come around for you.

I'd pick you up, take you out,
paint the town, get lit up with you.

Leave the car, call a cab,
or walk 2 miles, hand in hand with you.

When you get back from Mexico?
Give me holler when you're home.
I can come down, I can come down for you.

We'll drive all night, we'll drive all day
we'll drive as long as we are still awake.

We'll find a floor, we'll find a couch,
We'll find a place, I have no doubts with you.

When you going back to Idaho,
Give me a call when you first know,
I can come down, I can come down for you.