Re: The Night Shift... Continues!
Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:17 pm
Thanks, Doc...hello, JTP!
It's been a very busy 10 or so days with the band. We played T-Bone Tom's in Kemah Friday before last, then a private gig at the Park Cities Hilton in Dallas the next night. Tuesday we played at the Lakeshore Yacht Club in Clear Lake for "Men Who Cook" (I think they should change the name to "Men Who Shouldn't Cook"...but it's for a good cause, charity). Friday night we were back at T-Bone Tom's with a standing-room-only crowd, Saturday night we played The Lone Star Club in Pasadena, and Sunday we played at the Blue Room in Dickinson. This coming Friday we're playing at the Aransas Pass Civic Auditorium, down at the Southern tip of Texas, and Saturday we're playing North of Houston in New Caney. We're all over the place and we're filling up every place we play now. It's great. I heard last night that we sold out the Civic Auditorium at Aransas Pass.
One experience that I think is good to mention that stood out among all these shows, is that Saturday night at Lone Star, I knew Debby was coming home that night, she'd been gone for 4 months working tax season in Missouri. I wrote a song about Debby 11 years ago and I felt a great need to play it. I asked Pee Wee if I could do that and he wholeheartedly supported me. I went to the band guys on break and told 'em what the song is and how it goes. Halfway through the next set, Pee Wee announced that I had an original song to do that I wrote about my wife. We played the song like we'd been playing it for years. I watched the dance floor fill up. Marty played a fantastic sax solo in the middle. At the end of the night, Pee Wee's wife came up to me and told me the song is beautiful. So did Ronnie's girlfriend. So did a lot of people I don't know who were there. I told 'em I wrote it 11 years ago but hadn't played in in a long time, and they were floored..."You WROTE that?" Yep. Yesterday Pee Wee told me that my song had a very huge and lasting impact on people. He said he saw women crying. The song will go on our CD. I suppose the significance of this is that this band plays "covers". We don't do original material...and the one we did that I wrote knocked everybody's socks off. The thing everybody told me is that the lyrics got 'em where they live. I kept all of it simple. The music and lyrics are very basic. Nothing fancy, just a heartfelt song. Here are the lyrics
WITHOUT YOU copyright 1999 John R. Bockelman
When we were younger
So full of love
We were sent to each other, baby
From up above
Now that we're older
I see the truth
That I can't go on living without you
I used to be careless
Living the Blues
Yes, I know I mistreated your love
Like such a fool
If you can forgive me
I'll always be true
'Cause I can't go on living without you
(I wrote you a letter and I said)
Oh, my darling, the night is so long
And when I think of all the things I did
I know I was wrong
Somehow, please forgive me
For the things that I do
Because I can't go on living without you
Every night
I was out on the town
But it was just my wicked ways
That brought me down
I take it all back now
In ten shades of Blue
'Cause I can't go on living without you
Anyway, it was a special moment for the band and for me. Pee Wee gave that song a lot of respect. It's funny...songs I worked on for years are languishing in obscurity but one that I knocked out in 15 minutes and is as simple as A-B-C is the one that everybody loves. Sylvester told me, the words cut through the nonsense and get straight to the heart. The dance floor filled up. He said that song is great...I accepted the compliment but I'm only now learning what works best. Simple is good. Cheers, WC1
It's been a very busy 10 or so days with the band. We played T-Bone Tom's in Kemah Friday before last, then a private gig at the Park Cities Hilton in Dallas the next night. Tuesday we played at the Lakeshore Yacht Club in Clear Lake for "Men Who Cook" (I think they should change the name to "Men Who Shouldn't Cook"...but it's for a good cause, charity). Friday night we were back at T-Bone Tom's with a standing-room-only crowd, Saturday night we played The Lone Star Club in Pasadena, and Sunday we played at the Blue Room in Dickinson. This coming Friday we're playing at the Aransas Pass Civic Auditorium, down at the Southern tip of Texas, and Saturday we're playing North of Houston in New Caney. We're all over the place and we're filling up every place we play now. It's great. I heard last night that we sold out the Civic Auditorium at Aransas Pass.
One experience that I think is good to mention that stood out among all these shows, is that Saturday night at Lone Star, I knew Debby was coming home that night, she'd been gone for 4 months working tax season in Missouri. I wrote a song about Debby 11 years ago and I felt a great need to play it. I asked Pee Wee if I could do that and he wholeheartedly supported me. I went to the band guys on break and told 'em what the song is and how it goes. Halfway through the next set, Pee Wee announced that I had an original song to do that I wrote about my wife. We played the song like we'd been playing it for years. I watched the dance floor fill up. Marty played a fantastic sax solo in the middle. At the end of the night, Pee Wee's wife came up to me and told me the song is beautiful. So did Ronnie's girlfriend. So did a lot of people I don't know who were there. I told 'em I wrote it 11 years ago but hadn't played in in a long time, and they were floored..."You WROTE that?" Yep. Yesterday Pee Wee told me that my song had a very huge and lasting impact on people. He said he saw women crying. The song will go on our CD. I suppose the significance of this is that this band plays "covers". We don't do original material...and the one we did that I wrote knocked everybody's socks off. The thing everybody told me is that the lyrics got 'em where they live. I kept all of it simple. The music and lyrics are very basic. Nothing fancy, just a heartfelt song. Here are the lyrics
WITHOUT YOU copyright 1999 John R. Bockelman
When we were younger
So full of love
We were sent to each other, baby
From up above
Now that we're older
I see the truth
That I can't go on living without you
I used to be careless
Living the Blues
Yes, I know I mistreated your love
Like such a fool
If you can forgive me
I'll always be true
'Cause I can't go on living without you
(I wrote you a letter and I said)
Oh, my darling, the night is so long
And when I think of all the things I did
I know I was wrong
Somehow, please forgive me
For the things that I do
Because I can't go on living without you
Every night
I was out on the town
But it was just my wicked ways
That brought me down
I take it all back now
In ten shades of Blue
'Cause I can't go on living without you
Anyway, it was a special moment for the band and for me. Pee Wee gave that song a lot of respect. It's funny...songs I worked on for years are languishing in obscurity but one that I knocked out in 15 minutes and is as simple as A-B-C is the one that everybody loves. Sylvester told me, the words cut through the nonsense and get straight to the heart. The dance floor filled up. He said that song is great...I accepted the compliment but I'm only now learning what works best. Simple is good. Cheers, WC1