THE DEVIL AND ME

IRA WOLF

SONGWRITER: IRA WOLF

WHERE: LIVE RED CLAY MUSIC FOUNDRY 2017

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: FICKLE HEART

LABEL: DIGITAL

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 2014

Ira Wolf is a new-folk singer from Montana who has found her voice all over the world. She has been on and off the road touring solo since summer 2014. This gives her the opportunity to share her Americana melodies all around the country and dive into nature in her down time. Solo travel has taught Ira to embrace fear and gain confidence.

They told me that my life is headed for the devil,

So I asked them, "what's a life if you're living like you're dead?"

They started praying, they were saying, "well we hope you'll be forgiven."

And even though I listened, I never heard a word they said.

Chorus:

Guess I was born to be a sinner, I was born to be free.

I was born to dance on two left feet.

So I kept on walking, I started talking with the devil,

And I asked them "what's a life if you live it like you're dead."

He took my soul and he washed it in a whiskey river.

I took his hand, we stood back, and watched the banks turn red.

Chorus:

'Cause I was born to be a sinner, I was born to be free.

I was born to dance on two left feet.

And raised up to be the rebel, I was made with a little bit of fire, you see.

I guess it's always been the devil and me.

If I hear those angels singing my song, well I'll shiver

'Cause I know they won't be coming here for anybody else.

But I won't pray, I've made my grave and I'll sleep in it.

If there's a heaven, Lord, I'm headed straight for hell.

Chorus:

'Cause I was born to be a sinner, I was born to be free.

I was born to dance on two left feet.

Raised up to be the rebel, I was blind but now I see

I guess it's always been, the devil and me.

ALL IS WELL

AUSTIN BASHAM

SONGWRITER: AUSTIN BASHAM

WHERE: BRUXELLE 2016

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: LINTON // OSLO

LABEL:NETTWERK RECORDS

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 2015

Austin Basham is a Texas born indie-folk singer with more talent in his pinky finger than most of us can imagine. If you’ve never heard of him before don’t worry because prior to his EP Linton // Oslo released on May 4th, 2015, he’s only had three singles on iTunes and sadly has no YouTube page, that being said keep an out out for him in the future. Maybe you can even claim to be one of his first fans!

The mellow, melodic nature found in all of his music including the 5 songs found in this EP, has the ability to snap you out of whatever you’re concentrating on and bring you into his world. The combination between his guitar playing and his soothing voice, his music connects you to memories, and gives you a sense reconnecting with an old familiar friend.

He says that his influences come from Bob Dylan and Johnny Flynn and it is in no way surprising. When listening to all his tracks, both from the EP and his singles, you can hear hints of their music within Basham’s voice and his guitar. My favourite track between on the EP is by far Running, which was also previously released on iTunes as a single.

Although there is a solid line between what is considered folk and what is considered indie in todays music world, Basham has found a perfect balance between the two.

I know what it is

But I'm hoping that all is well

No harvest of green

But it's still my heart to sell

I put everything I had

Into something that didn't grow

Like going on a wild hunt

Shooting arrows without a bow

But lord, you know it's true

I only want to be with you

Oh, you know it's true

I only want to be with you

Death is stopping by

And I'm hoping it's not too late

A filthy bishop to thank

Shaking hands into a fatal stalemate

Trading riches for love

Knock a year or two off of the pin

So got a hundred left to serve

Standing hopeless on court

But lord, you know it's true

I only want to be with you

Oh, you know it's true

I only want to be with you

Cause all your love

I left it at the door

Don't stop the skies

Let them rain

Let them pour

All your love

I left it at the door

Don't stop your heart

Let it rain

Let it pour

Don't stop these tears

Let them rain

Let them pour

Oh, let them pour

Oh, let them pour

And let them pour

Woe is me

Weary soul

Heeding grief

Your love in my heart

Feels like the ocean breeze

Said your love in my heart

Feels like the ocean breeze.

SUNNY GIRL

THE HEP STARS

SONGWRITER: BENNY ANDERSSON

COUNTRY: SWEDEN

ALBUM: THE HEP STARS

LABEL: OLGA RECORDS

GENRE: POP ROCK

YEAR: 1966

The Hep Stars was a Swedish rock group, formed in 1963 in Stockholm. During 1965-66 the band was the most successful of contemporary 1960s Swedish pop groups performing in the English language. Outside The Nordic Countries the band is best known as a launching point for the keyboard player and composer Benny Andersson, who went on to enjoy worldwide success with ABBA.

The band was founded by the drummer Christer "Chrille" Pettersson (3 November 1942 – 27 August 2006) and the bass guitarist Lennart "Lelle" Hegland with the keyboard player Hans Östlund and the guitarist-singer Jan "Janne" Frisk. At the height of their popularity, the line-up consisted of Hegland, Pettersson, Frisk and Sven "Svenne" Hedlund on lead vocals and Benny Andersson on keyboards.

She's a sunny girl, a real girl

And no-one can declare

That she's something that I never need

And never want to care for

She's a sunny girl, a real girl,

That's why she's satisfying

She will never ask for anything but you

Ain't that a girl

She's domestic, she is property

She's slim like reed

She's devertin', she is faithful

Ain't that all you need

And I'm souring like a feather

In a world I've just created

For a very simple reason

That is one, she's mine

She's all mine.

IT HAD TO BE YOU

HELEN FORREST & DICK HAYMES

SONGWRITER: ISHAM JONES

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: IT HAD TO BE YOU

LABEL: DECCA RECORDS

GENRE: JAZZ

YEAR: 1944

Helen Forrest (April 12, 1917 – July 11, 1999) was an American singer of traditional pop and swing music.

She served as the "girl singer" for three of the most popular big bands of the Swing Era (Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, and Harry James), thereby earning a reputation as "the voice of the name bands."

Dick: it had to be you, it had to be you

I wandered around and finally found the somebody who

Could make me be true, could make me feel blue

And even be glad just to be sad thinkin’ of you

Some others i’ve seen might never be mean

Might never be cross or try to be boss

But they wouldn’t do

For nobody else gave me a thrill

With all your faults, i love you still

It had to be you, wonderful you

It had to be you

Helen: It had to be you, it had to be you

I wandered around and finally found somebody who

Could make me be true, could make me beblue

And even be glad just to be sad thinkin’ of you

Some others i’ve seen might never be mean

Might never be cross or try to be boss

But they wouldn’t do

Dick: For nobody else gave me a thrill

With all your faults, i love you still

Helen: It had to be you, wonderful you

Both: It had to be you