more or less in the vein of MTV unplugged. the first 7 songs were originally going to be released as 7 songs in San Diego, which is where they were recorded. When it came time to press the CD, i decided to add 4 more songs which had been recorded when i lived in Monterey, because i really wanted them to be heard.
To an unseen listener (2008)
a 27 minute trance guitar instrumental,
along with In the Garden, a song that goes along well with the mood, and could be my theme song.these were originally recorded in San Francisco in 1999. I've been meaning to put them out, but didn't want this to be my first release, for fear of being pigeonholed solely as a trance guitarist. finally, at long last, it's out.
as of now the only way to get these is directly from me, when i play. sooner or later i will deal with this, but for now, you could email me and we could make some arrangements, or you can download the songs from the snocap store on my home page.
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here's the old news, no longer true
Confessions of a Perfectionist
I'm going to air my dirty laundry in public, in the hopes of helping and giving a warning to those of you out there cursed with perfectionism.
I've been playing 30 years, have written over 500 songs and instrumentals, played in the US and Europe, people tell me I'm good and ask to buy my CDs, and I have nothing.
Why?Because:
When I record I have felt that I have to give the best performance of my life.
Not only that, but the recording equipment has to be the best , and the engineer, and the mixing, and the duplication, all issues over which I do not have so much control.
Not only that, but I have said that whatever I do I want to still be in high rotation a hundred years from now, i.e. played a lot.
These are impossibly high standards to live up to.
On top of that, I've had fears of success and fears of failure.
Is it any wonder I have no recordings?
But I will. As long as there is breath in me, don't count me out. The funny thing is, my dream is to have all my songs recorded, for sale on this website, to advertise the website, and to do small tours on the west coast, including private concerts.
a brief musical history
1976 started playing guitar while a DJ at WPLT, Radio Free Plattsburgh (NY), his college radio station. Wanted to make his own music. Started on electric guitar.
1980s mostly electric guitar in alternative bands and street musician in San Francisco. The Divers, the Electrics, Railerific Blues Band, Rampage, Riot, the Chairs, Red Kryptonite, the Rattlers, the Free and Sleazy Band, etc.
1990-91 travelled as a musician in Europe. Hamburg, Paris, Athens, Crete, Koln, Saarland, Flensburgh. Played in bars, restaurants, cafes, clubs, concerts, parties, farmer’s markets and as a street artist.
1990s mostly solo acoustic folk and blues. Northern California with some time in Seattle.
2000s --------------------------------------------------------plans, plans, plans
Releases
The Black Eagle Flies
folk-cassette-1990-sold out
Present
electric rock-casssette-1996-a few copies left
The Official Jay Dancing Bear Guide To Guitar
instructional manual-1998 sold out, in process of revision
GUITAR LESSONS Jay has been teaching guitar since 1980, primarily private lessons..
COVER REPERTOIRE Jay knows hundreds (maybe more) of blues, R+B, rock, folk and traditional songs. Robert Johnson, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, Creedence, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Elmore James, Hank Williams, Janis Joplin, and many others
Jay also plays harmonica and is learning flute and hand drum
Song Lyrics
The Black Eagle FliesThe black eagle flew/ to the top of the mountain/ from the bowels of the earth/ where he came from the black eagle flew/ through the stormy darkness/ higher and higher/ up to the sun
he flies he flies he fills my eyes/ his wings stretch forever, filling the skies higher and higher/ higher and higher/ to the sun, to the sun, the black eagle flies
on his back sits a rider/ in his heart is a diamond/ on his face an eye/ that sees beyond/the black eagle flew/ through the stormy darkness/ higher and higher/ up to the sun
he flies he flies he fills my eyes/ his wings stretch forever, filling the skies/higher and higher/ higher and higher/ to the sun, to the sun, the black eagle flies
the earth that he came from/ the sun that he flies to/ are one and the same/ one, not two/his black wings shine/ with a light that is golden/ all his feathers are turning to blue
to blue/to blue/ they're turning to blue/ the black eagle's feathers turning to blue/the skies, the skies, the skies so blue/ the lack eagle skies/ are turning to blue
the black eagle flew/ to the top of the mountain/ from the bowels of the earth/ where he/came from/the black eagle flew/ through the stormy darkness/ higher and higher/ up to the sun/filling the skies his love like a rainbow/ all that there is / under the sun/all that there is/ he has done/ all that there is/ under the sun/all that there is/ he has done/ all that there is/ under the sun
copyright 2002 jay dancing bear all rights reserved
Journeys of the Spirit
Journeys of the Spirit
Journeys of the heart
Journeys within journeys
where did the journey start?Two people met on the street one day
One lost and the other found
One flew to the sky
and the other stayed on the groundTwas in the merry month of may
the blossoms fresh on the trees
I lay me down to take my rest
and look up at the leavesNow the winter winds blow cold
The silent snow it falls
I've stayed inside all day
and thought upon us allJourneys of the Spirit
Journeys of the heart
Journeys within journeys
where did the journey start?Two people met on the street one day
One lost and the other found
One flew to the sky
and the other stayed on the groundcopyright 2003 Jay Dancing Bear all rights reserved
A Falling Leaf
I know a guy who gets real high
Just by looking at the sky
he goes out where the air is clean
where the grasses speak and he knows what they mean
where the grasses speak and he knows what they meanhe usually gets there on his bike
he's not afraid of a nine mile hike
he's not too young and he's not too old
he care's more about a flower than for diamonds or gold
he care's more about a flower than for diamonds or goldhe's go his problems but he knows how to forget them
the trees would make us happy if we'd only let them
the things which make him happy well they all are free
what greater piece of art than a falling leaf?
what greater piece of art than a falling leaf?I know a guy who gets real high
Just by looking at the sky
he goes out where the air is clean
where the grasses speak and he knows what they mean
where the grasses speak and he knows what they meancopyright 2003 Jay Dancing Bear all rights reserved
Insect World (This is a song from the band I had in the 80's)They stream through the streets like insects/ going to gnaw a corpse
army ants in the jungles of america/ they can't find their way alone
they eat each other/ they feel they must
they feel despair at betraying each other's trust
follow the crowd/ to the end/ follow the crowd/ though they're not YOUR friends
I don't care what you say/ I don't care what you do
all your dreams/ are just to make me like you
but are you happy/ with the life you lead
what are your values/ what are your seeds?
follow me/ to my house/ my sweet house/ follow me/ to my house to my grave to the end be my slave
(lead)
I'm not a businessman anymore/ I can't do that anymore
why should I wear a grey suit why not a blue one it's all the same
all the same/ all that pain
it's all the same/ all that pain
follow/ all you do is follow/ follow/ all you do is, all you do is all you do is/ follow
copyright 2002 Jay Dancing Bear all rights reserved
One Good BullDozer
One good bulldozer is all it would take
to make all the shopping malls all go away
rip up the parking lots and plant them with trees
make flower pots out of SUVsOne good bulldozer
One change of heart
would keep us together
come on let's startWhen people pay attention to the things that matter
All these problems, they'll all scatter
lying in the sun, feeling at one
with the one, the one, and everyoneOne good bulldozer
One change of heart
would keep us together
come on let's startAll the distractions and all of the games
can't hide the fact that inside we're the same
embodiments of the living truth
you and me, me and youOne good bulldozer
One change of heart
would keep us together
come on let's startcopyright 2003 Jay Dancing Bear all rights reserved