Some songs just deserve to live. This beautiful love song was written by Jo Mapes, an American folk singer. I first heard it when it was recorded by my sister, Nancy Tabb Marcantel, in the 1970’s, and I’ve always loved it. I know there have been a few covers of it, but I don’t think it ever got the attention it deserved. Here’s my version and my bid to keep it alive.

Some songs haunt me and I can only exorcise them by learning and recording them. This Jimmy Webb tune presented me with plenty of challenges–Brad Paisley described JW songs as “23 chords and the truth”–but it was good to get some new muscle memories in my fingers. The words in this breakup song seem almost cold if you read them by themselves, but the beautiful melody conveys the pain that comes with the end of a relationship. I think it’s a great song. Hope you enjoy it.

A little something different this week. This original song is sort of my ode to clueless men. (All in good fun, folks!)

This Paul Simon standard belongs to the “beaten by the big city” genre that almost every songwriter has at least one version of in his/her catalogue. (There might be a sub-genre just for New York City.) At the end of this one the character seems to say, “I know I’m beat, but I’m not quitting.” Anyway, it’s a fun one to play and should evoke some memories for those of you of a certain age.

I wrote this as a love song to my home state many, many years ago. It was first recorded by my sister, Nancy Tabb Marcantel, and then I put a full-production version on my own album. This stripped-down version feels a bit more raw and personal to me.

This John Hartford/Glen Campbell standard is a fun one to play. I tried to capture a little of the banjo feel with this arrangement. Hope I did it justice.

This Paul Simon classic has rightfully taken its place in the American songbook. It’s a call to action against passivity, and no doubt each listener (or singer) will interpret the words through his or her own worldview. As with all great art the song can be appreciated on many levels, from a casual experience to a more in-depth study of the lyrics. At any level, it is haunting.

If you think Jim Croce was just about “Leroy Brown,” you need to look a little deeper. Sadly, he died too young and his fame came after his death, so most people never got familiar with his whole catalogue of great songs. This one’s a love song, sort of, but I think it’s more about embracing the possibilities that come with change. It’s a fun one to sing and a feel-good song. Hope you like it. (Thanks, Jim! )

I learned this John Denver song when I was in my early 20’s. Forty years later, it has a lot more significance for me. It’s also a good reminder to us all to appreciate the things we have while we have them.

This great song by John Denver is one any musician can relate to. I learned it a long (long) time ago, and both the song and the guitar hold a lot more significance for me all these years later.