Thursday, September 1, 2022

BLANKET 25th Anniversary!

 


Happy September! 25 years ago this month my album Blanket was released, a collection of songs about family in one way or another (and yes, that's me on the cover with my mom and sister Amy). I'm happy to say it holds up pretty well, with some great guest performances by vocalists Amy Malkoff, Jennifer Truesdale and Michael Holland, and musicians David Hamburger (Dobro), Billy Novick (penny whistle), Mark Simos (fiddle). Brice Buchanan (guitar), Seth Connelly (bass), Dennis Pearne (bass), Laura Wood (percussion) and Michael Cahill (drums). Songs range from the all-too-topical ("Kid Who Looks Like Me," about unexpected pregnancy; "I Can't Remember Life Before I Got Here," about incarceration; "The Sweetest Poison" about addiction), to arcane history ("Three If by Air," about a Boston inventor who hang glided off Old North Church - in 1754) to family legends ("German Violin") and rock'n'roll dreams ("Everything Makes Me Cry These Days Except the Rolling Stones"). A remastered digital album is on its way to folk radio, and you can find it on Apple and Amazon Music (and still find the physical CD on my website). Hope you enjoy it!


Friday, June 10, 2022

The Pearl Within My Heart

My eighth graders are currently reading The Pearl by John Steinbeck. It's a fable about injustice which unfortunately doesn't turn out well in the end. Fortunately, life doesn't always imitate art. Here's my own pearl story, from my 1995 album I Own This Town, with a happier ending (so far so good!).

 

The Pearl Within My Heart

Have you ever wondered how a pearl begins?
An oyster cracks its shell, a grain of sand slips in
That grain of sand gets lodged against the oyster's tender flesh
And it feels a pain with every movement, every breath

The oyster cannot rub that grain of sand away
So it cries itself to sleep, dreaming shades of gray
But morning brings a miracle, a shining silver coat
That wraps around the sand and smooths away the hurt

And you are the pearl within my heart
You are the pearl within my heart
The moment I first saw your face I felt my healing start
You are the pearl within my heart

Most folks give a diamond at a time like this
When they make a lover's promise and seal it with a kiss
But diamonds aren't forever and they cut so very deep
So I'm offering this pearl I'm praying that you'll keep

For you are the pearl within my heart
You are the pearl within my heart
The moment I first saw your face I felt my healing start
You are the pearl within my heart
You are the pearl within my heart

(c) 1995 Terry Kitchen/urban campfire music, BMI