Who's Online
Invisible Members: 3 Visitors: 60
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 150
Song Votes: 483
Song Comments: 2358
Forum Posts: 735
New Members: 68
Participation Points: 8676.85
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
 
NoDerivs-NonCommercial
|
|
|
|
|
Description:
A song I wrote about a shoe shine man working at the airport. My brother Ed did the guitar work and mix. Thanks for listening!
Peace,
Paul
Lyrics:
My grandfather staked me when I was nineteen
Two chairs, with a drawer full of polish between
Amazing how much of the world that I’ve seen
In the eyes that I meet; on the shoes that I clean
A spit-shined young man bound for a hard time
Fear don’t come off ‘matter how hard you shine
They make 'em fly out in full brass and full dress
If he wears ‘em back home, fifty stars on his chest.
Chorus
Monday through Friday at Gate 22
Eight bucks for boots and seven for shoes
I sell first impressions, the smile is free
At the foot of my throne on an old bended knee
She told me her dad was a rich business man
He had her this weekend, she told me her plan
I gave her new laces and then wished her well
When he looks at me, maybe he’ll see himself.
The lights are fluorescent, the speakers are loud
The halls full of people alone in the crowd
They stare at their shoes -- they don’t know their size,
Marching off into the unfriendly skies.
Chorus
They come and they go from morning to night
To fortune to fame at the speed of flight
They twirl on my axis toward skies ever blue
Monday through Friday at Gate 22.
Chorus
On long dusty trails, pay heed to your step
But you can’t spend your whole life watchin’ the ground
As life wears the leather, sometimes it cracks
So stop by to see me, and put your foot down.
©2007 Paul Nicholson
|
NICE SONG &mdash 01/07/08 - 05:20:32 PM
I really like this, it has a nice feel to it. A simple song. It's a shame the second vocal track near the end was not a harmony but still I like it a lot. [ Reply to This ]
Worn Leather &mdash 01/07/08 - 07:45:32 PM
MAn this is amazing .great song writing very genuine
the lyrics just awesome with meaningfull ,thnx alot
for sharin such grem !! [ Reply to This ]
Glad I stopped &mdash 01/07/08 - 08:10:08 PM
and listened to this very pleasing song. Excellent word play, in particular the second verse.
I really enjoyed the classic storyteller feel of the song. Reminded me of the many singer-songwriter performances from the 70's. [ Reply to This ]
good morning &mdash 01/08/08 - 06:23:47 AM
i think the melodey is beutiful. the harmonica works really well. i think you do tell a good story and i find your songs great to listen to with my day old coffe first thing in the morning sitting in the sun room watching the sun come over the trees and seeing the neighborhood wake up. i will keep listening
tim [ Reply to This ]
Great song... &mdash 01/08/08 - 07:50:43 PM
you sing so well. And your guitar playing is right on. For me, I would bring up the harmonica some. It seems too faint to me and if it comes up it would counter play your vocal better. But the song is really good and inviting as is.
Paul, I really like your style... honest sounding singing, simple well-palyed and warm guitar, and a folk song story. Works for me... !
Jack [ Reply to This ]
you are on a roll &mdash 01/08/08 - 11:07:35 PM
I try to be stingy with the 10's but this one earned it in the songwriting. This is such a sweet tune. [ Reply to This ]
Very nice song &mdash 01/09/08 - 06:36:29 AM
Your vocal reminded me of Townes Van Zandt (which is a compliment, by the way! I was a huge fan of his voice - and songwriting) and the guitar work is nicely done - good sound and playing. Some great lyrical images here ("life wears the leather") and a nice subject for a song. Nice work. Peace. [ Reply to This ]
thanks to all... &mdash 01/09/08 - 12:10:58 PM
...for the very kind comments! My brother Ed gets all the credit on the guitar work and mix, he really brought it to life. I travel a lot and I think an airport would be the loneliest place to work, but strangely it is one of the best places to people watch. Wanted to write a song about a guy who "knows his size" in the big picture. Again, thanks for listening!
Peace,
Paul [ Reply to This ]
Cool &mdash 01/09/08 - 05:52:31 PM
Hey is this song playing on the radio? I could swear I heard it as I was driving through nashville. But great song you got there! [ Reply to This ]
Old School... &mdash 01/09/08 - 11:24:45 PM
Slice of Life in the tributaries of our notice.
Reminds me of something Leonard Cohen might have written many years ago. A *little* story... with a wider magnitude.
Nicely done, Paul... and Ed. ;)
--- Joe [ Reply to This ]
great songwriting &mdash 01/11/08 - 07:37:48 AM
Man... &mdash 01/11/08 - 10:31:31 AM
...this is some tune. Wow...lyrics are exceptional, as is their delivery.
Deep respect for you two.
It's amazing how a guitar/voice/some percussion and harmonica can have the fullness of a complete symphony orchestra...when it's done right...which it really is, here. [ Reply to This ]
appreciate it &mdash 01/11/08 - 11:53:06 AM
Love the Going to Philidalphia &mdash 01/12/08 - 01:10:42 PM
to this, which means it has nice pop feel here. The flow of this is really nice, really brings me back to a James Taylor via Mark Kopfler, not sure got his name right. But it as very nice pop current folk feel to me. Your voice is quite nice to hear.
This is a pleasant listen for me. Everything about it seem really well done.
UTF, looking forward to hearing more folk gems from you. You really seem to have the gift! [ Reply to This ]
Great Song &mdash 01/13/08 - 05:13:05 PM
Fabulous &mdash 01/16/08 - 10:35:07 AM
polished sincerity &mdash 01/16/08 - 02:58:16 PM
Very very... &mdash 01/21/08 - 10:22:37 AM
bro &mdash 01/28/08 - 09:28:59 PM
you rock non-stop, brother. and thx to everyone for the nice comments.
Ed [ Reply to This ]
I've heard a lot of songs here at MJ &mdash 02/13/08 - 12:33:00 AM
but this one seems to be one of the best I've heard here.
UTF, way to go. This sounds PRECIOUS!
Very Impressed!!!!! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks, Bill &mdash 02/13/08 - 09:25:57 PM
High praise from my favorite guitarist on this site -- I have watched your video of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and am in awe at your playing. Please let me know if you'd ever be interesting in a collab, have some tunes written that could use a melody and guitar.
Peace,
Paul [ Reply to This ]
|
|
Friends
iLounge - All things iPod, iTunes and beyond
|
Dish Network - the dish
network limited time bonus offers - get all three
|
|
[ Reply to This ]