Song picture
The Music Plays On
Like
Playlist
Comment Share
Free download
Baroque Rock with a blues/spiritual feel. Based on the true story of my mistakenly assumed demise (see story behind the song)
blues rock spiritual fusi
Artist picture
Singer/songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and recording engineer. Record releases by IRL Records & Otter River Records.
I currently perform as a solo artist and singer/songwriter. All of my recordings were recorded, mixed, and produced from start to finish in my home studio. My original songs are somewhat eclectic but I would generally categorize them as a fusion of rock, blues, folk/country, funk, and jazz.
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Rock Unplugged
Charts
#506 in subgenre Peak #11
Charts
Peak #402
Author
Bryan David Knight
Rights
2006/2008
Uploaded
September 09, 2018
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.5 MB • 112 kbps • 4:25
Story behind the song
A few years back, an annual jam was organized in the Texas town where I attended high school in order to honor the memory of departed musician/schoolmates (beginning with myself and my friend Bill Estes) as well as to facilitate the reunion of the surviving musicians that went to high school and played together in the 6o's and 70's. Creation of the annual WaxaJam reunion was inspired by this response from Bill whenever he was asked to attend high school reunions - "I"ll never return to attend a high school reunion, but I WOULD come back to play music with old friends again." That's just about how I felt about it too. The quircky part concerns the mistaken confusion over my death. My family and I had moved away after I got out of high school and I had not returned for over 35 years. Rumors of my death had circulated, and now, here were my old classmates honoring me as one of the departed. But I'm not dead yet! Yes indeed, truth is stranger than fiction, and so it didn't take long to knock out this song - the subject matter just couldn't be richer. Besides, it was a real kick to be able to go back and perform this song during my "Return from the Dead" concert at WaxaJam 4. This song is dedicated to Bill Estes (rest in peace), but overall - the song really resonates with the feelings I have surrounding my own mortality. For a long time, I had a hard time performing it without getting a lump in my throat - I sometimes I still do. PS. The pic I chose for this song is an old photo from a local Texas newspaper circa 1968. This was my high school rock band named "J. Mann Co." and I am the 15 year old bass player standing rear & center. Mark Garth the organist and Terry Roe the guitarist have since departed for Rock n Roll Heaven.
Lyrics
I had a close friend in school Had a lot of fun - he was really cool Me and Bill didn’t follow all the rules We grew up skipping out on Sunday school Jesus wasn’t what we had in mind T’was music from the heart we prayed to find Bill was on the radio Local DJ with a Saturday show Me and Bill didn’t follow all the rules Got stoned and laughed while reporting the news He played my first recording on the air That’s something special we will always share (Chorus) The legend says me and Bill both passed away Rock ’n’ roll heaven is the only place we play Old band mates now gather each homecoming day And for me, and for Bill, a little prayer they say And for me, and for Bill, they pass around a jay But I’m not dead and gone - I’m still here sparking Long as the music plays on and on I’m not dead yet - my star is shining Long as the music plays on and on As long as the music plays on and on (Verse) Drove up to the Texas Pop Fest Our Woodstock heroes played their best Me and Bill fired up and let it burn Swore we’d leave town never to return Wasn’t long before we moved away But I’d go back again if we could play (Repeat Chorus)
Comments
Please sign up or log in to post a comment.