Family Tree - Keith Birmingham

Family Tree - Keith Birmingham.lyrics
Copyright, 2011
At 100 to 110 bpm in 4/4 time

Just a foolish lad chasing after dreams, never worried about the cost.
Running fast and running free, never missed what he had lost.
Chasing shining stars he drove the fastest cars, never giving up the pace.
Running down the road, headed for the gold, a winners smile was on his face.

When he became a man his life began to change the day hea headed off to war.
He learned to aggravate. He learned to fear and hate. He tasted blood and wanted more.
He watched his brothers die, and heard their mothers cry, and he held our flag up high.
Marching down the road with a heavy load, he never stopped to ask God why.

And, when he came home he was a different man, but he could not tell you why.
He never danced, and he never smiled, and you never seen him cry.
He was all alone. His love for life was gone, when she came into his life.
And, the light of his life was like a shining star and she soon became his wife.

And, the years they passed, and their love did last, and she bore his family.
And, the day she died, he sat alone and cried,  beneath a weeping willow tree.
But, what she left behind by the grace of God was to be his destiny.
Shining stars and racing cars were added to his family tree.

Oklahoma City - A Better Living, A Better Life

Life in the Key Of

A catchy 3 chord wonder in any key.

Life in the Key Of
Copyright:  2011 by Keith Birmingham
130bpm, in 4/4 time.  This is a simple 3 chord song. Choose your key.

A rising moon,
A setting sun,
It’s all good,
It’s all fun.

From valleys low,
To mountains high,
A deep green meadow,
Or a clear blue sky.

Radio blastin’ from
The back of my car.
I was gonna be
A Nashville star.

A country song, and
The girl of my dreams,
The world by the tail.
Or, so it seemed.

Life had losses.
Life had gains.
Life moved on,
And, I remained.

When life moved on
My dreams didn’t die,
But, I paid my dues to
The corporate lie.

I learned my lessons.
I learned them well.
I spent my time
Living in Hell.

But, now I’m living
The life that I love.
And, I’ve given my soul
To the Lord above.

From valleys low,
To mountains high,
A deep green meadow,
Or a clear blue sky.

A rising moon,
A setting sun,
It’s all good.
It’s all fun.

Repeat and fade.

Chasin' Dreams (on the Dotted Line) - Keith Birmingham

If you like the lyrics, and would like the chords, just zap me an e-mail: maddadkeith@yahoo.com

Chasin' Dreams (on the Dotted Line)
Copyright, 2011: Keith Birmingham

Something told me a long, long time ago.
That I should cut the strings and let her go.
And, today she's in the arms of another man.
And, tonight I'll sleep with another one night stand.

I've spent my life rollin' down the dotted line.
I was chasin' dreams that never would be mine.
Now I find my self at the end of the dotted line.
And, the dreams I've always had are all that's mine.

Though some may say I am a broken man.
I've always known exactly where I stand.
And when the piper calls I'll hold my head up high.
I'll kiss the moon and then I'll dance in a stary sky.

Lazy Man’s Blues - Keith Birmingham

Lazy Man’s Blues
Copyright: 2011 by Keith Birmingham
Key of A or  G, about 125 bpm, in 4/4 time.

You say your gonna own a mansion
Sittin’ high upon a hill,
Overlookin’ all the people,
That you pay to do your will.

But, you haven’t got a job,
And, you’ve never paid a bill..
So, how you gonna buy
That mansion on a hill.

Well, you say your brother Johnny
He is a selfish man.
And, you say your sister Mary,
She won’t give you a hand.

But, you haven’t got a job,
And, you’ve never paid a bill..
So, how you gonna buy
That mansion on a hill.

It’s time for you to get up
You’ve got some bills to pay.
Well, it’s time you paid your dues man.
And, it’s time you earned your way.

Well, you haven’t got a job,
And, you’ve never paid a bill..
So, how you gonna buy
That mansion on a hill.

‘Cause you haven’t got a job,
And, you’ve never paid a bill..
So, how you gonna buy
That mansion on a hill.

Repeat and fade.

A Rainy Day - Keith Birmingham

A Rainy Day - Keith Birmingham
Copyright: 02/25/2012


What do I do on a rainy day,
And, when life don't go my way,
When it's cold and I can't go out,
What do I do and think about?


When the rain doesn't stop all day,
I like to go outside and play.
I like to dance through the pouring rain.
I like to act like I am insane.

When my life seems like it's a mess,
It doesn't matter if I've done my best.
I sing a song or I hum a tune
And, I howl at a rising moon.

And, when it's cold and I can't go out,
I open windows and I like to shout.
And, my life won't get me down.
If I find my way downtown.

So, put on a happy face,
Be a star of the human race.
Be someone that you want to be,
And, your smile will be set free.

That's what I do on a rainy day,
And when life don't go my way,
When it's cold and I can't go out,
That's what I do and think about?

Thirty-five Years (Taking Back My Life)

On July 4, 1993 I attended some concerts in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas. These were the first concerts I had attended since the early '70's. These concerts, where I saw the rock group America, Stephen Still, and (for all intents and purposes) The Eagles perform, changed my life. I had lived in a personal hell for most of my life. But, without drinking or smoking anything stronger than a Pepsi or a Marlboro I was higher than a kite for at least 6 weeks after those concerts. Three months later I bought my first of 3 guitars for that year. I played guitar in every spare moment I had for the next three years, until hard times hit me due the mistakes of someone else. But, in those 3 years I wrote maybe a dozen songs. They were left in storage, and this is the only one that I have been able to find. The original title was "Thirty-five Years". I updated it to match the time for my retirement in November, 2009.

Thirty-five Years (Taking Back My Life)
Copyright, 2010 by Keith Birmingham. 4/4 time.

For thirty-five years I’ve been breakin’ my back
In the heat of a July sun.
For thirty-five years I’ve  busted my butt
On those cold December runs.
For thirty-five years I gave the man
The best years of my life.
And now I think it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my life.

For thirty-five years I gave the woman
Everything I could
For thirty-five years I have done exactly
What I said I would.
But now she’s gone. I’m on my own.
And, Lord I love this life.
Cause now I think it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my life.
Now I think it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my live.

Thirty-five years of sorrow and pain
And now I’ve been set free.
To talk the talk, and walk the walk,
Of the man I want to be.
So look out world I’m steppin’ out
In the prime of my life.
And now I know it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my life.
And now I know it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my  life.

I said now I know it’s time for me
To be takin’ back my life.
Blank
And, I’m takin’ back my life.

Workin’ Real Hard at Forgivin’

For the next several days I will be posting  the lyrics to at least one song almost every day that I have written.  I have about 25 songs that I am working with at this time.  If you read them, and are interested in performing them, please let me know. I only seek payment when they are used in recordings at this time. Also, I do not have the best situation to be recording songs in, but I will try to get something posted here soon that will show approximately what I have in mind for these songs.

Workin’ Real Hard at Forgivin’
Copyright: 2010 by Keith Birmingham

Well, I’ve come a long way in the past year or so,
But, I’ve still got no reason to smile.
And, learnin’ to live like a free man again,
Well, it’s something that just takes awhile.

CHORUS:
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgettin’
About the bad things that’s happened to me.
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgivin’
The one’s that have done them to me

And, the passing of time still brings no sign
Of what my future will be
But, I’ve made a new start in a place far away
From the things that were killing me.

CHORUS:
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgettin’
About the bad things that’s happened to me.
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgivin’
The one’s that have done them to me.

And, the future is not what I’m after.
 I’m just living from day to day.
I’m not searching for all of the answers.
I’m just living from day to day.


CHORUS:
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgettin’
About the bad things that’s happened to me.
I’m just workin’ real hard at forgivin’
The one’s that have done them to me.

What To Do About Yellow Jackets

When Yellow Jacket Control is Necessary

Whenever possible, leave yellow jacket nests alone and let them continue to prey on pest insects; the ensuing cold weather will cause the colony to die off. However, if the nest is in a well-traveled area and poses a risk, you may need to take action.


The easiest and safest the option is to hire a professional. If you're determined to do it yourself, know that the likelihood of getting stung is high.
Apply control measures on a cool evening. The insects will be back home from the day's foraging, and they're more sluggish in cool temperatures. Always wear protective gear, ideally beekeeper's attire.

Smother them. Mike McGrath, host of WHYY's You Bet Your Garden talk show and former editor-in-chief of Organic Gardening magazine suggests this procedure: Fill a wheelbarrow with ice and quickly dump it over the hole. Then cover the hole and the area around it with a heavy tarp weighted down with bricks, a piece of sheet metal, a big wooden board, or other heavy object. Then cover that with soil or wood chips. Or cover the hole with a thick piece of clear plastic, seal the edges tight to the ground, and the nest will cook in the sun once the ice melts.

Boil or drown them. Some gardeners report success with pouring 10-plus gallons of boiling water into the nest. Other say soapy water does the same thing. Remember, any insects that you don't kill on contact will come after you.

Spray them. Numerous wasp control sprays are available, including organic ones with mint oil as the active ingredient. There are also sprays that freeze upon contact. Some people report better luck using pesticide dusts rather than sprays. If you choose one of these methods, follow label directions very carefully, taking all precautions.

Do NOT pour gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable or toxic liquid into the hole. If it doesn't kill on contact it will infuriate the insects. And it will poison the soil.

Bug Out Time

When you look at the political chaos this world has been in for the past 30 years, and the damage of national disasters of the past 20 years, it is hard to imagine that the future cannot get any worse. Do you remember the chaos of Katrina? Do you recall all of the supposed improvements to some government program called Federal Emergency Management Agency? Well, for the past half an hour all that has been on television is interviews of citizens of New York and New Jersey with nothing but complaints about the lack of support from the government. And, all I can think about is “why would want anyone to rely on a government for help in times of crisis. So, my thoughts and efforts are turning toward what I can do to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It is easy to see that many people in this country have become so convinced that a government handout is easy to get, and few people are preparing for the fact that it will not come.

Food: As a trucker I learned to keep a few days supply of food in my truck. Although I knew weather conditions could cause me to be cut off from a food supply more often than not it was shippers, receivers, and my schedule that caused me to miss meals on many, many, many occasions. So, I now have a week of supplies in a closet at home, and a few days supplies in the kitchen cupboards. And, I am putting money aside to make arrangements for the worst of times.

Clothing: I am not looking for clothing that shows a sense of fashion. I am hitting the garage sales, used clothing, and surplus stores. I am shopping for clothing that is comfortable and functional in the coldest of weather, and comfortable and functional in long days of extreme heat.

Grooming supplies: I have two of everything in my house, and one of everything in my “bug out” kit in the trunk of my car.

Gear: If I still had all of the tools that I have purchased over the years I could open a truck repair center, and a carpenter’s shop. But, it seems that the tools that I most have a need for are the tools that other people thing they need more than I do. My tools are no longer loaned to would be friends and neighbors. Today, they are stored in two places. Most of them are inside my home, and an emergency tool kit, and a “bug out” clothing and supply kit are in the trunk of my car. And yes, there is an emergency first aid kit in my car.

Weapons: mine are no longer stored in a safe place. Mine are sitting where they can be used the instant I see danger. I may be crazy, but I not only fear the real criminals, I no longer trust people that I know have not prepared for the worst.

Brief case: This is a list I keep of things that I watch for as a scavenger such as tools that I would like to get my hands on. I also list ideas and places that I may go to get bigger items that I might need. My brief case is where I store the most often needed office supplies.

For the past few months I have been searching for a vehicle that I can live in to do my work as a photographer and a musician. And, I plan to buy a small trailer that will hold even more things that can be very helpful, and will serve me well in case it comes time to “BUG OUT”. However, with what I now have, I figure I can have everything I will need in my car and be pulling out of my driveway within 3 minutes, and I can head for “higher and safer“ ground.

Why do this? Simply remind yourself of the chaos of the world over the last 30 years, and the natural disasters that have occured just in your life-time. That is why everyone should be prepared. And today, no matter which political party you belong to, you should realize that you cannot rely on a dysfunctional government in your times of need.