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Always Yes

by Michael On Fire

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    "a sound and style that epitomises all that is so good about the Americana genre. This is honest roots music by a veteran artist who makes music on his own terms regardless of current fads and fancies. We celebrate artists like that - especially when the music is of such uniformly high quality." - Maverick Magazine

    " a distinctive brand of Americana rock music, with 13 songs that span a broad range of rootsy styles." - Urban "Wally" Wallstrom (Rock United)

    "an affirmation of brilliant melody, poetry, insight, creativity and conviction." - review by Beth Robinson at No Depression

    Includes unlimited streaming of Always Yes via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Chief Redbird's Violin 05:18
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Chief Red Bird’s Violin I learned to play the Fiddle on Chief Red Bird’s violin A gift to me when I was 21 He had long since left this world and it sat for many years And gathered dust and longed to play again--- I could feel those Northern Nights—long laced gowns and smoke filled rooms I could see those young brides and young grooms and hear those old tunes I learned to play the fiddle on Chief Red Bird’s violin Only wish that I could play like him Never even met the man but I could feel his soul Every time I held his violin When I touched that ancient wood the past would seem to sing When I touched that horse hair bow to string Maybe he was Chippewa—Ottawa or Wyandot From the Huron—the Iroquois—Pottawatomie I learned to play the fiddle on Chief Red Bird’s violin Only wish that I could play like him Something seemed so mystical when I held his violin And smelled the inside of his beat up case I could just imagine as I watched my clumsy fingers Dancing gracefully across those strings He was touched when he was born with the amber blood of the burgundy maple tree Anointed by the autumn dance when the trees turned gold in 1933 Learned to play the fiddle on Chief Red Bird’s violin Only wish that I could play like him
2.
Marlboro Country 03:57
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Marlboro Country Ain’t got nothing up my sleeve. Ain’t got nothing in my pocket Got some worn out old blue jeans. I keep knocking, someone please unlock it I keep a record of the places, and I think about the faces of the folks that done me good Smoking filtered cigarettes. Lost in Vegas making bets Drinking whiskey feeling blue. I keep wondering what to do I left a number if you need me. If I’m hungry could you feed me Could you tell me something new? Thank God I’m here again – in Marlboro Country Holiday inns and Texaco gas When my ship comes in I’m going first class I gotta keep believing that my blues won’t last I’ve been hanging round so long, must be doing something wrong Can’t remember my last fight, must be doing something right I keep growing, I keep changing, And I’m always rearranging All the thoughts I have for you Thank God I’m here again – in Marlboro Country
3.
Violet Skies 04:46
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Violet Skies Whirl like a dervish howling at a moon. Someday looks like pretty soon Speed strength stamina. Looks like I'm having a dream Go get Goliath and David's on his way I think something good's gonna' happen today Twenty years from Tuesday. Looks like I'm having a dream The sun was red in violet skies Pray to the one who answers all your prayers Wear what you want but avoid all the stares Call out the Calvary. Looks like I'm having a dream Hold back the water with your thumb in a dam Look in the mirror and guess who I am Say something simple. Looks like I'm having a dream The sun was red in violet skies Say 10 20 30 40 50 million. Words can be as deadly as any gun Can you believe it. Looks like I'm having a dream Open up the closet let the skeleton out You're living in the present while the past still shouts Close out my calendar. Looks like I'm having a dream The sun was red in violet skies
4.
Silence 04:33
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Silence Nightclub eyes like candles burn. Ghosts of smoke at every turn Psychic hands of revolution. Talk in tongues of cruel confusion Rain reflects the neon signs. Headlights, horns, the daily grind Lonely street just caught on fire. cRide that street car called desire Silence – I need silence Solitude and peace of mind All alone I need to find Silence Passing strangers, ice-like eyes. Circumstance turns truth to lies Bleeding hearts and tears of passion. Last year’s fad is next year’s fashion Running down the avenue. Naked city, cold as blue Front page headlines made me wonder. Blatant lies as loud as thunder Silence – I need silence Solitude and peace of mind All alone I need to find Silence
5.
Look Me in the Eye 04:34
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Look Me in the Eyes and Tell Me Who I Am A lifetime of playing, working like a dog Driving in the fast lane, walking through the fog I gotta lotta friends who let me spend the night Gotta lotta miles walking in the light I’m a father, I’m a man, I’m a citizen trying to make a stand Look me in the eyes, look me in the eyes Look me in the eyes and tell me who I am Ten hours Monday, ten hours Tuesday Overtime Wednesday, 80 hours a week Gotta go to bed, gotta get some sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep Chorus When did young cowboys turn into lawyers When did young angels turn into whores When did fun turn into pain When did things get so insane Chorus
6.
Apache Wind 05:59
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Apache Wind Seems we’re living on the edge of a shadow, Seems we’re living in the colder times When the truth becomes a point of view and the law becomes a crime In the crossfire of opinion when all virtue turns to sin Swim against the raging river Fly upon Apache Wind When the holy ones are laughed at When the old ones go to sleep When the buildings start to crumble and the trees begin to weep When the birds are lost in winter, and don’t know where they’ve been, Swim against the raging river Fly upon Apache Wind To reward with fame and fortune when an artist sells his soul When it’s time to bury magic in some long forgotten hole When the eagles become portraits or sculptures made of tin Swim against the raging river Fly upon Apache Wind
7.
Good Man 05:22
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Good Man Everyone will lend a hand If you’re a good man Life is so much easier If you’re a good man No more lies do you have to tell No more times do you have to sell Living in a time bomb cannot bother you Cuz now is the time for all good men And now is the time for all good women too Tell the truth now, who can judge you Clean your closet too Everybody’s got their problems and their point of view Living in a good time, hope you have a good time too Anything you want is here if you’re a good man No more do you have to fear if you’re a good man No more games do you have to play No more words do you have to say Living like you want to is the only thing to do Cuz now is the time for all good men Now is the time for all good women too Tell the truth now, who can judge you Clean your closet too Everybody’s got their problems and their point of view Living in a good time, hope you have a good time too
8.
Breathing of the Sun 04:28
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Breathing of the Sun The crystal earth. The indigo moon The five lost days between May and June The diamond throne. The turquoise walls The serpentine bones. The amythest halls The ancient caves. The golden horn Protected by time, a spirit unborn As it began, so shall it end Nothing to fight for. Nothing to defend And now it's happening. It's finally begun Suddenly one night. The breathing of the Sun The red inspiration. The seasons of gold All that you know, that you've never been told The purest of children. The wonder of light A time of forgiveness, the time is so right And now it's happening. It's finally begun Suddenly one night. The breathing of the Sun
9.
Thank You For Today 05:45
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Thank You For Today Thank you for today. Thank you for today For all those times that you never heard me say Thank you for today So many things I could have said. So many things I could have done For all those times you were alone, these things dwell deep inside my soul Chorus I didn’t know just what I had. Seems like I threw it all away If I could change the past I would So here’s to you straight from my heart Chorus I wish I knew the things I’ve learned from loss I wish that I could turn back time I’d tell that stupid boy that was your man And I wish you could know the man I am Chorus
10.
Into Your Destiny 04:47
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Into Your Destiny Yellow flowers, golden dreams, diamond towers, faded schemes Rainbow people, black and white, oriental shining light Lonely soul mates, hungry minds, competition, lucky finds Friendly strangers, evil friends, I need one, I don’t need ten Dreamed I talked to Moses standing by the sea He said if you can’t swim walk along with me Into Your Destiny, Into Your Destiny One sees beauty, one sees cash One needs quiet, one needs flash One’s a dreamer, one’s awake One must give and one must take Light a candle, breathe some fire Climb the mountain, walk the wire, In the water wash your sins, wash your sins Dreamed I talked to Moses standing by the sea He said if you can’t swim walk along with me Into Your Destiny, Into Your Destiny Save your money, spend your time You take yours and I’ll take mine Got no use for Madame Ru Just get paid for what you do Dreamed I talked to Moses standing by the sea He said if you can’t swim walk along with me Into Your Destiny, Into Your Destiny
11.
Before the Wind 05:28
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Before The Wind Before the Fire, Before the Wind I bowed my head, drank to my friends I tried so hard, I'll try again Before the Fire, Before the Wind Before the Winter, Before the Fall Before the Fences, Before the Wall I pledged my love to you again Before the Fire, Before the Wind Hold Your Glasses High Hold Your Glasses High I Swear My Love Will Never End Before the Fire, Before the Wind Before the Color, Before the Light Before the Storm, Before the Night I love you Now, I loved you Then Before the Fire, Before the Wind Hold Your Glasses High Hold Your Glasses High I Swear My Love Will Never End Before the Fire, Before the Wind Before The Sun, Before the Pain I prayed the Sky would send some Rain It's coming down, I don't know when Before the Fire, Before the Wind
12.
Watch the Show 05:43
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Watch the Show Sometimes I know the words to say what I feel Sometimes I don’t feel a thing Sometimes I hear the bells inside of my head Sometimes the bells they don’t ring Sometimes I feel both hot and cold Sometimes I feel both young and old So many things I’d like to know I just stand back and watch the show Sometimes I need a place where nobody goes Sometimes I’m lost in a crowd Sometimes the voices whisper low in my ear Sometimes the voices are loud Inside my dreams sometimes I fall Sometimes I cannot dream at all So many things I’d like to know I just stand back and watch the show Sometimes I lay awake and can’t fall asleep Sometimes I dream through the night Sometimes I let go and throw up my hands Sometimes I hold on so tight Sometimes I like to fade away Sometimes I really like to stay So many things I’d like to know I just stand back and watch the show
13.
Righteous Man 03:38
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Righteous Man Like an avalanche, like a runaway train A different kind of wind I can’t explain The rhythm of the world is all about love God knows what I’m thinking of Always yes, always can He’s a virtuous, just, and a righteous man Crazy poets rant and rave Fog is rising like dreams from a grave Neon cross, shine blue shine bright God knows how I feel tonight Always yes, always can He’s a virtuous, just, and a righteous man Kings and clergy, bebop queens Flowers on the barbed wire trees Basking in the afterglow God knows what I want to know Always yes, always can He’s a virtuous, just, and a righteous man

about

(Note to fans - this is not a new album release. This album, originally released in January, is being offered on bandcamp for the first time)

… When it comes to a deep, clear, unwavering sense of purpose, an unmistakable knowingness - regarding one’s prime reasons and natural inclinations; … When it comes to talent, and having an innate feel for it from early on, and going with it, and sticking to it; … When it comes to being creative and having original thoughts, and the willingness, nay the compulsion, to express them; … When it comes to conviction, and constancy, and courage, to face the world and not back away, from one’s principles, ideas, and ideals, and aims and intentions, and to face oneself and not back away, from the images reflected in the mirror of self-scrutiny; … When it comes to strength, humanity, fallibility, and integrity; … When it comes to relentlessness, in the pursuit - of passion and the path of the soul, the dictates of the heart; … When it comes to caring, listening, empathizing, responding, empowering, and inspiring, holding on to and injecting hope and hopefulness and possibility, a different perspective, a different kind of wind; … When it comes to rejection, and disappointment, and hardship, and loss, and being out of time - with the time, and at odds with society, swimming against the raging river; … When it comes to losing, to getting knocked down, beat down - to the canvas, and when the question is can you, should you, will you – get up, knowing that you’re sure to endure more punishment and wondering how much more you can take, and give, and dish out; … When it comes to the artist, the dreamer, the lover, the fool; the superior man, the good man, and the good woman too, to which we aspire and which resides within us; ... When it comes to all this, the answer – to each of these questions and all these considerations, is yes … always yes.

credits

released April 21, 2014

All songs, words and music, by Michael on Fire
© Michael on Fire 2010
(p) Prisma Galacti Music (BMI)

Produced by Michael on Fire and James Ascenzo

Performed by:
Michael on Fire – lead vocal, guitar, piano, organ, harmonica, banjo
James Ascenzo – drums, bass, dobro, harmony vocals, percussion
Ced Curtis – Fender Stratocaster guitar
David Reinstein – tenor and soprano saxophone
Tyson Leonard – violin

Recorded at Reel Sound Audio – Novi, MI
and Black Box Sound Studio – Atascadero, CA

Executive Producer: Ron Colone for Real Eyes Productions

Thanks to: Carole Ann Colone, Kelly Elm, Frank Blundo, The Artist Advocacy Foundation, Deb Haverfield, Colleen Pobur, David Katz, John Poitras, Charles Wiltsie
Anthony DiBattista

Released by Real Eyes Productions - 2011
REP No. 34
PO Box 1672,
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805)688-0383

www.michaelonfire.com; www.YouTube.com/MichaelonFireMusic

for Mario Colone vaya con dios

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MichaelOnFire.com

From his beginnings as a songwriter working out of Detroit’s famed United Sound Studios, to his recordings with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, to the progressive jazz of Prismatic, to the years in L.A. and Nashville, making records with Stephen Stills, and Joe Vitale, to the nonstop touring, Michael On Fire has been relentless in his commitment to creative expression and musical performance. ... more

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