MP3 Laughing Bird - Close as a Heartbeat

Husband and wife duo featuring soaring harmony vocals, strong songwriting with mature themes, and professional arrangements in the folk-rock, new-country, acoustic-rock vein.

14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, COUNTRY: Country Rock



Details:
Laughing Bird's "Close as a Heartbeat" is a collection of 14 love songs, travel songs and music to celebrate life. Here's an overview of the songs on this moving CD:

1. "Love is Who You Are" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:14

Style: Contemporary Folk

Description: A look at the ageless question, "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are?

Lyric Excerpt:

With whatever you can get, you make your living,
With whatever you can give, you make your life,
It's more than what you give or get, it's neither near nor afar,
Cause love is who you are.

2. "Celebrate Life" written by Tupelo and Janey Kenyon - 3:13

Style: Folk Rock

Description: A reminder to live passionately today, right now, because the end of this life can come arbitrarily, suddenly, unexpectedly, at any moment. So, why not live this moment to the fullest? Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you.

Lyric Excerpt:

You can live your life down the middle of the road,
Help yourself, by being selective,
And live your life like a jamboree,
Be cause, it's more effective

Celebrate, celebrate life, celebrate being alive.

3. "All That We Take With Us" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:22

Style: Contemporary Folk

Description: We all have tough times, periods of sadness and grief. Even sorrow brings us gifts of deeper understanding and a clearer perspective of what is really important. When Janey was going through a life changing time of saying goodbye to her father, she said she was helped through that tough period by these words of encouragement.

Lyric Excerpt:

And even though you're hurting now, the hurting will not last,
The strength you gain from such a pain remains when it's all past
And even this will pass away, like this life itself someday
And all that we take with us is the love we gave away.

4. "Traveler" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 3:43

Style: Country Rock

Description: Traveling is such a great educator, and such an effective prejudice buster. Can you ever really understand the viewpoint of "foreigners" without walking a mile in their shoes? This applies to physical traveling around the planet, as well as flights of fancy into other realms. Hearing about another's experiences can be inspiring, but to really know for sure what it's like, there's nothing like personal experience. "Go, so you will know."

Lyric Excerpt:

When you meet a traveler again, are you going to call him your friend,
Are you going to see through his eyes, are you going to take his advice,
Are you going to go there yourself . . . go, so you will know.

When you meet a traveler on your way, are you going to go are will you stay,
Are you going to hear the words he'll say, maybe it's your lucky day,
Are you going to go there yourself . . . go, be on your way.

5. "Lovin' Gold" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 3:05

Style: Contemporary Country/Folk

Description: Having someone to share the details of your life with is bound to be one of the very best definitions of living a wealthy life. Someone to love, dream and grow with through the years is a wonderful way to feel rich, complete with the potential for compounding interest over a lifetime.

Lyric Excerpt:

Your lovin' gold can chase away the cold,
And before you know, it's blossomed into spring
An' I wouldn't trade our life for anything I've seen,
Some don't have it this good in their dreams,
An' I'm happy just to dream with you, younger growin' old,
Cause I'm keepin' a hopeful heart, just dreamin' with you, 'n your lovin' gold.

6. "Within Without" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 1:57

Style: Soft Rock Poetry

Description: It's fascinating to think about the similarities between a tiny atom and a mighty solar system. The only significant difference is one of scale, and that depends upon the point of reference. They are virtually the same thing - mostly empty space! Even quantum physics is still wondering, "Is the universe a great big thing, or a great big thought?"

Lyric Excerpt:

The order of the universe remains . . . within, without,
And it doesn't seem that different, looking in or looking out,
The atoms spin like solar systems on a smaller scale,
And the eye of the beholder makes them grandiose or pale.

7. "Same Olde Time" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 3:37

Style: Soft Rock

Description: The idea of perspective is examined from different angles, which reveals the arbitrary nature of time. It's all so relative. "What if distant starlight shining in the endless sky is just the same, by a different name, as the twinkle in your eye?"

Lyric Excerpt:

Imagination launches us a zillion miles through space,
Beyond the stars into the void, determined thought can race,
Then looking back, way far below . . . remembering a place,
Where planets dance around a star, casting nights from days.

It's the same old time that it always has been, same old time it's going to be,
Every time that I can remember to notice, now's the time it's dawning on me.

8. "Endless Journey" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:46

Style: Contemporary Folk

Description: Traveling has so many gifts to give! Spectacular scenery, interesting cultural differences, and the inspiring people you'll meet. What a well-rounded education is provided by getting away and looking around . . . and, it's an inspiring education that never has to end.

Lyric Excerpt:

There are roads I haven't traveled, there are skies I haven't flown,
There are places I have never been, and there are friends I've never known,
So I'm off again to find them, wherever they may be,
Cause I'm a traveler on this endless journey to see what's to be seen.

9. "Be Kind" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 5:41

Style: Contemporary Folk/Reggae

Description: To do what you do simply because you love doing it has many rewards. The way it makes you feel is apparent, but what happens behind the scenes can be amazing. Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on and on, far beyond our own personal sphere of influence.

Lyric Excerpt:

The way we live our life is like a pebble dropped . . . into a quiet pool,
It carries on just like a circle growing,
The ripples that we make may touch another shore, you may never know for sure,
How much you've helped someone without you knowing.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting battles too,
Cruel wars within themselves, just like it is with you,
Be kind, because you'll never know just how much good you'll do,
A heartfelt word or two can soothe a hidden wound.

10. "Do What You Love" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:17

Style: Country Rock

Description: Spending the limited moments of our lives doing the activities we truly love brings its own rewards. Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life's greatest feelings of accomplishment.

Lyric Excerpt:

And no one but you can find the answer to your quest,
Your answer's for you and not all the rest,
(You know your answer's the best . . . it's not a contest),
The question is easy enough, and any honest answer is good enough,
You really gotta know . . . what do you love?
Do what you love.

11. "I'd Still Marry You" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 3:43

Style: Contemporary Folk

Description: Sometimes, the people closest to us could use a little lift. For instance, a good time to reaffirm your feelings for someone could be around their birthday or anniversary, especially if they happen to occur around the same time, and especially if there is a zero involved. Let them know how you feel, even if they already know.

Lyric Excerpt:

Remember when it started, many years ago,
Remember how it felt just right, even though we didn't really know,
We had a sneakin' suspicion it'd grow stronger through the years,
Stronger through the laughter, love and tears.

12. "Just One Step" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 3:28

Style: Folk/Rock/Bluegrass

Description: Just begin. That's half the battle. Whatever the project, if you will just get underway with that first step, you will find the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. The simple act of beginning plus the simplicity of following through, one step at a time, works wonders. Choose your own direction because nobody else has any idea what you should do, although many will try to tell you anyway.

Lyric Excerpt:

Well, I should do this, and I should do that,
It seems that everyone's got their opinion,
And it's everyone's right to fight their private fight,
To be captain of their personal dominion,
And neither me nor you has a single clue,
To what the other one really should do,
We're all learnin' as we go, so don't you "should" on me, and I won't "should" on you.

13. "Live From Your Heart" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:53

Style: New Country/Folk

Description: This timeless advice given to me by my grandmother in her golden years is as true and timeless today as it was thousands of years ago. We all come from a long, long, long line of love. And our lives are enhanced exponentially when we interact with one another as if that mattered. "Live from your heart."

Lyric Excerpt:

To stay in love . . . live from your heart,
It's just a little give and take, to stay together even when you're apart,
To stay in love . . . give from your heart,
Take a little and give a lot, and talk it over from the very start,
Stay in love, and live . . . live from your heart.

14. "Fill 'o the Fair" written by Tupelo Kenyon - 4:36

Style: Contemporary Folk

Description: There are so many wonderful experiences made possible by these marvelous bodies made available to us for a limited period of time. This carnival of life is so rich and diverse, let's squeeze every bit of happiness, joy, and delight as possible out of every single day. "Have our fill 'o the fair, why not have our share. You never know when it might disappear."

Lyric Excerpt:

On our way back home, we'll have our fun as we roam,
We'll ride all the rides . . . see all of the sights,
Let down our hair, have our fill 'o the fair.

Laughing Bird is: Janey Wing Kenyon - Vocals, mountain dulcimer, percussion.
Tupelo Kenyon - Vocals, 6 and 12-string acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, percussion.

Friends sitting in:
Bill Mann - bass on 2, slide guitar & mandolin on 12, mandolin and whistle on 14, nylon guitar on 13, harmony on 3.
John Villemonte - synth on 3, 6, & 9.
Rich Miller - harmony on 3 & 13.
Rob Brumfiel - electric guitar on 10.

Recorded by Tupelo and Janey Kenyon, Riversong Studio, Story, Wyoming. Mixed and mastered by Tupe, Janey and Rob Brumfiel at The Recording Workshop. Manufactured by Riversong Studio.

Laughing Bird has recorded several other CDs and many are available here through CDbaby. Search for Laughing Bird, and also search for Tupelo Kenyon. Thanks for listening and thank you for buying our music. Yours for a song, Tupelo and Janey Kenyon â Laughing Bird.