The “Summer Of Love” song title came about on a trip to Sonoma, Ca. with James Lee Stanley last summer. We performed at a small gathering and everyone was talking about the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. There was actually a huge traffic jam near Golden Gate Park as we inched our way north from Santa Cruz to Sonoma earlier that day. The more I thought about it, I realized that I came to California from Ohio in 1967, the very year of the Summer Of Love. A live Batdorf and Rodney reunion concert at XM Radio was on the horizon and the plan was to release it on CD, but I thought what was needed to really make the CD special was to write and record a few new songs. Because I was so influenced by the music from 1967 to 1970 when Mark and I were signed to our deal with Atlantic, it seemed that a song about that era, and the affect it not only had on me but a whole generation, would be a great way to start the CD. I got together with my favorite and only co-writer, Michael McLean, and we came up with this song which I feel says it all.
Lyrics: Summer of Love
IT WAS AN AWAKENING / AND IF YOU WERE THERE
YOU’D KNOW WHAT I MEAN / CAN'T HELP REMEMBERING
THE SUMMER OF LOVE
IT WAS A TIME OF CHANGE / AND IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AND STRANGE
AND NOTHING’S BEEN QUITE THE SAME
SINCE THE SUMMER OF LOVE
There are moments, I swear, It's like I'm still there
That place where I belonged
The scent in the air, the wind in my hair
And living those songs
IT WAS A PERFECT TIME / CHOOSING WHICH
MOUNTAINS THAT WE WOULD CLIMB / FOREVER I'LL CALL IT MINE
IT WAS THE SUMMER OF LOVE
I'm willing to bet, you can never forget
The sound that moves you still
It was the state of the art and it beats in your heart,
And it always will
IT WAS A TIME TO SING / IT WAS A TIME WE BEGAN TO DREAM
AND MUSIC MEANT EVERYTHING
IN THE SUMMER OF LOVE
My life has moved on, that summer is gone
But not forgotten
When those melodies sing to me
I'm there
WHAT AN AWAKENING / AND IF YOU WERE THERE
YOU’D KNOW WHAT I MEAN / CAN'T HELP REMEMBERING
THE SUMMER OF LOVE
IT WAS OUR TIME TO SING / IT WAS OUR TIME WE BEGAN TO DREAM
FOREVER MY HEART REMAINS, IN THE SUMMER OF LOVE
IN THE SUMMER OF LOVE, IT WAS THE SUMMER OF LOVE
IN THE SUMMER OF LOVE
Oh, me and my guitar, keep our wheels a turnin’ ... Kind of self-explanatory, I think. Although, when I wrote the bridge, ”How long will it take?”, I really had no idea just how long indeed..................
Lyrics: Me and My Guitar
Oh, me and my guitar, keep our wheels a-turnin’
Tryin’ hard to find the perfect style.
Oh, Lord my hands are tired, and my fingers burnin’
Think I’ll have a drink and rest awhile
I PLAY ALL DAY AND SING THE SONG
THAT I WROTE YESTERDAY
HOPIN’ IT WILL BE THE ONE THAT GETS ME ON MY WAY
Feel, I should quit today, does it really matter,
But my lady says there is a way.
She, keeps me goin’ on, She helps me up the ladder
Tellin’ me that this will be the day
I PLAY ALL DAY AND SING THE SONG
THAT I WROTE YESTERDAY
HOPIN’ IT WILL BE THE ONE THAT GETS ME ON MY WAY
How long will it take?
How soon will it break?
How long will it take?
How long will it take?
I PLAY ALL DAY AND SING THE SONG
THAT I WROTE YESTERDAY
HOPIN’ IT WILL BE THE ONE THAT GETS ME ON MY WAY
I have always tried to have a positive outlook on life and even at eighteen I was trying to tell myself that very thing. Even when things seem the darkest,
there is almost always a way to turn the thing around and learn to be strong and positive when things are tough. There is always someone else way worse off than me and drowning in self-pity is never the answer. That’s where “One Day” came from.
Lyrics: One Day
One day, I’m sure we’ll all be happy,
Peace will soon find everyone
One day, we’ll wake up in the mornin’
All our troubles will be gone
Let’s make the best of things, I know we can get by,
Try and keep our heads up high
One day, the world will be much brighter,
Smiles will lighten every day
And one day, we’ll sing our songs together
Of the joy that’s here to stay
Let’s make the best of things, I know we can get by,
Try and keep our heads up high
Credits:
Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
After our first recording session in Mussle Shoals, Ahmet Ertegun took me aside and told me not to worry so much about writing hits. He told me to "Write what you feel man", and “Don’t You Hear Me Callin’” is one of
those songs I wrote later which was recorded in L.A.
Lyrics: Don’t You Hear Me Callin’
Smilin’ all the time was the only way,
To fight the cryin’ that was here today.
Still the tears that were meant to be,
Continue drowning hope inside of me.
DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLIN’, WON’T YOU ANSWER ME
CAN’T YOU SEE ME FALLIN’, OH LORD SET ME FREE.
I tell myself that it’s just the day,
And the night will take my pain away.
What’s the price for me to buy some time,
All I need is just some peace of mind.
DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLIN’, WON’T YOU ANSWER ME
CAN’T YOU SEE ME FALLIN’, OH LORD SET ME FREE
And now I’m looking back,
To ways I could have gone.
I’ve traveled everywhere,
Looking for the dawn.
Smilin’ all the time was the only way,
To fight the cryin’ that was here today.
Still the tears that were meant to be,
Continue drowning hope inside of me.
DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLIN’, WON’T YOU ANSWER ME
CAN’T YOU SEE ME FALLIN’, OH LORD SET ME FREE
DON’T YOU HEAR ME CALLIN’, WON’T YOU ANSWER ME
CAN’T YOU SEE ME FALLIN’, OH LORD SET ME FREE
OH LORD SET ME FREE
OH LORD SET ME FREE
Credits:
Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
“By Today” was one of the first songs written for the second album. Mark and I had been gigging in LA for about a year waiting for 'Off The Shelf' to come out. Our first big gig to kick off the release of the album
was a week at the Troubador opening for Dave Mason. Atlantic really went all out with press kits and everyone they invited was completely comped. I thought to myself, ”Why would anyone come see us?” We'd been playing at open mics and now we were hot shots on Atlantic? As I paced the dressing room floor on opening night and peeked out at the sold out crowd, the inspiration for "By Today" started to flow and this is what came out.
Lyrics: By Today
By today, all will know and wonder what to say
Or be thinkin’ someone’s sent the wrong one
And either way, most will show to receive their free tray
Caring less about what is to be done
WHERE ARE WE GOIN’, WHEN CAN WE BEGIN?
WHERE ARE WE GOIN’ LA, LA , LA
Pace the floor, waiting for the man to call my name
All I fear is finding out I’m afraid.
And through the door, I can see them waiting with the flame
I’m thinkin’ that I’d like to leave and be paid.
BUT WHEN ARE WE GOIN’, WHEN CAN WE BEGIN?
WHERE ARE WE GOIN’ LA, LA , LA
Excitement fills my veins, I know this is the day
All I’ve worked for has come to me now
And the enlightenment I am feeling, hope it stays
By today, all will know and wonder what to say
Or be thinkin’ someone’s sent the wrong one
And either way, most will show to receive their free tray
Caring less about what is to be done
BUT WHEN ARE WE GOIN’, WHEN CAN WE BEGIN?
WHERE ARE WE GOIN’ LA, LA , LA
Credits:
Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
I clearly remember writing “Between The Ages” in a
hotel in Denver. We were on our first tour and did a
gig at a club with Country Joe. There is always a lot
of time to kill waiting for the gig and I utilized
much of that time writing songs. The first album is
filled with songs that you have written through the
years and when the second album comes along, you need
to pick up the pace and write when you can. I remember
how excited I was about this song and couldn’t wait
to try it out on the band!
Lyrics: Between the Ages
The old lady stands with her back to the wall
Knowing the rest of her life is a fall
Thinking she once had a home
Now living in misery, alone
The old man spends most of his time by the sea
Asking “Dear God, what’s becoming of me?”
Cries over times he was young
Knowing his song has been sung
The young boy’s complaining of all of his pain
Thinking there’s nothing to gain
Feeling this must be the end
When all that he needs is a friend
Credits: Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
If you haven’t guessed by now, I am a huge fan of Stephen Stills. I loved his finger-picking style. It seems that many of my songs, including “Oh Can You Tell Me”, were about searching for a home. I think this probably had a lot to do with me leaving my home and family at the age of 15. Growing up in Ohio was much different than growing up in LA, like my twin sons have done. I had so much family that I grew up with in Ohio, and once I was away from all that, even though I loved being in LA, there was always this longing for being home.
Lyrics: Oh Can You Tell Me
Down deep inside of me,
My dream is that I’d like to be
On the way back to where I came from
But all of the fright in me,
Makin’ things so hard to see
It’s seemin’ like I’m aleays on the run
SO OH CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
CAN YOU BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY?
PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
I NEED A PLACE WHERE I CAN STAY
I NEED A CHANCE TO SETTLE DOWN TODAY
So many signs around, leading to another town
Another place that I can give a try
The sunligfht is burnin’ down,
It’s hot enough to make you drown
And the water I’ve been savin’s almost dry
SO OH CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
CAN YOU BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY?
PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
I NEED A PLACE WHERE I CAN STAY
I NEED A CHANCE TO SETTLE DOWN TODAY
Well I feel like runnin’, Runnin’ away
And I feel Like hidin’, hidin’ away
Ooh, ooh
SO OH CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
CAN YOU BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY?
PLEASE CAN YOU TELL ME,
WHERE A FRIEND MIGHT FIND A HOME
I NEED A PLACE WHERE I CAN STAY
I NEED A CHANCE TO SETTLE DOWN TODAY
This song is one of - if not the first - song(s) Mark and I
ever learned together. Ahmet always thought it was a
hit but for some reason they never released it as one.
Ahmet and his wife Mica came to see us in NY at
Carnegie Hall when we opened for The Youngbloods in 1971 and
we got a standing ovation. We came back and tuned for
about 5 minutes before we did our encore, "By Today",
which no one knew because it hadn’t been recorded yet.
I remember Ahmet, who was kind of like a father figure
to us, came backstage and instead of praising us,
started yelling at us for not playing “Where Were You
And I “ and he was right as usual. This is probably my
earliest original song to get recorded. I am guessing
I wrote this somewhere between 16 and 17 years old.
Lyrics: Where Were You And I
Where were you and I when I was on the ground
Where were you and I when I was fallin’ down
When I needed you to take me by the hand
When I needed you to help me understand
WHERE WERE YOU AND I, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TRY
WILL YOU WONDER WHY, NOW THAT I DON’T WANT YOU
WILL YOU CRY?
Now that times have changed and I’m not on the ground
Now that times have changed and I’m not fallin’ down
Someone came to me to take me by the hand
Someone came to me to help me understand
WHERE WERE YOU AND I, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TRY
WILL YOU WONDER WHY, NOW THAT I DON’T WANT YOU
WILL YOU CRY?
Credits: Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
“Let Me Go” is another one of my post Mussle Shoals
songs. I love the jams, as usual, and the open tunings
are my favorite tunings to write in. This is one of many songs
written in drop D.
Lyrics: Let Me Go
Well I never thought that life would be
The way it turned out to be
How was I to know; how was I to know
Roads leading everywhere
To places meant for learning
A never ending flow
Let me go.........
Judgment day is everyday
Temptation’s always yearning
Living high to low, Living high to low
Today should be my best day
All my yesterdays are burning
We never cease to grow
Let me go...............
Smile when tomorrow comes and
Let there be no morning
Make the darkness glow
Let me go...............
Credits: Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
“All I Need “ was inspired by a movie, of all things.
'Johnny Got His Gun' was a book by Dalton Trumbo that
was later made into the movie of the same title. This
story was so shocking to me, I went right home and wrote
this song. A little trivia about the lyric. When I
first wrote the song, the first line of the chorus was
“All I need is a piece of light.” When we played it
for Ahmet at the Beverly Hills Hotel, it was
Thanksgiving of 1971. He invited Mark and I, David
Geffen, Eark McGrath and Eve Babitz and maybe a few
others. He had a little boombox in his room and “Can
You See Hime” just got played on KRLA. What great
timing! Mark and I got so excted and wanted to play
this new tune that I had just written. Ahmet
sat between us and listened very closely to the song
as he always did. At the end he got really pumped and
said "I love that song" and sang the chorus back to us.
His lyric went “All I need is a piece of life” and so
it was. I truly miss him now that he is gone and only wish
we would have stayed with Atlantic. He was such a great
music fan and a very cool guy!
Lyrics: All I Need
I used to be a baker man, Feeding all the world
With the bread of life, And living for my girl
ALL I NEED, IS A PIECE OF LIFE
AND ALL I NEED, IS THE TIME
AND ALL I NEED, IS TO HEAR A SOUND
BUT ALL I GO IS DOWN
I used to be a soldier boy, Fighting for my world
A superficial cause, Soon my fate was hurled
ALL I NEED, IS A PIECE OF LIFE
AND ALL I NEED, IS THE TIME
AND ALL I NEED, IS TO HEAR A SOUND
BUT ALL I GO IS DOWN
Dream of places, I remember
My only world’s my mind
See the faces, my thoughts render
Only visions of the blind
ALL I NEED, IS A PIECE OF LIFE
AND ALL I NEED, IS THE TIME
AND ALL I NEED, IS TO HEAR A SOUND
BUT ALL I GO IS DOWN
Credits: Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Harmonica by Marty DeJarnette
Where the heck did “Can You See Him” come from? Was it about God or what? I have been asked those questions for years. This is another song I wrote early in my life and actually wrote it on the Wurlitzer electric piano in LA. If I am not mistaken, I may have had a self-induced medicinal euphoric thing going at the time and this song just appeared. It’s another one of my positive spiritual songs that became one of our most popular songs on the record and live. Ironically, when I first met Mark in Las Vegas, I was performing at a coffee house on the UNLV campus called The Kitchen. I sang originals as well as cover songs in my evening of entertaining. One of the first songs that Mark jammed with me on was Neil Youngs’ “Down By The River”. The jam became so popular that we dumped "Down By The River" and adapted the jam to “Can You see Him.”. We had a buddy back in those days, Dan Bisker, and he started kind of a tradition. Every time we performed “Can You See Him “ live, Dan would stand up at the end of the jam and start applauding as the song was returning to form. Before you knew it, the whole house joined in. That tradition just seemed to continue through all the years we performed!
Lyrics: Can You See Him
Looking towards the future I see changes coming near
People smiling, laughing, joking, disregarding fear
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WATCHING YOU AND ME
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WAITING FOR THE TIME
Come join hands and walk together, Sing out for our love
Spread a little love and kindness, For our friends above
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WATCHING YOU AND ME
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WAITING FOR THE TIME TO PASS
How can you expect this world to change without you now?
It takes time you know, but we shall win somehow.
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WATCHING YOU AND ME
CAN YOU SEE HIM? WAITING FOR THE TIME TO PASS
Credits: Vocals by John Batdorf, Bill Batstone and Mark Rodney
Guitars by John Batdorf and Mark Rodney
Bass by Bill Batstone
Percussion by Scott Breadman
“Four Days Runnin’” is a real rocker written in the spirit of those early B&R jam days. I wrote this song with Michael McLean. The song was written from the standpoint of somene who suffers with manic depression. There is so much darkness there and getting through the dark side can be frantic and overwhelming; thus the music plays off the lyric. As the song slowly winds down at the end to just a guitar and vocal, you get a sense that you indeed have gotten through to the other side.
Lyrics: Four Days Runnin’
I don't know what spell I'm under
Feels like something's chasing after me
Looking back I have to wonder
What took me so long to leave
ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE
WHERE HOPE IS BURIED, WHEN DREAMS HAVE DIED
THERE'S NO ESCAPING FROM THE MOUNTAINSLIDE
I'M FOUR DAYS RUNNIN', TO THE OTHER SIDE
Racing from this obscure existence
It's a burden baby just to breathe
Still I know I gotta go the distance
Till it's certain that I am free
FROM THE DARK SIDE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE
WHERE HOPE IS BURIED, WHEN DREAMS HAVE DIED
THERE'S NO ESCAPING FROM THE MOUNTAINSLIDE
I'M FOUR DAYS RUNNIN', TO THE OTHER SIDE
It’s like over under, lightening thunder
It's like over under, lightening thunder
bridge
And the sunrise, seems farther every day
But I've got to keep running that way
IF THE HEARTBREAK AND THE FEAR COLLIDE
SURRENDER ALWAYS GETS JUSTIFIED
TO TURN BACK NOW WOULD BE SUICIDE
I'M FOUR DAYS RUNNIN, FOUR DAYS RUNNIN FROM THE ...
DARK SIDE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE
WHERE HOPE IS BURIED AND DREAMS HAVE DIED
AND THERE'S NO ESCAPING FROM THE MOUNTAINSLIDE
I'M FOUR DAYS RUNNIN' TO THE OTHER SIDE
It’s like over under, lightening thunder
It's like over under, lightening thunder
Over under, lightening thunder
Over under, lightening thunder
It's like over under, lightening thunder
It's like over under, lightening thunder
Over under, lightening thunder
Over under, lightening thunder
It’s like over under, lightening thunder
It's like over under, lightening thunder
I'm four days runnin'
To the other side
Four days runnin'
Four days runnin'
Four days runnin'
To the other side
Four days runnin'
To the other side
