An Extraordinary Ordinary Life

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Description

Like most of the world, I have been hunkered down going on a year now, waiting for the world to be somewhat like it used to be. I had just finished my last CD, “Last Summer” last spring and released it in May. I had fantasies of going out on the road again as I had done most of my life, especial the last 16 years as a solo artist. Well, spring passed, summer passed, fall passed and here we were on the verge of winter and still I couldn’t go out and support my newest CD. I was getting discouraged and worried about our great country and longed for how it used to be. I didn’t feel like playing, singing and what was the point in writing new songs? I couldn’t even send CDs to the radio stations because no one was physically there! Fortunately we live in a time where many radio stations around the world can download my music digitally. That is the new normal for now. Many stations did in fact download my new CD and started playing it including Sirius/XM Radio’s Deep Tracks. I made a video for the title song Last Summer and sent it to Earle Bailey. To my great joy, Earle loved the song and immediately started playing it. OK now what was next?

Call it a coincidence but in November of 2020, I started getting song ideas as I felt inspired about the future. One song came and then the next and then the next and before I knew it, I had enough new material for a new EP. I started recording and after some months passed, I had my new project mixed. Because I cannot tour yet, I have decided to release it digitally and eventually make a CD when the time is right.

These six new songs were written with my buddy Michael McLean and it was not without speed bumps. During the process, both my sons, grandchild and daughter-in-law who live in LA, all got Covid-19 but thank goodness recovered. Michael who was already recovering from other past health issues got Covid-19 as did his wife and thankfully they both recovered. Just when we thought we were back on track, Michael suffered a heart attack and again, thankfully, was treated early enough to get him all fixed up good as new!

So here we are, early March of 2021 getting ready to release a new batch of songs, both Melanie and I have been vaccinated and we hope and pray that by fall, I can get out and play live again which is what I love to do. March 26th, I will celebrate my 69th birthday and the clock is ticking!!!

This EP is totally fan supported by folks that have been listening to my music throughout my journey. I cannot thank you all enough for keeping the music alive and for the 50 years of support!!!

John Batdorf

I Wanna Know
The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Piano, Bass and Percussion
Bill Batstone: Backing Vocals
Michael Dowdle: Electric Guitars

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I wanna know
So many things about the way you see the world
I wanna know
What kind of things I need to do to make you my girl

I don’t wanna waste my time just guessin’
Only to get it wrong
I don’t want to mess this up confessin’
I don’t want to wait too long

I wanna know
The way you wanna dance and sing and laugh and love
I wanna know
If there’s a chance that I could be what you’re dreaming of

I don’t wanna waste my time just guessin’
Hope you don’t want me to
And I don’t wanna mess this up confessin’
I wanna be loved by you

There’s so many mysteries
That no one has the answers to
I wanna write the history
Of this man’s lifetime loving you

I wanna know
Most everything you want to be connected to
I wanna know
The secrets that all the others never knew
I wanna be loved by you
I wanna be loved by you
Know how to be loved by you

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

An Extraordinary Ordinary Life

The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Piano and Percussion
James Harrah: Electric Guitars

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Have you noticed eyes are empty, have you seen the void
Have you heard all the words they‘re speaking are they always this annoyed?
Have you seen the light just fading have you you felt some despair
Does it seem like they’re always looking but they just don’t know where

Oh oh oh oh oh oh, too soon we say goodbye
Oh oh oh oh oh oh, your not livin’ if you’re not tryin’

When you gonna breathe and feel the wonder
When you gonna see the sky Oh and
When you gonna touch the hearts you need to
When you gonna chose to be alive

I’m not sayin’ it’s all over, I’m not dismissing the pain
I’m just sayin’ today’s a new day, we can start again
We have felt so disconnected, we have known despair
We have learned to change our focus and find it everywhere

Oh oh oh oh oh oh, too soon we say goodbye
Oh oh oh oh oh oh, if your not livin’ then you’re not tryin’

When you gonna breathe and feel the wonder
When you gonna see the sky Oh and
When you gonna touch the hearts you need to
When you gonna choose to be alive Oh

When you gonna hear your purpose calling
When you gonna find out why, Oh and
When you gonna dream the dreams worth dreaming
When you gonna choose to be alive

An extraordinary ordinary life

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

Tone Deaf And Two Left Feet

The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals and Percussion
Harry Stinson: BG Vocals
Bill Batstone: Bass
Ryan Shupe: Fiddle and Mandolin
Michael Dowdle: Electric Guitars

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Jeremy plays his old guitar
Jessie Ann knows his repertoire
He just can’t tap his foot in time
How she sings is her only crime

Oh she loves how her lover sings
He loves watching the joy her dancing brings That’s right

As she floats across the floor
Jeremy plays his finest chords
Fingers dancing upon the strings
Jessie moves to the song on wings

Oh she loves how her lover sings
He loves watching the joy her dancing brings That’s right

She hopes he’ll keep singin’ All night long
He knows dancing is her song

Jeremy plays his old guitar
Jessie Ann knows his repertoire
No one thought they would last this long
Guess they proved everybody wrong

Oh she loves how her lover sings
He loves watching the joy her dancing brings That’s right

She hopes he’ll keep singin’ All night long
He knows dancing is her song

Jeremy never took the chance
Two left feet knew he couldn’t dance
Jessie Ann under harvest moon
Had no bucket to carry a tune

Oh she loves how her lover sings
He loves watching the joy her dancing brings That’s Right

A heavenly match a great romance
She can’t sing and he can’t dance

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

Why Don't You Move Home
The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards and Percussion
Bill Batstone: BG Vocals and Bass
Dave Pearlman: Pedal Steel
Dirje Childs: Cello

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How many times has she picked up her cell phone
And tried but then she’s overcome
Finding the perfect words isn’t so easy
In more than one way she’s all thumbs
What can she tell him that fixes the last time
That she spoke from anger and pain
She’s listening now to what she should have said
She’s trying to rephrase it again…..So

Chorus

She writes: How have you been?
And then he writes: I’m tryin’ to move on
And then she writes: You’re not alone
If you’ve got to move on to somewhere
Why don’t you move home

Verse
She stares at her screen for what feels like hours
Afraid what his answer might be
Composing responses she won’t get to send
That’s if he’s chosen to stay beyond reach
And then comes the moment that she has been dreading
She almost can’t focus to read
The words that appear in her hand that is trembling
Are saying just what her heart needs

Chorus 2

He writes: How have you been?
And then she writes: I’m trying to move on
And then he writes: You’re not alone
If you’ve got to move on to somewhere
Why don’t you move home.

Bridge

I know where this story’s going
And I know there’s hope when I see it
I believe an exemption will bring our redemption,
And things will be fine

Verse

What can we say that repairs all the damage
That we spoke from anger and pain
We’re hearing now what we could have said
We’re trying to rephrase it again….Oh

Chorus

We write: Is there forgiveness
So we might finally move on
Cause the one right move has been shown
The move that can keep us together
Is moving back home

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

She's So Lonely
The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Bass and Percussion
Pete Kartsounes: BG Vocals
Michael Dowdle: Electric Guitars

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She’s so lonely can’t she see
She’s so lonely so why won’t she look at me
She’s so lonely her life is empty
She’s so lonely, so why won’t she fill it with me

She’s filling up on dreams that I know I could make come true
But she’s so deaf in loneliness she can’t hear “I love you”

She’s so lonely and her list is really long
She’s so lonely checking off all that’s gone wrong
I’m here on her doorstep to end her sad routine
Oh but she’s so lonely but she’s not lonely enough to be with me

She’s so lonely she runs alone
She’s so lonely so why won’t she answer her phone

She’s sitting on her sofa watching boring TV shows
She could be watching me adore her here out of the shadows

She’s so lonely I can’t get her to stop
She’s so lonely I hang signs so she will look up
I look out my window she’s aloof as one can be
And she’s so lonely but she’s not lonely enough to notice me

It’s not right it’s not right with her
It’s not right I wanna be her loneliness saboteur
It’s not right to be this sad old maid it’s not right
I’m the answer to a prayer that’s never prayed

She’s so lonely, oh it’s such a tragedy
She’s so lonely just to think, she could have had me.
I can feel the pain of her lonely misery
Cause she’s so lonely but she’s not lonely enough to be with me

She’s so lonely

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

Choose To Receive

The Talent:
John Batdorf: Acoustic Guitars, Vocals, Piano, Bass and Percussion
Michael Dowdle: Electric Guitars

Download MP3

I couldn’t see it, could not believe it
But then it happened to me
A tidal wave of joy engulfed me
Drowning all the misery

Navigating, uncharted water, swimming wild and free
Tides of gratitude are flowing, endlessly

That’s why I’m not worryin’
I’m not struggling
I’m embracing today
There’s a celebration in my heart the past can’t take away
Every moment now
Is a gift somehow
Every breath that I breathe
The gift of life the gift of love
The gift of hope was waiting there for me
I’m learning how to receive

I’m not afraid now I’m not weighed down now
The sea will carry me
An endless ocean, of such emotion
Filled with true serenity

Navigating, uncharted water, swimming wild and free
Tides of gratitude are flowing, endlessly

That’s why I’m done worryin’
I’m not struggling
I’m embracing today
There’s a celebration in my heart the past can’t take away
Every moment now
Is a gift somehow
Every breath that I breathe
The gift of life the gift of love
The gift of hope was waiting there for me
I’m learning how to receive

On a bright horizon, is shinin’
I can feel the sunshine in my soul

That’s why I’m not worryin’
I’m not struggling
I’m embracing today
There’s a celebration in my heart the past can’t take away
Every moment now
Is a gift somehow
Every breath that I breathe
The gift of life the gift of love
The gift of hope was waiting there for me
I finally learned to receive

Written By John Batdorf and Michael McLean
BatMac Music BMI / Shining Star Music ASCAP
©2021 – All Rights Reserved

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