By James Taylor
One of my fav old-school JT songs… he has recorded a few different versions over the years, and mine probably has a little bit of each. I didnât know until recently that Elvis covered this song.
I omitted some lyrics to keep it PG-rated đ€Ł
#JamesTaylor #steamroller #blues #guitar #JT
So I recently performed the Star Spangled Banner for the first time. This was on April 9, 2021 at the start of the National Ninja League’s (NNL) Southeast Qualifier held at MOTIVE School of Movement in Greenville, SC. I’ve never done it before, but have thought about trying it, and just had to work up an arrangement that I liked on guitar.
The story behind the National Anthem has stuck with me since I first heard it way back in school. If you need a reminder, in 1814, Francis Scott Key was observing from a distance as the British Navy bombarded Fort McHenry in the Baltimore harbor (Key was actually being held by the British on one of their warships). Witnessing the assault by the British, it was nearly certain that the fort would be overtaken. But through the night, by “the rockets red glare”, Key could see that “our flag was still there”, and was ultimately still flying over the fort at “dawn’s early light”.
That story always sticks with me whenever I hear or sing it, and I can only imagine what an incredible sight that must have been.
Sometimes these days, in some places, it seems like a fad to hate on America. I’m proud that this country fought the oppression of an over-reaching government to create a system for the people and by the people, emphasizing individual liberty, freedom, rights to due process and equality of opportunity. SALUTE!
âBig Bad Billâ was made popular when Van Halen included their version of it on the Diver Down album. Fun fact: Eddie and Alexâs father, Jan, played the clarinet in their recording.
Eddie Van Halen died last week at 65 years old. Van Halen was the music of my youth and I will always regret not getting to see them play in person. It was one of those few bands that I played their cassette tapes through so many times I still know what song comes next. I loved these fun songs they included on their albums.
Rock on, Eddie!
“Rescue You and Rescue Me”
Copyright Bootie Cothran
Sometimes I lie awake at night, wondering the same thing as you
What if this worldâs just a dream that Iâm having, or what if Iâm dreaming that, too? Maybe the answer is out there, somewhere after this dance
Or maybe⊠itâs right here in front of our eyes?
What if we saw, what if we heard
What if our lives were as loud as our words
What if we loved and what if we tried to be?
Could we rescue you and rescue me?
If we were adrift on the ocean, do you think we could make it alive?
If we can’t steer together in the worst weather, how can we ever survive?
And if we sailed to the edge of the earth, threatening to swallow our craft
Couldn’t we find a good reason to turn it around?
What if we saw, what if we heard
What if our lives were as loud as our words
What if we loved and what if we tried to be?
Could we rescue you and rescue me?
Ohhh-oh, open our eyes, this is the Light!
Ohhh-oh, what a world it could be!
If only we saw, if only we heard
If only our lives are as loud as our words
If only we love, if only we try to be
Can we rescue you and rescue me?
I believe we each have the power to affect and change our Universe through our actions, no matter how small. Even the smallest acts can often grow to have larger impacts. Such is the case with things like mercy. We each need and deserve some degree of mercy from others, and we also each have the power to create and give mercy to others. Think about what it feels like for you to receive mercy, and then consider helping to make your small corner of the world a little better by sharing some mercy of your own where you can. It can be as simple as initiating an apology or the letting go of a grudge. It can be given to someone in a grocery store line, a fellow driver on the road, someone in your community or almost any situation of conflict or need. Not only will it positively impact someone else’s life, watch what it does for you and your Universe.
I was introduced to this song a few years ago and was struck by its simple message and plea for mercy in our broken lives and world. Originally written and recorded by Mary Gauthier, I have performed it a few times in various settings, and it has always been well-received, so I cranked up the studio and spent some time making a good recording.
I’m happy to announce that “Mercy Now” is now available at the links below, and may also be found on streaming outlets like Spotify, Rhapsody and Deezer, etc…
Thanks for your interest! Enjoy and share!
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Follow me on twitter (@bootiecothran), instagram (@bootiecothran), here and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bootiebandwagon/) to stay in the loop for music and more!
A live performance of this song is available here.
Don’t steal music. “Mercy Now” Copyright Mary Gauthier Songs, License LPL055228
In my previous post and video of “Mary Did You Know?” I mentioned that the audio would be available soon. I’m happy to announce that it is now available at the links below, and may also be found on streaming outlets like Spotify, Rhapsody and Deezer, etc…
Thanks for your interest! Enjoy and share!
Download from CDBaby
Download from Amazon
Download from Google Play
Download from iTunes
Follow me on twitter (@bootiecothran), instagram (@bootiecothran), here and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bootiebandwagon/) to stay in the loop for music and more!
“Mary Did You Know?” Copyright Word Music, Inc. And Rufus Music C/O Gaither Music Co.Â
License LPL060034
âMary Did You Knowâ (arr: Brown/Cothran)
Composer: Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene
Bootie Cothran, guitar & vocal
Ryland Brown, piano
Will Dodson, recording engineer
I was set to sing this song this past Sunday in church, and was rehearsing on the Thursday before when my friend and colleague, Ryland Brown, came in and spontaneously added some piano to it, and it was amazing, mainly because he’s awesome like that. Ryland couldnât be there for the performance on Sunday, so we got together yesterday and recorded it a few times. We did four takes in the studio trying to get a good, clean sound with individual tracks for the vocal and instruments, but it just felt too âsterileâ, even with adding reverb and other effects. So we went into the big room (with the REAL piano) and just played it together and it worked so much better that way. This was our first take. I think it’s best with a decent pair of headphones.
Iâve always omitted the original bridge and replaced it with the ending of the 1st verse, I think, because I originally couldnât duplicate it, vocally, and just got used to doing it this way over the years.
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My good friend and colleague, Kyle Matthews, introduced this song to me a few years ago and I loved it from the start. We’ve performed it a few times together, and this version was performed on October 16, 2016 at First Baptist in Greenville, SC. Kyle is playing the piano. I have plans to record it in a studio setting soon, and will certainly add a post here when that recording is available.
It was originally written and recorded by Mary Gauthier (www.marygauthier.com). It is certainly fitting for our current time. I was quite surprised at the response it received after posting it on facebook a few months back, and I just realized I had not included it here. I hope you enjoy it.
Peace (and mercy),
Bootie
âGranito de Mostazaâ
(aka The Mustard Seed Song, aka Let the Mountains Move)
I learned this song from my friends in Cuba, and loved it so much I wanted to record my own arrangement. Pardon my Spanish, please. The translation is: “If you would have the faith of a seed of mustard, this, the Lord tells you: You could tell the mountains to move, move, move, and those mountains would move.”  I’m on guitars, bass, percussion and vocals.
100% of the proceeds of this song will go to support the “Patio Projects” across Cuba, a successful and growing effort to help communities and individuals turn wasted spaces into gardens and growing spaces, providing food, medicine, and turning lives around in the process.
I’ve been there and seen it in person, and there’s a lot we can learn from them.  Learn more about the Patio Projects in this video.
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Lyrics:
Si tuvieras fe como un granito de mostaza, eso lo dice el Señor
Si tuvieras fe como un granito de mostaza, eso lo dice el Señor
Tu le dirĂas a asea montaña, muĂ©vete, muĂ©vete
Tu le dirĂas a asea montaña, muĂ©vete, muĂ©vete
Y esa montaña se moverå, se moverå, se moverå
Y esa montaña se moverå, se moverå, se moverå
Y esa montaña se moverå, se moverå, se moverå
Se estĂĄ moviendo ya
Esa montaña se moverå
This song came out of my recent American Ninja Warrior adventure in Orlando. My favorite songs are the ones that end up writing themselves – they just sort of come out on their own, from somewhere inside, and this one was no different. I wasnât trying to write a song at the time, I was just picking on my guitar one day in early summer and this groove started coming out, and then these lyrics started coming out, so I followed where it took me and this is what I ended up with.
Itâs titled âDonât Let Goâ, and it offers a glimpse into what was going on in my mind as I was running the course, but itâs about more than just that. Itâs about not letting go of our goals and dreams, being unafraid to fail, using those failures as motivation to overcome our obstacles, and about hanging onto whatever figurative âropeâ youâre hanging onto in life for just a little longer.
100% of the proceeds of this song will go directly to support my ninja friend Kenneth Niemitalo and his wife, whose new baby girl is dealing with some expensive health issues, so please share this post, spend an easy dollar and let’s help a brother out!
This song is dedicated to the entire ninja community, and everyone out there who is reaching for their goal or hanging onto their rope. Donât let go!
Peace!
Bootie
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Guitars, Bass, Vocals, GĂŒira:Â Bootie Cothran
Drums, Bongos:Â Ryan Harper
Sound asst:Â Will Dodson
Camera:Â Peyton Mills, Richard Saad
Mt. Midoriyama Stage 4 Photo:Â Jimmy Bogle
Additional video:Â NBC
Bootie Cothran 