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Peace Of Mind #2 Music & Lyrics by
The Coyote
Folk
rock song story of a San Diego beach trip by Coyote. Coyote's 'nickel
passport' is his flute. He's rigged
up some way of strapping it to his Levi belt loops so it is like
a gun holster. T Rex's Marc Bolin could have written this. This song was written after the LEVEL 1 album was completed, to replace the original version, "Peace Of Mind," which will be on the second album, LEVEL 2 = Christ Killer.
(I like this song better.)
FREE Song Sample 
Black Of Night Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Written in Coyote's snow covered van
during a cold Utah winter. They burn coal in Salt Lake City so the air is even more
polluted than Los Angeles. Then the government built a big oven upwind of the city to cook old
leaky bombs they're storing underground in the desert... John Lennon would
enjoy this song.
(Check out that Vox organ. It had to go away when the guitar comes in because we only had 4 tracks to work with.)
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Whose Heaven Is This? Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
"...Church of Saints or Church of
Fools -- I wonder." Features Rory G. on ukulele like Don Ho on amphetamines.
(I'm glad people enjoy this song, because I was REAL PISSED OFF when I wrote it.)
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In The Darkness Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Shaolin Music, our publishing company,
signed this dark brooding British songwriter. He was evidently bumming
Coyote out... The lyrics were left off and recited as poetry on
this same album, Level 1.
(That guy was really talented. He should've hung in there longer.)
You've Been Sold Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Yeah, this is a protest song. Sounds
like Bob Dylan harping society... Rory G's slide guitar carries
this song into a cowboy rebellion.
(I like that, 'cowboy rebellion.' This song was heartfelt but it really is aimed at the Mormons, and my friends, and my family... and you.)
FREE Song Sample
Free The Change Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Folk Rock song? This sounds more like Metallica than Arlo Guthrie.
(Sometimes it's hard not to just grind and pound as hard as you can -- it feels good. That was the success of Led Zeppelin - they really pounded! I saw their first American tour with Jethro Tull. Tull was awesome too. It was years later before I picked up a flute for the first time.)
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Trust Me Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
A jingle composer, David Shields, challenged
Coyote to write this song. Coyote waited until he was inspired by
his newspaper delivery girl, Tina, before writing this song. "I
had to feel it before I'd even try to write it," explains our Cary Grant acting singer-songwriter.
(I know that movie, 'His Girl Friday,' or something like that. I'd like to argue with a girl like that girl in the movie. She was witty, sharp, fast, tough... hey, is that what I need in a woman? Hmm. Sharp - witty - fast and tough. Gotta get good manners in there somewhere though. The minute a girl barks at me, this dog is out the door.)
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Simple Lady Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Coyote, stranded in Utah, thinking of
someone who...
(This is a perfect example of why I can't tell anyone who this is about. It's romantic but perhaps embarrasing to the person I adore.)
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All Screwed Up Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
A slice of the American lifestyle, that
sounds like "American Woman" by BTO Bachman Turner Overdrive -- who are actually Canadian.
(Robbie called me up the other day. "Hey, this song is about me isn't it? Well - yeah. "I thought so man. I'm famous! My cousin Randy was playing that song on his iPod and I said, 'I know that song.' I listened to the lyrics..." At least he was happy, not mad. Most people - well I freaked out this girl when she came to a gig and I sang a song I wrote to her - I should've warned her.)
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A Long Way Home Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
Psychedelic rock song telling the story of a
trip to a San Diego beach. Coyote's howl at the end depicts his heartfelt longing to be back in California, far from the Mormons.
(Did you know that San Diego is the end of the Mormon Trail? They created a line of settlements from Salt Lake City to San Diego, the Mormon harbor.)
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Thank You Music & Lyrics by The Coyote
A pounding folk rock song that sounds
like early David Bowie.
(I think I should've let Rory put a blasting grunge on it. I was hoping for a thunderous acoustic sound by recording the acoustic guitars in stereo. You tell me, "did it work?")
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Introduction Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Coyote begins the oration at his oriental desk, in the Transwest Apartments, of Salt Lake City, Utah. This was recorded on a 4-track Tascam 424 recorder, using an AKG 414 cardiod microphone on a boom stand. Coyote sat at his desk and flipped the pages of his poetry book, reading the following poems in the order they are listed here. The spaces between poems have been edited so you don't hear the rustling paper noises...otherwise these poems were all recorded in one sitting, in one take--until he ran out of tape on "It's Tough." Coyote started that poem over on the next tape and continued to the end--"Saints."
We forgot this last poem was on the tape until we downloaded the original master into our ProTools recording system. Probably a wise decision at the time. "Saints" fits well with the second upcoming album of American Zen, LEVEL 2 = Christ Killer.
(Excuse me, Producer Sir. Am I going to record any poetry on the Christ Killer album? We're almost done with the overdubs and I haven't cut a single poem yet?)
FREE Song Sample
Get Out Of My Dream Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Coyote said this girl had broken up with him, but kept visiting him until his new girlfriend chased her away.
(Too bad. She and I couldn't get along but we sure did get along. She knew how to get what she wanted from me.)
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In The Darkness Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Cold, yet accurate, compassionate, yet slightly harsh.
(Here's the poem that was the lyrics to the song, "In The Darkness.")
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Last Year Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
More poems about kids?
It's frightening to see weeks turn into months, but when months turn into years -- Yikes!
Still, there are some life landmarks that seem to make the passage of time worthwhile.
Available ONLY on the CD or the ALBUM DOWNLOAD
When Children Are UnwantedPoet &Narrator:
The Coyote
Not a very comfortable poem. But it's got a great point.
(I was impressed by the Mormon kids. They sat still and quiet better than any kids I grew up with. Most Mormon kids probably get better care than most kids, even in the polygamous families. But I didn't like seeing the mexican women sticking pacifiers in the baby's mouth just to shut them up, or ignoring the kids when they were crying, or sometimes I'd feel really bad just looking at a kid and seeing the sadness and loneliness in their eyes...)
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Nurturing Your Life Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Coyote seems to be giving a lot of thoughts to kids.
(You can't live in Utah without realizing they are a baby business. Their state logo is a beehive. They encourage lots of kids and they EXPECT every one of them to be a Mormon and give 15% of their income DIRECTLY TO THE CHURCH of Latter Day Saints.)
FREE Song Sample
The Power Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Coyote gives us a new look at what real power is in life.
(I got a culture shock when I moved to Newfoundland. My friends lived in homes with no plumbing ((well water with an electric pump was a really modern thing few could afford)) But they didn't lock their doors either. Newfoundland was a beautiful, rugged, cold experience that slapped me awake. Then Utah showed me how corporations, government and religions can control people like cattle. The Mormons are the biggest people-cow farm on the planet.)
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The Teacher Was He Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
A poem about a recording studio session
in Venice, California. Coyote confronts one of his music heroes
from Blue Cheer and Mint Tattoo.
(I think I blew it. I should've given him more compliments. Most people don't know all the cool records Burns Kellogg played on.)
FREE Song Sample
Spring Rain Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
A quaint look at a spring downpour.
(Quaint? I'm not quaint. I would like to write poetry more often. I've probably not written my best poems that I wrote, but didn't write down... I've gotta get in the habit of carrying pen and paper more often. I'll remember, 'oh what was that cool riff I had at my head at the store. I've written a few songs driving in my car.)
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It's tough... Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
I think Coyote's complaining about his bandmates.
(No, not them. Well, maybe sometimes them. Everybody. I think everyone could cooperate with me better.)
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My Woman Is My Wife Poetry Author & Narrator:
The Coyote
Coyote claims that marriage is a chance to have sex every day.
(That's not what that means. It means that marriages should remove all the taboos and boundaries until you're left with whatever you want.)
FREE Song Sample
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Stuck in Utah, our POET PHOTOGRAPHER Coyote learns the true meaning of the word, "religion."
Lured by a blonde girl, Coyote discovers that Mormons don't like Buddhists. This wouldn't seem like a big deal, until you discover that Mormons own all the businesses, and then his talent agent said, "Come to Temple if you want some more jobs."
