We'll be posting news and progress on the new CD (#5) recording project. Photos Video Lyrics and Stories
Singer Songwriter Cigar Box Guitar
By playing a gut-bucket slide on his 3-string Cigar Box Guitar or by picking on his a beat up Taylor Acoustic Guitar while singing and stomping on a tambourine and an old trunk, Singer Songwriter Jeff Powers creates his own fiery “gumbo” indie styled brand of Roots, Blues and Americana. Sounds like Neil Young joined the Black Keys to play some blues.
Song A Week
Each week I will post a new song (songs that I've already written but unplugged and new songs. Click on videos for stories and Lyrics.
Song And A Beer Jeff Powers vs Breweries
CRAFT BEER and an ORIGINAL SONG...I'll be tasting and reviewing beers from breweries in and around the Cleveland area including all of Ohio using the world famous Jeff Powers BUZZ FACTOR rating - Hit, Body, Flavor, After Taste and Drink-ability coupled with the amount of Alcohol. I'll give a little info on the Brewery and give my opinion on each beer. I'll review a different BEER and perform an original song or instrumental during each episode. I've been drinking BEER since High School and playing guitar and writing songs since 9 yrs old...I must be an expert by now either that or a total bum.
Emerald Eyes (Demo) acoustic
Jeff Powers performs his Song "Emerald Eyes" with 2x Grammy winner Jose Alvarez...a 10 year old demo of a song that will be included on his new CD but under another title and some lyric changes. "You Were the Best Thing to Happen in My Life"
Emerald Eyes music/lyrics Jeff Powers
I was in love with you before I learned to call your name
You became a part of me the first time I looked into your face
I’ve been up and down ever since I walked out on you
Left you without a trace but I still carry a piece of you
Now the time’s flown by
And I just want to set things right...by you
Cause you were the best thing to happen in my life
In my heart your love still shines...it’s true
We were lovers for a while but I set out to be the next voodoo chile
Wiped away that innocent smile I guess I had something to prove
Now the dream is gone and I’m glad to write a simple song and you can say this one’s for you
Now the time’s flown by and I hope to see you next time maybe next life
And I’ll know you from your smile and your emerald eyes
In my heart your love resides...it’s true
I want to thank you for what you did for me
You made me feel like someone for the first time in my history
Now you’re not by my side but your love gave me wings for life And I take it with me all the time
And now the time’s flown by and I just want to say something nice to you
Cause you were the best thing to happen in my life
In your love I found my pride it’s true
And I hope to see your smile and those emerald eyes
Oh those emerald eyes...it’s true
Emerald Eyes music/lyrics Jeff Powers
I was in love with you before I learned to call your name
You became a part of me the first time I looked into your face
I’ve been up and down ever since I walked out on you
Left you without a trace but I still carry a piece of you
Now the time’s flown by
And I just want to set things right...by you
Cause you were the best thing to happen in my life
In my heart your love still shines...it’s true
We were lovers for a while but I set out to be the next voodoo chile
Wiped away that innocent smile I guess I had something to prove
Now the dream is gone and I’m glad to write a simple song and you can say this one’s for you
Now the time’s flown by and I hope to see you next time maybe next life
And I’ll know you from your smile and your emerald eyes
In my heart your love resides...it’s true
I want to thank you for what you did for me
You made me feel like someone for the first time in my history
Now you’re not by my side but your love gave me wings for life And I take it with me all the time
And now the time’s flown by and I just want to say something nice to you
Cause you were the best thing to happen in my life
In your love I found my pride it’s true
And I hope to see your smile and those emerald eyes
Oh those emerald eyes...it’s true
Recording Session Trainwreck
Recording the raw tracks for Trainwreck at my home studio
Key to the Highway Lesson...you can learn this note for note
Song A Week #26 "Hitchhike In The Rain" Jeff Powers
"Hitchhike In The Rain" is just a big metaphor for change and letting oneself go or be free. When I was younger I would hitchhike places and though it was always dangerous and I was just naive enough to not know and survive its way too dangerous today and anyway you'd probably end up in jail in a few minutes. A full band version of this is on my Jeff Powers CD https://jeffpowers.bandcamp.com/album/jeff-powers
HITCH HIKE IN THE RAIN©2005 music/lyrics Jeff Powers
Thumb out in the rain
Thought I'd take my heart out on the road again
Beat bible in my hand
Going to cross this holy land
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
Lucky (Strikes) tucked in my sleeve
Scuffed up boots and washed out Jeans
Guitar slung across my back
I'm walkin’ with Walt and Jack
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
[BRIDGE]
Dancin’ Across the plain
I'm Gene Kelly in the rain
A song of myself I sing
Between my hat and boots I'll be
Maybe I’ll hop a train
Maybe I’ll fly a plane
If I have to walk it’s just the same
I’m goin’ out in the pouring rain
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons chang
[BRIDGE2]
Hitch hike in the rain
Gonna wash the sins/blues away
I'm leaving Babylon today
To New Jerusalem by highway
[SOLO]
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
[Outro]
Hitch hike in the rain (fade)
HITCH HIKE IN THE RAIN©2005 music/lyrics Jeff Powers
Thumb out in the rain
Thought I'd take my heart out on the road again
Beat bible in my hand
Going to cross this holy land
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
Lucky (Strikes) tucked in my sleeve
Scuffed up boots and washed out Jeans
Guitar slung across my back
I'm walkin’ with Walt and Jack
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
[BRIDGE]
Dancin’ Across the plain
I'm Gene Kelly in the rain
A song of myself I sing
Between my hat and boots I'll be
Maybe I’ll hop a train
Maybe I’ll fly a plane
If I have to walk it’s just the same
I’m goin’ out in the pouring rain
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons chang
[BRIDGE2]
Hitch hike in the rain
Gonna wash the sins/blues away
I'm leaving Babylon today
To New Jerusalem by highway
[SOLO]
Hitch hike in the rain
It's time to break these chains
Hitch Hike in the rain
You know the seasons change
[Outro]
Hitch hike in the rain (fade)
Song A Week #25 Tall Buildings (9/11) Jeff Powers
My friend called me one morning and said turn on the television… I turned it on and witnessed the second airplane fly into the World Trade Center. It was September 11th 2001 and The United States changed that day. I was extremely angry at the terrorists and especially angry about religious fanaticism. I feel that MANY people take their religion way too far. So, I sat down right then and wrote the song Tall Buildings (9/11) that fateful day... it's a cynical view and a cynical song about how foolish people's thoughts can be when they get religion. This version is a bit shorter than the album version which is recorded with a full band. I recorded and released it February 10, 2012 on my CD called Jeff Powers. https://jeffpowers.bandcamp.com/album/jeff-powers
TALL BUILDINGS (9/11) © music/lyrics Jeff Powers
God seems real strange
He only wants you to pray
With guns in your hand
To get to heaven you got to kill a man
Got to kill' 'em dead
They tell me that's God's plan
God's been really sad
He sees tall buildings on his land
We got to lend a hand
Turn these castles into sand
Got to get right with the man
So we can go straight to heaven
God can't be insane
He can't hate a smile
He can't like pain
So he must be upside down
It explains why he loves frowns
That's why he likes to kick us around
That's why he brings his circus to town
Tall buildings must cause him pain
We got to help God fly his plane
Cause he's not really trained
He don't know where to land that thing
And who are we to question our faith
Even if it seems really strange
God must like ugly men
Who kill in the name of religion
And they don't have to change
The hard stuff's for those who are sane
Cause in God's righteous domain
Is a place where hatred entertains
Where killing and terror reign
Where buildings crumble under strain
Where jets burst into flames
Where tears pour down like rain
Where children lose their family and friends
Where ignorance is a blessed thing
Where orphans are the rage
Where kamikazes get all the fame
Where people don't know bombs from planes
Where reward is for those insane
Yes heaven knows no shame
Where fighting is just a game
Where murderers don't get blamed
Where the innocent smiles are slain
Where God comes on like a hurricane
Where towers crash into flames
Where everyone is the same/lamebrain
Where love has no name
Where tall buildings cause God pain
Tall buildings cause God pain
Tall buildings cause him pain
Tall buildings cause God pain
Song And A Beer #12 Purple Haze Lager Abita "Drowning On Dry Land" Jeff Powers
I lived in New Orleans some years ago and fell in love with everything about it: The MUSIC, food, architecture, the party, the warm air and the creole people. The beers available back in those days was nothing to shake a stick at and the N.O. staples Jax and Abita were just a reflection of those times...but a new day in brewing has hit everywhere in the country so I decided to try Abiti'a Purple Haze and find out what they are about in these modern times...I wasn't disapointed. I also played a song I wrote when Hurricane Katrina hit. It was a political song but I changed a few key lines to make it a fun song and not a political song about the city I love.
Down In New Orleans© 2008 music/lyrics Jeff Powers
The mighty Mississippi
Rolls on down stream
Pass the Crescent city
Known as New Orleans
And the spirit can't be broken
On the banks of Ponchertrain
Not by gov'ment officials
By no hurricane
Gonna get up in the morning
Gonna head out to the street
Gonna meet up with some old friends
Gonna keep some company
Down in New Orleans
On Bourbon Street
Yes, the levee was broken
But now we're dancin' in the rain
A little herb we're token
Partyin' all day
Gonna listin' to the meters
Jammin' at Tipitina's
Zydeco, Bounce, Funk, Blues and Jazz
In every part of the city
Gonna get up in the morning
Gonna head out to the street
Gonna meet up with some old friends
Gonna keep some company
Down in New Orleans
On Bourbon Street
Gonna sing and play my music
Right out on the street
Don't worry bout no gov'ment
It's a place where people dream
And every place you go to
You can always feel that beat
And all those gumbo faces
Smile and make you complete
Down in N.O.
On Bourbon street
Gonna get up in the morning
Gonna head out to the street
Gonna meet some old friends
Gonna keep some company
Down in New Orleans
On Bourbon Street
Song A Week #24 The Sky Cried Tears Like Rain Jeff Powers
Sad Song
The Sky Cried Tears Like Rain© music/lyrics Jeff Powers
Summertime she ran away
She left a note "I need a little space"
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Autumn is a time for change
That's why I thought she might come home again
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Bridge
Winter time brings on the storm
That's why I thought she might come in to get warm
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Springtime is a time of growth
That's why I thought you might love me some more
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Summertime she ran away
She left a note "I need a little space"
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Autumn is a time for change
That's why I thought she might come home again
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Bridge
Winter time brings on the storm
That's why I thought she might come in to get warm
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Springtime is a time of growth
That's why I thought you might love me some more
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
Bridge
She never came home never called me again
And it's been years but I still miss my friend
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
She never came home never called me again
And it's been years but I still miss my friend
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain
That's when the sky cried tears like rain