Here are the notes for the songs:

--Seine City

This song I got from the Australian Little River Band. It's a great song…unfortunately, I can't reproduce the mandolins and accordion!

--Nancy Whiskey

I learned this one from Barry T's Celtic Midi website about a year ago. I added in my own little bass run thingies.

--Shima Uta

This is an actual folksong from Okinawa, Japan (where I lived for 3 years from '92-'95). To be pedantic, shima uta is the name of the genre for ALL Okinawan folksongs. The name means "island song" in the Okinawan dialect of Japanese. This is the **slightly** rocked-up version by the Japanese rock band The BooM. There are actually 2 versions by The BooM, one sung in straight Japanese, and one sung in the Okinawan dialect. It was the biggest song of 1992 in Japan, winning the Japanese equivalent of a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Translated, it is a love song from a man on the island of Okinawa, asking the wind (kaze) to send his love to the woman he loves who is far away, so that she may hear his 'island song.' The "Okinawa Version" of the song includes a traditional Okinawa form of the samisen, along with the band instruments.

--What's The Use of Wings?

I first heard this on the Thistle & Shamrock, performed by the John Wright Band, who also do a killer version of Si Kahn's "Whay You Do With What You Got." There's a heartbreaking fiddle solo in this one…but I alas am not THAT good!

--The Last Thing On My Mind

This version of "The Last Thing On My Mind" is based on the classic 7-minute epic by the late 60's British band The Move, from their 1968 album "Shazaam". I love it played slow, especially with all the major 7ths. The real emotion doesn't come out when it's played faster, it seems more like a jolly little tune instead of a pouring-out of sorrow and regret.

--Across the Universe

Ah…the Beatles! What more can I say?

--The Bundlin

This is another favorite of mine, written & recorded by Sean Keane, whom you might know as Dolores Keane's younger brother. The album version has a digeridoo in it.

--Sunday Morning Call

This is the latest single from Oasis, off their new album "Standing On The Shoulder of Giants." A really majestic song…one of Noel's greatest triumphs.

--Where the Lilies Used to Spring

This was a poem I put music to, by a young Scot named David Gray. He died when he was only 23, from a lifelong battle with tuberculosis. In the last days of his short life, he described nature that he saw through his bedroom window. This is one of my family's favorite songs of mine.

--The Storybooks of Ullapool

This is from a musical tour of Scotland by the AWESOME Breton guitar player Dan Ar Braz. The original has a Great Highland Bagpipe, I replaced it with the recorder. Imagine sunset along the Scottish coast….

--Miss Muir

This is a traditional Scottish fiddle tune that Robert Burns used for his song "Lovely Davies". Last year, I went on this kick digging up old Scottish fiddle tunes are setting them to new and interesting chords.

--Anthem

This haunting song comes from the 1968 album "The Book of Taliesin" by Deep Purple. I replaced the organ/string quartet candenza found in the original, and replaced them with my own arrangement of a little Renaissance-sounding tune used as background music in NPR's production of The Lord of The Rings. Thanks to the Renaissance band Piffaro, I actually got to play the tune on a period vilhuela.

--Summer of My Dreams

What can I say? I just love this song. It's been recorded by everyone from Jean Ritchie to Kathy Mattea. Of course, my favorite version is by Dolores Keane.

--For What It's Worth

This is an original song I wrote for a now ex-girlfriend…though she wasn't "ex" at the time. Little did I know when I wrote these words how soon it would be before they would become meaningless.

--Bonehead's Bank Holiday

If any Oasis song ever achieved folk status in the future, I think this song would be a prime contender. A classic pub singalong type chorus. Bonehead, but the way, was the nickname of Oasis' old rhythm guitar played (so named from childhood because of his short hair). It's also a hard to find song…released only on vinyl versions of "What's The Story Morning Glory?"

--Goin Downhill!

This is one awesome song by country singer John Anderson, a top 10 hit for him in 1984. Love the wacky descending harmonies!

--Little Willow

Beautiful lullaby from Paul McCartney's album "Flaming Pie." Originally written as a consolation to George Harrison's children when their mother died. A very meaningful song for me these days.

--All My Life

One of my favorite songs EVER, this one is originally by folk-rock band America. This song carried a lot of meaning for me as well. Not so much now.

--Three Verses

How can you listen to this song without getting goosebumps? This was written by one of the best Nashville songwriters (in my opinion) Fred Knobloch. I got it from country band Confederate Railroad's album "Notorious."

--I Live Not Where I Love

Great song….first heard it by Mary Black off her latest album. I wanted to sing it, but didn't because it was a woman's perspective. But Alan Francis introduced me to the original version on HearMe, which was from a male perspective. I knew then I MUST learn it.

--Nothing Else Matters

As far as my family goes, this is one of my 'signature songs'. Along with "One" and "Enter Sandman", this is one of the most recognizable songs by Metallica. The acoustic solos are gorgeous…this one is also fun to fool folkies with!