Lyr Add: What Else Can I Do? (Joanne Crabtree)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? (Joanne Crabtree)
From: balladeer
Date: 03 May 08 - 12:00 PM

What Else Can I Do?, the song I wrote in a moment of despair about voter apathy - or maybe I wrote it because I'm just so darn thrilled to live in a democracy - well anyways, our recording of the song has been making its way up the hit parade on Neil Young's Living With War Today website, and currently stands at 110 on a list of over 2500 songs. I'm hoping it will get into the top ten, because then it will appear on Neil's opening page and maybe cause one or two surfers to pause and scratch their heads and think, "Why yes, we are darned lucky to live in a democracy. Perhaps I'll go out and exercise my franchise to help keep it afloat." Neil's site is at http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/ If you go there and listen to What Else Can I Do?, you will be helping it to climb the chart.

I'm excited this morning because the good folk over at the Bush's Retirement Party MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/bushretires are playing our song on their site right this minute!
****************************

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

words and music by Joanne Crabtree
c 2007, Free & Easy Music

I have seen the face of anguish, I have heard the voice of pain
In the mother who is marching and the son who has no name.
So I go and help my neighbour, 'cause what else can I do?
And then I vote my conscience and I hope that you do too.

I want to stand for something, I want to ride that freedom train.
I want to share my privilege with those who feel the same.
I want to stand together outside the voting booth
And vote, in all our millions, for honour and for truth

I have seen the heart of darkness in the sad affairs of state.
I have felt the chill of evil as it crept through freedom's gate.
So I go and help my neighbour, 'cause what else can I do?
And then I vote my conscience and I hope that you do too.

I want to stand for something, I want to ride that freedom train.
I want to share my privilege with those who feel the same.
I want to stand together outside the voting booth
And vote, in all our millions, for honour and for truth

I have suffered through injustice, wept the bitter tears of shame
But if I won't be counted, why who then shall I blame?
So I go and help my neighbour, 'cause what else can I do?
And then I vote my conscience and I hope that you do too

I want to stand for something, I want to ride that freedom train.
I want to share my privilege with those who feel the same.
I want to stand together outside the voting booth
And vote, in all our millions, for honour and for truth

So I go and help my neighbour and I hope that you do too
And then I vote my conscience 'cause nothing less will do

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 03 May 08 - 12:13 PM

Consider it done.All the best from Charlie.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 03 May 08 - 12:50 PM

Charlie: Thanks so much for the support!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Amos
Date: 03 May 08 - 12:57 PM

Great song, Joanne!!



A

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 03 May 08 - 01:02 PM

Thanks, Amos!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Peace
Date: 03 May 08 - 01:32 PM

BRAVO!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 03 May 08 - 03:04 PM

Peace, I know what a great writer you are. Thanks for the kind word.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Azizi
Date: 03 May 08 - 09:22 PM

Wow! That's a great song, balladeer. I love the words, particularly the chorus and this verse:

I have suffered through injustice, wept the bitter tears of shame
But if I won't be counted, why who then shall I blame?
So I go and help my neighbour, 'cause what else can I do?
And then I vote my conscience and I hope that you do too

-snip-

And I really like that fact that "What Else Can I Do" isn't defeated and mournful. I'm glad you composed an upbeat and catchy tune.

And the singing and playing sound good too!

I wish you all the success in the world with this song and other songs you write and perform!

**

Here's the link that leads to the page with the list of songs that include What Else Can I Do {currently at 110, but hopefully it'll move up the list!}

http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/lwwsongspage.html

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 03 May 08 - 11:24 PM

Thanks for adding in the live link, Azizi. I'm so bad with that.
Just came from seeing Tommy Emmanuel. Unbelievably fabulous.
I'll never be the same.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 May 08 - 11:45 PM

Fantastic song, buddy. I love the lyrics and the sentiment. I listened to it half a dozen times. That ought to raise you up the list a bit. I don't know how to do a friends request. Why don't you send me one at micklane (at) charter.net. I have a myspace page. Also do an invite for The Conklin Ceili Band.

Great stuff. Give Paul a bear hug for me.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 May 08 - 12:20 AM

Joanne, wow! Excellent. I love the lyrics and the powerful performance. Thanks. I hope you get moved to the top ten, too!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 04 May 08 - 02:49 AM

To Mick: Thanks for taking the time.
To Kat: Good to meet you at last.
To all: If you do follow azzizi's link and listen to What Else Can I Do?
you will hear my partner in musical crime, Paul Mills, singing on the chorii and playing very dynamic twelve-string guitar.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 04 May 08 - 10:18 AM

just keeping the thread alive
help!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 May 08 - 02:53 PM

Whoops! I did it again. That 12 string is great and I've decided to get out my Fender (if you'll pardon the expression). Another thread reminded me how much I like Leadbelly and somewhere I have Pete Seeger's 12 string manual, which must be vintage by now.
Keep up the good work, Joanne,and All The Best from Charlie.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 04 May 08 - 03:12 PM

Hey Charlie, any friend of Leadbelly's is a good buddy of mine.
Joanne

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 08 - 03:16 PM

Ditto ditto ditto!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 05 May 08 - 02:49 PM

When I started this thread, What Else Can I Do? stood at numer 110 on the Neil Young hit parade. Today it's at 92. Thanks for the help. I hope you will continue to push it into the top ten so it can be seen and heard by the disaffected. See Azizi's post (a few above this one) for the link.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 May 08 - 03:02 PM

Thanks, Azizi, for the link.

And thank you, Joanne, for the song!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 05 May 08 - 03:47 PM

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 05 May 08 - 03:50 PM

Oops, that darn enter key got in the way again. Great song, balladeer. Love the guitar. Lets keep pushing it up the charts folks.
                                                    Neil

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 05 May 08 - 05:32 PM

Just to be clear, the fabulous twelve-string you hear is being played by the fabulous Paul Mills. I'm backing him up on my beautiful Laskin flat top, and also in the mix is my son Edward on keys. The bass track is also by Paul. And, of course, that's Paul's harmony behind my vocal.
Thanks for all the support thus far.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Peace
Date: 05 May 08 - 05:51 PM

You deserve every bit of it, Joanne.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: CarolC
Date: 05 May 08 - 11:29 PM

Hope you make it to the top ten, balladeer.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: frogprince
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:09 PM

Love it, Balladeer; you are now on my list of great new musical discoveries.      Dean, in Michigan

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 06 May 08 - 02:08 PM

Pleased to meet you, Dean.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 08 May 08 - 04:15 PM

I'm bring this back for those who missed it.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 08 May 08 - 04:43 PM

I'm among those who have missed this thread until today. I'll be adding to the number of plays, trust me.

Back to the top of the list!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 May 08 - 04:45 PM

Just came from there. (Thanks for the link, Azizi!) Good song, great sentiment. Go!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: gnu
Date: 08 May 08 - 05:00 PM

Great link Azizi!!!!! Thanks.!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 11 May 08 - 02:58 AM

I'll tell you on Monday how the song is doing.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 May 08 - 12:47 PM

Up to 87, keep going, Joanne.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 12 May 08 - 02:43 PM

87 with a bullit! Great!

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: alanabit
Date: 12 May 08 - 05:08 PM

I've added a click too. Good luck with it. I hope you shoot even further up the chart.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: Nick E
Date: 12 May 08 - 08:19 PM

The best thing about living in a democracy may well be voting, but it has has nothing to do with voting for your song.

Subject: RE: What Else Can I Do?
From: balladeer
Date: 12 May 08 - 09:14 PM

For those who are voting for my song, thank you very much for your support. For those who came in late and are trying to figure out what's going on here, please read my opening post (number one) for the explanation, and Azizi's (number eight) for the link to Living With War Today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: What Else Can I Do? (Joanne Crabtree)
From: balladeer
Date: 16 May 08 - 07:57 AM

Thank you to the wonderful support team here at the Mudcat Cafe!
Someone crept in and added all-important blue clickies to my opening post, and gave this thread the proper title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: What Else Can I Do? (Joanne Crabtree)
From: balladeer
Date: 17 May 08 - 03:49 PM

I've put my song everywhere I can think of to place it in the path of the emotionally disenfranchised, in hopes it will remind some of them that their votes can make a differsnce. In addition to MyBarackObama.com does anyone here have ideas as to where else it might be useful?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: What Else Can I Do? (Joanne Crabtree)
From: balladeer
Date: 19 May 08 - 11:41 PM

84 in today's rankings.