Lyr Req: Keep It Simple (Chuck Pyle)

Subject: Chuck Pyle - Zen Cowboy - Keep It Simple
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 01:57 PM

I first heard "Keep It Simple" on a local community sttion, today. Only saw two postings about him from 2001. Anyway, when he first started talking, I had to turn it up as it sounded so much like Art Thieme's smooth, easy, and wry openings! And, that is a HUGE compliment to Pyle, imo.

Anyway, the song is hilarious and I thought you all might enjoy hearing it. I found it on Rhapsody and I was able to listen to the whole thing without being a member or paying, just to listen. You may be able to also By Clicking Here.

There are others of his on youtube if you search for "Chuck Pyle Zen Cowboy."

Thanks to George Seto's posting of his website in the old thread, you may read more about him at ChuckPyle.com.

Subject: RE: Chuck Pyle - Zen Cowboy - Keep It Simple
From: Wesley S
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 06:12 PM

I'm seen him perform before. A very talented songwriter and a very funny man. Chris LaDoux used to sing a few of his songs if I remember correctly.

Subject: RE: Chuck Pyle - Zen Cowboy - Keep It Simple
From: gnu
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 06:19 PM

I wish he had some clips on his page.

Subject: RE: Chuck Pyle - Zen Cowboy - Keep It Simple
From: Wesley S
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 07:24 PM

Try these. There's a lot of "intro" but it's worth the wait.


Here comes the Water

Affected by the Moon

Subject: RE: Chuck Pyle - Zen Cowboy - Keep It Simple
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 09:42 PM

Thanks for the links, Wesley. I saw that on his website, he'd written several songs that Chris recorded.

gnu, sorry I didn't think to put up youtube links

Get out the hankies if you listen to Here Comes the Water. I remember the terrible event he sings about so beautifully and poignantly. My brother was living in Boulder then and all of Colorado mourned in shock.

Subject: Lyr Add: KEEP IT SIMPLE (Chuck Pyle)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jan 12 - 11:37 AM

This is a talking blues.


KEEP IT SIMPLE
Written by Chuck Pyle
As sung by Chuck Pyle on "Step by Step" (1996)

Well, I woke up this other mornin' to this meetin' in m' head.
M' ego had formed a terrorist group an' I knew what'd lie ahead.
There'd be death threats on m' confidence an' extortions of m' heart,
And I'd have to remain in control so as not to fall apart.

So I called m' new-age girlfriend up who'd self-helped herself for years,
An' I asked her how to overcome all my unrest an' inner fears.
She said force'd drive it deeper; I needed to love my fear away.
She sounded so together I was ashamed of bein' afraid.

So I called m' local talk-show radio therapist of the air.
She told me to write myself little love-notes an' paste 'em up ev'rywhere.
She said it was not good to be ashamed; I should get therapy or meditate.
'Bout then I realized I felt guilty I was ashamed of bein' afraid.

She said, "Thank you for sharin'" 'n' put me on hold.
I got right off the line; I knew she was tryin' to trace the call.

So I said, "I know I'm in there," an' I walked over to the mirror to see.
"If I don't come out with my hands up," I said, "I'm comin' in after me.
I know my inner child's enraged, but all my outer man can say
Is that I'm angry that I feel guilty that I'm ashamed of bein' afraid."

Right about then my committee kicked in, an' there I am on the streets o' Boulder, Colorado, the supposed new-age center of the known universe, not bein' totally present!
Could 'a' gotten busted.
I ran home, turned off the phone, an' changed the machine:
"Hi! This is me. If I should return while I'm gone, please detain me till I get back."

So I called this twelve-step cowboy friend o' mine I thought might maybe know
Just why I felt so crazed these days like a psycho desperado.
He took me t' his support group an' I shared about m' rage.
They said, "Everyone's addicted t' anger; it's a rage this day an' age."

I said, "You mean I'm addicted to being angry for feelin' guilty that I'm ashamed o' bein' afraid?"
They said, "Yep."
I said, "What happened to 'Keep It Simple'?"
They said, "Easy Does It."
God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change.