Hey Friends,
If you are looking for a great way to support our creative endeavors there is few better ways than to sign up to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/krislager and become a member.
We have created just one $5/ a month tier. This membership will grant you access to an unreleased song every week! That's right an unreleased song that you won't hear anywhere else! There are already over an albums worth of songs available on the page that you won't find anywhere else.
You're support is what keeps us going. So, thank you and much love! -Kris Lager
If you are looking for a great way to support our creative endeavors there is few better ways than to sign up to our Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/krislager and become a member.
We have created just one $5/ a month tier. This membership will grant you access to an unreleased song every week! That's right an unreleased song that you won't hear anywhere else! There are already over an albums worth of songs available on the page that you won't find anywhere else.
You're support is what keeps us going. So, thank you and much love! -Kris Lager
New Patreon site launched!
HERE'S A TASTE OF THE PATREON NEWS FEED!!
SIGN UP & YOU GET ALL OF THESE SONGS AND MORE...
-Jan. 3rd 2021-
Patreon Song Of The Week:
"When The Sun Goes Down & The Night Falls"
I just posted the Patreon Song of the week and there's only one way to hear it: www.patreon.com/krislager
Here's the post with the song:
It's a familiar song of mine: Wondering why these demons seem to control me more than I wanna admit... The lyrics say it all...
Lyrics:
Well I haven't been the man I should've been
I can't stand who I've become
too many times I just waltz through the night
dancing with my own demons
Lord, help me if you hear me please
I know I've been an awful son
I'm looking for some kind of redemption
Lord, Save me from my own demons.
Lord, Save me from my own demons
It all feels beyond my control
and just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
and I start getting that same old itch
loneliness sets in
and I just want someone to be with
and these demons are my only friends
oh love, oh love where can you be
do you even exist in a world so cold
oh, i can't catch my breath
oh what a mess
these demons got me in a choke hold
and if I screamed and hollered for help
nobody'd hear me howling
I chased away all of my saints
it's just me and my demons now
lord, save me from my own demons
it all feels beyond my control
just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
and of course the sun always rises
and that's when guilt sets in
and I know I could've been stronger it's a sin
but these demons got me once again
oh, damn you demons damn you
temptation takes so many forms
I tried all of my life to kill this devil inside
but she won't die until she gets my soul
Lord, Save me from my own demons
It all feels beyond my control
just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
Here's the post with the song:
It's a familiar song of mine: Wondering why these demons seem to control me more than I wanna admit... The lyrics say it all...
Lyrics:
Well I haven't been the man I should've been
I can't stand who I've become
too many times I just waltz through the night
dancing with my own demons
Lord, help me if you hear me please
I know I've been an awful son
I'm looking for some kind of redemption
Lord, Save me from my own demons.
Lord, Save me from my own demons
It all feels beyond my control
and just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
and I start getting that same old itch
loneliness sets in
and I just want someone to be with
and these demons are my only friends
oh love, oh love where can you be
do you even exist in a world so cold
oh, i can't catch my breath
oh what a mess
these demons got me in a choke hold
and if I screamed and hollered for help
nobody'd hear me howling
I chased away all of my saints
it's just me and my demons now
lord, save me from my own demons
it all feels beyond my control
just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
and of course the sun always rises
and that's when guilt sets in
and I know I could've been stronger it's a sin
but these demons got me once again
oh, damn you demons damn you
temptation takes so many forms
I tried all of my life to kill this devil inside
but she won't die until she gets my soul
Lord, Save me from my own demons
It all feels beyond my control
just when I think I'm safely in the light
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
the sun goes down and the night falls
12/25/2020: Christmas Song Posted to Patreon!!
(Please join Patreon now at: www.patreon.com/krislager and hear a new/ unreleased song every week)
(Post below from Patreon Page)
Merry Christmas Friends!
I hope you're finding peace and love on this wondrous and magical holiday called Christmas.
Here is my most played Christmas song this year. I thought I'd share it with you...
I mashed up two of my favorites that have very similar progression: "Winter Wonderland" and" Let It Snow".
I definitely tip my hat to Ray Charles' version of Winter Wonderland.
Easily one of my favorite versions...
Much Love friends,
Kris
(Post below from Patreon Page)
Merry Christmas Friends!
I hope you're finding peace and love on this wondrous and magical holiday called Christmas.
Here is my most played Christmas song this year. I thought I'd share it with you...
I mashed up two of my favorites that have very similar progression: "Winter Wonderland" and" Let It Snow".
I definitely tip my hat to Ray Charles' version of Winter Wonderland.
Easily one of my favorite versions...
Much Love friends,
Kris
(Please join Patreon now at: www.patreon.com/krislager and hear a new/ unreleased song every week)
(Post below from Patreon Page)
Hey friends,
Happy holidays! I apologize for my tardiness this week. I made the mistake of trying to produce this track in one day! :) lol... I called an audible and switched it up last minute. I spent the week working on another song that I thought was gonna be 'The Song Of The Week' and then on Friday I decided I wanted to put this song out instead.
I thought: 'It'll be a simple piano and vocal track. I'll have it finished in a couple of hours." And then... I added slide guitar, bass, strings, organ and then I dumped it to tape to add some extra juiciness... so, it took me a couple of days. but it's hot off of the press, and it's the newest song that I have written. I just wrote this last week... In fact it's the first song written on my 'new' baby grand piano.
That's right, I got myself a gorgeous new piano. (For free!) My wife saw it online and I recruited a couple of my best buddies. (Scooby, Brandon Miller, and Mikie Todd, the police officer in the 'Let Me Do My Thang' music video.') We all met up in north Omaha and worked our asses off just to put this mammoth of a machine in my living room. I've spent a few hours tuning it up and I'm having a ball playing it, so I gotta say thank you so much to my good friends! I even set up a little microphone so I can amplify my voice while I play the dang thang... :) I'm loving it.
'Forget About Life For A While'
Here it is: It all started with the lyric. 'What I wouldn't do to be able to sing so perfectly.' As a singer who's been trying to get peoples attention for over twenty years with a less than phenomenal voice it was just a thought that came to me as I opened up my mouth. Then it grew to what else would I want to do... well... I'd love to make you smile and forget about life for a while.
That's what music does to me, and I try to make that sentiment my main motivation as an entertainer/ musician. Music has been my escape ever since I was a teenager, who many times, felt out of place or less than...
So, thats where the song went.
Let's forget about this heavy/ fleeting life for a while and all of the worries and hurries that accompany it.
Then there's the ultimate 'tie it in a bow' fourth verse that reminds us that we're in a safe place to be whoever we want to be. I won't hurt you... please don't hurt me.
Let's come and go in peace friends...
One thing I've discovered throughout my travels is you find what you're looking for. If I come in peace and if I don't let things upset me it creates a calming effect for the people around me. The opposite works as well. If I'm agitated and hostile... well, people respond right back at me just like that.... It's true with my wife and family. It's true with the sound technician, the bartender, the cashier, the stranger on the street...
I couldn't even count how many times I've ran into a stranger who was having a bad day that later thanked me for forcing them to enjoy their evening. Whether it was through relentless encouragement from the microphone on stage, a corny joke, a 'hey you alright?', or even just a smile. Good vibes are always felt. They might fight them off in the moment, but eventually... Kindness is contagious, kindness is undeniable... kindness makes you forget about life for a while... :)
Happy Sunday and happy holidays.
With Love,
Kris Lager
(Post below from Patreon Page)
Hey friends,
Happy holidays! I apologize for my tardiness this week. I made the mistake of trying to produce this track in one day! :) lol... I called an audible and switched it up last minute. I spent the week working on another song that I thought was gonna be 'The Song Of The Week' and then on Friday I decided I wanted to put this song out instead.
I thought: 'It'll be a simple piano and vocal track. I'll have it finished in a couple of hours." And then... I added slide guitar, bass, strings, organ and then I dumped it to tape to add some extra juiciness... so, it took me a couple of days. but it's hot off of the press, and it's the newest song that I have written. I just wrote this last week... In fact it's the first song written on my 'new' baby grand piano.
That's right, I got myself a gorgeous new piano. (For free!) My wife saw it online and I recruited a couple of my best buddies. (Scooby, Brandon Miller, and Mikie Todd, the police officer in the 'Let Me Do My Thang' music video.') We all met up in north Omaha and worked our asses off just to put this mammoth of a machine in my living room. I've spent a few hours tuning it up and I'm having a ball playing it, so I gotta say thank you so much to my good friends! I even set up a little microphone so I can amplify my voice while I play the dang thang... :) I'm loving it.
'Forget About Life For A While'
Here it is: It all started with the lyric. 'What I wouldn't do to be able to sing so perfectly.' As a singer who's been trying to get peoples attention for over twenty years with a less than phenomenal voice it was just a thought that came to me as I opened up my mouth. Then it grew to what else would I want to do... well... I'd love to make you smile and forget about life for a while.
That's what music does to me, and I try to make that sentiment my main motivation as an entertainer/ musician. Music has been my escape ever since I was a teenager, who many times, felt out of place or less than...
So, thats where the song went.
Let's forget about this heavy/ fleeting life for a while and all of the worries and hurries that accompany it.
Then there's the ultimate 'tie it in a bow' fourth verse that reminds us that we're in a safe place to be whoever we want to be. I won't hurt you... please don't hurt me.
Let's come and go in peace friends...
One thing I've discovered throughout my travels is you find what you're looking for. If I come in peace and if I don't let things upset me it creates a calming effect for the people around me. The opposite works as well. If I'm agitated and hostile... well, people respond right back at me just like that.... It's true with my wife and family. It's true with the sound technician, the bartender, the cashier, the stranger on the street...
I couldn't even count how many times I've ran into a stranger who was having a bad day that later thanked me for forcing them to enjoy their evening. Whether it was through relentless encouragement from the microphone on stage, a corny joke, a 'hey you alright?', or even just a smile. Good vibes are always felt. They might fight them off in the moment, but eventually... Kindness is contagious, kindness is undeniable... kindness makes you forget about life for a while... :)
Happy Sunday and happy holidays.
With Love,
Kris Lager
12.11.2020: Song Of The Week Posted:
"Tomorrow I'll Fly"
I just posted the song of the week over at www.patreon.com/krislager
For those of you who don't know I am releasing a song every Friday afternoon on my Patreon page. Head over and take a listen. This week the song is 'Tomorrow I'll Fly'.
Here's the post that I wrote to go with the song:
Hey Friends,
I hope everyone had a good week. I'm doing well over here in south Omaha.... I'm spending a lot of time with the kiddos and playing a lot of music. The days are just flying by and I can't believe Christmas is almost here... It's crazy how fast it all goes.
I hope to be able to update 'The Patreon' page more in the future. I've been putting in a lot of time ironing out all of the wrinkles for our live streams (which are Mondays, Wednesdays, and the occasional Saturday on KLB's Facebook page). It's like learning a new language with the software and the hardware. Thank god for Youtube tutorials... The last stream was the easiest we've done yet so hopefully I'm getting the hang of it and things are smoothing out.
I'm looking forward to doing more 'Licks Of The Day' as well as a 'Behind The Music' video series' where I talk about what inspired some of my songs and where I was at personally when they came out. If you want me to feature a specific song or have any requests shoot me a message and I'll produce those songs first! I'm here for you... and of course I drop the videos on Patreon before anywhere else; so you get them first! Thanks for the love friends!
The Song Of The Week: 'Tomorrow I'll Fly'
This is a very special song for me for many reasons. It has stuck with me for about 14 years now. I started to write this in the 'green room/ backstage basement' at 'The Beachland Ballroom' in Cleveland Ohio sometime in 2007.
We were on one of our first extensive tours with Indigenous and I really felt like I was flying for the first time. After years of playing over 70 towns in and Nebraska alone we were branching out and it felt good. (Most people don't even know there are 70 towns in Nebraska) The only reason we know this is because in our old band house we had a map of Nebraska and every time we came home we put a pin in the map. When we moved out we had over 70 pins on that damn thing.
That night in particular in Cleveland was memorable for a few reasons: First of all The Beachland Ballroom is awesome and the room was fun to play; and also we have some great Cleveland friends we caught up with; and ALSO because I saw (a pretty much unknown band at the time) Deer Tick Play a show in the side room. They had a very small but attentive audience and they killed it. I was very impressed with the front man and singer, John J. McCauley
So, on top of all of that I also met and heard Patrick Sweany for the first time that as well that night. He opened up the show and I thought his style and songs were on point. A great mixture of Delta blues, folksy, groovy guitar driven Rock n Roll. After the show I told him you remind me of a little bit of The Black Keys and he said 'That's funny because Dan's a good friend of mine. We've played in bands together around Ohio and he actually just produced my new record." Then he gave me his Dan Auerbach produced CD 'Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone' and I fell in love with it. I wore that album out... To this day it is still one of my favorite records. I should go back and listen to it... It's been a while.
Fast forward to 2013 and my good friend and former bassist Brandon Miller took it upon himself to fly Patrick Sweany to my wedding in Eureka Springs, Arkansas where he played his song 'Frozen Lake' as my wife and I's first dance. I'll forever be grateful to Brandon for that wonderful memory. Love ya Brandon!
There's also a few other memories tied to this song. We did a video for it in 2009. Our friend Willie Dagmar shot, edited, and produced the video. It's on our Youtube channel check it out... It's probably Electric Stomps first released recording. (Electric Stomp is Jeremiah Weir on drums and me on guitar) We did the two piece thing after we left Indigenous in 2009. Mostly out of necessity due to the fact that it was just us left in the band during that period and times were lean...
I'll tell you the whole story someday... In the meantime I'm gonna keep on flying.
Hope you enjoy 'The Song of The Week'
Your Friend,
Kris Lager
For those of you who don't know I am releasing a song every Friday afternoon on my Patreon page. Head over and take a listen. This week the song is 'Tomorrow I'll Fly'.
Here's the post that I wrote to go with the song:
Hey Friends,
I hope everyone had a good week. I'm doing well over here in south Omaha.... I'm spending a lot of time with the kiddos and playing a lot of music. The days are just flying by and I can't believe Christmas is almost here... It's crazy how fast it all goes.
I hope to be able to update 'The Patreon' page more in the future. I've been putting in a lot of time ironing out all of the wrinkles for our live streams (which are Mondays, Wednesdays, and the occasional Saturday on KLB's Facebook page). It's like learning a new language with the software and the hardware. Thank god for Youtube tutorials... The last stream was the easiest we've done yet so hopefully I'm getting the hang of it and things are smoothing out.
I'm looking forward to doing more 'Licks Of The Day' as well as a 'Behind The Music' video series' where I talk about what inspired some of my songs and where I was at personally when they came out. If you want me to feature a specific song or have any requests shoot me a message and I'll produce those songs first! I'm here for you... and of course I drop the videos on Patreon before anywhere else; so you get them first! Thanks for the love friends!
The Song Of The Week: 'Tomorrow I'll Fly'
This is a very special song for me for many reasons. It has stuck with me for about 14 years now. I started to write this in the 'green room/ backstage basement' at 'The Beachland Ballroom' in Cleveland Ohio sometime in 2007.
We were on one of our first extensive tours with Indigenous and I really felt like I was flying for the first time. After years of playing over 70 towns in and Nebraska alone we were branching out and it felt good. (Most people don't even know there are 70 towns in Nebraska) The only reason we know this is because in our old band house we had a map of Nebraska and every time we came home we put a pin in the map. When we moved out we had over 70 pins on that damn thing.
That night in particular in Cleveland was memorable for a few reasons: First of all The Beachland Ballroom is awesome and the room was fun to play; and also we have some great Cleveland friends we caught up with; and ALSO because I saw (a pretty much unknown band at the time) Deer Tick Play a show in the side room. They had a very small but attentive audience and they killed it. I was very impressed with the front man and singer, John J. McCauley
So, on top of all of that I also met and heard Patrick Sweany for the first time that as well that night. He opened up the show and I thought his style and songs were on point. A great mixture of Delta blues, folksy, groovy guitar driven Rock n Roll. After the show I told him you remind me of a little bit of The Black Keys and he said 'That's funny because Dan's a good friend of mine. We've played in bands together around Ohio and he actually just produced my new record." Then he gave me his Dan Auerbach produced CD 'Every Hour Is A Dollar Gone' and I fell in love with it. I wore that album out... To this day it is still one of my favorite records. I should go back and listen to it... It's been a while.
Fast forward to 2013 and my good friend and former bassist Brandon Miller took it upon himself to fly Patrick Sweany to my wedding in Eureka Springs, Arkansas where he played his song 'Frozen Lake' as my wife and I's first dance. I'll forever be grateful to Brandon for that wonderful memory. Love ya Brandon!
There's also a few other memories tied to this song. We did a video for it in 2009. Our friend Willie Dagmar shot, edited, and produced the video. It's on our Youtube channel check it out... It's probably Electric Stomps first released recording. (Electric Stomp is Jeremiah Weir on drums and me on guitar) We did the two piece thing after we left Indigenous in 2009. Mostly out of necessity due to the fact that it was just us left in the band during that period and times were lean...
I'll tell you the whole story someday... In the meantime I'm gonna keep on flying.
Hope you enjoy 'The Song of The Week'
Your Friend,
Kris Lager
Muddy Waters Cover posted on Dec. 4th, 2020:
PATREON SONG OF THE WEEK
Song of The Week:
For the first time its a cover... and You're the first people to hear this!
The inspiration to produce a cover of this song was because my good friend Rick Galusha asked me to be involved in '@The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge' Simulcast that airs Sunday Dec. 13th on
89.7 The River
(in the Omaha area) and online at www.facebook.com/livefromthemarshouse.
The theme of the simulcast is classic blues songs that have been covered by Classic Rock artists. I picked one of my favorites: The 1954 Muddy's Water's song: (written by Willie Dixon) 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You'. (Foghat did a cover of the song in 1972).
Find out more regarding The Toy Drive here: https://www.facebook.com/events/711251893147045/?post_id=723178028621098&view=permalink¬if_id=1607088521309450¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif
'The Toy Drive For Pine Ridge' is a beautiful cause that I believe Lash LaRue and Rick Galusha spearhead. The goal is to raise money and toys for the kids on The Pine Ridge Reservation north of Omaha.
Rick Galusha is many things: A dear friend to me, A professor, an Omaha World Herald contributor, a smart ass , a historian, and also host of PS Blues on 89.7 The River.
A radio show that has features Blues & Americana for the past 30 years every Sunday 9am to noon. He's probably played more of my songs on the air than any other DJ in the world. Which isn't hard to beat but... hey, I'm just saying thank you, yes thank you for all of the the love, support and inspiration, Rick.
You truly are one of a kind...
That's right we'll be celebrating his 30th year on the air as well as raising money and toys.
You can listen to The Toy Drive on 89.7 starting 9am on Sunday Dec. 13th or online at:
www.facebook.com/livefrommarshouse
Please don't miss this, friends. Not only is it a great cause for beautiful people and also a celebration of a huge corner stone in the midwest music scene (PS BLUES), but it also features an amazing cast of musicians throwing down blues covers for the cause.
Artists such as: Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad, Tinsley Ellis, Low Cut Connie, Deanna Bogart, Kim Richey, Bob Malone (John Fogerty Band), Aynsley Lister, Michael Lee Firkins, The Claudettes, Shawn Murphy (Bob Seger)... and more... Also a ton of local/Omaha area musicians... It'll be amazing...
And my cover of Muddy Waters 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' will be featured so don't miss out.... Sunday Dec. 13th starting at 9am .
I choose to go more with the traditional (Muddy Waters) version of this song rather than The Foghat rendition. Mainly because after listening to both I fell in love with Willie Dixon's bass playing. What a great vibe the band captured... It was fun to try and just drop the lump-da-lump and just dig in...
Do yourself a favor and find some Muddy Waters to dial up asap. One of my favorite records of his is his 'Folk Singer' recording. It's such a beautifully recorded and well played album. Sonically it's so sweet... a lot of acoustic blues and there's a young Buddy Guy on a lot of the guitar parts (as well as a ton of other Chicago greats).
And of course you gotta dig into the classic tracks that have defined and laid down the path for modern blues players:
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Mannish Boy, Got My Mojo Working, I Can't Be Satisfied, Screamin and Cryin, Rollin' and Tumblin, Forty Days and Forty Nights, You Can't Lose What You Never Had.... I could go on and on... I love it
Easily one of my favorite blues singers, if not my favorite...
Happy Friday and much love friends,
Kris Lager
For the first time its a cover... and You're the first people to hear this!
The inspiration to produce a cover of this song was because my good friend Rick Galusha asked me to be involved in '@The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge' Simulcast that airs Sunday Dec. 13th on
89.7 The River
(in the Omaha area) and online at www.facebook.com/livefromthemarshouse.
The theme of the simulcast is classic blues songs that have been covered by Classic Rock artists. I picked one of my favorites: The 1954 Muddy's Water's song: (written by Willie Dixon) 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You'. (Foghat did a cover of the song in 1972).
Find out more regarding The Toy Drive here: https://www.facebook.com/events/711251893147045/?post_id=723178028621098&view=permalink¬if_id=1607088521309450¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif
'The Toy Drive For Pine Ridge' is a beautiful cause that I believe Lash LaRue and Rick Galusha spearhead. The goal is to raise money and toys for the kids on The Pine Ridge Reservation north of Omaha.
Rick Galusha is many things: A dear friend to me, A professor, an Omaha World Herald contributor, a smart ass , a historian, and also host of PS Blues on 89.7 The River.
A radio show that has features Blues & Americana for the past 30 years every Sunday 9am to noon. He's probably played more of my songs on the air than any other DJ in the world. Which isn't hard to beat but... hey, I'm just saying thank you, yes thank you for all of the the love, support and inspiration, Rick.
You truly are one of a kind...
That's right we'll be celebrating his 30th year on the air as well as raising money and toys.
You can listen to The Toy Drive on 89.7 starting 9am on Sunday Dec. 13th or online at:
www.facebook.com/livefrommarshouse
Please don't miss this, friends. Not only is it a great cause for beautiful people and also a celebration of a huge corner stone in the midwest music scene (PS BLUES), but it also features an amazing cast of musicians throwing down blues covers for the cause.
Artists such as: Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad, Tinsley Ellis, Low Cut Connie, Deanna Bogart, Kim Richey, Bob Malone (John Fogerty Band), Aynsley Lister, Michael Lee Firkins, The Claudettes, Shawn Murphy (Bob Seger)... and more... Also a ton of local/Omaha area musicians... It'll be amazing...
And my cover of Muddy Waters 'I Just Wanna Make Love To You' will be featured so don't miss out.... Sunday Dec. 13th starting at 9am .
I choose to go more with the traditional (Muddy Waters) version of this song rather than The Foghat rendition. Mainly because after listening to both I fell in love with Willie Dixon's bass playing. What a great vibe the band captured... It was fun to try and just drop the lump-da-lump and just dig in...
Do yourself a favor and find some Muddy Waters to dial up asap. One of my favorite records of his is his 'Folk Singer' recording. It's such a beautifully recorded and well played album. Sonically it's so sweet... a lot of acoustic blues and there's a young Buddy Guy on a lot of the guitar parts (as well as a ton of other Chicago greats).
And of course you gotta dig into the classic tracks that have defined and laid down the path for modern blues players:
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man, Mannish Boy, Got My Mojo Working, I Can't Be Satisfied, Screamin and Cryin, Rollin' and Tumblin, Forty Days and Forty Nights, You Can't Lose What You Never Had.... I could go on and on... I love it
Easily one of my favorite blues singers, if not my favorite...
Happy Friday and much love friends,
Kris Lager
Unreleased Original posted on Nov. 28th, 2020:
PATREON SONG OF THE WEEK: "There Ain't Nothin' That Can Get In My Way''
Here's The Unreleased/New 'Song of the Week' that only you beautiful patrons get to hear!
It's one of the first tunes I wrote after we were neck deep into this pandemic.
I was feeling like this 'timeout' is my chance to work on myself.
This is my chance to focus on being a better father, a better husband, practice, write, and hit my studio hard. I was saying that I wanted to slow down for years and slowing down was the silver lining for me.
'There Ain't Nothing That Can Get In My Way'... other than myself.
In a world where viruses, fear, and destruction feed the news cycles it's easy to feel helpless and powerless, but if I unplug from the B.S. and the sensationalism I realize that I'm still the captain of my own ship. I'm still the author of my own story.
It's an empowering thought:
'If I can get over the past and forget about the future the present can be my gift. I'll arrive at this moment and love to the fullest if I can just let it be what it is. It's so much easier said than done, but there doesn't always have to be right and wrong. Dichotomies come crashing down when I realize I don't have to compete with everybody else.'
That's the first verse and it really paints the picture nice and clear as to what this song is about. It's a familiar message of mine, and I like to broadcast it often because I forget it a lot, and I have to remind myself quite frankly.
In this wild west culture of the United States it can be tough, foreboding, and isolating. I see it all around me, I see it in myself... It's a culture that without a concerted effort to be different, to swim upstream and against the current one could easily be carried away. Carried away by those "American Dreams' of capitalism, competitiveness, and illusions of grandeur.
I believe these dichotomies of right and wrong/ good or bad/ best and worst creates an egoic and prideful front.
Which leads me to the 2nd verse:
"This pride-fullness of always having to be the best creates a hell of a mess; we must confess there is another way.
This timeout for reflection; it's a beautiful time to change direction. So, come on with me if you know what I mean.'
Then the 3rd verse:
"I ain't gonna come out of this the same, and quite frankly I believe that's the lesson if I'm listening. The winds of change are blowing. I can hear them saying over and over: Stop what you're doing this ain't sustainable. Stop where you going cause you don't even know. You've been running and running for way too long. Like it or not a change is gonna come.'
I had just cut my hair... (Which I hadn't done for twenty years) I could tell that I wasn't gonna come out of this the same.
The Black Lives Matter movement started soon after this... The winds of change were blowing.
The pandemic was a catalyst for change because of obvious socio-economic consequences.
Turbulent times lead to growth and expanded awareness if we allow.
The lessons of life are always staring us right in the face.
The question is are we brave enough to look change in the eyes.
I also believe with every fiber of my being that mother nature is letting us know that things aren't okay. We have to expand our consciousness and awareness if we are going to hand over a healthy planet to our kids and grandkids.
I hear her screaming for help and she's saying:
'Stop what ya doing this ain't sustainable. Stop, where ya going cause you don't even know. You've been running and running for way too long. If your soul be lost its nobodies fault but your own...
and I'm saying:
There Ain't Nothing That Can Get In My Way.... Other than myself...
Bless ya'll... Spread love/ Squash Hate,
Kris Lager
It's one of the first tunes I wrote after we were neck deep into this pandemic.
I was feeling like this 'timeout' is my chance to work on myself.
This is my chance to focus on being a better father, a better husband, practice, write, and hit my studio hard. I was saying that I wanted to slow down for years and slowing down was the silver lining for me.
'There Ain't Nothing That Can Get In My Way'... other than myself.
In a world where viruses, fear, and destruction feed the news cycles it's easy to feel helpless and powerless, but if I unplug from the B.S. and the sensationalism I realize that I'm still the captain of my own ship. I'm still the author of my own story.
It's an empowering thought:
'If I can get over the past and forget about the future the present can be my gift. I'll arrive at this moment and love to the fullest if I can just let it be what it is. It's so much easier said than done, but there doesn't always have to be right and wrong. Dichotomies come crashing down when I realize I don't have to compete with everybody else.'
That's the first verse and it really paints the picture nice and clear as to what this song is about. It's a familiar message of mine, and I like to broadcast it often because I forget it a lot, and I have to remind myself quite frankly.
In this wild west culture of the United States it can be tough, foreboding, and isolating. I see it all around me, I see it in myself... It's a culture that without a concerted effort to be different, to swim upstream and against the current one could easily be carried away. Carried away by those "American Dreams' of capitalism, competitiveness, and illusions of grandeur.
I believe these dichotomies of right and wrong/ good or bad/ best and worst creates an egoic and prideful front.
Which leads me to the 2nd verse:
"This pride-fullness of always having to be the best creates a hell of a mess; we must confess there is another way.
This timeout for reflection; it's a beautiful time to change direction. So, come on with me if you know what I mean.'
Then the 3rd verse:
"I ain't gonna come out of this the same, and quite frankly I believe that's the lesson if I'm listening. The winds of change are blowing. I can hear them saying over and over: Stop what you're doing this ain't sustainable. Stop where you going cause you don't even know. You've been running and running for way too long. Like it or not a change is gonna come.'
I had just cut my hair... (Which I hadn't done for twenty years) I could tell that I wasn't gonna come out of this the same.
The Black Lives Matter movement started soon after this... The winds of change were blowing.
The pandemic was a catalyst for change because of obvious socio-economic consequences.
Turbulent times lead to growth and expanded awareness if we allow.
The lessons of life are always staring us right in the face.
The question is are we brave enough to look change in the eyes.
I also believe with every fiber of my being that mother nature is letting us know that things aren't okay. We have to expand our consciousness and awareness if we are going to hand over a healthy planet to our kids and grandkids.
I hear her screaming for help and she's saying:
'Stop what ya doing this ain't sustainable. Stop, where ya going cause you don't even know. You've been running and running for way too long. If your soul be lost its nobodies fault but your own...
and I'm saying:
There Ain't Nothing That Can Get In My Way.... Other than myself...
Bless ya'll... Spread love/ Squash Hate,
Kris Lager
Unreleased Original posted on Nov. 21st, 2020:
PATREON SONG OF THE WEEK: "I Can Hear Me A Song"
Hey Friends,
Here it is: The first unreleased song of the week!!
I'll be dropping one every Friday afternoon on Patreon.
That's right, you can only hear these songs right here on Patreon....
You're the only people that has ever heard this recording! Well, except for my good friend, George Winfield, I sent him this track a couple of weeks ago. After one of my live streams earlier this summer he threw a Venmo tip my way, and he wrote 'I Can Hear Me A Song' as the note, so I thought he might enjoy it. Now, George is probably feeling a little cheated because he's already heard the unreleased track. That's why I'm giving him a shout out... lol ;) He's a sassy Texan... and I love him for it.
I wrote this song just a few months ago... In the midst of our never ending quarantine that I feel like I'm neck deep in, once AGAIN. I am so thankful for hearing songs and music. Just being able to sing myself a song helps keep me from feeling so alone. Songs allow me to feel connected with lost loved ones that are no longer physically with me. They help me deal with the pain of life, and also just help me express my emotions that I really don't express any other way.
I have a very close relationship with my songs. A lot of that I think is due in part to the fact that I don't really think of them as 'mine'. They just are... They are my companions that I like to spend time with. (Sometimes they turn into old friends and bad influences that I don't want to hang out with anymore... lol...) These songs that I sing are many things: my compass, my mantras, my philosphies, my therapist, my amplified inner voice.
My wife often gives me a lot of crap for being a night owl. She thinks I need to get up early and get after the day if I want to get more things done, but what she doesn't understand is that I can 'hear the songs' a lot easier late at night. The frequencies are a little more open as the majority of people around me are sleeping. I truly believe that there's a creative energy that we can all tap into and a lot of us do. It's a beautiful thing. And something in me says there's more creative energy floating around at night. lol... maybe it's just an excuse...
It's my story and I'm sticking to it:
Call it 'crazy hippie talk', call it what you want. But this is what I believe, and I have a strong faith in the creative muse that has been by my side. After all she's kept me fairly sane and reasonably functional throughout all of these years.
So, that's what the chorus is about... and the first verse.
The second verse just elaborates on that thought and the third verse just brings it home and sends out a prayer that these songs can keep me company and 'ease the pain' for however long I may be lucky enough to walk this earth.
Hope you enjoy. I hope it stirs up something inside you.
This recording brings me to tears every time I listen to it.
I feel like it serves its purpose.
Much love friends and thank you for the love, inspiration, and support.
-Kris Lager
Here it is: The first unreleased song of the week!!
I'll be dropping one every Friday afternoon on Patreon.
That's right, you can only hear these songs right here on Patreon....
You're the only people that has ever heard this recording! Well, except for my good friend, George Winfield, I sent him this track a couple of weeks ago. After one of my live streams earlier this summer he threw a Venmo tip my way, and he wrote 'I Can Hear Me A Song' as the note, so I thought he might enjoy it. Now, George is probably feeling a little cheated because he's already heard the unreleased track. That's why I'm giving him a shout out... lol ;) He's a sassy Texan... and I love him for it.
I wrote this song just a few months ago... In the midst of our never ending quarantine that I feel like I'm neck deep in, once AGAIN. I am so thankful for hearing songs and music. Just being able to sing myself a song helps keep me from feeling so alone. Songs allow me to feel connected with lost loved ones that are no longer physically with me. They help me deal with the pain of life, and also just help me express my emotions that I really don't express any other way.
I have a very close relationship with my songs. A lot of that I think is due in part to the fact that I don't really think of them as 'mine'. They just are... They are my companions that I like to spend time with. (Sometimes they turn into old friends and bad influences that I don't want to hang out with anymore... lol...) These songs that I sing are many things: my compass, my mantras, my philosphies, my therapist, my amplified inner voice.
My wife often gives me a lot of crap for being a night owl. She thinks I need to get up early and get after the day if I want to get more things done, but what she doesn't understand is that I can 'hear the songs' a lot easier late at night. The frequencies are a little more open as the majority of people around me are sleeping. I truly believe that there's a creative energy that we can all tap into and a lot of us do. It's a beautiful thing. And something in me says there's more creative energy floating around at night. lol... maybe it's just an excuse...
It's my story and I'm sticking to it:
Call it 'crazy hippie talk', call it what you want. But this is what I believe, and I have a strong faith in the creative muse that has been by my side. After all she's kept me fairly sane and reasonably functional throughout all of these years.
So, that's what the chorus is about... and the first verse.
The second verse just elaborates on that thought and the third verse just brings it home and sends out a prayer that these songs can keep me company and 'ease the pain' for however long I may be lucky enough to walk this earth.
Hope you enjoy. I hope it stirs up something inside you.
This recording brings me to tears every time I listen to it.
I feel like it serves its purpose.
Much love friends and thank you for the love, inspiration, and support.
-Kris Lager