a musician, songwriter, and performer based near Chicago
Something New 2:54
a song about the dangers of Digital Marketing
Be Here Now 04:06
a song co-written with Matt Stankiewicz
Standing in Line 04:38
Is it better to dump or be dumped?

Something New (2017)

Written by Miles Maxwell

Been a while since I posted something new so I present, “Something New.” It’s been a work in progress for a few months but I’m finally happy with the final verse. About a crazy time in work life when things are exciting but ultimately can’t last. I’ve got quite a few other new ones so I look forward to posting those soon as well. Also, I added the lyrics as closed captions and turned it on by default. Seems to go nicely with songs, especially if I’m mumbling a bit.

Something New
Words and Music, Miles Baltrusaitis 2017

D
In a town outside of Nashville
G D
In the year of O fifteen
D
Was a girl who worked on websites
A
Doing digital marketing

D

And a guy outside Chicago
G
Was doing the same thing
D
And when they worked together
A D
They knew something was happening

D
At first they worked in wordpress
G D
Building pages, posts and blogs
D
Explaining things with jams and jars
A
As symbolic analogs

D
They moved into marketo
G
Working hard as sniffing dogs
D
Closing tasks and shaving yaks
A D
While trying to eat frogs

CHORUS

G A D

They earned respect and they learned trust
G A Em A
They caught up every day cause talking is a must
G A Bm
The more they worked, their power grew
A G D
And the more they shifted into something new

SOLO OVER VERSE

D D G D
D D A A7
D D G D
D D A D

D
The team traveled together
G D
To vegas, boston and the coast
D
One was sent to asia
A
to teach the programs that matter most
D
But the work was never ending
G D
And by seventeen, they were toast
D
The guy picked up the pieces
A D
And the girl turned to a ghost

G A D

Well they earned respect and they learned trust
G A Em A
They caught up every day because talking is a must
G A Bm
But the more they worked, her feeling grew
A G D
That the time had come to try out something new

Songwriter Stories – Be Here Now (2010)

Written by Miles Maxwell

Rolling out the oldies again with a sister song to “Standing in Line.” Again, written mostly by Matt Stankiewicz and finished with Gary Zimmer and me at our Jefferson Park HeadQuarters. Not sure exactly what this was about lyrically but I’m sensing a strong theme of ambivalence and, “I can’t make big promises but this is what I can offer you.” The title makes me think of meditation and seeking a presence of mind that discards the past and stops trying to solve for the future.

Thoughts on the music

This was written on piano and it shows in the descending melody line that follows with the slash chords. I particularly like the walkup to D minor after the refrain. Gives it a new neighborhood to go to and a memorable place to sing along. When I play it on guitar, I don’t incorporate all the bass notes from the slash chords. I just imagine a bass player is doing that for me.

Lyrics and Chords


Intro

F / C/E / Bb C F /

F C/E

You look so surprised to see me standing here

Bb/D F/C F

I can see it in your eyes

Bb F/A F D-
I can’t explain the way I CAN’T LET GO

G- G C C7

But I know, yes I know

F C/E

Today I realized, the way I feel is clear

Bb/D F/C F

It’s something I cannot disguise

Bb F/A F#o G-
I can’t explain the way my HEART STANDS STILL

G C C7

But I will, yes I will

F Gm C

BE HERE NOW

F

To sacrifice my pride for you And

Am Bb C

SHOW YOU HOW

F

I will stand and fight for you

‘Cause...

Dm C Bb F

Iiiiiiiiiiii can’t know how you feel but

Dm C Bb F

Iiiiiiiiiiii know what I feel is real

Gm C Bb Am F

I’m making my vow to BE HERE NOW

F C/E

I hope you understand, what I came to say

Bb/D F/C F

Your eyes tell me that it’s true

Bb F/A F D-
It’s not a choice to make, to LET YOU KNOW

G- G C C7

I can’t let go, no I can’t let go

F C/E

Whatever you demand, there are no games to play

Bb/D F/C F

I will give it all to you

Bb F/A F#o G-
My heart is yours to take, IF YOU WILL

Cause I still, yes I still

Will... [CHORUS]

I Saw a Stranger with Your Hair (a John Gorka cover)

Written by Miles Maxwell

Having dropped quite a few old originals in here lately, I figured it was time to do another “no rehearsal, no excuses” cover. Last night, I recorded a song by John Gorka called “I Saw a Stranger with your Hair.” He’s recently been added to the inner circle of my list of favorite singer-songwriters along with Richard Thompson and Loudon Wainwright III. Other great tracks by him include “Love is our Cross to Bear,” “Down in the Milltown” and “Geza’s Wailing Ways.”

Why I chose “I Saw a Stranger with your Hair”

For me though, the height of poetry and symbol comes from “I Saw a Stranger with your Hair.” It’s a beautiful and haunting song from his early days, originally recorded back in 1987. The lyrics paint the picture of an ended relationship with the narrator seeing traces of his past lover in his present life. I think it captures the heartache that comes with losing someone but not being ready to move on yet. The line that particularly hits me hard (and I’m jealous that I didn’t think of) is, “by the way, how is my heart?” It’s so casual but so vulnerable. Reminds me of “She Thinks He Still Cares” and how that character tries to play it cool about a relationship ending but is really emotionally hurt by it.

There are lots of great versions of him singing the song in his low baritone voice with his acoustic guitar playing on Youtube. I decided I wanted to do it on piano because I’d never heard the song played on a piano and I’ve been doing a lot of guitar lately so it was a nice change up.

Lyrics & Chords

Capo 2nd fret

G C
I saw a stranger with your hair
Am
Tried to make her give it back
G C
So I could send it off to you
Am D
Maybe Federal Express cause I know you'd miss it

G C
I saw another with your eyes
Am
The flash just turned my head
G C
I went to try them on for size
Am D
But they looked the other way and wouldn't listen

CHORUS:
A Em
But you're never hard to find in a crowd
A Em
The people around you smiling out loud
Bm Em
Their feet don't touch the ground
D Em
Their feet don't touch the ground
D A
No their feet don't touch the ground

G C
I heard a stranger with your voice
Am
It took me by surprise
G C
Again I found it wasn't you
Am
Just an angel in disguise
D
In for a visit

G C
By the way how is my heart
Am
I haven't seen it since you left
G C
I'm almost sure it followed you
Am
Could you sometime send it back
D
I'll buy the ticket

CHORUS:
A Em
But you're never hard to find in a crowd
A Em
The people around you smiling out loud
Bm Em
Their feet don't touch the ground
D Em
Their feet don't touch the ground
D A
No their feet don't touch the ground

G C
I saw a stranger with your hair
G C
I saw another with your eyes
G C
I heard an angel with your voice
G C
By the way how is my heart
G C
By the way how is my heart