dan Courtney - The White Buffalo

the white buffalo

The following collection of songs were recorded at home in Florence, Oregon.

Each song here was recorded using the first take of each track. Only in the case of a major blunder did a track get a do-over. The choice to do this was intentional. I wanted to focus on spontaneity in order to capture the quirky nature of composing songs. A lot happens by accident. By experimenting.

This is what live music is all about.

Who knows what these songs would have sounded like after ten takes? If I were younger, I might have tried . As it is, I don't have the time, patience or energy to do that anymore. This is what we get.

In addition to the spontaneity factor, each song here is played exclusively for the purpose of The White Buffalo album. Other than for rehearsing and sound checks, none of the songs were performed prior to the recording and none of the songs will be played or recorded again.

Each song is time defined, created for the sole purpose of existing only on The White Buffalo album.

I think that's pretty cool.

Cheers,

Dan C. Courtney

Click the Player directly below to listen without interruption to The White Buffalo on BandCamp and to download the music collection for your very own. Otherwise, below that, the Individual songs with lyrics and artwork follow.

white buffalo

First the lights went out and then you smelled gas.

The wind began to howl and there's a snake in the grass.

The sky grew dark It started to rain.

The next thing you know you're in a hurricane.

You better work it out You better grow some stones.

I walk this beach on brittle bones.

We can make it work Now take my hand.

We'll cross this mountain to the Promised Land.

It takes a village it takes a tribe.

These feelings that I have are hard to describe.

Show me some mercy Throw me a rope.

It's the White Buffalo that gives me hope.

Hope!

Reach up high Now bend down low.

We've got to sing a song for the White Buffalo.

When the spring gets here it's gonna fill the air.

With a million flowers blooming everywhere.

Yeah!

Mister Greeley

Go West young man. Go as far as you can. You just keep on going
Keep going Until you run out of land.

You've got to follow the sun. Then jump in the sea. It's a fool's paradise that's waiting for me.

Something's out there calling me. There's something out there calling me.
Something out there...calling me.

Now the sun goes down. And the sky turns red

I'll be sleeping tonight like a pearl in an oyster bed.

Something's out there calling me. Something dark that I can't see
Something out there calling me. Something dark is calling me.

The West is the Best. We've got it all: We've got Senor Desi Arnaz and Miss Lucille Ball.

Someone's out there calling me. Something dark and I can't see. Something outside calling me.

I've seen enough. I have felt the squeeze. I just wanna go home, Mister Greeley please.

Sands of time / Deep blue sea / The fish jaws yawn / Wait wait for me Mister Greeley, I want to go home

The sands of time / the deep blue sea / the fish jaws yawn

They Wait for Me Mister Greeley.

chinese ghosts

Mack and the boys they were drinking from the jug.

What they really need is a good woman's love.

I'm in the back room trying to abide,

Thinking about the place I left behind.

In a room full of jars where I keep my dreams,

All my hopes and my prayers and all my schemes.

Oh hey hey hey, I'm hitchhiking to Monterey.

I was with an old gal, that was back in Soquel.

She was part angel from heaven — and part infidel.

Now I'm out of luck and I'm out of bread.

I'm sleeping in the woods, dreaming of her warm bed.

Pull over, Mister, you've got nothing to lose.

And I really need a ride out of Santa Cruz.

Oh hey hey hey, I'm hitchhiking to Monterey.

Chinese ghosts, they're walking out from the sea.

They're coming for you. They'll be looking for me.

Chinese Ghosts they seem to rise

from the dried blood stains on the railroad ties.

From the old rock walls that they built back then,

to the pipes that they smoked in the opium den.

Oh hey hey hey, I'm hitchhiking to Monterey.

New president blues

I've got no reason for dreaming
and there's nothing left to believe
The Calvary won't be coming
There's a cold wind blowing through the trees

I am a man with a checkered past.
I am an old man. I'm going nowhere fast

They'll take away your freedom
And then toss away your bones

I'm the son of proud Yankees
But now I walk this road all alone

And I don't know how much longer I can last
I'm just an old man going nowhere fast.

North Star blues

Time has made me older And the nights have made me colder

Sometimes I need a shoulder To help me carry on.

The wind keeps squalling and the past won't stop calling

And baby, I'm just stalling To keep from keeping on.

This message I deliver As I paddle up this river

Like an archer with his quiver I hope my aim is true.

The Night the North Star Was Shining

And the smile on her face was surely sweet.

When life was its own silver lining

As the snowflakes landed on her cheek.

Hey now, where are you going? The snow drifts they're blowing

And without really knowing How did we get left behind?

Time's a tricky fella. He's neither kind nor calm nor mellow

He likes to play his cello As he messes with your mind.

The sky is cold and grey My whole world's in disarray

I should just walk away and leave it well alone.

The shadows of fear are deep

And I wish I could get some sleep

I'm metamorphic. I'm turning into stone.

The Night The North Star Was Shining

The smile on her face was surely sweet.

That was when life was its own silver lining

As the snowflakes landed on her cheeks.

new years day blues

The darkness comes early. The rain falls softly.

I look into the mirror. Time is slipping away.

The clock keeps ticking and the world keeps turning.

And we're all heroes on New Years Day.

I keep walking. I struggle with myself.

I head down slowly, I open the gate.

My heart keeps beating and life is fleeting.

And we're all heroes on New Years Day.

The moonlight at midnight. Shining down on happy people.

Spare them sorrow, Lord. Bring them to me.

We'll sleep by the river and dream in starlight.

And we'll all be heroes on New Years Day.

Mister Johnson Blues

Talking about my woman / I hear she's been putting down

With a certain gentleman / Since I've been out of town

Seems that Mister Johnson / He came walking by

And that ol' Mister Johnson / He caught my baby's eye.

I came home to find two boots / Lying neath my bed

My baby she was lying there / Her lips all cherry red

She wants her Mister Johnson / To have herself a time

She wants Mister Johnson / She wants him all the time.

Take all of my worldly sins / And put 'em up against the wall

Next to my baby's sins / And mine ain't much at all

Go tell your Mister Johnson / Tell him he's so big

And I'll tell Mister Johnson / You're bald and that's a wig!

Special Video Presentation of Mister Johnson Blues

metamorphic

It's elementary: I'm sedimentary.

Watch yourself honky; don't offend the monkey.

I am an orphan I've got endorphins,

I'm metamorphic over you.

I'm going up the hill I won't reach the top.

Pop another pill 'Cause the pain never stops.

Sunday go to meeting Pork chop eating

Some stand tall and others are meek.

The years drag on, I keep pulling this cart

How long can it last? Everything's falling apart.

Some things in life always ring true:

I'm worried about me and I'm thinking about you.

I am an orphan. I've got endorphins. I'm metamorphic for you.

I'm looking' for clues Time ain't been kind.

I loved you baby from the start of time.

I look at the stars I stare at my hands,

It's always sacrifice that God demands.

Some things in life always ring true

I'm worried about me I'm thinking about you.

I am an orphan / I've got endorphins / I'm metamorphic for you

I am an orphan / I've got endorphins / I'm metamorphic for you.

Some things in life they always ring true:

I'm worried about me and I'm thinking about you.

Some things in life they always ring true:

I'm worried about me and I'm thinking about you.

That's Who We are

You were talking about solutions for making a better world.

Without war or pollution Only happy boys & little happy girls.

Amplify their voices And heal all their scars
We make our own choices Because that's who we are.

Oh Rosie girl, where'r you going?
You're the one I love the most.
But each day you're drifting further
And you're turning into a ghost.
Did I see you on the last train? Sitting alone in the dining car?
We're all hungry. That's who we are.

I'll hit the reset button I promise to do better the next time.
I'll take two Ibuprofen Wash it down with elderberry wine.
The system's breaking down now And we won't get very far.
We're all here for each other. That's who we are.

Take comfort in the lowly places. Find peace and harmony.
Be kind to every creature Find your strength in humility.
And take love where you can find it As you reach for the stars.
Hold me Rosie Because that's who we are.

mister emily dickinson

They call me Mr. Emily Dickinson.

I live with Emily at the top of the stairs.

I lost my arms at the riots in Templeton.

And now I take medicine that makes me not care.

Welcome to my world - I can't explain

All these secrets locked in my brain.

Emily, your Yankee soul is dark.

The shadows in your eyes reveal a question mark.

I wish I could hold you and push your broom,

As you write your poems , they're like the fruit from your womb.

I love you baby / You're like a candy store.

And I can't get enough / I always want more.

On a night like this should anyone care

As I drift in the clouds as I sit on my chair?

Love is a prison, there is no escape.

I raise the white flag, God stands at the gate.

Welcome to my world - I can't explain

All these secrets here in my brain.

Go away now. We don't open the door.

We know who you are. You've been here before.

You're the moth that flies too close to the flame.

But in the end there's, only one thing that remains: Emily.

I love you baby / You're like a candy store.

I can't get enough / I always want more and more

Emily.

GODZILLA

I lay awake and wonder why I  still care or even try
to make you understand my thoughts
And my feelings The years pass with a flowing ease       like the leaves blowing in the breeze    You know they're just freewheeling   and I'm staring at the ceiling

Godzilla rises from the sea
Now he's looking a lot like me
At least he knows what he wants and he knows how to get it
Oh Sibilla won't you help me please
I need your sweet Roman charity
To take me to the water

I grew up on a family farm
Small town life has got its charm
But I couldn't stay put I had to keep moving
Toward the bright lights of city nights
The women there were like dynamite
But to me they were quite soothing.
And I kept on grooving

I drove up from Santa Fe  Expecting what, well, I couldn't say
There's some things in life that are better off not knowing
I stood four hours at your door
Like a beggar needing something more
I left with my heart showing

I lost my mind I was on my own
I was chewed up right down to the bone
In the end I was the same man only much older
Time is short and the road is long
I feel the chill I think something's wrong
And the nights keep getting colder

Say a prayer, say my favorite psalm
Hold my hand and keep me calm
It's almost time Time to take me to the water
You have my name and you've got my ring
And you know you're my everything
Now take me to the water

Take me to the water

Kiss my cheek and then let me die
Oh Sibilla Please don't cry
Because it won't be long 'til we're back together
Oh Baby I'm flying high
Now it's time for us to say Goodbye
I'm as light as a feather.

All songs written, performed and recorded by Dan C. Courtney

Artwork, concept and design by Dan C. Courtney

Photo of Charles Bukowski, origin unknown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567943362780

Buy "White Buffalo" https://dancourtney.bandcamp.com/album/white-buffalo

Proceeds are split between our local Food Bank and Humane Society.

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