Casey and the Apple Tree

Jack of several trades. Ukuleles for the revolution. I like to make music and community, create things with friends, and fold whatever scraps life throws at me into thousands of paper cranes. (currently keeping an eye on Uncle Sam)

[caseyandtheappletree]

My easter offering to y’all.  “Only Alive” by Jars of Clay as played by me and my bartione uke.

[caseyandtheappletree]

[video description] Casey J singing the Avett Brothers Weight of Lies and also playing same on little seafoam soprano ukulele. Look!  It’s my most recent cover which has appeared on YouTube.  I’ve been in love with this song all summer (and now I’m in love with my uke part for it.)  The first time I heard it (driving in my car back to VT after visiting home for a bit) it really struck me that the lyrics are TRUE and ADVICE I NEED TO HEED.  If you know many of my original songs perhaps you have sensed this theme.  Anyway, I love this song, and would really like to record it with someone so I can sing harmonies.  Maybe one of the great people I had the gift of befriending in VT this summer. Please reblog if you like this, and visit my channel to subscribe and hear/see more songs.  Also tell me what I should play next for you, my dears!

[caseyandtheappletree]

The Singing Trees

The wind is very loud here at Chapland BL. Like its alive, I can hear it moving. But it's not really the wind- it's the trees. I haven't lived this close to big, old trees since before the Tornado- since I was twelve. Perhaps that's why wind in the trees elicits a visceral response from me sometimes- be on guard. The last time I heard it from my home was the day those trees gave up their lives and in turn saved my house. taken on its own, the sound it beautiful, and spiritual, and a sound of connection- the wind to the trees and the trees to me, all of them to the earth, the universe, existence. It's the sound of praise, or prayer. Peace. But soon these magical, spiritual, musical trees will be gone. Razed by construction crews building warehouses. And the sound will die with them. I will have to hike into the woods to find that connection- it will no longer come to me like church bells, wafting through my window and demanding to be heard, felt. I mourn for the trees in advance. I have a special love for them, and I am sad that they will die. These little woods have been the thing that made moving to the suburbs bearable- that allowed this place the possibility of being home. Maybe they have served their purpose for me. And I don't own the land and cannot save them. But I will cherish these trees while I can, and hear their whooshing in response to wind no longer as a warning, but a psalm.

[caseyandtheappletree]

Here's a song I wrote in February.  The video features one of my favorite hats.  I like hats.  I also like this song (well enough.)  I recorded it the same day I wrote it because I was attempting to do FAWM (Febrary Album Writing Month) at the time.  That was a bust, but I did get a couple songs out of it.  Perhaps I'll post a more recent version of it at a sooner or later date.  Nonetheless, lyrics below.  Whenever I sing the lyric "Somebody's vessel for life but it surely isn't mine" it makes me think of Angelic possession in Supernatural, but that's a story for a different Tumblr entirely ;)  Whaddaya think of it?

Who Am I

When I'm in the dark and / i can't see my face I can't see my body and / i can't feel my shape Then I am alright / then i am myself But when it gets too light i / think I'm someone else

Who am I / All the time Even when it's light Who is this / that I see it isn't me -- so who am I?

Almost Thirty years ago in / 1985 Deep November Snow just / a couple days alive They gave me a name and / then they took me home But unrelenting love couldn't / make me less alone

Who am I / All the time Even when it's light Who is this / that I see it isn't me -- so who am I?

I am a stranger in my own skin This foreign feeling that I am / standing in Somebody's vessel for life but it / surely isn't mine I thought I could become her / I tried to make it right

When I'm in the dark and / i can't see my face I can't see my body and / i can't feel my shape Then I am alright / then i am myself But when it gets too light i / think I'm someone else

Who am I / All the time Even when it's light Who is this / that I see it isn't me -- so who am I?

[caseyandtheappletree]

I have moved my blog to a new url http://caseyjchapman.co.vu. Powered By http://codotvu.com