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Live on Mountain Stage 2006​-​2015

by Todd Burge

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    CD comes with 6 panels of artwork and liner notes by Larry Groce!

    It seems like the day before yesterday when I was dreaming about being on Mountain Stage. Here I am, twenty five years later, presenting you with some of my favorite memories from the program. In that timespan, my idols have become mentors and close friends. I am forever grateful to Larry Groce and everyone at Mountain Stage. Your program continues to amaze and inspire me. You have helped lift me up to places I was unable to see or reach. Thanks for the fine work over the years and thanks for the cape! Todd Burge (March 2016)

    For more than 30 years, Mountain Stage with Larry Groce has been the home of live music on public radio. Produced in West Virginia and distributed by NPR, each two hour episode of Mountain Stage can be heard every week on more than 150 stations across America, and around the world via NPR Music and mountainstage.org.

    Recorded live on Mountain Stage and used by permission of Mountain Stage, West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Francis Fisher (engineer), Larry Groce/ Andy Ridenour/Adam Harris (producers) Patrick Stevens (additional mixing on “Nuts” and technical assistance)

    Todd Burge (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica & ukulele)
    The Mountain Stage Band: Steve Hill (bass), Ammed Solomon (drums), Julie Adams (vocal), Bob Thompson (piano & vocal), Michael Lipton (electric guitar), Ron Sowell (Music Director, acoustic guitar & vocal), Ryan Kennedy (electric guitar & organ)

    Additional Players: William Matheny (electric guitar, mandolin & banjo), Joseph Hale (Keyboards on Shark), Deni Bonet (violin), Laurel Dennie (backing vocals) Larry Groce (comedy on final track)

    Mastering: David K. Shipley at Foxwood Mastering – Nashville TN

    Photos by: Josh Saul, Amos Perrine, Brian Blauser, Lisa and Todd Burge

    Includes unlimited streaming of Live on Mountain Stage 2006-2015 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Hip About Time by Todd Burge ©2005 Bunj Jam-BMI Tomorrow came in smelling just like today Tasting the same as yesterday I flicked my Timex Then dropped kicked my Swiss But the days (would) tick me off The same old way So cry baby cry, but don't ask who booed who Get out of bed & stop hitting snooze I'm so hip about time He's not sleepin' in….. I'm so hip about time he's not sleepin’ in I'm so hip about time I was in a fog and Big Ben was sleepin' in Don't say Fre're Jacque, Dor-mez vous Ain't been kicking your ass too So rock-a-bye baby on your rocky top And if you forget that tune your misery will stop Breaker Breaker So cry baby cry, but don't ask who booed who Get out of bed & stop hitting snooze Now I'm so hip about time He's not sleepin' in….. I'm so hip about time he's not sleepin’ in I'm so hip about time So cry baby cry, but don't ask who booed who Get your ass up & stop hitting snooze I'm so hip about time Son-ne les matines I'm so hip about time Ding dang dong I'm so hip about time
2.
I’m A Shark I’m a shark Grey as the day is long in the tooth In my shark skin suit Yea, I’m a shark Don’t mess with me please As I need someone to eat You look like you might be A fine treat for me Watch the kids I can make a weaker kid scream Just by showing a couple teeth Cuz I’m a shark I remember the day when I was king of the sea Every creature under here Knew that they had to stay clear All the young woman would swim So close to my pectoral fins And we’d swim and they’d sing La la la la la la la la Oh, I loved to hear them sing La la la la la la I’m a shark I’d come eat your ass If I weren’t for this thick glass Of the Shark Reef Aquarium In the Mandalay Bay Hotel In Las Vegas Nevada It’s a freakin’ casino man! Where they brought me to have sex With this other lady shark Who doesn’t even like me Poor bastards Charging you plenty to stare at me Being totally….indifferent I’m a shark Grey as the day is long in the tooth Wearing my shark skin suit I’m a shark Damn it
3.
Jesus Night Light Once I was sleeping Deep into the night I opened both my lids And something didn't seem quite right Oh the light got too low I needed someone to tell me Where'd my Jesus Night light go Once I was certain I'd seen the lord He eased into my house Didn' t need a key for the door Oh the light got too low Can somebody tell me Where'd my Jesus Night light go Now these were some dark days And I couldn't ignore The light that should stay lit From now on and more I knew some bookstores had them Big Lots had them too Flea markets all around Had them new and had them used So I bought them by the bushel Bought them by the pound I bought two for every receptacle I had a few just laying around Then his light was bright Bright as could be Blinding me in my kitchen While I was trying to drink my tea I couldn't see my wife I couldn't see my dog Couldn't see the TV, floor, doors or the walls Couldn't see this guitar Couldn't even see this song My house was so hot Didn't need to throw on a log all winter long Somebody asked me What was I thinking" I said "Christ" Got him in my eyes all day Got him in my eyes all night Got Jesus in my cereal Son of God in my Manwich I got a power bill so powerful I had to get a second job diggin' a ditch Dig this Now God all mighty I could see his light Son of God alrighty It was taking every bit of my mighty So I said dear lord I've gotta talk to you I've kinda overdone your son Right here in my living room Got him plugged in my kitchen In all my rooms even with my bed Got my life all crazy Seeing so much likeness of you in my head Then everything was quiet Everything was still I thought God thought I'd overstepped and tripped On his mansion on the hill I started to shake While thinking about my fate I got the nerve to speak again But it was a bit too late Then came a strong wind With some lightning striking through Then came a darkness While I cried for a night or two Oh the light got too low Can somebody tell me Where'd my Jesus Night light go Then came a deep voice And it came from up above It sounded a bit spooky But it had a good kind of love He said You've got to like this likeness Of an image of an image of me But ten for every room? That would make any mortal man crazy So now when I walk through the valley With a shadow To grab me a midnight snack I know that chances are I won't fall and break my back Where'd my Jesus night light go?
4.
I Believe This, I Believe There’s a path we all take but it splits at some point Some know where it goes but others they just don’t Some choose to walk on blind while others choose to see I believe this I believe Some will grab for the hand of the man they say they know As they walk with him towards some light that they have never known I’m not sure I know him, but the thought of him is sweet I believe, yes I believe There’s a church in the valley and it sits on a river road By an old house with a widow walk a new family calls it home With a 2000 year old faith and they found it on their knees They believe, yes they believe Years ago I lost my way and I looked for my home I went back but all I knew had changed or was long gone I hoped like hell that heaven would come shining down on me Could I believe? Could I believe? But I never felt a hand never found a promise land Never had a revelation bringing instant salvation But I took the time to know the now took some time to breathe Got to know the “me, myself and the I “of my dreams Now I believe, now I believe
5.
Time to Waste Time (April 30 2014) By Todd Burge ©2015 Bunj Jam BMI Spring is here the bugs have come It’s time to dumb it down My head is filled with morning mist The moss is boss for now My list of things to do has been Misplaced someplace unknown It could be lost forever now Unread, un-shown and thrown Away I’m off in my mind, out of my head I’m off in my mind, out of my head Time to waste time With so much time on my hands Most doors need to be opened for me I’m leisurely and out to please Just me, myself, And me I’ll work for food, if the work is easy And if the food is good Cause Spring is here and the bugs have come And I couldn’t care if I could Chorus Forever more’s been around the bend Since before the bend was invented Since Father Time asked his dad for a dime and the keys to his Buick Some teen whoopee was in the offing In that big fat back seat The key to life lies neatly within Father Time’s time in…. That… back…. Seat.. I’m off in my mind, out of my head I’m off in my mind, out of my head Ready, or not ready yet Time to waste time
6.
The Good Dog (1/7/04) by Todd Burge ©2005 Bunj Jam-BMI Capo 2 (E, F#m, A, B, C#m, G#m) My friend's pup Just threw up In the kitchen By the Door That bad boy Sure ain't good With his #2 Falling on my floor Who knew that you, Who knew you………… were the good dog? 'Cause when I whistle You do come At a steady pace No matter where from And when you sit there So Politely And wag your tail While I strum I think, who knew that you Who knew that you……… were the good dog? The bone I found Underground Was not in Your lost and found This took me 6 years To get a clue But for you it felt like 42 Who knew that you, Who knew that you…….. were the good dog?
7.
Joseph’s Prayer – By Todd Burge Intro E, G#7, A E G#m My name is Joseph and my friends all call me Joe A B But you believers know me as the daddy of your lord E G#m But not the father of his flesh, nor the father of his soul A B Because when it comes to those our Holy Father claims them as his own E – A – E I had a humble life from the day Jacob begat me And forever I’ve been told that Abraham begat our family tree And it grew many branches 14 generations times three Then it was up to me to start another branch I’m sure you see A G#m F#m B7 So I hooked up with Mary and we wed right away A G#m But I never laid a hand on her I swear F#m B7 I never laid a hand on her I swear E, A, E So what’s a man to do as he has a wife with child And he knows all that I knew and all I know you now know too So we decided to run away instead of hanging our heads in shame But an angel said to stay and rejoice in this new born king And embrace his name But I never laid a hand on her I swear I never laid a hand on her I swear E G#m So now when I pray to God I pray to my baby son A I pray, please baby Jesus give me strength B To believe what that angel told me in my sleep E G#m And I’ll do the best I can but I’m just a mortal man you see A B But at times I wake up late haunted by this doubt I keep B-Bb-A G#m--------B About your dear mother, because she’s mortal too A G#m I never laid a hand on her I swear F#m B7 I never laid a hand on her I swear A G#m I never laid a hand on her I swear F#m B7 I never laid a hand on her I swear E – A- E
8.
Looking for my Nuts (Aug 13 2010) Lately I’ve been going crazy Just looking for my nuts Lately I’ve been going crazy Just looking for my nuts Seems I’ve lost my balls And I’ve got my guts In a big ol’ rut Lately I’ve been going crazy Just looking for my nuts Spring is here And I know I’ve placed them somewhere Not here Not there But somewhere Maybe under that tree Believe me I’m not exactly clear I’ve been all around this yard And I might starve Or that big ol’ dog may get lucky And eat me When will this end, I can’t tell But until then I hope I don’t end up in hell Heaven waits for those who wait Patiently, but I tell ya it’s total hell being so Hungry Lately I’ve been going crazy Just looking for my nuts He’s looking for his nuts He’s looking for his nuts Lately I’ve been going crazy Just looking for my nuts
9.
The LONGER by Todd Burge ©2015 Bunj Jam BMI I’m taking pictures of you behind your back I once was told that doing that Would make it last Longer I long for this to last Longer Fifty years have come and they have passed But AARP ain’t stopping me From wanting to be with you Longer I long for this to last Longer Anchors aweigh Can’t keep this thing at bay Can’t keep the beast in me away You’re stuck inside my mind ‘n I’m out of my head After years of this, I’ll admit This gift has gotten Stronger I long for this to last Longer I long for this to last Longer
10.
My Roots by Todd Burge ©2005 Bunj Jam-BMI Let me tell you about my family And let me sing about its tree How I've climbed up on the branches How some have broken under me But as my bottom hits the ground I'll tell you what I always find My roots have covered my backside My roots have covered my backside You know my mother had a mom And my dad he had a dad And if you listen to their stories You’ll hear the good You'll hear the sad From the Seneca Rock To the beginning of all time My roots have covered my backside My roots have covered my backside So I’ve got to dig deep To find out what is true I need to know my yesterdays So I can figure out what's new Before the Blackwater River Cut it's first jagged line My roots have covered my backside My roots have covered my backside So, it's not a dirty story But you’ve gotta dig it deep It started with a single seed That one that started you and me It's sewn in every foreign land And grows through every grain sand My roots have covered my Roots have covered my roots have covered my backside
11.
She Looks Up To Me (Because She Has To) (G, Em, C, D… Em decend) She looks up to me because she has to It’s simple so I’ll tell it to you simply (G7?) A sun has come and burned my shade away from blue Because, she looks up to me because she has to Now she’s a bit weak in the knees And my brain is big and her brain so tiny She’d never say, but I’ll bet she thinks of me as Big Daddy, it’s true She looks up to me because she has to I tower over her in many ways I’m the man of this house there’s just no doubt I carry her weight and put her in her place Then look down on her and smile in her face (Em decend) Now she’s telling me she needs a change She’s screamin’ and cryin’ like a little baby When you’re twelve weeks old, you communicate that way, it’s true She looks up to me because she has to She looks up to me because she has to
12.
Ask Them To 10-22-14 By Todd Burge ©2015 Bunj Jam BMI Your best work\Has gone unnoticed Your finest hour/Is acting its age Before beauty/Is in the eye of the beholder The sole proprietor /Has some soul searching to do Someone is bound to reach out If you just ask them to Someone is bound to reach out to you Just ask them to It might sound corny/But one stock won’t do It’ll grow alone/But never ever produce So get your bees to buzzin’/Or call up a kissin’ cousin And make some noise/That only two can do Someone is bound to reach out If you just ask them to Someone is bound to reach out to you Just ask them to There’s one thing/The lonely can’t see Love is there/It never ever leaves A dormant state/Can be released If you congregate/That gate will open It’s true Someone is bound to reach out If you just ask them to Someone is bound to reach out to you Just ask them to…….
13.
First Day of Spring It’s the first day of spring The first day of spring So why is it so damned cold? I need to sneeze Need to release The last of a winter That has made me Feel two whole years older Maybe this year When and if this snow clears I’ll start going to church God knows it’s been years But it’s all his fault Cause no sane man Would drive to congregate In this frozen screwed up mess Chorus Our good dog is gone He was old and could not pass Through one more season Like that last one But the cold still sticks around Kickin’ me in my happy I suppose I’m just Sad about This man’s best friend’s end On this first day of spring First day of spring Why is it so damned cold? Maybe we all need To be brought to our knees To be thankful for What this new spring Will eventually Bring
14.
The Never Ending End (My Letter To Harold Camping Chorus I thought it was over I thought we were done I thought I would walk with my God On golden streets in the sun Where the Summers are endless And the Sorrows have ended But I'm still with you sinners Is this end never ending? I spent my last year Thinking is really was my last I spent my last penny Burned my last tank of gas Prayed a whole lot Had a little tiny bit of fun While waiting for May 2011, day 21 Chorus I've spent a lifetime Thinking about my ending Spending most my days Focused on the final day of my living Putting up with the Adams & Eves That apple was eaten They're rotten to the core And now I know I've gotta be with Them For a few months or more? Chorus Break Dear Harold Camping, I hope this finds you well. I'm writing because, until October, we've got more living to do. With four kids and a wife. More living to do. I've spent my last dime on you and I've got more living to do. A non-believer now has my job and well, yes, unfortunately, I have no fortune like you, but still we both have more living to do. So, I'm sure you won't mind if we all move in with you. I thought it was over I thought we were done I thought I would walk with my God On golden streets in the sun Where the Summers are endless And the Sorrows have ended But I'm still with you sinners Is this end never ending? Will this take forever? Is this end never ending?
15.
Another Sunny Sunday I drop the kids at school And I spin the wheel around Think about how things used to be In this wheel spinnin’ town If I knew any better It would have to be my best But I’ve been to the peak And it took only a step to get (there) This tiny sip won’t float my ship, but that’s okay I’m just being blue on another sunny Sunday I woke up slow last evening And been in a funk ever since Just thinking about myself And that’s as funky as thoughts get So if I seem messed It is because of this mess I won’t blame any names But it rhymes with mine I guess This ship sailed so far away, but that’s okay Cause I’m just being blue on some sunny Sunday Nothing ever changes Nothing stays the same My phone it just keeps ringin But the caller can’t pronounce my name I could use a pillow A place to lay my tired head Or use it as a tool To stop the caller’s breath instead I could buy this farm with nothing down, but not today Cause I’m just seeing red on some sunny Sunday So if I just take this time (sing like the last 2 lines of second half of each verse) And let the moment pass I’ll see another clearing Or I’ll hear another storm I’ll know another morning And another star filled night I’ll weather some more brain storms And kiss some more good friends goodbye But there’ll be another baby Cry while being born And I’ll see my children learn A lifetime maybe more And I’ll see my boat come back to town Ain’t it great the world is round? Ain’t it great the world is round? Ain’t it great the world is round?
16.
Enough About Me June 17, 2008 I pulled this songs out of my guitar I swear they were hidden deep in there And at some party, I played it out For a bunch of drunk jokers to hear A bunch of buzzed jokers to hear My intention was to mention Some thoughts so deep That they’d sear your ears and bring on tears And at the end you’d stand Slack jawed in awe Applaud and cheer In Awe and applaud and cheer But that’s enough about me What do you think? That’s enough about me What do you think about me? If dad had hugged me Once or twice as a baby Maybe I’d be an accountant Counting your money And in my spare time (maybe) Counting a bunch of mine Counting a bunch of mine So lets face it folks I’d be some sort of fake If I said I was here just to share I’m here to show off a bit In hopes that it will get us to Some sort of trade that we both think is fair Some sort of trade that we both think is fair
17.

about

It seems like the day before yesterday when I was dreaming about being on Mountain Stage. Here I am, twenty five years later, presenting you with some of my favorite memories from the program. In that timespan, my idols have become mentors and close friends. I am forever grateful to Larry Groce and everyone at Mountain Stage. Your program continues to amaze and inspire me. You have helped lift me up to places I was unable to see or reach. Thanks for the fine work over the years and thanks for the cape! Todd Burge (March 2016)


For more than 30 years, Mountain Stage with Larry Groce has been the home of live music on public radio. Produced in West Virginia and distributed by NPR, each two hour episode of Mountain Stage can be heard every week on more than 150 stations across America, and around the world via NPR Music and mountainstage.org.

Recorded live on Mountain Stage and used by permission of Mountain Stage, West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Francis Fisher (engineer), Larry Groce/ Andy Ridenour/Adam Harris (producers) Patrick Stevens (additional mixing on “Nuts” and technical assistance)

Mastering: David K. Shipley at Foxwood Mastering – Nashville TN

Photos by: Josh Saul, Amos Perrine, Brian Blauser, Lisa and Todd Burge

www.toddburge.com

LINER NOTES BY LARRY GROCE
I’m a true fan of Todd Burge. In a world of thousands, or probably tens of thousands of singer/songwriters (and believe me, I hear from a lot of them), he continues to distinguish himself. This is all the more impressive because he lives and mostly works out of the spotlight and away from the hotbeds of his peers. Whatever you may say about Parkersburg, WV, you won’t say it’s a lot like Austin or Boston or Asheville or Nashville or Brooklyn or Portland. It’s in the national media black hole of West Virginia, where musical artists usually remain invisible unless they fit into certain “culturally correct” stereotypes: folk, old time Appalachian, bluegrass or country. But that hasn’t stopped or even slowed Todd.
Not that he hasn’t been influenced by some or all of those styles, he surely has been. But instead of comparing him to country folkies, you’d find more similarities looking at the work of John Hartford, Roger Miller, Loudon Wainwright III and maybe even Peter Stampfel, Tom Waits and Randy Newman. I hear flashes in Todd’s work that remind me of all those touchstone songwriters.
He’s the rare artist who continues to grow and progress, even into middle age. Long after the time when many others have started repeating themselves, he makes ever widening artistic leaps of faith. Some of those are on this recording.
Todd’s style might be called eccentric, quirky and/or whimsical. His songs are full of word play, they often have an unusual point of view and can sometimes be a bit surrealistic. But they’re so comfortable to hear that they seem totally normal. I don’t exactly know how he does that, but I will say that this ability is not unknown in West Virginia. Things are often not quite what they seem to be here.
Part of Todd’s appeal is his voice. He’s a very fine singer, even if that may not be the first thing you would say about him when you hear him, because he doesn’t draw attention to it. He has a wide range and can bend notes and make them jump and control his singing in ways that are hard to do. If you don’t believe me, try to sing some of these songs yourself.
For an illustration of the last two paragraphs, take a look at the third verse of “Time to Waste Time” which he performs solo in this collection. Then listen to it.

Forever more’s been ‘round the bend since before the bend was invented
Since Father Time asked his dad for a dime and the keys… to his Buick
Some teen whoopee was in the offing in that big fat back seat
The key to life lies neatly within Father Time’s time in that… back seat

I’m off in my mind, out of my head…off, off
Off in my mind, out of my head
Ready or not ready yet
Time to waiee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eeeeest
Ti…i-i-i-i-i-i-hi…i-i-i-i-i-i-hi…i-i-i-i-i-i-ime

Maybe I should have added ee cummings to that list writers whose works have some similarity to Todd’s.

Todd has been a guest on Mountain Stage at least ten times (our record keeping is not what it could be). I’m really happy that we’ve been presenting him to a wider audience for two and a half decades. His first appearance was in 1991 on a show with Pere Ubu, Lisa Germano and Songs from a Random House. He fit into that interesting mix nicely. He also worked well on our 20th anniversary show in 2003 with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Tim & Mollie O’Brien, Chris Smither, The Holmes Brothers and Fontella Bass. Originality fits in many contexts.

No one collection of songs, even a big one like this, can give a complete picture of an artist, but this does pretty well. Todd’s own side man, William Matheny, and the Mountain Stage Band, with harmonies from Julie Adams and Ron Sowell, give the songs great support and add interesting colors. But the solo numbers never sound incomplete. Todd usually performs solo on his live dates and knows how to do it.

Todd may never become a star. Fame has many ingredients, some of which are more chance than skill. But better or lesser known, he will remain a talent to seek out. He will continue to delight, surprise and entertain audiences as long as he’s out there, and here’s hoping that even if his name does become a household word, he will never stop emerging.

Larry Groce
Host/Artistic Director
Mountain Stage
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Distributed by NPR

www.toddburge.com

credits

released May 5, 2016

Todd Burge (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica & ukulele)
The Mountain Stage Band: Steve Hill (bass), Ammed Solomon (drums), Julie Adams (vocal), Bob Thompson (piano & vocal), Michael Lipton (electric guitar), Ron Sowell (Music Director, acoustic guitar & vocal), Ryan Kennedy (electric guitar & organ)

Additional Players: William Matheny (electric guitar, mandolin & banjo), Joseph Hale (Keyboards on Shark), Deni Bonet (violin), Laurel Dennie (backing vocals) Larry Groce (comedy on final track)

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Todd Burge Parkersburg

If it’s been discovered by man, West Virginia’s Todd Burge has written about it. A born ponderer and observer of life, each of his songs tells a story. Whether drawn from personal experience or a tale of poetically woven fiction, you’ll live every second of it through his songs. ... more

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