| The
Songs |
| |
|
Walk
On
MP3
, Real
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Banjo - Mark Dvorak, Harmonies
- Patty Stevenson
|
A
simple sweet love song that will have you singing along
in no time. Mark adds a playful banjo riff to compliment
Craig's guitar introduction. As always, Craig blends natural
imagery and love together in gentle prose.
|
| |
|
Plum
Creek Farmer
MP3
, Real
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Guitar - Patty Stevenson,
Train Whistle - Larry Penn
|
Listen
for the Kansan wind as Craig tells the story of his Grandpa
growing up on the great plains. A story of lost dreams;
the song ends with Larry blowing one of his homemade train
whistles. Patty adds to this powerful tune with a second
rhythm guitar in drop D tuning. All of the photos (except
the one of Craig) on the jacket are from this part of the
country.
|
| |
Must
Be Love
MP3
, Real
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Bass - Jim Gorton |
Craig
jokes on stage that being in a stable, loving relationship
has produced a bumper crop of love songs with happy endings.
A playful, jazzy romp with guitar and bass, Must Be Love
reflects the deep love shared by Craig and Patty, both on
and off stage.
|
| |
| Pontchartrain
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Harmonies - Patty Stevenson
|
This
tune already has people singing along during performances.
Joining Craig on harmonies for this song is Patty Stevenson.
Frequent duo performers, Patty and Craig are noted for their
beautiful harmonies.
|
| |
| Good
Old Dog ~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Banjo - Mark
Dvorak, Mandolin - Lil' Rev |
Writing
about your dog is a time honored tradition in folk music.
Mark and Rev add a little Old Timey flavor to this tune.
|
| |
| New
Age Casanova ~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Harmonies
- Patty Stevenson, Jim Gorton, Katie Gorton |
If
ever there was a scoundrel out there waiting to steal women's
hearts, the New Age Casanova is one of them. Based on Craig's
observations of this unique counterculture creature, this
song takes many of the words and practices found in the
New Age community and creates a very funny musical portrait.
|
| |
Farewell
To The Giants/Jefferson & Liberty
MP3
, Real
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Fiddle - Maria Terres |
A
beautiful piece based on the essays of an Amish farmer.
Maria offers a fiddle instrumental with a rousing rendition
of the traditional dance tune Jefferson and Liberty at the
end.
|
| |
| Joanne's
Waltz ~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Fiddle - Maria
Terres, Harmonies - Patty Stevenson |
This
song is based on incorrect information about how two friends
met and fell in love. Craig liked it anyway, so here it
is!
|
| |
| Falling
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Bass - Jim Gorton |
One
of the first songs Craig ever wrote (circa 1978), Falling
is a poem in the abstract. Many have asked for explanations
as to the meaning of some lines and phrases in this song.
Craig sees it as an impressionist piece. The final, sung
poem, was written at the Guggenheim in New York.
|
| |
| Geese
In The Night ~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen |
While
walking home one night in the city, an amazing event took
place before Craig's eyes. Never one to turn his back on
inspiration, he wrote this song.
|
| |
I
Know You Rider
MP3
, Real
~ Guitar & Vocals - Craig Siemsen, Harp - Lil' Rev, Bass - Jim
Gorton |
A traditional song usually played in a folk style, this
version of I Know You Rider is full tilt blues. Jim's driving
bass and the soaring harp of Rev create a down home foundation
for Craig's delivery of this classic.
|
| |
| Look
To The Moon ~ Guitar, Vocals & Drumming - Craig Siemsen
|
The
last cut on Plum Creek Farmer, this tune offers a look into
Craig's view of himself in the world. Look To The Moon takes
us home with evocative guitar leads, drumming and the poem
"Mississippi".
|
| |
| Mississippi
(Craig Siemsen c. 2001). |
|
Surge
up the banks in your disturbance
Mechanical tools churn your ageless grace
They hold on
golden
serpents
caress your shores
the evil in us?
or the beauty of design
they remember not
go back to no home
theirs is freedom
in death
muddy
waters slide
on past my memories
of what you are
surge up the banks
in quiet meditation
yours is forever
as water does flow
as birds will cry out
in need of mate and silence
fall to the river
consumed by the depths
carried on by the movement
How far will you go?
carried by the passion
earth smells
richest by water
meld with the soil
How far will you go?
carried by the pain
|
Move
on river
doesn't wait
doesn't care
ageless movement
full circle
guiding up earth's surface
Heron flies
image reflected
in dark water
helps me forget
my humanity
as golden serpent
forgets it's home
Move
on!
and quiet the soul
in the fluids wombs
movement of birth
|
|