Ken Bierschbach

Table 29

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

A song inspired by a conversation with my daughter, Maria. She works at a restaurant and mentioned a particular table that had a place of importance in the restaurant. It was Table 29. Just got me thinking about how the table might feel about the people who sit at it.

    I am the keeper of the secrets left behind
    I am the watcher of the moments that can be so hard to find
    I am the voyeuristic constant who is listening as they dine 
    I am the seeker of what’s not to be mine
    I am table 29

She was thin and kind of curly, he was there behind his wall
She was waiting for her future; he was waiting for a call
So they sat there staring silent into the giant waterfall
And when they placed their hands upon me, I felt nothing at all

    Chorus

He was gray and jaded she was green and blue
He was waiting for redemption; she was waiting for it too
She said she didn’t like it, feeling like she had to beg
And as she abruptly left I felt her thigh against my leg

    Chorus

Back To Beal

For a couple of years this was the working title of my next recording. My parents are both from Beal City, MI, and after they retired they went back there.  It’s really about any place that holds a special place in your heart.

Isabella County, 1936
He was born in a farmhouse made of love and brick
Two years later, just across the way
She was born a September morn in Beal City USA

In 1957, the two of them got hitched
Ran off to the city just to see if it might fit
Left the farms behind them, and their families
Looking for a new life filled with opportunities

    But when they want to get on back to real 
    Back to youthful pleasure, to where a soul can heal
    Back to precious memories and the answers they reveal
    They go back, back to Beal

The kids, the jobs, the mortgage, the troubles to resolve
Hardly time to notice any writing on the wall
And when the road grew rutted from the weight upon the wheel
They knew just the place to get back that special feel

    Chorus

    When you’re getting weary and life puts you to the test
    Nothing is like being in the place you love the best

So when you feel unsettled and you don’t know what to do
Find a way to get on back to what you know is true
Remember all the times when you couldn’t help but smile
There’s no better way to spend a little while

    Chorus

Down On The Farm

This song was actually inspired by two things. The first is a music festival called Farm Fest that I went to several years ago, which is where the song got its start. The second is a yearly family reunion and golf outing that occurs near Beal City, MI each year (see Back To Beal). This is just a song about having fun.

Do the pressures of the world got you down
Are you feelin' like a man about to drown
Well there's a place I know
Where you can go
To heal your soul

It's just a smile on down the road
It's a place where you can stop and lighten your load
Come along with me
I'm sure you will agree
That It's a place you want to be

    We're gonna make a little music, we're gonna have a little fun
    We're gonna spend some time together, ain't gonna quit until we're done
    We ain't gonna cause no trouble, ain't gonna do no one no harm
    So come on and get ready, we're gettin' down on the farm

Just forget about your troubles for a while
Strut your stuff and show your style
Have yourself some fun
Put worry on the run
You won't stop once you have begun

    Chorus

    Everybody needs a chance to get away
    A place where you can go and be yourself
    So give into the muse, come and spread the news
    You won't find heaven anyplace else

So now that you hold the key
Join right in with harmony
Let those fires burn
Learn all you can learn
And bring some friends along when you return

    Chorus

    We're gonna sit around the fire, we're gonna pick a little tune
    We're gonna get a little crazy, under a big circle moon
    We're gonna talk about the old days, and really turn on the charm
    So c'mon and get ready, we're getting' down on the farm

    We're gonna have ourselves a ball man, might even drink a little brew
    So bring along your big brother, and bring your big sister too
    You know It's gonna be a party, but there's no need for alarm
    Now c'mon and get ready, we're getting' down on the farm

Final Conversation

This is a very special song about phone conversations between my wife, Lucia, and her brother Fil, shortly before his death. The song began when one night when after a phone call Lucia told me that Fil said “I love you” before the conversation ended. She couldn’t remember that ever happening before. This song is dedicated to the memory of Fil.

He could see that it was coming and he had some things to say
Tie up a few loose ends and then be on his way
And so they talked for hours like they hadn't done in years
Just him and her across the miles of laughter and of tears

Growing up now seemed so special, growing old was not a choice
The words not as important as the sound of each one’s voice
She was filled with strange emotion as he talked about his day
Feeling so connected just before he went away

    And in a final conversation they said so many things
    They spoke of home and family before he spread his wings
    What they said will not be written down in history that's true
    But in that final conversation she closed with, "I love you"

They laughed about some old times, didn’t want to cry
There were just too many questions and they all began with “why”
And when they both grew silent, searching for a word
Even in their silence their hearts could still be heard

    Chorus

    Flesh and blood; Skin and bone; Memories; Going home

She didn't hear it coming, didn't have a clue
He kind of took her by surprise as families often do
Their voices soon were fading into a kind of blue
But before they disconnected he said, "I love you too"

    And in a final conversation they said so many things
    They spoke of home and family before he spread his wings
    What they said will not be written down in history that's true
    But in that final conversation she closed
    In that final conversation he closed
    In that final conversation they closed
    With "I love you"
    "I love you"

My Daddy's Eyes

This is simply my recognition of the fact that children do indeed become their parents. It is dedicated to my father, who helps me every day as I ask myself the question, “what would dad do?”

The older I get, the more I see pieces of him inside of me
The way that he walks the things that he would say 
Are more a part of me every day

I tried to deny it, pretending not to know, telling myself it wasn’t so
Till one day I woke up, and much to my surprise
I caught myself, lookin’ through my daddy’s eyes

    My daddy’s eyes – They mean so much to me
    My daddy’s eyes – What I was meant to be
    My daddy’s eyes – I’m proud that I can see
    Through my daddy’s eyes

I didn’t think it would happen, I thought the chances were slim
But it turns out I’m an awful lot like him
And even if I wanted, you know that I could not disguise
The fact that I’m, lookin’ through my daddy’s eyes

    Chorus

    He taught me well to do the things you know you should
    I only hope that I can be half as good

The older I get, the more I see pieces of him inside of me
And even if I wanted, you know that I could not disguise
The fact that I’m, lookin’ through my daddy’s eyes

    Chorus

    My daddy’s eyes – There’s nothing I can do
    My daddy’s eyes – A man I look up to
    My daddy’s eyes – I’m proud to be lookin’ through
    My daddy’s eyes, my daddy's eyes, my daddy's eyes

Trying Too Hard

Without going into detail, this song is inspired by people that seem to work way too hard at being important. Importance is in the eye of the beholder.

Why do you put yourself in these positions?
Is it sometimes hard for you to sleep?
You treat your friends just like acquisitions
How do you get yourself in so deep?

You keep talking but you never listen
You’re always looking for your next big score
You’re just a victim of your ambition
You think you’re sexy but you’re such a bore

    You’re trying too hard you better learn to relax
    Take it one day at a time and keep your wheels on the tracks
    The grass ain’t always greener in the next backyard
    You better slow down go easy cause you’re trying too hard
    Slow down go easy cause you’re trying too hard

You’ve got a line for each and every occasion
Transparencies for all to hear
In your head you are the king of persuasion
Too bad your head brings up the rear

    Chorus

    Good things come to those who wait
    Never meant that much to you
    You never could differentiate
    ‘Tween your opinion and what’s true

    Chorus

I wish you luck in all of your endeavors
I hope you get just what you deserve
I hope you’re happy with your next whomevers
No one can say that you lack the nerve

    Chorus

Hope For Our Peace

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

War on terrorism…Iraq…will we ever learn?

How did I get here under this cloud?
Who holds the answers, if answers be found?
I was safe; I was happy, right where I was
Could it be that it’s all just because?

What did I do, to get this tear in my eye? 
The one in the middle rarely knows why
Is there something about me that I just don't see?
Roads less traveled, are they meant to be?

    What is the price? What be the cost?
    What is the measure when we've won when we've lost?
    Will our battles rage forward, never to cease?
    Will our eyes slowly empty of hope for our peace?

Time upon time, we’re put to the test
In a world of confusion we give it our best
Is it true that we reap whatever we sow?
Look to the sky but the sky does not know

    What is the price? What be the cost?
    What is the measure when we've won when we've lost?
    Will our battles rage forward, never to cease?
    Will our eyes slowly empty of hope for our peace?

Vishnu be gentle, Allah be wise
God give us strength to stay open our eyes
Will the one without sin cast the first stone?
Will the one without hatred lead us on?

Down The Road

This was a song written for the first year anniversary of a local gathering of songwriters headed up by Lucy Webster, a wonderful performer and songwriter. I changed a few words for this version, but it is still essentially about taking one step at a time to achieve your goals.

On a bright velvet night, not unlike this
A group of old friends gathered 'round
Some looking for answers to questions they had
Some looking to share what they'd found
With a common desire to sing what they feel
And a passion that burns deep inside
They held themselves naked and faced all their fears
Then we all climbed aboard for that ride

    Like the wind on the water, we come and we go
    We've played and we've lightened our load
    The journey is taken one step at a time
    And now we're all just a bit further…down the road

Some of them polished and some of them rough
The songs give us joy one and all
They come from the places we can't quite explain
They're the answers to some silent call

    Chorus

    Nobody started, by having it all
    Whether walkin' or runnin', we first have to crawl

So here's to the paper and here’s to the pen
And here's to the spirit of song
And here is to you, our many new friends
We’re so glad that you help us along

    Chorus

I Love The Rain

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

This song was inspired by a family trip to New Orleans, LA. Each evening about 4pm we would walk out on our balcony and watch a storm roll in. It was magical… and really humid. One afternoon I was on our balcony and through the pre-storm heat and humidity heard a lone sax player playing Summertime. I felt like I was in a movie.

    I love the rain, cause it makes me feel good
    Like a long lonesome highway like a good woman should
    I love the rain it gets under my skin
    Keeps the memories alive of all the places I’ve been

Storm clouds in the distance, steam from the street
Summertime pushes up through the New Orleans heat
I love the rain

    Chorus

Ragged streets and ragged people
Life is chasing them down
Lightening plays on the horizon without making a sound

    Chorus

So many windows, on so many lives, stories too varied to know
The wind brings the smell of times long ago
I love the rain

    Chorus

She's My Girl

A Sunday morning at home alone and my wife and kids were traveling somewhere. My wife called me and we chatted. After we hung up I wrote this song. It’s a love song.

Quiet Sunday, Yea that’s my way, everybody else has gone away
I just finished talking on the telephone
It was her voice, made my heart race, I know I rarely show it on my face
But I’m a lucky guy and I hope she knows…that 

    She’s my girl
    She’s my girl
    She’s my girl
    She’s my girl

She’s a wonder, puts me under, when she smiles my heart beats like thunder
She is my reason to believe
Like the North Star, she guides me, keeps me just as sane as I can be
I’m just so proud when I’m with her…cause

    She’s my girl; she understands me 
    She’s my girl; she sets my soul free
    She’s my girl; hope she’s never sorry that
    She’s my girl

Not much for crowing, just hope she’s knowing
How much I love her and how much it's showing
All of what I am she’s given me…yeah

    Chorus

I'll Be At The Bar

This song is based on a girlfriend I had in the late 1970’s. I could type several pages but I won’t. I’ll just go get a drink, smile, and be glad I ended up where I did.

I’ve had this girl for a couple of years
I’ve had this girl for a thousand tears
But she wants more of me than I care to give
And she wants less of life than I care to live

She was my girl of a million smiles
Now she’s the girl of a million trials
Cause she has changed in oh so many ways
Looking for reasons behind everything I say

    So now she goes to therapy twice a week
    I drink mine nearly every day
    And when she talks her psychobabble
    This is all I have to say…You know I

    Just don’t understand the way you think I think I need a little drink
    To get myself back in the pink you’d rather close your eyes than blink
    When I go swimmin’ I don’t sink so there you are….You tell me
    That it’s some neurosis for our lack of any closeness
    Now you wallow in psychosis while I nurture my cirrhosis
    Jesus Christ and Holy Moses girl, I’ll be at the bar

I’m the kind of guy that don’t care to fight
I’m the kind of guy likes it black and white
But now she lives in constant shades of gray
Always asking will you leave or will you stay

    Pre-chorus

    Chorus

    Men and women, women and men
    I don't think I’ll ever do this again

    Pre-chorus

    Chorus