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More Wonders of the Visible World

by Mike Lawson & Friends

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1.
The 5th of November 04:32 video
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When the father of lies you despise leads you to compromise how you live each and every day And the news you can’t choose really gives you the blues you can’t lose and your freedom is slipping away When your trouble is feeling like it’s double and you think you’re ready to explode Remember, remember the fifth of November, all their treasons and their plot; I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Remember, remember the fifth of November, with a fire that’s burning hot I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Where you’ve seen it all stall, cry out justice for all, but they’re cracking the whip upon your back When you see people die ain’t no lie can no longer deny that this train going right off the track When you’re spinning wheels, and the struggle’s real and you wanna explode Remember, remember the fifth of November, with their treasons and their plot; I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Remember, remember the fifth of November, with a fire that’s burning hot I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! What are you going to do? What are you going to say? When will you make your move? Can we let it all slip away? Remember, remember the fifth of November, with their treasons and their plot; I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Remember, remember the fifth of November, with a fire that’s burning hot I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Remember, remember the fifth of November, with their treasons and their plot; I know of no reasons why that treason now should ever be forgot! Words and Music by Mike Lawson Psychotronic Music – BMI
2.
Every Day We Are in Love 03:45 video
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Girl you make it easy, yeah you make it great Now I’m gonna show before it gets too late I went down to jeweler got a big diamond ring Brought to it home to you so ya be my everything Oh don’t you know its true, there ain’t nobody but you Taking good care of you baby, love you ’til the end of days Girl you making everything better, better just in every way Anything you want you bet it, Everything you need I’ll get it Making sure you don’t regret it Every day we are in love Spring, and Summer, Fall and Winter, morning, noon, and day and night Girl you got me really moving everything is out of sight Every time Is see you I get weak down in my knees Everything about you girl you know I want to please Taking good care of you baby, love you ’til the end of days Girl you making everything better, better just in every way Anything you want you bet it, Everything you need I’ll get it Making sure you don’t regret it Every day we are in love Every day I’m working, bringing home the money, paying on the notes and bills Coming home to find you sitting waiting for me, girl you got a look that kills Oh don’t you know its true, now there ain’t nobody but you Taking good care of you baby, love you ’til the end of days Girl you making everything better, better just in every way Anything you want you bet it, Everything you need I’ll get it Making sure you don’t regret it Every day we are in love Anything you want you bet it, anything you need I’ll get it Love the way you love, you said it Making sure you don’t regret it Everyday we are in love Everyday we are in love Everyday we are in love
3.
Play the Paris Blues 05:52
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I’m in Paris on the left bank, solitary with a few francs This old nightlife is my forte, it’s a fun time and a full day I paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues I paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues I climbed the Eiffel Tower, stood in sudden April showers I smelled the smoke in every café, I even toasted every Beaujolais And I paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues I climbed the Eiffel Tower, stood in sudden April Showers I smelled the smoke in every café. I even toasted every Beaujolais And I paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues Paid my dues so if I choose I got a right to sing the Paris Blues
4.
It's Just Me 05:03
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Working every day, bringing home the bacon. Paying off the bills that you and I been making Worked so hard to make a wonderful way of life. Working so hard for my children and my wife But you were never really honest from the start. I always worried ‘bout your cold & foolish heart Now I realize it never was to be. Time to put an end to all my misery it's just me: I’m so tired of the way it's just me: You treat me every single day it's just me: And the way that you pretend it's just me: Always drinking with your friend Me: Feeling sad and all alone Me: : You never answering the phone Me: Staying home alone again Me: Tired of asking where you been Me: Tired of asking where you been Now Its time for you to get away from me Time for me to end the pain and misery Finally opened up my eyes so I can see Now I know that it ain’t you its just me So I’m telling you you’re never coming back. Some one else is going to pick up all your slack All your cheating and your wicked little ways. Will come back on your ‘fore you end your living days Its time for you to finally get away from me Time for me to end the pain and misery Finally opened up my eyes so I can see Now I know that it ain’t you its just me it's just me: I’m so tired of the way it's just me: You treat me every single day it's just me: And the way that you pretend it's just me: Always drinking with your friend Me: Feeling sad and all alone Me: : You never answering the phone Me: Staying home alone again Me: Tired of asking where you been Me: Tired of asking where you been
5.
You Never Can Tell 04:00 video
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It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell "C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well "C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell "C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53 They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely mademoiselle "C'est la vie", say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell Words and Music by Chuck Berry © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
6.
Thinking What to Say 04:12
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A whole other level when ya boogie with the devil now ya fearing it Call a new song in the middle wrong are ya hearing it Crying out loud in the center of a crowd how ya scaring it Little black dress, and your hair still a mess how ya wearing it He been there all alone when you finally got home Waiting around all day thinking what to say Throw your desire in the fire when you set it Or you gonna regret it Thinking what to say What you gonna bring when you try to turn a fling to forever more Ain’t a little bitty thing when you tarnish the ring that you never wore Come home crying try to start a fight lying what it ever for? Turning your back and ya hit the road jack even slam a door And he been there alone when you finally got home Waiting around all day Thinking what to say Ever think through what would happen to you when he let ya know Ya say he to blame when he say it’s a shame had to let ya go And he can’t go back ain’t cutting you slack and your man say ,”Whoa!” I got a new gal run back to your pal that ya left me for. What your man gonna say when you got home… and he been all alone Throw your desire in the fire when you set it — or ya regret it Thinking what to say How you gonna sell him how ya try to tell him when ya said it Think it alright he ain’t sleeping at night when he read it There’a a price you pay for walking away when ya led it Ya ripped his heart really tore it apart and you bled it And he been there alone when you finally got home Waiting around all day Thinking what to say Throw your desire in the fire when you set it — Or ya gonna regret it Thinking what to say Whole other level when ya boogie with the devil now ya fearing it Call a new song in the middle wrong are ya hearing it Crying out loud in the center of a crowd how ya scaring it Little black dress, and your hair still a mess how ya wearing it He been there alone when you finally got home Waiting around all day Thinking what to say
7.
Your Life or My Money 04:57 video
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I said to the doctor is my fever to high I gotta make money, man, I ain’t gonna die He said its contagious, I don’t know what to say I think its outrageous that I can’t get no pay He told me to stay home but its causing me strife Time to make a decision for my money or your life I went to the grocery to get me a supply They was out of everything, and I won’t tell no lie The place had been raided by the neighbors door And the one next to them who don’t even live there no more I’m low on provisions, for my children and wife Time to make a decision, for my money or your life I saw men protesting wearing guns on their chest They said its conspiracy, the guns say it the best Screaming and spitting, at the nurses, and cops Flying flags of treason, I don’t know how this stops Called themselves patriots, marching drums with a fife Only thing that’s for certain its their money or your life All the stores have been shut down, and the cafe and bar But I’m still getting offers to go buy a new car But the shelves are all empty, got no job out of luck If I can’t buy no paper, I don’t need a new truck Now I don’t care who is hurting, when the sickness is rife Ain’t but one thing for certain, its my money or your life I ain’t bowing to no one, wearing masks I’ll refrain This ain’t even about you, now it causes me pain One hundred thousand, even more may still die I don’t care to believe it, its a media lie Don’t you know I will cut you, carve you up with a knife If you stand in between all my money or your life Tried to look to our leaders, all the presidents men Ain’t got trust in no science, they donated to him They said time to reopen, time to go back to work Be a warrior for freedom, saw him say with a smirk And I’m sorry to tell you, that I think it funny If I cause you your death, it’s your life or my money Words/Music by Mike Lawson
 Copyright 2020 Psychotronic Music BMI
8.
My Happy Today 04:22 video
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Growing old I’m free I can see eternity and me have a date with destiny where time and space will be Every day must go this is something we all come to know As we face the curtain call when we end our show We ain’t built to last and the days go flying fast Slower when we’re young and life has just begun Now I clearly see, the years are falling over me So now I want to slow it down and put some stars in my crown Right now I wanna show love can win, and each new day I am gonna begin With no care what they say, anyway, it’s my happy today I go high when they’re low I can go To a place they don’t know and they will never find me Each new day I can make it OK With no care what say its my happy today Lovers come and go, and we see the little children grow Suddenly the world all around us is getting smaller Every day I wake is another chance that I must take To show more love be kind, leave this world with a satisfied mind I can’t risk tomorrow and I don’t wanna to die in sorrow Now I’m setting the bar to return to the dust that we are Will you come along? Help to make a right from wrong?
Go and slow life down while you put some stars in your crown? Right now I wanna show love can win, and each new day I am gonna begin With no care what they say, anyway, it’s my happy today The sun shines anyway, and even on a cloudy day, right above the rain, and the pain And the sorrows you will know, when you grow, And you burn and you learn what begins this my friends once again is all coming to an end I will make my happy today in a way that will stay and the children will play, not a care, anywhere Right now I wanna show love can win, and each new day I am gonna begin With no care what they say, anyway, it’s my happy today I go high when they’re low I can go To a place they don’t know and they will never find me Each new day I can make it OK With no care what say its my happy today Words and Music Mike Lawson Copyright 2021 Psychotronic Music - BMI
9.
Standing Too Close 05:11
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Let me tell you ‘bout my old friend Vinnie, loved to play his piano giving joy to so many He was funny and kind, with a demon or two, when you live with the dead it attracts’em to you And the rug was pulled out and that world wasn’t kind, it was all too much and it messed with his mind Still he wanted so badly to return to that life, no, those people didn’t kill him, but they sold him a knife And I never saw it coming… No, I never saw it coming… I was standing too close and I swear that I never saw it coming Let me tell you about my bass player Stan, he was always smiling, he was called the Glad Man He could lift up a room, he would light up a stage, but deep-down inside him was a simmering rage We made beautiful music for three or four years, then he gave it all up, couldn’t conquer his fears And he put down his bass and became a bread baker, ‘till a 12-gauge barrel introduced him to his maker And I never saw it coming… No, I never saw it coming… I was standing too close and I swear that I never saw it coming Not one but two friends of mine, then were gone, by the very same hands that made beautiful songs. It’s a soul crushing feeling when you’re left there behind, picking up the pieces, second guessing your mind. There was nothing I could do, this is how it would be, but I really wasn’t ready for friend number three… Let me tell you ‘bout my best friend Bob, he sold millions of records, never had a real job He was the only damn reason that Stevie met Mac, and when he struck out alone well he couldn’t go back He had glory, and riches, and it faded away, then his body was hurting, and he called me to say “I just want you to know that I love ya man” and the next day I saw them haul him off in a van And I never saw it coming… No, I never saw it coming… I was standing too close and I swear that I never saw it coming You can never understand why they did what they do, so be grateful for that or you’d think it good, too. Words and Music - Mike Lawson Copyright 2021 - Psychtronic Music - BMI
10.
Death Don't Have No Mercy 06:09 video
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Well don’t have no mercy in this land Death don’t have no mercy in this land Come to your house and he won’t stay long You look in the bed and you’ll find your mother gone Death don’t have no mercy in this land He won’t give you time to get ready In this land He won’t give you time to get ready In this land Well he come to your house and he won’t stay long You look in the bed and you’ll find your father gone He won’t give you time to get ready In this land Well he’ll leave you standin’ there cryin’ in this land He’ll leave you standin’ there cryin’ in this land He’ll come to your house and he won’t stay long You look in the bed and you’ll find your sister gone He’ll leave you standin’ there cryin’ in this land Oh, death never takes a vacation In this land Death never takes a vacation in this land Well he comes to your house and he won/t stay long You look in the bed and you’ll find everybody gone Death never takes a vacation in this land Well don’t have no mercy in this land Death don’t have no mercy in this land Come to your house and he won’t stay long You look in the bed and you’ll find your mother gone Death don’t have no mercy in this land Rev Gary Davis Chandos Music Company - Licensed

about

A world gone mad, in disarray, full of superstition, errant beliefs, and attacks on reason… 2020 was a year like no other in my lifetime. Hope, loss, joy, sorrow, up and down solitude facing a plague. The title is a play on a book that dispelled the errors of witch trials, while history metaphorically repeated itself with raging mobs.

This album chronicles that year for me, from the treasonous attacks on democracy by a rabid right wing in The 5th of November, to a celebrating my new love in Every Day We Are in Love, my precious memories of performing with Merl Saunders in Play the Paris Blues, letting go of my past in It’s Just Me and Thinking What to Say. C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell) was a reminder of Chuck Berry’s joyous inspiration in my youth, while Your Life or My Money was a tongue in cheek rebuke of the selfish spreaders of the COVD-19 misery, who love money more than life. My Happy Today was an affirmation, a reminder to myself to strive for a higher road, because in our times, this is difficult. Standing Too Close was a painful purging of years of sorrows carried around from the suicides of Vince Welnick, Stan Rawls, and Bob Welch. I made music with each of these dear friends, each took that path, and I never saw it coming. In the end, all that was left to say was Death Don’t Have No Mercy.

Dedicated to the memories of Vince Welnick, Stan Rawls, and Bob Welch

credits

released January 1, 2021

Mike Lawson – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Piano, Drums

Dianne Davidson – Vocals on Play the Paris Blues

Michael Oliver Warren – Bass on Play the Paris Blues

Rich Mahan – Guitar on C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)

Travis Collinsworth – Bass on You Never Can Tell, Death Don’t Have No Mercy, C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)

Tyra Juliette – Background Vocals on The 5th of November, Every Day We Are in Love, Play the Paris Blues, Thinking What to Say, My Happy Today, Standing Too Close, Death Don’t Have No Mercy

Joe Montague – Drums and Percussion on The 5th of November, Play the Paris Blues, My Happy Today, Standing Too Close

Fred Bogert – Piano on Play the Paris Blues, It’s Just Me, Acordian on C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)
Brandon Estelle – Drums on It’s Just Me, Every Day We Are in Love

Hugo Iglesias Olmos – String Bass on It’s Just Me

Melisa Dopazo – Bass on The 5th of November, My Happy Today, Standing Too Close

Noah Wall – Background Vocals on It’s Just Me

Michael Cleveland – Fiddle on Death Don’t Have No Mercy

Sarah Hambridge – Background Vocals on C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)

Rachel Hambridge – Background Vocals on C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)

Noah Savoie – Saxophone on The 5th of November

Alex Kamm – Organ on Paris Blues

Scott Lee Cupp – Piano/Organ on Your Life or My Money

Aubrey Harris – Bass on Every Day We Are in Love

Sam Skorik – Drums on C’est la vie! (You Never Can Tell)

Produced at AP Studios, Fairview, TN
Engineer/Producer/Arranger – Mike Lawson

Thanks to Dianne Davidson for the duet on Merl Saunders’s “Play the Paris Blues” plus Merl’s bassist who played on the original, Michael Oliver Warren, and contributors from Hooteroll? bandmates Rich Mahan and Travis Collinsworth, along with Tyra Juliette, Joe Montague, Fred Bogert, Brandon Estelle, Melisa Dopazo, Noah Wall, the great Mike Cleveland on fiddle, Sarah and Rachel Hambridge, Noah Savoie, Alex Kamm, Scott Lee Cupp, Aubrey Harris, and Sam Skorik for their parts.

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Mike Lawson & Friends Nashville, Tennessee

Mike Lawson has, over 30 years, recorded and/or performed together with Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick, Vassar Clements, Pete Sears, Gary Talley, John McEuen, Bob Welch, Dennis Robbins, Joe Louis Walker, Jorma Kaukonen, Phil Keaggy, Jack Casady, Scott Guberman, Dianne Davidson, Noah Wall, Tyra Juliette, Bill Vitt, Rob Wasserman, Michael Cleveland, Phil Madeira, and a host of other amazing friends. ... more

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