♪ Brand-new headlights ♪ ♪ Fancy leather seats ♪ ♪ The grill's all shiny the grill's all shiny ♪ ♪ That girl's all shiny ♪ ♪ But she's not like the love you're trading in yeah ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

(Jeff James) ♪ It shouldn't take a single test drive ♪ ♪ To find out what you already knew ♪ [finger-picking in bright rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's getting close to midnight ♪ ♪ And the shades are all drawn tight ♪ ♪ She stepped out of a taxi cab ♪ ♪ And wanders into the light ♪ ♪ She looks up and she wonders ♪ ♪ How could she ever have been so wrong ♪ ♪ As she walks up the driveway ♪ ♪ To a place that she called home ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She fumbles with her pockets ♪ ♪ For a key that might fit the lock ♪ ♪ By now it's probably way too late ♪ ♪ To ring or even knock ♪ ♪ She looks up and it's open ♪ ♪ And she knows it's been too long ♪ ♪ As she walks through the doorway ♪ ♪ To a place that she called home ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And even though the years went by ♪ ♪ And words in anger spent ♪ ♪ They tell her that it's good to see her ♪ ♪ And ask her where she went ♪ ♪ Thomas Wolfe was wrong you can come home again ♪ ♪ It don't matter where you came from ♪ ♪ Or where you might have been ♪ ♪ There's a time for love and a time for pain ♪ ♪ And even when it rains ♪ ♪ We're always here and you can come home again ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The winds of change had brought her wisdom ♪ ♪ But age had taken it's toll ♪ ♪ And heaven's call had taken away ♪ ♪ The two that she loved the most ♪ ♪ She looks up and she sees them ♪ ♪ In a memory of her own ♪ ♪ Remembering the times they had ♪ ♪ In a place that she called home ♪ ♪ And even though the years went by ♪ ♪ And words in anger spent ♪ ♪ They tell her that it's good to see her ♪ ♪ And ask her where she went ♪ ♪ Thomas Wolfe was wrong ♪ ♪ You can come home again ♪ ♪ It don't matter where you came from ♪ ♪ Or where you might have been ♪ ♪ There's a time for love and a time for pain ♪ ♪ And even when it rains ♪ ♪ We're always here and you can come home again ♪ ♪ We're always here ♪ ♪ And you can come home again ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ My name is Jeff James, I'm from a small town called New London in Minnesota.

We are now currently with my family in the Twin Cities area.

Currently I'm doing a live looping show that incorporates rock, blues, country, folk, and some Christian music as well.

I've been a full-time musician since I was 19; got my start in St.

Cloud.

I was with a band at that point who started touring for about 3 years or so, and at the end of the night, most people would just sit at the bar and party, and I would go home or go back to my hotel room.

I had brought my portable recording studio, so I'd sit there until the sun came up just playing guitar, just because I was very passionate about it.

At the end of about 3 years I was kind of tired of being away, I was away from my wife, girlfriend back then.

This was looking to further my career in music.

So we decided to move to Nashville.

Nashville is where everything kind of skyrocketed forward.

I was able to do 6 albums there, get connected, play downtown.

I found a great club downtown, part of their house band there.

That was just an amazing experience.

I think that just pushed me to a new level, and after 7 years we ended up moving back to Minneapolis where I've been doing solo shows ever since.

♪ Play something good ♪ ♪ Play something loud ♪ Finally finished the album "Play Something Good," which is my brand-new album, came out in January of this year, 2021, That one has been probably the most challenging album that I've had, partly because I've been recording for so many years, and I'm a bit of a perfectionist.

Just working on this album during COVID, I ended up playing everything-- all the bass and keys and strings and everything.

Within itself, it was the most difficult trend.

I already had many of the songs already written, and I'd started this process quite a bit earlier than that.

♪ Play something we all can sing ♪ ♪ Dance to cry to anything ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy unless you play us something good ♪ "Play something Good," it's kind of autobiographical based on events that may or may not have happened at some point, but as a cover artist, I do a lot of covers where I play.

You try to please everybody, but you can't always please everybody.

I remember this one instance where this kind of big guy came up to me.

I was a little concerned about it.

Then he said "Play something good."

But he said it a little more gruffly "Hey, play something good!"

So something kind of came out of that experience and maybe a couple of experiences along the way too, just trying to get everybody involved in the music that you play.

♪ Well I stepped onto a stage in Minnesota ♪ [playing a blues riff] ♪ And every eye was turned to a man I didn't know ♪ ♪ He looked grumpy he looked mad ♪ ♪ It took everything I had ♪ ♪ Not to pack right up and just to walk ♪ ♪ Back out the door ♪ ♪ At the moment he came up to criticize me ♪ ♪ I had the feeling there was nothing I could do ♪ ♪ For to soothe this savage beast took more than music ♪ ♪ And in a less than kind demeanor he said it too ♪ ♪ Play something good ♪ ♪ Play something loud ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Oh man you won't win this crowd ♪ ♪ If you don't play something we all can sing ♪ ♪ Dance to cry to anything ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Unless you play us something good ♪ [playing rhythmic rock/blues] ♪ ♪ ♪ At the second table to the left ♪ ♪ I saw her ♪ ♪ Hiding out behind a glass of Chardonnay ♪ ♪ The sadness in her eyes sent me the message ♪ ♪ And the empty chair beside her gave it away ♪ ♪ Play something good ♪ ♪ Play something loud ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Oh man you won't win this crowd ♪ ♪ If you don't play something we all can sing ♪ ♪ Dance to cry to anything ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Unless you play us something good ♪ Ouw!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well I played them every song you could imagine ♪ ♪ From the king of rock and roll to a man named Hank ♪ ♪ When even Jimmy Buffett wasn't workin' ♪ ♪ Every last ambition in me sank ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When all at once the thought occurred ♪ ♪ They said they'd had enough ♪ ♪ I sang a song about a boy named Jackie ♪ ♪ And a dragon they called Puff ♪ ♪ A twinkle came to those angry eyes ♪ ♪ And her tears were kept at bay ♪ ♪ But from the corner a rowdy crowd ♪ ♪ I thought I heard them say ♪ ♪ Play something good ♪ ♪ Play something loud ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Oh man you won't win this crowd ♪ ♪ If you don't play something we all can sing ♪ ♪ Dance to cry to anything ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Unless you play us something good ♪ ♪ Mister you won't make us happy ♪ ♪ Unless you play us something good ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing the blues] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing rhythmic blues/rock] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She came from Arizona but her name was Mississippi Red ♪ ♪ Tattoos were on her fingers she was 40 and she'd never wed ♪ ♪ She said well I can't dance ♪ ♪ But sometimes I sing ♪ ♪ If you give me a chance ♪ ♪ I can make this guitar ring ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She moved a little closer then stepped into my personal space ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Her teeth were tiny pebbles she was wearing leather with her lace ♪ ♪ She said well what do you say now boy ♪ ♪ Can you give up that axe ♪ ♪ And as I gave my guitar ♪ ♪ She said sit back and relax ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The tune she started playing captivated everyone at the bar ♪ ♪ Her fingers were supplying every lick that she'd sent flying so far ♪ ♪ And as the crowd went wild ♪ ♪ She stumbled off of the stage ♪ ♪ She popped a couple more pills ♪ ♪ And she drank up the days latest wage oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She ordered up a double as she soaked up her second Tanqueray ♪ ♪ Amidst the smoky curtains I could see her ice blue eyes turn to gray ♪ ♪ And as she fell to the floor ♪ ♪ All I heard was the sound ♪ ♪ Of her food coming up ♪ ♪ And one more wasted talent ♪ ♪ Going down ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ She came from Arizona but her name was Mississippi Red ♪ ♪ Oh oh-oh-oh oh ♪ ♪ Mississippi Red ♪ ♪ Aw what a waste ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [finger-picking in bright rhythm and in a minor key] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Jenny was a rich man's only daughter ♪ ♪ Spent her younger years all on her own ♪ ♪ The time that she spent with her father ♪ ♪ Wasn't worth a dime when he was home ♪ ♪ And she wrote through those days ♪ ♪ On an empty journal page ♪ ♪ Wishing hoping praying he'd discover her ♪ ♪ She wrote what would it take ♪ ♪ To make you see my face ♪ ♪ You'd think after all these years you'd know I'm here ♪ ♪ I'm still reaching out ♪ ♪ Daddy there ain't no doubt ♪ ♪ Someday soon I know you'll notice me ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Love Jenny ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Time went by and time left undiscovered ♪ ♪ Jenny thought she'd move out on her own ♪ ♪ She laid the journal on the bedside table ♪ ♪ Where daddy found it when he got home ♪ ♪ And as he read each word and phrase ♪ ♪ He noticed that every page ♪ ♪ Had the very same small paragraph ♪ ♪ Over and over again ♪ ♪ And he read what would it take ♪ ♪ To make you see my face ♪ ♪ You'd think after all these years you'd know I'm here ♪ ♪ I'm still reaching out ♪ ♪ Daddy there ain't no doubt ♪ ♪ Someday soon I know you'll notice me ♪ ♪ Love Jenny ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Daddy don't you know ♪ ♪ The thief in the night isn't coming for your gold ♪ ♪ It's just your soul ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And what would it take ♪ ♪ To make you see my face ♪ ♪ You'd think after all these years you'd know I'm here ♪ ♪ I'm still reaching out ♪ ♪ Daddy there ain't no doubt ♪ ♪ Someday soon I know you'll notice me ♪ ♪ Love Jenny ♪ ♪ Oh love Jenny ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh love Jenny ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing in moderate funky blues tempo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Hm-mm mm-mm ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You slipped into her seat one night before five ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You couldn't resist the temptation ♪ ♪ Of a free test drive ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You said man oh man this ride is hot ♪ ♪ She's not like the funky little motor I've got ♪ ♪ Would you remember when you got inside ♪ ♪ You found she wasn't just another ordinary ride ♪ ♪ She takes a little more gas ♪ ♪ She overheats too much ♪ ♪ She shifts whenever she wants ♪ ♪ Because she ain't got a clutch ♪ ♪ Brand-new headlights fancy leather seats ♪ ♪ The grill's all shiny the grill's all shiny ♪ ♪ That girl's all shiny ♪ ♪ But she's not like the love you're trading in in ♪ ♪ You need to go on home ♪ ♪ Not like the love you're trading in in ♪ ♪ Oh no oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The first few blocks she had you runnin' red lights ♪ Ha!

♪ And though you felt in control ♪ ♪ She seemed to steer you to some new steep heights ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Mile after mile of unadulterated fun ♪ ♪ There ain't a single engine that we couldn't outrun ♪ ♪ You drove her back you felt a tug inside ♪ ♪ Your thoughts went rolling back to Mrs. ordinary ride ♪ ♪ She takes a little more gas ♪ ♪ She overheats too much ♪ ♪ She shifts whenever she wants ♪ ♪ Because she ain't got a clutch ♪ ♪ Brand-new headlights fancy leather seats ♪ ♪ The grill's all shiny the grill's all shiny ♪ ♪ That girl's all shiny ♪ ♪ But she's not like the love you're trading in ♪ ♪ You need to go on home ♪ ♪ Not like the love you're trading in ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ It shouldn't take a single test drive ♪ ♪ To find out what you already knew ♪ ♪ But with your feet back on the floor ♪ ♪ And that new car smell hanging fresh over you ♪ ♪ Oh whatcha gonna do ♪ ♪ She takes a little more gas ♪ ♪ She overheats too much ♪ ♪ She shifts whenever she wants ♪ ♪ Because she ain't got a clutch ♪ ♪ Brand-new headlights fancy leather seats ♪ ♪ The grill's all shiny the grill's all shiny ♪ ♪ That girl's all shiny ♪ ♪ But she's not like the love you're trading in in ♪ ♪ You need to go on home ♪ ♪ Not like the love you're trading in in ♪ ♪ Oh no no-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Not like the love you're trading in ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing in syncopated rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Never was the dancing kind ♪ ♪ Two left feet was all you'd find ♪ ♪ Trying to walk away from me ♪ ♪ Now I find from time to time ♪ ♪ In the mirror of my mind ♪ ♪ I want to be all I could be ♪ ♪ And even though it seems ♪ ♪ I've a captive smile some days ♪ ♪ Don't you know that you're still my song ♪ ♪ A companion all the way ♪ ♪ 'Cause even when the skies are gloomy ♪ ♪ You come to me when you wake me in the morning with a kiss ♪ ♪ I'm finding that when we're together it's better weather ♪ ♪ It's the metaphor I don't want you to miss ♪ ♪ Then you get that energetic grin and bear ♪ ♪ And I'm dancing like I don't know where to go ♪ ♪ I'm wanting you to know ♪ ♪ When my feet can seem to find it ♪ ♪ I'm dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ So you can picture it just like a play ♪ ♪ There's a man behind those curtains ♪ ♪ And he's dancing everyday ♪ ♪ But the curtains are my eyes ♪ ♪ Captivated by your joy I ♪ ♪ I've forgotten all my lines ♪ ♪ And even though my thoughts ♪ ♪ Are a fleeting step away ♪ ♪ There's so much I want to tell you ♪ ♪ So much I need to say ♪ ♪ Cause even when the skies are gloomy ♪ ♪ You come to me when you wake me in the morning with a kiss ♪ ♪ I'm finding that when we're together it's better weather ♪ ♪ It's the metaphor I don't want you to miss ♪ ♪ Then you get so energetic grin and bear ♪ ♪ And I'm dancing like I don't know where to go ♪ ♪ I'm wanting you to know ♪ ♪ When my feet can seem to find it ♪ ♪ I'm dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 'Cause even when the skies are gloomy ♪ ♪ You come to me when you wake me in the morning with a kiss ♪ ♪ I'm finding that when we're together it's better weather ♪ ♪ It's the metaphor I don't want you to miss ♪ ♪ Then you get so energetic come on and get it ♪ ♪ And I'm dancing like I don't know where to go ♪ ♪ I'm wanting you to know ♪ ♪ When my feet can seem to find it ♪ ♪ I'm dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I have to say I love you ♪ ♪ Have to say I need you ♪ ♪ Have to say these things to you ♪ ♪ Even though we're away ♪ ♪ You are my song you are my wife ♪ ♪ You are the one who makes my life complete yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Dancing in my mind ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.