I’m so vain, I probably think these songs are about me
These are the video recordings I like the most (for their performances, lyrics, or musicality). You can use this as a list of demos, but not every recording makes the list. To see everything I’ve got (including lyric sheets and liner notes), visit the full track list instead.
This is from the day I drove across the Mojave Desert, knowing something was wrong but not knowing what. I decided to record my first ever Like a Road video (a departure from the other home videos that were just so I’d remember my licks). I spent the spring learning about my TBI, but didn’t know what it was until sometime in August. What a life-changer that turned out to be!
Although this isn’t a complete recording of the lyrics (because I flubbed it a little and quit), it’s my favorite “remembering the lyrics” video I have. I recorded it back in 2011 so the rest of my church family could learn and sing it with me as a farewell gift to our pastor friends. It was written specifically as a parting song to Salvation Army officers who have received Marching Orders. It’s an encouragement to both the officers and the local corps members, asd both continue to carry out the mission to serve “the lost, the last, and the least.”
An intimate love song of promise.
I like the song – there aren’t any ‘S’ sounds anywhere in the song. Even the embed post doesn’t have any. The restrictions I imposed on myself opened up new lyrics and metaphors I might never have discovered otherwise.
This is an autobiographical song: the ‘my life is a train’ verse talk about the experience of prosopagnosia, where recognizing people becomes harder, especially in my community where everyone dresses alike!
While this isn’t a “quality” recording, I really enjoyed singing it with my friend and colleague Judah. His drumming really jazzed up the song and turned it into a rocker instead of the slow jam it used to be.
Another one that isn’t all that impressive, but I enjoyed the spot and I like the kayak dude who floats on the water behind me toward the end of the song. He was there for quite a while (out of frame) listening to me sing while waiting for his friend to get to the beach.
A pretty good tune, and I kinda like that not everyone likes the lyrics. It’s a poetic retelling of Jesus entering places of ministry and being rejected, then choosing to spend his time with “the last, the lost, and the least” instead.
This is a fan favorite. The lyrics mean a lot to me, but the music is a little too Pop for my usual tastes.
This one makes the list for a few reasons: it’s the #1 most requested bedtime song in my house, it started as a joke and turned into something beautiful, and it’s really inspirational, in a non-religious sort of way.
I’m not super happy with the audio (I mixed two different cameras’ audio tracks, and it sounds overproduced and artificial chorus-ey. But it may be my favorite song. It’s all about equality between men and women, and it’s a true western tune (as opposed to county-western), a lot like the cowboy troubadours of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
In the Name of Love (Stand for Anything)
I can’t settle on a title. I think I like “Stand for Anything,” even though the line only appears in the first verse. This is one of the oldest full songs in my catalog, and we do tend to appreciate old friends.
I’ve loved this song since the day I wrote it, back during the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a love song from someone on the docks (fisherman, perhaps?) whose life is affected adversely with the ensuing collapse of the fishing industry on the Gulf Coast.
That’s all I’ve got for now. When I add new songs, I’ll slip them into the rankings where I think they belong. I hope you enjoy the poetry and music of my little hobby project!
With love and gratitude,
– J. Rogue
Like a Road 