The man I call "37 Cent Man"
Dr BLT

Snowbird and his dog,
Ebony: Dr BLT


We've already got some pretty heavy-hitters lined up for a brand new recording to benefit the homeless in Bakersfield.  To capture an idea of what we're trying to accomplish, think of this project as Bakersfield's belated answer to the Do-They-Know-It's-Christmas-styled recording by Bandaid back in the 80s. 

Musicians are already lining up, figurately speaking, to contribute to the recording of Homeless Christmas Medley, aka Homeless at Christmas/Angels, penned by yours truly.  The new recording will be built upon a previous arrangement by former Stranger (Merle Haggard and the Strangers), Mark Yeary.  The new recording of the song will include a host of local artists.  It may include one or more representative(s) from the Buckaroos and Merle Haggard's former Strangers line-up, as well as some 2nd and 3rd generation Bakersfield-sound-grounded artists, ages 20-40ish.  We're not only raising awareness about the needs of the homeless in Bakersfield, and we're not only raising money, we're breaking down generation barriers that kept pioneers and rising stars from benefiting from one another, and kept pioneers from being in a position to mentor new artists with raw talent.

The Homeless Christmas Medley will benefit residents at Bethany Homeless Shelter this Christmas through sales of mp3s and, possibly, CD singles.  We still need more musicians (mostly singers to join the chorus, perhaps even a choir).  We also need a studio willing to donate time as well as engineering, businesses who will sponsor the project and help out with material costs and distributers.  So there you have it---a little bit of an introduction to the project.  It kicks off this labor day weekend with a rounding up of prospective participants, sponsors and other volunteers.  Now, let's hit the subject that this medley targets: Homelessness in Bakersfield. 

In my game of blog n roll, I provide the topic and the tunes and you provide the talk.  Today's topic corresponds to this all-star project in the making.  It concerns how to best treat the homeless mentally ill.  What are your thoughts on the present level of care for the homeless mentally ill in Bakersfield, and your thoughts on what should be done to improve their lot.  Also, to what extent must society shoulder the burden, and, to what extent are these individuals products of their own poor choices, or circumstances beyond their control?  Furthermore, should how or why they got to where they are matter in terms of society's approach to dealing with them?   

Here is the original recording of the song (please excuse the distortion and the hiss, all we have left of this original recording is an old cassette (see lyrics below):

Homeless Christmas Medley

words and music by Dr BLT © 2009
arrangement by Mark Yeary

Listen to the song, and read the lyrics to see if you can picture or hear yourself in it.  If I'm familiar with your work, and you rock, you don't need to audition.  You're in like gin.  If I'm not, you'll need to educate me on your level of musicianship in some way. 

Homeless Christmas Medley

 

I took a walk one Christmas

Down forbidden streets

Saw the homeless people

With no food to eat

Some were struck with illness

From the freezin’ cold

Others lost their homes

While they were growin’ old

 

A man came up to me and asked me for a dime

I could tell his back was achin’

By his crooked spine

He had no one to care

For sores upon his arms

Protect him from the cold

Shelter him from harm

 

Chorus I

No one should be homeless at Christmas

Everyone should have a place to stay

No one should be homeless at Christmas

No one should wake up alone

On this Christmas Day

 

We’re livin’ in a time

When people loose their minds

We’re livin’ in a world that’s full of

Of hate and crime

But I see a new tomorrow on this Christmas night

Through the darkened streets, I see a holy light

(chorus I)…

 

Part I of medley begins here: Angels (From Realms of Glory)

 

I would like to travel

On a timeless flight

Back to Bethlehem

On that holy night

I’d come to see the babe

Wrapped in swaddling cloths

join in singin’ carols

with that heavenly host

 

 

chorus II:

of angels from realms of glory

bring good tidings

redemption story (repeat)

 

I would like to travel to

The holy land

Ride with the wisemen on the desert sand

The drummer boy would play

Pa rum pa pa pum

And ask that it be sung

(chorus)

 

I would like to travel

With you by my side

Put you on a donkey

So that you could ride

You could ride…

(chorus; repeat chorus)

 

I’d like to introduce you

To that baby king

Make the world a better place

With peace he brings

Put a song in your heart

So that you could sing

Put music in your soul

So that you could rock n roll

With those…

(chorus; repeat chorus)