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Thank you.

♪ That poor girl forgot how to have a good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have us a real good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have a good time ♪ All right, Matthew [upbeat folk music] How's everybody doing?

[audience cheering] [audience applauding] [David laughs] How am I doing?

[laughs] Okay, here's a song about a guy, well, about me who I went looking for the home of the Dalai Lama that he used to live in.

And it was a very different experience of seeing the Himalayas and the backdrop, and the people riding around on yaks, and the culture altogether.

And so this is about a cowboy who goes out looking to find himself, and it's called "Cosmic Cowboy."

Here we go.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Take me to the Himalayas ♪ Saddle me up a yak ♪ I don't care where I'm going ♪ But I plan on coming back ♪ Bring my little ukulele ♪ My little old lady too ♪ See the home of the Dalai Lama ♪ ♪ Maybe get another point of view ♪ ♪ I wanna be ♪ A cosmic cowboy ♪ I wanna live ♪ A cowboy dream ♪ I wanna have ♪ A rainbow sandwich ♪ Water from a mountain stream ♪ Transcendental meditation ♪ Can really give a guy a lift ♪ What do you do for recreation ♪ ♪ Well, can I have another whiff ♪ ♪ Well, I gotta be going ♪ I sure enjoyed the ride ♪ I just have one question ♪ Can you tell me high am I ♪ I wanna be ♪ A cosmic cowboy ♪ I wanna live a cowboy dream ♪ I wanna have a rainbow sandwich ♪ ♪ Water from a mountain stream [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, I just got to thinking ♪ I never saw the bodhi tree ♪ I just got a funny feeling ♪ The Buddha thinks the world of me ♪ ♪ Well, I think I'm ready ♪ For the great unknown ♪ Nothing like an endless journey ♪ ♪ To make a fella feel at home ♪ I wanna be a cosmic cowboy ♪ I wanna live a cowboy dream ♪ I wanna have a rainbow sandwich ♪ ♪ Water from a mountain stream ♪ And water from a mountain stream ♪ ♪ And water from a mountain stream ♪ [upbeat folk music] Thank you.

[audience applauding] I lived in Pittsburgh for a while, whoo-hoo!

And I was working in a little deli downtown in the strip district.

And we had a big front window, and one day all these cruisers went screaming by the window, just as a little old lady came running in and said, "They caught Willie McBride.

They caught Willie McBride."

And so I didn't know who Willie McBride was, but he was in the paper the next day, and I wrote a little song about it.

It's called "The Ballad of Willie McBride."

[upbeat folk music] ♪ I was working downtown at the deli counter ♪ ♪ When I heard this story begin ♪ ♪ Sirens scream right around the corner ♪ ♪ As this little old lady walked in ♪ ♪ Why, she walked right up ♪ Just a huffing and a puffing ♪ As she told me what happened outside ♪ ♪ About this man causing all the commotion ♪ ♪ By the name of Willie McBride ♪ ♪ Well, Willie was a man ♪ Took the law in his hands ♪ It was six banks in six days ♪ Why, he broke down the street ♪ ♪ And he jumped in a taxi ♪ Held his ♪ Hold his gun up to a fellow named Ray ♪ ♪ Well, little did he know ♪ Ray's cab moved slow ♪ And this was gonna be his last ride ♪ ♪ Chugging and swerving through the lunchtime traffic ♪ ♪ Went Ray and Willie McBride ♪ All right, Matthew [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Well, somewhere between the law and the order ♪ ♪ Now, people always seem to fall through ♪ ♪ I know this story has no moral ♪ ♪ But every last word of it's true ♪ ♪ Why, they caught him down in a dirty alley ♪ ♪ There was no place left to hide ♪ ♪ Chugging and swerving through the lunchtime traffic ♪ ♪ Went Ray and Willie McBride ♪ Yeah, chugging and swerving ♪ Through the lunchtime traffic ♪ ♪ Went Ray and Willie McBride [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] I dunno why I'm having trouble here.

Okay, I had Brian Hannah say, when I told him I had a song called "Summer Night in June," he says, "Maybe you should write a song called 'Summer Night in July,'" and I said, "Well, that's a good idea."

This is a song I wrote while sitting down in Perry Square one night.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Summer days, they slip away ♪ They slip away so soon ♪ It sounds just like ♪ A summer night in June ♪ I think that we've been here before ♪ ♪ I think we know the tune ♪ It sounds just like a summer night in June ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Can't you hear it ♪ The street lights in ♪ Have you got the time ♪ Can't you hear my poor heart prayer ♪ ♪ Baby, please be mine ♪ Lovers come ♪ Lovers go ♪ Under the lover's moon ♪ It sounds just like ♪ A summer night in June [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Can't you hear street lights in ♪ ♪ Have you got the time ♪ Can't you hear my poor heart playing ♪ ♪ Baby, please be mine ♪ Lovers come ♪ Lovers go ♪ Under the lover's moon ♪ Don't it sound just like ♪ A summer night in June ♪ Don't it sound just like ♪ A summer night ♪ Oh, it sounds just like ♪ A summer night ♪ Yes, it sounds just like ♪ A summer night in June [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

One time I was walking through the woods and I was talking to myself, and I had this crazy feeling that the trees were talking back, so I wrote a little song.

I gotta tune my guitar.

How am I doing?

Am I sounding all right?

Okay.

Here we go.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ My neighbor is a millionaire ♪ My buddy flies a plane ♪ My mother sits out on the porch ♪ ♪ She likes to watch it rain ♪ I went to the park today ♪ Listened to the breeze ♪ I had a conversation ♪ With a couple maple trees ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ I think that I lost something ♪ ♪ But I'm not sure just where ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ My friends say, don't you worry Dave ♪ ♪ You're already there ♪ The way the world is going ♪ Don't make much sense to me ♪ I sit and watch the job I had ♪ ♪ Go sailing overseas ♪ I'm taking a vacation ♪ I'm going to pack my stuff and go ♪ ♪ It's goodbye Pennsylvania ♪ Hello Mexico ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ I hope that someone finds me ♪ On the day that I arrived ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ Why, if you're going crazy too ♪ ♪ Maybe you can drive ♪ Maybe you can drive down here ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, I wish you happiness ♪ Bliss and harmony ♪ And if you see me passing through ♪ ♪ Please get ahold of me ♪ 'Cause I'm not sure just where I'm at ♪ ♪ Who I am or where ♪ I called myself a couple of times ♪ ♪ But no one's ever there ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ Something tells me that my watch I bought ♪ ♪ Is really losing time ♪ I think I'm going ♪ Crazy ♪ Happy birthday ♪ Call me back and put me up sometime ♪ ♪ Congratulations ♪ See you soon and happy Valentine ♪ ♪ Ooh [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

Want some water?

Voice getting dry.

Thank you.

Thank you, Matthew.

[gentle guitar music] AUDIENCE MEMBER: Dreamer!

Dreamer.

[Tom yelling] [David laughs] Now, that's my friend Tom New.

He said he'd heckle me, and he's a big fan of the chicken song.

[audience member cheering] Does anybody know David Devine the lawyer from Edinboro?

He had, I had a situation, I met a banker in Albion and I said, "Oh, you're David Devine."

He said, "Yeah."

He says, "I know a lawyer by the name of David Devine."

I said, "You do?"

I said, "Well, I can tell you a story about that."

The first day I was in Edinboro, I saw my name on a canopy with my name on it and I had to go in and tell 'em how impressed my friends would be back home to see me out practicing law already.

He said, "Well, I even got a better story for you."

He said, "When I told them that I knew you," he said, "Well, every time people found out my name was David Devine, they asked me if I still sing the chicken song."

[laughs] [upbeat folk music] ♪ The farmer said to the chickens ♪ ♪ The hour is late ♪ Tomorrow, you'll be on somebody's plate ♪ ♪ Mother hen said tonight the stars still shine ♪ ♪ Tomorrow we die ♪ Tonight we have a good time ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're going to have us a damn good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have a good time Well, you know chickens, they don't sing.

They cluck.

Nervous kinda cluck, especially in one of these situations.

♪ They've been known ♪ They've been known They've been known to go something like this.

Feel free.

[David clucking] [upbeat folk music] Come on Tom, where are you?

[David clucking] [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, I know a girl ♪ She don't know where she's at ♪ ♪ She said my nose is too big ♪ You see, I'm too fat ♪ She worries so much ♪ About her behind ♪ That poor girl forgot how to have a good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're going have us a real good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have a good time ♪ All right, Matthew [upbeat folk music] ♪ So the next time you're not having a good time ♪ ♪ Worried about a tomorrow that it hasn't got here yet ♪ ♪ The next time ♪ You hear anxiety walk knocking on your door ♪ ♪ I want you to remember these little words of wisdom ♪ [David clucking] [upbeat folk music] Just this side, right there.

[upbeat folk music] Get ready.

Okay, you guys, come on.

We're having a contest now.

I won't tell anybody.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Oh, the farmers said to the chickens ♪ ♪ He said the hour's late ♪ He said tomorrow you'll be on somebody's plate ♪ ♪ Mother hen said today the stars still shine ♪ ♪ Tomorrow we die ♪ Tonight we have a good time ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have us a damn good time ♪ ♪ A good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ Good time ♪ We're gonna have a good time, yeah ♪ [audience cheering] [audience applauding] [David laughs] Where the team gets down.

♪ Where the team gets down to the nitty gritty ♪ ♪ All starts here in the Seawolves City ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, that's a hit ♪ It's off the wall ♪ Bring the kids, we'll have a ball ♪ ♪ In the Seawolves City ♪ Seawolves City ♪ It's a Seawolves City ♪ Seawolves City ♪ When the team gets down to the nitty gritty ♪ ♪ It all starts here in the Seawolves City, hey ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, there he goes ♪ He's on his own ♪ And there he goes, he's heading home ♪ ♪ In a Seawolves City ♪ It's a Seawolves City ♪ Seawolves City ♪ Where the team gets down to nitty gritty ♪ ♪ It all starts here in the Seawolves City ♪ DAVID: Donny.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Yeah, that's a hit ♪ It is off the wall ♪ Bring the kids ♪ We'll have a ball ♪ The Seawolves City ♪ Seawolves City ♪ It's a Seawolves City ♪ Seawolves City ♪ Where the team gets down to the nitty gritty ♪ ♪ It all starts here in the Seawolves City ♪ [David laughing] [audience applauding] For all our Seawolves City fans.

If you didn't know it, he wrote that, so that's kind of cool.

[laughs] Thank you.

Okay, we're gonna slow it up a little bit.

This is a song, my friend locked me in the basement and told me, "David, you gotta write a song.

You haven't written one in a while."

So he gave me a chord that I hadn't played in a while, or I had never heard before, and I put it in the song.

It's called "Eternally."

[David singing] [upbeat folk music] ♪ Love is a jewel ♪ Precious and cool ♪ Wrapped in its own melody ♪ Gentle and kind ♪ Softly inclined ♪ Moving so easy and free ♪ God only knows, like a river flows ♪ ♪ All the way out to the sea ♪ Forever and ever and always eternally ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Love is a spark that goes off in the dark ♪ ♪ And all you can see are the stars ♪ ♪ For a moment in time ♪ The skies align ♪ Saturn and Venus and Mars ♪ When I'm with you, the feeling is true ♪ ♪ I know what my heart's telling me ♪ ♪ That we're forever and ever and always eternally ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ My love is a gift ♪ Sometimes adrift ♪ When it's suspended in time ♪ But I won't despair ♪ Because I know that it's there ♪ ♪ And that it will truly be mine ♪ ♪ God only knows, like a river flows ♪ ♪ All the way out to the sea ♪ Forever and ever and always eternally ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Why, when I'm with you ♪ The feeling is true ♪ I know what my heart's telling me ♪ ♪ That we're forever and ever and always ♪ ♪ Forever and ever and always ♪ Forever and ever and always ♪ Eternally [audience applauding] Thank you.

[gentle guitar music] I've had a lot of girlfriends in my life.

[David laughing] And now I have one and I love her but.

Anyway.

It's called, "She Used to Be My Girl Now She's a Metaphor to Me."

[upbeat folk music] ♪ She was prouder than a peacock ♪ ♪ Gentle as a lamb ♪ Slower than molasses ♪ Windy as a fan ♪ She was honest as an engine ♪ Shady as a tree ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me ♪ She was nicer than the weather ♪ ♪ Colder than the snow ♪ She had more ideas than Michelangelo ♪ ♪ She's the nicest sunset buddy you will ever see ♪ ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me ♪ Metaphor to me ♪ Metaphor to me ♪ If you can see what I see ♪ Then I think you would agree ♪ I don't know what it's like since she set me free ♪ ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me [upbeat folk music] ♪ She was hotter than a pepper ♪ You know the kind that make you cry ♪ ♪ She was like an angel on that night she said goodbye ♪ ♪ I don't know what it's like since she set me free ♪ ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me ♪ Metaphor to me ♪ Metaphor to me ♪ If you could see what I see ♪ Well, I think you would agree ♪ ♪ I don't know what it's like since she set me free ♪ ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me ♪ She used to be my girl ♪ Now she's a metaphor to me [upbeat folk music] [David laughing] [audience applauding] Thank you very much.

"Leather Suitcase."

This is a song, everybody's familiar with the Cohen Brothers movies.

This is from the movie inside "Inside Llewyn Davis."

Thank you.

What would I do without fellow musicians, I don't know.

Anyway, this is from the movie "Llewyn Davis" where we have this begotten folk singer who's just trying to make his way through New York and other cities.

And there was a picture of him trying to walk through or walk over a snow drift with his guitar case, and I thought of how many times I lived in Edinboro and would be trying to do the same thing.

♪ I travel light ♪ Down the highway ♪ I travel light ♪ Down the road ♪ I just got ♪ One leather suitcase ♪ It takes me everywhere that I go ♪ ♪ I have seen the desert skyline ♪ ♪ I have felt the freezing cold ♪ ♪ I travel light ♪ One leather suitcase ♪ It takes me everywhere that I go ♪ [David singing] [upbeat folk music] ♪ I been left out on the corner ♪ ♪ I been put off of a train ♪ I've been chased ♪ By taxi drivers ♪ While I was trying hard to explain ♪ ♪ That I appreciate the ride now ♪ ♪ But I misplaced my billfold ♪ I travel light ♪ One leather suitcase ♪ It takes me everywhere that I go ♪ Who's turn?

Whoo!

[upbeat folk music] ♪ I have loved ♪ Many a waitresses ♪ And I have sung ♪ Many a song ♪ But I believe right where I am now ♪ ♪ Is probably right ♪ Right where I belong ♪ Sometimes I need a taste of freedom ♪ ♪ Sometimes I need a hand to hold ♪ ♪ I travel light ♪ One leather suitcase ♪ It takes me everywhere that I go ♪ ♪ I travel light ♪ One leather suitcase ♪ It takes me everywhere that I go ♪ [upbeat folk music] All right.

[audience applauding] Last winter, I didn't have much to do sitting around watching the snowfall, and we were on the national news for one of the heaviest snowfalls in December, and it was amazing.

So like I said, I'd be sitting out there, sitting in the house wondering what to do next.

So I wrote a song.

It's called "Erie, Pennsylvania."

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Sitting in my igloo ♪ And here in Pennsylvania ♪ Polar bears and penguins were walking down the street ♪ ♪ They call it a tundra ♪ In Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ Give a shovel, man, and I get happy feet ♪ ♪ Give him a shovel, man ♪ And he gets happy feet [upbeat folk music] ♪ The world is watching ♪ In Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ Number one attraction in the USA ♪ ♪ Snow keeps piling up ♪ In Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ I hate to say it now ♪ But more is on the way ♪ He hates to say it now ♪ But more's on the way [upbeat folk music] ♪ I can't find my Christmas decoration ♪ ♪ I got a head cold and it won't go away ♪ ♪ I called my boss in Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ ♪ I tried to tell him that I won't be in today ♪ ♪ He tried to tell him that he won't be in ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ When things get tough in Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ ♪ The tough get going and that's just what they do ♪ ♪ Here's to the ones in Erie, Pennsylvania ♪ ♪ Who go that extra mile just for you ♪ ♪ Who go that extra mile just for you ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ There goes my neighbor with the snow plow ♪ ♪ There goes a snow plow with a lot of snow ♪ ♪ I made a snowman, I built a castle ♪ ♪ I made a mountain with a lot snow, you know ♪ ♪ He made a mountain with a lot of snow ♪ [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Roll now, baby, roll [David laughing] [audience applauding] There was a guy that I met who made his own airplane, and he used to have his brother Gene hold onto the back of it.

And he lived in a real hilly area, and down in Crawford County where a lot of hills and valleys.

And my question to him was, "What do you do when you run low on gas?"

And he'd say, "Well, I just float onto the nearest farm field and ask the farmer if I could get a gallon," and off he'd go again.

And I thought, well, I always wanted to have a flying machine.

♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ ♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ ♪ I'll go up down the hill ♪ Helped from my brother Gene ♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ ♪ I'll fly over the fences and fields ♪ ♪ I'll be so high, it will be unreal ♪ ♪ I'll float onto the farms ♪ When I need gasoline ♪ Just me and my fly machine Donny.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Over hills now and valleys I'll go ♪ ♪ Where I'm going, I don't really know ♪ ♪ It's so great to be free ♪ If you know what I mean ♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, the sun's setting clear out of sight ♪ ♪ If you think that I'm happy, you're right ♪ ♪ As I head for home ♪ It's a sight to be seen ♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ Just one more time now.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ It's so great to be free ♪ If you know what I mean ♪ Just me and my flying machine ♪ ♪ Oh, just me and my flying machine ♪ [audience applauding] Thank you.

I wrote this song for Charlie, my nephew.

He loves, well, he did love kites.

He's gotten older now and doesn't fly him that often.

But when he was five years old, they could just get him up there so high, it was unbelievable, and he'd just stand there with it.

And his sister used to sit on the pavement down at the school and her kite would be in the ozone, and she'd just be sitting there eating her lunch, watching it fly.

They were natural kite flyers.

♪ When the wind is blowing in ♪ And the sky is big and bright ♪ ♪ Charlie's running out the door ♪ ♪ To go and fly his kite ♪ Soon he's running down the hill ♪ ♪ With lots of room to spare ♪ And he lets go of his kite ♪ Right into the air ♪ And it spin, and it dips ♪ As he lets out the string ♪ And it takes up to the sky ♪ As high as anything ♪ Up where birds go flying by ♪ Till it's almost out of the sight ♪ ♪ What more can I tell you ♪ Charlie likes to fly his kite ♪ ♪ Yeah, what more can I tell you ♪ ♪ Charlie likes to fly his kite ♪ [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

[David laughing] What's that?

What's that?

You're awesome.

Oh.

They keep saying it.

Thank you very much.

Everybody needs to hear that once in a while.

It makes everything worthwhile.

What's that?

Yeah.

I had all these in order, then I started going outta order.

Okay.

I was writing a song for a program that was on WQLN years ago.

It would've been about 30 years ago.

And it was about school teachers and school children, and how important it was to give them emotional support in school.

[gentle guitar music] And I was having a hard time with it, and so I was only about three days out, and so I'm sweating bullets at this time because this is gonna be a program.

They're gonna videotape it, so the whole nine yards.

And so I did what every frozen songwriter does, I reached for the Bible and I said, you know, "If I ever needed help, I needed help right now."

And I said a little prayer, I opened it up the Bible and it said, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and they heal the bones."

And I'm like, oh my gosh.

I said, "It even rhymes," and I thought, so here we go.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb ♪ ♪ Sweet to the soul and they heal the bone ♪ ♪ A compliment seems to make it clear ♪ ♪ Another reason why you want me here ♪ ♪ I know my good side can be hard to see ♪ ♪ But when you tell me you believe in me ♪ ♪ I get that feeling that I'll be okay ♪ ♪ A little love goes a long, long way ♪ ♪ All right [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ It does wonders for my foolish pride ♪ ♪ When you tell me that you know I try ♪ ♪ I get a feeling like I really can ♪ ♪ When I know how much you understand ♪ ♪ I forget just how hard it's been ♪ ♪ I get a feeling that I found a friend ♪ ♪ Who's gonna see me through another day ♪ ♪ A little love goes a long, long way ♪ [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Yeah, pleasant words are like a honeycomb ♪ ♪ Sweet to the soul and they heal the bone ♪ ♪ Complimenting and make it clear ♪ ♪ Another reason why you want me here ♪ ♪ I know my good side can be hard to see ♪ ♪ But when you tell me you believe in me ♪ ♪ I get a feeling that I'll be okay ♪ ♪ A little love goes a long, long way ♪ ♪ I get feeling that I'll be okay ♪ ♪ A little love goes a long, long way ♪ [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

I gotta do one sad song, I'm very sorry.

[laughs] This is a sad song.

[gentle guitar music] I got the perfect antidote to this song afterwards.

"Already Gone."

♪ Whatever love we had inside ♪ Left us long ago ♪ Withered by the wind and rain ♪ ♪ Frozen by the snow ♪ Now I lie here wide awake ♪ Waiting for the dawn ♪ How can she be leaving me ♪ When I'm already gone ♪ Must have tried a million times ♪ ♪ We could never say goodbye ♪ We never had a reason to ♪ To make each other cry ♪ Now she says she found a friend ♪ ♪ And it's time for moving on ♪ How can she be leaving me ♪ When I'm already gone ♪ I'm already gone ♪ I'm a million miles from here ♪ ♪ I'm already gone ♪ I don't know how I disappeared ♪ ♪ Well, there must be a broken heart ♪ ♪ At the bottom of this song ♪ But how can she be leaving me ♪ ♪ When I'm already gone [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ This town is just a photograph ♪ ♪ Of how it used to be ♪ Don't tell me the way was ♪ Don't mean that much to me ♪ As lonely as I feel right now ♪ ♪ I know it won't last for long ♪ ♪ How could she be leaving me ♪ When I'm already gone ♪ I'm already gone ♪ I'm a million miles from here ♪ ♪ I'm already gone ♪ I don't know how I disappeared ♪ ♪ Well, there must be a broken heart ♪ ♪ At the bottom of this song ♪ Well, how can she be leaving me ♪ ♪ When I'm already gone ♪ Yeah, how can she be leaving me ♪ ♪ When I'm already gone [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

I used to write a lot of sad songs like that.

And my father at the time said, "David, did you ever try writing a song at the beginning of a relationship?"

[laughs] And I said, "Well, that's a novel idea."

So I met my girlfriend Sharon, I mean, my sweetheart Sharon.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ I wish that I could take you ♪ Where the sun would always shine ♪ ♪ Where every day was Christmas ♪ ♪ And good old summer times ♪ Where that heavy heart of sorrow ♪ ♪ Was the furthest from your mind ♪ ♪ We could go out walking ♪ Upon cloud number nine ♪ Where the roses bloom eternal ♪ ♪ And the petals never fall ♪ Where we could watch a rolling river ♪ ♪ Underneath the waterfall ♪ When they check our reservation ♪ ♪ They'll find we're the next in line ♪ ♪ And they'll confirm our destination ♪ ♪ Upon cloud number nine [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Well, we could do the slide now ♪ ♪ Electric Avenue ♪ Right next to seventh heaven ♪ Give or take a block or two ♪ Where that sun is always setting ♪ ♪ On that fine horizon line ♪ Where every day is a blessing ♪ ♪ Upon cloud number nine ♪ All right [upbeat folk music] [upbeat folk music continues] ♪ Where every day is a blessing ♪ ♪ Upon cloud number nine ♪ Where every day is a blessing ♪ ♪ Upon cloud number nine [upbeat folk music] Yeah, yes.

[audience applauding] I write poetry.

I've done that for a long time, and I got a couple poems.

I'm proud to say, I wrote this poem that ended up on The Writer's Almanac read by Garrison Keillor.

It's called, "If What You're Waiting for is Christmas."

If what you're waiting for is Christmas, you don't need me to tell you so.

If you've been looking for somebody, you might not have that far to go.

See how the candle dances with all the shadows on the wall.

If what you're waiting for is Christmas, it might be coming after all.

Sometimes I feel so tired, sometimes I feel so blue, I'm just going through the motions of anything I do.

But I guess I'm getting better.

Even I'm a bit surprised when I see my own reflection in a dark-haired angel's eyes.

Maybe all that really matters try to feel the mystery found in people left abandoned, burning, blooming poetry.

If for miracles you hunger, you might see a few come true.

If what you're waiting for is Christmas, it might be waiting there for you.

[audience applauding] [guitar strums] Thank you very much.

I got one more poem.

This poem was read in March 31st.

"Spring is a Many Splendid Thing."

It was selected as one of the top 15 finalists in the Spring Poetry Contest on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, broadcasted live from the town hall in New York City.

Garrison Keillor introduced the poem.

It was read by Tom Scott with a graceful musical coda performed by pianist Richard Dworsky.

This poem remains a cherished highlight in my writing career.

"Spring is a Many Splendored Thing."

When spring finally came in, winter finally went home and it was a pleasant surprise, and all those mountains of snow looked like little snow cones right before our very eyes.

The sun, it got bright and the robins came back, and a flower peaked up through the mud.

And I thought about life, and I thought about hope, and I thought about all the above.

The neighbors went back to helping themselves, and the coats all went back with the hats, and I tried to find that old love of mine, but I did not know where she was at.

And the buds any day will break out in bloom and the circle of life will begin, and I will walk out in that fresh air of spring from the very same door I walked in.

There we go.

[audience applauding] Oliver Hazard Perry is known around this area, known around the world really as somebody who had a big part in the war of 1812.

And the word I got on it is he was on the Lawrence, and the British made shambles out of that boat.

And Perry took the flag down and jumped in a cutter and took off, and they were shooting at him.

And he got away and they all laughed and thought they'd got the best of him and they'd never see him again.

But he got back on the Niagara and an eastern wind came up, and he came barreling back down on the British, and they were surprised.

They didn't know what to think of this.

And when they went to turn their boats, they locked up and they could not turn around.

And Perry went around the boats and blew 'em to bits, changing the course of the war of 1812.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Don't give up the ship ♪ Keep your eyes upon the bow ♪ And keep an upper lip ♪ When we break the lines, boys ♪ ♪ We're gonna let her rip ♪ Don't break up the ship, boy ♪ In the war of 1812 ♪ There came a fighting man ♪ Against the British Navy ♪ Oliver Perry took his stand ♪ As he raised his flag up ♪ He gave out his command ♪ Don't give up to the ship, boy ♪ ♪ But the lords, they took a pounding ♪ ♪ And the British did her in ♪ And Perry took his flag down ♪ In the cutter he climbed in ♪ As he rode away ♪ The British thought they got the best of him ♪ ♪ As the cannon balls whiz by ♪ He yelled out to them ♪ We won't give up the ship, boy ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ When he got to the Niagara ♪ There came an eastern wind ♪ And Perry turned and headed ♪ Straight back at 'em once again ♪ ♪ He came back with a vengeance ♪ ♪ Yelled out to his men ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Don't give up the ship ♪ Keep your eyes upon the bow ♪ And keep an upper lip ♪ When we break the lines, boy ♪ We're gonna let her rip ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, the red coats, they were shocked ♪ ♪ When Perry turned around ♪ They could not believe ♪ He came back to fight another round ♪ ♪ When their ships locked up ♪ They could not come unbound ♪ Perry blew their ships to bits ♪ ♪ You could hear the cannon sound ♪ ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Don't give up the ship ♪ Keep your eyes upon the bow ♪ And keep an upper lip ♪ When we break the lines, boy ♪ We're gonna let her rip ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy [upbeat folk music] ♪ Yes, don't give up the ship, boy ♪ ♪ Don't give up the ship ♪ Keep your eyes upon the bow ♪ And keep an upper lip ♪ When we break the lines, boy ♪ We're gonna let her rip ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Don't give up the ship, boy ♪ Yeah, don't give up the ship, boy ♪ [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Thank you.

John Prine made me into the songwriter I am.

John Prine appeared on the Philadelphia Folk Festival on public broadcasting back in 1972, playing all his original songs.

And one of 'em was a song that I'm really love, and it's about him running into Jesus Christ, and he was quite taken by it and it made for a great song.

[gentle guitar music] ♪ While out sail ♪ While out sailing on the ocean ♪ ♪ While out sailing on the sea ♪ I bumped into the Savior ♪ And he said, pardon me ♪ I said, Jesus, you look tired ♪ ♪ He said, Jesus, so do you ♪ Won't you sit down, son ♪ 'Cause I got some fat to chew ♪ ♪ He said, everybody needs somebody ♪ ♪ That they can talk to ♪ Someone to open up their ears ♪ ♪ And let that trouble through ♪ You don't have to sympathize ♪ Or care what they may do ♪ Everybody needs somebody that they can talk to ♪ [upbeat folk music] [David singing] ♪ Well, he spoke to me about morality ♪ ♪ Starvation, pain, and sin ♪ Matter of fact, the whole dang time ♪ ♪ I only got a few words in ♪ I won't squawk, let him talk ♪ Heck, it's been a long, long time ♪ ♪ Many men has been turned down ♪ ♪ He's bound to be a friend of mine ♪ ♪ Yeah, everybody needs somebody ♪ ♪ That they can talk to ♪ Someone to open up their ears ♪ ♪ And let their trouble through ♪ ♪ You don't have to sympathize ♪ Or care what they may do ♪ Yeah, everybody needs somebody ♪ ♪ That they can talk to ♪ Ooh [upbeat folk music] ♪ Yeah ♪ Well, we sat there for an hour or two ♪ ♪ Just eating that gospel pie ♪ Then around the bend come a terrible wind ♪ ♪ And lightening lit in the sky ♪ ♪ He said, so long, son ♪ But I gotta run ♪ I appreciate you listening to me ♪ ♪ And I thought I heard him sing these words ♪ ♪ As he skipped out across the sea ♪ ♪ He said, everybody needs somebody ♪ ♪ That they can talk to ♪ Someone to open up their ears ♪ ♪ And let their trouble through ♪ ♪ No, you don't have to sympathize ♪ ♪ Or care what they may do ♪ Everybody needs somebody ♪ That they can talk to ♪ Yeah, everybody needs somebody ♪ ♪ That they can talk to [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Yes siree.

[gentle guitar music] Another John Prine, what the heck?

This is about a guy who comes home and finds a note in the frying pan telling him to cook his own dinner.

[laughs] She's gone.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ I come home from work this evening ♪ ♪ There was a note in the frying pan ♪ ♪ It said, cook your own supper, Dave ♪ ♪ I run off with the Fuller Brush man ♪ ♪ And I miss the way she used to berate me ♪ ♪ The way she used to cuss and moan ♪ ♪ If I ever go out and married again ♪ ♪ I'll never leave my wife at home ♪ ♪ No, I won't [upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, I sat down at the table ♪ ♪ I screamed and I hollered and cried ♪ ♪ I commenced to carrying on ♪ Until I almost lost my mind ♪ Because I miss way she used to yell at me ♪ ♪ The way she used to cuss and moan ♪ ♪ If I ever go out and get married again ♪ ♪ I'll never leave my wife at home ♪ ♪ Ooh [upbeat folk music] Yeah.

♪ If I ever see another salesman ♪ ♪ Coming knocking on my door ♪ I'm gonna pick up a rock ♪ Hit him on the head ♪ I'm gonna knock him down on the floor ♪ ♪ Because I miss the way she used to yell at me ♪ ♪ The way she used to cuss and moan ♪ ♪ If I ever go out and get married again ♪ ♪ I'll never leave my wife at home ♪ ♪ If I ever go out and get married again ♪ ♪ I'll never leave my wife at home ♪ [upbeat folk music] [David laughing] [Matthew laughing] [audience applauding] Love that John Prine.

We used to have parties in Edinboro and we'd make a whole evening of singing John Prine songs.

[laughs] That's all you did.

Yep.

[Matthew laughing] John Prine.

That's it.

That's it.

[gentle guitar music] This is a little tune I wrote called "I Just Wrote This Song."

Really, really, Kevin I just.

[laughs] I believe you, Dave.

[David laughing] [Kevin laughing] ♪ I just wrote this song ♪ Ain't too bad ♪ It ain't too long ♪ Just kick back, you can't go wrong ♪ ♪ I just wrote this song ♪ I've not given it a lot of thought ♪ ♪ But what the heck ♪ It's all I got ♪ Takes a cake, it mows the lawn ♪ ♪ Hey, I just wrote this song Donny.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ I wrote this song for me and you ♪ ♪ All my friends and girlfriend too ♪ ♪ I can't forget my dad and mom ♪ ♪ Hey, I just wrote this song ♪ Just when I think that it's the end ♪ ♪ Why, it rolls right back again ♪ ♪ Why, it might go on and on ♪ I just wrote this song Yes, I did.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Sometimes it doesn't sound so great ♪ ♪ I think it's something that I ate ♪ ♪ I think you know, you can relate ♪ ♪ Hey, I just wrote this song ♪ Well, the sun goes up ♪ The rain comes down ♪ This old world goes round and round ♪ ♪ Right into the great beyond ♪ I just wrote this song Go Matthew.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ It's quite the phenomenon ♪ It was here, but now it's gone ♪ ♪ I thought I heard somebody yelling ♪ ♪ Hey, I just wrote it this song ♪ ♪ I should have got a copyright ♪ ♪ Oh my god ♪ Oh, that's nice ♪ That's the story of my life ♪ I just wrote this song [upbeat folk music] Ooh.

[audience applauding] Thank you.

MATTHEW: Pretty soon.

What's that?

Wrapping it soon?

Yeah.

All right.

This is a song, we're gonna, I think we're gonna wrap it up with this one right here.

I wanna thank everybody for being here tonight.

Give yourselves a hand.

Thank you very much.

[audience applauding] [gentle guitar music] And Don Dombrowski on dobro.

Can you give it up for Donny?

[audience applauding] Kevin Sullivan on bass.

[audience applauding] Matt Texter on harmonica.

[audience applauding] [gentle guitar music] This is about going to a party, and I went to a party, a house party.

It was really cool.

There were artists there and musicians and poets.

Everybody had their moment in the sun.

It was a lot of fun.

And the host kept running around telling everybody, "Well, don't go home because the best is yet to come.

They haven't arrived yet, and so just, if you could stick around, so."

It's called "Pretty Soon We'll All Arrive."

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Come on in ♪ You're just in time ♪ I'll introduce you to some friends of mine ♪ ♪ The kind of people I know you're just gonna like ♪ ♪ Some like to sing ♪ Some like to play ♪ I know you're gonna love them anyway ♪ ♪ And I'm just glad that you could be here tonight ♪ ♪ Yes, I am [upbeat folk music] ♪ Have you met everybody ♪ Who's that pulling up the drive ♪ ♪ I hope you meet everybody ♪ Before you go ♪ Because pretty soon, we'll all arrive ♪ ♪ Yes, we will ♪ Oh, I know there's a couple that you just gotta meet ♪ ♪ He likes to play music and his wife is so sweet ♪ ♪ He says he knows Garrison Keillor ♪ ♪ But I don't know if that's true ♪ ♪ His wife likes to wear expensive perfume ♪ ♪ I tell you, that girl can light up a room ♪ ♪ I'll try to get her attention ♪ ♪ But there's only so much I can do ♪ [upbeat folk music] ♪ Have you met everybody ♪ Who's that pulling up the drive ♪ ♪ I hope you meet everybody before you go ♪ ♪ Because pretty soon, we'll all arrive ♪ ♪ Well, there's lots of food ♪ And folks with guitars ♪ A couple of poets, the best by far ♪ ♪ I know you're gonna like them ♪ ♪ When they start to read ♪ And there's a few artists with works on the wall ♪ ♪ If you'd like to buy one, just give them a call ♪ ♪ Make them on offer ♪ I hear that they're easy to please ♪ ♪ Yes, they are ♪ Have you met everybody [upbeat folk music] ♪ Who's that pulling up the drive ♪ ♪ I hope you meet everybody before you go ♪ ♪ Because pretty soon, we'll all arrive ♪ Let's take one more.

[upbeat folk music] ♪ Well, I know there's people with so much to share ♪ ♪ Give them a chance and I know they'll be there ♪ ♪ Just like tonight ♪ We've had a wonderful time ♪ Have you tried the nut bread and peppermint tea ♪ ♪ It's pretty good now, take it from me ♪ ♪ I got a feeling ♪ Really, it's not hard to find ♪ ♪ Have you met everybody ♪ Who's that pulling up the drive ♪ ♪ I hope you meet everybody before you go ♪ ♪ Because pretty soon, we'll all arrive ♪ ♪ Yes, we will ♪ I hope you meet everybody ♪ Before you go, go, go ♪ Because pretty soon, we'll all arrive ♪ [upbeat folk music] [audience applauding] Dave Devine, everybody.

DAVID: Matt Texter, Kevin, Donny, thank you very much.

[audience applauding]