Town Born Child

First paragraph of The House of Seven Gables* by Nathaniel Hawthorne: “The street is Pyncheon-street; the house is the old Pyncheon-house; and an elm-tree, of wide circumference, rooted before the door, is familiar to every town-born child by the title of the Pyncheon-elm.”​

*Fun fact: the first paragraph is about as far as I made it in that book...

Listen here:

Well I’m a town born child I’ve got braces on my name And you can bet when I show up I bring all my ghosts with me

Well I’m a town born son And when the morning comes I will wash off the dust of the Dreams that I never got done

Now I’m keeping an eye out for you 'Cause you come from where I want to go to You got the melodies and music in your ear So sing this town born child away from here

Well I’m a town born child And all my teachers knew my brothers And when I stepped into a classroom I was just like the others

I’m a town born child But my mind’s been wondering out for a while And I never pushed fast or forward But I always could hold my tongue and force a smile

On my own, driving home I dream of summer in the winter And when spring rolls on I skip my stones But never watch when they go under and down

Music and lyrics by Benjamin Adair Murphy ASCAP (464341364). Published by Watery Grave Music ASCAP (396517127)

Produced by Roy Gurel

Mixed by Assaf Spector and Roy Gurel

Mastered by Brian Lucey

Vocals by Roy Gurel and Yula Yael Beeri Guitars by Roy Gurel Bass and organ by Assaf Spector Drums and percussion by Shlomi Lavie

From Trouble Came, released August 28, 2019 released August 1, 2016

Moment to Lose (Music by Roike)

Listen here:

Well the cards have been cursed And our band can’t rehearse The drummer can’t tell a four from a two And I know I lost my chance with you as soon as you arrived As soon as you saw how I was just A man without a moment, A man without a moment to lose

Now it’s easy to bet It’s easy to just forget And buy a brand new pair of shoes But you know it’s never easy to be satisfied and fun Not to jump the gun When you're a man without a moment, A man without a moment to lose

Sugar drips down from the mountain But it never drips down that far You can wish on a star or a fountain But you can’t wish away what you are

Some men fall in traps And they get a bum rap If they’re too easy to see through But sometimes it’s not so simple to be honest and brave Not hide your love away When you're a man without a moment, A man without a moment to lose

Music by Roy Gurel Lyrics by Benjamin Adair Murphy (ASCAP) Watery Grave Music

Produced by Roy Gurel

Mixed by Assaf Spector and Roy Gurel

Mastered by Brian Lucey Vocals by Roy Gurel Guitars and bass by Roy Gurel Piano by Yuval Semo Tuba by John F Wentz Drums and percussion by Assaf Spector

From Trouble Came, released August 28, 2019 released August 1, 2016

Trouble Came

Job 3:26: "For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.

I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come."

In 2016 my friend Roike put out an album named after this song. I recorded a version with Francesco Conte for my album 12 Bars of Blues.

Listen: Ben's version, Roike's version

Well I was steadfast And I was sane I was steadfast And I was sane And the words you spoke kept ringing Ringing through my brain I was safe and I was careful Yet trouble it came

Well I was watched over And I was true I was watched over And I was true

And I stayed out of folk's business And I stayed out of harms way I was safe and I was protected Yet trouble it came

Little child with your head in the clouds You know there ain't no place to hide People get petty and people get proud So just open your arms out wide

'Cause there ain't no door been built that can keep it out There ain't no door been built that can keep it out

And there’s not a wall constructed That will not fall away I was safe and I was careful Yet trouble it came

Music and lyrics by Benjamin Adair Murphy ASCAP (464341364). Published by Watery Grave Music ASCAP (396517127)

Ben's version:

Benjamin Adair Murphy – vocals, guitar Francesco Conte – lead guitars, bass Andrea Freda –drums, percussion Susanna Slamic – backing vocals

From Benjamin Adair Murphy presents: "12 Bars of Blues", released June 16, 2018

Roike version:

Produced by Roy Gurel

Mixed by Assaf Spector and Roy Gurel

Mastered by Brian Lucey Vocals by Roy Gurel and Chen Prat Guitars and percussion by Roy Gurel Bass and guitar by Assaf Spector Wurlitzer by Yuval Semo Drums by Stahv Danker

From Trouble Came, released August 1, 2016