You and I

Please listen to and enjoy this song.

From the forthcoming film "RUBY THE DOGUMENTARY"

Tell me all the places you like best
I promise to take you there
Here ... there ... any

Where are the treasures you like best
Buried in the yard with care
Here ... there ... any-where!

Tell me with your eyes!
Tell me with a smile!
Get into my mind!

Cuz you and I are friends
And you and I will endure
Any hard knock that life sends!

Tell me all the places you like best
I promise to take you there
Here ... there ... any

Where are the treasures you like best
Buried in the yard with care
Here ... there ... any-where!

Released 02 June 2012
Words & Music by John Charles
Copyright 2012.

Produced by Andy Thompson and Bryan Highhill

Mixed by Bryan Highhill

John Charles - Vocals, Electric, Harmonics and Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals, Bell and Tambourine

Andy Thompson - Drums

Bryan Highhill - Keyboard and Gong

Sleep My Life Away

Please listen to and enjoy this song.

I sleep my life away
And I'm lovin' it-blind to all I meet
The less fortunate earned their
Lot in life-no brother will I keep
Sleep my life away-in my cushy cocoon
I'll call that "Peace"
As long as I've got mine-all must be fine
I need more sleep

Insomnia is for-the suckers

And "The have-nots"-but not me
My boots are worth more-than your life
And that is fine, you see that ...
I'll sleep my life away-in my cushy cocoon
I'll call that "Peace"
As long as I've got mine-all must be fine
I need more sleep
As proverbs say-"When you liest down
You shall not be afraid ...
... and your sleep shall be sweet"

If you look at my life-you're envious
At least, that's what I think
Everybody wants what I have
The moat I've built is deep
Constructed with the help
Of (other) sleep-walkers-with whom I scheme

I'll sleep my life away-my prescriptions filled
I'll call that "Peace"
As proverbs say-"When you liest down
You shall not be afraid ...
... and your sleep shall be sweet"
Oh so sweet!

Sleep my life away
And I'm lovin' it-I'm on to victory
I wipe the blood that stains my fingers
On the backs of humanity

I'll scheme your life away, everything you saved
I'll call that "Freedom"
But my conscience won't die
I secretly despise all that is me

Proverbs did not say
"When I liest down
I'll be afraid
And my sleep ain't cheap!"
No my sleep ain't cheap
My sleep ain't cheap!

Released 31 March 2012

Words & Music by John Charles and Marc Percansky
Copyright 2012.

Produced and Mixed by Bruce Hoff (www.brucehoffrec.com)

John Charles - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

The Ballad Of Marc And Ruby

Please listen to and enjoy this song.

From the forthcoming film "RUBY THE DOGUMENTARY"

Let me introduce you to the miracle
I call my Ruby!
She came into my life at the right place
And right time ... and drew me
Closer to a softened heart
Even through the roughest spots, she
Never goes astray
And I know ... she lights the way!

Let me tell you more about a girl

I like to call my Ruby!
She is God in Doberman form, my friends,
And four legs brought her to me!
Undisturbed by ups and downs
Seems to me her love abounds and
She never goes astray
And I know ... she lights the way!

They've got a theory about people like these
They chew on everything-infest you with the fleas
The world is burning at my feet
And still she'll say that life is sweet
No matter what you say!
And I know, she lights the way!

Some of you are thinking she's just
Another dog-conditioned by the feeding
Suggested by Pavlov!
I wish I was more like her,
That is what-I say-hey-hey!
She may not be the most clever in the pack
But through the days + nights I know
We have each other's backs!
If people were more like her,
We'd be more than okay!

Let me tell you more about the girl
I like to call my Ruby
She is God in Doberman form-the u-
Ni-verse has brought her to me

She can tell when I'm distraught
Seems to me she reads my thoughts
She never goes astray
And I Know she lights the way!
And I know she lights the way!
And I know she lights the way!

Released 24 March 2012

Words & Music by John Charles
Copyright 2012.

Produced & Mixed by Andy Thompson

John Charles - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals

Andy Thompson - Slide Guitar

Narcissistic Girlfriend

Narcissistic girlfriend ...

There's no more room on the orbit she's in
Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's only one way out
Cuz there's no way in

I was feeling fed up, wearing a beaten frown

So I called my best pals to give me the lowdown
One said this and the other said that
But one of them knew exactly where it's at!

He said "Let me ask you one little thing, my friend"
"Does she talk about herself and does it never end?"
"Does her selfishness seem to have no earthly bounds?"
"Does she use the word "I" more than any noun?"

I thought for a second and I answered "Yes"
The size of her ego puts me to the test
It's good that I know-but it's sad to see
She has a narcissistic personality

She doesn't really listen-and doesn't care
Conceited and vain, and I'm in despair
Tip-toeing over-sensitivity
Cure it with intense psycho-therapy

I thought for a second and I answered "Yes"
The size of her ego puts me to the test
It's good that I know-but it's sad to see
She has a narcissistic personality

Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's no more room on the orbit she's in
Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's only one way out
Cuz there's no way in

She can be sweet-not a girlfriend from hell
And I'm no angel-but this I can tell you
The honey comes out inconsistently
Like when she wants something-yeah
Something from me

The reason for me singin' this here tune
Is to educate and indicate to all of you
It isn't that she's not your cup of tea
She's got a narcissistic personality

I thought for a second and I answered "Yes"
The size of her ego puts me to the test
It's good that I know-but it's sad to see
She has a narcissistic personality

Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's no more room on the orbit she's in
Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's only one way out
Cuz there's no way in

Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's no more room on the orbit she's in ...

Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's no more room on the orbit she's in
Narcissistic girlfriend ...
There's only one way out
Cuz there's no way in

Released 07 March 2012

Words & Music by John Charles and Marc Percansky
Copyright 2012.

Produced & Mixed by Andy Thompson

John Charles - Vocals, Electric and Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals and Hand Claps

Andy Thompson - Drums, Keyboard and Hand Claps

Bryan Highhill - Trumpet, Backing Vocals and Hand Claps

Marc Percansky - Backing Vocals and Hand Claps

Pick Six

A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

Star Tribune, March 11, 2012

Bruce Springsteen, "Wrecking Ball".  One of the finest records of his 40-year careeer.  He used samples from old Alan Lomax recordings brought up to date by producer Ron Aniello, with support from Tom Morello on guitar.  The Boss' writing and ideas of a better world, both optimistic and pessimistic, are right on.

Bob Dylan, Metro magazine tribute.  This is a nice 12-page salute with musicians, writers, artists and friends sharing their thoughts on the 50th anniversary of his self-titled first album.

John Charles, "Narcissistic Girlfriend".  He's an underrated Twin Cities singer/songwriter/musician who has been around for more than 20 years.  Quirky lyrics with a unique musical delivery.

---MARC PERCANSKY, Magic Marc Productions, Minneapolis

Punch Brothers, Varsity.  The quintet's instrumentation said "bluegrass," but its versatile sound said "wow" - from the hip Radiohead-like textures to the dramatic music-hall ditty "Patchwork Girlfriend" to the spirited sing-along "Rye Whiskey".

John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett, State Theatre.  Their free-wheeling banter even had them laughing.  Besides all the witty and silly repartee between the two veteran stars, there were many musical rewards, especially when Hiatt played guitar on guitar on Lovett's tunes ("Girl With the Holiday Smile," "My Baby Don't Tolerate," "White Boy Lost in the Blues") and Hiatt answered requests for "Memphis in the Meantime" and "Georgia Rae".

Regina Maria Williams, "When a Woman Loves a Man".  After portraying Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone in shows, the Twin Cities theater star showcases her own jazz chops on this impressive collection of standards.

---JON BREAM, Star Tribune

http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2013/06/top_10_must_see_minnesota_music_videos_this_week_06_27_13.php

She Is

Please listen to and enjoy this song.

From the forthcoming film "RUBY THE DOGUMENTARY" 
(From: "IN THE AFFIRMATIVE")

Sometimes I get in a bit of a rut 
I mean a true routine yeah 
I get real comfortable but so what 
Sometimes that is needed 
Take after a woman I know she's wise 
She's true to herself 
And she loves people just like me 
I find that attractive 

I know she's a goddess as she's digging in the garden ... 
If anyone's an artist, well then, SHE IS!! SHE IS!! 

Sometimes I like to fall in love 
Of course you know you don't fall 
You are already standing when you are there 
You are self completed 
Take after a woman I know she's wise 
She honors the mother 
She loves herself, that she said 
And that's a holy love cause 

I know she's a goddess as she's digging in the garden ... 
If anyone's an artist, well then, SHE IS!! SHE IS!! 

Sometimes I go out on long walks 
My feet are big and worthy 
And they are connected to my love 
The earth on her knees and 
Take after a woman I know she's wise 
She's got a thing for weather 
Whether or not I am by her side 
And that's a holy love cause 

I know she's a goddess as she's digging in the garden ... 
If anyone's an artist, well then, SHE IS!! well SHE IS!! SHE IS!! 

Sometimes I get in a bit of a rut 
I mean a true routine yeah 
I get real comfortable but so what 
Sometimes that is needed 
Take after a woman I know she's wise 
She's true to herself 
And she loves people just like me 
I find that attractive 

I know she's a goddess as she's digging in the garden ... 
If anyone's an artist, well then, SHE IS!! (SHE IS!!) well SHE IS!! SHE IS!! (SHE IS!!) well SHE IS!! 
Woo-hoo!

Released 17 October 2014 
Written & Performed by John Charles 
Copyright 2011. 

Produced by Andy Thompson and John Charles 

Mixed by Andy Thompson and Bruce Hoff 

Mastered by John Kraft 

John Charles - Vocals, Acoustic and Bass Guitars, Drums, Backing Vocals, Tambourine and Laugh 

Andy Thompson - Keyboard