ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
SONG LIST

#1. I’m Just A People (2:35) – An old ‘Stone Soup’ song that has had many
incarnations. This version is less preachy, more fun. Party on.

#2. Minnesota Vikings (1:45) – My prediction: The Vikes will do better this
time around. (It would be hard to do worse.)

#3. David Letterman (1:28) – Punk.

#4. Randy Jackson (1:40) – Punk.

#5. Simon Cowell (0:52) – Punk.

#6. Paula Abdul (1:34) – OK.

#7. Ryan Seacrest (1:55) – Punk.

#8. Mosquito Song (3:47) – When I first came to Minnesota in 1984, I had to
wait several days before moving into my apartment. So I drove up to a
state park on the St. Croix River and slept in my car. My first night was
spent in a secluded spot near the water, where I promptly became a
delicious snack for the hordes of mosquitoes living nearby. Shortly
thereafter, while still cursing the mosquito bites, I wrote this song, then
submitted it to Minnesota Public Radio’s “The Morning Show”. It was
the first song of mine they ever played.

#9. Black Sheep (1:34) – In 1968 I attended Mackinac College – a strict Moral
Re-Armament school on Mackinac Island, Michigan. My roomate was
the free spirit Leon Lawrence Ross. He introduced me, kicking and
screaming, to the music of Aretha Franklin, for which I am eternally
grateful. However, Leon – a graceful, wonderful dancer and
unforgettable personality – was not always adept at following rules
and regulations. To make a long story short, he got kicked out of
school. Thirty seven years later, I wrote this song in his honor.

#10. Oprah (3:30) – Not a punk.

#11. Jerry Springer (1:17) – Super punk.

#12. Waterbugs (2:31) – As I mentioned in my Commentary, I used to perform at
Stone Soup Gallery. The owner – Jack Powers - graciously allowed me to
practice on their piano whenever the space was not being used. But
sometimes I would show up for practice while a poetry reading or other
event was going on. So I would wait it out in the basement – a damp
cavern with dirt floor and lots of waterbugs. In spite of their nasty
appearance, I got used to the creatures, and, with a certain amount of
affection, wrote this song of observation.

#13. Frog Song (2:06) – A song about the malling of America.

#14. Mouse Song (3:53) – A children’s song that sentimental adults seem to
enjoy. It was written at Stone Soup Gallery.

#15. Anna Nicole Smith (2:12) – Too much has been said already, but I just
couldn’t help adding my two cents.

#16. If Only (3:16) – This is a song from a musical farce about the tragedy
in Iraq. I had just begun to write the musical and was hoping to
produce it for the 2007 Minnesota Fringe Festival. But when I was
unable to find enough singers to volunteer for the parts (that’s right,
no pay), I put the musical on hold. However, if anyone’s interested,
I’d be glad to revisit the project.

#17. Rosie O’Donnell (1:22) – Not a punk. Well maybe. Of course.
Punk with a capital P.

#18. Donald Trump (2:11) – Punk.

#19. Earth People (3:06) – An interplanetary visitor sings about
global warming.

#20. Rhododendron Poppy (2:42) – I wrote this song for Madora Minor. She was
a beautiful beautiful person who loved everybody and everybody loved
her. She also loved children and the movie “Wizard of Oz” and poppies
and rhododendrons. All her life she had a weight problem. It didn’t
bother anybody else, but it bothered her. So about four years ago she
signed up for liposuction surgery. She died on the operating table.
When I found out, I wrote this song.

#21. Spring Fever (2:43) – This is an old song that for the longest I’ve
wanted to orchestrate. I finally got the chance (with a synthesizer
and the drumming of Matthew Zimmerman). If anyone out there
would like to add some fun animation with woodland creatures
dancing and singing - feel free.

#22. Hymn To Jesus (4:55) – Maybe, just maybe, Jesus was the original punk.
He must be very sad to see the state of our world today.