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God Talk

from How to Dance by Jonathan Burks

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about

These songs were recorded at Howl Street in the fall of 2008, on my thirty-third birthday. I booked a couple of hours to feel out some songs that hadn't yet found homes; a hodge-podge of old stuff, really old stuff, and new songs that stood up, but just barely. Shane set me up with a couple of mics and I played through the set in no particular order, taking a break about halfway through, tracking 19 songs in total.

At the time, I didn't feel it went well. I set the session up for fun, something cool to do on my birthday, a no-pressure-type-thing; still I hoped, in my obsessive heart of hearts, that I would lay down these amazing takes and you know, sing real real good. And be super awesome at guitar. A bit chagrined these talents didn't manifest themselves to an extent of my liking, I forwarded the hopeful songs to the band, workshoped the ones that needed work, shelved the rest and moved on.

After the recording Shane started sending me the occasional text or phone call asking me if it was alright if he played the songs we did for a band or friend that was in the studio, who he thought would be interested. I hadn't listened to the tracks since then, and couldn't understand why anyone else would want to, but who am I to judge? Eventually these interactions started to ebb away at my anti-release-stance (which wasn't so much of a stance, just something I hadn't considered, or considered considering) and I gave it another listen. I respect Shane and his opinion so I took what he said seriously; even if I didn't get it, I could tell his interest was genuine, no smoke. His unwavering, albeit low-key and subtle enthusiasm put me onto a different perspective and I started to dig it. A couple of years and a dozen or so random pep-talkish conversations later, I'm ready to listen to him. Beast or butterfly, warts and all...

lyrics

I don't want no god talk at my funeral
Jesus is alright but he aint my main man
it's all of ya'll whom I love so dearly
it's you alone who made me what I am

god is good but god made me faulty
it's you alone who made me so good
send me off in flames hot and rowdy
don’t burry me in no box of wood

I don't want no sad songs at my funeral
I sing em now but I wont need em then
sing about them pastures of plenty
sing about how that circle never ends

I don't want no crying at my funeral
but if you must, fill a cup up with wine
take a drink for every drop that falls
and know that you are a friend of mine

I don't want no god talk at my funeral
if you must read something, quote some Tortilla Flat
let all my fucked up friends know
I'm so thankful
it's you alone who made me
what good I am

credits

from How to Dance, track released January 2, 2011

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Jonathan Burks Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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