This was the last song I wrote and recorded in 2018 before I aimed my motorcycle west for Oakland, CA. Much of my future at that time was uncertain. I didn't have a residence lined up out there and knew no one. All I knew is that I wanted to learn to grow and process cannabis. I spent two years in Oakland before returning to Arkansas during Covid where I spent several years working for a cannabis startup. I eventually felt the call to play music again in 2023 and started reworking these songs that I am releasing now. This is one of my favorite songs from this period.

Originally titled, "The Streets of Austin" and written in 2013 for what was supposed to be the garage rock era of Starlings, TN, I decided to to strip away the drums and bass when I recorded it as "The Streets of New Orleans" and feature some light string sounds and piano to accompany the acoustic guitar.

If you go walk the streets in New Orleans soon enough you'll pray for rain.
The shower will cleanse your skin. But, it will never clear your name from all the pain that you caused and all the tears that have dropped.
No amount of pavement that you crush can your wrongs be undone.

If you go walk the streets of New Orleans to quell your restless heart.
Well, Hell has no seasons and once you're there you'll never get out.
But, you chose to go alone walking out of your home.
Oh, you may roam, but you're not free.
So, here's your cross to carry.

If you go walk the streets of New Orleans it doesn't matter if it's day or night. You'll know the angels from demons by the gaze in their eyes.
If salvation is what you seek.
It's not out in the street. It's in your heart by design.
But, you lost sight of the prize.
If salvation is what you seek.
It's not out in the street. It's in your heart by design.
But, you lost sight of the prize.

Of the twelve songs being released this year, this song is the oldest. I started recording this song in 2012 and have carried it with me all this time. I intentionally set out to write a love song about my old friend and mentor, David Schnaufer to show that love songs could be love songs without necessarily sexualizing them. it's also often true that in writing a love song that I pull from all of my life experiences and rarely is a a song about a single person or thing. But, sometimes I am writing literally like when i mention "the storm came now look how time flies" I am singing about Hurricane Katrina and how that storm and the aftermath affected my life.

Much of the production, including all the drum sounds came from an Ipad and it all began with a heartbeat.