Blink: Lyrics by Elam Blackman

[Update] --- Elam made his goal and then some! Congratulations, friend!

My friend Elam is trying to raise money via kickstarter for a new album. Dale Mackey has a knack for video and put this together in support of the project. Sound is my universe, so I went a different route.

Not only is Elam a friend but he has also been an inspiration since the first time we met.

I was still touring as The World's Tallest People when I had my first meeting with Elam. We were playing a show together at a small Knoxville coffee shop. The first thing that struck me about Elam is that he was short. Also, he seemed much more serious than I had imagined him to be. Until he started talking. There was an ease in his speaking. A tempered irreverence emboldened by likable contempt. I was taken completely away by Angel of the Floor and incredibly entertained by Buddah Cat.

When he played a show in my living room 100 years later, I was reminded of his patience and constant sincerity.

At times I have thought: {Elam : coffee shops = Dondero : bars}

After some gentle insistence, Elam finally sent me a copy of his journal surrounding the time about which Angel of the Floor was written. 120 pages of letters, journal entries, stories and poems that begins with a seemingly spontaneous decision to travel to Mexico with Forest Sun. Throughout the journal, Elam details the intimate workings of a soul in evolution.

Elam speaks as he sings and sings as he speaks. His writing is similar to both. So as a tribute to my buddy Elam I wrote the song Blink. The first few stanzas as well as the chorus are Elam's bio from his website.

The final stanzas are a passage taken from Elam's journal about a venue he and Forest were playing at that burnt down.

Although Elam and I may write in completely different genres, he has been a big influence on my approach to songwriting. I hope that you will consider supporting him as he puts the finishing touches on his new record. Click Here to Kick in something.

Blink