2025 Competition Entry:

Here You See Me Standin’ by Dusty James & Abalone Pearl

Genre

Folk

Co-writer(s)

yes

Performer(s)

Dusty James (James Renz)–lead vocal and acoustic guitar; Abalone Pearl (Sherre Birenbaum)–backing vocal and acoustic guitar.

Description

We crafted this song based upon our reading and experience with various outlaws over the years.

Bio

Dusty James & Abalone Pearl
Both Dusty and Pearl began playing as teens in folk venues and coffee houses where they honed their skills and the art of crafting tight vocal harmonies. Each possesses in-depth knowledge of the music in their repertoire. The styles are varied and include traditional folk, roots, singer-songwriter, Americana, original songs and surprises. They invite the audience in by conveying the joy that goes with performing tunes that hold special significance for them. The duo has enjoyed competing in and achieving recognition in various song writing competitions over the years.

Dusty James (guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, vocals) started playing and singing when he was very young. His influences included Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt and Merle Travis. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous settings, both locally and nationally, including A Prairie Home Companion and CBS Radio and he has had the privilege of performing on stage with the likes of Doc Watson and Roland White, among others.
Abalone Pearl (guitar, banjo, autoharp, dulcimer, vocals) started playing guitar at age 12 when she was inspired by Bob Dylan, Jean Ritchie, Mike Seeger, Memphis Minnie, The Carter Family, Robert Johnson and the folk movement of the 1960s. She became a professional musician at age 15, playing in coffee houses and other venues. Pearl has had a long and abiding interest in music history and owned a popular record/CD store for many years.

Lyrics

HERE YOU SEE ME STANDIN’
Words & Music by
Dusty James (James Renz) & Abalone Pearl (Sherre Birenbaum)
Copyright 2022
All rights reserved

Wakin’ in the darkness to sounds that are not there,
I feel your breathin’ by me, pretendin’ I don’t care.
The law is close behind, for the things they say I’ve done. They say it’s ‘bout a gamblin’ game, they say it’s ‘bout a gun.

Chorus
Here you see me standin’, it won’t be for long,
Don’t look for me in the mornin’, in the mornin’ I’ll be gone.

Verse 2
Someday soon they’ll pull me down, they mean to bring me harm, But there’ll be a great commotion ‘fore they send me to God’s arms. Out there on the open road, I’ll make them understand,
The only way they’ll stop me is to still my outlaw hand.

Chorus
Here you see me standin’, it won’t be for long,
Don’t look for me in the mornin’, in the mornin’ I’ll be gone.

Verse 3
For now just kiss my blues away and keep me from the night, Sing sweet songs of love and say that everything’s all right.
Tell me that no other made you feel this way before,
And there ain’t no trouble waitin’, in that place beyond your door.

Chorus
Here you see me standin’, it won’t be for long,
Don’t look for me in the mornin’, in the mornin’ I’ll be gone.

Verse 4
He met them on the open road, he made his final stand.
They trained their sites upon him and they stilled his outlaw hand. As he lay there dyin’, some swore they heard him say,
“I’ll answer to the Lord not you upon my judgment day.”

Chorus
Here you see me standin’, it won’t be for long,
Don’t look for me in the mornin’, in the mornin’ I’ll be gone.

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