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Freeland - Ute Creek Eulogy - 50 Years of Making Music Together

by Freeland

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1.
Chasing Down the Sun 04:05
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Moonrise over purple mountains Clear Creek running free We’re still making songs to sing in lonesome harmony Dipping from a deeper well Then back when we were young One more time - chasin’ down the sun We’ve all had our cross to bear ‘Nigh on fifty years Battle lines define our faces shed our share of tears But we will lay our burdens down Counting off the songs Freeland boys are back where we belong One more time - chasing down the sun Friends of mine, each and every one Not so much reliving races run But one more time - chasing down the sun Here’s to Mikey, Ray and Spotty Ron and John and Richard Katy, Georgia, Lo and Linda Both the Cheri’s too Toasting lives we lived back then And all the years that followed Grateful for these new songs We’re gonna sing for you One more time - chasing down the sun Friends of mine, each and every one Not so much reliving races run But one more time - chasing down the sun One more time - we’re chasing down the sun ©2022 Tommy Wiggins
2.
Picks And Axes 04:31
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Well we took our time and we took our picks and axes We would ride across the prairie with our wagons and our team to the gold dust in the stream to the mountain of our dream Well we took our wives and we took our sons and daughters From the land of sky blue waters with the ever flowing fountain to the gold dust in the stream to the mountain of our dream Digging deep down in the heart of the vein a major and a miner One chose to go the other would remain No pot of gold, no silver liner Now the road was steep and the trail was rough and rocky And you had to keep your head up riding down that twisted switchback where the nights were cold and pitch black with a pick and ax and backpack When the tale is told and the songs have all been written May they echo through the canyon through the hills and through the valleys to the river to the sea from the mountain of our dream Digging deep down … From the mountain of our dream, to the fools gold in the stream From the misty, magic mountain, To the stream in to the sea Through the hills and through the valleys To the river to the sea ©2021 Boz Metzdorf
3.
Ute Creek Eulogy 04:38
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We all rode up the mountain on that fateful summer night Looking for the cabin trying to find the light The road was steep and twisted didn’t want us to be there The night was dark and ominous but we didn’t care We saw a light and followed it and found a cabin there Old George the miner lived alone George he didn’t care He told us stories all that night and then he told us what they say He told us all about a dude they call Lincoln Jose And he said son the spirit’s strong up on Ute Creek And it ain’t all that good hear what I speak The white man raped the land for yellow gold But the mountain got ‘em back or so I’m told He said old Linc is gonna shoot you dead if you walk upon his land But then he said there’s lots of folks who’ll lend a helping hand We told him thanks and then we walked away with visions in our mind Wondering what would lie ahead wondering what we’d find And he said son the spirit’s strong up on Ute Creek And it ain’t all that good hear what I speak The white man raped the land for yellow gold But the mountain got ‘em back or so I’m told Then we settled in and tried to live But the mountain seemed to take more than to give It finally made us leave and others too ‘Course that’s what we were told it would do And he said son the spirit’s strong up on Ute Creek And it ain’t all that good hear what I speak The white man raped the land for yellow gold But the mountain got ‘em back or so I’m told Yeah the mountain got ‘em back or so I’m told ©Steve Strong Keys
4.
Earth Medicine 03:39
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She walks through the mountains I see her by the trail she’s always leaving Picking to a plant, she’s harvesting the part that carries healing These plants are a medicine that never can be bought This knowledge is a legacy that only can be taught By the old ones who still remember how To the bold ones those few who listen n ow Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Harvesting the cattails, she gathers pollen that she needs for blessing Teaching her children, passing on the knowledge and the lessons These medicine ways are here today from an older time Because of those who listen to the ancient wordless rhyme Of the old ones who still remember when there were bold ones Medicine women, medicine men The change is here the time has come at last Our future hopes are rooted in the past Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Change is here the time has come at last Our future hopes are rooted in the past Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal change is here the time has come at last Our future hopes are rooted in the past Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine, Earth Medicine heal ©Jeff Schroeder
5.
Music's for Dancing 03:41
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Music’s For Dancing Music’s for dancing, music’s for romancing It’s for singing with your friends Music’s for laughing, music’s for loving Won’t you play that song again, and again? When I was younger I felt the hunger To play in a rock n roll band But I couldn’t live on applause and promises People just don’t understand Changes are a long time comin’ They‘re a long time gone But when it all works out You just move along, singing a song Come on and sing along SOLO Steve then Doug Music’s for living, music’s for learning It’ll teach you where you have been Music’s just another way of prayin’, Lord Let me be holy again, and again When we were younger we felt the hunger To play in a rock n roll band But we couldn’t live on applause and promises People just don’t understand Changes are a long time comin’ They‘re a long time gone But when it all worked out We just moved along, we’re singing a song Come on and sing along ©1973 Tommy Wiggins/Jeff Schroeder
6.
To Be Free 04:04
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Out of the dark into the fog the riders rode On to the trail to where the winding river flowed Into the deep and darkest canyons they rode on Carry the torn and tattered flag into the dawn There was the bugler and the drummer in the lead Sounding the call to battle starting the stampede Into the field to where the enemy encamped Into the books of history their deeds were stamped The song of freedom the bugler would play As the drum beat the march of liberty They laid their lives on the line in their time To be free, to be free Into the roar of rifle fire they charged on Waving the bayonets and swords that they had drawn Into the bellowing cries of battle they would ride Leaving the bloody boots and saddles where they died The song of freedom the bugler would play As the drum beat the march of liberty They laid their lives on the line in their time To be free, to be free ©2020 Boz Metzdorf
7.
Buffalo Gulch 04:03
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If you ramble thru the western woods And you come across a town called Elk It’s ten to one you’re way off course But wait ‘fore you go cursin' to hell Well it may be the devil done you dirt Or perhaps your maps was wrong But any stranger on the street Will send you right along Down to Buffalo Gulch in the green, green meadow Red beans stewin' in a big black kettle Sky so blue, sun so yellow Hello Buffalo goodbye troubles and blues So you run your rig down Pinegrove Road Past the hideaways and the huts Mile and a half and you take a left Do your best to stay outta them ruts Jam ‘er in low and down you go You gotta hold that wheel tight Just around the bend you’re gonna find the end Whooee that’s quite a sight You done somethin right You made it to Buffalo Gulch And if they got the bonfire blazin bright The sauna stocked with steam You bake your bones by the sizzlin stones And hit the crick with a scream With a newborn soul you take a stroll To the Buffalo family tent That pot o’ stew is awaiting for you You wonder where your worries went Set a spell with the Buffalo gals Shoot the breeze with the mountain men As the embers die and moon gets high You know you’re comin back again Back to Buffalo Gulch And if they got that sweat lodge stocked with steam The bonfire blazin bright You’re in the zone and you’re never alone Try to make it last all night ©1976 Dave Cushing
8.
Morning Sunlight 03:01
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She came from heaven as sweet as she can be Up Chumley Holler road down in middle Tennessee Life can be tough in those hills all alone Cold dark starless nights that chill you to the bone Morning sunlight spills upon the kitchen floor Bathes brown eyes that only beg for more Two lost souls set afoot one cold November night Come north with me, it’ll be alright We shared, we cherished our short five years I can see you clearly through time and through tears Morning sunlight spills upon the kitchen floor Bathes brown eyes that only beg for more Morning sunlight spills upon the kitchen floor Bathes brown eyes that only beg for more ©Doug Rymerson
9.
On Your Watch 04:32
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On your watch Did you stay alert Did you see the shadows Crawl across the dirt Did you send up flares Give a warning shout That the lines were crossed There’s only one way out On your watch There was the story of the sinking fellowship Where every creature had their future at stake Who came together in the times that they were given To see what difference they could make And so they all faced the fate of their time To win the war and not fight another day And we’ll remember them for now and forever The price for freedom they would pay On your watch Were you wide-awake While the rest were resting With it all at stake Did you guard the gate When it all looked lost When the hour was late When the line was crossed On your watch I guess the moral of the story grows old Go for the glory and give up the gold Their is a devil in the details of desire How many could throw that ring in the fire?
10.
Storm Bound 04:22
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Best be stayin’ close to home this evening It’s blowing from the north and it’s freezing cold Snow is falling all around The darkened prairie skies The only sound is winter blowing down the road They say the highway’s closed on down from Cheyanne Stranded folks’ve got nowhere to go Like a sparrow in a storm who has surely lost his way Far from home and much alone He knows he’s fallen prey to the Storm bound, whistling sound That’s blowing all around him Hawk-like shrill of the winter kills His chances, as the wind, she dances over him Solo Drifts deep on snowy peaks And the frozen plains below Wind howls and the ground it creaks And it really stopped the show All I know is it’s twenty below So damn cold that my car won’t go ‘n there’s that winter blowin’ down the road My heart goes to the wandering soul Who’s out there in the cold To stranded folks who got nowhere to go (Sparrows in the storm They have lost their way Far from home and much alone) In the storm bound, whistling sound That’s blowing all around them Hawk-like shrill of the winter kills the chances, as the wind, she dances over them So it goes…. ©1974 Tommy Wiggins
11.
River Dream 04:26
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That big Ponderosa out back is leaning into the wind And I don’t know if I will ever get myself home again But this will pass, and so I let it go I’ll look at the sun that surely comes And let that river flow I’m going down to the river, and wash my weary soul I’m going bathe in the water, drink until I’m whole I’m gonna fade into the darkness, let it carry me I’m gonna leave all this sadness, flow until I’m free once again Oh, that river is my friend Last night I heard the owls calling, and the voices of ancient spirits It’s not a comfortable sound but it thrills me when I hear it Joining the choir, singing what rocks know Into the stream a hoot owl dreams, let that river flow I’m going down to the river, wash my weary soul I’m going bathe in the water, drink until I’m whole I’m gonna fade into the darkness, and let it carry me I’m leave all this sadness, flow until I’m free once again Oh, that river never ends And then the sun opens my eyes And I feel the touch of your hand Oh, but even in your embrace I wonder If I’m a man dreaming a river, or a river dreaming a man I’m going down to the river, and wash my weary soul I’m going bathe in the water, drink until I’m whole I’m gonna fade into the darkness, and let it carry me I’m leave all this sadness, flow until I’m free Oh, Im headed to the sea Gonna let that river carry me Gonna let that river carry me Gonna let that river carry me ©Jeff Schroeder
12.
Silver Moon 03:14
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I’ve always thought that what you love You should take care of The ones you live with And where you call home The running water And the air you breath in The bees all buzzin’ At the honeycomb Silver moon Just a sliver in the eye Shinin down On the people passin’ by Silver moon When you’re full You fill the sky With the golden glow Of luminosity To light the way Watching the sun set While the moon is on the rise Above the treeline In a scarlet sky Wondering whether We will ever meet again The years keep flyin’ by Silver moon ... ©2017 Boz Metzdorf
13.
Doin' Alright 05:14
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Well, I sat down here this morning wanted to write a new song But everything just seemed to turn out wrong The words weren’t coming easy, that’s for sure But I think I found myself a natural cure Hey I’m doing all right, I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time Yeah I’m doing all right, I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time I’ve heard it said that you create your own reality If that’s the case you know it seems to me That I can do what I set my mind to If I want to write this song that’s what I’ll do Oh yeah I’m doing all right, said I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time I’m doing all right, lord I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time Things are getting better all the time la la la la la la la la la Oh writers block, please go away Come again some other day Or better yet, don’t come at all Oh writers block I’ve seen the writing on the wall Well here I am right now I am at the third verse Don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse But considering how I started out This verse is really something to shout about If I keep this up and you know I am willin’ I could be as prolific as Bob Dylan And I have to say it would be swell, son If I could write a song like Willie Nelson Oh yeah, I’m doing all right, said I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time Doing all right, said I’m doing just fine Things are getting better all the time. Better better so much better, better all the time Better better so much better, better all the time ©Steve Strong Keys
14.
Making Our Way 03:55
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Slowin’ down for a little while Is messin’ with my style Legs won’t go like they used to Kinda freaks me out I did not see it comin’, no What’s a boy to do But move a little slower Cuz I got stuff to do Ribbon roads of two lane I ain’t never seen Turn my wheels into the sun Driving down a dream Winding on a westward run Is twenty kinds of fun I may move a little slower But I’m not the only one Makin’ my way Along life’s highway These bones are getting’ older So I move a little slower And I pray, that someday I’ll take this feeling with me when I go Solo Some of us are built for comfort Some of us for speed Burn the candle at both ends ‘till we can hardly breathe Singing for the fences Or riding on the benches Roll the dice, live our lives There’s so much to see Ribbon roads of two lane That we have never seen Turn our wheels into the sun Driving down our dream Makin’ our way Along life’s highway We may move a little slower These boned are getting’ older And we pray that someday We can take this feeling with us when we go ©2018 Tommy Wiggins
15.
Nothin' But Love 03:24
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The passages of time are not so kind to some Now the chosen ones bear witness To the change about to come It hangs in the air like a balloon It’s coming to your town and country soon It’s fair to say that the underdog Has been thrown a bone to pick He bites down hard but the overlord Is equipped with a brittle stick Through the ages on and on it goes The battle rages as the climate grows It’s something that we ever got this far There’s nothin going to change the way things are Nothin but love You could worry sick at the very thought It could all go up in smoke But We settle back and ignore that fact As we take another toke There’s a rumbling in the underground below And it’s shaking every structure that we know It’s something you can never take away It’s nothin when you give yourself away Nothin but love Nothin but love ©2016 Boz Metzdorf
16.
Memories Are Songs 02:58
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There’s a song in every memory that we make All of our accomplishments, all of our mistakes Every single one’s another song Of who we are, where we belong When you can’t do it like you’ve done before And melancholy knocks upon your door Look back on the loving in your life It’s alright Memories are songs that we can sing along Stories of our lives and what we hold inside There’s a song in every memory that we make Memories are markers along life’s road As the miles go ticking by, stories will be told There are those that we know every part By heart So dear friend, sit back in that chair Watch your years go streaming ‘cross the window, There’s a simple pleasure living our old songs Memories are songs that we can sing along Stories of our lives and what we hold inside Yes, memories are songs that we can sing along Stories of our lives and what we hold inside There’s a song in every memory that we make A song in every memory that we make Memories are songs ©2022 Tommy Wiggins
17.
The Song Lives On 04:53
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All the time we had went by In the blinking of your eye All the songs we left unsung Two guitars are left unstrung The nights we played On the stage of life The music of our time We had a way where we could keep the song Keep the song alive I know you say to me now Don’t be sad But that’s not something I can promise you I lay awake And dream of morning sunlight And cry myself to sleep You were there for all those years Through the laughter and the tears Heading back, you had my back To help keep me on the track And now the time has come To say goodbye And so I say so long Our lives are weaved together Words and melody And so the song lives on All the time we had went by All the time we had All the time… ©2022 Boz Metzdorf
18.
Kalah 03:11
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Picking up on things you’d left behind So many tries you think you must be blind It’s a notion that you carried inside Not enough to hide it’s that with which you’re lined The old melody is just what you need To keep the flow from standing still Don’t think of it as your time to kill It all depends on how you look at your life You can grow you know if you let your feelings set it right Don’t put it off my friend, ‘cuz it’s bound to come around again Don’t let it mess you up this time, it’s your turn to make the climb That same melody can always be free From time to time try to keep in mind What can give you peace ain’t too hard to find Think it over and I’m sure that you’ll agree Please look me in the eye when I pass you by on the street Don’t put it off my friend cuz it’s gonna come around again What I’ve got I’ll gladly lend if the feeling spent can help to mend Cuz it ain’t yours, and it ain’t mine But it’s all of ours if we take the time If your words and acts don’t sometimes rhyme This song’s about you, too ©1970 Tommy Wiggins
19.
Ride With The Devil 03:18
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Ride with the devil now He’ll take you where you want to go It’s time to level now You’ve played the game enough to know He’s movin’ faster Gonna lead you all astray Spreading disaster As he shows the way You’ve seen a glimpse of hell Now you know you can’t look back You’ve got to push ahead Try to keep it on the track You know you’ve burned past The fuse of desire And now you’ve learned fast The danger of fire And when you’ve sold your soul Piece of mind’s the price you’ll pay It’s gonna posses you Haunt you til your dyin’day He’s movin’ faster Gonna lead you all astray Spreading disaster As he shows the way It’s a never ending ride You can’t run, you can’t hide You can only scream And hope that someone hears When you start to pick up speed You’re gonna find that you will need Just a little more To get you on your way Ride, ride, ride, catch a ride Ride, ride, ride, catch a ride ©1968 Boz Metzdorf

about

UTE CREEK EULOGY
The Utes were a Native American tribe that lived long ago in the Colorado mountains and surrounding area. Their music was inspired by natural surroundings: peaks, woodlands, rivers, streams, and wildlife. Music and song were extremely important parts of their culture. Medicine songs, dance songs, war songs, love songs and story songs were each based on a personal experience, whether social, spiritual or emotional.

Fifty years ago a band of musicians who called themselves Freeland ventured out to those Colorado mountains from the Land of Sky Blue Waters with their first album, Headin’ Back, and took up residence in Ute Creek Canyon. Due to the usual circumstances that bring down bands – different musical directions, lack of funds, family responsibilities and the like – the band split up. For a while, that is. In 2006 they reunited to record Almost Home, their second album.

The story of Freeland could have ended there. But it didn’t. Five decades since their first LP, they’ve united once more to record Ute Creek Eulogy. The title song, Ute Creek Eulogy tells of characters they encountered along the front range of the Rockies back in the day. Although Freeland created these songs in modern times, they reflect many of the same dreams and aspirations of those who inhabited the sacred mountains long before us. For Dave, Steve, Boz, Doug, Jeff and Tommy, Freeland lives on.

UTE CREEK EULOGY is dedicated to Doug Rymerson, who passed shortly after finishing his last guitar parts on this recording.

credits

released July 18, 2023

Freeland is
Dave Cushing - drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, vocals
Steve Keys - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, vocals
Boz Metzdorf - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals
Doug Rymerson - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Jeff Schroeder - acoustic guitar, vocals
Tommy Wiggins - acoustic guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, vocals
Guest musician - Denny Hemingson - Electric guitar, pedal steel, dobro

Produced by Freeland
Mixed and Mastered by Tommy
Tracking engineers - Dave, Tommy, Boz, Connor Leveillee
Cover Art, Design, photos - Boz
Graphic editing - Aaron Carper
Special shout out to Connor for above and beyond the call of duty

Bonus tracks -
Kalah was recorded and mixed by John Tuttle for Freeland's 1972 album Heading Back but not ron the album.
Ride With The Devil was a staple on Freeland's 1972's setlist but not recorded until later.

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Tommy Wiggins Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville’s Tommy Wiggins began writing songs by kerosene lamp in a Rocky Mountain cabin. He’s been writing, recording and performing his own funky blend of folky, bluesy, country-funk ever since. Tommy recently bought a camper van and is writing songs along the road. New album in 2022 - "When My Brain Goes On Vacation." When your brain goes on vactation, where do YOU go? ... more

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