August 21:  The secret of love is in opening up your heart… “Secret O’ Life” by James Taylor for my dear friend Susan Bamel Glickman (our grandmothers Hazel & Rose were bffs) who has definitely found the secret… Happy Birthday, Bames; skip around the room!  xoxo  LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY

August 20: We get to carry each other… “One” sung by Mary J. Blige & Bono (written by Bono).  Happy Birthday (and thanks for the great song) to the wonderfully inspiring & supportive Jeanie Bacharach. xo LYRICS & SONGFACTS  SPOTIFY

August 19: Settle down to a peach of a life… “Everything Is Peaches Down In Georgia” performed by the Betty Smith Quintet. Music by Milton Ager & George W. Meyer with lyrics by Grant Clarke.  Lyric video made by Sing Daily with love for all my Swinging ‘Gates friends, especially my mentor, Cindy Dietzel (thinking about her wonderful mom, Eileen Dietzel, today).   SING ALONG WITH SHEET MUSIC SINGER SPOTIFY

August 18:  See the love there that’s sleeping… “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by George Harrison and The Beatles.  Happy Birthday to Laura Nelson (a little White Album for Jim, too).  xoxo LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY

August 17: You’re here in my heart… “Rewrite The Stars” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and sung by Zac Efron and Zendaya from The Greatest Showman.  LYRICS & SONGFACTS  SPOTIFY

August 16:  Did you ever say a prayer for me?  “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel.  LYRICS & SONGFACTS CHORDS SPOTIFY

August 15:  Birds all sing as if they knew… “Chapel of Love” written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and made famous by The Dixie Cups in 1964.  Happy Birthday to Mary Sue Welch and thanks to Elaine Camerota for the song suggestion.  LYRICS & SONGFACTS  SPOTIFY

August 14: She’ll catch some blackbird’s wing… “Gulf Coast Highway” sung by Nanci Griffith with Mac McAnally; written by Nanci Griffith, James Hooker and Danny Flowers.  LYRICS & CHORDS SONG HISTORY  SPOTIFY  When I was 22, I played guitar and sang at the Sitzmark at the Alta Lodge (Dennis Flynn would give me free drinks, which was a good bargain for him because I’d yet to discover that I like scotch).  One night, a man told me that I sounded like Nanci Griffith and I should listen to her songs. Even though I don’t sound anything like Nanci Griffith that night was the very beginning of a lifetime not-so-little love affair with her voice, her music and her performances.   I am forever grateful to that guy who introduced me to Nanci Griffith, whoever you are.  Rest in peace, Nanci, and enjoy the flight. xo

August 13: Faces pass and I’m home bound…  “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton.  LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY

August 12:   I’d never go driving away and come back home without you… “Contact” by Phish.  Happy Birthday to Ken Shifman.  LYRICS & TAB/CHORDS  SPOTIFY