Additional Notes:

No Notes Available

Backstory:

One cold night in Chicago I headed to NorthSide to "Somebody Elses' Troubles" to hear some music.  Steve Goodman was part owner of this small bar that had a great music venue.  He and some of the other owners were connected to the Old Town School of Folk Music. I had a brief flirtation with Steve Goodman, as our eyes connected, and that moment has stayed with me for all these years.  That night I went home and home a poem about my experience and published it in my college paper.  I lost the poem, but the memory stayed with me and in reflecting on his music, I decided to write this tribute to Steve.   I loved his ability to tell a story through song, and his vivacious energy for which he delivered a song. Like many very talented musicians, the chords just flowed off his guitar, and he had a simple grace and style.  I was deeply saddened by the loss of this talented individual, and even though I know it probably has no commercial value, it is a song that has meaning to me and perhaps others who were a fan of Steve Goodman.   This is an older recording from when I was just learning how to record at home it has a few cracks in the recording, so not perfect.   As an aside, one of his fun songs, "Lincoln Park Pirates," to which I make reference, is about the towing company that would prey on people and they would charge exorbitant prices to get your car back.  You had to have cash on hand.  Well, they got me one night.  His jumping version of the classic, "Mama Don't Allow," is another one with some great mandolin playing from none other than Jethro Burns.  The boyish energy of this troubadour will always be in my heart.

Lyrics:

                                                  
V1

I shook your hand in friendship

Your eyes pierced through my heart

You offered a warm grip

We hit it off right from the start



You looked at me in question

I said, 'I had a good time"

With just a hint of suggestion

Living life in its prime



Prechorus

You left me cooing with delight

Your words of advice stay with me



Chorus

You'd say don't go lookin' for trouble

Trouble will find you

Life can't be lived in a bubble

Your songs were my rescue

Worth much more than the daily double

Time would be short, I guess you knew

Somebody else's troubles will catch up with 

And now I understand it must be true



Somebody else's troubles

Might be a blind spot, but it will find you

It will find you



V2

Your songs were soft with sincere charm

Words revealing you were in search of

Sensations, that could set off fire alarms

You sang about never-ending love



Old-fashioned tunes graced with your boyish style

You still do what mama don't allow

I was captured by your smile

So humble you barely took a bow



Prechorus

You left me cooing with delight

Your words of advice stay with me



Chorus

You'd say don't go lookin' for trouble

Trouble will find you

Life can't be lived in a bubble

Your songs were my rescue

Worth much more than the daily double

Time would be short, I guess you knew

Somebody else's troubles will catch up with 

And now I understand it must be true



Somebody else's troubles

Might be a blind spot, but it will find you

It will find you



V3

Somebody else's troubles don't set you free

They come around unexpectedly

You're not excused cause you don't see

Pay it forward, like good ole Steve



You were the Lincoln Park Pirate

Who stole his way into my heart

You didn't need my permission 'cause

Every song was Old Town folk art



Outro

Somebody else's troubles don't mean I can't see

Everything that happens touches me

But thankfully I got your music

And my memories of Steve