The Ballad Of Billy Saigon

by Wes and Victoria

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about

An Americana Album in a Dylan vein with some great reviews:

author: Shaun H. and the radioindy.com reviewer team
“The Ballad Of Billy Saigon” by Wes and Victoria is folk rock/Americana at its best and deserves a good listen from any fan of that genre. Originally hailing from Texas, the duo’s work has that southern feel and is a great mix of folk, rock, country and good ol’ cowboy music. Wes has a very unique singing voice that is particularly raw, letting you feel every note and word he is singing. The harmonica talent of Victoria is well highlighted on songs like “Trail of Tears,” and it sounds great. There is also a very welcoming Rolling Stones-influenced number called “Love Got a Mind of Its Own,” a song that could easily be compared to anything the Stones did in their best years. For listeners that enjoy folk rock and Bob Dylan, Wes and Victoria’s “The Ballad Of Billy Saigon” is definitely worth listening to.

Rootstime Magazine writes of "The Ballad of Billy Saigon:

" The lyrics have a healing quality and Victoria's harp playing adds a "soundtrack" feeling to the songs"
"Reunion" (my favorite) en "Beauty Way" both gems, are nice examples of these two elements combined to form those wonderful songs"
"Another thing is the perfect sound quality of this record,
which almost literally took blood sweat and tears and a lot of time in the making. This turned it even more into a small masterpiece which grows on you every time you play it...over and over again...

And Chris K- aka Goat from MileHighMusic and The Colorado Sound on KFRC 88.9 FM writes:

There's something raw and natural about "folk" music. It cannot be made up; either it's present or it isn't. There's a reason why so many great players are on this record. All I can say is, "Welcome to Colorado Wes and Victoria, and thank you for sharing your music with us." This album is as real as it gets ...

Hall of Fame Songwriter and Oscar Winner Paul Williams:

“Powerful stuff ... haunting, tortured, unique ... uplifting in a 'friend pulling you up and over a concrete wall' kind of way .. it's about the masculinity, that frames the feminine of your performance ..
Reunion is I think the best song ... the best performance .. It's like a birthing and a struggle to be born .. both at the same time.
Vic's harmonica and harmonies are portraits .. movies .... Somebody's gonna grab 'Billy' or one of the other songs or maybe the whole album and put it on the big screen. It deserves a long life.

credits

released 01 January 2008
The Ballad of Billy Saigon" CD features the following artists:

Albert Lee- Guitar. Albert has spent the last few years touring with the Everly Brothers in addition to his own solo projects. One of the world's
preeminent guitarists, Albert has toured and recorded with Eric Clapton
and Emmylou Harris and a long list of others.

Stephen Bruton- Guitar. Bruton was well known as a producer for artists such
as Hal Michael Ketchum and for his own solo work. He was Kris
Kristofferson's guitarist before becoming Bonnie Raitt's musical
director and guitarist during her late 80's Grammy spree. RIP Stephen!!!

Gary Bolen- Guitars, Bass. Gary is another one of those rockin' Texas guitar
players, even if he is from Mississippi.

David Palmer- Drummer. David currently tours with Rod Stewart, having
spent time in ABC.

Tony Sales- Bass. Tony was a founding member of David Bowie's Tin
Machine, and was also bassist for Iggy Pop.

Paul Landsittel- Mandolin. A longtime Colorado bluegrass and folk
performer.

Marc Goodman- Organ. Marc has toured with Taj Mahal and Sister Sledge
among others.

Dana Walden- Organ, Piano. Dana is a hit songwriter and founding member
of the group Champaign, which scored a million seller with the Dana
penned tune "How Bout Us".

Lee Ann Harris- Percussion. Lee Ann is a versatile jazz musician whose
touring credits include Toni Childs.

Justin Walden- Drums, Percussion. A recording artist whose
drumming and programming work has been a part of multiplatinum
records by Korn, Orgy and Seven Dust.

Chris Lawrence- Pedal Steel. Chris is a veteran of the road, and founder of
the seminal LA country rock outfit the Neon Angels.

Nathalie Archangel- Vocals. Former MCA recording artist and songwriter
whose work includes covers by Bette Midler.

Victoria Beaufort Hamil- Harmonica, Vocals. Victoria is a top rate session
player, and her work has been featured in scores for CBS Movies, television
specials and commercials worldwide. Her recordings include tracks with
Johnny Cash, Roy Rogers, Robert Altman, Hans Zimmer and others.

Wes Hamil- Veteran Songwriter who has written with Oscar winner Paul
Williams, among others. On this recording he played Acoustic Guitars, bass,
percussion, "lesliecaster" and vocals.

tags

tags: americana americana rock alt-folk folk Lone Tree

license

all rights reserved

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about

Wes and Victoria are American Artists. Their music touches the hard times in life with hope and ... more possibility.

Wes Hamil as an award wining writer whose music appears in compilations alongside Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon.

Victoria is an exceptional harmonica players who has worked with Robert Altman and recorded on tracks featuring Johnny Cash.

The duo has lived in Austin and LA. less

contact / help

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For all other inquiries, click here.

Track Name: Orphans
Orphans

Hey Brother, where you gonna sleep tonight
There's no room, for you in the inn tonight
Guess nobody heard God ain't got no orphans

Hey Sister, how you gonna heal the pain
Abandoned, yeah you thrown away again
Guess nobody heard, God ain't got no orphans
Guess nobody heard, God ain't got no orphans

Good Father, readin' from your holy book
Please teach me, can you show me where to look
Point me to the page, says God ain't got no Orphans
Really want to see the page, says God ain't got no Orphans

Sweet Mother, can you keep the children blessed
Sweet Mother, find them a safe place to rest
They really need to learn, God ain't got no Orphans
Really need to learn, God ain't got no Orphans
Track Name: Innocence Avenue
Innocence Avenue

I am a five year old I live inside this body
Seems to be much older than the way I really feel
Spend all of my time inside of buildings filled with doctors
they give me pills to help me see the things they say are real
I'm out here by the ocean on a park bench with my blanket
The stars all look so beautiful it makes me want to cry
and the difference between what I see and what I call my vision
is the difference between living and waiting round to die

I live on Innocence Avenue- all of my dreams are easy to find
quarter at a time.

I'm a senior citizen I live inside this body
Seems to be much older than the way I really feel
spend all of my time in front of this damned old television
tries so hard to sell me things that I know just aren't real
I'm out here by the bus stop with my overcoat and paper
the people look so beaten down it makes we want to cry
and the difference between what I see and what I call my vision
is the difference between living and waiting round to die

I live on Innocence Avenue- all of my dreams are easy to find
memory at a time.

I am thirteen years old I live in side this body
Its trying to be older than the way I really feel
Spend all of my time inside of buildings filled with teachers
trying hard to teach me things that I know just aren't real
I'm out here in the school yard with my textbooks and my papers
The clouds all look so beautiful it makes me want to fly
and the difference between what I see and what I call my vision
is the difference between living and waiting round to die

I live on Innocence Avenue- all of my dreams are easy to find
lesson at a time.

I'm as old as history I live inside this body
looks just like this planet that is orbiting the sun
spend all of my time inside this shell covered with people
Busy finding brand news ways to undo all I've done
I'm out here in the universe, I'm spinning in a circle
Slowly getting older and you know I wonder why
that the difference between what we see and what we call our vision
is the difference between living and waiting round to die

Down here on Innocence Avenue- all of our dreams are easy to find
On Innocence Avenue- all of our dreams are easy to find
Track Name: Where The Angels Rendezvous
Meet Me Where The Angels Rendezvous

Man I've kissed the devil, far too many times
Looked into the mirror, old before my prime
Funny how that game is always over, long before its through
Strange how self destruction'll bring you to your knees
Never even notice when you're dying by degrees
I settled into darkness, lost without a clue, then I found you,
and you said Meet me where the angels rendezvous

All of that frustration, all the bitter tears
All of that self rightousness I used to hide my fears
Just defenses, keeping me from you
Trapped inside the anger, trapped inside the shame
Trapped inside the victim that I thought I had to play
Desperate for affection, I found you
and you said Meet me where the angels rendezvous

I have seen those angels in the secrets I had hidden down inside my heart
I have felt those angels in the love that I have come to find for you

If you feel abandoned, if you're all alone
All your dreams are broken, all your love has gone
I will be there waiting, this I promise you
Meet me where the angels rendezvous
Meet me where the angels rendezvous
Meet me where the angels rendezvous
Track Name: All I Really Know About Love
All I Really Know About Love

Can't ya see those stars tonight, they're big as silver dollars
Underneath these pale headlights I feel that highway call
Back to times we had before the miles rolled them away
Back to times before we knew about, all those dues we'd have to pay

Let's run this road from coast to coast, chase down all our holy ghosts
Face the things we fear the most, leave some bridges burnin'
After all gets said and done, when there's no road left to run
Swear to God you'll be the one, that stops this crazy yearning
I don't know, what love is, all I really know about love is you

Love to see you sitting there, you look like such a vision
Watch the wind blow through your hair, laughter's in your eyes
Who'd beleive we'd still be here with what life's put us through
Still don't know where this road goes or what its leadin' to

Let's run this road from coast to coast, chase down all our holy ghosts
Face the things we fear the most, leave some bridges burnin'
After all gets said and done, when there's no road left to run
Swear to God you'll be the one, that stops this crazy yearning
I don't know, what love is, all I really know about love is you

Ain't nobody really knows, where love's 'sposed to lead
All I know is I found you and I was lookin' so hard for me

Let's run this road from coast to coast, chase down all our holy ghosts
Face the things we fear the most, leave some bridges burnin'
After all gets said and done, when there's no road left to run
Swear to God you'll be the one, that stops this crazy yearning
I don't know, what love is, all I really know about love is you
All I really know about love is you
All I really know about love is you
Track Name: Denial
Denial

Noone ever sees her coming, she sneaks up on you by degrees
Sends your fantasies just running, calls herself reality
She'll come looking in your mirror, she'll come to you in the night
Strip away all of your secrets, hold your dreams up to the light

Lord I hope your heart is ready, for that Stranger called the Truth
Though her burden may feel heavy, well her love's the sweetest fruit,
the sweetest fruit -the sweetest....

Well at first it isn't easy, looking truth straight in the eye
Though her visit's always fleeting, well she never says goodbye
She'll be there when you need her, when you're done with telling lies
She'll suprise you with her beauty, yeah she'll never compromise

Lord I hope your heart is ready, for that Stranger called the Truth
Though her burden may feel heavy, well her love's the sweetest fruit,
the sweetest fruit - the sweetest....

I've heard rumors, she's an angel, dressed up just like pain
Once you meet her, that all changes, your heart rearranges,
man you're never quite the same

Lord I hope your heart is ready, for that Stranger called the Truth
Though her burden may feel heavy, well her love's the sweetest fruit,
the sweetest fruit - the sweetest....

Lord I hope your heart is ready, for that Stranger called the Truth
Though her burden may feel heavy, well her love's the sweetest fruit,
the sweetest fruit - the sweetest....
Track Name: Holes
Holes

There's holes between the notes in all the music
There's holes between the singer and the song
There's holes between the present, past and future
There's holes where all our hopes and fears have gone
In between those holes is where I'm standing
Careful that I don't go falling through
Love ties all those holes together
The one who taught me that was you

There's holes between the thinking and the doing
There's holes that only Spirit seems to fill
There's holes between the dreaming and what happens
And a sadness that gets awful hard to kill
In between those holes is where I'm standing
Careful that I don't go falling through
Love ties all those holes together
The one who taught me that was you

All of these things tear your heart wide open
When your heart's wide open you can live
In between the wishing and the hoping
Fill those holes, with what you got to give

There's holes between the living and the dying
There's holes between the going and the gone
There's holes between the words and all their meanings
Sometimes they're the deepest holes of all
In between those holes is where I'm living
Careful that I don't go falling through
Love ties all those holes together
The one who taught me that was you
The one who taught me that was you
Track Name: Reunion
Reunion

Well I guess that separation begins the day we're born
And we spend our whole life searching, trying to feel safe and warm
That Spirit that we're made of, it gets so hard to find
A struggle for Reunion, heartbeat at a time

I have taken many saviors, as I've wandered down life's road
Well they worked till they stopped working, then I had to let them go
That journey back to Spirit, man that's such an uphill climb
A struggle for Reunion, heartbeat at a time

Lord if you here me, answer this one prayer
Help me to feel you, show me that you're there
I struggle for Reunion, I struggle for Reunion

I have had those moments, I was absolutely sure
Wasn't nothing can't be mended, yes and love's the only cure
You know I wish that feeling, would stay frozen in my mind
I struggle for Reunion, I struggle for Reunion, I struggle for Reunion
Heartbeat at a time
Track Name: Love Is As Love Does
Love Is As Love Does

I can see by your pain you're in a terrible state
Well I identify, I commiserate,
Better get you some help now before it's too late,
I hear love is the key to it all
Well talk is just talk, Love is as it walks

You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
Love is as Love does

Can you tell by my pain I'm a serious mess,
I got secrets my friend that I need to confess
If I say what I feel I'll be taking a risk, people start running away
People I need are the people who stay

You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
Love is as Love does

Love may be blind and it may be for fools
but True love is kind you know its never cruel
Its a state in your mind, its the gold in your rule
Only one thing to say, Love's never Love till you give it away

You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love

If you see love as a physical thing, it'll die on the vine like the flowers of spring
When you find love in those things that you do, you need that love
Well its right there for you

You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
Love is as Love does

You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
You can cry, you can cry, you can cry for love
Love is as Love does
Love is as Love does
Love is as Love does
Track Name: Beautyway
Beauty Way

When you want to give up, when you want to give in
May you find in your heart what it means to surrender and win
Know that its true, even when its not clear
A Spirit much greater than this, is keeping us here
Dream all your best dreams, Pray in the way that you Pray
Know that you're here to walk, the Beauty Way

I can honor the past, if I'll bury my pride
Come to beleive that the riches we need are inside
Know that its true, even through all the fear
There's more to this life than the flesh and bone
The sweat and the blood and the tears
Dream all your best dreams, Pray in the way that you Pray
Know that you're here to walk, the Beauty Way

Beauty's the strength that you get from your lover's caress
And Beauty's the courage we finally find when our fear puts our faith to the test
Its all of the passion, its all of the pain
Beauty means balancing all of the losses together with all of the pain

One day when my spirit, is just a voice in the wind
And my vision is finally free, just to dream me again
My Brothers and Sisters, they Give me Away
They don't say goodbye, they just pray I walk the Beauty way
Dream all your best dreams, Pray in the way that you Pray
Know that you're here to walk, the Beauty Way
Know that you're here to walk, the Beauty Way
Track Name: Love Got A Mind Of It's Own
Love Got A Mind Of Its Own

Lately I been thinkin' I don't really know
Just where this love affair of ours is 'sposed to go
Sometimes I think I'm stayin', sometimes I think I'll go
Guess there's only one thing, I can say for sure
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own

Runs you round in circles, drives you half-insane
Try not to think about it, think about it all the same
I went to a doctor, he said there was no cure
Said he could tell by lookin, "Son you got it bad for sure", he said
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own

I never knew what the fuss was about
Till I fell in love, then I found out
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own

You might be a rich man in a fancy limousine
You might be a poor boy with no money in your jeans
One thing is for certain, no matter what you do
You ain't done with love, until love's done with you
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own
Love's Got A Mind Of Its Own
Track Name: Stranger In My House
Stranger In My House

There's a stranger in my house, sleepin in my bed, wakin up the dead
There's a stranger in my house, no big suprise to see, looks alot like me
and I said Hey you, how'd you get behind my eyes,
I said, Hey you, how'd you get into my life
Who let you in- There's a stranger in my house

There's a hole here in my heart, feels alot like fear, doesn't let love near
There's a hole here in my heart, try to fill it in, stranger starts to grin
and I said, Hey you, how'd you get behind my eyes,
I said, Hey you, how'd you get into my life
Who let you in- There's a stranger in my house

Now that stranger's in, wants to be my friend, I can't give him what he's askin' for
Seems he wants my dreams, he's got his little schemes,
think its time I showed him to the door
There's a stranger in my house

There's a stranger in my house, sleepin in my bed, wakin up the dead
There's a stranger in my house, think he oughta know, its time for him to go
and I said Hey you, how'd you get behind my eyes,
I said, Hey you, how'd you get into my life
Who let you in-There's a stranger in my house
There's a stranger in my house
There's a stranger in my house
Track Name: Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears

This could be the day you see me fall head first into the past
This could be the day I finally pay for growing up so fast
I feel caught here in the middle, in between those can't explains
Knowing that you love me, I'll make it home again

I tried so hard not to stumble, never quite learned how to fall
Took your devils for a tumble, tried to beat them all
Well that Devil doesn't owe you what you fight so hard to save
Knowing that you love me, I'll make it home again

Lord I wish that I could find a way
A way around this trail of tears
But this map says that the road we're on
Its the only road, runs through here

This could be the final sunset, but it just might be a brand new dawn
Guess it really all comes down to, which side the world you're on
The only side that matters is where your loved ones know your name
Knowing that you love me, I'll make it home again
I'll make it home again
Track Name: The Ballad Of Billy Saigon
Ballad of Billy Saigon

Back in 1968, War was in the air, flowers all had power, kids all swore they cared
Billy's lucky number came up in the lottery, won himself an all expense paid trip across the sea
To Vietnam, from Uncle Sam, why thank you man

On his tour of duty Billy met a Saigon whore, Billy got her pregnant, she gave him a baby boy
Billy had a girl back home and he'd asked for her hand, little Asian babies weren't a part of Billy's plan

Billy left them both for dead like they were VietCong
Billy got back to the world and found his girl was gone to make her stand, 'gainst Vietnam, 'gainst Uncle Sam

Years went by, Billy tried to put that past behind, some times at night he'd swear he dreamed he heard a baby cry
Billy sat up sweating, and he'd stare into the night, looking for some shadow moving, like a firefight

So Billy went to Washington, he stood there at the Wall, he cried for every name of every brother he'd watched fall
And as he stood there looking, two names he couldn't find, the names of that young Saigon girl and kid he'd left behind.

Billy left them both for dead like they'd been VietCong
Billy got back to the world and found out he'd been wrong
Bout Vietnam, bout Uncle Sam, bout lotsa things.

He dug up old photos, bought a ticket for a plane, headed for that city that they now called Ho Chi Min
Billy spent a month or so just chasing after ghosts, found out that his memory, still guarded its post.

His last night there in Ho Chi Min he went out for a walk, he saw a woman and a young man in a restaurant
Billy recognized her, even after all the years, then he prayed to a God he'd damned to help him with his fear

Billy'd left them both for dead like they were VietCong
Billy came back from the world, he found them in Saigon, in Vietnam

Billy looked straight at her, as he walked into the room, she wouldn't look at Billy, she just swept up with her broom
Young man said to Billy, he said "hey there Uncle Sam, I'm sorry but its closing time, you need some help, American?"

Billy fought to find the words his feelings couldn't show, he looked at the woman, her eyes just told him no
The young man said to Billy, as he started towards the door, "You know my Dad was American, but he died in the war"

She had left Billy for dead like he'd been VietCong
She had raised her son up to be honest and be strong, in Vietnam, no Uncle Sam, no thank you man

Billy took a look at her, before he walked away, he could sworn he saw the smallest tear run down her face
Billy knew that there was no way that he could repay, and Billy knew her secret was too sacred to betray.

So Billy took a medal out, that he'd won for the war, he rubbed it on his sleeve one time, then gave it to that boy
He said, "I knew your father, son, when he was 'bout your age, and this was his, and now its yours", then Billy walked away

Billy left his past for dead like it was VietCong
Billy got back to his life to make right what was wrong 'bout Vietnam, bout Uncle Sam, bout lotsa things
Track Name: Touch Love
Touch Love

You got to want what you need, You got to want what you need
You got to own every tear your heart bleeds, if you want to touch love

We're gonna reap what we sow, we're gonna reap what we sow
We got to choose what we let our hearts grow, if we want to touch love

There are still so many things, I need to let go
When they've all been stripped away, maybe I'll know, maybe I'll know

We got to want what we need, We got to want what we need
We got to own every tear our hearts bleed, if we want to touch love
We got to own every tear our hearts bleed, If we want to touch love
We got to own, every tear, our hearts....bleed
Track Name: Liberty
Liberty

I heard of a woman, her name it was Liberty- I wondered if she was real
When I was a kid I heard stories about her, and wondered how her love might feel.

I heard that her beauty was worth more than any one man was prepared to defend
I wondered if I could ever grow up to be worthy of Liberty's hand

Time it went by, I forgot all about her, I wandered and rambled through years
Spent all my youth in a selfish rebellion, Instead of my freedom found fear

I turned alone into some kinda lonely, that nothing and no one could touch
Found out that nothing meant more than just empty, and nothing can hurt you so much

It wasn't easy, but somehow I managed to lose any hope that I had
I don't know why, but before it gets better, sometimes it just has to get bad

Just when I finally gave up on everything I saw sweet Liberty's face
Who'd ever dreamed I meet her at that very dark bottom of my fall from grace

I stood before her in broken humility, shamed by what I had become
She didn't turn away, she only held me, and suddenly I felt so young

I asked her if I could stay with her even though I felt quite sure she'd refuse
She only said in the kindest of whispers, "We all get the life that we choose"

If you see Liberty, tell her I love her and I'm still out here on the road
I do believe she's the fairest of beauties, and many a soul have I told

Stories of my journey down into darkness, and all that I just had to lose
So I could get to the place where I finally let Liberty teach me to choose
Track Name: Only Change Remains
Only Change Remains

If the child inside your heart's been beaten into silence
By a past you've never really understood
Everything you've loved in life's been threatened by the violence
That you've carried inside longer than you should
Fear is still your ball and chain
Only Change Remains

Driven by ambition so intolerant of failure
you have twisted dreams that started out so pure
Desperate for affection, for all of your successes
they have yet to make you feel less insecure
Fear is still your ball and chain
Only Change Remains

If the day should come that you can set aside your demons
Find a way to reconcile the fear
Look into the moment, see your own reflection
Know it as a face that you hold dear
One thing will stay the same
Only Change Remains