May 21, 2013
Billy King
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Billy's songwriting is easygoing and pleasant, with pretty, slow melodies and comfortable structure. The lyrics generally express universal human feelings about place, relationships, and the desire to be greater than we are. Particularly lovely is "Home Sweet Home," from Billy's 2006 self-produced release Overdue:
| When I'm old and weary Returning from afar The whole world will hear me When I cry, "Here we are" Where nothing's unfamiliar And everything is known I can't wait until we're home sweet home. |
After getting a feel for his compositions, I was unsurprised to hear him reprise some Paul Simon tunes, Al Anderson's "What's a Thousand Miles," and "Copper Kettle," a Bob Dylan favorite. He included a couple of his father's original tunes, lovingly rendered.
Billy looks the part of a healthy farm boy — strong and lean, clean shaven, with a shy smile. He holds his worn guitar like an extension of his arms; you can just imagine him cradling it on the couch or porch anytime his hands are out of the dirt. He also enjoys experimenting with other instruments. He's written some lovely songs on the keyboard, including "That Way" — a witty lament that sounds like something Harry Connick Jr. would perform:
| When we walk down the street, we might hold hands But to anyone we meet, we're only friends Yes only friends and nothing more, that's what you say Yes we've been over this before and my baby doesn't like me that way. |
Billy also plays twelve-string guitar, and he can pull off songs on the banjo, too, though
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