I am always a fan of good music, and sometimes I am a fan of bad music too, but every once in a while you find a CD that really makes you think, and speaks to a deeper lever of your soul that just the part that feels the kickdrum. David Ramirez is that guy. He played at a house show in Florence not long ago (shocking, I know) and I bought his album right away. It’s called American Soil.

I think the reason his album speaks to my soul like it does is because he decided to go live in his car for a year and travel around the United States. He’s got the Gypsy Blood like I do. So all of his songs have to do with the same feeling of longing for a better and more adventurous life than a 8-5 job with the occasional family trip to Gatlinburg. He is able to capture something wild and hauntingly beautiful about the emotional condition of people like me, who want to suck the marrow out of our short time on earth. The album is only $12 and it is the best $12 you will have spent in your life. Read on:

“Deal Me In”
by David Ramirez from American Soil

I hear I’m crazy, for chasing the dreams in my head
So be all this baby, do you think there’s a chance
To see the lights?

It’s funny how life can make sense at the end of a cigarette
I get lost in the smoke as it finds its way  slowly through my chest
But I’m all out of matches
and life cannot start without a spark

So deal me in
Deal me in
This is the life that I choose,
even if I lose, even if I lose,

So deal me in

I’m slowly learning just what it means to love
and I don’t think I have it down, I just know what it’s not
it’s not leaving you

So question life, yeah question the sky
and don’t be okay just letting days pass you buy
find out what truth is
find out what lies
above the blue

And deal me in
Deal me in,
this is the life that I choose,
even if I lose, even if I lose

So deal me in
Deal me in,
this is the life that I choose,
even if I lose, even if I lose

So deal,
just deal,
just deal me in.

**************

So do yourself a favor and at least listen to his myspace page. Seriously, you’ll be glad you did.