Jukebox

NOTE: This page does not list my studio recordings.
For my studio recordings, please visit my store page.

Peace on Peabody Hill
A family project (Christmas present for my granddaughter – 2008)
Click here to listen or download for free.

If You Want Any More You Can Sing it Yourself
My very first recording (1979). I hardly recognize myself.
Mostly traditional songs for young audiences
Click here to listen or download for free.

Kitchen Musician Recordings

Following is an index to all of the songs as they appear in my Kitchen Musician blog, listed chronologically (most recent first). These are the demo recordings I made shortly after writing these songs. Some have evolved since then.

Enjoy!

~ Tom

“Catch the Leaf” (video)
Reflecting on the results of the US presidential election, 2024.
℗© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“It’s a Grand New Day (A Fly Struck My B String)” (video)
A song to help you ‘fake it until you make it’
℗© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“To Love a Broken Thing” (video)
Answers the musical question, “why is it taking so long to clean the basemen?”.
℗© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Harmonica Tricks & Dancing Jack” (video)
A couple tricks I would use when my 6th grade students got restless.
℗© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Jigsaw Puzzle Love” (video)
Slow down. Do a jigsaw puzzle!
© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Plant the Seed” (video)
“Plant the Seed” (lyric video)
Encouragement, even if you won’t see the harvest in a long time.
© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“The Hurt that You Bury” (video)
For those supporting friends and loved ones experiencing depression.
© 2024 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Where Do We Go From Here?” (video)
Just questions. No answers.
© 2023 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“From Brother to Ghost” (video)
Trying to make sense of an event that happened when I was a boy.
© 2023 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“My Pennsylvania Heart” (video)
Down home boy regrets his choice for the life in the city.
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“What is it Worth?” (video)
The answer depends upon who is being asked.
© 2023 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Love Yourself” (video)
A bit of a twist on the Golden Rule“.
© 2023 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Zapatito (Little Shoe)” (video)
A song for my grandson, age 9
© 2021 Peabody Hill Publishing (ASCAP)

“One Step Become Two” (video)
A response to feeling hopeless
© 2022 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Sugar Maple” (video)
Inspired by a tree we planted in our yard in 1980
© 2022 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Kolysanka (Lullaby)” (video)
A Ukrainian translation of my song, “I’ll Show You the Way”
© 2022 Tom Smith and Olena Oksenych

“The Mahwah WaWa” (video)
“on the journey for boundless convenience”
© 2022 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Edge of the Light” (video)
Is it possible to both hope for and fear the light?
© 2022 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Michael Troy Tribute” (video)
A tribute to my friend, master songwriter Michael Troy
Songs: “Charlie Pike”, “Ole Joe”, and “Love Is”

“Blind Fiddler” (video)
Traditional American song from the mid 1800’s

“The Jolly Glazier” (video)
About a job that is definitely not fresh, joyful exercise.
Parody of “Apple Picker’s Reel” by Larry Hanks. New lyrics © 2007 Tom Smith
See also this post from 2007

“Susanna Martin” (video)
Marking the 329th anniversary of the death of my wife Margo’s 9x great grandmother
Words & Music © 1962 John Allison and Claudine Langille

“A Penny’s Just a Penny” (video)
Connecting two memories that took place 60 years apart
© 2021 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“No mail Today” (video)
The story of Carmen’s and Tommy’s letter writing relationship
© 2021 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“The Cricket (Piper of the Hearth)” (video)
Searching for a chirping cricket in my house
© 1982 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
And an old Irish proverb to bless the new year

“Bluebells” (video)
A memory to lift spirits as we enter a very dark winter of COVID-19.
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Community” (video)
Written for young audiences, their parents, youth workers – encouragement for community participation by all.
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Leaving Home” (video)
New lyrics for an Irish air written by a friend.
music: © 1996 T. F. O’Hare
lyrics: © 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“I’ll Show You the Way (a lullaby)” (video)
Written for my new twin granddaughters.
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“I’m Goin’ Off the Grid” (video)
Feeling like I have been online too much!
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Made-for-TV” (video)
Responding to the murder of George Floyd by a white officer in Minneapolis.
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“A new song and a poem” (video)
More reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic
“When the Light Returns Again” © 2020 Tom Smith
“The Old Farmer (a poem)” © 2020 Tom Smith

“Two folk songs and a poem” (video)
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
with two old folksongs and a poem.
“Mail Myself to You” by Woody Guthrie
“The Old Man of the Woods” traditional song
“COVID-19 (A poem)“© 2020 Tom Smith

“Sixty-Nine and a Half” (video)
Sometimes birthdays seem to come too frequently.
© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Carol of the Beasts” (video)
An old-new look at the Christmas story
Traditional with new verse © 2012 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

“Is It Time To Let Go” (video)
© 2019 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Marking the passing of my friend, Bill Kehlenbeck. #CancerSucks

“Love Is” (video)
© 2019 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Reflecting on the support our family received following the untimely death of Margo’s brother, Rob.

“Dog Song” (video)
© 2019 Rob Ayres
“He’s my dog… forever”

“With Erebos Rejoicing” (video)
© 2019 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Erebos, the god of darkness, plays an important role in my song of hope and encouragement.

“A Quiet State of Grace” (video)
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
A birthday present for a songwriter friend.

“The Old Man and His Banjo” (video)
Traditional and verses © 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Spoken word piece to honor the old timers who have taught and inspired me.

“Talkin’ Election” (video)
Traditional and verses © 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
It is an election year. What else can I say?.

“I’m Gonna Use My Hands” (video)
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Official single release.

“I’m Gonna Use My Hands (informal)” (video)
An earlier informal recording at Parish Center for the Arts Open Mike.

“The Fiddle and the Drum” (video)
Mally Smith sings Joni Mitchell’s timely song (ASCAP)

“I’m No’ Awa’ Tae Bide Awa’” (video)
Traditional and verses © 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Based upon an old Scottish bagpipe song, frequently sung at departures.

“In the Space Between Your Words” (video)
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
An imagined conversation with someone I love.

“Morning Visitor” (video)
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Inspired by a small miracle while camping.

“Liberty’s Shore” (video)
© 2018 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
A re-write of a 19th century Irish folksong for today’s America.

See also, this video recorded live on the trail at Wilson Mountain.

“The Writer” (video)
© 1968 Richard Wilbur, Music © 2008 Tom Smith
A poem.

“Reach Out to Me” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
For the dreamers (DACA).

“I Ain’t Gonna Work No Mo'” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
To celebrate my retirement.

“Another Crack in the Cornerstone” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
“Can’t you hear the castle crumblin’?”

“It’s a Grand New Day” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
Time to change my point of view!

“The Art of the Protest Song” (video)
Excerpts from “The Art of the Protest Song” – a concert I helped organize with friends Ron Israel, Dan Cloutier, John Boehmer, Chris Boehmer and Jon McAuliffe.

“The Reflection of You” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
Celebrating Mothers’ Day with a new song.

“We Have Been Here Before” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
Reacting to recent increases in aggressive behavior from Washington and around the world – why can’t I shake this feeling of déjà vu?.
Here is a live recording at the Javawocky Coffeehouse, assisted by Kim and Reggie Harris.

“Liberty and Justice for All” (video)
© 2017 Tom Smith
Thinking about white privilege.

“Too Slow for Demo Work” (video)
© 2017 Lyrics: William Thibodeau, Music: Tom Smith
May we learn from the masters of the past.

“Eyes on the Prize” (video)
Trad., new lyrics © 2017 Tom Smith
For the Women’s March on Washington.

“I Thee Wed” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith
In honor of the marriage of Andrew and Christine.

“Empty Paper and a Pen” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith, Reflecting on the creative process.

“The Frog and the Scorpion” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith, A cautionary tale for modern listeners.

“I Do the Best I Can” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith. A little encouragement.

“The Gift of a Heart” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith
Honoring ten retiring faculty and staff representing 305 combined years of service to The Park School.

“Where Are the Songs of Love?” (video)
© 2016 Tom Smith. Reflecting on the songs of the 60’s.

“Who, Being Loved, Is Poor?” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith. Sometimes the answer is just that simple.

“Talking Presidential Election Blues” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith. Decidedly biased commentary.

“Planting in a Drought” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith. Thinking about climate change

“Quietly Sung” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith.
In memory of my mother, Carmen Smith 9/23/1926 – 11/30/2014

“Checkers” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith. Written for a RISA songwriting assignment

“You Have Got to be Carefully Taught” (video)
© 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein
From the musical, “South Pacific”.New and additional lyrics by Tom Smith

“Quite Early Morning” (video)
© 1969 Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger tribute at New England Folk Festival, April 2015.

“La De Dah” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith. A simple song.

“Here Comes the Sun!” (video)
© 2015 Tom Smith (This is not the famous George Harrison song.)
To welcome the herald of Mistress Spring

“The Junk Band” (video)
plays “Mama Don’t Allow”

“Lovesick Blues” (video)
As sung by Hank Williams
Bonus video: “No Letter Today”, recorded circa 1970 with my Aunt Carrie and Gramma.

“Conversation with Jake” (video)
© 2014 Tom Smith
To celebrate the life of Jake Kensinger.

“Grandfather’s Note” (video)
© 2014 Tom Smith
A song about the influence of each generation on the next.

“The Road from Now to Then (Take Me Home Again)” (video)
© 2014 Tom Smith and Dawn Kenney
Inspired by a recent trip to the diner I frequented when I was in high school.

“Two Roads Diverged” (video)
© 2014 Tom Smith
Inspired by Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken”

“I Am a Tree” (video)
© 2014 Trisha Knudsen, music by Tom Smith

“It Could Be a Wonderful World” (video)
As sung by Pete Seeger, additional verse by Tom Smith

“To My Old Brown Earth” (video)
by Pete Seeger (1958), © 1964 Storm King Music

“To Jamaica!” (video)
Somebody take this man to Jamaica!
© 2014 Tom Smith

“A Seed on a Stone” (video)
Remembering Nelson Mandela
© 2014 Tom Smith

“Such is Love” (video)
For friends who have lost a relationship
© 2012 Tom Smith

“To Put Anna to Sleep” (video)
A lullabye
© 2009 Tom Smith

“My Mother’s Face” (video)
A daughter meets the woman who received her mother’s face
© 2013 Tom Smith (with thanks to Mally Smith)

“Fiddleosophy” (video)
A little philosophy from a Pennsylvania fiddler
Lyrics: © 2013 Tom Smith Tune: “Off to California Hornpipe”, Traditional

“Pretty Saro” (video)
Traditional

“Do It Yourself” (video)
© 2013 Tom Smith
In praise of doing it yourself.

“Talking About Love” (video)
© 2013 Tom Smith
Written as an assignment for Vanilla Bean Cafe Songwriter Sessions.

“Talk to Me” (video)
© 2012 Meryl Ayres, Caity Richards and Mally Smith
A different take on the same subject.

“Carol of the Beasts” (video)
A 17th century French Christmas carol.
Note: I reprised this song in a more recent post in December, 2019.

“Farewell Good Friend” (video)
In memory of Bill Kehoe.

“You, Love and Me” (video)
A musical gift to my wife on our 36th wedding anniversary.

“The Money Flows Up” (video)
In the spirit of Woody Guthrie, commenting on a critical issue.

“New Hampshire Wind” (animation)
Delightful animation of my song by several young animators.

“Tom’s Junk Band” (video)
A little fun with some teachers as we build a junk band in front of their students.

“Dancing at Whitsun” (video)
A wonderful song written by Austin John Marshall about how English women
kept the Morris Dancing tradition alive during World War I.

“Tom’s Krummy Horn” (video)
A little Beethoven played on my home made krummy horn. Just for fun.

“The Meeting is O’er” (video)
Traditional hymn, new music and words by Tom Smith

“You Live in My Heart” (video)
Thinking about someone who is having a tough time on Valentine’s Day.
© 2012 Tom Smith

“Follow Me Down” (video)
A song in praise of the open mic community and self-made music.
© 2011 Tom Smith

“Song for Bill” (video)
A tribute to songwriter, Bill Morrissey 1951 – 2011.
© 2011 Tom Smith

“You Ain’t Got Nothin’ on Me” (video)
A mid-summer song in praise of simple pleasures.
Lyrics: © 2011 Tom Smith, Music: Bo Carter

“Angelina Baker” (video)
An traditional old-time song played on my home made fretless banjo.

“Something Wonderful” (video)
A video of Mally and Tom Smith sharing traditional music with first graders.

“The New Old Cow Puncher” (video)
Lyrics: © 2010 Genny Haley and Tom Smith
Tune: Traditional

“New Hampshire Traveler” (video)
Traditional, Text adapted by Tom Smith

“The Captain With His Whiskers” (video)
Traditional, Civil War Era. Collected in Montrose, Pennsylvania

“Buttercup Joe” (video)
Traditional, Live at The Bull Run Soundstage

“Annie on the Stairs (2010)” (video)
A collaboration with poet, Bill Thibodeau. This is an early version of the song.
© 2010 Tom Smith & William Thibodeau

“Annie on the Stairs (2013)” (video)
Here is a more recent version, like the way I perform it today.

“The Jolly Roving Tar” (video)
Traditional

“A Declaration of Independence” (video)
© 2009 Tom Smith
Note 4/14/2011 – The name of this song has been changed to “Lick My face”
An assignment for the Vanilla Bean Cafe, Songwriter Sessions.

“Turn Right Then Move On” (video)
Also known as “A Folksinger’s GPS”
© 2009 Tom Smith
Here is a link to a 2020 recording of this song.

“To a Songwriter” (video)
An open letter to those who pour their hearts into the songs they write and sing.
© 2009 Tom Smith

Saint Patrick’s Day at Emerson Umbrella (video)
Two songs from an evening shared with Kate Chadbourne, Bill Kehoe, Pat Kenneally, and Robert Phillipps

“Old Bangum” (video)
A traditional song, variant of Child #18, “Sir Lionel”

Peace on Peabody Hill (CD Release)
A CD of informal recordings made for my granddaughter and the benefit of Tunefoolery.

“Rolling of the Stones” (video)
An old folk ballad about a tragic accident and the scary stuff that followed.

“Another Box from the Combat Zone” – “Ohio” (video)
Inspired by the anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University
New lyrics: © Tom Smith

Acoustic Music Television (video)
Bruce Jones interviews me on Norwood Public Access TV, plus 5 songs

“Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake” (video)
Words & Music, 1883, C. Frank Horn, arranged by Tom Smith

“A Prayer for Peace” (video)
© 2007 Tom Smith
Performed live at Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts
Concord, MA, December 3, 2007

“The Man Behind the Plow” (video)
music © 2007 Tom Smith, original words © 1918 Ralph Gordon
a song to praise farmers and farming

“I Wish I was a Mole in the Ground” (video)
Traditional, with my home made banjo, learned from Bascom Lamar Lunsford

“Talking Post Trauma Blues” (video)
© 2007 Tom Smith
“What’s going to happen when our hidden injuries run out of places to hide?”

“Blind Fiddler”
Traditional

“Yearning and Blue”
Learned from the “Cheap Suit Serenaders”