Songs ... What songs? ... Whiner songs
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Original Whiner songs:
Linked songs (in red) are downloadable but have to have been downloaded at least once every 45 days. So, if a link is broken, it may be that the song hasn't been listened to.
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All songs are © Keith McDonald 1998 - 2007 unless noted. All songs are copyright of the authors.
See also our Whiner covers
- Big
Boys (Whiners v.2.1 with Jamie)
A song written for (1) all the open stage hosts who don't like the complications presented by effects pedals and harmonizer voice boxes etc etc. What's wrong with a little noise? and (2) for those of us who still find the really great bands great! I call this and most of my songs folk punk or acoustic rock or even psychedelic folk! And, what with the addition of the electric guitars, well, it's more rock than folk now (not even close to punk) but always psychedelic! You can also hear the Big Boys Jam as we work out the song - a little bit more noise -
Hurt
You Real Bad
A song written after whiners v.1.0 Michael and KEITH's last get together to discuss the band. Nuff said! -
Jodi
(what do you want to do?)
A song that came off of a statement by honourary Whiner Annemarie - who simply said one day at the day job: "Me and Jodi were just being lazy on a sunny Sunday afternoon." I thought great line and there and then came a song! - Fat
Middle Aged Men (Mayberries version featuring Ed Lee)
A song dedicated to all the middle aged rockers who are getting back together ... The Police, CSNY, etc. Long live the Kings of Rock! - Cookin'
up a Mess (in the Kitchen of Love)
A dirty ditty involving dishes and pots and pans ... well, not really dishes. - Misery Street
This is a street we sometimes visit. Such a pretty tune, such a tuff neighbourhood! - Isabelle Grace
Written about a colleague on the day job who seemed less concerned about the politics of the job and more concerned about just having fun. Like minds maybe? - These Days (we all sleep in)
- Bleed
Blue (Whiners v.1.0 Opera House version)
- Bleed Blue (Smoky version featuring Catch 22s)
- Bleed
Blue (Mayberries version featuring Ed Lee)
Three versions in total for this song and counting. Heartbreak in the colour of blue. Note: The Mayberries are actually KEITH with Ed Lee on lead ... every once in a while Ed will join up with KEITH to fill in some lead bits and tasty bits they are. - The Hudson
Song riffing about train lingo and a shout out the Hudson steam engine. Thanks to Dave at work who filled me in on some of the railroad glossary. - All
That You Can Be (KEITH with Shannon)
Written for Ma and Pa's 50th wedding anniversary ... thinking back to their advice. Good no matter what your age! - Just The Way That
- Palm Tree Burn
- Number
1 Fans
Written after meeting Sheryl Crow ... not wanting to be "one of them crazy fans" ... when do you cross the line? Not in this song but it could be the theme song for all fans who really love their heroes and want to meet them - Something Better (this is a Dave song)
- New Orleans (this is a Dave song)
- Why Is This News (this is a Dave song)
- Simple
Life (Whiners v.2.0 featuring Dave)
originally recorded by Dave while in his earlier band: the Mix) - Time Flys By (this is a Dave song)
- Limin
(with you) (Whiners v2.1 featuring Jamie)
I say here Whiners v.2.1 since Jamie and I are rehearsing together regularly. V.2.0 is alive and well though when we can muster mister Dave and Shannon. - Lago Moon (Whiners v.2.1 featuring Jamie)
- When I Last Saw Mary
Written after joining up on classmates web site. The idea of seeing old classmates again has an appeal until you realize we are all older and, perhaps, what we remember about each other isn't all we should. Some interesting lyrics in the middle imagining a relationship with both a mother and her daughter. Don't know why the song headed that way but it did. - Comin' Around Again
Written after making my way to the subway and encountering a homeless lady. An all-to-regular occurrence in Toronto. Happened to be an election going on in both the US of A and Canada at the time. Ever notice how politicos promise something new and improved and, almost as quickly as they speak the idea, it goes away if they win the actual election. Comes around every four years or so! - I
Used to be Angry (KEITH version featuring Pat Clancy)
Written on the passing of Blair Gamble (My Uncle) Long or short, we don't know how long we'll be here so make the most of it while you are here! This is also the demo version worked up with Pat Clancy while figuring out CD plans - has drums and stuff . - Whole Lotta' Water
One of my oldest songs about friendship basically. Changed the person the narrator is talking about to a lady since it made more sense but it was actually about a dude and passage of time. Ironically, the song has more meaning now that Whiners v.1.0 os dead and gone. - Good Girls Gone Bad
I've had lots of conversations with women about why they like bad boys so much. Same idea only reversed the sexes. - Some Do Some Don't
And that's how it is. I usually get the audience to help write some of the lyrics in performance. - Affairs Of The Heart
Written for the Affairs of the Heart tour in 2006. Ironically some of the famous people I name check in the song are still unsettled in their relationships. - Achin' Heart
Written on a plane flight to Winnipeg and missing the spouse. Had the line about "material from an achin' heart" from a Chris Issak Show episode. - E-lullaby
A song for the environment and will be the title track of a CD if I ever get it done - E-lullabye - Traffic Flow
Observing life as if a part of traffic on the roads. - I Used To Believe in America
My Neil Youngish attempt at high distortion with verbal bite (or something like that) - Clear Blue Sky
After 9-1-1, I stopped performing the "I Used to Believe in America" song for a while and replaced it with this. Opposite ends of the spectrum but on a similar theme as to what the hell is going on? - Smile From A Frown
A song about the holiday season and changing up your feelings. I actually do not like the holiday season much so this is a bit of a think about it some more song for me. - Oh Maria
Another colleague inspired song and jumping off from a Sam Larkin tune called: "Love drives a beautiful car". I wanted to express a beauty about the person here. - Beat
Black and Blue
A song for Michael and the first one I wrote after (or during) the break up of Whiners v.1.0. The song got me to Hugh's Room for a Songwriter's Unite show. It actually takes back the music I wrote for a song that Michael called "What's it all mean". - Brother
Under the Bridge
A song for the shattered relationship with my sister. - Chain
of Michaels
For a friend who is basically abused by her "boyfriend" ... they finally broke up not long after this song was written. And, no, it's not about v.1.0 Michael though I suppose it could be! Guess I have a few on the theme of relationships going south! - Breakdown
An early song that I always liked the lead guitar part - it expresses the emotion more than the words which are pretty down. - Dream
of You Tonight
My cats love this song which is cute but I think it has to do with the notes - surely they don't understand the lyrics?!? We debuted this at the Café Taste show in two part harmony. This is my first demo version of it. - Who
Believes in America?
A song written just after George Bush spoke to Americans on January 10, 2006. I wanted to write something to outlay the feelings around the war. Also note "America", to me, is actually a verb. I can get behind democracy, freedom, the pursuit of happiness ... can you? I'll be changing up the lyrics somewhat to make it more identifiable to a Canadian audience perhaps. - Sixty
Something
A song reflecting on the fact that those who were in their 20's, in the 1960s, are now in their 60's in the 2000s ... some 40 years later. Got that? Starts with the same JFK quote as used at the end of Who Believes in America. Some kind of symmetry there I think! - Party On (spread the news)
Written just after a vacation at an all inclusive vacation resort. Pack it all into a weekend and you have it! - Over
You
Written for Shannon to sing - features her favourite chords and I was thinking about her style. Jamie did vocals for this at the Environment Days show. Looks like the song is in the wrong key for Shannon though so we'll see about another in the future.. - Sunrise
(Whiners v.1.0 featuring Dave with Michael on lead vox)
This took a nice line of poetry to my wife written in 1978 and put it to music. Dave and I liked it but Michael hated it. I actually do not like the lead vocal on it since Michael never got the end line right. It was the beginning of the end of Whiners v.1.0 and the start of v.2.0. A bit of this is used at the Law is Cool web site as noted on our news page - You
Ain't Got Know (Whiners v.1.0 debut)
This is from the night Michael and I debuted at the Free Times Cafe (his birthday in March 1999) and the first use of the "Whiners" name. It's one of the first songs we figured out for me to play as a newbie on the guitar and riffed off the song that I wrote back when I was 16 (that features Alan Wall who I should probably also credit with writing the original music line which the Whiners later changed). Where are you today Alan?
Whiner covers
- Welcome To The Machine
- Comfortably Numb
- Wish You Were Here
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Reasons For Waiting
- Nursie
- Other Side of the World (Whiners v.2.0 featuring Shannon and KEITH on KT Tunstall song)
- Light in Your Eyes
- Good Is Good
- Can't Cry Anymore
- Crash & Burn
- Picture
- I Know Why
- First Cut
- Soak up the Sun (KEITH attempts Sheryl Crow)
- Dogs and Thunder
- Basement Apartment
- Beautiful Blue
- I'm With You
- My Sister
- No Other Baby
- I'm A Believer
- Moon Shadow
- Go Your Own Way
- For No One
- Working Class Hero
- All Things Must Pass
- Hide Your Love Away
- Norwegian Wood
- Yellow Submarine
- Girl
- Ticket to Ride
- Eleanor Rigby
- I've Just Seen a Face
- Nowhere Man
- I'm Only Sleeping
- Paperback Writer
- Revolution 1
- Time of Your Life
- Folsom Prison Blues
- Mad World
- Not Fade Away (Whiners v.1.0 cover of Buddy Holly song)