Category: Songs

words & music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare, 1973 I bruise you, you bruise mewe both bruise too easilytoo easily to let it showI love you, and that’s all I know all my plans are falling throughall my plans depend…

(originally “Met Her on a Plane”) words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, And So: On, 1971 met him on a planeI had forgotten I was made of glassI watched the cars and crows and cities passI watched the sun till I was…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Letters, 1972 this is the answer to the letter unsentwhich even so arrived some years laterlike a song sometimes written for lovelong before it is alive oh, the poem sighed to sweet facescaught away from some…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Linda Ronstadt, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, 1989 Notes Even though I love Ronstadt’s version of this, I’ve always thought it was too short. I guess I just love the song so much I never…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Twilight Of The Renegades, 2005 Notes A friend helped me discover this song, for I had somehow missed it when it was first released. I love how the rootless, restless lyrics float over the rootless, restless…

(aka “A Song for My Brother”) words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: B. J. Thomas, Billy Joe Thomas, 1972 Notes Speaking of flyin’ games, here’s another. Again we’re chasing after something unattainable. Again we think our flight will never end. It was the last…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Letters, 1972 Notes If after the first six songs you’re still unsure whether Jimmy is a dreamer or not, this one should do the trick. This song is about so much more than racism—don’t stop until…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, And So: On, 1971 Notes Oh, the images in this song! This one is right up there with Joni’s “River” in the “running away” genre. “If I could fall up the long night, reach to time…

words/music by Boudleaux Bryant • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© House of Bryant Publications Favorite version: Jimmy Webb, Letters, 1972 Notes Jimmy didn’t write this song, but I “discovered” it on his Letters album. And the way he sings it, he might as well have written it. As I said, I often performed it, and I…

(aka “You Might As Well Smile”) words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Art Garfunkel, Watermark, 1978 Notes These next three songs are so resolute and positive and indefatigable that I’m hoping they’ll inspire you to forgive me for the previous two… This one’s a…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Jennifer Warnes, soundtrack from Winter People, 1989 Notes Like the previous song, it starts out rather ordinary—”all I have to do is”—and then zings you at the end—”catch some lightning in a bottle.” Like it’s the easiest thing…

words/music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc. Favorite version: Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare, 1973 close your eyesmy pretty childthough the night is darkand the wind is wildI will stand beside your bedtonight there is nothingyou need fear or dread you can sleep nowgo to sleepthe rain falls…