“…he goes an awfully long way toward overturning the prevalent image of folksingers trying to live in a world that never was.” -Renaldo Migaldi, Chicago Reader, “Critic’s Choice”

Calhoun has been writing and performing original music since 1973. Released in 1996, Phoenix Envy is his 5th album.

“Phoenix Envy shows Calhoun’s unique songs at their

“…he goes an awfully long way toward overturning the prevalent image of folksingers trying to live in a world that never was.” -Renaldo Migaldi, Chicago Reader, “Critic’s Choice”

Calhoun has been writing and performing original music since 1973. Released in 1996, Phoenix Envy is his 5th album.

“Phoenix Envy shows Calhoun’s unique songs at their naked best. They are fine, tough, poems set to music. Except for one song (with Andrew Bird on violin), this is a solo voice and guitar recording. Dancing guitar figures underpin the often dark, dense lyrics, ever reminding us that Calhoun is not a pessimist, but a lusty realist. It is guitar playing that mines the rich veins of Anglo-Celtic ballad tradition with deft, graceful nods to an obvious mentor, Martin Carthy. Calhoun is one of the very few in the current crop of singer-songwriters who knows or cares enough of this rich, subtly powerful tradition. Like those great songs, Calhoun’s are much more than well-told stories; they both illuminate and conceal some of life’s greatest mysteries.” – Dwight Thurston, WWUH

1. Time
2. Tunnel Vision
3. Sparrow Listen
4. Folksingers Are Boring
5. No Secret Castle Listen
6. Here Comes That Lady Again
7. Never Enough
8. It’s Not You That I’m Leaving
9. Journey
10. Trenches
11. Lonesome
12. Freedom Road
13. Paul Scott Rap
14. The Model
15. At The Bar
16. Sheila
17. Narnia Song
18. O My Son
19. While Jesus Was Waiting To Die
20. Jack And Jill
21. When My Time Comes

JOURNEY

Sparks fly wild and the stone wheel spins And the water wheel sings And the sun raised high, like a mighty club Said “Where are you hiding? And why are you hiding?”

In a lonely cellar where nobody hollers I hide among these silver dollars Born at the birth of prejudice And words of Jesus to the tune of Judas Raised in a cemetary, fed on dog meat I came to grow an herb garden underneath a backseat And I came to love an odd boy underneath the porch steps I came to love him more and more

Sparks fly wild and the stone wheel spins And the water wheel sings And the sun raised high, like a mighty club Said “Where are you hiding? And why are you hiding?” Pierced with ice by a sweet song sparrow Dizzy with loss, terror to the marrow What world is this where I wake walking To the roof falling in and deaf men talking? Trying to wring one tear out proper Trying to sing one note out sober My body still, my mind will roam Longing swiftly, looking for a home

Sparks fly wild and the stone wheel spins And the water wheel sings And the sun raised high, like a mighty club Said “Where are you hiding? And why are you hiding?” The part of me you love so much Is part of me you cannot touch The part that winnows weak from wrong The part that knows it all along Though I’m hiding here I’m free The journey has not lessened me Through winter’s purifying cold I’ll rise in spring, if part is whole

Sparks fly wild and the stone wheel spins And the water wheel sings With the sun raised high, O my love It’s here that I’m hiding Here I am hiding