Mark Donham Music

Of all the projects I have done, I really like what I call the “Covers Project”. This was a project that I gave to myself to record a set of songs that were basically unknown, by artists that I either knew personally or had some personal connection. I recorded it at home in my very modest equipment. All the parts are me. So if it's good, it's me, if it isn't, it's me. I did this to honor the songwriting talents of people that I know or have some connection to whose songs are pretty much unknown by a large audience, but which are nonetheless, great songs. Well, except for the Stephen Stills cut at the end. The only personal connection I have to Stephen is my reaction to this song. But I usually always had used recording for original music, particularly what might be called a final arrangement. But I always so loved this song, 4 & 20 that I recorded it and I think it was the first cover song that I seriously recorded. So I included it at the end. But this projects was a work of passion to me. I would like to do a volume 2. I’m thinking about it.
I don't have permission from the writer on some of the songs. But I did post it on this website before for over a year, and publicized it, and didn't hear any protests from any of the writers, which of course, doesn't mean the same as having permission from them. But I will beg for their forgiveness and promise that if any money were ever made on these recordings, they could share in it. Here's the songs:

1. Dichotomy Tom Thompson:

2. Why Bother Craig Rhodes

3. Sold Us Out Lew Jetton

4. Simple Day Carrie Mills

5. Trouble Shy Perry

6. Anyone Danny Bell

7. New Day Josh Coffey

8. You Never Knew You Didn't Know Kaci Bolls

9. Cedar Waxwing Brennan Leigh

10. 4 & 20 Stephen Stills
    I won't leave this up permanently because I don't have permission for all the songs. But I think it is a good project and I challenge all the local songwriters to do the same.

I thought I’d post this song, Machine Politician, in honor of the presidential election season. I wrote it many years ago, probably about 2000. It was recorded by The Rhythm Women and Groove Daddies in 2002 at Little Hollywood Studio in Nashville, TN, and released on the CD of the same name by the band in 2003. The Rhythm Women and Groove Daddies were, besides me, Kristi Hanson, drums, Craig Rhodes, guitar and vocals, and Charlene Brown, bass. It was one of the first, if not the first album that had all original songs, except for one traditional song, in the Paducah, KY area. It got little attention but we are proud of it and think it will stand the test of time. The whole album can be heard on the music tab on this webpage. You have to scroll down a ways to find it, but it’s there. Go Kamala!

In this video, from August of 2022, I am performing my song, “Brand New Rover”, at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

This is a home made music video called Spring Fling. Except for the photo of the snowman at the beginning and end, which was taken by Kristi Hanson, the rest of the entire piece is my work, for better or worse. I wrote the music, recorded it at home (solar power), I play all the instruments, shot the video and photos, edited the video (solar power). So blame me. I made this video several years ago. Not like decades, though. Fairly recent but not brand new. I think it’s the season for this. Not much snow this year yet. Spring is beautiful.

This is one of my newer songs. I wrote and videoed me singing this a couple weeks ago. It’s called “Dancin’ in Her Bedroom.” The lyrics are below.

Dancin' In Her Bedroom written by Mark Donham

She lives with her folks, age 33, she don't make enough, and livin' ain't free

She works at night, helps Mom and Dad, she does lots of good, not enough bad

She doesn't get out as much as she wants, but she loves to dance

When she is home alone she cranks up her phone, dancin' in her bedroom all alone

She has a sister, she's like a sister, there's a guy that she likes, they took a few hikes

But most of the time, it's work or home, what you don't see, when she's alone

She doesn't get out as much as she wants, but she loves to dance

When she is home alone she cranks up her phone, dancin' in her bedroom all night

I've danced with her, out at the bars. I felt like I was on dancin' with stars

But that only happens about once a year, the rest of the time, she isn't here

She doesn't get out as much as she wants, but she loves to dance

When she is home alone, she cranks up her phone, dancin' in her bedroom

all night long, all alone

MIXED MESSAGES

You ever communicate with a friend or just someone you have to deal with in your job or whatever, and you just can’t quite figure out where they are coming from? Ever have a female or male friend that seems like they act one way toward you one day, and then completely different the next? Well, that’s what I wrote this song about. It’s called Mixed Messages. I recorded it at home during COVID. I’m playing all the parts.

CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE
I wrote this song in March of 2022 and recorded it at home. I wrote it not just because of a particular conflict, but because there are always repeated cases of people that had nothing to do with a situation getting caught in deadly crossfire. So tragic!

I re-listened to it the other day when I heard a reporter talking about the mideast conflict use the phrase “caught in the crossfire.” I was shaken by how close to reality this song is in describing the situation in the middle east. I recorded shortly after I wrote at home.

Caught in Crossfire, by Mark Donham

Caught in cross fire, quicksand quagmire, caught in crossfire no where to run

Caught in cross fire, puttin up barb wire, caught in crossfire no where to run

some people don't care what happens out there can't get out can't get in

brute force, fake reality is truth what I see? pray it's not me caught in the crossfire

caught in crossfire TV says it's dire, caught in crossfire no where to run

caught in crossfire, evil desire caught in crossfire no where to run

who wants to talk about peace or is just more trash talk

as long as there's atrocities you're not walkin the walk

out on the street caught in the crossfire

caught in the crossfire of the devil's desire you could die for some lie

as the doomsday clock expires

random explosion, no where is safe lying extortions you're getting strafed

have to learn how to dig out the truth to you is what you see

pray it's not me, caught in the crossfire she shouts, why is this happening now

the ones who die are the ones without clout stranded with no way out

caught in crossfire

shelling in the city, artillery shells going down

blowing up the city ain't pretty, but it's goin around

hostilities abound, as the rockets are raining down

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SHE’S A CONNIVER

This is a song I wrote several weeks ago. I really like it. It is kinda about people I know and it kinda isn’t. It is more or less a collage of women I have known, with a little artistic freedom thrown in. I can hear an amazing arrangement with a full band. It is a work tape to the highest degree. This is while I was actually writing the song.

Below are some of the songs that I have written in the last year or so. There were all recorded at home with me playing and singing all the parts. There’s lots more music on the music tab. All of it is me. Some is in other studios.

Mark Donham is a singer/writer, guitarist, sax player, and other instruments, from the very tip of Southern Illinois. Mark also produces paintings, drawings, and prints in the visual art world.

Mark plays in two regional bands, Rooted in So.IL, and The Melungeons. Both of these bands are deeply rooted in the Southern Illinois/Western Kentucky region.

Mark recorded 2 albums at home during COVID, “COVID Dreams I and 2, which are under the Music tab.

Also under the Music tab you will find all four of those albums, including the initial release of the latest studio recording, “Dreams are Never Gone,” recorded in August, 2019. In 2017 -18, Mark, after losing his partner of 40 years, Kristi Hanson, to cancer, Mark wrote and recorded “Taking it Day by Day,” a 15 song tribute to his wife and the struggle to maintain a positive view toward life in the face of such a monumental loss. Both of these albums were recorded at Time on the String studio in Paducah, KY.

In 2006 Mark recorded “8 Songs”, with Kristi on drums at E Studio in Edwardsville, IL, with the E Studio band. In 2003 Mark, as part of the band The Rhythm Women and Groove Daddies, was part of their self-titled album, writing 7 of the 12 songs. There are more details about these recordings on the Music page.

Mark offers these recordings to the public for free, and hopes everyone enjoys them.