Burnell’s Music

Burnell is primarily a visual artist, but he has been known to dabble in music as a singer/songwriter, especially back in the 70s and 80s when he wrote a number of topical songs. He plays guitar and the Native American flute. (Photo is Burnell Yow! in San Francisco, CA circa. 1974. Photo credit: Craig Baldwin)

Here’s a composition written and performed by Betsy and Burnell. It’s called “Everybody Thinks.” The couple wrote it primarily in the car during roadtrips in the mid 1990s. On one such trip, Burnell, after watching the seemingly endless parade of vehicles passing them by, remarked that “everybody thinks they know where they’re going, but nobody’s going there.”

“That could be a song,” Betsy said. They then began singing and improvising lyrics. Every time they were in the car, they added another verse. It was decided the song need a reggae-style accompaniment.

Note: The last verse refers to the couple’s meeting at a deli and getting married with an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas two years later.

“Everybody Thinks”
Words & music copyright © by Burnell Yow! and Betsy Alexander. All rights reserved.

Dancing with the Stars

A song written for Betsy. It predates the popular reality TV show of the same name.

Words and music copyright © by Burnell Yow! All rights reserved.

Simon Sez Praise the Lord

This song  was inspired by the viewing of  evangelical TV preachers.

Words and music copyright © by Burnell Yow! All rights reserved.

Freedom from Religion

Guess you could call this one my atheist anthem, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.

Words and music copyright © by Burnell Yow! All rights reserved.

Native American flute improvisations:

Flute Improvisation on the Native American flute, Key of A

Flute Improvisation on the NAF, Key of F# (Flute pictured below: The Signature Raven Flute made by Odell Borg.)