(birds chirping) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

(chiming music) - [Narrator] This time on KSMQ's Music Box, we go to the Americana Showcase in Rochester, Minnesota for new music from singer songwriters, Dan Israel, Bethany Larson, Brandon Samson, and Hayward Williams.

- All right.

Seems like I only come to Rochester for medical appointments and music shows.

(audience laughs) It's a great city, I need to get here for another reason sometimes.

Tourism, some kind of tourism with my family.

Anyway, this is a song about a self-destructive personality and it's written in the second person.

It's kind of in the third person, and of course, it has nothing to do with me.

(audience laughing) (folk music) ♪ You're headed north with your luck headed south ♪ ♪ Caught in the grasp of an avalanche ♪ ♪ Words you want to say buried in your mouth ♪ ♪ Carried down stream as you snap the last branch ♪ ♪ Lifted away, you're the life of the party ♪ ♪ But unable to get a handle on ♪ ♪ Well, you sent away ♪ ♪ No one hears your wish for ♪ ♪ Where you had no qualms about gambling on ♪ ♪ But I'm gonna row out once more just to save you ♪ ♪ But next time ♪ ♪ One and I gave you ♪ ♪ So clear from here ♪ ♪ I can see you sinking ♪ ♪ Now is the time to ask what you are thinking ♪ ♪ Mistakes are made now and then later on ♪ ♪ Figured I'm out of a'crying or cash ♪ ♪ But this story ends when you lean out too far ♪ ♪ And you see it all disappear in a flash ♪ ♪ But I'm gonna row out once more just to get you ♪ ♪ Next time I may not be around to catch you ♪ ♪ The news man will say ♪ ♪ There'd been a long night of drinking ♪ ♪ The time will be gone to ask what you were thinking ♪ ♪ Lingering questions are all that remain ♪ ♪ Bearing down now as they run all the tests ♪ ♪ The story will fade for all but a few ♪ ♪ What's one life wasted?

♪ ♪ What's one person less?

♪ ♪ And I been singing this song for since I met you ♪ ♪ It's much too late now to attempt any rescue ♪ ♪ Well, one night you threw it all away without blinking ♪ ♪ And it don't make no difference now what you were thinking ♪ ♪ No, it don't make no difference now what you were thinking ♪ (audience claps) Thank you.

- I have an Emmylou song and I have a Dolly song.

And this is my Dolly song.

(audience cheers) (folk music) ♪ Don't say my name ♪ ♪ I don't know you ♪ ♪ I have to say ♪ ♪ It's sad but true ♪ ♪ That you, my dear, are a broken boy ♪ ♪ You're all wound up and I'm ready to toy ♪ ♪ Listen to me ♪ ♪ Boy, I told you before ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to knock on my door ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to kiss me anymore ♪ ♪ There was a time I cared somehow ♪ ♪ But that was then ♪ ♪ And this is now ♪ ♪ It's time for you ♪ ♪ To get on your way ♪ ♪ And for this, my dear, I'm sorry to say ♪ ♪ Listen to me, boy, I told you before ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to knock on my door ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to kiss me anymore ♪ ♪ Shh ♪ ♪ You had a chance ♪ ♪ You cut my eye ♪ ♪ I had your kiss ♪ ♪ I said good bye ♪ ♪ But that's not enough ♪ ♪ And I hope you've learned ♪ ♪ This is a bridge that I'm willing to burn ♪ ♪ Listen to me, boy, I told you before ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to knock on my door ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to kiss me anymore ♪ ♪ Listen to me, boy, I told you before ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to knock on my door ♪ ♪ You're not allowed to kiss me ♪ ♪ No, you're not allowed to kiss me ♪ ♪ No, you're not allowed to kiss me anymore ♪ (audience cheers) - Bethany Larson, ladies and gentlemen.

- Great song, Bethany.

(audience cheers) ♪ There's a song that I keep playing ♪ ♪ No one else could hear it ♪ ♪ Like it's only sung for me when she's around ♪ ♪ It reminds me what I'm missing ♪ ♪ Like mistakes that I keep fixing ♪ ♪ And I'm the only one that hears ♪ ♪ You keep making up the stories ♪ ♪ For years about our story ♪ ♪ For years about the promise of a place out by the sea ♪ ♪ She keeps making up the lines ♪ ♪ That I just love to like ♪ ♪ That she only wants to sing to me ♪ ♪ She sings a song with her pale blue eyes ♪ ♪ She sings a song when she smiles ♪ ♪ She sings a song every time she talks ♪ ♪ It sounds like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ Just like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ The song it keeps on playing ♪ ♪ In the background while I'm waiting ♪ ♪ Waiting in the dark so we can go our separate ways ♪ ♪ And everything about her ♪ ♪ Is why I can't live without her ♪ ♪ And everywhere I go it sounds the same ♪ ♪ She sings a song with her pale blue eyes ♪ ♪ She sings a song when she smiles ♪ ♪ She sings a song every time she talks ♪ ♪ It sounds like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ Just like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ I keep asking for everything I can ♪ ♪ And I keep running headlong in the wind ♪ ♪ I keep giving everything I get ♪ ♪ Just for you ♪ ♪ Just for you ♪ ♪ And she sings a song with her pale blue eyes ♪ ♪ And she sings a song when she smiles ♪ ♪ Oh, she sings a song every time she talks ♪ ♪ It sounds like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ Just like something I've been waiting for ♪ ♪ It sounds like something I've been waiting for ♪ (audience claps) Thank you.

- Great song.

That was a great song.

- [Brandon] Thank you.

- Yeah.

I wrote this song when I was in Australia and I'm not trying to brag.

It's just what the story was.

So, (audience laughs) I was there and I was all by myself and looked up in the sky and I saw constellation Orion and I thought that was pretty great.

And then I looked closer and saw that he was upside down.

So, what was initially a comfort only magnified my distance away from home.

("Under Control") ♪ I was all on my own ♪ ♪ I was damn near upside down ♪ ♪ Looking up at Orion ♪ ♪ Thinking it's a good thing he's got that belt on ♪ (audience laughs) ♪ Still, how could we be the last to know?

♪ ♪ Seems that someone's got us under control ♪ ♪ It was all in a dream ♪ ♪ We were held there in someone's hand ♪ ♪ When a man said to me, you'd better choose ♪ ♪ You can never know right where you'll land ♪ ♪ Who's got the right ♪ ♪ To keep us in this alleyway?

♪ ♪ Pouring for the break of day ♪ ♪ No, it's not right ♪ ♪ And I'll go one step further to say ♪ ♪ It's a god damn shame ♪ ♪ They're leading you on ♪ ♪ They're leading us on ♪ ♪ Still, how could we be the last to know?

♪ ♪ Seems that someone's got us under control ♪ ♪ Yeah, someone's got us under control ♪ (audience cheers) Thanks.

♪ I'm no closer to home ♪ ♪ I still don't have a clue ♪ ♪ I don't know where to go ♪ ♪ I don't what to do ♪ ♪ I'm thinking about time ♪ ♪ Feels like less, less, some nights ♪ ♪ I guess it ain't that bad ♪ ♪ I guess I'll be all right ♪ ♪ I see the open door ♪ ♪ Reminding me of then ♪ ♪ Back in another time ♪ ♪ We'll find our way again ♪ ♪ So many spirals down ♪ ♪ Hold you in the fall ♪ ♪ Been dreaming in these colors ♪ ♪ That I never saw ♪ ♪ I guess what's left is gonna be what is ♪ ♪ It never was gonna happen the way you wished ♪ ♪ But they don't understand ♪ ♪ And you ain't to blame ♪ ♪ If they don't want to know, it's their own damn shame ♪ ♪ I told you all my secrets ♪ ♪ Put away my pride ♪ ♪ I'm trying for no regrets ♪ ♪ I got nothing to hide ♪ ♪ I'm tired of being lonely ♪ ♪ Prisoner in my head ♪ ♪ Only myself to blame for where I let myself be lead ♪ ♪ If I just make it through to another day ♪ ♪ I guess that's all I really needed to say ♪ ♪ And sooner or later you'll reconcile with doubt ♪ ♪ Nobody ever really figures it out ♪ ♪ So, I'm heading down this road ♪ ♪ Wind blowing in my ears ♪ ♪ No longer can I make out ♪ ♪ Dashed hopes in rear view mirrors ♪ ♪ No matter what life throws ♪ ♪ You can't be crying about yesterday ♪ ♪ No telling what's ahead now ♪ ♪ You're only alive today ♪ ♪ You're only alive today ♪ ♪ You're only alive today ♪ ♪ You're only alive today ♪ (audience claps) Thank you.

- My turn?

- Yes, you.

- Okay.

So our friend, Adam, his son, he lost a son to mental illness last weekend and I hope I can make it through this song.

It's called "Daniel's Song" and I just want to dedicate it to him.

I'll be fine (sighs).

("Daniel's Song") ♪ Why don't you come over?

♪ ♪ Forget what just happened ♪ ♪ I'll make it all better ♪ ♪ I'll make it okay ♪ ♪ We'll go for a walk ♪ ♪ On the boulevard ♪ ♪ We'll laugh off the sadness ♪ ♪ Forget who we are ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Just you and me, yeah ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ We'll get real drunk, yeah ♪ ♪ We'll make fools of ourselves ♪ ♪ No, it's not too late ♪ ♪ To put your thoughts on a shelf ♪ ♪ We'll go for a ride, yeah ♪ ♪ We'll paint up the town ♪ ♪ And then you will kiss me ♪ ♪ Right on the mouth ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Just you and me, yeah ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Well, I'll sing you a song ♪ ♪ One that you like ♪ ♪ And I'll do my best to make it all right ♪ ♪ See, I promise I won't let you down ♪ ♪ And like others, I'll be around ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Just you and me, yeah ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Just you and me, yeah ♪ ♪ Just you and me ♪ ♪ Well, why don't you come over?

♪ ♪ Forget what just happened ♪ ♪ I'll make it all better ♪ ♪ I'll make it okay ♪ (audience cheers) ("High Horse") ♪ Well, she got the healing ♪ ♪ And I got the soul ♪ ♪ I'll never leave this world on my own ♪ ♪ You get your high horse ♪ ♪ And I'll take the low road ♪ ♪ Together we'll meet there on the fiery shore ♪ ♪ I could never want you more than I do right now ♪ ♪ Like a fighter on the floor ♪ ♪ I know when I'm down ♪ ♪ I'm down ♪ ♪ But she got the healing ♪ ♪ And I got the soul ♪ ♪ But I'll never leave this world on my own ♪ ♪ You get your high horse ♪ ♪ And I'll take the low road ♪ ♪ Together we'll meet there on the fiery shore ♪ ♪ Know, she wants to see me cry when I come back home ♪ ♪ But I never shed a drop unless I'm alone ♪ ♪ I'm alone ♪ ♪ But she got the healing ♪ ♪ And I got the soul ♪ ♪ And I'll leave this world on my own ♪ ♪ You get your high horse ♪ ♪ I'll take the low road ♪ ♪ Together we'll meet there on the fiery shore ♪ ♪ Oh, but she got the healing ♪ ♪ And I got the soul ♪ ♪ But I'll never leave this world on my own ♪ ♪ You get the tight rope ♪ ♪ And I'll take the trapeze ♪ ♪ We'll get ourselves a big top ♪ ♪ And give 'em something to see ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ (audience cheers) Thank you.

(audience cheers) (birds chirping) - [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

(birds chirping)