Everything Is Broken: Songs About Things As They Are is Alan Senauke’s brand new CD of “buddhistic songs.” The songs here include pieces by Bob Dylan, Bernice Reagon, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, as well as traditional numbers rewritten by Alan and a song or two of his own. You can purchase through the Clearview Store or download the digital album or individual tracks through CD Baby.

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EVERYTHING IS BROKEN — NOTES

The master held up a glass and said: Someone gave me this glass. It holds my water admirably and it glistens in the sunlight. I touch it and it rings! One day the wind may blow it off the shelf, or my elbow may knock it from the table. I know this glass is already broken so I enjoy it… incredibly.

—Ajahn Chah Subato

This collection of songs has taken shape in my mind over the last eight or ten years. They contain vivid, sometimes stark lyrics about the way our lives unfold, marked by impermanence, love and loss, fragility and toughness, joy and depression, friendship, attention, and — of course — the blues.

Because impermanence, the actual and inherent brokenness of all things, of all of us, is a central teaching of Buddhism, which I have been practicing for thirty years, I think of this as a “buddhistic” album. Not as an explicitly religious expression — though several songs touch on this — but in the sense of our common human experience of suffering and of freedom. That’s as close as I can get to the message here.

As has been the case for fifty years, I am blessed with musical friends of astonishing skill and depth. We have shared so many songs, tunes, talk, meals, and miles that when it comes to making music it really is play, not work.

— Alan Senauke

The Songs

“Everything Is Broken” appeared on Bob Dylan’s 1989 album Oh Mercy. Because everything is already broken. Chad Manning—fiddle; Jon Sholle—electric guitar; Charlie Wilson—percussion; Kate Brislin—vocal; Alan Senauke—guitar, percussion, vocal.

“Just About Time” was written by The Flatlanders — Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock — on their 2009 album Hill and Valleys. They are all wonderful writers and musicians, natives of Lubbock, Texas, where there must be something special in the water. Jon Sholle—guitar; Charlie Wilson—trombone; Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“The Ghost of Tom Joad” is the title song of a 1995 Bruce Springsteen album. It references Woody Guthrie’s epic song “Tom Joad.” I knew all of Woody’s verses in 1963, but not anymore. Guthrie, of course, references Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath (1939) and John Ford’s great film of the novel (1940). Springsteen locates his version in the southwest, in the harsh reality of modern day homelessness. Jon Sholle—electric guitar; Eric Thompson—mandolin: Kate Brislin—vocal; percussion—Charlie Wilson; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Nobody’s Fault But Mine” is an old gospel song, first recorded by Blind Willie Johnson. My version is adapted from the Staples Family recording, which I rewrote in a Buddhist context — actually not so far from the original intent. Jon Sholle—electric guitar; Chad Manning—fiddle; Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal; Charlie Wilson—percussion; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal, percussion.

“Our Hero” was written by Greg Fain and Ben Gustin at Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery in 2001. It is a wonderful retelling of the classic parable of “Bodhisattva Never Despise” from chapter 20 of the Lotus Sutra. Actually I like their version of the story better than the ancient text. Jon Sholle—acoustic guitar; Eric Thompson—mandolin; Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal; Alan Senauke—guitar, bass, vocal.

“Run Mountain” is my rewriting of this well-known song from J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers. For fifty years I have been trying to figure out what the chorus “run mountain, chuck a little hill” means… Any ideas? Sandy Rothman—banjo; Jon Sholle—acoustic guitar; Chad Manning—fiddle; Kate Brislin—vocal; Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Always Keep a Diamond in Your Mind” was written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan. I learned it from the late, great soul singer Solomon Burke’s 2002 album Don’t Give Up On Me. The verses are quirky and evocative of something. The chorus is transcendent and to the point. Jon Sholle—Dobro, guitar; Chad Manning—fiddle, mandolin; Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal: Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Not Always So” is the title of a book of teachings by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, my teacher’s teacher. I may have strayed from his essential meaning with this song , but here it is. Jon Sholle—acoustic guitar; Chad Manning—fiddle; Eric Thompson—mandolin; Charlie Wilson—percussion; Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal; Alan Senauke—guitar, bass, vocal.

“Midnight Hour Blues” is drawn from the repertoire of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. For long years I have drawn on their music in dark moments. Jon Sholle—acoustic guitar; Suzy Thompson—fiddle; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Rolling and Tumbling” is written off versions by Muddy Waters and Baby Face Leroy. My lyrics point towards a very personal crossroads of blues and depression. Sandy Rothman—banjo; Jon Sholle—electric guitar; Eric Thompson—mandolin; Charlie Wilson—percussion; Alan Senauke—guitar, bass, vocal.

“Relax Your Mind” comes from the great Leadbelly, Huddie Ledbetter, a musical hero of mine since junior high school. The song offers basic meditation instruction and driver’s education at the same time. Suzy Thompson—fiddle, vocal; Charlie Wilson—percussion; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Yeh Dosti” is a Hindi song about friendship, originally featured in the 1975 Indian megahit film Sholay. For some years I have been going to India to work with young Dalit (or “untouchable”) Buddhists. Two years ago I promised myself that by the next trip I would be able to sing them a song in Hindi. My friend Linda Hess found this song and gave me some coaching in Hindi. Any errors of pronunciation I freely acknowledge. Bill Evans—banjo; Yassir Chadly—percussion; Alan Senauke—guitar, bass, vocals.

“They Are Falling All Around Me” was written by Bernice Reagon Johnson. Bernice recorded this on her 1975 Paredon album, and later with Sweet Honey in the Rock. At this stage of my own life the song has a bittersweet immediacy. All my life I have been blessed with great teachers, and many of them have passed to another realm. Kate Brislin—vocal; Suzy Thompson—vocal; Alan Senauke—guitar, vocal.

“Within You, Without You” is a lovely modal melody, a George Harrison song on the Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper album. Alan Senauke—guitars.

Recorded by Charlie Wilson at Sonic Zen Records, Berkeley, CA between September 2011 and August 2012
Produced by Alan Senauke & Charlie Wilson
Mixed by Charlie Wilson & Alan Senauke
Mastered by Charlie Wilson at Sonic Zen Records
CD design by Debbie Berne
Photographs by Alan Senauke
Photo of Alan by Suzy Thompson

Thanks to: Jon Sholle, Chad Manning, Sandy Rothman, Eric Thompson, Suzy Thompson, Kate Brislin, Bill Evans, Yassir Chadly, Linda Hess, Laurie Senauke, Sojun Mel Weitsman, and all those teachers, friends, musicians, and family members from whom I have learned about music, life, and the way things are.