If You Have To Ask… Warrior Songs Vol. 1 1. Things Will Never Be The Same by Courtney Reynolds (3:12) 2. Why Are We Here by Todd Fahn (4:10) 3. Brothers by Kyle Rightley (5:06) 4. Smoke Break by Emily Yates (3:12) 5. Soon by Erin Krebs with Monterey Trail (4:08) 6. 188th by Jacob George (2:10) 7. Never Keep Me Down by Jesse Frewerd (3:10) 8. The Things We Carried by Jason Moon (3:43) 9. Ying and the Yang by Kris Sheehan (6:25) 10. You Are Not Alone by BriGette McCoy (3:42) 11. Waiting For My Sun by Sheila Shigley (3:44) 12. Bullet Dress by Melissa Doud with the Mambo Surfers (3:59) 13. I’m Still Fighting by Kevin Bauer and Moonshine (3:45) 14. B.O.H.I.C.A by Jason Moon (4:16) Warrior Songs is a 501c.3 non-profit dedicated to helping veterans heal from the wounds of service through music and the creative arts. The proceeds from the sale of this CD will fund future volumes. For more information or to make a donation please visit warriorsongs.org © Warrior Songs 2016 I struggled after I returned from the war in Iraq, and after four years I attempted suicide. I woke up in a VA hospital and was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. In 2009, I began to write songs about my experiences, and a year later, I released a full-length album of these songs, which I titled “Trying to Find My Way Home.” As my music spread in the veteran community, I began to get emails, letters, and phone calls from veterans and their loved ones. They told me that my songs spoke to them, and that my music helped them. Realizing that I had found a new mission, I began to travel the country - empowering veterans, educating civilians, and speaking to anyone that would listen. While performing at a veterans' retreat, I met a woman soldier, who had been raped while in the military. She said to me, “If I could turn my trauma into music the way you did, I believe I would find healing the way you have.” She changed my life. In that moment, Warrior Songs was born. For five years now, I have been travelling the country: doing PTSD outreach and education, and collecting the stories of the veterans I encountered as I traveled. I carried these stories and guarded them until I found songwriters who, with the respect they deserved, transformed them into song. The album you hold in your hand is the culmination of the first five years of Warrior Songs. Forty-two veterans contributed to it through testimony, song, poem, lyric, art, and story, and I give them my thanks. For those whose paths haven't lead them to the military, I hope it gives a glimpse into what veterans deal with, each and every day. To my brothers and sisters who have been there, I hope listening reminds you that - you are not alone - PTSD is not a weakness - and we don’t leave our wounded behind. Essayons! Jason Moon, Founder Warrior Songs Inc. 1. Things Will Never Be the Same by Courtney Reynolds Lyrics by Jason Moon Music by Jason Moon & Nic Tassone Source: Fourteen veteran at the Warrior Songs creative arts retreat held at Pendle Hill retreat center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania in June of 2013. Vocals: Courtney Reynolds Rhythm, Lead, Bass guitar, and drums: Nic Tassone Recorded and Mixed by Nic Tassone at Attic Studios, Appleton WI. © Warrior Songs Inc. jasonmoon.org facebook.com/courtneymusic 2. Why Are We Here by Todd Fahn Lyrics and Music by Todd Fahn Source: Original song by Army Veteran Todd Fahn. Vocals: Todd Fahn Rhythm Guitar: Todd Fahn Lead Guitar: Søren Lyk Bass Guitar: Jonathon Leubner Drums: Tom Haines Recorded and Mixed by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio, Wauwatosa, WI surroundinsound.com © Todd Fahn 3. Brothers by Kyle Rightley Lyrics & Music by Kyle Rightley Source: The first hand testimony and painting of Marine Veteran J.B Vocals: Kyle Rightley Rhythm & Lead Guitar: Kyle Rightley Bass Guitar: Landon Arkens Drums: Adam Cargin Recorded and Mixed by Brian Knapp at Dojo Studio, Madison, WI kylerightley.com © Kyle Rightley BMI 4. Smoke Break by Emily Yates Lyrics and Music by Emily Yates Source: Original song by Army Veteran Emily Yates. Vocals & Ukulele: Emily Yates Violin: Rachel Colwell Recorded and Mixed by Charlie Wilson at Sonic Zen Records, Berkeley, CA emilyyatesmusic.com soniczenrecords.com © Emily Yates ASCAP 5. Soon by Erin Krebs with Monterey Trail Lyrics by Christi M. Pulley, Paul Wisneski, Jason Moon, and Kevin Bauer Music by Paul Wisneski and Kevin Bauer. Source: A poem written by Christi M. Pulley as she waited for her husband to return from his deployment to Iraq in 2006. Vocals: Erin Krebs Rhythm Guitar: Mark Gauthier Lead Guitar: Jeff Johnston Piano: Barry Krueger Drums: Kevin Bauer Recoded and Mixed by Marc Golde at Rock Garden Studios, Appleton, WI erinkrebs.com rockgardenstudio.com © Warrior Songs Inc. 6. 188th by Jacob George Lyrics & Music by Jacob George Source: Jacob George served three tours in the Afghan war. When he returned he struggle with PTSD. Jacob founded Operation Awareness and bicycled across the country on A Ride to the End to bring awareness to struggles veterans face. In 2013, Jacob released a CD of his songs called "Soldier’s Heart.” On September 14th 2014 at age 32, Jacob George lost his battle with PSTD. 188th is used here with the permission of Jacob’s surviving family. We miss you brother! Vocals & Banjo: Jacob George Backup Vocals & Ukulele: Kelly Mulhollan Backup Vocals: Donna Stjerna Drums: Steve Ragle Recorded and mixed by Kelly Mulhollan at Termite Tracs in Fayetteville, AR © Operation Awareness (OA) jacobdavidgeorge.org 7. Never Keep Me Down by Jesse Frewerd Lyrics & Music by Jesse Frewerd Source: Original song by Army Veteran Jesse Frewerd. Vocals & Rhythm Guitar: Jesse Frewerd Lead Guitar: Marc Villa Bass Guitar: Jonathon Leubner Drums: Tom Haines Recorded and Mixed by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio, Wauwatosa, WI reverbnation.com/courierband surroundinsound.com © Jesse Frewerd 8. The Things We Carried by Jason Moon Lyrics and Music by Jason Moon Source: Fourteen veteran at the Warrior Songs creative arts retreat held at Pendle Hill retreat center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania in June of 2013. Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar: Jason Moon Classical Guitar: Raymond Cocks Electric Guitar: Duke McVinny Bass Guitar: Charles Kniceley Piano: Ross Rice Drums: Jerry Marotta Produced by Jerry Marotta Engineered by Adam Armstrong at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, NY jasonmoon.org dreamlandrecording.com © Warrior Songs Inc. 9.Ying and the Yang by Kris Sheehan Words & Music by Kris Sheehan Source: The first hand testimony of Marine Henry G Vocals Acoustic Guitar: Kris Sheehan Backup vocals: Sheila Shigley Additional Acoustic guitar & Mandolin: Bob Manor Recorded and mixed by Bob Manor at Powers Recording, Madison, WI americanfeedbag.com © Kris Sheehan 10. You Are Not Alone by BriGette McCoy Lyrics by BriGette McCoy Music by BriGette McCoy & Jonathon Leubner Source: Original lyrics provided by Army Veteran and MST survivor BriGette McCoy founder of Women Veteran Social Justice. Vocals: BriGette McCoy Backup Vocals: Mati Ardis, Samantha Lieven, Michelle Klotz, and Bonnie Scholz Keyboards: Theo Merriweather Bass Guitar: Jonathon Leubner Drums: Tom Haines Recorded and mixed by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio, Wauwatosa, WI brigettemccoy.com wvsj.org surroundinsound.com © BriGette McCoy 11. Waiting For My Sun by Sheila Shigley Lyrics and Music by Sheila Shigley Source: A poem created by facilitators Carolyn Arnold and Barbara Bazemore at the 2015 Women Veteran Social Justice Network’s Women Veteran Reunion and Conference at Kennesaw State University. Vocals: Sheila Shigley Piano: Bob Manor Recorded and mixed by Bob Manor at Powers Recording, Madison, WI getawaydrivers.net © Sheila Shigley ASCAP 12. Bullet Dress by Melissa Doud with the Mambo Surfers Lyrics by Melissa Doud, Marco Capelli Frucht, and Saji Villoth Music by Marco Capelli Frucht and the Mambo Surfers Source: Original lyrics written by Iraq War Army Veteran Melissa Doud. Vocals and percussion: Melissa Doud Lead Electric Guitar: Ron Jones Electric Guitar: Saji Villoth Bass Guitar: Darrell Williams Drums: Tom Haines Recorded and mixed by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio. Wauwatosa, WI mambosurfers.net surroundinsound.com marcosongs.com © 2016 Warrior Songs Inc. 13. I’m Still Fighting by Kevin Bauer and Moonshine Lyrics by Kevin Bauer & Jason Moon Music by Jason Moon & Mark Gauthier Source: Original lyrics by Army Veteran Kevin Bauer. Vocals: Kevin Bauer Rhythm Guitar: Mark Gauthier Lead Guitar: Marc Golde Bass Guitar: Jonny “Shuffle” Hakala Mandolin: K.D. Davis Drums: Hank Aldrich Recoded and Mixed by Marc Golde at Rock Garden Studios, Appleton, WI rockgardenstudio.com © Kevin Bauer 14. B.O.H.I.C.A by Jason Moon Lyrics & Music by Jason Moon Source: Eleven veterans at the Warrior Songs creative arts retreat held at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center in Spokane, Washington in November of 2013 Vocals: Jason Moon Backup Vocals: Todd Fahn Rhythm Guitar: Jason Moon Lead Guitar: Jonathon Leubner Bass Guitar: Jonathon Leubner Organ: Bryan Oliver Drums: Tom Haines Recorded and mixed by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio. Wauwatosa, WI jasonmoon.org © Warrior Songs Inc. Executive producer: Jason Moon Mastered by Jonathon Leubner at SurroundinSoundStudio in Wauwatosa, WI Graphic design by Offbeat Press Artwork by Jim Wachtendonk Special thanks to Peter Strand of Leavens Strand & Glover, Mary Tendall, Tom Bollom, Larry & Alyssa Flaskrud, The Barja family, Patricia Clason, Peter Bloom, Lin Daly, Soldiers Heart, and Desert Veterans of Wisconsin. Veteran Contributors Barbara Bazemore (Air Force, Gulf War and Iraq) BriGette McCoy (Army) Carolyn Arnold (Army) Charles Kniceley (Marine, Vietnam) Emily Yates (Army, Iraq) Henry G (Marine) Jacob George (Army, Afghanistan) Jason Moon (Army, Iraq) J.B (Marines, Iraq) Jesse Frewerd (Army, Iraq) Jim Wachtendonk (Army, Vietnam) Kevin Bauer (Army) Melissa Doud (Army, Iraq), Marco Capelli Frucht (Army) Raymond Cocks (Army, Vietnam) Sheila Shigley (Air Force) Todd Fahn (Army, Iraq) © 2016 Warrior Songs