Stories & Lyrics

I BEG TO TAKE MY LEAVE

I beg to take my leave
I am gone not forgotten
I can say what I believe
I am gone not forgotten
Now, I beg to take my leave
I believed what I was doing
Was the thing good men do
I stand in pride with those who've fallen
What we’ve done was done for you.
For the things that we believe in
For the things that we hold dear
Truth and freedom, take some courage
I thank you for your tears.

Though we fallen in this battle
For a cause that we believe
Because of us and what we stand for
Many good men will fight and leave
Fight then leave to see their families
Live with them in times of peace
The price we pay. Please don’t forget me
Now I beg …. To take my leave

LINES OF TIME

From the opening song, “Lines of Time” invites the listener to consider themselves old friends and listen
in to heartfelt and beautifully crafted story songs which effortlessly paint mental pictures illustrating Ted and Katie’s love letter to friends, family and, unmistakably, to each other. Their own compositions speak from the heart, and selected old standards get deeply personal touches, ideally suited to their seasoned voices.

This collaboration traces the wistfulness of the passage of time and revels in the wonders of the lives most of us live – or wish we did. Resort town romances remembered in “Fever of Summer,” the Similkameen valley-inspired “River Rock Choir (from Tekatie’s recording debut as members of Dundeel), and the laid-back “Sunrise Cactus Garden,” are love songs in their own right – to the couple’s cherished Okanagan Valley. Ted and Katie Shumaker craft deeply meaningful songs in their intimate yet accessible style of Canadian west coast folk, here polished with the evocative artistry of extraordinarily talented backing musicians. Taken together, this is an infectious and varied collection that demands to be
enjoyed time and again, with friends or as a welcome escape into a world where lines of time are
but a frame of mind.

Imagination gets some free rein here. The complexity of the hand-crafted originals is breathtaking
delights while the sing-along simplicity of some familiar chestnuts makes the easy transition from
concert to campfire -- comfortable yet compelling.

The beauty of the songs is in both their telling and in their lively presentation, but these are no empty candy-coated treats. These are stories of lives well lived, with some hearts broken, others mended
and lessons learned, and they deserve a thoughtful listen. Of course, if you just want to roll down the window and get lost in great melodies and an ever-changing tapestry of musical texture on the road,
this one’s for you too!