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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

A Merry Christmas for my sponsor child.

Ok kids so it's the holiday time of year again and I want to do something really special for my sponsor child I have in Columbia. I sponsor her through Children International. Her name is Kelly Sanz and she is a super cute 8 year old. Each month I send her and her family some money(It's not that much, but I am grateful that I can help in any way I can).

I want to make this a very happy holiday season for her and her family. I want to raise as much money as possible to give to her family to make the holidays that much brighter. They don't have a lot and get by on about $124 a month. Wanna help? Of course you do. Go here:

www.paypal.com

Make any size donation to paypal@runawaydorothy.com and I will send you(for free of course) a digital copy of our debut record 'The Arc'. You will be be helping a great cause and getting some free music in return. Please be sure to state what the money is for.

ALL MONEY COLLECTED WILL GO TO KELLY AND HER FAMILY!

I will not be keeping anything. I want this to be the best Christmas ever for Kelly and her family and with your help it will be.

Thanks,

Dave

Help RD make a new record and video

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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Want to get a personalized cd from runaway dorothy and help out a good cause at the same time? Of course you do. Who wouldn't? We are offering, for a short time, a signed copy of our debut cd 'The Arc', a runaway dorothy T-Shirt, and a sticker and button pack when you make a 30 dollar donation to help with the costs of the new cd and upcoming videos. But you may say 'But Dave, it's the holiday season and I am short on cash. Can I still help out?' Of course you can. You can make any size contribution that you would like. Be it one dollar or one million dollars(Price has agree to marry the first million dollar contributor). Any contribution will receive a free digital download of the record.

Here's what you do. Go to paypal.com:

and send an online payment to:

Paypal@runawaydorothy.com

Be sure to include your T-Shirt size(xs-xl) and whether you would like it signed as well.

Thank you for helping us to continue bring you new music. Your help is so greatly appreciated.

-runaway dorothy

*Offer expires 12/31/09

Post Acid Youth

New Review
Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Just had a great review of our record put up on this amazing blog Post Acid Youth. Here is a small sample:

David Parnell, the creative force behind Runaway Dorothy, spent his youth harbouring lofty dreams of basketball stardom. That Carolina kid is now a band man in New York City, in possession of one album with plans for a follow-up. I was going to jump on a plane to meet him personally, but then I remembered I wasn’t being bankrolled and that I tend to get homesick within 3 hours of leaving my house. Thankfully, that great, invisible information stream in the sky bailed me out, so here it is. Post Acid Youth’s first Feature: Runaway Dorothy.

Parnell’s musical education began in the backseat of his parent’s Thunderbird (a rock ‘n’ roll car, if ever there was one.) Through the radio, the fingers of folk clawed while the quarrels of country brawled in Parnell’s psyche, percolating within him with the experience which vaunted songs and legendary stories bring.

Go to Post Acid Youth to read the rest. Say hey and tell them thanks.

The shot about is from my outing at the Mets game last week. I almost got hit by two foul balls. I guess that is what I get for not seating in the nose-bleeds.

runawaydorothy@monkeytown

runawaydorothy@monkeytown
Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Shot of our acoustic set we played at Monkey Town in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The show was very much like a storytellers evening. Our friend Jon Diaz is the cool one with the the had. He sat in with us on a couple tunes.

New Song Lyrics

Chases

I was lost
In the worst of places
tired of chases
that lead me no where

You come along
like a long lost angel
but you were unable
to love me like i needed you

it's over
honey its over
over now

So take what you need
and leave me no worries
I'm in no hurry
I waited so long for you

But you say goodbyes
like you really mean them
you've been mistreated
but i wasn't enough to carry you

it's over
honey it's over
over now

it's over
why must it be over
over now

Love

So I had a thought about love today. I know this is really random, but as I was falling asleep last night I realized that I was approaching love in the wrong way. Here is my thought:

Love is like a small bird. We spend our time trying to capture it. It's fast. It moves. It won't stay still and we can't seem to catch it in our hands. Here lies a problem. If we are trying to catch it then we spend too much time with our hands closing and closed. We can't catch the love bird with our hands closed. In fact the way I see it the only way is to open your hands and allow it to land. This gives you twice as many places for it to go. A closing hand is only one place. Two open hands are two. Even I can understand that math. So what does this all mean? I don't know, but I think the general idea is that you have to be open and willing to let it come and go as it wants. Then and only then will it actually stay.

Maybe I am just crazy. Or maybe I haven't slept enough lately. Or maybe I am on to something.

Radio and Podcast

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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

I recently did an interview with Dave Grant from the Appetizer in Abilene Texas. You can listen this weekend for our song Abilene and Takes A Lot of Love to be played on his radio show. I will also be doing a call in interview with him on the show as well. I will tell him some secrets about my writing process and why I chose to write a song about a town in West Texas I have never been to. You can check out the show here:

www. kacu. org

And be sure to check out the podcast of the story of the song Abilene here:

www. appetizerradio. com

If you looking under the songwriters cook book you will me.

Also if you get a moment drop him a line to thank him for having me. He is such a great guy and I would like more people to know about him and his show.

Happy Weekend,
d

Ryan Adams, quit your bitchin'!

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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Dear Ryan,

So I learned to day that you have decided to call it quits from the music business. I have to admit I had the immediate reaction of just bidding you farewell. I mean poor you. You are successful, you have your own place in New York City, and people love your music. But I read your post. And then I was a bit sympathetic. I mean I understand the loneliness and seeking approval of others. I get that. Hell, I live in that land. Write a song and hope to hell that someone gets it and that will mean you are accepted. And on top of that the whole health thing. Ok. But let me tell you something. Take this advice from me. If you are anything like me the whole seeking approval of others isn't gonna stop the minute you are out of the spotlight. It might be refreshing for a moment to not be seeking it through your writing or performing, but it won't leave you. And the public forgets quickly.

So what next? You gonna go all JD Salinger? Gonna hide away in your Manhattan? To each his own. But let me tell you what is really hard. Your life ain't hard. Hell my life ain't that hard. In case you didn't notice there are people out there with real troubles. I mean there is a recession going on. Some people are losing their jobs and you have just decided that because it's hard and people don't love you enough you are gonna quit. Or is this just another stunt? Who knows with you. Anyway, if you want to quit. Do. But don't coming crawling back in 6 months with a new solo record. Cause some of us will still be here trying to make it the first time around.

d

On the road...well not anymore.

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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Well, it has been about a week since we came back from our run of shows down South. I have been meaning to do an entry for some time now, but in case you hadn't heard I have been sick sick sick. I am hacking up a lung as I am writing this. I am feeling better, but I am convinced that my meds are making me crazy. Actually, it's probably because I have been watching too much Columbo. I have seen the first three seasons in just the past week.

Let me say a few words about the shows. They were awesome. We played well and meet up with some old as well as new friends. We had to cancel our final show in Pittsfield, Mass. because I was sick. I hated to do it, but I knew if I went one I would suck. People don't want to pay hard earned money to see me cough after every other word. Sorry Pittsfield, we will be back. That is if you will have us. Enough about the shows.

Ok so I forgot why I started writing this blog. Maybe my meds are making me loose my mind after all. Uh....I guess that is it.

Oh in serious news my friend Gen just had surgery and if you don't mind sending up a little prayer for her and her test results I would be ever so grateful. Is that how you spell grateful? Who knows....

Much love,
d

The Awful Waffle

The Awful Waffle
Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

This is the only spot we could find to get food after our show at the evening muse in Charlotte. I have become too used to getting food anytime in New York. But we were so hungry we didn't care. I had a triple order of hash browns, grits and coffee. Brett had hash browns and grits too. And Price just had to have himself an omlet and the last of Brett's grits. Don't ask where Warren was....

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

So the past few days the boys and I have been in rehearsals for our run of shows over the next few weeks. I already miss New York. Don't get me wrong North Carolina is a great place and all, but it has been so long since I lived here I just feel a little out of place. And boy is it hard to be a Vegan around here. I even had a waitress asked me what that meant the other day. Really? C'mon.

In more upbeat news we have been working on some new songs and they sound great. We are talking about heading out to Cali early next year to lay down the ground work for a new cd. It might be summer or later before it sees the light of day, but we have new songs and they are GOOD!

Also with a lot of the down time I have been having I have been catching up on some 80's TV. Namely, the A-Team. And I have learned the formula for a hit 80's show.

1 You must have a helicopter in every show.
2 Machine Guns for all. It's the 80's Bigger is Better. No whimpy guns here.
3 Car Chases are a must.
4. Theme song must have cheesey guitar playing
5 Computers must have flashing lights and keyboards the size of a large dog.
6 One character on the show must be crazy. Bonus points if he goes by a strange name.

I am sure there is more, but I am tired and must get to bed. Oh, and today I also watched Breakfast at Tiffanys for the first time. I loved it.

Anti-Mag

So a few days ago I attended the re-launch party for Anti-Mag at Nurse Betties on the Lower East Side. Anti-Mag is a badass arts and style magazine based out of Brooklyn and I had the pleasure of sharing a cocktail or two with the creator of the magazine, Jo Ann. Instead of telling you what Anti-Mag thinks of us you can read it for yourself here:

Anti-mag.com/runaway_dorothy.html

And be sure to check out the other features too. I got to meet them the other night as well and they were some very talented people. We are very lucky to be featured along side of these really cool artist.

In other news we are gearing up for a short run of shows over the next couple of weeks. Check our myspace or website for show details.

Interview with YouIsAwesome

Interview With You Is Awesome
Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Recently I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jerllin from YouIsAwesome. It's a site dedicated to asking all the right questions. You know, the ones that are always at the end of the interview that you actually think are interesting and not just the same rehashed crap. Head over to YouIsAwesome and read my interview with her, and while you are there you can click over to their sister site(ILoveYourClothes) that is dedicated to personal style and see some photos from the interview and some questions they had as well.

In other news, I think the rain and wind and cold is gonna keep me locked inside today. That might not be a bad thing. I have a load of things I need to take care of for our upcoming shows on the East Coast. Also, be sure to check out our latest press release to find out how you can obtain a copy of our record(The Arc) at whatever price you are willing to pay. It's only for a limited time so be sure to act soon. You can find that here:

RD_Press_Release

Have a great Tuesday and stay dry.

d

Decoy Music Loves Runaway Dorothy

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Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

We are currently being featured on Decoy Music's website as a 'Band That Needs To Be Heard'. I got the nicest email last week from Chris who is the editor there. Here is a little from the email he sent.

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Chris Conlan and I'm the Editor for the music webzine DecoyMusic (www.decoymusic.com). I recently stumbled across you guys and I don't know how to describe it, but than to say "so good". I wanted to email you and let you know I will be including you in my upcoming Music That Needs to Be Heard article.

I want you to know to keep up the good work. You guys have honestly made my day/week/month/year that much better. I've been searching for awhile now to find a band that is able to capture my ear and you did it. It's insane to think your the reason that sparked my desire to renew my article; I haven't written one in over 10 months.


What a great email. It made my day. So if you get a chance stop by Decoymusic.com and read the article about us. It has some of the most generous compliments we have ever received. And post a comment for Chris and the staff to keep up their good work for searching out music that is a little off the beaten path.

In other news I am co-writing an Album with my friend Gen Owen. It's gonna be something quite spectacular. Stay tuned for some sneak previews. Also went to some CMJ events this weekend. Not too impressed, but one band from Detroit I saw last night was tops.

Interview

This past Friday I did a call-in interview with the guys of The Awful Show in Denver. To listen to it head over to our Facebook page and check it out. And if you would sent Joel and Mike and the guys at The Awful Show a thank you for having me on. I had a blast. Those guys are a riot. Today my friend Lindsay Holler is in town doing a show at Arlene's. I am gonna try to sneak back in there to see her perform. I may have to wear a fake mustache or elvis sunglasses with sideburns though as I have been banned for life at Arlene's. No possibility of parole.

One more thing. Joel from The Awful Show used six of our songs in one of their programs a few months back. If you haven't checked it out I strongly encourage you to. It's great how he weaved in our songs with his story line. You can find that at Awful Snacks 56B.

Lyrics Contest

Lyrics Contest
Originally uploaded by runaway dorothy

Hey all! Check this out. Our friends Kallie and Kassie over at TwilightSeriesTheories.com are putting on a Lyrics Contest and the winner receives a free copy of our CD 'The Arc'. If you aren't familiar with the Stephenie Myer book series you soon will be. There is a HUGE movie coming out in December. Kallie and Kassie run a weekly podcast that explores topics related to the book series, and we have been fortunate to be featured as musical guests on the show a couple times. In fact our song Abilene is on the show this week AND is featured on their homepage. So do yourself a favor and head over to their page and check out their podcast and get yourself caught up before the movie is released. Drop them an email and thank them for playing us. Oh, and get outside and enjoy some sunshine!

October 8

Wasn't it just yesterday that it was 90+ degrees here in NYC. And now I am looking for a new jacket on Ebay for the upcoming cold? Is anyone else addicted to Ebay as much as I am? Are there therapy sessions you can go to that I don't know about?

I love fall in New York City. I think I will probably plan every future tour that we do so that I can be in the city during this time. The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler and people are starting to pull out those scarves they have had hidden away for the summer. It is so much easier to be fashionable this time of year. In winter everyone is so layered you have no idea what they are wearing and summer is quite the opposite. It's so hot you literally want to wear nothing. Thank goodness we have laws here against that! For some people that is.

Yesterday I went to lunch with my friend and marketing guru for runaway dorothy Jerllin. We ate at this cool little spot down near NYU that was really good, DOJO. I had never eaten there in all my years of living here. I highly recommend especially for their vegetarian choices and cheap prices. We discussed some cool little things we have planned for RD over the next few months. Namely we are allowing our CD to be purchased through digital download at a 'set your own' price. I like how radiohead did this with their album 'In Rainbows' and want to model ours in the same way. This should get under way quite soon and will run until we end our tour here in New York City on Dec 6.

We also talked about the two videos we have under way. We are shooting videos for our songs Abilene, and Takes a Lot of Love. These are top secret projects so I can't go into much, but you won't be disappointed I promise you that.

Finally, did anyone watch the debates last night? Was it just me or was anyone able to watch more than thirty minutes of it? I went out to an Irish bar down the in the east village called Lunasa to visit my friend Dominico who was bartending and I knew he would have the debates on. I thought it my civic duty to be interested in the state of our nation and watch them, but honestly after about 20 or so minutes of question dodging and run-around answers I could stomach no more. Was anyone else completely annoyed? When are we gonna get a strong Indie Canditate? I mean we have Indie rockers with no budgets that are every bit as good as major label bands. Doesn't it stand to reason we could have an Indie President? Just a thought....

Lyrics

We have been getting a lot of requests lately for the lyrics to the record so I thought I would post them here. Thanks for asking and enjoy.

Caulfield

Another year has come and gone
And I damn sure still feel alone
Oh my words come out all wrong
No chance you will take me home

All my friends I’ve misplaced
And I can’t find myself today
Fall asleep on the wrong train
After drinking all my thoughts away

Tomorrow will be the same
As today

Close the door and put up sheets
Block the light it offers no relief
Go to bed, but I can’t sleep
God some monster’s chasing me

Tomorrow will be the same
As today
Tomorrow will be the same
As today

Hate myself for growing old
For never doing as I’m told
Fall outside the night’s so cold
Gotta find some drinks to warm my soul

Tomorrow will be the same
As today
Tomorrow is the same
As today


With you

I shouldn’t fall in love with you
Cause love is just a fools game
The warm embrace
I long for so much
Will be gone in the morning
Just the same

We have waited our whole lives
For a song to ease our troubled minds
For words to say
What’s in our hearts
For a love that won’t fall apart

So tell me where did I go wrong
And we go right
Why the day light gets to you

Cause even if I wasted all
These precious lines
I’d still fall in love with you

I shouldn’t let you know
But I can’t keep it all inside
Don’t use my words
To bury my soul
In a field where flowers won’t grow

So tell me where did I go wrong
And we go right
Why the day light gets to you

Cause even if I wasted all
These precious lines
I’d still fall in love with you


Abilene

Winter here has brought me down
Oh my love don’t make a sound
But she cries in the dark
When the world fall apart
Her thoughts are flowing down like paper rain

I’m a million miles from where you sleep tonight
If I hide my face until the morning light
Would you still be there
Deny your depair
Thought are flowing down like paper rain


Abilene
Why’d you do this thing to me
Won’t you let my baby come home

It’s been 40 nights
and I’m still locked inside this place
won’t you let my baby come home

oh Abilene

Oh my love don’t make a sound
Dry your eyes come back around
I know that you’re scared
From the secrets you’ve shared
But don’t let the darkness there
Break you down

Abilene
Why’d you do this thing to me
Won’t you let my baby come home

It’s been 40 nights
and I’m still locked inside this place
won’t you let my baby come home

oh Abilene

When summer comes I’ll feel just the same
You’ll pack your bags and quietly retreat again
And I’ll be own my own
Still trying to make this home
Think what you want Ill be running til the autumn comes

Abilene
Why’d you do this thing to me
Won’t you let my baby come home

It’s been 40 nights
and I’m still locked inside this place
won’t you let my baby come home

oh Abilene



Katharine Song

Somewhere in the distance
I thought I heard her name
But nothing breathes and nothing moves
Since you went away

And all the bars and subway cars
They still reflect your face
City lights like diamonds
They keep dancing in their place

So tell me please
Tell me please
Where you sleep
Tonight

Fly from me lovely
To your desert plain
A blue-eyed girl from texas
Starts to breathe again

And I’m up here on 9th street
Blowing with the wind
Walking around in circles
Til someplace pulls me in

All my thoughts are turning
And keeping me awake
Stare at my phone
But you wont call today

Drink myself happy
Til some girl makes me blue
The way she holds her cigarette
Reminds me of you






Takes a Lot of Love


I’m gone
And you’ve moved on
Still a lot of love left between us
Was never shown

I’m not far away
Ain’t never coming back
Still see you from where I’m standing
From the other side of the track

Takes a lot of love
To leave you alone

Faded pictures
On our bedroom walls
Show I lived we used to live
Before I was called

Now you share with another
Your hopes and your dreams
Guess I’m just a memory
Of a life you used to lead

Takes a lot of love
To leave you alone

I’m gone
And you’ve moved on
Just barely out the door
Now you’re lying in someones arms

I’d be there
But the Lord he called me home
Guess I’m finally learning
What I should have known

Takes a lot of love
To leave you alone



Volatile

Don’t
burn yourself out now
Cause me to live without
I so scared you will

Sleep
Lay your body down
You have worn yourself out now
I’m there
Won’t make a sound

It’s enough to find
It’s enough to find
It’s enough to find
You there
Don’t let it be love

Wake
Wake me when you go
Just Just so I will know
You are still alive

It’s enough to find
It’s enough to find
It’s enough to find
You there
Don’t let it be love

It’s enough to find
Only love could find
you there
Don't let it be love


Too Young

Why’d you come to me
If you’d only leave
Oh my sweet
Blue-eyed dream

Words won’t say
All we mean
They cower in the way
Come in between

Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
With you

Walk with me
Through these street
Oh your face
In the winter breeze

Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
With you

Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
Too young to fall in love
With you



Hard Way Home

Nestled ‘tween the pines
In the foothills of Caroline
There’s a place I once called home

Small dirt road still paves the drive
I used to play there when I was five
I can’t remember being so young

But I know the way home
Down the only road that I have ever
Really loved

And when I far from there
She calls on me just like a friend
Won’t leave me all alone
Til I found my way

Way out here in the country
Nobody even knows me
Everything stays the same

Listen close won’t hear a sound
Nothing moves for miles around
But I still hear it callin’ my name

But I know the way home
Down the only road that I have ever
Really loved

And when I far from there
She calls on me just like a friend
Won’t leave me

Even though my life has changed
I’ve grown up and moved away
There’s a voice that always calls me
Home




Say

You Say It’s over
If I’ll say
That we were just pretend
If that’s the way it must end

Then I’ll go
But you’ll stay
Alone now
We were so in love
Even if the world won’t end

It’s just another memory
Creeping in the back of my mind
And killing me
This time

You’ll say That the world is wrong
And I’ll say
It’ll never fall apart
Even if you break my heart

Nobody’s crying
This time there’s just no use
This is how it had to end

It’s just another memory
Creeping in the back of my mind
Spinning around for days
Dreaming of love it won’t find
I loved you
But love is gone
Away




Nights Like These Here

Look into your eyes
I fill you full of lies
I know every word
You long to hear

Everybody knows
How it’s gonna go
Crawling from your sheets
By the morning light

But don’t fall in love
It’s not enough

But on nights like these here
I can’t resist
I fall into your arms once again

Nights like these here
I’m broken and I’m jaded
I fall into your arms once again
On nights like these here

This won’t be the first
Doubt if it’s the last
Time that you and I’ll
Stand face to face like this

Four of five drinks in
That’s when it all begins
Don’t wanna wake up
In the morning alone

But don’t fall in love
It’s not enough

But on nights like these here
I can’t resist
I fall into your arms once again

Nights like these here
I’m broken and I’m jaded
I fall into your arms once again
On nights like these here



Matter of Time

Sleep tonight
Underneath the stars
Let the world
Turn around you

Cause your soul it aches
But your body still takes
All the pain
That you’ve put it through

Sleep in the hallway
Lie on your back
I won’t disturb you
Til the morning is through
Now it’s only
A matter of time

When the day is done
And you need to go home
Find a place
Where you can be sure

In the life you lead
It is what you need
So find a place
And drift off to dream

Sleep in the hallway
Lie on your back
I won’t disturb you
Til the morning is through
Now it’s only
A matter of time

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Damn Sundays are rough. Why is it that the most holiest day of the week(i realize that was bad grammar, I just don't care) is always the most difficult and depressing? Or is it just me? Today I did not want to even think about music or record labels or finances or friends or loves or eating or haircuts or insurance or eye glasses or presidential races. In fact I did not want to think or rather should I say worry about anything. Oh, I forgot to add moving to my list off things to avoid thinking about on a Sunday. Well, that didn't work out so well. I thought about all these things today. It was like they waited beside my bed(I wish I had a bed) and all jumped on me the minute I woke up. Now, let me stop here and say that I have been in a rather upbeat mood these past few weeks. Wait. I think I will put some tea on. Maybe that will make me feel better. Ok it's on. Just remind me to go check on it in a minute or two. I always seem to forget and all the water just boils away. I am listening to Cat Power right now. I cannot listen to her without thinking about my friend Katharine. I say friend because we have recently started communicating again. We are bad communicators. At least with each other. By the way I am amazing myself with my typing skill right now. Who knew I could type this fast? Not me. 

I am gonna put a new paragraph here so incase you are still reading it doesn't look like one big rant. It's one big rant in multiple parts. So I feel winter coming. I know, I know it was just summer and today is just the first day of fall. How can I be thinking of winter? I can. It seems I am always thinking of winter. And truth be told I am not sure I can survive another winter where I am. Physically, and emotionally. I think I am letting you in too much. I am not usually like this. But today I really don't care. If you don't like me or my music or my band because you think I am a little off, that's ok. The truth is, I am a little off. Where was I? Who knows. Oh yeah...gotta check on the water. It was boiling. Tea is making. Lost my train of thought again. Maybe I should just talk about the tea. Nah. But I will say that I am drinking it out of my Starbucks from Beijing mug that my friend Emily gave me. Thanks Emily if you are reading.

I think this calls for a new paragraph. It's not that late right now, but I am thinking about turning in. That would be unheard of for me. I never sleep. Ok so that is a lie, but I don't go to be early. I hate it. I think we have addressed this earlier so I will not go into it here. I think it's time for a summary. Ok I have had it with today. I am off to bed(I wish I had a bed). Hope your Sunday was full of sun. 

Good night.