As an American songwriter and folk musician living in mountainous Norway for the past 40 years, looking back home to America, I can hear the Folk Music influences of all the countries and isles of the North Atlantic that have influenced and cross-pollinated each other.
I chose this wellspring of music as the touchstone for this album. With lyrics inspired by people and stories from my now long and (some say) colorful life, you’ll also hear songs of social conscience about the futility of War and a call to action for our planet in hopes that … “We Shall Dance Again”!
how Jeffrey’s reverie & this album was born
When the American ex-pat veteran songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and award-winning lyricist (TONOs Edvardpris for Lyrics – 2016) Jeff Wasserman released his last recording, “The Meeting of the Waters”, (2018) that featured guests such as Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Jonas Fjeld, Brennen Leigh, Knut Reiersrud, and Claudia Scott; it was widely hailed as a masterpiece both in the press and by the likes of the infamous producer T Bone Burnett.
One man’s journey to the center of American music, and his trip back out to make his own … Jeff has conquered the world through his soulful discovery”. – T Bone Burnett
After realizing that it would require six multi-instrumentalists to perform his finely woven compositions live, Wasserman assembled a stellar band comprising multi-instrumentalist acoustic performers from Norway, Sweden, and the USA. This multinational and multigenerational group was named “Jeffrey’s Reverie” (Reverie = daydream).
“Jeffrey’s Reverie” has toured Norway extensively for the past four years and developed a unique, eclectic sound that draws inspiration from traditional American, Celtic, and Scandinavian folk music. Jeff Wasserman’s masterful songwriting, Jeff Davis’ old-as-the-hills fiddle sound, combined with the vocal harmony chemistry of the band’s three signature vocalists, Jeff, Anne Marit Bergheim, and Marius Graff, are the defining and driving force behind their music. On this new album “We Shall Dance Again”, each member takes on lead vocal duties. Half of the album was recorded live-in-the-studio, fresh off the road from the band’s 2019 Fall tour. The remainder was recorded in Wasserman’s Pigpen studios during the Corona lockdown.
Jeff Wasserman is one of those rare troubadours and songwriters who make that which is timeless, our legacy, enabling us to draw the long lines in music. Together with a group of incredibly talented acoustic string magicians, Jeffrey’s Reverie is a record release you should not miss. Timeless splendor!”. – Blues News
purchase CD
Tracks
1. ONWARD TO AVALON
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN
PLAYERS:
JEFF WASSERMAN – Lead Vocals, Acoustic guitar, Mandocello, Acoustic Bass
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Backing vocals, Autoharp
MARIUS GRAFF – Backing vocals
ERLEND VIKEN – Fiddle
Song Story
I had the honor of spending several weeks with Levon Helm and the rest of The Band as opening act and tour manager on their 1994 European Tour. It was a time that I’ll never forget, as I will never forget Levon – the conversations we had, the kind man he was, the fine music he made, and the deep impact he unknowingly made on my life and the lives of countless others.
“Onward to Avalon” was written in his honor the night that I heard the news of Levon’s passing on April 19, 2012. “Jeffrey’s Reverie” recently decided to record this tribute to Levon, to mark the 10-year anniversary of his death … and on a personal note, “Onward to Avalon” was written with the deepest respect for the warm person he was and all the hearts he touched with his music.
Lyrics
Onward To Avalon
Lyrics by Jeff Wasserman
Friends and loved ones gathered by your bedside,
and held your hand to help you on your way
Into the beautiful, marvelous, wonderful,
No more sorrow, no more trouble, no more pain
Onward to Avalon,
Onward behind the sun
We understand you had to travel on
And get your harp restrung … Levon
Guess it all flashed by as you floated out
To Rick and Richard waiting on the other side,
Guess you had a lot of fine times to talk about
with angels by your side.
Onward to Avalon,
Our American son,
We all knew you had to travel on
And get your harp restrung … Levon
You left your mark
on so many hearts,
deeper than you reckoned at the start
and you’ll live on when the rest of us our gone
Onward to Avalon,
Onward behind the sun
We understand you had to travel on
And get your harp restrung …
Onward to Avalon,
Our American son
We all knew you had to travel on
And get your harp restrung … Levon .. Sail on .. Levon
Video
2. MOVIN’ TIME
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN / TORSTEIN FLAKNE
PLAYERS:
JEFF WASSERMAN – Lead Vocals, Acoustic guitar
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Lead Vocals, Autoharp
MARIUS GRAFF – Resonator guitar
JEFF DAVIS – Banjo
JØRUN BØGEBERG – Acoustic Bass
OLAV “LAFFEN” CHRISTER ROSSEBØ – Fiddle, Mandolin
Song Story
Originally written for and recorded by Delbert McClinton and Rita Eriksen in 1992 as a straight-ahead Blues rock song written by Wasserman and Torstein Flakne (the song was a major hit in Norway); Here’s Jeffrey’s Reveries’ Jug band version with Jeff W. & Anne Marit Bergheim in duet.
The song was recorded live-in-studio with no sound barriers between instruments.
Lyrics
Movin’ Time
Lyrics by Jeff Wasserman
Listen brother there’s something you should know
I’m getting’ itchy
I never thought I’d stay this long
I’m all mixed up
your good lovin’ makes me blind
Too far gone,
I know I should be waving bye-bye
Love em and leave em begging for more
I tip my hat and I’m out the door
Never once did I look behind
Sayin’, sorry, I’m the movin’ kind
Woah, hey what you’re doing to me
I’m daydreaming bout a family
Can’t get your picture out of my mind
Better forget it cause it’s movin’ time
I got your number
You hit the nail on the head
Your lips are so darn sweet
I don’t wanna get out of this bed
Yeah, I’m all mixed up
Never felt like this before
Well, should I hang up my walking shoes
or make it on out the door
Love ‘em and leave em begging for more
I tip my hat and I’m out the door
Never once did I look behind
Saying sorry honey, I’m the moving kind
Oh, hey what you’re doing to me
I’m daydreaming bout a family
Something inside says I’m losing my mind
Ain’t no doubt about it, it’s movin’ time
I’ll never love you and leave you cause I’m begging for more
Let’s stay right here and just lock the door
Never ever gonna look behind
So, hold on tight cause it’s movin’ time
Woah, hey, what’cha doin’ to me
Every night is my fantasy
Can’t get your picture out of my mind
The way we love it’s moving in time
I’ll never love you and leave you cause I’m begging for more
Let’s stay right here and just lock the door
Never ever gonna look behind
So, hold on tight cause it’s movin’ time
Woah, hey, what’cha doin’ to me
Every night is my fantasy
Can’t get your picture out of my mind
The way we love it’s moving in time
Video
3. ARMY STREET – LINCOLN STREET MEDLEY
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF DAVIS / ARRANGED BY JEFF WASSERMAN
PLAYERS:
JEFF DAVIS – Fiddle
MICHAEL BARRETT DONOVAN – Fiddle
JEFF WASSERMAN – Mandocello, Face percussion, Acoustic Bass
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Accordion
MARIUS GRAFF – Banjo
OLAV “LAFFEN” CHRISTER ROSSEBØ – Mandolin
Song Story
A medley of smiling-wide fiddle tunes written by Jeff Davis who was Jeff Wasserman’s musical mentor from his younger days, and today, one of America’s most respected folk musicians, educators and folk music collectors. Davis is also a member of Jeffrey’s Reverie. His distinctive fiddle sound & style shine through here, Davis named these tunes after two streets in San Francisco where he wrote them both. In 1995, *Army Street was renamed Cesar Chavez Street (in honor of the man who led the first successful farm workers union in American history)
The song was recorded live-in-studio with no sound barriers between instruments.
Lyrics (none)
Instrumental
Video
4. THE LAST DEFENDER
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN
PLAYERS:
MARIUS GRAFF – Lead vocals
JEFF WASSERMAN – Acoustic Guitar, Mandocello, Fiddle, Acoustic Bass
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Accordion, Backing vocals
JEFF DAVIS – Fiddle
Song Story
A song about the futility of war. The music is based on a slowed-down traditional Irish slip jig called “Another Jig Will Do”. This tune enchanted me from the first time I heard it played by Jeff Davis in 1974. I wrote the lyrics and song melody in 1996 and added a bridge in 2019. Marius Graff and his distinctive voice take the reins here on lead vocals.
Lyrics
The Last Defender
Lyrics by Jeffrey Wasserman
Our horses were saddled
One spirit, of one mind
We sailed off into battle
The gods were on our side
Now Here We Stand
The Last Defenders
Of a plan
We can’t remember
Was it then
To break or mend a human heart?
Our course once less traveled
Now trodden and abused
Forced to friend our demons
Our longings long confused
Now Here We Stand
The Last Defenders
Of a plan
We can’t remember
Was it then
To break or mend a human heart?
The promises we keep
They keep us together
As we wander like sheep
Free, but still tethered
Tied to the old
Hatreds, illusion, and gold
Here I stand
The Last Defender
Who I am
I can’t remember
Am I then
To break or mend a human heart?
Video
5. THEY ONLY ASKED FOR LOVE / WE HAD THE WHOLE WORLD IN OUR HANDS
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN / KNUT REIERSRUD
JEFF WASSERMAN – Lead Vocals, Acoustic guitar
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Vocals, Autoharp
MARIUS GRAFF – Vocals, Resonator guitar
JEFF DAVIS – Fiddle
JØRUN BØGEBERG – Acoustic Bass
OLAV “LAFFEN” CHRISTER ROSSEBØ – Mandolin
Song Story
They Only Asked For Love
I’ve been a climate activist since my teens in the early late 60s/early 70s. In 1969 I started the Environmental Action Committee at Oyster Bay High School to address and clean up oil spills by Commander Oil’s oil tanks parked in Oyster Bay Harbor. This activism remains and has been reflected in my lyrics for decades (for those who may listen to lyrics). I co-wrote “They Only Asked For Love” with Knut Reiersrud in 2020 who first recorded it in a much different musical style on his album Ballads And Blues From The 20s vol.1. But this song always sounded like a “new” hootenanny folk song from the early 60’s in my head. So, that’s how Jeffrey’s Reverie performs the song.
We Had The Whole World in Our Hands
“They Only Asked For Love” is immediately followed by an updated, Climate Catastrophe protest version of “He’s Got The Whole World in His Hands” collected by my neighbors from Glen Cove, Frank and Anne Warner (they also collected the songs “Tom Dooley” and “The Days of ’49). I morphed the title to suit the crisis we now find ourselves in to “We Had The Whole World in Our Hands”. The song was also recorded live in the studio with no sound barriers between instruments.
Lyrics
They Only Asked for Love
Lyrics by Jeff Wasserman
Our Father’s heart is shining
the stars, the moon and sun
Our Mother’s heart’s still shining
with gifts for everyone
Now I hear our Mamma crying
for everything we’ve done
I hear our Father weeping
on all the bad we done
We’re blind, deaf and dumb
Was it so hard?
They only asked for love
They see us drunk driving
Down disaster road
And all creation dying
‘Cause we burnt down our home
Can you hear your children cryin’
From a time that’s soon to come
Hear you children screamin’
As they’re runnin’ from the flood
Too soon, Kingdom come
Is that so hard?
They only asked for love
(solo)
It’s high time we all stand up
For this miracle on Earth
Everybody’s got to look up
And prove that we deserve
these gifts from above
Is that so hard?
They only ask for love
We Had The Whole World in Our Hands
Lyrics by Jeff Wasserman
‘Cause we had the whole world in our hands
we had the whole world in our hands
we had the whole world in our hands
we had the whole world in our hands
We had all the living things in our hands
We had all the living things in our hands
We had all the living things in our hands
we had the whole world in our hands
You know, we got the fire and rain in our hands
We got the wind and rain in our hands
We got the fire and rain in our hand
If you’re singing then you understand
We got the whole world in our hands
We got the whole world in our hands
We got the whole world in our hands
We got the whole world in our hands
We the itty-bitty babies
We got all of humanity
We got the whole world in our hands
Don’t drop it ‘cause it’s in your hands
Video
6. SALVADOR AMADOR
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN / BRENNEN LEIGH / NOEL McKay
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Lead Vocals, Accordion
JEFF WASSERMAN – Backing vocals, Acoustic guitar, Mandocello
MARIUS GRAFF – Vocals, Resonator guitar
JEFF DAVIS – Fiddle
JØRUN BØGEBERG – Acoustic Bass
OLAV “LAFFEN” CHRISTER ROSSEBØ – Mandolin
Song Story
I began writing this song with Brennen Leigh in Austin, Texas in 2012. I’d had this melody in my head for years based on the fiddle tune “Ookpik Waltz” (Ookpik = Snow Owl in the Inuit language) by Western Canadian fiddler Frankie Rodgers (1936-2009). Somewhere in the songwriting process, we decided to write about a real-life situation that I’d experienced and that mirrored the “Blackjack Davy/The Gypsy Laddie” folksong motif from the 1700s:
A lord comes home to find his lady “gone with the gypsy laddie.” He saddles his fastest horse to follow her. He finds her and bids her to come home; she will not return, preferring the cold ground and the gypsy’s company to her lord’s wealth and fine bed.
Salvador Amador, the real name of my “gypsy laddie” who lured my first wife away in 1979. Brennen insisted his name was too good, too poetic sounding a name to pass up in this song. In my real-life story (I was 25), I didn’t chase after her on horseback but instead jumped on a jet plane out to San Francisco. She’d always had a thing for “bad boys” and chose a life with “Blackjack Davy” travelling around the USA sleeping in a pickup truck camper.
We didn’t finish the song until 2018 when Brennen finally made a trip to Norway with Noel McKay who helped us put the final touches on the lyrics.
Lyrics
Lyrics by Jeff Wasserman / Brennen Leigh / Noel McKay
I gave up the love of a good faithful man
My friends and relations don’t know where I am
abandoned my children, I’d do it once more
To be in the arms of Salvador Amador
Like the mane of some stallion his coal-black hair flew
Steel eyes in the shadows met my young eyes blue
He spoke with an accent from some distant shore
I could not resist Salvador Amador
Now regret is the wage – and reward that I reap
When my love and my children appear in my sleep
The locket and wedding ring that I once wore
Have been sold away by Salvador Amador
There was frost on the trees when we rode out of town
And before the first snow had begun to come down
I’d sworn that I’d never go home anymore
I was worlds away with Salvador Amador
He was charming and handsome, but not what he seemed
Now in sorrow I listen to the rain and I dream
Of my warm feather bed while I’m lying here sore
On the cold ground beside Salvador Amador
Video
7. WE SHALL DANCE AGAIN
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN / SVEIN DAG HAUGE
JEFF WASSERMAN – Lead vocals, Acoustic guitar, Irish Bouzouki, Upright Bass, Tambourine, Bell
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Vocals, Accordion
JEFF DAVIS – Banjo
MARIUS GRAFF – Vocals
MICHAEL BARRETT DONOVAN – Fiddle
ASTRID GARMO – Hardanger Fiddle
GIDEON ANDERSSON – Djembe
Song Story
With “We Shall Dance Again”, I once again, “take back” a song that I wrote (with Svein Dag Hauge) and that was released some 20 years ago. Norwegian supergroup LAVA made “Aquilo Blow” a hit in its time. I’d always heard this song performed quite differently in my head and have long played it in my weird tuning that I call the Sveio tuning (E-B-F#-B-A-E). Realizing that allusions to Greek mythology in my original chorus lyrics were probably flying over the heads of all except Greek Mythology nerds (but sounded cool), I chose to rewrite the chorus, hopefully giving the song meaning – “Old sailors know the winds, youngbloods could never know”. To make things even geekier – the third line is in Cheyenne, “Hi-niswa’ vita’ki’ni” = “we shall live again”. In the fourth comes the title … “We Shall Dance Again”.
The verses tell of a journey through what may sound like somewhat cryptic, but are metaphors for events in my own life. Everyone has their own journey in this life and meeting wise “old sailors” can truly be a game-changer to help us navigate life’s mercurial, rough seas.
Musically, Jeffrey’s Reverie takes this song from West Virginia to India via Ireland and Norway. The banjo tune “Twin Sisters” from Galax, Virginia begins this tapestry and remains the underlying mantra throughout this musical journey.
Lyrics
lyrics Jeff Wasserman
On one misty morning, my ship put out to sea
to unknown destinations, with just a map dreams
‘cross the lost horizon, she saw me disappear
Knowing I must journey, in and out of years
I met an ancient traveler, as east the wind did blow
We climbed a magic mountain, as tales to me he told
Of far and distant empires, of some who hold a key
On my way he sent me, to meet with destiny
Old sailors they know the winds
Youngbloods could never know
Hi-nishwa’-vita-kini
And we shall dance again
Then my boat of sorrows, on a shore did land,
Four and sixty long years I wandered through the sand
I came upon a people, talking with no words
They showed me to a gateway,
I saw you everywhere.
Old sailors they know the winds
Youngbloods could never know
Hi-nishwa’-vita-kini
And we shall dance again
Old sailors we know the winds
Youngbloods could never know
Hi-nishwa’-vita-kini
I’m going home
Old sailors know the winds
And we shall dance again
*Hi-niswa’ vita’ki’ni in the Cheyenne language means: “we shall live again”
Video
8. LIGHT AS A FEATHER
Track Info
SONGWRITER(S): JEFF WASSERMAN
JEFF WASSERMAN – Lead vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Upright Bass,
ANNE MARIT BERGHEIM – Vocals, Autoharp
MARIUS GRAFF – Vocals
JEFF DAVIS – Fiddle
MICHAEL BARRETT DONOVAN – Fiddle
Song Story
The true story of a cross-country road trip I took in 1976 in my Saab 96 and the wisdom I received from a hitchhiking World War 2 veteran-mystic who was at the Battle of Guadalcanal. One night, while under a massive rain of enemy fire, he just stood up from his foxhole without his rifle, holding his lucky feather, and was miraculously left unscathed. He came away from the experience with what became his creed and way of dealing with his hard life as a homeless vagrant. Light as a Feather.
Lyrics
words by Jeffrey Wasserman
It was midnight on the interstate,
All my bridges were burned
Red-eyed tired crossin’ Michigan,
Wonderin’ what this life was worth
When my headlights lit up some hobo,
with his back to this stormy night
Though he never raised his hitchin’ thumb,
I gave an old man a ride
he just sat there strokin’ a feather,
tellin’ old war story lies
but he meant every word of it,
by the look in his eyes … he said
Holy, holy, holy be the night
When you can see in the dark
and you ain’t scared of dyin’
Then you can stand up when it’s rainin’ fire.
The longest mile I ever traveled
Well I did not move at all
I was light as a feather
and true to my call
Yeah, out there into the open,
down that rocky road of coincidence
still it all falls into place,
though boy nothin’ makes much sense
But I have learned to use this heart,
Well, as the means by which to see
Then he handed me that Indian feather,
he opened the door to take his leave …. sayin’
Down the longest mile you travel,
on the one you wanna crawl
just be light as a feather,
and true to a call
‘Cause it ain’t that far to travel
if you ain’t scared to fall
Light as a feather
And it’s worth it alll
And as the sun it rose up
on that Montana day
Well he walked off into the wilderness
just as if he knew his way
I still hear the words he said …
Down the longest mile you travel,
on the one you wanna crawl
Just stay light as a feather
and true to your call
‘cause it ain’t that far to travel
if you ain’t scared to fall
light as a feather
and it’s worth it all
Down the longest road you travel
you need not move at all
Just float light as a feather
A-bove it all
Down the longest road you travel
On the one you gotta crawl
Just float light as a feather
And it’s worth it all
Video
COMING SOON!!!