Susan Maxwell Skinner - Carmichael CD

Susan Maxwell Skinner - Author, Speaker, Photographer

Carmichael

For the lyrically minded, here are the words to
Carmichael Americana

Carmichael. Let me wake up
With the sun, in Carmichael,
And greet a day that promises
Such sunshine and fun.
Till day is done and stars appear.
I’ll reach out and touch the moon,

In Carmichael. A river’s flowed
A million years through Carmichael.
Don’t need to be a billionaire ‘cos
We’ve all got the sun.
The best of California’s here.

Won’t shake the world apart
In Carmichael. Some people say
We’re not cool. We live and breathe
Our small-town’s lifecycle
But I believe America is great
Because of Small town hearts
Like Carmichael.

And they’ll treat you so fair;
They’ll show you what
Red white and blue stands for.
Reach out an open hand
To you and more.
When you need shelter
From the storm. Remember:

You’ve got God’s hand here to guide you
A small town’s heart to remind you
You’ve got a neighbor
To keep you all from harm --
We’ve got Carmichael to keep us
Carmichael warm.

Lyrics courtesy and copyright
of Susan Skinner

Carmichael -- Americana on the Move
.................................................................................
Saluting the essential American small town.

Play an excerpt from the companion CD.

Extract from Arden Carmichael News, Sept 2006:
Launching September 2006, a new Carmichael book is accompanied by a CD of a song about the 100-year-old township.

Photojournalist Susan Maxwell Skinner – also a singer and songwriter – finished a year’s work on her coffee table book Carmichael – Americana on the Move by penning a tune about the town. “It’s a sentimental song about the beauty and generous spirit of a small American town,” says New Zealand-born author Maxwell Skinner. “I learned volumes about local history and values in my year of research and photography for the book. So I wrote the song especially for an August concert in Carmichael Park.” (Maxwell Skinner is married to bandleader John Skinner.)

Scores of Carmichaelites afterwards engulfed her for the lyrics. “A WW2 veteran told me it was time Carmichael had a song,” recalled its composer. “Maybe it won’t ever be a local anthem but people seemed to like it. “I decided we’d better get it on CD as soon as possible.”

Titled Carmichael Americana, the CD also includes several more of Maxwell Skinner’s original tunes.

These pictures, music and text from "Carmichael -- Americana on the Move" and the companion CD is copyright to Susan Maxwell Skinner and may not be copied without permission from the photographer.