"It's all about places, faces and feelings… Now, 'TTFP': Take the … 'Fffff—-fantastic' Picture!" (Friend and Photographic Mentor, Monte Zucker 1929-2007)
There are some stories that never really end — they just find a new song to travel through. Gringo Corazón II: Amor y Olvido is that kind of record.
It picks up where the first Gringo Corazónhttps://bill-leyden.bandcamp.com/album/gringo-coraz-n left off — with laughter still in the air, a little more mezcal in the glass, and the same tender curiosity for love, memory, and the people who remind us who we are.
These are stories told across tables, train cars, and plazas — half in Spanish, half in English, always from the heart.
Across nine songs, we meet friends and ghosts, wander old streets, and toast to everything we meant to forget but never did. From the playful chaos of Whiskey and Prayer Beads to the smoky elegance of Still Laughing in Spanish, and the dreamlike mystery of La Mujer del Tren, each track carries a piece of the same truth: the heart does what it wants — in any language.
The album closes with The Heart’s Got Its Own Plan, a wry, warm farewell that reminds us we’re all just maps without compasses, pointing south beneath the moon.
This project wouldn’t exist without all those nights of music, stories, and the laughter that followed. Gracias to everyone who’s joined me on this road — from Monterrey to Colima, from memory to melody.
So pour something good, turn up the volume, and enjoy the next chapter of the Gringo Corazón story.
There’s a point when all the old stories start to sound familiar — and you realize the only common thread might be you. That’s where Maybe It’s Me begins: a smile in the mirror, a shrug at the world’s opinion, and a deeper breath of acceptance.
These nine songs wander through self-deprecation, humor, and forgiveness — from the wry confessions of “I Guess It’s Me” and “The Way I Get Around,” to the morning tenderness of “Breakfast for Two” and the quiet self-recognition of “The Mirror’s Laugh.” By the time “Call It Grace” arrives, the jokes have softened into gratitude — not the loud kind, but the kind that lingers when the light changes at the end of the day.
Musically, the album keeps its boots in the dirt and its heart in the sky — Stratocaster and pedal steel trading glances, nylon-string warmth on the slower moments, and close harmonies that sound like friends still finishing each other’s sentences.
It’s a record about growing older, laughing easier, and letting life be funny, even when it’s true. Grace doesn’t always announce itself — sometimes it just shows up, late but steady, with a smile.
I’m excited to share my latest album, “The Long Echo,” now available on Bandcamp. This 9-track collection represents a deeply personal exploration of how the Civil War’s trauma reverberates through generations—how violence echoes across time long after the guns fall silent.
About the Album
“The Long Echo” takes listeners on an emotional journey from the immediate horror of battle to its lasting effects on families, communities, and the American soul. These aren’t your typical Civil War songs about glory and honor. Instead, they explore the human cost: the guilt-haunted artillery crews, the impossible choices forced on civilians, the widows writing letters to the dead, and the children trying to understand their fathers’ silence.
Each track tells a complete story, yet together they weave a larger narrative about how trauma passes from one generation to the next. From Confederate soldiers at Franklin receiving orders they know mean death, to a great-grandson visiting his ancestor’s battlefield at twilight, these songs trace the long arc of suffering and understanding.
The Stories Behind the Songs
The album explores both famous and forgotten battles—from the massive surrender at Harpers Ferry to the brutal frontal assault at Franklin, from Chickamauga’s hollow victory to the haunted grounds of New Hope Church. But more than battles, these are stories about people:
“The Heights” follows Confederate artillery crews who can see the faces of their enemies
“I Never Wanted to Take a Side” tells of a Shenandoah Valley farmer caught between armies
“Letters to the Wilderness” captures a widow’s enduring love for her fallen husband
“The Echo” brings us full circle to a descendant seeking connection with his ancestor’s ghost
Musical Approach
Musically, “The Long Echo” blends alt-country and Americana with historical storytelling. The arrangements feature weeping pedal steel guitar, close country harmonies, and intimate acoustic textures that serve the emotional weight of these stories. Each song aims for that conversational authenticity—like two people with guitars on a porch, sharing stories that need to be told.
Salty Musicians in the Studio
Listen Now
“The Long Echo” is available now on Bandcamp, where you can stream the full album or download high-quality files. Each track includes detailed liner notes about the historical events and human stories that inspired the songs.
This album doesn’t romanticize war or offer easy answers. Instead, it asks us to listen for the melancholy voices history often overlooks and reminds us that behind every statistic was a human story—and behind every human story was a long echo that continues to this day.
The Civil War ended in 1865. Its echo continues still.
Bill Leyden's Blog 