I did not know Kevin Gilbert personally. I discovered his music by chance only a few years ago, and have always been amazed and disappointed that his music has not yet seen wider acclaim and success. Some have called him a "Modern Mozart," a "voice for our generation." His music has been called "progressive" and "non-commercial." His premature passing was tragic and controversial.

Kevin Gilbert the man was clearly a complicated person, and it's impossible to summarize a person in a song and few brief paragraphs. Similarly, his music is also beyond simple description; often it was complex in its simplicity, and sometimes beautiful in its ugliness. Above all else, it was eloquently performed and impeccably produced. For me, I am equally amazed by his lyrical dexterity and his musical potency. Kevin could (and did) say more with 2 chords and a few words than many artists can say with their whole catalog.

Dishonest is a tribute to Kevin's ideals. The concept of honesty to oneself (versus compromise) comes up in Kevin's writing quite a bit, both lyrically and — perhaps less overtly — by example in the unique nature of his music. I can only hope to carry on this tradition of honesty in my songwriting, and that is what the song is about. I can only hope it does his legacy justice.

One can only imagine what was yet to come from this incomparable artist. I emphasize that word to set it apart, because Kevin Gilbert exemplified the concept of a true artist, in every sense of the word. He was no one's puppet, no one's clone, and his death was a tragic, yet under-appreciated loss to the music community. For that reason, although I never "knew" him, I shall miss him.

 

Dishonest
MG • ©copyright 2000
A Tribute to Kevin Gilbert

verse:
 You could've just suffered for your art or
Been a troubled troubadour
Instead you had to be a martyr
The tragic king who came before

Fell victim not to compromise
Nor being someone's Spartacus
A chipped heart led to your demise
The patsy for your own distrust

chorus:
 I eavesdrop and I empathize
I listen to your dreams collide
But I never really knew you like did a blessed few
If there were one thing I would take
It'd be disdain for all things fake
I won't be dishonest; no shame here for the true

verse:
 I listen with a biased ear
To tales I know through words alone
Perhaps the legacy I hold dear
Would be better served by stick and stone

So I'll wheel in the teacart
We'll sit and sip and reminisce
I'll speak not of your tragic art
We'll just catch up on chapters missed

 

Notes, and some related links:
This song is now complete. We plan to include it on the forthcoming album by Second Story, to be recorded the week of January 13th, 2001.

You're invited to visit the Second Story website or the Second Story page at Mp3.com to hear samples of our music. I also invite you to check out the Instant Everything Station at Mp3.com which is a compendium of artists who talk of Kevin's legacy on the Joytown Email Digest at Topica (Also check out the Lawnmower and Garden Supply List.) Lastly, please visit www.kevingilbert.com and www.shadowself.com for more information and links about Kevin and his music.

 

Thanks for visiting.
Mark of Second Story