I am working on a musical arrangement for lyrics I posted recently. It is not much right now. I have a piano and bass track using my MIDI keyboard, along with my vocal track for the melody line.
You don’t have to have money. You don’t have to have fun. Don’t even have to apologize To anyone.
It’s not like it was funny. You just didn’t think to laugh. Never got the punch line ‘Til you were broken in half.
Screaming for what you could have had. Or crying for what you’ve lost? Holding yourself responsible Crushed by unbearable cost.
You want to yell “that’s a lie”, When you realize all of its true. Like you’re watching a documentary Made specifically about you.
Saying it’s impossible Won’t make it go away. The enemies in your head Weren’t born yesterday.
The enemies in your head Weren’t defeated yesterday. The battle goes on forever Or so the minstrels say. Knowing you could lose tomorrow Or the morning soon after. This evening could all your dreams Become nightmares of laughter.
The enemies in your head Weren’t defeated yesterday. Each morning you rise again Seeing no other way.
The faith I have keeps falling apart The pain we share I will turn into art. Every day is difficult from the start Feelings neglected soon buried in the heart.
People are struggling but we’re doing fine.
In our million dollar mansions
Drinking imported wine. People keep struggling but we’re doing fine.
Can’t remember the last free moment No crisis, no chore, no one to comment. Starting from this path no choice would be different All my efforts dreams and cries so easily misspent
People are starving but we’re doing fine.
It’s the way it is and has always been,
So many suffer at Christmas Time. People keep starving but we’re doing fine.
Help who you can but so many in need While men trample where you plant your seed. To pay for survival you sacrifice and bleed Only to smother from the consolidation of greed.
People are dying but we’re doing fine.
But the uneducated and the lazy,
They are ruining my Christmas Time. People keep dying but we’re doing fine.
The faith I have keeps falling apart The pain we share I will turn into art. Every day is difficult from the start Feelings neglected soon buried in the heart.
I love to cook and have all the gadgets Spices and fresh foods from famous markets Artisan breads and cheeses and finest creams A few rare herbs and aged meats.
Tempted by smells slowly drifting my way Each ingredient calls for its place on the plate Planning, preparation and a little luck A masterpiece awaits each of us.
My wife looks up and tells me again “Nobody cares, so stop your bitchin’”. But it’s really hard to be a good chef Life sucks when you hate your kitchen.
The room glistens with silver, copper and glass I can sift and bake to my heart’s content Razor sharp cutting knives dazzle in the light A measuring cup or spoon for everything
But there’s no place to stand And no place to clean Nowhere to put things If you see what I mean. Even working by myself It’s too crowded to move The shelves are so tall Like they have something to prove.
My wife looks up and tells me again “Nobody cares, so stop your bitchin’”. But it’s really hard to be a good chef Life sucks when you hate your kitchen.
When you think you are making the right decision Everybody you connect with is on your side. Well, buckle up your seat belt and hold onto your cap You don’t know it, but you just walked into a trap.
It seems like you are making your own choices Everything is going down just like you planned. Suddenly you hear a loud and powerful snap Now you know it, but you just walked into a trap.
A trap you can’t get out of A trap you couldn’t see A trap of your own making Trapped for eternity.
Still struggling and squirming trying to believe Yellin’ ‘I don’t understand’, makes you look like a fool. All bundled up nice with a box with and pretty wrap However you say it, you’re stuck in a trap.
Lashing out at anyone that comes even close. You keep pushing yourself further and further away. The box is smashed and you’re hanging from a strap However you play it, you’re stuck in a trap.
I hate to throw all this morbidity stuff at you but it is a subject at hand. Physically I am fine, yet I grow older and watch my friends and family members get sick, or die.
In some ways it is a burden taking care of your health – eating well – exercising – meditation and the rest. Not for the effort it requires – BECAUSE IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EFFORT!!!! But you will inevitably see many of your friends and loved ones not make it to the same finish line. Sometimes the monotony alone is daunting after y e a r s and Y E A R S.
We all know we will die. My songs have reflected this for over 40 years. I think the earlier we realize the truth in this and treat our friends and family (and all humanity) with that simple understanding it will change our perspective in life. One unexpected generous comment or gesture from a stranger can spin positive echoes throughout decades. Hate works up-hill. Generosity works down. Sorry, I am out of wine.
So, athiest is not a word in Word Press. I am sure this is a pretty standard method of suppression. We are many but have no voice. #athiestisaword
But, I digress. Here are lyrics for “Pray for ME” If you are just tuning in to this blog my name is Michael. My wife’s name is Ellen. Most of my songs are by ME. Mike and Ellen.
“Pray For ME“
I value your friendship More than life itself. You put pride and decency Before anything else.
Laughing like hyenas When no one else gets the joke. Always high on the real thing When fools kept talking coke.
What will you do when I am gone? I hope you will be singing our favorite song. Stay as long as you want, say what you want to say But I’m asking you not to pray.
It’s the irony in things Only you could see. If one of us has to go first I hope to whatever god it’s me.
There is value in hope Struggles through each day. But there is nothing you can do To make this go away.
What will you do when I am gone? I hope you will sing our favorite song. Stay as long as you want, say what you want to say But I’m asking you not to pray.
Love’s not an easy thing Time to Let You Go. Understand that I love you More than you’ll ever know.
I wanted to give you another glimpse of Red River Gorge just as Fall starts to show. Not far south from my home in Ohio, the valley makes things a bit cooler and the trees are starting to turn there. I took these pictures and videos a few days ago while on a quick mid-week-get-a-way with my wife. Usually we can only visit off season due to her work schedule. This time we took a spontaneous short break and the weather was perfect.
The next video you can hear me breathing in the background. It was an effort to get to this perch for an old man but the view was worth every step. And then some.
Fog lifting at sunrise
Sunrise hitting both ‘peaks’
I have a bunch more and like pictures of your kids, they are all beautiful.
My wife and I were lucky to take a quick two night stay near Natural Bridge in Kentucky. We have been there a few times and I always post pictures that interest me. For those considering a trip, I have pictures of beautiful areas that are very close to the road or parking lots. While the paths can be rugged and hilly, these photos were less than a mile from the road.
My wife does not hike, so we pick areas that are close to the road so I can take a quick hike, grab some beautiful memories and rush back to the car so she doesn’t have to wait long. I am 68 years old, so if you are healthy you can reach these monuments of rock formations. It is difficult to view these places close up and not realize how easily early peoples thought of these lands as sacred grounds. Pictures are not enough.
I will post more later, but here is a sample of the pictures from my recent trip. We had beautiful weather and Fall was just starting to turn the hillsides into dazzling colors.
MidiMike 