I mentioned in my first Poetry Pod that I turned the lyrics of my Pet the Cat poem into a song. I had a good time recording this one and tried to make it fun for kids to listen to. Maybe on a rainy day you will sing this song as you pet your cat, or dog, or frog.
Here is Pet the Cat for your family entertainment.
Going over old recordings I finally found one of my gems from 1977. Back then I was learning to play guitar and my friend TR would jam with me. I knew a few musicians even back then and on the weekends we would gather at my place for dinner and a fun evening.
We would have about a dozen friends come over and after meals and a few drinks we would inevitably pull out the guitars and other toys. I didn’t spend much time learning or playing cover songs. That happened, but most of the time we wrote our own material. Our songs ran the gambit between topics of the day and the humorous things in life. I recorded on state of the art technology in those days: reel-to-reel tape recorders. I had a Tascam (Teac) 4-track machine back then so we could record an AMAZING 4 tracks at one time!
This song is one of our funnier songs. It wasn’t like we were trying to be like the Smothers Brother’s Comedy Hour from 1967, but we enjoyed humor in our music. This take starts with TR vocals and Ovation guitar introducing the theme of the song as I join in with my Ovation 12 string guitar.
Here is the only recording of that song. It is just the two of us jamming late after most others had crashed or gone home or to work. I learned a lot about harmonies during these sessions and still get a kick listening to us making up the arrangement as we go along.
Enjoy a funny blast from the past and wait for the end of the song for the lyrical punch line.
The ‘haves’ have more. News at 11.
I know you are still playing games
And cannot see what I’ve lost.
For too many, the tab gets paid by others.
For you, There is no Cost.
Pull up to another table
Grab a fancy pair of dice.
You don’t need anyone
Let alone their advice.
Black is black and everything in between
What’s left is a white that blinds like the sun.
Defended by lies no choice but to go on
There’ll be many more before this song is done.
I know you are still playing games
And cannot see what I’ve lost.
For too many, the tab gets paid by others.
For you, There is no Cost.
For you, There is no cost
There is no Cost.
I have been busy and quite productive in spite of the world moving as fast as ever as I slow down. next year I will be 70, so everything I do takes a bit longer these days.
I have a few songs, a lot of poetry , some photos and a couple outside projects to show for it.
Here is a new song I can blame on too much time to think in between projects. Some darker themes throughout. More to come if I can find the time, even if the descriptions and personal stories are shorter than I usually aim for. Thanks for your understanding.
Pot makes me paranoid
Alcohol makes me cry.
If you ask me a question
I’ll want to know the reason why.
If we could do this all over again
It Wouldn’t Be the Same.
I’ve loved you forever
But it’s driving me insane.
Friends we know are complicated
And rarely ever try.
I told you I will love you,
Until the day I die. Until the day that I die.
Life becomes precious to those
Who see what lies ahead.
Each day becomes very special
For those who know they’ll soon be dead.
Take the time, the time is now
To look what’s inside your head.
I tell you over and over again
But you ignore what I’ve said.
I want to share with you my latest 24 hour song. Written, recorded and mixed in one day. This is “Trance”.
It seems to me
This is the place to be.
Outside everything
Inside nothing
In a
Trance
In a
Trance
It seems to me
This is the place to be.
Outside everything
Inside nothing
Internal Glance
Brain Dance
Another Chance
In a Trance
Outside everything
Inside nothing
The stock market rises
The politicians fall.
Take off your disguises
We can see you all.
The magician on stage
Poker player in the biggest game
Each salesman closing the deal
In many ways they are all the same.
If it looks too good to be true
Someone is showing it to you.
It starts with a clever deception
Giving you the wrong impression.
The package is pretty
Worth it for twice the price
A mansion the overlooks the city
Costs more than paradise.
The stock market rises
Then politicians fall.
Take off your disguises
We can see you all.
Perception is the Rule:
Deception is the Tool.
Trying to force my thoughts into rhymes
I’ve started over too many times.
Lost my way more often than I can count
Paying for the future from an empty account.
I lived in a palace that is now
Smoldering ash and dust.
I thought I was a Man of Steel
Turns out I’m a bucket of rust.
Running down-hill you can only go so fast
Falling head first, now your feet aren’t the last.
Told a good story, played the main part
Some if it science, some of it art.
I lived in a palace that is gone
Smoldering ash and dust.
I thought I was a Man of Steel
Turns out I am a bucket of rust.
Sometimes you are forced to gamble
Usually there is no preamble.
For some it’s fun to shop until you drop
For me it was just impossible to stop.
I thought I was a Man of Steel
What’s left is a bucket of rust.
I stole the main theme from my older brother. He would often say he thought he was a man of steel but looking around he saw a bucket of rust. He was a wrestler and chess player in school…. an avid reader and ready for any challenge. Even after his third stroke and 2nd seizure this year, he remembers his wrestling days in high school more clearly than many other accomplishments. It is plagiarism, but he is my brother so I think I can get away with it this time.
My days are longer than the nights.
But my nights belong to you.
Talk, laugh, dream.
Didn’t matter what we’d do.
The morning begins the struggle
None of it is worth a fight.
Wait, hope, dream.
Soon everything will be alright.
It could have been that I was late.
Too much living left up to fate.
However it happened by any event
I knew it was you from your scent.
Describe:
The most beautiful sunset.
Picture:
Energy that surrounds you.
Dictate:
Memories you are saving.
Capture:
What I feel this close to you.
It could have been that I was late.
Too much living left up to fate.
However it happened by any event
I knew it was you from your scent.
My days are longer than the nights.
But my nights belong to you.
Talk, laugh, dream.
Whatever you want to do.
I know it has been a while since I have posted much, but in reality I have been pretty busy. I have a lot to catch up on, but for now I want to share a new song with you. I wrote the lyrics to “Trap” a while ago and now have music for it. The lyrics have changed a bit so I will include an updated lyric sheet as well.
I have a vocalist coming in to redo the melody track to replace mine, and I will keep my harmony track. Soon another friend will send me bass guitar tracks, but for now, here is “Trap”.
When you think you are making the right decision
Everybody you connect with is on your side.
Well, buckle up your seat belts and hold on to your cap
You don’t know it, but you just walked into a trap.
A trap you can’t get out of. X2
A trap you couldn’t see.
A trap of your own making.
Trapped for all 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, bow 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.
Suddenly you hear a loud and powerful snap
Now you know it, you just walked into a trap.
When you think you are making the right decision
Everybody you connect with is on your side.
Well, buckle up your seat belts and hold on to your cap
You don’t know it, you just walked into a trap.
It seems like you are making your own choices
Everything’s going down just like you planned.
The box is smashed and you’re hanging from a strap
However you play it, you’re stuck in a trap.
Suddenly you hear a loud and powerful snap
Now you know it, you just walked into a trap.
I hear the beat when nothing is around.
Can’t help but imitating life’s unusual sound.
I would gladly show anyone what I have found
The tempo changes come from underground.
It’s not a pattern if it doesn’t flow.
Soon watch your feet and hands begin moving from fast to slow.
No way to see it if you don’t already know
But stand still long enough you will feel it grow.
The first thing I learned was how to snap.
Didn’t take me long ‘til I had the knack.
Walkin down the street or wakin’ from a nap,
My life has always been a musical soundtrack.
From the solid ground comes a roar like thunder.
I can never wake from the spell I am under.
Once I can open my eyes they are full of wonder
Let’s escape this world that has been plundered.
From there everything comes into play.
Someone writes a musical out of the things you say.
I would like to think we could leave it for another day
But you and I know it will never go away.
The first thing I learned was how to snap.
Didn’t take me long ‘til I had the knack.
Walkin down the street or wakin’ from a nap,
My life has always been a really long soundtrack.
MidiMike 