This is another one of my poems I pulled out of the archives recently. Written back on April 2nd, 1984 (what a good year!) and it has a few lines I like.
I want you to stay For the moments that last forever Like seasons that always change.
Not to change you But to watch you grow. Not to hold you Or to let you go.
It’s too late to cry Much too long since you went away Sometimes you just can’t look back.
Don’t need to know why Something beautiful goes the wrong way But you can never go back
Not to change you But to watch you grow. Not to hold you Or to let you go.
I want you to stay For the moments that last forever Like seasons that always change.
I found this poem in my archives that I wrote on June 26th, 2016 and I would like to share it with you.
I have a pretty long list Of all the things I love I can do any of them with you Or, if you prefer, none of the above.
Family, friends, writing music, singing songs Winter walks, coming home, sky full of stars. Solving problems, helping strangers, reading a book Practicing yoga, sometimes riding my bike too long.
Learning something new, teaching what I’ve learned Laughing at jokes, sharing good food, colorful sunsets Writing on my blog, sharing a story, liking a post Being silly, going for a swim, getting praise that I earned.
With you I can do anything And add it to the list of things I love With you I can do anything Or, if you prefer, none of the above.
Cuddle and watch a movie, listening to you breathe at night Playing games no matter who wins, a weekend unplugged Hearing from co-workers, dancing like a fool, laying in the snow There are so many other things I’ve added to my list tonight.
With you I can do anything And add it to the list of things I love With you I can do anything Or, if you prefer, none of the above.
I’m with you sometimes when you stay up late at night Watching a show or reading a book and you start to cry. I try not to interfere, so rarely ask if you’re alright It ruins the tears if you have to stop and tell me why.
Your eyes just light up as you get the widest grin Whenever animals or an old couple stop to chat. You never judged an animal by the color of their skin And I’ve never had the chance to thank you for that.
What Is It that makes you smile? What does it take to make you cry? How do you keep focused on those in need? Whatever it is it becomes obvious Because I love what I see.
Sitting on a hillside as the sunset puts on a show Looking forward to early morn’ to see the blooms. There are many things about you I still don’t know. Grab it before it becomes lost in ashes and fumes.
You look at things in ways I will never understand No interest in paybacks or evening the score. Never guaranteed things would go just like we planned. Saying life is a thrill a minute so keep looking for more.
No interest in paybacks or evening the score. Saying life is a thrill a minute so keep looking for more.
What Is It that makes you smile? What does it take to make you cry? How do you keep focused on those in need? Whatever it is it becomes obvious Because I love what I see.
I’ve been thinking all day of when I get you home After everyone has gone and we’re finally alone. Like a good dog I’m gonn’a give you a bone.
I hear his mouth running all over town Talking shit and calling me a clown. I am headed over there now to put him down.
But I’m feeling rather tired And it’s time for a nap. It’s been years since I retired And it’s time for a nap.
Rewarded or punished for decisions we make Climbing this mountain is a piece of cake. Just another day or so beyond the lake.
Dream what you remember Remember what you dream. After all these years I found out It’s just about the same thing.
I bought three books and can’t wait to start Two of them are very close to my heart. I’ll read them all tonight, then put more in my cart.
I’ve been thinking all day of when I get you home After everyone has gone and we’re finally alone. Like a good dog I’m gonn’a give you a bone.
But I’m feeling rather tired And it’s time for a nap. It’s been years since I retired Sleepy from my morning snack. You can see I’m rather tired And it’s time for my nap!
It’s been months since we left shore Nothing looks familiar any more. The tropics and fair weather long past How did it get so dark and cold that fast?
The seas blended into the sky As the waves are frozen in ice. A sun this bright feels bitter cold The heart burns darker if the truth be told
I’ve seen the bottom of the iceberg; I know how deep it goes. You can’t judge distance by its tip; This, every captain knows.
Compass guides us toward nothing Spinning, bouncing but never pointing. There’s no one trusted at the helm Of a sudden lost far beyond the realm.
Never lived under clouds this weird Sweat instantly frozen in my beard. Your cries are lost behind a smile Deeper still with each swallowed mile.
I’ve seen the bottom of the iceberg; I know how deep it goes. You can’t judge distance by its tip; This, every captain knows.
It’s been months since we left shore Nothing looks familiar any more. The tropics and fair weather long past How did it get so dark and cold that fast?
Here we are and I love you still. No strength; no hope; no will. Here we are and you can’t let go Never see; never believe; never know.
I wrote this song many years ago. It reflects ideas I had for a long time before they became lyrics to a song. I can’t tell you how many times I have been interrupted by people coming into a dark room I was in and immediately tuning on all the lights. Even early in my life I was concerned about so many city lights that I could not see the stars on an otherwise clear night. There seemed to be no end to this trend. Now I have to travel miles and miles to find a dark place outside the city lights.
MSK Ohio River 1
I only have this one recording of the song. This happened when I introduced the song for the first time to my band mates. We ran through this tune a couple times in the living room. As far as I know this is the only time the song was performed, so I was lucky to get it recorded……
Though that is not strictly true as I recorded everything back then! My friends used to give me a hard time for being so weird about that. I always had the mics out and ready to record. Even if we just sat around and talked, I had the reels rolling.
So while this is not a great recording and you can hear me give arrangement directions as we ran through the song, I am glad to have this copy of Brighter and Brighter. I will have to look in my archives to find out when the lyrics were written. At the time, my young son would want to keep his bedroom lights on at night. Not for fear of something under the bed. Just because he preferred it that way. So these lyrics and the song they inspired are for him.
“Brighter and Brighter” (C) MSK
Some people get off on those neon lights
Keep the sun burning to hold back the night.
Won’t give it a chance and set the darkness free
So much going on that they have to see
That they have to see.
Not me!
I Dig the Dark
I Dig the Dark
I Dig the Dark
Sign posts, traffic lights and red laser beams
Brighter and Brighter that’s the way it seems
I don’t turn yours out so don’t turn mine on
Just leave it where it is until I am gone
Until I am gone.
I Dig the Dark
I Dig the Dark
I Dig the Dark
Hide in the closet and close my eyes
It won’t help to look when the spirt flies
It’s people like you who learn to believe
Through large mushroom clouds and your big bight ideas
MidiMike 