A Song a Day

New Song: Every Bit

2006-08-02T15:02:00.000-04:00

So, my sister's getting married on Saturday. And then she's going to Seattle. So, I wrote a song. Not sure if I'm going to play it for her or not, really. Here it is.

Never dreamed that I'd come this far
Feelin' older the older you are
Tripping daily over rough rough road
What's one step further, further who knows?
And you show that it's not far off
You're who you are, you take what you want

Every bit of the best for you
Yeah, you did what you wanted to
Struck by fire, feeding the flame
Little sister, change your name

Subtle hits of the years ahead
Little bits of the end pages
And you tell me of the ring you wear
I remember the braids in your hair
When you go, take a picture, yeah
To remember the times you've had

Every bit of the best for you
Yeah, you did what you wanted to
Struck by fire, feeding the flame
Little sister, change your name

When you're broken
When you're sick
When you're crying
Look at it
When you're tired
When you leave
When you smile
Look at it
Look at it
Look at it
Look at it

Every bit of the best for you
Yeah, you did what you wanted to
Struck by fire, feeding the flame
Little sister, change your name
Little sister, change your name
Little sister, change your name

Inspiration

2006-07-21T19:42:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine has recently started writing in his 'blog again. This 'blog doesn't have much focus, but I find it generally interesting, and I read every update. So I've Been Thinking... is an insight into at least part of what goes on in Schmitty's head, and it isn't the kind of whiny, emo crap that a good chunk of 'blogs are. So, I keep reading.

That, and it's inspiring, obviously. Why is it obvious? Well, because I'm doing this update. I haven't updated this in a little under a year. And now, I'm thinking I might start up the project again. I have been largely lazy, playing World of Warcraft and surfing the internet (in addition to productive things like coding for Ninja Wars 2, searching for jobs, and talking with my girlfriend).

But I haven't been writing songs. Maybe this is because I don't want to write about girls anymore. I've written so many damn songs about girls, and it's no longer interesting to me. That, and I don't have the relationship turmoil that I used to. I have an amazing girlfriend, and I'm very happy with where I am - we are - emotionally.

So, I guess I should turn to other sources. What's giving me problems in my life?

Well, the job search for one. I've rather identified with the band State Radio's song Mr. Larkin (which I've unfortunately been unable to find on Ruckus). It's about a guy wanting to hold a job, so he can support himself and "his woman" (the relationship between him and this woman is kind of unclear, actually... But I haven't actually read the lyrics, only heard them).

Um... The lack of money? That goes with the job search.

Viruses, Spyware and Adware? Like I want to write a song about hours upon hours of scanning my computer for this crap... (Oh yeah, Spybot was running... Time to click "Fix Problems" ... 28 fixed... And I get another popup. Awesome).

Maybe it's time to start reading the newspaper, as much as I hate it. It's so depressing. And I don't exactly want to be depressed, even though that's what's worked for my songwriting in the past (I guess). And I've written a song about the fact that I don't want to hear about this crap.

Who knows, really. I'll see if I can find some inspiration, somewhere. Hell, I might even come up with a happy song. Seriously. That would be kinda weird.

Like I said, we'll see.

Ok, so that didn't quite work out...

2005-08-08T12:16:00.000-04:00

But I kept it up for a month or so. Not half bad, if I do say so myself. I got a few good songs out of it, too. Specifically, What I Really Mean to Say, Dumb, Persistence of Vision, Four Letter F-Word, and Wasting the Sunlight. Those are probably the ones I'll end up keeping. I've been playing the first three at open mics, and they've been received very well. The last two, I haven't been playing much, but I like them. And, frankly, I'm still trying to memorize the words to Four Letter F-Word.

Don't worry, this isn't the end of my songwriting. I'm just really uninspired, and unmotivated right now. Perhaps a change of scenery will do me good. I'm going home for a couple weeks, starting this weekend (hopefully). After that, of course, will be the start of the new school year. Should be fun!

New Song: Untitled

2005-07-25T16:03:00.000-04:00

I wrote this yesterday, just sitting around, playing with my guitar. Which is kind of strange, because I haven't put it to music yet. But here are some lyrics for you.

It's so quiet, I can't stand the heat
Of fire built inside of me to leave, to run, to scream
I'm wired but the rest of the world
Seems tired of resisting some everlasting sleep
Still empty, but more empty than the
Rest of times, best of times I'm solely in my home
Curse quietly but not about the higher
Mediocrity of self-inflicted, uninspired writer's block

Where has the world gone? I wonder where I am
Where I could be if I had the chance

I can't believ the signals sent
From somewhere deep inside your head, some
Instinctual relief that someone
Thinks of skin beneath the clothing you perceive
So critical of sex and other
Characteristic parts of humans' mess of lives
Fairly sure, I cover up
What some would consider sin, and dig right in

Where has the world gone? I wonder where I am
Where I could be if I had the chance

Tyrannical, the way I save my
Rage inside for when I got o sleep
I see the old ones, and the new
Somewhere, nowhere to be found, not onow
So deep within what seems
To be a suffering from something evil
Whether I am what's the cause
Or some other being, stored beneath the skin

Where has the world gone? I wonder where I am
Where I could be if I had the chance

Feeling has been lost on me for weeks
Or so I think, cuz I can only feel defeated
Down and dirty, dirty minds
Collide and tell the difference for the same
Face to face, no better place
To take this need from far below, to hell you go
For what I've done more than once
For what? For who? It's just for you.

Where has the world gone? I wonder where I am
Where I could be if I had the chance

Simply Uninspired

2005-07-24T13:33:00.000-04:00

I can't find anything worth writing about anymore. I'm sick of writing about inhibition, and being afraid, and not knowing what I want to do with my life. I want to write about something more... significant, I guess. But I have NOTHING. I don't do anything exciting. I go out to the bars, and play pool, every so often. But that's about as exciting as it gets. No one-night stands, no strange tales from drunken bar-goers, no odd occurrences.

Arg.

New Song: Scars

2005-07-18T21:46:00.000-04:00

This one's dark, industrial, and very Manson-esque. That's really about all I have to say about it, except...

YAY!!! FIRST SONG IN A COUPLE WEEKS!!! WOOHOO!!!

I'm a terrible songwriter.

Sunday I'm on a bleach white bender
Of a popular sway
Bleeding deep from a self-inflicted misery
Sleeping on a car ride, I'm still awake
Still speak clearly
Suffocate - other ways of feeling
the same way

Chorus:
Something breaks and I'm unsafe
But free from the obvious state
Tucked away in the back beat
Shrapnel from a previous date

Numer of a stranger in my way - sever me
Feeling like a piss-poor version of a person
No way would I consider being too late
Too late for me now - gone down

Pushing back from pressure put on me
Sinful and I know it but I can't see
Not being me - unclean, so it seems
Reach for a safe place party with the saints

Fear me when I'm this way
Here we hide our mistakes
Buried in the deep green
Fear me when I'm this way

New Song: Persistence of Vision

2005-07-01T22:52:00.000-04:00

Hmmm... I wonder if it's Guinness, or if it's the fact that I found one of my favorite guitar picks, but I just wrote another song. It uses the line I'll never see the end of the world. I think it's pretty cool. It's almost NIN style... not like Happiness In Slavery, or Perfect Drug kind of stuff, but more like Hurt or Sunspots. Anyways, here's what I've got. I may add more verses later, but this is it for now.

Wide awake, no sleep since
Four a.m., now it's eight
Thought patterns cross like planes
Fly over my tired brain

Fix problems I think about
My sore feelings, I'll live without
Companions to have and hold
Who needs them to worry 'bout

I'll never see the end of the world

Run headlong into somewhere I shouldn't be
If I was smarter, I would have seen
My mistake, I regret
But I can't keep dwelling on the past

I'll never see the end of the world

Discretion through all of this
Do you know how hard it is
To keep secret another's life
When all that you want is flashing before your eyes?

I'll never see the end of the world

EDIT: Changed the name from "Blind" to "Persistence of Vision"

New Song: Now Fades

2005-07-01T17:19:00.000-04:00

This one, I just came home after work, poured myself a Guinness, and started screwing around. It's upbeat, a little bouncy, and fun. I gotta work with the melody, though. Not sure I quite like it. Here are the lyrics, for your consideration.

Perfect after the hours
Rest, though I have all day
Mind ablaze forever
Now fades
Several precious moments
Send for the peoples' peace
Stop what I cannot hold
Not me

Close my eyes and let it flow
Close to my time to go
No company to keep me low
Know far away is close

Difference from the belief
Cheap, but it's not my thing
'Course it's not my choice
I sing
Any time I want to
Far from a life of crime
Steal what I can't uncover
Now mine

[chorus]

Never any further
Nowhere near the end
Clumsy as a lover
Nimble as a friend

[chorus]

Yep, needs work... and it'll get it's work this weekend. No doubt about it. Lates, y'all ;-)

Random Junk

2005-06-30T23:11:00.000-04:00

Seeing as how I haven't written a song in a few days, I figured I'd post some of the random lyrical musings I've had. They're basically just a verse or two here, or a line or two there. But just to show that I haven't been completely unproductive.

Last night, I watched the Coldplay Live DVD with Kate, and I realized that I really want some different instrumentation in my songs. I want to try to write a song on the piano, or bass, or with some kind of percussion. I kinda want the guitar to play second string (no pun intended) for a while. I don't know how I'm going to accomplish this, as the guitar is the only instrument I own. But we'll see, I guess. Anyways... random musings:

This is my place
Fall back and push away
All this sadness
Taking back the life I missed

I can't be pining
If I want a life
I'm perfectly fine
Just think about the good times

That one, obviously, is... well... crap. It's pretty easy to tell why it didn't become a song.

My face disappears with the light
And even I'm surprised to find a smile
As I leave the room, contented
Nothing really ends

Not bad... but not great. Hasn't gone anywhere, obviously.

I'll never see the end of the world

A single line, which I kinda like, at least in principle. It's kinda saying "Everything's gonna be fine"

I keep my eyes open
So I can see, and then believe
What's happening to me

I dunno what that is. It's... not that great, really.

I guess that's all I got. It's not going anywhere, really, but it it some random musings. Maybe I'll come up with something interesting eventually.

Laters.

Ugh... no songs for the past few days

2005-06-29T15:30:00.000-04:00

Right. So I haven't written a song for a few days. I've had a couple ideas, but nothing has really come of them yet. This is basically just an update as to what's been happening with me musically.

Basically, I've given up playing covers at the open mics. I just won't do it anymore. People just seem to like the covers because they're covers. It was kind of annoying. The straw that broke the camel's back, though, was when this drunken blonde ditz said "Play something I know!" It was really then that I figured I have enough originals that I can support an open-mic set _very_ easily. I probably have as many originals as some people have covers.

And so, this past Sunday at the Statesman, I started my original stint. I played three originals, all of which were received very well. It felt great. But what felt really good was the 6-song set I did at Kelly's last night. It was amazing. "Dumb" got a great response both nights. That song is kinda surprising me, in terms of popularity. Although, it's kinda poppy, so I guess it shouldn't.

Actually, after I finished my set at Kelly's, some guy came up to me and asked "So what do you play?" I kinda looked at him wierd, and then realized that he was asking what kind of covers I play. I was actually just unplugging my guitar when he asked me to play something that I was comfortable with, and that everybody would like. I replied with "I just did."

So yeah... I'm going to start memorizing some more of my recent originals, and see how they go over. They've been working pretty well, actually. It makes me happy.

Yes, that's right. Happy. I've been smiling a lot more lately. I was really angsty for a bit, but then I got over it. Life isn't that bad. In fact, it's not bad at all. I have a great roommate, a decent job, the freedom to do whatever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want, and I'm making significant progress in the areas of web design and music.

All in all, life is pretty good.

Rewrite: Wasting the Sunlight

2005-06-27T09:32:00.000-04:00

So, I transferred all my songs from an old Graphics notebook to a nice new (sort of) 3-ring binder. And in the process, I rewrote a couple of lines. "Wasting the Sunlight" got the biggest rewrite. Half the second verse changed, as well as the entire third verse (though, the third verse became half as long). So, here's the new version.

Wasted the day with a light in my face
The light of a flatscreen moon
Trusting the world wasn't ending today
Cuz I wouldn't have a clue
I couldn't tell if I'd walk home in rain
Or open the doors to sun
Sometimes I wonder if this is the state
Of existence that I would want

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
I'm lucky the day is long

To travel the road from dawn until dusk
And sleep by the light of the stars
I'd pick up the strings and I'd get them to sing
The loveliest kind of song
A change in the scenery is all that I need
A chance to be reborn
The life of a nomad, do I need a home?
Or is that what my heart is for?

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
Out from the inside
I wait 'til the moonrise
It's then that my time lies
In sheltering inside
I'm lucky the day is long

I'll finish what's started, and then I'll move on
And see where my path will lead
Follow the road as it stretches before me
A wanderer, truly free

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
Out from the inside
I wait 'til the moonrise
It's then that my time lies
In sheltering inside
I'm lucky the day is long

New Song: Constants

2005-06-26T20:17:00.000-04:00

This one is actually for my sister. She just graduated highschool. She doesn't know it exists (yet). The title is both thematically correct, and a play on her middle name (Constance).

A smile and a glance from the stage
I'd like to think that's what I'm here for
You follow such a path as I did
But you have surpassed, you did it better
Now, from here you're on your own
and you should know it just gets harder
But also know that I have faith in
What you're gonna be, I think you'll make it far

No matter what changes
There will always be
Friends and familly
There will always be
Truth and honesty
There will always be
Health, and if all else fails
You got me

If you ever feel the need
I have a phone, so just reach out and call me
Talk about, oh, anything
and anywhere, and anybody
I'll listen with an open mind
You never have to tell me why
Anything you say to me will
strictly be for you and me
and between us... secret

[Chorus]

You're beautiful, I think you know it
But I'll tell you anyway
I'll also tell you "don't forget it"
Your aesthetics blow me away
Somehow, still there underneath is
Beauty of a kind I rarely see
So take good care of what I see
And don't forget to love yourself,
Take it from me

[Chorus]

New Song: I Guess

2005-06-26T20:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, Schmitty... try not to kill me. This one is about Kate again. But it's more of a realization that nothing is ever going to happen. Life's a bitch, huh?

I'm not so sure that I even know what went wrong
If anything anybody told me wasn't a lie
Then you were just teasing
But I don't believe it
Any bit. Opinions of you aren't that high
But some of us know you better
Treat your friends like they're family
And family is worth protecting

I guess I should thank you
For staying out of reach of me
And though it made it hard for me
I really do appreciate it
... apologies

I think I've figured out what I thought was wrong
If anything I remember isn't clouded by time
Then there is a reason that we're not together
And if it's what I think, I know you're right
And I really do appreciate it
It's not me that you're leaving
And I'd rather you hold on to me

[Chorus]

I'm sorry if I
I make you feel like shit
Now and again
I'm sorry I didn't
See it before

[Chorus]

New Song: Your Curse

2005-06-23T10:03:00.000-04:00

This is one I've been screwing around with for a few days. I don't have much for it yet, but it's getting there. I think the chorus needs a lot of work, but I really need to keep this blog going. It's kinda my motivation, and if I leave it alone for too long, I think I'll lose any drive I have. The "Song a Day" thing has kinda failed... but I've written around 15 songs in 30 days, so that's not half bad, if I do say so myself. So... here's what I got:

I see it coming a mile away
I kill what would otherwise be a killer
Comin' up behind me. In darkness he barely sees
That I could see it comin' a mile away

Your curse

Fearless: that's the way it oughta be
But tearless, it seems like there's just no way
And I can hide it better than you read me
Cuz I go to sleep cryin', this smile is a mask for me

Your curse

Your curse is
My curse
My curses
Are worse
...

Needs work. I know it. You know it. Hell, all these songs need work.

New Song: That Hard to Hit

2005-06-20T15:24:00.000-04:00

Well, this weekend was moderately productive. I wrote fragments of lyrics, for the most part, but I think there were a few good ideas. This is one that actually morphed into a new song. I kinda like it, it's... dark. Lemme know what you think.

There's no deeper than this
So sweet, dear, I fall and I
Hit earth and then keep going
I'll never stop 'til the end
Running, can't feel my legs
But I am still going
Round and around, 'round again

Fear showing myself
Here's hoping, hoping that
It's obvious I'm growing
Past past delusions of how
I'm living the same day to day
As I want. But I'm not.
I watch as what I want

Eludes me
But not cuz it's hard to catch
But I'm okay
If I want a yard, take an inch
The bullseye ain't that hard to hit

Still keep to myself
And I'll continue
But I know that there's help
If I want it.
A friend is a friend, be honest.
Do you think that there's more than this?
Be honest. Do you think
That I'll ever

Fit somewhere
Find where I live like I can
Be better
How far will I have to take it?
The bullseye ain't that hard to hit

Far simpler to say
Just easier. I can't let
That get in the way. Take comfort
that ambitious people exist*
And I'm gonna be one of them*

*These two lines, I'm really not sure about. I like the last one, but it doesn't fit with the next-to-last one. And the previous "let" (second line, same stanza), while having a similar sound, doesn't have enough presence to justify "them". For now, I'm keeping it, but I'll definitely be looking for another way to say this with better flow.

Oh, and I performed "What I Really Mean to Say" (which, it just occured to me, has the acronym "WIRMS"... cool), at the Statesman. It went miserably. I guess that'll teach me not to play a song that isn't quite in its final form. Oh well. It happens. Laters.

New Song: Can't You See

2005-06-17T08:42:00.000-04:00

Not much to say about this one, I guess. It's about the view from my bedroom window, at least partially. The music is a little wierd... the chorus, at least. I dunno... whatever.

It quite a view unless you
Look outside and see that
Down below this flowered tree's
A pile of debris
It's not what I would
Choose to see if I could have anything
Outside my bedroom window
I would make it all turn into
What I see before me
This flowered tree

The evening light creeps into
Dead-end hallways through
The window at the end of my world
My little world
So simple yet complex to shed
That kind of light on life and all it's
Mysteries conveniently misread by
Many - even me.

Can't you see?
Heaven help me
I'm begging, please
Can't you see?

When I'm alone, I wonder
What will lie beyond the
line of time for me
Premonitions, in my dreams
Every one has come to be
It seems to be a self-fulfilling
Prophecy with me
What I see
I make it be

I can see
Heaven help me
I'm begging, please
Can't you see?

Can't you see?

There it is.

New Song: Hide 'n' Seek

2005-06-16T09:10:00.000-04:00

Here're some lyrics I wrote last night, after Kate went to bed. No music yet, but I thought I'd share them. The song's called "Hide 'n' Seek"

Hide and seek, go find the meaning
Search behind every tree
Face the wall and count to fifty
Say them all then you can leave
Every action turns another
And all of these, turn one more
Every action carries something
Something deeper, than I look for

Seek meaning
Free me
So fleeting
Secret

Time of need, but who is needy?
Is it I, in some strange way?
Looking forward, is never certain
You're looking for serenity
Walking blindly in the darkness
Never sure if it is near
Their positions always changing
And still you think that no one's here

Seek meaning (and save yourself)
Free me (and I can help)
So fleeting (the perfect time)
Secret (the better life)

Do I seek, or do I hide?
Getting weaker every time
Seek and you will find
Seek and you will find

Hide and seek, go find the meaning
You're looking for serenity
Hide and seek, go find the meaning
I'm hiding from what makes me happy

If you're going to comment, please not that this is one of three posts today, the other two being more complete versions of the half-songs I posted yesterday.

New Song: Four Letter 'F' Word

2005-06-16T09:03:00.000-04:00

Yep... finished this one last night. I think it needs a change in guitar parts, though, because it sounds a little too much like "I'm Sorry" by Jude (which I cover frequently). In terms of similarity to "It's the End of the World as We Know it (and I feel fine)", it's not very similar... it's not really a constant barrage of words, they're all quite separated. Of course, that could probably change, due to the fact that the music isn't final.

Creative, expressive, obtuse and regressive
Vehement, or stubborn, cut loose and ingest it
Sentient, or stupid, off-topic, digressive
You said it, and did it, I didn't, forget it

Hey, they're free, can't waste 'em

Hygenic, and cleaner, forensic "Hey medic!"
I travel, you settle, fear changing the scenic
Moronic, self-centered, breath deeply, snuff anger
Feline-like, cat-tested, such failure, no stranger

Hey, they're free, can't waste 'em

Sub-human, submarine, tried on the best carried
Fourteen length, must hang it, have trouble, unburied
Sensical, negated, full circle, start over
Sleep peaceful, you know it, tactile, don't blow it

Hey, they're free, can't waste 'em

See I'm a good fella, I sing a capella
Falsetto, that's harder, it goes a bit farther
Bass reaches, they're nothing, but lower's a problem
High C-flat, no chance cuz, I'm not a soprano

Hey, they're free, can't waste 'em

Feet moving, on cloud nine, my body is not mine
Free thinkers, what danger? Religion's no stranger
I'm losing, my money to please everybody
Enjoyment, what's greater? Get back to me later

Hey, they're free, can't waste 'em

New Song: Innocent People

2005-06-16T08:55:00.000-04:00

Here's the (close to) complete version of "Innocent People":

Far away from wherever you came from
Try to change your sinister ways
Come crying, you look up at the falling down rain
Thoroughly clean of the storybook evil

Sent for fatal purposes, wait 'til
The radio signal, shock and awe straight through
In minutes it's over, isn't it unfair?
The minute you leave there, you block it out

Oh, what is our role as innocent people?
Can we preserve what's left of our souls?
Maybe we're not so innocent people
And maybe we're not in control

Faces haunt you, you're lucky they're not you
Fear forever locked in their pupils
To murder, and see through the lurid excuses
Aren't they people?

What is our role as innocent people?
Can we preserve what's left of our sould?
Maybe we're not so innocent people
And maybe we're not in control

It was kinda cool, actually... I only had this vague, instinctive feeling about what the word "lurid" means. But I kept it in there anyways, because I like the sound of it. And then, this morning, I looked it up at Merriam-Webster Online and realized that I used it correctly. Definition: 3 a : causing horror or revulsion : GRUESOME b : MELODRAMATIC, SENSATIONAL; also : SHOCKING. I rock. Hehe.

Half Times Two = Whole?

2005-06-14T13:46:00.000-04:00

Wow, this weekend was miserable for songwriting. I wrote half of a song on Friday, and the lyrics for a song on Monday, but that's about it. I wrote down some words that I want to use on Saturday, but as I was in Syracuse (or at least on my way to or from Syracuse) for most of Saturday and Sunday, I wasn't really able to write much. I did, however, get to play some songs for Schmitty as he was at Tim's also. Anyways, I'll show you my song-fragments, and hopefully I'll complete them sometime this week.

Far away from wherever you came from
Try to change your sinister ways
Come crying, you look up at the falling down rain
Thoroughly clean of the storybook evil

Sent for fatal purposes, wait 'til
The radio signal, shock and aw straight through
In minutes it's over, isn't it unfair
The minute you leave there, you block it out

Oh, what is our role as innocent people?
Can you preserve what's left of your soul?
Maybe we're not so innocent, people.
And maybe we're not in control.

Faces haunt you, you're lucky they're not you
...

That's all I got for that one, currently. It's a little... just a little... political. I think it'll just be called "Innocent People", unless something better presents itself. Here's the other one:

Creative, expressive, obtuse and regressive
Vehement, or stubborn, cut loose and ingest it
Sentient or stupid, off-topic, digressive
You said it, and did it, I didn't, forget it

Hey, if it's free, you can't waste it

Hygenic, and cleaner, forensic, "Hey, medic!"
I travel, you settle, fear changing, un-scenic
Moronic, self-centered, breath deeply, snuff anger
Feline like, cat-tested, such failure, no stranger

Hey, if it's free, you can't waste it

Sub human, submarine, tried on the best carried
Fourteen-length, must hang it, have trouble, unburied
Sensical, negated, full circle, start over
Sleep peaceful, you know it, tactile, don't blow it

Hey, if it's free, you can't waste it

I think it'll be called "Four-Letter F-Word". It's really Beck-inspired, as I picked up the new album, and have been listening to it quite a bit (I really hope my co-worker likes Beck... cuz it's going in after we get back from the meeting). Anyways, gots ta go. Laters.

Music for "Bittersweet Revenge"

2005-06-09T11:27:00.000-04:00

I neglected to mention: I completed the music for "Bittersweet Revenge" yesterday as well. Well, maybe not completed, but I can play the song now. It's pretty heavy. Thanks, in large part, to my 120-watt amp, that's sitting at the end of my bed. It starts off clean, and then gets distorted, and it's kinda fun to play. I also already have vague bass parts in my head for the song.

Hmmm... perhaps I'll pull out the 12-string for a few days, and screw around with that. It's still in an alternate tuning, which could also be fun: DADGGD. I think that's an open-Dsus2 tuning, but I'm not quite sure. No... it's a sus4... which is kinda cool. Anyways, I'll see what I can figure out.

P.S. Please please PLEASE comment on songs... I want feedback. It really is useful. I've taken many of Kultcher's comments very seriously, and have tried to work them into the newer songs, as well as editing old songs. COMMENT!

New Song: Dumb

2005-06-09T09:27:00.000-04:00

This tune is pretty simple, musically, but I like it. I think it's fun. It's pretty obvious what it's about (and, no, the "you" is not the normal "you" that's in every other one of my songs). I'm not sure, but I may have stolen the melody from this song on WBER. Or at least part of it. I hope it's not too obvious, because I like this song. Anyways... "Dumb":

An empty house that isn't really empty
And I keep the music loud
Sing along like nobody can tell
I'm not just spouting words
Inconsequential connotations
Hear this now: This house may not be empty
But I'm fine with everybody
Knowing how I feel

The walls leak sound like a faucet leaks the water
When nobody's around, I swear I hear it louder
Drown the voices with guitars
In concert with intense distortion
Shake the ground. The walls may not be thicker,
But it really doesn't matter

I can hear you
Fighting with your lover
Or whoever is the other one
The voice I never hear
The voice I never hear

I lay down, and I listen to the silence
Of after-midnight sound, until they always break it
And then they are ignored
Exhausted as I am this evening
I lay down, though this house may not be silent
and I'm out until the morning

I can hear you
Fighting with your lover
Or whoever is the other one
The voice I never hear
The voice I never hear

[instrumental bridge]

[first verse]

[chorus]

New Song: Bittersweet Revenge

2005-06-07T08:38:00.000-04:00

Something very cool happened to me yesterday. I walked into the Sugar Creek on the corner of Main & 20A, and the girl behind the counter said "Hey, good set last night!" This, of course, means that I'm beginning to be recognized as a musician around these parts. Hopefully, word of mouth will get around, and then I can start getting gigs at the local bars. That would be awesome.

Of course, something very painful also happened yesterday. I ate some pavement while skating into work. My knees are both wounded, as well as my left elbow and wrist. It hurts a bit, mostly when I try to bend my knees. Oh well.

Anyways, today's song is a song about lost opportunities. Yes, again. But for those of you "in the know", it's not about who you think it's about. Seriously! This song doesn't quite have music yet, and I'm not sure how to write music that's appropriate. It really wants to be NIN-style industrial metal, or something sufficiently heavy. I think I might need a drummer (or, at least, a drum machine) for that, though. Anyways, here's "Bittersweet Revenge".

Smile like a beacon in a haze
Calling straight to me in silence
Still conversing, iris stays with me
Greetings with telepathy, in kind
Remind me that desire isn't picky
I decide on final conscious thought
That conversation must move on
And we will surely talk and see
if this will be a night to follow
Something softer.

So it begins
Such elevation in my senses
While someone else is just a friend
You're with benefits

Fair lady, let me ask you what
Becomes of one night when we
Double down desires and pretend
That we want less instead of
All of this and more, before
We leave this place of sin and
Indulge in something much more
Evil than consulting stars,
Their skin blends in with ours

So it begins
Such elevation in my senses
While someone else is just a friend
You're with benefits

Suddenly distraction takes me
Losing our connection quickly
Gone before I turn around again
This is the end

This is the end
Commiserating in my head
Smile and curse luck for it's revenge
Bittersweet revenge

"Jesus christ, man. Does no one find love and happiness in your sad, tragic world?"

~ I guess not... true story, by the way. If you ask me, I might tell it

New Song: Gift of a Line

2005-06-06T09:10:00.000-04:00

I've been a terrible terrible songwriter for the past 3 days. I've ended up with one song. I don't know why, but I felt like being social instead of writing songs. So, I went to Kelly's and played some pool. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy playing pool? Friday night, I held the table for 4 games (played 5, lost the last one). That's less than a quarter a game (games cost $1). This made me happy. Saturday night I was on the table for 2 or so games before people decided to quit (or maybe it was closing time at that point... it was kind of a late night).

Anyways, the song I wrote is interesting. It's partially in French, actually (albeit with very bad grammar). I also ripped part of the melody of "Two Minute Waltz" for the chorus of the song, but it's a much more complex song overall. I think it's rather obvious what it's about, after you read it. So here's "Gift of a Line" (taking suggestions for titles, also... I just made that one up as I was typing):

If you ever need a friend
I'll be here
Don't forget that I would never
Let you end up on your own
Please, let me know

Keep the writing on the wall
Your picture
Worst of all, has never been there
Still, it ends up on the floor
My space is yours

What would you say if I
Asked what goes on in your head
When I sing about love and it's obvious
Who the main character is?

You seemed surprised when once I said
Yeah, that's you
First in line in lyrics' center
Subject, idea, and verse
(I) told you you were

Is it really any wonder?
Cherie
Parce-que cet encore sarait un
tres magnifigue ete
Si je pourrias

Quoi dirais-tu si je te demande
Quoi tu penser, tu penser quand je chante
D'amour et il semble que tu la savais
Pour qui, de que j'ai ecrive

Do you shudder and think to yourself
"Can't you leave well enough where it lies?"
Is it insulting, revolting, or no?
Such a flatterer - then back to the gift of a line

Keep the writing on the wall
Your picture
Worst of all, has never been there
Still, it ends up on the floor
My heart is yours

A translation (first the verse, then the chorus):
(Is it really any wonder)
Dear,
Because this, again, will be
A very magnificent summer
If I can

(Yeah, that's a little thin, I realize, but it works, at least in French)

What would you say if I ask
What you think, you think when I sing of
love and it seems that you know
For who, of who I wrote

(Basically the chorus)

New Song: Currently Untitled

2005-06-03T08:51:00.000-04:00

So, this is a song that is definitely not within my usual style. It starts off as kind of a punk tune, then slows down, and then goes back into the punkish style. Of course, I've only played it on acoustic, so I won't be sure exactly how punk it is until (probably later today) when I play it on my electric. Anyways, I need a title for this one. Suggestions are welcome.

Settle down, and stop over-reacting
Nothing's as bad as it seems
You want what you had, but the situations for you
Could hardly be better than these
There's silver behind all of this you see before you,
The midnight that, now, you perceive
Open your eyes, and the light you find will blind you
So stifle your hideous screams

Memorize the faces of reflections
How many are crying your tears?
Breath out slowly, simple respiration
Keeping your head in the clear
Still fantasizing, wishing for a time-machine
It's obvious that you're not here
Reliving the past like it's still within your future
The universe you engineered

"Can anyone find love in a world like yours?
Such a twisted vision, and you wonder why you're living
Like there's nobody who suffers like you suffer
Even after all these holy wars

If you're not lucky
I don't know what is"

If you're not lucky
I will eat my words
I will eat my words

Don't forget to remember
What the story says
In the end, it's fine

Don't forget to remember
What the story says
In the end, it's fine

Hope permits happy endings
But sometimes it's better
To forget than try

"Can anyone find love in a world like yours?
Such a twisted vision, and you wonder why you're living
Like there's nobody who suffers like you suffer
Even after all these holy wars

If you're not lucky
I don't know what is"

I don't know what is
I don't know what is
I don't know what is
I don't know what is
I don't know what is

This one was actually inspired by Kultcher's comments on "The Frog and the Wig" (thanks Schmitty ;-)

Words, Words, Words

2005-06-02T08:42:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, I realized something. I had been using mostly one-syllable words in my songs. This bothered me. One-syllable words are easy to put to any rhythm. You can say "one" or "hell" or "yes" or any such word on any beat, up, down, back, or off. A word like "Myxomatosis", though, takes a little more skill to put to a beat. Thom Yorke of Radiohead did it in the song of the same name, on the album Hail to the Thief. (But hey, he's also the guy who sings "The Rain Drops" 43 times in one song).

So, I started trying to replace words that I would normally use with longer, more complicated equivalents. It doesn't always happen, of course. Sometimes just because the longer word won't fit, and other times because I can't find a suitable long word. I've actually been thinking about getting a "word of the day" calendar, just to see if I can use those words in my songs. Hell, there's probably a website out there that will show me a different word each day. *Googles* Here's one. Today's word happens to be "coda". Not very long or complicated, but obscure. Hey, Merriam-Webster online (my personal favorite online dictionary, for obvious reasons) has one too. Today's word: ne plus ultra. Ooooh! How very cool! Totally using M-W.

Words are a funny thing. It's really not just in what the word is, or what it means. It's also in how it's said, or in my case, sung (sang, singed? *Checks Merriam-Webster*) Sung. Or Sang. Not singed. The first verse of "What I Really Mean to Say" includes the line "You're always such a self-aware stage show". I wasn't sure what Kate would think about that when she found out it was about her, but she seemed flattered. And I did mean it in a flattering way, so it's all good.

Well, I guess I'll leave you all with a listening suggestion. Go to the Head Automatica website, go the "Videos" section, and watch (or, more importantly, listen to) the song "Bleeding Heart Baby". Yes, it's formulaic pop, but listen to the guy's voice. Holy shit.

Holy shit.

New Song: Sacrament

2005-05-31T09:52:00.000-04:00

*writes an email to NB*
Dearest NB,
Here, have a song. I don't want it. It's too religious and preachy for me. Of course, it might be too SACreligious for you. Damn you and your talk about the crusades and such when you visited. Anyways, if you and your friend Joe ever come down to jam, I'll show you how it's played. Here's "Sacrament":

A saint can get away with anything he pleases
Still fresh from the murder, he drops to his knees
And confesses the killing of some unbeliever
Who shunned the message of Jesus, his savior
So sayeth the kneeling and unworthy beast of a
Killer whose hands won't come clean

Still crying for God and for souls of the damned
You can't help but fear for this wreck of a man
Who was once a follower, faithful and true
But the mission of heaven has nothing to do
With the slaughter of innocents, gentile or not
Now, confession is all that you've got

Save your soul, the body will die
A lethal injection, then close your eyes
And awake to the sentence you've claimed for yourself
You're asking for heaven, they'll send you to hell

To kill in the name of a god or a man
Is the devil himself come to give you a hand
simple as black and white, or so it seems
A precious few actions can help you redeem
What is left of the self after taking a life
And then, only if you will try

The monster inside every one of us grows
With every child or woman's life stolen
Repent and confess all these sins of the flesh
A saint or a sinner, you'll do nothing less
But a saint can get away with anything he pleases
Still fresh from the murder, he drops to his knees

Save your soul, the body will die
A lethal injection, then close your eyes
And awake to the sentence you've claimed for yourself
You're asking for heaven, they'll send you to hell

0.5 > 0.0

2005-05-31T08:54:00.000-04:00

Ok! After the 3-day weekend, I have... two songs. Actually, I've pretty much been writing at the rate of one-song-per-two-days. Oh well. Better than nothing. I think the latest two are pretty good, although Kate has described the one I call "Cold Blood" as, well... cold. That's the reason I named it that, actually. I'm going to post them under Sunday and Monday's dates, just cuz that's when I wrote them.

New Song: What I Really Mean to Say

2005-05-30T08:57:00.000-04:00

Ok, I really think this song is kinda cool. But maybe that's just cuz earlier in the day, when I had just started writing it (I only had one verse), it was kinda calm, and I was thinking to myself "You know, all the songs I've been writing have been kinda low-key. I want to write something rockin'". And then later on, after dinner, I sat down, wrote another verse, and then tried to figure out a progression for the chorus. This, as you might have suspected, turned out to be kinda rockin'. This made me happy. Anyways, here's "What I Really Mean to Say":

Backlit and beautiful
You're always such a
self-aware stage-show
Something different
Something bigger than the
others know
They haven't seen the
ever-caring, grateful
side of you
The side that just a very few
lucky, know

Safer than the suffocating
slideshow of socialites
and flashing lights on
summer nights
I'd rather share a glass of wine
The bread knife cuts right
through this awkward silence
an incredible alliance
over finer items
I can't afford to do this
more than once a night
once a night

Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
Once a night

Save it, I'm invincible
at least this evening
Nothin's gonna get to me
I won't let it
I won't let a bad day an age
ago keep me from another go
at good times, wonderful
A hundred other people
Living right
Do this more than once a night

Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
Once a night

Peace is unattainable when
nothing is removable from
who you are
Infallible advice from who knows
where I got it. Trouble is
I can't remember
ever, whether radio or picture show
has told me, always
where to go
Never more than once a night

Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
I come over here
A confrontation
Never any
Perfect ending
Once a night
Once a night

New Song: Cold Blood

2005-05-29T09:06:00.000-04:00

This one is definite angst. It's put over a jazzy blues progression (has the I-V-IV aspect, but instead of the typical I-IV, I-IV, I-V-IV, I-IV, it goes I-VII, I-VII, I-VII, V-IV, I-VII). Anyways... take what you will from the lyrics of Cold Blood:

Afraid I'm going nowhere
I'm not sure that anywhere's
Where I want to be
Strange that I'll still be here
When anyone else would get away
From the source of all this
Jealousy and hate

I'm not a masochist
But apparently I like pain
It's something more familiar
Than the opposite, I'm insane

Bite the bullet
Track the blood
Back to the smoking gun
Trouble with the other
side of fun
Fear is what keeps me here
Even though I know I'm going
Home in just another year

I'm not a masochist
But apparently I like pain
It's something more familiar
Than the opposite, I'm insane

Sometimes, when I'm not thinking right
I try to take what's not mine
A half-assed attempt to have a spine
It never fails
It just takes me to the place
Where all I think about's your face
Where all I think about's your waist
Where all I think about's your taste

I'm not a masochist
But apparently I like pain
It's something more familiar
Than the opposite, I'm insane
Than the opposite, I'm insane
I'm insane
I gotta be gotta be insane
You're tellin' me I'm insane
I'm insane

New Song: Wasting the Sunlight

2005-05-26T13:51:00.000-04:00

Ok, here's a new song for you. It started as a song about how I sit in front of a computer all day, and wouldn't know if there was a nuclear warhead exploding outside (well, at least until I go home for lunch). Then it progressed to thinking about whether programming is what I really want to do for the rest of my life. Perhaps I would rather wander the continental United States, playing guitar for a meager living. Be a starving artist. That would be cool. This then went stream-of-consciousness, and I started thinking about home-home (not apartment-in-Geneseo-home, which is also home). But how I like being there for a short period of time, and then it gets to me (allergies-wise, as well as... just being there, I guess). And the last line of the last verse is the mandatory (it seems) cheesy love-song line. I just can't seem to get away from that. Oh well. Here's "Wasting the Sunlight":

Wasted the day with a light in my face
The light of a flatscreen moon
Trusting the world wasn't ending today
Cuz I wouldn't have a clue
I couldn't tell if I'd walk home in rain
Or open the doors to sun
Sometimes I wonder if this is the state of existence that I would want

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
I'm lucky the day is long

To travel the roads from the dawn 'til the dusk
And sleep by the light of the stars
Pick up the strings and I'd get them to sing
The loveliest kind of song
The newer the better, change is a must,
Or wouldn't we all get bored?
Stick to the road, boys, why sit there at home
Than travel the wand'ring course?

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
Out from the inside
I wait 'til the moonrise
It's then that my time lies
In sheltering inside
I'm lucky the day is long

Home to my bed, it's not right where I left it
It's here, it'll have to do
For so many years this has been where my head rests
So comfortable and smooth
Still, this is different, I feel out of place
Nothing here's mine, it's true
You see, when I'm back here, it's always the same
The one thing I miss is you

Such a long time
Wasting the sunlight
Out from the inside
I wait 'til the moonrise
It's then that my time lies
In sheltering inside
I'm lucky the day is long

The Frog and the Wig

2005-05-26T13:34:00.000-04:00

So, one of the "random questions" on the blogger profile is "Quick, the children are waiting! Tell them the story of the frog with the wig!" Now, this is pretty clever. It's definitely one of the best random questions that the site has. However, you're only allowed 150 characters for an answer. And that just isn't sufficient to explain what a frog is doing with a wig. So, here's my answer:

"The Frog and the Wig"

Once upon a time there was a frog. He was, of course, your every-day, run-of the mill frog that would turn into a prince if ever he was kissed. The problem however, was that this frog couldn't find anybody that would kiss him. "Ew, a frog", all the beautiful princesses would say. "He's all slimy, I'm not going to kiss him!"

The frog, seeking to fix this apparent problem, tried many solutions. He tried taking a bath, but that didn't work. He tried wearing antiperspirant, but that didn't work. He tried using hair conditioner, but that... well... he didn't have hair.

But wait. What if he did have hair? All the dashing princes have long, flowing, handsome hair, and the beautiful princesses kiss them!

So, the frog decided he had to get some hair. He tried a hair-growth-for-men product, but since he obviously wasn't a man, it didn't work. He had heard that cutting your hair makes it grow faster... but since he didn't have any hair to begin with, that wouldn't work. After much searching, he decided the only solution was to buy a wig. And after a long trip to the wig shop, looking at hundreds of different frog-sized wigs (this is apparently a common occurrence), he picked out a wig of handsome, long, black, flowing hair, and went back to the pond he called home.

The next princess that was looking for a frog to kiss noticed this frog with handsome, long, black, flowing hair, and decided that was obviously the one to kiss. The hair wasn't slimy, like the skin of the other frogs. So, she went up to the frog, picked him up, puckered her lips... and the wig fell off.

"You wear a wig!?!" cried the princess! "Well, I never!" And she stomped off, to hide in a tall tower, which is one of the few ways to find a dashing prince to marry.

"Sigh", said the frog, as he rolled his eyes.

A story of lost love if I've eve seen one. Poor frog.

New Song: Two-Minute Waltz

2005-05-24T08:13:00.000-04:00

Here's a little something I've been working on. I thought it up while coming home from Al's house at 6:30 in the morning. Kate and I crashed there after having a very late dinner, and taking advantage of the this so-called "heat" that he has in his house. We should get some of that, I think. Kate fell asleep on the couch, and definitely wasn't going to be moved very far, so we ended up sleeping on the pull-out bed. Anyways... "Two-Minute Waltz"

A two-minute song
about nothing at all
Sets you up for a fall
It takes balls to the wall
to rhyme always with all,
Hey, good call.

A sweet little tune
Without me, without you
Man, I'm hoping for June
to come soon, so my room
Isn't colder than snow
on the roof

A two-minute song
about nothing at all
A two-minute song
A two-minute waltz

What would a tune be
If not for the beauty
of glorious harmony?
Must I still sing with me?
Nobody catches the tune,
just the key.

A two-minute song
About nothing at all
A two-minute song
A two-minute waltz

That's what I got :-) I'll write the music during lunch, or after work, or something. I wonder if it's two minutes... hehe

New Song: Lost in You

2005-05-23T22:49:00.000-04:00

Well, here's the first entry. It's a folky little tune, one guitar line, and some words. I just sat down, started fiddling with my guitar, and came up with a cute little guitar line. Then the words just came from there. I love it when that happens. Anyways, here's "Lost in You"

I'm not alone
I've just lost touch with where I'm going
If only I could know
These troubled thoughts aren't in your head
But you're so cold,
ambiguous, and what else could I think
But you don't feel these things

You know I watch your eyes
Wander off into the skies
the same color sometimes
The same times, I have caught the
sky I've caught your eyes

Serenity escapes me
I've never knows a moment's peace
Since you and me, we both agreed
to let things be
And finally we stopped the staring

Lost the "lost in you, lost in me"
Lost the "lost in you, lost in me"
Lost the "lost in you, lost in me"
Lost the "lost in you, lost in me"

I'd trade my home
Just to know the situation
Cuz I can't take this much frustration
Still can't talk cuz inhibition's
Governing my self-control, oh
If you can call it self-control

Want the "lost in you, lost in me"
Want the "lost in you, lost in me"
Want the "lost in you, lost in me"
Want the "lost in you, lost in me"

Jazz and Rap

2005-05-23T21:40:00.000-04:00

So, I've been screwing around with some basic jazz chords (mostly m7, and 6's). I have this cool little groove, which might eventually turn into a song. I figure that's how things are going to happen. I'll screw around, find some things on the guitar, which might eventually combine with lyrics I randomly write to make a song. I just hope there's some good stuff in there.

So that's the jazz part. The rap part is lyrical. I like the flow of good hip-hop. It's all about the beat, and the rhyme. Which is cool. I've been writing my lyrics more like that for a week or so. I don't know if anything will come of this... it's kind of derivative of Jason Mraz if I combine acoustic guitar with rap lyrics. And I don't really want that.

But whatever happens... happens, I guess.

So... a song a day

2005-05-09T17:45:00.000-04:00

It's quite a lofty goal, I must say. To write a song a day for a summer, I'll have to really dig down, and get those creative juices flowing. Inevitably, I'll end up with a whole lot of bad songs, but hopefully I'll end up with some gems too. I'm pretty sure the following is what will be necessary in order for me to continue to write day after day:

An increased vocabulary: I can't be rhyming desire with fire all the time. Or love with above, or whatever. I'll need some way to increase the number of words I know, or things will get rather tedious
Increased guitar skill: I'll definitely need some new techniques eventually. I'm thinking hybrid picking, better flat picking, maybe some classical skills. Perhaps alternate tunings will make an appearance
Inspiration: While there will be Kate and work to inspire me (obviously, Kate more than work), I will need some other sources of inspiration. I'm thinking I might start reading the newspapers more often. That might work
Encouragement: Here's where all my friends, family, and random people reading this 'blog come in. Please, please, please comment on my songs. Tell me what you like and don't like. Compare to other songs of mine, compare to popular songs... whatever. I want feedback. On a similar note, feel free to berate me if I start to slack.

Quite the list. If you have any suggestions as to where to acquire some of these things, do let me know.

Lastly: note that, while this will not be an expositionary 'blog, it will probably be an insight into what I'm thinking on any given day. I'm not sure how to feel about this, as I've had some bad experiences with it in the past, but we'll see how it works out.