Month: January 2022

Do you have a little voice in your head that says nasty things to you and makes you feel like dirt? I do. Let’s call my guy Warvier (a la Wario). He’s a real jerk and he knows all the best buttons to push. He doesn’t come around often, and most of the time I’m pretty good at ignoring him.

Last time he came around, I put him to work. I provided the music and he provided the lyrics. This is the song we wrote together. With a little separation I think it’s a funny (if not biting) song. I get the line “You’ve got your shoes untied and mustard on your sleeve” stuck in my head pretty often.

Paging Mr. Incorrigible

There's a pot of trouble here
That’s constantly brewing
We can’t have nice things
‘Cause you don’t know 
What your doing

Put the cat back in the bag
Hoist up the off-white flag
You can always quit while 
You’re ahead!

You’re setting booby traps
Everywhere you tread
The lightbulbs will explode 
Mere inches from your head

Put Napoleon in his place
Throw tomatoes in his face!
You’ll regret it if he ever 
Learns how to win!

You’ve got your shoes untied 
And mustard on your sleeve
You’d mess up suicide 
You jay-walking pet peeve

Time to pack your garbage bags
And collect your thrift store rags
You don’t have to stay home 
But you can’t be here!

When I’m out walking around or doing errands, I get little melodies stuck in my head. This one in particular has been with me for at least 20+ years. I’ll admit, my brain is probably just jumbling every Green Day song into one thing, but there are no rules against doing something with that jumble.

After watching the 2nd episode of the Get Back doc, I was so full of giddy inspiration, I stayed up past 1am just going through old snippets of things and fleshing things out. I never tried doing anything with this one because the “words” in my head were so simple and didn’t say much of anything. I reminded myself that sometimes songs don’t need to say much. I just went with it. Sometimes you just have to “Let It Be” as they say.

She’s The One

She’s the one 
They say
She’s all about someone
She’s the one 
They say
She’s all about me

Here I am 
You say
I’m all about no one
Here I am 
You say
I’m all about me

What’s happening to me?
I don’t know
Let’s do it all again

She’s the one
I say 
She’s all around awesome
She’s the one
I say 
She’s all I need

Here I am 
I say
I’m on about someone
Here I am 
I say
It’s not about me

What’s happening to me?
All I know
I’d do it all again

No, this isn’t “Song #2” by the acclaimed 90’s Brit-Pop group Blur. Not at all. This is simply the second of my weekly installments. It’s officially called “The Pro In Procrastination” because who can’t relate to that? I don’t know if I want to be friends with folks who can’t relate. I’d rather wait to be friends with them when they get around to relating.

I just realized while typing the lyrics that “Call Me By My Name” is a Lil’ Nas X song. There is also a movie called “Call Me By Your Name” that I haven’t seen. There is no connection to either, I thought it was an interesting phrase that matched the syllables of the song. What does it even mean? Please don’t sue me Mr. Nas X / movie company.

I was talking to somebody recently about this thing I’m doing, and explained my typical songwriting process. I mentioned that I’d post the original Voice Memo/”Mumble Jam” for the next song. Unfortunately, I can’t find the “Mumble Jam” for this one. I think I just remembered this song and recorded it. Which is highly unusual. Next time (hopefully).

The Pro In Procrastination

Hang around
For the man
With the things you like
Decompose 
With the thought
You don’t have it all

Hey, call me by my name!
What’s another day?

Kicking back
For the digital 
Messenger
Blowing smoke
Up the rear
Take a
Temperature

Hey, call me by your name!
What’s another day?

You see! 
You’re always waiting ‘round
Even if you’re lost!
Even if you’re found!
Don’t wait another day!
To make another sound
Don’t have to be incredible
Just edible
Don’t wait!

Hang around
For the man
With the things you like

Happy New Year people! So, as promised, I’m starting the year with a new song for your wonderful ears. As I mentioned previously, I plan on doing this on a weekly basis for at least 30 weeks.

I’ve had this one bouncing around in my brain for long long time, and I finally churned this recording out today in maybe 3.5 hours? Sometimes folks compare me to Elvis Costello, so I thought I’d really go for it this time. What do you think?

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One

A recycled melody
Is the best that I can do
Have you heard this one before?
All the way from Mersey/'Pool

This is the part where the
Chorus is sung!
It’s cool to see how the
Sausage is done!

This is a 3rd part and it’s just for fun!

Here’s a two-part harmony
For the kids at home from school
Got a well stocked armory
of tuneful tricks just for you!

Here’s a major blues scale with suspense!
It’s a Golden Gate in present tense!