Love Over Fear
Songs written from October 2018 to October 2019
Songs
- Love Over Fear (2 versions)
- Maria, Read this Letter
- There's No Way There but Through
- Love Will Let You In
- The Black Hole Song
- Strong Coffee in Dangerous Times
- Walking Down the Sidewalk
- So Long as You're With Me (2 versions)
- Maybe It's Time
Love Over Fear 10/22/2019
This is an acoustic recording I deconstructed from the "everything" recording. Deconstruction is my typical process.
When you’re in your darkest hour/choose love over over fear/When you’re speaking your truth to power/choose love over fear
When tigers roam your streets at night/When your doors and windows are all shut tight/And still the sound of their roars is all you hear/Choose love over fear.
When propaganda has your head spinning/choose love over fear/When the truth is down and lies are winning/choose love over fear/When the latest hurricane has blown out your windows and doors/And the next one’s in line to take out your shores/And the president says the weather is clear/ Choose love over fear.
When you’re not feeling grateful for the world you’ve been given/choose love over fear/When people are hateful and your not sure life is worth living/choose love over fear/When in your dreams, you can’t take flight/When your doors and windows keep out the light/Don’t forget you're not alone/We can get there from here/Choose love over fear.
When tigers roam your streets at night/When your doors and windows are all shut tight/And still the sound of their roars is all you hear/Choose love over fear.
When propaganda has your head spinning/choose love over fear/When the truth is down and lies are winning/choose love over fear/When the latest hurricane has blown out your windows and doors/And the next one’s in line to take out your shores/And the president says the weather is clear/ Choose love over fear.
When you’re not feeling grateful for the world you’ve been given/choose love over fear/When people are hateful and your not sure life is worth living/choose love over fear/When in your dreams, you can’t take flight/When your doors and windows keep out the light/Don’t forget you're not alone/We can get there from here/Choose love over fear.
Love Over Fear (Everything) 9/22/2019
This version is more produced. I think the song speaks for itself so I won't provide added comment.
Maria, Read this Letter 10/4/2019
I finished this lyric I'd been holding onto for a while. This one is a story...I don't often write like this. ..Someone now just needs to make the movie to go with the song.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying./I promised to write and you promised not to forget me. /Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert./I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, these words are to remind you to leave your father’s house behind you./Walk that worn down path of your childhood memories./Pass your mother’s red, red roses. /Follow the winding stream over the meadows where the white-topped clover grows.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying./I promised to write and you promised not to forget me./Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert./I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, say your prayers to Saint Anthony. I’m a lost cause and I need you to find me./Don’t stop walking until you find your feet on the road./If anybody asks you where you’re going, don’t you say a word about me./I left town in a hurry and my name’s been dragged through the dirt.
I remember...the tears in your eyes the last time I saw your face./You kissed me goodbye and let go of my hand.
I told you then that it wouldn’t be long before I held you again./Now, I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying./I promised to write and you promised not to forget me./Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert./I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
The journey’s gonna be a long be a long one./Our love will get you through the cold nights.
Give this money to Fernando. You can trust him. It will be alright./He’ll walk part of the way with you to where others will be waiting./And in just a little while I’ll be holding you tight.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying. I promised to write and you promised not to forget me.
Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert. I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, these words are to remind you to leave your father’s house behind you./Walk that worn down path of your childhood memories./Pass your mother’s red, red roses. /Follow the winding stream over the meadows where the white-topped clover grows.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying./I promised to write and you promised not to forget me./Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert./I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, say your prayers to Saint Anthony. I’m a lost cause and I need you to find me./Don’t stop walking until you find your feet on the road./If anybody asks you where you’re going, don’t you say a word about me./I left town in a hurry and my name’s been dragged through the dirt.
I remember...the tears in your eyes the last time I saw your face./You kissed me goodbye and let go of my hand.
I told you then that it wouldn’t be long before I held you again./Now, I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying./I promised to write and you promised not to forget me./Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert./I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
The journey’s gonna be a long be a long one./Our love will get you through the cold nights.
Give this money to Fernando. You can trust him. It will be alright./He’ll walk part of the way with you to where others will be waiting./And in just a little while I’ll be holding you tight.
Maria, read this letter. I’m sorry I left you crying. I promised to write and you promised not to forget me.
Maria, go and get yourself ready to follow me across the desert. I’m waiting for you to take that walk out of your front door.
There's No Way There but Through 08/10/2019
I worked out the lyric while riding my motorcycle on a trip from Phoenix to Glacier National Park in Montana. The title seemed appropriate. Instrumentally, I played on whatever happened to be around in my studio.
You might be stuck in Helena Montana through no particular fault of your own. You might be headed for God knows where. You might be hanging out by the phone. You will get there mile by mile just like we all eventually do. One things for certain the facts are the facts and there’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter what’s happened to you. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through.
Your early studies in geometry gave no clues to the angles up ahead. Your Tarot card reader didn’t know the deck that she was dealing or maybe she knew and she left things unsaid. You might have your own personal gypsy to tell you exactly what the weather will do... but none of these forecasts mean anything..there’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who knows who. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through.
All of your mental memory maps were obsolete the minute they were drawn. If you don’t believe that change is the way then you’re sure to get lost on the road that you’re on. Your axels might break and leave you on the mountain with no idea what to do. All of these temporary setbacks will pass. There’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who voted for who. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through
A dust storm is blowing down in the valley where a coal train is cutting through. Somewhere a politician is talking about the good old days that he'd happily drag you kicking and screaming into. Meanwhile the volcano in Yellowstone park is 100 years overdue. Don’t let this doomsday talk dissuade you. There’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who the president is too. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. The only way there is through.
Take these pictures and put them in a shoebox. The ones that don’t fit weren’t meant for you. If your saddle bag falls off your motorcycle, doubling back is not what you do. There’s no sense looking over your shoulder to watch the mountains recede from view. Your next decision is waiting ahead and there’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who’s talking down to you. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through.
Your early studies in geometry gave no clues to the angles up ahead. Your Tarot card reader didn’t know the deck that she was dealing or maybe she knew and she left things unsaid. You might have your own personal gypsy to tell you exactly what the weather will do... but none of these forecasts mean anything..there’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who knows who. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through.
All of your mental memory maps were obsolete the minute they were drawn. If you don’t believe that change is the way then you’re sure to get lost on the road that you’re on. Your axels might break and leave you on the mountain with no idea what to do. All of these temporary setbacks will pass. There’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who voted for who. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through
A dust storm is blowing down in the valley where a coal train is cutting through. Somewhere a politician is talking about the good old days that he'd happily drag you kicking and screaming into. Meanwhile the volcano in Yellowstone park is 100 years overdue. Don’t let this doomsday talk dissuade you. There’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who the president is too. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. The only way there is through.
Take these pictures and put them in a shoebox. The ones that don’t fit weren’t meant for you. If your saddle bag falls off your motorcycle, doubling back is not what you do. There’s no sense looking over your shoulder to watch the mountains recede from view. Your next decision is waiting ahead and there’s no way there but through. It don’t matter where you been. It don’t matter where you’re going. It don’t matter who’s talking down to you. Buckle up your courage and put down your fear. There’s no way there but through.
Love Will Let You In 5/25/2019
My mother shared some wisdom I needed. So, the "My mother said" lines ...she did and I put them into song, paraphrasing slightly for rhyme scheme, Musically, it starts with one guitar and builds each verse.
Love will let you in./Love will see you through.Don't you lose heart.
You can't bargain your way into heaven./You can't bargain your way out of sorrow.
My mother said, "Dear, let go of your fear. Live like there's no tomorrow."
Love will let you in/Love will see you through/Don't you give in.
You can't beg your way out of paying your dues./It's no good borrowing trouble.
My mother said, "Son, a new day's begun, Nothing's over until it's all over and done.
Love will let you in/Love will see you through./Don't give up.
All of your money won't buy you a day that's not yours or a day that you've already had.
My mother said, Son, it will be alright somehow. All that any of us has is right here and right now.
Love will let you in./Love will see you through.Don't you lose heart.
You can't bargain your way into heaven./You can't bargain your way out of sorrow.
My mother said, "Dear, let go of your fear. Live like there's no tomorrow."
Love will let you in/Love will see you through/Don't you give in.
You can't beg your way out of paying your dues./It's no good borrowing trouble.
My mother said, "Son, a new day's begun, Nothing's over until it's all over and done.
Love will let you in/Love will see you through./Don't give up.
All of your money won't buy you a day that's not yours or a day that you've already had.
My mother said, Son, it will be alright somehow. All that any of us has is right here and right now.
Love will let you in./Love will see you through.Don't you lose heart.
The Black Hole Song 4/21/19
This is the result of reading Stephen Hawking and maybe some Carlos Castaneda along the way.
I’ve been told we're living in a black hole
On the other side of a star that's long since died
Past the point of no return light bent by the force of gravity
Until nothin' at all can escape outside
Oh my soul longs for other stars
Oh my soul longs to be free
Every atom ...of everyone and everything
Is from another space and from another time
Joined in singularity expanded into infinity
From form to form changing constantly
Oh my soul longs for other heavens
Oh my soul longs to be free
We pull apart and come together endlessly
In exploration of all possibility
All of this connection leads me to question
Where you end and where I begin
Oh my soul longs to know
Oh my soul longs to be free
On the other side of a star that's long since died
Past the point of no return light bent by the force of gravity
Until nothin' at all can escape outside
Oh my soul longs for other stars
Oh my soul longs to be free
Every atom ...of everyone and everything
Is from another space and from another time
Joined in singularity expanded into infinity
From form to form changing constantly
Oh my soul longs for other heavens
Oh my soul longs to be free
We pull apart and come together endlessly
In exploration of all possibility
All of this connection leads me to question
Where you end and where I begin
Oh my soul longs to know
Oh my soul longs to be free
Strong Coffee in Dangerous Times (Song of Hope during a National Emergency) 2/16/19
The first line of the lyric is something I heard myself saying out loud while getting out of bed. The extended title was a timely add on and seemed strangely appropriate.
Sometimes the best you can do is to get out of your bed
Pour your strong coffee and hope for less mistakes today than yesterday
To settle on modest goals in dangerous times well that’s perfectly okay
We let go and regain our confidence one loss and one win at time
When we finally figure out that we’re star stuff either way
Then we rise and we shine
Life can be as real as it seems
It’s like waking from a dream
To drink another cup
Until our eyes are opened up
Wide enough to see the faintest glimmer of hope through all the uncertainty
Meanwhile patiently waiting on some far horizon there’s the shimmer of a possibility
Sometimes the best you can do is to shake your head in dismay
Pour your coffee and hope it’s better today than yesterday
To play it safe in challenging times well that’s easily forgiven
Then we finally get ourselves out of our own way to find a life that's worth living
We’re victims of our own low expectations
That’s just smoke and mirrors for what hides behind
We’re magicians looking for the right incantations to reveal what was there all the time
Pour your strong coffee and hope for less mistakes today than yesterday
To settle on modest goals in dangerous times well that’s perfectly okay
We let go and regain our confidence one loss and one win at time
When we finally figure out that we’re star stuff either way
Then we rise and we shine
Life can be as real as it seems
It’s like waking from a dream
To drink another cup
Until our eyes are opened up
Wide enough to see the faintest glimmer of hope through all the uncertainty
Meanwhile patiently waiting on some far horizon there’s the shimmer of a possibility
Sometimes the best you can do is to shake your head in dismay
Pour your coffee and hope it’s better today than yesterday
To play it safe in challenging times well that’s easily forgiven
Then we finally get ourselves out of our own way to find a life that's worth living
We’re victims of our own low expectations
That’s just smoke and mirrors for what hides behind
We’re magicians looking for the right incantations to reveal what was there all the time
Walking Down the Sidewalk 1/26/19
Written while walking, it took a week to pull together lyrically what I had in mind. As usual, the music is kept simple with: an electric guitar, an acoustic, electric bass, a sampled drum track to keep time and my usual self-conscious vocal.
It’s easy walking down the sidewalk with your arms swinging free/minding your own/the way it should be
You look around to see some other people walk by/You’ve got no trouble with nobody/You’re walking down the sidewalk
It’s harder walking down the sidewalk with your arms by your side/somebody calls you some name, unjustified
You brush it off like it don't matter, walk on, let it go/You’re not looking for trouble, you’re just walking down the sidewalk
Talking about trouble/everybody's got trouble/You’d think there would be enough trouble to go around without the need to give anyone more trouble/There’s already enough trouble to be found
It's hard walking down the sidewalk ready to fight/Someone pushing you around as if they had the right/You do your best to stand tall and not let the tears show/You look over your shoulder and hope they don’t follow you walking down the sidewalk
Some people won’t look you in the eye
Some people won’t let you pass on by
Some people want to be right in your way
Some people don’t want to let you have your say
Some people don’t want to see your face at all
Some people want to put you outside of their wall
Some people don’t want to hear you when you sing
Some people want to act like they’re your king
Some people don’t want to hear you when you talk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
You look around to see some other people walk by/You’ve got no trouble with nobody/You’re walking down the sidewalk
It’s harder walking down the sidewalk with your arms by your side/somebody calls you some name, unjustified
You brush it off like it don't matter, walk on, let it go/You’re not looking for trouble, you’re just walking down the sidewalk
Talking about trouble/everybody's got trouble/You’d think there would be enough trouble to go around without the need to give anyone more trouble/There’s already enough trouble to be found
It's hard walking down the sidewalk ready to fight/Someone pushing you around as if they had the right/You do your best to stand tall and not let the tears show/You look over your shoulder and hope they don’t follow you walking down the sidewalk
Some people won’t look you in the eye
Some people won’t let you pass on by
Some people want to be right in your way
Some people don’t want to let you have your say
Some people don’t want to see your face at all
Some people want to put you outside of their wall
Some people don’t want to hear you when you sing
Some people want to act like they’re your king
Some people don’t want to hear you when you talk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
Some people don’t want you walking down their sidewalk
So Long as You're With Me 12/16/18 (Recorded 12/24/18)
I wrote this in the style of a 1930s tune. The mix features my brother Brad Griffith on vocals. I added a bass after the recording.
Some people will tell you that life is about making a whole lotta money
Some people will tell you that fortune and fame is the land of milk and honey
Oh but I...I’ve come to find what some people will tell you isn't worth a dime
I was born to be with you
It don’t matter what we’re doing
It don’t matter if we’re winning
It don’t matter if we're losing
We might make us a billion
We might be on the road to ruin
It doesn’t matter…so long as you're with me
Some people promise that when their ship comes in they'll take you places that you’ve never been
One thing I've noticed is when they get their big break big break they make it straight out of town with all the cash they can take
Oh but I...I’ve come to see just how lonely being left behind can be
I’m not in it for the thrill of the minute
I’m thinking that my life would be just fine
So long as your in it.
Some people will tell you that fortune and fame is the land of milk and honey
Oh but I...I’ve come to find what some people will tell you isn't worth a dime
I was born to be with you
It don’t matter what we’re doing
It don’t matter if we’re winning
It don’t matter if we're losing
We might make us a billion
We might be on the road to ruin
It doesn’t matter…so long as you're with me
Some people promise that when their ship comes in they'll take you places that you’ve never been
One thing I've noticed is when they get their big break big break they make it straight out of town with all the cash they can take
Oh but I...I’ve come to see just how lonely being left behind can be
I’m not in it for the thrill of the minute
I’m thinking that my life would be just fine
So long as your in it.
Bonus Track! "So Long As You're With Me "Acoustic featuring Brad Griffith on Vocals
Maybe It's Time 10/8/2018
I re-recorded all the parts and re-mixed this version because I could not leave well enough alone and now this song sounds exactly like it does. Whether it is supposed to or not is a matter of opinion. I am sticking with this version ....for the present time anyway.
Lay it down/Walk away/You don't need it anyway/You've been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulder/Maybe it's time to lay it down/Maybe it's time to walk away/You've been wronged as sure as the night follows the day/Maybe it's time/I'm not saying what's done is done/You've been carrying that pain around like a loaded gun/Maybe it's time to lay it down/Maybe it's time to walk away.