Old & *New (2020)
These songs are a combination of new, some previously recorded and not on the site and some I have remixed with new parts or stripped down to the essentials.
Songs
- *When Your Sky Falls Down
- *The Difference Between
- *On the Other Side of This
- *Somehow Someway
- *What to Do
- How Were We to Know (Acoustic)
- Said the Moon
- Adam Digs
- Edge of Town
- Adam Digs
- Over You
- Through the Night
- *Something New
- Adam Digs Reprise
When Your Sky Falls Down (06/12/2020)
I wrote the music to this first, starting with a ukulele and adding instruments until..this. Lyrically, it has something to do with looking at life when things seem to be turned upside down.
When your sky falls down, then on the clouds you'll walk around.
What else is there to do?
You might as well enjoy the view when your sky falls ...down.
When your sky hits the ground, there'll be no ground to be found.
Your feet won't touch the floor.
There'll be no floor no more when your sky falls...down.
When your sky falls to the ground, to look for hope you'll look down.
With the ground's above the sky, you learn to fall is to just to fly when your sky falls down.
What else is there to do?
You might as well enjoy the view when your sky falls ...down.
When your sky hits the ground, there'll be no ground to be found.
Your feet won't touch the floor.
There'll be no floor no more when your sky falls...down.
When your sky falls to the ground, to look for hope you'll look down.
With the ground's above the sky, you learn to fall is to just to fly when your sky falls down.
The Difference Between (05/13/2020)
I had fun with the hmm...hmms.
Some people don’t know the difference between inconvenience and pain
Some people don’t know the difference between liberty and freedom
Some people, when you stand between them and a dollar bill
Will knock you down if you won’t move and maybe even if you will
Sometimes, I think we’re too far gone..we’ve been led astray
We’re looking for a light to shine in the dark to show the way
Liars and thieves been around almost as long as the night and the day
The difference between what’s right and what’s wrong is getting harder to say
Songbird sings every morning at the break of day
It doesn't matter who's there to listen...it doesn't matter who’s in the way
Sun will rise every morning...it doesn't matter what people say
Some people think the truth is owned by those who pay.
Some people don’t know the difference between:
Inconvenience and pain
Liberty and freedom
Greed and sacrifice
Justice and fairness
Intolerance and strength
Indecision and patience
Loss and gain…
Some people don’t know the difference between liberty and freedom
Some people, when you stand between them and a dollar bill
Will knock you down if you won’t move and maybe even if you will
Sometimes, I think we’re too far gone..we’ve been led astray
We’re looking for a light to shine in the dark to show the way
Liars and thieves been around almost as long as the night and the day
The difference between what’s right and what’s wrong is getting harder to say
Songbird sings every morning at the break of day
It doesn't matter who's there to listen...it doesn't matter who’s in the way
Sun will rise every morning...it doesn't matter what people say
Some people think the truth is owned by those who pay.
Some people don’t know the difference between:
Inconvenience and pain
Liberty and freedom
Greed and sacrifice
Justice and fairness
Intolerance and strength
Indecision and patience
Loss and gain…
On the Other Side of This (04/04/2020)
Not much more to say about this one that the lyric doesn't already. Musically, this was built up and stripped down several times to get to this version.
On the other side of this, there will be singing in the streets
Just like before when the boys came home from war
On the other side of this, when old friends meet
They’ll hold each other tight and promise not to part no more
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, there will be tears for those we’ve lost
There’s no way in this world to count that cost
On the other side of this, there will be holes in our hearts to fill
Where memories remain and always will
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, there will be blame to go around
We’ll remember those who picked us up when we were down
On the other side of this, to those who looked away
Every dog will have its day
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, we’ll hope for better days
We gotta live with the choices we’ve made
On the other side of this, let’s pray for more lave than fear
God willing, we'll still be here
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
Just like before when the boys came home from war
On the other side of this, when old friends meet
They’ll hold each other tight and promise not to part no more
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, there will be tears for those we’ve lost
There’s no way in this world to count that cost
On the other side of this, there will be holes in our hearts to fill
Where memories remain and always will
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, there will be blame to go around
We’ll remember those who picked us up when we were down
On the other side of this, to those who looked away
Every dog will have its day
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
On the other side of this, we’ll hope for better days
We gotta live with the choices we’ve made
On the other side of this, let’s pray for more lave than fear
God willing, we'll still be here
If this was only about the money, that’d be no big deal, it’s only money anyway
If this was only about the money, we can make more money any day
Someway Somehow (3/14/2020)
The lyric for this one flowed from some other place. I think it's about practicing gratitude during trying times. Instrumentally, I originally recorded parts for strings, horns, layered rhythm guitars, lead guitar, steel guitar, background vocals and then...one by one.. removed it all to leave what's here.
So as not to distract you from your pain and suffering
I have made you a song for this circumstance
Remember there are now others much less fortunate
Who would gladly trade you places given the chance
You can sing it while your streets are empty of people
You can sing it while you wait for this hard time to pass
You can sing it while you let go of any notions you’ve been holding
That you ever controlled anything
So you'll know peace at last
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
So as not to disrupt the faith you hold on to
I have made you a song for your reverie
You must accept now all you have gone through
Was exactly what was needed to set yourself free
You can sing it for the flood that has already been
You can sing it for the mysteries that have come here before
You can sing it when sleep comes around and you you won’t let her in
Like a beautiful stranger knocking at your front door
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
So as not to forget this age you belong to
I have made you a song for this time of your adversity
Now, you must be strong and one day remind your own children
That their trials too will not last endlessly
You can sing when it seems that there is no way through
You can sing it when there are only walls in front of you
You can sing it when the doors finally swing open and wide
You can sing it when you are walking on the other side
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
I have made you a song for this circumstance
Remember there are now others much less fortunate
Who would gladly trade you places given the chance
You can sing it while your streets are empty of people
You can sing it while you wait for this hard time to pass
You can sing it while you let go of any notions you’ve been holding
That you ever controlled anything
So you'll know peace at last
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
So as not to disrupt the faith you hold on to
I have made you a song for your reverie
You must accept now all you have gone through
Was exactly what was needed to set yourself free
You can sing it for the flood that has already been
You can sing it for the mysteries that have come here before
You can sing it when sleep comes around and you you won’t let her in
Like a beautiful stranger knocking at your front door
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
So as not to forget this age you belong to
I have made you a song for this time of your adversity
Now, you must be strong and one day remind your own children
That their trials too will not last endlessly
You can sing when it seems that there is no way through
You can sing it when there are only walls in front of you
You can sing it when the doors finally swing open and wide
You can sing it when you are walking on the other side
Sing it like this...
Free me from all expectations
And for what has been delivered up until now
Oh, let me show appreciation
Someway somehow
What to Do (2/1/2020)
This is new. I woke up with an idea for a lyric and then developed and recorded the song while sitting at the keyboard. Basically, I picture a sing-along around an upright piano for about 100 million people...right after we've voted.
You can curse the rain for falling on your head.
You can blame the clouds while your shoes get wet.
You can complain about the weather and how bad it’s gonna to get...
Or you can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
You can stand there in the rain without a clue. It’s up to you.
Who’s going to tell you what to do?
You can work your problems or let your problems work on you.
You can throw your hands in the air and say, “My God, what are we to do?”
Chances are the answers are right in front of you.
You can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
Take someone by the hand along with you and help them through.
Who’s going to tell us what to do?
Soon, we’ll look back where we came and be sad for a while...
To think we gave away our hope, but soon again we’ll smile.
You can curse the rain for falling on your head.
You can blame the clouds while your shoes get wet.
You can complain about the weather and how bad it’s gonna to get.
You can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
Take someone by the hand along with you and help them through.
Who will dare to tell us what to do?
You can blame the clouds while your shoes get wet.
You can complain about the weather and how bad it’s gonna to get...
Or you can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
You can stand there in the rain without a clue. It’s up to you.
Who’s going to tell you what to do?
You can work your problems or let your problems work on you.
You can throw your hands in the air and say, “My God, what are we to do?”
Chances are the answers are right in front of you.
You can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
Take someone by the hand along with you and help them through.
Who’s going to tell us what to do?
Soon, we’ll look back where we came and be sad for a while...
To think we gave away our hope, but soon again we’ll smile.
You can curse the rain for falling on your head.
You can blame the clouds while your shoes get wet.
You can complain about the weather and how bad it’s gonna to get.
You can step out of the rain to someplace dry while clouds roll by.
Take someone by the hand along with you and help them through.
Who will dare to tell us what to do?
How Were We to Know (6/11/2011)
I wrote this walking a beach in North Carolina one evening. There were a lot of words to carry in my head, "Wouldn't I give my soul right now for a writing pen." I was thinking about writing a song in the style of a Dylan tune with internal rhymes. The images came from looking around. I produced a home movie at the time, posted on the Videos page. The original mix is posted on the You Need a Band page. I brought the mix down to just the live recording of acoustic guitar and vocal for this version. It seemed appropriate somehow to post in this collection at this particular time.
We built our house on shifting sand/At the time it did not seem so/We built our house on shifting sand/How were we to know it then/We were kids out playing in the foam and the strand/How were we to know?
We tried to hold to what we had gained but the sea will reclaim its own/We tried to hold to what we had gained like a fist full of sand in a trembling hand that could not let go again/How were we to know?
The foolishness surrounding us only seems like the sea because it never seems to end/You better roll up your pant legs before you go out walking or your trousers are bound to get wet again/and your fishermen cannot predict the change in the wind/and your boats have drifted too far away for to swim/and the evening tide is about to come in/and the oil on the water is incredibly thin/What luck's put on your line today you'll soon you'd thrown back in/and you can't sing it until you've been it and man I have been/How were we to know?/How were we to know?
Wouldn't I gve my soul right now for a writing pen to draft a quick note to Mr. Bob Dylan to thank him for predicting what had already been/while the crabs on the beach are sideways scuttlin'/You got four good horses ready and just rearing to go/Isn't there a last trumpet somewhere that you're running late to blow?/How were we to know?/How were we to know?
We built our house on shifting sand/At the time it did not seem so/We built our house on shifting sand/How were we to know it then/We were kinds out playing in the foam and the strand/How were we to know?
We tried to hold to what we had gained but the sea will reclaim its own/We tried to hold to what we had gained like a fist full of sand in a trembling hand that could not let go again/How were we to know?
The foolishness surrounding us only seems like the sea because it never seems to end/You better roll up your pant legs before you go out walking or your trousers are bound to get wet again/and your fishermen cannot predict the change in the wind/and your boats have drifted too far away for to swim/and the evening tide is about to come in/and the oil on the water is incredibly thin/What luck's put on your line today you'll soon you'd thrown back in/and you can't sing it until you've been it and man I have been/How were we to know?/How were we to know?
Wouldn't I gve my soul right now for a writing pen to draft a quick note to Mr. Bob Dylan to thank him for predicting what had already been/while the crabs on the beach are sideways scuttlin'/You got four good horses ready and just rearing to go/Isn't there a last trumpet somewhere that you're running late to blow?/How were we to know?/How were we to know?
We built our house on shifting sand/At the time it did not seem so/We built our house on shifting sand/How were we to know it then/We were kinds out playing in the foam and the strand/How were we to know?
Said the Moon (2010)
A song about duality. The recording is "as is" from when I recorded it.
Said the moon to the sun, "I'm in love with the sea."
Said the the sun to the moon, "The attraction may be only gravity."
Said the moon to the sun, "I feel I'm being pulled down."
Said the sun to the moon, "I know, but I can't let you go."
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Said the sea to the moon, "I can almost touch the sky."
Said the moon to the sea, "This may all be illusion."
Said the sea to the moon, "I can feel your pull on me."
Said the moon to the sea, "It's true, I just can't let you be."
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Said the wave to the sea, "I'm about to break free."
Said the sea to the wave, " Don't you know we are one."
Said the wave to the sea, " I am you and you are me."
Said the sea to the wave," Somethings are meant to be."
(Like the pull of the sun on the moon/Like the pull of the moon on the sea
Like the pull of the sea on the wave/Like the pull of you on me)
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Said the the sun to the moon, "The attraction may be only gravity."
Said the moon to the sun, "I feel I'm being pulled down."
Said the sun to the moon, "I know, but I can't let you go."
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Said the sea to the moon, "I can almost touch the sky."
Said the moon to the sea, "This may all be illusion."
Said the sea to the moon, "I can feel your pull on me."
Said the moon to the sea, "It's true, I just can't let you be."
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Said the wave to the sea, "I'm about to break free."
Said the sea to the wave, " Don't you know we are one."
Said the wave to the sea, " I am you and you are me."
Said the sea to the wave," Somethings are meant to be."
(Like the pull of the sun on the moon/Like the pull of the moon on the sea
Like the pull of the sea on the wave/Like the pull of you on me)
We all feel torn some times. We all feel caught in between.
Edge of Town (Revised 2/11/2020)
This is a song from 2006, here as previously recorded with 2 acoustic guitars. and a vocal. Note: the ocean is closer to 400 miles away. Otherwise, the lyric is an accurate representation.
I live on the edge of town where every evening the sun goes down behind the mountain to crash into the ground and rush faster than the eye can see three hundred miles across the desert to splash into the sea.
I live on the edge of town where every evening God comes 'round to paint the sky with clouds and light only to fade it to black every night when the sun goes down behind the mountain to crash into the ground and rush faster than your eye can see three hundred miles across the desert to splash into the sea. So if you can go ahead and try to tell me what is a miracle anyway, just 'cause it happens every day...and the bird on the wire knows why he sings his sweet sad song and me I know where I belong.
I live on the edge of town where every evening God comes 'round to paint the sky with clouds and light only to fade it to black every night when the sun goes down behind the mountain to crash into the ground and rush faster than your eye can see three hundred miles across the desert to splash into the sea. So if you can go ahead and try to tell me what is a miracle anyway, just 'cause it happens every day...and the bird on the wire knows why he sings his sweet sad song and me I know where I belong.
Adam Digs (2009)
This is the original recording, remastered. There's a lot of layers in this one. Note: Glen Davis provided a drum track..Miss you Glen. I don't recall exactly what I was thinking when I wrote the lyric so I'll leave it open to the listener to fill in the picture.
All the beautiful blondes in California fade into the scenery/Life here is a beautiful dream where the garden has been found./We have everything we need to be beautiful/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All the beautiful blondes in California stare into the distance/Life here is a dream made of gold/where the garden is for sale/We have everything we need /everything money can buy/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All that the beautiful blondes in California want is just to be see/just to be seen/We have everything we need to feel real/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All the beautiful blondes in California wander in the desesrt /Life here is a make believe dream/We've got to find the garden/We have everything we need to be beautiful/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden./We have everything we need to feel like gods/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All the beautiful blondes in California stare into the distance/Life here is a dream made of gold/where the garden is for sale/We have everything we need /everything money can buy/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All that the beautiful blondes in California want is just to be see/just to be seen/We have everything we need to feel real/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
All the beautiful blondes in California wander in the desesrt /Life here is a make believe dream/We've got to find the garden/We have everything we need to be beautiful/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden./We have everything we need to feel like gods/Meanwhile, Adam digs and dreams about the garden.
Over You (Revised 01/09/2020)
Completely reworked an old original song from 2005, experimenting with a few sounds in this more produced version.
About the time I think I'm over you, I remember you in Summer/Your dress the sky and I...all blue and you did not even notice me.
About the time I get you off my mind, I remember you in Spring time/Birds sing for you and I cry because they stole my song.
I told those songbirds about my love for you/I told the blue sky too/They could not keep a secret/I should have known better.
About the time I think I'm over you, I remember you in Autumn/Leaves fall for you and I do too and you did not even notice me.
About the time I get you off my mind, I remember you in Spring time/Birds sing for you and I cry because they stole my song.
I told those songbirds about my love for you/I told the blue sky too/They could not keep a secret/I should have known better.
About the time I think I'm over you, I remember you in Autumn/Leaves fall for you and I do too and you did not even notice me.
Through the Night (Revised 1/1/2020)
I re-recorded the music to this song, finishing just after midnight on 1/1/2020 and recorded a vocal in the morning, This first version of this song is posted on the site from the "You Need a Band" album. At the time I wrote and recorded it in 2011, there was only one verse and I noted there may come a time when I would add another. I wrote the second verse in October of 2018; so, there was 7 years between writing verse 1 and verse 2. I wrote verse 3 to finish the song a week later. With the music finished (simplified to get out of the way of the lyric), this one took 9 years to complete...which is very unusual for my process.
It's true that we outgrow the things that once we could not live without/Eventually we gain in strength and confidence replaces doubt/I've been told that a flower unfolds in it's own time/Oh, it's known that the dark will fade before the light of day/On this Earth we pray to find our way through the night.
It's true that given time enough that all things hid will be revealed/The place that we are standing in is the place that we are meant to heal/I've been told we have to walk before we run/Oh, it's known that the dark will fade when we know we are each another's light/To this Earth we've come to find our way through the night.
It's true when we let go of fear, love will tell us what we need to know/Eventually, we'll realize we are here to learn and grow/ I've been told that we're all one from the start/ Oh, it's known when fear falls away love will come into our heart/And this Earth we'll light/And find our way through the night.
It's true that given time enough that all things hid will be revealed/The place that we are standing in is the place that we are meant to heal/I've been told we have to walk before we run/Oh, it's known that the dark will fade when we know we are each another's light/To this Earth we've come to find our way through the night.
It's true when we let go of fear, love will tell us what we need to know/Eventually, we'll realize we are here to learn and grow/ I've been told that we're all one from the start/ Oh, it's known when fear falls away love will come into our heart/And this Earth we'll light/And find our way through the night.
The Start of Something New/I Have Come to Talk With You 12/30/2019 Lyric 6/28/2020
I composed the music at the start of the year and the lyric later after the above songs were written.
I have come to talk with you about the the way you look at the world when your sky falls down and a freedom to be found.
I have come to talk with you about the you about learning the difference between your inconvenience and your pain and what the song bird knows when she sings at the break of day.
I have come to talk with you you about what life will be like on the other side this depend on the choices we make today.
I have come to talk with you about strangers at your door, with a song for you to sing to remind you of the mysteries that have come before.
I have come to talk with you stepping out of the rain and taking someone by the hand to help them through.
I have come to talk with you about empty beaches to walk and horses to prepare and trumpets to blow.
I have come to talk with you about attraction between the wave and the sea and the moon and you and me.
I have come to talk with you about the bird on the wire knowing where he belongs.
I have come to talk with you about broken things and inevitable endings.
I have come to talk with you about seasons changing and the memory of youth.
I have come to talk with you about the truth of an Earth to light and finding your way through the night.
I have come to talk with you about the age-old trick of looking back at what you’ve found and recasting those lines as prophesy and how everything that was...comes back around.
I have come to talk with you...
I have come to talk with you about the you about learning the difference between your inconvenience and your pain and what the song bird knows when she sings at the break of day.
I have come to talk with you you about what life will be like on the other side this depend on the choices we make today.
I have come to talk with you about strangers at your door, with a song for you to sing to remind you of the mysteries that have come before.
I have come to talk with you stepping out of the rain and taking someone by the hand to help them through.
I have come to talk with you about empty beaches to walk and horses to prepare and trumpets to blow.
I have come to talk with you about attraction between the wave and the sea and the moon and you and me.
I have come to talk with you about the bird on the wire knowing where he belongs.
I have come to talk with you about broken things and inevitable endings.
I have come to talk with you about seasons changing and the memory of youth.
I have come to talk with you about the truth of an Earth to light and finding your way through the night.
I have come to talk with you about the age-old trick of looking back at what you’ve found and recasting those lines as prophesy and how everything that was...comes back around.
I have come to talk with you...