I Had a Nice Dream
Copyright 2002
A few notes: "I had a Nice Dream" is an album of original music I wrote and recorded several years ago. Today, it's April 7, 2018 and I am just now loading these songs to this site. It's a bit of time travel to go back to listen to these songs now. The idea for this site was to catalogue songs I've written and recorded. So, these are posted as they were when recorded at the time 16 years ago, flaws and all. I did need to re-master them to get them in the right format for this site. I think they are certainly more personal/romantic and less social/political than my current songs. These are mostly acoustic songs with some minimal production. The notes below accompanying each song are current perceptions and reflections.
Songs:
1. I had a Nice Dream
2. Good
3. Six Blocks Away
4. Roses
5. Dream
6. Somebody's Fool
7. Movies
8. To Your Face
9. Evening Ride
10. Wild, Wild Love
1. I had a Nice Dream
2. Good
3. Six Blocks Away
4. Roses
5. Dream
6. Somebody's Fool
7. Movies
8. To Your Face
9. Evening Ride
10. Wild, Wild Love
I Had a Nice Dream
This was one of those wake up from a dream and grab the notebook and write down the dream memory songs. The production and instrumentation is simple: some reverb, a few layered vocals and guitars accompany the acoustic guitar. My favorite lines from this one: "You were staring into space...the same space I stared into...I caught your attention...This is all just a mystery."
I had a nice dream/You were laying beside me/you were staring into space/The same space I stared into/(I was looking at your face)/In my dream we touched/I didn't want to wake up/I can't say if you were laughing/I can't say if you were happy/I only know that you were there/I only know that you were willing/You were staring into space/You were laying beside me/I caught your attention/This is all just a mystery/In my dream we touched/I didn't want to wake up
I had a nice dream/You were laying beside me/you were staring into space/The same space I stared into/(I was looking at your face)/In my dream we touched/I didn't want to wake up/I can't say if you were laughing/I can't say if you were happy/I only know that you were there/I only know that you were willing/You were staring into space/You were laying beside me/I caught your attention/This is all just a mystery/In my dream we touched/I didn't want to wake up
Good
I don't recall what prompted this one. I do remember it was for Paula. I sort of like the under-water vocal effect in the chorus.
Hey you/You make me feel good/Hey you/You make me feel good/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say it's been hard to stay in the light/I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me/I'm good when I'm letting go/Hey you/You make me feel like a rock star/You make me feel like I'm dancing in the spotlight/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say I've been feeling a little bit less than alright/I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me/I'm good when I'm letting go/ Hey you/You make me feel like at peace/You make me feel like alright/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say it's been a groove...stoned out of sight /I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me...
Hey you/You make me feel good/Hey you/You make me feel good/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say it's been hard to stay in the light/I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me/I'm good when I'm letting go/Hey you/You make me feel like a rock star/You make me feel like I'm dancing in the spotlight/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say I've been feeling a little bit less than alright/I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me/I'm good when I'm letting go/ Hey you/You make me feel like at peace/You make me feel like alright/It's been a while since I.../Let's just say it's been a groove...stoned out of sight /I'm good with you here/I'm good with you around me...
Six Blocks Away
I remember I wrote this on one of those mid-western days where the raindrops are heavy and fall fast and hard, making deep puddles on the pot-holed, asphalt streets that cars splash through. It's an interesting mix of story and showing my hand a bit at song crafting, "You know what I'm going to say, somehow the boy meets the girl...let's see what we can make happen." I was not feeling well the day I recorded it and my voice was scratchy and I remember thinking it would be cool to record with that roughness in my voice. The guitar has a "Nashville" tuning, a trick I learned from friend Todd where the high G string from a set of 12 strings replaces the standard G string.
Her bus stop was six blocks away/The rain was falling down in sheets/She was waiting for the clouds to roll by before she stepped out into the street/He had had a very bad day/ It's tough to get a head in this world/ You know what I'm going to say/Somehow the boy meets the girl/Let's see what we can make happen/Maybe in his his car he drives by/Maybe somehow he catches her eye/ Maybe he slows down to where she stands/Maybe he invites her on in/Any other day she would have remembered what her mother had said/She was only six blocks away/Hold on...maybe we can take this a better way/Maybe we can bring in some sweetness and light/Maybe if we try we can find them a happy ending alright/Say she gets in anyway/Maybe he says something like, "Baby, don't worry. I wan't do you no harm. I was just driving along and I saw you trying to stay out of the rain. I almost passed you by and then I remembered what my mother had said. I was having a very bad day. I was hoping we could take it a better way."/They were only six blocks away/ Maybe we can bring in some sweetness and light/Maybe if we try we can find them a happy ending alright/Maybe they just keep on driving/What was it that your mother had said...
Her bus stop was six blocks away/The rain was falling down in sheets/She was waiting for the clouds to roll by before she stepped out into the street/He had had a very bad day/ It's tough to get a head in this world/ You know what I'm going to say/Somehow the boy meets the girl/Let's see what we can make happen/Maybe in his his car he drives by/Maybe somehow he catches her eye/ Maybe he slows down to where she stands/Maybe he invites her on in/Any other day she would have remembered what her mother had said/She was only six blocks away/Hold on...maybe we can take this a better way/Maybe we can bring in some sweetness and light/Maybe if we try we can find them a happy ending alright/Say she gets in anyway/Maybe he says something like, "Baby, don't worry. I wan't do you no harm. I was just driving along and I saw you trying to stay out of the rain. I almost passed you by and then I remembered what my mother had said. I was having a very bad day. I was hoping we could take it a better way."/They were only six blocks away/ Maybe we can bring in some sweetness and light/Maybe if we try we can find them a happy ending alright/Maybe they just keep on driving/What was it that your mother had said...
Roses
This is a romantic lyric based on the idea of meeting in different lives. The lyric is a bit impressionistic. I think it holds up over time...no pun intended.
I met you first on Sycamore street/You waived me in from the rain/where the rose vines grew entangled all around your father's front gate/I think that must be the reason why to this very day/when I feel lost I remember the scent of roses in the rain/And we go on and on.../The next time that I met you there was danger in the air/There's always a revolution going on somewhere/Being a poet and not a fighter/I couldn't pretend to care/All this confusion kept me away from your rain and your roses there/and we go on and on.../For the price of just a few coins Marie sells sweet breads in a bag/I held your hand on Marcella street/There was no conversation to be had/I saw you again one time later/There were roses on your table/I left a mark on the window there where I pressed my dirty hand/we go on and on.../I thought I saw you by the ocean but I might have been mistaken/I looked for you where poets and artists meet and in low places and temples and gardens/Maybe we get our chances and then they're gone away for ever/Somehow I find it hard to believe that's it's really that way/So I'll look for you when Summer comes and the air blows warm on Sycamore/Riding on that familiar breeze the scent of roses in the rain/And we go on and on....
I met you first on Sycamore street/You waived me in from the rain/where the rose vines grew entangled all around your father's front gate/I think that must be the reason why to this very day/when I feel lost I remember the scent of roses in the rain/And we go on and on.../The next time that I met you there was danger in the air/There's always a revolution going on somewhere/Being a poet and not a fighter/I couldn't pretend to care/All this confusion kept me away from your rain and your roses there/and we go on and on.../For the price of just a few coins Marie sells sweet breads in a bag/I held your hand on Marcella street/There was no conversation to be had/I saw you again one time later/There were roses on your table/I left a mark on the window there where I pressed my dirty hand/we go on and on.../I thought I saw you by the ocean but I might have been mistaken/I looked for you where poets and artists meet and in low places and temples and gardens/Maybe we get our chances and then they're gone away for ever/Somehow I find it hard to believe that's it's really that way/So I'll look for you when Summer comes and the air blows warm on Sycamore/Riding on that familiar breeze the scent of roses in the rain/And we go on and on....
Dream
I've always liked the lyric. I like the dynamics in the recording. I was playing around with recording multiple voices into a choir and those parts turned out nicely. I am not sure at this point what prompted me to write it. Anecdotally, I recall about this same time sitting next to someone on a plane who self described as being the music producer of the "Michael Jackson of Japan." He listened to the song and said he liked it, but encouraged me to turn down the acoustic guitar. He was probably right. I left it alone. It also features the briefest Stratocaster solo ever recorded. Though I have an affinity for the space in this version, I later recorded a more fully-produced version of this song that turned out nicely with DJB and his brother John on drums, on the "Collaborations" section of this site.
Choose a dream/Bring it to life/Care for it carefully/Tend to it with tenderness/It will survive/Keep it alive with your dedication/Above all be true to your inspiration/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through/I know you/You are the reckless romantic the passionate artist burning to create/I can feel your hunger/Once you've started don't you wander/See it through/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through/You are the light the shines in the dark/You are the arrow shot true to the mark/ You are the voice that is calling you home/The song that you're hearing is your own/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through
Choose a dream/Bring it to life/Care for it carefully/Tend to it with tenderness/It will survive/Keep it alive with your dedication/Above all be true to your inspiration/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through/I know you/You are the reckless romantic the passionate artist burning to create/I can feel your hunger/Once you've started don't you wander/See it through/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through/You are the light the shines in the dark/You are the arrow shot true to the mark/ You are the voice that is calling you home/The song that you're hearing is your own/Angels in Heaven will rejoice when you've added your one small voice to the chorus/You know they're pulling for us/They're seeing us through
Somebody's Fool
This is a sweet little song. I like the backing vocals on this one. My favorite line from this song, "We take ourselves so seriously. We're all fools for history. In a hundred years they'll laugh at what we do." That's probably some good wisdom to remember.
Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/If your heart should break/Remember this and you will put it back together/It's a part we all play too/Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/We take ourselves so seriously/We're all fools for history/In a hundred years they'll laugh at what we do/Don't let nobody break your heart in pieces/Don't let nobody break your heart in two/Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/the question that I'm asking you/Am I the kind of fool who'll do/I want to be the fool for you/Everybody's somebody's fool...
Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/If your heart should break/Remember this and you will put it back together/It's a part we all play too/Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/We take ourselves so seriously/We're all fools for history/In a hundred years they'll laugh at what we do/Don't let nobody break your heart in pieces/Don't let nobody break your heart in two/Everybody's somebody's fool/There's no exceptions to that rule/the question that I'm asking you/Am I the kind of fool who'll do/I want to be the fool for you/Everybody's somebody's fool...
Movies
I don't know where I got the idea for the spoken bit at the beginning. This is my then take at writing a country song.
You can court her with poetry/You court her with song/She won't remember a word that you said/You can wine her and dine her and dance her 'til dawn/That's not the way to turn that girl's head/They don't come much finer/She's one of a kind/You can get down on your knees buy but don't waste your time/If you want to be with her from the start to the end take her to the movies my friend/Don't try to understand it/Don't try to explain/It won't make a difference in the end/Fortune may favor the foolish in the end/So take her to the movies my friend/Some women like turquoise/some like gold/Some like diamonds and silver/Don't buy her rings/She'll just lose them and then she'll want to go back to the movies again/The lights will go down and the curtain will rise and the beam from the booth will descend/Like a prayer that's been answered/Like Jesus come again/Oh holy vision at the movies amen/Don't try to understand it/Don't try to explain/It won't make a difference in the end/Fortune may favor the foolish in the end/So take her to the movies my friend...
You can court her with poetry/You court her with song/She won't remember a word that you said/You can wine her and dine her and dance her 'til dawn/That's not the way to turn that girl's head/They don't come much finer/She's one of a kind/You can get down on your knees buy but don't waste your time/If you want to be with her from the start to the end take her to the movies my friend/Don't try to understand it/Don't try to explain/It won't make a difference in the end/Fortune may favor the foolish in the end/So take her to the movies my friend/Some women like turquoise/some like gold/Some like diamonds and silver/Don't buy her rings/She'll just lose them and then she'll want to go back to the movies again/The lights will go down and the curtain will rise and the beam from the booth will descend/Like a prayer that's been answered/Like Jesus come again/Oh holy vision at the movies amen/Don't try to understand it/Don't try to explain/It won't make a difference in the end/Fortune may favor the foolish in the end/So take her to the movies my friend...
To Your Face
I was in a band when I wrote this and I remember bringing the song to our singer, Glen (who is missed) and we jammed on it one afternoon...and he sang it beautifully. This recorded version is me singing. I had to go through a lot of takes to get it to a version I could decide to keep on recording because I did then and still hear Glen's singing it when I think about the song. The lyric bit..."and I want to walk through..." was Glen's ad lib. I like the gradual build up of the instrumentation in this recording. The backing vocals going, "Shoo-do wop, do-wop, do-wop...la, la, la..." make me smile.
I don't know if it's the age I am/A lot of people I know are in recovery/I don't know if it's the place I've been/Your sadness makes me want to comfort you/If this was about romance/I don't think my head would be so clear/There's a feeling that's got to fit to make this fall in place like it was meant to be/Then we'll know what this was all about/Then we'll know why these things had to be/Why we came so close together/Only for you to fade out of my days/ And to think I was afraid to tell this to your face/I don't know if it's the age we're in/People are afraid to much/I don't know if it's just wishful thinking/You look to me to be an open door and I want to walk walk through/If this was about romance/I don't think my head would be so clear/There's a feeling that's got to fit to make this fall in place like it was meant to be/Then we'll know what this was all about/Then we'll know why these things had to be/Why we came so close together/Only for you to fade out of my days/ And to think I was afraid to tell this to your face/Please don't go away/Did I get too deep
I don't know if it's the age I am/A lot of people I know are in recovery/I don't know if it's the place I've been/Your sadness makes me want to comfort you/If this was about romance/I don't think my head would be so clear/There's a feeling that's got to fit to make this fall in place like it was meant to be/Then we'll know what this was all about/Then we'll know why these things had to be/Why we came so close together/Only for you to fade out of my days/ And to think I was afraid to tell this to your face/I don't know if it's the age we're in/People are afraid to much/I don't know if it's just wishful thinking/You look to me to be an open door and I want to walk walk through/If this was about romance/I don't think my head would be so clear/There's a feeling that's got to fit to make this fall in place like it was meant to be/Then we'll know what this was all about/Then we'll know why these things had to be/Why we came so close together/Only for you to fade out of my days/ And to think I was afraid to tell this to your face/Please don't go away/Did I get too deep
Evening Ride
The song was written after a motorcycle ride. I remember propping a mike on the window screen of my basement recording bedroom/studio at the time and asking Paula to start up the motorcycle and ride slowly up the street..and that's exactly what you hear book-ending the recording. I played this song live in an open-mic night in an outdoor venue (bar) in Montana (can't recall if it was Kalispell or Whitefish) with a pick-up bass player and a guy riffing on sax. I recall they liked the song quite a bit...nice memory.
I took the bike out for an evening ride/I was hoping to catch the sunset/Riding down in the valley and back up the hill/I'm sorry to say that I missed it/Sometimes it seems my life is like thatMissing the glory by minutes/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway/The sun set below the horizon/My headlight lit up the road/Riding back down the hill and into the valley/The night was turning cold/Sometimes it seems like my luck is like that/In the dark and a mile away from home/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway/The wheel keeps on turning/My days go from lows to highs/Somehow I know that my lost sunset will be some other rider's found sunrise/Sometimes it seems like my love is like that/Like somebody's taken my sunset/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway
I took the bike out for an evening ride/I was hoping to catch the sunset/Riding down in the valley and back up the hill/I'm sorry to say that I missed it/Sometimes it seems my life is like thatMissing the glory by minutes/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway/The sun set below the horizon/My headlight lit up the road/Riding back down the hill and into the valley/The night was turning cold/Sometimes it seems like my luck is like that/In the dark and a mile away from home/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway/The wheel keeps on turning/My days go from lows to highs/Somehow I know that my lost sunset will be some other rider's found sunrise/Sometimes it seems like my love is like that/Like somebody's taken my sunset/I can't complain/The ride's been good anyway
Wild, Wild Love
Not much to say about this one...a campfire sing-along. All together now...
Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/With the best intentions and well-laid traps and every precaution to ensure success/all your designs and all your plans were no match for my wild wild love/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/From the windowless night into the light/Drag your love now into the noon sun/Out of the shadows and into the day/Turn around to my wild wild love/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/Love is a mare alone on the hill/Eyes of red sunset and fire/Love can be gentle and love can be still/Love can only be tamed for a while/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again...
Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/With the best intentions and well-laid traps and every precaution to ensure success/all your designs and all your plans were no match for my wild wild love/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/From the windowless night into the light/Drag your love now into the noon sun/Out of the shadows and into the day/Turn around to my wild wild love/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again/Love is a mare alone on the hill/Eyes of red sunset and fire/Love can be gentle and love can be still/Love can only be tamed for a while/Oh my wild wild love is to quick to be caught/Too wild to be broke/Too fast to be roped/ Oh my wild wild love won't be fenced in/Oh my love is running wild again...