Lay Down My Burdens
I was sitting in front of the fire one evening, and I just started singing the beginnings of this song. I had written some lyrics, and some of them worked, but gradually they evolved into this final form.
The song is really about my job as a teacher, and what a burden it is to me. I should never have been a teacher, but am now too old to switch to yet another profession. Seems like I just haven't been able to find what works best for my type of personality, and thus I will keep at it until I can retire.
This song is for either piano OR bass and is a C minor blues.
Lay Down My Burdens
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and rest my soul, rest my soul.
Sometimes my burdens take me into my dark night
Sometimes my burdens take me into my dark night
Sometimes my burdens take me into my dark night
Gotta lay down my burdens, to make everything right.
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and rest my soul, rest my soul.
Sometimes my burdens release me into the light
Sometimes my burdens release me into the light
Sometimes my burdens release me into the light
Gotta lay down my burdens, to make everything right.
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and let them go
I gotta lay down my burdens, and rest my soul, rest my soul.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Sunday, November 26, 2017
November: Walking the Beach, Watching the Day
November: Walking the Beach, Watching the Day
I wrote the lyrics for this song in July 2013. I was walking on Williams Beach, near Merville, where I was living at the time. I was recovering from my colon surgery and just relaxing. As I walked, I watched what was going on around me on that hot summer's day, and this song tells some of the things that I saw.
Only one song left in my write a song every month of 2017 personal challenge. Having a goal really works, as most of these songs haven't come easily, though some did come quickly.
This song is in C and is for guitar.
I wrote the lyrics for this song in July 2013. I was walking on Williams Beach, near Merville, where I was living at the time. I was recovering from my colon surgery and just relaxing. As I walked, I watched what was going on around me on that hot summer's day, and this song tells some of the things that I saw.
Only one song left in my write a song every month of 2017 personal challenge. Having a goal really works, as most of these songs haven't come easily, though some did come quickly.
This song is in C and is for guitar.
Walking the Beach, Watching the Day
Mountains stretch far up the coast,
wild disorder ranging host
Disappear in shimmering haze, all in
shades of green and grey.
Logs rolled onto high tide beach, now
beyond the water’s reach
Ocean rise, waves push and roar,
crashing onto rocky shore.
And I’m walking the beach, watching
the day
Time disappears, and slips away.
Double kayak, sailboat sleep, moving
slow, no need for speed
Tugboat far across the way, log boom
follows long and straight.
Man is casting fishing line, silver
arc the reel unwinds
Hope for fish from waters deep,
silver salmon swim and leap.
And I’m walking the beach, watching
the day
Time disappears, and slips away.
Seagull watching waits nearby, fixing
me with beak and eye
Shorebirds race on spingly legs,
floating geese are ride peaceful waves.
Over all the sky so blue, colouring
the ocean true
Ruffled clouds are streaming high,
changing on a windy sigh.
And I’m walking the beach, watching
the day
Time disappears, and slips away.
And I’m walking the beach, watching
the day
Time disappears, and slips away.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
October: Shoes, Shoes
October: Shoes, Shoes
Another strange songs.....hmmm, lots of my songs are rather esoteric. Oh well.
When I was in Vancouver for a week long jazz music camp this summer, I would go to Tim Horton's en route for my morning cup of tea. A few mornings, there was a homeless fella lying on his side on a bed made of cardboard right outside the door. I wondered what it must be like, lying there on the ground, just seeing all the shoes walking by and never stopping to say hello or would you like a coffee. He had a cardboard sign saying that his shoulder was broken and he couldn't work. The lives people have to live. So sad.
Shoes, Shoes
Shoes, shoes, I'm watching you walk
Don't see no faces but I hear you talk
It's a sidewalk view when you're sleeping on the ground
Living so poor in a rich man's town
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, all passing me by
Just like the world has left me behind
Some are walking fast, some are walking slow
I keep wondering where they all gotta go
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, there's never a pause
Lying down here, I'm just a lost cause
My shoulder is broke, and I am too
I have no idea what I'm gonna do.
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, and so many feet
All going somewhere, all pounding the street
I'm just hoping for a few kind words
The sound of shoes is all that I've heard
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk
Flip flops, sandals, heels and flats
Platform, pumps, slides and sling-backs
Ankle books, moccasins and loafers
Slippers, runners, brogues and dress
Hiking, saddle, clogs and deck
Cowboy boots, stilettos, boaters.
Shoes, I'm watching you
Shoes, I'm watching you walk
Shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Another strange songs.....hmmm, lots of my songs are rather esoteric. Oh well.
When I was in Vancouver for a week long jazz music camp this summer, I would go to Tim Horton's en route for my morning cup of tea. A few mornings, there was a homeless fella lying on his side on a bed made of cardboard right outside the door. I wondered what it must be like, lying there on the ground, just seeing all the shoes walking by and never stopping to say hello or would you like a coffee. He had a cardboard sign saying that his shoulder was broken and he couldn't work. The lives people have to live. So sad.
Shoes, Shoes
Shoes, shoes, I'm watching you walk
Don't see no faces but I hear you talk
It's a sidewalk view when you're sleeping on the ground
Living so poor in a rich man's town
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, all passing me by
Just like the world has left me behind
Some are walking fast, some are walking slow
I keep wondering where they all gotta go
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, there's never a pause
Lying down here, I'm just a lost cause
My shoulder is broke, and I am too
I have no idea what I'm gonna do.
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Shoes, shoes, and so many feet
All going somewhere, all pounding the street
I'm just hoping for a few kind words
The sound of shoes is all that I've heard
Oh, shoes, I'm watching you walk
Flip flops, sandals, heels and flats
Platform, pumps, slides and sling-backs
Ankle books, moccasins and loafers
Slippers, runners, brogues and dress
Hiking, saddle, clogs and deck
Cowboy boots, stilettos, boaters.
Shoes, I'm watching you
Shoes, I'm watching you walk
Shoes, I'm watching you walk.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
September: Stairway to Nowhere
Stairway to Nowhere
This summer I went to a singing camp on Gambier Island. I stayed in a big teepee, and strangely, just outside my teepee was a cement stairway. Just a stairway, and nothing attached to it. It had four or five steps, and people would sit on the steps and read or play their guitar. It was strange. Just a lone cement stairway.
Hmmm, I thought that it would be interesting to write a song about the stairway. I created a story about the stairs and the house that I imagined once standing there, the family that lived there, the lives that were lived, and finally, how everyone had to move away and the house had to be demolished.
While waiting for an appointment to see Dr. Mainra (who was very late), the respirologist at Lion's Gate Hospital, I edited and finished the lyrics, as well as lyrics to three other songs.
"Stairway to Nowhere" reminded me of "Stairway to Heaven" and I tried to work in a reference, either melodically or through the words, but it didn't really work. Perhaps "stairway to nowhere" is enough of a reference. I looked up the lyrics to "Stairway to Heaven". Wow, what does all that mean? Rather abstract, but interesting lyrics.
Piano in E
Stairway to Nowhere
Stairway to nowhere, alone in the field
Imagine the house that once used to be
I see it there, it's standing so tall
Holding a family in its four strong walls, in its four strong walls.
Maybe they were farmers, living on the land
Strong songs and daughters lending a hand
All of life lived, with love and with fears
So many memories of laughter and tears, of laughter and tears.
Years passed by years, less children were born
The call of the city, and heartstrings were torn
One by a few more they all moved away
Farm life was failing, they just couldn't stay, no they just couldn't stay.
Times they do change, and fortunes do to
The fate of the house, someone had to choose
Torn down, demolished, now gone to its grave
Old cement stairway is all that was saved, is all that was saved.
Now the stairway to nowhere is standing alone
Stairway to nowhere, cause no one is home, no one is home.
Now the stairway to nowhere is standing alone
Stairway to nowhere, cause no one is home, no one is home.
This summer I went to a singing camp on Gambier Island. I stayed in a big teepee, and strangely, just outside my teepee was a cement stairway. Just a stairway, and nothing attached to it. It had four or five steps, and people would sit on the steps and read or play their guitar. It was strange. Just a lone cement stairway.
Hmmm, I thought that it would be interesting to write a song about the stairway. I created a story about the stairs and the house that I imagined once standing there, the family that lived there, the lives that were lived, and finally, how everyone had to move away and the house had to be demolished.
While waiting for an appointment to see Dr. Mainra (who was very late), the respirologist at Lion's Gate Hospital, I edited and finished the lyrics, as well as lyrics to three other songs.
"Stairway to Nowhere" reminded me of "Stairway to Heaven" and I tried to work in a reference, either melodically or through the words, but it didn't really work. Perhaps "stairway to nowhere" is enough of a reference. I looked up the lyrics to "Stairway to Heaven". Wow, what does all that mean? Rather abstract, but interesting lyrics.
Piano in E
Stairway to Nowhere
Stairway to nowhere, alone in the field
Imagine the house that once used to be
I see it there, it's standing so tall
Holding a family in its four strong walls, in its four strong walls.
Maybe they were farmers, living on the land
Strong songs and daughters lending a hand
All of life lived, with love and with fears
So many memories of laughter and tears, of laughter and tears.
Years passed by years, less children were born
The call of the city, and heartstrings were torn
One by a few more they all moved away
Farm life was failing, they just couldn't stay, no they just couldn't stay.
Times they do change, and fortunes do to
The fate of the house, someone had to choose
Torn down, demolished, now gone to its grave
Old cement stairway is all that was saved, is all that was saved.
Now the stairway to nowhere is standing alone
Stairway to nowhere, cause no one is home, no one is home.
Now the stairway to nowhere is standing alone
Stairway to nowhere, cause no one is home, no one is home.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
August: Just the Thought of You
Just the Thought of You
This song has a strange birth story. I was working my way through "The Jazz Piano Book" and playing some of the different chords. I played a C13 chord, and when I heard that sound, lyrics started coming into my head, and then a melody. The song isn't about anything or anyone in particular, and where it came from, I have no idea.
There have been several versions of this song. At first, the melody line was too compressed and there were not enough lyrics, and the whole song was only 1:40 long, so way to short. Then I started adding time to the A section melody line and I wrote some more lyrics for the B section. Finally the song was longer, and the pacing seemed better.
Challenging for this song was harmonizing it and trying to add some harmonic interest by moving to different key centres, as often happens in jazz tunes. Also, using chord substitutions so that the chord progression had some variation. Mostly it has ended up being a I vi ii V I song with some chromatic passing chords. Briefly the song goes from F major to Bb major, providing some retonicization.
This song is a slow jazz ballad for piano in the key of F major.
Just the Thought of You
A
Just the thought of you on a summer's night
Just the thought of you, in the evening light
I'm imagining that you're still here
I'm imagining that you're holding me near
B
As the night steals the day, I remember you've gone away
I had stars in my eyes, now just tears to cry, my heart sighs
As the moon rises high, in the darkening twilight sky
Like an echo or you, and love that was true, now my heart is blue.
A1
Just the thought of you on a summer's night
Just the thought of you, in the evening light
I'm imagining that you're still here
I'm imagining that you're holding me near, holding me near
Just the thought of you, just the thought of you, of you.
This song has a strange birth story. I was working my way through "The Jazz Piano Book" and playing some of the different chords. I played a C13 chord, and when I heard that sound, lyrics started coming into my head, and then a melody. The song isn't about anything or anyone in particular, and where it came from, I have no idea.
There have been several versions of this song. At first, the melody line was too compressed and there were not enough lyrics, and the whole song was only 1:40 long, so way to short. Then I started adding time to the A section melody line and I wrote some more lyrics for the B section. Finally the song was longer, and the pacing seemed better.
Challenging for this song was harmonizing it and trying to add some harmonic interest by moving to different key centres, as often happens in jazz tunes. Also, using chord substitutions so that the chord progression had some variation. Mostly it has ended up being a I vi ii V I song with some chromatic passing chords. Briefly the song goes from F major to Bb major, providing some retonicization.
This song is a slow jazz ballad for piano in the key of F major.
Just the Thought of You
A
Just the thought of you on a summer's night
Just the thought of you, in the evening light
I'm imagining that you're still here
I'm imagining that you're holding me near
B
As the night steals the day, I remember you've gone away
I had stars in my eyes, now just tears to cry, my heart sighs
As the moon rises high, in the darkening twilight sky
Like an echo or you, and love that was true, now my heart is blue.
A1
Just the thought of you on a summer's night
Just the thought of you, in the evening light
I'm imagining that you're still here
I'm imagining that you're holding me near, holding me near
Just the thought of you, just the thought of you, of you.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
July: Carwash
Carwash
OK, why write a song about a carwash? Well, I was talking with a friend about crazy things to write songs about, and he suggested the carwash. Really? Ironically, going to the carwash is on my list of summer jobs, and not one I'm particularly looking forward to, and I've been putting it off, but now it's summer so no more excuses cause my faithful old car really needs a bath and a good vacuuming.
Well, I didn't think I'd be writing a song about the carwash, and no inspiration was forthcoming UNTIL I was riding my bike home from town, and the lyrics started coming to me. I got the first three verses written in my head and then finished the song when I got home. It's amazing what happens when you plant an idea in the mind and after things percolate in the subconscious. I knew right away that it was going to be a bluegrass feel.
Category: Silly little ditty in a bluegrass style.
Guitar in C.
Carwash
Carwash, going to the carwash.
Carwash, going to the carwash.
I've made up my mind, today's the day
No more excuses getting in my way
Going to the carwash.
Carwash, driving to the carwash
Carwash, driving to the carwash
Heading into town, it ain't so far
Gonna do right by my faithful old car.
Driving to the carwash.
Carwash, waiting at the carwash
Carwash, waiting at the carwash
Lots of folks had the same idea
Gotta siti and wait until the lane is clear
Waiting at the carwash.
Carwash, moving through the carwash
Carwash, moving through the carwash
Water and wind it's like driving through a storm
Out the other end and it worked like a charm
Moving through the carwash.
Carwash, vacuum at the carwash
Carwash, vacuum at the carwash
Heaven only knows where all the dirt came from
I'll keep the vacuum going until the job is done
Vacuum at the carwash.
Carwash, home from the carwash
Carwash, home from the carwash
Car's clean and shining in the afternoon sun
I'm just so relieved, and it was kinda fun
Home from the carwash.
Now I'm good for another year!
OK, why write a song about a carwash? Well, I was talking with a friend about crazy things to write songs about, and he suggested the carwash. Really? Ironically, going to the carwash is on my list of summer jobs, and not one I'm particularly looking forward to, and I've been putting it off, but now it's summer so no more excuses cause my faithful old car really needs a bath and a good vacuuming.
Well, I didn't think I'd be writing a song about the carwash, and no inspiration was forthcoming UNTIL I was riding my bike home from town, and the lyrics started coming to me. I got the first three verses written in my head and then finished the song when I got home. It's amazing what happens when you plant an idea in the mind and after things percolate in the subconscious. I knew right away that it was going to be a bluegrass feel.
Category: Silly little ditty in a bluegrass style.
Guitar in C.
Carwash
Carwash, going to the carwash.
Carwash, going to the carwash.
I've made up my mind, today's the day
No more excuses getting in my way
Going to the carwash.
Carwash, driving to the carwash
Carwash, driving to the carwash
Heading into town, it ain't so far
Gonna do right by my faithful old car.
Driving to the carwash.
Carwash, waiting at the carwash
Carwash, waiting at the carwash
Lots of folks had the same idea
Gotta siti and wait until the lane is clear
Waiting at the carwash.
Carwash, moving through the carwash
Carwash, moving through the carwash
Water and wind it's like driving through a storm
Out the other end and it worked like a charm
Moving through the carwash.
Carwash, vacuum at the carwash
Carwash, vacuum at the carwash
Heaven only knows where all the dirt came from
I'll keep the vacuum going until the job is done
Vacuum at the carwash.
Carwash, home from the carwash
Carwash, home from the carwash
Car's clean and shining in the afternoon sun
I'm just so relieved, and it was kinda fun
Home from the carwash.
Now I'm good for another year!
Thursday, June 29, 2017
June: Oh Infinite Moon
Oh Infinite Moon
Still finding inspiration in old lyrics this month. In this song I'm remembering when I used to take walks in the moonlight in Bella Coola, when I lived in a lovely log house at the end of Grant Road. I would walk through the orchard, and down the road, with the sound of owls hooting, and the moonlight to guide my way. Often, Kathy the cat would come walking with me. Sometimes we'd sit and watch the moon, so calm in the dark night sky.
Piano in E.
Oh Infinite
Moon
Walking in the dark of night
Shadowed by the bright moonlight
Radiant luminosity
Guide me onward through the trees.
Stars are hanging still and white
All is calm and all is bright
Hoot owl calling soft and low
Air is still and time moving slow.
Stop and sit, I watch you rise
Up above the world so high
Round and full your silvery glow
Lighting up the world below.
And
I’m looking up and wondering
How
long have you been rising, oh infinite moon.
Go not into that dark night
Without the moon to give you sight
Through the deep and shadowed space
Transformed by your shimmering grace.
And
I’m looking up and wondering
How
long have you been rising, oh infinite moon.
Walking in the dark of night
Shadowed by the bright moonlight.
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