Tell Me, Leann - Second Draft

I posted a basic first draft of this one at the end of March, played on synth organ. Since then I've been working out a more melodic version on electric guitar. This is it.



Jump in the water, it's only up to your knees
so you know I'm not as deep as it seems
I'm just hanging upside down
Caught up with Bobby, he said he understands
I started drinking just to do what I can
cuz I don't wanna drown

So tell me, tell me--what are we all crying for, Leann?
If I can't find the words maybe you can

Been looking at pictures of when we were young
nowhere to go and nowhere to come from
but somehow made it here
Met up with Mandy, she said it's okay
even though the colors have all faded away
the sky is still clear

So tell me, tell me--what are we all crying for, Leann?
If I can't find the words maybe you can

Two New Tunes

Couple new songs I'm working on.





Somehow

I'm getting ahead of myself, and I'm tired
You're getting an earful of mouth running wild
and I think that it's time to slow down

Been thinking about what you said, and it's true
I don't need you to understand my point of view
it's just for me to sort out somehow

I just need to slow down somehow
I just need to slow down somehow


Dime

You asked me if I could stand to get a better view
but when I did you said I was looking down on you
it's tough to help you out when you don't trust how I do

We're stuck on different sides of the same dime

You came to me singing a tune with the tongue of a goat
and I said it might as well have been a song I wrote
it's not the words coming out, it's how they feel in your throat

We're stuck on different sides of the same dime

Well sometimes, y'know, I can't help myself
I see only the black and white
And yeah, I know that it's all mixed up
but some days the gray looks like a line

And it's a whole 'nother scene
when there's no more in-between

We're stuck on different sides of the same dime

The Songwriters (Cover)

Here's a song from Willie Nelson's latest album. It's a lovely tune.

We get to break out of prison, make love to our best friend's wife
have a beer for breakfast in Boston and drink rum in Jamaica that night
We get to tell all our secrets in a code no one understands
and we get to shoot all the bad guys without getting blood on our hands

Cuz we're heros, we're schemers, we're drunks and we're dreamers
we're lovers, and sometimes we're fighters
We're the students, we're the teachers, we're the devil, we're the preachers
we're true love, but mostly one-nighters
we're the songwriters

Half the world thinks we're crazy, the other half wants to be us
and everyone's jealous cuz we're hanging out in the back of some big star's tour bus
We're old boots and t-shirts and blue jeans, we're capos and strings and e-chords
and we only dress up in November when they hand out songwriter's awards

Cuz we're heros, we're schemers, we're drunks and we're dreamers
we're lovers, and sometimes we're fighters
we're the truth, we're the lies, we're the stupid, the wise
we're true love, but mostly one-nighters
we're the songwriters

We write bridges, then cross 'em and burn 'em
we teach lessons but don't bother to learn 'em
And our mamas don't know what we're doing--why we stay out all night long
I told mine I was a drug dealer, she said "thank god you ain't writing songs"

Playlist: Songs of Sin, Sung in the Chapel

New Song - Tell Me, Leann

I've had the tune for this one in my head for a few weeks. Here's the first draft. I'm no good on the keyboard, but it makes for some nice framework. I'll probably add in some guitar as it develops.



Jump in the water, it's only up to your knees
So you know I'm not as deep as it seems
I'm just hanging upside down
I caught up with Bobby, he said he understands
I started drinking just to do what I can
because I don't want to drown

Tell me, tell me, what are we all crying for, Leann?
If I can't find the words maybe you can

Been looking at pictures of when we were young
Nowhere to go and nowhere to come from
But somehow made it here
I met up with Mandy, she said it's okay
Even though the colors have all faded away
the sky is still clear

Tell me, tell me, what are we all crying for, Leann?
If I can't find the words maybe you can

Back to Wondering - New Song

Been working on this for a few days now. It's not finished, but I like where it's going. This recording is just three tracks: vocal+git, keyboard, and backing vocal. The guitar is a Cigano gyspy jazz and the keyboard is a CasioTone synth from the early 80's. Have a listen!



You gave me a purpose to fulfill, but the pressure only led to pain
You're giving pain, I'm going insane
So I found some peace but lost the point, then ended up wasting time
Just killing my time waiting to die
Now here I am, back wondering about my place in your plan
Just tell me the plan--what's the plan?

Because I'm only a man, I'm just a man.
What's the plan?

You gave me a different point of view, now I can see they're all the same
It's all the same, we're all same
So I found a way but lost the will, then ended up stuck in line
Just doing my time staying in line
Now here I am, back wondering how I can be my own man
I don't understand--I think I can.

I'm making some plans, I got some plans.
I think I can.

New Song - Ready to Roll

Put this one together over the last couple days. I've been kind of jones'n to write a country tune lately. It seems I get a twang in me every so often that needs to come out. I feel like this one came out at just the right time.



You know I'd like to sit, but I think I'll stand
And I'm not one to judge, but you're my friend
The mayor and his men are on their way
They've got handcuffs, fancy shoes, and things to say
I'll keep standin' here with you if it's what you want to do
but if you'd rather duck down I know a good place to stay

So let's go, I'm ready to roll
Being friends with the devil don't mean that you sold your soul
So let's go, honey, I'm ready to roll
Got debt to pay, don't mean there's anything you stole

You know I'd like to quit, but I'll take one more
It's only gonna bring me down, but that's what it's for
Cuz they let me out of jail on Saturday
They said, "You better rest up cuz tomorrow you've gotta pray"
So I set my mind to dream--was gonna wake up and come clean
but I couldn't sleep not knowing what I'd say

So let's go, I'm ready to roll
Being friends with the devil don't mean that I sold my soul
So let's go, honey, I'm ready to roll
Got debt to pay, don't mean there's anything I stole

Electric Guitar Experiments

A buddy of mine lent me his electric guitar to practice with for awhile. I'm looking to get one of my own eventually, so I'm feeling things out. Last thing I posted was electric too, but not quite as gritty. I've been having lots of fun with this tune. Let me know what you think!

Somewhere - Rough Take 2

Posted this one just the other day, but I've been having fun with it. So, here's another take that feels more complete. It gets a bit repetitive at the end because it doesn't have a conclusion yet--and I kept messing things up. Anyway, have a listen. Thanks!



Been pulled apart piece by piece,
determined to deconstruct me.
Blood, bones, and electricity;
pretty soon there's nothing left to see.

But I'm still there, somewhere.

I met the match, felt the heat
and saw my shadow surround me;
crawling out from under my feet
harshly distorted--obscene.

But I'm still there, somewhere.

Somewhere - New Rough Draft

Got a few new tunes I'm working on. This is one 'em. It's purposed as an exploration in electric guitar. Thanks for listening!



Been pulled apart piece by piece
determined to deconstruct me
blood, bones, and electricity
pretty soon there's nothing left to see

But I'm still there, somewhere
But I'm still there, somewhere

New Song Rough Draft - See the Sights

After the night, I ran
from home to here
and turn to face
the failure of my fear--
caught up in cutting myself
free from everything
you are not me.

But now that I'm awake
to see the sights
I'm tearing up
because the colors are
too damn bright.

But now that I'm awake
to see the sights
I'm tearing up
because I cannot
close my eyes.