Song Six: The Inkpen and the Parchment Pad

Sort of reminds me of Beck with the Flaming Lips (Sea Change meets Yoshimi).This song is absurd-ist, and will require a lot of layering when recorded. However, the lyrics do have meaning to me, in a cryptic way.

Travesty,
your mind is golden walls.
Left and let the stranger on the train.
Noone is to blame,
the search goes on and on.

Better let the sting go in your brain.
Better leave your future for the stars.
Get out in the sunlight and prance yourself
around and 'round and 'round.

(whistling)

Come and see the morning's afterglow.
Come and watch the moonbeams fade away.
Come and live the day
and remember last nights woes.

Take the inkpen and the parchment pad.
Leave the rolodex upon your desk.
Kindly put your finger in your ear
and leave it there.

(whistling)

Let the meaning come from in your mind.
Let the feeling flow from out your chest.
Living for the moment
that you wrote the lines.

Travesty your mind is golden walls.
Left and let the stranger on the train.
Noone was to blame
the seach goes on and on and on and on and on.
The seach goes
on and on and on and on and on
The search goes...(repeats)

Song Five: Dinosaur

"Dinosaur" is named so because it originally really reminded me of a Dinosaur Jr. song (in the melody), and also calls for a Mascis touch on the guitar. It's a rocker. It was one of the first new songs I wrote since moving to SF. The lyrics are, again, pretty staight forward.

I got time to make up my mind,
at least that's what I like to think.
And if I do make it for you,
would you get off my back?

Take a look off the back porch,
sweetie, you know the beach
is only fifteen blocks away.
It's all down hill, or we can hop on the L
and take it down to the Great Highway.
In the sand
with a towel and a sleeping bag,
don't mind the wind, we'll go for a swim
and watch it all...float...away.

I got time to make up my mind,
at least that's what I tell myself.
But if I never do, to tell you the truth,
I would be relieved

'Cause if I make a mistake
and then my heart breaks,
I will die of agony.
Or if I succeed, will I sucuum to greed?
I feel afraid and I don't know what to say
In the city
with a million distant glances
sleeping faces fade
are we really that...far...awayyyy!

When I'm gone
remember this song,
and tell me what you really think of me.
I'd rather be
a fossil than a dinosaur.

(rockin)

Song Four: Alona

Alona is sort of a ballad-y, tongue in cheek, country tune. It's based on true events in Santa Cruz with Joe Laxon (The Station, John Lee Hooker Jr.) and Drew Briscoe (The Station). Oh, and a certain gal whose name is the title of the song. In the end, it was an innocent night, and a stupid story, and she probably got the best of us. But that's ok. Cause now I got to write a song about her. This song was also written within the first few months I lived in SF.

I got a bucket
full of puke,
and sweet memories of you.
(Oh...Alona)

You know the water
drips like tears
off of this cooler full of beers.
(Oh...sweet Stella Artois,
and Boont Amber)

Sun shining
in my eyes.
You know we never said goodbye.
(Oh...Alona,
oh...Alona)

We were standing
on your porch,
you wouldn't come and answer the door.
(Oh...Alona,
oh...Alona)

Wet piles of sand
clinging to my feet.
Is that what it's like between your sheets?
(Oh...Alona [I guess I'll never know],
oh...Alona [I guess I'll never know])

(Oh...Alona) repeats

Song Three: Parkside

"Parkside" is the third song on the "7X7" EP, and it truly establishes the theme of my writing the first few months here in SF, and of this batch of songs. It is about change, adjustment and uncertainty. The music and vocals are slightly inspired by Calexico. It has sort of a spanish sound to the strumming and guitar work.

Can't seem to find
a way to express
this fleeting feeling
of pure restlessness.
Trade in my horses
for a wandering home.
One day you'll be there...
one day you'll be gone...

Out..on the porch watchin' Sunset.
Parkside...and the ocean is near!

You're so easily
disillusioned.
It's easy to see
the trance in your eyes.
Watching reruns
in your Grandmother's basement.
One you'll be there...
one day she'll be gone...

Out...to the west for a moment.
Catching my breath, hitting my stride!

The moment just came,
a change, it has happened
A spirit just passed,
I saw it just now.
Brought forth the truth...
and no one believed me.
"Head for the ocean...
there is nothing to fear"

Out...on the porch watchin' Sunset
Parkside, and the ocean is near!
And the ocean is near!
And the ocean is near!

Song Two: Alright

The second track on the so-called "7X7" EP which has yet to be created is "Alright". It is a pretty straight forward rocking tune with a slightly unique melody line that reminds me of Dinosaur Jr. It definately calls for some screaming J. Mascis leads.
The lyrics are self explanatory. I wrote them probably a month or two after moving to SF.

It's Alright (2X)

I was alive.
I was getting bye and bye.
I was in a routine.
It was where I had to be.

I was glad
that the world was not all bad,
not all of the time,
not every single day.

I couldn't leave it, not today,
I can't believe it.
This buzzing in my ears
why won't it go away?
I'm not annoyed
I'm not paranoid
I'm sticking to my guns.
I know I'm not the only one.

Taking the train
in the early morning rain
to the end of the line
I'm gonna see it through this time

Out on the streets
with the crackheads and the freaks,
if I was one of their kind,
you know, that would suit me fine

Can't let it slip away
I really mean it
I've got a debt to pay
I gotta feed it
I'm not alone,
I am not alone.
I'm sticking to my guns.
I know I'm not the only one.

It's alright (2X)

I was tired.
The travel had made me wired.
I was slightly unwound.
I had this fever going on.

The price that was set,
you know, I haven't figured yet.
I'm along for the ride.
I'm gonna take it to the end of the line.

I couldn't leave it, not today,
I can't believe it.
This buzzing in my ear,
why won't it go away?
I'm not annoyed,
I'm not paranoid.
I'm sticking to my guns,
I know I'm not the only one

It's Alright (4X)

More Hassan

The secret of his power is his total freedom towards moral obligations and religious faith: <>. But this unbelief of the master is hidden, because the followers are believers and must scrupulously fulfill the duties laid down by Islam.
The Grand master must then give an example of austerity and strict religious obedience, although he doesn't believe any of it. An elite, a small group of unbelievers rules a crowd of thousands of believers, that are unaware of the fact that their leaders do not believe a word of what they are preaching. This is all the secret of this brilliant manipulation !

seriously, this is cool shite.
This is a link about Hassan I Sabbah
http://home.ca.inter.net/~giskhan/Hassan_Ibn_Sabbah.html

Song One: Hassan I Sabbah

This is a link about Hassan I Sabbah
http://home.ca.inter.net/~giskhan/Hassan_Ibn_Sabbah.html

Ok, the first song "Hasaan I sabaah" has a waltz-y beat during the verse (plucked on the classical guitar), and then a hard rock-psychedelic chant during the chorus of "Hasaan I Sabaah". It was written, as it says, late one night (in early April or very late March) when my bro Fran has gone to bed, and goes on to ramble about a number of random things. The second verse of the song more directly rambles about Nick Feldman, my boss and a disabled man who owns his own business in home care. Hassan I Sabbah is better known as "The man on the Mountain" (google him to find out more). His influence in the song is a line that he supposedly coined, which I learned of from reading William S. Burroughs, "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." It has always stuck with me.

The lights are all out.
Frankie's gone to bed.
A million random thoughts
piling on my head.
Like; how to return
all the favor I get?
and when to pay out?
and who writes the checks?

The voice that I hear
in my head for this song,
I hear it so clear,
it's one David Byrne.
And it's wartime you know
and this ain't no disco,
so get on with the show.
What is your latest prediction?

Hasaan I Sabbah (2X)

Nothing is true.
Everything is permitted.
Business in red,
and living in the Tenderloin.
But nobody claimed
any profits or gain
for Daring to Dream
to fight the machine

So day after day
the crippled man chips away
at a wall made of clay.
He'll mold it someday.
If we make it that far,
If we live through the war,
If we don't wind up dead,
won't you give him slow head?

Hasaan I Sabbah (4X)

Nothing is true.
Everything is permitted.
(repeats)

7X7

Bored at work.

The new tunes are: (album idea: 7X7 EP)

1. Hasaan I Sabaah
2. Alright
3. Parkside
4. Alona
5. Dinosaur
6. The Inkpen and the Parchment Pad

I'll send lyrics and descriptions as time permits.