Good Rain

I wrote the music for this song around end of May/early June. The words finally arrived about two weeks ago. I wrote them in car while I was waiting for Steph to finish up some shopping during a good rain storm. I love how surroundings influence what you're doing. The meaning behind this song is really quite religious. I didn't intend it to be that way, but it has ended up so. I am not going to tell what it all means. You'll have to interpret it yourself.

One thing in there is the line "21, I'm boxing my shadow." This is a reference to the complete sodding idiot I was when I was that age. That whole period of my life was complete darkness. I was my own worst enemy. Sometimes I wonder if I still am...


I really love the path this song takes. It's not a hard song. The chord structure is simple. The melody is easy. The song just flows along, especially when it gets to the reprise. I didn't actually realize how personal this song was until just now as I was reading through it again. Hopefully you'll like it.


I submit myself to the good rain
Wash away my sins
Turn the key that locks up my shadows
It’s about to begin

Greener pastures try to elude me
Living on the run
I do things I know that I shouldn’t
But I’m saved by the sun

Twenty-one, I’m boxing my shadow
And it hurts so bad
I destroyed myself in a moment
Walked away from all
From all I had

Disappointment peppers emotion
Fate pulls out my spine
Separate myself from the rhythm
Finding my light to shine

Locked away for failing my duties
I don’t want to be
Broken into pieces of nothing
Cause by my vanity

Twenty-one, I’m boxing my shadow
And it hurts so bad
I destroyed myself in a moment
Walked away from all
From all I had

I submit myself to the good rain
Wash away my sins
Turn the key that locks up my shadows
It’s about to begin

Twenty-one, I’m boxing my shadow
And it hurts so bad
I destroyed myself in a moment
Walked away from all
From all I had


Good Rain.mp3

Top of the World

I wrote this song sometime while Steph and the kids were gone. I wasn't too sure about it because I wondered if it might sound a bit too hokey. I recently decided it wasn't. When you keep singing a song over and over again in your head without getting sick of it - that's probably a good thing.

So again this is my Oasis kick. I know this song sounds nothing like Oasis, but it was definitely inspired by them - at least the chord structure was. They have songs with similar chord structures - I III7 vi IV. (If you don't know what that means ask someone who has taken music theory.)

As for the words -  I know sometimes my songs can be a little dark. With this one I was trying to stay away from "too dark", but I see that there is still a shade of shadow in there. The song really is about being on top of your game in life. Sometimes we get there and it is a great feeling. Nothing can stop us and we are happy. That's what this song is trying to scratch at. It's a lot easier to talk about than to achieve, but there's no reason in no trying to get there.


I’m on top of the world now
I’ve got aces to spare
In the back of my mind though
I just feel like you don’t care

I’ve got all that I wanted
Ain’t no ransom from me
I’m the king of my wishes
But I’m blind as I can be
And they’ve got nothing on me


You can only see what’s on the surface
Hate was never known by any other name
Are you looking for an answer or a purpose?
It’s no game

I’m on top of the world now
I’ve got aces to spare
In the back of my mind though
I just feel like you don’t care

I won’t live as a martyr
Like the rest I am frail
I know I’m not the greatest
But I know I will prevail
I won’t always have to fail


I won’t always throw myself into the fast lane
There are more important things for me to do
All these thoughts are spinning circles round in my brain
Nothing new

I’m on top of the world now
I’ve got aces to spare
In the back of my mind though
I just feel like you don’t care

I’ve got all that I wanted
Ain’t no ransom from me
I’m the king of my wishes
But I’m blind as I can be
And they’ve got nothing on me
And they’ve got nothing on me


Top of the World.mp3

Back of My Mind

So I know it's been awhile since I've posted anything new here. It's for lack of material. It's because it's a lot harder to record new music at home. There is just rarely anyplace or anytime for quiet so that I can record. Not that I am complaining about my children. Recording music is just easy to do in this house with four children under the age of six.

This song came about from listening to a lot of Oasis. I love that group and was saddened when I heard they had broken up. The only good thing is that I will still be able to hear great music from Noel as he starts a solo career and Liam has his new band Beady Eyes which should be putting out some new music soon.

There is really nothing to this song. I was just trying to write really simple lyrics to go with a really simple melody. This is an unstrained song. There is nothing hard about it. It was easy to write and it's easy to sing.


Morning breaks across my window
Calling me by names I don’t know
A storm’s a-coming, which way will it blow?

Lightning beats its way through my head
All the lights I’m seeing are red
Now I’m watching where my footsteps tread

In the back of my mind I’m insane
In the back of my mind I’ll refrain
In the back of my mind where I feel so plain
But it’s not the same without the pain

Mad fer it I always will be
Even living in my own tree
I don’t care what anybody sees


One day all of this will be gone
Gone away with morning’s new dawn
Hard as it may be keep moving on

In the back of my mind I’m insane
In the back of my mind I’ll refrain
In the back of my mind where I feel so plain
But it’s not the same without the pain

Morning breaks across my window
Calling me by names I don’t know
A storm’s a-coming, which way will it blow?


Lightning beats its way through my head
All the lights I’m seeing are red
Now I’m watching where my footsteps tread

In the back of my mind I’m insane
In the back of my mind I’ll refrain
In the back of my mind where I feel so plain
But it’s not the same without the pain



Back of My Mind.mp3

Speed of Light

I was doing some cleaning the other day and came across this song just sitting in a notebook. I honestly can't remember when I wrote it. In fact, I don't even remember if the melody and music that I recorded for it a few days ago is the same as when I wrote it. I took the words to the piano and sat down to play through it and I didn't have to figure out what it was - it just came to me. I think I wrote this song about a year ago, but I'm not 100% sure.

I don't remember much about this song - not even what led me to write it. But after finding it a few days ago I really like it and was excited to get it recorded so I could post it.

And when I jumped I hit the moon

I’d cast away my pearls

And fallen off the world

Through a seer stone I saw

My flaws and my mistakes

The hearts that I would break

Into the speed of light I cast my shadow

I’m searching for forgiveness everywhere

Am I prepared now to step into heaven?

Or am I close enough to care?

No matter what you do

I’m no worse off than you

I’m stuck inside a room that’s got no windows

And through this photograph

I’ll tear my soul in half

I can’t communicate with those I don’t know

And on my knees I searched for God

I looked into the skies

I looked into His eyes

I saw the fool I had become

The faith that I had lost

And all that it had cost

Into the speed of light I cast my shadow

I’m searching for forgiveness everywhere

Am I prepared now to step into heaven?

Or am I close enough to care?

No matter what you do

I’m no worse off than you

I’m stuck inside a room that’s got no windows

And through this photograph

I’ll tear my soul in half

I can’t communicate with those I don’t know

Speed of Light.mp3

Feeling All Right

I wrote this song one afternoon while I was finishing up at school last month. I had been listening to a lot of big band music, mostly Frank Sinatra. I decided to try a write a song in his style, lyrics and all.

Lyrics from those old songs are so much better than what I hear out there today. There are few lyricists that can mold the English language better than some of those who Frank worked with.  This song was just meant to be a bouncy little piece. I wrote it as though Frank would sing it himself, hence the line about being about boozing is not my speaking in my own voice.

It's not much, but its just a quick little easy song that I really liked once it all fell into place.


Sunday morning
Give a little warning
You want to go out
But I had a late night
Take the dog walkin’
Do a little talkin’
Come back after noon when I’m a-feelin’ all right

I’m still snoozing’
Did a little boozin’
Me and the boys were out
And had quite a few
We went clubbin’
Hubbing and bubbin’
Looks like I won’t be outta bed until two

You’ll see I’m an awful mess
You’ll see and I must confess
I’ll be no good to you
Unless I can sleep until two

Sunday morning
Give a little warning
You want to go out
But I had a late night
Take the dog walkin’
Do a little talkin’
Come back after noon when I’m a-feelin’ all right
Come back and see me when I’m feelin’ all right
Don’t come back and bother me
Until I’m feelin’ all right



Feeling All Right.mp3

There's No Harm

I wrote this song yesterday and recorded it this afternoon. It was one of those songs that just had a natural flow to it. I had watched a movie the other day that had a this cool little waltzy type  instrumental piece in it. I started playing around with different chord progressions and 3/4 time signatures. This is what came of it. This is definitely one of the easiest songs I've written in a while. Everything came it to it easily - words and melody. It almost guided me in the right direction the song should do. I love it when that happens.

I don't know what the song is about. Maybe taking life easy. Maybe speaking up more. I really don't know. The words just flowed out as well. Sometimes a song doesn't have to have a meaning or a message. They are sometimes the best songs...

All that you say

Just gets in the way

We’re spinning in trouble again

Someone will cry

When somebody dies

We’re getting away in the end

If you don’t talk no one will hear

It’s a long walk that brought you back home

So now don’t run into open arms

Let it be, can’t you see there’s no harm

Wild and confused

My brain is abused

Theses voices crawl out of my head

Heavy this load

My heart will explode

There’s nothing that has gone unsaid

If you don’t talk no one will hear

It’s a long walk that brought you back home

So now don’t run into open arms

Let it be, can’t you see there’s no harm

If I just don’t speak

I will not seem weak

And I can’t be scared

I can’t cling to the things that aren’t there

All that you say

Just gets in the way

We’re spinning in trouble again

Someone will cry

When somebody dies

We’re getting away in the end

If you don’t talk no one will hear

It’s a long walk that brought you back home

So now don’t run into open arms

Let it be, can’t you see there’s no harm

Let it be, can’t you see there’s no harm

Let it be, can’t you see there’s no harm

There's No Harm.mp3

Why Do You Make the Angels Weep?

I think I was still in high school when I wrote this song. At this time I was starting to branch out from writing the cheesy typical bubblegum pop love songs. I was starting to see the world for the dark place that it was. In high school I really started to hate every thing. I didn't fit in, but looking back now I'm not sure that I wanted to. This song was not the typical song that a high school senior would write.

It's about being in an abusive relationship - plain and simple. There was a lot of irony in my writing of this song. It came back to bite me in 98-99 when I was in my own very abusive relationship and I was on the receiving end. Its just funny how life works out. Four to five years later after writing this song I was living the lines "Where do you cry when you're alone" and "Why do you fill your hands with stones". Even worse I was asking the line "Do you deserve all of this? Maybe so."

I love this song because after I wrote it I felt so good about myself as a songwriter. I love my Dad and he has always looked out for me in my life. During my senior year in high school he told me that I'd never make it as a songwriter. (So far he's been right!) He said that musicians were a dime a dozen and that I didn't have anything special that people would notice. I took that as a challenge and starting working really hard at writing songs. This song was one result of his comment. Mind you, I don't hold it against him. In fact, I'm grateful for the comment because it pushed me to places in my heart and mind that I had never visited before. It taught me to trust myself.

When you write a song, you really have to trust yourself and your instincts. You write a melody and there are a million different places you can take it when you come to the bridge or the chorus. You have to learn to trust that the decision you make for that song is the best one possible. This is what my Dad helped me to do. He pushed me to be more creative. This was the start of my creativity/madness - depending on which side of the coin you're looking at. Enough of my babbling. Below are the lyrics that are actually close to being 20 years old. Not too bad for a 17 year old freak.

I watched him take you for a stormy ride

He took you too far to the other side

He wound you up so tight you couldn’t stop

Then buried you alive and got on top

Though you say you had control

No one made you sell your soul

He gave to you – you took without a doubt

You have to give to him if you want out

I know you can’t sleep in the bed you’re in

You’ve won yourself a loss and lost a win

You’d walk away but you don’t dare

No you haven’t got a prayer

Why do you make the angels weep?

Where do you cry when you’re alone?

Why do you make the angels weep?

Why do you fill your hands with stones?

The only things he says to you are with a fist

The only tears you shed are from your wrist

Your picture perfect world has broken glass

You say it’s not that bad, the storm will pass

Even if you had the chance

You’d continue with this dance

Why do you make the angels weep?

Where do you cry when you’re alone?

Why do you make the angels weep?

Why do you fill your hands with stones?

You can’t get back what he’s stolen

Why should you even think to try?

And with your rose red lips now swollen

There’ll be no more asking why

Only lies

Tonight there’ll be no goodnight kiss

Do you deserve all of this?

Maybe so

Why do you make the angels weep?

Where do you cry when you’re alone?

Why do you make the angels weep?

Why do you fill your hands with stones?

13 Why Do You Make the Angels Weep 1.mp3