put together things I have written along the lines of politics, peoples attitudes, issues with religion, perspective,tolerance......
I hope the lyrics provide useful base for introspection and discussion.
There usually is more than one "right" way
take care and be safe

just some thoughts

these are things I wrote more along the lines of "people" issues(depression) and just words and melodies that sort of popped into my head while sitting outside in the morning

little of this and that

a thousand things happen every second every day and I can freeze so much with one click of a finger on my camera


dancing in the bright blue sky
white clouds go passing by
reflected in the deep still water
of the mountain pond I've found

water bug goes sprinting by
making ripples in concentric circles
that break this picture of the sky
into pieces of a broken puzzle

fish looks up and sees a meal go by
he springs to the surface with a great big smile
if his luck holds out he will dine in style

this all happens in the wink of an eye
but with a click of my finger I make it forever mine
I can store it in the cloud or print it on a sheet

and years from now I'll look and wonder
did that fish get something to eat

in the wink of an eye

sometimes one bad thing can overwhelm all the good, like a tsunami . The good are like lots of little ripples in a pond and we lose sight of them with the force of the tsunami when in fact if we keep our perspective and remember the good , then the ripples can flatten out the tsunami

lyrics
so your world fell apart, you just can't go on
all the truth has vanished,nothing left to hold on to

all you see is chaos, swirling all about you
no one there to talk town one there to turn to

seems to you the world has changed, you don't know where you are
but what seems to you to be the end is just a really a place to start

the world has never really changed, the good and bad stay in view
what makes them seem different is your changing point of view

pain feels like a tsunami, sweeping everything away
the good are only tiny ripples that slowly come your way
but the ripples are strong, the ripples are real
open up your heart and eyes and therir strength you soon will feel

in the end it's up to you how far down or up you go
you can look at the bad and freeze in one place
or seize on the good and let the ripples fill your space
ride the ripples to a rainbow, don't be fooled by their size
they are stronger than a tsunami
they are powered by a smile

let the ripples rule

watching the power of nature can help put "life's problems" in perspective

I like to sit by the pool
when it starts to rain
and watch the drops pop pop into the water

it's like a scene in a movie 
where a witch is making potions in her big black cauldron

I feel the crack of the lightning as it bursts the scene
and hear the rumble of the thunder rattle glasses on the shelf
and the howl of the wind as it makes the leaves on the trees
go into crazy dances

when it all goes away
and the sun comes back out
the birds start to sing and the squirrels run about

I head back inside knowing all my problems have been solved

the calm after the storm

sometimes if we wait for perfect we lose good opportunities....

what does it mean to be gone?
what does it mean when we're no longer here?
what will we hear when we're there?
will flowers still have color will the birds fly in the air?

hard to imagine feeling nothing at all
hearing nothing but silence, no shadows on the wall

then again I could be wrong
cause there is no one I know who came back from being gone
so all  bet's are off cause nobody knows
if we end up alone after we go

what I do know for sure is what's around me right now:
feel..touch..see..taste..laugh cry..glad. sad..light. dark. hot cold

this is what's real the here and the now
so drink it all in don't wait too long
it may not follow you
after you're gone

going going gone

when did fact become opinion
when did lies become the norm
who's to blame for this confusion
those who speak or those who listen

speakers care about themselves
listeners don't take time to think
follow blindly empty words 
that bring us all up to the brink
internet was to save us all
teach us how to live in peace
instead we stare at empty screens
in virtual reality

we don't shake each others hands
or look into each others eyes
no longer walk on ocean shores
or hear the birds go flying by

cause we can get all this you know
by sitting on our couch alone
pushing buttons on our phones
the goal is not to move

if we follow through with this
think nothingness is really bliss
then the internet will surely be
all that's left of you and me

hatred/fear/blind mindless destruction is fueled by paranoia stoked by lack of physical contact with others/exchange of ideas and mutual understanding. That means we have to get out, touch the world and people around us and use our own minds to communicate/have empathy and care. We must deal with facts not opinions expressed by talking heads who have no skin in the game other than to sell advertisements on their sites.

facts are not opinions

where is it written that life is supposed to  be either fair or unjust??
Life is being alive and experiencing what is around you and marveling at its miracle,
you can have a "good" day its it is raining, sunny,snowing.
it's your perspective that matters.

Its a good day for sunshine
its a good day for rain
I don't know
it may even snow
but I'll take whatever comes my way

I'll walk along this path today
tomorrow I'll be somewhere else
anyways I'll still be "here"
dry or wet, hot or cold the way will always be clear

sometimes there is fog that blocks the view
then I'll use my ears to see for me
if thunder crashes and drowns out the sounds
then I'll use my eyes to hear for me

life has no rules, not fair or unjust
it just flows along at its own pace
it's not for us to cry and moan
but enjoy the journey and adjust

enjoy the journey and adjust

lots of things that seem irrelevant in our lives can trigger powerful memories so pay attention to the world around you

on a kitchen table in a house on a hill
sits the photo of a lonely flower on a window sill

when I think of it I always think of you
and wonder if you recall that lonely flower too

we could sit at that window and talk of nothing all day
but look into the backyard at a field full of flowers

remember how we walked that day
it was warm and breezy
we just talked side by side
peacefully and silently

then we picked a flower from that very field
the one we loved the most, the one with most appeal
took it back and put it in a pot on the sill

we watered it every day hoping it would grow
I took a picture of it so it would never fade

I look at that photo when I'm tired or sad
though it's been years since I 've seen your  eyes or since I've held your hand
I know the lonely flower in the photo on the sill
will always keep your memory for me alive and well

flower in a pot on the sill

I hope at some point in our collective history that the day will come when the good common sense that is within all of us will rise to the surface and silence the endless destructive chatter of selfish leaders, crazy social media blogs  and we will recall how connected we are in purpose.priorities and goals

it's not ok to kill then pray
it doesn't make it better
the pools of blood you spilled today
will stay with you forever

it's not ok to hate someone
you've never seen or touched
hate can never replace love
your sorry isn't good enough
your sorry always comes too late
open your eyes and let's change our fate

what will it take
for us all to see the light
we are all connected
together we make it right
there's plenty of good
it's been too quiet too tame
time to speak out
put the shouters to shame

it's not ok to keep taking
until everything has turned to dust
empty words will never cure
what hateful acts make us all endure

it's hard to think clear
when everyone's shouting
and no one wants to hear
what the other one's saying
you've shut your eyes, you've shut your ears
your common sense has been replaced by fear

what will it take......

you say God gave you the right
to take the first shot
they say God gave Them the right 
to do the same to you
do you think God is a liar??
Who are you trying to fool??

what will it take....

what will it take??

recorded this two ways for no particular reason, like many things in life the same message comes in different packages, diversity is good, what looks different is often not so tolerance is key

enjoy

I know that the answer is on the mountain top
I know if I get there I can see my way out
I know that the answer is on the mountain top

There must be a reason for all this chaos
If we can find that out I might get it to stop
there must be a reason for all this chaos

how can everyone be the only one right
we never solve a problem unless there is a fight
how can everyone be the only one right

why do we confuse our religion with God
then use his words of love and peace to go and kill
why do we confuse our religion with God

why do we throw our garbage in the sea
then fill the air with smoke till we can't breathe
why do we throw our garbage in the sea

why is our goal to blindly gather more
then we turn our backs on the hungry and poor
why is our goal to blindly gather more

where are all the people with common sense
hiding in their houses behind a Pickett fence
where are all the people with common sense

I know that the answer is on the mountain top
take my hand let's go for a walk
forget about tomorrow let's go today
I don't think the mountain is very far away

Why??? version # 1

tragedies repeat throughout history it seems because people lose site of history, lost in pursuing temporary comforts . We have to remember history, not distort it or whitewash it an learn from it if we ever hope to stop the next self made disaster.

today he came back from the hunt to his thriving village
his children playing all around his fires warm his spirit calm

Tomorrow all the herds are gone, slaughtered by the whites who've come
his village burned, his wife is gone, his children taken far away
a wave of hate s[plashd over him and took away all he knew
no one recalls how or why

we walk on thin ice every day
civility is fleeting
a mirage that hides the dark heart that is inside us beating
we must be on our guard always
to beat it down and keep it caged
or we find we all will fall through the ice someday
and no-one recalls how or why

today he went to work and read the paper on the train
his wife at home, his kids in school, his friends gather later to laugh and dine
Tomorrow he will have no trade
the brown shirts came and took away
his job,hishouse,hisdignity
they'll put a star upon his chest, soon he'll be dead like all the rest
no-one recalls how or why

We walk on thin ice.......

today he went to the factory to work hard with his friends all day
to bring home his pay to buy his family things they want and need
his house is warm, his pantry full, whatever could go wrong

tomorrow he finds the factory closed, shutting down for good,
the owners found a way to save a dime on every part he made
the work is gone his hope is lost
leaving him no way to live his life the way he wants
the owners do not know the cost, but now they can each afford
a new mercedes
no one recalls how or why

we walk on thin ice...

thin ice..will you recall??

Life is amazing. Flowers grow in sidewalks, hawks make nests on top of skyscrapers, sun is warm, rain is life giving.
I think we complicate life by confusing it with "living" by goals and imposed "desires" that make us anxious: need more money/have to live in a penthouse/bigger faster cars/
It's not bad to work and produce but when you lose sight of mortality/empathy/sharing. then your "productivity" will not bring you satisfaction or peace.
we are very temporary. It is just as easy to care as it is to hoard and to help as it is to hate.
anyways I hope you enjoy this song.I'mplaying around with guitar notes, no structure just let the fingers go wherever whenever

tiny little lizard scampers on the screen
grabbing tight the wires with his tiny little feet
gets into a spot of sun that hits him on his back
he's so happy now I wish I could always feel like that

happy little firefly flits across the lawn
flashing bright his small tail light ,singing his happy song
nothing here to slow him down or cause him pain or fright
I wish that when I walk out side I'd always shine that bright

So I'm the only one in the world today
the only one here to sing and play
I put on my Sunday best
I say to heck with all the rest
I'm going to walk among flowers and trees
No people here to fear or please
I'll let the sun warm my back
I'll let my light shine bright
Not worry so much about living
but just go celebrate life

it's not that complicated

I guess I am hung up on how and why we repeat mistakes over and over.
The map to a better future is clearly written in the past.
Learn from it, don't distort it,

so what's an hour...It's 60 minutes
so what's a minute...it's 60 seconds
so what's a second..now that's really fast
so what's it matter..not much if they die in the past

time is such a waste of time ,look at all I've wasted
worrying about the time that's left and not taking time to live it
I'm so afraid of dying that I do no more living
I think so much of what I want that I do no more giving
I pretend to live forever though I know that it's not true
So I lie and say tomorrow I'll find time to call you

so what can make it last...I mean forever
and what is the past...an ancient river
so what is the future...a shadow in the night
so what does it all matter..we need the past to give us light

we live and die every day and dump our deeds along the path
stumble forward in the dark as if forever we will last
we have to heed the deeds we did and remember what they sowed
or else we stumble off a cliff and the future leaves us cold
and alone with the ghosts of our regrets of what we could have done
if we had listened to the past and not partied in the sun

so what's it matter, the past??

this is kind of a tribute/thank you thought I had reflecting on the past year.
I appreciate all the talented listeners and all the insightful comments 
I never imagined a year ago that I would be so fortunate as to find so many interesting talented folks  who would actually listen to and comment on what I wrote
so thanks to all I mentioned and all I could not fit in
remember   practice makes you better not perfect!!!
take care and be safe
Dave

sometimes I sit and worry about the song I am singing
sometimes it seems too short like me, sometimes it seems to long
maybe if I feed it on some sugar and spice
it will sound more like Camille and it will turn out right

problem with my song is that it is a bit dischelved
it's not trim it's not fit..not fit as a fiddle
the melody and words don't flow like a warm breeze down a summer road
like I hear when I listen to 
Shane and Ian/xian Johnny and Jim

my song is dressed in simple clothes,,nothing really fancy
socks don't match the shirt at all
pants are black the belt is brown
not slick and polished like Davey,Dave and T bone

problem with my song is that the guitar 's all alone
no drums or strings to tag along and make a house a home
it rows the boat all by itself
the only friend on board's my voice
the hall is empty there is no life
like Gina Gaz and Cat and Spence

the more I think the more I know my song can stand alone
music has so many faces
we all come from different places
all headed in the same direction
looking for that holy grail
but I 've come to realize
there is no such thing as perfection

thinking too much

I guess I have heard enough about white or black or purple "supremacy " and learned enough from history that there isn't any "race" that has proven to be superior or actually much different from any other. All seem to have the same good qualities and bad qualities and make the same good judgements and bad ones.To me the issue is can we collectively learn from the past and go forward to a better place. I am an optimist (believe it or not) so let's see how we do.

This was sparked after listening to "American made" by the oak ridge boys(one of my favorite vocal groups)



take care and be safe

My baby is American made
her momma is Korean and her Daddy is from Spain

America is strong because our people came
from every country on earth to stake their claim
Except for the Iroquois Apache or Sioux
there is no such thing as an "American race"

We weren't built by white men alone
yellow black brown and red sang the same song
along the way we all got a little black and blue
but we somehow managed to pull the girl through

we each have our heritage
it's different from the rest
but that difference is our strength
no one is the best

so remember where we came from and how we got here
don't be blinded by the light of those preaching fear
instead listen to the words in every sacred scroll
ever written on this planet from the days of old
tolerance,respect and love should guide your soul

America(can be ) beautiful

every generation laments the they have "lost the children".most times it is just the impact of natural cultural evolution:changes in economics/peace/war etc. I am afraid that now there is a more dangerous"loss" happening; that is a real disconnect of younger generations from each other and the planet as there seems to be this rush to retreat into the internet; to have a goal to"never leave the couch",and an obsession with short term peripheral nerve stimulating "experiences" and lack of interest in history/building and saving for the future.
I was very moved by Dave Dunham/seagull pieces or trilogy and these words and ideas popped out in this song.
here I explain how much there is with just one step outside to a child who spends life on the internet on the couch. You must experience the world and each other to understand why you must work to save it. There is more to life than passing time and winning points.
 lyrics:

you've been sitting on that couch
staring at your phone
your thumbs like pistons, up and down
you'll wear them to the bone

look, the back door's open
we can go out for a walk
and maybe if we find the time
we can even talk

what's that you say?
the game you play is really super hard
and today you're on your way
to a super record score

a thousand points!! wow that's a lot
can you tell me what they're worth
c'mon now put that thing down
let's go out in to the dirt

 the first step's not so hard you see
watch out beneath your feet
a thousand ants are scurrying
to build their nest they carry leaves

duck your heads spider web
is flowing in the breeze
it's caught some dew and spit the light
now a rainbow you can see

look up above in that tree
two birds you will see
one is red and one is blue
from their nests they sing for you

the. trees and grass and bushes have a dozen shades of green
c'mon let's take a second step 
and see what we can see

if we're lucky the wind picks up
we'll hear the thunder roar
cold rain will then fall on us
we will get all wet
it will be a great day for you and for me

first steps

It seems we see an endless cycle throughout history of one country or race or people deciding they are superior to all others and so justify the invasion, suppression slaughter of anything else only to disappear themselves into dust in short periods of time. No one has proved very supreme ever and probably never will because nobody is in the first place

lyrics
feeling low feeling sad
just don't sit there being mad
come on in and play this game
it's called supremacy
it will light up your day
doesn't take much to be supreme
I'll tell you the secret just listen to me
just close your eyes 
just shut your ears
let a selfish leader come and feed your fears

learn how to hate those you don't know
they can't be that smart if they wear those clothes
their food smells funny their language is weird
their kids are too dirty don't let them come near

they worship God with songs and dances
not like us with candles and incense
so how holy could they possibly be
we must defend our faith you see

one thing is obvious
supremacy is fleeting
lasts only long enough till the next one comes calling
saying the same things the one before said
then like mindless sheep we follow them down
the same old worn out path
and then we're surprised when we get to the end
that nothing has changed at all my friend

the simplicity of supremacy

I think we sometimes worry too much about what someone else may think and not enough about what we think is right. It's like being in a lecture afraid to raise your hand to ask a question because you are afraid others will laugh at you but come to find out everyone had the same question.Live your life your terms. just don't hurt anyone and respect others

lyrics
now that I'/ older and my sight is poor
I can see things I never saw before
now that I'm older and my hearing is poor I can hear all the things you've been telling me for years

I see the old men alone in the park
wishing they were younger and had a new start
I didn't realize until just now
that I am living their dream every time I wake up
but the dream's slipped into the shadows for me
it's slipped through my hands
time hides in the shadows and waits, disguised as forever 
until it's too late

you can't go back you can only regret
so take your best shot don't second guess
you can feel what is right and you know what is wrong
don't just write down the words you're thinking
stand up and sing the song out loud

don't worry about what others might say
at the end of it all it's your own judgement day

It's your call

80% of the US economy is driven by the consumer generally buying useless things.Capitalism is probably the best societal scenario but only if you couple it with empathy and a reasonable safety net for those who need it. How a society treats its lowest economic class is the measure of the strength and success of that society in my opinion..not how much top heavy wealth is created.
True empathy is more than a passing thought or a superficial wave of the hand.There are plenty of people who have that empathy but there are plenty who don't

lyrics

got another day off so there's time on my hands
got a credit card I know I can't afford
but the tv says I want some things I don't need
besides they say I deserve it   so don't you see
got to kill some time

So I go downtown with all the rest
walk around all day buying things I can't afford
bring them home and stuff them in the attic
in a box with all the things I've bought on my other days off
on each I'll put a label with the date on a line
this is something else I can do to kill some time

today on my way I stopped at a light
I watched some barefoot kids kick a can
saw an old man hold out his hand
kids on the corner making a plan
have to do something bad to have fun
stores with empty windows, broken glass in the homes
everyone wearing tattered old clothes
I wonder if they have a day off too??

maybe there is something else I should do?
the light changed  and I was back on my way
I'll search the shelves to find where they sell empathy
then I'll buy me some and take it home with me
I'll put it in the attic with a date and a lable
I hope I don't get home late
there's good stuff on the cable

the  consumer ( or, thanks for shopping..did you find what you were looking for?)

is tolerance something we need to learn or is it something that we had naturally and then lost along the way??
power/money drive common sense away and we have to keep reminding ourselves that there are many ways to live a life but the life needs/goals/purpose is always the same no matter how it comes dressed up.

lyrics

your fingers are tired from pointing at the others
your vocal cords are weak from all your shouting
your fists get cramps from all the clenching
your feet are sore from all the stomping
your brain is well rested as it's so seldom used
your ears are rested from their life long snooze
your eyes aren't tired cause you don't use them to see

you use all that energy but have nothing to show
but chaos and confusion in a deep dark hole
wake up your brain from its long long sleep
get your ears in tune to hear what you're shouting
open your eyes to see where you're pointing
put your feet up and think and stop all the stomping

you want to change the world?
you want to make it better?
then stop throwing stones and start listening to each other

there's only one golden rule
no matter where you stand
it is written in the Torah,b\Bible and Quran
tolerance not ignorance is the law of the land
treat your brother as yourself is the ONLY true command

to my left and right wing extremist friends( or wake up and smell the coffee please)

sometimes I think we lose track of the treasures that are at our fingertips as we get wrapped up in some amorphous thought of the future. Put another way "stop and smell the roses"  it is what we do and experience along the way that actually makes up our life ..little things that in retrospect were big things..the things that actually matter when you look back    so try and make these things appreciated in real time and not some retrospective memory at the end of your life

lyrics
I've reached my final destination
my feet are tired and my back is sore
I thought this was my life's ambition
so I looked around for my reward
only to find that at this final destination
there is no pot of gold

looking back I clearly see
that the treasure that I sought
is scattered in pieces along the path
I took to reach the mountain top

every person that I met
every time I saw a sunset
or felt a warm breeze on my face
or listened to the morning silence
a piece of gold would appear and end up in my pocket

so lessons learned become stories told
to the young by the old
your treasure is not a pot of gold you find at the end of your road
instead it is found piece by piece with every step you take
along the crooked path we walk
to our final resting place

final destination

for me there are two myths about climate change..opposing views..that work against each other, polarize people and make it impossible to address this situation logically
myth 1: we are the cause of climate change so we should be shamed into addressing it

myth 2; there is no such thing as climate change so why bother to listen

my view is yes earth is constantly changing , our living style is certainly adding to the rapidity and intensity of climate change and there are things we can do collectively to mitigate the severity of the blow and protect ourselves from the changes but we have to get out of this simplistic tribal intellectual rut caused by myths 1 and 2

lyrics

trickling of a waterfall, ocean's crashing waves
sun comes through the morning mist to start another day
blue jays fly with cardinals, turtles line the banks
frogs and crickets fill the air with their noisy thanks

bag of fast food on the road, cigar butts on the ground
cars and trucks spew deadly fumes that bring us floods and fires
forests fall and red tides rise, plastics fill the seas
these are things that time won't heal, warnings we must heed

the earth has been changing for millions of years
we aren't the only reason but one thing is clear
we can make a difference if we really try
we can make it better one step at a time

pretending it's not happening is a really bad bet
you can close your eyes and ears but your feet will still get wet
lets all work together and give it a try
believe what you see, don't be fooled by the lies

climate change (redo!!)

Leaders need to be special. Telling someone what they want to hear so you can be popular is not leading..it's pandering. 
If popularity,politacl donations, raw power are the goals of a person who pretends to be a leader ,then the result will be disastrous for everyone.
It is the role of all others to hold "leaders " accountable to facts and basic social norms:tolerance, empathy,equality.

lyrics:

when leaders don't lead and followers don't think
everything that's decent is pushed to the brink

when facts are ignored and replaced by beliefs and religion distorts God's holy words
then books will burn
innocents accused  and then rounded up to be killed and abused
without a blush on one single cheek
without a tear in one single eye

and when it's all over, you'll stand in the rubble
rubbing your eyes from the smoke
wringing your hands from the guilt

how could this happen?
what did we do?
your sorry is too little too late

you carried the torch or worse stood aside
and watched it all happen in front of your eyes
you thought that inside your house you were safe
you never imagined it could be your turn
you didn't speak up when there was something to say
so my questions to you are
will you learn from today and what will you do tomorrow????

when leaders don't lead

WE read nursery rhymes/tales to our children all the time. We go to bed. We wake up. We forget the moral it seems.
The answer to so much of the suffering in the world is right before us and simple as can be.
Take time to help. We are ultimately connected.Helping others will help ourselves.Tolerance/empathy/communication.

lyrics
A stormy wind blew one day in the 100 acre wood
it blew EYore's house to the ground
He stood alone in the cold cold rain
no place to go
losing all hope

Piglet was trapped in a raging flood in the 100 acre wood
he stood on some chairs to save himself
but with no one around he feared he would drown

BUT Winnie the Pooh knew what to do
without even counting to one or to two
he put down his honey pot
got up off his couch
and went outside to help

now your neighbors are homeless 
they lie in the streets
in the cold cold rain
losing all hope with nowhere to go
the children outside have no food to eat
they are lost and afraid full of fear full of pain

you sit on your couch with your earphones on
eyes glued to a screen
you're lost down a rabbit hole waiting to have
your dinner delivered to your door

If Winnie the Pooh knew what to do
then why don't you???????

you think all is well and you're safe on your couch
you have virtual reality to hide in
but everything's fine until it's not
you are NOT alone in the world
so when they pound down your door because they can't take anymore
the fault will be yours and not theirs

so if Winnie the Pooh knew what to do
and he is just a bear
then why can't you

after all he is stuffed with fluff
what is it that you are made of????

OH POOH!!where are you??/

we read nursery rhymes to our kids every night..then we all go to sleep and wake up and seem to forget the stories morals.
sometimes the solution to complicated problems is easier than not..just get up and help.
the dangers of virtual reality/social media are becoming obvious to me..we lose touch with each other and the world and so lose empathy and the capacity to help.it generates a false sense of security and distorts reality.

lyrics

one day a stormy wind blew in the 100 acre wood
it blew Yore's house to the ground
he stood all alone in the cold cold rain
losing all hope with no place to go

piglet was trapped in a raging flood in the 100 acre wood
he stood on some chairs to save himself
but with no one around he feared he would drown

but Winnie the Pooh knew what to do
without even counting to one or to two
he put down his honey pot, got off of his couch 
and went outside to help

now our neighbors are homeless they lie in the street
in the cold cold rain ,no place to go
losing all hope
the children outside have no food to eat
they are lost and afraid ,full of fear and of pain

you sit on your couch with your earphones on
with your eyes glued to a screen
you are lost down a rabbit hole waiting to have 
your dinner delivered to your door

if Winnie the Pooh knew what to do
then tell me why don't you???

you think all is well and you're safe on your couch
you have virtual reality to hide in
but everything's fine until it's not
you're not alone in the world
when they pound down your door cause they can't take anymore
the fault will be yours not theirs

so take off the ear phones
get up off the couch
and go outside to help

if Winnie the Pooh knew what to do and he is just a bear
why can't you

after all Winnie the Pooh is stuffed with fluff
tell me what are you made of??

oh pooh. where are you?(#@)

there's is a lot that is wrong and a lot to be done. It won't happen if we don't do it. learn from the past.don't repeat mistakes.the world is the same anywhere you go. Differences among people are exaggerated insignificant quirks twisted by those who want to remain in power. we are all more alike than different


lyric

in the time that's left to me ,let me touch what's left to feel
in the time that's left to me, through the dim light let me see
I never needed to travel the globe cause the world always came to me

cause the sun,the moon, the rain the snow are constant everywhere
people laugh, people cry,people hope and people fear
nothing's different from here to there
it's all the same,nothing to fear

when will we learn that we have the power to turn dark into light
to feed the hungry and cloth the cold
with no damage to our body or danger to our soul

our lives are short but our legacy is long
the past must be our guide through the night to the dawn
so we can touch what must be touched
so we can see what must be seen
and not stay locked alone in ourselves for our tiny eternity

make a difference

Where does love go? we seem to be born with a natural love for others..color blind..culture blind..and then we make teams/chose sides/wear uniforms. and lose empathy/common sense..
We need to remember the instinctual love and bond we have for and with each other if we hope to overcome the bombardment of self serving false narratives we get everyday on social media/news/political speeches ...


lyrics

went to bed last night and woke up in a dream
don't recall the details but it seemed so real
I was standing in a dark room in a cold wet sweat
not a sound to be heard, not a touch to be felt
and I thought to myself as I stood there alone
this must be earth and I was chilled to the bone

then I saw a blue light shimmering up ahead
I could see it was warm and I could feel it was strong
and I knew it had the power to push back the night
If I could only find a way to give it a chance
the light was the love trapped deep inside me
I had to find a way to set it free
the more I thought about it, the more I looked inside
I realized the key was me


now I stand in the morning sun but I am still cold and wet
surrounded by some many like me looking for the light
trying to find a way to push back the night

is the love that we seek just a blue light in a dream
or is it buried in our hearts waiting to be freed
we made it captive to our fears
we starved it with our greed
it strains to break the chains that we shackled to its feet

love is something we're all born with
it's ours to use or lose
it just gets hidden by our weakness and fear
trust in yourself and in all those around you
let the light shine bright and push back the night

where does the love go??

As long as we keep feeding ourselves the mistaken idea that we are better as a country/race/people/high school than the one next door then we will never be able to actually live together and benefit from others strengths and learn how to strengthen our weaknesses.
Yes no two people are alike. Yes cultures have different foods/customs. but NO! one is not better than another. Just because you are familiar with something doesn't mean that something else is "worse"

lyrics

a round peg talked to a square hole
we seem to be very alone
why don't we get together
let's be friends 'let's build a home
I know your edges are sharp and harsh
you seem very stubborn and set in your ways
my wood is light and yours is dark
we are different in so many ways
but in the end we are both just shapes
not better, not worse, just different
so let's give it a try, what do you say?
together is better any old day


I don'e see how the square hole said
your shape is so amorphous
no start, no end  just smooth and endless
round and round you have no point that I can see
so go away and leave me be


then a carpenter came walking by and heard the conversation
I think I can be of help let me try
maybe It will be your salvation
so he took out his tools and went to work
he smoothed the squares rough edges with a stroke
then he stretched out the circle really long
at the end of the day the square and circle were gone
we were left with ...an oval and ellipse


while the fit wasn't perfect to both their surprise
it didn't need to be for them to survive
give a little, take a little, that was the key
compromise was all they needed to live happy
now they don't live alone but together happily

shape of things to come ( I hope)

Hard to argue against the observation that we as a species keep making the same mistakes with each other and recreate the same tragedies over and over. Same senseless rhetoric/same simple destructive "super race" syndrome...
If we can figure out the theory of relativity and the structure of DNA, then why can't we see through the useless destructive rhetoric of the "leaders" we see around us?
let's study the past to construct the future

lyrics:
don't you remember who you are
don't you remember why you came
don't you remember all that's happened 
that got you where you are today

your footprints in the sand are still there
time hasn't washed them away
get your head out of the clouds
let the past guide your way

every mistake you make today
every regret you'll have tomorrow
has already been played
a thousand times along the way

there's nothing new about the hate you feel
there's nothing unique about your fears
it's all been said and done before
we don't need to do it anymore
so let's go forward and build a better day
put the fears and the hate away
all they will ever do for you
is bring back the tears we have seen through the years

so please learn from the past
the's how we build a future for us all
we have to learn to work together
building bridges and not walls

don't you remember who you are
don't you remember why you came
don't you remember all that's happened 
to get you where you are today?????

if we keep doing what we're doing we will get the same result

It seems there are always horrific conflicts/crises everyday. It seems they never change..the events/the causes/the excuses/the regrets.  I think these events are not as complicated as they seem and ghat the solution is equally simple. We are born with empathy and bond to each other and the planet and we slowly learn/are taught otherwise. We have to find the way back

so how about this time we really follow through with all our holiday cheer and have goodwill towards men all year

lyrics:
Gaza is crumbling
both sides are crying
nothing will be gained

Kiev is on fire
for one man's desire for fortune and for fame

"defund the police!"
"You will not replace me!"
stupid empty words
spoken in hatred
solving nothing
but keep us in a downward spiral

the map to peace
you've always had
but you never found the treasure
always looking in the wrong place
never knowing what to measure

the answer to peace is the golden rule
you know, the one you never do but always say
love your brother as yourself 
and all this goes away

Find your way

This is NOT a song against capitalism

In fact if done well than capitalism in my opinion is the best system UNLESS there is no social safety net that uses the generated wealth to create adequate living conditions and a pathway of hope to a better life for all the citizens.

So when rich congressmen eliminate breakfast in schools and then go out for 200 dollar dinners. then capitalism has failed miserably as it seems to be doing here today.

Giving someone something for nothing does no one any good but oppression and crushing all hope creates violence/revolution etc as it has through the ages as societies crumble making the same mistake over and over and over

lyrics

dollar's up and gold is down
rates are low so stocks explode
a tanker sinks so oil is now gold
wealth is made in the wink of an eye
but it means nothing if you don't have
money in your pocket for a cup of coffee

the wealth gap is a moral lapse
a trap for those with no vision
who think the end game is to have too much
if you don't learn to care
if you don't learn to share
or understand that you are not alone
then a gate around your house will not protect your home

it happened in France
It happened in Russia
It happened in China too
there's nothing to stop neglected masses 
from coming after you

How hard is it to share a single drop
of the ocean of wealth you posses
if you can';t do it out of love
then do it to save your sorry ass

deja vu all over again

trying something different

hope you like it

take care and be safe

Dave

not sure what this is

I have never understood racism. I am not sure how someone can deeply despise someone else whom they have never met.
I had a conversation the other day with someone lamenting that ":these immigrants" don't want to be American.They want to keep their language and their traditions and never "blend in".We should not allow these foreign cultures to be here. so I asked him if we should ban Oktoberfest,st Patricks day as well. I got back a blank stare and he said "well those are American.

There will always be good and bad, no one race has a monopoly on either and if we use common sense we should seek out the good in anyone who is and nurture it and embrace it and make things better.

lyrics

Hi Jack. how are you doing
great just came from Grammas house
great old lady but still doesn't speak English has all the old ways..but man can she cook the good old stuff.great old lady

are you going to dinner tonight?
yes. maybe chinatown or little Italy. I love those places. the people are so friendly and they love their food...and so do I

are you going to Oktoberfest this year?
absolutely wouldn't miss it. I love the beer, the costumes the old songs. but to tell you the truth I like St Patty's day better and by the way did you see the news last night. It's horrible at the border.Those filthy immigrants at the border invading our country.I heard in Minnesota there are places that don't look American.
people in their own dress speaking a funny language eating their own food,,strange stuff. How can they be here? it is really dangerous

so tell me Jack how come their customs language and food aren't as good as your grammas or Germantown or Little Italy? Seems the same to me. People with two hands two arms fight at dinner fight with their kids So what's the difference??

They're not same as us says Jack.....They're not white....

well that explains a lot now,doesn't it???????

conversation with a racist (it's black and white)

It doesn't seem to matter if you are in a democracy,a republic, dictatorship...the same basic mistakes keep popping up..we don't learn from the past..we think that whatever we are familiar with is the only "correct" way to be..we are afraid of anything that remotely looks "different" and consider it a threat and not an opportunity to improve

lyrics

everybody has an army
everybody has parades
everybody has statues
to put their heroes on display
some for those who lead and lied
Some for those who followed and died
they stand alone in the sun
home to pigeons, collecting dust
no one seems to remember much
of who or where or why
all they know is that long ago someone had to die
all they know is they are very glad it wasn't you or I

everybody has a god
everybody's faithful to it
they use his words to extend a hand
they use the same to send a bullet
in the end it's not about god
or his word or their faith
it's about money greed and power
fueled by cowardice fear and hate
god forgives them no matter what 
is the lie they tell themselves
so it doesn't matter what we do

everybody has science
everybody makes wonder drugs
everybody uses science
to find better ways to kill ourselves
billions for bullets tanks and drones
instead of medicine food and homes
all that good blows away in the wind
from the blast of the last bomb that they built

3 things at which we excel
the third is killing..man beast or plant
the second is the sorrow for the bloody aftermath
the first thing is we close our eyes and our ears 
and do it all again year after year after year....

if everybody does it can it be wrong???

Seems it is the violent ones, the "crazies" the hateful that are always on the news. Focusing all the media attention on them gives us the impression that this is the norm..this is mainstream..Those with empathy/common sense are pushed aside and seem too silent in all this.
I believe there is more good than evil, it's just that evil is louder and more noticeable but not addressing it head on,,not providing a meaningful counter punch puts everything at risk..Benign neglect is never benign.

lyrics
I know you're out there
Just like me
A pit in your stomach
A tear in your eye

We think all people are equal
No reason for all not to be free
We can't understand why others are so hateful
We can't see why it's so hard to agree

We go to sleep with the moon in the sky
We wake up to the same sunrise
Only to see our nightmares come true

Bag of garbage on the road
Plastics in the sea
Tossed by lazy selfish people
Claim they do it because they're free

Drones and bombs flatten cities
Destroy schools hospitals and homes
In the name of God and country
But what God do they follow
And in which country do they live

I know you are out there
I know you care
You think you are safe
In your quiet space
You've been silent too long
If you wait any longer all you love will be gone
Then it really won't matter at all, will it

So let's stand up and say what has to be said
Let's get up and do what has to be done
"All men are created equal"
"Treat your brother as yourself"
Empty meaningless words 
Unless you put them in a song
Stand up
And sing it out loud

Stand up and sing,I know you're out there

I think there are distractions in daily living that mask/distort the simplicity of being happy/satisfied/productive. To me reaffirming the connection to the natural world can bring perspective to our lives,,help us understand the timeline of our existence and cope with mortality in such a way that the petty anger/hate/destruction we see around us now can be eliminated

lyrics

From my bed I stumble
my fingers begin to fumble
to find the chords to play the notes
Thah I heard the night before
as I lay sleeping

A song so sweet, a song so true
that when I awoke I knew what to do
I had to learn the song 
and play it for you

So I sat bolt upright in bed
but I couldn't find the key
Thoughts were jumbled in my head
of what I had to do that day
no matter what I tried
that melody washed away

So I got up and walked into the kitchen
and got a cup of Joe
I paced up and down
rubbed my hands, tapped my feet and wracked my brain
but I couldn't find that sweet refrain

So I opened the door and went outside
I looked up at the sky
The sun was rising and painted the clouds
a blazing orange hue
the space between was clear and deep
a holy shade of blue
an eagle circled up above
soaring high and mighty
mocking birds sang their songs
dew was shimmering on the lawn
lilacs filled the air with their sweet perfume

When I went back inside
that melody came back to me
I picked up my guitar and began to play
note for note ,didn't miss a beat
the whole damn day
now that I know my priorities 
I can play this song for ever
for you, for me, for anyone who listens
clear your heads

priorities

For an aggressive violent species we seem to have great unreasonable fear of anything that looks different than us. We seem to lack the self confidence/insight/character to ask questions first and attack later.
We should embrace difference, seek facts, trust ourselves and others

lyrics

Familiar isn't perfect
Different isn't evil
Keep that in mind
Before you pull the trigger
and take the life of someone
you've never looked at in the eye
Just because some leader has filled your head with lies

Radical white christian
Holds a bible and a rock
Cries out he must protect his world
From the invading colored hoardes
He uses the words of Jesus
To explain his fear and hate
But Jesus wasn't white
and Jesus never threw a stone
so what makes you think
you've got it right at all
If you listened to his words
He'd say he came down here
to save each and everyone of us
and not just you my dear

Neonazis raise their fists
Hate all but their own
an Aryan nation pure and perfect
they couldn't be more wrong
the only thing I know for sure
that's pure and perfect in this world
is a bar of ivory soap[
If they were to look inside
in each a little gypsy hides
but they are too afraid to face the fact
that it's not "them" they hate, they hate themselves

Flowers come in different
colors shapes and sizes
but all need sun and water
to flourish and survive
we all get cold and hungry
we all have fears and needs
but black white or red you see
there is no supremacy

we are drowning in an ocean
of lies and fears and myths
it's easy to get lost
and do something you'll regret
so use your common sense
seek out the facts and truth
think for yourself and think of others
not as foes but as brothers

we all climb the same mountain
the slope is steep and slick
It is easier to get there 
if we offer a hand and not a fist

Familiar isn't perfect

playing around

lyrics:

you're on your own

just for fun

tried to update this one of my first..hope you like it

lyrics

when did fact become opinion
when did lies become the norm
who's to blame for this confusion
those who speak or those who listen

speakers care about themselves
listeners don't take time to think
follow blindly empty words
that lead us all up to the brink
internet was to save us all
teach us how to live in peace
instead we stare at empty screens
in virtual reality


we no longer shake each others hand
or look each other in the eye
or walk alone the ocean shore
or hear the birds go flying by
cause we can get all this you know
by sitting on our couch alone
pushing buttons on our phones
the goal is not to move

If we continue on with this
think nothingness is really bliss 
then internet will surely be
all that's left of you and me

facts are not opinions..redo

I often wonder what people are talking about when they write the usual "love" song: my love is higher than a mountain/deeper than a sea/Iit will last forever ( then they add a day. great line John Prine!!)
I really think these songs do a disservice to love and confuse the inexperienced as to what to expect.
Relationships are not easy. Love at first sight is usually more physical than not and so is fragile . 
Respect/devotion/selflessness to some extent are all needed among other difficult traits to make a relationship ( ie love) last through time

lyrics

Love is not a gentle breeze
that takes you where you want to go
love is work
love is hard
not pretty birds singing in your yard

Love doesn't happen at first sight
It's not about soulmates or perfect fits
Love is give
Love is take
And do what you must 
to fix the breaks

It's about forgive it's about forget
It's not just about sex or lust
patience
trust
passion 
devotion

Love is biting your lip
It's about clenching your toes
Take the blows
take the bows
make it work
no matter how

Love is not quitting
or turning your back
take the good
with the bad
take the happy 
with the sad

Love is not the highest mountain
Love is not the deepest sea
Love is two people there for each other
Hand in hand before all others
and especially before themselves

Love is..(or isn't)

It's just not funny anymore, the conspiracy theories..the hate filled blogs and social media posts..the absurd rhetoric that passes for political discussion these days
It is hard enough for people to get along as it is (for reasons that are not clear to me) but this background noise is making it impossible to survive.

To quote John Prine "it don't make no sense that common sense don't make no sense no more"

lyrics

superman is made of steel
batman has his batmobile
spider man is fast as lightning
yea their powers are really frightening
but there is one who tops them all
Someone more powerful I can't recall
Someone with no thoughts at all
we call him stupid man

super eyes that can clearly see
to the tip of his pointed nose
super ears that clearly hear all the voices in his head
nerves of steel.no remorse no sense of fear at all
since he doesn't;t know what he's got
he is not afraid to lose it all

there is no truth he can't defeat
by stomping it with his feet
there is no lie that's so far gone
that he can't embrace and sing its song
lizards in the White House
democrats drink baby blood
the moon's not. real its a laboratory
the earth is as flat as can be

King Kong pounds his mighty chest
Godzilla roars out his fiery breath
but stupid man can top them all
he bellows out his rage to all
cause someone told him this was bad
and someone told him that was worse
he doesn't take the time to think
his eyes are shut so he doesn't blink

don't bother him with truth or facts
things for trivial pursuit
He 's busy saving the world from everything that's not like him

so fight on fight on stupid man
until there is no one left but you
then you can learn to fear yourself
and bring an end to this crazy talk

Mighty stupid man

these are short songs ,poems more than musical songs really,that are meant to emphasize the lyrics that address what I think are critical issues for all of us : our relationship to each other/the planet/ourselves.. so please have a listen and let me know your thoughts. nothing fancy/cell phone recordings/take care be safe
I am now on Spotify.com as Dave Scamurra .please visit

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