Artifacts (All Tracks)

I’m glad you like it! 

Woke up today, sunshine on my face,  
Not in a hurry, just finding my pace.  
Sipping my coffee, taking it slow,  
Living for now, letting things flow.

God only knows, it's the path that I chose  
Through these yesses and nos  
Good times come and they go  
I'm just riding the highs and the lows

No need to stress, no need to plan,  
Just enjoying the day, doing what I can.  
Smiling at strangers, humming a tune,  
Taking it easy, from morning to moon.

I know the waves might take me far,  
But I’m still chasing every star.  
No rush to where I’ll land,  
Just trusting where I stand.

Yeses & Nos

Whoa now, slow your roll,
Know life can get out of control,
And this day-to-day, it takes its toll.

I work hard and I play hard,
But I keep getting these same cards.
An ace would be nice once and again,
Yeah things were better then,
Though I'm not too sure when,
Much less if they'll be again.

oh this world takes you for a spin,
Don't know where to begin.
And these bills sure do complicate,
So 8 a.m. better not be late.
Another week and another dime,
Can't help but wonder, if I'm just killing time.

Whoa now, slow your roll,
Know life can get out of control,
And this day-to-day, it takes its toll.

I work hard and I play hard,
But I keep getting these same cards.
An ace would be nice once and again, 
again.
....
oh this world takes you for a spin,
Don't know where to begin.
And these bills sure do complicate,
So 8 a.m. better not be late.

Baby I'm not moving fast today,
But slow steps can be better than.
moving the other way,
or stuck where you began.
I'll find my light in this shade
Yeah through murky waters I wade.

cuz this day-to-day, it takes its toll,
wears on the mind, heart and soul.
so
Whoa now, slow your roll,
Know life can get out of control,
And this day-to-day, it takes its toll. 


Another view of
A.I.O.U.

Slow Your Roll

Ring the bell, it’s dinner time
A spark of genius, a dark paradigm
Drooling dogs, but not by choice
Programmed to move by sound or voice

Am I a dog, or just a drone?
Are these thoughts truly my own?

Tap the screen, check my place
A pocket leash, a digital chase
Drooling for likes, chasing false paces
A dopamine hit keeps me in stasis

This digital show is all we know
Sooner and later, we reap what we so

Ding, check the phone
Another ping, but still alone
Ding, check the phone
Don’t think, just follow the tone
Ding goes the bell, I've turned a fool
Conditioned for cool, now I am the tool

With every track, the dopamine flows
A circus act, we all must know

Is this freedom? I haven’t decided
Leash in my pocket, attention divided
The bell keeps ringing, it never ends
A cycle of power we can’t defend
Godlike power on a screen
Who’s Pavlov now? not me...
The machine.

With every track... more dope flows...
no promo... the product is the show...
A circus act... you should know...
With a new ringmaster in tow...
A.I.O.U.

Pavlov

Lotus

Run it Back

They'll say it had to be
call it blasphemy
scare you with catastrophe
while I just sit back,
relax, 
and let truth attack for me.


I got love,
mixed with 
knowledge from above
not sure from where
just somewhere out there
To be fair,
I rhyme to spare
Increase your aware
just a fraction, a hair
it's just too easy
no fair
call it effortless flare
no buyer beware
Like you see everywhere
I'm throwing strikes
circling squares
see through the rips
reeding the tares. 

Here are the facts
power corrupts then compacts
the poor pay the price
be it paper or rice

The victor writes the story
legitimize their glory
to keep thy before we.
(yeah) pull the lever on meant to be.
same old story.


They'll say it had to be
call it blasphemy
scare you with catastrophe
while I just sit back,
relax, 
and let truth attack for me.

A.I.O.U.

i got love

Shadow Shift

Terminus

preview of something I  cooked up in 59mins

Upper #1 [Preview]

Feels Like a Game

"Der Pilz"

New song written by David Cooper and Glen Granthem.

Music and all instruments - Glen Granthem

Vocals - David Cooper

Lyrics - David Cooper

I heard a story many years ago
About a man who didn’t know
What his life was all about
So he just ran around and around

Chorus

Time stood still - He’ll keep on searching
Far and wide - He’ll keep on searching
Up and down - He’ll keep on searching
Round and round - He’ll keep on searching now

Kept on going through the night
Ran across the whole wide world
Didn’t keep his head on straight
Should have listened to what he was told

Chorus

Solo

Chorus

Then one day he realised
What’s been missing all of his life?
Now he listens to what people say
And now he’s found a brand new way

He’s stopped searching - Repeat

Searching (Cooper/Granthem Collaboration)

Faraway (Acoustic)

According to Wikipedia, the Blue Ridge Mountains’ signature hues–visible from afar–come from trees, which emit the organic compound isoprene. My home region with its mystical haze has long been a source of awe, intrigue, and creative inspiration for many, including me. Today, I’m really excited to release a 5-song digital EP called “Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls,” available on Bandcamp. 

https://josephhouck.bandcamp.com/album/blue-ridge-mountain-waterfalls

Conveying stories and emotions through music and lyrics remains a great joy of mine. As is common in creative writing, the tales are a blend of real-life and fiction, some almost entirely the latter. The title song was inspired partly by my late grandmother, who passed away shortly before my son was born. I fondly remember her and her mountain living skills: country cooking, gardening, canning. The song is a reflection on some of life’s landmarks.

At first, I had plans to record these songs with other musicians, and perhaps alternate versions may yet come to fruition. But for this release, I pursued a humbler, more personal approach, starting each song with acoustic guitar/ vocals and overdubbing a couple of extras like mandolin and piano where necessary.

Though originally I didn’t conceive of a mini-album, it became clear, looking back from a distance, that these songs correlate to effect a grander vista. The story elements are suffused in that beguiling blue aura of home. 



BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN WATERFALLS

The woods and the streams have their secrets
They use time as a tool to conceal
And I watched her old hands in the kitchen
As they made one of our final meals

She was a blue ridge mountain waterfall
Slicker than the glassy rock
And grayer than an old stone building 
Oh, if only these hills could talk

I watched the steep drops of her fingers
Lifting the lid off the pot,
Soup streaming out of the ladle,
Rain steaming that dry garden plot

I recall the damp scent of the cellar,
Warm hum of the old kitchen light
Cascading curls of her temples,
Cataract mist in her eyes

She was a blue ridge mountain waterfall
Slicker than the glassy rock
And grayer than an old stone building 
Oh, if only these hills could talk

Now she’s there in your face from this angle
When you smile after making a joke
But you never met your great-grandma
She was gone when your mom’s water broke

Just like a blue ridge mountain waterfall
Slicker than the glassy rock
And grayer than an old stone building 
Oh, if only these hills could talk


Blue Ridge Mountain Waterfalls

I asked the mirror on the wall
Who was the biggest fool of all
But the mirror just stared back
I got no answers I got no track

Just remembered what you said
It's going round now in my head
Just be careful of what you say
"Cause I remember everyday

You said I love you I love you so
Never ever gonna let you go
But that's not true and you know I'm right
But I ain't going without a fight

Just remembered what you said
It's going round now in my head
Just be careful of what you say
"Cause I remember everyday

I heard you whisper
I heard you whisper
I heard you whisper
I heard you whisper I love you

Instrumental

Just remembered what you said
It's going round now in my head
Just be careful of what you say
"Cause I remember everyday

You said I love you I love you so
Never ever gonna let you go
But that's not true and you know I'm right
But I ain't going without a fight

Just remembered what you said
It's going round now in my head
Just be careful of what you say
"Cause I remember everyday

Outro

I Heard You Whisper

LYRICS:
Silver stare, clever banter
Silver hair, raucous laughter
Silver brush, matching mirror
Silver smile, nothing dearer

Stay a while, please just give me today
I am saving these moments away
For in times to come when I need you near
I'll remember your words so clear
And take this parting thought with you my friend
When tears are clouding those eyes of blue,
Picture my face smiling right at you
To help melt the ice that you're hacking through

Silver style, witchery in motion
Silver mind, staunch devotion

Stay a while, please just give me today
I am saving these moments away
For in times to come when I need you near
I'll remember the hugs and tears
And take this parting thought with you my friend
When life is teeming with stupid clowns
Hear my voice saying it's ok now
I'll help melt the ice that you're breaking down

CUBIC G: 
vox/keys - Sarah Golding
sweet sweet bass - Gavin Simpkin
kickin' drums - Simon Golding

Yeses & Nos

A.I.O.U.

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