What can I say - John Mellencamp has been my musical hero for 40 years. It's an honor to offer my rendition of one of his greatest cuts, "Rain on the Scarecrow," the first track on his iconic "Scarecrow" album from 1985. Pictured here is my original cassette case and sleeve - the tape wore out long ago, but I couldn't bring myself to let go of the case ... cracks and all.

Rain on the Scarecrow

Rain On The Scarecrow (cover)

Sweet song of hope.

Vocals, guitar, drums and keys by Mark H. Davis, aka adams † relic

Words & Music Copyright 2020 by Mark H. Davis

Lyrics:

Baby dry your eyes
So you can visualize
The fantasy that brought you here
Is right before your eyes

So baby dry your eyes
The future visualize
The maddened scene that brought you fear 
In flight before your eyes

There’s no better place
For our hearts to erase
The woes and the pain
In our lives   

And there’s no better place
For our hearts to embrace
Than the welcoming gaze
In your eyes

So baby dry your eyes
The future visualize
The fantasy that brought you here
Is right before your eyes

So baby dry your eyes
The truth you can decide
The tragedy that caused you fear
Did not materialize

And there’s no better place
For our hearts to escape
From the woes and the pain
In our lives

And there’s no better place
For our hearts to embrace
Than the warmth and the grace
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes

Baby Dry Your Eyes

Words and Music Copyright 2021 by Mark H. Davis

Uplifting ballad with inspirational vocals surrounded by the oceanic sounds of my Melodigrand piano.
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Lyrics:

Don’t give up
I know it’s hard
and you might think
it’s impossible
But there’s a way
It’s not that far
And your spirit is 
Unstoppable
I know you won’t give up

Keep looking up
Keep pushing on
Though the odds may seem
Improbable
You know the way
It’s who you are
And your spirit is remarkable
I know you won’t give up

It’s the final day
Your eyes are dark
And your whispers are inaudible
You know the way
It’s not that far
And no river is uncrossable
So, now, don’t give up
Till you’re in His arms
I know you won’t give up

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Photo by Audrey Badin from pexels.com

never give up

Never Give Up

Composed, performed and produced by Mark H. Davis

Copyright 2022

call your bluff

Call Your Bluff

Words and music copyright 2022 by Mark H. Davis

Guitar: Yamaha Pacifica
Drums: MTPowerDrumKit 2 grooves
Bass: Casio CT-X700

I put my finger right in your face
Well you’re coming with me
And you’ll do as I say
I put your anger back in its place
Well you better believe
You’ll do as I say

I’ll wipe my face and call it a day
When I wipe that smirk right off of your face
I put my faith in falling from grace
I don’t have to change
So you better behave
And fight another day
Listen to what I say …. Yeah

You put those weasel words in my face
Well you better believe
I do as I say
You’re talking trash all over the place
Well you’re coming with me
And you’ll do as I say

I twist the fates and call it a day
I’ll put your chances back in their place (ooh yeah)
I beat the odds and call it a game
Would you like to play?
Just get outta the way
You wouldn’t last a day
This is my lucky day …. Yeah

I see confusion all on your face
Well you better believe
I do as I say
I see delusion start to take shape
Oh you’re coming with me
And you’ll do as I say

I ride a hurricane and call it a wave
I surf my way right out into space (ooh yeah)
Spit in your face and call it the rain
But you can’t complain
Oh it’s better to wait
Or you’ll be blown away
There’s nothing more to say … yeah

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Photo by Elle Hughes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-man-posing-in-front-of-camera-1680171/

Do As I Say

Check out the video: https://youtu.be/LI2v1mBTGvc

Words and Music Copyright 2023 by Mark H. Davis

Guitar: Yamaha Pacifica
Drums: Roland TD-17KVX
Bass: Casio CT-X700

Your love is an oasis of cold water
In the heat of the summer sunshine, now
Your love is an oasis of cold water
Come and take this load off my mind, now
Ah, let's get through the night
And skip all the fights
I just wanna dive into all you are
Your love is an oasis of cold water
In the blistery heat of the summertime
Your love is an oasis of cold water
Come and lift this load off my mind, now
Ah, let's wake up the night
And break up the fighting, endlessly
Let's put it behind so we can start living
I just wanna dive into all you are
'Cause when I haven't shown it recently
You mean everything
Even if I don't get what I see
Those things I told you -
I hope you can forgive me
Even if you don't get what I see
I'm happy if we -
Can get through the night
Ah, without one fight
Let's put it behind so we can start living
And get through the night
And skip all the fights
I'm ready to die so we can start living
I just wanna dive into all you are

Photo by Norbs: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-woman-in-water-1855253/

Oasis

Crazy About You
Words and music copyright 2014 by Mark H. Davis

I’m crazy about you 
Crazy about you
Gotta know where you’re going
Crazy about you
Crazy about you
Wondering what you’re doing
Cause when I’m around you
The spirit around you
Got me intoxicated
I can’t live without you
But when I’m around you
Life is so complicated 
Tell me
What’s going on 
Tell me
What planet are we on?

I’m crazy about you
Crazy about you
Dominate all my senses
Crazy about you
Crazy about you
Tearing down all defenses
Cause when I’m around you
The spirit around you
Got me intoxicated

I can’t live without you
But when I’m around you
Life is so complicated
Tell me
What’s going on
Tell me
What planet are we on?

The sky is blue
Baby all because of you
The moon is bright
Baby only in your light ___
Where you shine I’m alive –

I’m Crazy about you
Crazy about you
I don’t where I’m going
Crazy about you
Crazy about you
Wherever your winds are blowing
Cause when I’m around you
The spirit around you
Got me intoxicated
I can’t live without you
But when I’m around you
Life is so complicated
Tell me
What’s going on
Tell me
What planet are we on?

-------------------------------------
Bass and Organ Keys: Casio CT-X700
Drums: Hydrogen programming and MTPowerDrumKit 2 grooves
Photo by: Trương Kháng: 
https://www.pexels.com/photo/beautiful-woman-showing-her-hands-9853685/

Crazy About You

Words and music composed, performed and produced by Mark H. Davis

Original composition copyright 1994 by Mark H. Davis
Released version copyright 2023 by Mark H. Davis

Instrumentation:
Ibanez Acoustic/Electric
Roland TD-17KVX V-drums
Casio CT-X700 (bass and organ)

Lyrics:

Another night
Will the phone ring
Another sigh
Escapes from me
I never thought
I'd sink this low
Another night
I'll never know

Another night
Dream about that dance
When I held her tight
Right in my hands
I never thought
That she would go
Another night
I'll never know

So say good-bye to those dreams
That have held me between
Good intentions and good-bye
I can't tell you
What you're tellin' me
I should just say hello to new places
It's hard when your face
Is emblazoned in my mind __

I never thought
I'd sink this low
Another night
I'll never know
Another night
I'll never know

-----------------------------------

Photo by Trần Long: https://www.pexels.com/photo/sad-woman-in-street-in-sunny-day-6213150/

Another Night

Words and Music by Mark H. Davis
Copyright 2023 by Mark H. Davis

Lyrics:

I know it’s piercing you
I know it stings
There’s just no easy way

Cause it’s hard
When bright colors are all you’ve seen
And life takes them away

I know you’re struggling
I know your pain
It’s not an easy thing

Cause it’s hard
When bright colors are all you’ve seen
And the vision starts to fade
And it’s hard when all that you have given
Is given all away

So what more have you got
When your vision is shot
Can there be new horizons when skies turn dark?

I know it’s piercing you
I know it stings
There’s just no better way

Cause it’s hard
When bright colors are all you’ve seen
And your vision starts to fade
And it’s hard to be forgiving
When you can’t face another day
And it’s hard to be accepting
Of a change you never made
Cause it’s hard when all bright colors
Slowly fade away
Slowly fade away
Slowly fade away
Slowly fade away

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Photo by Green_Grey Darya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-of-a-woman-at-sunset-11959302/

Bright Colors

Prison

Words and Music by Mark H. Davis
Copyright 2023 by Mark H.  Davis

I’m here
In the land 
Of unforgiveness
Out here
Where no man
Has any business
There’s no air
There’s no hope
Only silence and fear
There's nowhere
I can go
My existence is here

Lonely
You're left with only
Your secret thoughts
Of all the things that you wish you could change
If you could only
Find your way out
From the prison your sin has made

I’m here
In the land 
Of unforgiveness
My tears
On the ground
A silent witness
No judge
No trial
I’m a defenseless man
Crucified by the ones that I love
When I stretch out my hands

Lonely
You're left with only
Your secret thoughts
Of all the things that you wish you could change
If you could only
Find your way out
From the prison your sin has made

Photo credit: 
Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-bearded-man-inside-the-cell-10473522/

Prison

Copyright 2020 by Mark H. Davis

Smooth jazz piece with sultry alto sax lead. Supported by a strong R&B beat and surrounded by an array of organs and guitars as the piece evolves.

Photo by Taryn Elliott: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-on-a-rocky-cliff-with-a-scenic-view-6552206/

Go Ahead and Try

Go Ahead And Try

Raw jam brewed from rock, blues and gospel influences. Casio keys, Roland V-drums and Yamaha guitar. Plus vocals by yours truly and my oldest daughter, Mariana.

Words and Music Copyright 2020 by Mark H. Davis
(Words based on Psalm 148:13, NASB)

Praise the name of the Lord
For His name alone
Is excellent
His glory is above
- Everything that there is -

Praise the name of the Lord
For His name alone is excellent
His glory is above
Above the earth and the heavens (4x)

Praise the name of the Lord
For the things He's done are excellent
His glory is above
Above the earth and the heavens (4x)

Praise the name of the Lord
For all knees will bow and worship Him
His glory is above
Above the earth and the heavens (4x)

Praise the name of the Lord
For His name alone is excellent
His glory is above
Above the earth and the heavens (8x)

Ps.148.13

An explosive mix of rock-n-roll noise. Guitars, drums, keys. In abundance.

Copyright 2021 by Mark H. Davis

Photo credit: Ana Bregantin via pexels.com.
https://www.pexels.com/@ana-bregantin-892791

In Your Mind

I am a multi-dimensional artist with sounds emanating from rock, blues, country and smooth jazz. 

You will undoubtedly hear me paying homage to the eclectic sounds of the '70s and '80s, when music not only came alive for me personally, but exploded in so many amazing ways in America. I was blessed to come of age during this transformational age. 

If you asked me, I'd say my chief influences have been The Beatles, John Mellencamp, Journey, Bob Seger, Bryan Adams, Styx and John Hyatt, but when I listen to my music, I'm amazed to hear David Bowie, Billy Idol, David Sanborn and even some Elvis coming through. And maybe a little bit of me here and there.

I came up with the name "Adam's Relic" many years ago, and always dreamed of playing in a band with that name. Today, I guess I am that band.

I deeply appreciate you listening to my music and welcome any comments you have. I love doing it, I love sharing it and I love hearing what you have to say. So, feel free.

All of God's blessings to you as we live and experience this journey together. May His love be the rhythm of your heart.

Banner background photo (slightly edited) by: Gökçe Erem https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-buick-wildcat-17767863/

Adam's † Relic

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