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 (John Cougar Mellencamp cover)

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 Los Muertos Crew: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-standing-on-rock-near-waterfalls-7205951/

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

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Photo by Juris Freidenfelds: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-inside-car-1853636/

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

Torn
Words and Music Copyright 2009 by Mark H. Davis

Credits:

Vocals - Mark H. Davis
Drums - Mark H. Davis
Keyboards - Mark H. Davis
Rhythm, Lead and Bass Guitars - Mike Burstein
Production - Mike Burstein

Follow Mike https://soundcloud.com/michael-a-burstein

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-a-cross-earring-6503742/

Lyrics:

If you could see inside
These torture walls
Then you would realize
The reason for my call

There’s a storm that’s been brewing inside of me
Nothing new – it’s always been a side of me
It’s the truth that there’s an evil desire in me
So tell me who I am

Cause I’m torn
Torn
Torn
Torn
Torn
I was born for You
Please help me to true

If you could step inside 
These frozen walls
Then you could feast your eyes
And have yourselves a ball

There’s a vision in my mind you have to see
I’m afraid you’d wanna live my fantasy
It’s all I do – it has a power over me
So tell me who I am

Cause I’m torn
Torn
Torn
Torn
I’m torn
I was born for You
But I was torn from You
I can’t be true
Now I’m torn

Don’t put that in front of me
You don’t know what it does to me
I don’t wanna look away
I gotta look the other way
Running from insanity
My fantasy enslaving me
I’m begging you to pray for me
Gotta tear myself away – yeah!


If you could slip inside
These prison walls
Then you would recognize
Your faces on my wall

And I know this isn’t how I was meant to be
Filled with God and yet I sin incessantly
Every prayer is consumed with agony
So tell me who I am

Cause I’m torn
Torn
Torn
Torn
Like you – I’m torn
Torn
Torn
Always embracing You
Always defacing You
Because I can’t be true

If you could step inside
These torture walls …

Torn

Words and Music Copyright 2024 by Mark H. Davis

This was a fun song to write and record. If you want to play along:

-Key of D
-Chords (no particular order): D, Bm7, Em7, A7, Bm, F#m, G, A
-Guitar: Fender Squier Strat (capo 2nd fret)
-Keys: Casio CTK-501 (#26 Wood Bass, #17 Accordion, #62 Syn Lead 3)
-Percussion: Casio CTK-501 (#11 16 Beat Pop and #99 Percussion)
-Lyrics:

Now won’t you tell me what to do
You got me acting like a fool
I’m like a kid right out of school
You got me breakin’ every rule

So tell me what I gotta do
So I can get right next to you
Cause baby all I wanna do
Is spend all my life with you

Always, always – you’re the one who rules
Always, always – baby don’t be cruel

Now won’t you tell me what to do
You know I’m acting like a fool
I’m like a kid right out of school
You got me breakin’ every rule

So tell me what I gotta do
So I can get up next to you
I wanna spend my life with you
If you’ll just tell me what to do

Always, always – been in love with you
Always, always – trying to play it cool
Always, always – trying to make a move
Always, always – I’m the one who drools

So baby tell me what to do
You got me acting like a fool
I’m like a kid right out of school
You got me breakin’ every rule

So tell me what I gotta do
Just to get some time with you
I wanna spend my life with you
And you can tell me what to do

Always, always – you’re the one who rules
Always, always – bowing down to you
Always, always – been in love with you
Always, always – trying to play it cool

So won’t you tell me what to do 
Tell me what I gotta do
Ah I’m listening to you
So tell me what I gotta do

Photo credit: Pavel Ariel Alexandrovsky: https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-dancing-in-meadow-15427812/

what I gotta do

I'm a lifelong musician who plays a few instruments and occasionally sings a little. I believe music is one of God's greatest gifts to us and I use it to express love, joy, longing and even pain. You will sometimes hear me talk about God, the walk of faith or trials of life in my songs, but He is the reason for all of them. I love all of you and pray you will know the love He has for you. Grace and peace to you, in Jesus' name. Adam's + Relic

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

Adam's † Relic

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