A HEARTWARMING SURPRISE! Ana Ros, frequent Kompoz collaborator, surprised us by inviting 4 brilliant vocalists to sing my lyric along with her to Scott Wisenbaker's lovely musical composition, and Moe Howard and Du Brae added their phenomenal talents. Thank you to Ana, Martin, Stef, Whit, and Mart for their gorgeous vocals, Moe his beautiful keys, and Du Brae for blending these wonderful talents. I must say, it was an amazing feeling hearing those five great voices sing my words.

THE AGE OF THE MINSTREL (Lyrics and Credits)

Copyright 2023 Wisenbaker/O'Brien/Ros/Howard/Greenslade/Kisamore/Lobemeier/Rinaldo/Kraken
Music by Scott Wisenbaker, Ana Ros, Moe Howard, Mart Greenslade, Stefanie Kisamore, Martin Landolf Lobemeier, Whitman Rinaldo, Agent TFS Kraken
Lyrics by Alex O'Brien, SOCAN

Bass: Scott Wisenbaker
Keys: Moe Howard
Vocals: Ana Ros, Mart Greenslade, Stefanie Kisamore, Martin Landolf Lobemeier, Whitman Rinaldo
Production: Agent TFS Kraken

Our poets and our prophets
Are in their final act
There’s no looking forward
There’s only looking back
But oh what songs they’re singing
Oh what beauty their words show
But as to how we should be living
Well, we didn’t really know

The Age of the Minstrel
Image and the Song
Told a million stories
Got much right, much wrong
I don’t want to say it’s over
And I have no regrets
But as to how I should be living
I haven’t found out yet

Our leaders and our bankers
Well, they were only men
Power, greed, and envy
Ravaged justice yet again
They say that things are changing
Maybe slowly over time
As to how we should be living

The Age of the Minstrel
The Image and the Song
We had our share of glory
Pretended we were strong
And I don’t want to say it’s over
I’m sure we’ll find a way
But as to how we should be living
That’s for another day 
 
Our Bishops and our Imams
Are mired in the past
And there’s no compromises
Our difference too vast
Whatever world they promise
Oh what comfort they might bring
But how we should be living
Well, they messed up everything

The Age of the Minstrel
The Image and the Song
We watched a million movies
And felt that we belonged
And I don’t want to say it’s over
And I still have hope
But as to how I should be living
Well, I just try to cope 
 
The Age of the Minstrel
The Image and the Song
We told a million stories
Got much right and much wrong
Well, I don’t want to say it’s over
And I have no regrets
But as to how I should be living
I haven’t found out yet

The Age of the Minstrel

RELEASED ON SOUNDCLOUD: August 25, 2023

The Age of the Minstrel

To celebrate 2000, I took a year off to write songs, novels, plays, and stories - and I've been doing that since. At the end of my first year, I won first prize in the USA Songwriting Contest in the Lyric Category for 'Drum Machines and Beauty Queens.' This led to co-writing songs with many excellent musicians, including those represented in songs posted here. 

More recently, I was one of seven finalists in the Crisis Lyric Category of the 2021 UK Songwriting Contest for 'Lockdown Blues,' and one of nine nominees in the 2021 International Song Awards with 'Didn't the River Know' and 'Blue and Gold.'

For the past two years, I've been collaborating with many talented musicians on Kompoz. I release many of these songs here and compile the best into albums released under Captain Stormfield's Trip on Spotify and other platforms (see links below).

The Age of the Minstrel

AlexEOB