This is one of a series of eight tracks which I recorded back in the early years of my writing. I captured these songs on a digital camera with video capabilities. I was happy with most but one or two should have been given another take - I suggest, you may think more. But things are what they are. I have stripped the audio track from the video (original video on my You tube channel) and posted them on Soundcloud close to 10 years ago. I have now available, the ability to edit and manipulate the audio tracks. Just for purely personal reasons (makes them sound better ????) and have now posted them on SoundCloud as a remix. Hope you like it.

The One who Sung The Song

the one who sang the song - acoustic remix

I have been listening to some videos of various covers I recorded during Lockdown. All in the name of fun and sanity, Just sat down in front of my laptop, picked up my uke and started turning pages of my songbooks. Nothing special, just went for it and clicked record.

I wanted to post these onto Soundcloud so had to use a little technological magic. First stripping the soundtrack, and then using a few lttle tricks in my DAW (Audiotonic based on the Audacity codes and just as free) and adding a little reverb for effect. Finally posting on SC and creating this album/playlist.

After you've Gone written by Layton and Creamer in 1918 and recorded by many including Frank Sinatra and Nina Simone amongst other great Jazz artistes

After You've Gone - Cover

Just me and my ukulele: Another new song demoed with an acoustic ukulele. I don't usually include lyrics in the description but I seem to have sung this without making many of the words really clear, so just this once I have included the lyrics here.

IF I ONLY HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE AGAIN 
(Oct 2023)


Shattered Dreams
Broken promises
Map the highways 
Of my life
A broken heart
Long lost dreams 
The price I pay
For blinkered eyes

In my youth
I saw the world
A gilded path
And all that implies
But with age,
Experience
Shows the truth
Youth ever denies

If I had my life again would I make the same mistakes
If I had a second chance would I be smart
Would I come to realise
Would I see thru all those lies'
If I only had my life to live again

I believed 
What I was told
Had no doubts
Your love would last
But in time
Your love would die
Then my dreams
And hopes were trashed

If I had my life again would I make the same mistakes
If I had a second chance would I be smart
Would I come to realise
Would I see thru all those lies'
If I only had my life to live again


Main chord sequence: Am  Dm  G   C  F  E7
Chorus F  G  C  Am

If I Only Had My Life To Live Again

Written 1978, another of my older songs I am trying to get off the pages of my notebooks. Here, especially in the bridge I am having trouble with the melody/chords but after a little more work on it, I expect to rewrite and re-record and then re-load the corrected track. 
I am choosing this way as there are many songs I hope to post here with more detail (melody/chords) than simply the lyrics from a notebook page.

Cry Your Little Heart Out (ukulele demo)

partial demo of this early song, completion delayed - waiting for percusion/drums

Going To The City (work in progress)

I have just completed recording a session of three more of my older songs. This time completely acoustic recording, no amp or pedals. A hint of reverb added post recording and mastered with the Sound Cloud app.
This song written in the sixties, one of my early favourites, has some unexpected chord sequences which I really liked. e.g. the last line of each verse has chords F Bb G G7 C. the Bb used is a triad using the G-open shape on the top 3 strings.

Sing Me A Simple Song - ukulele demo

A very sombre song with a backing to match. This is the fifth song from a  collaborative project, all instruments by my collaborator who records in his home studio, mixes and masters the finished track. I bring my song to the project and complete the track with the vocal.
This is worth hearing with headphones or external speaker to enjoy the full benefit of the bass tones from the lead guitar.

I Sing My Song In Remembrance

I Sing My Song In Remembrance (2024)

Another of my early songs from the early sixties. Lyrics do show a little immaturity but I have deliberately not revised or edited. Maybe the sort of thing I was hearing at the time on the radio. An acoustic ukulele has been played thru a pedal chain including:- compressor/sustain, chorus, delay and tremelo pedals. A second delay from the inbuilt "effect" on the amp. Most effects kept to a low effect.

Memories (ukulele demo)

Another of my early songs, this one from 1964/5'ish. Lyrics do show a little immaturity but I have deliberately not revised or edited. Maybe the sort of thing I was hearing at the time on the radio. An acoustic ukulele has been played thru a pedal chain including:- compressor/sustain, chorus, delay and tremelo pedals. A second delay from the inbuilt "effect" on the amp. Most effects kept to a low effect.

In The Morning (I'll Be Gone) - ukulele demo

Over the past week  or so I have been toying  with SUN0 v3.5. an AI tool for creating songs. It allows you to prompt with your own lyrics and this is one of the first I tracks I have generated in this way. The lyrics were from a song I wrote in the seventies, but this has bought the song up-todate. I am enjoying this experience as I have limited options for producing my own songs. I may well post one or two more, although I do not intend to close the door to other collaborations with my current partner.

The graphic here claiiiiiiims to be volume 4 of a series, the previous volumes contain whimsical tirials with the software which I have collected for convenience and as a learning aid. It is too easy to produce "loads of music" from so many genres.

copyright is claimed by suno as I have a free account

Patterns On My Mind1

Over the past week  or so I have been toying  with SUN0 v3.5. an AI tool for creating songs. It allows you to prompt with your own lyrics and this is one of the first I tracks I have generated in this way. The lyrics were from a song I wrote when I first started playing the uke, but this has bought the song up-todate. I am enjoying this experience as I have limited options for producing my own songs. I may well post one or two more, although I do not intend to close the door to other collaborations with my current partner.

The graphic here claiiiiiiims to be volume 4 of a series, the previous volumes contain whimsical tirials with the software which I have collected for convenience and as a learning aid. It is too easy to produce "loads of music" from so many genres.

copyright is claimed by suno as I have a free account

My Uke Is Gonna See Me Through The Day2

I have become addicted to Suno AI, can't stop creating new songs. Despite a few failures, most because of my own incompetence using the prompts, many are based on my own lyrics from the 1960's and I am loving the freedom to hear new, up-todate versions of my songs. 

Or new songs from bare ideas in any of dozens  (hundreds?) of genres. 

Yes, I know how AI is looked at my many musicians who trying to make a living from music, but the genie has been released from the bottle and I am loving it. 

A long way to go so lyrics need lots of editing and making "more" human. Also not that easy to start or end the songs sometimes. Need to be careful with the prompts, although the engines are sometimes very random. 

Would love to hear your opinion of AI music or usage.Copyright remains with SUNO (as I have a free account) with permission to use the tracks generated for non commercial use.

Each Time I Hear It2

I had decided not to post any more AI songs, but I have spent the last two weeks enjoying a journey into the topic. I had intended to use some of my old lyrics (1960's vintage) to hear them in a new way but could not really get along with the way a computer sang the lyrics; most annoying was the way the AI voice did not agree with where the strong and weak syllables should be placed in the lines. Maybe this is computer speak, I don't know? But I did enjoy some of the music generated, and wanted to share a couple more of the 60 songs generated over the two weeks.

The copyright of these songs remains with the owners of SUNO AI, with permission to use them for non-commercial use for free account holders.

I'll Reach For The Sky - 1

Win You Back (2)

Still banging away with the AI (generated by SUNO AI). Lots of issues but not stopping to edit text or the track at the moment, just enjoying the fun of "creating" and hearing "my music". I know many people would disagree but The lyrics are born in my head and the music is massaged and moulded to a certain extent, it is not all down to the computer. Although to be fair to the AI, what you get does depend a lot on serendipity, Its a little random; just like with your own compositions.

A chance to try out the "supporting lyric" generated by AI

LYRIC to That Scary Happiness

copyright claimed by SUNO AI ( under terms of free account)

[Verse]
You walk in my life
Like a flash of light
Bringing joy and sparks
In the darkest night

[Verse 2]
Your smile lights my way
In a crowded place
Every touch a dream
My heart starts to race

[Chorus]
You bring me such joy
But it scares me to death
Intoxicated love
Can't catch my breath

[Bridge]
What would I do
If you left my side
Fear grips my heart
No place to hide

[Verse 3]
We dance in the rain
Your laughter so sweet
Yet shadows grow long
As our eyes meet

[Chorus]
You bring me such joy
But it scares me to death
Intoxicated love
Can't catch my breath

That Scary Happiness

Nearly at the end of my little experiment with SUNO AI, I have been more than happy with the results and will be doing a litle editing to clean up some of the tracks. I will probably not add more than a few more, just to complete the playlist,
I shall return to those tracks which feature me and my uke or guitar, or me singing. Mainly demos of my original songs, the latter being produced and recorded at top quality.

Of course, the future is often a little unpredictable so will not make any promises, as I progress with the use of SUNO. I learnt today that Suno can provide Stems (vocal /backing tracks) with a paid subscription. If this proves to be a go-er, I may well be posting my ow vocals over backing tracks.

Dance To The Moon2

Still enjoying my free Suno AI account with this song. Am considering upgrading for more time (credits) to be able to create more iterations and better results hopefully.
Suno claims copyright for songs created on a free account.

LYRICS: DANCING WITH SHADOWS TONIGHT

[Verse]
Why am I dancing alone
Why am I here in the dark
Feel the beat under my skin
But it's tearing me apart

[Verse 2]
Why do these shadows surround
Why am I lost in the sound
Faces that fade in the night
But I'm spinning all around

[Chorus]
Dancing with shadows tonight
Moving to rhythms so tight
Lost in the echoes and light
I'm dancing with shadows tonight

[Bridge]
Keep on groovin' in the dark
Heart beating like a spark
Shadows taking me on a ride
Gonna dance until the tide

[Chorus]
Dancing with shadows tonight
Moving to rhythms so tight
Lost in the echoes and light
I'm dancing with shadows tonight

[Chorus]
Dancing with shadows tonight
Moving to rhythms so tight
Lost in the echoes and light
I'm dancing with shadows tonight

Dancing With Shadows Tonight

The last AI generated track - for now, just round off the playlist to a round dozen.

LYRICS

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

[Verse]
Bleak horizon stretchin wide dark whispers in the air
Broken dreams and shattered pride tomorrow ain't been fair
Can we mend these tattered wings rise above this black and blue

[Verse 2]
Shadows linger in the past ghosts of yesterday
Holdin onto memories that just won't fade away
Will we ever find the light piercin through this endless night

[Pre-Chorus]
Hold tight to hope don't let it go
Future's just a breath away

[Chorus]
The day after tomorrow's gonna rise up strong
Ain't no fear can hold us we've been fightin too long
Breakin free from the sorrow we'll carry on
The day after tomorrow together we'll belong

[Verse 3]
Echoes of our laughter lost drownin in regret
But our hearts still pounding loud ain't givin up just yet
We will carve a path anew our spirits bold and true

[Pre-Chorus]
Hold tight to hope don't let it go
Future's just a breath away

[Chorus]
The day after tomorrow's gonna rise up strong
Ain't no fear can hold us we've been fightin too long
Breakin free from the sorrow we'll carry on
The day after tomorrow together we'll belong

As with all these created witha free account, the copyright is held by SUNU AI but allows non-commercial use of the song by the creator.

The Day After Tomorrow

The song was originally written in 1961/2 . Still playing around with Suno AI, I was trying to lead the AI to sing songs in the style and with a similar timing to my original lyrics. It is easy to create something new from the lyrics but I wanted to have it sound like the original, just better produced and with instruments that I cannot play, Two things make it difficult; the first is the sheer randomness of the AI in following your prompts (or not as the case may be). Because of this it is hit and miss as to wether to instructions are followed or ignored. Secondly. a lack of feeling in the sung words and an inability to sing/read the words with the exact same emphasis/timing as would be expected. This latter issue often requires some editing of the lyrics (hopefully without altering the meaning, etc.
It often takes several iterations to come close to what is required or something that would be acceptable. A frustrating experience.
Under Suno's TOS, I claim copyright for the song as I am now a paying subscriber.

LYRICS:

[verse1]
Summers almost gone,
Winters coming on. 
Standing here alone.
Standing on my own.

[chorus1]
Standing in the pouring rain.
standing by an open drain
Can you tell me what's my name?
Summers almost gone....

[verse2]
Summers almost gone,
Winters coming near.
My Baby left me standing,
Wish she were right here.

[chorus 2]
Wish she were right by my side
standing here arms open wide
can she say she's ever tried,
to understand my needs....

[verse3]
Summers almost gone,
Cold dark days ahead'
She never understood,
Any word I ever said.

[chorus3]
She just took me for a ride
now in future I'll be wise
Learnt my lesson once or twice.
Summer turns to fall......

SUMMERS ALMOST GONE (1 - 2)

I wrote these lyrics about three years ago, long before I had coe across AI assisted music. And It was a song I liked very much, in fact a ukulele demo was posted on soundcloud 3 years ago.

The danger with prompting with the existing lyrics, is that it is not always possible to  force the AI to create a song with a familiar tune. But I thought I would try with this one. Not easy and not helped by the random decisions by the AI engine. (programmed like this so it does not create the same song from similar prompts).
After several (virtually trial and error) iterations, This one popped out. One of the issues is a poor start,  inaudible start to the first line. There are things I am learning, but for current purposes, I am including this version here. Lyrics follow.

Remember Me

[C] Remember me, 
[E7] Remember me, 
[F] When you walk out that door, re- [C] member me.
[G7] When you say your last goodbye, [F] don’t let what we had die,
[C] Remember me.

Remember me, 
Remember me, 
I know we shared some good times, remember me.
You know we can still be friends, It doesn’t have to end, 
Remember me.

[F] Don’t leave in [C] sorrow
[F] Don’t leave with re-[C] morse
[Am] Remember all the good times
[F] Remember all the love we shared, and of [G7] course 

Remember me, 
Remember me, 
Maybe in time you’ll smile when you remember me.
I’ll be waiting for that time, I’ll be looking for a sign;
Remember me.

Copyright of John Dyhouse, as a paid subscriber to SUNO AI.

Remember Me (1)

These lyrice were written, from memory, in the early sixties. (Too lazy to get my early notebooks out!) However, they get a new lease of life with a prompt for  Suno, so enjoying this project to bring these old lyrics up-to-date.
Copyright Suno, used here under Suno terms of usage.

Silent Lady (2)

A unplanned song working with Suno AI.
It was wet yesterday, but the silver lining was that it kept me from the gardening, an idea flashed thro' my mind for a song. A happy song, with a theme of making memories based on experiences with "Summer Rain". Being a happy song - of course the main instrument was a ukulele. Did not expect to like it as much as I did, but I loved it. Bouncing along with the music in my chair an punching the air aas I listened to it.
BTW, The themes and ideas for each verse were mine, I edited the first draft and rewrote several parts of the lyric, as always. The simply let Suno get on with its magic. I enjoyed it so much, I extended the song, although this is the original short version.
Hope you like it - just a little fun really!

Summer Rain (short version)

Another of these danged AI offerings, this one comprises several generated clips stitched together In audacity. It tells a story see of Freedom. There is no political association with the title, simply that one of the iterations (at a time when the individual clips were known as working "title #", where # represented their number in a series, contained some sound "effects" which reminded me of a battle (gunfire and explosions, etc). The names of the clips were not assigned until the ir final positions in the whole piece had been ascertained. But it seems to me to have worked out well.
I did a fair bit of editing whilst doing the "stitching" until I felt happy with the way it segued from one clip to another.

I shall probably upload the original clips and post to a playlist with the whole composition. No time limit set for this at the moment. Simply when I get time in a busy schedule.

REJOICE

Weary But Alive

Clouds Gathering

This is an AI assisted track. The Lyrics are original and were writtenbecause of a mall accident I was trying to get  an instrumental track from Suno AI, however I was stuck on an issue and couldn't work out how to correct it. I took a short brea and knocked out a quick lyric, I rather like it and used it for the song instead. It actually prevented the problem, and moreoverurned out to be one of my favourite AI songs I had "created" with the assistance of Suno. I am very happy with it. Like a lot of Suno songs the ending is a little brief, but this was only a demo of using some particular prompts. I can  work on on it at a later date to improve the ending.

Lyric: AND NOW AT LAST

[verse]
Never thought I stood a chance with you
Never thought I'd be your type
Often wondered how to meet up
Couldn't see behind the hype

[verse]
At last a chance to make it happen
A friend of mine who knows you well
Tells me you're going to a party
Maybe I'll come out of my shell

[chorus]
And now at last
And now at last
A chance I've got to take
And now at last
And now at last
For pity's sake.
A chance I've got to Take

[verse]
I don't believe it went so well
My fears were so unfounded.
I can't believe you saw me too,
I'm really so astounded

[verse]
We've agreed to meet again, tomorrow
Things are really looking cool,
The future rears, with skies aglow,
All along I've played the fool

And Now At Last

A different approach to this ballad. I played Suno a sample of my voice (only) singing some made up nonsense. 
The song was written by me in the very early sixties, one of my earliest songs. It existed only on paper (the lyric) and in my head ( I did sing it occasionally, nowadays backed by a ukulele. But no demo as far as I remember).
I spent some time on this one, as I had a good idea what I wanted to achieve although I am still using these old songs for the purpose of learning how to Use Suno AI. I wanted to try an retain the 1960's feel, I think Suno has coped quite well overall. I like it - a lot.

When You Say You Love Me Too

This is the Battle's End. The fighting is over.
Another of these danged AI offerings, this one comprises several generated clips stitched together In audacity. It tells a story see of Freedom. There is no political association with the title, simply that one of the iterations (at a time when the individual clips were known as working "title #", where # represented their number in a series, contained some sound "effects" which reminded me of a battle (gunfire and explosions, etc). The names of the clips were not assigned until the ir final positions in the whole piece had been ascertained. But it seems to me to have worked out well.
I did a fair bit of editing whilst doing the "stitching" until I felt happy with the way it segued from one clip to another.

Battle's End

This section is called Battle Is Near, the realisation that it is to be fought is clear, sounds that could be early clashes are head in the distance.
Another of these danged AI offerings, this one comprises several generated clips stitched together In audacity. It tells a story see of Freedom. There is no political association with the title, simply that one of the iterations (at a time when the individual clips were known as working "title #", where # represented their number in a series, contained some sound "effects" which reminded me of a battle (gunfire and explosions, etc). The names of the clips were not assigned until the ir final positions in the whole piece had been ascertained. But it seems to me to have worked out well.
I did a fair bit of editing whilst doing the "stitching" until I felt happy with the way it segued from one clip to another.

Battle Is Near

"i WANNA TELL YOU A STORY", I drove my eldest son and friends back from a sunday school meeting when he was abot 8 yrs old (1979). On the was home, they were excitedly talking about a Childrens TV cartoon from the Previous evening. Amazing what imagination kids of that age have. Anyway, I made a note of the conversation, when I was back home. Of course, I added a few interesting "facts" and wrote a song on my guitar.

For the last 45 years this song has stayed hidden (like most of my many songs. But now I have Suno AI to help me produce a demo and make it available to the general public. Briefly, after much experimentation with prompts in Suno, which I believe has taught me a lot about the software, I am now uploading a sample to Suno of me singing one verse and a chorus/bridge, etc  lasting about 60 secs which is the maximum length allowed - at the moment. The AI is able to generate a song (or rather two of them) with my voice providing the lead vocals and the tune I originally wrote when I wrote the lyics. Of course, the AI develops the tune in sometimes unexpected ways. However, I am able to specify a genre/style and structure, etc, for the song; which are sometimes taken note of by the AI. BUT essentially THE SONG, LYRICS AND MELODY ARE BASED ON MY ORIGINAL WORK. I believe that I can claim more responsibility for this song than someone working with a massive team of co-writers and a studio full of session men ,engineers and producers, etc.
Of course under Suno TOS, I am claiming Copyright of the song and recording until, and when, the legal situation is clarified by the courts.

The Wicked Magician

The Wicked Magician ( 2nd Update)

A complete experiment with SUNO AI. 
I wrote this lyric some 40 years ago as an experiment in constructing a lyric from random headlines in a newspaper ( following a TV interview of David Bowie in which he talked about writing songs). I was very aware of the awkward nature of the structure of the lyrics and wanted to see how the AI coped. I was pleasantly surprised. I had in fact started to upload clips of myself singing (acapella) to get the AI singing my lyrics of many of my songs in a way I wanted to hear them. NB it also allowed the AI to model my voice instead of using one of the limited number of "vocalists" apparently available to it. 
I really liked the JAZZY approach to this song once I had heard it once or twice. I sometimes find that music can grow on me, and then become a favourite.

THE CAT (2)

Another possibly strange choice for an AI assisted song. When I wrote this, the lyric had a peculiar structure which almost created a song in two parts. So It was a particularly difficult song for the AI to scan properly. In fact I treated it as two separate parts and then stitched them together in a DAW. relatively pleased with the result. I also did a version which was slower and produced a harmonised vocal, something which was quite surprising. Must find out how to prompt for this.

Summer Dreams (Rock version-2)

Really enjoying playing with AI. This was actually an early experimental song. Many of the first couple of dozen songs were generated from an idea, a title and a synopsis - to save time and hold back my own songs, although there are well over two hundred written between 1959 and to-date. This was one of those generated songs. 
Thanks to Suno for a great few weeks fun - so far. The song is copyright protected.

Our Love's A Wild Fire (edit)

A difficult piece to work with. The AI really couldn't cope with the "free form verse structure" of the song. It was a song I wrote as one of a pair with "The Cat" also on Soundcloud, using a method of randomising headlines from a newspaper to make some sort of sense. I had come across in a TV interview with Davivd Bowie. After quite a few iterations changing the genre/editing the lyrics, I completely rewrote the song and went thru half a dozen iterations. The first was the one I have posted here. It does have a few very robotic sounding "non-word" episodes. But I am still in learning mode so moved on. I have now started to prompt with a sample of my own voice singing the first verse & chorus acapella. This maintains a standardised voice and also inputs the melody and by definition a chord sequence (harmony).

Consistent Caroline (rewrite - 1)

Settling in to using Suno to demo my songs. I am now uploading samples of me singing (acapella) the first verse and a chorus up to the 60 sec max allowed. This prompts the AI to adopt and use my voice which means all my songs have a standard voice if I prefer ( and thank you, auto corrects the pitch) and also prompts  the AI with the melody and the way I scan the lyrics (all provided). I can structure the song (sometimes the AI follows the prompts) and add sections of music and request what instruments are used.  The AI of course will undoubtedly add its own adaptions an developments as the song progresses, just like a producer, or musician, etc. Music and Lyrics Copyright of John Dyhouse

Tell me what to say

Another old-ish song, created with AI. Showing how I use a voice sample (Acapella) to prompt the AI with my own voice and the original melody used for these lyrics. Copyright John Dyhouse

How Do You Play Your Ukulele

An amateur singer/song writer; in it for the fun and satisfaction. Enjoying rediscovering old recordings and sharing new original songs with friends and anyone who would like to join me on the adventure.

The songs and playlists/albums hold an eclectic mix of original material and covers; I have also recovered various analog recordings and sequenced tracks. I sing because I enjoy it and make no claims to any musical performance skills, you are warned....

John Dyhouse

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks