Instrumental by Greg and Don 4-21-23

Greg: guitar
Don: drums, keyboard

Flight Risk ( with Greg Gray and Don Campau)

"Monday Fasting" 
Don Campau: all instruments

This is an instrumental from late May 2023.

Monday Fasting ( Campau solo)

"Lost In The Fog"
6-19-23

Don Campau: all instruments

This track is less free jazz and more free rock with a hat tip to the electric Miles period.

Lost In The Fog ( Campau solo)

"Faster Than Light, Slower Than Molasses"
Don Campau: all instruments

This is an instrumental loosely based in G minor with a somewhat freeform guitar solo.

Faster Than Light, Slower Than Molasses ( Campau solo)

"Take Only AS Prescribed"

7-18-23

Don Campau: all instruments

Take Only As Prescribed ( Campau solo)

Untitled Jam in A Minor
9-9-23

Don Campau: all instruments

Untitled Jam in A Minor

Hidden Layers lyrics

Don Campau: all instruments, vocals, lyrics

Its buried too deep
So far in the crust
so deep
it cannot be seen
its sunk and its wedged
like   an unpaid bill  
it feels like silk sandblasted by time

how did it appear?
and why wont it fade
I;m torn and I;m scratched
by the layers that are hidden

I;m stuck in the mud
there's quicksand right there
its pulling me down
I want to stop fighting
attracted to worms
with no lips to be licking
no mind to betray
they know I;m in their future

how did it appear?
and why wont it fade
I;m torn and I;m scratched
by the layers that are hidden

count on one thing
depend on it hanging around
make a big bet
the odds don;t matter
its a sure thing

I;m buried too deep
so deep in the dust
I cannot be seen
by the ones  with eyes
I only see haze
the light has faded
the danger has passed
boy, those were the days

Hidden Layers ( Campau solo)

Glued To My Face
by 
Don Campau: loops, guitar, keyboards.vocals, lyrics
Greg Gray: guitars

it got glued to my face

But I didn't really feel it

stuck in my craw

like a bug on my bike

sure, it bothered me some

because I like to be tidy

I like to stay sharp

because there's always cameras everywhere now

It got messy right then

and I wasn;t that careful

got stuck in my teeth

on the lower left side

just to prove how I roll

I fell into the street then

I got up and I laughed

because this has happened before

sure, it bothered me when

I accepted my award for

most likely to succeed

at being a fool


look out there's a bus coming

watch your step or  there's gonna be a wreck

look out there a train approaching

straight at you and I;m not kidding


well It;'s hard to justify

my reason for doing this

It's not a mistake until

I do it over and over

look out there's a bus coming

watch your step or  there's gonna be a wreck

look out there a train approaching

straight at you and I;m not kidding


sure, it bothered me some

because I like to be tidy

I like to stay sharp

because there's always cameras everywhere now


sure, it bothered me when

I accepted my award for

most likely to succeed

at being a fool

Glued To My Face ( with Greg Gray )

Coming Apart At The Seams lyrics
6-4-24
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments
from the coming album "Homebody"

Look  what I found
when I checked in my backbone
Narrowed to a chute of fragments 
tiny fragments
Coming apart at the seams
coming apart everyday a little more

 tests clearly showed
what the doctors had surmised
the nerves weren't too pleased at how they were trapped
the better that I sleep means the worse that I feel now
despite my complaints 
its not gonna stop me

there comes a time
when we have to admit it
getting old is a bitch
and a pain in the ass
look what they found when they looked at the x rays
its a hell of a mess all the pills and the PT

Coming apart at the seams
coming apart everyday a little more

look what they found when they looked at the x rays

Coming Apart At The Seams ( Campau solo)

My Recliner lyrics
6-7-24
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments
from the forth coming album “Homebody”

you won't have to look too far
you won't have to search in the back of the house
I haven't moved for an hour or more
you won't have to look too far
i'm right there where you expect me now
i'm a hunk of flesh passed out in my chair
i may seem dead but my minds on fire
you won;t have to look too far
you can try to call my name aloud
i may not respond
i may only groan

I'm predictable
and I'm cozy now
when i'm curled up like this
in a ball of fur
i'm just a kitty cat

I'm safe in this spot
it's my bodyguard
and my trusted friend
i'm good where I lay
don't ask me now to answer the door

there's a place I call home
a big chair in the corner
there's a smell that I make I guess
but I'm the one who can;t notice
there's a place  I call home
a big chair in the corner
I'm in my recliner
I'm in my recliner
I'm in my recliner

My Recliner  REMIX ( Campau solo)

I Hate Yardwork lyrics
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments and tools
from the forthcoming album "Homebody"

i know one thing
i know one thing
the thing that I know
is that I hate yardwork

im pretty lucky to own the place that i live
not everyone is quite so fortunate
i;m so damn blessed by the way it turned out
how could it really get any better ?

i know one thing
i know one thing
the thing that I know
is that I hate yardwork

yeah, you that are homeless and looking for food
might not understand my dilemma
i want to fit in for my neighbors and all
its not that I mind some decent hard work
but Ive got songs to do and art to make
and a full day of creativity and this stuff is getting in the way
and now my bitching is becoming a problem for the people around me
who do not share my concerns or dislike of what others call "gardening"
I mean, its only vegetables and flowers Don
is it really so hard to put in a little effort from time to time?

oh no..the lawn
oh god the weeds

i know one thing
i know one thing
the thing that I know
is that I hate yardwork

oh hell I guess ill do it
complaining like a kid
every minute and then looking for validation after I do my usual half ass job
why don't I just hire some mexicans who are good at it
maybe a team of 
"mow and blowers" who make so much racket on a Tuesday afternoon
maybe i need to just give in

i know one thing
i know one thing
the thing that I know
is that I hate yardwork

oh no..the lawn
oh god the weeds

i know one thing
i know one thing
the thing that I know
is that I hate yardwork

I Hate Yardwork ( Campau solo)

"Concerto For CPAP"
Don Campau: all instruments and medical devices
from the upcoming album "Homebody"

Concerto For CPAP ( Campau solo)

"King Of The garage"
from the upcoming album "Homebody"

Don Campau “King Of The Garage: lyrics credits
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments

In this feudal state
Or really this futile mess
Of projects in half finished forms
There’s an easy way to tell if I’m making progress
Just look at the floor
The floor of the garage
That’s where everything goes
If the going is good 
I’ve got my stripes and my position of rank and
I may be in charge but there’s no one around
To command
To boss like a bully and besides what’s that gonna do anyway
Except create tension  and resentment
Maybe I could get some help sweeping up
Maybe I could plead and beg
For a pickup
I’ll make a request to the highest authority
But the buck ends with an image of me in the mirror
Come on and look at 
A portrait of the king ,the king of the garage
My throne in a drum stool
My scepter is a stick
A shaker or tambourine

But I’m usually too quick and ahead of the beat so I’ll do it again
And again and again

You’re not gonna stop the king the king of the garage

King Of The Garage( Campau solo)

"I Am My Own Bad Habit"
from the upcoming album "Homebody"
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments

its just another sad story
of personal decline
bad decisions and dietary trends
have doomed me
ok, here we go then

i made a big mistake
made it in a hurry and i should have waited
i slipped and i screwed up
nothing new I guess
its kind of a trademark

you watched as i sealed my fate
the smart money was on the competition
i chose the angle wrong
and as always I made things worse

its a cliche to say it
especially the way i bitch
i felt some self disgust
i am my own bad habit
i am my own bad habit

it was a quarter to noon
i did some errands and stopped to pee
i didn't pay attention well
and i tripped on the median
and down i went

that was the start of this phase
that very moment was more than a metaphor

its a cliche to say it
especially the way i grouse
i felt some self disgust
i felt dirty and damaged
i am my own bad habit



i am my own bad habit
 my own reactive
fear of the consequences

i made a big mistake
made it in a hurry and i should have waited
i slipped and i screwed up
nothing new I guess
its kind of my style
it was a real shock
when they helped me up and i wondered where i was
when they asked me what happened, man? i only said i am my own bad habit

I Am My Own Bad Habit

Serial Pillow Flipper lyrics
from the album “Homebody”
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, instruments

how i would i normally handle it
what would I usually do
i pounded the covers and rolled over twice I then flipped the pillow

Thats me. Thats just me.
Trying to get a good nights sleep
now what are the chances

my legs are feeling rather  restless
the cpap wrapped around my neck
I;m going get up and watch TV
Maybe some Rick Steves.In Europe.

I;m gonna flip the pillow first
and maybe I'll get lucky
and stop feeling this dread

Another night lasts forever
might as well get up and do some work
its OK  a nap later will fine
and then the cycle continues


Thats me. Thats just me.
Trying to get a good nights sleep
now what are the chances

I;m a night tripper
anxious dude
worried about things
that i cant control

I;m a big tipper
a royal pain in the butt
making loud noise in the middle of the night
its goes on and on and on of course
because
I;m a serial pillow flipper lyrics

i can skip breakfast
i can go for days and days without slumber
there's only one thing to remember
im a night tripper
big tipper
tight gripper
sheets have  gotta be just so
im big talker
bad walker
celery stalker

Thats me. Thats just me.
Trying to get a good nights sleep
now what are the chances

Serial Pillow Flipper

"I Got Fat" lyrics
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, all instruments
from the upcoming album "Homebody"

I need new pants
my shirt's too tight
my shorts don't fit
and the door's not wide enough

cause something's true
sorry to say
got the news the other day
from the mirror
who told me straight
I got fat

i had my thoughts
at the end of the night
all the plans I made
did not materialize

it would be sad to hear
if it hadn't  been my doing
would be easy to blame
somebody else  , anybody else

I;m a big boy now
 I am so short and  round
kind of funny to say
i;m proud of these extra pounds
 look all around , what's above
now there's now more of me to love
time goes by out of range
 adjusted to the change
way back in those days
i thought i could behave

I Got Fat

Hope

Greg Gray: loops, guitars, percussion, final mix and production
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics

I've been looking for hope lyrics

I've been looking for hope
in unusual spots
i've been grasping at straws
with the bulk of my time

but there it was
right in front of me
i saw the truth
in the headlights of an oncoming car

for a second I thought
an impulse, could it be?
like the urge to jump off the golden gate bridge
just a crazy moment that wouldn;t happen
and straight ahead it was coming at me
and there wouldn;t be any time
to react and avoid, to brake and evade
but the second did pass and all was fine
and I wondered if the other driver felt the same way as I

there was just a moment
but I never had a doubt
it shimmered and glimmered like gold
but I knew that it was real
and I deeply felt the hope

but there it was
right in front of me
i saw the truth
in the headlights of an oncoming car

HOPE ( REMIX with Greg Gray)

Don Campau: all vocals and instruments

Sent to Greg Gray to dub.

Money In The Pocket lyrics


shape shifter with the green eyeliner
spinning slowly and looking for cash
now she knows that something is worth even more than that
and she better start acting

its just the same as money in the pocket
its just the same as money in the pocket

information is the key
its the gold that drives the caddy
fueled by the fools who work for the oil barons who laugh
as they harvest the numbers and identities of the unsuspecting crowd
they're looking for an angle to climb out of the hole that was dug for them by these very same barons
new rich is still rich
anyway you slice it
put it in your blender
the yield won;t be much
it will be dark though and taste like the middle of the earth

its just the same as money in the pocket
its just the same as money in the pocket

where does all the spam go?
where are all those letters that were never sent
is there a place somewhere
and some hidden container of unused statistics and now meaningless and irrelevant personal history

the euro, the dollar
your mothers maiden name
your passport and social
everything leads to same place
its all access and all AI
and no looking in the face as its taken


its just the same as money in the pocket
its just the same as money in the pocket

Money In The Pocket DON's MIX

This is the rough mix for "Better Idea" , a song first generated by the music stems sent by Greg and then mixed and added to by Don.

Better Idea lyrics/ credits
Greg Gray: backing music tracks
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, guitars, mixing

I only have one word of advice
don't trust me
don;t count on me
i only have one thing left to mention
im  a fake im a joker
the silliest guy in the room

so I'm working on my nerd cred
its the only thing that I got
I;m working on the dance I developed a long time ago
im working on my moves
look at these sliding steps
im breaking with the kids
who just stand back and  laugh

gonna talk about peace
as Im waving my arms
gonna talk about hope
and what its gonna take
don't marginalize my meaningless babble
it may seem trivial and cliche at best but one more thing
just let me know if you got a better idea

Better Idea ( with Greg Gray )

Calm Waters lyrics/ credits
Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, guitars, keys, percussion

you can't fish in still  waters
you can't float in rough seas
the wind will determine the way you will sail
that is your present and your future

you can still drown in calm waters
you can go down in rough seas
the tide will determine
the way you are pulled
that is your present and your future

don't try to fight it
its already decided
don't try to change it
thats the way it will be
the more you resist
the deeper it burrows into your being 
and your soul

Calm Waters

Calm Waters REMIX

Tempted By Failure lyrics/ credits
from the album “Homebody” by Don Campau

Don Campau: vocals.lyrics. guitar, drum loops,  keyboards
additional lyrics adapted from the poem “Thy Beauty Is To Me“ by Edgar Allen Poe 1831-43

i was tempted by failure
its time to just quit
without a doubt
I threw my hands up in anger
this time im done
ive just had it

reach out for the hell of it
who knows what I might find
some advice i should follow
and raise my head out of the sand

Helen, thy beauty is to me
Like those Nicéan barks of yore,
That gently, o’er a perfumed sea

The weary, way-worn wanderer bore
To his own native shore.



this time i felt pretty torn up
why was it now cause I failed before
i set the bar to my limit
and then I melted and fell on my head

reach out for the hell of it
who knows what I might find
some advice i should follow
and raise my head out of the sand
i was tempted by failure

On desperate seas long wont to roam,
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face,
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
To the glory that was Greece,
And the grandeur that was Rome.


one would think that I’d learned yeah
i would hope but it troubles me so
mistakes are meant to be made, sure
but so are corrections you know

reach out for the hell of it
who knows what I might find
some advice i should follow
and raise   my head out of the sand

Lo! in yon brilliant window-niche
How statue-like I see thee stand,
The agate lamp within thy hand!
Ah, Psyche, from the regions which
Are Holy-Land!

Tempted By Failure

Felix  & Leslie lyrics
Don Campau: vocals all instruments, loops, additional lyrics
adapted from “Mississippi Queen by Mountain 1970
Songwriters: Leslie A. Weinstein / Felix Pappalardi / David Rea / Laurence Laing
Mississippi Queen lyrics © Universal Music - Mgb Songs


it was 1973 in Passaic New Jersey
We waited in line for so long
The Capital Theatre was dump at the time but the crowd would still be pretty strong
and they wanted to rock 
to see Felix Pappalardi and Leslie West
Play Mississippi Queen at eleven
and not one bit less

when the doors opened up 
we ran to the front near the stage  
the roadies had set up the 8 stacks of Marshalls
and the crazy Jersey fans were ready to rage
everyone was high when the first band got booed 
and the  cat calls had got pretty loud
 then the big guy came out with his Les Paul
 cranked it to the max
You couldn't even hear the crowd

we saw Felix Pappalardi and Leslie West
Play Mississippi Queen at eleven
and not one bit less

you know she was a dancer
she moved better on wine
when the rest of the dudes were getting  kicks
you know, I was getting mine

Mississippi Queen if you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen she taught me everything

Went down around Vicksburg
Around Louisiana Way
Lived the cajun lady 
aboard the MIssissippi Queen
Mississippi Queen if you know what I mean
Mississippi Queen she taught me everything
you know she was a dancer
she moved better on wine

Felix Pappalardi and Leslie West
Played Mississippi Queen at eleven
and not one bit less

Felix & Leslie

Lesser Of Two Evils lyrics

Don Campau: vocals, lyrics, guitars, keyboard, bass, loops,  effects
Greg: guitars, sound effects

its time for
the peaceful transition of power
its time for us to pretend about democracy

its the voice of the people
cant you hear the cheers
for the lesser of two evils
every four years

get up off your couch
and register them all
spend your time in your neighborhood
canvassing all fall
quality doesn't matter
this time it's the amount
then everyone can say
I voted but it didn't count

its the power of the people
let the voters have their say
who will come out on top
and does it matter anyway?

its the voice of the people
cant you hear the cheers
for the lesser of two evils
every four years

"The whole world is watching", etc...

its the power of the people
let the voters have their say
who will come out on top
and does it matter anyway?

its time for a change
thats what they all say
can you believe how we choked it all down
 again and again
let's have a parade for freedom
USA USA USA USA

Lesser Of Two Evils ( with Greg Gray )

At The International Bazaar lyrics
Don Campau: all instruments, vocals and lyrics
completed 9-8-24

oh oh oh oh oh oh  

come with me now
to a place of chaos
and  confusion
we will wander for an hour
but it will seem like forever
and we are covered with the smells
the languages of barter
the heat has invited us
to the cafe where we sit
and try to make sense of it all

oh oh oh oh oh oh

the handmade carpets
the vegetables and bread
and whats that over there?
I've never seen that kind of meat before
i turn around to  ask you
but you've disappeared
where did you go?
or were you ever here?
or was that another lifetime
a thousand years ago


oh oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh oh


we are wandering the market
and the colors are so loud
we are trapped  in the bazaar  of humans the crush of the crowd

if I had any money
and spoke the local dialect
I would pay them all to be quiet for a moment while I try to recollect

where am I going?
how did I get here?
I;m disturbed by the heat
im confused by the noise
Im a tourist to myself
I want to find the exit


oh oh oh oh oh oh 

come with me now
to a place of chaos
and  confusion
we will wander here forever 
or was it only just an hour?

At The International Bazaar

Three Brothers lyrics
Don Campau: all instruments, vocals, and lyrics
Dedicated to Gary, Chris, Mom ( Gloria ) and Dad ( Don )

we were three brothers
we loved to play games
we were three brothers
so different but the same

there were no others
no sisters to confuse
or educate us
to the worldly rules

we were three brothers
I was a bully some of the time
we fought and swore like  sailors
until their forces they combined

 my reign of terror sort of ended quick
One would just hold me and the other used an old drum stick

we were close but now so far away
littered all over this crazy old universe
dad gave a dose of discipline out
and mom made cookies and pies

we were three brothers
we loved to play games
wiffle ball on
George's  lawn in the rain

we were three brothers
we played till the light was gone
until we heard the call from Mom
 Chris Gary and Don
its time for dinner

were three brothers

Three Brothers

"Circadia" 
Don Campau: all instruments and effects
10-7-24

Circadia ( Campau solo)

"Checkered Past"
Don Campau: all instruments, loops and effects

Checkered Past

"the work i did" lyrics/credits

By Greg Gray and Don Campau

this is the work i did
i cant take it back
this is the work
i put my name on
this is the story I told
its not so different than anybody else

when its added up
it doesn;t seem like much
did it make a difference?
when I remember it
it seems like somebody else
inhabited this body

this is the life i've led
i've got nothing to complain of
this is the world ive shared
with you and everyone Ive loved
although there's laughs amidst the pain
there may be tears in tomorrows rain

when its added up
it doesn;t seem like much
did it make a difference?
when I remember it
it seems like somebody else
inhabited this body

this is the work i did
this is the work i did

doncampau

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