YOU SAVED ME
Heroism is a virtue
Surrendering your self interest to save
Somebody from the tempting thought
To find an early grave

Everyone needs inspiration
But more, beyond the words that dangle there
Overused on the television
Where we sit and stare

To shake a weary friend
And open eyes to see
That the second passed was a moment’s blessing
And it’s gone without you noticing

Where would we be
Without the spirit moving you and me
To love a sister like a friend
And carry on until the end?

A very sad discovery
That so many ones despise
People they don’t even know
Just from looking in their eyes

You saved me from
Those who have no sympathy
You saved me from
Feeling out of place
You saved me from
Judging those who judge me
You saved me from
Taking on the human race

Everybody wants a savior
But no one will believe in one
They know there must be something more to life
And that something must be having fun

But they go on in the coldest way
Relieving every urge
And playing every game
But the emptiness remains

This morning I just had a dream
That I had walked over the ocean
And reached a place where there was peace
Cause we all knew we’d reached the land
That we all hoped would be there in the end

And everyone was thanking You
And everyone was shaking through
The tremors of another scene
And every heart was clean
And every heart was clean
And every heart was clean

I don’t complain
I don’t complain
I don’t complain
I don’t complain

You saved me from
Putting down what I don’t understand
You saved me from
The ice in my veins
You saved me from
The politics that make me cry
You saved me from
Aloof disdains

You saved me from
The laughter in the hallway
You saved me from
The fear that runs the earth
You saved me from
The blindness of the powerful
You saved me from
What I thought I was worth

RGM June 1992

Solo Ray

You Saved Me

O.K. (Song For Kenny)

OK we knew your pain
OK we knew the odds 
Yes, we knew your dedication to your end
But if you needed flight
And if you needed peace
Why didn’t you try to cover up your eyes and

Pretend  
Fly away without the end
Higher than a bird
A bird
Pretend

Your imagination was such
That with just the slightest touch
You could pretend 
It was OK

OK they knew your thoughts 
OK they put you down
But each new day would give 
more reason just to live
And though I was in touch
And though I was your friend 
I guess I wasn’t close enough 
to pull you from the grasps of

The end 
The end
So now I must pretend
You’re higher than a bird
A bird
Pretend 

My imagination is such
That with just the slightest touch
I can pretend 
It’s all OK
OK
OK
OK

And now he is alone
And now she has nobody
And now we all must face the future 
Feeling very near to the end 
OK
you made your point my friend 
Now why don’t you just return again 
You laughed, you hurt
You really tried 
But now you’re just 
Another heart that’s died 

Pretend it’s all
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK

Music & Lyrics Raymond G. McLaughlin, Copyright 1985

O.K. (Song For Kenny)

Home recording in 1984 of a song I wrote that year. 

AWHILE 
Awhile ago 
While I was sleeping by my window pane
Awhile ago 
A birdie whispered to me, 
“With a little more luck
and a little more time,
you can sleep in peace
and rest your mind”

Awhile ago 
While you were crying by your window pane
Awhile ago
I came and stood by your side 
With a little more luck
and a little more time, 
you can dry your tears,
and you’ll be just fine 

So now we know
While troubles hang outside our window panes
So now we know
There lies a future of hope 
With a little more luck 
And a little more time 
We can live in peace
and we’ll be just fine

Music & lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, copyright 1984

Awhile

from my 2009 release "Life Like Sad Music. 

"Feet Shuffle Leaves"
all of the secrets
that cover the earth
bury the fear
that's been here since our birth
and it finds you
the loneliness reminds you

that when you were young
you were nobody's girl
he spun you round
and he centered your world
in the final analysis
you know he's the setting sun
the final one

headlights sweep the drapes
feet shuffle leaves
and jangle keys
he's home again

the other boys can't read your mind
the other boys don't ring your line
the other boys don't understand
when you kiss another man

headlights sweep the drapes
feet shuffle leaves
and jangle keys
he's home again

each faded memory's a life to itself
each faded life is an urn on a shelf
and you call me
no need to be lonely

headlights sweep the drapes
feet shuffle leaves
and jangle keys
I'm home again

All Music and Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, copyright 2009

Feet Shuffle Leaves

Another home recording, this one from 1985.  Written while in college.  An observation about the search for spiritual meaning in the face of enduring college life at a highly intellectual, competitive & science-based university. 

THE FINDING
Two rat boys comb the basement 
Seek, explore the secret places
They’ll find whatever they find
A dime, call your mother 
She’ll cry whenever she cries
Because your face got broken 
Sticking it into His mind
You figure you have problems 
But it’s time whenever it’s time

But you still have to know what’s behind the closet
Boxes, caskets
Presents unwrapped when we
Find whatever we find 

Someone taught me nothing once
I tried to learn it, until it made sense
Other ones learn everything 
And once they know it all
They don’t know the why, the who,
The where, the how
And the time 
Yeah

Watch the rain damp the campus
Chapel empty, classrooms rampant
They’ll find whatever they find 
A bedroom, on the bed
Wasting what could have been love
On digging a crack in their heart
And tearing their lives apart 

Someone taught me nothing once
I tried to learn it, until it made sense
Other ones learn everything 
And once they know it all
They don’t know the why, the who,
The where, the how
And the time
Yeah
Yeah

You’re a stretch of the vine
You’re a part of it all
Hear the call?
You do 
Together we’ll find whatever we find

While we both know nothing here
Since we don’t have what we’re “supposed to”
Bow your head and pray for me
And I’ll return it
Finding the definitive, the absolute,
The meaning of our lives
Yeah
Of our lives
Yeah
Yeah
Music & Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, Copyright 1985

The Finding

I am downloading here, in sequential order, the last 4 tracks of my 2002 home cassette tape recorded album Fondly and With Feeling.  This was the final song (10th song), called Lonely Letting Go.

LONELY LETTING GO
Goodbye my friends, I have to cry
For all my friends who say goodbye
Goodbye my friends, you had to go
(we'll miss you)
I hope it's true - I loved you so
(we did too)

I'll try to find some meaning here
(you'll find it)
While all the cherished disappear

Goodbye, I'll never understand
(be patient)
I know, I know - God has a plan
(believe it)

But did I make some difference, friends?
(yes, of course)
But not enough to stop the end

And so I go, and so it goes
(hang in there)
I'll hide away my selfish woes
(life's not fair)

But can you stay just through the night?
(sorry, no)
But I'm afraid - It's not alright
(letting go)
Yes, I have trouble letting go
(yes, we know)
I feel so lonely letting go

Letting go
Letting go
Letting go 
 
Words & Music by Raymond G. McLaughlin, © Copyright 2002

Fondly and With Feeling

Lonely Letting Go

I am downloading here, in sequential order, the last 4 tracks of my 2002 home cassette tape recorded album Fondly and With Feeling.  This was song number 8, called The Better World.

THE BETTER WORLD
All the bright ideas
The passion in this play
And all the bold romantics
Swept away
I guess this world has nothing left to say

Grab your Mrs. and kiss your son
Cause the better world's coming on

She's a power monger
She wants to grind me down
Give a bad salute
And close my eyes
At least I'll see my mommy when I die

Burn away the makeup
And turn away the goons
Cause all the pretty faces
Are cartoons
And all the castle walls are crumbling too

Drop your cell phone and clean your slate
Cause there's nothing more to debate
Grab your Mrs. and kiss your son
Cause the better world's coming on

Here it comes
(over by the water)

Would you like to see the better world?
Can you make it on the other side?
Would you like to see the better world?
Hope to see you on the other side
Would you like to see the better world?
Try to make it to the other side
Would you like to see the better world?
Hope I see you on the other side

Words & Music by Raymond G. McLaughlin, © Copyright 2002

The Better World

I am downloading here, in sequential order, the last 4 tracks of my 2002 home cassette tape recorded album Fondly and With Feeling.  This was song 7, called The Blame.

THE BLAME
Oh my God
The blame is out
The blame is out
She brought me blame
And oh my God
I cared about
I cared about her

What kind of man
Did she take me for?
What kind of girl
Walks on so bored?

And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time 
And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time 
And I'm not going to
So goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

On my word
I mean the best
I wish the best to everyone
But on my word
You're all a mess
You're all a mess here

What kind of games
Are you playing now?
What kind of pain
Are you dishing out? 

And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time 
And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time 

And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time
And I'm not going to 
Take the blame this time 

And I'm not going to
Take the blame this time
I'm not going to
Take the blame this time 

And I'm not going to
So goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye

Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye

Goodbye

Words & Music by Raymond G. McLaughlin, © Copyright 2002

The Blame

From my 2009 release, Life Like Sad Music.

Music & Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, Copyright © 2009

Third Time, No Charm

Written and recorded on Christmas Eve 2007.

b-sides

The Scent of Pine

Recorded live on Christmas Eve, 2007.

Sometimes, it is the only way to go.  Good luck.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

I wrote and recorded this at home in 2001.

Only Summer Friend

Give Me the Chance

I wrote and recorded this in 1997 for my sons’ first birthday.

Three

You Are Everyone

A song I wrote in 1984.  This version was recorded in 1986 in the basement with my band Six Gun Jury.  

OH, WHAT a WEED!

Don’t let ‘em take me away from my garden

Here in my garden, trees don’t die
Birds tell secrets, but they don’t lie 
Here in my garden, ponds are clear 
Stones are smooth, only God to fear
Please, let go of my arm 
Why do they want to do me harm?

There’s nothing out there I want
Don’t put that number on my flesh 
Ow!  You’re hurting me!
Please, don’t push me down there!

Here in their garden, the telephones hear
The men are watching, the water is beer
Here in their garden, the walls are white
They washed the blood off from last night 

There’s nothing out there to love
There’s nothing in here to love
There’s nothing in me to love
Wait a minute, what’s love?
What a minute, what’s love?

Don’t let ‘em take me away from my garden

Make money make money make love greed
Make money make money make love hate
Make peace make please make love me
Make peace make please make love you Make it you!

Back in my garden, the men all gone
Only sunshine, I mow my lawn
Here in my garden, yes in my shell
In my heaven, they can go to hell

Make money make money make love greed
Make money make money make love hate
Make peace make please make love me
Make peace make please make love you
Make it you!

Don’t let ‘em take me away from my garden
Don’t let ‘em take me away!

RGM

Oh, What a Weed!

"A Little Payback" is Side B to Chancellorpink's 2011 single"Cracking Up".

A LITTLE PAYBACK
it's your birthday
but you're dying
(a little payback)
for all your cheating
and all your lying
(a little payback)

what's your boss need?
and what's your bank want? 
(a little payback)
and your girlfriend
just shared her cunt
(a little payback)

Judas, must this kiss be yours?
to start those silly holy wars
when all your family genes ensure
revenge

what's your dad want?
and what's your mom want?
(a little payback)
so what you think that
the holy god want?
(a little payback)

back in the 4th grade
you raise your hand up
(a little payback)
with time
the answers don't stand up
(a little payback)

Judas, must this kiss be yours?
to start those silly holy wars
when all your family genes ensure
the back door
the low blow
revenge

(Stella!  hey, Stella!
give me, give me, give me)  

i need
(a little payback)
i need
(a little payback)
i need
(a little payback)
i need

i need

Music and Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, copyright  © 2011

All Of Them Monsters

A Little Payback

The song "In Self Defense" from Chancellorpink's 2009 album "Life Like Sad Music".

Chancellorpink is Raymond G. McLaughlin: all vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard, drum programming, percussion, production and engineering.

IN SELF DEFENSE
i got lucky yesterday
made the whole world go away
it was just a dream
and the rush hour traffic let me know
that all you folks are still around
what a shame

i got nothing left to say
to the ones who left me here
except the shame's on you
when you stopped loving me
well i'm sorry, but i stopped missing you
in self defense

Dick Clark doesn't need to breathe
for time to still count down our days
to the final hour
and all this fine solitary time
has helped me make my peace with the end
well how 'bout you?

no one's fighting for me
no one's fighting for me
self defense

no one's fighting for me
no one is fighting for me
self defense

and the ones this world counts
well you can't count on them at all
and the ones counted out
full of doubt, and they're all so busy
using self defense

Music & Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, Copyright © 2009

Life Like Sad Music

In Self Defense

Chancellorpink's song "Chancellor Pink", from his eponymous 2006 debut.  The song was originally recorded in 1987 with Ray McLaughlin's band Six Gun Jury and was one of the top 50 songs of 1987, according to WPTS (University of Pittsburgh radio).  

Chancellorpink is Raymond G. McLaughlin: all vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard, drum programming, percussion, production and engineering.

CHANCELLOR PINK
I've stripped the walls to white
The floors to wood
And all to right this room here
With chancellor pink

It's on the ceiling
To look up is appealing
At the skyline of chancellor pink

Each guest is shadowed
By my keen and silent marrow
As I spy their mood to question what they think
And spray the air with chancellor pink

Paint me down

You have your days planned
And you burn them in the waste land
Under brown fog of another winter's drought

But I'm on fire
And I'm spinning in a gyre
With the color of a life that let's you out

And if we must be subject
To a certain stately object
Then I must submit to chancellor pink
I must admit to chancellor pink

Paint me down

And I'm just knowing
That my room will soon be growing
''Til the whole house is chancellor pink
'Til the whole world is chancellor pink

Paint me down

Music & Lyrics Copyright © 1987, 2006 Raymond G. McLaughlin

Chancellorpink

Chancellor Pink

Chancellorpink's single ""Unfinished Valentine" from his 2/14/08 album "Valentine Parade".

Chancellorpink is Raymond G. McLaughlin: all vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard, drum programming, percussion, production and engineering.

UNFINISHED VALENTINE
every month is February
cold and dark and mean
every time i glance over
my clock says 2:14

and i wonder where you are tonight
i wonder if you drew a heart for me

4 things i need:
construction paper
and a red crayon
red wine
and a bed to always lay on

no, make that 5
i need to know if you're alive

everybody wants to be kissable
but a true heart is what's missable
one you can rely on
and i'm one you can rely on

everybody wants to be kissable
but a true heart is what's missable
one you can rely on
and i'm one you can rely on, baby

when i think you don't think of me
all my hope diminishes
so i start another valentine for you
come and help me finish it

i never want to start or end the day
but i'm ok
really, i'm ok
(he's not ok)
(he's not ok)

add another to the shrine
of unfinished valentines

everybody wants to be kissable
but a true heart is what's missable
one you can rely on
and i'm one you can rely on, baby

everybody wants to be kissable
but a true heart is what's missable
one you can rely on
and i'm one you can rely on

right now you don't find me kissable
but this old heart's a whole lot missable
you'll come back when you find
our hearts are intertwined
until then, valentine
until then, valentine
until then

Music & Lyrics by Raymond G. McLaughlin, Copyright © 2008

Valentine Parade

Unfinished Valentine

A song I wrote and recorded in 1998 for my sons, who were 2.

Whispers to Children

This is song number 3 from my 2002 home cassette tape recorded album Fondly and With Feeling, called Connection.

CONNECTION
Your eyes are fixed 
with a solitary
gaze into nowhere 
Loneliness is scary 

Am I a ghost?
Does anybody see me?
What I want most — 
A stranger to believe me

Please stop rejecting 
No’s not the word to say
We’re just not connecting
but please don’t turn away

Here underground 
I roll in darkened blankets
Will I break down?
Or will the colors take me?

Please stop rejecting 
No’s not the word to say
We’re just not connecting
but please don’t turn away

Your little friends
They lead you down a black hole
Hand, take my hand, take my hand
and feel the trembling of a soul

And don’t you need protection?
And don’t you want connection?

Her eyes looked up
and caught a glimpse of mine
And so for a time
there was a point to life

Please stop rejecting 
No’s not the word to say
We’re just not connecting
but please don’t turn away

Your little friends
They lead you down a black hole
Hand, take my hand, take my hand
and feel the trembling of a soul

And don’t you need protection?
And don’t you want connection?

Words & Music by Raymond G. McLaughlin, © Copyright 2002

Connection

Reclusive bedroom-pop and basement-rock auteur Chancellorpink is long-time Pittsburgh vocalist, songwriter and modern rock musician Ray McLaughlin, who makes swirling, heart-rendered distortion and guitar-based indie rock.

Chancellorpink

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