This one was fun to write. It started with the guitar part for the chorus. I loved the slightly dissonant chords on "rainbow" leading into the measure. Towards the end, I modulate up a half step while returning to the original key during the "rainbow" lead-in for the chorus - it makes for some extra spice that the guitar can solo over!

LYRICS:
I think that I can finally see where you came from
Refract then collect the total spectrum that you're made of
Colors bleed out, a useful read out
I see through that rainbow guise
(I see through your rainbow guise)

So now with care, avoid the smudging of those layers
But am I unaware to try to fit a hex onto you
I think that I can see through your rainbow guise

Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@mango_quan

Rainbow Guise

LYRICS:

This house feels haunted, like Halloween night
Not sure how I got here - no exit in sight
I wander for hours through dim winding halls
these dusty old photos all lining the walls

I might know some people that fill out these frames
But the details are fuzzy, like what what their name?
Now is that an angel at the aisle in white?  
Well I'm certain I know her. At least, I think I might...

Do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Take one
So do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Won't you dance with me tonight?
Take one. Do you want a dance? Take one.
So do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Keep this moment in the light

That man in the picture is holding her hand
A concept of contact my palm understands
Those lines and the wrinkles hold my sight for a while
'til my bones ache inside me, but still, yet, I smile

I feel there's a reason that I've been brought to this place
Where foreign is familiar - out of body, mind, and space
When it suddenly hits me, a memory set free
The man in that dusty old photo - is it me?

I feel I know you from somewhere
From before my mind began to tear
Please please don't you leave me
I wanna stay

Do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Take one
So do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Won't you dance with me tonight?
Take one. Do you want a dance? Take one.
So do you want a dance? Take one. Do you want a dance? Keep this moment in the light

Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@simonppt

Do You Want a Dance?

This is the 2nd entry of the song writing challenge group that I'm in! So the theme this time around was "little slice of hell". I thought, "Wow! This will be easy. I'll just write a scornful love song." But then I thought it would be funny if I took the theme a little differently and wrote about acquiring real estate in hell. Eventually I settled in the middle somewhere and wrote about accidentally setting your Tinder location in hell, falling in love with a devil girl, and moving in.


LYRICS:
My heart's on fire but willing to pump through all this pain
I’m here in this ashy field where cinder falls like rain
Cause there’s a desire and all my friends think I’m insane, yeah

And I met her on some dating site last week
Forgot to change location from hell to Philly
It’s a blind date; eyes are melting I can’t see
Yeah my deviled angel is hotter in person... I mean that literally

Well I told you! And you’ve mentioned
The hardest part of this will be managing third degree burns
Yeah this little slice of hell can be my home!

Well I guess my health insurance might go up
The out of pocket and deductibles both suck
Ask your dad if he can find me a new job. Yeah. I’m good with that pitchfork in my hands. I swear it...

And I met her on some dating sight last week.
Yeah she likes to dance the Salsa when she’s free.
I wonder if our kids will look like me
But with a pointed tail; I guess we’ll see!

Well I told you! And you’ve mentioned
The hardest part of this will be managing third degree burns
Yeah this little slice of hell can be my home!

Well I told you! And you’ve mentioned
The hardest part of this will be managing third degree burns
Yeah this little slice of hell can be my home!

Oh woah. You and I can just chill for eternity.
Near our lake of fire... well it won’t be chilly.
And papa Lucifer will have a word with me.
When I ask him if he’d let us be married...


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@capturebylucy 😊

LITTLE SLICE OF HELL (rough demo)

This is the 3rd entry of the song writing challenge group that I'm in!

"Okay, this melancholy guitar riff and vaguely existential vocals are cool, but what if I added some hip hop drums and this synth bass line below it? Oh neat, I might as well bring in the Codets to sing harmony on top. Cool... Cool... Let's find a nice electric piano pad to layer in some-WHAT IN THE SWEET HELL IS THIS BEAUTIFUL SOUND?! Looks like I'm adding a second keyboard melody on top."

This one definitely evolved from the original idea more than any song I've probably ever written. And I think it's a good thing!

LYRICS:
Born into youth: bliss with no consequence.
The world is all for you. This world is all for you.

Take what you want; it all has your name on it.
And forever is still this truth. But...
 
Someday it will crumble, when your parents become people
And your heroes can kill in the night

And could it be said that we all want this tale to unfold?
I don’t mean to be afraid, but to ask this feels bold!

Why can’t the air breathe into your lungs
Be aware take life as it comes
But prepare for when good days are
Numbered and rare another tale concludes
Little paper novel stories and the dreams they preclude


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@averey 😊

WHY CAN'T THE AIR

Short and sweet for this week! I normally am screaming and shouting in my songs and stick to a high range, but I wanted to try out a much more 'soft' vocal.

LYRICS:

So tell me more. I didn't ask for a half-baked measure of the truth.
And I abhor to even ask for and offload burden of the proof.

So tell me more. What could you want for when I gave everything to you.
What is this lore that you seem to implore? A broken promise - tabled, moot.


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@cadop 😊

TELL ME MORE

LYRICS:

My love is an empire; Your beauty my Rhine.
Well, I just gotta know babe - why did we set fire to all our good times?

And now the river has dried up.
It's a damming of spite.
It toppled me over, it's like I'm not sober.
I'll give you a ring with a piece of my mind.  

You know it took a thousand years for Rome to truly fall.
And that is just a single grain among the sands of time.
So I will bide my hours even if it takes them all.
With no regard for changing power: I will make you mine.

Do you regret what you said now?
Well, I know I do.
But when the bombs started falling, you left me here crawling without any clue.

Well, now the border has pushed back.
And we both put up guards.
But damming be damned. I’m pulling the plug.
River will flow here comes the flood...

You know it took a thousand years for Rome to truly fall.
And that is just a single grain among the sands of time.
So I will bide my hours even if it takes them all.
With no regard for changing power: I will make you mine.

Do you regret what you said now?
Well, I know I do.

EMPIRE

I'm dancing in silence - my curtains pulled tight
not in fear that they'll find me as I dance through the night.
but to a trance, I am subject - not one with mal-intent
rather a beautiful aspect of celestial consent

A star bound though midnight into the vast seas around
just driven by physics - the specifics: they're sound
As I hurtle through yonder, past the milky swirling grasp,
a bright burning star shot - intensely, I'm cast

Through the void of the known-less to deliver a rhythm to all who would listen to me
Darker than dark the matte sky all around starts to bounce with a twinkle and glee
For I am the aspect of song come to render a downbeat to all in my reach
But then I return back to earth as I trip over something on the floor


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@juskteez 😊

DANCING IN SILENCE

Just a quick take of a song I wrote for a song writing group =)

LYRICS
If you ask me, I will tell you
of a weird thing in my head
so just maybe if I'm lucky
we will share some common stead

If you call out from a canyon
and your words all become askew
I will sit there bathed in echos
until the meaning comes across new

and maybe we can both sing out the same tune
or are we shooting at the moon?

If you ask me, I will dig up
some entrenched thing from my skull
and if fate has some surprise left
you will grab at this thread and pull

and if you unwind through some process
that will let you pick out the knots
there's a good chance you will end up
with your trophy:  my heart you caught

and maybe it would be a war that's worth fought
or am I dreaming up a lot?


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@bjheimann 😊

IF YOU ASK ME

I had a fun time with this one! This started out as just an acoustic thing, but I had a full band version in my head. I threw this together today. It's not quite how I want it, but it's definitely in the right direction!

One thing that I was playing with was the idea that slightly out of tune low notes can sound pretty dope sometimes. If it's low enough, there is enough space between it and the rest of the harmonic content so it doesn't quite overlap in a horrible way. In the vein of a lofi aesthetic. There is a droning E note in the verse from the bass that is slightly flat and I kinda love it.

LYRICS:
And when we tear each other down
Some things get lost in all the wind
Like leaves that feather to the ground
The trees have nothing left to give

And when the bricks are all pulled out
The tower bare to the supports
Facade is cast away with clout
Its record stricken from reports

So when you need to fan the fire
You better check in on the wind
The stakes are high the flames are higher
With only ash again begin

The smoke will seep into your breath
An acrid gasp at what was done
Is it too late to stall this death?
Depends on who will stay or run

So when you need to fan the fire
You better check in on the wind
The stakes are high the flames are higher
With only ash again begin


Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@fourcolourblack 😊

DEPENDS ON

Working at two themes with this one. First theme is 'SPIRIT' while the second is to make a song in a genre that I don't normally touch. I went with a heart-break cowboy folk song for it.

It's the first time that I'm playing the spoons and harmonica on a song, so that's a thing now. I also really enjoyed how the first verse contrasts so much with the rest of the song. It was fun to put together the atmosphere around the song in general by including a backing track of a bar and recording some Foley work with cork sounds, clinking glasses together, etc. 

LYRICS:

I’ve been seein’ spirits of a love I used to know
But fate, it seems, had other plans in stow
I guess I got too near it, she’s a light up in the sky
And it hurts so much to fall from so damn high

My mind is running circles. And slumber still evades
A heart that’s torn to pieces - in my chest a vacant hole.
Still might be too near it, but she took my spirit, yeah

I’ve been drinkin’ spirits thinkin’ bout that love of mine
I wonder why she up and left me behin’
And curse out holy spirits she’s the one that got away
And I won’t find that again for all my days

I have so many questions - some best left unresolved
Quickened breath and heavin’, but I’m drownin’ in my mind
Still might be too near it, but she took my spirit, yeah

Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@disguise_truth 😊

SPIRIT

Thrill Nest Citizen Video Opening

All-purpose nerd trying to spin out way too many side projects for own good.

Cody James Casey

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