'Stay On The Line' is a song I wrote many years ago. I've always played it live, solo with an acoustic guitar but I've always thought that it would be great as a piano piece. Now thanks to Sophie Hodgson, that's a reality!

It's a song really for anyone who's felt that they had to make a phone call but didn't really know what they had to say..... it's reminiscent of the piano ballads of Ben Folds and Badly Drawn Boy, with maybe a touch of R.E.M.'s 'Nightswimming' and 'Everybody Hurts'.....
Huge thanks to Jeff Clark, drums, percussion, beer and sounding board, without whom etc etc, James Cadwell for supplying a far better bassline than I ever could have played, Sophie as mentioned, and Steve Twinley for a quick bit of nifty mastering.

Stay On The Line

"Everybody Farts" (#425, 201220)

 * co-written with Pete & Pat Luboff * 

You can do it in a church or an elevator
You can do it if you’re a cow or an alligator
You can try to hold it back but it will come out later
Everybody farts

You can be the Queen of England or a newborn babe
You can blame it on the dog and say, Me? No way!
But the truth is you’re gonna do it night and day
Everybody farts

Everybody farts everybody farts
Bless our smelly hearts everybody farts
All the way from Fresno to Sleepy Hollow
Farting is such sweet sorrow
Sing it with me now everybody farts

Who smelt it dealt it who thunk it stunk it
Who spoke it broke it who sniffed it biffed it
Whoever's poking fun is the smoking gun
Everybody farts

	Who declared it blared it who introduced it produced it
	Who spoke it broke it who observed it served it
	Whoever sang the song did the pong
	Everybody farts

Everybody farts everybody farts
Bless our smelly hearts everybody farts
Hold your breath and pull my finger
Wipe away a tear 'cause the best ones linger
The truth will set you free everybody farts

For some folks in South America it’s how they say hello
In China you can get a job as a fart smelling pro
You even do it for a while after you die that’s how it goes

Everybody farts everybody farts
Bless our smelly hearts everybody farts
Anybody hear that barking spider
I stepped on a duck and he was full of fiber
Quick someone get me a lighter everybody farts

Week 52b - Everybody Farts (201220)

"Top Of The List" (#428, 210104)

Quiet all along the highway
Sun peeking over the trees
Wind picked up but I wore my coat
And it feels alright to me

Come out here every morning
Sit quiet and listen clear
Blue crayon and a piece of paper
And I watch these lines appear

Some people seek salvation in heaven
Other folks build it here on earth
Me I'm just lucky to count my blessings
Anytime I can find the words
Younger self well I never woulda' guessed
What's always on the top of the list

Get an early start tomorrow
Pack a little bag to bring
Blanket and a pair of mittens
Winter's gonna' turn to spring

Week 01 - Top Of The List (210104)

Lullaby for Madelyn - Song a Week 2021, Week 3

I had fun redoing this old (July 2017) SAW song!

This is about burnout.  But I also think it fits with the current times of the pandemic, whether its loss of livelihood or jobs, loss of a loved one, isolation (social distancing), displacement and more.

Photo by Eric Vetter, Coney Island, Summer 2020
Photo is empty Coney Island (usually there would be hundreds of people…).

No Connection

I used to play games
I used to take risks
I used to have drive
I used to be clear
I used to inspire
But I lost my fire
Who am I now?
I lost myself somehow

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

I used to have fun
I used to have laughs
I used to be patient
I used to relax
I used to be brave
I used to have hope
Why can’t I dream?
I’m no longer part of a team

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

I used to have power
I used to have a voice
I used to be loved
I used to have trust
I used to be fierce
I used to have grace
Who am I now?
I lost myself somehow

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

No Connection - 1:22:21, 7.48 PM

Hey Lady - please come over here
for this to work you need to be quite near, to me
Oh Lady - your actions soon will show
that you have powers you didn't know, could affect me (so)

You smile - and it warms me up inside
like hot chocolate on a cold winter's night
But when you kiss me - without warning
that's like coffee on a cold December morning
Needless to say - it gets me going

Like a spark in the dark, an electric charge
connecting me to you
Why it happens again, and again science can't explain
but I swear - it's the Gospel truth
it's because I love you

Hey Lady - now that you have seen
what you do to me means, to me
Oh Lady - I know that you can tell
that this experiment went quite well, so let's prove it again

Song and image Copyright © Claes Akerblom

Cold Morning Coffee (demo)

A Cup Of Cold Coffee

The first tale of Snow and Cherry

Help yourself

i know it's hard to feel lonely
when nothing seems like it's alright
no need to keep on pretending
not this time

i know you know it's a journey
but we don't always know how far
don't let the world break your heart to pieces
not this time

no one can help you if you don't help yourself
every man can change his mind, it's alright

you know i love you to tears
that it's ok for men to cry
i know nobody has ever taught us
until now

Tales of Snow and Cherry

Help Yourself

The harvest we’ve become
(Mark Anderson)

These are the seeds of memories
Where our love began
Those precious seeds of memories
Are part of the master’s plan
I take those seeds you’ve given me
I plant them one by one
I tend the garden then let it be
The harvest that we’ve become…

How could we know the seeds of love
Desires hopes and dreams
Were always waiting here for us
To unlock the mysteries 
Let’s make a wish then set it free
Forever will it run
Then like our love that wish will be
The harvest that we’ve become…

(Chorus)
We harvest the love we harvest the day
We harvest our troubles along the way
Give thanks for the rain and pray for the sun 
To watch over the harvest that we’ve become
Watch over the harvest that we’ve become…

These are the seeds of memories
Where our love began
Tonight I hold you close to me
To plant our seeds again
The morning light so gracefully
Brings the morning sun
To shine down here on you and me
And the harvest we’ve become…

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
Deep within a memory’s seed
Is everything we’ll ever need
Shinning down here from above
This is all there is to  love

(Chorus)

The harvest we've become

My Year is Coming 

Autumn’s watching 
Like you're living someone else’s life
On the outside like
A visitor counting the time 
Yes, I know, I was pushing me out
Giving up like I’d lost it
Never feel like’ I’m getting things right  

Spring came early
Trailing petals like a runaway bride 
Season changes after 
Cold winter, waiting for white 
Catching words in a butterfly net 
Like an imposter
Never feel like I’m doing my best    

I found a gap
between the clouds 
A glint of light 
behind the shadows
Greenest grass 
beyond the meadow
A better day 
beyond tomorrow

I know I know, I know my year is coming 
I know I know, my year is coming 


Summer’s on us
Balmy evening breezes carry the light
Fortune’s knocking
On the changes that I’m feeling inside
Seeds are planted and they’re starting to sprout
Feeling like I’ve got it 
Now I know that I’m crushing my doubt

I found a gap
between the clouds 
A glint of light 
behind the shadows
The greenest grass 
beyond the meadow
A better day 
beyond tomorrow

I know I know, I know my year is coming 
I know I know, my year is coming

Help Yourself

cristhopper