I'm with you, my friend. Love songs are good!

The music and singing is great, but your thing is the character. You totally put yourself across in your songs and that's rare!

Love country music. You wrote a cool country song.

These are my most played songs over the last three months.

DW - Most Played Songs

This a riff-driven punk number on the theme of dominance and control. It is either dark, or darkly dumb, depending on your point of view. I played around with gender pronouns to spread the joy!

I can license lyrics if people are keen. Full lyrics below:

Grip

[verse 1]

She’s got a grip on my heart [repeat x3]
Like a monkey wrench

Monk, key, wrench, twist

She sits on my chest [repeat x3]
To get leverage

He’s got a hold on me [repeat x3]
Like a harpoon

Hook, me, up, pull

He’s got his hooks in me [repeat x3]
Like a slaughter house

We hold each other tight [repeat x3]
Like a tourniquet 

Bleed, me, dry, stop.

We share everything [repeat x3]
Like a parasite 

They really turn me on [repeat x3]
In the electric chair

Strap, me, in, switch

They put me up on the altar [repeat x3]
For the sacrifice

You really make me move [repeat x3]
Like a voodoo doll

Pin, me, down, cut.

You know me inside out [repeat x3]
Like an autopsy

[coda]

Well you play the tune 
And I will dance for you
Until I’m all worn through

Yes you play the tune
And I will dance for you
Until I’m all worn through

Grip

Getting started on the full-blown track to come.

Against The Wind - Bob Seger (Ron Snyder Unplugged COVER)

This is a song about life.  It can be difficult and drab but now and then something happens and something special happens.  It's not predictable but it does happen.

The singer in this version is me, but I'm hoping one day that a real singer discovers this song and makes it their own.

Once in a While

Verse 1:
Most of my days
Lot like the day before
I’ve taught my self
Not to expect anything more
Can’t complain
All of my days are full 
But they’re not particularly
Memorable

Chorus:
But then once in a while
Comes a day  
Quite unexpectedly - In my life
A surprise, once in a while
Before my eyes
Magic finds its way back to me 

Verse 2:
There’ve been days
Living in shades of grey
Hard to know
What it was painted them that way
I’d Like to think
That every single day 
I deserve to live in joy 
But life keeps getting in my way

Chorus:
But then once in a while
Comes a day  
Quite unexpectedly - In my life
A surprise, once in a while
Before my eyes
Magic finds its way back to me 

Bridge 1:
I know it can only be once in a while
Can’t expect anything more
But the magic of that once in a while
Make it all worth waiting for

Verse 3:
I’ve heard it said
That there might be ways
To learn to live in those moments
For more of my days
But I never tried
I say it’s not my style  
But it could be I’m addicted to the magic
of once in a while

Chorus:
Once in a while
Comes a day  
Quite unexpectedly - In my life
A surprise, once in a while
Before my eyes
Magic finds its way 
Magic finds its way 
Magic finds its way back to me

Once in a While

Once In A While

Video at https://youtu.be/fajq4lalOyo?si=BOfRXHq3xvn49PUE.
•••••••••••••••••••
A friend from university remembers me leaning out of a car window singing "I wanta get me some hongos". I remember no such thing.  In honour of his recollection I created that song, but from the perspective of a 75 year old. I still wanta get me some hongos, but ...

Verse 1:
I'm sitting here patiently trying to compose
A song about my distant past, all those highs and lows
I don't want to presume that everybody knows
That back in my early days I liked a taste of

Chorus:
Hongos, Hongos
That's the way the song goes
Hongos, Hongos
Wanta get me some Hongos

Verse 2:
Time goes on and on I guess everybody knows
Some things are moving faster but mostly it all slows
There were years oh so many when my consumption froze
And I nearly forgot about the magic of

Chorus:
Hongos, Hongos
That's the way the song goes
Hongos, Hongos
Wanta get me some Hongos

Verse 3:
Way back when if I had a choice I remember what I chose
I was immortal like all my friends, I guess that's how it goes
Now here I am over 70, still trying to compose
A song about my life that still featuring

Chorus:
Hongos, Hongos
That's the way the song goes
Hongos, Hongos
Wanta get me some Hongos

Bridge:
My time is running short
Before I watch my life abort
I might as well resort
To some

Chorus:
Hongos, Hongos
That's the way the song goes
Hongos, Hongos
Wanta get me some Hongos

Hongos!

•See the Video•

Video at https://youtu.be/pOL6a-dC6FI?si=Bf3kHPIWbqdZM8e2
******************
This is a song about depression and survival. 

When I wrote it I still had another 25 years of surviving it ahead of me. But I'd made a decision years before, when I was 14, that no matter how bad it got it would always get better, sooner or later. And it always did, at least for a while. And knowing that somehow made it just a little bit easier to smile.


[This is a new mix. Drums by John Bennetts have been added and everything else has been changed, at least a little.]

Verse 1:
It’s more than a song
But less than a dream
I know what I say
Is not what I mean
Pretending my words
Aren’t meant to deceive
I’m playing with doubt
I want to believe

I know that it’s hard
To explain why I’m here
I complain though I know
There is nothing to fear
But the fear and the doubt
That wind through my mind
Are inventions of mine
That help pass the time

Chorus:
So here is my song
I wrote it for me
I need to recall
That it’s easy to be
The times that I’ve faced
My life as a trial
Have taught me to see
That it’s easy to smile

Verse 2:
I’m more than a child
But less than a man
I know where I’ve been
But not who I am
I'll say that I'm strong
I'll tell you I’m free
But none of that's true
I just want it to be

Once I entered a room
I pulled down the shade
I turned out the lights
I wanted to fade
But I noticed the wall
Right there looking at me
Pretending to be blind
I really wanted to see

Chorus:
So here is my song
I wrote it for me
I need to recall
That it’s easy to be
The times that I’ve faced
My life as a trial
Have taught me to see
That it’s easy to smile

Verse 3:
It all seemed to happen
A while ago
At a time I was lost
I just didn’t know
That doubting was simply
A game that I had
It gave me a reason
For feeling this bad

There are times there are changes
My memory moves
Preaching the patterns
I’ve worn into grooves
Repeating mistakes
I made in my youth
Learning the lines
And calling them truth
I can’t help but change
Can't help but survive
I might drown in doubt
But I'll still be alive

Chorus:
So here is my song
I wrote it for me
I need to recall
That it’s easy to be
The times that I’ve faced
My life as a trial
Have taught me to see
That it’s easy to smile

Easy to Smile

Easy To Smile

Remixed and remastered 4 January 2025
================================
The phrase "perfect is the enemy of good" is an aphorism commonly attributed to Voltaire in 1770, but even he was apparently quoting an Italian proverb that had been around for a while.  It seemed to me to be a good idea for a song.  

Verse 1:
There was that short descriptions on page 195
It wasn’t really what I had intended to describe
And after many hours of working on the text
I gave up and decided that it was hopeless to expect
That I’d ever have the talent to do better than ok
I tossed that novel in the bin, there’s nothing more to say
It will forever go unread, I did the best I could
Perfect is the enemy of good

Chorus:
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy of good
If I could make it better don’t you think I would
If I say it’s not good enough, I hope it's understood
Perfect is the enemy of good

Verse 2:
Our partnership was based on love and trust and fun
But I was undecided, would she ever be the one
Was she what I wanted, was she a perfect fit
A goddess with golden hair and unrivalled wit
A libertine, a temptress, that lovely girl next door
I let her go, so I'd be free for whatever was in store
Learned a lot about loneliness, more than I really should
Perfect is the enemy of good

Bridge:
Nothing’s ever finished
Nothing’s ever done
Always trying, waiting
While the race is being run
Perfect is my enemy
It keeps me playing small
For all that I’ve attempted
There’s not much to show at all

Verse 3:
The novel I was writing spoke of sadness and regret
For a love I’d lost so long ago that I still can’t forget
With this song I’m hoping for some closure on my past
I’m trying hard - I hope I can redeem myself at last
You’ll probably never hear this song - it won’t pass the test
That just allows perfection - I give up on all the rest
But who knows maybe this time I’ll cut myself a break
And sing this song with all it’s flaws - it’s a chance that I should take
Not perfect but maybe the very best I could
Perfect is the enemy of good

Chorus:
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy
Perfect is the enemy of good
If I could make it better don’t you think I would
If I say it’s not good enough, I hope it's understood
Perfect is the enemy of good
Perfect is the enemy of good

Perfect is the Enemy of Good

Perfect Is The Enemy

Eve and I were travelling in the Northern Territory a while back when the line "I'm not a love song kind of guy" came to me. I thought it was such an obvious title for a country song that there must be a few songs like it around. As best I could I searched for and failed to find those songs. I figured that the song needed to exist so I thought I'd better write it. This is what I came up with.

Verse 1
I started writing songs some time ago
Don't know why I guess that I just decided to give it a go
I would write about this or that anything i could
I didn't know and hardly cared if it was any good
But I never touched the theme of love, I really don't know why
It occurred to me I might not be a love song kind of guy

Verse 2
At first that didn't bother me, I had a lot to say
Just me and this old guitar, I was still learning to play
But as I learned to weave my words between and around a tune
I'd try my hand at a song of love but it always seemed too soon
Over time it became a missing piece - something I could not deny
By and by I decided I'm not a love song kind of guy


Bridge
I'm inclined to write a line to make you think or smile
Or find something in my words that'll make my song worthwhile
But when it comes to you and me all my words run dry
I guess I'm not a love song kind of guy

Verse 3
It all changed a while ago when everything turned real
Now it's important to me to express the way I feel
But I don't know how to say that your smile lights up my day
Or how much love I feel for you but don't have the words to say
I can't make the words work no matter how I try
I have to face that it's not my place to be a love song kind of guy

Love Song Kind of Guy

Love Song Kind Of Guy

I never really knew Leone but I met her around 40 years ago.  This is her song.

She shared her name with her car
Funny what memories do
Except for the end of her tale
Her name and her car were all that I knew

I really didn’t know her at all
But even now I remember her name
The thing thing that made her easy to recall
Her name and her car’s were exactly the same

Leone was a friend of my first wife
After we split up I didn’t see her any more
A Subaru Leone - was the car that she drove
They stopped making those cars in 1994

Not going to tell you the story
It’s really not my story to tell
It was all over the news 
If you’re old enough you’ll remember it well

She was lost like so many
Alone in the world all on her own
Of all the people there on that day
Leone was the only one that I’d ever known

Tragedies happen all of the time
Somewhere in the world every day
We've all felt the ripples in time
No matter how far away.

Big stories and small
All those beginnings and ends
Leone's story is a sad story
Mostly remembered by her family and friends

She shared her name with her car
Funny what memories do
Except for the end of her tale
Her name and her car were all that I knew

Leone

This song began as an anniversary present to my wife, Eve. I started it on the day of our 22nd anniversary and finished it by our next anniversary. 

This song, for some reason, is Eve's favourite of all of my songs.

Verse 1:
It was 22 years ago you became my wife
For 22 years our partnership has has been central to my life
Our private journeys down the road of life we've been walking side by side
Step by step into who knows what it's been a magic and a thrilling ride

Verse 2:
22 is just a number it's not even prime
But 22 years is a big part of my whole lifetime
Our love has grown deeper that I thought it could ever be
I'm not surprised but I'm astonished we reached our 22nd anniversary

Bridge:
Arbitrary numbers we use to measure our lives
Counting up then counting down until the final day arrives
22 is just a number and I think I'll let it be
At least until the number finally reaches 23

Verse 3:
Now after 22 years I want to celebrate this day with you
Let's re- read our vows and see which ones we're living up to
I tell you how deep is my love and admiration for you
You'll say as much and the magic is that I'll believe it's true

Outro
So let's raise a glass to 22
A number, just a number, but it will have to do.
Somehow it says a whole lot, about me and you
And I'll end this song with my favourite words "I love you"

Twenty-two

Twenty-Two

Beat the Beast est une chanson rock (quelque part entre le pop-rock et le rock progressif). Elle raconte l’histoire d’un couple « un brin » dysfonctionnel, d’une amourette se transformant en quelque chose de plus brutal.

Guitares : Éric Grenu
Basse : Jérémie Vinet
Mastering : Cyril Dabas

Beat the Beast

https://myckalmarcovic.bandcamp.com/track/la-faute-au-cerveau
Translation above.

https://soundcloud.com/lionel-abbou m'a fait l'honneur de mettre en musique mon texte et de le chanter.

C’est la faute au cerveau

On n’est jamais content
De son physique
On est trop p’tit, on est trop grand
C’est pas pratique
On est trop mince, on est trop gros
Ou trop chétif, ou ramollo
C’est la faute (ter)
aux kilos

On n’est jamais content
De son physique
On est trop noir, on est trop blanc
C’est pathétique
On manque de grâce, de biscotos
On est tordu comme un ragot
C’est la faute (ter)
aux photos

Refrain :
Mais rien n’est un défaut
Qu’on se trouve moche ou beau 
Quel que soit le tableau
C’est la faute (ter)
au cerveau

Il y a toujours bien mieux
Que son physique
On est trop jeune, on est trop vieux
Chronillogique
Les cheveux tombent incognito
La calvitie, ça fait vieillot
Viv’ la boule (ter) 
à zéro
(refrain)

Quand on se sent trop vieille
Monogamique
Que la peau s’emplit de dentelles
Trop archaïques
Pour ne plus voir ces rides en trop
Et fair’ de l’œil aux hidalgos
Bistouri (ter)
À gogo
(refrain)

Myckaël Marcovic, le 24 juillet 2020
Musique de Lionel Abbou, 27 mai 2024

Lionel Abbou did me the honor of setting my text to music and singing it.

It's the brain's fault

You're never happy
With the way you look
You're too small, you're too big
It's not practical
You're too thin, you're too fat
Or too sickly or too soft
It's the fault (ter)
the kilos

You're never happy
With the way you look
You're too black, you're too white
It's pathetic
We lack grace, biscotos
We're as twisted as gossip
It's the fault (ter)
to the pictures

Refrain :
But nothing is a flaw
Whether you think you're ugly or beautiful 
Whatever the picture
It's the fault (ter)
the brain

There's always something better
Than your looks
You're too young, you're too old
Chronillogic
Hair falls out incognito
Baldness is old-fashioned
Viv' la boule (ter) 
to zero
(refrain)

When you feel too old
Monogamous
When the skin fills with lace
Too archaic
To stop seeing those extra wrinkles
And wink at the hidalgos
Bistouri (ter)
In spades
(refrain)

Myckaël Marcovic, July 24, 2020
Music by Lionel Abbou, May 27, 2024

La faute au cerveau (Myckaël Marcovic / Lionel Abbou) feat. Lionel Abbou

Together was remixed and remastered on 11 January 2025
=========================================
[Lyrics follow}
A sweet, gentle pop song.  The original was written over 50 years ago and lost for more than 40.  It was found buried in a pile of old papers that might never have been uncovered if it wasn't for our Covid years.  This version is the first recording of the song, but it's grand entry into the world of song came when a four part harmony version (that I co-arranged with choir leader Susan Stott) was chosen by our local choir for performance.  It was a very special moment when I first heard 50 people singing a song that had only ever been sung by one person its long life.
==================================
Verse 1:
You’ve been a stream
You've been running clear
But you can’t always see the sky
You’ve been afraid of leaving home
Afraid of running dry
I’m feeling blue
And I’m missing you
I wonder where you are
I’d walk all the way
But I fear it’s much too far  

Chorus:
Together          
We’ll be together once again
Together           
Back together once again


Verse 2:
The city so strange
I’m lost in a maze but it's
All making sense somehow
It’s all a dream I’m so confused
And I’m alone for now
I’m feeling down
In this mountain town
I’m lost in something new
I think I’ll lay back
Relax and think of you   

Chorus:
Together          
We’ll be together once again
Together           
Back together once again  

Bridge:
You told me you’d be coming  home to me
But you didn’t say when   
But I’m sure it’s goin’ to all work out 
We’ll be together again

Verse 5:
If we take some time
And watch the signs
While we’re both on our own
We might pick up some dreams
And bring them all back home   

Chorus:
Together          
We’ll be together once again
Together           
Back together once again

Together

I always wanted to write a song about rainbow lorikeets - these beautifully coloured birds that all have different personalities. Sitting for a while to watch them at feeding time can be quite therapeutic, especially with a beer in hand!


Rainbow Lorikeets

"Signs" is a laidback yet funky exploration of fate, superstition, and the eerie coincidences that seem too perfect to ignore. With a hypnotic groove and mysterious atmosphere, the song weaves through flickering streetlights, repeating numbers, and whispers from the unknown—leaving you wondering if the universe is sending a message or just playing tricks.

Signs

Seed Greed

I write songs.  I'm not a performer any more than I need to be to have my songs heard once in a while. I hope that better musicians than I encounter my songs and decide to play them.  I just write songs to have them exist in the world. If the world likes them then the world can do with them what it will.  All these recordings are demos.  I've tried to make them as musically interesting as I can but they are all awaiting the skilled hand of someone who knows how to make songs shine.

Love Song Kind Of Guy

Daniel Weinstein

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