Our special gift to you, our Soundcloud listeners, friends, and family; some musical and poetic reflections this Christmas season, 2024.
We wish you all a truly joyous and very beautiful MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Lovely Lyric/poetry, narrative & singing - Peter the poet - soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Masterfully played Lovely guitars - David Dunham - @david-dunhamuser589535203
Music, Mix & Production - Seagull - @farout-music-studio
Voice - Clara

Reflections On the Pale Light of Winter--A Christmas Gift from Seagull, Peter, and David

"HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY SOUNDCLOUD FRIENDS"

Monday Playlist week of 12/30/2024

Birds - Neil Young (Cover)

Related tracks: “Truth be Told “ full version

Monday Playlist week of 6/2/2025

One of my favorite songs of all time, created AcoustatTronically in my own way with all due respect to the Mighty Canadian Balladeer Songwriter, and Performing Artist, Gordon Lightfoot. Vocals, Guitars, and Production by Riff Beach via RiffWerx Records - 2021.
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot - circa 1970
If you could read my mind, Love, what a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie 'bout a ghost from a wishing well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me
And, I will never be set free as long as I'm a ghost that you can't see
If I could read your mind, Love, what a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstores sell
When you reach the part where the heartaches come, the hero won't be me
Because heroes often fail
You won't read that book again, because the end is just too hard to take
I walk away like a movie star, who gets burned in a three-way script
Enter number two
A movie queen to play the scene of bringin' all the good things out in me
But, for now, Love, let's be real.....
I never thought I could act this way, and I've got to say that I just don't get it
I don't know where we went wrong, but the feeling's gone....
And, I just can't get it back
(Repeat Chorus 'Blended' Verse.....and Out)

Sunny Beaches All Around

If You Could Read My Mind - Version

If You Could Read My Mind - AcoustaTronic Version

So much talent from my part of the country (SW Louisiana, SE Texas) George Jones, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt, George Straight, Janis Joplin, Edgar Winters and the list goes on.  Tracy Lawrence sang with a Louisiana based band in 1988-1990.  He was shot 4 times by robbers in may 1991 which delayed his first album Sticks and Stones.  He was named top new male country vocalist in 1993.  He continues to create great music.  Just one of my favorite Tracy Lawrence songs.

That's How A Cowgirl Says Goodbye (Cover)

Halfway Between Here and New Orleans ©
Original - Riff Beach ( RiffWerx - 2016, Revised 2022 )
Lady Luck…..
Well, she left me out in Reno
Just one more throw
Before the red-eye home
You know I just wanna’ hop a streetcar
Or, maybe, take a shiny limousine
I’m so tired of being crammed into airplanes
That kinda’ travel just leaves me feeling mean
(Chorus)
Well, there’s sure something in living sunrise to sunset…..
But, I’m not sure exactly what it means?
And, just some thoughts on my way back to you
Halfway - between here - and New Orleans
Remember that time down on Decatur
Or, when we first met on Magazine?
We knew that sooner - or - later
We’d end up halfway between here….
…..and New Orleans
And somewhere over the Mighty Mississippi
You know you’re right there in all my dreams
All the time we’ll spend together
Halfway between Here…. and ….. New Orleans

Sunny Beaches

Halfway Between Here And New Orleans ©

Halfway Between Here And New Orleans (Live) ©

I think of this man as the Frank Sinatra of country music.  What
a voice and such a special gift.  So many wonderful songs and so many were so beautifully orchestrated.  I tried to get a bit of orchestra feel with the limited resources I have.

I Wish I Were Eighteen Again ( Cover  - Ray Price)

Written by: TOMMY WALKER
Performed by: Josh McAlexander

He knows my Name

Travelling with Ghosts

Yesterday you told me that you‘ll leave our home today 
I think it’s okay cause you’re eighteen now anyway

It seems to me like someone pushed fast-forward on my tape
Keep holding back the memories in my head so they won't escape

Farewell my son, be safe when travelling with ghosts
They like to whisper in your ear, the things you fear the most

And when you‘re old and grey like your father is by now
Most likely you will think of me and drop a line somehow

Farewell my son, be safe when travelling with ghosts
They like to whisper in your ear, the things you fear the most

And when the time has come for you to meet your dad again
We‘ll be sitting on our cloud together, smiling now and then 

Happy birthday David!



Thanks a million for pre-listening: Michele, Gary, Judith and Brenda!

Travelling With Ghosts (David’s 18th birthday)

Shooting my shot on the Aoki Challenge for this track!  A blend of dark and light with varying synth tones scattered throughout.

Sable

Merry-Go Going, Going, Gone

""Birds" is the eighth track on After The Gold Rush. It features no instrumentation other than piano and Young's voice. It's a song of loss, with Young comforting a lover he's about to leave. At just over two-and-a-half minutes long, it's one of the shortest songs on the album, trailing in that honor only "Till The Morning Comes" and "Cripple Creek Ferry."
The song's structure is interesting because the six-line chorus is longer than both four-line verses. It starts with Young reassuring his lover that there will be "another one who'll hover over you beneath the sun." The chorus then paints an image of Young flying away from his "little one," ending with the sweetly spoken yet harsh assurance that "it's over."

It's a beautiful song (though Jimmy McDonough among others feel it was overworked in the studio) that's even more interesting looking at Young's life and career as a whole. He's always shown a penchant for abandoning people, from lovers to friends to bands. It's a notorious aspect of his personality, and one he himself has lamented on many occasion, both in interview and in song, for instance, "Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)."

"Birds" can be viewed as another song of Young chronicling his own tendency to burn bridges and leave people behind as he chases his muse. Or, it can be enjoyed simply as a tale of the universal complexities of romantic love".          Songfacts

Mastered Track: Distrokid Mixea

I thought I'd create a dark themed Christmas track.
Various plugins were used to create this track from The Crow Hill Company, Spitfire Audio and Toontrack.

Image was generated by AI. 

A Christmas Ghost Story

Side Note : I dont expect this to get many listens as it is an almost 8 Min. Dirge  LOL. :{)   My goal here is to upload my catalog to date... thats something really want to do before this life is over.. ( Im feeling fine today ). Theres so many people out there like me.. who may not ever get the chance to share the creative spark within themselves ... the small ( or large ) contribution to the culture of humanity . This platform.. as others currently and in the past, brings the entire world together in one harmonious creative voice. And if nothing else, shows us that we can really all get along just fine woth each other if left to our individual creative desire to do so..

I am humbled by your kind and generous spirit and you willingness to share it. 

I have another version of this... it is a studio version. but this version holds the original spirit.  Headphones might be best.. it a raw track..

Lyrics / music by Bill Liggett

Well I had it and I lost it a couple of times
the good life fights like a fish on a line
ohh the one that got away
I saw her swim by the other day
well you lost your chance and it makes you mad
but I say time is all you ever had
oh.. you lost that itch
aint losin a sonofabitch?
But don’t be sad
the futures everything you never had
and don’t you cry
one and done is the biggest lie
the crime is never to have tried and never to have failed
and the good guy doesn’t always win 
and sometimes its the saint who has the sin
and the stronger man will do you in
but the digging of two graves will soon begin
impossible decisions at the crossroads
all roads lead to main street
go out fighting tryin to get it right
but a good left hook is gonna end the fight
oh.. break my bones today
and ill live to fight another day
they say come clean you gonna raise your hand?
 confess the crimes of another man
oh.. not without a fight
id much rather be dead right.
But don’t be sad
the futures everything you never had
and don’t you cry
one and done is the biggest lie
the crime is never to have tried and never to have failed
and the good guy doesn’t always win 
and sometimes its the saint who has the sin
and the stronger man will do you in
but the digging of two graves will soon begin
impossible decisions at the crossroads
all roads lead to main street

Dont Be Sad

Between July and November 1916 one of the most harrowing events in warfare history took place , the Battle of the Somme . In a largely pointless campaign , only 6 miles of French land was reclaimed , the British had 420,000 casualties , the French 194,000 and the Germans over 440,000 , a very sobering thought ! The people who gave the orders said to the men " We're right behind you " About 35 miles from the front in relative safety , not exactly right behind the men at the front risking their lives , what a waste of British , French and German souls . This is the story of a mans journey to the front , and having told that sad tale I do hope you enjoy it ! Back with a Xmas song on the 20th , and Charlie and the Fox finish the year off on the 27th , loads coming up in the New Year ! Thank you so much , and if you get chance have a listen to a track or 2 from me and Charlottes new album
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWWNcrIRv08J_eEbL7MJ_1UTdMo0MjJLM
https://open.spotify.com/album/78ewrWZjS41XvHT9mFWd6O?si=yDMcRADSSrOdWlanz6UPMw

No Album

In 1916

A beautiful and reflective song on what might have been, but still affirms the resilience and eternality of love.  In the context of love, time stands still.
Perhaps it is in the smallest things that we see the greatest and perhaps also the most beautiful.
Beautiful Poem & Narration - Peter; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Lovely Right Guitar - David; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Music, Guitars, Mix & Production - Seagull; @farout-music-studio

Silent Drops

I wonder, peering through the slipping drops - are you still there?
Do you still feel? Do you still care? Do you still, live?

And are your eyes still that mystic crystal sallowed pastel green?
How much of one lifetime would it ever take to just forgive,
lift the screen that crashed between us, seemly forty thousand years ago?

Ah, what might have been?
A parallel universe could hold our children, old by now, of course.
Kids of their own. And probably divorced.
Ah what the hell, there’s next to no chance that it would have worked out anyday.

You and I.
Separate ways.
You with your fabulous soft green eyes.
Me with nothing healing left to say, empty vespers, hollow, echo.
Wistful whispers, hushed and hint of tints of wettest blue.
But dear God I loved you so...... Still do.

Silent Drops (Seagull, Peter, David)

A brief reflection on what needs to be a Christmas gift to our planet, our environment, and ultimately ourselves and future generations.
 
Beautiful Poem & Vocals/Narration - Peter; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Lovely Left Guitar - David; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Music, Mix & Production - Seagull; @farout-music-studio

Slowly Time Running Out

A clear black light has painted out the stars tonight.
A tear-prismed rainbow wells in my eyes.
I’m clinging to my dead rose,
Shuffling down these broken roads,
With no end in sight, no will left to fight.

A long black cloud veiled through the moonlight, where,
The softest requiem prayer is lost in the air.
As a spadeful of dirt,
Hits the casket of hurt,
To bury my cares and inter our despair.

When the sands of time are shifting no more,
I’ll stand behind, with those left on the shore.
And as Jerusalem compels
Peals of leather muffled bells
Will chill to the core with their funereal score.

Slowly Time Running Out

We wanted to finish our trio of songs, and our gift to our Soundcloud family, on a lovely and upbeat note of hope; hope for humanity, hope for the world we call home, and hope for our destiny as a human race.  The ultimate theme of Christmas is redemption and hope, and with that thought, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas:)

Beautiful Poem & Narration - Peter; soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
Lovely Left & Center Guitar and Narration - David; @david-dunhamuser589535203
Guitars, Music, Mix, Narration & Production - Seagull; @farout-music-studio

The Lost Path

Peter:
Stumbling down, falling from the path
Wondering what the future holds
Crumbling in the aftermath
The Easterlies bring winter’s cold
Pushing upwards, clamber back
We won’t concede to darkness clouds
Our trajectory is back on track
For a society with head held proud

David:
Won’t concede our children’s hopes
To nuclear weapon isotopes
Christmas calling from the bells
To drag us back from human hells
We won’t concede our freedom’s joy
By falling for the devil’s ploy
With a chain of hands across the land
We refute his vile demands

Seagull:
We lost our way in yesterdays
Seems we found the wilderness
But sanity will find a way
To build afresh and fix the mess
Reconstruct and laser cast
Shine the light with focused beam
Illumination clear at last
To reignite the human dream

Peter:
Won’t consign future’s child
To living in a world defiled
Christmas calling from the bells
Will reinforce what truth foretells
We won’t concede our freedom’s sun
But send despot evil on the run
A chain of hands, conviction wins
To lead us to the path again

Won’t concede to culture thieves
Who twist the truth that we believe
Our heritage is what we are
Leads us home when we stray too far
Returns us to the path we lost
Saves us suffering folly’s cost
Warms within, and strength imparts
To the burnished bonds of a Christmas family heart

The Lost Path (Peter, Seagull, David)

Somewhere cross the world
People free and brave
Anything they want they take
It's a land of plenty
Enough for everyone
Except for those with none

Don't worry darling 
Little one dry your tears
It's somewhere far from here

Got tiny little hearts
To hear the way they live
So little love left to give
And if they got no house
They live on the street
Or maybe in a car's backseat

But don't worry darling
Little one dry your tears
It's somewhere far from here

Late at night they sing their songs
With all the grace of Babylon

My beautiful child
May you never see
What's become of their dream
Soon the day will be dawning
We'll wake and rise my darling
While somewhere night has fallen 
Somewhere far from here

But don't worry darling
Little one dry your tears
It's somewhere far from here

Somewhere Far From Here

Dear friends, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
It can be noted that many people become extra kind and friendly during Christmas time, even if not everyone celebrates Christmas. Perhaps a ceasefire can be implemented in the Middle East - It has been talked about! Now, one can only hope that Mr. President Putin's heart will be transformed from stone to gold!

Lyrics in English
A Heart of Gold

Now comes the most beautiful time
you can see when the birds fly to us
they know that we now - have a heart of gold

When you meet someone in the town square
you can see that they bow and bow
and they smile at me - they have a heart of gold

You can hear that those who rule the world now
have softened and they say that now there will be peace
you can hope that they - have a heart of gold

Both mistress and master are friendly now
they give a meat bone to the dog and the cat runs free
everyone notices right now - that Christmas has come here

Lyrics in Swedish
Ett Hjärta av Guld

Nu kommer den vackaste tiden hit
man kan få se när fåglarna flyga till oss
de vet att vi nu - har ett hjärta av guld

Då man möter någon på stadens torg
man kan få se att dom niger och bugar sig
och dom ler mot mig - dom har ett hjärta av guld

Man kan höra att dom som styr världen nu
har mjuknat upp och dom säger att nu ska det bli fred
man kan hoppas att dom - har ett hjärta av guld

Både matte och husse är vänliga nu
dom ger ett köttben till hunden och katten springer fritt
alla märker just nu - att julen har kommit hit

Ett Hjärta av Guld (A Heart of Gold - A Christmas Carol) - 2024-12-22 12.17

Cover-Take On Me

Original by Tom Petty And The Heartbreaker year 1989

Runnin' down a dream

A bit of US Country Rock going on here , Dave Cooper sent me the lyrics and I knew straight away this would work ! I got Kim on board to add a bit of flavour to the song , and this is the result , we hope you like it ! Nearly finished a new one with Dave , a bit of Folk Rock . Me , Gaz and Nat are up next with a cracker of a song , followed by a song written by David Dunham that me and Axel Menningen recorded , lovely song ! Then it's me , Skippy and Kim , followed by Kim and I , then a real belter me and Andrea Brennan put together about a week ago . Lot's happening folks , thank you for all the support you give to me and the projects I'm involved in .
Charlotte and myself still have our album out there , have a listen to a track or two !
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWWNcrIRv08J_eEbL7MJ_1UTdMo0MjJLM
https://open.spotify.com/album/78ewrWZjS41XvHT9mFWd6O?si=yDMcRADSSrOdWlanz6UPMw

Supersonic Dreamer

Original Lyrics by Tony Harris 2017 
Vocal & Music Production/Mix by Phillip Clarkson
Tribute to Merle Haggard R.I.P.

        HE PULLED US INTO HIS WORLD
	AND LET THE MUSIC UNFOLD
	HOOKED US FROM THE START
	IT WAS WAY DOWN IN HIS SOUL
	
	WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTRY
	YOUR IN IT OR YOU AIN'T
	HAGGARD WAS IN IT
	PLAYED FROM CAN TO CAN'T
	
CHORUS
	MERLE SANG ABOUT LIFE
	THE GOOD TIMES AND BAD
	HEART AKES AND STRIFE
	COULD MAKE UM' RHYMN..MAKE UM' SAD
	HAGGARD IS GONE
	YEA, THE HAG IS GONE
	HIS MUSIC LIVES ON
	YEA, HIS MUSIC LIVES ON
	
 	PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL AROUND
	TO HEAR THAT BAKERSFIELD SOUND
	MADE THAT TELECASTER TWANG
	WE LISTENED WHEN HE SANG
	
	MERLE TRAVELED FAR AND NEAR
	TO SING HIS COUNTRY SONGS 
	IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HE'S GONE
	HIS MUSIC WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON
	
	(REPEAT CHORUS 2 times)
	
	NO NEW SONGS ABOUT KERN RIVER
	HE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN…NO, NEVER 
	
	© 2017 Lyrics by Tony Harris (BMI)

DEMOS

Haggard Is Gone - Lyrics by Tony Harris - Vocal & Music by Phillip Clarkson - Original

Original Lyrics by Tony Harris
Vocals, Instruments, Music Production and Mix by Glen Granthem
The lyrics that inspired Glen are listed below.

I'M NOT A POLITICAL GUY
DON'T ASK ME TO TAKE A SIDE
IF YOUR WANDERING WHY
IT'S A LONG HARD RIDE

THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH DIVISION
ARE YOU LEFT OR ARE YOU RIGHT
IF YOU MAKE IT YOUR LIFES MISSION
IT WILL BRING YOU PAIN AND STRIFE

(CHORUS)
I'M NOT A POLITICAL GUY
LET ME TELL YOU WHY
WE SHOULD MEET IN THE MIDDLE
WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT EVIL
WHY CAN'T WE WORK TOGETHER
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
AND MEET IN THE MIDDLE
YEA, MEET IN THE MIDDLE

FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AGREE
LOVE LOST AND FOREVER DIVIDED
HOW DID THIS COME TO BE

WHY CAN'T WE AGREE TO DISAGREE
WHY CAN'T WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AND ME
IN THIS LIFE...WE ARE ALL BROTHERS

(REPEAT CHORUS)

GOD, FAMILY, LOVE AND PEACE
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL

2018 © Lyrics by Tony Harris

Meet In The Middle - Lyrics by Tony Harris - Featuring The Glen Granthem Band - Original

I Finally Got back into my studio this week. It felt good to record an Original song.  
HIGHEST GAME WITH RULES

IM RUNNING THROUGH THE BACKWOODS 
NEAR THE CORNERS OF MY MIND
IT NEVER GETS ANY EASIER 
WHEN YOUR A PRISONER OF TIME
SO MANY HARDENED EMOTIONS 
YOU WEAR UPON YOUR SLEEVE
AS IF REACHING OUT TO KNOW ONE
WONT SPREAD YOUR DISEASE
WITHOUT A SOUND IM FALLING DOWN
ABOVE THE GROUND IVE COME UNWOUND
IVE PLAYED THE GAME I PAID MY DUES
IVE BEEN ON TOP AND LIT THE FUSE
THERES ALOT OF TAKE
ITS THE HIGHEST GAME WITH RULES
LYING IN THE GUTTER 
ALL THE FACELESS FOOLS
I CAME FROM NOWHERE
I HAD TO LEARN TO MAKE A BREAK
ITS BEEN NO BED OF ROSES 
I MADE MY MISTAKES 
WITHOUT A SOUND  IM FALLING DOWN
ABOVE THE GROUND IVE COME UNWOUND

Highest Game With Rules ( Original ) With Lyrics.

I am a finger-style guitarist living on the Texas high plains.  At the core of my music is melody that is inspired and informed by my Christian faith, family, friends, and countless influences through the years from the great composers, to jazz, folk, rock, Latin, Celtic, and the many fine musicians I have come to love on the Cloud, some I have been privileged to collaborate with.  Thanks for stopping by to have a listen. Comments are always welcome. Feel free to click on the picture of any track to learn more about it.