Silence … like freedom in a cage 
mind wanders a gypsy, but you don’t know what to say. 
so, you cry (cry)… 
words just stay inside.
silence … in a quiet state of rage 
a civil war of feelings in a battle that you wage.
(where) no one wins.
no matter how you try.

GOD KNOW …you’d love to leave this world.
FLY AWAY and never to return.
BUT YOU KNOW …you’re not ready to be free.
You’re silent in a freedom …you can’t leave. 
Silent, like freedom in a cage 

thankfully recorded by https://soundcloud.com/tevecarborough ... check him out here

Silence Like Freedom In A Cage by Doug Roossien

POCKETFUL OF LIES … words and music by DOUG ROOSSIEN
We all got a story … so I’ve been told
Met an old street poet sat outside a dive I used to know
He strummed his old guitar looked straight into my eyes
He started to cry , I asked him, why
I could see the regret, the pain, the words written on his face
The sad chords of the song of the life that he had played
I listened to his song as he told me this
the story that was his

I was born a young man Missed my childhood, so it seemed
Lived too many years behind the shadows I believed
Damn I wasted memories on a pocketful of dreams
That were lies

Had no Kings or Aces not one face card to my name
Walked around in circles no directions to the games
Every roll of dice…another snake eyes … who’s to blame
Guess that’s life … The house … The house wins again…
the only thing they left me, was a pocket, A pocketful of lies

Pocket full of lies didn’t see the devil’s sweet disguise
Thought that I was living, but I been… wastin’ all my time
Guess it took this lifetime, to appreciate the loss …gone…gone

He told me …Every word I whisper has taste of poet’s truth
Lived too far in life’s charade…for me to lie to you
Listen or you don’t ... decide this on your own
But for me
The house …always wins
Only thing they left me, was a pocket, A pocketful of lies

Pocket full of lies he didn’t see the devil’s sweet disguise
Thought He’d been living, he’s been… wastin’ all his time
GUESS IT TOOK HIS LIFETIME TO APPRECIATE THE LOSS…
GONE …GONE
Only thing they left him, was a pocket, A pocketful of lies

Was able to record this recently released song with my voice through a few friends including @tevecarborough who recorded and mixed my my voice over the existing track. which my friend Russell Laing separated for me

POCKETFUL OF LIES (A poets life version)

End of Endless Love Joint collab with Nick Olman recording guitar and my vocal a few years back. 
A recent  very talented music friend of mine made an orchestration for the song OVER this track (  https://soundcloud.com/user-427228031 paint-Germain ) ...a very difficult thing to do THANK YOU Raphael :-) you made me smile! 
Raphael made ANOTHER orchestra only which I am WAITING to develop a duet version of this song. This has been a long-time dream of mine to accomplish this. I have some intuitive thoughts on the interplay (see the Till Then song I posted with a friend some years ago also) https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/till-then-by-doug-roosssien
It’s going to take the right person singing with me on the unfinished orchestral track …I’m releasing this orchestral and vocal creation  because I need time to think and ideas to ferment, and to communicate with potential duet partners on it.   
LYRICS BELOW ...

I loved you…you loved me …we both shared loves mystery
We lived out… our hopes and dreams…souls together…so it seemed…
Till fires burned down…and stars went out…bridges crossing… rivers drowned
Tears of happiness… dried up…we found the end… of endless love.

Is this the end of endless love…?
What were our hearts thinking of?
Cause I still love you…and if you love me too.
Stay forever…and ever

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save
From these words of anger…jealous tears…bullets aimed at… hearts in fear…
Has left us standing…face to face…as tears roll down… you say…

Is this the end of endless love…?
What were our hearts thinking of?
Cause I still love you…and if you love me too.
Stay forever…and ever

Cause I love you…if you love me…if we still share love’s mystery
Can we still live our hopes and dreams…?
Souls together…endlessly
Cause fires burned down…and stars went out…bridges crossing rivers drowned
Tears of happiness dried up…we found the end…of endless love

Is this the end …is this the end…
we should be makin’ up…not breakin’ up

Cause I love you…if you love me…can we still share that mystery
Still live our hopes and dreams…Souls together…you and me

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save
From these words of anger…jealous tears…bullets aimed at… hearts in fear…
Babe were standing…here today…as tears… roll down… you say

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save

End of Endless Love (Vocal Doug R. /orchestration Paint-Germain / Olman)

A story in time of a cold night's meeting ...between two broken hearted lovers. Boarded up castle and Autumn Rain to hide from inside
JUST A ROUGH FIRST TAKE with ambient mics to share here to start. 23 May 2022

Autumn rain… coming down
Cold wind in September… edge of town 
Sudden storm… two broken hearts
Tears fall on umbrella then love starts
Rain kept falling … night was coming fast
It was cold outside … we were cold inside … like Autumn rain

Rain drenched blouse … shivering shoulders   
Hearts weren’t ready … but love was running fast
Shared umbrella … warm hands to guide us 
Touched each other… as we moved through that door
Into our castle …I could see your eyes glow
I could feel your heartbeat … your skin next to mine, beating autumn rain

Autumn Rain, so cold blows right through ya
Like all the ghosts that knew ya
Memories from your past 
Autumn Rain, strangers in this shelter, wet with all these tear drops, drops of autumn rain

White wine from the pantry …still chilled from the cold  
Wrapped so tight we drank a cheer … as our story would unfold 
Two loves in each other’s arms … till consciousness let go 
Loved so deep and so complete … today still burns in my soul 
Autumn rain, like Autumn Rain 

Autumn Rain, so cold blows right through ya
Like all the ghosts that knew ya
Memories from your past
Autumn Rain, strangers in this shelter, wet with all these tear drops, drops of autumn 
rain

We dreamt so deep …that autumn rain
…still burns in my soul
Autumn Rain Autumn Rain Autumn Rain Autumn Rain
Song by Doug Roossien Douglas Roossien

AUTUMN RAIN (rough demo) take 1

SAD RIVER- DOUG ROOSSIEN /Music & Mastered NO KILLIE FISH 
@johnnymc2 ,...Johnny McFarlane May 25, 2022

I used …to feel your passion… running through my veins 
like horses full of freedom, we were runners in the rain 
Been trying too hard to hold you but my walls just made you run 
It only made your waters rush and your borders come undone 

First day of September, I started loving  
Like rivers full of passion, our colors every hue 
Came the whites of winter, and the quiet of the fires 
Kept the love light burning with your rivers, rivers of desires 

(CHORUS)
You  know …Nothing can hold …sad river      
Nothing can stop that river run … 
Nothing can hold… hold …sad river 
Ain’t no canyon on this earth, big enough, to hold my love 

My tears are falling down like water from this well 
I need to learn to swim before I drown myself 
The ashes from our fire all washed up on the shore
When she hurts sad river, she don’t run , don’t run to me no more 

(CHORUS)
You know, Nothing, can hold …sad river      
Nothing can stop that river run … 
Nothing can hold… hold …sad river 
Ain’t no canyon on this earth, big enough, to hold my love 

I used to feel your passion, running through my veins  
like horses full of freedom,  we were runners in the rain 

(Sad river) Chorus ~ Instrumental …
Ain’t no canyon on this earth, big enough 
Ain’t no canyon on this earth, big enough, to hold my love 

(Final tag)
My tears are falling down like water from this well 
I need to learn to swim before I drown myself …
In Sad River, Sad River, Sad …River, Sad River 


https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2
 Johnny McFarlane Rocked out on this backing track I’ve waited for since I wrote this song in 2015
For two years SAD RIVER was pretty much the one song I would always play at open mics, and with other musicians so I was really excited when Johnny agreed to do this
Love working with Johnny …he has really helped me get this recording process down , we did Never Sailed Goodbye previous to this   https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/never-sailed-goodbye-mastered-featuring-no-killie-fish

Since I bought my new ZOOM portable recorder …So many un-recorded or less than productions that he is making it possible to learn the ways of utilizing my equipment before my voice is completely gone…
Please visit him at his music …he’s so versatile sensitive and powerful both.

SAD RIVER - DOUG ROOSSIEN /Music & Mastered - NO KILLIE FISH

another fantastic music track for one of my original songs... so blessed to have the talent of Johnny to take my songs to a different level. June 15, 2022
“Started writing this …the day I was born”    words and music Doug Michael Roossien
Production Johnny McFarlane No Killie Fish https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2
Goin’ to hell... They’ll let anybody in
Goin’ to hell for living a life of sin 
Goin to hell, hell, hell 
Yeah, I’m Goin’ to hell 

As everybody grows up, they get a little bit naughty 
But I got too, too, good at being bad 
As I Got older, the devil he got bolder, the stories he could tell 
Now, I’m going to hell 
I could ask, ask for my forgiveness, mamma, it’s too late 

Ain’t Goin’ to heaven…they ain’t gonna let me in 
Ain’t Goin’ to heaven, no one gonna let me in 
Not Goin’ to heaven, 
Guess, I’m Goin’ to hell 
Cause, I stole hearts, didn’t have an alibi   
I plead guilty of making my baby cry 
Got jealous and crazy of my baby, what a fight 
Swore, cheated, and lied 

I could ask, ask for my forgiveness, baby, it’s too late 

Guess it was my nature, to commit these crimes 
So, I’m gonna burn, burn, burn for all of time 
Lock me up, throw away the key, turn up the heat 
Cause, I’m Goin to hell 

I could ask, ask for my forgiveness, baby, it’s too late 

Yeah, I’m goin’ to hell, made my baby cry 
…………………., didn’t have an alibi 
Goin to hell, hell, hell 
Yeah, I’m Goin’ to hell Goin to hell, Goin to hell, 
we still got room on This BUS, goin to hell
Hey, St. Peter! Why you got to be so hard? Guess I’m going to hell (yeah)

GOIN TO HELL - DOUG ROOSSIEN / Music & Mastered - NO KILLIE FISH

TEARS YOU JUST CAN’T CRY- by DOUG ROOSSIEN /Produced & Mastered NO KILLIE FISH July 15, 2022
https://youtu.be/9zhMAECbZRo youtube video

Johnny has done so well on three of my other songs ,…Never Sailed Goodbye, Sad River and Goin’ to Hell,…that I really anticipated him producing this song. Over two years, this song sat in my heart waiting to be expressed properly. It took a bit, I’m not the easiest person to work with, with my inexperience and the distance across the ocean. But Johnny’s patience won out again, I think. ENJOY!! 
Thank you Johnny!! https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2

https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/never-sailed-goodbye-mastered-featuring-no-killie-fish

https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/sad-river-final-mix

https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/goin-to-hell-doug-roossien-music-mastered-no-killie-fish


EV’RY DREAM…you EVER HAD 
WAS REAL, until the Morning 
EV’RY TRUTH, you Ever Learned 
you FORGOT… Behind Closed Eyes 
EV’RY PLAN, you Never Made … ev’ry CHANCE, you MEANT to Take 
Turned to Tears ... TEARS, you Just Can’t …Cry 

All the things, you thought, you wanted 
Back, when this … began 
Choices made, that you can’t change now 
If you could you’d choose again 
You gambled hard, lost on love… sometimes LIFE’S a tragic PLAY 
Turned to Tears ... Just won’t go away 
Man, you don’t … know why 

Why you … STARE OUT, through that window 
LIKE … There’s SOMEPLACE… you should go 
And there’s Someone, in that Mirror, … You just don’t know 
You’d be livin’ all … ALONE, but your… REGRET, lives in your SOUL 
And you stopped crying for your freedom long ago 

Tonight, he’s … LYING … there beside you) 
With the … choices … that you made 
You’re holding … Blankets Cold and Lonely 
Hearing words … no longer said 
Till all the … Days seem like forever… and you wish they would just end 
Sleepless nights … too late … to pretend  
That … you don’t … know why 

So, you … STARE OUT, through that window 
LIKE … There’s SOMEPLACE… you (could) should go 
And there’s Someone, in that Mirror, that … You don’t know 
You’d be livin’ all … ALONE, but your… REGRET, lives in your SOUL 
And you stopped crying for your freedom long ago 
You stopped trying for your freedom long ago 

EV’RY DREAM, you EVER HAD 
WAS REAL, until the Morning …… words & Music – Doug Roossien

TEARS YOU JUST CAN’T CRY- by DOUG ROOSSIEN /Produced & Mastered NO KILLIE FISH

2020 was a good year for writing ...finding some old YouTube postings of mine

some trains won't leave
won't even start
though I put a thousand miles 
of rail beneath this heart
I’ve ridden hard, I've driven fast
But a part of me stayed at the station with my past
Some trains may leave,
but your memories still stuck back in town 

I hear that whistle blowin’, feel the wheels roll down the track 
But There’s a part of me… that won’t stop goin’ back
I never left your memories, still hear those sad goodbyes … 
Some trains won’t leave no matter how you try

Some Trains Don't leave (home demo)

9-15-2022 final master
 ...music developed by my friend Dale Wicks (he's here, but mostly all over music sites, take a listen he's a great performer and writer)HALFWAY TO CRAZY 8-26-2022

Just got off the phone
Hopped in my car
Wheels on the highway
Headed for your heart
A hundred ways to say I’m sorry
Ain’t going to earn me one more try
I could hear those tear drops falling
Before your slamming phone goodbye
Tonight, I’m halfway, halfway to crazy
Just pulling in, on the border of insane
Wish that trucker, would just pull over
He’s taking up, all of heartbreak lane
(pause) I remember that night you said goodbye
You were lying by my side
I should have never made you cry
That moon was shining in your eyes
I remember your kiss and your caress
Till, I forgot my tenderness
Don’t know where I’m headed now
Guess I’ll soon be finding out
Maybe I’m halfway, halfway to crazy
Just pulling in, on the border of insane
I was halfway, halfway to heaven
Only got, got myself to blame
Halfway to heaven
Wish I took a plane
Cause this loneliness, … sure driving me insane
Left me halfway
halfway to all the way all the way to you
But now I’m halfway…tonight I’m halfway to crazy

HALFWAY TO CRAZY ~ DOUG ROOSSIEN / MASTER ~ words and music / PRODUCTION ~ DALE WICKS

Wrote this 5 years ago and found it buried / couldn't believe I never recorded
Sooooo, just so I can share and "think about" fine tuning verse, chorus, etc.
Might be a full production plan later (for an "AUTUMN ALBUMN" lol / love SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 

Autumn Walks I remember 
Early darkness quiet streets 
Lights I never noticed all summer long…
hurried walks and kicking leaves 

Autumn walks I remember, … 
I held your books you held my hand 
We made love beneath those Scarlett red trees 
But you were gone before the last autumn leaves 

How many times has autumn, …
slipped away before your eyes? 
How many times have you heard them say…
how time flies …how it flies 

Autumn walks I remembers. 
We missed that school bus running late 
Racing faster… than the squirrels… to the trees 
That’s what you got for kissing me 

Back then, I must have been just too young to notice 
My hair’d be falling just like leaves
And every footstep that I made, would get slower
And wind blows cold through empty trees 

How many times has autumn, …
slipped away before your eyes? 
How many times have you heard them say…
how time flies …how it flies 

Autumn walks I remember, … 
In every walk … still feel your hand 
like we made love beneath those Scarlett red trees
(But) you’re always gone …before… the autumn leaves

Autumn Walks Take 1 (very rough)

RECORDED (LIVE) Oct 2, 2017 SEVIN STEPS UP
original song performed by DOUG ROOSSIEN 

Sold my soul …living in a …monastery
Closed my heart… moved down the road 
Left this town ...sleepin’on a …greyhound bus
Travel this world …forget about us 
And I ….ain’t ever coming ….back 
I ain’t ever coming back 

Sometimes nobody wins…just broken hearts 
Love goes cold…why, no one knows 
Too many tears…somebody cries
It’s over and done…love just dies 
And It ….ain’t ever coming ….back 
I …ain’t ever coming back 

So many miles… I have traveled
Too many still left to run 
I could travel twice… around this great big world 
But I still…can’t leave you girl 

Lost my mind … running from your memory
Ran so fast…but I’m still too slow 
Cried so hard…for what we used to know 
You broke my heart drove me insane…
And I ever coming back
No, I ain’t ever coming back

So many miles… I have traveled
Too many still left to run
I have travelled twice… around this great big world
But I still…just can’t leave you girl

sold my soul, sold my soul
sold my soul ... ain't comin' back
ain't comin back..............
sold my soul and I ain't ...ever comin' back...

SOLD MY SOUL (Live at Seven Steps Oct 2 2017)

One take dirty recording to get down
 ...some day I'll record this with more of a Nashville style like my "Now I Know song" which actually was recorded with a Nashville band
https://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/now-i-know-live-nashville-1988 

Spent one summer night in Nashville 
two days on music row 
played an open mic on main street 
near my one bed cheap motel 

Passed a church yard where some singer 
Was asking God the way to hell 
Later,… I saw him sleeping 
On his moonlit-bench … hotel 

Heard some people … tell me Nashville 
Just wouldn’t take to what I wrote 
When I took the bus that brought me there 
With my dreams and all my hopes 
It was just one night in Nashville 
Two days on music row 
If I’d have stayed a week, a month, a year 
God, I’ll never know 

Yeah, I took my dreams to Nashville 
A long, long time ago 
With a pocket … full of lyrics 
Meant to share on music row 
Well, we regret to say we’re sorry 
We just don’t … hear it in your songs 
We got our … own style down this country 
And yours just don’t belong yeah …


Some people there in Nashville 
Didn’t take to what I wrote 
So, I took the bus that brought me there 
On the highway back to home 
It was just one night in Nashville 
Over 30 years ago 
If I’d have stayed a week, a month, a year 
God will only know 

If I ever…
Make it back to Nashville 
I’m going to sing and share my songs 
This time …
It’s gonna take a whole lot longer 
For them to prove to me I’m wrong 

It was Just one night in Nashville 
A long, long time ago

One Night In Nashville (One take demo).WAV

Too late two-lane road
You know the one I mean
One of those can't wait
to get around em kind of streets

Gotta See my baby cause I made her cry
Got a slammin' phone goodbye
I'm just a little too late
on this two-lane road tonight

Ten trucks deep in traffic
all goin' to the morgue
Mary's texting Johnny
Johnny's texting George
It's a sad, sad situation
10 miles and hour I crawl
too late on a two-lane road
half a world from home

words and music Doug Roossien

Too Late on a Two Lane Road (Half a world from home)

Like my grandchildren, … demo final 2-24-2023 
all my memories … growing by the day 
Marks upon the wall … 
Next to the …kitchen door I pass along the way 
Every year … leaves another mark, 
But the remembering, can only go so far
more grown, more distant, less to come.
Time’s moving on. 
MORE REMEMBERING, MORE GONE

Baby ,…sweet little babies… 
how time passes … come and gone…
Yards full of little children…runnin’ 
Barefoot from the park to our front porch.
But the years …years have run along…
Now we barely hear…hear the children’s songs…sounds are gone. 
Time’s moving on 
MORE REMEMBERING, MORE GONE

We’re only here to visit … here for just a moment. 
Remnant of the life we lived ….written on their souls. 
Hopefully, remembered … for a bit of what we mattered.
How we loved, battle torn and tattered 

Every year … leaves another mark.
But the remembering, can only go so far
more grown, more distant, less to come.
Time’s moving on. 
MORE REMEMBERING, MORE GONE words and music Doug Michael Roossien

MORE REMEMBERING,  MORE GONE (a draft of an important song)

Again, the team of No Killie Fish and Doug Michael Roossien.
I can't thank Johnny enough for laying down a perfect track. His patience and love for what he does. You are the best!!

Only just a picture like some long-forgotten dream
Somehow… still a memory …” of something…used to be”
Daddy saved this moment …
me there on your lap …just a lad
Only just a picture … but sometimes …sometimes I go back

Mom, you had so much ahead, and I had all of mine
Didn’t know, back then how much… you’d mean, in my life
That picture’s worn and torn …from all the times
I tried in vain… to return
Only just a picture … but sometimes, I’m right there… with her

They say you can’t go back…then how’d I get to here?
Time and place, collide again, we travel through the years
Daddy took that picture …like some long-forgotten song
They say you can’t go home again…
maybe they’re all “wrong”
Only just a picture … but somehow …sometimes I go back

We all have stacks of memories…family, friends, and such
Life’s mysteries, broken dreams, first times we made love
Only pictures, …only just a picture

First time that I saw that girl, took a picture in my mind
Promised her I’d write a song, the moment I had time
Her hair a flowing rhyme, …
her eyes they captured mine, and all of that
It’s only just a memory … but sometimes …sometimes I go back

They say you can’t go back… most times that seems right
Raining now in Frisco… Sierra … drowns in dry
But, I still ‘member Jackson Hole, you on your downhill run
Me, just waitin’ by the fire,
Writin’ one more song… about my love
They say you can’t go back… but those words, …remember you so much

They say you can’t go back …then how’d I get to here?
Time and place, collide again, we travel through the years
Only, just a picture …only just a song
They say you can’t go back again …maybe they’re all “wrong”
Only just a picture … but sometimes …
sometimes I go back / sometimes I go back
So… glad they’re saved ...remembering …Today
my “polaroid slideshows”
our “kodak memories” ….pictures

ONLY JUST A PICTURE by DOUG ROOSSIEN mastering and backing NO KILLIE FISH

I hate myself for what I’ve done. 
I’d turn the clock back now …to start where we’d begun. 
You hate me now …and I’m to blame. 
Some fools never learn …it’s a stupid game. 
I hate myself …Coz I know …I’m that fool. 
gave me all your love …and I broke You every rule. 
I hate myself.

I hate myself for losing you. 
The best thing in my life …I can’t believe we’re through. 
So, tonight I’ll cry …and hate myself. 
Pray that God loves me enough …to give me one more try. 
I hate myself tonight ….it’s true.
I had … all the love I need …from you. 
I hate myself. 

Please … forgive me.
I’m just a man …try to understand.

You know …I love you ,…but I hate myself 
I’d turn the hands of time back now …if that would help. 
Bring you back …baby, I’m to blame. 
I’m sorry if I can’t find …the right words to say.
I hate myself tonight … I know I’m the fool. 
Just can’t go on living …without you.
I hate myself. 
I hate myself too much tonight… that’s true. 
Do you still love me?

I HATE MYSELF ...(do you still love me)?

Some of us have driven …down a wrong road.         
Made mistakes …lost all we own. 
One! … is way too many. 
Shoulda stayed at home. (But I took that road) 

One … is one too many. 
Oh, the answer, is not more. 
I was fine, …without any. 
That’s for sure.  (Would have been the cure)

But I was never,  too good with numbers. 
Some fools sure… are hard to change. 
Got these quarters … filling up my pockets. 
Can’t give away. (couldn’t make her stay)

ONE ! … IS ONE TOO MANY…
To come between … the two … of us
I let my eyes search for someone special. 
I forgot …that’s what she was.

Now I got this time …these empty moments.
Once were filled …all day long … with you.
Got this silence … one moment’s too many.
Without you. (Oh, I’m telling you)

Once you find her …you gotta change your mind, sir.
She won’t stand round …if you stray.
Better take your sign down …just looking.
Or you’re gonna pay. (oh, I had to pay, cause…) 

One … is one too many. 
Yeah, I listened to that siren call. 
I was blind ,… still learned my lesson.
When I lost it all. … (guess I know it now)
ONE! … is ONE TOO MANY…
To come between … the two … of us.
I let my eyes … search for someone special.
I forgot …that’s what … she was.
I forgot …that’s what … she was.                
One … Is one too many …I forgot…that’s what she was.

One, Is One Too Many

TWICE AROUND THE MOON words and music Doug Roossien 3-24-2023
Those moments 
Between Breathing
When you catch your soul
Walking twice around the moon 

The moments 
You stop believing. 
You catch your eyes. 
Saying things, you can’t control …(So many tears)
Life just gets too…  heavy … to hold. 

That moment 
Life stops turning. 
When you realize 
Life’ll  never be the same.

That moment 
All hope is burning. 
You stand and watch a fire. 
You can’t control. 
Life just gets too…  heavy … to hold.
You’d trade all your tomorrows …to save your soul. 

………………………………………………………… ( bridge)
…………………………………………………………………….(music)
Those moments 

Those moments  
Between Breathing 
Where you walk your soul
Twice around the moon.

The moments 
You stop believing. 
You catch your eyes. 
Saying things, they can’t control.  
Life just gets too…  heavy … to hold. 
You’d trade all your tomorrows …to save your soul. 

Those moments  
You stop deceiving. 
and you catch your soul.
Walking twice around the moon 
Twice around the moon, Moments … You walk …Twice around the moon .

TWICE AROUND THE MOON (original)

STRANGER IN MY LIFE by DOUG ROOSSIEN / Produced & Mastered NO KILLIE FISH April 18, 2023
Well, this song is the 6th production of my songs with Johnny (NoKillieFish), He really outdid himself on this one. Please visit Johnny on his songs @johnnymc2, and you’ll see an extremely versatile musician and lyricist. 
LYRICS ONLY STRANGER IN MY LIFE by DOUG MICHAEL ROOSSIEN 
FEEL LIKE A STRANGER IN MY LIFE    
NOT A SOUL I’D RECOGNIZE 
THIS STRANGER I DON’T KNOW IS ALL ALONE 
I LOOK IN THAT MIRROR, WE USED TO SHARE 
JUST SEE THE GHOST…OF YOU STANDING THERE 
And …THIS BED, WHERE WE USED TO LIE, …HAS GROWN SO COLD 

Till …THIS STRANGER… CAME INTO MY LIFE 
NOW HE’S THE ONLY ONE I RECOGNIZE 
I DON’T EVEN KNOW… DON’T EVEN KNOW… MY OWN SOUL 

DROVE BY OUR DINER THAT WE USED TO KNOW  
ORDERED A PIZZA FOR JUST ONE TO GO
SAT ON THAT PARK BENCH SWALLOWED MY PRIDE TILL I WAS FULL 
READ YOUR LETTER...EVERY WORD 
WHISPERED INSIDE IT’S …JUST WHAT I DESERVED 
MY TEARS, SOAKED ON EVERY WORD, YOU WROTE 

To …THIS STRANGER… Who Came into my life. 
And He’s the only … ONE I recognize. 
DON’T EVEN KNOW, DON’T EVEN KNOW,.MY OWN SOUL 
 FEEL LIKE A STRANGER….(a stranger in my life) 
FEEL LIKE A STRANGER….(a stranger in my life) 

REREAD YOUR LETTER...AGAIN EVERY WORD 
WHISPERED INSIDE … IT’S JUST WHAT I DESERVED 
AS MY TEARS, SOAKED ON EVERY WORD,  EVERY WORD YOU WROTE 
To this stranger …this stranger …in my life 
Feel like a Stranger ,… a stranger …in my life. 

I believe we are closing on an album of our songs together: (six so far) …Stranger in my life, Only Just a Picture, Tears you just can’t cry, Never Sailed Goodbye, Sad River, and Goin’ to Hell,… Thank you Johnny!!

STRANGER IN MY LIFE by Doug Roossien (production NoKillieFish)

One of the few cover songs I have done at open mic's
............(QUITE A FEW YEARS BACK) .......
this one at one of the first places locally I played a lot at.
Very noisy ...but brings back memories ...and despite the noise ...
the quality of the room is poor ...but I do love the way I sing it

Don't Think twice Dylan Cover (Live)

HILLS STILL LEFT TO CLIMB  by Doug Roossien

This the “newer version of distant lovers” …lol …
In the original version ~ Cave men used to write on stone walls.

Only took one moment, … so, I turned back the hands of time 
Now, I’m traveling, … places in my mind
So many mountains that were traveled,  … since Montana’s left behind 
I was young, … with hills still left to climb 
Still so young, … with hills still left to climb

Notebook from the commissary, …back in 69
Letters stuck between the pages, … yours and one of mine 

Twelve nights in Montana, … can be a long time ,… now I know 
Halfway home, …  called and you were fine. 
There’s moments and there’s mountains, …there’s lonely and there’s love 
Always took for granted … somehow you’d be mine 
So long ago, … we had hills, … still left to climb 

Notebook from the commissary, …back in 69 
Letters stuck between the pages, … yours and one of mine 
If I’d sent you what I wrote, …If I’d told you, … long ago 
Who knows, … ooooooh, … who knows 
But I had too many hills … still left to climb 
I thought deep down , …you were always mine, … but Hills still left to climb 

As I sit here wandering, …in these places in my mind 
All comes back so painfully, what it is we find 

Only took one moment, … so, I turned back the hands of time 
Now, I’m traveling, … places in my mind 
I was gone the day I left you, … You were gone, … when I returned 
Should have known much better, … too late, … now to learn 
You were young, … with hills still left to climb 
Hills to climb 
You were young, … with hills still left to climb

HILLS STILL LEFT TO CLIMB

There’s got to be love (from 1988) …basically un-chorded melody poem 9-12-23 Slapped a new recorder app on new phone (last minute)

Every time I turn around  
the signs of love appear 
The magic of a moonlit night, two hearts unite 
Then love disappears 

I’ve been searchin’ all my life  
More than a few times that I tried 
You know I thought I’d find it there 
But once again, I cried 

There’s got to be love, or why would the moon shine 
What good are the stars above, without someone to love? 
There’s got to be love, somewhere in this world, in this world 
So, I’ll keep on lookin’, …there’s got to be love 

Every time I turn around 
the signs of love appear 
The magic of a moonlit night, two hearts unite 
Then love disappears 

(Bridge)
Well, I’ve been patient, …long enough, …But, … something’s just not right 
If we can’t have, … love at all, …Why do we have these nights? 

There’s got to be love, or why would the moon shine 
What good are the stars above, without someone to love? 
There’s got to be love, somewhere in this world, in this world 
Keep holdin’ on, …there’s got to be love 
There’s got to be love

There's Got To be Love (1988 added chords)

this was a 2018 recording live at a GRSA meeting, looking to produce ...when my voice and mood are better
/Silent…tears are /falling 
Raining teardrops… that call your name 
Darlin’… you stopped listening 
I can’t reach you… see you again 
I hear the teardrops as they call 
Like a hammer coming down 
I hope that someday you will hear 
A single… silent tear 

/Night after night… I ask /myself 
/What kind of fool… would hurt her /so? 
All this time I spent… alone 
/After I found my sweetest /rose 
I hear the teardrops as they call 
Like a hammer as they fall 
I hope someday that you will hear 
A single… silent tear  

Maybe you’ll forgive me 
Somehow not forget me… 
Baby please… cause
/Silent…tears are /falling down 
Raining teardrops call your name 
BABY… you’re not listening still 
I pray to God someday you will 
I hear the teardrops as they call 
Like a hammer coming down 
I hope someday that you will hear 
A single silent tear… a single silent tear 
I hope that someday you will hear 
…A single… silent tear 
Words & music by ~ Douglas Roossien

SINGLE SILENT TEAR (live demo / 11-30-2018)

I’ve been living this life … for so long, 
Still ain’t… used … to being myself. 
There’s a lot of things … I’m sorry for what I’ve done. 
Sometimes…I’d trade all my tomorrows, 
To live … one day … of yesterday 
But that ain’t happenin’ … no matter how I try ,all I get is, 
Regrets… Sorrys, …and Whys 

Angry at a lot of things …so sorry …for some 
But it’s too late  to change the past.
Can’t erase the things that’s done. 
Baby, …If I hurt, you even once  …made you cry,
I’d do anything I could …to make it right. 

You asked me WHY so many times,  
Why … I would never settle down. 
I always told you …why,  “WHY you need to do this now”? 
So, you left me … now I’m alone. 
Guess you answered … me so well. 
You left me standing there, with one last word GOODBYE, and all my, 
Regrets… Sorrys, …and Why’s. 

Why was I so foolish? Look at what I’ve done. 
Had the whole world in my hand, 
Can’t outrun the past I’ve run. 
I’d turn the clock back, … to begin, … here tonight. 
So, I’m writing you this song with words I cry. (this time I cry)
Can’t find enough words… in my emptiness, …tonight, 
to make it right, … to make it right. 
Just my, … Regrets, …  Sorrys and Why’s …(wo, wo, wo, why’s). 
MY  REGRETS, …, MY SORRYS, … and … WHY’S.

Regrets, Sorrys, and Why (still Rough 2nd take)

PAY THE TOLL VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV6HCbCJdio (powerful, I think)

I want to thank Johnny https://soundcloud.com/johnnymc2 ...(No Killie Fish)
for his patience with this song. He knows the significance of this song to me and also champions those in need. Johnny is one of the most decent (and TALENTED) people I have ever known. (for those of you interested in a video I made for this song, …I provide a link above!!
 
I think it’s a very powerful message we have to all figure a better answer to the problem. I also want to thank Johnny for helping me bring some of my works to a better reality. Hopefully, having this song behind me, I'll be able to focus on some other songs waiting Johnny's magic touch.   
Lyrics
V1. There’s a young man, … standin’, … by the ramp,
to the Pennsylvania Highway.
It’s COLD outside, … Coffee’s Hot,
I reach out to pay the toll.
V2. It’s the downtown I see every day,
every slowed down main street corner.
Cardboard SIGNS, … hobo, … hats,
Not just SONS. … there’s someone’s, … DAUGHTER .
Bridge-1 Pay the tolls … …pay the tolls.
Chorus-1 Does he have a name? A mamma still, … to use it,
Wife, a friend… some family, … or just his thoughts alone.
It’s been a long time, …since there’s been a, … place called home.
Lost his dog, … his car, … Everything he owns.
All he’s got’s, this cardboard sign, and the clothing, on his back.
He’s homeless, hungry, … if it’s not too much to ask, …please pay the toll.
V3. Downtown hobo’s, ….residents
Of Underpass, … Hotels,
ain’t the RICH, … FAMOUS, … they might have been,
Livin’ these, luxury, … streets of hell,
Bridge-2 Pay the tolls, … God gives to the … blessed,
So, pay the toll, … to those with so much less,
Detroit City( to South Chicago, to the Appalachian Ridge,
there’s a broken soul, at every at every wayward bridge, Pay the toll.
Chorus-2 Ain’t saying, … he’s blameless, … how are, … you and I to know?
The whole world’s, … raining down, … on everything he owns.
If he’s got a name, … doesn’t have … a nickel to it.
He’s down to what you see, … and he don’t, … feel that much.
It’s the same, the whole world over, …London Bridges, … down to Seoul.
If you think you got, … a little left, … to spare, …kindly, pay the toll.
There’s a young man standin’ by the ramp,
to the Pennsylvania Highway.
Pay the tolls , … pay the tolls.

PAY THE TOLL by DOUG ROOSSIEN / Produced & Mastered by NO KILLIE FISH

My Thanks to Nat who approached me about wanting to do a cover of my song Single Silent Tear. Nat and Durge have a chemistry 5 years in the making, so I was up for that of course. Totally surprised me with this duet version of my song. Allowing them to play off each other as they so often do. Thanks to a young pedal player they used Joel Harkin for his amazing Pedal Steel contribution. He's a terrific artist, and well worth approaching for help when your song needs that perfect touch.
https://soundcloud.com/danielsdurgy

Joel Harkin: www.facebook.com/JoelHarkin
joelharkin.bandcamp.com/album/never-happy-2

you can find me at Doug Michael Roossien: @doug-roossien

Copyright 2024 Daniels/Durgy/Roossien
Gentle Rain Records
Written by: Doug Roossien, Daniels & Durgy
Pedal Steel: Joel Harkin
Performed and produced by Daniels & Durgy

Lyrics:

Silent…tears are falling  
Raining teardrops… that call your name  
Darlin’… you stopped listening  
And I can’t reach you… or see you again  
And as the teardrops start to fall,  
Each one a hammer on the floor 
I hope that someday you will hear
 A single silent tear

Days turn nights.. So all alone  
What kind of fool would turn and go?  
And I keep staring at the phone  
(Darling I'm sitting here at home...)
Wishing you’d call and say hello  
(Oh babe I miss you so..)
But as the teardrops start to fall, 
Their silence broken on the floor  
I hope that someday you will hear  
A single… silent tear

Oh Maybe you’ll forgive me  
Somehow not forget me…  Baby please…
(Can you forgive me too.. Oh baby)
And Oh Maybe you’ll remember
The way we felt together
And come back to me..
… come back to me..
(come back to me...)

Oh Silent…tears are falling  
Wishing you and I could start again  
But Baby… time has taken over  
(My sweet baby)(My sweet Angel)
And I know we’ll never be the same
(Baby please don't say it's so..)
 'Cause As the teardrops start to fall, 
Their silence broken on the floor
 I hope that someday you will hear  
A single silent tear 
Oh I hope that someday you will hear  …
A single… silent tear

Baby please.. can you hear each tear call your name..
(Baby please... oh baby i can hear each tear)
Baby please.. This is the one day I will hear..
A single silent tear..
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063501341120

Single Silent Tear by Doug Roossien cover by Daniels & Durgy

TEN YEARS AGO, TODAY (my live performance of my song / "YOU GO THERE ALONE) at Michigan Beer Cellar in Sparta, Michigan 
https://youtu.be/nDqWatGmCbE?si=bWE8qM9552XZbvo4
LYRICS HERE 🖤
You go there alone… no one holds your hand
No one gives a damn…if you live or die
All that you own…won’t buy you another day
Won’t take your tears away…When you’re leavin…you go there alone
When you leave…not…if you leave…You’ll be gone …to stay
You ain’t… coming… back… to say goodbye
When you’re gone…not…if your gone…You’ll be gone… for good
You ain’t… gonna get… another try…That’s the way it is…don’t ask why
You could say you’re sorry…But the words …would be in vain
All the tears… that heaven hears…won’t be enough… to save (you)
All of your tomorrows…Will be gone… like yesterday
You ain’t gonna get… another try…That’s the way it is…So don’t ask why…
You stopped building bridges…a long, long time ago
It’s a shame…there ain’t one standing…now…it’s time to go

You Go There Alone / open mic good live recording (2014)

This is the first full production recording mix ...
of this song written by Doug Roossien. 
All production and instruments by Nick Olman production.  May 8, 2012


When your troubles leave you weary...Lay your mind on flowers blue...
One’s that take you someplace...Where your dreams...they wait for you...
When you're just… too tired to bother…With the noise and all life's… toil...
Lay your head on those blue flowers…In those fields of quiet soil.

You can walk… yes, you can wander…But you can’t outrun … the truth…
You can’t live with all your troubles…But when you die…they’ll go with you…
Take just one moment…from your lifetime…Smell the roses…see the blooms
Lay your head …on those blue flowers…In the fields of quiet soil

Beneath that aging oak tree…  Where my grandpa’s laid to rest…                 
Grandma’s there beside him… Hear those robins in their nest
And the sun is shining down… Upon…waves of amber gold
Next to…flowers blue… In fields of quiet soil

Oh mother, how I miss you…Beneath these flowers… on your grave
I need to know…you’re waiting…For me…to come… someday…
When I’m  just too damn tired…to bother…With all this noise and all life’s… toil…
Then I’ll lie beneath blue flowers…In your fields of quiet soil

"FIELDS OF QUIET SOIL"...DOUG ROOSSIEN/ NICK OLMAN

This was recorded back in 1988...jt's my friend Mike Hyde a guitar instructor ad me...It really needs a band of drummer, electric guitar, bass and some back up singers...anyone want the challenge

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
Always the first one…out of the gate….you know he never liked to lose
He was hard on the pedal…down to the metal….when the starter would let him loose
Traffic couldn’t stop him…he blew on by…he didn’t wait to take their names…He was hell bent on winnin’ anything he’s been in…but she had a different game…
(Race car noise)

She told the men…
Gentlemen start your engines…my love’s on the line
Satisfaction’s guaranteed….you won’t be denied
Gentlemen start your engines…cause love is on the line
The loser gets the water…and the winner takes the wine

She was a feast…fit for a king…he knew she’s make a beautiful prize
Tall and good lookin’…he knew she was cookin…the recipe was in her eyes
Yah…she set the table…invited him in…she knew his appetite was right
He was hell bent on winnin’…anything he’s been in…he wasn’t gonna lose tonight…
(Race car noise)

When she said…
Gentlemen, start your engines…get up on the line
Put your key in the ignition…let your motor wind
Gentlemen start your engines…love is on the line
The loser gets the water…and the loser takes the wine
(Race car noise)

She left him with lipstick…all over his face…his shirt had been completely undone
His first heat out he lost his heart in…in the best race he’d ever run
Yah she left him with lipstick…all over his face…she blew the man right off his track
She got a good start…an inside on his heart…and he never got it back
(Race car noise) 


She told the men…
Gentlemen, start your engine…get up on the line
He had the pole position…but she took home the wine
He was the first to finish…but he ended up behind
First heat out…he lost his heart…cause love was on the line
First heat out…he…lost…his…heart
Cause love…
Was…on…
the line….


Gentlemen Start Your Engines

I loved you…you loved me …we both shared loves mystery
We lived out… our hopes and dreams…souls together…so it seemed…
Till fires burned down…and stars went out…bridges crossing… rivers drowned
Tears of happiness… dried up…we found the end… of endless love.

Is this the end of endless love…?
What were our hearts thinking of?
Cause I still love you…and if you love me too. 
Stay forever…and ever

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save
From these words of anger…jealous tears…bullets aimed at… hearts in fear…
Has left us standing…face to face…as tears roll down… you say…

Is this the end of endless love…?
What were our hearts thinking of?
Cause I still love you…and if you love me too. 
Stay forever…and ever


Cause I love you…if you love me…if we still share love’s mystery
Can we still live our hopes and dreams…?
Souls together…endlessly
Cause fires burned down…and stars went out…bridges crossing rivers drowned 
Tears of happiness dried up…we found the end…of endless love

Is this the end …is this the end…
we should be makin’ up…not breakin’ up

Cause I love you…if you love me…can we still share that mystery
Still live our hopes and dreams…Souls together…you and me

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save
From these words of anger…jealous tears…bullets aimed at… hearts in fear…
Babe were standing…here today…as tears… roll down… your face

I’m looking… in your eyes for love…searching for… the passion of
A love with promise… swept away…that we could somehow… save


End of Endless Love (would love to duet this with a woman)

Doug Roossien words and music. vocals 
how romantic ...can you be? ...never ask a poet that

Whisper your name…over and over 
Until Sierra…the word becomes a song 
I kiss your lips…and promised to be tender 
Is it the wind…or my love…you’re breathing in
I love you
Sierra…it would be romantic 
We would walk…at night along the shore 
Lie on the beach…right down near the water 
We’d spend hours…and the  only song we’d played
…was I love you
Sierra…my oa sis…I drank…from your  love 
Now Sierra. ..You’re the dessert…and it’s a long way to walk
Sierra…Sierra…hear this  song…I wrote  for you 
I  love you…
Looked in your eyes…I just saw heaven 
Picked wild flowers for your auburn hair 
Up in your room…we could see the moonlight 
Paint a silhouette…love shadow on your wall 
As I loved you…I loved you…Sierra..I loved you 
But…Sierra…my oasis…I drank… all your love 
Now Sierra.. You’re the dessert…and it’s a long   way to walk
Sierra…Sierra…hear this song…I wrote for you 
I love you…I Love you…Sierra…I Love you

SIERRA (My Oasis) DOUG ROOSSIEN, NICK OLMAN //w, Emma Shanley, Sam Kenny, Nick Olman

YOUTUBE VIDEO......"FIELDS OF QUIET SOIL"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyYHjxPPBgc 
YOUTUBE VIDEO(NEW) ... "POCKETFUL OF LIES "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay9vAZQgmN4

SOMEDAY THE WEIGHT OF THIS YEAR ON MY LIFE WILL BE AN ALBUM FULL OF PAIN,... BUT, RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE I'M CENTRALLY LOCATED IN HELL

1987 WENT TO Nashville for a “short week” Music row to make the big time … wow … nobody listens in lawsuit land in those days. 1988 WENT TO NASHVILLE for 3 days (surely, I would crack this puzzle and become famous …) so many on benches in front of churches. Frustrated, didn’t sing publicly again basically for 25 years. (after all, where would a singer/song writer, make a name for himself in Karaoke land).
2010 discovered open mics (new world begins). WRITING SINCE …a lot! Had someone to produce me in limited acoustic style for a couple years…I think a few were damn good “Fields of Quiet Soil”. Had a lot of offers to write lyrics and/or sing for a lot of other artists here. (but no recording capability …let alone a decent computer for my own. TODAY, THINGS CHANGE …I’m here to make an impact (got 4 new ones under my belt recently) …plus some old ones you will not be disappointed listening to. Welcome old music fans and artists., potential serious collabs.
I’m locked and loaded this time!
FB Doug Roossien

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