This was inspired by a poem that my grandfather wrote with the same title. He wrote many great poems and I hope do draw more material from that source in the future.
Here are the lyrics:

MAY YOU LIVE ALL YOUR LIFE

Live all your life, live every moment,
Don't let a day slip by
Give all you have, to every purpose,
Give some time to those in need
And you will find Joy
In your Heart and Soul 
Live, Live, all your Life

Sing every song, loud and clear
Sing of freedom and harmony
Be a friend, to the lonely
Help someone to find their way
And you will feel Love
In your Body and your Mind
Live, Live all your Life

Live all your life 
Don't live just a part
For living requires Soul, 
Conscience and Heart
Live all your life is the clarion call
For young and for old
For great and for small
In sunshine or shadow
In darkness or strife
Here's the little girl's blessing,
“May you live all your life”

Live all your life, live every minute,
Don't let time slip away
Give what you know, to the younger,
Help someone to find their dream
And you will find peace and love
In all that you do
Live, Live, all your Life

MAY YOU LIVE ALL YOUR LIFE

I wrote this song for my eldest son Justin and his then girlfriend Sara on the celebration of his marriage engagement. Must have made an impression, they did indeed get married and I now have two grandchildren? 

I recently took the song into a proper studio and a good and proper crew! Much thanks to Jay Buettner, John Ellis and Tom McKillip--Guitars; Darryl Havers--Keyboards; Rob Becker--Bass; Matthew Atkins--Drums & Perc; Mike Sanyshyn--Violin and Mandolin and Soren Lonnqvist--Engineer. Recorded at Soren's wonderful "Studio Down Under" in Abbostsford, B.C.

Here are the Lyrics:

LOVERS SING
There’s a song that lovers sing
A promise made for two
Around the world, the melody’s the same
It’s simply I love you

When lovers kiss the bells will ring
The thrill is always new
For this romance is more than just a game
They know their love is true

Lover’s don’t pretend
And lovers don’t defend
When they have words, the tiff will always end
With honey you know that I love you so

I will give this wedding ring
And take the vow I do
And sing to you that lover’s oft refrain
It’s simply I love you
I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you...

LOVERS SING

This is a song I wrote, as a take off on a Mark Twain quote: "Lies, damn lies and statistics." Mr. Clemens knew that numbers and statistics can be at once impressive by their apparent accuracy, preponderance and precision but employed to mislead in devious ways which elevates the claim from simply being inaccurate to a damnable lie. Religion is the next and exponential step in that direction. There is a quote in the middle of this song of Mr. Christopher Hitchens, a mentor I never met, from his book; “God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”

Here are the Lyrics:

LIES, DAMN LIES AND RELIGION
Now you tell me that I am lost, that I must return to the faith  and the path of righteousness. Well, you know, I think I've been found, because you see I have been baptized, baptized in the waters of logical thinking...

I don't know where I'm goin
But I guess I know I'm here
And I refuse, to live this life in fear. 
You're packin that leather bible
The greatest story ever told
Of hate and mutilation
The greatest weapon ever sold

What do you fear, Who do you hate
Is the end you long for near
And would you seal our fate
Do you believe it now really do you
Or just hoping that it's so
That all this pain and suffering 
Will save your sorry soul

Do you ever lie awake at night
And think of what you've done?
Do you really think that you will be forgiven?
Are you damned to live your father's faith
And the ignorance of his past?
When will you wake up to the things you know
You know, you know, Just say no, no, no
To those lies.....  Damn Lies and Religion
< SOLO >

VIOLENT, IRRATIONAL, INTOLERANT
Allied with Racism and Bigotry and Tribalism
Invested in Ignorance and Hostile to Free Inquiry
Contemptuous of Women and Coercive toward Children
Organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.

You know where this is goin
You can sense the time is near
Yea it’s in the news, You can taste it now
The vision is so clear
Deceptions damned and liable
Testaments new and old
Our fate is your remuneration
When Revelations unfold

Is it freedom you fear? 
Peace that you hate?
Your sacrifice is so dear
And this will be your fate

Do you believe it now really do you
Or just hoping that it's so
That all this pain and suffering 
Will save your sorry soul

Will you rue that sleepless night?
When you see what you have done?
And you know there’ll be none forgiven?
You were damned to live your father's past
And the ignorance of his faith?
Will you wake up to the things you know?
You know, you know, Just say no, no, no
To all those lies.....  Damn Lies and Religion

~

LIES, DAMN LIES and RELIGION

Co-authored by my friend and guitar virtuoso John Keiselhorst. This is really his tune but I got hold of it and change a bunch of things. This recording turned out have a latin feel which was not my original intention -- but I think it worked out rather well.  Here are the lyrics:

THIS HOUSE AIN'T NO HOME
Kieselhorst / Elton

I walk alone in this desert
Drowning my fears and desires
It’s always easy when you winning
To loose your soul and then your heart

We had a love that would last forever
We had a future in our plans
I didn’t see that heartache coming
Til you walked out that door
You walked out and . . . 

This house ain’t know home
When you’re not in it baby
This house ain’t know home
When you’re not here with me
This house ain’t no home
When you’re not here to share the dream
~
We live alone in this space and time
This sullen story has no reason, no rhyme
These drunken dreams
Desperate, wild and arid
Your with me now it seems
But only in my head

~ Instrumental ~

We had a love that would last forever
We had a future in our plans
I didn’t see that heartache coming
Til you walked out that door
You walked out and . . . 

This house ain’t know home
When you’re not in it baby
This house ain’t know home
When you’re not here with me
This house ain’t no home
When you’re not here to share the dream

[End vamp]
Ooh baby please come home
Take away this wasteland of regret
Set this conscience free
We will remember what we must forget
Make this house a home again
Oh honey please come back... yada, yada, yada...

THIS HOUSE AIN'T NO HOME

LYRICS

UR MY GURL
I think about you everyday
The way you walk & talk, wear you hair
And the things you say
UR everything I do
UR everything I know
And I know somthin
UR my girl, U-R my everything
UR my girl, U-R the songs I sing...
And I sing em for you
Some fellas they like a one night stand
They talk about it, Brag about it
Lie about it
But they don’t understand
They just don’t get it
Cause they don’t get what I got 
Cause I got you girl
UR my girl, U-R my everything
UR my girl, U-R my life-long fling...
Gonna fling it with you
There’s a summer in this autumn love
A romance that burns slow and strong
I feel the heat when you’re in my arms 
And nothing in this world is wrong
Cause UR my girl
U-R my everything
UR my girl
U-R the bell I ring...
Yea, I love ringin that bell

UR my girl, U-R my ding-a-ling...
UR my girl, U-R my Irish Spring...
UR my girl, U-R the songs I sing...
Gonna sing-em for you

UR MY GURL

Also dedicated to Christopher Hitchens and a shout out to Bil Mahr's film entitled "Religious" as well.

THE CHRISTIAN'S LAMENT
(The Mercedes Benz Song)
(Verse) Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive porches I must make amends
I worked hard all my life time no help from my friends
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a plasma TV
They’re on sale at Best Buy they’re practically free
But I blew my last paycheck on tithing for thee
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Plasma TV

(Bridge) Oh Lord I’m a Sinner, And I know that it’s true
My momma was a Catholic, My daddy was a Jew
So I’s born in sin, But one of the chosen few
Oh God it’s so confusing, What the hell you gonna do

(Verse) Lord won’t you buy me a night on the town
I’m counting on you Lord, now don’t let me down 
You’ve got to prove that you love me
And buy the next round
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a night on the town

(RAP)
Well everybody’s got a little something
But we all want a little bit more
Some wants eternal life
Some just wakes up on the floor
Well the good lord giveth
But he mostly taketh away
Giveth to the rich and taketh from the poor that is to say
Some’s havin a good time
While others is doin time
But if ya run hard and take a fall
With me that’s dandy and fine
Just not livin at all
That’s the greatest crime
Some wants to know who we are
and how we all got here
I just know that we is
Please pass me another beer
Yea I’m here for a good time
Not spectin a long time
Sure life is full of miracles
But livin is just a bore
If’n you don’t grab it by the testicles
And giver-all what for
Now I’m just a humble heretic
And I know just what you’ll say
At the final day of judgement
That guy’s goin to pay
Well maybe so, probly no
But there’s one truth I know for certain
You only live once...
And you’ll never be born again

So send me a sign please god, a miracle or two
Give me some evidence, it’s the least you could do
By me a Mercedes, that’d be a miracle sure
Till then you know where to find me lord
I’ll be Enjoyin this life sentence
And I ain’t look for no cure,

So...
Lord won’t ya buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive porches I must make amends
I worked hard all my life time no help from my friends
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mer-ce-des Benz.....

RELIGULOUS (This Madness Has a Name)

Dedicated to Christopher Hitchens. When he laid on his death bed he received a number of messages from well-meaning christian's who offered to pray for him, that he might find salvation and convert to the gospel and save himself before dying. Still others offered their sentiments, that he should rot in hell!  I wrote this on his behalf.  The song includes a refrain that comes from his best selling book "God is Not Great" His good friend Salman Rushdie suggested to him once that the title of his book was one word too long and would better state the premise as "God is Not"  I worked both into the song. Hope you like it.  Here are the lyrics:

PLEASE DON'T PRAY FOR ME

Please don't pray for me
I don't need that pious rope
Just let me be
I feel much better without hope

I hear the rhythm of your verses
But I don't dig that beat
Throw me your curses
I can take the heat

You're telling me that I've been saved
I say that you've been bought and sold
Please, Don't Pray for Me.

I was born under that Christian spell
Raised on Heaven
And I raised some Hell
Did me no harm I guess
But who can tell

The Bishop taught us that the Jews were lost
I can hear that muzak still
Like a song that won't get lost 
It lingers with me still

Well you can pray for your tax exemptions
And you can pray for your Mercedes Benzes
But please, please, please...
Don't pray for me

(Bridge)
When you think of love
You dream of dictators above
Do you beg on bended knee
Do your petitions set you free

And when you lay you down to sleep
Do you surrender up your soul to keep
And do the angels sigh
While you build your castles in the sky

(Vamp Chorus)
||: God is not great.... God is not :|| (4Xs)

(Verse)
Please don't pray for me
I can't use that smokeless dope
Set your conscience free
You don't need that pseudo soap

I hear the jingle of their purses
The plunder of deceit
Floral painted hearses
A deception so complete 

Now I'm telling you the Word is depraved
And you can make your hapless plea
But Please, Don't Pray For Me.
~

PLEASE DON'T PRAY FOR ME (God Is Not Great)

A take off of Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz song. I've changed the lyrics to update things and also added a bridge to the tune which I think improves the over-all musicality of the piece.

Here are the lyrics:

THE CHRISTIAN'S LAMENT
(The Mercedes Benz Song)

(Verse) Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive porches I must make amends
I worked hard all my life time no help from my friends
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a plasma TV
They’re on sale at Best Buy they’re practically free
But I blew my last paycheck on tithing for thee
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Plasma TV

(Bridge) Oh Lord I’m a Sinner, And I know that it’s true
My momma was a Catholic, My daddy was a Jew
So I’s born in sin, But one of the chosen few
Oh God it’s so confusing, What the hell you gonna do

(Verse) Lord won’t you buy me a night on the town
I’m counting on you Lord, now don’t let me down 
You’ve got to prove that you love me
And buy the next round
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a night on the town

(RAP)
Well everybody’s got a little something
But we all want a little bit more
Some wants eternal life
Some just wakes up on the floor
Well the good lord giveth
But he mostly taketh away
Giveth to the rich and taketh from the poor that is to say
Some’s havin a good time
While others is doin time
But if ya run hard and take a fall
With me that’s dandy and fine
Just not livin at all
That’s the greatest crime
Some wants to know who we are
and how we all got here
I just know that we is
Please pass me another beer
Yea I’m here for a good time
Not spectin a long time
Sure life is full of miracles
But livin is just a bore
If’n you don’t grab it by the testicles
And giver-all what for
Now I’m just a humble heretic
And I know just what you’ll say
At the final day of judgement
That guy’s goin to pay
Well maybe so, probly no
But there’s one truth I know for certain
You only live once...
And you’ll never be born again
So send me a sign please god, a miracle or two
Give me some evidence, it’s the least you could do
By me a Mercedes, that’d be a miracle sure
Till then you know where to find me lord
I’ll be Enjoyin this life sentence
And I ain’t look for no cure,

So...
Lord won’t ya buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive porches I must make amends
I worked hard all my life time no help from my friends
Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mer-ce-des Benz.....

THE CHRISTIAN'S LAMENT

Infinity Farms is an organic farm located in the Cowichan Valley close to the town of Duncan B.C. The farm is refuge to many species of migrating birds including Trumpeter Swans and of course Canada Geese.  The marshlands created by the Cowichan river that flows by the farm are protected by dykes and the area is protected by Ducks Unlimited. The Affinity Guest House and other hosting amenities are a popular choice for Weddings, Corporate Retreats and outdoor concerts. The farm also produces Apple Cider and a variety of apple and berry-based refreshments.

Here are the lyrics:

AFFINITY FARMS

Well I’m on my way, to a dream come true
There’s a sun in the sky rising up for me and you
It’s in the air we breathe and the soil beneath our feet
A natural way of living life, sets the spirit free
Back to Affinity, back to mother earth
Back to serenity, and the land that feeds my soul
Back to affinity, Affinity Farms
Affinity farms where the woofers go and live like queens and kings
Affinity farms where the veggies grow and  million other things
Affinity farms that’s my destination, that where I’ll be found
Affinity Farms…

Elton Kim