How Many Times
© January 2005 – Raji Abuzalaf

How many times I pray today?
Struggling to keep my doubts at bay
Lord, don’t You hear me calling!

How many times I ask You, Lord?
Feeling like the one who’s been ignored
Lord, why You keep on stalling!

How many times I beg You, please?
Dropping to the floor, I’m on my knees
Lord, can’t You see me crawling!

So all this time, I’m thinking that You’re too late, my Lord
And in my mind, defeat is all I see
But all this time, I’m learning to wait on You, my Lord
And then I see how You’re sustaining me

How many times I lift my voice?
I set aside Your will to make my choice
Lord, don’t You hear me wailing!

How many times I wait so long?
Fearing that the path I chose was wrong
Lord, am I really failing!

How many times I raise my hands?
Hoping You would come and bless my plans
Lord, can’t You see me flailing!

So all this time, I’m thinking that You’re too late, my Lord
And in my mind, defeat is all I see
But all this time, I’m learning to wait on You, my Lord
And then I see how You’re sustaining me

How Many Times

Poets And Painters
© February, 1979 – Raji Abuzalaf

The poet and the painter
Who are searching for the answer
Hail from Great Port Freedom
To those who fill the graves

They will join the thinker
And the singer and the dancer
Players waiting joyfully
For the One who lives and saves

The author and the sculptor
Who are crafting for the lancer
Yearn to find true justice
And hope to free the slaves

They will join dissenters
Who are fighting social cancer
Seekers waiting patiently
For the One who calms the waves

The minstrel and the artist
Who are bearing the romancer
Strive to free the captives
And those who hide in caves

They will join disciples
Who are greeting the Enhancer
Leaders waiting faithfully
For the One who still forgave

The poet and the painter
Who are searching for the answer
Hail from Great Port Freedom
To those who fill the graves

They will join the thinker
And the singer and the dancer
Players waiting joyfully
For the One who lives and saves

Poets And Painters

Amor Perdido
© January, 2024 – Paola Corona & Raji Abuzalaf
Featuring Paola Corona on vocals

Te quiero mucho, mi amor
Porque siempre has sido tan encantador
Te necesito, mi corazón
Pero tanta espera está más allá de la razón

Te quiero mucho, cariño
Pero nunca pensaste en enviarme un guiño
Te amo solo a ti, querido
Aunque no sepas que alguna vez he existido

Dime cómo puedo llamar tu atención
Dime cómo puedo ganar tu corazón
Si tan sólo supieras de verdad cuánto te amo

Te deseaba, mi amado
Pero estos sentimientos están en el pasado
Ansiaba tu amor, querido
Pero temo que mi sueño se haya perdido

Cómo hubiera podido llamar tu atención
Cómo podría haber ganado tu corazón
Lastima que nunca supiste en realidad cuánto te amaba

Te quise mucho, mi amor…
  Te quise mucho
  Ay, te quise mucho, mi amor
  Porque tenía que ser asi?
  Nuestro amor está perdido
  Why does it have to be like this?
  I loved you, my darling
  Our love is lost…

(English Translation)

----------
Love Lost
----------

I love you so much, my love
Because you’ve always been so charming
I need you, sweetheart
But this much waiting is beyond reason

I love you so much, honey
But you never thought to send me a wink
I love only you, dear
Even if you don’t know that I ever existed

Tell me how I can get your attention
Tell me how I can win your heart
If only you truly knew how much I love you

I wanted you, my beloved
But these feelings are in the past
I longed for your love, dear
But I fear my dream is lost

How could I have caught your attention?
How could I have won your heart?
It’s a shame you never really knew how much I loved you

I loved you very much, my love...
  I loved you very much
  Oh, I loved you very much, my love
  Why did it have to be like this?
  Our love is lost
  Why does it have to be like this?
  I loved you, my darling
  Our love is lost…

Amor Perdido

To Believe
© June, 2024 – Raji Abuzalaf

I watched my little boy just the other day
He got down on his knees and began to pray
He said, “O God, why don’t You help us out?”
But there was no reply, so he began to doubt

And he wept, and he wept, and he wept, and he wept

“Don’t you hear the children crying?”
“Can’t you see there’s good men dying?”
“Don’t you know there’s bad men lying?”
“Can’t you tell that I’m still trying?”

“To believe, to believe, to believe, to believe…in You”

I watched my little girl just the other night
She knelt down and prayed feeling so contrite
She said, “O God, won’t You end man’s oppression?”
But there was no response, so she began to question

And she cried, and she cried, and she cried, and she cried

“Don’t you hear our cries, it’s chilling?”
“Can’t you see good men’s blood spilling?”
“Don’t you know there’s bad men killing?”
“Can’t you tell that I’m still willing?”

“To believe, to believe, to believe, to believe…in You”

And so I bowed down wondering if He even sees us
I raised my hands and prayed in the name of Jesus
I said, “O God, are You there? Can’t you hear?”
This time I heard an answer, a soft voice in my ear

And I prayed, and I waited, and I listened, I heard Him say,

“I made the Earth a blessed venue”
“And placed free will to choose within you”
“Let My Spirit take control, I’ll defend you”
“Show a little faith and then continue…”

“To believe, to believe, to believe, to believe…in Me”

To Believe

Come Along
© May 2024 – Keith Adams & Raji Abuzalaf

Come along
And hear my song
I sing it passionately
Come along
Come on, come on
The truth will set you free

Come along
It won’t be long
And you can see what I mean
Come along
Right on, right on
The truth is yet to be seen

My only wish is to open your eyes
Get you thinking with your own mind
My hope is to unveil their disguise
All of their lies
That clouded the skies
And kept you blind

Come along, it can’t be wrong
Discover what’s in store
Come along, go on, go on
The truth will open the door

My only wish is to open your eyes
Get you thinking with your own mind
My hope is to unveil their disguise
All of their lies
That clouded the skies
And kept you blind

Come along
And hear my song
I sing it passionately
Come along
Come on, come on
The truth will set you free

Come Along

Your Kind Of Love
© June, 2024 – Keith Adams & Raji Abuzalaf

It’s alright – the way you treat me, baby
You hold me tight and squeeze the life out of me
It’s alright – the way you cheat me, baby
You stay all night but then you never love me

It’s alright – spend all my money, baby
It ain’t so bright to squeeze each dime out of me
It’s alright – you think it’s funny, baby
You start a fight just when it’s time to love me

Don’t need no woman that’d break my heart
Your kind of love just ain’t that smart
Don’t need no woman that’d leave me for dead
Your kind of love is like a hole in the head

It’s alright – the way you kiss me, baby
My lips turn white, you squeeze the blood out of me
It’s alright – the way you dis’ me, baby
You leave despite your vow to always love me

Don’t need no woman that’d break my heart
Your kind of love just ain’t that smart
Don’t need no woman that’d leave me for dead
Your kind of love is like a hole in the head

I don’t need your kind of love
It hurts your kind of love
You can keep your kind of love

Your Kind Of Love

Diana
© August, 2024 – Raji Abuzalaf

Diana, give me a hug, Diana give me a smile
Diana, let me hold you for just a little while

Diana, give me your hand, Diana give me your arms
Diana, won’t you let me have a taste of your charms?

Diana, show your heart, Diana show you care
Diana, for a moment let down your pretty hair

Diana, share your thoughts, Diana share your mind
Diana, for a moment leave your worries behind

Diana, share your hopes, Diana share your dreams
Diana, don’t you know that sharing always redeems?

I know you may be wondering just why I sing this song
When people share their feelings, it never could be wrong
So stop and see, it’s just a gift from me…

Diana

Waiting Game
© September, 2024 – Raji Abuzalaf

On this journey all these years, you’re still alone
You keep waiting for that love you’ve never known

I believe that you’ve been searching near and far
Maybe you’ve been trying a little bit too hard

Why do you shelter all this love deep inside?
Open up your heart and put away your pride

It’s such a crying shame that you play this waiting game
There’s no one else to blame when you play this waiting game

Every turn you take, there’s heartache left behind
Love seems so good but you can’t make up your mind

I believe that you’ve been hurting just the same
Baby, now’s the time to end this waiting game

Why do you keep on pushing true love aside?
What’s it gonna take to make you satisfied?

Waiting Game

Shed A Tear
© March, 2025 – Raji Abuzalaf

I don’t ever want to fight
I just want us all to do what’s right
I don’t even have to win
But I just never want to lose again

The price of power is too dear
We watch our morals disappear
Into fear, it’s so clear, can’t you hear?
My words – or are they hollow in your ear?
It’s time we learned to shed a tear

I hope I never need a gun
I just want us all to live as one
I don’t need complete control
And I just never want to lose my soul

The cost of conflict is too high
You see it begs the question – why?
Must we die, it’s a lie, won’t you try
To see – or will your pride impair your eye?
So shed a tear, it’s time to cry

Open up your heart and see just who I am
And you will recognize that I’m your brother man
And once you look and see
Your spirit will be free
And we’ll all have liberty
So shed a tear for you and me

I don’t threaten, I don’t bluff
I just need us all to share our love
I’ll always need a hand to cope
And I just never want to lose all hope

The toll we pay is much too steep
By letting conscience take a leap
Are we sheep, fast asleep? So we reap
Our fruit – and have we fallen much too deep?
So shed a tear, it’s time to weep


Shed A Tear

Another Year Gone By
© April, 2025 – Raji Abuzalaf

It’s just another year gone by
And still you watch the children die
But no one dares to question why

Well, the answer is sad but true
You’ve learned nothing, you got no clue
You serve leaders who’ve gone awry
So it’s just another year gone by

They fill your mind with evil lies
And cast out love and compromise
When will you see through their disguise?

Well, the answer is sad but true
You’ve learned nothing, you got no clue
You serve leaders who’ve gone awry
So it’s just another year gone by

Your world is running out of time
And yet you wallow in the slime
How do you justify their crime?

Well, the answer is sad but true
You’ve learned nothing, you got no clue
You serve leaders who’ve gone awry
So it’s just another year gone by

It’s just another year gone by
Nothing changes, and angels sigh
You lack the courage to even try…

I guess you ain’t done nothin’
You know it ain’t gonna fix itself
And so, another year gone by
Come in now, don’t let another go by
Government Lies

Another Year Gone By

Fifty Years Together
June, 2025 – Keith Adams & Raji Abuzalaf

We’ve had so many years together
And somehow, we made it through
I’m thankful that you still love me
Please know that I love you

We vowed it would be forever
And thank God, we’ve come this far
Let’s strive to make new memories
I’m singing this from my heart

Through the years, we shed some tears
We laughed until we cried
Head over heels, that’s how it feels
To know you’re by my side

Looking back when we met, I never
Understood what you saw in me
From friends to lovers to partners
I’m glad you believed in me

We raised our boys together
Extending our family tree
We’re blessed to see their children
Our golden legacy

Looking ahead, it’s easier said
Let the Lord be our guide
Head over heels, that’s how it feels
To know you’re by my side

We’ve had fifty years together
And somehow, we made it through
I’m thankful that you still love me
Please know that I love you


Fifty Years Together

This creative team met back in high school in Houston, Texas in 1969. They became friends quickly and discovered a unique synergy early on – songwriting. Keith manifested his expressions mostly in the area of lyrics, while Raji fashioned his creativity through melodies and arrangements.

The number of songs that they generated as young teens in a short period of time was incredible. What was even more astonishing was that neither of them could read a musical note, and yet they were able to compose lyrics, tunes, chords, beats, and develop sophisticated arrangements.

School, work, marriage, children, and associations with other bands threw them onto separate life paths. Raji continued composing with other bands and on his own, while Keith officially took a long hiatus.

The team temporarily regrouped in the early 1980’s for a few profound Christian musical offerings. Eventually, Raji found the time and energy to record many of their earlier songs and publish them – both in several of his novels and on soundcloud.com. Then in late 2021 they regrouped once more to continue their creative journey together.

How Many Times

Fifty Years On Project

Related tracks