Life Is Cruel  (Spire Demo) Gary B. Ratoff all rights 2021

This “demo track” is… in part, but not limited to an amalgamation of various influences that have come through the maelstrom in the zeitgeist of the current times, from direct near death varieties of religious/spiritual experiences, to exposure to Break Dancing Compilations, to Live Flamenco Performances, to the deepest cryptical layers embedded in the novel (as well as film)ie The Wizard of Oz, and The Old and New Testaments, and to personal trials and tribulations and familial relations and relative interrelated hitherto unavoidable future events… as well as to the nature of creation, and life itself. It was recorded live in a single take by isolating a small acoustic amp, and capturing the performance in an adjacent room, using a stage microphone clamped to a street recouped re-purposed hybrid coffee table/credenza… come foot of the bed “entertainment and storage console utilizing an acoustic guitar outfitted with an onboard pick up that was ultimately tracked “live” directly into an iPhone via a free “app” all while my good friend “Eric Solomon” (who also assisted in the flushing out or the arrangement) tweaked the knobs “on the fly” Wall of Sound style. It is derivative and representative of the honing of what started out as an approximately twelve page poem authored in the plural ie Glows Like Gold… into its current present tense song form, which ultimately took well over 100 hours of blood sweat and way more than a few tears and years… to get it to what can be heard in this take. 

Gary B.Ratoff… all rights 3/21/2022

Gold “The Aom Song” version #1 demo/outtake Gary Ratoff all rights 2022

Run For Your Lives ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2013

Run for your lives
Run for your lives

Run for your lives ... run for your lives
Run for your lives ... run for you lives

Cuz nothin is broken
Anyone can see
What ever makes you happy  ... what ever makes you happy

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Cuz nothin is broken
Aaaaaaaaaaah
Anyone can see
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
What ever makes you happy 
Aaaaaaaah
And livin free

Why can't you see ... why can´t you see
We can be happy
Just You and me ... just you and me
We can be happy

Don't look to far
It's worse than you think
Thrown under the car
And dumped down the sink

Run for your lives ... run for your lives
Run for your lives ... run for you lives

Run for your lives ... run for your lives
Run for your lives ... run for your lives

Cuz nothin is broken
Anyone can see
What ever makes you happy  ... what ever makes you happy

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Cuz nothin is broken
Aaaaaaaaaaah
Anyone can see
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
What ever makes you happy 
Aaaaaaaah
And livin free

Run for your lives ... run for your lives
Run for your lives ... run for you lives

Run for your lives ... run for your lives
Run for your lives ... run for your lives

www.foramusementonlyrecords.com

Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Crushtone Music Studios, Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

Run For Your Lives ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2013

Soon Come ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2008

I'm in a soon come way
I'm in a soon come way
I'm in a soon come way
In this soon come day
In this soon come day
In this soon come day

And I know ... mmm mm ... I'm gonna get there
Where ever winds blow ... I´m gonna get there

Cuz  I'm in a soon come way
Ah tryin to make somethin pay
In this soon come day
I´m in a soon come way ... mmm ... dayz right

So I'm lettin it all ride
Yeah I'm lettin it all ride
I'm on a south of the border slip slidin disorder
I got no where to hide
I got no where to hide
I got no ... where to hide

But I know ... mmm .. mm mm ... I'm gonna get there
Where ever winds blow ... yeah .. mmm mm
I'm gonna get there

Cuz  I'm in a soon come way
Tryin to make it all pay
In this soon come day
I'm in this soon come day

Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA ... and Crushtone Music Studios, Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

www.foramusementonlyrecords.com

Soon Come ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2008

Soul Fire (V.M. Demo)

GIRLS ... with horns ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2007

This one´s ... for the girls ... aaah mmm ... who rock my world mmm ah ha yeah ha ... I said this one´s ... for the girls, yeah girls ... girls ... mmm da da

This one´s for the one´s ... that paved ... paved ... the way
From New York, Detroit and Boston ... and ya know ... then on to LA
Like Tinas, and Annie's ... and Emmy Lou's ... yeah ah
Like Ms. Smith and Ettas ... who could belt out the blues ... yeah ... mmm mmm ... thats right ...
Yeah this ones for the girls ... yeah ... mmm mmm .. who rock my whole world ... ta cha

This one´s for the girls ... eh who rock my world ... mmm
I said ... this one´s, for, the girls, yeah ...  yeah  ... girls, girls girls

I said, I said ... this one´s for the one´s that got you ... mmm ... you know, mmm ... yeah ... mmm mmm .. in, in the mood ... ah
The funky junkie ones ... that knew just how to shake ... ah ... yeah mmm
boy they knew how to shake mmm mmm ...  shimmy ... and move

Yeah this ones ... ah for the girls ... who rock my world ... cha cha
Yeah ... said ... this ones for the girls, girls girls ... yeah ah

I said ... this ones ... for Patti Smith ...  mmm ... the punk poet, priestess ... queen uh yeah ... je bone
She was one dark goddess, aah ah when she burst out ... onto the scene 
She ruled at CBJBz ... yeah ... and you know and she packed the whole g-d damned room 
She just ... she just went ... aah ... BOOM BOOM BOOM ... taaaah ... che che ... bump bump

Yeah ... this ones for the girls ... yeah mmm mmm ... who rock my world ... aah that´s right ... ah  ...I said  ... this ones for the ... girls, girls girls

www.foramusementonlyrecords.com

Songwriter/Lyrics - Gary Ratoff
Executive Producer - Gary Ratoff 
Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by 
Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, 
Los Angeles CA 2012
and Crushtone Music Studios, Cleveland, Ohio USA 2013 and 2014

Gary Ratoff - Lead Vocal 
Gary Ratoff - Rhythm and Lead Guitars 
Jim Wirt - Base Guitar, and Keyboards 
Tom Demers - Electric Lead and Rhythm Guitars  
Drums - Chris Roberts 
Horns - Brian Peters 
Arrangement - Gary Ratoff with Jim Wirt

Girls  ... with horns ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2014

Dawn ... final mix ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2007

From my mother I was born ... in the wee hours, of the morn ... mmm
But I never, thanked, her enough ... yeah
Ah trouble has arrived ... in the hour, of this dawn ... yah
And there´s very few people ... left ... to bluff

I´ve done many ah pertinence ... for the hour, at hand 
And reached out, with the other ... in trust 
But I never did see, what it was all about 
While the acid rain ... was ah turnin the states ... to rust

Well I grew up well ... umm ... on the white side of them tracks ... yeah
But I never, I never, stayed ... for very long
I´ve seen mountains of troubles, and lies ... piling up ... yeah
And ... been a witness ... to atrocities, so wrong

So when will the leaders, of every political walk
Sit down at the table ... with your enemies break bread ... and talk
But all you get are thieves ... with their weapons of choice 
So you hide down a well ... or ... under some rock 

So if you see me coming ... with a frown so ... long
And a hammer, sickle, lantern ... in robes ... umm
Don´t fret for very long ... it´s the hour of a new dawn ... mmm
And we´ve reached the end of this road

So come all you people, who have ... hate, in your hearts
It´s time ... we made a new start
And let the past sleep forever in it´s grave
Where you and I, will surely be laid

Where you and I ... shall surely ... be ... laid

www.foramusementonlyrecords.com

Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA ... and Crushtone Music Studios, Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

Dawn - Final Crushtone Mix

The Divine Mirror (Becoming Wise)

BORN WITH A BROKEN HEART -  Final Mix - First Master 
Gary Ratoff © all rights 2008

"Born With A Broken Heart"

I was born with a broken heart
It, it ...was broke, right from the start
I was born with a ... broken brain
It was systematically driven ... insane

I was born, eh born ... with a broken heart ... oom yeah ... datz right
yeah ... mmm ... yeah ... with a broken heart  ... mmm ... doo ...cha, cha

So, ah ... So, ... sexual healing ... is coming to town
Sexual healing ... is going around
So now give it to me ... give it to me ... give it to me ... give it to me ... now
Give it to me, give it to me ... like you ... know how

I was born ... born ... with a broken heart

Yeah ... ah ... With a Broken Heart ... mmm ... aah

I was born ... with a broken soul
I was born ... to never, grow old
I was thrown out ... in the cold
But I was born to rock n roll

You know I was ... born ... ooh, born ... aah
aah ... with a broken heart ... mmm ...ah ooo ... ah ah

Aaah ... with a broken heart ... mmm ... aah

Sexual healing is coming to town, ah sexual healing is goin around
So you know ... give it to me ... give it to me ... give it to me ... give it to me ... give it to me ... now
Give it to me ... give it to me ... like you know how

I was born, born, borrrrnnn ...  with a broken heart ... ah yeah
With a broken heart

www.foramusementonlyrecords.com

Produced by Gary Ratoff ... with Jim Wirt (Tracking/Mixing) @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA ... USA

Born With a Broken Heart - First Master

Running East - First Master

More Than Enough -  First Master

Weirder All The Time  ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2010
 
It's getting weirder all the time 
If you can't see this, you're going blind
There's people pickin through the trash
But life's a party, life's a bash
Cuz you might still be feelin fine
But you know it's getting weirder all the time

It's getting darker every day
All the sheep have lost there way
There's people hobbilin around
All the smart folks leaving town
There's almost nothin left to say
It's gettin darker every day

   (break) 
There's shit droppin from the sky
Police sirens goin by ... ugh yeah
What's your problem, what's your deal
Your hair color ain't even real
It's gone from ridiculous to sublime
And it's gettin weirder all the time

It's gettin weirder every year
To many balls in the air
You look pretty, you look good
But my heart is heavy, feels like wood 
Everyone on their last dime
And its gettin weirder all the time

mmm yeah 

Don't you know it to be true ... !!!



Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA.  USA










































GONZO BANG - "Weirder All The Time" - all rights ... 2010

Produced by Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA. USA

Weirder - First Master

Burn ... long version ... final mix ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2007

If you invaded my country, stole my land, infected my people, with a tyrants last stand, if you rounded them up, mmm ... and put them some where, your life wouldn't be worth a nickel, and, you'd be livin it in fear ... cuz, I'd burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... and I would bring on the cold dark night ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... umm ... you'd die of fright 

And if with one hand and fingers crossed, you gave to my mother, built your weapons of choice, and stole with the other, and you marched off to war, and killed my brother ... now you know what I'd do, cuz I done blown my cover ... I would burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... I would burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah I would bring on the cold dark night, Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... ah ah you'd die of fright ... I would burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka  ... yeah I would burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka ... yeah ... Amerikaka

You walled off hope, infected minds, hung em rope, and then handed them stiff fines, when will you learn, when will you change, when your cities burn ... you'll remember that I sang ... yeah ... I would burn the white house down  ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah ... I would burn that bitch to the ground ... yeah ... how bout them apples how do they sound ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah I'd burn the white house down .... I would burn the white house down Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah ... I would burn that bitch to the ground Amerikaka Amerikaka ... and I would bring on the cold dark night ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... you'd die of fright ... yeah   

Where will you run, when that final day comes, ah where will you be, when freedoms finally free, and what will say on that fateful judgement day ...  what would you pay ... if you had no place to stay 

And if ya stole my money, and drugged my children, and slaughtered my brethren from ... Tripoli to Berlin ... and ya sold me on war, and tortured, my neighbors, and turned your back on the poor, like a bunch of ah corporate  raiders ... ha ... aaaaaaaah .... I would burn the white house down ... aaaaaaaah burn that bitch to the ground, aaaaaaaah ... how bout them apples how do they sound  ... yeah ... I would burn the white house down 

Amerikaka Amerikaka 

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka


Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA ... and Crushtone Studios Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

Burn  -  First Final Mix - First Master

Dawn ... first master ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2007

From my mother I was born ... in the wee hours, of the morn ... mmm
But I never, thanked, her enough ... yeah
Ah trouble has arrived ... in the hour, of this dawn ... yah
And there´s very few people ... left ... to bluff

I´ve done many ah pertinence ... for the hour, at hand 
And reached out, with the other ... in trust 
But I never did see, what it was all about 
While the acid rain ... was ah turnin the states ... to rust

Well I grew up well ... umm ... on the white side of them tracks ... yeah
But I never, I never, stayed ... for very long
I´ve seen mountains of troubles, and lies ... piling up ... yeah
And ... been a witness ... to atrocities, so wrong

So when will the leaders, of every political walk
Sit down at the table ... with your enemies break bread ... and talk
But all you get are thieves ... with their weapons of choice 
So you hide down a well ... or ... under some rock 

So if you see me coming ... with a frown so ... long
And a hammer, sickle, lantern ... in robes ... umm
Don´t fret for very long ... it´s the hour of a new dawn ... mmm
And we´ve reached the end of this road

So come all you people, who have ... hate, in your hearts
It´s time ... we made a new start
And let the past sleep forever in it´s grave
Where you and I, will surely be laid

Where you and I ... shall surely ... be ... laid

Produced by Gary Ratoff and Jim Wirt @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles CA ... and Crushtone Music Studios, Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

Dawn - First Final Mix - First Master

BURN ... long version ... final mix ... Gary Ratoff © all rights 2007

If you invaded my country, stole my land, infected my people, with a tyrants last stand, if you rounded them up, mmm ... and put them some where, your life wouldn't be worth a nickel, and, you'd be livin it in fear ... cuz, I'd burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... and I would bring on the cold dark night ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... umm ... you'd die of fright 

And if with one hand and fingers crossed, you gave to my mother, built your weapons of choice, and stole with the other, and you marched off to war, and killed my brother ... now you know what I'd do, cuz I done blown my cover ... I would burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... I would burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah I would bring on the cold dark night, Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... ah ah you'd die of fright ... I would burn the white house down ... Amerikaka Amerikaka  ... yeah I would burn that bitch to the ground ... Amerikaka ... yeah ... Amerikaka

You walled off hope, infected minds, hung em rope, and then handed them stiff fines, when will you learn, when will you change, when your cities burn ... you'll remember that I sang ... yeah ... I would burn the white house down  ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah ... I would burn that bitch to the ground ... yeah ... how bout them apples how do they sound ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah I'd burn the white house down .... I would burn the white house down Amerikaka Amerikaka ... yeah ... I would burn that bitch to the ground Amerikaka Amerikaka ... and I would bring on the cold dark night ... Amerikaka Amerikaka ... put you in shock ... you'd die of fright ... yeah   

Where will you run, when that final day comes, ah where will you be, when freedoms finally free, and what will say on that fateful judgement day ...  what would you pay ... if you had no place to stay 

And if ya stole my money, and drugged my children, and slaughtered my brethren from ... Tripoli to Berlin ... and ya sold me on war, and tortured, my neighbors, and turned your back on the poor, like a bunch of ah corporate  raiders ... ha ... aaaaaaaah .... I would burn the white house down ... aaaaaaaah burn that bitch to the ground, aaaaaaaah ... how bout them apples how do they sound  ... yeah ... I would burn the white house down 

Amerikaka Amerikaka 

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka

Amerikaka Amerikaka


Produced by Gary Ratoff ... with Jim Wirt (tracking/mixing) @ Fourth Street Recording, Los Angeles, CA. ... and Crushtone Studios Cleveland, Ohio ... USA

Burn - First Final Mix - Revised Master

"AIN'T THAT A SHAME" 

There'll come a day/when the sun won't rise in the sky
There'll come a day/when it won't rain
There'll come a day/when the tides won't turn like they do 
There'll come a day/oh ain't that a shame

There'll come a day/when the earth won't turn anymore
There'll come a day/when the moon won't glow
There'll come a day/when the seasons won't change like they do
There'll come a day/when the grass won't grow

mmmm mmm ... Ain't that a shame
mmmm mmm ... Ain't that a shame

Seasons turning
While the world is burning
Seasons turning ... yeah yeah
World is burning

Ain't that a shame 

There'll come a day/when the lions won't ... roar no more
There'll come a day/when the birds won't sing
There'll come a day/just like in legend and lore 
There'll come a day/when the bells won't ring

mmmm mmm ... Ain't that a shame
mmmm mmm ... Ain't that a shame

Seasons turning
While the world is burning
Seasons turning ... yeah yeah
World is burning

Ain't that a shame
Ain't that a shame 

Gary Ratoff © all rights 2015

Aint That A Shame (Home Demo) all rights © Gary Ratoff 2015

Streets 

I said boy you've been walking down so many streets
No joy
Jus tryin to stay on your feet
You feel it's over
No road ahead
But don't worry your poor achin head

Yeah you've been shot
You've been bought
Left to rot
Forgot 

But you're still walking
Down so many streets
Double talking
Just a keepin that beat

So keep walking down so many streets
Just keep walking down so many streets
Yeah keep walking double talking 
Down so many streets

Yeah you've been wronged
While you played along
You've been tried
Cast aside
So lost
Double crossed
Made to cry
Left to die 

But you'll keep walking
Down so many streets 
Just keep walking
and keeping that beat 

Yeah just keep walking
Down so many streets
Down so many streets 

Gary Ratoff © all rights 2016

Turning Colors

Just like Kansas turning colors
The bruja babes and the blunders
The dripping angel devil trumpets
And Mr. Henson and The Muppets

World keeps spinning round
Some are lost, others found
World keeps spinning round
Some are in heaven, others bound

Just like Kansas turnin colors
On a spinning ball that hovers
The lit up faces of the mothers
And all the good souls of my brothers

See me coming down the way
Say hello to what I play ... now
The Wicked Witch she went astray
The Straw Man he was more than hay ... wow

Just like Kansas turnin colors
On a spinning ball that hovers
The lit up faces of the mothers
And all the good souls of my brothers

World keeps spinning round
Some are lost, others found
World keeps spinning round
Some are in heaven, others bound

 Gary Ratoff all rights © 2015

“The Benzo Blues” 

I got the benzo blues mama again
I got to lose them mama 
But I just don’t know when

I got the benzo blues mama again 
I can’t use them mama
But you know I can’t win

If God is in heaven
I hope I’m let in
My head is ah poundin
And it feels like the end

My ships filled with water 
And I’m drowning in tears
I can’t hear no laughter
And I’m haunted by fears

I’ve hit the rocks
In and out of detox
Can’t see out the windows
And all the doors they are locked

I’m pacing the floor
I can hardly speak
I’m soul sick and sore
And my will is so weak

I got a body of lead
Being whacked by waves
I got a spike through my head
And I’m being told Jesus Saves

Yesterday’s gone
Tomorrow might not come
I wish it was over
But it’s hardly begun

The sun is ah risin
But I’m still wide awake
It isn’t surprising 
I’m in the fiery lake

My body is poisoned
And so is my brain
My skin is ah burning 
And I’m goin insane 

I sleep all day mama
In and out of a fog
I moan all night mama
Just like a dog 

Can’t walk the street
Can’t get out of bed
I can’t even eat
I think I’d be better off dead 

My limbs are shakin
And I can’t see the sun
My whole heart is breakin
Looks like the devil has won

There’s no place to hide
I ain’t takin no calls
There’s suicide
But I ain’t got the balls 

I got the benzo blues mama again
I got to lose them mama
But only G-d knows when

Gary Ratoff ... all rights © 2017

Gary Ratoff - Better Days ... demo MV

At Least We Can Dream (Voice Memo Demo Spire Remix)

The World To Come

“The Benzo Blues” 

I got the benzo blues mama again
I got to lose them mama 
But I just don’t know when

I got the benzo blues mama again 
I can’t use them mama
But you know I can’t win

If God is in heaven
I hope I’m let in
My head is ah poundin
And it feels like the end

My ships filled with water 
And I’m drowning in tears
I can’t hear no laughter
And I’m haunted by fears

I’ve hit the rocks
In and out of detox
Can’t see out the windows
And all the doors they are locked

I’m pacing the floor
I can hardly speak
I’m soul sick and sore
And my will is so weak

I got a body of lead
Being whacked by waves
I got a spike through my head
And I’m being told Jesus Saves

Yesterday’s gone
Tomorrow might not come
I wish it was over
But it’s hardly begun

The sun is ah risin
But I’m still wide awake
It isn’t surprising 
I’m in the fiery lake

My body is poisoned
And so is my brain
My skin is ah burning 
And I’m goin insane 

I sleep all day mama
In and out of a fog
I moan all night mama
Just like a dog 

Can’t walk the street
Can’t get out of bed
I can’t even eat
I think I’d be better off dead 

My limbs are shakin
And I can’t see the sun
My whole heart is breakin
Looks like the devil has won

There’s no place to hide
I ain’t takin no calls
There’s suicide
But I ain’t got the balls 

I got the benzo blues mama again
I got to lose them mama
But only G-d knows when

Gary Ratoff ... © all rights © 2017

Benzo Blues (Voice Memo Demo Spire Remix)

New Blues - Late Rock - Globe Trotting Slam - with a Twist of Twang, a Dash of Dirge, a Pinch of Punk, a Goblet of Gospel, a Railroad of Roots, an Armada of Americana, a Satchel of Soul, a Fulcrum of Folk, a Filagree of Funk, a Dollop of Detective, a Pocket Full of Progressive, a Cupful of Country, a Hoodie of Hip Hop, an Inch of Industrial, a Rottweiler of Rap, a Hovel of House, a Tad of Techno 🤮 a Wee Bit of World and a Stream of Consciousness 

Classy Gary a.k.a. Gary Ratoff… is an original Singer-Songwriter Recording Artist/Poet/Impresario
exclusively For Amusement Only Records™, 
… all rights 2012

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