At the Pub

Minstrel

An acoustic interpretation of the Jagger/Richards composition Jumpin' Jack Flash, recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1968.

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Good News Blues

Cake Walk Cry

Composed by Gene Stephan Ruda during the anti-nuclear and "punk" new wave period in the USA, 1976-1980.  From a short poem (1st and 3rd verses) originally scribbled down during a garage band practice by "Hunt" (drummer and former manager of Wherehouse Records, Pacific Garden Mall, Santa Cruz, California). Final version completed following signing of the COP 21 Climate accord and subsequent activism in Paris, France 2016-2018.

Uranium Man

An homage to highwaymen, road warriors, rangers, rovers, and troubadours Woody Guthrie, Roger Miller, Frankie Laine, Bob Dylan, and Ray Davies.

Talkin' 21st Century Tramp Blues

One Good Reason

It's Just Us
Stephan Ruda

Music: Gene Stephan Ruda
Lyrics: Gene Stephan Ruda, Isabelle Sellem
copyright 2012 Mindful Minstrel. All Rights Reserved.

It's just us
In the still and darkness 3 a.m.
And though I lay alone we speak,
No matter that the planet's 'tween us,
It's just us.

It's justice
In the jail and starkness 3 a.m.
And our hands are palm to palm,
A message that's just between us,
It's just us.

It's a windless night when I blow a kiss,
Which takes it's flight with an eagle eye,
And sees beyond these tears I cry,
To land upon your lips.
It's just us.

It's just us.
When eagle wings brush vibrant skin,
Tear flight waters full lips
You raise your gaze to the depth of my eyes.
It's just us.

Across the sky souls communicate
A righteous bond, an outlaw wish,
To understand that souls can mate.
To know there is no wait
For justice.

It's just for us.
The encounter of our souls subsides.
It's the silence of our laws,
And faith in a just cause.
That's just for us.

It's Just Us

Surrender

A personal interpretation of this traditional blues song.

St. James Infirmary Blues

Frackus Crackus

Keep 'em separated...

Sadly separated into boxes,
The leavers, the believers.
The leaders frack the bleeders,
The roxys and the proxys.

Hugo VenalZola, imprinting Bolivar.
Quasi-Maduro Victor to the peepers,
Jeepers creepers, Guide-oh, gastro creepers.
Where'd you get the grim reaper?

Force a fracas in Caracas,
Natural gas and no religion.
We don't need no stinkin' badges,
Johnny's got a gun, Johnny's got a gun, Johnny's got 'magiNation.
Imagine there's no nation.

Sadly separated...

Yanni was a friend of mine,
A kindly, displaced Bassic dude.
A black garbed rebel walked the line,
Past Che's and Chavez' gratitude.
Went off to Paris, made his way,
To find a Brand new day job.
To make his Marque, to pay to play, The exiled Look, an Ex-pat mob.

Sadly separated into boxes,
The leavers, the believers.
The leaders frack the bleeders,
The roxys and the proxys.

Hugo VenalZola, imprinting Bolivar.
Quasi-Maduro Victor to the peepers,
Jeepers creepers, Guide-oh, Gastro creepers.
Where'd you get the grim reaper?

Force a fracas in Caracas,
Natural gas, no religion.
We don't need no stinkin' badges,
Johnny's got a gun, Johnny's got a gun, Johnny's got imagiNation.
Imagine there's no nation.


Copyright Gene Stephan Ruda, August 2018. All rights reserved.

#venezuela #chavismo #voluntadpopular #williamjames #streamofconsciousness #theoffspring #comeoutandplay #jeanpaulsartre #noexit #nobrexit #victorhugo #notredamedeparis #johnnymercer #jeeperscreepers #johnlennon #yokoono #imagine #btraven #thetreasureofthesierramadre #war #theciscokid #bobdylan #thebyrds #hewasafriendofmine #johnnycash #iwalktheline #vanmorrison #brandnewday #lennonmccartney #getback #fracasincaracas

The Medium

Frackus Crackus

With fires all around us I woke up yesterday morning before dawn with this in my head and so I wrote it down. It's about the flame of life.

Scott Leonard
Surrounded by firestorm
Sebastopol, California
September 11, 2020


While Your Flame Still Burns

Born of our Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

Burning ever ready, from the day you're born until the moment you pass
Fire that can warm the heart
Forging steal and frameworks,
and yet at times can burn those around you
Be mindful with your precious flame

Born of our Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

And when the flame has passed 
Who did warm their hands at your campfire?
Toast yummy marshmallows with the heat you provided?
How many souls did enjoy your light and glow?
Your flame of extraordinary fireside chats
Oh flame of flames did you provide those in your orbit with warmth and shelter from the cold?

Born of this Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

How long will you burn my dearest special fire?
For this flame does not last forever, 
Yes, your story can continue on with the campfires and circles that still remain behind.
And yes, the heat can still be felt even after your flame is gone.
Your charcoal and ash will remain behind but it too will perish
Ashes to dust, and to particulars that then blow across our horizons.

From the Sun
This spark of life
Your flame

How will your flame burn, while your flame still burns?

---

Your Flame
Original text/poetry by Scott Leonard
Song lyrics/music RUDA

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKHXtuAgkOM/?igshid=zh6xdp85f56

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Eternal or passing
Heart warming
Framing forging
Strong steelings

Burn harmless
Turn radiantly
Precious sourcerous
Magic mindfully

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Camped fire mellow
Warmed hands free
Toasted 'mallows
Afterglow memo-ree

Countless souls
Shadows and sound
Chattering round
Your ring of coals

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame

Lost hers, last his
Soular cycler
Roar to ember
Fade to ashes

Felt, remembered
Perished particles
Gone, upwinded
Horizon tale sails

From the Sun
Spark of life
Your flame

I wonder will you vent 
That flame
It burning 'til you went
And came

Sun birthed
Life sparked
Your flame