Demo only. Week ending 07/09 of 2023 Songwriting Group. (Prompt: Like a Bad...)

Not Like A Bad Thing  (Music and Lyrics by Rick Watson)

(All sounds made with electric bass, voice, looper, effects pedals.)

Chorus
It’s not like a bad thing,
  it’s just got a bad ring. 
It’s not like a bad thing,
  there’s only a slight sting.

Verses
It’s not a like bad dream,
  it’s just a dead sleep.
It’s not like a bad thing,
  I just want something deep.

It’s not like a bad scene,
  but it’ll never be seen.
It’s not like a bad thing,
  it’s just in between.

It's not like a bad cling,
  but it’s not just a fling.
It’s not like a bad thing,
  it’s just not everything.

Not Like A Bad Thing - Rick Watson

At This Distance (Utterly Lost) - music by Rick Watson & text by Carl Sagan

Demo only. Week ending 07/30 of 2023 Songwriting Group. (Prompt: Tuck)

(All sounds made with baritone guitar, voice, looper, effects pedals.)

"There are some hundred billion galaxies, each with, on the average, a hundred billion stars.... In the face of such overpowering numbers, what is the likelihood that only one ordinary star, the Sun, is accompanied by an inhabited planet? Why should we, tucked away in some forgotten corner of the Cosmos, be so fortunate? To me, it seems far more likely that the universe is brimming over with life. But we humans do not yet know. We are just beginning our explorations. From eight billion light-years away we are hard pressed to find even the cluster in which our Milky Way Galaxy is embedded, much less the Sun or the Earth. The only planet we are sure is inhabited is a tiny speck of rock and metal, shining feebly by reflected sunlight, and at this distance utterly lost."
Carl Sagan, Cosmos, 1980

At This Distance (Utterly Lost) - Rick Watson & Carl Sagan

Austin Songwriting Group, 2024. Week 2 Prompt: Cycle.  
Music and Lyrics by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing. Demo only.

Loops with Baritone gtr, pbass, vocals, keybd strings

Lyrics

That's one step farther than I can go
Two more pounds than I can tote
Three more words & we'll come to blows
Four, now, & it's time to go

One glance & that's all it takes
Two more seconds & your heart breaks
Three rounds swinging like heavyweights
Four, give me something my head aches

One minute we're the best of friends
Two days in hell is what we call weekends
Three Hail Mary's & a Do Not Send
Forever doesn't give us time to mend

One step farther than I can go
Two more pounds than I can tote
Three more words & we'll come to blows
Four, now, & it's time to go

Time to Go

Circe Downfallingly
A loop-based study on obsession.

Music and Lyrics by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing.  January 28, 2024. Demo only.
Week 3 of 2024 Austin Songwriting Group. Prompt: Hard Enough

Lyrics

Don’t fall hard for Circe
who would describe your fate
as downfallingly
sincere
She’s hard enough to grasp
illusive in embrace
and seemingly impossible
to replace

Don’t fall into her eyes or
be enraptured by the lace
as downfallingly
it hits the floor
Be wise enough to pass 
for after one heat of this race
you’ll be impossibly
replaced

Circe has a smile
Circe has a laugh 
Circe has a gift for
Making you an ass 
Circe makes you wild
Circe makes you groan
Turns you into an animal
And then leaves you alone

Don’t fall into her eyes or
be enraptured by the lace
or you’ll be downfallingly
replaced

Circe has a smile
Circe makes you sway 
Circe has a gift to turn
Your laugh into a bray
Circe makes you wild
Circe makes you moan
Turns you into an animal
And then leaves you alone

Circe Downfallingly

Lights Out	
words & music by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing
DEMO ONLY. 
2024 Austin Songwriting Group. Prompt: Lights Out
February 1, 2024

Lyrics

Lights out tonight
My heart’s pumping double
Full moon picks a fight
Each shadow spells trouble
The wind’s howling Run, boy
Though I only stumble
My love dreams beside me
I’ll soon burst that bubble
Lights out

Black clouds roll in
Horned owl is screeching
My face in the window
The highway beseeching
Screen door recoils
Ignition, I’m leaving
God’s voice in the static
But hate’s all he preaching
Lights out

Rest would come with just one swerve
Lights out for good on dead man’s curve
That peace costs more than you deserve
Or maybe baby I just lost my nerve
Lights out

Blue highway glows
It’s nothing I’m chasing
Despair is exhausting
Fatigue I’m embracing
The causeway – last exit
The rearview I’m gazing
The horizon’s a rose
The night it’s erasing
Lights out
I’m coming home
Lights out
I’m coming home
Lights out

Lights Out

words & music by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing, February 9, 2024. Demo only. 2024 Austin Songwriting Group. Prompt: Out Of

Lyrics

at my wit's end & out of rhymes
the cat in my lap is keeping time
kneads it up till the hidden sign 
that says attack in his little mind
that says attack in his little mind 

at my wit's end and out of key
should build a whole new clef for me
in my head love songs sound so sweet
wish you'd heard that & not my bleat  
wish you'd heard that & not my bleat

at my wit's end - out of ideas
no inspiration nor even fears
I'm out of pain joy lust & tears
he's out of food & mews "come here"
he's out of food & mews "come here"

at my wit's end & out of facts
my head is empty - spirit flat
not surprised it's come to that
after you left me with this cat
since you've left me with our cat

I'm out of touch to be exact
at least you left me with the cat
and this is all I'll sing about that
at least you didn't take the cat
at least you didn't take the cat

At Least You Didn't Take The Cat

Love (We're Rolling In It)
Music & lyrics by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing. February 18, 2024. Demo only. 2024 Austin Songwriting Group.

Love (We're Rolling In It)

Locked Onto Your Love

Music and Lyrics by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing.  February 24, 2024. Demo only.
2024 Austin Songwriting Group. Prompt: Locked

Lyrics
Never had no focus
always looking ahead
or dragging my eyes
on some big behind
Then I met you for breakfast
& the past was dead
When we kissed that night
the now blew my mind

I've locked onto your love
as the true one for me
No use for the others
Only you hold the key

Never doubted one minute
always grateful each hour
on bagging my prize
I'm some lucky guy
I bring you your breakfast
& you feed me in bed
When I kiss you just right
the now blows your mind

I've locked onto your love
as the true one for me
No use for the others
Only you hold the key

Now I'm so focused
always looking ahead
Dragging my eyes
on your big behind
You lead me to water
where I swim or die
When you pull me under
the now blows my mind

I've locked onto your love
as the true one for me
No use for the others
Only you hold the key

Locked Onto Your Love

What’s Going On (Inside My Brain)

Words & Music by Rick Watson			
© Hog Branch Publishing, March 1, 2024
DEMO ONLY.
2024 Austin Songwriter Group. Weekly Prompt: Goin' On

Lyrics

(Verse)
I didn’t mind
not knowing what’s going on
In your mind
Till you'd packed up to run
And now	I find
You’ve moved on far past the line
It’s one more sign
I never know what’s going on inside

(Chorus)
What’s going on inside my brain
I’m out of touch with everything

(Verse)
I can’t find
A train of thought to ride 
I'm in decline
I am crawling back inside 
My head it’s drained
I’ve strayed too close to the grave
It’s strange I find
I can’t recall my own damn name

(Chorus)
What’s going on inside my brain
I’m losing touch with everything

What's Going On (Inside my Brain)

What's Going On (Inside My Brain)

And Now I'm Grateful -- DEMO ONLY
Music & lyrics by Rick Watson
(c) 2024 Hog Branch Publishing 

Austin 2024 Songwriting Group. Prompt: Grateful

And Now I’m Grateful
Words & music by Rick Watson
© 2024 Hog Branch Publishing

Lyrics

I don’t know what was wrong with me
So full of hate & self-pity
Searched all around but all I’d see
Couldn’t fill the void inside of me

Now I’m grateful
Grateful I’m grateful

I wonder was I born that way
Or’d something happen to make me stray
Searched high & low & even prayed
Drank it all in but the pain still stayed

Now I’m grateful
Grateful I’m grateful

Strangers in a basement hall
Said come on back or even call
Day one now & one for all
Got on my knees & began to crawl

And now I’m grateful
Grateful I’m grateful

And Now I'm Grateful

Words & music by Rick Watson, Hog Branch Publishing, March 2024. DEMO ONLY. (A revised take on a January 2024 songwriting group prompt -- new tempo and key.)

Lyrics

Lights out tonight
My heart’s pumping double
Full moon picks a fight
Each shadow spells trouble
The wind’s howling Run, boy
Though I only stumble
My love dreams beside me
I’ll soon burst that bubble
Lights out

Black clouds roll in
Horned owl is screeching
My face in the window
The highway beseeching
Screen door recoils
Ignition, I’m leaving
God’s voice in the static
But hate’s all he preaching
Lights out

Rest would come with just one swerve
Lights out for good on dead man’s curve
That peace costs more than you deserve
Or maybe baby I just lost my nerve
Lights out

Blue highway glows
It’s nothing I’m chasing
Despair is exhausting
Fatigue I’m embracing
The causeway – last exit
The rearview I’m gazing
The horizon’s a rose
The night it’s erasing
Lights out
I’m coming home
Lights out
I’m coming home
Lights out

Lights Out (I'm Coming Home)

A surf-inspired tune for this week's Austin Songwriter Group. DEMO ONLY. 

Kissing the Menace
Words & music by Rick Watson. (c)2024 Hog Branch Publishing.

Lyrics

Loving you is like living a death sentence --
captivating, nights of terror & heartache
yet thrilling & always intense.
Kissing you is like kissing the Menace.

Loving you is like trusting a witness --
emotional, uncertain, thrilling
but potentially filled with risk.
Kissing you is like kissing the Menace.

Kissing the Menace

First and Third
Music & lyrics by Rick Watson, (c)2024 Hog Branch Publishing. DEMO ONLY. Austin Songwriter Group prompt: The Window
Thanks for drums to Michael Bahan

lyrics

I’m searching down First Avenue
Can't help but wonder Is that you?
Picking gum off of her boot
	Glaring at some tourist too
You duck into the Pak Punjab
Toting your red laundry bag
	Sunset paints this canyon blue
	You walk on past, it wasn’t you

Sitting on our Third Street stoop
Wish you’d keep me in the loop
Past the church, that looks like you
Checkered scarf & slant bangs too
Wait, I see you waving now
I lift my hand, begin to smile
	The streetlamp coughs up his gray suit
	He takes your hand, it isn’t you

A siren wakes me just past 2
A shadow lies where I wait for you
	The bridge that took you frames the moon
	The East River will swallow soon
Get up,  unlatch the window grate
Stretch out onto the fire escape
	Glance down the block & scan for you
	So many windows reflecting gloom
        Come home, Pretty, and pretty soon
        Come fill up this empty room

First and Third

Hog Branch is home-base for Austin country soul songwriter, music, actor Rick Watson.  #GulfCoastSoulandBlues #FunkfromtheFarm #CountrySoulNoLimits

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