The Gray Fuzzy Middle
(c) J. Murdock McInnes Vasey

[intro]

[instrumental]

[chorus]
With empathy declining
and guilt fading away
Does it matter what you do
Does it matter what you say

[instrumental]

[verse]
At one end there are the saints
The kind of people we are not
Those for whom all others matter 
Give their food, share their water

Some people have a conscience
and never have forgot
The help they have received
From where it came and what they got

[pause]

[verse]
At the other end the monsters
The kind we hope that we are not
Those who care only for themselves
Who must win above all else

The resentful and deluded
Who must always be included
Who believe they did it all
The whole world in their control

[instrumental]

[verse]
In between is where we are
Near the good or much too far
In that gray fuzzy middle
Where we don't know who we are

Where we balance every day
What we want, with what we pay
Where we must matter more
But how much more, 

Not that much
Not so much more

Not so much more

Not so much more

[instrumental]

[chorus]
With empathy declining
and guilt fading away
Does it matter what you do
Does it matter what you say

[pause]

[verse]
In between is where we are
Near the good or much too far
In that gray fuzzy middle
Where we don't know who we are

Where we balance every day
What we want, with what we pay
Where we must matter more
But how much more, 

Not that much
Not so much more

[chorus]
With empathy declining
and guilt fading away
Does it matter what you do
Does it matter what you say

[instrumental]

Not that much
Not so much more
Not so much more
Not so much more

[outro]

[Arrangement]
Harry and the Kinks / Nora
Laid-back drums and deep, reverb-soaked bass establish a relaxed groove. 
Tremolo-laden guitar lines weave through each verse, highlighted by expressive blues bends and fuzzy solos. 
The bridge’s vintage synth layers build a dreamy feel, dissolving into a slow, hypnotic outro.

[Arrangement]
Cyanide
A syncopated electronic drumline drives this new wave euro-lounge blues, with pulsing synth bass and jazzy electric piano chords. Clean guitar accents support a playful, strange, squeaky male vocal, weaving through quirky, atmospheric synth layers and retro drum fills.

The Gray Fuzzy Middle (3)

“Better Start Eating Healthy” is a witty reflection on modern life — where technology knows everything, and we might just be forgetting how to take care of ourselves. With smoky charm and a bittersweet wink, the song turns a simple message into a soulful confession: maybe it’s time to close the laptop, eat your veggies, and remember that real care doesn’t come from a chatbot. Blending humor, warmth, and a touch of melancholy, it’s a late-night toast to staying human in a world run by Wi-Fi and code.

„Better Start Eating Healthy“ ist eine charmant-ironische Bestandsaufnahme unseres digitalen Alltags – in einer Welt, in der Algorithmen alles wissen, aber keiner mehr richtig zuhört. Mit rauer Stimme und bittersüßem Augenzwinkern erinnert der Song daran, dass echte Fürsorge nicht aus dem Laptop kommt. Zwischen Witz, Wärme und leiser Melancholie wird aus dem Aufruf zum Gemüseschneiden eine Hymne auf das Menschsein im Zeitalter der KI.

Better Start Eating Healthy

I saw a kid in scrubs at the coffee shop
Typing questions like “What’s a stethoscope?”
Laptop glowin’, nerves are showin’
And ChatGPT is doing all the work he’s knowin’

He says “One more quiz and I’m almost there
A few more prompts and I’m a millionaire”
He’s got the lab coat, not the know-how
And I’m sittin’ here thinkin’ — oh no, wow

Better start eating healthy
Grow tomatoes on your shelf, B
‘Cause your future doc’s been googling hearts
While mine’s playin’ Mario Kart
Better drink your water, skip that pie
You might just live ‘cause you didn’t try
To trust a guy with a Wi-Fi degree
So eat your greens religiously

He’s memorizing bones with a chatbot cheat
And can’t tell a lung from a piece of meat
But hey, he’s got great bedside charm
And a playlist for open-heart alarms

This ain’t hate, it’s a PSA
In a world where AI leads the way
Just sayin’ — maybe run today
Before your surgeon types in what to say

Better start eating healthy
Broccoli’s your new wealthy
Your doc’s got a diploma from the cloud
So chew that carrot and make Mom proud
No offense to future MDs
But some of y’all skipped the PhDs
So if you cough, just sip some tea
And pray it’s nothing you can’t beat

Yeah, better start eating healthy
‘Cause tech support ain’t doin’ surgery


Better Start Eating Healthy

“beste freunde” paints a cinematic moment where friendship blurs into something deeper — a night charged with emotion, memory, and unspoken attraction. Between humor and heartache, the story unfolds in small gestures: a look, a smile, a heartbeat that tips the world off balance. Wrapped in warm soul-pop grooves and the nostalgic sigh of Parisian melancholy, this song captures the quiet electricity that lingers when two people cross the line between comfort and desire.

„beste freunde“ erzählt von diesem einen Moment, in dem Freundschaft kippt – leise, fast zufällig, und doch voller Spannung. Zwischen Lächeln und Schweigen, Nähe und Unsicherheit entfaltet sich eine Atmosphäre aus Wärme, Humor und einem Hauch Wehmut. Der Song verbindet souligen Pop mit einem nostalgischen Chanson-Gefühl und fängt die Magie jener Nacht ein, in der aus Vertrautheit plötzlich Sehnsucht wird.

Beste Freunde

„Gehen wir zu mir?“
Frag ich
Wahrscheinlich zum tausendsten Mal
„Warum nicht?“
Sagst du
„Ist eh schon egal“

Beste Freunde
Durch dick und dünn
Heut bist du irgendwie anders
Wonach steht dir der Sinn?
Game of Thrones?
Breaking Bad?

Und dann bleibst du einfach liegen, auf meinem Bett
Lady in Red
Lady in Red
Mit nem Lächeln
Das Eisberge zum Schmelzen bringt
Burning Love
Wie Elvis singt
Mmh Mmh Mmh
„Komm schon“, sagst du
„Die Uhr tickt“
Und meine Welt kippt
Und wie sie kippt

Deine Haare riechen nach Regen
Dein Blick sagt „Trau dich“
Dein Knie berührt meins
Mein Zittern verrät mich

Und dann...
Oh Mann!

Du bleibst einfach liegen, auf meinem Bett
Lady in Red
Lady in Red
Ein Lächeln
Wie es Eisberge zum Schmelzen bringt
Burning Love
Wie Elvis singt
Mmh Mmh Mmh
„Die Uhr tickt“
Und meine Welt kippt
Sie kippt

Auf dem Fußboden liegt dein rotes Kleid
Und irgendwo zwischen uns brennt die Luft
Alles riecht nach Anfang

Und du bleibst einfach liegen, auf meinem Bett
Lady in Red
Lady in Red
Die ganze Nacht
Burning Love
Mmh Mmh Mmh
Die Uhr hat aufgehört zu ticken
Und die Welt zu kippen 

Ich liebe dich
Stammel ich
Und du strahlst mich an
Oh Mann...


Beste Freunde

“Denim Dreams” is a nostalgic journey through faded moments and small-town summers that never quite leave your heart. It’s a story of two souls stitched together by youth, cheap thrills, and blue jeans — finding beauty in the ordinary and love in the in-between. With a warm, rootsy pop-rock energy that shimmers between joy and reflection, the song feels like a whistled memory — light, familiar, and echoing long after it fades. It celebrates the way memories linger, even when everything else moves on. It’s that feeling of driving home at sunset with the windows down — somewhere between goodbye and forever.

„Denim Dreams“ ist eine nostalgische Reise durch verblasste Erinnerungen und endlose Kleinstadt-Sommer, die das Herz nie ganz loslassen. Eine Geschichte zweier Menschen, verbunden durch Jugend, Leichtsinn und Blue Jeans – voller Schönheit im Alltäglichen und Liebe in den Zwischenmomenten. Mit einem warmen Pop-Rock-Sound, der zwischen Freude und Melancholie schimmert, klingt der Song wie eine gepfiffene Erinnerung – leicht, vertraut und lange nachhallend. Er feiert, wie Erinnerungen bleiben, selbst wenn alles andere vergeht. Es ist dieses Gefühl, mit offenen Fenstern in den Sonnenuntergang zu fahren – irgendwo zwischen Abschied und Für immer.

Denim Dreams

She wore denim like a promise made
In a laundromat two blocks from Broadway
Sipped her Coke, feet bare on the tiles
Said, “Cheap dreams still last a while”

I fixed the jukebox with a pocketknife
Played “Rocket Man” like it saved my life
She laughed and said, “You’re not too old”
Then danced like no one ever told her no

Denim dreams never fade
Even when the sky turns grey
You and me, small-town parade
No gold, just jeans, and lemonade
Na Na Na – we stayed
Mmh Mmh Mmh – we played

Her lipstick smudged on my hoodie string
She stole a ring from a vending machine
Wrote her number on a diner check
Said, “Call me if your world goes wrecked”

“Don’t wait for life to get fancy,” she said,
“Blue jeans are made for falling instead.”

Denim dreams never fade
Even when the years betray
You and me, fire escape serenade
No crown, no plan, just a beat-up cascade
Da Da Da – we stayed
Mmh Mmh Mmh – we played

We didn’t rise, we didn’t fall
Just lived between the cracks in it all

Denim dreams never fade
Not even when you walk away
Your echo’s stitched in yesterday
Still got your thread in my parade
Na Na Na – okay
Mmh Mmh Mmh – halfway

Streetlight buzz, an empty frame
And a jacket that still smells like rain


Denim Dreams

Your Land Ain't my Land
(c) J. Murdock McInnes Vasey


[intro]

[instrumental]

[verse]
We gotta split this land in two
A different land for me and you
Can't live together any longer
Each passing day the hate grows stronger

[verse]
If you want to stay behind
Live in ignorance and fear
I would not wish this fate for you
But there is nothing I can do

[bridge]

[verse]
You made your choice
Won't change your mind
You have shown to all your face
We are no longer the same kind

[chorus]
You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

[instrumental]

[verse]
I gotta get away from you
All my friends are going too
We can't afford to have you near
We're afraid what you will do

[verse]
You can't be trusted with our children
Can't be allowed near our schools
Your goons waiting 'round the corner
We will no longer be their tools

[bridge]

[verse]
We will leave this place for you
Your racism and your hate
The time for words has now gone by
and You can't say we did not try
But I'm afraid it's now too late

[chorus]
You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

[instrumental]

You can keep your ignorance
You can keep your poverty
But it ain't the thing for me
We sure wish it all goes well
And Hope it takes you straight to hell

[chorus]
You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

You go your way
I'll go mine
Go right now
We're out of time

straight to hell

straight to hell

straight to hell

We Hope it takes you straight to hell

[outro]

Arrangement:
deep male voice, lounge, slow dance, threatening, detached, dark, malevolent, cello, piano.  Cello intro has an Arab sound.

Your Land Ain't my Land (again)

Waiting for the End
(c) J. Murdock McInnes Vasey

[intro]

[instrumental]

My wife's out in the yard
and the kids up in their rooms
but then, I am only guessing
have not seen anyone since noon

I think everyone is here
We are all just staying home
We know the end is coming near
No one wants to be alone

They will show it on TV
We will sit around and watch
They said it would be after three
Next show after the match

I picked a good spot on the couch
and the time is getting close
No one else is showing up
Don't want to be here all alone

I go up to get my son
He says he's busy with a game
I remind him 'bout the end
He says he's not to blame

I call out to my daughter
Then I go check in her room
She left a note beside her bed
It says she has gone off to the moon

My wife has disappeared
She left, her car is gone
No idea where she went
I guess I'm on my own

A bowl of chips and one more beer
I am the only one that's here
The end came, but no one cared
There was no reason to be scared

We've all seen the end before
We hear about it every day
We've all gotten accustomed
We don't have a part to play

[instrumental]

We will roast or we will freeze
Die from earthquake or disease
Some people want us terrified
They want us all down on our knees

Others want us to ignore it
Show up at work another day
They're not planning to be here
They have a cave where they will stay

I'm just happy for the beer
But I need a few more chips
I wish my wife would come make dinner
The kids can stay away

[pause]

Again this time tomorrow
I will give it one more try
I just want it to be over
I think I wanna die


[instrumental]

Again this time tomorrow
I will give it one more try
I just want it to be over
I think I wanna die

[outro]


Waiting for the End

“After All This Time” drifts through the quiet space between reunion and memory — that tender moment when two people meet again and realize that some connections never fade. It’s the sound of old hearts rediscovering their rhythm, of forgiveness without words, of a love that’s neither perfect nor broken — just real. The duet brings together two voices that echo both strength and fragility: her smoky depth and his smooth warmth intertwine like shadows at sunset. A bittersweet blend of reflection and renewal, this song feels like coming home after a long time away.

„After All This Time“ bewegt sich in der leisen Zwischenwelt aus Wiedersehen und Erinnerung – jenem zarten Augenblick, in dem zwei Menschen merken, dass manche Verbindungen nie vergehen. Es ist das Gefühl alter Herzen, die ihren Takt wiederfinden, von Vergebung ohne Worte, von einer Liebe, die weder perfekt noch zerbrochen ist – einfach echt. Die beiden Stimmen – ihre rauchige Tiefe und seine sanfte Wärme – verweben sich wie Licht und Schatten am Abend. Ein bittersüßer Mix aus Rückblick und Neubeginn – dieser Song fühlt sich an wie Heimkommen nach langer Zeit.

You stood in the doorway, same boots, new face
A little more quiet, a little less grace
The sky looked bored, like it knew this scene
You said, “I was nearby
Whatever that means“
Mmh yeah, whatever that means

We sat with the hum of the fridge in the air
A bag full of nothing, your coat on the chair
I poured us two drinks we forgot to touch
And you laughed — oh you laughed
Like the years hadn’t changed that much
Not that much

After all this time (after all this time)
You still fit the frame (still fit the frame)
Like rain on the window, still knows my name
No big confession, no perfect line
Just two old hearts
That forgot the time
Mmh Mmh Mmh, after all this time

You asked if the plants ever learned to survive
I said, “Like me, somehow still alive”
You looked at the door like you might walk through
But your shadow stayed longer than it had to
Longer than it had to… longer than it had to…

After all this time… still you

After all this time (after all this time)
You still kill the light (kill the light)
With a glance that forgives without making it right
No fireworks now, no grand design
Just your hand near mine
After all this time
Mmh Mmh Mmh, after all this time

No promises made, but your eyes were loud
We spoke in the silence, away from the crowd
And maybe that’s all we were meant to be
Not perfect, not fixed – just you and me
Just you and me…

After all this time, you still feel like home
Like a verse I remember, but never wrote down
No maps, no plans, just a second wind
And the quiet belief we could start again
Mmh Mmh Mmh, yeah, start again
After all this time…
Oh Oh Oh – after all this time


After All This Time

Waiting for the End (grunge 2)

The Bad Side of the World
(c) J. Murdock McInnes Vasey


[intro]

[instrumental]

[verse]
This is the bad side of the world
Where you never can grow old
When you cannot pull your weight
You are left out in the cold

You learn to fear the stick
For a moment hesitate
You will feel a nice sharp kick
and they'll take away your plate

You better keep on moving quick
and you can't ever get sick
Can't miss a day and not show up
If you  do, your time is up

your time is up

[chorus]
You need to make your masters happy
They want service, make it snappy
You need to do it with a smile
And keep their toilets clean
You only have one purpose
To service the machine

[instrumental]

[verse]


[chorus]
You need to make your masters happy
They want service, make it snappy
You need to do it with a smile
And keep their toilets clean
You only have one purpose
To service the machine

[2:15][instrumental]

[verse]
This is the bad side of the world
The streets ain't lined with gold
The pavement's always wet
And you always feel the cold

You can't afford to pay the rent
In one day your money's spent
You beg for food and one more hit
Just one more until you quit

The police are on their way
They plan to take you all away
They'll want to lock you up
If you run, your time is up

your time is up

[chorus]
You need to make your masters happy
They want service, make it snappy
You need to do it with a smile
And keep their toilets clean
You only have one purpose
To service the machine

[outro]

Arrangement:
Kick off with raw, fuzz-laden guitars and heavily distorted power chords, backed by dynamic, punchy drums and a gritty, driving bassline. Verse sections lean louder with strong clear, spoken-style vocals and minimalist instrumentation, exploding to full, aggressive intensity in the chorus. End with a noisy outro, layers of feedback and loose, unpolished playing.

The Bad Side of the World

I write the lyrics; Mr. Alfonso Suno composes the music.  Working with the lovely Ms. Ai Ongaku, they create the arrangements.  Ms. Ongaku and her crowd are responsible for the performances.  My part in creating these tracks is very small. Nonetheless, I am to blame.  Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

The Gray Fuzzy Middle (3)

I and Ai