DIDN’T THE RIVER KNOW?
© 2022 Lucidi/Olson/O’Brien/Henry/Johnson
Music by PJ Lucidi, Hollie Olson, Brian Henry, Steve Johnson
Lyrics by Alex O’Brien

Hollie Olson: Vocals
PJ Lucidi: Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Brian Henry: Drums, Mixing and Mastering
Steve Johnson: Bass

One New Year’s Eve he walked out
In his Tux he looked so fine
We thought he was off to a party
Thought he was having a real good time
But he didn’t come home that evening
And he didn’t come home that night
They didn’t find him till the springtime
His body washed up, cold, wet, and white

Didn’t the river know?
Didn’t the river understand?
That troubles don’t last forever
And mountains wear down to sand
Why couldn’t that river refuse him?
Why couldn’t that river keep him safe?
The beach should be a place to swim
Not a holding place for graves

A sensitive man, he was a painter
So many canvases left undone
The man he was a brother
And a pool hall wayward son
Well the man he was my uncle
And he loved to go for a walk
He showed me the world of fossils
And we fished off the cottage dock

Didn’t the river know?
Didn’t the river understand?
That a pain can’t last forever
That one can always change a plan
Why couldn’t that river reject him?
Why couldn’t that river flow him home?
The water is there to give us life
Not to drown a mind that feels alone
 
With divorce my father felt guilty
He thought that he should have been there
I was a teenager and selfish
Having too much fun to show I cared
His therapist felt discouraged
And the talks and the pills and how they failed
The pool hall debts they were relieved
And the angels did they wail

Didn’t the river know?
Didn’t the river understand?
That love comes to the lonely
Every hand can find a hand
Why couldn’t the river sustain him?
Why couldn’t the river hold fast?
Why couldn’t the river restrain him?
Till all his fears and worries passed

Didn’t the river know?
Didn’t that river know?

Didn't the River Know

Progressive Project

Rhythm

Improvised piano over an arpeggiated Minimoog and a Minimoog bass, from around December of 2012. 

This is the first take, and it feels "live".  I like this recording because there are parts that are loose around the edges. I hadn't been practicing piano for a long time when I sat down to record this. Ouch. Kids, practice your instrument!



Bubbles In Alabaster

The track on YouTube and more streaming platforms
https://youtu.be/c8XV-9P5TLk

SK 

O simple one, learn some prudence
O fool, learn some sense

Wisdom cries
from her lips,
comes what's right
Noble things,
she says in vain


O simple one, do you hear me?
O fool, do you pretend?

up on high,
i raise my voice
up to the sky
all that live
can you hear my cry?


Wisdom's call
Does not understanding raise her voice
From her mouth she speaks to you,
I speak only truth

To you, O men, I call


O simple one learn some prudence
O fool learn some sense

Wisdom cries from her lips,
comes what is right
Noble things,
she says in vain

Wisdom's call

Does not understanding raise her voice

From her mouth she speaks to you,
I speak only truth

Simple One

This track was made with Prophet V, Pigment 4, Synthmaster One, Cube CMI V & Spatk 2 (Perc/Toms/Congas,FX)

Wild West

Changes

ANARS ! Sujets Brûlants

When my best friend moved back to West Virginia when I was still in elementary school, I knew I had to go visit the Mountain State that I had heard so much about. After several summer visits with my family I quickly found a sort of second home away from Connecticut where I've lived my entire life. The images of the town of Keyser, the people, the vast woodlands and easy going way of life really hit me and has never left. Since those early days I've returned with my own kids and they too got an idea of how I felt about "The Friendliest Town In The USA" as the sign plainly states as you drive into town on Route 220. This song is dedicated to Margaret and Richard Campbell, my friend's parents who are no longer with us, but have made a lasting impression of kindness, family values, tough love, backwoods wisdom and southern hospitality.

Update (2023): Many thanks to my esteemed music partner and friend, Nat Daniels, for re-mastering and producing the updated track for this song.

Lyrics:  
Keyser West Virginia by Craig Durgy

If you’re out some Sunday and you check your map
Headin’ south through Maryland and the Cumberland Gap
On Route 220 where the valley comes to view

You can smell that paper mill, miles away
As the road descends into the Mountain State
Past a parkin’ lot full of cars at the Chat n’ Chew

When you cross that bridge where the North Branch flows
And you see that sign that everyone knows
There ain’t no doubt it’s Keyser, and it’s true

That it’s the, friendliest town in the, friendliest town in the,
Friendliest town…in, Keyser West Virginia,
In the whole U.S.A. 

You can ride on down along New Creek Drive
Or take a golf cart ride at the Polish Pines
And on Green Mountain someone’s huntin’ for deer 

On Friday nights in the early fall
The Golden Tornado gonna move that ball
On Saturday they say how 'bout them 'eers!

Green tomatoes in a frying pan
String beans, bacon and chicken, man!
Or try some Stray Cat wings with a couple of beers. 

That it’s the, friendliest town in the, friendliest town in the,
Friendliest town…in, Keyser West Virginia,
In the whole U.S.A. 

Here in West Virginia, Lord you know I love this mountain state
Allegheny air gets in ya, 
And man those pines at Dolly Sods look great 

Some folks work at the ABL
West Vaco also pays pretty well
And Pot State College has lots to offer too

You can be a local or from out of town
Maybe up from Dallas or from Boston down
You'll get a wave from a lotta folks that ya never knew

And if you get the urge and the highway calls
Take a day trip down to Blackwater Falls
It’s West-By-God-Virginia, through and through!

That it’s the, friendliest town in the, friendliest town in the,
Friendliest town…in, Keyser West Virginia,
In the whole U.S.A.

Keyser West Virginia

This is a Romantic to Powerful Symphonic Drama written for full orchestra.
I started with the piano track which is the bed for the whole piece and then wrote the upper melodies and orchestration. This was originally composed in 2005.

In My Senses

If you like loud pianos, heavy rock and massive drums, you've come to the right place. These are full tracks, tests, works-in-progress, and experiments.  Heavy rock, progressive instrumental, progressive metal, fusion-rock live here. And some ambient-groove for the late-night my-ears-need-a-break moments.

Bubbles In Alabaster

Jason Rubenstein