These are some of the songs I helped create for the FAWM 5090 in the Summer of 2022.The challenge is to write 50 songs in 90 days.
https://fiftyninety.fawm.org/

This is the long form of the February Album Writing Month - 14 songs in 28 days.
https://fawm.org

Summer 2022 - Songs Created for FAWM 5090

Mr Boffin comes into a lot of money and suddenly has loads of friends.

Mr Boffin (FAWM 2021)

My demons, they have always fed me
Since I was small and life was heavy
At first I tried to keep my distance
Now I have no taste for resistance

Go throw yourself out into traffic
Swing from the rafters in the attic
This pain can all be temporary
They whisper lovingly to me

I don't need anybody
Don't need no temporary love
I don't need anybody
I have my demons that's enough
I don't need anybody
Only my demons, baby
I don't need anybody
Only my demons and me

Sometimes I think I like to suffer
I treat my devil like a lover 
Caress the hurt with timid fingers 
Then let it go, but let it linger

Nobody's ever gonna love you
They're lying if they say they do
Affection's only temporary
They whisper lovingly to me

I don't need anybody
Don't need no temporary love
I don't need anybody
I have my demons that's enough
I don't need anybody
Only my demons, baby
I don't need anybody
Only my demons and me

I hear them even when I'm happy
A constant scratching in my brain
Til' all my joy is called to question
And I can't convince myself
I'm not insane

You don't need anybody
Don't need no temporary love
You don't need anybody
You have your demons that's enough
You don't need anybody
I don't need anybody
You don't need anybody
They whisper lovingly

I don't need anybody
Only my demons, baby
I don't need anybody
Only My Demons
Only My Demons

Only My Demons

Perfect Moments 
 
Lyrics - Patty Lakamp
Music & vocal - Jeff Walker
Instrumentation & Production - Joey McMichael
 
Verse 1
In the park at seventeen, I see her walking on the lawn  
Sunlight playing on her skin, and oh, this boy is gone 
The object of my fantasy in a yellow cotton dress 
A young man’s perfect moment when her eyes say Yes 
 
Chorus
Perfect moments, out of the blue
When the fates come together and smile on you
Perfect moments, the beautiful truth
When the one who stole your heart
Feels the same about you
 
Verse 2
Standing in the doorway as my wife turns down the bed 
See her kiss the pillow where for years I laid my head
She doesn’t know I’m there and it takes my breath away
A lover’s perfect moment on an ordinary day
 
Chorus 
Perfect moments, out of the blue
When the fates come together and smile on you
Perfect moments, the beautiful truth
When the one who stole your heart
Feels the same about you
 
Verse 3
The day our son was born, I vowed I’d be the perfect Dad
Little did I know what kind of challenge I had 
Today, I ask, of all his friends, who is he closest to
A father’s perfect moment when my boy says You
 
Chorus 
Perfect moments, out of the blue
When the fates come together and smile on you
Perfect moments, the beautiful truth
When the one who stole your heart
Feels the same about you
 
Bridge
A treasure-trove of memories
Cherished souvenirs
They’re over in an instant
But they last for years
 
Chorus 
Perfect moments, out of the blue
When the fates come together and smile on you
Perfect moments, the beautiful truth
When the one who stole your heart
Feels the same about you

Perfect Moments Remixed Demo

Written and performed with the AMAZING Alyssa. (a.k.a @QuothTheLlama)

Lyrics.
Sorry I’ve been off my game
I can’t shake the low
Wish I could escape my brain
It’s hard to let go
It’s alright, it’s alright
I’ll be fine, bring on the weekend.

Every time I get knocked down
You save the day
Busting out your telephone booth
Wearing a cape
And in your eyes, in your eyes
I always find, all that I need there.

We know some come undone
Under pressure
But you and I still defy the odds
Together.

Yeah we rode the supernova
In and out of luck
We rode through the darkness
Never giving up
Now our love is the starlight
Nothings gonna tear us down
We are a constellation.

Remember when I wrecked our car
You carried me home
You fall, I fall
But we don’t fall alone
If we just keep pushing
Keep on moving forward
We’ll be alright.

I know you don’t wanna let me down
I told you then and I’ll tell you now
That I’ll never leave your side
I promised til the day I die.

Bridge.
Oooh I will never leave you in the dark
With your hand in mine
We’ll show them what we are.

Constellation (Duet written and performed with Alyssa Womack)

Am I Scared
Nancy Cunningham / JazzAnarchy

Oh, she musta been a mystic
I got her dissertation in my car
Used to tell me where you won't go
That's just who you are

It's been a couple years now
It's still hard to believe
I think of her at bed time
and when I'm raking leaves

I keep crawling through her phone book
Calling her old friends
The Jacksons and the Johnsons 
Then the Ks and Ls, the Ms and Ns

Am I scared, well I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way, that's what she would say
Tell me, am I scared?
That's what she would say
It's always been my way
Keeping it at bay
So am I scared?

It isn't like I'm done for
I shower and get dressed
It's not like I'm obsessed
It's not like I'm obsessed

Oh, she musta been a mystic
Her dissertation's in my car
Used to tell me where you won't go, that's just who you are

I keep crawling through her phone book
Calling her old friends
The Jacksons and the Johnsons 
Then the Ks and Ls, the Ms and Ns

Am I scared well I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way
That's what she would say
Tell me am I scared
That's what she would say
That's always been my way
Keeping it at bay

Am I scared
Well, I'm keeping it at bay
That's always been my way
That's what she would say

Tell me, am I scared?
That's what she would say
That's always been my way
Keeping it at bay
So am I scared?

Oh, oh, oh

Am I Scared? (performed by JazzAnarchy)

Clock Into Our Life

Music by Jeff Walker
Lyrics by Nancy Cunningham

I’m working for the man. I’m dreaming ’bout you, Girl 
Wishing I was home while I’m out in the world 
When I’m gonna get there, what we’re gonna do
While I’m at work, all I think a-bout is you

But I’m
Stuck… in a meeting
Still on the phone 
Won’t get busy, Baby, won't get busy til I get you alone
Gotta tell the boss
Gotta head home to the wife
Punch out of my da-ay job, clock in to our life

'Cause there’s too many minutes in an eight hour day 
Even sixty more seconds, it's too long away
All this thinking’s got me hot here standing on the line 
I should have called in sick cause I am feeling fine

But I'm
Stuck in a meeting, still on the phone 
Won’t get busy, Baby, won’t get busy til I get you alone
Gotta tell the boss, gotta head home to the wife
Punch out of my day job, clock in to our life
              
Instead of pushing piles of paper, stacking sheets of steel
I got mountains to move, ‘cause they’re blocking what is real…

While I’m 
Stuck in a meeting, still on the phone 
Don’t get busy baby, don’t get busy till I get you alone
Gotta tell the boss, gotta head home to the wife
Punch out of my day job, clock in to our life    

Gotta punch out of my day job, clock in…
Help me clock in to our life, baby

Clock Into Our Life

Sounding Out (No Dragons Allowed)

WORKING ALL THE TIME (Cunningham/Jones)
© All Rights Reserved 2022

Drilling offshore, digging in the mine
Handing out a ticket, paying down a fine
Harvesting the heartland, driving my rig
Singing at the Opry or any other gig

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
I’m working all the time
to keep us working all the time

Rooting out the riffraff, a bouncer at the door
Putting it together on the factory floor
Breaking my back, Fixing what’s broke
I can kid around but work’s no joke

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
Cause Hon, I’m working all the time
to keep us working all the time

You know the point of work is living,
the point of life is love
In work, in life, in love,
I give you all I’ve got

I’ll pitch nine innings, I'll sell my pint of blood
I’ll fill up a hole, I dug in the mud
I’ll predict the weather, I’ll bury the dead
I’ll box and I’ll build, I’ll deliver the bread
I’ll keep sweating and keep swearing, I’ll keep keeping us fed

I’m working, working, working, working all the time
Working in the morning, working overnight
Pulling double shifts then working on the side
Ever’thing I do, it's all made with pride
while I’m working all the time
Honey, I’m working all the time

And we're working all the time
Yes, we’re working all the time
© Nancy Cunningham 2022

Working All The Time

Workaholic Country Blues
Music - Jeff Walker
Lyrics - Nancy Cunningham and Nadine De Macedo 

I could tell the boss I'm leaving
Pay me out, we'll be even
Takin' fifty-two weeks vacation every year

I could turn in my time card
Might make my making rent hard
'less I bass fish (more) and hunt for deer

But the hard truth is
I wouldn't know just what to do
I got the Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
They' hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

I could take this Job and Shove It
But in some way I must love it
I make just enough to cover bread and beer

I could crack my nest egg
Bingo might pay off big
But more likely I'll keep working right on here

'Cause the hard truth is
I wouldn't know just what to do
Without my Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
It's hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

Grandma ploughs past sundown
Grandad drudges in town
That's the life they choose
My whole family's got the Country Workaholic Blues

And the hard truth is
We wouldn't know just what to do
Without our Workaholic Country Blues
It's true
It's hard to lose
The Workaholic Country Blues
Got the Workaholic Country Blues

Workaholic Country Blues

This was a lot of fun. Clever, witty lyrics from @nancy-cunningham-2 on an interesting and contemporary subject. What's not to like? In my head, I was leaning into a bit of McCartney's Three Legs, the Beatles' For You Blue and a dash of Simon and Garfunkel. Did I hit the mark? Probably not. 

Last but not least, the song needed a solo, so I reached out to Rich Joseph (@user-831068061) to add his awesome, double-stopping magic dust. Thanks man!

LYRICS © Nancy Cunningham

Feed the Algorithm
Give him what he wants
Put your best foot forward
Your profile
Your full fronts
Tell him all your secrets
What makes you grin and grunt
Feed the Algorithm
Give him what he wants

Feed the algorithm
Let him roll your dice
He knows your S.A.T. scores
Your dentist and your size
Your IQ and your credit score
He can name your price
Feed the algorithm
Let him roll your dice

Feed the algorithm
What you got to lose?
He knows what you pay in rent
How often you hit snooze
He can tell you how to live
Where to buy your shoes
Feed the algorithm
What you got to lose?

Feed the algorithm
Let him feed you back
He'll tell you if your rainbow
Needs repainting black
He'll serve you tasty morsels
Like your clicking crack
Feed the algorithm
Let him feed you back
Let him feed you back
Let him feed you back

Feed The Algorithm

Lyrics/Vocals/Rhythm Guitar by Quoth/Alyssa Womack
Composed by The Corking Crack Band
Mixed/Mastered by The Corking Crack Band

Check out The Corking Crack Band on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/YivM1

Reflections ft. The Corking Crack Band

Lyrics: Doug Haberman, Music: Jacob Everett Wallace

Infinite Water
V1
Blue light in windowpanes
And shadows like black orchids
I’m haunting city streets from long ago

V2
Flashback to golden days
It might just be a parody
Of what I used to feel and used to know

(Lift)
Why did she leave?
Where did she go?

(Chorus)
Her voice still sneaks
Up on me
It tells me what I taught her
I thought of her, still think of her
As the angels’ daughter
And when I hear it in my mind
Her voice soothes…
Like infinite water

V3
I was much younger then
The future only a fog and a mist
But everything was possible in dreams

V4
Fate plays with all our plans
The paint peels off and walls fall down
And hopes evaporate like subway steam

(Lift)
Why did she leave?
Where did she go?

(Chorus)
Her voice still sneaks
Up on me
It tells me what I taught her
I thought of her, still think of her
As the angels’ daughter
And when I hear it in my mind
Her voice soothes…
Like infinite water

(Bridge)
Here in the desert of reality
I find myself clinging to her memory
(2X)
As if it will save me
As if it will save me
As if it will save me

(Chorus)
Her voice still sneaks
Up on me
It tells me what I taught her
I thought of her, still think of her
As the angels’ daughter
And when I hear it in my mind
Her voice soothes…
Like infinite water

FAWM 2023

Infinite Water

Miles Off Course, the first single from the new Winterfalle album 'Out Of The Sea', is OUT NOW. 🧭

The song is about the German Occupation of Jersey, a true story about the wreck of the SS Schokland, a troop carrier that sank off the North coast in 1943 as if it’s being watched by a local child up on the headland.

LYRICS

Bodies stacked like timbers,
Foundered on the rocks,
Some hundred lives lost,
 
They weren’t local sailors,
Far away from home,
Lost beneath the foam,
 
They didn’t know these waters,
January cold,
Flood the third hold,
 
We watched those foreign soldiers,
Taken by the tide,
A fraction made it out alive,

I know it’s hard, but we must be kept apart,
Cut off by the tide, the rocks, the reef, the beach, the mines,
 
The sharpest shards, breached the hull, the lungs, the heart,
From the lighthouse on the reach, to the bottom of the sea,

Miles off course.

Oh I saw those timbers,
Piled up on the pier,
Somewhere over there,

Seagulls cried and lingered,
More washed up on the sand,
I squeezed my father’s hand,
 
He said they had it coming,
Some people never learn,
They got what they deserved,

I dreamed of wild adventures,
Just William, Boy’s Own,
Not these bloated bags of bones,

I know it’s hard, but we must be kept apart,
Cut off by the tide, the rocks, the reef, the beach, the mines,
 
The sharpest shards, breached the hull, the lungs, the heart,
From the lighthouse on the reach, to the bottom of the sea,

Miles off course. 
Miles off course.
 
You can hear them singing Lili Marleen across the sea,
While the wireless plays out that exact same song to you and me.

And if I was honest with myself, I’d say it was hard to read,
From the shoreline which fields they had fought on, it wasn’t clear to see.

And if you go wading out off Portelet and dive down sixty feet,
You will find an impermanent reminder decaying in the deep.
 
Miles off course.
Miles off course.

We recorded the song with Jason Wilson (Bellowhead, Fisherman's Friends, Reuben, Fightstar), taking influence from the darker sonic palette of 2000’s emo and the 2010's folk revival, turned into something new to tell this Island story.

Miles Off Course

The original version of this song by The Infinity Chamber has an attractive and captivating Pink Floyd vibe to it. That beautiful, melancholic style is what drew me to the song from the beginning. The lyrics, both provocative and moving, still leave me wondering and imagining.

https://soundcloud.com/theinfinitychamber/the-delicate-art-of-reflection?si=00450f0a6093431ebffdc3c80daa0823&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The song depicts a bedroom scene through the eyes of a man who starts to doubt his relationship, his life and life in general and tries to step away from it all. The brutally honest way in which this epiphany of gloom was put into words, generates unexpected sympathy and aversion at the same time. Once the sadness behind the lyrics sinks in, you are helplessly building sympathy for both characters in the scene and that final: “I went and got pissed”, doesn’t even sound mean anymore. It sounds like he deserves the relief.

I hope my version of it does the work justice.

The Delicate Art of Reflection

Composer & Lyricist: Antoine G

Antoine G: glockenspiel, synths, drum machines
Charles Eric Charrier: glockenspiel

This is a reimagined version of my song Sailors. Weirder, and sexier. Life is a circus, you should have fun! Sonically, expect a weird pop symphony of electronic instruments, horns and glockenspiel. As I wrote, life is a circus, and this is where this song is supposed to be played. And it's also supposed to be played LOUD

I’m looking at them smiling and I listen to their lies
And  I see through their blatant hypocrisy
But I see others listening,when they keep on lighting fires
And I know their hate will be the end of me

So I’d rather be a sailor
I’d rather die at the sea
Yes I’d rather be a sailor
If this world turns away from me

And I’m looking at these people walking in the street, 
None of them are bad but all of them play sweet
With the forces of oppression, they don’t stand against brutality 
That’s the way things go in our society 

So I’d rather be a sailor 
I ‘d rather drown in the sea 
Then drown below this sea of faces 
Where no one has love for me

And then I see you across the room and you’re looking at the horizon   
And you are the most beautiful  person I’ve ever seen
And. I don’t  deserve your love, I don’t deserve your patience
Cause I have to say that  I’m poor company

That I’d rather be a sailor
That I’d rather leave to the sea
That I’d rather be a sailor
If only you’d come with me
 
We might as well be sailors
We might as well live on the sea
We might as well turn from this land
That wasn’t made for you and me

Sailors - the kind version

Hello, I remember you
Do you remember me?
The world’s so different
And so is humanity
Did I leave a trace in you?
Like you touched a place in me
I hardly knew you then
Now I’d like to be your friend

Hello, I remember you
Do I jog your memory?
I was so shy then
And awkward socially
I probably made no dif to you
But you gave a lift to me
I hardly knew you then
Now I’d like to be your friend

I don’t know what life’s about
I’m really in the dark
But one thing I have figured out
Is to not hide the feelings in my heart, so

Hello, I remember you
Do you believe in serendipity? 
I’m now successful
Not quite where I’d like to be
But I remember feeling down and
You put a hand on me
I hardly knew you then
Now I’d like to be your friend
I hardly knew you then
Now I’d like to be your friend

Hello, I Remember You

I write songs with people and on my own.  I love the way a song can light a match and illuminate a story or a feeling or a character. I'm especially drawn to Americana and Country.

I spend every February writing at fawm.org (February Album Writing Month). It's a great place to hang out if you've ever wanted to sing, play, write, compose, listen, or discuss music. You can find me there as nancycunning.

 I've gotten to write with friends in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington Wisconsin, as well as Canada, France, England, Finland, Germany, and Peru.

Clock Into Our Life

Jeff Walker 4

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