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All Hell On Fire is fun to play because it's so easy.  It's a DADGAD tuning.  The harmony is unusual because the root movement of the power chords are pitches of the full diminished 7th arpeggio(stacked minor 3rds).  The bass plays the pitch of the octatonic scale (two full diminished 7th arpeggios displaced by a half-step) against the lead guitar.  The chorus has a four pitch, chromatic ascending vocal harmony, as well as an echoes lead vocal as an additional harmoney.  Th chorus guitar riff adds a flat 2 for additional darkness.

All Hell On Fire by John Sid (mastered)

An odd time signature (7/4) on the main riff; chromaticism in the verse's vocal melody, classical guitars, and ascending part of the heavy riff; a wide-ranging, heavy, melodic vocal on the second chorus; the lead break with leaps to the sevenths of the diatonic chords in the rhythm guitar, bendy lead guitar, and a quiet interlude reminiscent of a couple of '70s bands (it's the recorders - "Stairway..." and "I've Seen All Good People").  John Sid: guitars, vocals.  Matty Matt: bass.  Joe Contardo: drums.  Words and music by John Sid.

Love Is In You by John Sid

This is a piano arrangement of a song I wrote for rock trio. It would make good music for a beer commercial, like "Let It Be Lowenbrau." I came up with the chord progression after reading Paul Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition, Vol. 1."

"If I Had A Heart" prelude for piano in G, by John Sidorovich

If I Had A Heart, prelude for piano by John Sid

Day By Day by John Sid

John Sid: vocal, piano
Matty Matt: bass
Joe Contardo: drums

Words and Music by John Sid

Lyrics:

Walking into walls,
I shoot myself in the foot and I fall.
I'm on my face, a look that kills,
And I can't hide all my pain and my ills.
I'm freaking out.  I've lost the time.
I'm leaking out all over you.

Trying to understand,
What is my part in the madness at hand.
What have I done?  They're so irate.
Why do these people get off on their hate?
I need a break.  I need a change.
I feel I can't take more malaise.

Day by day, I live my life.
Come what may, through strength or strife.
And if I'm wrong, and if I'm right,
Try each day to see the light.

All these angry people.
Why can't we live in peace?
Now the pressure's growing
And I can't get no relief
From grief.

Just beyond my shoes,
A greener grass has me singing the blues.
I feel so small and meaningless,
And I go on in despair and distress.
I'm so confused by the abuse.
I can't get used to what I know.

Day by day, I live my life.
Come what may, through strength or strife.
And if I'm wrong, and if I'm right,
Try each day to see the light.

Day By Day by John Sid

All Hell On Fire is fun to play on guitar because it's so easy.  It's a DADGAD tuning.  The harmony is unusual because the root movement of the power chords are pitches of the full diminished 7th arpeggio (stacked minor 3rds).  The bass plays pitches of the octatonic scale (two full diminished 7th arpeggios displaced by half-step) against the lead guitar.  The chorus has a four pitch, chromatic ascending vocal harmony, as well as an echoed lead vocal as an additional harmony.  The chorus guitar riff adds a flat 2 for additional darkness.

As for the lyrics, it's a break up song, in which your former lover sleeps with your friends, and it seems like a deliberate attempt to spite you, because it hurts.  I've been through that.  I watched my friend go through it.  It sucks.

Words and music: John Sid
John Sid: vocal, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass
Joe Contardo: drums

Lyrics:

All the friends you thought you knew
Are sleeping in your bed.
You can't lie down at night
Because they're creeping in your head.

Love can light your heart
But make you burn the heart she steals.
Blind in smoke, you're walking coals.
I know just how it feels.

All hell on fire.
Burn down your night.
Worst hell I know.
Dark in the light.

Gone out of her way
To burn a scar upon my mind.
How much did I do
To make my woman so unkind?


Love can light your heart
But make you burn the heart she steals.
Blind in smoke, you're walking coals.
I know just how it feels.

All hell on fire.
Burn down your night.
Worst hell I know.
Dark in the light.

Got to find a way to get these
Ghosts out of my head.
I can't lie down at night
Because they're sleeping in my bed.


Love can light your heart
But make you burn the heart she steals.
Blind in smoke, you're walking coals.
I know just how it feels.

All hell on fire.
Burn down your night.
Worst hell I know.
Dark in the light.


All Hell On Fire by John Sid

Piano Quintet no. 1, mvt. III, by John Sid.  "Am I Right?"

Piano Quintet no. 1, mvt. I, by John Sid

If I Was God, prelude for guitar by John Sid.  My friend Sean, an English teacher, pointed out the grammar error in the title, saying that it should be "If I Were God."  I think that it's a good error.  It expresses the hubris and conceit of humanity, so often mistaken, so often playing god.  However, the idea behind the title is one person's wish for a better life for all.

If I Was God, prelude for guitar by John Sid

Live For Today by John Sid.  Some women recognize the character in the story as someone they know (usually their ex-boyfriend).  Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental (wink).

Words and music by John Sid
John Sid: vocal, guitar.
Matty Matt: bass
Joe Contardo: drums
Rhythm section arranged by John Sid, Lori Bingel and Yuval Lion.

Lyrics:

You wake up late,
You ain't got no job,
And you spend your mama's money.

You don't wonder why
Your whole life's a joke
And it ain't even funny.

So you stay out late
And you get messed up
So you don't have to remember

That it's the same old thing
Every goddamned day
From the new year 'til December.

And you can live for today,
You can live for today,
You can live for today,
But man, you gotta work for tomorrow.

So you blame your folks
For your wasted life.
You say look how you have ruined me.

But you're old enough
To make your own life
And to take responsibility.

But you'd rather make
Up excuses for
Your extended adolescence.

And your youth fades away,
A fate that you can't delay,
While you fail to grasp the essence...

That you can live for today,
You can live for today,
You can live for today,
But man, you gotta work for tomorrow.

Live For Today by John Sid

Feelin' Satisfied, words and music by John Sid, features fingerpicking guitar on the gentle first half, and a relentlessly happy major third against the dark chord progression (vim7, bVImaj7, I) of the heavy ending.

John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums

Lyrics:

I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the smile that breaks out across my face.
I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the simple joy of feeling satisfied.

It's as if I owe my life
To some puppet master pulling on my strings
It's hard to realize
That I don't owe no one, not a single thing.


I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the smile that breaks out across my face.
I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the simple joy of feeling satisfied.

The fear that hell will come
Keeps me running scared from everything I need.
The fear that hell will come
Keeps me running scared from everything I need.

I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the smile that breaks out across my face.
I always feel there must be hell to pay
For the simple joy of feeling satisfied.

The simple joy
Of feeling
Satisfied.

Feelin' Satisfied by John Sid

Love Is On Your Side, prelude for guitar by John Sid.

Love Is On Your Side, prelude for guitar by John Sid

How Many Times by John Sid alternates between 7/4 and 4/4 time, featuring ascending and descending chromaticism in the guitars.  The lyrics are about being your own worst enemy.

Words and music: John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

How many times will you lie to yourself,
Pretending that you're right when you're wrong?
How many times will you set yourself up
For the fall that you've feared all along?

How many times?
Just ask me.  I know.

How many friends will you stab in the back
When your paranoia's out of control?
How many miles will you carry that load
As you try to squeeze blood from a stone?

How many times?
Just ask me.  I know.

I know the blame is mine alone.
I know the shame is mine alone.
I know the name is mine.
I know.

How many times will you fuck it all up,
Just when you're getting just what you need?
How many times will you hurt who you love
And then blame who you love for the deed?

How many times?
Just ask me.  I know.

How Many Times by John Sid

Oh Great Cloud, prelude for acoustic guitar by John Sid features a Travis picking arrangement of the blues rock song Oh Great Cloud.

Oh Great Cloud, prelude for acoustic guitar by John Sid

Fantasie in Ab for piano by John Sid features arpeggios played continually faster, harder and louder.

Fantasie in Ab for piano by John Sid

Oh Great Cloud by John Sid is about the feeling that one is way behind schedule in one's life's journey.  It has also been described as a secular hymn to the natural world.

Words and music by John Sid.

John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

Oh Great Cloud,
High in the sky,
Do I not appreciate?

Oh Great Cloud,
Drifting by,
Have I started way too late
To be what I could be?

The Sacred Sun
Is shining down,
And do I not search for the way?

And Mother Earth
Is spinning 'roud.
What happened to my time today?
I wish that I could see.

But you ought to know,
The time seems to go
Into the things we'd never want to do.
You know it's true.

Oh Great Cloud,
Do I not appreciate?

Oh Great Cloud,
Have I started way to late
To be what I could be?

Oh Great Cloud by John Sid

Oh Great Cloud, Coda by John Sid is an electric finger picking guitar instrumental arrangement of the blues rock song Oh Great Cloud.  It is meant to be played after the song as a kind a tail to the tale.

Oh Great Cloud, Coda by John Sid

I Will Be There For You by John Sid.  Promises, promises!  While the harmony sounds tonal, there is a b5 in the verse guitar and vocal melody, as well as descending chromatic movement of the chords vim7 to bVIMaj7, and I to V six three to bVII.  There is chromaticism in the first guitar solo's octatonic scale while the second guitar solo features ascending major triad arpeggios.

Words and music by John Sid.

John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

Scary memories of your past
Haunt you, taunt you,
Make you feel there's no one there,
But I never will leave,
Never desert you,
And I'd never do anything to hurt you.
Let me do all of those things no one's done for you,
And I will be there for you.
I'll always care for you.

Trust me.
You've heard it before.
Liars, losers, laughed and left you lonely.
Listen.
I never will leave,
Never desert you,
And I'd never do anything to hurt you.
Let me do all of those things no one's done for you,
And I will be there for you.
I'll always care for you.


I Will Be There For You by John Sid

Minuet in D for piano by John Sid could also be considered a waltz as the time signature is 3/4 and the tempo is moderato.  However, the middle section is in 4/4 and might confuse the dancers.  Haydn liked to play jokes like that.

John Sid: piano

Minuet in D for piano by John Sid.

Oh Great Cloud, bluegrass by John Sid is a bluegrass arrangement of the blues rock song Oh Great Cloud.

John Sid: square-neck resonator guitar, acoustic guitar, upright bass, mandolin, fiddle, snare drum.

Oh Great Cloud, bluegrass by John Sid.

John Sid: banjo, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass.

Banjo by John Sid

Getting Higher by John Sid.  Acoustic finger style steel-string guitar.

Getting Higher by John Sid

An Enemy To Blame by John Sid features alternating measures of 6/8 and 5/8 time signatures on the the verses, and hemiolas between the china cymbal and guitars on the pre-choruses, as well as some James Jamerson-inspired bass lines that I wrote and that Matt Kaskela executes with conviction.  Props to Joe Contardo for delivering the Meshuggah inspired hemiolas between the china cymbal and kick drum.

John Sid: vocals, guitars, organ.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

The ministry of peace concerns itself with war.
Haven't we all read this somewhere else before?
The ministry of truth concerns itself with lies,
With fear to motivate you, and the TV on your eyes.

New world order coming.
Nineteen Eighty Four.
War machine is humming,
Looking for a war.

They told me
They were looking out for me,
They were gonna keep me free.
But they sold me
An enemy they made,
A reason to invade.

They are stealing our power to save
The land of the free and brave
From men who need an enemy to blame.

The ministry of love concerns itself with hate.
They're holding up the cross and they're calling it the state.
Come Big Brother.  What's my choice?
Will you come and steal my voice?

An Enemy To Blame by John Sid

The summer's gone.  The fall is here.
The leaves are brown and winter's near.

My soul cries out for something more,
The love I had just once before.

But there's hope in my heart,
For you and I were never meant to part.
And I'll hold on 'til you return,
For my heart burns
With love that never dies.

And now I wait for snow to fall,
For now I have no one at all.

But there's hope in my heart,
For you and I were never meant to part.
And I'll hold on 'til you return,
For my heart burns
With love that never dies.

Words and music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, classical guitar, viola, cello, percussion.
Matty Matt: bass.

Love That Never Dies by John Sid

The summer's gone. The fall is here.
The leaves are brown and winter's near.

My soul cries out for something more,
The love I had just once before.

But there's hope in my heart,
For you and I were never meant to part.
And I'll hold on 'til you return,
For my heart burns
With love that never dies.

And now I wait for snow to fall,
For now I have no one at all.

But there's hope in my heart,
For you and I were never meant to part.
And I'll hold on 'til you return,
For my heart burns
With love that never dies.

Words and music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, classical guitar, viola, cello, percussion.
Matty Matt: bass.
Drum set: Joe Contardo.

Love That Never Dies (w/ drum set) by John Sid

I Miss You.  Words and music by John Sid.

Maybe I thought you cared for me.
And maybe I thought I cared for you.
But now you're gone
And I'm moving on,
And no one smiles like you.
I miss you.
Yes, I do.

I'm missing you.
Miss kissing you.
And I'm wishing you'd
Come on home to me.

I'm waiting here
And I'd wait for years
Just to hear
You're coming home to me.

Home. 
Home.
Where you belong.
With me.
I need
To let you know
I love you so.

John Sid: vocals, acoustic guitar, squareneck resonator guitar, mandolin.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

I Miss You by John Sid

Going Home by John Sid.

Well my life's grown better with your love in my life.
And my heart's grown stronger with your love in my life.

And I can see myself now.
I finally feel that I'm going home.

And my day's grown brighter with your love in my life.
And my path's shown clearer with your love in my life.

And I can see myself now.
I finally feel that I'm going home.

Words and music by John Sid.
Bass arranged by Lori Bingel.
John Sid: vocals, guitars, percussion.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Going Home by John Sid

John Sid: vocal, guitar, trumpet, trombone, tenor sax.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums

Lyrics:

You call and tell me you're around my neck of the woods.
You say you want to pay a visit and show me the goods.
Well I'm ready.  Let's make this rendezvous.
'Cause now there's just one thing that I want to do.

I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.
I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.

It seems a million years since you've been over here.
I didn't know just what you want.  I'm glad you made it clear.
'Cause yesterday, from what you said, I thought that we were through.
And now there's just one thing that I want to do.

I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.
I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need

To make you feel like it's alright.
Tell me what you need to feel alright.

I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.
I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.
I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.
I want to love you, baby.
Come on over.  Tell me what you need.

I Want To Love You by John Sid

Her voice, a melody to hear.
Her laughter, music to your ears.
And so you fell in love.

You ran your fingers through her hair.
You loved to touch her everywhere.
And so you fell in love.

But when you fall in love
It's enough to break your heart in two.

You gladly gave up who you were
And changed your life to be with her
Because you fell in love.

You promised her eternity
No matter what would come to be
Because you fell in love.

But when you fall in love
It's enough to break your heart in two.

It was enough to make you never want to say goodbye.
It was enough to make you fall down on your knees and cry.
You'd had enough but still she's all that you've been thinking of.
And you don't get a broken heart unless you fall in love.

When you fall in love
It's enough to break your heart in two.

John Sid: music and words, vocals, guitar, flute, percussion.
Matty Matt: upright bass.

When You Fall In Love by John Sid

A song for the devil and his advocates.

You quote the holy book
With the devil's tongue
But I put you back
And I'm movin' on.

You wanna prove your point
And you argue well
But all you're gonna to prove
Is that your life is hell.

You can't lead me down.

With the way you talk,
You wanna lead me down.
You wanna take my head
And turn it 'round.

You wanna put me down,
And all I do.
What ever else I try
Ain't good enough for you.

You can't lead me down.

All my life I'm waiting for her,
Spend my life with you.

You wanna tear it down.
Do as you please.
But you've got no cure
For your own disease.

You ain't got no plan
To create the day.
You just tear it down
Because it ain't your way.

You can't lead me down.

Words and Music: John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, electric guitars.
Matty Matt: electric bass.
Corey Folta: drum set.

You Can't Lead Me Down by John Sid feat. Corey Folta

A song for the devil and his advocates.

You quote the holy book
With the devil's tongue
But I put you back
And I'm movin' on.

You wanna prove your point
And you argue well
But all you're gonna to prove
Is that your life is hell.

You can't lead me down.

With the way you talk,
You wanna lead me down.
You wanna take my head
And turn it 'round.

You wanna put me down,
And all I do.
What ever else I try
Ain't good enough for you.

You can't lead me down.

All my life I'm waiting for her,
Spend my life with you.

You wanna tear it down.
Do as you please.
But you've got no cure
For your own disease.

You ain't got no plan
To create the day.
You just tear it down
Because it ain't your way.

You can't lead me down.

Words and Music: John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, electric guitars.
Matty Matt: electric bass.
Joe Contardo: drum set.

You Can't Lead Me Down by John Sid feat. Joe Contardo

Where are all your friends
When you want someone to hear you?
Where are all your friends
When you want somebody near you?

Better keep it to myself
'Cause there ain't nobody else.

I light a fire just to keep me warm
In my place to be.
My one desire, just to have a friend
When it rains on me.

Where are all your friends
When you want someone to know you?
Where are all your friends
When you want someone to show you?

Better keep it to myself
'Cause there ain't nobody else.

I light a fire just to keep me warm
In my place to be.
My one desire, just to have a friend
When it rains on me.

Where are all your friends
When you want someone to hear you?

Where are all your friends?

Words and Music: John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, and guitars.
Matty Matt: electric bass.
Joe Contardo: drum set.

Where Are All Your Friends by John Sid

"Brown"
Words and Music by John Sidorovich
John Sid: vocals, guitar, woodwinds, brass, and strings
Matt Kaskela: electric bass guitar
John Contardo: drums


Instrumentation: 2 voices, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, piccolo trumpet, 2 trumpets in Bb, 3 trombones, violins, violas, cellos, contrabasses, electric guitar tuned CGCGGD, 5-string electric bass guitar, drumset.

John Sidorovich is a composer/arranger, singer/songwriter, self-taught multi-instrumentalist, and educator.

Video produced by John Sidorovich

Brown by John Sid

"Too Much Lovin" Words and Music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocal, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitars, electric bass, harmonica, drum programming.

Too Much Lovin (2004) by John Sid

"Nothing To Say" Words and Music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matt Kaskela: bass
Joe Contardo: drums

Nothing To Say by John Sid

"Holding On" Words and Music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matt Kaskela: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Well I am blind,
And I've been running in the past,
And I've been tripping over every stone I've thrown.

I fell behind,
On the road this is my own.
I found love but I would never let it last.

Holding on to the pain.
Holding out against the sorry of my loss,
When it's over and I should just let it go.

I tried to die,
'Cause I'd forgotten how to live.
I let pain become the engine of my heart.

I fueled the lie.
My mind's a car that falls apart.
I drive myself insane because I can't forgive.


Holding on to the pain.
Holding out against the sorry of my loss,
When it's over and I should just let it go.

Holding On by John Sid

"Drop C acoustic in 6/8 (down a half-step)"
Music by John Sid.
John Sid: Drop C acoustic guitar down a half-step, upright bass, cello.

Drop C acoustic in 6/8 (down a half-step) by John Sid

"I Believed in You and Me" by John Sid.  All words and music John Sid.
John Sid: lead vocal and guitar.
Lori Bingel: fretless electric bass, harmony vocal.
Yuval Lion: drums.

Girl, you're so confused.
And you know I feel abused.
I feel misused.
I've been refused by you.

And I don't need you games.
And I am not ashamed.
I'm not to blame.  That's why I came.
I came to say we're through.

And I believed in you and me.

You took my heart. Tore it apart.
But I'll be ready next time.
You make it hell.
I can't dispel the feeling of your crime.

And now it's time. Time once again.
I'm moving down my road.
And now it's time. Time once again.
For carrying the load.

And I believed in you and me.

I Believed in You and Me by John Sid

John Sid is an educator, composer, and performing singer/multi-instrumentalist.  His music is an eclectic mix of classical, progressive rock, metal, bluegrass and blues.

John Sid Music

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