John Sid Rock

I wrote this song about a couple of friends who were a couple, but broke up. It was recorded LIVE WITH NO OVERDUBS save for a little vocal harmony Corey added later. The interesting things for me, from the POV of composition, are the descending chromatic motion in the top voice of the bass arpeggios of the verses), and the chord progression of the CODA (F#, A#7#9, A7#11, B7#11) which is not only harmonically busy with all the 7ths and 11ths, but that is some weird root movement too (I, III, bIII, IV). Another oddity is that I originally composed it in the key of B but then switched to baritone guitar (to accommodate the vocal range) which is unfortunate for the bass player, because it forces him to read in the key of F# (6 sharps! That might be construed as sadistic.) Of course, Matt Kaskela is always up for a challenge and nails it.

Learning To Love: Words and Music by John Sidorovich
John Sid: lead vocal, guitar
Matty Matt: bass
Corey Folta: drums, harmony vocal
Recorded LIVE at Monster Island Studios
Mixed by Corey Folta

Lyrics:

The loss that you feel,
I know that it's real.
I can't make it go away.

You put your heart on the line.
Now you feel like you're dyin',
But I know that someday, somehow,
You will learn to love.

You thought that you knew.
You did what you could do,
But maybe it wasn't right,
'Cause at the end of the day
You could just walk away
When you find what you want isn't even a thing you need.

And all that you've lost,
It's not all that you've gained.
There's something that's left behind.

If there's a tear in your eye,
It's for the good things
You can't deny you had.
Remember,
The time of your life
When you were learning to love.

Learning To Love 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

If I Had A Heart.

Words and music by John Sid
John Sid: vocal, guitar
Matty Matt: bass
Joe Contardo: drums
Bass arranged by John Sid and Nathan You

lyrics:

If I had some love to give,
And if I had my life to live,
If I had a heart,
It would be yours.

So please forgive me
If I don't know what to say.
It's OK.
If I'm feeling lonely,
It's 'cause I'm missing you today.

If I had some love to give,
And if I had my life to live,
If I had a heart,
It would be yours.

If I Had A Heart by John Sid

If I Was God.  Words and music by John Sid.  This song has a cool slide guitar solo.

John Sid: vocals, guitars, keyboard.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

If I was god,
Setting it out,
Using my clout,
No doubt,
I'd make the world
Of flesh and blood.

And if I was god,
Making it true,
Telling you
What to do
With your life
To make it right,

I'd find a way
To laugh and play
Every day.
I'd say,
Think for yourself,
And look real hard.

For now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now
And you are free.

If I was god,
If I was king,
Of every thing,
I'd sing
Live, laugh and love,
And find yourself.

And if I was god,
To glorify,
Sanctify,
Unify,
I'd bring the world
A little peace of mind.

For I gave you life,
To exercise,
Fantasize,
Realize
Life is my gift
For you to love.

And now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now,
The world turns around,
The sun comes up,
The sun goes down,
This time is now
And you are free.

Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
Now,
This time is now
And you are free.

If I Was God 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 by John Sid alternates between 7/4 and 4/4 time signatures with dramatic contrast in dynamics.  The forte part subdivides measures of 7/4 into 5, 5, and 4 eighth note beats.  The vocals go from light falsetto to heavy screaming.

Words and music: John Sid
John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

Love,
You don't need me.
You don't see me
At all.

Love is on your side.

Love,
Wanna make it,
But you fake it
With me.

Love is on your side.
Inside.

Love is on your side.

Love,
To receive it,
Must believe it
In love.

Love Is On Your Side.

Love Is On Your Side.
Inside.

Love Is On Your Side 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

River is about human unity.

Words and music by John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, guitars, keyboard.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics

I can see the way we are one.
I can see the way we are one.
I can see the way we are one now.
How?
One.  One.  Now.

The days pass like a river that never runs dry
And I laugh 'cause I know you can't stop time.
The months pass like a river that never runs dry
And I laugh 'cause I know time will go by.
The years pass like a river that never runs dry
And I laugh 'cause I know you can't stop time.
The tears fall like a river that never runs dry
And I laugh 'cause I know that time will go by.

And I know what we're all living for.

I feel a fire and it's burning down the world,
And you won't take the blame
'Cause you can't feel the fire anyway.

And you don't see the world
For what it really is,
Or maybe you do
But you can't take the time to care.

'Cause you've worked long and hard
To get where you are today,
But we're down here
While you're thinking you're up there.

And I feel a fire and it's burning down the world,
And you won't take the blame
'Cause you can't feel the fire anyway.

The love flows like a river that never runs dry,
And I laugh 'cause I know you can't stop time.
The hate flows like a river that never runs dry,
And I laugh 'cause I know that time will go by.

My life flows like a river that never runs dry,
And I laugh 'cause I know you can't stop time.
We all flow like a river that never runs dry,
And I laugh 'cause I know time will go by.

River by John Sid

Nothing To Say by John Sid.  Even when you're saying nothing, you're still saying something.

Words and music: John Sid.
John Sid: vocals, guitars.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

A whole lotta meaningless shit coming out my mouth.
A whole lotta meaningless shit coming out my mouth.
A whole lotta meaningless shit coming out my mouth.
A whole lotta meaningless shit coming out my mouth.

And I got nothing to say.
Nothing to say.
Nothing at all.

Nothing To Say by John Sid

Waiting For Forever by John Sid features a 9/8 time signature performed on a standard tuned acoustic guitar with two Sexipedus Maximus Third Hand capos changing it to an open E tuning. Busy electric guitar and bass, and syncopated drums, all inspired by Yes, make this piece intense and technically demanding. The vocal melody is inspired by Yes's Jon Anderson on "And You And I, Part III, The Preacher, The Teacher."

Lyrics:

Waiting For Forever.
No one caught my eye.
Waiting for forever.
Thought that I would die.
Waiting for forever
For someone who's true.
Waiting for forever
For someone like you.

How do you do?
I'm so happy to meet you.
And I was hoping that I'd find
Someone just like you.

Waiting every day
For waiting to be done.
Waiting every night
Like flowers wait for the sun.
Waiting every moment
Fighting off despair
Waiting for forever
For someone to care.

Oh, waiting for you.

Waiting For Forever by John Sid

A Lotta Love by John Sid features an ebow (an electronic magnet used to sustain pitches indefinitely on electric guitar) along with a glass slide.  The bass plays trills and pops.  The chords on the chorus are in the key of B: I, I sus, I, vi, bVI, IV.  Keyboard ornaments the verses.  Oh, the power of love.

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

Lyrics:

A lotta love in my heart.
A lotta love in my heart.
A lotta love in my heart.
A lotta love in my heart.

A lotta love takes a long, long time
To find in you, defining you.
A lotta love takes a long, long time
To binding you, to blinding you.
A lotta love takes a long, long time
To saving you, to saving you.
A lotta love takes a long, long time
To making you, to breaking you.

A Lotta Love by John Sid

Bitter Truths by John Sid.

John Sid: vocals, guitar.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

Lyrics:

Does my lover need me?
Does my lover see me?
I never know.
I never know.

Does she look this way?
Does she look this way?
Look at me.
Look at me now.
Look at me.
Look at me now.

All these bitter truths.
It took so long to finally taste them.
All these bitter truths
Turn sweet.

Bitter Truths by John Sid

Do You Need My Love.  Words and music by John Sid.

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

Lyrics:

We are standing in the shadows
Of each other's understanding and we know.
We think we know.

And I wish you just accept me
For the madman that I am because I know.
I think I know.

Did you know I know?

And it may not last forever
But I'd like to think that we could find some love.
I need some love.

And it's strange for me to say it
With the strangeness that I've shown you, but it's love.
I think it' love.

Do you need my love?

And I'm tired of standing 'round
In hopes that I'll find something new,
And I think that you're like me
And that you need somebody too,
'Cause I need you.



Do You Need My Love by John Sid

Everyone Can See.  Words and music by John Sid.

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

Lyrics:

Everyone can see
You're looking for a brighter day,
When everyone is free
From the lies they hide and the mess they make.

So many people,
They would love to be
As sure as you.
But all of your freedom
Didn't come to you for free.

There were trials and troubles,
Suffering and struggle.
All that you've been through
To be who you are.

It was on your way.
It was all your way.

Everyone Can See 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

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

Fire In Your Skies by John Sid.

Mother Earth, planet of my birth,
How did you get fire in your skies?

You and me, trying to be free.
Some can see, we've got the power to be.
Let it be.

John Sid: vocals, guitars, keyboard.
Matty Matt: bass
Joe Contardo: drums

Fire In Your Skies by John Sid

One Night Stand.  Words and music by John Sid.

She'd been done wrong and needed a man.
She said, "Come on over and lend me your hands,
'Cause I can't go on while I'm feeling oh so sad."

One night because two, then three, then four.
I kept coming back for more and more,
And she said, "You can keep on coming just like before."

One night stand.  One night stand.  One night stand.
It was only supposed to be a one night stand
One night stand.  One night stand.  One night stand.
Just a one night stand.

We kept it loose.  No strings attached.
She was just an itch that I could scratch.
But I started thinking maybe this girl was my match.

A year went by and my feelings grew.
It came over me before I knew.
And just as I began to say…
She closed the door and sent me away.

One night stand.  One night stand.  One night stand.
It was only supposed to be a one night stand
One night stand.  One night stand.  One night stand.
Just a one night stand.

The shock, the hurt.  I thought she'd care.
But suddenly she wasn't there.
To break my heart I hadn't planned.
She was just supposed to be just a one night one night stand.

One night stand.  One night stand.
She was only supposed to be a one night stand.
One night stand.  One night stand.  One night stand.
Just a one night stand.

John Sid: vocal, guitars, baritone saxophone, trombone.
Matty Matt: bass.
Joe Contardo: drums.

One Night Stand by John Sid

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

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 Rock

John Sid Music