Thorny

                                         She's Going Under
                                         words by Jon Colton 
                                      music by Jon Colton and Jason Kleidosty


She's going under
Lake frozen over
She made a breakthrough
She grabs at nothing again and again
She's going under
Blood almost frozen
Hands pressed against it
Eyes open wider and mouth wider still
The bitterest cold makes the bitterest man
She kicked off her feet and she told me the plan
I've no faith at all in this sorry wasteland
I think I'll go mad and create everything I demand

She's going under
Skating above her
Where each figure eight made
Is more an infinity sign on its side
She's going under
Shock to the system
They try to help her
She's sinking deeper and fading away
This tranquility doesn't come in a pill
That testimony was against her own will
Yet thrown to the dogs of the fore of her mind
And ripped into shreds so you can't recognize what you find

She made a difference
Roseate to ashes
"Assent -- and you are sane"
She thought it over again and again
She's going under
Poetry failed her
Philosophy's specious
It is so easy to argue away
Reject all the reason and give into rime
You're as young as you want just forget about time
Vodka is never as cold or as pure
As reality to the insane is with all its allure

"And it was not death
For I stood up
And all the dead lie down"
She grabbed at nothing again and again


She's Going Under (Wade Version)

A beautiful song from Thorny's first demo. 1993. Jon Colton Barry and Whitney Wade: written by, produced by, all instruments,

All By Myself (Demo)

Another Thorny Track. Weaving, swirling vocals creating something unlike I've ever heard before or since. Written, produced, all instruments by Jon Colton Barry & Whitey Wade.

                               Bubbles and Cigars
                    words and music by Jon Colton and Whitney Wade


(her)						   

Guilty when she asks
But she doesn’t feel    					   
Stolen smiles hide  				   
Tears she will conceal  			   
Looking in a mirror  				   
How she likes to pose  			   
Keep her in a box to  				   
Melt and decompose 

(him)				   

Her hair is a spaghetti western
If only I was tangled there
I just want her open veins
Oh I wonder what she’d say
In any way I might unhold her
It’s almost like she’s made of sand
All my mouth will do is shake
Her gossamer heart will break

(him)

Only pride
Stubble and a scar
I don’t need
Bubbles and cigars

(her)

I don’t want bubbles and cigars		   
I don’t need to hear him			   
Say “I’m sorry for today” 			   
The darkness safely veils 			   

She’s horrified	

(her)		

No one’s in the house  			   
When you’re all alone 			   
Still you hear the sounds of 			   
Whispers and the moans 			   
Trouble’s in the way 				   
You can’t be let outside  			   
He’s calling you 				   
Run away and hide 

(him) 				   

Why the hangman’s beautiful daughter
Has tainted and such tiny hands
My thoughts cursing her belongings
They now must be part of them
And I wonder if there’s any meaning
In any of her touching them
That flame’s just another candle
That candle’s an only friend
        
 Chorus

I had a dream
We burned down the circus
And put the ashes in the trunk 
When I asked you for a light
We burned down the whole night
Then she said, “You better drive”

(her)

Looking in a mirror  				 
You’re his little girl 				  
Twenty seven years stayed 			  
In his little world  				  
Hide away a key 				  
Now he’s gone too far 				  
Padlocks for the door  			  
Bubbles and cigars 				  

(him)

She went up on the roof this morning
A raven’s wing in either hand
And she’ll beat her bloody feathers
But never be off as planned
She thinks about the Rue Troyon
The music halls go up in flames
It’s too much for the entertainers
To just live up to their names

 Chorus

First Demo

Bubbles & Cigars

This is my band Thorny. 

Jon Colton Barry: Vocals and Guitars
Whitney Wade: Drums and Bass


                                          Blood Is Blue
                                            words and music by Jon Colton


Well she has a score of crows
That cling to her head like bows
And rosemary bread’s a novelty
And the poisoned pen I think
Was filled with invisible ink
‘Cause there’s not a stain to choose from

And everyone knows that blood is blue
With hearts big as clenched fists too
But nobody thinks about it
And everyone knows that it’s insincere
To act only out of fear
But I only miss her when she isn’t here

She started to blur at last
Through the bottom of the glass
If only I could keep her there
The hate like a dreary waltz
Inverted dead red rose
And everything new is old again

And everyone knows that blood is blue
With hearts big as clenched fists too
But nobody thinks about it
And everyone knows that it’s insincere
To act only out of fear
But I only miss her when she isn’t here

She’s so like my dead dear wife
A dearness and deadness life
And I’m here for no good reason
But she has a score of crows
That cling to her head like bows
And rosemary bread’s a novelty

And everyone knows that blood is blue
With hearts big as clenched fists too
But nobody thinks about it
And everyone knows that it’s insincere
To act only out of fear
But I only miss her when she isn’t here...


Blood Is Blue

Another track by Thorny, which was a band comprised of just me and Whitney Wade. This is a short, pretty one I always liked.

Jon Colton Barry: guitar & Vocals
Whitney Wade: Vocals


Another Bad Suggestion
                                                words and music by Jon Colton


Have I only made it worse
I’ve been blessed with just that curse
If we ever speak again
I may say the same thing then
Oh my angel I’m ashamed
But it wasn’t me who claimed that I could change

And the scar was always thin
Where you end and I begin
So it’s only out of need
You should also have to bleed
Oh my angel please don’t waste
Your life or blood or breath in haste on
Another bad suggestion from me

Copyright 1993 Coal Town Music, BMI

Another Bad Suggestion

This is me and Whitney Wade in our band Thorny. We liked doing that weaving vocal stuff. One of my personal favorites.

Jon Colton Barry: Guitar & Vocals
Whitney Wade: Drums, Bass & Vocals


                                           Remind
                           words and music by Jon Colton and Whitney Wade


(him)							(her)

Don’t you recall how you told me  			I wrote you a letter
Once in that booth in the corner  			Or maybe I called you
“Oh I love a place with a history”			Something impressing
This once was a speakeasy 
Now it’s a bundle of nerves

                                                              Ah...

Something unraveled in pages 			I wrote you a letter
Someone is bitching and moaning  			It’s funny how things go
Somehow despite how you fight it 			Everything’s easy
Everything’s perfect
Because of what’s in disarray

                                                              Ah...

Don’t you remember those feelings			I thought that I saw you
Don’t you remember those noises 			I thought that I heard you
Don’t you remember it’s laughing 			Laughing and coughing
Don’t you remember
To never forget that again

                                                              Ah...

They always will be disapproving			I never knew them
And say things like “I like their old stuff better”	I wanted to know them
But I know your demons will thank you 		I’ve always known them
The next trip you take
Should be lost in your own little world

                                                              Ah...

Remind

Jon Colton Barry is a songwriter, musician, as well as a writer for television, film and stage. He is the son of Rock and Roll hall of Fame songwriting legend Jeff Barry ("Be My Baby," "Chapel of Love," Da Doo Ron Ron," "The Jefferson's Theme Song," "Sugar Sugar," etc. etc.) and has been a professional musician/singer/songwriter fronting bands such as Mrs. Malone, Thorny and Jon Colton & His Enemies since 1990. 

Jon's an Emmy nominated writer, having written episodes and songs for Disney's #1 animated hit show "Phineas and Ferb," including the top rated TV cable movie of 2011, "Phineas and Ferb: Across The Second Dimension," as well as the shelved "Phineas" feature film script. 

Jon next revamped and wrote a new animated "Scooby Doo" series for Warner Brothers, and served as story editor. He's also created, written and produced live-action series, such as "Revolver" with long time friend and creative collaborator, Jason Richman, for Fox 21 Studios.

Jon is currently creating several new television, music and film projects.

This is a space for various rough songs, "Phineas and Ferb" demos, and other oddities that I feel like throwing in there for fun. Feedback is welcome!