This was Week#1 homework exercise for the S.A.C. 6Week Songwriting Challenge with Christopher Ward....unedited, no production, me and a uke and my iPhone....

SAVE IT UP 

TAKE A LITTLE MOONSHINE
WRAP IT UP TIGHT
CARRY IT AROUND ON A GLOOMY NIGHT
SO WHEN IT COMES TO DREAMIN' 
YOU GOT POCKETS OF STARLIGHT

STEAL A BIT OF SWEET STUFF
N' WAIT FOR THE BITE
LOCK IT UP SAFE  WITH YOUR APPETITE
SO WHEN IT COMES TO LOVIN'
YOU GOT POCKETS OF DELIGHT

SAVE IT UP,  SAVE IT UP
FOR THAT RAINY DAY
SAVE IT UP, SAVE IT UP,  IT'S FREE
SAVE IT UP, 
TAKE A HOLIDAY
SAVE IT UP, SAVE IT UP,  WITH ME

OPEN UP YOUR WINDOW
LET IN THE LIGHT
BATHE IN THE BREEZE, TIE YOUR WINGS ON TIGHT
SO WHEN IT COMES TO FLYIN'
YOU GOT POCKETS OF FREE FLIGHT

LISTEN TO YOUR HEARTBEAT
THE RHYTHM OF LIFE
SET IT TO A TUNE 
AND SING IT DAY AND NIGHT
SO WHEN IT COMES TO LIVIN'
YOU GOT POCKETS OF DYNAMITE

CHORUS

      (INSTRUM. ON 1&2)

CHORUS

Save it Up by Judy Marshak


 I'M BEAT UP RAW, FROM INSIDE OUT
HANGIN' BY A THREAD
GOT ANOTHER FLAT ON THE DAMN OLD TRUCK
AND IT'S 30 BELOW AGAIN

I DON'T WANT TO SING ANOTHER HEARTACHE SONG
'CAUSE NOBODY'S LISTENING
AND THE STORY READS TOO LONG

THE GUY NEXT DOOR DRIVES A CADILLAC, 
GOT A HORSESHOE ROUND HIS NECK
AND YESTERDAY THE DOCTOR SAID
I BETTER GET MY LIFE IN CHECK

I DON'T WANT TO SING …….

BUT THEN THERE'S YOU HOLDING ON
THINKIN 'BOUT YOU AND I GOTTA BE STRONG
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HEARS
AND I WON'T CRY THE TEARS
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HEARS

TAXMAN'S SCRATCHIN' AT MY DOOR
MAILMAN'S GOT BAD NEWS
I'M WAKING UP AT 4AM
WITH THE 'FEAR OF DYING' BLUES

I DON'T WANT TO SING ………

BEEN FIGHTING FOR AIR SINCE I LEARNED TO BREATHE
NOW THE WILL TO WIN IS LOST,
SIGNED MY NAME ON A BATHROOM WALL
COULDN'T HURT AND IT DIDN'T COST

I DON'T WANT TO SING ……..

BUT THEN THERE'S YOU HOLDING ON
THINKIN 'BOUT YOU AND I GOTTA BE STRONG
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HEARS
AND I WON'T CRY THE TEARS
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO HEARS

I DON'T WANT TO SING ANOTHER HEARTACHE SONG
'CAUSE NOBODY'S LISTENING
AND THE STORY READS TOO LONG

Fighting For Air by Judy Marshak

I remember when I wasn't at the mercy of an
internet conglomerate before i owned a laptop,
And the absolute survival of my family and my dogs 
did not depend upon computer savvy skills.
Those were happy days when it was not my job to be a techie,
just a mother, lover, artist, cook and hippie, 
But those days are gone and now I must decide to either sink or swim 
and neither choice appeals to me at all.

But I am trying
Don't get me wrong, 
I'm trying
'Cause truth be told, 
There ain't no going back from whence we came  
So I'll keep trying
Trying till I'm dying
And when I'm gone, they'll all say
'She kept up, yeah, what a dame."

On a quiet Sunday afternoon you'll often find me wallowing 
in melancholy memories of pen-pals,
Fondly reminiscing 'bout the long and illustrated letters 
I'd compose and then I'ld lick and stamp and send.
Oh but now I need a new prescription lens to read the microscopic 
texting on my teeny tiny smartphone,
And I'm kept awake in trepidation of the day that novels
made with paper pages won't be sold in stores.

But I'm trying…..

They were simple days when all we ever needed to be healthy 
was a glass of milk, an apple and one vitamin.
That's when sugar wasn't poison and the crispy skin on chicken 
wouldn't plug your veins and send you to your grave,
And an aspirin was the remedy for everything from
fever, flu, excema, crabs, depression and bursitis,
And it didn't take 2 months to see your doctor,
he arrived in just an hour at your door with that black bag.

But i'm trying…….

 

Jude's Lament by Judy Marshak

The Longest Route Home

TIME AIN'T MY FRIEND
AND ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
BUT I'M GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE BACK HOME
WRITE ME A TUNE
TO HOWL AT EVERY MOON
'CAUSE I'M GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE BACK HOME

WANNA SEE SUNSHINE, HEAR THUNDER, FEEL SNOW
WANNA MAKE BABIES, AND WATCH 'EM GROW THEN GO

DON'T NEED THE SHORTCUTS
GIMME THE SCENIC ROUTE
GONNA KEEP LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT 
ALONG THE LONG COMMUTE

TIME AIN'T MY FRIEND
AND ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
SO I'M GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE BACK HOME
WRITE ME A TUNE
TO HOWL AT EVERY MOON
'CAUSE I'M GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE BACK HOME

WANNA WALK MOUNTAINS, SWIM OCEANS, FLY SKIES
WANNA LAUGH HEARTY, FORGETTING WHY I CRY

DON'T NEED THE SHORTCUTS
GIMME THE SCENIC ROUTE
GONNA KEEP LOOKING LEFT AND RIGHT 
ALONG THE LONG COMMUTE

TIME AIN'T MY FRIEND
AND ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
SO I'M GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST ROUTE BACK HOME (REP)
 


The Longest Route Home

Open Up by Judy Marshak & Gordon Wong

i wanna know your real name
i wanna know who lives inside your house
I wanna know your real name
I wanna know you

I wanna write a love song
I wanna sing it right outside your door
I wanna write a love song
I wanna know you

Hey baby, let me in, knock knock, knock knock
Open up and let me in, knock knock
Hey baby let me in knock knock
Can you see me? 
Open up, open up, open up

I wanna be your best friend
I wanna hear what makes you cry at night
I wanna be your best friend
I wanna know you 

i wanna meet your mom and dad
I wanna see what’s on your breakfast plate
I wanna meet your mom and dad
I wanna know you 

Hey baby, let me in, knock knock, knock knock
Open up and let me in, knock knock
Hey baby let me in knock knock 
Can you see me? 

I’ve got time but I can’t wait much longer
Cause I’m losing hope 
But one more day, I’ll wait just one more day           
Until tomorrow comes and then…..

Hey baby, let me in, knock knock, knock knock
Open up and let me in, knock knock
Hey baby let me in knock knock
Open up, open up, open up

I wanna be your true love
I wanna be the only one you tell
I wanna be your true love
I wanna know you

Open Up by Judy Marshak/Gordon Wong

One, Two, Three, Four - by Judy Marshak and Gordon Wong

One, two, three, four
Sliding ‘cross the kitchen floor
uh huh…lalalalalala

Five, six, seven, eight
Let’s eat pie and stay up late 
uh huh…lalalalalala

Baby you can count on me
We’re a happy family
Life can be a snappy singalong

Nine, ten, ‘leven, twelve
Lazy bones get off the shelf   
So you and me can sing this sunny song
And we can play together all day long

(Kazoo)

Baby you can count on me
We’re a happy family
Life can be a snappy singalong

Nine, ten, ‘leven, twelve
Lazy bones get off the shelf   
And we can play together all day long
Lalalalala

One, Two, Three, Four by Judy Marshak/Gordon Wong

I Know Your Secret by Judy Marshak & Gordon Wong

Baby you can't hide from me
I can see you in my sleep 
Don't turn around
Unless you wanna face it

Tell it true or lie away
But tell it in the light of day
No voodoo spell
No midnight masquerade it 
                     
I know your secret
And I”m not leaving it alone 
I’m not leaving it alone
You’re running from your own reflection 
Running in the wrong direction home

You’re the one can make this right
You’re the one’s got second sight
Behind the veil
I still smell and taste it

And I can’t let you get away
Baby, I won’t let you get away

I know your secret
I know your secret
And I”m not leaving it alone 
I’m not leaving it alone
You’re running from your own reflection
Running in the wrong direction home

And I can’t let you get away
Baby, I won’t let you get away

I Know Your Secret Final demo - Judy Marshak/Gordon Wong

It's Funny, Christmas Makes Me Cry 

The tinsel’s on the tree, the wreath is on the door      
There's frost outside the window, but the fire is oh, so warm
I’m hanging decorations from the year when you turned five
It’s funny, how Christmas makes me cry
______________________________________________________________
We've seen so many seasons, the years have really flown
I'm still here stuffing stockings, even though you're fully grown
It's a different kind of wonder, that glistens in your eye
All the same, Christmas makes me cry
_____________________________________________________________

Tears of laughter, rich with memories
Drops of innocence and joy       
It's a little sentimental, but I'm counting up my blessings
We're all still children, unwrapping one more toy
___________________________________________________
Snows falling gently,like a thousand shiny bows  
Bouquets of yuletide kisses, waiting underneath the mistletoe
All my favourite carols, they hit me every time
It never fails, Christmas makes me cry
____________________________________________________
Tears of laughter, rich with memories
Drops of innocence and joy
It's a little sentimental, but I'm counting up my blessings
We're all still children, unwrapping one more toy
___________________________________________________________
The gingerbread is frosted, candles flick'ring on the hearth
The turkey's in the oven,as I savour one more Christmas card 
And best of all I hear your voices laughing just outside,   
And chances are you’ll tease me ‘bout the tears in my eyes,
It’s funny, how Christmas makes me cry.

01 It's Funny, Christmas Makes Me Cry - Judy Marshak/Allister Bradley

 You're Always There 
                  
You won’t hear me sing the blues today
Feelin’ spring, but spring is moons away
Thinkin bout your smile, and how you make my day,
And I know you're there, 
You’re always there   

                                                                                                              Sun is setting crimson in a lilac sky
Im floatin’ down the freeway on a natural high,
Riding on that line between a laugh and cry,
‘Cause I know you're there
You’re always there


I’ve been sad, and you’d kiss the bad away
The bliss from that one kiss would linger through a day
That's why driving home is like a holiday
Cause I know you're there
You’re always there

Tracks by Judy Marshak