https://vimeo.com/justvera/paradiselost

Delicate afternoon
Sheer Eden
Under the olive tree
Sheer paradise

Oleanders in bloom
Unaware of the doom
Unmistakeable cues
Press the button and snooze...

Like the bear in his den
But  the arctic will melt

So sad
Just when we thought
We could control all

Like the sheep in their pen
But the shepherd has left

So sad
Just when we thought
We could control all

Delicate afternoon
Drinking until the night
And when the morning comes
There is no light
There is no life   

So sad
Just when we thought
We could control all

So sad
Just when we thought
We could control all

Heaven on earth
And heading for the black out

Paradise Lost

There are a lot of dangerous men around. But few of them actually become world leaders. That's why B.K. Williamson wrote 'Dangerous men'...

Tarjei Skarlund (vocals), Thomas Hjorth (guitars), Jon Garcia (bass), Bill McCarthy (drums) and Alice Minguez (choir/backing vocals) have been contributing on this statement. (This song appears to be recorded in front of an exuberant BBC audience:-).

I hope we get our message across. If you share our concern on the misuse of power by influential people, please spread the news. Sharing is caring. 


Poke the bees nest
It’s all in the plan
Stroke the ego
of dangerous men

Echo blindness
Evanescence
Echo blindness
Evanescence
Welcome the  darkness

My pawns…
My proletarians
In synchronization
No questions
Just leave it all to me
 
I'm the one 
I’m here to stay
so clear the way
Dawn of a new day

Mark my words
however absurd
Elected King
of everything

Smile…
and wave…
Love me… 
King bee

While…
you bathe…
in the light of your TV

(Dangerous men)
I’m at the top
Ratings are hot
The popular vote
What a joke
(Dangerous men)
It’s my machine
Shiny and clean
We buy and sell
on Capitol hell

It’s all in the plan
It’s all in the plan
Stroke the egos
of dangerous men

It’s all in the plan
It’s all in the plan
Stroke the egos
of dangerous men

(Dangerous men)
(are here to stay)
It’s all in the plan
(it's in the plan)
Stroke the egos of dangerous men
(Dangerous men)

(Lyrics by B.K. Williamson)

Dangerous Men - JustVera

'Drops of Rain' is the heartbreaking story of the tragic loss of John Heavern's little sister. Words that cut, recited by himself. The singing part is convincingly performed by Louis Marchena. JustVera with a bleeding heart. 


Drops of Rain (Therese Marie)


Eyes of flaming embers
seek fuel, as others wonder
the cause of crystal stares
I place their faces under.

A stepping stone too far
for most to blindly reach
must somehow come ajar,
move outward, and beseech
a helping hand, still unknown
by others, and myself.
My heart and soul softly moan,
as dreams cry out for help.

Time marches to my door
and feeds upon my doubts.
The answers I’ve ignored
must cast the shadows out. 

Life can traumatize,
when life delivers dread
and when all faith inside
leaves a heart misled. 

I shiver, shout, cry and plead,
as a piece of my heart is pierced and bleeds. 

Caught within a tragic dream,
cast among the dust and haze.
A zombie’s eyes look longingly,
emotions black and thoughts of grey.
Consoling souls give words of hope,
their pity falls like drops of rain,
it soothes the flesh to some degree,
but doesn’t seem to ease the pain. 

Please help me to awake from this,
into a world I knew before,
where ignorance was silent bliss
and death sailed towards a distant shore. 

Caught within a tragic dream,
deep emptiness in misery.
No isolation too extreme
in traumatized reality.
Lonely chasm fate’s created
walling in a pool of pain.
Reality has separated,
calling out in drops of rain. 

Miss you, Little Sister,
my simple words just can’t explain...
voices heard in drops of rain
pour... out... your... name..... 

Free afflictions from within!
the mold is bonded strong.
Catch a glimpse beyond this skin,
towards worlds where bliss belongs.
See a sage as no one has,
seek passage past a mind.
Wash away this captious world,
leave drops of rain behind. 


John Heavern

Drops Of Rain - JustVera

Steve Winwood did it once. Oasis wasn't bad. But 'Roll with it' by JustVera is something else... 
Ray Kaliss at his best. Both lyrically -parental advisory- and vocally.  With the help of Joeysix (guitar) and Bil McCarthy (drums) of course. Three minutes of powerpop with a wink. Just love it. 

Walking down Hollywood and Vine
Just trying to score a good time
Had nothing particular on my mind
When a hot girl drove up beside me
She opened the car door, and she said

Roll with it, Go with it, Roll with it, Go with it

She said, why don't we go to my place
It's a real safe space
When we're there I'll sit on your face
And I said 'Oh my goodness 
What are we gonna do about this?'
Well I guess I'll just aaa...

Roll with it, Go with it, Roll with it, Go with it

Said her name was Jack
That nearly gave me a heart attack
Said 'Why don't you drive me on back'
I opened the door, I got out
And I said 'Listen lady, you just gotta live with it... sooo...'

Roll with it, Go with it, Roll with it

Go with it, Roll with it, Go with it, Roll with it

People are too damn sensitive. Hit that solo.

Roll With It - JustVera

Not everybody fits the mold. But: 'without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible' (Frank Zappa). 
When I heard Christine Linge's performance of Mike Mantecon's lyrics I stopped breathing for a moment. Sheer beauty. So I put her voice in the center and just have some accompanying notes to create some extra depth/atmosphere. And then I discovered Jannik Gade's acoustic guitar. Just amazing...

So many will tell you
That it isn't worth the time
To chase after fantasy
When you only have one life
So many will tell you
That the dream was never real
That they know the way
That you should think and feel

Maybe you don't fit the mold
Or piece together right
Maybe you don't conform
To their wrong and right
Maybe you don't fit the mold
But it's alright
It's alright 

Many will sell you
On a dream that isn't yours
And after all they tell you
You may feel unsure
Many will sell you
What is wrong and what is right
But none of them speak louder
Than the voice down inside

Maybe you don't fit the mold
Or piece together right
Maybe you don't conform
To the wrong and right
Maybe you just don't fit the mold
But it's alright
It's alright 

Maybe you don't fit the mold
Or piece together right
Maybe you don't conform
To the wrong and right
Maybe you don't fit the mold
But it's alright
It's alright 
It's alright
Yeah it's alright
It's alright

(Lyrics Mike Mantecon)

Fit The Mold - JustVera

This is a typical 3-minute poppy tune JustVera-style. Todd W. came up with lyrics/vocals and Dan Rosati added some brilliant saxophone. 'No need to be scared': a wolf in hamsters clothes. 

Btw You might also enjoy https://youtu.be/fURsZsKivQc

No need to be scared


Just because you dream it, 
it doesn't mean it's there, 
and just because you feel it, 
it doesn't mean they'll care.
They only stop and stare, 
so just beware.

So once you know you'll need it,
but you can't figure where,
and then the place you seek it,
it's gone into thin air
if only it were there.

What you sow you'll reap it, 
so you're the rightful heir 
and what you catch you'll keep it
there's no need to be scared:
the answer to your prayers. 

What you sow you'll reap it, 
so you're the rightful heir 
and what you catch you'll keep it
there's no need to be scared:
the answer to your prayers. 

(Lyrics by Todd W.)

No Need To Be Scared - JustVera

My Steinway Grand and Kari DeNeal. And brilliant lyrics by Tez Katajala. That's all it takes. Sometimes miracles just happen. Pure Magic. Sheer Beauty. I rest my case. 

'Descendant' 

I can't help who I am
I am a descendant
I can't show who I am
I'm lost in the dissonance

I'd like to rise above the noise
But I'm stuck in the present
I'd like to fly away
But I've been grounded

I need you to help me
To keep from drowning
I'm lost in all the noise
Will I be found

Will I be found
Will I be found
Will I be found

To rise above the noise
I need to be persistent
I am a descendant

Lost in the dissonance
Stuck in the present
Trying to keep from drowning
To keep from drowning

Descendant - JustVera

'Ballerina'...
Jen Carie wrote about a traumatic event in a child's life. And performed it like only she can. Heidar Sigurdsson added the haunting beats and bass and NunoW took care of rhythm and lead guitars. 
Some shivering production...

The child frozen in place
It only took one shot
What was seen and heard that night
Ripped out innocence, must turn to rock

Daddy whatcha got
Keep breathing, don't go
Loud bang of a .45
Thief robbed the child's soul 

Ballerina in my box
Dance for me
Ballerina in my box
Set this child in me free 

The screams of momma's voice
Turned to silent stares
Whispers that he had a choice
Streaks of angry tears

Daddy whatcha got
Keep breathing, don't go
Loud bang of a .45
Thief robbed the child's soul 
Ballerina
Ballerina in my box
Dance for me

(Lyrics & vocals by Jen Carie)

Ballerina - JustVera

Loved you enough

What if? You'll never know... 
Perhaps listening to 'Loved you enough' will help though. Contemplative words by Joel Sattler, performed by IanT.  and backed up by NunoW with some convincing guitar parts. Here's your answer;-).



would I be on this path 
if only I'd loved you enough
would I be able to laugh 
if only I'd loved you enough 

would my soul rise from the ash 
would my heart be torn in half 
would I even need to ask 
if only I had loved you enough 

would the future be warm and bright 
if only I'd loved you enough 
would I be able to sleep at night 
if only I'd loved you enough 

would I be able to put up a fight 
see things with a clearer sight 
[see things in a different light]
would I be able to make things right
if only I had loved you enough  

the prologue is in the past 
they say love can never last 
but I feel like I'm tied to the mast 
while the sirens sing of my loss 
I thought I knew what I should do 
but I didn't know then what is true 
I should have left it up to you 
but I didn't reckon the cost 

would tomorrow be something good 
if only I'd loved you enough 
would I be more than I could 
if only I'd loved you enough 
 
and in all likelihood 
the storms could have been withstood 
I should have understood 
if only I had loved you enough

(Lyrics by Joel Sattler)

Loved You Enough - JustVera

'Cow NOW' probably is the best pop song I produced in years. Period. With a little help from my friends Robert Saint Denis, Tom H., Pepino Lorenzo and last but not least: Ian T.: some Team... 

When you call
I think ya
Know the score
It’s gonna
Open doors
You can blame who you like
But it’s you that they want, oooooh!

Stand in line
You gotta
Bide your time
Cos you’ll
Wanna jump
But the problem with that
Is you’re in the wrong queue!

Slamming doors
Blue-collar
Making sure
Will you
Wait in line?
Well it’s time grow up
Cos I know you’re strong, yeah!

You gotta help yourself
Take it to a place you have never been
If you can’t see
That your life isn’t free

What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?

wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
brown COW!

(Lyrics and vocals by Ian T.)

Cow NOW - JustVera

AlexanderK -guitars- and me had been working on this one for some weeks in creative seclusion. Then Rick Farrell joined with the lyrics and vocals to match. And ultimately we decided to swop the programmed bass and drums for the real thing by Jordi Ribas and Todd Vierra. 

'River of Black' shows the power of our online collaboration. Clenched energy. And... another original side of JustVera.

River Of Black - JustVera

The creation of 'Get away' was an experiment on my part. I challenged writers to send me their dearest set of lyrics. The first one who responded was Amanda Moubarak. Living in Lebanon and writing about her life in a pretty devastated country. It took me several months to come up with the right music to match her story. 

Long story short: with the help of Lloyd Plueschow -lead guitar- and Tarjei Skarlund -awesome vocals- we created 'Get away'. Straight from the heart.

Life's too short for lifeless music.



Do you know what it's like
to fight and never win?
Not once in your life
did you get what you were wishing.

Do you know what it's like
to live in constant battle?
With others, with yourself
did you ever feel fragile?
 
Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day
Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day

Well do you know?
I guess you don't
You're lucky you don't have to
Do you feel?
I guess you won't
have to love the way I do

(Lebanese) 
do you know the feeling of being on your last breath
your heart tells you keep going but your mind says stop
you stop at the end of the road with only one step left
you're afraid that you're gonna fall in the end
do you know when you hear the voice of every one who said
you will never make it then they leave you fighting alone
those voices have combined into one complaining voice
that voice is yours so you decide now what you want to say

Did you ever feel so helpless against the time?
Feeling low when you're supposed to be on your prime
Trying to fit another word into the same old rhyme
the same old rhyme, the same old rhyme

Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day
Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day

(Lebanese reprise)

Get away, get away
I know what it takes
to live another day

(Lyrics by Amanda Moubarak)

JustVera

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