Glasgow Songwriting Festival with lots of good tutors and inspiration.
This was written after an afternoon with Boo Hewerdine

Every Road

"This One Night Stand Could Stand Just One More Night" (#386-#389, 200817-200828)

 * co-written with Melvin Purvis * 

Buckled up my jeans slipped my timepiece on
Headed downtown to the honky tonk
Goin' where I know I can find a dance and a drink

As I pulled up in the truck I thought I spied
Pretty little cutie with those Monroe eyes
Said a quick prayer she was there lookin' for the same thing

I held the door open and she walked right in
Knowin' how tonight could end

Never mind the same old pick up lines
Just one question your place or mine
I don't even care if we close the blinds
This one night stand could stand just one more night

I went what do you say we grab a cold one for the road
She said you got game but this ain't my first rodeo
Yeah she saw me comin' from my watch down to my boots

Like an old time cowgirl she headed me off at the pass
Every time I opened my mouth she shut me down fast
Kinda' started thinkin' that I bit off more than I could chew

Sittin' there wonderin' how the night would end
When she grabbed me by the hand

Never mind the same old pick up lines
Just one question your place or mine
I don't even care if we close the blinds
This one night stand could stand just one more night

When we wake up tomorrow we can flip a coin
But we both know where this thing is goin'

Week 35a - This One Night Stand Could Stand Just One More Night (200828)

Out of context #songaweek2020 wk35
out of context out of time
we keep on missing repeating the lies
we’re spinning further deep into space
we hitting the targets still make mistakes

how great to wonder and know u r mine
at dawn i perceive your  perfect design
 once what was hidden now comes into view
a symphony of hope from the blackened dark hue

out of context out of time
we keep on missing repeating the lies 
seeking more wonder the ebb and the flow
its pulling us under and never lets go

the crown and the sceptre the robe and the ring
the comfort of truth that compels us to sing
the passing of things from this world to the next
our eyes wild in joy in perfect sweet rest

out of context out of time
we keep on missing repeating the lies
we’re spinning further deep into space
we're hitting the targets still make mistakes
hitting the targets but still make mistakes
hitting the targets but still make mistakes

out of context SAW35

At the Glasgow Songwriting Festival, Emily Barker asked  us to write a song about a River and mine turned into a song about a Dam.
Whaley Bridge is a town in The Peak District in the UK and just just over a year ago a dam nearly collapsed. My children use to sail in competitions on this water. If it had it gone it would have taken out the town(and much of the surrounding area with it). We heard the helicopters going in and out from our house.  The hard work of the rescue services and the town stopped the disaster.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/aug/02/whaley-bridge-dam-raf-helicopter-collapse-peak-district

That Dam Wall

Sure, "Prove It" was the Week 14 prompt. But I didn't finish this song then. Don't think I finished it now.

*****

It's easy to say
We'll hold everything dear
Like we do right now
When the ending is

The ending is
What we make of it
You're going to be what we need right now
Prove it
Prove it to me

Everything starts to shake
Everything starts to blur

I can barely sleep
You're  early morning dreams
You're talking half to me
And half to you

Get inside my head and pull me out
Pull my body through when it calms down

It's all coming home, if you feel that darling
Pretty lies we were ready for

I remember rain, I remember sun
It's been so long it's gonna come, it's going come
Prove it
Prove it to me

Get inside my head and pull me out
Pull my body through when it calms down

Prove It - Song a Week 2020, Week 36

"I’m Ready Now" (#392, 200905)

 * Co-written with Paul McDonnell *

I'm looking for a place to put these chances I won't take
There's no more space the closet's full door's about to break
Gotta' clear some room by throwin' out these broken things
Collectin' dust from dawn to dusk beneath this old box spring

Like the halo that I used to wear, and my broken magic wand
There’s the shoes I never walked a mile in, should have tried those on

Well I’m ready now I’m singin’ it out loud
I'm breakin' free of what I can see I'm better off without
Yeah these nights are long but this ain't about what's right or wrong
It's just about me throwin' out my doubts and I think I'm ready now

My rosy tinted glasses they've been down there for awhile
Next to all the hours I spent wishin' like a child
A clover with 3 leaves it never seemed to grow a fourth
The pedestal that leveled all my lovers to the floor

The first stone that I couldn't cast, the tears that didn't help
Fallin' on the pages full of words I told myself

Well I’m ready now I’m screamin’ it out loud
I'm breakin' free of what I can see I'm better off without
Yeah these nights are long but this ain't about what's right or wrong
It's just about me throwin' out my doubts and I think I'm ready now

Pictures from the past like a movie in my mind
I can change my story when I leave them all behind

Week 36a - I’m Ready Now (200905)

You say
I am f ine
But you’re not
I say I m doing well
thanks a lot
Behind it all were far from what we long for  and  ache
We are not AOK

You say
Things look good in the dark
I say great but its cold in my heart
Behind it all there lies a veil to cover  up mistakes
We are not AOK

This is the truth
We are wanting to know
All will be well
All that is broken made whole

Behind it all were far from what we long for  and  ache
We are not AOK

You say  I am here for the haul
I say YES  LETS wait on the dawn
A sacrifice our  paradise
A friend FOEVER stayS
Makes us A OK

A sacrifice our  paradise
A friend forever stay
Makes me feel  A OK

This is the truth
We are wanting to know
All will be well
All that is broken made whole

A sacrifice our  paradise
A friend forever stay
Makes us A OK

AOK SAW 36

It rained all year
We swam through 94

The fall, I fear
Can't hold it back no more

And gives way
To the winter dead

And gives its best
To an endless summer bed 


After all is through
Starts to drift away
Leaving in its wake


So let it go
Drive out to meet the sea

On a worried coast
Made of fragile strong beliefs


After all is through
Starts to drift away
Leaving in its wake

An empty echo sings
Funerals and weddings
Funerals and weddings


Rain through the leaves damping flowers down
Everything stays never the same
In the year of rain


After all is through
Starts to drift away
Leaving in its wake

An empty echo sings
Funerals and weddings
Funerals and weddings

Violins with broken strings
Funerals and weddings
Funerals and weddings

Year of Rain (Give My Best) - Song a Week 2020, Week 37

I got electricity that's shooting out my fingertips 
feel it when I walk into the room
I got sexuality that's bending all of space and time 
Find the world revolves around me too

The elixir of life - the elixir of life
I got the the goddam font of youth with me tonight
The elixir of life - the elixir of life
it's coursing through my veins
I'm set to set the world alight

I been every hole you ever sold your soul to leave behind
I been broken down and left to die
I tried every way to shake the naked devil off your back
Can you see the twinkle in my eye

The elixir of life - the elixir of life
I got the the goddam font of youth in me tonight
The elixir of life - the elixir of life
I feel it's coursing through my veins
I'm setting everything alight

I got on top and
Ain’t gonna stop
Ain’t gonna stop now - no
I crashed out
I’m back now
Bringing something to the light

The elixir of life - the elixir of life
I got the the goddam font of youth in me tonight
The elixir of life - the elixir of life
I feel it's coursing through my veins
I'm set to set the world alight

Elixir Of Life

A new idea!  Incomplete, needs work, but I’m excited about this idea.  This is about climate change and how it will (or to be more accurate, how it already is) prompting migration of people.  It’s inspired by this New York Times Magazine article: How Climate Migration Will Reshape America.  https://nl.nytimes.com/f/a/P6rcx8h4Ww8L6-7D-QqMJg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRhQyJSP4QZAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjAvMDkvMTUvbWFnYXppbmUvY2xpbWF0ZS1jcmlzaXMtbWlncmF0aW9uLWFtZXJpY2EuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjAwOTE1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTIyMTk5Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9MTMyMDM3Mjk1JnNlY3Rpb25faW5kZXg9MSZzZWN0aW9uX25hbWU9YmlnX3N0b3J5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MzgwOTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWRiNTZmMmM2NWIwMzQ0M2RhZTAzOTczMGVhYTQ4NjAzVwNueXRCCgBDUp1gXxpHHKFSFmFic3RyYWN0X3dhdGVyQG1hYy5jb21YBAAAAAA~

I like this melody, but it sounds very familiar, too familiar.  If you happen to recognize it, let me know.

Follow

Now let’s be honest
Who wants to leave all they know?
The blood and sweat and tears
Dollars spent helping loved ones grow

But let’s be honest
Where do you think you will go?
The floods and storms and fire
Creep up to the doorstep you own

If there’s one thing I’ve learned
Don’t wait for your voice to be heard

Follow

Move where the crops grow
Move where the river flows
Look out the window
Gotta go where the coins go

Follow

Follow where the land will grow

Follow - 9:18:20, 6.51 PM

The words of the poet Robert Frost made into a song at the Shetland Songwriting Festival

The Aim Was Song

Before man came to blow it right
     The wind once blew itself untaught,
And did its loudest day and night
     In any rough place where it caught.
 
Man came to tell it what was wrong:
     It hadn’t found the place to blow;
It blew too hard—the aim was song.
     And listen—how it ought to go!
 
He took a little in his mouth,
     And held it long enough for north
To be converted into south,
     And then by measure blew it forth.
 
By measure. It was word and note,
     The wind the wind had meant to be—
A little through the lips and throat.
     The aim was song—the wind could see.

Prove It - Song a Week 2020, Week 36

Charlatan, PE