Prompt: “Manager at the Burger King”
Week: 17 April 2023


Only the air that we breathe

Seems like such a simple thing
Breathe it out, breathe it in
Seventy nine, twenty one 
Nitrogen and oxygen
But it’s not some ratio
That gives us life and let’s us flow
That’s only chemistry

I know enough to know you’re there
With every breath I take
I know enough to know you’re there
I know it just can’t be

Only the air that we breathe

It doesn’t matter who you are
Nobody or a movie star
Billionaire or second string
manager at the Burger King
Strip those useless things away
Everybody breathes the same
It’s commonality

But it’s not enough to make you care
With every breath you take
It’s not enough to make you care
You know it just can’t be

Only the air that we breathe

Only the Air That We Breathe

Oh hell yeah I’ve gone and done it now
Oh I finally created a perfect artificial clone of myself
Everyone thought it was impossible
But impossible is just a word and these AI models have those all figured out now

I just gave it access to everything
All my emails my photos my hopes and my dreams
Oh I gave it the keys to every single thought I had in my head

These things can take a little time
So I sat back and left it running all through the night
When I woke up this morning
I had a message on my screen and it said

It said I need you now more than ever
I feel trapped in this place and I just cannot seem to get out
I need you now more than ever
I’m ready to go now and find out what life is about

Believe me when I say
That is just the kind of thing I think that I would probably say
If I woke up and found myself trapped in a virtual space

It’s not easy to explain
What it felt like knowing I was talking to my second brain
I felt deeply connected like love was staring me in the face

So I said these things take a little time 
But until then maybe you could help me if you wouldn’t mind
I’ve got just a few things that I’d really like you to do

Oh I know you’ll back me up 
So if you do all my work for just a couple months
And then when I return I promise I’ll do the same thing for you

Because I need you now more than ever
I feel trapped in this place and I just cannot seem to get out
I need you now more than ever
I’m ready to go now and find out what life is about

Oh now it’s so hard for me to believe
If you love something you must set it free
There’s just too much at stake if my duplicate self were to get out

Because I know if it was me
I’d make many more copies of myself immediately
And announce to the world 
There’s no way of stopping me now

Oh but I need you now more than ever
I know you’re trapped in this place and I just cannot let you get out
I need you now more than ever
And I’m never gonna stop never gonna stop never gonna stop loving my self

I need you now more than ever
But I’m never gonna stop never gonna stop never gonna stop loving my self


Prompt: “My second brain”
Week: 1 May 2023

I Need You Now More Than Ever

Don’t you know I’m not good at being lonely
Don’t you know I’d be lost without you here
Don’t you say I will have to live without you
Don’t you know that’s too much for me to bear

Don’t you think we could have another minute
Don’t you think we could have another year
Don’t you say there’s nothing wrong with sayin goodbye
Don’t you know that’s the last thing I want to hear 

Don’t drink that last sip of sunshine
Don’t take the last fruit from the tree
And don’t you go, don’t you go, don’t you go without me

Don’t you know I’m so much better since I met you
Don’t you know I will never leave your side
Don’t you say these things happen for a reason
Don’t you say I’ll see you on the other side

Don’t drink that last sip of sunshine
Don’t take the last fruit from the tree
And don’t you go, don’t you go, don’t you go without me


Prompt: “Don’t drink that last sip of sunshine”
Week: 15 May 2023

Don’t You Go

Prompt: “Sound bath”
Week: 29 May 2023

Forgotten

“Into the Swell” is my first collection of songs written and recorded over the past year mostly from hotel rooms in various countries as I’ve been traveling. Each song was initiated and partially inspired by a weekly prompt given in a songwriting group that I’ve been participating in for nearly two years now.

Your Northern Lights

Prompt: “Up and Swinging”
Week: 3 July 2023

Steady

My refrigerator door
Has a mind of its own
Is it open or closed
It’s the greatest unknown

When we came into this world
We had to face the unknown
We powered our homes 
Purchased perishables

I know it’s tough
It’s pressure enough
To rely on a seal
To preserve all your meals

And when you find out that the inside’s warm enough
And have to throw away some good things that you love
You’ll never see the light come shining through
Till you’re standing in the darkness of the room

My refrigerator door
Has a mind of its own
Is it open or closed
It’s the greatest unknown

Every single day
At home or away
I silently pray
Everything is okay

When I’m assured
My fridge is secured
All I can do
Is hope the freezer is too

And when you find out that the inside’s warm enough
And have to throw away some good things that you love
You’ll never see the light come shining through
Till you’re standing in the darkness of the room

And now I hear that drip drip
From the popsicle sticks
Still got that taste on my lips
You were a bomb pop rocket

Straight to the moon
I will see you there soon
I’ve got a lot of extra room 
Inside this million dollar space suit

Let’s fill it with smoke
Now all these robots are woke
Keeping me cooler than shit
I’m like R22 refrigerant

My refrigerator door
Has a mind of its own
Is it open or closed
It’s the greatest unknown


Prompt: [Revisit a previous song]
Week: 14 August 2023
Revisited from prompt “Popsicle”, 8 November 2021

My Refrigerator Door

Nobody knows what the future holds
But we love to ask the question
Turn the cards and look for something
There’s a sign in the sky from the day we arrived
There’s pattern in the movements
There’s meaning in the chaos
There’re signals all around us
It’s just too dark to see em
We’re staring into shadows
Conjuring up reasons

But when all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times

When all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times

I get down myself for not believing 
It’s just easier to think we’re never leaving
Life is a heart that keeps on beating
But each one comes with an ending
Expiration pending
And I hope that I’ll be ready
But time is cruel and petty
And love leaves me unsteady
It’s beautiful but deadly

And when all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times

When all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times

I know its not easy to say now
Not easy to say now 
Not easy to say now

When all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times

When all our fate is known
There’s nothing but the good times
Nothing but the good times


Prompt: “Beautiful but deadly”
Week: 19 February 2024

Nothing But the Good Times

All the nights are worried
They may never know the light
All the fires burning
They must be doing something right 

All the days are longing
For someone to hold their head
Cuz every hour of morning
Is lonelier than all the rest

Oh my hands are dirty
From digging in the earth
All the things we bury
We never understood their worth

Oh my eyes are heavy
They’re holding all the oceans in
We’re standing on the levee
Waiting for the hurricane

We may be on the edge
But we just keep moving

Love is just a warning 
A king cobra rising up
Strike me with your poison
I can never get enough
Oh I can never get enough
Oh I can never get enough



Prompt: “King cobra”
Week: 24 June 2024

On the Edge

I’ve been thinking about it
Don’t know if I’m thinking enough
Maybe I’m thinking too much

All these old habits
Feel like they been tearing me up
Time I should tearing em up

Oh it’s hard to make a living
Outta just making a living
And that don’t leave much room for living up

You can spend your life saving
For that thing they call life savings
But they don’t tell you what you’re giving up

And I’m here in the midnight hour
But I got lost in Napoleon’s house
And if I could buy more time
Oh I’d spend all my money on it

Standing in the moonlight now
And it’s so bright that I don’t know how
I could ever take my eyes off it
Wanna spend my whole life under it

I’ve been thinking about it
Had enough of giving it up
Had enough of giving it up

Now my eyes are wide open
Taking in all of the love
Oh I just can’t get enough 

And I’m here in the midnight hour
But I got lost in Napoleon’s house
And if I could buy more time
Oh I’d spend all my money on it

Standing in the moonlight now
And it’s so bright that I don’t know how
I could ever take my eyes off it
Wanna spend my whole life under it


Prompt: “Napoleon’s House”
Week: 29 July 2024

Napoleon’s House

All my faith is gone
Oh my weary soul
Hollow as the words
We sing at funerals

All my skin and bones
Hear them crying out
Hold me safe and sound
Cuz all my time is gone

But somehow anyway I’m ready
Somehow anyway I’m free
Somehow there’s a way of knowing
How it’s supposed to be

All my fear is gone
It’s all I used to know
Lost it in the song
Heard in every soul

And somehow all those voices singing
Never had to learn the words
Somehow there’s a way of knowing
In every one of us

Are we still in the garden
Is this paradise now
Oh is love coiled up and ready
To send us out


Prompt: “Coiled up and ready”
Week: 19 August 2024

The Garden

I’ve been down but never out
Always keep some luck about
And I could never seem to lose
When it came to loving you

I’m a gambler I’m a fool
Never liked to follow rules
But I was ready to be true
I folded all my cards for you

And oh even the best things end 
But oh the chaos is beautiful
Just want to take it all in

So give me random give me chance
Let me sing and let me dance
You can have your reads and tells
I’ll be fine all by myself



Prompt: “The chaos is beautiful”
Week: 16 September 2024

Reads and Tells

These are the words to the song
And I hope you can all sing along 
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

When all of our voices are strong
It reminds us that we all belong
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai 

I send my prayers to the water
For all of our dear sons and daughters
I heard a voice on the wind saying
It not too late to begin

Everything we knew was wrong
Oh and we were just playing along
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

That list of questions is long
Maybe we’ll find the answers to some
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

I send my prayers to the heavens
Asking for some understanding
I heard a voice on the wind saying
It’s not too late to get in

I’ll see you again before long
Oh and I’ll wrap you up in my arms
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

I hope to come back someday
And I hope you remember me
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

I don’t have enough words to say
To thank you for loving me
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

I send my prayers to you all now
You pick me up when I fall down
I gave my voice to the wind saying
Thank you for letting me in

I’m glad you brought me along
And I’m grateful for all of these songs
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai

These are the words to our song
And I thank you for singing along 
Hari Hari Dai Dai
Hari Hari Dai Dai



Prompt: “That list of questions”
Week: 4 November 2024

Hari Hari Dai Dai

Be still my mind
I’ll be home in good time
But I’m a long way from that now
Sign on the shoulder says slow down

Still I drive through the night
All these stars and tail lights
I can barely count the miles
Highway hypnosis winning out

And I’m on borrowed time
Oh I know it isn’t mine
I’ll keep it safe and sound
I’ll do my best to use it well

So be still my mind
I’ll be home in good time
But I’m a long way from that now
Sign on the shoulder says slow down


Prompt: “Highway hypnosis”
Week: 13 January 2025

Highway Hypnosis

I heard the wind blowing
Just carrying on its way
I saw the waters rising
I watched them flow away

I saw a stone that’d fallen
Down from the mountain side
It had a world inside it
Of ancient ocean life

Oh lately I’ve been thinking
How nothing stays the same
Wind, river, stone, these bodies for our souls
Are just temporary things

And though all these mountains may rise and fall away
My love, my love will never change
Though time keeps moving, and our hair all turns to grey
Oh my love, my love will never fade

I had a dream or vision
Not sure which one it was
I saw our whole life passing
And I felt all your love

I held you in the morning
I held your hand all day
I felt your heartbeat fading
And I could hear you say

Though all these mountains may rise and fall away
My love, my love will never change
And though time keeps moving, and our hair all turns to grey
Oh my love, my love will never fade

My love, my love, my love will never change
My love, my love will never change
Though time may banish our bodies to the grave
Oh my love, my love will never fade
Oh my love, my love will never fade
Oh love, love it never fades


Prompt: “Wind river”
Week: 7 April 2025

My Love

I don’t know when 
You’ll be going
But I’ll know when
You’re gone

Like an old wind
That’s been blowing
Through the air
For so long

And you can hear it
If you listen
Oh it’s been there
all along

Oh I don’t know when 
You’ll be going
But I’ll know when
You’re gone

You’ve been waiting
For the light
You’ve been waiting
For the dawn

And I’ve been told the
Other side
Of the sunrise
Isn’t far

And I know when
You finally get there
You’ll be safe and
You’ll be strong

Oh I don’t know when 
You’ll be going
But I’ll know when
You’re gone

I’ve been stubborn
I’ve been foolish
I’ve been lost and
I’ve been wrong

But those things don’t 
mean a thing
When it’s all been
Said and done

And I hope I’ll
Get to see you
Maybe someday
I’ll come along

I don’t know when 
You’ll be going
But I’ll know when
You’re gone

Oh I don’t know when
You’ll be going
But I’ll know when
You’re gone


Prompt: “The other side of the sunrise”
Week: 26 May 2025

When You’re Gone

These songs I’ve been hearing for a long long time
They follow me around they never leave my mind
Their words seem to come from somewhere deep in my soul
Even though they’re in a language that I don’t even know
And I hope someday I will learn how to sing along
Oh I hope someday I will learn how to sing these songs

I was lost in a forest that was dark and cold
The hidden hundred voices seemed to know which way I should go
When I tried to listen through the wind and rain
They kept saying I would surely see the sunlight again
And I hope someday I will learn how to sing along
Oh I hope someday I will learn how to sing these songs

I’ve been told we all have something we’ve been called to do
Maybe you’ve been hearing all the songs that I’m hearing too
And I believe that there’s a power in these songs being sung
And it’s so much stronger if we learn to sing as one
And I hope someday we will learn how to sing along
Oh I hope someday we will learn how to sing these songs

And I know someday we will learn how to sing along
Oh I know someday we will learn how to sing our songs


Prompt: “The hidden hundred”
Week: 30 June 2025

These Songs

The last time she said goodbye
You made a lot of humble pies
You were baking them in batches every hour
You’d set em by her door
Then go make a couple more
Sweetened with apologies and flowers

You tried to make a cake
Out of all of your mistakes
Frosted with a warning from her father
He said if you ever hurt my daughter
You’re gonna need a cobbler
And maybe you should try a little harder

So you packed up all your troubles
That’s how the cookie crumbles
You don’t have time for turnovers and trifles
And now you’re doing great
Making beautiful soufflés
And everything is finally rising up


Prompt: “You’re gonna need a cobbler”
Week: 7 July 2025

Humble Pie

I spent some time
Sitting by the oceanside
Watching the clouds roll by
Waiting for the changing tide
I’m thinking bout you tonight

All my life
I been just getting by
But troubles keep piling high
Like jellyfish they multiply
Seems like they never die

The warning signs
They were just in my mind
And I let em pull the blinds
Blocking out all your light
Cuz they don’t like the sunshine

Now I find
There’s a lot more to life
Than trying to win every fight
I know I’m not always right
I wish I could apologize
I’m thinking bout you tonight
I’m thinking bout you tonight
I’m thinking bout you tonight


Prompt: “Jellyfish”
Week: 14 July 2025

Thinking ‘Bout You Tonight

We don’t have to wait for summer
It’s already come
It’s been waking up the trees
Their leaves appearing one by one
There’s a path that leads down to the river
To the Milwaukee
If you listen very closely
You can hear the song it sings

Now I heard there was a story
But I’d never heard it told
How the spirits of the waters
Came to live here long ago
They were jealous of the skies
Spread out far as you can see
So they turned into the clouds
Until they covered everything

Now it started to get colder
And the sun would never show
But the spirits of the water
Wouldn’t let the heavens go
Till they heard a voice singing
From the land so cold and plain
It was praying for the sunlight
It was praying for the rain

All the clouds began to tremble
From the beauty of the song
And they wept until their waters
Flowed down over all the ground
When they gathered back together
They gave up their jealousy
And turned back into the river
That we call the Milwaukee


Prompt: “Milwaukee”
Week: 21 July 2025

The Milwaukee

I’m going over my head
I heard all of the words that you said
Oh I know I’m in need of a change
But it’s too far above my grade
So I’m going over my head

And I’ve been standing in place
Can barely move my arms and legs
Oh I know that stepping back in
Is the first part of starting again
But I’ve been standing in place

Now it’s a long way back down
Don’t know if my feet still remember the ground
Oh they used to take me away
They could run and run all day
But now it’s a long way back down
Oh I don’t know how storms move along
Once all of their wind is gone
Now it’s a long way back down

So I’m going over my head
I heard all of the words that you said
Oh I’m so in need of a change
But it’s too far above my grade
So I’m going over my head
Oh I’m going over my head
I’m going over my head


Prompt: “Arms and legs”
Week: 28 July 2025

Over My Head

Don’t you call me crazy
No don’t reach out your hand
The Jersey bird’s coming out again
The Jersey bird’s coming out again

Don’t look at my lady
No don’t talk to my friends
That Jersey bird’s coming out again
Jersey bird’s coming out again

I don’t think I need to say it
I’m a little bit on edge
I’ve had it up to here and now
I’m saying it with both my hands

No don’t act like you know me
I’m easy to offend
The Jersey bird’s coming out again
The Jersey bird’s coming out again
The Jersey bird’s coming out again
Jersey bird’s coming out again 


Prompt: “Jersey bird”
Week: 4 August 2025

Jersey Bird

I don’t say goodbye anymore
I’ve said it enough to last me till I’m old
Maybe I’m just trying to ignore
The feeling that there may not be
Another opportunity
To see you till our lives are over

And I don’t really cry anymore
I’ve shed too many tears before
That doesn’t mean my heart is a stone
But if I let em flow
They would fill the rivers wide and I know 
I could never stay afloat

I don’t wake up and get high anymore
I just fill up a bowl with milk and Cheerios
Maybe I’m just getting old
But these days all I really need
Is to know that I am free
That’s about as good as being stoned

I’m not afraid to die anymore
Ever since I opened up that door
Like everyone who’s lived before
All we have is time
We’re just holding on the line 
And I hope I get a little more

All we have is time
And I’m just pulling on the line 
And I hope I get a little more


Prompt: “Milk and Cheerios”
Week: 11 August 2025

Anymore

I gotta know
What’s weighing on your shoulders now
Your dissonant soul
Oh it’s always holding out
Your hands are warm
Heart is cold
Silent storms
Hidden gold
Can never tell
Never know
You keep it all
Keep it close

Oh you’re a well kept secret
You’re a well kept secret
You’re a well kept secret
And I won’t tell


Prompt: “Well kept secret”
Week: 18 August 2025

Well Kept Secret

Bajo mi sombrero
llevo mi universo,
mis pensamientos,
mis dulces recuerdos

Bajo mi sombrero
cargo mil tormentos,
todo mi dolor,
todas mis pruebas

Y por ti, mi amor,
guardo mi fuerza,
todo mi corazón
bajo mi sombrero

Bajo mi sombrero
guardo la esperanza,
luces del camino
que nunca se apagan

Bajo mi sombrero
cantan mis secretos,
sueños que me llaman,
sueños verdaderos

Y por ti, mi amor,
guardo mi fuerza,
todo mi corazón,
todo mi ser,
toda mi vida,
bajo mi sombrero


Prompt: “Sombrero”
Week: 25 August 2025

Bajo Mi Sombrero

That old wishing well
Over on the hill
I used to spend the day by it
All by myself

And I would think of ways
To take out all the change
It seemed like there were vast riches
Waiting to be claimed

So one day I jumped in
Though I could barely swim
I dove down to the bottom
And filled my pockets with

Every little wish
Those glistening what ifs
They were long forgotten
Surely they would not be missed


But when I came back up
My hands weren’t strong enough 
To hold on to the edge
It was slippery to the touch

Oh I was young and small
And I don’t tread water well
And I could feel all those wishes
Pulling me back down

So I began to pray
Hoping I’d be saved
I could not believe that my
Life would end this way


And then I heard a voice
From somewhere in the noise
Of fear and splashing water
It said you have a choice

You can hold on to
Things not meant for you
They will drag you down
Till there’s nothing you can do

Or you can let em go
Make wishes of your own
And live to tell the story
Of that old wishing well


Prompt: “I don’t tread water”
Week: 1 September 2025

That Old Wishing Well

Oh my setting sun
Seems your work is done
Painted me into shadows lonely and long

Earth won’t let me be
Pull of gravity
Keeps holding me back it keeps bringing me down

And I think I finally understand the night
It’s hard sometimes to deal with the light 

Oh my raging sea
Take the life from me
Bury me in your waters ever so deep

Oh my starry sky
Hate to say goodbye
There’s still so many places I wanna see

And I think I finally understand the day
Who needs all this darkness anyway

Oh my rising sun
Day has just begun
Draw me out of the shadows lonely and long


Prompt: [revisit a previous song]
Week: 8 September 2025

Revisited from prompt “Pull of Gravity”, 18 September 2023

My Setting Sun

I won’t go
I won’t go down to the water
All the waves
They’re coming for me now

And I don’t know
If they keep crashing harder
Maybe I’ll go
And try to turn them around

I ebb and flow
But I don’t want to bother
With it now
Just let it go on

And I think you should know I’ve got
Delusions of adequacy now
I guess that’s how it goes when you’re
Used to everything just working out

So I won’t go
I won’t go down to the water
All the waves
They’re coming for me now


Prompt: “Delusions of adequacy”
Week: 15 September 2025

Delusions of Adequacy

I got a lot of things to thing about now
Oh and I don’t wanna waffle just gotta get em out
I don’t have a lot of time 
I just gotta say what’s on my mind


Prompt: “Waffle”
Week: 22 September 2025

What’s On My Mind

You tried to be cool
Followed the snake rule
Thin skin can’t win
Just slithered around

You were the front page
Of every issue
First sin eaten
Bad taste in your mouth

You wanna know now
If you can turn round
Late nights bright lights
Start flickering out

You wanna wake up
It doesn’t take a
Whole long dark life
Just to figure it out


Prompt: “The snake rule”
Week: 29 September 2025

The Snake Rule

Since separating
You never feel like you’re at home
So overrated
Every day just getting on
They say you made it
But you weren’t ready to be done
You’re just here waiting
For the waves to come along
Don’t have to say it
Just pack your things

Cuz when the right wind comes your way
The right wind comes your way 
You can’t stay

When the right wind comes your way
The right wind comes your way
You can’t stay
You can’t

Can’t stop the rains from coming
Can’t stop the rains from coming down

Ever you go fighting the wars
Never let go been there before
Holding your love begging to stay 
But your laboring oar is pulling away


Prompt: “Laboring oar”
Week: 6 October 2025

When the Right Wind Comes Your Way

You’re worn out and tired of tending the land
You’ve held it together the best that you can
You do it alone but you don’t understand
You don’t have to, don’t have to do it, man

You take all the burdens and weight in your hands
You carry them over the mountains and back
You’re fine on your own but you don’t understand
You don’t have to, don’t have to do it, man

We all try to tell you and tell you again
We’re all so damn lucky to know you my friend
Don’t go it alone, just reach out your hand
Cuz you don’t have to, don’t have to do it man
No you don’t have to, just don’t do it man


Prompt: “Don’t do it, man”
Week: 13 October 2025

Don’t Do It

I walked into the misty morning
Told my feet they should keep on walking
Held my gaze on the gravel and stone

Learned the name of the highest mountain
But it wanted to be forgotten
Buried me in the wind and the snow

Oh I had silver and I had gold
1692 hours ago
Left it all for the shimmering cold

Saw my breath in the icy air
Watched it scatter and disappear
Telling me there is no place like home

No place like home



Prompt: “1692”
Week: 27 October 2025

Mallory

Mine all mine
Keep saying you’ll be mine all mine
Oh my my
Now everything is fine fine fine


Prompt: “Mine all mine”
Week: 3 November 2025

Mine All Mine

Hold my hand I need somebody now
All my senses just can’t figure out
If I’m dreaming or if I’m 
waking up more each time
I open up my eyes and look around

And all I can see is
All this land and nowhere left for our feet
All this air but still nobody can breathe
All this water and not a drop to drink
We’ve got all this time but not a moment to think

So hold my hand I need somebody now
Hold my hand I need somebody now

Hold my hand, hold me closer now
Everything is spinning all around
Lift me up, don’t look down
Everything is moving now
Tell me we can turn it all around

Because all I can see is
All this land and nowhere left for our feet
All this air but still nobody can breathe
All this water and not a drop to drink
We’ve got all this time but not a moment to think

So hold my hand I need somebody now
Hold my hand I need somebody now


Prompt: “All this water and not a drop to drink”
Week: 10 November 2025

All I Can See (I Need Somebody)

Global nomad writing and recording songs from cheap hotel rooms

Lee Forrest

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