wasted days

I was born an apple tree,
Growin’ all my food for free,
But now I’m grown, 
Workin’ for the factory. 

And they say one day they’re gonna pay me,
I guess we’ll see. 
They say I got a good job, at the factory.

I was born a honeybee,  
Kissin’ flowers to feed my family,
But now I’m grown,
Workin’ for the factory.

And they say one day they’re gonna pay me,
I guess we’ll see. 
They say I got a good job, at the factory. 

I was made a refugee,
Thrown out of my country,
And I’m alone,
Workin’ for the factory.

And they say one day they’re gonna pay me,
I guess we’ll see,
‘Cause that’s the only way I’ll see my family.

the factory

He's skin and bones;
That's just about all he is.
Disregard the soul underneath.

He feels at home
Alone in a crowded room;
Disregard the tongue in his cheek.

I think he's gonna make it.

I think he's gonna make it out alright.
I think he's gonna make it out alive.
At least, this time.

skin and bones (test demo)

You're still my favorite color in the sky;
Don't think I'll find another to suit my eyes.

Well, that's just fine;
Yeah that's alright.
That's alright,
Yeah, that's just fine.

favorite color (test demo)

A song I wrote a few years back, about the importance of trying to dwell on the positive when the going gets rough, and a reminder to remind those dearest to you that you love them, often, regardless of the climate. Hope you enjoy.

All parts written and recorded by Logan K. Strong.

"Well, baby doll, we're out of cash, again,
Wondering how we'll feed our babes,
And how we'll pay the rent.
Wondering just how and when 
This money all got spent.
Baby doll, we're out of cash, again.

Well, baby doll, we're cats and dogs, again.
Well, we got drunk, and we got mad;
It happens, now and then,
And you tell me that it's all your fault,
But you mean it's mine, again;
One of these days,
We’ll find out whose horse will win.

But anyhow, I love you so;
If we can make it 'til tomorrow,
That's just as far as we need to go.
It's not hard to face the winter if you're playing in the snow,
And anyhow, I love you so.

Well, baby doll, we're high and dry, again,
Wondering if this lean-to that we built
Can stand the wind.
Wondering if we're too far out
For a savior to be sent;
Baby doll, we're high and dry, again.

But anyhow, I love you so;
If we can make it 'til tomorrow,
That's just as far as we need to go.
It's not hard to face the winter if you're playing in the snow,
And anyhow, I love you so."

anyhow

don't spread yourself so thin;
your tender heart will cave right in,
and I couldn't bear to see you collapse.
you'll run to the edge of the earth, 
your greedy feet will cast you down,
and what a sad, sad world if you should slip through the gaps. 

love what you are, 
love what you do, 
and everything will align for you.

because your journey to the sun
has only just begun, 
and you'll make it there someday, 
if it keeps coming 'round. 
and it will, 
        so you will.
                   alright. 

stand up straight, 
hold your head up high.
set your spirit in your stride,
and there's no way they'll knock you down.
you're unstoppable, just like me,
and I know that you will see,
that if you get to the end of your rope, 
you can break it off, 
and I'll be your solid ground. 

because your journey to the sun
has only just begun, 
and you'll make it there someday, 
if it keeps coming 'round. 
and it will, 
        so you will.
                   alright. 

and when you get to the end of your rope, 
you can break it off, 
and I'll be your solid ground. 

solid ground

sky looks like rain,
I say let it come down. 
if the clouds reveal the sun, 
well, I hope he'll stick around. 
if the snow covers the earth, 
let your inner child be found.
if the lightning splits the sky, 
enjoy the show, and enjoy the sound. 

doesn't matter if the weathermen say 
that it's blue or it's grey, 
the sky will take my breath away. 
because the sky up above
is a painting of love
on a monumental canvas
of night and day. 

so if you find yourself in lights
beyond this small-town, streetlamp silhouette, 
and your journey for amazement 
takes you far away, 
remember to be more 
than you ever though that you could be, 
and listen to me when I say that
if within these words you cannot hide, 
above all else, at least be satisfied. 

you've got some nerve, don't you boy?
you've got everything you need and more. 
a roof over your empty, dreaming head, 
what more are you looking for?
you've got the sky above your head,
and the ground beneath your feet,
wind and water at your fingertips 
and plenty of food to eat. 

but you never seem to see 
all the blessings that be
even though they're standing
right before your eyes. 
what will it take for you to wear the name
of satisfied?

so if you find yourself in lights
beyond this small-town, streetlamp silhouette, 
and your journey for amazement 
takes you far away, 
remember to be more 
than you ever though that you could be, 
and listen to me when I say that
if within these words you cannot hide, 
above all else, at least be satisfied. 

be satisfied, my brother.
be satisfied, my father.
be satisfied, my mother. 
be satisfied, my soul. 

 so if you find yourself in lights
beyond this small-town, streetlamp silhouette, 
and your journey for amazement 
takes you far away, 
remember to be more 
than you ever though that you could be, 
and listen to me when I say that
if within these words you cannot hide, 
above all else, at least be satisfied.

satisfied

mine is not to tell the sun to set, 
mine is not to tell the wind to blow,
mine is not to tell the darkness "you may come and take it all", 
and mine is not to tell the grass to grow. 
mine is not to tell the sea to rise, 
mine is not to tell the seasons 
"you may stay, but you must go", 
mine is not to tell the moon to wax or to wane, 
just like mine is not to tell the pain to show. 

but the sun doesn't rise so easy anymore, 
and light from the moon is harder still to find, 
but I'll never see the sunset like I did
when it was reflected from your eyes 
back into mine. 

well, your head upon my shoulder caused a spark,
and all these paper walls they burned away. 
and it hurts, because I know you felt the same, 
but you'd rather face the cold than fan the flame, 
oh, because baby, you've been burned before, 
I know, 'cause it was me that lit the match. 
and I know it's all over with and done with now, 
but I'd do anything to take it back,
'cause I know that

love don't come so easy anymore, 
and trust of the heart is harder still to find, 
but lay down your arms and fall
back into mine. 

who's to say if a heart's grown old? 
and who's to say that the fire's died?
I suspect if we inspect the retrospect, 
darling, we just may re-align. 
and hey, I wouldn't mind, 
even though your faults are all mine. 
still, I can't ask you to give up on your dreams
just to fall
                back into mine.

back into mine

hey.
how are you?
been a while. 
what's new?
haven't seen you since, well, you know. 
who's he? 
seems cool. 
where's he from? 
where did he go to school?
hey, where do the years go?

well, I thought this would get easy, 
thought I had something to say, 
but every time I open my mouth, 
my tongue gets in the way. 
love turned us to strangers,
why is everything so clear today?
well, I guess I should just walk away. 

we wrapped our hearts in plastic,
and then we watched the stars burn out.
all the while, trying to find
whether heaven was within or without.
no, we didn't see it coming, 
but it was a freight train.
knocked us to the ground and kept on running,
and split this four leaf clover in twain. 

well I though this would get easier, 
thought the pain would go away, 
but every time I open up my eyes, 
it's clear it's here to stay. 
love turned us to strangers,
why is everything so clear today,
when I say that I never should have walked away?

old friend, I can't apologize for how this river's run, 
but I'll take the blame for all the damage that I've done. 
all our bends, they turned to breaks,
all our gives they turned to to takes, 
at the end of the day, 
all our rivers turned to lakes. 
maybe someday we will see
we were never meant to be
anything but a girl like you, and a boy like me. 

well I've got too many broken hearts to my name,
got too many missing parts to make a frame, 
and that's not right. 
all the clouds above my head, they turned to stone,
and every unknown 
sings me a lullaby at night.

well I though this would get easier, 
thought the pain would go away, 
but every time I open up my eyes, 
it's clear it's here to stay. 
love turned us to strangers,
why is everything so clear today,
when I say that I never should have walked away?

old friend, I can't apologize for how this river's run, 
but I'll take the blame for all the damage that I've done. 
all our bends, they turned to breaks,
all our gives they turned to to takes, 
at the end of the day, 
all our rivers turned to lakes. 
maybe someday we will see
we were never meant to be
anything but a girl like you, and a boy like me. 


girl like you, boy like me

a cover of the fabulous lorde's "buzzcut season", from the album pure heroine. cajon played by mitchell arnold, all backing vocals by logan k. strong.

"buzzcut season" by lorde

The home I built in my head burned down.
I lost the wife, skipped a beat--
Then hit the town. 
And I couldn't find my keys, 
Couldn't catch a cab,
So I'm still miles and miles away 
From touching ground.

But I don't want no bait & switch, no. 
I'm just trying to scratch that
Scratch that,
Scratch that,
That itch.

Now, never would I say I'm free from fault;
I had the recipe right in front of me,
I still added too much salt,
Surprise, surprise. 
I guess this heart don't wanna beat.
(Surprise, surprise.)
I guess that these extremes were never meant to meet.
(Surprise, surprise, surprise.)

itch 2.0 (expanded demo)

*Goats, on boats, taking notes, in a moat, and raccoons in my coat.*

It takes some time to learn
Which bridges to keep and which to burn.
So take your time, and learn.
Your freedom from fear is yours to earn.

Everything's gone manic;
Whole planet in a panic.
I can still catch your frequency
Over All This Static.

Everything's gone manic;
Whole planet in a panic.
But I can still catch your frequency
Over All This Static.

O.A.T.S. (rough demo)

When the sun quits risin';
Quits kissin' those trees
As it embraces the horizon;
When the sky goes black, 
And the stars do, too, 
And the moon don't shine like it used to;
Well, maybe when the sun quits risin', 
I'll quit lovin' you.

When the birds stop their singin', 
And the bees quit carryin' all the love
They've been bringin';
When the wild-flowers fade
To an untrue hue, 
And the breeze don't breathe 
Like it used to;
Maybe when the birds stop singin', 
I'll quit lovin' you. 

Well, it's gonna take, 
Some bends, and breaks, 
But we're gonna make it through;
The sun won't fall, 
The birds will call, 
No matter what we do. 
The stars will stay shining, and true,
And I won't stop lovin' you.

When the world stops its spinnin';
When the start stops stoppin', 
And the stop stops beginnin';
When the second hand cashes in its chips,
'Cause its through, 
And the time don't flow like it ought to;

Well, maybe when the sun quits risin', 
Maybe when the birds stop singin',
Maybe when the world stops spinnin', 
I'll quit lovin' you.

Well, it's gonna take, 
Some bends, and breaks, 
But we're gonna make it through;
The sun won't fall, 
The birds will call, 
No matter what we do. 
The stars will stay shining, and true,
And I won't stop lovin' you.

maybe when

a cover of taylor swift's "shake it off", but...different. all backing vocals by logan k. strong.

"shake it off" by taylor swift.

boy (don'tcha know)

the burn nor the bite can clear the fog;
can't catch love with a pack of dogs.
then the streets all froze
and the time took note.
held the rest like the music goes;
found the warmth of a borrowed coat,
but still I was

heavy head, heavy heart, heavy shoes,
steeped in grey and a dark blue.

the snow falling down won't fill the hole;
crystal ball can't see the soul.
and it robs you blind, 
sets your mind on a fault line,
book of life with a crooked spine,
tangled up in the grape vine
and you are

heavy head, heavy heart, heavy shoes,
steeped in grey and a dark blue.
snap the shades all shut in a shadowed room.

and you are
heavy head, heavy heart, heavy shoes,
steeped in grey and a dark blue.


heavy shoes

well, you never could believe
this heart strapped to my sleeve,
and I never found the physics of
the take in all your leave.
you stepped out on your doubt
for a life on the run,
with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue.

with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but love was young, and it was dumb.
with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but God, love was dumb when it was young.

there's no tender way to render this, 
but, my God, have I been burned;
the re-kindling of a dwindling fire
a lesson to be learned.
it's just, the tinder to your ember
was a branch I thought you'd spurned. 
well, I guess that's what I get,
but so much less than I have earned. 
with a gun in your heart, 
and a bullet on your tongue. 

with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but love was young, and it was dumb.
with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but God, love was dumb when it was young.

and your heart has such exploding potential,
but your tongue just might kill me. 
this heart is not bullet-proof by any means,
your tongue is what's gonna kill me. 

with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but love was young, and it was dumb.
with a gun in your heart
and a bullet on your tongue;
love was wild, and love was free
but love was dumb when it was young.



the gun in your heart

A compilation of some of the songs I've been working on. This, my friends, is eight years of my life recorded in three hours. Some of these songs weren't actually finished until they were in the process of being recorded. Most of them were done in one take. None of them had any editing done at all. All in all, it's rough, it's unpolished, it's remarkably bare...but the journey has to begin somewhere. 

Noise

Atlas

Eyes to the Sky

Sea, Sky, Tree

Defragmentation

Phoenix Heart

Monochrome

Slept For Days

Toy Soldier

These Streets

Left your place at daybreak, 
And I slept straight through the sun.
Woke up in the dark,
And cleared away the web I'd spun.
Remembering your whisper
Set me free from all alarms,
And all at once I wished
I could be back in your arms. 

Little bird, please don't fly away.
I am here, I am strong, and I am here to stay.
Let me hold you in my hand and keep you warm,
For the bird is solemn that flies through the storm. 
So little bird, please don't fly away. 

You are the sky, 
In more ways than I can name.
And I am the ocean 
In more ways than I care to claim. 
The sea doesn't touch the sky,
No, the clouds don't touch the brine.
But all we need is the sun
To make this painting turn out fine. 

Little bird, please don't leave me be,
For the comfort that I've found within your eyes is such a rarity.
And if you still want to fly when our time is done,
I'll set you free and watch you fly into the sun,
But little bird, please don't leave me be. 

I've never flown, 
Never tried to spread my wings,
But I have always wondered 
Just what makes the song bird sing.
You and I could fly, 
Tear our names through the sky.
Leave uncertainty on the land, 
And to our troubles say goodbye.

Little bird, please come fly with me. 
Don't have a penny to my name, but I've got dreamer's wings.
And if we just come crashing down to the sand,
I know we'll find a softer place than here to land,
So little bird, please come fly with me. 

Little bird, please come fly with me. 


Little Bird

How long has it been since you witnessed the stars in flight?
They've waited for you 'til they faded in the morning light. 
They've waited for your eyes to glow with light from outer space,
And they've longed to illuminate the wonder on your face. 
Step outside and let the starlight bathe you in its grace,
Let the cosmic river flowing take you to some secret place.
There is so much more to see than you've allowed yourself to see,
Because you've locked yourself into a life of who they want you to be, 
And you never see the stars anymore. 
You just hurry on inside and lock the door. 

You are the universe,
And the universe is you.
Rid your inner circle
Of the line that passes through.
Open up your eyes,
And let your mind follow through.
Beauty is a state of mind,
And it all begins with you. 

I'm no prophet,
I'm no priest.
I'm just another soul-brother who's a lover of discovery
At the very least.
I don't have it all figured out,
No, I don't expect to have it soon.
But in the meantime I'll be just fine
Building ladders to the moon
The astral ocean's begging you to come and take a swim.
Hey, the universe feels fine, come on and jump right in.  

You are the universe,
And the universe is you.
Rid your inner circle
Of the line that passes through.
Open up your eyes,
And your mind will follow through.
Beauty is a state of mind,
And it all begins with you. 

The constellations as our destination,
We aspire to the aura.
Leaping over gravity, astrological nirvana.
If it takes a million years for man to learn to love, then let it be,
Hey, that's fine with me, because I'll be living astronomically. 

Because I am the universe,
And the universe is me.
I have rid my inner circle
Of the line that inhibits me.
Open up your eyes,
Let your mind follow through, you'll see. 
Beauty is a state of mind,
And it starts with being free. 

(miscellaneous dryer noises)

(you)niverse demo

Excuse me, Mr. Sycamore tree,
Could you please teach me how to breathe?
I shed my leaves for the winter, 
Now I can't find my center,
And I and need to rebuild me. 
Oh, please, Mr. Sycamore tree,
Teach me how to find my roots, 
To know where I've been. 
I'll tap into the ground on this earth that I've found,
And I hope that it will let me in.

But, pardon me, you beautiful tree,
Who am I to sap your energy?
Go ahead and be you,
While I try to find me,
As I'm searching for someone to be. 

How now, Mr. Cumulus Cloud,
Could you please teach me how to fly?
I've come to find that gravity
Was never any good for me,
And I need to live in the sky.
Oh, Mr. Cumulus cloud, 
Teach me how to soar through the air,
And bid farewell to my fears,
As I kiss the stratosphere,
And sever my conscience from care. 

But pardon me, Mr. C-L-O-U-D,
Who am I to break the law of gravity?
Go ahead and be you,
While I try to find me,
As I'm searching for someone to be. 

Excuse me, Mr. Ocean, Mr. Sea,
Could you please teach me how to go with the flow?
I'm so tired of the land, and I've been standing on the sand,
Watching you come and go. 
Oh please, let me be like the sea,
Let me go with the flow 'til I don't go no more. 
I'll wash up on the beach, or wherever I can reach,
And I'll never know, where I'm going, where--

But pardon me, Brother Ocean, Brother Sea,
I've seen the lightning storms on your horizon,
And they're no good for me. 
Go ahead and be you,
While I try to find me, 
As I'm searching for someone to be.

Sea, sky, tree.

Well if the sea and the sky and the tree aren't me,
Then I don't know who to be. 
Maybe I'll find me someday,
Maybe I'll just walk away.
Help me find myself, or someone who can help me.

Excuse me, Sea, Sky, Tree,
Could you please teach me who to be?

Mmbop, mmbop, mmmmmmmm.
Mmbop, mmbop, da-dat dmmmmmmm.
Za-dat-dat, dum, do-dat-doot-un-day, 
Za-dat, mmmmmmmm.
Za-dat-dat, dum, do-dat-doot-un-day,
Za-dat, mmmmmmmm.

sea, sky, tree. (new demo)

I recorded this a while back, but I completely forgot about it. So...here ya go.

logan k. strong

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