This is an original, first recorded in 1991ish.  It was published by Mello-Dee-O-Dough-Music.  It is here redone with Band in a Box, Reaper and Cakewalk.  I did bass and vocals and midi.  Dave Bell of Blue Attitude plays lead guitar.   The photos in the videos were taken at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA, USA.

We're gonna rock on the Midnight Train.
We're gonna roll down the tracks, then do it again.  
We're gonna sing when the pipe is passed 'cuz anyday could be the last.
I'm gonna hold you in my arms again
I'm gonna let go to all your charms and then
We'll be flyin' down the railroad track with little chance for looking back.
Or looking out.  Look out.

CH:  Baby.  Baby, I love you, 'though the train we're on is goin' nowhere.
My one-track mind is thinking of you.  As long as I'm with you I don't care.

We're gonna rock on the Midnight Train.
We're gonna roll, baby, then do it again.  
And when the cats see the cows come home, baby, you won't be alone.
You'll be with me.  Alright, I'll rock, you roll.  SOLO

We'll pass the planes, curve up the mountainside.
The other trains –whew!  We'll seem to pass 'em by.
And when the clouds clear away the smoke,
we'll be laughing at this joke –just you and me.  Ha HA!
CH

I'm gonna hold you in my arms again
I'm gonna let go to all your charms and then
We're gonna sing when the cats come home.  Baby, you won't be alone.
Listen to that engine groan on our way back home.  

Oh, yeah, yeah.  We're gonna rock on the Midnight Train.
Rock 'n' roll.  We'll do it and do it again.
We're gonna rock 'n' roll on the Midnight Train,
do another bowl, and then we'll go insane.
Rock 'n' roll is gonna see us through cuz it thrills my soul just to be with you.
Ref.:  We're gonna rock –woowoo-- on the Midnight Train.  You rock; I'll roll.  Woowoo. We're gonna go insane

Midnight Train

This is an original about leaving without goodbye where we're still not sure if she died, left him for someone else or just left him. 
        It's done here using Band in a Box, Reaper and Cakewalk.  I added a bass, vocal, some guitar and some midi for the solo and bridge.

  Back To The River

She was waving from the bank of the river that night 
as I watched from the bridge.
She will never know how hard I cried after what she did.
And now Heaven only knows where that river's gonna flow.
She's never coming back this way I know.
So now I know I cannot go back to the river.

I remember all those times when she looked into my eyes 
as she promised me her love.
My only vision now is sadness in those lies when I watched her from above.
Was she waving me goodbye?  Was I too scared then to try?
She's never comin' back to hear my cry,
and, yes, I know I'll never go N

BR: I will never hold you in my arms again, never have a chance to say goodbye.
Was there someone else?  Something that I did?
Now what can I do?  You never even told me why.  

Such a long, long time ago, but this feeling never passed.  
There's still no answer why.
We were taking it all slow, but it happened all too fast.  
I had no chance to say goodbye.
Was she waving me goodbye?  Was I too scared then to try?
She's never comin' back to hear my cry,
and, yes, I know I'll never go N
Oh, God, I know I cannot go N

Back To The River

This is an original song about...  I don't know.  Maybe meditation.  Nah.  Maybe something about improving one's life.  Nah.  It's more ineffable than that.  Actually, I'm not totaly sure, but believe the song is about traveling down to the depths of our soul/brain to remove all of the extraneous influences we've accumulated over the years --all the misconceptions, all the constructive mental errors that led us to false conclusions, all the misinformation our mentors and peers have intentionally or unwittingly passed to us, all the unexamined beliefs others have persuaded us to absorb-- and get back to the core of who we are.  Perhaps some correlations would be The Philosopher's Stone, Alchemy, and a form of yoga I forget right now.

Sojourn Soldier

Drifting down passed the cobblestones to the crossroads of my soul,
I hear the Old One whispering, "Give up all control."
Deeper down I hear the sound. The Ancient One cries out,
"Check your mind at the gates this time , and cast away all doubt.

CH: Then you're gonna free yourself to be your Self.
You'll see that you were blind. It's Time for Space. You gotta waste your mind."

Further in there's a constant din, then Silence takes the stage.
It's loudness shouts the anger out and quiets fists of rage.
Inside my dreams there's harmony that promises great things.
A primal voice now makes the choice and sweetly it too sings.

CH: So it finally frees itself to be itself
and joins the sacred whole. No Time or Space within this soldier's Soul.

BR: Ever-unwinding inside out in search of lasting Truth
There's help along the way to guide one to improve.
All who've gone before my time will light what's there to see.
Stay the course, the way is clear. This soldier must be free.

SOLO

Way inside there's a slip-and-slide, and a long way to go down
to reach creative visions that have suddenly been found.
Coming back to Reality with new hope within my heart.
The blindspots bright inside the light as the soldier plays his part.

CH: So I had to be myself to free my Self,
and craft a better way.
The Sojourn Soldier shines another day. The Sojourn Soldier shines another day.
The Sojourn Soldier shines another day.

Sojourn Soldier

This is an original song about someone who just doesn't get that 2 negatives equals a positive. 
        It's done here using Band in a Box, Reaper and Cakewalk.  I added bass and vocals, and Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played the guitars.

Nothin' Never Happens

While strollin' home one night, oh, a princess I did see
She spoke and set my heart a twitter. She said, "Come sit here a spell with me."
I tried to run away, but my body bade me stay. Nothin' in my life had ever come to me this way.

CH: Nothin' never happens for no reason. Something always seems to steal the show.
How could this be my fate? This twist does not relate, cuz nothin' never happens to this flow.

We sat till dawn and talked. Then I held her to me close.
The morning air was cold and bitter, but she kept me warm from head to toes.
She said, "Let's run away. Let's find someplace to play." Nothin' I could do but just smile and say, "Ok."

CH: Nothin' never happens for no reason. Something usually takes it all away.
It turned out rather bad. She stole all that I had, and nothin' never happens when I pray. SOLO

So every day I try, oh, to scale this slippery slope.
My shoes are soaked with grease and glitter, and there's nothin' left to fuel my hope.
Yet still I must endure this life so insecure. Nothin' in my life will ever smile on me, I'm sure.

CH: Nothin' never happens for no reason. Something always seems to spoil the show.
I cannot stay afloat with holes inside my boat, and nothin' never happens when I row.

Nothin' Never Happens

This is an original song about the loudness of Time, and our joy in ignoring it.
        It's done here using Band in a Box, Reaper and Cakewalk.  Bill Davis played pedal steel guitar and accordion, Dave Bell of Blue Attitude supplied the solo, and I added bass and vocal.

Time Will Tell (But Who Will Listen)

Once in awhile when I see a child smile everything seems fine.
I can go on just singing this song as if no time flew by.
Everything seems to be going my way.  Everyone says that won't always stay.  
Some things go wrong to ruin my song.  Is today gonna be that day?

CH:  Time will tell, but who will listen?  I'll be busy loving you.
In your spell there is no resistin', nor desire to, it' s true.
Time will tell, but only whisper, and life will block out the sound.
Time will tell, but who will listen? 

Starting the day in my usual way leaving my worries behind.
Trouble be gone.  I'm still singing this song despite the gloomy sky.
All of my dreams tell me life is okay.  I guess it can't always stay that way.
Some things go wrong and ruin my song.  Is today gonna be the day?  CH

BR:  Listen to the birds as they sing to the wind.  Listen to the wind sing back.
Oh, take it all in and you'll widen your grin.  It takes no special knack.

Time Will Tell (But Who Will Listen)

This is a song about the consequences of choosing the wrong influences in life.

Bad Advice

Looking out your window seeing your neighbor's lawn,
the grass seems so much greener on his side, and that unfairly seems so wrong.
Your friend tells you destroy it with any evil device,
but you know if you employ it, you'll be acting on bad advice. 

Someone stole your woman as if right from your bed.
They took with her your feelings and your pride, and left you wishing they were dead.
You walk into the gun shop  Your friend says, "That one is nice."
But you know that if you use it, you'll regret his bad advice.

BR:  Acting with some bad advice could eas'ly land you right in jail,
         but using what you have inside you'll never fail.  SOLO - BR

END: Listen to your heart, and don't thnk twice.
         "Two wrongs will make it right" is bad advice.

Bad Advice

In this song it seems the singer wrote a nasty-gram to his significant other who left him for another. But then he had time to think about it and wished he could take it back and just get her back. I'm not sure the meaning will come out in the lyrics. It's a conversation between two and we are not one of them.

Wrong To Write

You stood by my side until the day he took you away.
I can see now that you lied when you told me you would stay.
Every night I go to sleep alone.  Every day I just wait for night.

I regret those words I was so wrong to write.

I sat with pen in hand, then started writing without a thought.
In truth I had to take a stand to regain the love  brought.
I'll never understand what it meant to you if you could throw it all away.
I was wrong to write.  I just want you to stay.  

If I could take it back could I get you back? Would you stay right by my side?
I was in a mood when I wrote to you.  Please forgive my foolish pride. 
If I could take it back would you take me back?  Would you make it all alright?
I want to take it back.  I was so wrong to write.  I want to take it back.  I was so wrong to write.

Wrong To Write

You know how it's not over until the fat lady sings?  Well, I thought I heard her the other night.  They say that swans sing most beautifully just before they die.  My singing here proves it ain't happening for awhile.

Fat Lady's Swan Song

Waking up in someone else's bathroom with someone banging on the door,
I stand to reason but feel much like an old broom, and slide across the floor.
There's someone peering through the crack I left it open,  They're calling out someone's name. 
They're going to see how the mirror in here's broken.  Of course, they'll cast me the blame.

CH:  Oh, oh, the fat lady's singing my swan song.  There's a flat note stuck in her throat.
        She claims that nothing has gone wrong.  She said "that's all she wrote" for me.
        
Sitting still I can hear some kind of music that sounds so out of place.
I wonder how the fat chick came to use it to wash away all trace
of everything I have done and still hold sacred, of all beliefs that I hold.
My time is up.  There's no time left to fake it.  She says I'm just too old.  CH

BR:  There's a slice of sunshine streaming in here sometimes that brings a ray of hope.
        She's trying to erase it, and I'm left her to face it without a way to cope.  SOLO

There's someone peering through the crack in the mirror.  I wonder who can it be.
It looks like me, but the features could be clearer.  For those with eyes let them see. CH

Fat Lady's Swan Song

A song to suggest an alternate approach to worrying.

 The Windows Of Your Worries

Are you there by the window now?  Can you see what's right outside?
Is there someone waiting patiently in whom you can confide?
Is it someone who'll be there for you?  Someone you can trust?
Someone to love and care for you, and turn your woes to rust?

The windows of your worries (are the doorways to what's true) (can reveal a calming clue) (are clear to what is true).
 The windows of your worries are there to see you through --and see through you, too.

Come a little closer now.  You can feel the strength in two.
You'll begin to clear your mind and learn to sift through what is true.
You will see that life is so much more than things you cannot change,
Togetherness defeats the worst concerns and fears it tames.

Free yourself through the open windows that surround your house of pain.
Unloose the binds that tie disquiet and quiet still remains.         

Do you see me too?

The Windows Of Your Worries

The first verse is Guy Meets Girl, the second is Guy Gets Girl, and the third is Guy Is Already Married To Girl.  You can change the genders anyway you like, of course.  The leisurely feel represents... well, foreplay really, and the changing of keys represents impatience.  The slowdown at the end expresses the desire to make it last.

The Long Way Home

You know I noticed when you walked in, your eyes they smiled so bright.
Then suddenly your lips rose up into this grin 
that knocked me right out of the fight.
I lost myself in you.  We need to be alone.  I know the long way home.

I know the cool stream that winds through the trees 
and where you never walk alone.
I know all the shortcuts to places no one sees.  
Let's take the long way home.

You came alone and you walked right up to me 
and flashed your loving smile.
The rest of the patrons were watching you in awe appreciating such a style.
Let's turn around and go.  We need to be alone.  I know the long way home.  

We've had enough of the place so let's go.  It's such a lovely night.
We'll take our good time with stops along the way, and you can hold me tight.
We'll go a little ways where we can be alone.  We'll take the long way home.

The Long Way Home

This is another plea for the good folks of this planet to gather together and do what is necessary to save our planet for our progeny.  Of course, we'll have to save ourselves from ourselves first.
Dave Bell on guitar.

Save It

Looking out on the water, there is something floating on top.
Oh, where did we let go wrong?  And how do we make it all stop?
We can taste all our careless neglect in every dewdrop.

Save it from total destruction.  Afterall we are what we drink.
It's time for a toxic reduction.  Save our life from the brink.

Look around at our forests.  They're laying in waste on the ground.
Oh, Earth will survive us or will it?  Will humans still be around?
We need to gather as one for the cause for life to rebound.

Save it from covetous grabbers, who selfishly think Earth's their toy.
All of this life really matters.  Let's leave it for all to enjoy.
        
END  REF:  Save it.  Save it.  We need to change this planet's fate. 
We gotta save it for others to come.  Save it before it's too late.
Save it.  Please.

Save It

This song is about how dark days are numbered both on the first day and the last.  Mine were coming to an end, and his were just beginning.

 Dark Days Are Numbered (But what's the number?)

Dark days are numbered.  He's gonna find out soon enough.
Dark days are numbered.  She's gonna bring me back her love.
    
When she came into my life I knew, but I knew not what to say.
She was gonna be mine.  I knew that much.  I'd bring her home one day.
And he's gonna find I got the touch.  She'll stay.  My...

When he said he'd win her heart I knew she would say that she loves me.
He would walk away.  Yeah, he would lose.  Oh, he would surely see
No matter what he'd say, the one she'll choose is me.  My...

I know some of you think I'm scared of losing my girl to him.
Well, he's the one who needs to fear what he has dared.  
So let the fight begin.

Your dark days are numbered. Well, you know you've had your fun.
Your dark days are numbered, and tomorrow's number one.
Your dark days are numbered.  Yeah, it's time you come undone.
Your dark days are numbered, and tomorrow's number one.
Because she brought me back her love.

Darks Days Are Numbered

This song originally had the title of "I See You Im The ICU, You Icey You," but the lyrics didn't quite fit the feel.  So now It's Me, a song explaining to my wife of 45 years (in 2023) that the Prince Charming she always hoped for, longed for, and lamented never finding might just be me.
       It is presented here with Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, and Ozone 10.  Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played guitar, and I added bass and vocals.

It's Me

You know I wondered when I'd see you, 
if you'd even notice and see me too.
Our busy lives can control so much.  I long for your loving touch.
We'll meet for supper and sip on wine.  
We'll smile and soak in all the best of Time.
Let's slow the world down to a loving crawl, 
and what the world gives us --we'll take it all.

CH:  It's me who loves you and (makes it all alright) (stands right by your side.)  It's me who holds you through each night.
We fit so well together, it's plain to see, 
if you know what's good for you, it's me. 

I know you wonder if I'm the one.  
We have fond memories of so much fun.
Don't turn away from this good life we made.  
Turn back to me for the win and save.

Let's sit here under this old willow tree.  
We'll let the world spin away, and we'll stay free.
It's you and me now, girl, if you give the word.  
We can rule the world.  Or haven't you heard?

It's Me

I remember seeing John Cassavetes in the 1982 movie Tempest where he stood (on a rock --in my memory) looking out, taking off his sunglasses and saying to the wind, "Show me the magic." It seemed to me that my wife had a lot of magic and I was always asking her to show it to me --even without the actual words.

Show Me The Magic

You never do nothing, you never say nothing,
and I surrender to your charms.
A no-no means something.  You never never nothing
when you're here laying in my arms. 

Show me the magic, and everything else won't seem so tragic.
Then I will show you a thing or two, too.

A crazy feeling from floor to ceiling  
will soon surround us in this room.
I beg you kneeling, please start revealing
the spells you spin when in the mood.

Show me the magic and we'll make the most from all of the gadgetry
that love will provide when we both take that ride.

Where is the magic?  Show it to me now.  That voodoo you do.
I feel alive when I'm with you.  I do.  SOLO

I beg you kneeling, please start revealing
those special spells you spin.  Bring us to that mood.

Show me the magic, and everything else won't seem so tragic.
Then I will show you a thing or two, too, or  three.

Show Me The Magic -Pop Version

This an original song about a guy named Spence who did something wrong, and now is sick over it.
       It is presented here with Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, and Ozone 10.  Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played guitar, and I added bass and vocal.

Sing A Song For Sick Spence

Sing a song for sick Spence.  He's got a ways to go.
He fell and hurt his feelings on the road where no one goes no more.
He's hiding in the woodshed in the back of granny's place,
and calling it his sick bed where he's held up in disgrace. 

Sing a song for sick Spence.  His life is looming low.
Let me say in his defense he thought we wouldn't know this much.

When the girl was living he would often watch her work.
Her daddy owned the drug store where Spencer was the clerk for years.
One day he found the courage to ask her on a date.
She laughed.  He was discouraged, and closed out rather late.

Sing a song for sick Spence.  He's crying in his drink.
He's sitting on the picket fence without a thought to think.  Whoa woe.

Floating down the river is a bloody paper cup.
He spies it from his sick bed, and knows his time is up real soon.

Sing a song for sick Spence.  His pocket's full of rye.
The druggist's daughter's gone away, and he's left there to cry for life.

Sing A Song For Sick Spence

A song about a "we" being born.  Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played guitar and Shigeki Adachi of Animal Records provided the string arrangement.  I played bass and sang.

Born Today

This is a song about being (maybe) overly optimistic, and offering an alternative to watching the sky fall.

The River's Gonna Rise

Everyday we hear there's gonna be another storm.  
Yet we sleep tight all night.
There's always something fearful that they say is going on, 
and claim we cannot fight.
We may as well be happy waiting out the tide. 
It seems a better place for us to hide.

They say the river's gonna rise today; we say it's gonna be okay,
They say the river's gonna rise tonight; we say it's gonna be alright.

Someone's always telling folks there's danger in the air.  
Yet still they breathe just fine.
They preach the end is coming, and forewarn us to beware.  
That's how they waste their time.
We may as well be happy waiting out the storm.
We'll have our family love to keep us warm.

Let us all together say we know the end is near, 
then let's enjoy the day.
We can't go on reviewing what inside we all must fear.  
Let's let the children play.
We may as well be happy waiting out the storm. 
We'll have each other's love to keep us warm.

The River's Gonna Rise

Backroads

Sweet Devilish Style

Look Like That

Nobody Knows You

A Sense O' Mia

Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played guitar.

Everything You Do Is Wrong

A song possibly about regrets but mostly about love.

My Last Goodbye

Another twist on the dog days of summer. A dazy day is a lazy day with no thinking --just smokin' 'n' drinkin'. And maybe puttin' a line in the water to make it look like yer doin' somethin'.

Dazy Days

Another song that I happy Dave Bell of Blue Attitude played guitar.

Lean It On The Dreaming Tree

A song suggesting nothing lasts forever, especially without care.

It's Gonna Fall

Truth In The Proof

You now how people say when you die things either turn black or you see the white light?  Well, when Blues players die, things stay pretty much the same.  Dave Bell adds his Blue Attitude to show the difference between blues and Blues.  

Everything Is Turning Blue

It's highly unusual to hear a political song from me, so this is all I got.

Lil Lies O' Jayne

A song about a cold snap when vampires roam.  Dave Bell of Blue Attitude adds some hauntingly chilling guitars, and I played bass and sang.

A Biting Chill

This is an original, first recorded in 1991ish with a cool slide by Brian Tonart.  It was published by Mello-Dee-O-Dough-Music.  It is here redone with BiaB and Cakewalk, and I did bass and vocal, and Dave Bell played guitar. 
       It's a 12-bar blues tune about a guy who loves his jealous girl and ends up going to jail because of a misunderstanding (and apparently a terrible lawyer) for a murder he didn't commit.

12- Bars Blue

Flight 507 flew in from Dallas.
Sue stepped off crying.  She said, "Who's Alice?"
I said, "She's just someone who's no one, so don't get so upset.
There's hardly any mem'ry left inside me to forget.
When I miss you, I drink the stew inside these 12 bars... blue."

She said, "Don't tell me you've lost your memory.
I heard the dirt from her husband Henry."
I said, "You don't know what you're saying.  Her husband Henry's dead.
Some red-hot barmaid, Dinah, might o' blasted off his head."
She said, "It's true!!  So that was YOU when those 12 bars blew."

I daresn't doddle, but doodle little.  
I'm fit for bottle, but not for fiddle.
I'm not in shape for haulin' ass, so let those Mounties come.
I'm dining in my glass.  You know I'm not just acting dumb.
She told the screws, "I've got good news.  He's playin' 12-bar blues.

Judge said my travel he's gonna limit.
When I smell trouble, I double back in it.
My life's a nutshell in a cold cell.  I still say, "Alice who?"
There's 12 bars out my window ---and 12 on them, too.
I think of Sue, and drink to stew, behind those 12 bars.  Blue.
I think of Sue, and drink my stew, behind those 12 bars.  Blue.

12 Bars Blue

Sea A Of Blues
      This is an original song, a precursor to Doug Wolfe's How Many Blues, about a guy being overwhelmed by his blues.  It's one of those "Oh, yeah... you think YOU got the blues?" kind of things.  Well, he's well over his head in the Sea Of Blues.
       It is done here using Band in a Box and Cakewalk.   I played bass and sang the vocal track.

Sea Of Blues

Let's play this game so we can see how love lies.
I see ya comin' then you close your eyes.
Oh, honey, spin around with a blindfold and booze.
Ya gotta stand on my shoulders to see the Sea Of Blues.

Look out a long, long way, and let your heart fly.
I'm busy takin' out this plank in my eye.
Oh, baby, I'm no fool but ya coulda fooled me.
(You) could even drown on my shoulders when the blue sea's deep.

BR: See the Sea Of Blues, and hold your head high. So high.
In the Sun you lose where the ocean meets the sky.
Come back again, but don't be so shy the next time.
You'll have a friend. Same face, same line.

SOLO

Sleep here is saf'ty and I'll go see what's up
and if I don't get back, you've seen me enough.
Remember, I'm around and there's nothin' to lose.
But Nothin' can get lost in... lost in the Sea Of Blues.

Sea Of Blues

Just another nobody who's not here to be somebody.  I write songs because I can't help it, and it helps me.  If I add them here, I'm less likely to keep mixing them.  reativity is a stream with many tributaries, and sometimes one runs through us.  The stream is more creative when tributaries meet, and I'm grateful for the collaborative efforts of others.

Marty Straub

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