My Songs

Various cover songs, in whatever format - some very rough, some pretty polished, all just good fun.

Covers and Rehearsal

A modest collection of songs written (or re-written) in honor of our friends The Standleys, who host a long-running Thanksgiving dinner that can be intimate or intimidating in size. You never know who will be there or what might happen, from music to haggis to performances of various questionable types. 

My wife MaryHelen and I announced our engagement at this event fifteen years ago, and for the last five years - since the rare convergence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah in 2014 - I have been writing and performing a song in honor of the wonderful event and the people who we've come to know and love through it.

I make no excuses for my voice or my playing - perfection is not the purpose here, it's all just for good fun and holiday spirit. So enjoy, or don't - it's your choice. But be thankful for something!

Thanksgiving Songs

Another yeP! tune from yeP!onymous... this one came from a mis-heard lyric that became the first line. Sung by Shawnie G, the vocal harmonies evolved in later years to include a lot more 3-part stuff, which I now miss in this verison.

Clean Sweep

Another of my songs as recorded by yeP! This started as an experiment in polyrhythms, meant to sound more and more rhythmically chaotic until it all snaps together in descending line and the 9/4 part. 

All of which is just prelude to the song itself, of course, which started as another experiment,  this one to see if I could re-write some of my lyrics as if David Byrne was doing it. It didn't turn out anything like that... but I like how it DID turn out. This one could go pretty long live.

Stealth

This is the song that started my slippery slope of tradition.

LYRICS: 
(This) Thursday is November-tide
It's also Kislev 25	
Makes you glad to be alive
Thanksgivakah is here

It's been more than six-score years
Now it's back to hearty cheers
Manieschevitz, booze and beers
Thanksgivakah is here

Bridge:
Hail your neighbor and your mohel
Wrap the kugel up in foil
Every Jew and every goy'll
Eat too much today...

Get the candles, bake the pies
Cut the beans right down to size
Oy gevalt, you realize:
Thanksgivakah is here

(Pour) gravy with with a heavy ladle
So much butter, nearly fatal
Play a wicked game of dreidel
Thanksgivakah is here

Bridge:
Hannukah's eight nights of fun
Thanksgiving is merely one
When they meet, a brand-new possibly-commercializable holiday tradition has begun...
(So) enjoy it while it's pure.

Serve the latkes, cut the bird
So festive that it seems absurd 
Twice the joy - go spread the word:
Thanksgivakah is here

[Pretend there's a modulation here]

Soooooo...
Raise a glass of double cheer
It won't be back, or even near,
For 78,000 years...
Thanksgivakah is here

If you take the time to bother,
(Try to) honor your mother and your father
When the relatives start to gather
And at the mouth you start to lather
Cherish every get-together
Bundle up against the weather
It's a time that's like no other
So enjoy it while you can;

Thanksgivakah
Thanksgivakah
Thanksgivakah is here

Thanksgivakah Is Here - 2014

This is the first play-through of a song based on a poem that I wrote for my daughter when she turned five, as rendered by me and Ted in his old attic space on Hilton Street in Hyde Park.

Be You (demo)

An early demo of a song I never completed, written for a friend who became more but eventually the relationship did not pan out. I always liked the main part, but it needed a) a lot of polish, b) a real guitar player, c) real drums, and d)a better bridge/middle section and outro. Perhaps this is one to revisit someday.

Demos                         

Two Roads

Thunder Road

Practice

Tears of a Clown

Rock n Roll Star

All The Young Dudes

Showcase Medley Demo

Brown Eyed Skank

This is a very personal song, written for my wife. Or rather, for my not-yet-wife in hopes of using it to convince her to become my wife!

It worked.

I don't write serious songs, like, EVER, so to get this one to the point where I didn't think it was cheesy or stupid took me literally months crafting the lyrics. I actually like how they came out, though they would benefit from a better singer than I.

Thanks endlessly to the incredible John Hicks for both recording this for me, and playing piano and guitar to cover all the gorgeous melodies.

Safe Harbor

Song For My Father

Perculation

A little tune I wrote for my wife. I wrote it on mandolin, but while recording some other things with my good friend, the talented John Hicks, he started fooling around with it on ukelele, and this live take became the de facto recording of it. I still intend to do a full production number with it when time allows.

Lyrics:
Sunrise… aw, leave me alone.
Why must you come a knocking’ when I’m snoozing safely in my home?
The morning time is special and I like it fine
I just wish it happened at a more convenient time.
I wrote this little ditty and you might sing along
It’s just a little morning song.

Snow peas… fresh from the vine.
I’ll give you marmalade kisses if you promise not to open those blinds.
I’ll curl up around you like a big warm spoon
And I’ll try to make you stay in bed with me ‘til noon
It feels so stinkin’ wonderful how could it be wrong?
It’s just a little morning song.

Holding hands and toast and jam and eggs and coffee,
Thinkin’ ‘bout your lips and eyes and legs… and coffee.
Every single reason must have crossed my mind,
But what really got me up was seeing your sweet behind…

Monologue

Fuzzy fuzzy slippers, warm on my feet,
Dancin’ round the kitchen with you can’t be beat.
These starshine daydreams go all to my head,
But if you give me half a chance I might just crawl back in bed…
… with you.
But if you ain’t comin’ then I don’t want to
It’s just a little mornin’ song x3

01 Morning Song

A live performance from Eric and Tasha's killer wedding. For the record, we were playing this recognizable cover in 1992... it's become pretty popular since then, but I like to think our take was unique at the time. I mean, it's no "Theme From Marble Zone" as performed by Mosquitoes Don't Drive, but still...

Tasha's Wedding

Mushrooms And Fireflowers

Ok, this is rearing its retro head again. I wrote and recorded this little demo about 15 years ago, and I have NEVER known what to do with it. It was the background to a ridiculous answering machine message at one point; yeP! (my original touring band) tried playing it live a couple of times, but it never really worked in that format; I still need to make that parody retro science reel to put this to its best use.

Home Of The Future

The sad, sad, comic tale - yet anthemic epic to dyslexia sufferers everywhere.

Untied We Stand

Video here: https://vimeo.com/36353623

This was the soundtrack (the extended Director's Cut audio version) from the late-night infomercial for the greatest hits compilation by the true faux bards of the interactive marketing world, the One To Oneders - you don't HAVE to be in the interactive or marketing space to get it, but it couldn't hurt. 

I created this in 2008 for the MITX Awards show as a promo piece for my then company One To One Interactive. I had help with some singing and some guitar playing from Joe Firenze and Steve Martin (no relation). See if you can find my original songs buried in here.

If you have history with One To One, you might be especially amused by the video (with abridged audio, it couldn't be longer than 3 minutes) that we did to go along with it; see above for the new and improved link.

One To Oneders: the MITX Retrospective

My now-annual offering of a Thanksgiving song for our holiday fest at the Standley's. This one is actually one of my better and probably more widely applicable ones.

This is, as also usual, my rough draft done minutes before the actual event, so at some point in the future I am sure I will fail to do a better recording of this one as well.

LYRICS:
Why are there so few good songs of Thanksgiving?
Are people all just too tired?
Everyone loves it but no one sings of it,
Maybe they’re just not inspired.

People can be so down hearted and sad, but
(For) just this one day may that end;
We can all make this Thanksgiving Connection
Just us, and our families and friends.

So many holidays seem like commercials
For all the things you can buy. 
Purchase accessories, candy, and baubles,
Don’t stop to ask yourself why.

Holidays shouldn’t be for corporations to
Make us buy things ‘til we’re poor.
So let’s all make this Thanksgiving Connection
And remember what we’re thankful for:

Eating and drinking and friends
We know it’s all here at the Standley’s...

Things in our world can be tricky and scary;
Life isn’t always fair.
Sometimes we change things and sometimes we move on;
People won’t always be there.

So for just one day let’s all come together 
(And) put all our troubles away.
Let’s make Thanksgiving our special connection
And love one another today.

Thanksgiving Connection - 2017

An early demo from my cover band, Secret Service. I always liked this one... harder 60s-70s rock and pop stuff was always our sweet spot.

The Kids Are Alright

Another one from the first Secret Service demo

What's So Funny...

Another of my favorite Who songs to cover, as rendered by Secret Service live in Greggy's basement, on a single crappy mic in the middle of the room - the way it was meant to be heard! I forgot that we actually did all the modulations and everything.

My Generation

Another of my favorite Secret Service covers. I miss these guys, and I miss playing this song, among several others.

My Sharona

Another goof demo from Greggy's basement - which actually came out ok... I dare say it's fununfun.

There are about four of me singing on this behind Steve, and a couple of Mikes. Maybe even a Greg and an extra Steve or two! And I have to admit, that high line at the end... I nailed it once and we cut and pasted. I just couldn't do it over and over. Never any pitch correction, though.

Fun Fun Fun

This is the 2018 rendition of our annual Thanksgiving offering song to our dear friends The Standleys for hosting the Thanksgiving meal and tradition that we have attended for the entire span of our relationship (and longer for MaryHelen). This one was a collaboration between me and MaryHelen, and this version includes our special guest singer Sophie.

LYRICS:
November comes, the cold wind Thrums.
I know when I go that I’ll need more Tums;
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, we’ll find you an extra chair.

The pies have zest, don’t bring yours lest
Both Dukey and Rob say that theirs is best;
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, and all of our friends are there.

The door is always open,
The kegs are always full;
They’ll soak you with martinis but
They won’t give you no bull.

Time turns the page, we hardly age
We flavor the dishes with thyme and sage.
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, we hope you all will go,
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, with all of the folks you know

With Jeremy, Kathleen and me,
Here’s Dukey - not Andy - but there’s the Lees,
And also Rob and Erin, with Augie and Daisy too

With Aaron and Diana here,
And Michael and Kate and no kids this year
With Morris, Liz, and Laurences
all sharing a drink or two.

Sophie, Paul and Charlotte,
Nathaniel with the crew,
They might sit still just long enough
For one dessert or two.

With friends so dear from far and near,
The laughter so loud you can hardly hear,
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, there’s still a lot to do:

The Christmas party’s coming
Its only weeks away;
We’ll start the prep tomorrow
‘Cause we’re much too full today.

The winds will blow, it might just snow,
Our hearts will be warm when it’s twelve below.
Thanksgiving at the Standleys there’s nowhere I’d rather go;
Thanksgiving at the Standleys, with all of the folks you know.

Thanksgiving At The Standleys - 2018

This was my 2016 (I think) offering to our annual Thanksgiving tradition at the home of the ever wonderful Standley family. Maybe not up to the usual standards I set for myself, but it was what I could do on - as usual - short notice. I really like it, however - hope you do too!

Lyrics:
T is for the turkey that we’ll eat for six more weeks;
H is for the happiness just dripping from our cheeks.
A is for the al… coholic rationale,
 
(There’s no) other way, for the holiday.

N is for the neighbors and the friends and family here,
K is for the kindness and a ladel full of cheer.
S is for a side… board that’s been apple pied.

Such a getaway, on this holiday.

Each family and friend’re
Using oven, stove, and blender.
So that they all can render
(A meal) savory and tender
And then go on a bender
Until we don't remember where...
Our dignity went.

G is for the gravy, we pour with great zeal;
I is for inviting, that's the Standley's great appeal.
V is to the vine that gives us all this wine,

Then there's ING... 
One last thing
Coming at the end
When we give thanks with friends.
So let's toast away, 
And we'll eat all day,
Make life bright and gay;
Pass the cookie tray.
(I’m sure) no Hemingway, 
(with too many) chords to play
just ignore what I say, 
drink up anyway:

It's Thanksgiving.

A Thanksgiving Spelling Song - 2016

Ok, at long last I've put it all together, as rough as it may be - here is the 2015 Thanksgiving offering for The Standleys, to the tune of Katy Parry's "Roar"... and I am NO Katy Perry. Nevertheless - enjoy!

LYRICS:
We used to do thanksgiving differently 
Sometimes with friends, sometimes with family
We would eat daintily
Enjoy it faint-ily

I guess that we forgot we had a choice;
One with Turkey always nice and moist;
It seemed forgettable,
And barely edible.

We might go out, we might see friends, 
- But that's where the tradition ends,
We might eat yams, or eat green beans,
- But always having bigger dreams.

We might sing songs, we might play games,
- It always seemed far too tame,
I'd seen it all, I didn't care...

But then we went to the Standleys, and we
Found our long-lost family.
So kind it's uncanny
Our holiday spirits soar!
Higher, gather round the fire;
Please hide that last pie or
We'll eat till there's nothing more
Oh-oh-oh-oh...

And now it's great at each Thanksgiving meal,
With Janet, Rob, and Mark there at the wheel.
A dozen kinds of food,
And beer that Rob has brewed.

The people here are good and true;
- Some you know and some are new.
They'll all be friends before you're gone...
And Matt might even sing a stupid song.

Another year is closing out
- But put aside your fear and doubt.
You used to mope, but now you can't...

Because you come to the Standleys, when Thanks-
giving is impending
It's always outstanding,
They'll meet you right at the door
Then we  
Break out wine and brandy
Endless scotch on hand, we
Will drink till we're on the floor.
Oh-oh-oh-oh...

We were engaged 12 years ago today;
Announced it here, right next to the buffet
It has been quite a ride,
With you all by our side.

The years may come, the years may go
- We'll watch each other's children grow.
We'll make new friends, we'll raise a glass,
- And hope these times will never pass.

Their open door is never shut,
- we will be heading home soon, BUT
We'll see you in a week or two...

When we return to the Standleys, and the 
Christmas party lands here
Bringing even more cheer - 
A holiday tour de force.
But Thanksgiving is the winner
And I hope that next year
We'll meet you all here once more
Oh-oh-oh-oh...
We'll meet you right at the door
Oh-oh-oh-oh…
We'll meet you all here once more

Eat
More
Eat
More

You’ve got to come to the Standleys, and we
Won’t see Duke or Andy
No haggis cut by Jeremy, but we’ll
Party like ne’er before,
Darn, my 
Whiskey glass is empty;
Fill me up and then we
Will eat till there's nothing more,
Oh-oh-oh-oh…
And drink till we're on the floor.
Oh-oh-oh-oh...
We'll meet you all here once more

Roargiving - 2015

This is the third track from the first yeP! album, yeP!onymous. 

Losing Count is actually one of the first decent songs I ever wrote, way back in the 80s, and it had a life before yeP!, starting as a punky tune as rendered in a basement - poorly - by the even-more-questionably-named trio Hamsteroids. 

It made its first limited ska appearance as my only offering to the  13-person ska band Rude-O-Rama, which broke up under its own weight after our one and only gig.

Finally, after years in limbo, I brought it back with yeP! and it remains one of my favorite yeP! songs. The experience of recording this album at Slaughterhouse Studio with these fine collaborators remains a peak experience of my life.

yeP!onymous

Losing Count

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is NO PROFANITY in this song. There is one place in the breakdown near the end where it sounds as if there is, but what I am saying is "the mutha funkin' gator," which was a riff on the name of the first track on the album Motha Funk In Soul. I wanted to change this, but the engineer said he liked it and we should keep it. Bad call, IMHO.

This sixth track from yeP!onymous is still sort of my pride and joy - the song itself came to me all at once while I was driving to Amherst one evening, and when recording it I got to include almost every production bell and whistle I'd hoped for (other than a cajun accordion - we ran out of tracks and time!). 

Note: this is NOT LIVE. We recorded the whole thing at Slaughterhouse Studio, and we did record the basics all live as a single take, but the party sounds going on are, in fact, a real party that we threw IN THE STUDIO, inviting members of a UMass frat that we played pretty regularly, along with their girlfriends. We brought in a lot of beer, set up mics in the big room, played the basics back over a PA, and I stood on a chair conducting them on how to sound like a live drunken party crew doing call and response with a band. It wasn't hard - they did drunken party crew pretty well already.

Mattynabib

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