Shadow on the Wall  
(Words and music by Peter Melnick)  

He comes and goes
And hardly anybody knows
He’s been at all
Until they find he’s paid a call
And they see what he’s drawn, 
He’s here, now he’s gone
But he leaves his gift, a free-for-all.
No chance of meeting
The fleeting shadow on the wall. 

Outlaw poet
With a code all his own,
Got a place to stay
But the streets are his true home.
Master magician
With a harlequin vision, 
Heeding his true call…
No chance of meeting
The fleeting shadow on the wall.

Reflections of the world he knows,
Une Colore Distinto,
Melody notes that melt and drip down 
Dali-esque piano stairs,
Manhattan pays no heed
But Valparaiso cares,
Day or night
Someone cares.

He comes and goes
He got no time for gallery shows.   
Still, his work gets seen
On city walls and computer screens,  
Spray can in motion,
He inspires devotion,
Dreamscapes after night fall.
No chance of meeting 
The fleeting shadow on the wall.

Bison on the ceiling 
The first artists left their mark
Found a perfect canvas
Lonely cavern in the dark. 
Joni’s street musician 
Playing real good for free
And here’s me, 
With my melodies and rhymes 
Cave art for modern times

We come and go,
And hardly anybody knows
We’ve been and gone
But we leave behind our songs.
After all the pushing and shoving
There’s a dog  needing loving,
And a friend in need of an ear -- 
Glad I’m here to heed the call,
No one famous, 
Hardly anyone at all
But so much more, 
More than a shadow on the wall.


© Peter Melnick 2018

SHADOW ON THE WALL

Bird on my Porch
(Performed by the Rachel Bay Jones)

A bird showed up on my porch today
Feet planted, standing quite still.
Body trembling, unable to fly
Its head turning slowly when I tiptoed by
And it’s eyes ranged over the hills

Hush little baby, don't say a word
There on our porch, a dying bird
She's so very sad
Feeling like she never flew
There was a girl, she wrote a song
The song was good, the girl is gone.
But trust me, darling, flying’s what all birds do

Through the darkness of the night
Heading for the dawn
Letting go of all you know
Going, going, gone.

Photo of a little girl
Crazy giggling, smiling eyes
Where she's gone, I try to understand
The alchemy of time erased
All the laughter from that face
There's no music left in those
Gnarled and twisted hands

Journey through the black of night
Been traveling for so long
Finally see a glimpse of light
Going, going, gone.

And who can mark the moment when
That impish grin starts wearing thin,
Until the mirror can't sustain the lies.
All the colors fade with time,
All the words fall out of rhyme
The truth unmasked: everybody dies.

Life makes you a fool
When you let money rule
You get lost, bit by bit, day by day.
Are you able to love, are you a true friend?
The things you truly possess in the end
Are the gifts you’ve given away.

The failures, the hurts, mistakes you made -
All gone -  they'll trouble you no more.
You're safe, you're loved
And I'm sitting right here
And though you are dying
You have nothing to fear...
You have nothing to fear.

The coming grief, I can't explain.
Sickening love, a loving pain
Welling up, A heart that wants to cry
Hush little baby don't you  say a word
There on the porch, a dying bird
Listen as she sings the world goodbye.

Through the darkness of the night
Heading for the dawn
Safe and loved and unafraid
Almost home, got it made
Going, going, gone.
Going, going, gone.

© Peter Melnick 2015

Bird On My Porch

“Returning to the River”

Recorded live at Hasimta Theater, Old Jaffa  (June 2019 workshop production)

Vocals: Ronalee Shimon

RIVER OF STONE

Returning to the River

Better Late...

Fast Running Train

“He Is Away”

Recorded live at Hasimta Theater, Old Jaffa  (June 2019 workshop production)

Vocals: Ronalee Shimon

He Is Away

Helpless

“Out in the Bushlands”

Recorded live at Ha-Simta Theater, Old Jaffa  (June 2019 workshop production)

Vocals: Ronalee Shimon

Out in the Bushlands

“Rumi’s Field,” inspired by Rumi’s words, “Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”  

Vocals: Ali Paris and Peter Melnick  

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

Rumi's Field

“Shadow on the Wall,” a song inspired by the amazing street artists of Valparaiso.

Vocals: Peter Melnick

Home demo for the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

Shadow On The Wall

“Sometimes a Monster,” about trauma, forgiveness and self-love. And monsters. 

Vocals: Peter Melnick

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

Sometimes a Monster

“Still Here”

Vocals: Mark Campbell

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

Still Here

“The Blue Candle,” a song about grief, and the way forward.

Vocals: Mark Campbell

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

The Blue Candle

The Chill

“Time,” (lyrics by Norman Gimbel), new recording of main title song for THE ONLY THRILL, starring Diane Keaton, Sam Shepherd and Diane Lane.

Vocals: Mark Campbell

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

THE ONLY THRILL

Time

“Your Eyes, the Moon and You,” my first love song.

Vocals: Aubrey Haddard

Rough Mix from the album, BETTER LATE…  (release date -  Spring 2021)

Your Eyes, the Moon and You

Peter Melnick is a composer for musical theater and film, and an avid song-writer.

Peter Melnick

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