Stuff I find interesting to write about mainly.

Mike tunes

Tonsatta dikter av min farfar Axel Alfredsson.
Handlar om hans tid i USA, dit han emigrerade 1912-1921
Låtarna på Svenska handlar i huvudsak om hans tid i Sverige och de övriga fem låtarna på engelska om hans tid i USA bl.a. med mötet med Joe Hill.
Detta är ett projekt tillsammans med mina söner, där Anton Alfredsson producerat och Axel Alfredsson spelar bas. Konvolut är designat av Moa Grundvik Ördell

01. Den Rödhårige

Experience the blend of metal and rock in latest track. Get ready to rock out to the dynamic sound!

Thrashara Rawgix Duo

They Won't Go When I Go (Stevie Wonder/Yvonne Wright)

No more lying friends
Wanting tragic ends
Though they do pretend
They won't go when I go

All those bleeding hearts
With sorrows to impart
Right here from the start
They won't go when I go

And I'll go, where I've longed,
To go, so long
Away from tears

Gone from painful cries
Away from saddened eyes
Along with him I'll bide
And they won't go when I go

Big men feeling small
Weak ones standing tall
And I will watch them fall
They won't go when I go

And I'll go, where I've longed
To go, so long
Away from tears

Unclean minds mislead the pure
The innocent will leave for sure
For them there is a resting place
People sinning just for fun
They will never see the sun
For they can never show their faces
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who will take more than he will give
He will give, he will give
He ain't hardly gonna give, whoa yeah

The greed of man will be
Far away from me
My soul will be free
They won't go when I go-a-whoa

Since my soul conceived
All that I believe
The kingdom I will see
They won't go when I go
When I go, where I've longed 
No one can keep me from my destiny

Cover Art: Parson's Arrival, Todd McLean

All rights reserved

They Won't Go When I Go

They Won't Go When I Go (Stevie Wonder - Cover)

MORE ALIVE THAN ME     lyrics and music © by Mike Dampf 2024
Mandolin, Percussion & Vocals - Becky Sora; Violin - Kasandra Sharpe; Bass - David Leadbitter

The moon floats upon the bay
hope and woodsmoke drift away
I tried, but I can't chart
a path to Emma's heart
Is she happy, is she mad
why so restless, then so sad
blossoms falling from the trees
can bring her to her knees

She loves Thomson and how he died's a mystery
Tommy's legend is alive it's Emma
who won't survive his memory
to her he's more alive than me

Just 8 letters, just 3 words
just as if she never heard
they say his watch stopped at 12:14
his borrowed time is all I've been

What can you say to someone who won't come down
She lives and breathes in his painted trees
so high she can't see the ground
see the ground

Guess I'll pack up, catch a train
maybe Chatham, home again
Algonquin's a picture come the fall
but I'm feeling bad about it all

Just 8 letters, just 3 words

More Alive Than Me

Until Your Heart Believes       Lyrics and music by Mike Dampf © August, 2024         Flute - Becky Sora; Bass - David Leadbitter; Vocals Jerneja Medved and Mike Dampf

I can see you hurt
I can read the signs
You smile through loneliness
like winter sun through the pines
this kind of wound is slow to heal
and I know how it feels

One light is on long before the dawn
a half moon rises and then it's gone
soft wind rustles the willow leaves
dreamless, until your heart believes

I see you nearly every day
your eyes say it all
it's just 'Hello' and then you look away
like you hit some kind of wall
Sure, you're fine, nothing's been revealed
but I know how it feels

Look at me
look at you
we shouldn't be alone anymore

Until Your Heart Believes

Too Old to Die Young (music and lyric by Mike Dampf © October 2024)    Becky Sora: flute, percussion, mandolin, vocals/ Dave Leadbitter: bass & vocals

You're really gone, not just gone away
I hurt in the spaces where we used to play
if music is love, my love goes unsung
I'm not too old, just too old to die young

Rumors of an angel, flowers on the breeze
you walked into the room, I went weak at the knees
Like in a church, sweet bells were rung
I'm not too old, just too old to die young

I laughed at love, I thought I had time
I played the game until pride made me blind
Thought I was a rock until 'lonely' cracked open my mind

God knows the reasons, I can't say why
this beautiful summer's so fast drifting by
each leaf's gonna fall as the pendulum's swung
I'm not too old, just too old to die young
I'm not too old, just too old to die young

Too Old to Die Young

LIFE AIN'T BUST          Original song by Mike Dampf © November, 2024  Bass by David Leadbitter; Harmonica by Becky Sora/ Original painting by Jay Dampf

Sometime up, sometime down
this old life is a steady pound
freezing rain, burning heat
best step aside if we meet

Give me things that I can trust
Show me how this life ain't bust

Stand in line, hurry, wait
one at a time through the gate
fold your arms, hide your fear
ask yourself why you're here

Give me things that I can trust
Show me how this life ain't bust

Keep quiet, don't gripe and don't make a big fuss
They need you alive but beware 'cause this life
is gonna break you down to dust





Life Ain't Bust

Pretty Loose music and lyrics © 2025 by Mike Dampf and Dave Medcof
Bass: David Leadbitter; Mandolin, percussion, vocals: Becky Sora

Buddy called, said 'Get off the couch'
you're old but that's no excuse
let's meet at the station with a pint and a plan
everything's been getting pretty loose

So we met on up and we strolled on down
down to where they bury 'who vamoosed'
had a drink and a tear over long gone friends
then we started getting pretty loose

He said 'I heard there's a party just down the line
jump a trolley to the Long Branch Loop'
so we climbed aboard, left the dead behind
and rolled along feeling good 'n loose

It was a-pull down the guitar, rosin the bow
treat your liver and your banjo with abuse
sing out the heart, forget about the head
and everyone was getting pretty loose

The good Lord made many lovely things
I've seen a beaver, a cougar and a moose
but nothing's half as lovely as the way I feel
when the music is getting good and loose

Now it's late, I'm back on the train
so sleepy that I drag my own caboose ...
yes I'm old but the day is young
and everything's been getting pretty loose
Ya everything is getting pretty loose!

Pretty Loose

2 MIN

Original by Fleetwood Mac 1977

PdB Orchestra : Guitars & organ

Go Your Own Way

A love song for strangers. Music and lyrics by Mike Dampf and Becky Sora © February, 2025 Becky plays mandolin, vocals; David Leadbitter plays bass. 

THIRD EYE BLUES

God has nothing to say to the sober
He leaves them high and dry but they don't complain
And God knows there ain't anything faster
Than a fall from grace, I'll never clean that stain

Do you know anyone here, you whispered
We were strangers sitting in a pew at the Church of the Homeless Angel
No but I'm gonna know you, I whispered
And by the way you really rock red at a funeral

I'm gonna live forever if it kills me
And I'm gonna love you for all time
Whatever made you want someone this crazy
I've got a third eye but sometimes I'd rather be blind

We balance on the edge of the moments between hope and fear
It seems to me
You and I ring, we're each other's everything
And alone together isn't so lonely

Third Eye Blues

Trippy & Bluesy, a below zero downtempo urban contemporary track with guitar tensions at the bridge. Sultry organ with laid back electric piano licks, complemented with backing vocalists & a string arrangement.

 Thank you for listening...

Fahrenheit ...

The Wall Side 3, Part 2- https://on.soundcloud.com/3Mvt1QWd6TGHFnWr8
The Wall Side 3, Part 3- https://on.soundcloud.com/ha9vRxbyKPNyyfrr7

Last year I posted an extended remake/rework/remix/reproduction of one of my all time favorite album "sides", Pink Floyd The Wall, Side 3. At the time, I left off the first two tracks, Hey You and Is There Anybody Out There. Just for fun, I decided to revisit the project, and go ahead and include the omissions to complete the collection! 

A multitude of digital means and methods were used to recreate these iconic tunes (which were originally done in analog, of course!). All vocals are 100% redone. Here's how everything else came together:

Hey You- Full reproduction, using some predone MIDI sequences, as well as my own playing and programming. I put flesh on the bones using a variety of synths and samplers. Joined on vocals by my Floydian friend and singing partner Tone Hjelt

Is There Anybody Out There?- Pretty much same as above! Used some predone MIDI sequences, some  my own playing/programming, and put a touch of the original instrumental track under the opening drone swell to enhance the sound. 

Nobody Home- A full reproduction I actually did a couple of years ago. All instruments and vocals are done from scratch, except for the original background sounds.

Vera- Also a full reproduction, all instruments/vocals newly done from scratch, with a revised arrangement from original.

Bring The Boys Back Home- Full reproduction, using East/West orchestral software, NI Kontakt, and my trusty Korg Kronos.

Comfortably Numb- My lead vocals recorded over reworked, predone instrumental backing track, including an layered alternate melody part (done by David Bowie in a live performance with David Gilmour). No pre-recorded BGV's on this one, all the vocs you hear are mine. Instrumentally, I again layered several synths/strings over the existing tracks to enhance and embellish the sound.

Anyone familiar with these tracks will recognize the interlude/background sounds from the original. I did a bit of remixing and added enhancements on these as well to make them stand out a bit more.

Everything I recorded was done via synthesizers, samples, and sequencing. All in all, a very fun and definitely challenging project! Didn't try to reinvent the wheel here, just tried to polish up the rims a bit, and create a more immersive listening experience for these timeless and iconic tunes!

Hope you enjoy my tribute. Mad props to PF for this enduring masterpiece!!

**Updated 2025- The Wall Side 3, Part 1  (Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There?)

“un viaggio nei pensieri più nascosti,tra desiderio di libertà e difficoltà a relazionarsi con il mondo esterno”

-Ai confini della mente-

nei pensieri son racchiusi i miei segreti 
e non asciugo al sole e al vento i miei peccati
io amo tanto la libertà cosi assoluta 
che la mente in silenzio ci può dare

e la persiana che rimane ormai socchiusa 
mi da modo di restare a guardare
e mi piace di volare come un falco 
e osservare come vive la mia gente

che combatte per cercare di restare 
all'asciutto dopo un forte temporale
e tengo stretta la mia lingua in mezzo ai denti 
e non vado certamente a giudicare

nei pensieri son racchiuse le mie voglie 
i desideri  i miei sogni le paure
non ho cercato in questo tempo una moglie 
che potesse in qualche modo darmi un figlio

o magari che potesse starmi accanto 
per farmi solamente stare meglio

i pensieri sono razzi nucleari 
e sono piu veloci della luce
ma se si tengono chiusi e imprigionati 
possono portare di sicuro alla pazzia
i pensieri la mia penna un foglio bianco 
raccontano la mia vita da soldato
sempre in prima linea ho vissuto 
e poi deluso e stanco io mi sono arreso

i miei pensieri sono liberi e io li sento 
e faccio sempre le mie gare contro il vento
e mi portano su una barca e poi a nuotare nonostante la  fobìa che ho del mare

e mi sento forse solo ma felice 
che a volte non vorrei piu tornare
ho trovato la mia isola perfetta 
ai confini piu estremi della mente

o forse parlando semplicemente é lei che ha trovato proprio me
e ho bisogno di restare in questo mondo anche se questo mondo non fa per me.

Ai confini della mente

Cast of characters:

The Beautiful Dark -- @thebeautifuldark -- Carl — acoustic guitar, vocals, lyrics, and composition

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums

TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson Custom T electric guitar, production, mix, and mastering

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four-string bass, and Roland organ

Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender Strat electric guitar

Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – triangle, and ancillary vocals

This song began when Carl, who is always making connections on the Cloud, was inspired to write a song about our bandmate, Mark. As you can tell from his lyrics, Carl shares our appreciation and respect for our resident Canadian singer and multi instrumentalist. So, when he had the chords worked out on his acoustic guitar, and a great vocal track, he recorded them and started a project, to which the rest of Eclectic Collective were invited.
  First up to bat was Ken, laying in his always clever, essential beat for the rest of us to work with. Stephen was the next person to lay down a track, which was his essential, but subtle electric rhythm track. Later, after it was almost done, he also added a fiery solo in the first part of the ending section. Josh came along right after Stephen, laying down his signature fretless bass. He also added the organ shortly after, as well. Tez entered the fray next, adding the lightning, Gilmore-esque final solo in the end section. 

  We considered what to do with this song for a minute, too. The thought was whether to present it to Mark as a gift, or to include him in the mix. We decided to go with the latter, and he added the awesome vocalizations towards the end, as well as some cool triangle.
  Once we had it in the bag, we turned it over to Stephen for the production, mix, and mastering, which he always does in a very pro manner.

  This is our second of hopefully many songs with Carl. If you have good music on your page, there's a good chance that he'll hit you up to collaborate. Like the moon, he's everywhere, and he's a damn fine collaborator, too. We hope you enjoy hearing this as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Carl also wanted to share this message about Mark, as well.
  "This song is written for our Canadian friend Mark. Mark is a pivotal member of the Eclectic Collective who as a band and equally Mark as an individual I'm discovering are phenomenal to work with. I was particularly struck how multiple generations of Mark's family enjoy music and creating together. Thanks for your music man. You really do show a unique approach and I look forward to making more really enjoyable songs like this one with you buddy. In my head lyrically Mark is whoever you focus the love on. Rock and Real!" ----TBD

Original lyrics by The Beautiful Dark:
You are the Mark
Mister Lark
Pedigree Bark
Stunning musical stark
Meet Mistermark

From Wondr to Bossa
All from I' Spy
Projecting your best
Proud human melody cry

May 2019
Maybe some fear became esteem
Soft bands in garage channel a way
Internal dreams in sound found light this day

So Dad was a seed
Kudos big man
You do good breed
In music we learn with proper concern
I think now you found Josh the EP

So onto Collective
You expand their perspective
With you and your music
Now Earth gets more fuses
Because of your music
It's a better blue ball
I know I certainly love hearing Marks call

We pressed the remote
We having those jams
Let's get it on and get more brain tan
We singing to clan
Wham bam thank you man

Miss No Mark  w/ Carl from The Beautiful Dark

Thinking about my mom. We lost her last year. See you soon mom.

Knocking on heavens door {Cover}

Writing songs and kitchen party playing with my many musical friends ... pretty much sums it up.

More Alive Than Me

Mike Dampf

Related tracks