Just Vocals

I Have a Doll
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I have a doll,
And I call her Boo. 
And when I pick her up,
It says booga,
And I say boo. 
I also have a pet snake that’s named Elizabeth,
And a bite from her assures a most horrible death,
Once in bed,
I had anxiety,
That Elizabeth would escape,
And make a lunge for me,
And I wouldn’t know what to do
Or how to flee. 

Now you think that I’ve gone mad,
But it’s not what you think,
And it makes me sad,
So maybe you could help,
With your sanity,
To help me redeem
Humanity.

First we begin with a cup of tea,
And one or two sugars, if you please,
And a crumpet or cucumber sandwich to munch,
Then an introduction to Elizabeth,
To bite you for lunch. 
Then you’ll fall,
And I’ll  get up and dance,
And pick up my doll and throw it by chance
And hope it hits you to make it say boo,
And I doubt you’ll be able to say booga,
That’s not what you do. 
That’s not what you do. 

Now this is a dream I once had,
That Lizabeth was swallowing Boo
To make me more mad,
And you came over in a cup of tea,
And you raised its sail
And we set out to sea. 

But Elizabeth won’t like it,
And will swim to our boat,
And our little excursion,
Will be breathless at most,
And Boo will our captain,
And you will be our liege,
And we’ll have a great time together,
In the middle of the sea.

I Have a Doll

Little Red Harmonica
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Many years ago,
When one of our sons was born,
The doctor told us your boy is very sick,
He’d live three to four years at most,
And when he turned five, we were so happy,
Maybe there was a chance after all,
And on that birthday I gave him a little red harmonica,
You may be weak, I told him, not able to do much but lie around, but with this you can play anywhere you are. 
Now go ahead, make something of yourself. 
Let’s hear some sweet music. 
And he smiled and took the little red harmonica in his hands. 
I’m gonna learn how to play this, daddy,
I’m gonna learn how to make a heavenly sound. 
I laughed. I bet you will, son. I bet you will. 

And for the next year,
He played the best he could,
Here and there, to anyone who’d listen,
To his brothers and sisters, to the neighbors, the cats, the dogs, even the pigs.
He loved that harmonica,
It never left his little hand all day, 
Not even to eat (to an extent)
And he had it with him by his side until he went to bed,
But on his sixth birthday, the music stopped. And we had to take him to the hospital. 
And there he begged me in a weak voice, daddy, please don’t let them take away my harmonica. I want to practice, I want to keep practicing. If I’m gonna die and be buried, don’t let me buried without it. 
And I promised. 
And when his 6-year-old body was lying in the coffin, the little red harmonica lay in his hands. 

Now the years have passed,
And we’ve moved on with our lives,
And I try not to think too much of my son,
But from time to time 
I have someone from our old town
Tell me that when they visited the graveyard. 
They swore they could hear a muffled sound
Of someone practicing a harmonica. 
And I start to think again of my little boy.  
I start to think of him day and night. 

In the great redemption story,
I know I’ll see him again,
I know I’ll see him and we’ll be standing side by side. 
And in my mind I see him with his little red harmonica,
And him saying,
You want to see me play it, daddy, you wanna?
And I say, of course, Let’s hear what you’ve learned all these many years. 

And I see him lift it and play a heavenly sound,
A sound that lights up my heart,
And I can’t believe it,
And I grab and squeeze him tight,
What joy is this? What joy are you giving?
And he laughs. 
Do you like it, daddy, do you?
Do I like it? I love it!
And I hug him again,
And then weep on his shoulder,
I’ve missed him so much. 
And I hear him say, don’t cry, daddy, this is heaven now. There are no tears. 
I know. But I’m crying tears of joy. 
And I hug him like I’ve never hugged him before. 
I hug my little boy with his little red harmonica like I’ve never have before.


Set-Up:
DAW: Reason 12

Analog Instrument:
C-Harmonica

Keyboard Instruments:
Folk Fiddle - Keyswitch - Insanity Samples
Appassionata Strings - Spitfire
Hanz Zimmer Strings - Spitfire
Voices - Barbary Solo Glide AH TF - Soundpaint
Solo Boy Legacy and Legato Sections - VOXOS
Originals - Felt Piano - Spitfire

Little Red Harmonica

My Wonderful Dream
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I once had a dream,
A dream, you know,
Where we held each other close,
And never let one another go
I had a dream 
Where we’d be side by side
And maybe, by chance,
One day you’d be my bride.

Some dreams,
they just come and go,
big ones, small ones,
Even the ones we hold on to so
They grow old, they become trivial, 
but some can’t let go. 

From something mundane
To something glorious. 
That’s what those dreams are for,
That’s what those dreams are for,
The dreams we had when young
When were both reaching for the stars,
Those were wonderful dreams,
Those were wonderful dreams,

And then the day came,
When you let your dreams be mine,
And you stood and held my hand,
And you said I’ll never leave you behind.

And if there are dreams,
you can’t seem to impress,
I’ll take those dreams,
And I’ll give them my best. 

Dreams come and go 
But one dream was meant to be so,
You never left that dream behind,
You never let that dream to die,
When you promised to follow me to the earth and back,
You became my dream,
My only dream I’d never lack,

You are, you always will be, the embodiment of that dream,
You are my dream,
You’re the only dream I’ve ever had,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 
Dreams come and go 
But you’re that dream that was to be so,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream.  


So here’s to you my dream woman,
May I never find a dream without your dreams at my side,
My dream girl, my dream woman,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 
Dreams come and go 
But you’re that dream that was to be so,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 

I love you my dream woman,

May we keep dreaming for many more years to come.

My Wonderful Dream

Gray Hair of Wisdom
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I wrote this song for you,
When I was very young,
When the world was a large place,
And it’s heroes were unsung,
When make-believe was real,
And nothing we did was wrong.  
And passion was our guide,
that moved our love along.
Passion was our guide,
that moved our love along.

I wrote this song for you,
When your face was still so young,
When the world had become a smaller place,
And its heroes now undone,
When beliefs were challenged,
To question right from wrong,
Until all that was left was strength
To carry our love along,
All that was left was strength 
To carry our love along. 

I wrote this song for you,
When I had nothing young to say,
When the world had become old,
And it’s heroes kept at bay,
When darkness now reigned,
To block the midday sun,
But the gray hair of wisdom
Guided our love along,
The gray hair of wisdom,
Guided our love along.

Gray Hair Of Wisdom

Back in 1973 when Egypt went to war with Israel, I stood my wife up for a tennis date.  Even though there was a war now going on, she was not happy that I stood her up.  Only recently did she tell me that the Tennis Club had been closed due to the war. 

Little White Tennis Outfit
Lyrics and Music by Mike Krath

Look at her
Walking down the street
In her little white tennis outfit 
Look at her,
She looks so sweet
In her little white tennis outfit,
Look at her,
As she keeps the beat,
In her little white tennis outfit, 

Can you hear the bombs?
There’s a war about to go on. 

Her boyfriend stood her up,
She was waiting to play,
Stood her up,
She was waiting to play. 
Stood her up
Waiting to play

His mom says,
He’s at his best friends 
Been there all day. 
No…way!
He stood me up,
I was waiting to play,
Stood me up 
I wanted to play,
His mom says at his friends. 
Been there all day.

Can you hear the bombs?
There’s a war about to go on. 

She phoned her boyfriend,
where you at?
You stood me up,
We need to chat!

And he says, but there’s a war going on,
Can’t you hear the bombs?
Get under the table.

What did you just say to me?

There's a war going on!
Get under the table. HIDE!

You won't get away with this!
You won’t get away…with this!
No you won't!

Look at her
Walking down the street,
in her little white tennis outfit,
Look at her she looks so sweet,
In her little white tennis outfit.
Look at her,
Hitting everyone she meets,
In her little white tennis outfit.
Look at her go!

Can you hear the bombs?
There's a war about to go on.

Little White Tennis Outfit

Video Link: https://youtu.be/Za2lZz3a_no?si=6tsGxNNZLvav1ruR

Rowing in the Dark
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

There are times someone shows you the right way to go,
But you ignore them and head for the common flow,
Preferring to be caught up in the stormy gale,
While waves batter against you to keep you still,
And then you only cry for help when you are sure no one is near,
A futile calling when there is none to hear. 

Many times you’ve acted like you’ve wanted someone by your side,
Walking toward you on the water to make your storm subside,
But it was only pretend as you stayed on the wider route,
So you could row here and there and all about. 

Rowing without direction is your preferred way,
To keep your lack of peace as a summer’s day,
And you ignore the waves flooding your boat as the end draws near,
Then have the audacity to sink with the look of fear. 

Rowing in the dark is what it is all about,
Rowing in the dark is where your mind is at. 

You row with no direction to go.
In a river that’s wide to make it so,
No rock in sight to keep you secure,
And even if seen, you always make that quick detour. 
Rowing in the dark until the bitter end. 
Rowing in the dark with your so-called friends.

Rowing in the Dark

Here We Are Once Again(Scraggly Voice Version)
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Verse 1

Well…here we are once again,
Alone in this cafe,
The place we began as friends,
All on a sunny day. 
While everyone else sat outside,
Watching the world go by,
We sat and fell in love,
Thanks to the Lord on high. 

Chorus 
Here we are once again,
At the table where it all began,
Eating food and enjoying life,
And with you … my wife. 

Verse 2

Do you hear the birds outside
Chirping loudly above?
What was passed down from years ago
When we first confessed our love
Overheard when we were young,
And now repeated from the beaks of doves,
Can you hear them? It’s easy. 
They’re all singing our song. 

Chorus 
Here we are once again,
At the table where it all began,
Eating food and enjoying life,
And the desert … you … my wife. 

Verse 3

Oh…I can’t think of anywhere else,
I’d rather be,
Than with the memories of you and I here,
Having our first cup of tea. 
And to cherish this very moment,
With the woman I adore,
Nothing could make me any happier,
Or to want anything more.

Here We Are Once Again

You lift Me Up
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Here I am sitting,
With the men of this town,
They want to know what’s so special,
That makes me want you around.
And I tell them once again,
What I’ve told them as my friends,
Many times as has arisen,
Of all the women I have known,
And I’ve known many as been told,
You’re the only one if they listen.

You lift me up when I am down
You lift me up to solid ground,
You lift me up to a proper place,
You lift me up when all else fails,
You lift me up when all is despair,
You lift me up to your strong embrace.

You lift me up when am not sound,
You lift me up when I’m the clown,
You lift me up to not lose face,
You lift me up when I don’t care,
You lift me up from my chair,
You lift me up to save me from disgrace.

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

So when I sit at the gates,
Your love has turned away all hate,
And all I can hear is your praise,
And when it comes my turn to speak,
I stand and tell them what they seek,
You lift me up all day.
And when night falls,
You’re right there with me in the hall,
To cast away all of my pains.

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

You lift me up when all is black,
You lift me up when I have lack,
You lift me up, don’t turn back…

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

You Lift Me Up (All Day)

Take Me Back Tonight
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Take me back 
To where it all began,
To that moment in time,
When we first became friends,
When our dreams were real,
And our fantasies, too
And you understood me,
When I said I love you.

Take me back tonight,
To where it all began,
Back to those moments,
We thought would never end.

Take me back,
As only you can do,
To that moment in time,
When I said I love you.
When our parents were alive,
And most of our friends, too.
When we would sneak away,
To make our love a new.

Let’s go back tonight,
To where it all began,
Back to those moments
We thought would never end.

Take Me Back Tonight

Can I Still Love?
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I see a shadow,
on the wall,
is it her?
I don’t know,

I hear a hand scrape,
across my door,
is she back?
I can’t guess. 

On and on,
life goes on,
I’ve gotten old,
and the beat of my heart is weak,
can I still love?

I smell a face 
from distant past,
is she here?
Not a hint. 

I feel her pains, 
that once were real,
by me?
I don’t know. 

On and on,
life goes on,
I’ve gotten old,
and the beat of my heart is weak,
can I still love?

Can I Still Love?

My wife was listening all day to me working on this song. When I added a banjo, her interest piqued, and she wrote lyrics for a country feel.

The Prescription Blues
Lyrics Veronica Krath
Music Mike Krath
Performed and Produced Mike Krath

In the morning when I rise
Gotta take these pills to feel alive
They help me get through another day

Through all my aches and all my ills
My salvation lies in a tiny pill
And my life lies on a prescription pad

Why did the Lord put me on this earth
Just to take all these pills to feel my worth
Wish I could take my body back

Oh Lord, I wish there was another way,
To make it through another day,
Then taking all these pills.

Chorus:
And in the end when I die
My hope is that I’ll find myself in paradise
With no pills and no more pain
Cause to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The Prescription Blues

All Over the World
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

All over the world, 
All over the world, 
People crying,
People dying,
All over this world.

See the mother lying there,
See the crying baby by her side,
What the world fails to give,
The woman never receives,
Though they keep crying and dying,
No one sees.

All over this world,
All over the world,
People crying,
People dying,
All over the world.

All over the world,
All over the world,
People crying,
People dying,
All over the world.

All Over the World

I Have A Woman
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I have a woman who believes in today,
As long as it is tomorrow 
I have a woman who believes in yesterday 
As long as it’s not the one that gave her sorrow.

Don’t cry, woman, don’t cry,
Leave your tears for another day,
And make your face pretty
And come and show me your smile. 

I have a woman who never had children
As hard as she tried. 
I have a woman who wanted to raise them,
But life just seemed to pass us by.

I have a woman who tries not to cry,
But her tears won’t stay away.

I Have A Woman

Thank You For Coming, You've Been a Terrible Audience
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Thank you for coming,
Sticking around to hear us play,
You've been a terrible audience!
You've been a terrible audience, today.
You made it all the more hard,
To put on a really great show.
But now that it's over,
Why don't you go,
Why don't you go,
Just go.

You've been a terrible audience!
You've been a terrible audience, today.
You've made it all the more easier,
To chase you all away.
All away,
Go away!

Thank you for your money!

Thank You For Coming, You've Been a Terrible Audience!

I’m a song-writer who enjoys creating music of any genre.

My son recently introduced me to A.I. and taught me how to do covers of my previously released non-A.I. music. Since I've never considered myself a performer (except playing with worship bands at church or solo-piano at a rehab center) using A.I. is right up my alley.

Since I've  exhausted using my previously released music for A.I. covers, I now compose music in a DAW, rip to a wave file, and make an A.I. cover of this wave file. I then write lyrics to the A.I. music. It takes around 100 A.I. iterations to complete the lyrics and get a style I'm happy with.  

Brief Bio: Lived more than a quarter of my life overseas (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). Each country gave me an appreciation for different types of music plus probably why I get bored easily in sticking with one genre or another.