rhythm of stressed and unstressed syllables
maintaining the natural flow of language
ok, ok, so it sounds very "beatnick" - like, where are the bongos?

Songwriting Handle Me Tenderly

Assignment 5 working draft for Pat Pattison's songwriting class on coursera 8/2013

My Living Situation

Performed by Diana Brasher. Music & Lyrics by Mikel Estrin

UNICORN DREAM
-	Words & Music by Mikel Estrin
-	
VERSE
I once had a dream, a UNICORN DREAM
That I would grow up to become a Queen
A Good Queen I’d be, set everyone free
And all of my people would love me

CHORUS
Riding high, reaching the sky
Borne aloft upon my unicorn
He’s silver-white with one golden horn
Life’s so bright on my unicorn

VERSE
Then as I grew, had work to do
So much to learn and money to earn
I’d still be alright, my dream clear in sight
I wove gold in the day with thread spun at night

VERSE 3 (transposed)
This tapestry of life I weave 
Is mixed with the real and the make believe
A golden cloak I’ve sewn and worn
To ride and fly on my unicorn

CHORUS
Riding high, reaching the sky
Borne aloft upon my unicorn
He’s silver-white with one golden horn
Life’s so bright on my unicorn

©2013 Mikel Estrin. All Rights Reserved. Special permission is granted for use in Pat Pattison’s courser songwriting class – Summer 2013.  www.mindmovierecordings.com



Unicorn Dream

My Living Situation
By Mikel Estrin

VERSE
Living in my parent’s house and following their rules
Rebel-ling I was acting out and hanging out with fools
I co¬uldn’t wait to get away, and live the way I please
I chose a college far away, to live beyond those boundaries

VERSE
Living in the college dorm and subject to those rules
I felt free to mis-be-have and be un-cool and ridi-culed
A-wake all night, partying hard, I didn’t make it into class
My brain got slow, my grades were low, and no - - I didn’t pass [B]

CHORUS
My living situ-ation re-quired amelio-ration & Re-turn to my re-lations’ ac-com-mo-dations
My alien-ation from civilization, Put me on probation since my forced capitulation 
Has me seeking a new vocation to improve - - my living situation [B]
- - my living situation [B]

BRIDGE
So the col-lege kicked me out, I finally found a crappy job
I couldn’t afford a decent place & had to share a tiny space
I lost that job and couldn’t pay even minimum rent
I asked my folks for my old room and I’d repay them soon for every cent -- they’d spent [B]

CHORUS
My living situ-ation re-quired amelio-ration & Re-turn to my re-lations’ ac-com-mo-dations
My alien-ation from civilization, Put me on probation since my forced capitulation 
Has me seeking a new vocation to improve - - my living situation [B]
- - my living situation [B]

VERSE
Here I am now back at home and liking it much more
I can respect my parents’ rules and even their décor
I’ll buckle down and try my best to get my life on track
I love my folks and respect the fact they took me back.

CHORUS
My living situ-ation re-quired amelio-ration & Re-turn to my re-lations’ ac-com-mo-dations
My alien-ation from civilization, Put me on probation since my forced capitulation 
Has me seeking a new vocation to improve - - my living situation [B]
- - my living situation [B]

Home is the place where when you’ve got to go there
They’ve got to take you back,- -  from anywhere [B]

©2013 Mikel Estrin. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for use in Pat Pattison’s Songwriting courser class usage during 2013.

Les Mads Turks: Mikel Estrin, Sami Altendad, Gregoire Babukian & Jonathan Dickenson - selected snips recorded in Paris around 1973.
Featuring guest appearance by Steve Lacy & Irene Aebi


Les mads turks 1 stereo split 10K

I’m  the composer and multi instrumentalist of eclectic music available for publishing and media placement. Originally from New York I spent 10 years in Paris and Greece performing and recording. Currently in the sf bay area I have a multitrack analog and digital studio; and specialize in mysterious melodies.

Mikelest