An old song that has been re-arranged a bunch of times.  I'd love to record it to tape with some old microphones and a backing band. Someday!

Smooth Stone (demo)

I first heard this song when a friend named Erienne sang it a cappella at one of her shows.  She told me to "back off her cover" when I expressed interest in learning it, but now I sing it anyway. Sometimes I perform it as a medley with Jeffrey Foucault's "Idaho."  Sort of a before-and-after thing.

Idaho (Josh Ritter)

Demo for an as-yet unfinished song. There's a whole other instrumental part to it (entitled "Waiting on a Call") that I have to figure out how to integrate.  Unfortunately I think that would make it like 7 minutes long. 

Shouting your lungs out into this abyss
One candlepower in an infinite mist
Sounds like a whisper, but feels like a fist
And longs like a lover that doesn't exist

Emptiness opens an occupied door
Angered by avarice but greedy for more
Propped up by property but otherwise poor
If this isn't forgiveness, then what is this for? 

Was he your anchor or was he your wings? 
There isn't a man who could be both of those things
Promises given, held together by rings
But the mourning dove knows what the nightingale sings.

What The Nightingale Sings

I wanted to write a basic "getting drunk" country song. It didn't turn out that way exactly, but I'm still fairly happy with the result.  A bigger arrangement will come about later, I'm sure. 

Stay

Released on the No Fucking Egos: This is Lansing, Vol 4 compilation album from Silver Maple Kill Records in early 2015.  I played all those instruments by my damn self. 

http://silvermaplekillrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-f-king-egos-this-is-lansing-volume-4-the-revengening

Smooth Stone (full arrangement)

Guitar/harmonica/voice arrangement of the first song I uploaded.  This one got released a little bit ago on a compilation called "Another One of Those Equinoxes: Vol. 1" by Timmy Rodriguez, aka Sleeping Timmy. If you want to check out the whole thing (please do), go to anotherequinox.bandcamp.com . 

Miss Again

Nicholas Merz's Album

Open Up Anew

Vocals & acoustic guitar 

This used to be called "Torn" but I couldn't stop thinking about Natalie Imbruglia. So instead I made a play on a Crosby, Stills, & Nash song.  Good job, me.  The lyrics (which have changed a little bit since I recorded this) are sort of about reflecting on how useless so much of the back and forth drama and arguments in a relationship can be, especially after the fact.  And how you can feel broken and incapable of loving in the future one moment, but wanting to go back to that person the next.  So I guess it's sort of about perspective, and needing the distance to be able to tell what's what when you look back on it.  I'd like to say I had it all figured out and I can dispassionately dissect what remains of it all, but I can't.  I can't even say that I'm over that person; it's just lower peaks and shallower valleys anymore.

Xmas 2014

Hopelessly Helping

This is a phone-recorded cover of Caleb Stine's song, which is duet on his record "I'll Head West Again." I don't have a singing partner right now, so I changed a couple of the words so it made a little more sense. I am recovering from a cold right now but I liked the way my voice sounded today; there's a roughness that is almost pleasant to me. 

Come Back Home (featuring: my cold)

I wrote this song today and wanted to record it before I forgot it, which happens all too often.  It's not done but what ever is. Here are the lyrics just for fun.

So your heart's been emptied of
Patience, grace, and even love
That's how it looks from where I stand
Down below but once above
A storm front's brewing in your eyes
It's sink or swim when I capsize
No harbor here, nor sight of land
The bottom's where the truth will lie

Give me calmness, give me hope
A steady hand and a star to guide
Give me strong sails and plenty rope
And let me ride this rising tide

There never was a kinder curse
We fall in love, expect the worst
The game is rigged: you win, you lose
Whoever pulls the trigger first
Don't try to tell me you don't play
We throw our cards in everyday
We find someone we never choose
That's just not what our pride would say

Give me subtle satisfaction
A brittle reed must learn to bend
Give me toil that's honest action
And heavy hearts will someday mend.


Kinder Curse

Semi-reclusive but still worth the effort.

Nicholas Weltschmerz

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