Paul Nordquist's 2020 album is SEVERE UNICORN WARNING. Paul completed the album -- his first solo album since 1999 -- while isolated at home during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Severe Unicorn Warning (2020 album)

From the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Well!
Here we go again.
We're off to Mars and Venus.
Well!
Broken down again,
A billion miles between us.
Faithfully, patiently,
Where you going, baby?
Go with me.

Well!
Here we go again.
Who made a bad decision?
Well!
Rain and snow again.
The worlds are in collision.
Faithfully, patiently,
Where you going, baby?
Go with me.

Something to keep in mind,
'Cause we live through this every time:
It's a long way to go to feel free.
You're a hard code to break,
But you made the same mistake about me,
You went there without me.

Well!
Here we go again.
Well!
Broken down again.
Faithfully, patiently,
Where you going, baby?
Go with me.

Here We Go Again

A track from the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Livin’ in a bubble,
Stayin’ out of trouble,
Cleanin’ up the shit
With a great big shovel.
Talent to burn
But you managed to learn
To wait forty years
’Til you get your turn.

Well, the joke’s on you.
You’re at minus one clue.
It’s a pyramid scheme
And it never comes due.
In a matter of weeks
You’ll be dealing with freaks
Who all gotta move
‘Cause Antarctica leaks.

Let me tell you now,
You won’t know what hit you
Until it hits you,
Until you’re down.
You won’t know what hit you.
You still don’t believe it:
Black Unicorn.

You say you don’t vote,
Ain’t rockin’ the boat
‘Cause political things
Tend to stick in your throat.
Well isn’t that cute.
I hate to refute.
You can wave a white flag,
But they’re still gonna shoot

And you’re still gonna die.
And you want to know why?
You surrendered your power,
You did not even try.
Get yourself awake!
No time to fake.
It’s a future or not,
That’s what’s at stake!

Let me break it down.
You won’t know what hit you
Until it hits you,
Until you’re down.
You won’t know what hit you.
You still don’t believe it:
Black Unicorn.

Say it’s impossible,
Yes it’s impossible.
You say it’s impossible.
We all agree it’s impossible but
Meanwhile it happened and
We all are dead men.
You’ll try to sell it short
But there’s no more short to sell ‘cause
You forgot one little thing,
One worldwide reckoning.
All accounts are zeroing.
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Livin’ in a bubble,
Stayin’ out of trouble,
Cleanin’ up the shit
With a great big shovel,
But it’s not wise
To close your eyes
And play this game
Of friendly lies,

Cause, though you wink,
The truth won’t blink.
It’ll hit you with
The kitchen sink.
To blot this stain
You’ll look in vain
To anybody who is
Not insane!

Look what’s coming now.
You won’t know what hit you
Until it hits you,
Until you’re down.
You won’t know what hit you.
You still don’t believe it:
Black Unicorn.

You won’t know what hit you
Until it hits you,
Until you’re down.
You won’t know what hit you.
You still don’t believe it:
Black Unicorn.

Black Unicorn (album version)

A track from the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Human dumpster fires, is this what you leave your sons?
Flushed one whole world down the toilet. 
Did you know we still just have one?
You just took all you could get, and then you took some more.
No one ever told you what it was for. 

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and no one to save us,
Don’t you dare try to shame us.
You're no role model. Shut up and step aside.

You love your hero tales. I’ll show you some brave human souls.
It’s the next generation trying to dig out from this hole.
‘Cause you killed all you could kill. A reign of greed and theft.
Your life was one long rampage, and look what’s left.

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and no one to save us,
Your lecture is just outrageous.
You're no leader. Shut up and step aside.

If that’s your idea of planning, 
Wrecking the ship in a big crash landing,
You think you have moral standing? 
You got nothing. Shut up and sit down!

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and nothing to save us,
Then don’t you dare try to shame us.
You're no role model. Shut up and step aside.

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and no one to save us,
Your lecture is just outrageous.
You're no leader. Shut up and step aside.

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and no one to save us,
Your lecture is just outrageous.
You're no hero. Shut up and step aside.

If this is the mess you gave us,
Everything broken, and no one to save us,
Your lecture is just outrageous.
You're a failure. Shut up and step aside.

Step Aside (album version)

This instrumental track is from the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Frogs in the Peace Garden (instrumental)

A track from the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

If there's a thorn in your side
And your lover betrays you,
Don't double up your pain,
But take that thorn in hand and give it a name.

I learned a secret to life:
Just forget about luck,
Don't care what you've done or been,
Make beauty with each beast that wanders in.
You'll always win.

Like smoke on the water,
Like frames out of order,
Like wraiths in the night.
Hold up the light to see them.
They come like a piece of a puzzle,
Like the seeds in the middle.
At the soft edge of sleep,
Your tormentors keep you weaving your threads of gold.

There was a man in my skin
With a cynical mantra:
"Life is a heartless lie.
It's nasty, cruel, and short, and then you die."

But when I listened again,
I said “I know how you feel,
But, Mister, you got it wrong.
Life gave you what you need to finally heal
And write a song.”

Like smoke on the water,
Like frames out of order,
Like wraiths in the night.
Hold up the light to see them, to see them.
They come like a piece of a puzzle,
Like the seeds in the middle.
At the soft edge of sleep,
Your tormentors keep you weaving.

Like smoke on the water,
Like frames out of order,
Like wraiths in the night.
Hold up the light to see them.
They come like a piece of a puzzle,
Like the seeds in the middle.
At the soft edge of sleep,
Your tormentors keep you weaving your threads of gold.

Frames out of Order

A track from the 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

When God sent his son to defend us,
He sent us his daughter too.
She worked undercover
Where fools and angels dared not tread.

There's no way to win in this board game
Until you rewrite the rules.
You don't need a plan,
Just one sleepless, hopeless, moonless night.

Look out the door.
There's a new Grand Canyon
Carving through heart and stone.
Don't say impossible.
Tell me you're climbing down.

When God sent his daughter to heal us,
She bandaged all wounds and souls,
But her work was undone
And her name erased from his story.

Look out the door.
There's a new Grand Canyon
Carving through heart and stone.
Don't say impossible.
Tell me you're climbing down.

Look out the door.
There's a new Grand Canyon
Carving through heart and stone.
Don't say impossible.
Tell me you're climbing down.

Canyon

Dance-pop anthem influenced by west African pop. Theme: Your unique creative work enriches the world. This is a track from Paul Nordquist's 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.


Dance for the people
Who never drop their guard.
Dance for the people who do.
They're gonna need it,
I do believe it,
They'll need the grace
That only comes through you.

Chase every angle
Of light beyond the stars.
Trace every root of the tree.
You’ll find the mixture
To paint the picture,
The masterpiece
That only you can see.

Well, all right!
Let's follow through,
Cue the band
And crush the grape.
Ain't no sunlight
Brighter than you.
Can't afford to miss it!
This time I'll roll the tape.

Chant for the people
Who wake up with a smile.
Chant for the ones gripped with fear.
Light words to lift them,
Rich words to gift them,
And tender words
They're desperate to hear.

Well, all right!
Let's follow through,
Cue the band
And crush the grape.
Ain't no sunlight
Brighter than you.
Can't afford to miss it!
This time I'll roll the tape.

Severe Unicorn Warning

Roll the Tape

Folk-influenced melodic pop song. Theme: You fall in love with the Goddess of Wisdom, and your own wisdom flies out the window. This is a track from Paul Nordquist's 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Sophia, can you explain?
My aim misses my target.
Sophia, light of my flame,
Your wisdom is all that I hope to gain.

Break it all down:
When can I hope to be enlightened?
Ah, break it all down:
Am I a fool, still in love with you?

Sophia, let me explain:
These flames burn up my reason.
Sophia, this is my shame.
Beside you, no other thoughts remain,

Fallen aside.
Everything died when I couldn't see you.
Ah, falling away,
I'm still in love with you.

Somehow I lost my way and found you standing there.
Why did the compass point only to you, to you?
Hold me. I can't let you go.
Please, no, don't say it's over.
Ah, me, I carry on too long.

Sophia, let me explain:
My aim misses my target.
Sophia, light of my flame,
Your love is all that I hope to gain.

I'll break it all down:
I never claimed to be enlightened,
I'll break it all down:
I am a fool, still in love, in love with you,
In love with you, in love with you.

Sophia

Life is tough. You'll definitely want the help of your own animal spirit guide -- especially if it's as hip as the zebra in this song.  This is a track from Paul Nordquist's 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Living on the edge of a boring, humdrum, spirit-numbing eggshell world,
You need a spiritual guide with style and pride who can take you on a magical ride
On a carpet that flies. It's powered by your own surprise
When you open your eyes and realize

That you're right in the zone with your own personal zebra.
Now your cover is blown, got your own personal zebra.
When you answer the phone, it's your own personal zebra.
And you're right in the zone with your own personal zebra.

Life is bleaker than a worn-out, worn-down sneaker when you gotta run a marathon. 
Who's gonna feed you vegan rainbows covered in magical daydream sprinkles?
Who's gonna read your tarot, wheel your barrow,
Bust you outta the straight and narrow?

Yeah, you're right in the zone with your own personal zebra.
Now your cover is blown, got your own personal zebra.
Time to topple the throne with your own personal zebra.
And you're right in the zone with your own personal zebra.

Living in the back of a stripped-down, stoic, lithozoic big box store
When you run out of gas, and you blame this plastic gong cause it ought to be brass.
Everybody say “Oh, yeah!” Everybody say “Whoa, yeah!”
Everybody say “Zippy zippy zippy zippy.”
Everybody say “Oh yeah!”
Don’t let it throw ya mon frère, I’ve been trying to show ya that you are

Right in the zone with your own personal zebra.
Now your cover is blown, got your own personal zebra.
That's your mom on the phone for your own personal zebra.
You say, "Leave him alone, get your own personal zebra."

You got a Casiotone and your own personal zebra.
You're the ice on the cone with your own personal zebra.
Time to topple the throne with your own personal zebra.
And you're right in the zone with your own personal zebra.

Your Own Personal Zebra

Sorry I'm late. Here's my excuse. This is a track from Paul Nordquist's 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

I, I finally made it!
Kept you waiting. I’m so sorry!
Met a young lady,
Pretty thing named Fame-Glory.

She moves fast. Plans are drawn.
Then she laughs, then she’s gone,
And I’m none the wiser.

One more try never runs out.
One more chance,
Chance of a lifetime.
And it's better if you love each step,
If you enjoy the journey, because
This is all that we are.

I've been to the future.
It's not much brighter, not much bigger. 
Same bolt of fabric,
And our book of days has grown thicker. 

Easy gains quickly fade.
You’re back where you started.

One more try never runs out.
One more chance,
Lifetime of chances.
And it's better if you love each step,
If you enjoy the journey, because
This is all that we are.

First you’re up, then you’re down,
Then you’re up, then you’re down.
Never mind up or down;
We’re going the distance.

One more try never runs out.
One more chance,
Chance of a lifetime.
And it's better if you love each step,
If you enjoy the journey, because
This is all that we are.

First You're Up (Then You're Down)

A dreamy, trippy song influenced by ambient/psychedelic rock bands like The Church. This is a track from Paul Nordquist's 2020 album SEVERE UNICORN WARNING.

Wrong end of earth, upside down,
A sketch of a man of unending sorrow.
Looked just like me, but upside down, backwards.
Why won’t he learn from this,
And turn his life around?
And why does it sound
Like I already know the answer?

Wrong end of earth, where day is at night,
Newspaper man assembled the story,
Followed the crumbs, traced the threads backwards.
Stumped by a riddle,
He slipped into a dream.
Why does it seem
I already know the answer?

It slipped in through a silver crack,
A flash of pure light and madness.

Art follows life. Life freaks out,
Strikes back at art and brings it full circle.
I had a dream: the man walked in backwards,
Late to the party from a time zone down below.
He said “Go! You already know the answer,”
Said I already know the answer.

I Already Know the Answer

Songwriter, producer, keyboards, vocals, and sometimes guitar and bass. Member of Bah & the Humbugs. Songwriting teacher/coach. Composer of theme songs, musicals, film soundtracks, meditation music.