Early Demos

I Shall Be Free

Ren Michael

the.singles

Music & Lyrics by Ren Michael

Home-cooked roses 
candlelight 
a valentining croon
within the night, 
darkness entombed 
dawn, the distant moon

I dream of you
in Canyonlands
south to Death Valley
Durango down 
through New Mexico 
as I set out on the road

Oh, epic tales,
smooth as wine
spin Herculean rhymes
vagabonds 
vaunting light 
haunting bookstores late at night

words they come, and 
words, they go
oh Isis of the Nile  
as I approach 
may I but dare
to frame the diamonds in your hair?
to frame the diamonds in your hair...

From Mammoth Caves 
deep in Kentucky 
down to New Orleans
down in the swamp
we shout and stomp
on the banks of the Mississippi 

when you stand before
the window wide, 
out upon the avenue
picture me babe, 
know I’ll be there.  
Know I’m a-coming home to you
Know I'm coming home to you 

One is One
And One is All
And two, the ace of spades
What makes three but
You and me?
As four explores the sea?

See, Infinity 
is in your eyes
a lifetime in just one night,
that jasmine lifts in Los Angeles, 
as death greets me with your kiss.

First light 
upon the rising morn
a nation being born
babe we’ll allow it through, 
created anew,
When I come home to you

When I come home to you 

When I come home to you

When I come home to you

When I Come Home To You

Music and Lyrics by Ren Michael

As the trains they roll on by
Ignorant of that gleam in you eye
I thought I heard the whispering of the rain
I turn around and the same passerby, gray concrete remains

These tracks, these tunnels I might call home
Though somewhere I swear another light had shone
In a dream I remember visions so clear
In the steam, like a mist it blinks, yea briefly reappears.

I need you baby
Yea I long for you
I came for you, won't you meet me now.
There's a place for us and it's waiting beyond
The sun shall bring the morning but only you can bring me the dawn

Through these corridors I roam like a phantom found.
I'd become another stranger in smoke, in the crowd.
And though they all may come and go sometimes I swear I shall remain,
Until I see your train comin' my way.

What are you?  My dear, I cannot say.
Though I'd follow you at any time and in any way
And is that the general tune of your song,
As I stander here try to frame the nature of whose side your on?

Cause I need you baby
Yea I remember you
And you dance somewhere in these train station walls.
And though it's true that I can't see you at all
I stand so ready for you, each time darkness falls.


Stationhouse Blues (I Need You)

I walk the city at night.
I know the walls remain hollow.
I am a prisoner, a rat in a plastic cage
The nights they conquer every day.

And I dreamt that I broke free of this maze,
Walked out into the night and I stayed,
And for the first time I felt the grace of the falling rain

'Neath the light of the moon I wait for my evening bus
To take me for a few with you through time and space.
Awake! Awake to the distant valleys of my dreams!
Until my eyes open to the morning and I regress to sleep.

Your eyes cast a shadow over your soul
As you write your checks, blindly post your stamps.
Let's put it all down now and break through the wall.
And you and me we shall breathe in the promised land.

Close your eyes now and take my hand.

Interstellar Cowboy Song

Music and Lyrics by Ren Michael

When I see your lover baby
When I see your man
You know I'll never go under honey
Someday you'll understand
That I'm your boy
Not your toy
I walk both day and night
To even the score
More and more
Can't get you out of my mind, girl
I'm your boy

I tie my shoestring laces lady
The ones from the summer pond
You came to me with your graces baby
Tell me whose side you're on
Will you ever leave me?
Stop teasing me?
You smile and you keep me in
You're like a dream
Eternal queen
Can you calm the storm within?
Will you let me in?

Make a claim oh child
While the sun still shines for the day
Make a claim oh girl
You drive a man insane
I'm just a boy who's stuck on you 
And I've walked all these lonesome avenues
I've lied awake too many nights 'neath the light of the moon

I'll hold you close you know
I'll only take care of you
I ain't got much money to blow
But you know my word is true
And girl you know I
I'm your guy
What I got can't be destroyed
And through it all
I'll stand tall
A white knight who'll fight for you
Girl I'm your boy
Not your toy
I walk both day and night
To even the score
More and more
Can't get you out of my mind, girl
I'm your boy

Girl, I'm Your Boy

Forbidden (ft. Allison Sharpe)

Music and Lyrics By Ren Michael

I saw you standing there 'fore the mirror
You were putting your lipstick on
Your eyes were somewhere far
On the other side of dawn
This morning I think you know I feel a little restless
When you kiss me tonight, baby kiss me long and hold me tight
And leave me breathless

When we were young,
We fell for one another
And we died in the dawn
As you softly kissed my palm
But now I see you reflection honey, your cold emotionless stone
I awake before the rising sun and I bare witness to the holy ghost
And it leaves me breathless

I give you all I took from you
If you just give me some sign
So give me back my gun and my jewels
And I'll give you back all of your wine
Together we are divine
The fruit of the holy vine

Tonight we have the stars
Says there's gonna be a full moon
Tell me baby what you see
When I'm standing here looking at you
Do you see a thief, or a man? Am I alive or am I heartless?
When we dance in the evening trees, tell me baby, in the shadows do you see
The nights that left us breathless?

Breathless

Music and Lyrics by Ren Michael

Well I can’t sit still
Thinkin’ of you still
Walkin’ way from me
Way up on the hill
And I tried baby
Yea you know I tried.
You sent me a letter
Just the other day
How I done you wrong
I’d never find a way
You could not explain
When you said that I was gone.
So when you come back to this town
When you search around,
When you call for me baby
You know you won’t hear a sound.
Cause I’m gone baby, I’m gone
I’m breaking away searching for my dawn
No I won’t say that I’ve done you any wrong
Baby I’m gone. I’m gone.

Well I wear no disguise
Look into my eyes
You say I should apologize
And you demand your pay
Lay claim to what I owe
Is that some kind of joke?
No honey I’ve paid my dues
With this game I’m through
I’ve walked alone before
Done just fine, thank you
So go ahead flip your hair
I’m sure someone will care
Did you think that when you came back here
That things would be the same
No folks will talk of how I done cleared
And they’ll celebrate my name.
Cause I’m gone baby, I’m gone
I’m breaking away searching for my dawn
No I won’t say that I’ve done you any wrong
Baby I’m gone. I’m gone.

When I was a boy
Fresh out of school
You held out your hand
And gave me all your rules
Now here you stand
Tell me what you think I am.
So go ahead lay down your rose
And wear your best clothes
And keep calm your fire
May you never tire
May you dream baby
Of all your sweet desires
But when you wake up in the morn’
When you look up to the sky
The gods may hear you loud and clear
But you know I won’t be near.
Cause I’m gone baby, I’m gone
I’m breaking away searching for my dawn
No I won’t say that I’ve done you any wrong
Baby I’m gone. I’m gone.

I'm Gone

Music and Lyrics by Ren Michael

Tonight I fly but I'm feeling numb
My eyes are open wide I can hardly see
I wonder why tonight as I walk these streets
Though your miles behind, I feel you loomin' over me

We were kids I know when I saw you last
I knew right then and there I'd never see you again
So tell me how then with every fortune that I come across
Does it so easily slip right through my hands

Oh Sherri you're the evil kind
I heard about you in a dream I had before
How you'd curse young men and poison their feeble minds
The moment they took one step outside your door

I'm just a brown-eyed boy from Louisiana town
Touch was all I wanted, love was all I prized
Though I hope that it's all masked in some strange disguise
Baby you are proof that love has a dark, dark side

Oh Sherri you're the evil kind
I heard about you in a dream I had before
How you'd curse young men and poison their feeble minds
The moment they took one step outside your door

Oh Sherri!

Music and Lyrics by Ren Michael

Nothing satisfies these eyes of mine
As I stare into the night. 
Thoughts fade away and spirits are bent, 
All is bleak and deceit is the night, 
As I search for you 
And all I see is hollow pine 
And I think of you 
Think we'll meet again, somewhere, sometime. 

When we met all was young, soft and bare 
And you struck me like a knife. 
To the heavens we danced, suspended in the air 
Nothing lie in the mist of your eyes. 
Yea I'd searched for you 
Felt like you'd come just in time 
Felt like I'd dreamed of you 
And you smiled wide, closed your eyes 

Like the final descent of the youthful moon, 
We held each other upon white sand. 
Whether all had come too slow, too soon, 
Who knew?  Maybe we were in another land. 
But I can't speak for you. 
In that now, I wonder, was I alone? 
‘Fore the stars, I'd searched for the truth. 
‘Neath the same moon, tonight I roam. 

Every day is beauty and heaven lies in night, 
And no other lovers ever walk by. 
A new mist arrives, the lonesome delight, 
In the twenty-first century sky. 
And I search for you 
Maybe a dream, it was a dream on the fly 
Wonder if I ever held you. 
If I'll have you someday down the line. 

Yea I still search for you 
For when we meet for the very first time 
And I think of you
Think we’ll meet again somewhere, sometime. 


Tonight I Roam

When the Streets Grow Cold

Music & Lyrics by Ren Michael

As I make my Noon descent
I hear my love's been packed and sent
I can't be seen with her, she says I'm a blasphemer
Though I try to be a good guy, she says every claim is a dirty lie
I'm stone-cold, she says I walk down a dark road
Oh Lord...

Well grab yourself a beer, my friend, and hear
I said grab yourself a beer, my friend, and hear
What I got burning in my head
The streets they gleam in red
I walk through the city steam
Like a bad dream
I've been deceived

I can't be seen
I can't be seen 
Stay away from me
Let me be
I can't be seen

Well look in my eyes tonight, these train tracks are mine
Well look in my eyes tonight, these train tracks are mine
'Neath the lights of the starlit sky, I'm in the dark
You may say it's a lie
Well the whole night is mine so pass around the wine

I got time, yea
I got time
Look in my eyes
I'm doing fine
I got time

Well I walk down a dark road, I'm looking for a rose
O'er European cobblestone centuries old
It's been a while since I seen it rain
Love's a drum of thunder and pain
Swore I'd be brave, dear Lord, now bring on your pouring rain

Then stay away
I ain't afraid
Your faith betrays, Oh
I ain't the same
Let it rain
Let it rain

I Can't Be Seen

I'm On Fire

Music & Lyrics by Ren Michael

As I listen to your wisdom and all the things you hold dear
I hear the persistence of your resistance and your fears
As you call me daughter, as you call me son
You’d do well to remember, friend, I’m not the only one.

We’ve heard your words, we’ve heard your demands
Looked long into your heart as we sought to understand
Now I hear the bell toll, I feel a million hearts pound
Take a seat, please, dear man. Listen to me now

You sing of the good times. What times were those?
Long before my time, but I recognize the eyes of Jim Crow
Deny it all day and say I’m opening wounds
As you continue the tune, play ol’ Jim’s fool

You say there’ll always be poor folk beside the sick and unnamed
Shaped by a their refusal to play by the rules of the game
One day they'll rise and defy all your wars
And you'll be the one who lives by the gun, as they inherit the world.

Well I seek the dream, the creed taught to you and me
For all the huddled masses yearning to breathe free
A place to call home without fences and walls
For all the tired and poor, and justice for all.

You say life’s a struggle, an era’s bygone
We need some law and order, there’s just one side to be on
Go on’ grab your raincoat man, I think I hear the thunder roll
But as ever, friend, you know I’ll catch you at the end of the road

Lamplights of Zion

boxcar yards: a man with a guitar
wearing a suit and putting out pictures

he's talking films
from a cafe, secluded

in the shadows
over rainsoaked
streets in Vienna

a violin’s heard up the way
‘cross the river,
black and still
as night reigns
in the early 21st century

a new
_primordial dawn
fast approaching

on the move, songs capture the raw. main influences include cinema, the natural world and many sounds of the city. The songs are never done as each recording is a snapshot of life in constant motion.

for fun he walks (with his dogs) road trips and catches old tv shows, baseball games and comic books. 

POEM pieced together 25 August, 2022_

The idea 
for this SoundCloud 
soundstage is 
that of an open workshop 
where listeners 
will be able to listen 
to sounds 
images 
and concepts 
being worked on (shopped) 
and some of them 
may be finished 
while others may not 
but they are being born 
continuously and 
they can make of it whatever 
they choose, but 
may it haunt their houses pleasantly 
for the idea of creativity 
to me is that nothing 
is ever really done
but only constantly being made  
for the greatest thing about music 
is that it can’t be pinned down and is open 
to greater interpretation than the other forms 
and even lyrics written 
by the greatest lyricist 
can be altered and moved around 
to give it a more varied dynamic 

but anyway in talking about the occasional 
blood on the tracks 
I am getting slightly off track 

so what I really mean to say friends 
and newcomers alike 
is welcome 
we’ve got popcorn 
sandwiches 
beer, red wine 
and ice-cold water 
salud.

-

Your friend,
Ren Michael

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