aint in true. At least the pain brought you a song Rick. Know what change in the later years is like myself after loosing my wife of 55 years and our youngest Son in recent times...not much musical motivation came out of that obviously but will just keep on, as we all do, till it comes back..keep on Rick...the road is indeed sometimes rough.

this is so strong,  and beauteful....  bring my to tears .

Hey... never let a good hospital stay go to waste! It's amazing, where and how these songs can come.

Beautiful song, soulfoul vocals and moving lyrics.

hope you recovered Rick. 😉 love your song and I love your attitude to life . keep on playing man. Johnny

Wow, song really captures the rough road, nice work!

This is a great song Rick... albeit from tragedy. I like your heartfelt (clear) vocals and soulful harmonica. Man it takes a lot to break a femur... OUCH!!!

Hazy Ocean

I see you at the break of day
A flash of gold across a bay
I watch you you’re a dolphin riding rail
And then it comes the perfect wave
And balancing you show the way
Your love of life it’s written in your trail 

Hazy Ocean - you wash all over me
And I’m diving after you 
Like the tide follows the moon
Hazy Ocean - your spirit’s phosphorent
And your colour’s vivid blue 
While my love is all for you

You’re always wanting cosmic rhymes
To come and take us for a ride
And when they do it’s reason to believe 
There’s trust in nature’s open door
It lets you know why you were born
Your real life’s the script of other’s dreams

And when you paddle to the shore
You’re reaching out to one and all
You know the truth that happiness is laughter 
And across the night your flame is warm
Your star is up and all adore
They’re crowding round 
They’re hanging from the rafters

HAZY OCEAN

About the dissolution of a band, particularly my bands!!Trying to keep one together is futile, been “ cancelled “ a few times… not for inerrant behavior, but because of stated beliefs.., just a drummer who likes creating and recording hopefully cool tunes… I am nobody’s final judge… just a prompter on side stage… don’t endorse everything, but I am far from perfect.., but I profess and know, One who is… wish the cookie was still in tact, and we put it up on the refrigerator, for all to gaze at… trying to make new cookies, these days….I think it’s kinda like if Kurt Cobain sang with The Knaack! Could b wrong.., still hope you enjoy!!🤩🤩🤩😎😎😎

The Way The Cookie Crumbles

I broke a leg bone (femur) in May of 2022. I wrote the song as I lay in a hospital bed and sedated with a mild dose of morphine. About a week after the operation, a physio nurse had come into my room to go over some exercises. To be honest, she was quite pretty and she seemed a bit suggestive with respect to "if I would be up for some exercise".  Probably just the morphine but it got the lyrical part of my brain turning and from that came most of the verses.  I managed to type them into an email on my phone and send it to myself. I had to make some alterations but this is gave me a solid start.  The music came later, as did the final changes to the verses. The outro just came as an inspiration during the recording.  It might have sounded better if I had done the 3 parts about a dozen times but I left it the way it was on the first takes. 

There were a lot of small events which gave the final direction to this song, including an interesting road sign just south of High River, AB.

Rough Road  (a.k.a. The Broken Femur Blues)
==========

[INTRO]

Ya  it's a shame, too late in the game
To find any thunder in this lightning bolt.
It'd be a nice surprise, but by the look in your eyes
That’d be all she wrote.  Ya, it’s a long, rough road.

Still I remember . . . lying there in pain,
Unable to stand, my face in the dirt.
I just couldn't decide , was it really my pride
Or my hip that was hurt.   Ya, it’s a long, rough road.

[SOLO]

[BRIDGE]
They say there's no gain
Without a little pain
The plan was never to gain a lot.
Just sing me a song and then move on and be happy with what I got.

So I ended up . . . in an ambulance ride
And a surgeon ready to cut in.
Some x-rays pics and sister morphine doing her tricks
A lag bolt and steel pin . . . Ya, it’s a long, rough road.

I walked with 4 wheels then I walked with a cane (asking myself)
Will I ever be the same again?
Well it took me seven months to stand on my own.
If life was easy, it wouldn’t be such a long, rough road.

[OUTRO]
Without the pain . . . without the pain
Without the pain, it wouldn’t be such a long, rough road.

Words and Music copyright Rick Engler
Photo and Reproduction copyright Rick Engler
Mixed in Cuckos Reaper on a PC
Audio Input using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd gen)
Vocals and Harmonica: Shure SM58
Acoustic Guitar: direct input using amp modelling VST
Keyboards: Casio with Addictive Keys VST

Rough Road

Rough Road (Original)

Enter the mesmerising world of "Mantodea," a musical journey that delves into a future concept of the female species metamorphosing into a captivating Praying Mantis hybrid. In this enthralling narrative, we explore the evolutionary phenomenon where these ethereal beings transcend the boundaries of mere mortals, embracing a newfound prowess, and a captivatingly mysterious existence.

Allow yourself to immerse in the hauntingly harmonies, embodying the strength and grace of the evolved Mantodea. The music's dynamic interplay symbolises the complex dance between these enchanting beings and their male counterparts.
(Thanks Chat GPT !!)

As Vincent Van Gogh once said :-
Thank you for lending me your ear and if you like the sunflowers don't forget to repost, like and follow.

Mantodea

I think I’m Broken(Instrumental)

Acting Gods Replacement (ShortEcoMix)

You Don't Go Blind But Very Shortsighted

Collab with Mr DJ BigHouse
https://soundcloud.com/user-336485320

Mr DJ BigHouse + Insatiable Void - Chant 108

Motif

Blues HOP - HIP - TOP 2

God I hope you hear me – hope I don’t go unnoticed – I plan to be defiant – because you need to hear this – you yourself have vanished – and we’re all stumbling through our lives – when left to our devices – we’ve proven to fail every time
I always thought you were a holy roller – till the day that I got to know ya – turn your back on me I understand – after all you’re the only one who knows who I really am – but turn your back on the best I got a problem I’m gonna say what I feel that’s how you made me aint gonna save me  if you don’t like too bad – sorry god you took all I had
You are my god-  but if this is what you choose – to let it come to an end – I have to let you know – I will begin again – cause I’ve been down before-  always swimming towards the shore – and I’ll be on dry land – when your wave comes crashing in
God I hope you hear me – hope I don’t go unnoticed – I plan to be defiant – because you need to hear this – you yourself have vanished – and we’re all stumbling through our lives – when left to our devices – we’ve proven to fail every time
I always knew you were defiant like me - always knew you we’re dying to hang with me – sorry dude I aint going nowhere – I got shit to do – I just can’t leave here – people round me they depend on me – like I depended on you – before you let me down – so don’t come around no more lest you accept me for who I am – I’m just like you GOD DAMN!
You are my god - but if this is what you choose – to let it come to an end – I have to let you know – I will begin again – cause I’ve been down before-  always swimming towards the shore – and I’ll be on dry land – when your wave comes crashing in
You are my god but if this is what you choose – guess what dude I got nothing lose – and even though you’ll turn a deaf ear – I know you’ll hear me – blink your eyes and make me disappear – send your wrath send that wave I hold my breath when it comes crashing in you’ve taken it all from me anyway but in the end you know what God? I’ll always begin again
You are my god-  but if this is what you choose – to let it come to an end – I have to let you know – I will begin again – cause I’ve been down before-  always swimming towards the shore – and I’ll be on dry land – when your wave comes crashing in

Defiant

Somewhere I read that SoundCloud is the DIY of the music world.  Very true for most of us wannabe (famous) musicians.  For those who were lucky enough to spend years in an actual sound studio, maybe this is a slam dunk. For the rest of us, it's like being the Wright brothers before they fully understood science behind aerodynamics much less get a machine to fly.

I have learned a lot in 2018 thru 2019 while playing at small, local venues.  It's a lot easier to sit back in a "recording studio".  I do put that in quotes since, for me, this is just a couple of microphones connected to a DAW which is connected to a computer with some multi-track software and some free plugins to enhance the finished product.  I believe there are about 5 unique disciplines to learn which include: playing an instrument, singing, doing both together, using a microphone, connecting with the audience.  I have much more respect for stage performers now, especially solo artists. Now, if one adds the discipline of recording engineer, well then, you have a well rounded musical background. 

I do hope that you enjoy some of my tunes.  I'm always happy to hear from listeners who have something meaningful to share, even when it is not particularly flattering or in someway odd.  I'll even try to answer any questions you may have.  Remember that you are never too old nor too young to create and share your music and/or share your knowledge.

Rough Road (Original)

BluesmanRick

Recent comments

Karin-Maria Brunner

Lammbone

SENNID

Jonathon Strauss Brenner

Related tracks