Had a tune that I needed to get down in between a couple of other songs ......

Felt like the right time

Felt Like The Right Time....

Hi, 

We’re Jo and Roger and we’ve been making music mainly under the name Curio for some time. We met at school and have been gigging and recording (on and off) for the last 23 odd years with various folk helping us on the way.

We’re going to be adding tracks here from our back catalogue from 1998 and 2008, plus re-recording and then adding others that we’ve gigged and recorded, mainly just for the pleasure of re-visiting them again.

This track is the first of them – Enlightenment.

Enlightenment is the title track from the second album that we made in about 2004, at that point we’d slimmed down to the 2 of us with Jo taking care of the vocals/guitar and Roger filling in around the edges!

We were chilled when we made this, which is reflected in the approach and take on what started out life lyrically as more of a ‘please just communicate’ theme.

Feedback always welcomed and really grateful to be part of this community.

Curio aka J&R

Enlightenment

Written many moons ago about innocence and having a moment of re-discovering it.....this track doesn't really claim to be anything other than a reflection of the sheer fun of playing it.

Swingin'

demo💽 yanke

This song is based on the poem by the 16-century poet Rumi, called "The Guest House"

Unexpected Visitors

We were too young to think ‘bout dying, but we had to anyway.
Fidel was gonna send those bombers flying real soon.
Digging deep inside the basement, storing water and canned goods.
Hope we live to see another day. 

But things soon calmed down in the palace, order restored to Camelot.
Then that fateful day in Dallas, order died.
Watching grainy film on repeat, nobody knows what’s what.
We watched little John John and we cried. You’re all safe they told us, but they lied.

Down in Memphis they shot Martin, out in L.A. Bobby too.
Watching all our heroes dying in prime time.
in Chicago they were cracking heads and knee caps, they kept showing us the news.
What were we supposed to do and say? Act like them and look the other way
Sorry, that’s not happening today! 

Every night we’d watch the footage, bombing kids in Vietnam.
If you watch it long enough, it’ll dull the senses.
They turned the guns on us in Ohio, Nixon dropped another bomb.
This is gonna shape the thing you do. Questioning the things you thought you knew.
Fifty years have passed, it still rings true.
You will either take a stand - or watch Fox News.


Class of ‘74

First you say you love me, always thinking of me.
Then you try to shove me right back in line.
When the wheel stops spinnin’, you’re of the opinion -
You’re the one who's winning, and you may be right.
It looks like you are using me, ignoring, and abusing me, and yes I mind.
I’m running out of luck so you can pucker up and put it where the sun don’t shine.
Ooh, I love you baby, there’s no ifs or maybes,
But I gotta say I’m not sure how long.
So, if you're ever planning to be kind and understanding,
Now’s the time for standing, ‘cause you know you’re wrong. You’re so-so wrong.

Girl, you know it’s funny the way you call me honey.
But there’s no amount of money that can change my mind.
I know that times are tough, and getting by is getting rough,
But I think I’ve seen enough to rearrange my style.
It’s not a Cadillac, but I got a tank of gas, and it’s running fine.
You know I gotta go, but before I hit the road, kiss where the sun don’t shine.
Now you know I’m leaving, so you can start your grieving
But it’s make-believe, and it won’t last long.
Here’s my parting shot, though it might not mean a lot,
This puts you on the spot, and you know you’re wrong. You’re so-so wrong.



So, So Wrong

Me and my guitar, we go everywhere together.
We have no secrets, we share everything.
No matter how far; sunny or stormy weather.
Daylight or nighttime, all we do is sing.

Me and my guitar, nothing can dare come between us.
We find each other, we share a dream.
Look up, there’s a star, maybe it has also seen us.
Daylight or nighttime, all we do is sing.

Sing, we sing a song of peace and love, we know just what we’re thinking of.
We think that ought to be enough
Still, when the song comes to an end, can we just start it all again?
Isn’t the song our closest friend?

INSTRUMENTAL

Sing, we sing a song of peace and love, we know just what we’re thinking of.
We think that ought to be enough
Still, when the song comes to an end, can we just start it all again?
Isn’t the song our closest friend?

Me and my guitar, we go everywhere together.
We have no secrets, we share everything.
No matter how far; sunny or stormy weather.
Daylight or nighttime, all we do is sing.

Me and My Guitar

I thought you knew; everyone else does. They can see through me like I’m cellophane. One look at me, they can tell. When I saw you, I knew where I was. As for the rest, I cannot explain. One look at me, they can tell. And ever since then it’s been growing stronger, I’m falling deeper each da And ever since then, she’s in my song, her smile’s there to brighten the way. I know the score, I know the reason, I know which side my bread is buttered on. Ever since then it’s been you.  I know the time, I know the season, I know the day, the week, the month, the year. But I still can’t say just when. I know the why, I know the reason, what I don’t know is how it ended here. Could it still happen again?  And ever since then it’s been growing stronger, I’m falling deeper each day. And ever since then, she’s in my song, her smile’s there to brighten the way. I realize I might look silly, but that won’t stop this boy from falling hard. Ever since then it’s been you. Ever since then it’s been you.

Ever Since Then

When does the man in the moon ever sleep, when does he close his eyes? Where does he put his change, with no pockets? Where do his secrets lie? Do all the stars know the other star’s names? Are they from the same family? And do they know where I’m looking tonight? Are they looking back at me?  I’m pretty sure they know who I am, and I think that they may even care. I’m confident if anyone can, they will tell me when and where. But until then, I’m just holding on. I’ve got too much on the line. Maybe the moon and stars are a friend of mine.  How many angels can comfortably dance while perched on the head of a pin? Can angels dance? Is that even allowed? Do they have records to spin? Is there a secret place they all go, footloose and fancy free. And do they know where I’m looking tonight? Are they looking back at me?  I’m pretty sure they know who I am, and I think that they may even care. I’m confident if anyone can, they will tell me when and where. But until then, I’m just holding on. I’ve got too much on the line. Maybe the moon and stars are a friend of mine.

Under the Sky

Sitting on a park bench, watching people.
Never know just who or what will come by.
A class from 2nd grade, a bunch of weirdos on parade,
A girl I used to know in Junior High.
There’s a man who looks just like Pat Sajak.
I asked him if I could buy a vowel.
I guess he’d heard that before, he said, “Sure, there are four,”
“You wanna buy some more or solve the puzzle now?

A man who asked me if I had a quarter.
I didn’t, but I gave him a dollar bill.
A bunch of kids on skates, a lawyer running late.
Someone’s grandma selling daffodils.
A man came by and asked if he could join me.
I said I didn’t know I was coming apart.
He grinned, told me his name, I grinned back and did the same,
Then for forty-five minutes he opened up his heart.

I should be happy with this life I’ve got.
I should be happy, but I’m ‘fraid I’m not.
I should be happy, but I find, happy’s just a waste of time.
Sadness comes along and smooths things out.

He proceeds to share with me his story.
I could not believe the tales he spun.
Some lives have been charmed, some lives have been harmed,
But my new friend, he’d had neither one.
“Everything I touch,” he said’s, “been middling.
I have never had the highs, nor lows.
You may think that sounds grand, but what you fail to understand,
Is that it gets so lonely with no place to go.

He asked me if I thought I was happy.
I paused to think it through, then I agreed.
“That’s what I once thought,” he said, “Least what I was taught instead
Of looking at my life with honesty.
But I noticed all those peaks and valleys
Started looking like a parking lot.
It was flat, it was square, and it never went anywhere,
I spent all my time just looking for my spot.

I should be happy with this life I’ve got.
I should be happy, but I’m ‘fraid I’m not.
I should be happy, but I find, happy’s just a waste of time.
Sadness comes along and smooths things out.

I’ve been thinking ‘bout this man’s dilemma, pondering the moral of his tale.
Do sad and happy cancel out? Do whispers balance when you shout,
Is winning just the opposite of fail?
Or are they all companions in this journey we’re all in together?
Would life be complete if one was gone?
You gotcha good, you gotcha bad, you gotcha happy and your sad.
And they all come together and wind up in this song.

So when life gives you happy, grab it all.
And when you’re short of happy, still stand tall.
Do what you can with all the rest, hold on tight and do your best,
Another dose of happy’s heading your way.
And if you’re still running short, I’m happy to report.
I’ve got another dose of happy heading your way.

I Should Be Happy

Retired the beginning of 2023. Been writing music seriously for about six years. Thanks for listening - and sharing!

So, So Wrong

Scott Orr

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