An anthemic, high-energy track built around bold chants and driving rhythms. With defiant lyrics, crowd-ready call-and-response, and a soaring hook, it delivers the feeling of a rally cry — a celebration of strength, release, and unity. Designed to be shouted loud, it transforms into a shared experience between performer and audience, carrying the raw force of fire overcoming pain.

[LYRICS]

Hello fire!
Raise it higher!

Turn it up, it’s all the same,
Hello fire, hello flame.
Nothing left for you to claim,
I’m all set now, I’m all game.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Heat is on, it pulls me near,
Every flame is bright and clear.
Ashes all that’s left today,
Pain has nothing left to say.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hear the crowd, we shake the floor,
Every roar just begs for more.
We are here to settle the score,
Every step, we rise and soar.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hello fire!
Goodbye pain!
Feel the flame!
Shout my name!

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hello fire, goodbye pain!

Hello Fire, Goodbye Pain (Live Anthem Cut) – Arena Rock • Hard Rock • Alt

This version of Hello Fire Goodbye Pain was reshaped for Lines That Cut Both Ways. Where the original leaned into stadium chants and power, this version pulls everything close: acoustic textures, emotional vocals, and quiet strength. It belongs here as a moment of release within the album’s story — a spark that survives the ashes, a reminder that even in heartbreak there is resilience. This is the intimate cut, the whispered truth, and the song that trades fire’s roar for its quiet glow.

[LYRICS]

Turn it down, the night is near,
Hello fire, I feel you here.
Nothing left I need to hide,
I’m all set now, I’ve survived.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
A quiet spark that still remains.
Hello fire, soft and true,
A light to guide me back to you.

Ashes fade but leave their mark,
Lessons written in the dark.
Every scar becomes a sign,
Of what was lost and what is mine.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
A quiet spark that still remains.
Hello fire, soft and true,
A light to guide me back to you.

Whisper low, don’t turn away,
Carry me through the break of day.
Even shadows learn to bend,
Every wound can find its end.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
A quiet spark that still remains.
Hello fire, burning slow,
The only truth I’ve come to know.

Hello Fire (Intimate Version) • Singer-Songwriter • Adult Contemporary • Neo-Folk

Hello Fire (Afrobeat Version) reimagines the anthem through the heartbeat of Afrobeat. With djembe, congas, and rolling percussion building the foundation, chants and call-response vocals carry the song into stadium-like energy. The fire becomes rhythm, the pain becomes release, and the message turns collective: rise, move, and break free together.

This version pushes the song into dance-driven territory while keeping the core defiant and triumphant spirit alive. A fusion of world rhythm, Afrobeat pulse, and anthem energy — made for movement, voices, and uniting crowds.

[LYRICS]

Hello fire!
Raise it higher!

Turn it up, it’s all the same,
Hello fire, hello flame.
Nothing left for you to claim,
I’m all set now, I’m all game.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Heat is on, it pulls me near,
Every flame is bright and clear.
Ashes all that’s left today,
Pain has nothing left to say.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hear the crowd, we shake the floor,
Every roar just begs for more.
We are here to settle the score,
Every step, we rise and soar.

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hello fire!
Goodbye pain!
Feel the flame!
Shout my name!

Hello fire, goodbye pain,
Turn it up, I stopped the rain
Hello fire, hello flame,
Rise together, shout the same.

Hello fire, goodbye pain!


Hello Fire • Afrobeat • World Fusion • Anthem of Rhythm & Flame

“Sugar & Steam” leans into a classic bossa nova backbone with contemporary vocal intimacy and jazz-flavored harmony. The pace is unhurried and downtempo, the palette is nylon guitar, upright bass, brushed kit, and a gentle shaker, with the lyric tracing a playful café ritual that turns into a quiet yes. Think modern lounge warmth with a songwriter’s focus on clear storytelling.

If you like intimate bossa and soft-jazz textures with a simple, romantic arc, this is made for late mornings and late nights alike.

[LYRICS]

I push the door the morning spins,
There you stand behind the tins.
Eyes like amber, soft and free,
I lose my words, you’re all I see.

You lean and ask “the same as ever?”
That gentle voice too smooth, too clever.
I nod too quick, my breath held tight,
What I mean is you, if that’s alright.

You sketch a heart as if in play,
Then you write my name, real thick.
It makes me blink, in a quiet way,
I try to speak but words won’t stick.

You turn to brew my morning fix,
The steam rolls high in swirl and mix.
But what I crave is only you,
You’re all I need, not just the brew.

You ask how sweet, surprise me
The crowd drifts off, the counter’s free.
You lift and smile, a gentle gleam,
Then brush my wrist and pass the steam.

Warm and bright the steam still rising,
Behind the counter you keep smiling.

And when you touch me,
I breathe and start to smile too…

I just had to smile too…
Oh, I had to smile too…
Yes — I smiled with you too…

Sugar & Steam - A Bossa Nova Romance at Café Bossa • Jazz • Contemporary

The Candlelight Cut glows with a darker, intimate tone—nylon guitar weaving gentle bossa patterns, upright bass in a light two-feel, and brushes that whisper more than they strike. A near-whisper vocal leads the lyric, lingering on touch, breath, and nearness. It’s music for when the lights dim, when silence settles, and when bodies lean closer without hurry. Intimate, unhurried, and warm—perfect for late nights when the world slows to a hush.

[LYRICS]

Lamplight low, the evening slow
Curtains breathe in gentle flow
Your shoulder rests against my side
We trade our words for quiet time

Soft cotton sleeve beneath my hand
I trace the seam, a quiet band
Your breath drifts in and warms my ear
We move so slow, I feel you near

We let the clock fall off the wall
We learn the shape of rise and fall
Your name, a vow upon my lips
We drift to music, slow as sips

Window opens, soft rain outside
We find a rhythm side to side
Hear your laughter right by mine
The night forgets to move in time

Low light pools across the floor
Your heartbeat hums a steady score
My cheek finds home against your sleeve
We stay right here and barely breathe

Closer, closer, stay near to me

Wrap me soft, don’t set me free
Hold me gentle, tenderly
Stay beside and comfort me
Whisper low, unendingly
Drift with me in harmony

Closer, closer, stay near to me

Night will wrap us carefully
Let the hours flow like the sea
Moments linger, let them be
Time dissolves within my arms
Moonlight hums your melody
Shadows fall so quietly

Closer, closer, stay near to me

Feel your warmth surrounding me
Your soft hand’s my only key
Skin to fabric, close to me
Breathe your breath so near to me
Every sigh I hear—a symphony
Touch becomes eternity

Closer, closer, stay near to me

Love’s a hush, a mystery
All I ask—just you and me
Nothing else is meant to be
You are my sweetest destiny
Heart to heart, we find the key

Closer, closer, stay near to me
Closer, closer, stay near to me

Velvet Hour - Candlelight Cut • Bossa Nova • Contemporary

A full confessional brought into focus. Still lo-fi and intimate, but steadier and more resonant than Before the Ink. The voice carries warmth and weight, supported with just enough space to let the emotion breathe. A journal entry set to sound — reflective, honest, and unguarded.

[LYRICS]

Lost and found, funny place.
You never know till you do.

I’ll be your umbrella when the sky lets go,
I’ll be your glasses when the world’s a blur.
I’ll be your small lighter when the power’s out,
Your calm in the thunder when you’re full of doubt.

They say what’s lost ain’t always gone,
Sometimes it waits to lean on.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
A friend at your side when you’re feeling down.
Button for your coat when it will not close,
The flower you pressed in a book no one knows.

That one glove you lost, yes sir, I’m her.
I’ll be your map when you lose your street.
That lucky coin waiting under your seat,
I’ll be your charger when your spark runs weak.

I’ve been forgotten and I’ve worn some dust,
Still I’m your mirror when you need to trust.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
Come find me again when you’re feeling down.
I was yours all along, just out of sight.

Just out of sight.

Lost and Found (Diary Entry)

A reflective, modern pay-it-forward song with intimate vocal, acoustic guitar, soft piano, and brushed drums. Rolling 6/8 sway, lyric-led verses, and a gentle lift in the refrain. Pop-friendly polish, nature imagery, and a warm, optimistic arc.

[LYRICS]

When the night draws down her curtain,
stars keep faithful count of light;
paths are veiled yet sure and certain,
as orbits sing in ordered flight.
Watch them move with steady measure,
wax and wane, then turn again;
so the heart can find its treasure,
of mercy falling like the rain.

Lo, it flows, it flows forever,
turning mist to kindly cloud;
then fall in grace that none can sever,
to make deserts bloom aloud.

Ask the Bees of their patient labor,
of how that nectar comes and goes;
ask the flowers, ask your neighbor,
of what your tender silence sows.
If a heart is bowed and grieving,
wipe that tear and tarry nigh;
we will reap by gentle leaving,
gentle good beneath the sky.

Lo, it flows, it flows forever,
turning mist to kindly cloud;
then fall in grace that none can sever,
to make deserts bloom aloud.

Like sunrise to sunset turning,
Wandering souls shall soon return;
you who read the sky by tracing,
we learn to love as seasons turn.
Unto thee is beauty granted,
When thy Yes is true and free;
Rooted, watered, kindly planted,
You’ll grow in love that others see.

Lo, it flows, it flows forever,
turning mist to kindly cloud;
then fall in grace that none can sever,
to make deserts bloom aloud.

Ye Who Would Read the Sky (Pay It Forward)

A late-night torch cut with teeth. A smoky alto rides a piano-driven groove and firm backbeat while the band drops sharp, syncopated hits. The feel leans jazz and blues with modern neo-soul color, staying focused and intimate—no frills, just tension, space, and payoff. If you like moody storytelling with a clear hook and a touch of swing-edge attitude, this one’s for you.

[LYRICS]

Lost and found, funny place.
You never know till you do.

I’ll be your umbrella when the sky lets go,
I’ll be your glasses when the world’s a blur.
I’ll be your small lighter when the power’s out,
Your calm in the thunder when you’re full of doubt.

They say what’s lost ain’t always gone,
Sometimes it waits to lean on.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
A friend at your side when you’re feeling down.
Button for your coat when it will not close,
The flower you pressed in a book no one knows.

That one glove you lost, yes sir, I’m her.
I’ll be your map when you lose your street.
That lucky coin waiting under your seat,
I’ll be your charger when your spark runs weak.

I’ve been forgotten and I’ve worn some dust,
Still I’m your mirror when you need to trust.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
Come find me again when you’re feeling down.
I was yours all along, just out of sight.

Just out of sight.

Lost and Found (Jazz with Teeth)

A torch-tinged vignette that moves in scenes—quiet confession into sharp lift, then a final, late-night glow. A chest-forward alto rides a piano-first groove while the band answers in tight bursts. The feel leans jazz and blues with modern neo-soul color and a hint of retro warmth—space, tension, and a chorus that lands clean on the downbeat.

[LYRICS]

Lost and found, funny place.
You never know till you do.

I’ll be your umbrella when the sky lets go,
I’ll be your glasses when the world’s a blur.
I’ll be your small lighter when the power’s out,
Your calm in the thunder when you’re full of doubt.

They say what’s lost ain’t always gone,
Sometimes it waits to lean on.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
A friend at your side when you’re feeling down.
Button for your coat when it will not close,
The flower you pressed in a book no one knows.

That one glove you lost, yes sir, I’m her.
I’ll be your map when you lose your street.
That lucky coin waiting under your seat,
I’ll be your charger when your spark runs weak.

I’ve been forgotten and I’ve worn some dust,
Still I’m your mirror when you need to trust.

I’m your lost and found when the world spins round,
Come find me again when you’re feeling down.
I was yours all along, just out of sight.

Just out of sight.

Lost and Found (My Mini Rhapsody)

CAN YOU SEE?
Copyright 2025 Moretti/O'Brien/Bradley/Bourdil/Goyeah
Music by France Moretti, Richard Bradley, Benjamin Bourdil, Luc Goyeah
Lyrics by Alex O'Brien; SOCAN
All Rights Reserved

France Moretti: Keyboards, Vocals
Richard Bradley: Guitars
Benjamin Bourdil: Drums
Luc Goyeah: Bass, Mixing/Mastering

This one's a call to look deeper, listen closer, and feel truly alive!

CAN YOU SEE?
Lyrics by Alex O’Brien; All Rights Reserved

Life isn’t always as simple as that
Life isn’t always a problem to solve
Sail on the waves with the wind in your hair
Listen for footsteps as your heart evolves

Isn’t it always a little more grey?
Love isn’t easy and sometimes brings pain
Soar in the clouds with the mountains below
Listen for pathways that clear in the rain

Can you see?
Can you see beyond the trees?
Can you hear?
Can you hear the raging sea?
Can you rise?
Can you rise high up above?
Can you feel?
Can you feel the timeless love?

Answers aren’t always so clear to the mind
The truth is patient and later revealed
Slide on a rainbow the sun in your eyes
When you least expect your heart will be healed

Can you see?
Can you see beyond the trees?
Can you hear?
Can you hear the raging sea?
Can you rise?
Can you rise high up above?
Can you feel?
Can you feel the timeless love?

Clear away the glaring lights
Clear away the noise too bright
Clear away the chains too tight
Clear away your poisoned life
Clear away, clear away, clear away

Life isn’t always as simple as that
Love isn’t easy and sometimes it hurts
Dive in the ocean and sing with the whales
Listen for rivers that flow through the earth

Can you see?
Can you see beyond the trees?
Can you hear?
Can you hear the raging sea?
Can you rise?
Can you rise high up above?
Can you feel?
Can you feel the timeless love?

Can you feel the timeless love?

RELEASED ON SOUNDCLOUD: November 15, 2025

Can You See?

I’ve always lived at the crossroads of music and poetry — where feeling becomes form, and melody turns memory into meaning. Whether it’s a lingering jazz note, a well-placed rhyme, or a shift in tempo that tells a deeper story, I’m drawn to that quiet magic where art reflects life with a little more style.

My roots are in classic music — the kind that doesn’t chase the moment but lingers with you long after the last note. Over time, that love expanded into poetry writing and jazz — especially the kind that swings, speaks, and smirks all at once. Jazz, to me, isn’t just a genre; it’s a personality. A conversation. A little tilt of the head and a grin that knows more than it says.

When I set out to create an album, it’s rarely just a collection of songs. I approach it like a personal playlist — one that drifts and flows as if the entire tracklist were one long, uninterrupted piece. Each track leans into the next, shifting mood, pace, or voice, but always carrying the same thread of feeling. I want you to listen the way I do — not as a shuffle of moments, but as a cinematic arc. One breath that lasts an hour.

Lyrically, my work is rooted in lived experience. Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times it’s just the skeleton of a memory, dressed up in wit, irony, or longing. I draw from real-life events, then let the poet in me twist, stretch, or sweeten them to taste. Depending on the tone of the album — playful, romantic, nostalgic, or something in between — I try to keep the emotional truth intact while giving it a fresh coat of creativity. A little humor where it fits. A deeper dive where it hurts.

My newest jazz album continues this tradition — short-lined swing tracks, conversational duets, and tongue-in-cheek storytelling. It’s an homage to late-night alleyway ballads, rooftop serenades, and train station goodbyes — all bound together with a sense of charm and cohesion. Each song is its own little scene, but together they tell a story — one you can revisit with each replay.

Thanks for stopping by my profile. I hope you find something that earns a spot on your repeat-play list — a melody, a lyric, or a moment that feels like it was written just for you.

To celebrate 2000, I took a year off to write songs, novels, plays, and stories - and I've been doing that since. At the end of my first year, I won first prize in the USA Songwriting Contest in the Lyric Category for 'Drum Machines and Beauty Queens.' This led to co-writing songs with many excellent musicians, including those represented in songs posted here. 

More recently, I was one of seven finalists in the Crisis Lyric Category of the 2021 UK Songwriting Contest for 'Lockdown Blues,' and one of nine nominees in the 2021 International Song Awards with 'Didn't the River Know' and 'Blue and Gold.'

For the past two years, I've been collaborating with many talented musicians on Kompoz. I release many of these songs here and compile the best into albums released under Captain Stormfield's Trip on Spotify and other platforms (see links below).

New tracks tagged #Adult-Contemporary