Collection of new songs from 2024 into 2025.

Light Passing Through Colorful Objects

This is a song in appreciation of my singer-songwriter friend Casey Morgan and her wonderful talents. I hear in her voice and music much depth, soul and emotion.

Straw Into Gold

Heart Soul Mind Strength: An album of praise, worship and thanksgiving. 

Mark 12:30

All Songs: Sean M. Smith - R.O.S.E.D Music Experience

A Harp Of Ten Strings

Let The Savior Get Ahold Of Your Life

Shout For Joy

As Far As East Is From The West

The Day That I Surrendered

"And when they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives" (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26)

All Songs: Sean M. Smith - R.O.S.E.D Music Experience

Jesus Sang

I want to know
What are you doing for the rest of your life?
Don't want to be
Romeo and Juliet
I'll never be
A Shark or a Jet
Just got some dreams
Some dreams I'd like to share with you
Just want to know
If you can dream them too...

I want to know
What are you doing for the rest of your life?
Don't want to be
Richard and Elizabeth
I'll never fit
In the clever set
Just got a page
To color from the Book of Life
You can color too
And won't you be my wife?

I want to know
What are you doing for the rest of your life?
Maybe we can be
Woody and Bo Peep
Stay up late at night
And sing the sheep to sleep
Maybe we pretend to be
Exactly who we are
We can work it out
You can drive my car...

I Want To Know, What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?

Not about a particular woman -- a heroic folk ballad of sorts.

She was a marshal of the United States of America
Called to protect a nation torn in two
A daughter of the United States of America
She looked a little like me, but more like you!

California to Tennessee
All the rivers and mountains in between
Florida to Minnesota
Oklahoma to Idaho
New Mexico on up to Maine
She touched the factories
And fruited plain
Nebraska to Alaska
What more could you ask her?

She drove the United States of America
Along the Lincoln Highway in an unmarked car
When tragedy hit the United States of America
She was there to nurse the wounds and heal the scars!

She Was Marshal

He was good with wood
He built tables and chairs
And a life out
Of things he understood

He read in bed
Manuals and magazines
And kept his life
Uncomplicated

They called him Old Hickory
He preferred to work in oak
He always paid in cash
In town he seldom spoke
He drove a rusty GMC
He'd help you in a mess
But who cared for him
Was anybody's guess...

Old Hickory

I caught your fleeting smile in this photograph
Taken in the time before
The invasion, occupation and the aftermath
Now we walk fallen cities along the shore

The blue green of the foaming waves
The golden sunset hue
Orange paint beneath your fingernails
Always making something new
Your rosy cheeks, you make me weak
Pale blossoms in your hair
I hold on to your laugh
I reach into your photograph

And when the monster rose from the sea
To defend humanity, unexpectedly...

The Aftermath

Maybe she's lonely
New to the city
But you'll never know unless
You ask her to dance

She's got normal problems
Together you can solve them
But you'll never know
Unless you ask her to dance...

Unless You Ask Her To Dance

At daybreak, the City comes to me
She whispers her secrets
Oh so softly...

At Daybreak, The City

There's an old hound dog
Behind the steering wheel
Of my broken down heart,
Your puppy dog eyes
Promised me we'd never part

Just an old, brown Ford
And a D-28, [Note: I play a Martin, but not a D-28]
I've been replaced
By a doggerel verse
On the road to a better place...

Puppy Dog Eyes

Dedicated to 42. It's very hard for me to imagine having the bravery and self confidence to do what he did in 1947.

Forty Two

Two years ago you told meThat I was not the oneNow you come around to say so sweetlySorry, you were wrongIt's nice of you to think of meBut I need some information, pleaseYou may think I've been waiting aroundBut honey, that's a different song...

Fly By Night Epiphany

Song about being the last of something that has never existed and may never exist...

I am the last of the Martian cowboys
And this tradition dies with me
I came from Earth oh so long ago
Riding on my Mama's knee

Now, Daddy was a Rocket Ranger
He brought his family 'cross the far and wide
We made our home underneath this dome
He built with pioneer pride...

Last of the Martian Cowboys

Last Of The Martian Cowboys

Diamond Marigold Sundae

Mother called him David
Strangers called him Ziggy
Magazines debated
Well, isn't he or is he?
We sort of half believed
That he'd sold the earth and sun
His eyes were souvenirs
From worlds that he had won...

Daddy Longlegs
Here Comes Daddy Longlegs (ooh)
He struts his stuff
In giant strides
Across the universe...

Here Comes Daddy Longlegs

Don't look now
But there's a fifty foot woman
Marching toward
Your favorite city

She looks mad
Muttering something about the guts
You never had...

There was a time when your charm set off alarms
Among the young women in your circle
But you played them so aloof
And now they're tearing off your roof
To reach in and grab you not so tenderly
And as you twist and shout, 'Oh, no, it wasn't me!'
They whip their hair back to drink in your distress
And laugh with abandon at your helplessness!

You may wake up to find it was just a dream
Or maybe you've discovered your new reality
The hearts you're breaking, the liberties you're taking 
May catch up with you
In a midnight rendezvous
May catch up with you
in a late show rendezvous...

March of the 50 Foot Women

Grace Kelly crashed my party last night
But I didn't mind
She brought chips and salsa
And we played charades
I never laughed, I never laughed so hard
A real live princess in my living room
She got my Smiths records out
And plastered my fridge with Polaroid pictures, baby...

Grace Kelly crashed my party last night
But I didn't mind
She asked to borrow my binoculars
We spied on the neighbors, doing the Cha Cha
She played Twister like a straight up ghost
Euchre like a little old man
She let my daughters borrow her tiara

She said,
"Everybody wants to stay young forever
But after the boys of summer have gone
What we crave is kindness, mercy and compassion
Let me show you a better way..."

Grace Kelly Crashed My Party

Little boy, there are places
In your imagination
I wish I could go
Take my hand as you lead me
I'll try not to cry
As you show me all your wonders
Show me all your wonders
My little boy

My Little Boy

In my daydream, I get a phone call from a late show associate producer asking me to appear as a music guest. And this is the first song I would play.

There's not a place in the sun
That can keep me warm when you're gone
I write you letters
But they're all returned

I'm dried up like a leaf
In the autumn when you leave
Your cryptic communications
Are causing me concern...

Won't you tell me where you are
The Salton Sea
Or a distant star
I'll parry to your rescue
And fight your nemesis
Are you trapped in a disco
High above San Francisco?
I'll boogie to win your freedom
Getting down just like this...

Trapped In A Disco

I have a ritual after playing a gig: I try to find a song from a far off station that is just barely audible through the static and then try to figure out whose song it is. 

Streaming music is great. But somehow the moment doesn't mean as much if you can easily find the song. This is about those times when the song kind of finds you.

Driving late at night
Alone in the darkness
I reach for the knob
Of the car radio

Through the static flows
A song I had forgotten
And suddenly it's daylight
And your sitting next to me (whoa, oh, oh)

I don't recall the verses
Though I knew them once
I copied them in letters
That I sent to you

Thawing like a glacier
Warmth of memory
By the time we reach the chorus
I'm a mess, I'm a mess, oh, oh, oh

Left of You

I'm a clown, I'm kind of funny
My left shoe is stuffed full of money

You ask me change a five dollar bill
We'll, I can make it when I'm rolling downhill...

I'm A Clown

As a friend, as a son, as a grandson and as a father, I know what it is like being at the bedside of someone who is hurting.

Wouldn't it be great if you could take our an instrument and play a song for someone who is ill and have their body respond in a positive way to the sound?

In my small way, I hope to do this with my songs. 

First, I made this painting in the style of the movie Coco. But I didn't want the emphasis to be on memory of those who have died. So, no skulls. Just a simple requinto and lots of flowers and color.

Then I wrote this song with the idea that somehow, with God's power, a song I play and sing might bring healing to someone, child or adult, who is hurting right now.

How brave you seem to me
My little one
The unknown in your eyes
Shadows on all sides
Sitting in this creaking chair
I feel so inspired to
Help in any way
Hold your hand and sing and pray

Late at night when this world is asleep
By your side, your company I'll keep
When I step away, 'cause there's so much to do
May this song bring healing to you

You don't know the power of your smile...

May This Song Bring Healing to You

May you ever be exploring an endless summer in your favorite pair of sandals.

Favorite Pair of Sandals (Solo)

Live from the Delaware Lounge!
Host: Aaron Aaronson
Musical Guest: Sean Smith / Orange Paperbacks
Songs: When I Became a Sofa and Barcelona Chair
Completely Fictional Celebrity Sighting: Apple Martin
Sponsored by the letter 'A'
Spoof Sponsor: Boss TU-02 Tuners

Live from the Delaware Lounge - "Sofa/Chair" (Host: Aaron Aaronson)

Live from the Delaware Lounge!
Host: Brick Brickley
Musical Guest: Sean Smith / Orange Paperbacks
Songs: Let's Make Something Beautiful Together and Nesting Dolls
Completely Fictional Celebrity Sighting: Larry Bird
Sponsored by the letter 'B'
Spoof Sponsor: Intuit and Codecademy

Live from the Delaware Lounge - "Beautiful/Dolls" (Host: Brick Brickley)

Knoll didn't pay me to write this song, but it would be great if they did. https://www.knoll.com/product/barcelona-chair

Buttoned down black perfection
Straps all across your back
Criss-crossed legs of chrome
Oh so chill and relaxed

I found you lounging just inside
Sacks Fifth Avenue
Like seeing a celebrity face to face
I couldn't take my eyes off you...

Oh, Oh, Barcelona Chair
Barcelona Chair!

You made the scene in Spain
Nineteen twenty nine
Ever since they've tried to improve you
But your bones are so refined

Now I can visit you every day
What will the salespeople say
When they see it's me again
Hanging with my furniture friend...

Oh, Oh, Barcelona Chair
Barcelona Chair!

Barcelona Chair

Writing acoustic pop songs, playing them in strange and beautiful places with resounding joy.
All songs: Sean M. Smith, R.O.S.E.D. Music Experience. S.D.G.

2025 Strange and Beautiful Tour:
3/1 - New Albany (OH) Indoor Farmers Market - The folks at New Albany have been so good to me. When I was first getting started playing solo, they gave me dates and kept inviting me back. I love the atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors. I've had times when I played about the best I can, and other times when I wasn't sounding so great. But they keep having me back, and I am very thankful.
4/26 - Cap City Half Marathon (at 12.5 mi) - On a cool, blustery day, I set up my canopy tent with 29 lbs of weights on each corner. I had my amplifier turned up higher than I had ever had it before, and it didn't seem to bother anyone. I had my choice of where to set up, and I could have been sheltered from the direct north wind if I had chosen a spot just fifteen feet  over; however, I didn't realize this right away, and by the time I did, hundreds of runners were passing within a few feet of me. So I basically played in a wind tunnel. Live and learn. I really hope I get to play there again next year because it's such a great event. Many of my best memories came near the end, when I felt like I was playing for individual runners/walkers. Thanks, Cap City!

Sean Smith /|||||| Orange Paperbacks

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