I'm a day late, but this is my first song for the December 2013 edition of Create 7in7. This time around I'm attempting to double up, participating both in creating a musical creation every day as well as a literary creation every day, which will be posted at alexandermachine.wordpress.com

Lyrics:

I'm figuring out how to be a man on Christmas eve
Is it about the gifts I buy or the poor I feed?
I don't know what my baby wants me to supply
Maybe growing up is what she needs from her Christmas guy

I'd look away when I'd hear those Salvation Army bells
I had to keep my pocket padded for when all hell breaks loose
So they must know what it feels like for the dogs left in the shelters
Being passed up by the couples who will never know what they're after

Just a little snow was all I needed to cover up a black heart
As Horace said, "the art lies in hiding the art"

I stand up straight when someone asks how well I tithe
I like to think without me my church wouldn't survive
But I'm so well-known for always wearing suits and ties
I bet if I even looked the way of a beggar, they'd see my smile as a lie

I've always credited my wealth to doing the Christian thing
As Alex Pope said, "let's trace the Muses up to their Spring"

So now its Christmas eve
My kids are playing by the tree
An old man's half dead on my street
Just looking for food and a place to eat.
What will I do? What will I say?
Will I tell my kids to look away?
Or invite him in to share in our blessed
Life, love, and pursuit of happiness?
Remove this snow where it doesn't belong
Or let my black heart be a trait I pass along to my kids?

7in7 - "Her Christmas Guy"

7in7 day 2

See my 7in7 literature entries at
alexandermachine.wordpress.com

Lyrics:
I've been waiting for the cool winter air to catch me
But I didn't expect the winds to be so strong, strong to spite me
Frostbite is coming on, regret is coming strong

I guess i should be careful what I wish for this time of the year
I've never seen a blessing be received with such worry and fear

I've been stuck inside for days without a respite in sight
And I never realized my house was so low on food and things to do
My family's getting bored and our arguments are worse than this storm

I've had this strange feeling inside that I may be the last to know
Our families need some time together - that's why we're stuck in by the snow

Oh mother, I'd forgotten how much my laughter took after you
Oh sister, I'd forgotten how joyous I am when I look after you
Oh brother, I'd never noticed how funny we can be together
Oh daddy, if only you were here to tell us story in this cold weather

7in7 "Stuck in the Snow"

Be sure to head over to my blog for the poems I'm also writing daily for 7in7

I know this is long, but there's a special gift to everyone who makes it about 4 minutes into the song! :D

Lyrics:

Winter break's here, semester is over
I don't know what to do with myself
Time is so free, life uncongested
Yet I'm feeling so misdirected

With all this time apart
You're loosening my heart

My thoughts are unwound, affections are waning
I don't know what to do with myself
Oh, hobbies, return! This is so elating,
Who knew that I had anything left?

With all this time apart
You're loosening my heart
I thought I was long-gone
But I found out I don't have to be all

Girl crazy, I was always so girl-crazy
But now I can be God-crazy
Love-crazy or Book-crazy
Even crazy-crazy

Girl crazy, I don't have to be girl-crazy
Now I can be faith-crazy
Or coffee-crazy, or longboard-crazy,
I'm crazy-crazy, yeah, I don't have to be

My ambition's clear, time is just flying
A thousand options to think about
My mind is so free, my hands are productive
This winter break is seductive

With all this time away
I found out I can stay
Single and be okay
I sure hope I stay this way

I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad
I'm a mad son of a father and mother, brother to a brother
This is all I know
Maybe if I had a sister I could be a better mister
But right now is just not right, so I'll have to put my troubles out of sight

Have yourself a merry Christmas

7in7 - Girl Crazy, the Sort-of Christmas Song

I have a bad habit of writing songs always around the same tempo, so today I deliberately slowed things down a bit. I also had a new friend named Leah joke around and ask me to write a song about her, so I went ahead and did it! :D

Go see my 7in7 poems and more at http://alexandermachine.wordpress.com

Lyrics:

You came out of nowhere, I swear
Like a snowstorm on a summer day, you're here, my dear

Leah Leah
I'll be a, be a

I'll be a man for you
And you'll be the only Christmas gift I need
I'll let the reindeer pass right over me

Sometimes just a smile's proof enough - it's love
If I could, I'd come over every day, and stay

Here with Leah, Leah
I'll be a, be a

We'll be a force of one,
The single light to place atop the Christmas tree,
Our love will make up for each gift underneath

I can't offer you a ring or a house or food
Just yet,
Please stick with me and I'll save up all I can get
I can only pray you will see past a poor man's wages
To let our love be the price to get us through the ages

7in7 - Leah, Leah (Poor Man's Wages)

This is probably my roughest song yet, but I love the lyrics and I'll probably return to them in the future with an opportunity to totally revamp the music.

Check out my 7in7 poetry at http://alexandermachine.wordpress.com

Lyrics (inspired in part by the film Philomena):

It's the season for happiness and cheer
Good
Because I'd hate December if it was the time for making amends
I can never forgive you
And I'll be very happy to sleep in this bed
Of prayers for myself and forgiveness for no one
Who has done me wrong

What gives you any right?
You stole my only son,
Yet you ask for my forgiveness,
I'd rather you ask for a fight.

I hope your church never lets you back in their doors
I hope you waste your marriage away on bottles and whores
I hope your Christmas lights burn your house down to the floor
I hope every gift you get just leaves you wanting more

Cause let me tell you
Every gift that I buy reminds me of him
Every step in my house reminds me of him
Every word from my wife reminds me of him
And every time I'm reminded of him, I think of you.

Tell me, how many Christmases and birthdays
Do you expect to celebrate with your daughters?
Tell me, do you know how separated from God I feel
Not being able or willing to forgive?
I blame you for this
I blame you for this
I blame you for this
And I'll be very happy to sleep in this bed
Of prayers for myself and forgiveness for no one else

Theherox