Pulled this old song out the other day and have been working on it. I've always enjoyed the melody. Written over 10 years ago. This is one of those back burner songs, never felt complete due to a second verse, and that came quick the other night, crazy how that happens, after so many years, but it's all about timing. I did this live take tonight, on once again the old Baldwin:) This was no first take...took a few, always worth it...it's such a nice feeling hitting that final chord...knowing...okay that was it!  I hope you enjoy this song. I appreciate all who listens! Many thanks! What a fun ride it's been on here so far! 

Dark Roads

I've never been on a plane
Never kissed beauty in the rain
Never felt a day without pain
Never felt freedom in my brain
Let all these facts remain
Ready for golden terrain

Been running up and down dark roads
Going nowhere devils at my side
God make em hide
Be my guide
I wanna know how it feels to be heading home
Oh I wanna know how it feels to be heading home

I don't need the worlds big dreams
The world has got some evil teams
Fly me through the cold jet streams
Fly me through the pale moon beams
Fly me through the red sun beams
To a place with no screams

Been running up and down dark roads
Going nowhere devils at my side
God make em hide
Be my guide
I wanna know how it feels to be heading home
Oh I wanna know how it feels to be heading home

Instrumental

Been running up and down dark roads
Going nowhere devils at my side
God make em hide
Be my guide
I wanna know how it feels to be heading home!
Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo 
Oh I wanna know how it feels to be heading home!
Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh ohh

Fly me through the cold jet streams
Fly me through the pale moon beams
Fly me through the red sun beams
To a place with no screams

All music written and recorded by 
©Daniel Colter Valentine

Dark Roads (Original Song Live)

I-Berliner Ensemble

I was on a Virginia recently (DC and Virginia Beach were great) and instead of writing an online review, I was compelled to write a musical review of a less than stellar experience I had at a hotel. Recorded on my iPhone using GarageBand with the vocal song using the basic iPhone earbuds.
I stepped into the hotel. I noticed an unpleasant smell. It was a combination of old cigarettes and mildew. 
I went into my room. I could feel a sense of doom. As I took off my shoes and socks and my bare feet touched the grimy floor. 
Things are not the best at the Best Western, they’re going downhill fast, and I’m trying to pretend the glass is half full. I’m trying really hard to have a nice stay at this hotel. I’m trying not to lose my cool.
There was a peloton in the gym, so I sat on it and tried to login, but the bike wouldn’t work because the Wi-Fi wasn’t connected .
I went back to my room for a shower, and it was like I had a special superpower because when I reached for the handle to turn on the water, it came off in my hand .
Sometimes you can have a little bit of bad luck when you book a cheap room and try to save a buck. You can get angry and sit around and stew or you can break out into a song and write a musical review.

A Musical Hotel Review (GarageBand)

This song is a new one written this year and it's about how we've all become Broken Mirrors in some way. All of us, we were a loving people, not a cruel people, we were a caring people, not a hateful people, we were a hard working and strong people but also a very fragile people and I feel we've become a little bit more shattered in recent years. Our beliefs and hopes have diminished somewhat and this song reflects that broken mirror in us all. It's harder and harder to stay positive in this crazy hateful world today. I sang this one since Charlie was not available. I think the mix was too loud but I'm having problems with my computer and couldn't adjust the sound in my film editor like I usually do. 

VIDEO - https://youtu.be/CUpzZLL-xJc

I worked hard on the video and tried to follow the lyrics as close as possible. It will drop on August 1st on YouTube. It's about our lack of empathy as of late and this constant hatred for other people that I now sense in this great country of ours!.  So I asked myself, how did we get here? When a country starts depriving its citizens of basic needs like healthcare and not helping our senior citizens and ignoring the less fortunate among us and stop assistance for veterans (like me) that risked our lives for this country, then we're on a road to destruction and our government has failed us.  All I can do is write songs, so songs I shall write. I still believe in love, love is always the answer!  Take care & God bless!🙏😎✌🏼

“BROKEN MIRRORS"

WE LIVE INSIDE OUR CASTLES,
WE HIDE BEHIND OUR WALLS,
WARM AND SECURE, NEVER ENDURE,  
HARDSHIPS THAT BEFALL,             
THE CRESTFALLEN AMONG US,
THE ONES THAT WE IGNORE,      

PRETEND THEY DON’T EXIST,
PERHAPS THEY’LL MELT AWAY, 
THEY’LL DISAPPEAR, ALONG WITH FEARS, 
WE MAY BE THEM ONE DAY,
THEY REALLY NEVER MATTERED,
THE WRETCHED WE DEPLORE, 

BROKEN MIRRORS, BROKEN MINDS,
SOMETIMES WE CHOOSE TO BE BLIND,
CONVINCE OURSELVES, WE’RE MILES ABOVE,  
THOSE THAT BEG AND CRAWL,
 BROKEN MIRROR ALWAYS REFLECT, 
 WHAT’S BROKEN IN US ALL,

MAN IS A STRANGE CREATURE,
SO CRUEL BUT YET SO KIND, 
OUR TAPESTRY IS OUR ARTISTRY,
OUR HEART SOMETIMES SUBLIME,    
YET SOME HAVE A DARKER SIDE,
THEY LURK BEHIND SATAN'S DOOR,  

     BROKEN MIRRORS, BROKEN MINDS,
     SOMETIMES WE CHOOSE TO BE BLIND,
     CONVINCE OURSELVES, WE’RE MILES ABOVE,  
     THOSE THAT BEG AND CRAWL,
     BROKEN MIRROR ALWAYS REFLECT, 
     WHAT’S BROKEN IN US ALL.

 BY JIM VALDES © 2025

"BROKEN MIRRORS" (Video - https://youtu.be/CUpzZLL-xJc)

Simple music made in GarageBand :)
Lyrics & vocal by me

Lyrics:

I'm a little different, not like everyone else
But I'm happy with that
I have nothing to prove
And I don't need a common groove

I walk around with a smile on my face
You may think, Is there something wrong
Well, I am just a satisfied woman
Living life, singing this song

So I´ll toast to a happy life
It can be challenging for sure
But if you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more? 

There is comfort in getting to live
It's not a given for me
Spend my life doing what I want
Allow myself to dream

I walk around with a smile on my face
And you may think, is there something wrong
Well I am just a satisfied woman
Living life, singing this song

So i´ll toast to a happy life
It can be challenging for sure
But if you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more?

If you get through it with a smile on your face
Can you ask for more?

A Happy Life (Original)

Cover of a great band from the 70's. Barclay James Harvest. Song still holds a message for today!!  

Child of the Universe

Con-Fusion

The Shield

A smorgasbord of tasty musical treats....😄

Nowhere is Somewhere

Dancing in the Storm (Rehearsal)

Set Free  by Glenny G ( August 14th 2025 )
A reflective journey exploring a vast length of time that has passed. I thought I would release this one today as food for thought and comments. Cheers from Glenny G

Set Free (Original)

A summer song imagined by Annie Smart (https://soundcloud.com/annie-smart-1) and myself.



Share this moment with me
Share this moment with me

Laying in the sunshine
All day
Watching the clouds roll by
All day
Share this moment with me
Share this moment with me

Tell me why is that so beautiful 
Tell me why is that so fine
So fine
Tell me why is that so beautiful
So beautiful
Laying here in the summertime
Share this moment with me
Share this moment with me

Laying in the laying sky
All stars roll by
Share this moment with me

Tell me why is that so beautiful
So beautiful
Tell me why is that so good
So good
Tell me why is that so beautiful
Laying here in the summer sun

Being here with you
Being here with you
Being here with you

Why is that so wonderful ?
So wonderful
Why is that so fine ?
So fine
So wonderful
Laying here in the summertime...

Share this moment with me

Laying here in the summertime...

Share This Moment With Me (with Annie Smart)

Carnet de croquis
Carnet de route
  ---- ----
Sketchbook
Travelogue

Share This Moment With Me (with Annie Smart)

Tom Régnier