This is a track by Dan X2 that was made in May of 2016.  It has gotten lost over the years.  Dan Blackard recently mentioned that it is missing in our song lists.  So here it is.  Brought back from the Dead.  I don't know what genre this should be called.  What do you think is the genre?

Here are the Lyrics:
yrics;

There's this island
In the sky
No one can see it
with ordinary eyes

A comfortable breeze
Is rocking the trees
The weather so fair
And It floats in the air

My Family and friends
Where they all stay
And I'm always welcome
when I come by there way

The hills fill with flowers
cool running streams
Beach sand for the hours
Of living the dream

There's an island in the sky
Just right for me
When clouds pass by

But The bottles gone dry
And so very tired am I
A doorway for me
To sleep by and by

soon I'm alone
And I take all I own
To my island in the sky

There Is An Island In The Sky

Dan Blackard says.  I was thinking of what to write for this track while sitting in the parking lot at 4:30 in the morning. When for no particular reason visions of my youth and things I vaguely remember started to just flash into my mind. I almost just let the thoughts go. But, some of the memories seemed vivid. The commercials, tv shows and many of the things that, for only the briefest of times, meant a great deal to me.  And then I realized that my head was actually telling me that this was the song. Or, it's more than possible that I was half asleep😆.

Lyrics;
There's the doggy in the window
There's a red balloon
And hey diddle diddle
The cow that jumped over the moon

There's the marbles and jacks
Cartoon mouse and cat
And toys from the days
From when Santa got fat

And I can still find
In the back of my mind
All of the things
This kid left behind

Some crayons and books
Not to read, just for looks
And the big cookie jar
from where all the cookies were took

An old piggy bank
Plastic soldiers and tank
A box of Mr. Bubbles
In the tub where my submarine sank

And I can still find
In the back of my mind
All of the things
This kid left behind

Gumby and Pokey
Ranger hat from Smokey
The old hot wheels cars
A book of Sneetches with stars on thars
Big Tonka truck
The old rubber duck
Let go of my eggos
watch out for the legos.

And I can still find
In the back of my mind
All of those things
This kid left behind

What This Kid Left Behind

Hard To Get

This one is called Hard To Get. A young guy has his eye on a lovely young lady. He can't help but notice her every time she walks by. Especially when there's no one else around.  But she never really says anything to him. He thinks she is playing hard to get by not saying anything to him.  Never figuring out that she's been trying to get his attention for the whole time.

Lyrics;
It was hot and muggy
On a hot summer day
I was sitting on the steps
When I saw her walking by my way
She had a sundress on
And sandals on her feet
And I just watched her walk
All the way on down the street
But I knew that she was playing hard to get
One day she'd be all mine
One day but not just yet
The leaves were falling
There was a chill in the air
The breeze was blowing
I was the only one out there
Then she was walking by
In that blue and black sweater
Never even looked my way
But no one could look better
Still I knew she was playing hard to get
But one day she'd be all mine
One day but not just yet
It was a cold and cloudy day
And ice formed on the trees
I was shoveling the drive
With snow over my knees
And there she was
In a ski coat and sock hat
Building up a snowman
And I thought get a load of that
She's making a man with a heart as cold as ice
she should think about me
I'm warm and oh so nice
The seasons pass
But one day she was standing right there
Looked me right in the eyes
And said ah you men, I  swear
And I was thunderstruck
And I began to sweat
She laughed and said
Why do you play so hard to get?

Hard To Get

Dirty Lies Lyrics:

Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Digging up
dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Digging up
Dirty lies
You're hiding something
You don't know I got wise
Words travel fast
In storms of dirty lies

You've seen another with
those big beautiful eyes
Through them I see your soul
Where all your secrets hide ...
your dirty lies
Dirty lies
I'm digging up
Your dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Digging up
All those dirty lies

You turn your back
When I get close
You seem to want to get away
You'll talk for hours
On the phone
Then look at me with nothing to say

I vowed to always love you
Through lows and highs
You promised to be faithful
'til the day that you die

But you drove off the track
Took your eyes off the prize
Now you're stuck in the mud
Bogged down by dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
I'm digging up
dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Digging up
All your dirty lies

You said I was the only one
Never want another guy
But I heard from a little bird
What you say is drawing flies

Inside my heart is raging
The truth, quite the surprise
'Bout time that you come clean
About your dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Been digging up
All your dirty lies
Dirty lies
Dirty lies
Been digging up
All your dirty lies

Dirty Lies

A Job That Pays

This was a part of a concept album that never took off.  This is the young man going to work in the big factory that keeps the town alive. Years later the factory would close. But for this scene, things are looking up. 

Lyrics;
I've been flipping burgers.
For what seems a hundred years

My life was stuck in neutral
But now I'm changing gears

I got myself a job that pays
the place I need to be
I'm putting on a hard hat
Gonna work in a factory

Walk in with a hot cuppa joe
Lunch bucket too

Working that nine to five
Cause baby needs a new pair of shoes


Yeah I got myself a job that pays
It's the place I need to be
I'm putting on a hard hat
Gonna work in a factory


Maybe in a couple years
I'll get a big fat raise

it sure beats flipping burgers
Cause it's a job that pays

I got myself a job that pays
It's the place I need to be
I'm putting on a hard hat
Gonna work in a factory

Wear that blue collar
Making that dollar
Not a doctor not a lawyer
But I'm feeling ten feet taller

I'm gonna make my ol man proud
And be all I can be
No it's not the Army, but
I'm Working in a factory!

I got myself a job that pays
It's the place I need to be
I'm putting on that hard hat, baby
Go to work in a factory!

Call me the working man
Guess that's what I am!

A Job That Pays

Sonofa  Merica

This song is called "Sonofa  Merica".  it's about  the fairly common lament of the struggle of making a living and the government asking for more.   

Lyrics;
Ain't got much money
Don't hear anybody calling me rich
But the IRS called me
A son of America

Had my nose to the grindstone
For most of my life
Put the roof over my kids
And me and my wife
But I feel that I pursue happiness
At the point of a knife

I'm just man of few means
I have my wishes and dreams
Never did I see my coffers
filling up to the seams

Big Uncle sam
Sees the piggy bank on my shelf
And he gets pretty mad
If I keep too much for myself
Must think it's a pot of gold
It's just an old busted piggy bank and nothing else

But, I'm just man of few means
With limited dreams
Never saw my coffers
fill up to the seams

It's like I better pay Washington
Or they'll show up on my lawn
And walk right through my door
And take even more. And take even more. And take even more. And take even more.

I pay my fair share
I try to do the right thing
And my home is my castle
But hey I'm just pauper king
And I love being free
But if this keeps up I'll be free
of having anything !

Ain't got much money
Don't hear anybody calling me rich
But the IRS called me
A son of America

Sonofa Merica

Rich Man Lyrics

This one is called Rich Man. In our last song, the poor man was trying to get by with limited funds. In this one, our hero is just enjoying life with whatever he can. He's happy just living life.

Lyrics;
I walk in old shoes
Drive on old wheels
Don't have much money
But that's not how I feel
Cause I'm a rich man

I do what I need
And that's getting me by
Got two feet on the ground
And my Head in the sky

I travel lightly
Not much to my name
But I've got all I need
Just the same
I'm a rich man

Wherever I'm at
Is where I want to be
And I'm living my life
Like this world's made for me
I'm a rich man

I have my friends
And my family
They're all the best people
And they're rich just like me


I've traveled the highways
In sunshine and rain
Slept in a boxcar
Of many a train
I've loved and lost
And I still feel the pain
But life is for living
And I can't complain

I don't need a thing
To prove my success
Nobody out there
I need to impress
But I'm a rich man

I do what I need
And that gets me by
Two feet on the ground
My head in the sky

I might walk in old shoes
and drive on old wheels
Not much money
But that's not how I feel
Cause I'm a rich man

I'm a rich man
a rich man
a rich man ...

Rich Man

A song about interruptions.

Lyrics:
In the time of Walter Cronkite
And Huntley and Brinkley
Reporting all the news
Straight forward and succinctly
Programs people watched
Would dissolve with proclamation
With words that froze the viewing nation

"We interrupt this program"

Back then things were black and white
Except for a couple wars
One was cold the other hot
Whatever that war was for
Could be 'bout weather or sport
Or something thing Kruschev said
And Kenneydy's retort

This is a "special report"

Cuba had the Bay of Pigs
That stained the CIA
Bullets flew in Dallas
No one forgot that day
Martin down in Memphis
Robert down in L.A.

"We interrupt this program"
Brought fear of what they'd say

Now we have the world wide web
And all that that implies

The news comes from the people
And seen through world wide eyes

We interrupt this program
Can still grab our attention
With so much going on these days

It's hardly worth the mention

This is a special report

Stand by for breaking news

We interrupt this program

Have we got news for you!

And that's the way it was.

We Interrupt This Program

Lyrics;
Summertime and the living is...
Hey! I Know that guy! ...

I saw him
Yes, I saw him
Santa Claus
chiilin'
in his big driveway
Had to be a reindeer's dream
Santa in the summer
With a four wheel sleigh

Hot August sun
All dressed in black
Santa having summer fun

A big white beard
A big ole tummy
Winter cheer
His summer disposition is sunny

He's the jolly old man
With a shiny Caddy
Right here
in Fishers Indiana
Not the place
I thought I'd see

He's even cool
In the heat of day
Resting up                                        
Before the great big giveaway

A big white beard
A big ole tummy
Winter cheer
His summer disposition is sunny

Yes it's Summer
And Santa's living life
Just like anyone
up and down this street

Summertime's
Not the time

But there he was we all saw him
Me, my kids, my wife
Kicking back in Fishers
The surprise of our life

So strange to see the man
Dressed all in black
Not the red and white
And bag of toys upon his back
In Fishers Indiana
With a big Cadillac
But yeah, I saw him!

A big white beard
A big ole tummy
Winter cheer
His summer disposition is sunny

Summer Santa

Transfixed Traffic Lyrics

Our narrator slowly dips into a bit of a mental state and basically shuts down. Much like the traffic that isn't moving at all. 

Lyrics;
The tail lights on the freeway
Go on for miles and miles
And it's looking like I'll be here
for quite a long long while

In the middle lane
No place to turn
Home is so far away
I feel a real concern

The traffic on this freeway
Has me trapped me in this car
A claustrophobic feeling
Like a bee caught in a jar

Heavy rain is coming down
The wind is screaming
ominous sounds
And no one's moving
Like a bunch of trees rooted to the ground

It's an atmosphere of madness
My mind has gone off track
On a road of no return
And no way to turn back

Traffic jam goes on and on
I'm locking on to tail light glare
Going catatonic
'Cause I'm not going anywhere

My hands melt to the wheel
My feet become the pedals
The rest of me no longer feels
And I harden into metal

Heavy rain is coming down
The wind is screaming
ominous sounds
And no one's moving
Like a bunch of trees rooted to the ground

And the tail lights on the freeway
Go on for miles and miles
And it's looking like I'll be here
for quite a long long while

Transfixed Traffic

Spyder Lyrics

This is a pretty straightforward song.  Partly based it on the Jack Nicholson character in Chinatown.


Lyrics;
Sitting in a car
Top floor garage, the perfect spot
Hours before the morning sun would rise

Occasionally a car would pass
On the clean swept city street 
In a town where dreams of dreamers go to die

No one there would notice him
Inside that old sedan
With slightly tinted windows
And assorted spy supplies

Across the street a condo
And room with two inside
Open curtains, fourth floor
An exclusive high rise
(Click)

Another case another cheater
Another day of real life theater
And he is capturing the feature
The spy-der gets the fly
The stage is struck the case is closed
A dirty secret is exposed
It's how the spying business goes
Public practice, private eye

Betrayers with big money
Stealing time with dirty honey
Lovers become enemies
And want them tied and bound

Armed with film and long range scopes
Unbeknownst he interlopes
Taking aim he deftly shoots
And soon the big game's going down

Like a game of cat and mouse
A business, flat or house
A dog on the hunt
Sniffing clues right off the ground

Another case another cheater
Another day of real life theater
And he is capturing the feature
The spy-der gets the fly
The stage is struck
The case is closed
A dirty secret is exposed
It's how the spying business goes
Public practice, private eye

When the Spy-der web is weaved
The truth will be received

All it takes is a few clicks
And the delivery of pics
Hidden from their view
They never hear the sound

An envelope in trade for pay
The evidence will put away
The tyrant queen or king
Who's about to lose their crown

The truth can bring great pain
But great for monetary gain
The business never slows
In this low down dirty town

Another case another cheater
Another day of real life theater
And he is capturing the feature
The spy-der gets the fly
The stage is struck
The case is closed
A dirty secret is exposed
It's how the spying business goes
Public practice, private eye

Spyder

This is The Shadows In The Shade.  It's about "living in a simulation" theory.

Lyrics:
Watching every move you make
Hearing every thought
Knowing everything you are
And everything you're not

Nothing will you try to do
Nothing do you say
Shadows in the shade
Providing you the way

Every move you make, your own
Believe what you believe
Yet doing things with cause unknown
Is too much to conceive

Barely take a moment's pause
Then get on with your day
Back on track and for the cause
For that's the chosen way

Connecting and collecting
Minds and souls to trade
Blending in the background
Shadows in the shade

In another lifetime
Outside in the sun
Playing games with those they knew
Real friends having fun

Mothers called the children home
When the sun went down
Street lights brightly shined the way
For all the kids in town

Immersing in the virtual
Real worlds to the eyes
Without a question follow paths
As if hypnotized

Somewhere in the deepest dream
A voice is calling out
Street lights brightly shine the way
Then suddenly go out

Morning brings a brand new day
In time all dreams will fade
All part of the simulation
From shadows in the shade

The Shadows In The Shade

Glimpse Of A Ghost

This music is a journey around the Circle of Fifths.  The lyrics are about a person not sure of what he sees is real. Or, maybe, it's ghosts. 



Lyrics;
Glimpse Of A Ghost
It was early one morning
With this feel of unease
I heard a great gust of wind
flowing strong through the trees

And a touch out of nowhere
Right through my soul
I opened up my eyes
To a room as black as coal

Out of my bed
as the sun's on the rise
An image appeared
Before my eyes

A wisp in the air
A spirit set free
A glimpse of a ghost
What else could it be

A glimpse of a ghost
Is it all in my mind
A slighty blurred vision
That I can't define

A haunting lost memory
That leaves me engrossed
An unexplained mystery
This glimpse of a ghost

New mornings would pass
With visions anew
Vague apparitions
Clouding my view

A caution, a warning?
A call from the past?
A glimpse of a ghost
Or the shade that it cast

A glimpse of a ghost
A future declined
Leftover dreams
Is it all in my mind

A brief touch of death
Things I fear most
A caution, a warning?
A glimpse of a ghost?

Circle of Fifths:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_fifths
https://www.musicnotes.com/now/tips/circle-of-fifths-guide/

Glimpse Of A Ghost

This is kinda dark.

Lyrics;
The empty eyes
Had seen the future
A silent heart
Had found the past

Off into the distance
An engine roars
The sound is fading
Very fast

Dead end alley
End of the road
Dead end 
is all you need to know

Yellow light darkly shines
And dimly reaches ground
Dumpsters tethered to the walls
Where treasures for lost souls are found

Moon is new
Stars beam through the dim light glare
A cool breeze
Stirs the dirty air

Dead end alley
End of the road
Dead end

The empty eyes
Had seen the future
A silent heart
Had found the past

Dead end alley
End of the road
Dead end 
is all you need to know

Dead End Alley

COOP Lyrics

His is about some dude on a beach....😉 

Lyrics;
People looking for me
in some other place
FBI on the news
Have you seen this face?

There's no TV'S here
Just sand and some waves
And my beard's getting long
Cause I haven't shaved

I'm on the run
Reclined in this chair
Just a guy with some time
And lots of money to spare

Got my feet to the sea
Umbrella for shade
Cold drink in my hand
Yeah, I've got it made

Some dude on the beach
Nobody cares
A guy on the run
could be anywhere

A notorious criminal
Daredevil I hear
Biding his time
Til the coast is all clear

I used to play by the rules
With the suit and a tie
Regular citizen
Real stand up guy

But after some time
The air got too stale
And my colorful world
Began to grow pale

So I took a leap
On a cold rainy night
And just disappeared
And I'm still out of sight

Yeah, I'm on the run
Reclined in this chair
Just a guy with some time
And lots of money to spare

Just some dude on the beach
Nobody cares
A guy on the run
Could be anywhere

The sun's burning hot
And I've got a fresh tan
I'm living the life
Of a real wanted man

I used to play by the rules
With the suit and a tie
Regular citizen
Real stand up guy

Got my feet to the sea
Umbrella for shade
Cold drink in my hand
Yeah, I've got it made

COOP

Gray

Simple but mysterious,  A mood piece with a good deal of reverb guitar. A rainy day song.  Maybe he becomes that guy, Who knows. 

Lyrics;
Drawn in black and white
A charcoal pencil start of day
And where the two should meet
A blended shade of gray

The sky has softly fallen
Mist covers the town
A clouded muted world
With barely any sound

I open up the curtains
Sallow light filters in
I stare into the emptiness
And wonder if it ends

The cover slowly thinning
The sky is shading blue
Yet the world I find inside my world
So empty without you

The morning haze is breaking
Still foggy is my mind
The coffee black the cup is white
Though gray is all I find

Heavy sigh through heavy air
Time's the only cure
Time can last forever
How long it takes no one is sure

Drawn in black and white
A charcoal pencil end of day
And where the two should meet
A blended shade of gray

Gray

Pluto's Retort

Here is Pluto's Retort. This is actually the second time I've written it. The first one was a bit longer. but got lost.  The story just seemed to fit the music so well. 

Lyrics;
Pluto here, the planet
And I'm gonna fix the spin
That's buzzing round the galaxy
And buzzes back around again

I heard ol Neil talk about me
I heard Neil put me down
Well, Neil degrasse Tyson,
Don't think I need you 'round

I'm the planet you call Pluto
Rocking groupies are on my path, that's true
They just wannt to see the show
Don't let that bother you

It takes a little while for me
to orbit around the sun
Your Earth goes round 248 times
Before I can go around one

But I'm the rock star of the Kuiper
Finding loving groupies on my way
And I'm pushing right on through
So what you got to say

Who needs a sub planet anyway

Yeah! Pluto here, the planet
I'm here to fix the spin
Neil, you gotta tell 'em
That I'm planet nine again!

Yeah, I'm the planet you call Pluto
It's been a rocky road, that's true
But Ice and rock don't bother me
Don't let it bother you

Pluto's Retort

There is this little break.  We hope you like it.  The inspiration for the lyrics is a dream that consists of a giant puzzle.  It looks geometric, like farmland. The dream stops but it begins again, and again, and again...  There is this puzzle...  iT MUST BE SOLVED...

Lyrics;
Running down a rabbit hole
Your bright world turning black as coal
The optimistic mystic spell
A pessimistic prison cell

See your dream with eagle eye
But with broken wings you'll never fly
The unexplained in full control, has got you
Running down a rabbit hole

Your feelings change with every move
You find the beat but lose the groove
Confidence leaps from your heart
You feel your faith falling apart

Deeper still the search goes on and on
Darker still before the dawn
So unsure of what you'll find
The draw too strong to leave behind

Pieces of a puzzle
Becoming clear within your view
The answer right before you
But you don't know what to do
Fade to black
You haven't got a clue

Running down a rabbit hole
Hit the target but miss the goal
Questions only multiply
Where when what and how and why

The Nightmares burn and leave a scar
Inside your mind they're never far
They chase after your very soul
Running down a rabbit hole

Rabbit Hole

#154 This is called Don't Tell Me What You've Done.  So many times a secret is known but no one wants to talk about it. For whatever reason people act as if the secret doesn't even exist. This song is not the place for secrets! lol

BTW -This song was influenced by Rush.

Lyrics;
When the secret isn't secret
But no one says a word
What's screaming in your ears
Is the voice of the absurd 

When you're searching for the truth
But never follow through
You know you know the answer
Everybody knew

But Ignorance is bliss
When knowing brings you pain
Don't want no part of this
Too much for my brain

Don't tell me what you've done 

We know what you're doing
Don't tell me what you've done 
We know where you're going 
And why you're on the run

Nightmares come to find us
When there's nowhere left to run
Expose the truth to light 
Brighter than the sun

We know all your secrets
Don't tell me what you've done 
We have all the facts 
Don't tell me what you've done 

Don't tell me what you've done 
Don't tell me what you've done 
Don't tell me what you've done 
Don't tell me what you've done 
Don't tell me what you've done 
Don't tell me what you've done  
Your secret isn't secret
Still no one says a word
We don't want to hear it
Cage that little bird!

We all know your secrets
Don't tell me what you've done 

We all know your secrets
Don't tell me what you've done

Don't Tell Me What You've Done

#165 Frequently I find our music difficult to classify.  I chose jazz blues for this one because it was in 5/4 time.  Dave Brubeck did songs in different times and he was classified as jazz.  So I think that label fits OK.

The verses in this song go 1-2-3 (4 5) and the choruses go 1(2) 3 (4) 5.  The emphasis is on the numbers not in parentheses.

Dan and I have had some events take place in our life that may causes a little delay until our next song.  But I expect we will be back after a little break.


Lyrics;
Switch on the tv
It's been a long day 
And I feel so tired
It's the price I must pay

I look for escape 
Where I can just feel okay
Get lost in the show
Where your mind wants to go

I've made mistakes
Called some bad shots
And they come back to haunt me 
Through my every thought 

There's a door right before me
But here I will stay
And I do believe 
I can just up and leave
But you don't get out that way, no 
You don't get out that way 
You don't get out that way, no 

I've done what I've done 
And I'd love to let it go
But I can't forget
What I don't want to know 

And the sun's in the west
And I've a penance to pay
I could end it all now
But you don't get out that way 

I wish time had found me
Before I ran astray 
But there's no going back
You don't get out that way 

The tv drones on
It's been a long day
The night's even longer
It's the price I must pay

And there's a door right before me
But here I will stay
And I do believe 
I could just up and leave
But you don't get out that way, no
You don't get out that way, no
You don't get out that way

You Don't Get Out That Way

#170 The feeling of everything just falling away when you see that "someone".

This began with me setting down a rhythm and grabbing my old Fender P-Bass for a little bass jamming.  I came up with the entry bass riff.  Everything built from that riff.  We hope you like it.

Lyrics:

Must've fell right through a hole in the ground
Didn't know it was there
I simply failed to pay attention 

Cause my mind was where you were standing 
And the fall was never my intention 

But down I go! I'm falling, and I'm falling
Maybe falling forever 

There's nothing but me and the air 
My heart falls like an anvil 
but my mind is floating like a feather 

Nothing but the blue in your eyes
Nothing but my world standing by 
Nothing like this has ever happened before 
Nothing below me where once was a floor

Head over heels when my eyes locked on to you 
Across the street in the town

You might have turned and
Looked my way
But down I went like through a hole in the ground 

So quickly everything changes
From solid to liquid from liquid to gas
And I'm upside down 
Gone are the words that I once lived by 
Lost pages from the book of my past


But down I go I'm falling, and I'm falling and falling
Maybe falling forever 
There's nothing but me and the air 
My heart falls like an anvil 
but my mind is floating like a feather

But down I go I'm falling, and I'm falling and falling
Maybe falling forever

Falling Forever

#176 This song is raw rock music.  

It is Killer Joe From Idaho.  This is for all of the keyboard (computer not music) warriors and trolls.  At home, cozy in their pajamas, Mountain Dew on the table and basking in the glow of a computer screen, ready able and more than willing to fill you in on everything you never cared about knowing. Even if it's just made up. 
They're all Killer Joe From Idaho 😉

Lyrics;
He's got twenty five inches of the world in his face
Lighting up the basement of his mom and Dad's place
Yeah!

He's full of ideas 
and a home cooked meal
He's got the social media to tell him how to feel

He's angry bout the way 
Old folks ruin everything 
From too much homework to who's in the west wing

He's plays a battle tank on an online game
Killer Joe from Idaho is his onscreen name
Killer Joe from Idaho 
Yeah!

He hunts NPCs
And he kills like a boss 
Subscription's not a problem 
When your folks 
pay the cost
Yeah!

He's got thousands of friends
That he's never met
You know life is so much better when you live on the net

He can say what he wants
And you're wrong cause he's right 
But he's as quiet as a mouse when exposed to the light 

He checks out what's trending
He's got the latest apps
As for anything else he doesn't give a crap 
Killer Joe from Idaho 
Yeah!

He says what good is a dream  
It's only in your mind
He's got the world on a screen
To download in real time
Yeah!

Meeting people on the street
Just isn't his thing
Cause he's Killer Joe From Idaho 
The keyboard king

He's got twenty five inches of the world in his face
Lighting up the basement of his mom and Dad's place
Killer Joe from Idaho 
Yeah!
Killer Joe from Idaho 
Yeah!

Rock

Killer Joe from Idaho

#178 This has classic "good times" rock and roll feel.  No odd beats, changing time signatures, or weird changes.  Just good classic rock.

It is called Tony's Discount Store.  The friends and "Family" store. Those that shop here get the absolute lowest prices anywhere.  No one asks where the merchandise comes from.  Some things in life are best not to be discussed.😉

Lyrics;
When you shop at Tonys
Friends and family Discount store
You'll find everything you need
When you walk through the door

He says business before pleasure
And business is his game
And he wants you to remember and respect the family name 

Hitch up your horse and wagon
Gas up your old truck
Bring em down to Tony's 
You're gonna save a buck
If you haven't been there yet 
You'll be dealing with regret 
Don't miss the deals
They're such a steal
Lowest prices you can get

He keeps the sidewalks clean 
And he keeps a spotless shop
You're gonna find a deal
Where high prices get the chop
You want the best you'll get the best 
Who could ask for more
Tony's Friends and Family Discount Store 
Tony's Friends and Family Discount Store
Fare acquisti da Tony's!
(Buy from Tony's!)

Hitch up your horse and wagon
Gas up your old truck
Bring em down to Tony's 
If you want to save a buck
If you haven't been there yet 
You'll be dealing with regret 
Don't miss the deals
They're such a deal
It's as good as it can get

After hours in his office 
With some lucky gentlemen
He gives them so much business 
They'll never need shop again

He keeps the sidewalks clean 
And he keeps a spotless shop
You're gonna find a deal
Where high prices get the chop
You want the best you'll get the best 
Who could ask for more
Tony's Friends and Family Discount Store 
Tony's Friends and Family Discount Store

Porta tanti soldi!
(Bring lots of money!)
Tony's Friends and Family Discount Store

Tony's Discount Store

# 185 When someone is willing to hide what they really are, just to fit in.

Lyrics:
Fact or fiction 
The story sounds the same
A vague depiction 
A rose by any other name 

It's all a game
But it affects you directly 
And for the rest of your life
If you don't answer correctly 

Whose are you on
Or are you on your own
Can you change your mind
For answers still unknown 

True or false
What is your perspective 
Truth or lies
For the casual detective 

You found the clues
Put them together 
You'll make the news
As soon as they're finished with the sports and weather 

What colors you see
White and gold or blue and black 
Can you change your mind
Too late to take it back ?

You're given the choice 
To speak with a voice
And stand up tall and proud 

But wore your heart on your sleeve 
For what you say you believe 
Just to blend in with the crowd 

Fact or fiction 
The story sounds the same
A vague depiction 
A rose by any other name

Blend

#197 Whereabouts Unknown Part !

It's a cops n robbers story.  This is a longer story so this ong includes the first half. We plan to come back to it some time for, as Paul Harvey used to say, "The Rest Of The Story"  Hope you like it! 

Lyrics;
  Put the foot On the floor
Picks it up goes Out the door
Gets away In the car
Drives all day travels far

He hides the face
Finds the place
Stays alone
Looses the phone
He's doing his own time
For his perfect crime
Whereabouts unknown

Temptation is a mighty sin
And someone's out to turn him in
A little bee inside in the hive
But honey's good for nothing 
if you don't come out alive

Put the foot On the floor
He gets the call Out the door
Got the badge Got the gun
He'll fnd the guy that's on the run

Hit the street
Be discrete 
Using tact
He gets the facts 
Bad guy gotta do the time
For committing the crime
His whereabouts unknown

Temptation is a mighty sin
Hands over fists of greedy men
With Intimidation and sound advice
And the Information sells 
at a discount price
The fox had thrown em off the trail
But there's a hound dog on his tail

Will he escape or go to jail
Somebody's gonna fail
Have you seen this man?
Do you recognize this man?
We're searching for this man...

Whereabouts unknown

Here is a link to Part 2:
https://soundcloud.com/user-106484228/whereabouts-unknown-part-2

You can find an alternate version by tHE bLUE rOOM here:
https://soundcloud.com/the-blue-room/whereabouts-unknown-feat-the-blue-room

Whereabouts Unknown Part !

#204

This is the conclusion of a twisted cops and robbers story that began in Part 1.  You can find Part 1 here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-106484228/whereabouts-unknown-part


Lyrics;
Hound dog hot on the scent
To where the thieving fox went
He's chasing down that miscreant
And he never will relent...
Put the foot on the floor
The hound dog is at the door
Runs out the back real fast
But his escape won't last

The law man
had cuffed his hands
Cuffed them tight
and read him his rights
He'd caught him just in time
To commit a perfect crime
Their whereabouts were unknown

Temptation leads to mighty sin
No one's around to turn him in
For pocketing a cash advance
A fortune made from circumstance
 
Put the foot
on the floor
Their both inside
And he's locked the door

Makes him talk
And finds the stash
He's gonna carry out all of the cash

Throws it in his car
Lights up a cheap cigar
But you can't leave a witness
When he knows who you are

The fox is still lying there
Somewhere deep under the stairs
Price was paid
I'm afraid
Buried for all time
Victim of a perfect crime
Whereabouts unknown

Temptation lead to might sin
The hound dog's never seen again
Good guy goes bad and that's the spin
For him a new hunt will begin
His whereabouts unknown

Have you seen this man. We're searching for this man...

Whereabouts Unknown

Whereabouts Unknown Part 2

New Norm Lyrics
This one is called New Norm. About the after effect of a fearful crazy world. A kind of 1984 scenario. This is in 5/4 time.

Lyrics;
  Click on the tube and see whats going on
Good morning somewhere in the dark before dawn
Change the channel man I'm tired of cartoons
Can't go outside. It's like I'm living on the moon 

River running dry
Got a cloudless sky
Ration what you need
Not the time for greed
They've closed down all the stores
Not much to sell no more
Except for books that no one wants to read

Not much news from home
Not much getting through
Haven't heard from them
Hope to hear from you
Turning up the sound listen to some songs
Forget the weatherman, he always gets it wrong
And it's getting dark . Nighttime coming soon
Life gets pretty dull Living on the moon

Wasn't long ago when the sky was blue
The grass and trees were green so much we could do
Before we shut the doors preparing for the storm
And we locked in place to face a brand new norm.


The airships hover overhead so I don't go outside
I does no good to run away you've got no place to hide
The weatherman said change will come can't get here too soon
Cause nothing seems to change. Its like I'm living on the moon

No small steps no giant leaps
Shut the windows tight. Keeping out the creeps
It's like a holiday that cannot end too soon
Home is not like home no more I'm living on the moon

Click on the tube let's see whats going on
Good morning somewhere in the dark before dawn
Change the channel man I'm tired of cartoons
Breathing my own air inside of my balloon
Calling Major Tom you left us all too soon
Floating in your tin can way above the moon

Got a cloudless sky
River's running dry
Ration what you need
This ain't the time for greed

New Norm

Like the Rabbit Passing Alice

Some folks just never settle down and time is of the essence!  A kind of nod to JJ Cale's Mr. Breeze.

Lyrics;
Every day a river will find the sea
You know you've found a forest just by seeing the trees
And people everywhere just wanna be free
I'm always somewhere else, nobody's gonna find me

Cause I've always been a rambler with a strong urge to fly
I'll never settle down under that big blue sky
I love ya, gotta go,  time to say goodbye
Like the rabbit passing Alice no time to tell you why

You've called the wrong number if I answer the phone
If you're sending me a letter it's addressee unknown
My door is always open but I'm never at home
It's good to be with someone, but I'm better alone

Look from where I'm standing, it's a big world out there
And I'm bound to find my dreams  but I just don't know where
And time's in short supply  no one has got much to spare
But I'm happy for the little time that you and I shared

I've always been a rambler with a strong urge to fly
I'll never settle down under that big blue sky
I love ya, gotta go,  time to say goodbye
Like the rabbit passing Alice no time to tell you why

And every day the river will find the sea
Not hard to find a forest when you're under the trees
And people everywhere just wanna be free
I'm always somewhere else is why you'll never find me

See the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbybeFvR-IA

Like The Rabbit Passing Alice

Dan Blackard and Dan Lockhart wish all of our SoundCloud friends a very Merry Christmas.   We hope you enjoy the end of 2020 and moving on to 2021.

Lyrics;
Got a bandage on my soul
It covers up a hole
And I think that I am getting better
Put some stitches in my heart
From when it once was torn apart
On the day I read dear John's letter
When I fell to pieces
Since then I've been putting them back together

You got the best of me
As anyone could see
Then you set my world up in flames

I've got scars deep down inside
From the cuts into my pride
It's such a low down dirty shame
I never learned to play this game
I should have paid attention
And I'm the only one I can blame

Got a bandage on my soul
It covers up a hole
So I think I must be getting better

Put some stitches in my heart
From when it once was torn apart
On the day I read dear John's letter
The day I fell all to pieces
But I'm putting all those pieces back together

Dear John's Letter

Red Dirt Diamond Lyrics

This is about how a kid can have the greatest memories even though the times were very hard.  We hope you enjoy it!

Lyrics;
The field was old , I was young
Just a red dirt diamond and more weeds
than grass

My friends and I, a ragtag crew
From the wrong side of the tracks

But hey, we were always there to play
And hey batter swing away

My old man worked at that old soup plant
Like most the dads of the other kids

The families from the factories
were only just one step
from sliding down to the skids

But hey, in the field we'd always play
Hey batter swing away

The color of the memories begin to thin
To black and white and of mice and men

Sometimes we'd all just up and fight
Because someone would lose their temper
But mostly we all got along
At least as best I can remember

The field is old and so am I
And no one plays out there no more

The final game had long been played
And no one kept the score

But crazy me, my thoughts go there each day
hey batter swing away.

Red Dirt Diamond

Dan X2 is Dan Blackard (Reno, Nevada & Susanville, California) and Dan Lockhart (Carmel, Indiana & Edwardsville, Illinois).  We met here on SoundCloud.  We like making music together.  We have written and published over 300 songs together.  More songs written together than Lennon and McCartney.

You can find Dan Blackard's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/daniel-blackard

You can find Dan Lockhart's (aka ProgRockDan) music here:
https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
https://soundcloud.com/user-276716031
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan-instrumentals

The ProgRockDan1 site was taken down by SoundCloud. It was located here:
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

We play the music that comes to us.  Much of our music has a basis in blues and rock.  Although we venture into other musical territory.  You will find hints of jazz, country, bluegrass, soul, classical, and other music in our songs.  We have a number of songs that change time signatures and pace.

When we first started recording we called ourselves Dan and Dan. 
 You can find our music under that moniker here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-590884876

We stopped using the name Dan and Dan's because there were to many other Dan's using that name.  If you google Dan and Dan we would not show up.  We believe that Dan X2 to be a moniker that we could own.   If you google Dan X2 we are right at the top,

You can find more Dan X2 music on ReverbNation:
https://www.reverbnation.com/dananddan5

The first Dan X2 album is now available on iTunes.  Songs on the album are not available on SoundCloud.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/4114/1439066447?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

You can also find the Dan X2 album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3hEejRAQYPj9q130D5lZ8f

You can also find the second Dan X2 album:  "Playing the Odds" on Amazon Music:
https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Odds-Dan-X2/dp/B08C4VNX3R

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6oI3XsqPph3v6Xkg2BjVDG

and other on-line music sites.

We have a music making process that fits our unique skills.  We each do the parts that best fit our skills and interests.  Dan Lockhart does the initial song development.  Dan Blackard writes the lyrics, perform the vocals, and adds lead guitar.  Dan Lockhart then takes the track and do all final production (mixing and mastering).

Dan Lockhart writes all of the chords, timing, changes, and develops the track.  I then send two tracks to Dan Blackard.  One track has Dan L. describing the song.  Tell him the key, the timing, and any oddities about the song (changing keys or time signature...).  In the track Dan L tell Dan B verbally where is the verse, chorus, bridge and any other important information.

Dan Lockhart then send a second track that does not have this verbal dialogue.  This is called the instrumental track.  This is a track to which Dan B. can sing and add his parts.  Dan Blackard then returns  four pieces to Dan L:  a complete version of the song, a solo track of his vocals, a solo track of his guitar parts, and the artwork to accompany the song.

Dan Lockhart add his information into the original file.  Dan L. listen to it and make changes to the song to enhance the meaning of the lyrics. He sometimes adds instruments or takes away some instruments.  As Dan L. play many instruments (guitar, keyboards, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, violin, viola...), he can make a lot of adjustments.    On rare occasions he move pieces about.  Dan Lockhart then masters it and prepare it for final production.

You can find press releases about us in the Lassen News here:
http://www.lassennews.com/former-resident-creates-album-with-near-stranger/

and in Current in Carmel  here:
http://www.youarecurrent.com/2018/12/20/carmel-resident-partner-create-album-through-internet/

You can find Dan X2 videos Here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7p2YTgLdrMAJjSBBwrgRew

Out albums are also on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicvC6l-R73MzdLHLdcFuZQ

We hope you enjoy our music.

Dan X2

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