This playlist will grow during 2020. 
Most likely every month there will be a new song added.

Birch, 2020 (playlist)

This is a waltz about an old man in a care home thinking of that night when he really lived; that beautiful night.
This is a remake of a song made in 2017. Making a waltz isn't so easy, but I think this one you can love. The painting on the cover of this song is called Starry night, from Van Gogh.
I  dedicate this song to Stefan Nachtsheim who was a great help with it.

The lyrics:
That Beautiful Night
(c) HwBerkhout, dec. 2019

Sitting with my photo book on my lap 
I felt a bit sad
Browsing through the pages full of history
I fell out of my bed

The nurse had to help me up
and handed me the book too
But something made it difficult for me
to look at the faces I once knew

I thought:
All that matters, 
will fly away
Yes, all that matters, 
will be gone one day

Chorus:
But still I see that night, that night
Oh, so impressed I was
By the moon and the stars 
in the sky so bright 

In that night we all danced 
Yes, life had begun
We were young, had it all
Oh, this was fun...

=solo= 

And sitting in that tiny jailish room 
with nothing much to hold on
I’m wond’ring why I'm still here,
while my life is already gone

Time stood still with that album on my lap 
but soaked with tears then 
My life gone by, nothing ahead
I tried to stand up, but fell again

I thought:
All that matters, 
will fly away
Yes, all that matters, 
will be gone one day

But still I feel that night, that night
Oh, so impressed I was
By the moon and the stars 
in the sky so bright

Yes, it was that night, we found love
We were young, 
but had all
we dreamed of...

That night, that night
Oh, so impressed I was
By the moon and the stars 
in the sky so bright

Oh, it was the time 
that my life did ignite
Now I'm old, but the night
still feels so light...

But one night, one night
I shall fly 
To the moon and the stars 
You'll see me shine in your sky

On a beautiful night...

That Beautiful Night

This song is made as a protest against the lack of urgency to do something to pollution and other climate issues.  Mostly it stays with talking or praying...

The lyrics:
All that talking
(c) HWBerkhout, january 2020

Australia is burning, a billion animals have died
Their government is only praying, the cause they denied
Oceans are choking, plastic islands everywhere
But can you tell me...... Who does really care?

           =Chorus=
We have a 'situation' can't you see?
The world is in danger, because we can't agree
World leaders are only talking why they have to pay
This is so hopeless, I better start to pray

Pollution is getting skyhigh and the climate has changed
Yet we just keep talking, while nothing gets arranged
Democracy is weakened, Nationalism now appears
We know where that brings us. Worst we should fear

           =Chorus= 
We have a 'situation'  can't you see?
The world is in danger, it affects you and me
All that talking won't help us anyway
I feel hopeless, do you still pray?

          --solo--

With our advanced weapons, the world can be pulverized
Although they cost a fortune, they are always subsidized
Solving climate problems may cost the same 
but no one wants to pay for it, ain't that a shame? 

=Bridge=
All that talking...
mostly empty words,
but...

   =Chorus=
The world is dying, can't you see?
It is now crumbling, affecting you and me
All that talking, and we could only wait
We need action, no more time to waste

The world is dying, don't you agree?
It is crumbling, affecting you and me
All that talking while nothing's being said
We need action, before we are all dead
Act now!!!

All That Talking

No Answers is about love. But not just love like between two humans, but between a human and a cat. How can you tell what kind of love this is? I have no answers for that. That's why I made this song. It starts with the chorus.

The lyrics:
No Answers
(c) HWBerkhout / feb 2020

Chorus
I've got a lot of words that could please you
And I can see what mood you're in too
But if you could ask me, is this what love does? 
I have no answers for us

I was musing  this morning in my bed
My thoughts swirled around in my head
but then felt your body, soft and warm
and so cozy against my arm

It makes me happy when you lay so sweet,
softly purring under my sheet
And these are the moments, I feel so clear
They won't last long but are so dear

Chorus 
And I've got a lot of words that could please you
I can see what mood you're in too
But if you could ask me, is this what love does? 
I have no answers for us

Solo

Chorus
Yes I've got a lot of words that could please you
And I can see what mood you're in too
But if you could ask me, Is this what love does? 
I have no answers for us

Your eyes are blinking when you're feeling good
And you're always purring when I serve your food
But when birds pass by you become a wildcat
Then I come in to calm you on that

Chorus
'Cause I've got a lot of words that could ease you
And I can see what mood you're in too
But if you could ask me, is this what love does? 
I have no answers for us

Ooohh, I have a lot of words that will please you
And I can see what mood you're in too
But if you could ask me, is this what love does? 
 I can only tell what it does to us

No Answers

This song is about the fear never to hear again a loved song made by an 'old' lover (Orig: 2017, version may 2022)

The lyrics
Your song
(c) HwBerkhout 05-05-2022

On times when I laid tired in bed, 
you sat close, never looked sad
You always sang  a lovely tender song 
Melting the hearts of all who walked along,
But I did not see, it was because of me

Your precious vocals, their melancholic sound
For all times we spend, this was our bond
Still I can't believe what happened on our way
All these waves of beauty ended that sorry day
But I did not see,  it was because of me

I have a feeling
your song must be heard 
And then it's you who sing it like a bird 
I love to hear it, that day

Yes, I have that feeling 
your song will soon be heard 
And then it's you who sing it like a bird 
Oh, I will hear it, one day... 

=solo=

I searched all places, heard many tragedies
None could connect me to my memories
Your song kept pounding in my head
But finding you ain't easy, much to my regret
And I did not see, it was because of me

Oh, I have that feeling 
your song will soon be heard 
And then it's you who sing it like a bird 
I'm sure to hear it, that day

Yes, I have that feeling 
your song will soon be heard 
And then it's you who sing it like a bird 
I know for sure,

These emotions hurt me every day
I won't let your song fade away
Please sing it like it was, back then with me

I cry vehemently 
come sing your song again
Oh, I hope you sing it  once more
for me...

Yes, I have that feeling 
your song will soon be heard 
And it be you who sing it like a bird 
I will hear it, some day

Yes, I have a feeling 
your song will soon be heard 
And it be you who sing it like a bird 
I will hear it, again...

Your Song

This song is an impression of the new time in which we live today and what 'new' rules count. In a way its a scream for awareness and change from selfishness and autocratic leaders. But the song also has a nice, heavy beat to dance on! 

Lyrics:
New Times New Rules
(c) HwBerkhout 10-03-20

When I was young I believed in fairy tales
They end up wel and the bad guys loose
Aha
Now I've learned it's the other way around, 
the good guys loose and the bad guys win, all the time
Aha
And if you try to change these things
people come to you in anger, they say: 

Chorus
Hey you! Mind your own business
Right here!
Mind your own business, I say 
Right now!
Better keep on moving
Nothing's going on here
It's just your imagination
So keep that in mind

Unlike the fairy tales politicians behave less in favor of you
They'd become autocrats
Aha
It's all for the benefit of themselves and their friends. 
So, don't you forget that
Aha
If you want to change all these things
people come to you in anger and they shout:

Chorus
Hey you! Mind your own business
Right here!
Mind your own business, I say 
Right now!
Better keep on moving
Nothing's going on here
It's just your imagination
So, hit the road, boy

Solo

Chorus 
And they shout: Hey you! Mind your own business
Right here!
Mind your own business
Get used to new times!
Keep your fat ass moving
Nothing's going on here
It's just your imagination
So keep that in mind

Chorus
Hey you! Mind your own business
Right here! 
Mind your own business
New times, new rules!
Better keep on moving
Nothing's going on here
It's just your imagination
So, hit the road, boy
Yes, hit the road, boy!

New Times New Rules

This is is a political song. The quality of a US-leader (ex by now!) is of concern to all Western countries. The shattered glass in the photo symbolizes the effect this president has on his relationships with many people and countries except perhaps Russia...

20/09/2020: I changed the melody of the song and a bit of the lyrics.
I think it's more punchy now.

The lyrics:
It is what it is(c) HWBerkhout, 09092020

The world in trouble, we can't sleep
Democracy erodes, we weep
A president more freakish everyday
Praising dictators. Thinks it's ok!

Chorus
Mayhem and madness cause this world to decline
It is what it is while he feels fine
He's indifferent as cities burn
Call it nasty, but it's not his concern  

Black lives matter, MeToo
Pandemics and Truth ends under his shoe
No empathy, calls all a hoax 
Lies on everything, Shatters hope

Economy a loss, environment in despair 
Millions without work, he doesn't care
This leader proved he cannot reign
He can't admit it. He's so vain

Chorus
Mayhem and madness cause this world to decline
It is what it is while he feels fine
He's indifferent as cities burn
Call it nasty, but it's not his concern

Solo

Chorus2
Let's prevent voting to be toyed 
It is what it is, Democracy can't be destroyed
We'll be indifferent as his empire burns
Call it nasty but it's not our concern

Mayhem and madness make his world decline
If it is what it is, we feel fine
Call this a dream? Then dream it all your time!
It is what it is, we feel fine!

Ohh
Is it what it is? Do we feel fine?
Come on, man. Wake up !
=======================================

It Is What It Is

I compose songs, write lyrics and sing most of them. I don't have  'one'  style. It depends on my mood or on certain issues that are going on in our world. AND some listeners can even tell which songs are genuine 'Birchwood-songs' (!)