Mighty fine songwriting, vocal and guitar Gary!

I think you must write for me Gary, this is fab:)

Always good to hear ya... Gary. Interesting question. Seems with the songs I do, the personal ones are the ones I like best, yes sometimes cathartic, glimpsing at my life and whatnot... being relatively new to music/composing there are a few where I showboat something new I've figured out: like say a piano recital for a kid... that's OK too I suppose, as down the road I'll re-listen and laugh at my, back then, musical naiveté. Gather that is all part of it too.

Sounds ..vocal.. really good! …🌍☮︎👍

Love this Gary, in fine voice and performance my friend!

Live and Die


Verse 1:
So many changes come after your life begins
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again
You are born alone and you will die alone
It’s no secret and it seems to be widely known

In between you will come across many people
Some are oh so good and others oh so evil
Some will be friends other’s will not
They will get your skin so sweaty and hot

Your body start so little and gradually get bigger
At first you will have milk and later strong liquor
Your mind does the same as it fills with knowledge
Some of it will come from the books in college

But regardless you and I know what is to come
Regardless of what you think or if it make you numb
In the end your body will give and leave this Earth
It doesn’t matter if you have a ton or worth





Notes:
These lyrics came to me while listening Carl “Buffalo” Nicole.  You can listen to his music here:
https://www.youtube.com/@BuffaloNichols/videos

This song started with me trying to learn how to use the strumming guitar feature in Kontakt,  I have tried before but failed several times.  I found playing my guitar so much easier.  This time was different, there were people nearby and I had to be quiet.  The only option was using a virtual guitarist that I could listen to on my headphones.  I eventually figured out how to use it.  You will hear me change the strumming from verse to chorus and within the last two choruses. How do you think I did? I might use it again sometime.

This is my first upload to SoundCloud in over a year.  I became frustrated with SoundClouds marketing policies.  They deleted two of my accounts.  I do not know why.  That means all of the music on those accounts is now lost.  Lately I have been using YouTube to upload my music.

Live And Die

Just a 9/8

Ruin 

The poison I’m drinking, just left me further down 
The bridges I’m burning, nowhere left but underground 
Sweet father in heaven, I curse your holy name 
I’m left here just rotting, I hope you do the same 


(Ruin)
I crossed the ocean wide 
You have become my life 
I crossed the ocean wide 
You have become my life 

The poison I’m drinking, just left me further down 
The bridges I’m burning, nowhere left but underground 
Sweet father in heaven, I curse your holy name 
I’m left here just rotting, I hope you do the same

RUIN

Another track inspired by Asimov's Foundation trilogy. 
Arcadia: 14 years old, infuriatingly single-minded, impulsive and a stowaway. Cool character.
The artwork is from Pinterest; unfortunately, I couldn't find a credit.
I played the lead guitar parts on a PRS Santana Custom. The heavier backing is a Fender Jazz Bass through a modern amp.

Arcadia

John Stone: Music, lyrics, piano, lead vocals
Dave Wagoner: Production, backing vocals, guitar, accordion, six string banjo

She was born on an isle off an island
In the midst of the Emerald Sea
Her daddy spied a light in her eye
That showed what she was born to be

And they called the girl Virginia
Named for an ancient queen
Who knew how to fight in a world of men
And the lessons learned
Should be learned again

Oh Virginia, Virginia wild and free
Though waters flow and winds may blow
You should be what you were born to be

Now Virginia knew that she was loved
But she knew that she was poor
One morning when out gathering
Between the strand and the old sea shore
A pirate blown by cruel fate
Slipped his anchor close to land
When he spied the girl his pirate mind
Thought he’d take the girl in hand

Oh Virginia, Virginia wild and free
Though waters flow and winds may blow
You should be what you were born to be

He took our fair Virginia
Set course for the Isle of Man
He hoped that on the island
There he could complete his plan
But the ocean storms were brewing
And they blew them out to sea
Till the ship was was smashed on the distant shore
That we now call Cape Henry

And the land was called Virginia..

Now Virginia swam towards the shore
Though the company was drowned
But she gathered strength and she walked the way
that leads to James’ town
Now Virginia saw Virginia
And knew that the land was good
And that she could build a better life
than ever she’d have thought she could

Oh Virginia, Virginia wild and free
Though waters flow and winds may blow
You should be what you were born to be

Now Virginia came with nothing
But nothing was enough
To build herself a better life
Though the going would be very tough
She had an eye for business
And she had an eye for style
And she became the richest soul
In the county by a country mile

Oh Virginia, Virginia wild and free
Though waters flow and winds may blow
You should be what you were born to be

Then one fateful morning
A stranger came to town
She saw at once the hated face
Of the man who’d tried to drag her down
A gun was on the table
She held it to his head
And as he begged for mercy
This is what the lady clearly said

“You brought me to Virginia
Named for an ancient queen
Who knew how to fight in a world of men
And the lessons learnt should be learned again
Its true that life’s been good to me
Since you took me from my home
But leaving all that I held dear
That choice was mine and mine alone”

Oh Virginia, Virginia wild and free
Though waters flow and winds may blow
You should be what you were born to be

Virginia  (John Stone + Del Wags)

'true love' 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3B2inkus95/

I want to give you everything that you deserve.
Although I haven't anything, I have a way with words.
Oh darling won't you come on over and sit next to me.
You can talk about your day, hon, as I'll gently massage your feet. 

I want your love and everything that accompanies.
I'll give you all the love you'll need. I want you to believe
in a love so deep that you can feel it right through to your bones.
And it makes you complete and feel like you are comfortable at home. 

True love.

true love

Second attempt covering the beautiful song, Watermark, by Enya. The strings are still not as good as they could be, but this version includes those Enya harmony hums in the middle bridge section, so it's a nice improvement over the previous version I had uploaded.

(song written by Enya)

***funny note re: image art - i did a little edit job in Photoshop, morphing my face onto Enya's. Not the most appealing result, but who am I to say?! lol...

here's the real album cover for reference:
https://imagez.tmz.com/image/46/1by1/2018/10/09/46585da9b70459589a6d1dc81550fe07_xl.jpg

and the real me, early 2023:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_boucher/53550250098/in/dateposted/

As always, thanks for listening, and don’t hesitate to give any critical feedback to help me improve. 😉

Watermark (cover - see description re: image art)

Having some fun again with the wonderful Andy McLean on saxes - such sweet lines, harmonies and sound 

Check out more of Andy's great playing here:  https://soundcloud.com/mcleanaf

Thanks for your generous time listening, for your comments and your shares

Wah Tz Up?   -   Andy McLean & Jamie Rhind

Sing Your Song

The Voices of Nature - 2024 Collection

Tribute to the Trees (Mix 2024)

indie bossa-nova: light on your feet, heavy on your heart

more info: http://www.jh0st.com/aerochute/
music video: https://youtu.be/xZASRIKmpNo
---
AEROCHUTE 

faster than faster her, 
flyer than higher, you can shake down an airplane fly girl... 
when you move i don’t even have eyes just to know i see you. 

harder and further her, 
no parachute can prove it 
take a leap of faith love. 
all i know, it's you who's brave enough to be afraid now. 

will catch you when you fall after all 
mended wings bring your heart to mine. 
(faster, higher, further faster) 

lighter than arrows her, 
shall we keep flying over faces and places we know? 
or strip bare unclothe those words that sting even when not spoken. 

falling forever friend, 
The clouds’ll catch us 
not a broken bone will scratch us! 
cheating death for now hold hands while i take the fall when we land. 

will catch you when you fly suicide 
mended wings bring your heart to mine. 

-- 
album artwork: jin-suk.com

Sing Your Song

Gary A. McMahon

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