I wrote this originally in December of 2006 but just recorded a rough guitar and vocal to a click track.  I decided due to a recommendation of a friend to fully develop the song and here is the the latest iteration.  It could still use some polishing but it is mostly complete.
Hope you enjoy it!

Lyrics
Old Magician
(C) Phillip Leech

I remember waiting there in the crowd
Anticipation in everyone's eyes
In a flash you appeared out of nowhere
Like a prize you amazed and delighted
And you invited us in with your smile

Once a year we gathered for your arrival
All my friends would come by after school
Amidst the carnival barkers and sideshow gawkers
For a nickel a show we would watch you and forget
How could i let this go

Chorus

Old magician I wish you were here
In your blue patchwork jacket to light up the stage
Old magician I was wishing that you were here
With a few magic words and a wave of your hand
You made us laugh then you made us believe
Oh old magician I was wishing you'd never disappear

I remember your shows as years rolled by
But I still watched you after school
I'd come to the caravel sometimes skipping class
On those days that you passed through our town
I'd come on down

I know that some of my friends laughed at me
When I told them that I still believed 
And I noticed that you were growing older too
Your voice and hands sometimes shaking
They laughed at your mistakes

Chorus Repeat

I remember growing older going off to school
But I always thought that I'd come back
Years away from my hometown
I assumed you would still be around
I was wrong

Recently I went back to visit
I asked the old men who were young at one time
If the carnival had been here lately
They pointed to a faded playbill on the wall

Chorus Repeat

Old magician I wish you were here
Old magician I wish you were here  
Old magician
You made us laugh
And then you made us believe
Old Magician I was wishing you never disappeared

phillsongs

Old Magician

This is bit more of a folk / country track.
I originally wrote this in 2008 but had not recorded it until last year.

Lyrics
Busker's Lament 
(C) Phillip Leech

Got a dollar in my pocket
Loose change on the floor
In the room where I slept in
Couple nights before
Kicked out by the landlord
Guitar thrown out the door
Stumbled down broken stairwell
Almost fell

Chorus
So hey would you put a dollar into my cup
If you can't then perhaps a quarter's enough
Never knew where to go to
I've forgot where I've been
So I sit on the corner
Sing the busker's lament

Since you're here, well I'll tell you
Last week I suppose
Couple of punks not from around here
Chains and tight leather clothes
Pointed fingers laughing saying
'Hey, let's give him a go.'
Pushed me down, knocked me around
I held my guitar, screaming while they were leaving

Chorus Repeat

A little girl came to listen
Just the other day
Shiney penny in her fingers
A little song for her grandma
She said just passed away
Gave her my last pocket dollar 
For flowers to lay on her grave

Hey would you put a dollar into my cup
If you can't then perhaps a quarter's enough
Money's nice when I get some
But it's usually spent
Live my life like a gambler
Sing the busker's lament

philssongs

Busker's Lament

This track is a little bit country but has a lot of roots in folk rock.
I am still trying to decide if it is completely finished and would love to hear feedback.

Lyrics
Art Like Truth
(C) Phillip Leech

I've been buying more CDs again
Really just by accident and
Stumbled upon art that sounded 
Like truth

I ripped apart the plastic mat
That held it inside like a trap
And kept the cover on it's life 
So new

I rushed to get it in the player
To hear the sound and with a prayer
Hoped it contained some kind
Of truth

But then the words rang out
When I heard the sound
Both glorious and tragic 
In a way 

The room was full of noise
and I had a choice to make
Was this really what i was
Looking for?

Oh no 
Oh no
I don't think this
Was what i was searching for

I've been reading lots of books again
Really just by accident and
I stumbled upon some words which
Looked like truth

Well all these authors were so great
But their meanings were all far to vague
So I fumbled through the pages
Of their text

Oh i suppose you'd need a doctorate 
To earn the right to interpret
All their hidden meanings and symbiology

So all these books i read
Really didn't hold
What I was looking for 

So I kept my blinders on
And now I've done and gone
And left what I thought 
Was myself

Oh no 
Oh no
It's like I didn't
really know myself

So I've been hanging around this coffee shop
Where I hope someday someone will stop
And tell me lies that
Are true

Like keep your head up kid
There's no one you have to be better then
Just be yourself and
Leave it alone

Or love you'll find someday
It won't fly away again
Yeah... this time it really will
Be true

Well all these lies sound so nice
Mr. I really like your advice
Please ... tell me more

Mr. your lies sound so nice
I really need more of your advice
So please please tell me more

Yeah Mr. your lies sound so nice
I really need more of your advice
So please please tell me more
Yeah 
Please please tell me more

Tell me more
Tell me more

Art Like Truth

Here's a beer related song that I started writing in 2006 but shelved it until earlier this year to finish and then record.  I've been hanging on it since January since I am not 100% happy with it but I thought it would be good to get some feedback on it.

Lyrics
Black and Tan (What It All Means)

I'm just sitting here in my rocking chair
drinking my black and tan
gazing off into the dimming sky
as the sun drops below the sand

Then I wonder
what it all means
That's when I wonder
what it all means

So I try to get off that old front porch
but I'm feeling kinda low
I can't help it so i take a sip
then lean back real slow

Then i wonder
what it all means
That's when I wonder
what it all means

So i'm living life one day at a time
just so i can keep up
with all the trouble following me
yeah it's hard not to give up

Yeah i wonder 
What it all means
I still wonder
What it all means...

I suppose i should do something
more meaningful
like win a medal
or try and save a life
but i just keep sitting here
wondering 
why ... why try?

Black and Tan

Amanda Wolfe had provided a song idea with an initial melody and lyrics which I developed into a full song production.  I'm singing this version but we intend to record another version with her singing the lead vocal.

Lyrics
Verse 1
Here comes the rain
Here comes my pain
again

You go away
begging you to stay
again

Chorus 1
I know the rain feeds the flowers and trees
what good is it baby when I'm down on my knees
and I whither away again

Verse 2
Hey there baby what you looking for 
again

Hey there baby whats outside that door
again

Chorus 2
I know the rain feeds the flowers and trees
what good is the rain baby when I'm down on my knees
and I whither away
again

Bridge
Don't you know I need you by my side
You and me baby along this ride
You know I'll give you everything you need
But you are such a hungry hungry mouth to feed

Verse3
Hey there baby whats it about
today                                                       

Hey there baby all you want to do is
play

Chorus 3
I know the rain feeds the trees and flowers   
but leave me there hanging for hours
and I whither away
again

Ending
And I whither away again
and I whither away again
and I whither away baby again
and I whither away baby again
and I whither away wither away
again again
and I whither away wither away baby
again
I whither away again
again
again

Here Comes The Rain (Amanda's Song)

This track was a collaboration between myself and Eric Bobak https://soundcloud.com/ericbobak.  It was initially inspired by the movie, "High Plains Drifter".  We had started working on this back in October 2022 and this is the demo of the song.   Next I would want to replace the drums with live playing rather than programmed.  Afterwards would get it professionally mixed and mastered.

Lyrics

Beware
The Drifter

Beware
The Drifter

When the wind whispers through the valley
When it cries through the plains
A dry wind carries a secret message
Listen hard and you'll swear you hear a name
He walks silently like a ghost
Always rides alone
But don't you dare look his way

Beware
The Drifter

Beware
The Drifter

When he rides into your town
Better hope your soul is clean
He'll find you and he'll gun you down
Your sins are what we sees

His vengeance has arrived
The wicked won't survive
He is summoned for the damned

Beware
The Drifter

Beware
The Drifter

He cuts through the night like the shadow of a knife
Free to roam where he likes
He'll never know the comforts of home
The drifter walks alone

Beware
The Drifter

Beware
The Drifter

phissongs

The Drifter

I wrote this song back in 2006 but never recorded a demo of it until last year.  I started working on tracking it October '22 and have been working on it since.   I think this is a solid demo but planning to replace the drums with live drums instead of programmed.  Also planning on getting it professionally mixed and mastered once the drums are replaced.

Lyrics

I met a man while sitting on a bench
He had under his arms a curious wooden box
I asked him why he held it like a newborn child				
In response he asked me to visit for a while		
And he told me    it held things he loved

He kept the feather of an eagle and the claws of a dove
To remind him that the fierce and peaceful are really all just one              
He had a bottle top and a baseball cap
A piece of string and a couple of jacks              
All these things so he wouldn’t forget
He held them close inside
His treasure box

He said to me that he liked to go walking
And pick up mementos along the way
These objects stood for moments that he thought he should save
So he put them in a box to keep safe
And then he told me of the memories he loved

Chorus Repeat 

One day I came to him beside his bed
He was lying there oh so very still
With a feeble hand he held it up to me
And in a whisper he said words I’ll never forget
He said
He said

“I have the feather of an eagle and the claws of a dove 
So I can remind the people that the fierce and peaceful are really all just one
I kept the soil from my father’s land 
And the wishes that my family had”
Then he passed them all into these hands
And now I hold them close
In this treasure box

Treasure Box

I wrote this with a specific person and story in mind.  Last year I was inspired by Eric Bobak's song "All Souls Waltz" to write songs about ghost stories.  It had reminded me of a particular story about a person who had lived in Key West who called himself, "Count Von Cosel", and had a sordid relationship with his alleged paramour's corpse after he failed to save her life  (https://ghostcitytours.com/key-west/ghost-stories/count-von-cosel/).  I thought this would be an interesting topic to write a song about.  I really tried to imagine his psychological state and attempted to capture his desperation and state of mind in this song.  Hopefully I was able to do so and I hope you enjoy this song.


Lyrics

I whisper her name and
I whisper her name again  (she's not gone.)
I went to the place where she sleeps and I know she's not dead 
(she's not gone... she's not gone)

Her skin may be cold but her voice is still strong 
and I still see her face and its just like it was when I 
stole that kiss in your bedroom that day when the others were gone 
and your parents were looking away

I call out her name and
I call out her name again (she's not gone... she's not gone)
She speaks to me nightly
She tells me she loves me again (and again... and again)

But death is behind her i see his reflection 
wherever she's standing he lurks and his hand is 
holding her back from me 
keeps her away from me
but I know the truth						 
and I know there's no way that she's dead (she's not dead)
I know she's not dead  (she's not dead)

Now that she calls to me
Now that that the truth has been said  
I know she's awakened 
She needs me i'll take her to bed   
( she's not dead... she's not dead...)
					
Death isn't stopping me 
he lies and cheats and he takes 
and he ripped and all the things that are most the dear to me
he pulled her apart from me
but I've got my sanity
despite his vanity i'll bring her back to me
just you watch and see
(no she's not dead)

I've got a new face for you 
one that is perfect and smooth
(no she's not dead)

tonight i will come for you
tonight you'll be born anew
(she's not dead  ... she's not dead)

Death has no meaning his reign is now over
I'll rescue you from under those dark and cold covers
i'll break the bonds that holding you down there
We'll dance in the moonlight
We'll be lovers again

She's not dead
( she's not dead)


I have a new face for you 
one that is perfect and smooth
(no she's not dead)

tonight i will come for you
tonight you'll be born anew
(she's not dead  ...she's not dead)

Death has no meaning his reign is now over
I'll rescue you from under those dark and cold covers
and i'll break the bonds that holding you down there
We'll dance in the moonlight
We'll be lovers again

She's not dead

She Calls To Me

This song reminds me of a traditional Irish reel mixed with modern sounds.  I was inspired by imagining what it might have been like several hundred years ago in old country English or Irish taverns where drunken men would perhaps have visions of maidens dancing amongst the other patrons and large barrels of ale.  In their inebriated state, these poor souls may have followed their maiden out into the countryside to their unfortunate demise.  

Anyway, this is an initial demo.  I plan to get real drums recorded as well as get it professionally mixed and mastered.  In the meantime, I would love to hear whatever feedback you may offer.  Enjoy!

Girls Of The Barley

A song about songs.  My most meta composition to date.  This is planned to be the last track in my upcoming album and meant to tie the entire album together as a final statement.
I've been going with the lighthouse theme and will likely use it for album artwork but using the stock / found artwork for now.

Lyrics
Collective Dream
(C) Phillip Leech

When it comes it's unannounced
and I try to catch it on it's wing
but it's quick and flies away
From my grasp so slippery
And I reach as it floats high above me
Souring soundlessly alone
But then I remember and I call out it's name
And swiftly it comes back to me

And then a song
Came into my life   
And now I'd everyone to see
That a song yes a song
Well it came into my life
And how good yeah how good it could be

Oh but I tried yes I tried to keep it in a cage
Locked it up then threw away the key (how cliche)
But it cried day and night
For it to free me
And fly away for everyone to see
To share and to love 
All that it could be
Once it had a chance to grow

And then a song
Came into my life 
And now I'd like everyone to know
That a song yes a song
Well it came into my life 
And how good yeah how good it could be

So I broke  
The door of that gilded cage
That I constructed around my heart
Then it left yes it left 
And were both better for it now
Now that it's free for me to share

And then a song
Came into my life   
And now I'd everyone to see
That a song yes a song
Well it came into my life
And how good yeah how good it could be

And now I'd like 
Everyone to share 
Yeah to share in the collective dream
Close your eyes yes your eyes and
And look at me
Let's all share in the collective dream
And now everyone 
Share with me
Share in the collective dream

PhilL

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