V1: Gotta get up, sit down, jump a little higher
No time to worry ‘bout stepping in the fire
Running in the rain to deliver the promiseE
Shakin’ the cash ‘fore it’s all worthless

Don’t lose your step, 
the bottom of the pile
nice to know ya son, 
was it all worthwhile?

CH: Tightrope
Walking on the tightrope
Walking on the tightrope
Better watch your step

SOLO on E for 2 measures

V2: Smoke, lava, steam, mud, mist and dust
Baby if you stand still you turn to rust
Never met the devil, I can feel him here
Hiding in the shadows bringing up the rear

Run a little faster, talk a little louder
Smile a little wider, 
you know you hit the big time

CH: Walking on the tightrope
On the tightrope
Walking on the tightrope
Better watch your step, better watch your step 

SOLO

BR: How ya gonna make it through 
when you just wanna lay down and die
How high can you fly?

V3: What’s it gonna be now that you are here
Step up to the plate, or see ya’ next year
Bigger than a bear, stronger than an ox
Doin’ time in the school of hard knocks

Don’t lose your step, 
Gonna go in style
nice to know ya son, 
was it all worthwhile?

CH: Walking on the tightrope
Walking on the tightrope again
Standing on the tightrope
Fallin’ from the tightrope my friend
Walking on the tightrope—-

Better watch your step

Tightrope

Don't wait to lay down the wildcard!

V1: thought this was a game of chance
but I was wrong, wrong, wrong
and now I’m worried that my hand won’t leave me 
strong, strong strong
too many cards in your royal flush
too few ways for me to beat the rush

Wildcard— I shoulda— shoulda put you down
Wildcard— my head is spinning round and round

CH: lay down the ace, lay down the queen
had a run like I’ve never seen
now it’s time to pay the price
i know I’ll take the odds— I can’t lose twice

V3: wildcard— I’m holding you in my hand 

BR: if I could, ya know I would
I woulda put you down
you were hiding in my hand
now there’s more than I can understand

V4: wild card— 
I shoulda let you go 
Wildcard—- 
now I’m feeling so low, low 
I’m gonna let you go

Wildcard

A weekend trip in which I encountered several ancient gods in their temple - specifically room 201 in the Cleveland Museum of Art, showing larger-than-life portraits of Apollo and the five Muses, as well as Cupid and Psyche.

Cupid's smile was interpreted to show what a jerk he is. Nobody else in the room is smiling, except maybe Psyche and Erato, and maybe that's because they've had his attention.

Lyrics:

i visited Olympus through the Cleveland door
nearly lost two fingers for a woman with a sword
froze my knees in the Erie breeze, but did it for the child
the gods do not find favor with a mortal who smiles

through Olean and Ashtabula, after Kalamazoo
Conneaut and Salamanca, bought a bottle there too
i didn’t have to do it, but i rode those extra miles,
‘cuz the gods do not find favor with a mortal who smiles

i visited Olympus through the Cleveland gate
so i could ask Apollo before too late
why he looked so solemn, with his laurel crown
with Cupid nearby grinning with his bedsheet falling down
he said: Would you buy a used guitar from a crocodile?
Mortals don’t feel favored by a god who smiles

Credits:
tjw: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass uke, harmonica synth drum pad

the gods' favor

#week3
The empty bedroom where I isolated for a week of Covid
5/4 time signature
Mandolin

The Empty Bedroom

Songwriting Challenge week#2

Change
Time to make a change

This time 
I’m not playing games.

Too much is at stake to stay the same
Got to break this funk and 
rearrange my 
brain
Time to make a change

Breakout
‘fore I go insane

Stop this 
procrastination game

Too much time is spent on stupid shit.
Spins me in circles of endless drift and 
strain

Change
The path for me ain’t clear
What
do I do from here?

How do I stay out of my own way

I can’t really care what other people say

change 
got to make that change

Change
Not the status quo
Step up and get me to the door 

If I could 
I would stop the time

Would that be enough for to find the way 

to make a Change 

Got to make a change 

I’m not playing games

Change

The Diary

Let’s make some noise
Pack the supplies
Celebrate the date
And the stars in your eyes

I’ll get it down in the diary
worlds and life and colors that you can’t see
Tell you if the trees 
are cold or flourishing 

Someday you’ll come with me and make your own entries

We’re going to be gone
Many cycles around our suns
You tend to the energy pools
We’re going to be gone
I’ll take the pictures that you’ve drawn
You know I’ll miss you
Miss you so

They say there’s life
Like you’ve never seen they’re massive beings
Tiny forms
Could be perfect for spice 
Could be perfect for spice x 4

Solo

Someday you’ll come with me and make your own entries

Chorus

They say some fly 
Rake apart with just one try
Don’t you fret
And don’t you cry 
And don’t you cry x 4

The Diary (Songwriting Challenge 1.21.24)

Lyrics

V1: Been busy at home, deep in my head
so many things on my mind 
kids are all gone, and the chores are done
but something — don’t feel right 
and then a noise from the couch 
my trusted friends, lay there
they stretch and yawn, 
and soon they’re standing near 

CH: No words are spoken, 
we all understand
everyone needs some time
pull on my coat grab my hat
before they start to whine
time to walk the dogs 
				
V2: all day long they lounge in the house
silently sleeping away
I’m busy at work, busy at home
we never make time to play
remember it well, when each was a pup
seems like yesterday 
now they’re gray, and so am I 
Must put their needs ahead of mine 

CH: no words are spoken, 
we all understand
All of us need some time 
pull on my coat, grab my hat
we all fall in line
time to walk the dogs 

BR: how many times
have we walked out this door 
only to find our way home
too many treats and too many squirrels 
won’t they leave me alone? 
time to walk the dogs — Again

Walk The Dogs

Those guys are such jokers!

Lyrics:

Lao-tze, Rumi, and Rilke
walk into a bar
this time they say nothing
they get served just as they are
Dogen walks in behind them
the bouncer asks for ID
he pulls a shard of mirror
looks deep, and says “it’s me”

you can stay here if you want,
but it’s time to go home
it’s time to go home
you can stay here if you want,
but I’ll walk you home

i walk in centuries later
never know just what i want
somebody does me a favor
puts a half empty glass down in front
i watch the careful hands
at the row of handles they pull
and i notice as i’ve been sitting
mine’s now half full

you can stay here if you want,
you can stay here if you want,
you can stay here if you want,
	and never leave home

you can stay here if you want,
	has your sediment settled?
you can stay here if you want,
	are you clear?
you can stay here if you want,
	are you ready to go?
are you ready to stay?
	are you ready to stay?

Credits:
tjw: 12-string guitar, electric bass, vocals, djembe, drum pad

Image: "Glass Half Full?" by Andrew Wilkinson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_j_w/3717563867

you can stay

I wasn’t looking for trouble but I got in a fight
I wasn’t looking for trouble but I gotta stand for what’s right
And when she stepped right through the crowd
She turned an eye
She laid it all to rest with a gun and a shout
Just when I thought I’d seen the
Very end of my days
She comes and stands and tells me down on your knees
Cause she
Is the cop that saved my ass
I said she
Is the cop that saved my ass

I was hoping and praying
To meet a woman like that
I been hoping and praying
Damn! Look at her badge
And when the flowers came to bloom
She brought the light
She taught the birds to sing and take into flight
Just when I thought that life was
So very unfair
She pulled her gun and shouted
Hands in the air
Cause she
Is the cop that saved my ass
I said she
Is the cop that saved my ass
I don’t really care if she takes me to jail
I’d rather do that than have my throat be impaled by that guy
She’s The cop that saved my ass

Saved My Ass

Who I am
By Eric Banford
(inspired by Pete Townshend)

I proceeded to freedom / fragile and uncertain
I'm finding it hard to breathe / throw myself on the fire
I wasn't quite real / I was grateful just to be alive
Face-to-face with heartbreak / I inhabit my truth

Chorus
To my eight year old self / remember what you feel today
It will make you strong and empathetic
To the pain that others feel
You have a good heart / you will be OK
You have a good heart / you will be OK

Deepening at this time / for once in my life
I knew when to draw the line / dancing lighthearted
I'm still trying to find out / what have I learned
My tears my only truth / who am I?

Chorus

A mystical layer to life / the beauty of music
Spiritually to transform / all of mankind
Creating lasting peace / throughout the world
The Lifehouse vision / becomes real

Chorus
Chorus

I will be OK

Who I am

Lovers Motel is a collection of thirteen new songs from The Dart Brothers that weave together stories and fables about relationship challenges in real life: the hazards that confront lovers and friends, the conflicts between past and present, the relationships that entwine good and evil– and all the struggles, frustrations, and joys that complicate our busy lives. Using layered guitars, vocals, bass, keys, synths, and fiddle, this batch of songs spans the spectrum from subtle and acoustic, to bolder, louder rants, all conveying the ebb and flow of our connections.

One in a Milllion

I write lil pop songs. And occasionally a rock song. And maybe a folk song here and there.

Tightrope

ToddEdmonds101

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