I don’t know Kent very well.  For the song, I thought maybe I could make him my super — or perhaps the person who wears the Elmo costume in Times Square!  Or maybe use a Leader of the Pack theme.  

Then, believe or not, I went to a museum and saw an exhibit on Volcanos.  Volcanos are pretty cool:  the ash has lots of nutrients and minerals which help many ecosystems on land and underwater.  

So I made Kent one of the people who goes down to study volcanos.

And for the record, I never left my cat out in the rain! ☔️ 

Also for the record, this was completely written and recorded before I saw this week’s theme: Inside There’s a Fire!! 🔥 


A Guy Named Kent (Never Forget)

Standing room only on this train
Left my sink with a plugged up drain
Late last night my old cat complained
Why’d you leave me out in the rain?

Bet you wonder what’s my intent
Can’t get no sleep, can’t pay my rent
Never understood what he meant
But I’ll never forget a guy named Kent

Oooh

Kent was enticed by volcanos
Job exploring the things they know
Harness was on, ready to go
Didn’t wonder, was he sane, no

Kent went down to the burning lake
Grabbed some rocks, had photos to take
Smoke and sulfur, the lungs did ache
Earth above couldn’t help but shake

Oooh

Kent has a science show today
On TV, movies, and Broadway
Climbing down rock walls feels like play
But what gives life can take it away

Bet you wonder what’s my intent
Can’t get no sleep, can’t pay my rent
Never understood what he meant
But I’ll never forget a guy named Kent

Oooh

A Guy Named Kent (Never Forget)

This came about from a combination of me thinking how cool it is to sing along with a song like Take This Job and Shove It.  Also I had Train’s Meet Virginia in my head, the cool sing along line: I don’t really wanna live this life, no no no.  And also I recently saw Alanis Morissette speak about what a great tool anger is.  And well, I’m angry all the time recently, so this was super fun to make! 😊 

Out of Here

Well there’s nothing
I said nothing
Nothing in this life is the way they said it’d be
But there’s something
Yeah there’s something
Something in your eyes and the way they spoke to me

Don’t wanna wake up for the morning train
Come home late in the pouring rain

Get me out of here
I never liked sour beer
Chasing down a taste not for me
Get me out of here
I hear you loud and clear
Giving me a place to be free

Well I’m rushing
Yeah I’m rushing
Rushing and it’s never enough to get things done
But your loving
Yeah your loving
Loving and it’s working enough my heart is won

Don’t wanna wake up for the morning train
Come home late in the pouring rain

Get me out of here
I never liked sour beer
Chasing down a taste not for me
Get me out of here
I hear you loud and clear
Giving me a place to be free

Out Of Here - 5:7:21, 5.45 PM

This is a skeleton of an idea (not that any of my submissions are finished!).  Mostly this is for verse structure and vocal rhythm.  Ideally there is one more idea for each verse and also the bridge.  And most likely new chords and melody (though feel free to comment on them, or any of the song elements).  Will hopefully submit another version in one or two months! 😊 

Three in the Morning (What Would Life Be)

Verse 1:
It was long ago
When the nights were full of fun and laughs
Was it time for beer or time for coffee
With my friends and free to spend my cash

What would life be
Without a memory
Of having good times at three in the morning

Verse 2:
Now some years gone by
And the ceiling's full of lines and cracks
Did I miss a bill or row on the spreadsheet
Will I wake in time to iron my slacks

What would life be
Without a worry
Of losing my mind at three in the morning

Bridge:
Just like that
A piercing crash
It all happened way too fast
Took a risk
Seemed wise to pick
Tell me could it end like this

What would life be
Without a memory
Of taking a chance at three in the morning

Three In The Morning (What Would Life Be) - 6:13:21, 9.26 PM

Here’s one for my cat, Sophie!

Back in February, Sophie had a bad fall - she didn’t make her favorite jump and fell to the floor.  She was very depressed, just laid in a corner, and lost a lot of weight.  She’s 18 years old, pretty old for a cat.  I thought she was at the end of her life.  She likes when I sing (a cappella, no guitar!).  So I sang a bunch of my SAW songs to comfort her.  Over several days and weeks, she became more energized and gained weight.  If you ask me today, well, probably she will live forever!

A few weeks back, I began singing these lyrics, a song for her.  She liked it a lot until I put some jazzy chords together and changed the melody to fit.  Then Sophie HATED it!  And it’s her song so… well, out went the jazzy chords!  I stuck with the original melody, which she likes a lot.  And tried to find chords that go along with it.  I’m quite certain there’s a better chord progression, but…

P.S.  What else do you fear?  Well, Sophie's other worst enemy is here -- 4th of July fireworks that get shot off in our neighborhood. 👻 


I Know You Don’t Like Plastic Bags
  🐾 a Sophie approved tune 🐾 

What could make that sound?
Flashing white that flies around
Is that why your heart cannot slow down?

What else do you fear?
Do you think the end is near?
The spookiest enemy is here!

Spinning in circles, upset by fate
It’s all in the way your tail wags
I know you don’t like plastic bags

Perhaps you forgot
The plastic bags help a lot
They protect the food that we have bought

Spinning in circles, upset by fate
It’s all in the way your tail wags
I know you don’t like plastic bags

A cardboard box is a safe place to rest
A soft cozy blanket is surely the best
But just remember plastic keeps your treats
Nice and fresh

What else do you fear?
Do you think the end is near?
The spookiest enemy is here!

Spinning in circles, upset by fate
It’s all in the way your tail wags
I know you don’t like plastic bags

I Know You Don't Like Plastic Bags (for Sophie) - 6:28:21, 9.30 PM

This is half of a story.  Perhaps I will return to this idea later.

Collide (On the Other Side)

Well you know I saw it coming
Should have never crossed the tracks
But when I’m feeling good
It’s kind of hard to turn back

Well you know I spilled the coffee
On my only crisp white shirt 
But my tank top sure is sexy
Though my sneakers have seen some dirt

Oh I know we will collide
Cause I don’t belong — on the other side

Well you know he had the money
Had a gold watch and black tie
His jokes were stiff but funny
Hard to look him in the eye

Oh I know we will collide
Cause I don’t belong — on the other side

Collide (On The Other Side) - 11:26:20, 10.21 PM

Another old SAW song get a makeover!

A love song where I meet Mr. Right…


The Cigarette Song

On a romantic moonlit summer night
I was carefree, worries out of sight
In the darkness, I saw his silhouette 
What happened next, I never will forget

He was sensitive and down to earth
He was attractive, helped me feel my worth
I almost died when he reached for my barrette
And I almost died when he took out —— a cigarette!

He may be the man who will understand and take me as I am
He may be the guy who will satisfy and look me in the eye
But I don’t want a fate that will suffocate and before it’s too late
Darling, I must say:  Goodbye!

He had money from his best selling book
He was athletic and knew how to cook
Can’t believe I can laugh at all his jokes
Can’t believe ——- Why does he have to smoke?!

He may be the man who will understand and take me as I am
He may be the guy who will satisfy and look me in the eye
But I don’t want a fate that will suffocate and before it’s too late
Darling, I must say:  Goodbye!

The Cigarette Song - 12:11:20, 2.45 PM

Will the Trees Remember Our Names
by Tamora Wilson and Laurie Easterling © 12/20/2020 New York, NY and Oak Ridge, TN

Photo by Tamora Wilson, Appalachian Trail near NYC

I’ve been a part of this forest
As long as I can remember
I know every brook and tree
Hiked through her valleys and hills
January through December
She feels like a mother to me

I’ve learned how to read wildfires
Fighting flames far from my home
Now I teach all I’ve seen
As I lead a group up the ridge
I see the smoke and grab my phone
Not too late to call in the team

Chorus:
Will the trees remember our names
We fight to save them from the flames
Hold us in their memories
As the years become centuries
Will the trees remember our names

We all don our gear and grab shovels
The fire grows like it’s alive
My students tremble at the sight
Branches start to burn overhead
As the rest of the team arrives
We will battle through the night

Chorus

Bridge:
Though scarred the forest will survive
She nurtures saplings through the winter
Whispering stories of history
Rebuilding the network together

Chorus

Tamora Wilson and Laurie Easterling - Will The Trees Remember Our Names - 1:1:21, 4.15 PM

I almost have enough songs about the homeless for an EP!

Since I’m still commuting to work, I’m still noticing stuff, and here’s a story I couldn’t pass up.  Plus it’s a nice balance to some of the more serious songs I have.

While walking on 42nd Street (Dec 30, probably 9:40pm or so), I observed a young woman who was either new to New York or perhaps a tourist.  She appeared to be giving a lactose intolerant homeless man a coffee with milk.

Wish I had a little more time for guitar rehearsal before recording this track, but hey, I couldn't play at this tempo a year ago, so it's progress.  I'm looking forward to creating some more upbeat songs this year.  Very happy to be a part of SAW again!!


I Can’t Drink Latte Today

All her life she dreamed of Times Square
Broadway and all the money she’d make there
But she never left the suburbs
And she probably never will
But at least tonight she can board a flight
Big Apple, here I come

She saw him digging for a bite to eat
Tattered clothes and old shoes on his feet
Down the block was a Starbucks
A cup will help him out tonight
It’s cold on the street, have a nice warm treat
Please take this, here you go

Thank you, how kind of you
But wait!  Does this have milk?
My stomach will ache, it will make me ill
So excuse me as I say
I can’t drink latte today

Oh no, I’m so sorry, she said
That’s okay, I’m used to this, he said
What people throw away
Will surely blow your mind
But tonight I’m stuck, can you spare a buck
Some coins or change will help

He reminded her of a friend she knew back home
Made her laugh and even wrote a poem
But standing on the corner
Was not the point of this trip
She gave him a buck and wished him luck
It’s late now, I must go

Thank you, how kind of you
But wait!  Does this have milk?
My stomach will ache, it will make me ill
So excuse me as I say
I can’t drink latte today

I Can't Drink Latte Today - 1:8:21, 7.20 PM

I had fun redoing this old (July 2017) SAW song!

This is about burnout.  But I also think it fits with the current times of the pandemic, whether its loss of livelihood or jobs, loss of a loved one, isolation (social distancing), displacement and more.

Photo by Eric Vetter, Coney Island, Summer 2020
Photo is empty Coney Island (usually there would be hundreds of people…).

No Connection

I used to play games
I used to take risks
I used to have drive
I used to be clear
I used to inspire
But I lost my fire
Who am I now?
I lost myself somehow

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

I used to have fun
I used to have laughs
I used to be patient
I used to relax
I used to be brave
I used to have hope
Why can’t I dream?
I’m no longer part of a team

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

I used to have power
I used to have a voice
I used to be loved
I used to have trust
I used to be fierce
I used to have grace
Who am I now?
I lost myself somehow

And now there’s no no no no no no
I said no no no no no no
No no no no connection

No Connection - 1:22:21, 7.48 PM

The Rainbow’s Delight
by Tamora Wilson and Laurie Easterling

Isabelle dropped her eyes
And said don’t mind me
Lost in the crowd
She was ready to flee

Not wanting to be seen
In her own quiet hell
Nobody told her
Don’t be invisible, Isabelle

We may take different roads through this dreary night
There’s a place for you to shine your light
You play your part, give it your whole heart
Every color adds to the rainbow’s delight

Crushed by a shame
That isn’t his to bear
Paul hides in plain sight
Pretending it’s not there

Keeping his head down
Or the house of cards may fall
Nobody told him
It’s okay to stand tall, Paul

We may take different roads through this dreary night
There’s a place for you to shine your light
You play your part, give it your whole heart
Every color adds to the rainbow’s delight

Born less than perfect
Dalia doesn’t feel whole
No one gets close enough
To see her heart and soul

Focused on her work
Becomes a lonely scholar
Nobody told her
You’re the whole enchilada, Dalia

We may take different roads through this dreary night
There’s a place for you to shine your light
You play your part, give it your whole heart
Every color adds to the rainbow’s delight