No Thanks I Have Plans

NO THANKS I HAVE PLANS
It was so good to hear your voice
The sound that my deepest heart enjoys
But your words never show
What I want to know
Leaving me perplexed
Where are we going next
“No thanks I have plans
I think you understand
Things need attention
Indulging your affection isn’t one of those that I chose
Thanks for asking
But multitasking’s not a strength of mine
I do one thing at a time”
Why do you continue to hold back
Is it some quality I lack?
You were right there
I kissed your face touched your hair then you
Blew away like air
“No thanks I have plans
Now you understand
Things need attention
Indulging your affection isn’t one of those that I chose
Thanks for asking
But multitasking’s not a strength of mine
I do one thing at a time”

September Shadows

SEPTEMBER SHADOWS
We missed the spring and summer
Fog was rolling in
September shadows
Make the twilight dim
I remember moments
Places dates and times
Well turned phrases hidden
With significant design
It’s getting darker
Little by little the days are shorter it’s getting darker
It’s getting darker
Minute by minute the nights are longer
It’s getting darker
I’ll never see a snowflake
Decorate your hair
I’ll never whisper I Love You
I would never dare
What becomes of stories
Without an end
Letters I’ve written
I’m afraid to send
What happens to the magic
When it no longer lives I cannot cast aspersions
Whom am I to forgive
It’s getting darker
Little by little the days are shorter it’s getting darker
It’s getting darker
Minute by minute the nights are longer
It’s getting darker

I Already Died

I ALREADY DIED
The psychic asked me
What was it that enchanted you so
I said the silver of her voice
The cyan in her eyes
Her skin of alabaster
But especially the glow
That made her different
From everything I know
No regret
I’m still astonished how we met again
As random as roulette
I cannot forget
That moment in December
When the mention of a word made us remember
I hear them whisper
They think I’ve changed
I’m alive but I already died From a broken heart
New Year’s day
Lost entirely for words to say
You said for both of us
I know we’ll be in touch
Opening the door to
The possibility of me with you
I never saw
March would bring a reason to withdraw
That frozen February
Was warmer than this spring
When life is solitary
And your absence is the by far the coldest thing
Out of the blue I conjure up the thought of you
I hear the silver of your voice
See the cyan in your eyes
Kiss your skin of alabaster
Feel the pain of never knowing what comes after
I hear them whisper
They think I’ve changed
I’m alive but I already died
From a broken heart

Firecracker

FIRECRACKER
You sparkle you’re a firecracker
Hot as a nuclear reactor
Shimmy like a salt shaker
Shuddering earthquaker
If you wanted it that way
Why don’t you get down on your knees and pray
We’re both getting tired
And it’s too late to get any higher
If you wanted it that way
Why don’t you get down on your knees and pray
We’re both getting tired
And you’re too far gone to get any higher
Wide open for a jawbreaker
Rug burns loudspeaker
Is it sulfer that I smell
If you’re the devil I’ll be happy in Hell
If you wanted it that way
Why don’t you get down on your knees and pray
We’re both getting tired
And it’s too late to get any higher
If you wanted it that way
Why don’t you get down on your knees and pray
We’re both getting tired
You’re too far gone to get any higher

Love Kills Slowly

LOVE KILLS SLOWLY
Love kills slowly
Love kills slowly
Teardrop diamonds
Crystal chains
Cut and bind you
Possession retraction
Last remains
Dance the voodoo
Love kills slowly
Love kills slowly
Dead end stop sign
Cul de sac
Passage forbidden
Broken window
Zodiac
Angels hidden
Love kills slowly
Love kills slowly

Video for "Lush and Loveless"

The Same Side of the River

THE SAME SIDE OF THE RIVER
I found the note
You wrote your number on
I never phoned you
I was afraid to
Loneliness is safe
What did it cost you?
What did you want to say?
I would have lost you anyway
When I’m alone I’m safe
We’re from the same side of the river
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give her
To help her get back here
I’ll keep the pathway clear
When will we run out of time?
Do I ever even cross your mind?
What’s up with this waiting game?
I’m dying but I keep that flame
Burning in your name
We’re from the same side of the river
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give her
To help her get back here
I’ll keep the pathway clear
I missed the last train out of nowhere
Now I’m lost searching for somewhere
Maybe it’s for the best
I can’t find your address

Playing in Stereo

PLAYING IN STEREO
This is cool, it’s great
It’s more than I hoped for
It’s meant to be, it’s fate
And that’s what we’re here for
What will be, will be, but I don’t know
I’m daydreaming all the time
Imagining scenarios
When you say what I think
We’re playing in stereo
We’re different channels in sync
Playing in stereo
The stars align, it’s a sign
It’s part of our astronomy
We get along, I see
According to astrology
This is amazing, and sublime
The chance of a lifetime
My thoughts are racing overtime
But everything will be fine
When you say what I think
We’re playing in stereo
We’re different channels in sync
Playing in stereo

Video for "The Grace of Grace"

A Dropout from the School of Love

A DROPOUT FROM THE SCHOOL OF LOVE  
I never learn
I never pay attention
I always get burned and end up in detention  
It’s like I’m asleep
I miss all the signals
Then I’m in too deep and I face dismissal  
I’m not unlucky
I’m a dropout from the school of love
I didn’t learn anything at all  
I’m going nowhere
They’re not gonna graduate
The one they could not educate  
My brain is a sieve
It has no retention
Mistakes I relive land me in suspension  
When I think love is real
Then my fate is sealed
Once again I’ve been fooled I just can’t be schooled  
I’m not unlucky
I’m a dropout from the school of love
I didn’t learn anything at all  
I’m going nowhere
They’re not gonna graduate
The one they could not educate

Bad Timing

BAD TIMING
We were working on a single heart
But it fell apart
Bad timing
She’s into photography
And all the other arts
I’m into her geography
That’s how it starts
I never met a girl like her
She’s so unique
I hang onto her every word
Whenever she speaks
We were working on a single heart
But it fell apart
Bad timing
How did i go from kissing her
To missing her
Bad timing
I wonder how long this break will last
And when it ends
Could we ever become something more
Than just old friends
When love gives you a gift
You must beware
The dark side of a miracle
Might be your worst nightmare
We were making a single heart
Now it’s torn apart
Bad timing
How did i go from kissing her
To missing her
Bad timing

Thank you WEXT and the "Local 518" show!

Radio station WEXT played "Something That I Said," on their local music show last month. Thanks to Andy Gregory for making the selection. It was especially surprising because I had not submitted anything for the show. He found the song on my Soundcloud and let me know he was scheduling it to broadcast. Very nice!

Rave On, A Madchester Celebration

The Blog That Celebrates Itself (tbtci), a primarily Shoegaze blog run by Renato Malizia in Brazil, regularly releases free compilations on Bandcamp with various invited artists covering some of Renato's favorite bands and trends in music. I was honored to be included on this compilation, celebrating the scene in Manchester UK during the 80's and 90's. I chose to cover Pleasure, by The Soup Dragons. It's a really cool song, quite a bit out of my usual style, so it was a challenge to work on something out of character for me. I have to say, I really enjoyed it!! I'm especially proud of the Jeff Beck-inspired guitar solo. A free download, all the tracks are worth hearing. Great songs, covered creatively by so many talented bands.

We're Cinematic

WE'RE CINEMATIC
We're cinematic
We're good
I know we'll be in touch
We're cinematic
You're nice
You're easy to talk to and they could make a movie about us
Was I surprised by your invitation
Imagine my elation
When I realized who you were
The legendary girl from my past and at last
We meet again
Maybe we'll be friends
Or possibly something more
'Cause I'm not quite as shy as I was before
We're cinematic
We're good
I know we'll be in touch
We're cinematic
You're nice
You're easy to talk to and they could make a movie about us
We'll do museums and lunch
Take in a movie and such
It appears this affair is set
And we haven't even talked on the telephone yet
We're cinematic
We're good
I know we'll be in touch
We're cinematic
You're nice
You're easy to talk to and they could make a movie about us

1982

1982
What were you doing in 1982?
I swear I remember you
Oh my god it’s true
I had the biggest crush on you
You went away I had to stay
In that dead end job
I felt so uncool
When you went back to school
You had adventures I had mine
In darkness and in light
With all the changes over time
You were always on my mind
Why at this time of our lives are we here today?
Maybe I’ll stop referring to you as the one who got away.
You got a new name but you’re still the same   
Neither of us had a clue
I was standing right next to you
I want to hear what you’ve been through
We’ll have to get together soon
Talk about what’s old and new
And I still have that crush on you

The Grace of Grace

THE GRACE OF GRACE
She has the grace of Grace Kelly
The elegance and poise
And the serenity of the Dalai Lama
Has she the same effect on other boys?
The infinity of clear blue skies
Are no deeper than her eyes
Her voice is liquid silver
With all the brilliance which that implies
Nobody but you could take my breath away
Nobody but you could make me feel that way
Nobody but you could lead my heart astray
How could anyone not be swept away
She has a glow that’s supernatural
An aura that sets her apart
Her beauty is extemporal
Not the result of any art
Nobody but you could take my breath away
Nobody but you could make me feel that way
Nobody but you could lead my heart astray
How could anyone not be swept away

Miracle

MIRACLE
 Lost and found    
You came around
One door closes    
Another opens
We reminisce    
On years we missed
My disbelief    
You’re next to me
Is this heaven    
It’s beautiful
Should I question    
A miracle
I wonder if    
I deserve this gift
From the past    
Will it last
If I’m dreaming    
Of our first kiss
Am I making    
Too much of this
Is this heaven    
It’s beautiful
Should I question    
A miracle
I won’t question    
This miracle

When I Met You

WHEN I MET YOU
What I know I could fit inside of a shotglass
I’m a bore I’m a drag I’m a drip I’m an outcast
I could make you a sign but I can’t draw a straight line
I’m alone in a crowd I’m at home when I’m out of town
 I can do no wrong when I’m with you
I hear a beautiful song when I’m with you
The sun looks bright when I’m with you
It’s Saturday night when I’m you
Now I’m broke when I woke I felt all kinds of down and out
I’m confused and diffused I’m afraid and I’m full of doubt
What the hell I can tell when a good thing has gone astray
Should have know it was too good to be true anyway
I could do no wrong when I met you
I wrote that song when I met you
The sun looked bright when I met you
It was Saturday night when I met you

Kate Moss

KATE MOSS
Five foot seven
Without her spikes
Legs skinny as
Stalactites
Street style haute couture
She slays with allure
She’s a waif she’s not weak
Don’t blame her for heroin chic
Kate Moss, Kate Moss
You’re the boss
You look good in dental floss
Any other model is a total loss
She’s hot as Tabasco sauce Kate Moss!
Zero size
Toothpick thighs
Skin tight Levi’s
Bedroom eyes
She blew up the amazon physique
With the new grunge mystique
Kate Moss, Kate Moss
You’re the boss
You look good in dental floss
Any other model is a total loss
She’s hot as Tabasco sauce Kate Moss!”

Something That I Said

SOMETHING THAT I SAID
I knew you were out of my league
But in the back of mind I find
A reason to believe
That we share an unconscious dream
Coincidence can’t explain
It's much more than it seems
Was it something that I said Something that I said
I tried to turn your head but you just looked away
I’m fine out here on my own
Knowing you
Makes me feel I’m not alone
Someday this will seem like a play
Where the pursuer became the one
Who got away
Was it something that I said Something that I said
I tried to turn your head but you just walked away 
I'll be honest I’ll stay true to you
But as time goes on I’m increasingly blue 
I knew you were out of my league
But in the back of mind I find a reason to believe
It was something that I said Something that I said
I tried to turn your head but you just ran away 
I tried to make you mine but I was left behind

"Under the Christmas Twee" compilation on Shiny Happy Records

Shiny Happy Records has released a charming new cassette compilations of Christmas themed Indiepop songs, featuring the bands:

Archaster, Caramel Snow, Dylan Mondegreen, Flannel, The Very Most, Math and Physics Club, Bubblegum Lemonade, The Lousy Pop Group, The Arctic Flow and
Les Bicyclettes De Belsize. 

My track is "I've Got a Problem With Christmas This Year."