Here’s the first in a series of recordings I made in late 2008 in an attempt to put together something that I could send to venues in NYC to book some gigs. I’d been playing these two songs from A Forest Through The Trees back to back at open mics for a while and figured they might work for this project.
Unless I’m mistaken, here is the very first recording of what would turn into You Can Count On Me. A newer, faster version finally appeared on Just Barely earlier this year. There are no words on this version, just guitar, but the chords and form seem to be the same.
Here’s yet another idea that I recorded and then decided not to pursue further. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it though. Honestly, I don’t even remember recording it. Could be a good basis for something new though.
Here’s another acoustic idea from NYC. I wrote some lyrics to it later that I’m not very happy with, but we’ll get to that in due time I guess.
I’d like to give credit to some photographers whose images I’ve used on some recent projects. I’m so thankful for their gracious contributions. Please check out their work and show them your support!
I’ve been playing with this band for a little while now. Here’s a video from a recent tribute to Judas Priest. Definitely one of the highlights of my musical career.
The eighth idea never really materialized past this. I’m pretty sure it was inspired by George and Ira Gershwin’s Stairway to Paradise. Maybe I’ll try to write some words for this someday.
Here’s the seventh guitar idea from NYC. It has some different qualities than the others up to this point. I think I wrote some lyrics at some point that I’ll try to find.
This idea morphed into something called A Few Words, which I remember playing quite a bit out in Colorado. This version is much slower. I still like the chord progression though.
This idea had another life in the studio while we were recording By The Numbers. We tracked drums, bass, and more guitars, but didn’t end up adding it to the EP. Here’s the original guitar idea though. I’ve also included the studio version too. Recording with Brian Forbes, Aaron Steele, and Dan Asher was amazing beyond words. I’m so honored to have worked with them.
Here’s the fourth idea from New York. I remember enjoying this song a lot as I was writing it, but less so after having finished it. Maybe it was the melody? Or the harmonica? Maybe the words? Who knows?
Just wanted to let you know about an organization I support called the Kentucky Waterways Alliance. They do a wonderful job keeping our waterways clean and advocating for legislation that will help heal our rivers, lakes, streams, creeks, etc. from the effects of pollution. If you haven’t checked them out please do!
The third idea from NYC would eventually turn into Human or Machine from By The Numbers. Here’s the original guitar idea. I seem to enjoy playing this particular rhythm on guitar for some reason. I’ve played it on some other songs throughout the years with varying degrees of success. Hopefully I can use it a bit more judiciously in the future.
We moved to New York City in the summer of 2008. I put together a makeshift studio in the closet of our apartment, in the basement under the stairs to the rest of the building. Almost all these ideas are on acoustic guitar; perhaps I needed a break after all the programming in Prague? That’s similar to what happened after I moved here from Boulder actually. Anyway, here’s the first idea I could find from New York.
Here are some songs I’ve written on guitar over the past few years. I’m sorry the audio is a bit rough in places; it was a fairly lo-fi endeavor. Hopefully I’ll record some better versions one day. Videos and lyrics are available below. Thanks for listening!
OH LIFE
LIFE!
WON’T YOU SHOW ME HOW TO LIVE
WHEN I DON’T KNOW WHY I EXIST
AND MY WAKING HOURS ARE LOW?
LIFE!
DO MY BEST TO DO MY BEST
THOUGH SOMETIMES I’M A VERY FRIGHTFUL MESS
WITH MY WORRYING EVERYWHERE
OH LIFE!
PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK YOU’RE A LITTLE UNFAIR
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU REVEL IN DESPAIR
LIKE SOME SORT OF SOCIOPATH
WHEN I THOUGHT YOU HAD NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE
YOU GAVE ME A RATIONALE TO LIVE
THROUGH YOU
THE ANSWER TO ALL YOUR MISERIES
A SOLUTION TO EVERYTHING
OH LIFE!
OH LIFE!
PEP TALK
OH THESE TIMES
THEY SEEM SO DESPERATE
EVERYBODY’S BREAKING OUT INTO A SWEAT
FROM READING ABOUT THE MAYHEM ON THE INTERNET
OR WITNESSING IT DOWN THE WAY
SO I’M AIMING TO DO ALL THAT I THINK I SHOULD
TO CHANGE SOMETHING AWFUL INTO SOMETHING GOOD
I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND FRIENDS OUT OF ENEMIES
AND WHEN MY MIND IS FILLED WITH DOUBT
I’LL RESOLVE TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO MAKE MYSELF MORE AWARE
I WILL OVERCOME ALL THIS DEEP DESPAIR
NO I WON’T BE SET IN WAYS
THAT WON’T ADAPT TO A DIFFERENT PHASE
SO UNTIL I’VE LIVED MY YESTERDAYS
I WILL CARRY ON
DUSK INTO THE DAWN
COME ON LET’S GET ON WITH IT!
LO AND BEHOLD
LO AND BEHOLD
WE’RE GROWING OLD
AND IT’S OUT OF OUR CONTROL
IN A WORLD OF RAGING SOULS
SEDATE OR AT LEAST WE’RE CLOSE ENOUGH
WITH THE HELP OF CHOSEN DRUGS
THAT WILL KEEP US IN THE FOG
SNUG AT HOME
WHERE WE STILL FEEL SAFE AND WARM
WHERE WE TAKE OUR FAVORITE FORM
ALL ALONE
FOR WE KNOW
THAT IT WON’T BE LONG AT ALL
LIGHTEN UP
LIGHT IT UP BUT STAY AWARE
KEEP IT TRUE AND DO YOUR SHARE
FOR WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
SUCK IT UP
THERE ARE FOLKS WORSE OFF OUT THERE
WHILE WE’RE OFF, FAILING TO CARE
ONLY WORRIED ABOUT OURSELVES
SO UNKNOWN
IS THE WORLD WHERE WE HAVE GROWN
MAKING SENSE OF WHAT IS SHOWN
FOR IT ALL
IS AN OVERWHELMING CRYPTOGRAM
WITH NO CODE
SO IT GOES
SO IT GOES
SO IT GOES
SO IT GOES EVERYDAY
ARE WE AGING GRACEFUL OR WASTING AWAY?
THAT DEPENDS ON HOW YOUR MIND IS SET
WE CAN WORK IN SYNC
AND NOT SHIRK OR SHRINK
FROM WHAT WE COULD BE
IT WOULD SET US FREE
FROM THE PAIN OF CONFLICT
AND SAD MISUNDERSTANDINGS
IT’S A CHOICE
NOT A PREDETERMINED COURSE
DON’T YOU KNOW THAT WE CAN SOLVE
THE RIDDLE OF HOW WE EVOLVE?
INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT OURSELVES
WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO HELP
WHERE THAT LEADS YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS
BUT WE’RE DEFINITELY DOOMED UNLESS
WE CAN ESCALATE OUR EMPATHY
IDIOT SONG
HERE’S A SONG BY AN IDIOT
IT’S PROBABLY NOT EVEN READY YET
TAKE A LISTEN AND THEN FORGET IT ALL
SEEMS LIKE IT’S BEEN DONE BEFORE
I’M SORRY THAT IT’S SUCH A CHORE
I’M AMAZED THAT YOU HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL
HERE WE ARE IN THE CHORUS
SO EMOTIONAL
HERE TO HAUNT YOU SO
TELL ME HOW IT SOUNDS SO FAR
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHERE YOU ARE?
OR IS THIS ALL JUST A BIT BIZZARE TO YOU?
I WONDER IF IT’S SINKING IN
THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY THINK AGAIN
BEFORE YOU STOP BY TO HEAR A SONG OR TWO
ONCE AGAIN THROUGH THE CHORUS
SO EMOTIONAL
RIGHT BEFORE THE SOLO
OH THANK GOD
WE’RE ALMOST TO THE END
AND NO I WON’T PLAY IT AGAIN
NOT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AT LEAST I HOPE
YES IT’S A SHAME THAT YOU HAD TO HEAR IT
SO LET ME DISAPPEAR
I’M SO SORRY FOR STRINGING YOU ALONG
TO THE IDIOT SONG
NOTHING TO IT
DAMN IT
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY
NOT LIKE IT MATTERS ANYWAY
NO ONE’S OUT THERE LISTENING TO A WORD I SING
I DO MY BEST TO RHYME
BUT I’M DOUBT THEY’D WASTE THEIR TIME
ON THIS CACOPHONY THAT SO PLAINLY
DOESN’T MEAN A SINGLE THING
YEAH THEY’D PROBABLY BE BORED
BY THE RHYTHM AND CHORDS
BUT LIKE I SAID
THERE’S NO ONE LISTENING
SO I’LL SIMPLY SAY
O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
THAT’S WHAT THE CHORUS IS
CIRCLING BACK TO VERSE
BUT I DON’T WANNA REPEAT THE WORDS
OR MAYBE JUST UNTIL I GET BACK
TO THAT POINTLESS REFRAIN
WHAT’S THIS NUMBER ALL ABOUT?
A STUPID ATTEMPT FOR ME TO SHOUT
A LYRIC ALONG A MELODY
THAT WAS TRAPPED IN MY BRAIN?
I SHOULD PROBABLY DESTROY
THIS DERIVATIVE NOISE
BUT LIKE I SAID
THERE’S NO ONE LISTENING
SO I’LL SIMPLY SAY
O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
IT’S PROBABLY GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GETTING OLD
GUESS I’LL GO THROUGH IT ALL AGAIN
A LITTLE REPRISE BEFORE THE END
I REALLY CAN’T BELIEVE THAT I HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR
IT SEEMS ABSURD TO WRITE A SONG
WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON
I’LL MAKE IT THROUGH THE CHORUS
THEN I’LL SAY AU REVOIR
YEAH THE WORDS HAVE BECOME
NARCISSISTIC AND DUMB
I KNOW THEY’RE MEANINGLESS
BUT I CAN ONLY SEEM TO SAY
O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY O HEY ODELAY O
HEY ODELAY ODELAY O
NOW I SHOULD PROBABLY GO
I BEG YOUR PARDON
I BEG YOUR PARDON
IF THE POINT OF THIS SONG
WAS SIMPLY ILL-CONCEIVED
I WAS DOING MY BEST TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVED
BUT WHO THE HELL AM I TO SING
ALL THE LYRICS THAT ARE IN THIS SONG?
ALTHOUGH I TRIED TO GET THEM RIGHT
IT’S MORE LIKELY THAT I GOT THEM WRONG
BUT WHEN THE MUSIC IS IN MY HEAD
IT NEVER SEEMS TO LET ME REST
I WANT TO CAPTURE IT
EVEN THOUGH THE OUTCOME
MIGHT BE FULL OF SHIT
I’M TIRED OF RACKING MY BRAIN
TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT WORDS TO SING
AND SO TO KEEP MYSELF SANE
I WON’T SING ABOUT ANYTHING
OH GOD DAMN IT DUSTIN
CAN’T YOU MUSTER ANY MORE THAN THIS?
IT’S PLAIN TO SEE THAT I’M IN NEED
OF A DRASTIC METAMORPHOSIS
AND WHEN
THIS IDIOSYNCRASY
FOR THE RHYTHM AND THE MELODY
BUILDS ANXIETY
I PROMISE I WON’T LET IT
GET THE BEST OF ME
IF YOU’RE STILL WITH ME
THANKS FOR LISTENING FRIENDS
BUT IT’S TIME TO SEND THIS SONG INTO OBLIVION
CHANGE IT INTO SOMETHING I CAN UNDERSTAND
YOU’VE COME THIS FAR
SHALL I TAKE YOU TO THE END?
THANK YOU
GOODNIGHT
THE END
MAY THE TIME COME
MAY THE TIME COME
WHEN WE WILL ALL BE FREE
AND WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU
IS WHAT’S BEST FOR ME
SO RAISE YOUR HEAD
COME AND BANG YOUR DRUM
OH YEAH MAY THE TIME COME
MAY THE TIME COME
WHEN IT WILL ALL MAKE SENSE
AND WHEN NO ONE LIVES
AT ANOTHER’S EXPENSE
SO RAISE YOUR HEAD
COME AND BANG YOUR DRUM
OH YEAH MAY THE TIME COME
MAY THE TIME COME
WHEN WE WILL ALL FEEL LOVE
FOR WHAT’S HERE ON EARTH
AND IN THE STARS ABOVE
SO RAISE YOUR HEAD
COME AND BANG YOUR DRUM
OH YEAH MAY THE TIME COME
OH YEAH MAY THE TIME COME
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
WHEN YOU’RE WEAK
AND CONFUSED
FEELING BLEAK
AND ABUSED
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN USED
AND CAST AWAY
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING JADED
WHEN EVERY DAY IS THE SAME
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN DEGRADED
WHEN YOU’RE FULL OF SHAME
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN VAIN
AND YOU’RE THE ONE TO BLAME
YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
NO I DON’T CARE
IF YOU’RE TRUSTING OR CYNICAL
OR WHETHER YOU’RE WORSHIPPED OR LOATHED
IF YOU’RE EVER IN NEED
IF YOU’RE HURTING
IF YOU’RE LAID BARE
WHEN THEY PULL BACK THE CURTAIN
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME
WHERE YOU CAN COUNT ON ME
WHERE I BELONG
THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN I’M OUT OF TOUCH
AND IT ALL SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH
AND I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG
I CAN STILL CARRY ON
WON’T YOU PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE I BELONG?
THERE ARE DAYS
WHEN I’M IN A HAZE
GOING CRAZY
LOST IN MALAISE
AND I CAN’T TELL WHERE TO GO
AND I CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL LOW
WON’T YOU PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE I BELONG?
WON’T YOU PLEASE
COME LIFT ME UP
AND HOLD ME CLOSE
TO SHOW ME HOW
IT WOULD FEEL
TO BE LOVED?
OR MUST I REMAIN
ALONE FOREVERMORE
NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN?
SHOULD I HOPE?
SHOULD I PRAY?
SHOULD I ADMIT THAT IT ALL WAS IN VAIN?
WON’T YOU PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE I BELONG?
WON’T YOU PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE I BELONG?
And here we at the end of the Prague files. What at strange trip! I’m so thankful for all the experiences I had living there and the inspiration the city provided every day. I’m most thankful, however, for all the wonderful friends I made along the way. Děkuji, Praha!
Here’s one that I abandoned right after I started it. The whole thing just loops so if you listen to the first few bars you get the picture.