Original Music

Moonlit is a song based on something I used to do on my guitar long ago, and then I transformed it to piano with a bit of harmonica.

I want to do more with this song, but I haven't figured where I want to go with it yet.

I actually have lyrics for this song... one day, I might record the voice track.

I feel it in my soul
I must fill that empty hole
We need to close this distance
Confirming my existence

The space between us tighter
Lifts my spirit higher
Reach out to you my hand
Because I can...

And I must

Fulfill this destiny
It won't come easily
But I know it in my bones
That I will not be alone

You will be with me
Together, we will see
This mission through
I promise you...

This Calling
That you've placed inside my heart
I know I can't ignore you calling me
What you've given me to do
I hear you, oh I hear you
Calling me...

Here is my reply
My steps are how I answer

It seems bigger than I think I can
This journey you have planned
I move ahead in faith
Trusting every footstep that I place

I strain to hear your voice
Obedience my only choice
Together, I can be strong
You say I can...

So I must

Step into my proper place
As long as I seek your face
I know it in my bones
That I will not be alone

You will be with me
Together, we will see
This mission through
I promise you...

This Calling
That you've placed inside my heart
I know I can't ignore this Calling
What you have given me to do
I hear you, oh I hear you
Calling me...

Yes is my reply
My days will be my answer

This is just fun.

Last song of the year. Spent part of Christmas doing this. I love writing music.

My late wife, Patti, loved my early compositions. She and I would jam together, drumming on our legs, to the turn signal while waiting at a stoplight and then laugh our asses off when I had to finally turn.

This song feels like her.

Music is a language all to itself for me. I'm the world's worst pianist. I couldn't play you a Bsus9 if you paid me. But I hear things in my head and figure it out.

I started out a bass player. Sometimes, a punchy bass is just right.

I have lyrics for this one, too. The version with lyrics is entitled, "Furniture."

It is so like you
To carry on without care
It's just what you do
You never see my empty stare

You never take me for human
You only take me for granted
Your expendable crewman
Cuz our relationship's slanted

In the room that is your life
The arranged decor is oh so nice
We're just colors and fabrics you choose
People are just furniture to you

Chairs and footstools, rugs to walk on
Take your shoes off, but leave your socks on
The accoutrements that you abuse
Everyone is just furniture to you

This feels a bit like Sting to me. If I could pull off his voice, these would be the lyrics.

Change seems impossible
A world beyond our grasp
Too many liars in our midst
Forked tongues and asps

Our future seems a hostage
Held by thick chains
By actors we don't know
Malevolence in their brain

Trials can be mountains
Cliffs that we must climb
Snipers in snowy drifts
Place crosshairs on our spines
Fear pushes us to move
Or it can freeze our feet in place
Change will happen either way
We die or we escape

At times...

Change feels possible
Almost within our grasp
We surround ourselves with heroes
Friends forged in fires past

Our future is adrift
Altered by our hands
We try to shape what's to come
By movement and our plans

Change is inevitable
The status quo won't last
Change doesn't need permission
Changes happen fast

The sum of our decisions
Against what others decide
Mold the future for us
We just might change this tide

Trials can be mountains
Cliffs that we must climb
Snipers in snowy drifts
Place crosshairs on our spines
Fear pushes us to move
Or it can freeze our feet in place
Change will happen either way
We die or we escape

A bit hypnotic...

I love layered counterepoint, where multiple melodies intertwine and weave in and out of each other.

This just felt like circles to me...

My most recent song... it took about a week to get this right.

Sometimes, you just need a good hug to lift your spirits.

Kinda twisted...

Monks chanting. Lovely piano. A fun song to write for the key change in the middle.

One of my favorites. Very ethereal.

Toe-tapping...

Nicole tells me that she can hear this in a movie, as the camera sweeps over a deserted landscape...

This song always felt to me like that moment when you say something you didn't really mean to someone you love and you would do anything to take it back.

I wish I had the voice for this song... I think lyrics and a strong vocal track would do a lot for it.

And I love how it ends...

I wrote and named this song for how happy my son, Jacob, is in his relationship with Grace, who both live in Alaska.

Someone once asked me how I would describe the music I write. Since I write to create background music for the videos I create, I replied that I write really great hold music.

It's good for just playing in the background of whatever you're doing. Some of it is very catchy. Some of it very pretty. A lot of people tell me that they can hear some of this in the soundtrack of a movie or commercial.

Either way, it's fun to create.