Author Archives: TK

Dog years and lunar days…

Rainy Day on Temple Ave
NEW SONG ALERT!

A song a day… that was the concept.

Yep.

A song a day for a year, newly recorded, with a little write-up.

They started out being terrestrial, regular old 24 hour days.

But at this point, we’re pretty much talking about lunar days…

However, there are more than a year of songs up here now — or at least different versions… 400 of them, covering 144 songs and 28 instrumentals. Give or take. Some tracks are no longer available. (Yes, even I have some shame.)

Anyhow, here’s a new song.

I know, I’m supposed to write something about it. It’s been up on Soundclick for over a week and I still haven’t thought up anything. So, what the heck…

It’s about some loser.

lyrics
Rainy Day on Temple Ave

I saw her again
and she was smiling in the sun
but I remember when
she was down and she was almost done

she had herself a man and
he was doing her so wrong
she said I’ll
give you what I can
but I’m not sure that I’m that strong

And I said Baby, that’s OK
I know I should not stay
I wouldn’t want your tomorrows
to be as sad as our today

There was a time
when I counted the two of us as one
there was a dream
I thought all my darkness was all gone

Some things have to be and
some things can never last for long
and some times you just see
to try to hang on is just (so damn) wrong

And I said Baby, that’s OK…

One drink buys the next
until you’re staring at the stars
wondering what went wrong
and wondering where the hell you are

That was
ten thousand miles ago
but I guess I haven’t come all that far
I’m still wandering through these streets
I’m still lost among those stars

And I said Baby, that’s OK…

2008-09-06
(C)2008, TK Major

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"He wrote some good little songs…"

Forget About the Moon

Gotchya.

No… not dead yet.

Although regular readers may be forgiven for expecting that the next writing filling this space after some weeks of my absence might well be a tearful eulogy from a grieving friend or loved one who’d somehow managed to crack my passwords.

But… nah.

I’m still breathing and walking around.

In fact, while I was otherwise occupied I did something I hadn’t done in nearly three decades: I let someone else record me in their studio. I was, as they say, dumb talent.

previous versions
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Friday, August 31, 2007

And it was fun.

My buddy, Reggie Ashley, himself a working musician, has a nice little studio, nothing crazy, but, with a recording booth large enough for drums, I felt pretty special… certainly a far cry from the corner of my living room I’ve dedicated to recording. (Of course, before I moved down here to the beach, I had my own, somewhat more elaborate recording space; but it still wasn’t quite as slick as Reggie’s nicely appointed little studio.)

Reg has some nice mics and some good gear but the real difference between a session working under him and doing my own recording was discipline.

As long time readers may suspect, discipline is something I’ve long eschewed in my own creative efforts. That’s for pros, eh?

But when in Rome… and Reggie is clearly a pro, so I tried to go with the flow. And, by and large, I think it worked out.

The best part of this, though, I think, is the very cool triangle and tambourine thing Reggie came up with that underlies the song. He got this little afro-beat thing going on the triangle, and just a tap on the tambo to end the triangle phrase. It’s pretty cool… He also did a tasty little mandolin part, a Nashville-tuned guitar part in the refrains, and supplied a bass drum punctuating the whole business.

All I had to do was play a little guitar, do a little singing, and sit in the booth and look pretty.

previous versions
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Friday, August 31, 2007

lyrics
Forget About the Moon

(C)2008, TK Major

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Suns explode and worlds collide…

Trainwreck Life

Stuff happens.

No matter how meticulously you plan, how many contingencies you try to cover, how much you practice and drill, unforeseen events upend the best laid plans — or the gods of unforseen consequences lay a hand on an outcome and before you know it, everything is upside down, inside out, and your goose is on its way to well-done — but you won’t be sharing the bounty.

previous versions
Sunday, October 28, 2007

But hey — in this veil of toil and sin, you’d be lucky to get out alive. If you could, but you can’t. So best to buck up, stiffen the old upper lip, buckle down, grab your bootstraps, and give the ol’ heave ho to yesterday’s cares and concerns — because there’s a fresh batch due for delivery as early as tomorrow.

previous versions
Sunday, October 28, 2007

lyrics
Trainwreck Life

It’s just one trainwreck after another
it’s just one disaster followin’ the t’other
It’s a wonder I can get back on my feet
to fall again

Some catastrophe
Some calamity
more adversity
more insanity
it’s the way it goes in the world
of mice and men

Cataclysm and devastation
tragedy and desolation
yet I know it’s the way it goes
my friend

double debacles and treble trouble
cauldron of misfortune set to boil and bubble
I’ve seen the future it’s
more of the same to the end

Waterloo was just a hiccup
Little Big Horn just all a big mixup
When everything is ashes
maybe we can all be friends

Suns explode and worlds collide
all us little specks along for the ride
the fabric of time and space
someday willl mend

Cataclysm and devastation…

Suns explode and worlds collide
all us little specks along for the ride
in the end it all — comes down to the end

2007-10-28
(C)2008, TK Major

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Mystery Trip

Bold & Rational Men

 

 

When I posted an earlier version of this song only a few posts back, I’d meant to add the back up vocal that is added here. Otherwise, the song’s about the same but I think the additional vocal kind of brings it alive.

 

 

Bold and Rational Men

Come now y’ bold and rational men
and march y’ straight ahead
y’ fear not the fire of the dragon
nor the carrious teeth of death

And come now, lad
fear not the gods
you’ve often said we’re all alone
d’n’cha see your where your path must lie
straight into the unknowable
good speed now
you’re on your own

But wait now put your hand on the earth
and see where your life flows from
this good dark earth
is the mother of us all
y’know you are her son

and come and gaze into the sky
see how dark and deep
you are the prodigal lost in time
lost in a dream kept sleep

(C)1973, TK Major

(C)2008, TK Major

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