Song #30: Unbound

"There are two kinds of strengths: the strength to lead, and the strength to follow; the strength to control, and the strength yield. There are two kinds of power: the power to strip away another's soul bare, and the power to stand naked." [Yaldah Tovah]

LYRICS:

Her hand pierces the atmosphere

Her body's below the ground

Screaming and kicking for some air

No one hears a sound

An angel appears before her there

And pins her to the ground

Screaming and kicking for some air

The earth's at last unbound

Follow my hand, I will lead you

Put you in the places I need to

To know you even better than you do

Birds and planes falling from the air

She's taken by the force

A sharp surrender, a fist of hair

She trusts a little more

Drinking deep from the cup of life

A kiss becomes a vow

We know the edge but we walk the line

All time melts into now

Song #29: Be Free

There's always another side to the story.

A friend of mine this week reminded me that most "lost love" songs are from the perspective of the one who has been broken up with. What about the one who had to do the heartbreaking?

We often think that the one who ended things is in control and walks off mostly unscathed, but that is far from the truth. It can be a hot mess of emotions for both parties. The irony is - the singer here doesn't hate the person he's breaking up with... not at all. There's still genuine love and concern for the one he's leaving behind. But he also senses that it's not right enough to continue, even as the other person is trying everything they can to keep it from dying.

PLAY:

LYRICS:

don't let yourself believe

this is all easy on me

just because I'm the one who chose to leave

doesn't mean that I missed out on all the guilt and the grief

I don't want to be cold but I'm all ice

'cause if I let you in or even just be nice

you get your hopes up

and we both know

that this ain't right

so if it has to be me: I love you, be free

the truth is it was killing me to stay

so for now, dear, this is the only way

and though I've nothing bad to say

there's some walls I'm going to have to put into place

I don't want to be cold but I'm all ice

'cause if I let you in or just even be nice

you get your hopes up

and we both know

that this isn't right

and if it has to be me: I love you, be free

I don't think you're listening to me: I'm done

it was not meant to be, though we had fun

maybe one day you'll see: I still love you...

be free...

Song #28: Strange Love

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” [Jack Kerouac]

It's been said that the opposite of fear is love. And though it's human nature to make the majority of life decisions based (subtly) on fear, I've been lucky enough to know a handful of people who have chosen to live a life that is moved more by the power of love. These are the unique ones: those who march to a different drummer, those who swim against the current and who make their own way. We find ourselves attracted to these people because they do what most are afraid to do: buck convention and make the choice to live freely from passion, or a deep love for life, rather than from conditioning.

This is a strange, unusual little song for those who need the encouragement to live out of that kind of strange, unusual love.

PLAY:

LYRICS:

There's something in the way that we move

Something in the things that we choose

Like how we live as if there's nothing left to lose

That stirs them up inside

There's something in the way that we live

Something in the way that we give

The way we turned our backs and took our own path

That gives them hope for life

So let the haters be hatin'

This is the road that we're takin

It's not the path they created

Like hell, we just made it

like cheese we be gratin'

On all the nerves of the straight

But don't be jealous or fake it 

We just used what we're made of

Watch us rock the stage we give everything we've got

We are everything you want, we are everything they're not

What are you afraid of? Would you like to join us?

So stand up make it known just what it is that you want

All we have is yours and all we have is fun

Then bury all that old stuff; come on now and join us

Those living with a strange love

Song #27: So Much

"The simplest things are often the truest." [Richard Bach]

LYRICS:

in place of all the things I don't say

here's a few words and chords that I know how to play

and a simple recourse

so I'll keep this short

there is so much I want to tell you

there is so much I need to say to you

don't know where to start, my thoughts aren't formed

just like a child with a thousand piece puzzle spilled out on the floor

but when the timing is right,

one day I'll sit you right down by my side because

there is so much I want to tell you

there is so much I need to say to you

there's my simple recourse

promised I'd keep it short, just know that

there is so much I want to tell you

there is so much I need to say to you

One Love, One Year, One Half

Milestones are those markers on the journey that tell us we're going in the right direction.

This week I posted song #26 - "I'm Ready" - and if you're keeping count at home: 52/2=26. That means I've just surpassed the halfway milestone through this One Love, One Year adventure.

Thank you so much for your continued love and support and being on this challenging but awesome journey with me. Cheers!

Song #26: I'm Ready

There's a lot going on in this song, but to me the essence of "I'm Ready" speaks to knowing that something isn't quite right but still being drawn to it. It's about making your bed in the confusion... the lure of the forbidden... the play between resistance and secretly longing to have your self-protective walls blasted through.

I was privileged this week to have worked with a cowriter - Orlando, FL artist, painter, model, yogini and all around beautiful soul Julie Sandifer, who penned these lyrics and helped in the creative process. Julie infuses wisdom and passion into all of her art, which is made obvious in these powerful words.  If you would like to see more of Julie's work, click to visit her blog or paintings.

PLAY:

LYRICS:

so here I am again. ready. I think I'm ready.

who ever said that love was supposed to be so pure and healthy?

there's love in the chaos; love in the greedy need

how do we forget the past when the memories are so deep?

some hearts open slowly

mine is open freely

but it shuts quickly

I invite you in. you don't want me. you want in.

I can't want you  - what is this?

  simple it is not. fearless it is not. intense it is.

so here I am again. ready. I think I'm ready

turn me on. turn it off. i need both.

earthy, lusty,  - more more more

stay close. encourage me to let go. my heart is full.

dedicated and all is love

somethings are not meant to be figured out, right love?

so tell me; I want you to tell me

I invite you in. you don't want me. you want in.

I can't want you  - what is this?

  simple it is not. fearless it is not. intense it is.

no symmetry, lovesick lover

be worthy. try harder.

you can't go wrong.

do more more more -

I invite you in. you don't want me. you want in.

I can't want you  - what is this? 

simple it is not. fearless it is not. intense it is.

so here I am again. ready. I think I'm ready.

I hope I never have to say goodbye.

Song #25: The King

"Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named, not good."

[John Milton]

PLAY:

LYRICS:

Roll in the driveway

and place it in park

There isn't a light on

The house is all dark

There's nobody home

and I pretend it doesn't matter

but it does

No snoring little babies

tucked up under blankies

No one through the window

Or assuring embraces

No "I'm glad to see you"

and I pretend it's for a reason

but it's not

So I pour me a whisky

and get a little bit silly

because if I start to thinking

who knows where that will take me

I picked up my ink pen

to write up this song

and I just keep on writing

so the music won't stop

'cause when the music ain't playing

all I can hear is the fridge

and the dogs

So I toss back more whisky

before I start wondering if you miss me

And if this is how it's got to be

At least I can set myself free

This is a cell

My own private silent hell

This is my life, serving my time, these are my shackles

And here I am king

For as far as the eye can see this is my land,

and I am the king of an empty castle

So I strip down to nothing

and lie in my bed

there's a space on the mattress

there's a buzz in my head

The quiet gets louder

and I pretend it doesn't matter

but it does

This quiet gets louder

and I pretend it doesn't matter

but it does

Song #24: Ellipses

"It's so easy to think about love, to talk about love, to wish for love...

but it's not always easy to recognize love, even when we hold it...

in our hands." [Jaka]

PLAY:

LYRICS:

when words become ellipses

when knowing glances become kisses

you can't miss it

when all day long you listen

to dreams that say "you'll be his Mrs."

and oh the kisses

that's when you'll know

when you come home some evening

to find that love makes life worth living

are you kidding?

that's when you'll know

when you find that your guy

is quite unlike who came before

and in his presence you are not less, you are more

when you tell all your friends about him

and well up with pride because of who he is

it may be it

that's when you'll know

when words become ellipses

when knowing glances become kisses

you can't miss it

that's when you'll know