Album #4: A New Era and Level of Songwriting Makes It Showtime, Baby!

Sometimes a little break and review of your past work thrusts you into the future. Here is a natural progression to a new level of songwriting for me that started with the idea of the concept of this album. “It’s Showtime, Baby” is not just a catchphrase I’ve picked up and used over the years, but a complete state of mind!

Within hours of deciding to have a fourth compilation of next-level, modern punk rock music, an idea came to me for the opening cut of the album, “Bracing for Impact“, one which would set the tempo for the rest of the record. And, although the song hammers its message home, the “impact” of the song itself made me brace for what is to come. And what to come followed only weeks later with the pivotal and poignant “Feeling the Same“.

New concepts are in the works for this record on, again, a new level of songwriting for me.

It represents those songs that came to me while out and about and “I JUST HAD TO GO HOME AND WRITE” (just as I thought of it) and had a demo done within one afternoon. Numerous other song ideas are headed for their final destinations in this album. It’s with deep pleasure and desire to inspire that I present “It’s Showtime, Baby” because, after all, it is indeed SHOWTIME!

The Album Demo Recording and Lyrics

Here is a master player with lyrics below it. Press “Play” and then scroll to read the lyrics in order.
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Song Lyrics by Track

Press play on the player above and scroll through the lyric compilation in order below.

Just Leave

Disillusioned I don’t understand
what just happened here,
the opposite of what I
always thought I knew
In confusion, a projectionist
with slides so clear
on top of which displays
a different light of you
Veneer peeled back
that coated such despair,
that left me feeling like a fool

I could gawk at you for hours
and show you there’s nothing up my sleeve
But instead of watching sweet go sour
I’d prefer that you just leave
COULD YOU JUST LEAVE?

In my head there was a pink image
burning bright and strong
that I thought put there by you
My eyes are red coz now they blink
with rage at how I was wrong
and rosy filters just won’t do
No more thoughts left to autonomy,
and no more looking like a fool

I could gawk at you for hours
and show you there’s nothing up my sleeve
But instead of watching sweet go sour
I’d prefer that you just leave
COULD YOU JUST LEAVE?

Sitting here I’m minding my business
the way that I had been,
until my coffee lept up from
the cup that it was in
Spills down on me,
and stains like you,
permanent on my sleeve
I feel the fool, I’m watching you
Would you please leave?

I could gawk at you for hours
and show you there’s nothing up my sleeve
But instead of watching sweet go sour
I’d prefer that you just leave…

I could gawk at you for hours
and show you there’s nothing up my sleeve
But instead of watching sweet go sour
I’d prefer that you just leave
COULD YOU JUST LEAVE?

It Is What It Is

I picked up a newspaper
for an interesting read
It drew me in with this headline
like those adverts in my feed
Suspends me in this mystery
“See page two for ‘Thousands Dead’”
Turn the page and found “In History”
is actually what it said
Well, I could whine and cry about it,
but will it change a thing? I doubt it!

Oh, it is what it is
It’s no more than hit or miss
It’s no existential story
and I never thought
that it would come to this
Not what it isn’t
but it’s sure not what it seems
Accept it is what it is
and It was always,
just how it’s gonna be!
just how it’s gonna be!

My phone lit up with comments
on the latest social stream
where everyone was tuning in
to hear her yell and scream
‘bout all of this injustice
that she’d heard but never’d seen
and how she was disgusted,
unwilling to intervene
She always whines and cries about it,
but will she change a thing? I doubt it!

Is what it is
It’s no more than hit or miss
It’s no existential story
and I never thought
that it would come to this
Not what it isn’t
but it’s sure not what it seems
Accept it is what it is
and It was always,
just how it’s gonna be!
just how it’s gonna be!

Divining logic is something you can’t do
from a few words of a fortunate few
who’s luxury of life without a clue
has got nothing to do with you

The ‘I Wanna Make You Wanna Fuck Me’ Look

It’s in your nature girl,
you shoot that look
Nice girl reputation but
your bod smokes in my book
And then your eyes give you away,
you cast your hook
Reel me in,
‘cause all it took was

The “I wanna make you wanna fuck me” look,
with no intention ‘cept to double-bait your hook
My line and sinker pulled,
and all it took was your fucking
“I wanna make you wanna fuck me” look!

Not foolin’ anyone
when your ass shook
as you walked by so innocent
but shot that look
that attracts them in droves,
like a babbling brook
Fighting each other
to get on your hook that’s

I remember back to nineteen eighty-eight
she was innocent, hot but oh, Tiffany
disinterested flaunting a haunting look
that wants me to want to,
Just shoot it at me

Park My Heart

Excuse me, can you help me?
I need to find my way
I’ve been drivin’ ’round for hours
I been lost for several days
I’m lookin’ for directions
so I can move on through
and if I make good time,
I just might make it back to you
So, tell me…

Do you know a good place
where I can park my heart?
I’m lookin’ for that one space
but I haven’t gotten very far
Can you see the miles on my face
and my soul locked in my car?
Do you know a good place
where I can,
I can park my heart?

Let’s drive it to the limit
and to the very end
A detour to be lovers
from the interstate of friends
Please don’t make me wonder
whether you don’t or you do
Don’t make me wait here, standing,
I am parked in front of you
So, tell me…

Should I drop these metaphors
and tell it you straight,
or should I put my heart into your hands?
So, tell me where to park
I’m lookin’ for a place
to park my heart!

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Billy Joel “Leningrad” version of a Beatles cover

Feeling the Same?

Been fighting half my life
to try to get over you
And it wasn’t what we did,
but what we didn’t get to do
Though I’ve never spoken up,
nor have I ever spoken out
Even when I knew
better that I should

All this tension building up
in our desperate separate lives
Tried to keep connected up,
but then later, and over time,
We’d just never spoken up
never did have our say
even when we thought
that maybe we may

Virginia, did you hear me?
I was calling out your name,
last night in my silent refrain,
Yeah, you know I would
swear that I could feel you,
just a few mere yards away,
lying there feeling the same, yeah

We’ve always had that spark
but someone snuffed out the flame
We’d keep each others hearts
but we held out just the same
And that morning I woke up
to find they’d moved you away
I wondered would we
again ever someday?

We were way too young
to believe in all those adult things
that kept us from each other’s love
to see what all the madness brings
Caught up in the middle of everything…

Virginia, did you hear me?
I was calling out your name,
last night in my silent refrain,
I would swear that I could feel you,
just a few mere yards away,
lying there feeling the same, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh

Something to Go On

I wish you’d come at me with a force
and wish that I’d someday come to
And if you’d come kicking in my door
you’d only find me waiting for you

How can I tell when
I’m feeling so lonely,
thinking to myself,
is this my one and only
chance to find out, waiting,
stranded with nothing to go on?
Oh, what can I say when
you’re my ever after,
the reason I stay for
each page-turning chapter?
Will reading so deep into you
give me something to go on?
(Please) give me
something to go on

Some insecurity would be nice
if it were only that simple and cute
Nothing to grab a hold of is why
I need something to hold on to

If I could shake you down
and spill the answers
all over the ground
maybe I’d have found
my something to go on…

One More

Tonight I wish upon a star
eyes closed tight and there you are
If it’s a dream I hope I don’t come to
In my head it’s all but done
but am I the one and only one
who knows it well, or can you see it too?

Will it be this time,
don’t you realize, can’t you see
that up here on this brightest star,
you’re sitting next to me?
I’ve come down from this high
so many times before
So please be sure
you don’t let me endure
one more

Eyes are tired, but I can’t sleep,
praying dreams of you will keep some
hope alive that you can see them too
It’s something that I can’t ignore
Something I’ve been looking for
I know it when I see it, and I see you

Will this end up finally that,
other than me, someone sees?

Will you look, oh will you see?
Will you know it just like me?
And, will you see in time to see it through?

Crazy For You

Madonna cover

Bracing for Impact

You came into my life
and I just bottled it up
Crazy, white-knuckle, hold tight,
as if it weren’t tense enough
Don’t see it doesn’t break down,
as I brace myself
for something never to come!

I’m bracing for impact
while embracing you
Relationship intact
we jumped into
Afraid of the kickback
if I follow through
Bracing for impact,
what else can I do?

I blame, myself, I’ve tried
to keep it all on a shelf
As if it weren’t enough
I let it put me through hell
There’s no one closing it down
as I brace myself
for something never to come!

I’m bracing for impact
while embracing you
Relationship intact
that we jumped into
Afraid of the kickback
if I follow through
I’m bracing for impact,
what else can I do?

I’m bracing for impact
while embracing you
Relationship intact
we jumped into
Afraid of the kickback
if I follow through
Bracing for impact,
what else can I do?

Three Promises

You are why I changed the way
that I would shift priorities I made
And you — you were worth the wait
It’s all leading toward
three promises we’ll make
I need a foolproof way for me to see
that everything I want is guaranteed

Open, honest,
Here and now,
Capture moments,
Think out loud
Just one more promise to arrange,
Don’t change…

And, now that circumstances changed,
and what we have will never be the same,
I will hold my breath and see
if standing by these three things will be
enough to make us do and say
the things that make everything okay

Open, honest,
Here and now,
Capture moments,
Think out loud
Just one more promise to arrange…

Now that it all came true,
Will I ever come to?
You know, it’s three times two,
and I need all of them from you,
yeah…

And, I — I wonder what you’ll do,
but “here and now” I promised you
And, I know what the fourth one should be
No matter what to keep the other three

Open, honest,
Here and now,
Capture moments,
Think out loud
Just one more promise to arrange,
Don’t change…

Yeah, baby, don’t change,
Oh, baby, don’t you change
Don’t change

Madison

Madison, your phone lights up, and
this message lit up you
I don’t know he wrote,
but I really wish I knew,
what could someone think to say,
that makes you smile in just that way?

Madison,
what is it that makes you
smile that way
when you read his message?
Madison,
if I could be the one
to make that rite of passage
to make you smile,
to make you smile,
Madison,
Madison,
Madison…

Madison, when you smile that way,
can’t help but stare at you,
while I imagine what I might say
and consider what you’d do
if I’d reach you in just that way,
if I could talk that way someday…

Madison, oh, you’re the one,
who smiled that way,
and made my day
But, Madison, no, I’m not done,
with wondering,
what can I say?

Madison,
what is it that makes you
smile that way
when you read his message?
Madison,
if I could be the one
to make that rite of passage
Madison,
what is it that makes you
smile that way
when you read his message?
Madison,
if I could be the one
to make that rite of passage
to make you smile,
to make you smile,
Madison,
Madison,
Madison…

I Went Home and Wrote This Song

While you were breaking all the hearts you could,
in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Hollywood,
all they remember is what a trip it’s been
and the puzzled state of thinking
that you left them in
But, when your rights had done them wrong,

I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song
I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song

You get by claiming that you’ve loved and lost
and that you paid your dues at a dire cost
But when the bill comes at the end of the month
you will fly by night
away from everyone
But, while they all just kind of went along,

I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song
I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song

You leave in your smug and silent solitude
while, in your wake, so many
wasted hearts are strewn
And, when they’re all alone and home at night,
wonder where they went wrong
and can they put it right?
I won’t even cry a single tear
or lose my mind, or wonder why
‘cause I just go home and I write…

It’s temporary, this feeling they get
when you make them feel
that they can land you yet
Packed up your bags the day that you arrived,
knowing no heart but your own
is likely to survive
How, while you crushed them, did I stay so strong?

I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song
I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song
I went home, and,
I went home and wrote this song