Category My Failed Music Career

Here’s what we called “The Ballad.” Yup…every band had to do a power ballad back in the 80’s. I originally wrote these lyrics when I was 14. I had met the first girl who’d ever really paid attention to me. It was a dreaded “long distance” relationship. OK…there was no real relationship. Just a lot of letter-writing, and youthful poetry. I sent her an early version of this song. Nothing ever came of the relationship. But…I hung on to the lyrics for if/when the opportunity arose where I could utilize them.  In hindsight, this song went on a bit too long. You can hear where we should’ve ended it. But, I wanted to pay tribute to one of my favorite artists named Bruce Cockburn (pro: Co-burn). So, I included a slightly rearranged lyric from my favorite song of his called “Lovers in A Dangerous Time.”

It’s late at night and I can’t get to sleep
It’s the feelings I fight and the memories I keep
I didn’t know how to say good bye
You just smiled with a tear in your eye

Time we had
Time to choose
When times went bad
It was a time for fools
Time spent with you
Was never meant to end
No time to lose
…a friend

You came in my life I wasn’t prepared-no
Was a pleasant surprise can’t believe you’re not there
Alone in the dark, all I see is your face
Without you, I’m lost without a trace-oh

Time we had
Time to choose
When times went bad
It was a time for fools
Time spent with you
Was never meant to end
No time to lose
More than a friend

Cos’ you’re a million miles away
An’ I still can’t believe you’re gone

Time…Time to lose
So much more left to do
So much more left for you

(Solo)

A far away place I’m singing this song
Just leave me a trace an’ I’ll know it’s not wrong

Time we had
Time to choose
When times went bad
It was a time for fools
Time spent with you
Was never meant to end
No time to lose
More than a friend
So much more left to do

Time…to lose

Don’t the hours grow short as the days go by
Never you stop to question why

Anyone who’s ever been in a band, knows someone who liked to party. And inevitably, the line between fun, and tragic got crossed. Actually…it’s not unique to bands. Everyone knows someone like this. The guys wrote this thing that was a little Metal Church/Queensryche-like. It was kind of Prog. And it begged for something more than the silliness we were known for.  Overall, we were from the Van Halen school. It was 1990. We were all between 19 & 23. We just wanted to write great riffs, and fun songs. Little did we know how depressing music was about to get when Grunge happened. In any event, this song called for something a bit deeper.  So, I thought about friends we lost to drugs, alcohol, and the ignorance of youth. And this was the result.

The sun goes down..
The nights are growing cold
And there’s no one else around
On the streets you call your home
You’re alone
There’s nowhere else to go
Oh no
It’s over now you know

You follow your chosen path
The snow has made you blind
And you’ve fallen through the cracks
Feel you’ve lost your mind
Your mind
The past has been so unkind
So unkind
The future is yours to find

Follow the signs…

Your face tells the tale, when the bottle’s your friend
Destined to fail, on the road to no end
It’s plain to see, it’s the message you send
Nothin’s for free
On the road to no end

(Solo)

Your face tells the tale, when the bottle’s your friend
Destined to fail, on the road to no end
It’s plain to see, it’s the message you send
Nothin’s for free
On the road to no end

The road to no end

This was usually the show closer. Unless we decided to do a cover for the encore. Yeah…we actually got encores. I’m as shocked as you are.

Anyway…here’s the story behind the song:

Early morning phone call. Location; unknown. Guy getting an earful from his wife. They obviously have some issues. She’s tired of his partying, and ignoring her, and pulls the “D” card. Figures she can take him for half…or better. Well, he knows she’s been f*cking around on him while he’s out partying. He’s got photographic proof. So…let the games begin! Give it a listen. There’s a twist.

Picked up the telephone
She said Son, I’m glad you’re home
I got somethin’ you got to know
And that’s for sure
She said…
I’m tired of you stayin’ out all night
Goin’ out, gettin’ drunk, get in-to a fight
While I’m home alone n’ I’m worried to death
Come thru’ the door with liquor on your breath

She said, I think I want a divorce
I said yes u-huh of course
I’m gonna take you for a buck or two
I got news for you…

Be-cause

This time baby, you’ve gone too far
I’ll take the house, you can take the car
Trust me baby
I’ve got money to burn!
Sounds like a story, But tell the truth
I got the photos, I got the truth
Don’t try me baby
I’ve got money to burn

Your sorry ass is none of my concern
I think it’s time a lesson to be learned

Tell me now baby, who was that clown?
Was it you or the camera that was upside-down?
Your little affair, now that didn’t hurt
What bothers me is he’s wearin’ my shirt!

(Solo)

I was…
All made up for my day in court
Promisin’ this would be sweet, but short
All laid out with my master plan
To ruin the life of the other man
But she knew somethin’ that I didn’t know
Had her own little ace-in-the-hole
Court came to order, and I couldn’t budge
The man in my plan, it was the judge!

Well now baby, you’ve gone too far
You’ll get the house, you’ll get the car
You’ll probably even get my money to burn!

You’ll tell your story, they’ll say it was true
And then they’ll give everything to you
Including my money to burn

She got the house. She got the car
And I’m face-down at the end of the bar
I can’t stand you
You got my money to burn

I got no house. I got no car
My dinner last night was a candy bar
No more money to burn

Her sorry ass, was none of my concern
This game o’ cat & mouse? I just got burned