The 70's and 80's
“It was the hard way from the very first day.”
These songs are fun for me to look back on they show my true beginning as a song writer.
I tried to emulate the clever lyrics of Pink Floyd and Elton john.
At the time I began writing, I was a troubled youth in high school
Trying to make sense of the world. I was a true rebel. I was a Blacksheep.
In 1981 I set off for boot camp and got a real heavy dose of reality, I look back on these days with a smile even though I at the time did not enjoy Navy life.
My time in the service did teach me many lessons and gave me great experiences to draw from as a writer, but 4 years was enough.
Once out of the Navy it was time to get readjusted to civilian life and for me that meant party time
Too much Party time does come with a price and I paid for many a mistake.
I was a product of the Animal house generation.
I got married and found out I wasn’t ready for it and failed miserable as a husband.
But I kept writing and expressing myself.
I had great parents growing up they never gave up on me and always encouraged me to be creative and explore the possibilities.
Early songs 70's & 80's
Were divided
The world spins is spinning out of control
The suicide seeds have taken firm hold
It’s a struggle for power who’ll get the upper hand
Who’ll be the dominator of the land
Were divided so divided under god
As the world spin on its axis
And the government raises the taxes
The prisons are packed to the top
Will it end will it stop
Were so divided so divided under god
What about the money
We spend on weapons of war
Who can ignore?
The homeless veteran sleeping on the floor
Were divided so divided under god
Hay spend some money on a cure
Before you squeeze us anymore
How did it get so out of hand?
The need for greed and the power of brand
Were divided so divided under god
Yes, were divided so divided under god
Victims of science destinations unknown
Electronic kings on digital thrones
it’s out of hand
its out of hand
No safe place to run
no safe place to hide
Every wear you go
you’re under the gun
Hopping a stranger
won’t blow you away
Don’t pull the trigger
Don’t pull the trigger- ger -ger…
It’s a struggle for power who’ll get the upper hand
who’ll be the dominator of the land
were divided
so divided
under God
MWL ,,,,,,,,
MWL (82)
Revised 6-15-93
Taking me home in a truck
There taking me home in a truck (x2)
With a red light that glows
So, everyone knows
Someone is down on their luck
There synching me up in a vest (x2)
Its rater tight
I’m not feeling quit right
They say that I just need some rest
Everything’s white in this room (x2)
The shadows they crawl
Play games on my walls
The night is when monsters loom
There trying to get in my head (x2)
To steal all my thoughts
And connect the dots
Look there’s blue mold on my bread
The needle brings on the dream (x2)
A new place to be
Where I can be free
I’m floating on freshly whipped cream
​
There taking me home in a box (x2)
It’s rather good
The smell of hardwood
No more tick of the clock
Covering me up with dirt (x2)
This looks like farewell
I’m off to hell
I should have worn a new shirt
MWL 8-81
revised 2-12
rerevised 12-3 19
Supply and demand
Standing on main street
With a bible in my hand
Reading out the word
To every woman and man
People pass me by with the look of fear
They all think I’m crazy
But they take no time to hear
Such a shame such a shame
No one but us to blame
Stopped by the soup kitchen
With a pizza in my hand
I never ever knew I was in such demand
Its supply and demand
Its all supply and demand
Diamonds and coal
We’ve lost control
Do you have a hungry soul?
Diamonds and coal
Would you sell your soul for diamonds or coal?
I guess it depends on the weather
Weather your freezing to death on your last breath
You all failed the test
I can’t see any reason why people fear what they love
They look to the stars from sun roofs in their cars
But don’t even think of god above
Its all about supply and demand
You better understand
That if you live for the shinny things of the day
Tomorrow sneaks up on you and passes you away
Supply and demand
Supply and demand
Diamonds or coal?
MWL 5-20-89
I guess I must be leaving
I guess I must be leaving
To catch that silver bird
I don’t know how to say it
I just don’t have the words
I guess I must be going
After all the times we had
Let me tell you one thing
It sure makes me sad
To think you won’t be sharing
Your love with me
I know it hurts but
that’s the way it’s got to be
You said you wanted freedom
Well that’s what I gave you
You sad you couldn’t trust me
Even though my love was true
I guess I must be leaving
To catch that silver bird
I don’t know how to say it
I just don’t have the words
MWL 2-28-78
My very first song
Let me love you
Let me look in your eyes
Let me hold tight
Say you love me
Let me love you tonight
Let’s walk together
Just you and me
Let’s share this night
For eternity
And let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you. tonight
The feeling is so strong
The feelings are so right
Stay with me my love
Stay with me tonight
Let me love you
Let me love you
Let me love you …tonight
MWL 1978
Blowing up the world
The structure is so flim flam
It wobbles in the wind
Men try to hold it up
But it crashes on their heads
They build and build
They call it progress
They build and build
They call it progress
See the priest in his limo
Old woman cries watching the news
Young men count the days
Till the end
Keep close friends
They drink and smoke laugh and joke
While missiles fly and children die
Bombs fall from the sky
Its just another Monday
The human way to say
Were blowing up the world
Yes, blowing up the world
(one of my first song 1980)
MWL
I have machines
I have machines
I have blue jeans
I have the freedom of choice
and the power to speak my voice
I’ve got ears and memories of all the years
gone by the low and highs
I’ve got eyes
for what coming ahead
And where it all lead,
I got a wife and cars
and I’m 3 under par
and I just thought of something
totally bizarre.
MWL (82)
Journey
Through the journey we prevail
Wanting only not to fail
We pass the time away slowly seeking ground
Waiting for the last breath when death is surly bound
Hold on tight to what you save
No one lives beyond the grave
The shadow cast a spell
And darkness spreads among
Terror fills your heart
But no song is sung
Masterpiece that we are
We are few among the star
Who knows what we will find?
On the other side of our silent minds
What lay beyond the walls of death?
Does anyone really know
Every moment of every day
A step closer to the door
I’m waiting for the moment
The moment of truth
I’m searching for the fountain
The fountain of youth
I’m living this game
With the same faces
Every day’s the same with the same old places
Needing someone to blame for these empty spaces
Were a dying breed
Spreading our suicide seeds
Out with the old
In with the new
If you can’t cut it son
Then you’re through
One way to go
It’s a one ticket show
So, take your best shot
It’s the only one you got
So, hold on tight
Get ready for the ride of your life
Your future starts tonight
And…
Hold to the memories
Hold to the fantasy’s
Escape from reality
Escape from humanity…etc.
MWL 1978
Lost love
Lost love
the guillotine
She’s gone
here’s the scene
I found my Mecca
She came from the east
I was the beggar
And she was the feast
I saw the lightning
I felt the thunder
I couldn’t escape
The spell she put me under
Heaven
Cloud nine
When I felt her body
Close to mine
She was more than life to me
Deep In her eyes I was free
In her arms time stood still
For her love
I would kill
I found my Mecca
She came from the east
I was the beggar
And she was the feast
I saw the lightning
I felt the thunder
I couldn’t escape
The spell she put me under
MWL 3-1-84
Navy days
Love Causality
So, you’re in a battle field and you don’t know why
You have a suspicion there’s another guy
The damage is done it happened so fast
My heart has died and my flags at half mast
Memories they haunt my sleep
The wounds from her sword went mighty deep
I’m a love causality
No ware to turn
No ware to run
Just watch it burn
Nothing you can do
Nothing you can say
Give it some time
the pain will go away
you must be feeling empty
you must be feeling blue
you must be feeling lonely
she was so much to you
, you’re on the battle field and you don’t know why
You have a suspicion there’s another guy
The damage is done it happened so fast
My heart has died and my flags at half mast
MWL 7-18-82
Freaks come out at night
Walking down the street
Just the other day
All these crazy people keep getting in my way
One guy selling watches
Another selling hash
And a pick pocket tried to lighten me of my cash
Winno’s with their hands out
Begging in the street
There a cop with his Walkman on rocking on the beat
One singing praise the lord
The world will soon end
Another tried to hold my hand and said can we be friends
Hookers hooking, horns are honking
The neon dancing bright
Time for me to lock the doors
Cause the freaks come out at night
MWL 1983
Barcelona Spain
Oh Mother
Oh mother
Your kids are getting old
The old man’s growing cold
Is it mother?
Are you half in the bag
Is it all just a drag?
Oh mother
Oh mother
Why do you wear a black vail?
You’re not the one who failed
Tears run down your face
What will now replace
The old man
The cold man
The dead man
Oh mother
Close your eyes and
Turn back the hand of time
Turn back turn back turn back
The hands of time
To the days of your youth
To the days of your youth
Oh mother
Your children all grown
Living their lives
They’ve left you alone
The phone can’t take the place
Of happy and smiling faces
Oh Mother
Drift into a day dream
its warm in there Remember
The smell of baby hair
Oh mother
Turn back the hand of time
Turn back turn back turn back
The hands of time
To the days of your youth
To the days of your youth
Oh mother
MWL 1978
Plastic
Plastic oh so plastic
That mask you have on
Elastic oh so drastic
Your moods are here and gone
You struggle in your own mind
Can’t hide from your self
If you don’t search, you’ll never find
Your internal wealth
Plastic oh so plastic
That mask you have on
Elastic oh so drastic
Your moods are here and gone
You struggle in your own mind
Can’t hide from your self
If you don’t search, you’ll never find
Your internal wealth
Mind over matter
Dreams seem to shatter
Hope runs and scatters
The rain starts, pitter pater
Much to my dismay
It’s another gloomy day
Nothing much to say
So, I’ll be on my way
MWL (82)
Dam
Water rising
Nothing I can do
Dam this dam
If it breaks, I’m all through
Been rainy 10 days maybe more
Weather man says bag your doors
he can’t see the end
so, tell all your friends
prepare for the worst
maybe more
Dam this rain
Dam this pain
Dam this dam
Better head for high ground
The walls are caving in
Dam me for not praying
Is this judgement for my sins
I’ve got no insurance
I’ve got no saved bread
All I have is worries
That dance in my head
I’ll have no tomorrow
If this rain doesn’t stop
Dam this dam
It can’t take one more drop
Dam this rain
Dam this pain
Dam this dam
MWL 1988
Till ya fade
In a world that rarely smiles
You only hope to make the grade
Have some patience it may take awhile
And push along ya push along
Till ya fade
Walking in a circle
Which way is out
Everyone’s got answers
All different no doubts
Born to die oh I don’t know why
They point to the sky from their knees
We live and love
And hope there something above
And we push along ya push along
Till ya fade
Now I’m running in a circle
Going round and round
Where is Johnny going
Where is Johnny bound
Be a good number
Walk the chosen line
Don’t test the rules and you’ll do fine
They say Johnny was a bad number
That hell never make the grade
Johnny little Johnny
Keep on pushing
Ya keep on pushing
Till ya fade
Dust to dust
Must I trust the words of Johnny strange
He came to teach of love He preached
But still he’s called deranged
1978 MWL
I walk alone
I walk alone
Just like a single stone
There no safe place
All the places I used go
No smiling faces for me
Try to recall how it all used to be
But all I see
Yes All I see
Is desolate land
Yes, desolate land
Everywhere desolate land
I walk alone
just like a single stone
trying to get back home
but no matter where I roam
it’s all desolate land
oh, desolate land
oh, desolate land
and I’m walking
yes, I’m walking alone
MWL 1991
Come on in
The seed grows embedded in love
The future holds the push and shove
The cards are dealt I’m calling you now
Come on in boy and take your bow
One of my first poems 1980 MWL