From San Francisco to San Jose

This is about 20 years old, written about the time I moved, for all intents and purposes, from San Francisco to San Jose. The only thing that really rang true to my life was the move itself. I missed the city, I was a little further away than I thought Iā€™d be, and those sentiments drove the initial idea here. The song itself is about a relationship going a little south, and settling on a plane a little lower than expected. It doesnā€™t always reach the heights expected, but those are still within range.

We took off ā€œKissed Her Goodbyeā€ this week. Thanks again for listeningā€¦

Align to a Purpose

This rotationā€™s song was inspired by a conversation with a good friend. In the course of outlining why a relationship wasnā€™t working, and she used the phrase ā€œI just want us to align to a purpose.ā€ I immediately thought, well shoot, there we goā€”Iā€™ve never heard that phrase in a song. I started writing it largely attacking myself, with a much more personal, Dashboard Confessional-type feel to itā€¦slower, and more biting lyrics. I ultimately sped it up some, cut out two versus and, hopefully, wound up with a better song.

I took off ā€œLiftā€ this week. Once again, welcome to the new folks. Let us know what you thinkā€¦

Moving in Circles

Five years ago, this thing was a mess –I totally forgot Iā€™d written it, it was too long and lyrically inconsistent, and I only stumbled on it trying to find another song. That said, I felt like there was something there. It wound up being the first song I overhauled in my massive song restoration process, and itā€™s now the first song Iā€™ll post as I exit that phase of my life.

The lyrics are about cutting the chord, escaping toxicity, and trying to move forward. In retrospect, I now see it as a song about cleaning up your life, with a tune that had to be cleaned up itself, which was re-written and recorded in a time period I was focused on cleaning up my life. Itā€™s a living symbol of the times.

Lyrically, I wish I couldā€™ve executed better on the concept of the last line (I canā€™t bend). I initially attempted to hit on the concept that constantly bending to the will of others, and not straightening out your own life, led to the circles. A few edits later (which I liked)ā€¦the reference now just kind of sits there alone. Oh well. Songwriting is hard.

I took off ā€œI’ll Blame You.ā€

 

Raging Storm

 

I was always torn on how much song craft to apply here. I fought myself over two things: one, whether I should leave the lyrics as what they were at the time; and two, the speed. I ultimately left the lyrics alone, and I compromised on speed by not using a click track (this is a live recording straight through, with varying speeds).

We took off ā€œ21 Days to Kick the Habitā€ this week. Thanks for listening.

Let Him Win

This one is obviously about competing with someone and acknowledging you donā€™t measure up to the other person. ā€œLet him winā€ is a little disingenuous because the narrator actually lost, but thatā€™s part of how theyā€™re protecting themselves.

I think this is one of my better crafted songs, and it got a decent response when it was posted as one of the first 10 at the launch of the site.

We took off ā€œStolen Timeā€ this week. Thanks for listening.