The World is Mine

(Written on November 19, 2009)

The world is mine.
Everything you see
Belongs to me
And it feels so fine.
The fields and the trees,
The mountain majesties,
The crystal seas and shores,
Someday it could all be yours.
But not today, 'cause today,
The world is mine.

It's been a long time comin'.
It's nice to reap the spoils of the fight.

The world is mine.
Everything you see
Belongs to me
And it feels so fine.
The fields and the trees,
The mountain majesties,
The crystal seas and shores,
Someday it could all be yours.
But not today, 'cause today,
The world is mine.

Take note of this, my friends.
If you just try, someday this could be you.

The world is mine.
Everything you see
Belongs to me
And it feels so fine.
The fields and the trees,
The mountain majesties,
The crystal seas and shores,
Someday it could all be yours.
But not today, 'cause today,
The world is mine.

So keep the faith, and I promise.
Tomorrow, you'll be singing this song.

The world is mine.
Everything you see
Belongs to me
And it feels so fine.
The fields and the trees,
The mountain majesties,
The crystal seas and shores,
Someday it could all be yours.
But not today, 'cause today,
The world is mine.

If Only

(Written January 2004, completed December 22, 2012)

If only I could talk to you without
stumbling every time.
If only I could tell you how I
feel deep inside.
If only you knew how I could
keep you satisfied.
If only you were mine.

If only I could find a way to
let my feelings show.
If only I could make the room to
let these feelings grow.
If only I could say these words that
haunt me head to toe.
If only you could know.

But the words still haunt my heart.
And the silence still keeps me away.
I love you. That's all I want to say.
Why is that so hard?

If silence wasn't golden, then
I'd still richer be,
Even all the poorer, 'cause
you would be with me.
And then we'd share the wealth,
Until the end of time.
If only you were mine.

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

(Written December 20, 2012)

After a long involuntary vacation from songwriting, I decided one evening that an inspirational song was in order. Not necessarily about love or any one thing in particular, just inspiration. It's very easy to get down on yourself, especially when you find yourself coming up short. Sometimes we all need a pick-me-up. I hope this is it for someone.

Don't it seem like so long ago?
Even though it was only yesterday.
Don't it seem so strange that you don't believe it happened?
Even though the sting has not quite gone away.
No one ever said it would be easy.
But if anyone can do it, then it's you.

What a day, that warm September morning.
The day you and your demons said goodbye.
You know that's gonna be a day to remember forever.
'Cause that was the first day of the rest of your life.

How many miles did you walk in your bare feet,
Before you thought to walk on the grass?
How many times did you hate what you were given,
Before you thought to give love a chance?
And how good does it feel to really breathe?
At last, to know who you can really be?

What a day, that warm September morning.
The day you and your demons said goodbye.
You know that's gonna be a day to remember forever.
'Cause that was the first day of the rest of your life.

And that's the day you started livin'.
Once you knew a damn was given,
You could face the day a little brighter.
A little lighter.
You could hold your head up high,
Spread your brand new wings and fly.
Touch the stars you've dreamt of all your life.

What a day, that warm September morning.
The day you and your demons said goodbye.
You know that's gonna be a day to remember forever.
'Cause that was the first day of the rest of your life.

Yeah, that's gonna be a day to remember forever.
The first day of the rest of your life.

Be Brave and Say Goodbye

I often get asked what inspires me to write a certain song. Whether the words are genuinely telling my story, or just works of generic poetry. Although some songs are more genuine than others, they all have some root in my life. I wrote "Be Brave and Say Goodbye" as a result of a relationship I had. It is written in the voice of a lover who knows the relationship is doomed for failure, even though the two lovers care for each other very much. When I shared these lyrics with a friend, he made a very interesting point: that without knowing the back story, one could assume that the song is a eulogy. Looking back at the lyrics again, I realized he was exactly right! The lyrics appear to be sung by someone who knows that they are dying, even though that is not what I intended. Perhaps that is the mark of a good song, however. Instead of providing a back story, sometimes it is better to let the listener use their imagination.
(Written on May 13, 2010)

There's no avoiding the words I'm gonna say.
I'd always hoped to be here forever.
I was hoping perhaps there was a way,
but now I see that I was much too clever.

We dream about the future,
but it's never what we claim.
We know the day is coming,
but we dread it all the same.
So when we go our separate ways,
Don't cry.
Be brave and say goodbye.

But please believe that this won't be the end,
And know that we'll have better things waiting.
Know that someday you will love again.
And your life will go on without me.

If you just do this,
We'll never be apart.
Though you'll never see me,
I'm alive within your heart.
So don't feel all alone
or wonder why.
Be brave and say goodbye.

Please remember me as I am.
Remember the happy times.
I'll remember you as you are,
Your eyes, one with mine.

And heal if you must,
If that will make you well.
And know that I love you
like words can never tell.
But when it's so, then let me go.
Don't cry.
Be brave and say goodbye.

Be brave and say goodbye.

Hold Your Breath

After a ten-month writer's block, I revisited this chorus I wrote in 2009 to see if I could finish it. I started out envisioning an inspirational song, with the singer just giving a pep talk to a forlorn friend. As I went back to write verses, I realized a way to change it up a little: don't just have the singer be a friend, but a longing love interest. Changing the direction of the song in the last few moments is a trick I love, and have utilized in other songs like "One More Day". I'm happy with how the song turned out.
(Chorus written June 22, 2009, verses written April 9, 2010)

Life is going on all around us.
Goodness and happiness have found us.
And there you are again.
Sitting in the corner all alone.
It breaks my heart to see it.

It's your life.
Please don't let it pass you by.
There's the sun.
See it rising in the sky.
It's time for you to try.

Chorus:
Hold your breath.
Say a prayer
that your lucky day
is really waiting there.
Greet the day.
Say Hello.
How to stand strong
is all you really need to know.
Stand up tall.
Close your eyes.
The feeling never dies,
It's waiting there for you.
Maybe there's someone waiting too.

Promise me
That today will be the day.
Promise me
That you'll throw your fears away.
It's the only way.

(Repeat chorus)

And at sundown,
What a sight.
Go into the night.
It's all that's left to do.
I'll be waiting there for you.

Road Trip to Vancouver BC

Between middle school and high school, I took several trips with the school band across the border to Canada for band festivals. Every trip was a fantastic time, and every time I left, I longed to return. One summer day, I especially realized just how much I missed it, and started writing. Envisioning an indie-rock sound, I decided to go avant-garde with some lyrics, making references to some of the more illicit reasons one might want to go to Canada. In retrospect, I'm not sure what I think of the song. If nothing else, it's a fun change of pace.
(Written on May 26, 2009)

When this old life is getting you down.
Nothing left to do in this old town.
Come along with me,
Come see.
It's time to hit the road and get around.

That rental car's a keeper,
but the Greyhound bus is cheaper.
Won't you take I-5 across the border with me
On a road trip to Vancouver, BC.

Once you see this town, you're gonna smile.
We'll find a pub and just sit a while.
A few loonies here,
Some toonies there.
It doesn't cost a lot to go in style.

We'll hit the highs, forget the lows,
Until a mounty tells us no.
You'll see everything there is to see
On our road trip to Vancouver, BC.

I just know you're gonna love this place.
I can't wait to see the look on your face.
Go anywhere
Without a care.
We'll take it all in at our own pace.

And then if you wanna stay,
Then we can take another day.
I promise you you'll never wanna leave
Our road trip to Vancouver, BC.

Voice In The Wind

"Voice in the Wind" was an epic five-year journey for me. In 2004, I took up songwriting at the behest of my friend who was going to start a rock band. This chorus was among the first lyrics I wrote for them. The band never came to fruition, but I discovered that I enjoyed writing songs, so I continued. The chorus is an example of lyrics that write themselves. I heard a windstorm outside, and immediately thought, "Ooh, a voice in the wind is calling. It's whispering my name...oh wow, that's good!" I wrote the chorus for "Voice" rather quickly, and instantly had a good idea of how I wanted the song to sound, but no matter how I tried, I could not come up with verses that fit the picture. I decided to set it aside and work on other pieces. In 2009, I rediscovered the chorus, and decided to give it another go. This time, something clicked, and lyrics flowed like never before. Of all the songs I have written, this is my favorite.
(Chorus written in February 2004, verses written in May 2009)

Endless days of sunny weather,
All the time we had together,
Promises of summer days,
Like the tide, is swept away.

The darkest of clouds flying in
Have strangled the sun.
Down comes the rain, and at last,
The storm has begun.

But a voice in the wind is calling me,
Whispering my name.
It's telling me to let it go,
And give into the game.
Maybe this gentle voice
That I can barely hear
Is the hope that I've been waiting for
For so many years.

Once again, standing under
All the lightning and the thunder.
Once again, caught alone.
It's all I've really ever known.

The storm wages war in the sky,
I know I can't win.
And yet, I can see a new day.
So let it begin.

'Cause a voice in the wind is calling me,
Whispering my name.
It's telling me to let it go,
And give into the game.
Maybe this gentle voice
That I can barely hear
Is the hope that I've been waiting for
For so many years.

The hope that I've been waiting for
For oh, so many years.

Home

In August 2008, I moved away from the hustle and bustle of Seattle to go to college at Washington State University, in rural Pullman in eastern Washington. The change was drastic, but welcome. On my first visit home for Thanksgiving week, I made the rounds visiting everyone I hadn't seen in several months. I was floored that, as I went around town, it felt almost as though I had never left. Everything I saw felt as though I had seen it just the day before. Later, I decided I wanted to write about the sensation, and the song was written within an hour. There are some occasions where a song just writes itself, and this is one of them.
(Written April 8, 2009)

It's been a long ride.
I thought I'd never make it,
Never see the place
I once called home again.

It's been a long time.
I haven't seen familiar faces,
All the ones I've loved,
since I don't know when.

When I'm home again,
I see my friends and family.
I give them all a hug and kiss,
And then a couple more.

Walking round town,
My childhood comes flying back,
Unfolding like a play I've seen
a thousand times before.

Every sight and every sound
of every step I take
Takes me back to yesterday.
Feels like yesterday.
Yet it's been so long.

What'll happen to these memories
Ten or twenty years into the future?
Will they live on?
Or will they be gone?

I see a blue sky.
I thank the Lord for this moment,
Cause I know that pretty soon,
It's gonna rain.

I know it too well.
And even when it's raining,
I know that soon,
the sun will break again.

It's so wonderful,
No matter what we're feeling,
There's a time, a place, a song, a hope,
For all of us to share.

Wherever we go,
Wherever life will take us to,
There'll always be a home for us,
and loved ones waiting there.

Every sight and every sound
of every step I take
Reminds me of yesterday,
The love of yesterday,
And from now on.

What'll happen to these memories
About a hundred years into the future?
They will live on.
Even when we're gone.

Concert Hall of Madness

Reading my song book and looking back on the songs I had written, I began to detect a theme. All the songs seemed to involve love. Either being in love, longing for love or losing a love, but they were all love. I decided I wanted to write a non-sequitur. It took me a few days to find the inspiration, but finally, I found just the thing. I was sitting in the music room at my school on a free day. We weren’t playing, so we were free to do whatever. Most everyone in the room took it upon themselves to make as much noise as they could. There seemed to be a line of people waiting to play the drum set, people were flocking to every other percussion instrument they could find, and once I saw one boy emerge with a bass guitar, I knew homework would soon not be an option. This, however, gave me the inspiration for a song, which I appropriately titled "A Concert Hall of Madness." In this song, I employ a number of metaphors and personifications to depict the scene, and it fit well with the poetry unit I was doing in my language arts class. I’m quite proud of this song.

(Written in May 2006)

Spinning world.
Spinning like a dreidel,
Watch it spin and twirl.

A human race.
Jumbled all together
in a tiny place.

People all around me
try to have a ball.
Sometimes it’s enough to
drive me up a wall.

I don’t mind that people
like to go to town.
But for just five minutes,
can’t they quiet down?

All I want is
a little peace instead
of a concert hall of madness in my head.

The day is new.
People shout their cases
‘til their faces turn blue.

Such an angry age.
People fill the roads
with their odes of endless rage.

The tones of angry trumpets
play an angry song.
The gentle flutes beg us
all to get along.

The clarinets play a
silent liturgy,
While the saxophones sit by,
Idly.

Through all the discord, all that I can find
is a concert hall of madness in my mind.

Is it such a task?
So much to ask
for a quiet night beneath the moon?
What I wouldn’t give
if people could live
in harmony, or at least in tune.

(Music phrase)

I hope I live to see the concert hall
when it celebrates its final curtain call.

I Guess I'll Never Know

"I Guess I’ll Never Know" is a song that hits especially close to home with me. I wrote this song in the 8th grade when I was completely smitten over a girl, but I knew that because we were going to different high schools, we would never be a couple. I felt like I had blown my big chance, and I wrote about it. The words came more naturally than any song I had ever written. The words aren’t outstandingly poetic, but they are honest. I’m glad I wrote them.

(Written in June 2004)

Love is a funny thing.
It has to work both ways.
There's a chance she'll never love you,
But there’s a chance she may.

But the fear of rejection
is branded in your mind.
If you get to close,
You don’t know what you’ll find.

I let her get away,
and I've no one else to blame.
I could never say a word to her,
Couldn’t even say her name.

And now she’s gone,
And I don’t know what might have happened.
I guess I’ll never know.

Did she ever love me?
Might it have worked out?
Should all this speculation
Be what love is all about?

These are the questions
that I ask every day.
If I took the time to try,
Would she have seen it my way?

Have I reached an end
that could have been a start?
All this crazy wondering
had nearly broke my heart.'

But for all I know,
The truth might have been more painful.
I guess I’ll never know.

I guess I have to move on,
And stop living in the past.
If it never even started,
It probably wouldn’t last.

That doesn’t make it easier
to let go of a love.
I question my sensibility,
Don't know what I'm thinking of.

They say “Just give it time.”
If only I knew how.
'Cause all the time in the world
will never help me now.

What did I do?
Where did I go wrong?
I guess I’ll never know.

I guess I’ll never know.

I’ll just never know.

One More Day

On the last day before Winter Break 2005, the excitement in the air at school was absolutely electric. The one thing I heard almost invariably was, “One more day! There’s just one more day! Only one more day!” Of course, I was also excited about Winter Break, but when I heard the phrase, “one more day,” I immediately started to imagine, “One more day...Imagine having one more day...” and picturing a love song. I immediately grabbed my pen and started writing. The one dilemma I had when writing this song was whether to make it a happy song or a sad song. I think I hit the perfect compromise. The majority of the song is happy, symbolic of a person head over heels in love. The end of the song is sad, symbolic of how quickly a relationship can change. One day, you’re in love. The next, it’s over.
(Written in December 2005)

One more day,
Imagine having one more day.
Having your life drift away.
What would you say?

What would you say
Looking back on all the trials of yesterday?
One more chance, one last hooray,
On your one more day.

Chorus:
One more day
To let you know just how much I love you.
One more day
To get to show the world that I need you.
At the end of the day,
I could wish on shooting stars high above you.
I'd look down deep in me,
And my only wish would be
To forever have one more day.

One more chance.
If all I'm left is one more chance,
One more night for us to know romance,
And one last slow dance,

I would find a way
To make the world our own, it's ours today.
I'd never let a precious second slip away
On our one more day.

(Repeat Chorus twice)

But now, what to say?
The day is over, and you've gone away.
No more chances, dances, and last hoorays,
And no more one more days.

My One True Love

For my entire life, I've been a fan of game shows, one of my favorites being "Wheel of Fortune". One day in 2005, I was watching an old rerun of "Wheel" from the '80s, which featured a music cue called "A Time For Tony." It's a beautiful piano piece written by Merv Griffin, and as soon as I heard it, I thought it'd make a great foundation for a love song. I hit the internet to see if the entire track was available anywhere. It was, and after listening just a few times, the lyrics virtually wrote themselves.
(Written in January 2005)

Too often times
would get so tough,
and I found I
was all alone,
Longing just
to have someone
that I could call my own.

Any time that
I'm knocked down,
and freezing in
the coldest storm,
How nice it is
to look and find
your love to keep me warm.

The sun's gone down, and
the stars are out.
The moon is big and bright.
And it feels so dear, now that
you are here for me to
love all through the night.

This tender love
I've found in you,
I know will last
forevermore.
You will be
my one true love,
and I will be yours.

Bitter sounds
of loneliness
echo through this world
we're living in,
but a beacon shines
of hope and proves
that even I can win.

As I watch the frail
baby nightingale
fly as high as my eyes can see,
I think of my hopes, and
I think of my dreams, and
what they mean to me.

(music)

And it feels so dear, now that
you are here for me to
love all through the night.

This tender love
I've found with you,
I know will last
forevermore.
You will be
my one true love,
and I will be yours.

Dreaming

During my sophomore year in high school, I began to seek out different methods of stress management when my school workload, coupled with troubles at home, became overwhelming for me. A friend of mine suggested a meditation regimen. To help me, I found quite a few pieces of relaxation music. One piece in particular: a piece by Wayne Gratz called "Rain On the Pond", stood out to me as a musical masterpiece, and although the meditation regimen didn't last long, I definitely found a good friend in relaxation music. Later in my sophomore year, my language arts class held a poetry unit. This piece came back to me, and I realized that I could probably write a nice poem/song set to its tune. I'm very pleased with the result.
(Written in August 2006)

A pinwheel twirls
Rain falls on the sad little boys and girls
In a quiet world.
Not for even one day
Will the clouds go away.

Somewhere, there lies
A world of incantation.
A vacation.
This fairy tale, it seems,
Lives only in dreams.
So I'll close my eyes in prayer
That a slumber takes me there.

Endless sunny days.
Cloudy skies have gone away.
At the break of the day,
Bluebirds in the trees
Sing a cabaret.

Forever,
And ever.

Seagulls flying overhead,
Are singing the praise an angel sent.
A magic world of such surprise.
I can't believe my eyes.

Blue lakes in the distance shine
With the light of a thousand suns.
Red rocks in the distance.
I'll climb the tallest one.

World of magic.
Fantastic.
A world I never knew.
Could this be a dream come true?

As I rise, I long for when
I will get to dream again.