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.