Cleaning Up the Vault

[LCK]

I've been very focused on getting my new dog-training website up and running, and looking for ways to increase my google presence, etc. So I haven't had much time to write anything, songwise, for a while.

 

Meanwhile, here are three old lyrics from 1997 that I came across, and I thought I'd throw them against the wall to see if anything sticks. I hope it's not too much content posted all at once.

 

I still remember the tunes for the 2nd and 3rd songs, but not the first one.

 

Meanwhile, another lyric I wrote during this period -- "Lonely Sky" -- was set to music a few years ago by my friend Janice Friedman. It'll be on her new CD, coming out soon, and looks to be the standout track (that's what her friends and co-producers say).

 

"I Always Will"

 

 

 

 

 

She was a cigarette-girl in an after hours club.

I was crawling on my hands and knees—I’d lost my ticket-stub.

The moon was like a polished bone that shone on Notting Hill.

She said, “Will you take me home tonight?” I said, “I think I will.”

 

While her cunning English accent was running through my head

she flashed her lapis eyes at me and coaxed me to her bed.

The candlesticks were bleeding along her windowsill.

When we were done she said, “You like it?” “I think I always will.”

 

With kisses so divine, like lobster cooked in wine, she tore my shell apart.

And that fine dividing-line; what was hers and what was mine,

you couldn’t tell apart, not till it all fell apart.

 

There were demons in her wardrobe and a devil in her veins.

Her clothes were from the finest stores, but came with hidden stains.

“I’m searching for a hero, and you might fit the bill.

Will you save me from the dragon?” I said, “Of course I will.”

 

Like lightning through a window, a love can move too fast

to capture all the shadows emerging from the past.

“But if you try real hard,” she said, “your eyes can pierce the dark.

There are angels all around us. You’ve just gotta catch the spark.”

 

But in my madness and my lust, my sadness and distrust,

I lied and crossed my heart.

In the process, I went bust from her abuse; I guess that’s just

the price it cost my heart, you see I lost my heart.

 

So, cut to five months later—my clothes are in the hall.

She changed her name and number—I’ve got no place to fall

as I stand beneath her window and gaze up at her room

till I feel like that old Steppenwolf, howling at the moon.

 

Summer turns to winter, you can feel it in the breeze.

Love was just a game to her; she liked me on my knees.

And these days you can find me at your local bar and grill,

and if you ask if I remember her I’ll say, “I always will.”

 

Words and Music © 1997 by Lee Charles Kelley

West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

 

 

 

"Tracy in Her House of Blues"

 

 

 

The kitchen light that's always on,

the kiss goodnight that lasts till dawn,

how could a guy refuse

Tracy in her house of blues?

 

The ash-stained gloves, the box of snuff,

sometime's love's just not enough.

Why did I have to choose

Tracy in her house of blues?

 

In that picture frame you can me dancing

with the girl I thought I loved so much.

But like a candle flame that is so entrancing

it's best to look and not to touch.

 

Careful now, don't make me cry,

just tell me how things went awry.

And why did I have to lose

Tracy to her house of blues?

Words and Music © 1997 by Lee Charles Kelley

West Sixty Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

 

 

 

"Lullabye for Bloss"

 

 

 

The world is made of rhubarb pie—

sour and sweet, my baby,

kind of like this lullaby.

So go to sleep, my baby.

 

And put some stardust in your pipe—

’tisn’t cheap, my baby—

smoke it till your dreams are ripe.

Then off to sleep, my baby.

 

Your daddy took the choo-choo train without you

and now you feel the rain fall all about you . . .

 

He left a watch that never ticks—

for you to keep, my baby—

so you can doze till your next fix,

then back to sleep, my baby.

(solo)

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve got a heart, cut to the bone—

you cut it deep, my baby—

you’ve got an itch that you can’t leave alone.

Let it sleep, my baby.

 

And when I’m longing for your kiss—

you’re counting sheep, my baby,

lost within your endless bliss,

so dark and deep, my baby.

 

Your doctor’s due today, but he can’t heal you.

While from the Milky Way I still can feel you—

the real you.

 

For, though you’re gone your ghost remains—

don’t you know, my baby?—

like someone shot you in my veins.

I love you so, my baby.

 

Words and Music © 1997 by Lee Charles Kelley

West Sixty-Ninth Street Music (ASCAP)

 

 

 

[tbry]

Those were all great...That first one is pretty wordy and for me would be hard to set to music, though I am sure you could...liked this verse.

 

There were demons in her wardrobe and a devil in her veins.

Her clothes were from the finest stores, but came with hidden stains.

“I’m searching for a hero, and you might fit the bill.

Will you save me from the dragon?” I said, “Of course I will.”

[oldgitplayer]

'Tracy' and 'Lullaby' are both good examples of what you do, but 'I Always Will' is an outstanding piece of writing.

The crafting of multiple internal rhymes and the unexpected metaphors, similes and descriptive phrases weave a rich tapestry of words and rhythms.

 

An excellent piece of work.

[LCK]

'Tracy' and 'Lullaby' are both good examples of what you do, but 'I Always Will' is an outstanding piece of writing.

The crafting of multiple internal rhymes and the unexpected metaphors, similes and descriptive phrases weave a rich tapestry of words and rhythms.

 

An excellent piece of work.

 

Thanks. It was an attempt at Dylanesque. Some of it works pretty well, some of it falls short. But I guess it might be worth working on...

[bee3]

I Always Will is fantastic... would be interested to hear how it works musically. But my favorite line from the three is:

 

And put some stardust in your pipe—

’tisn’t cheap, my baby—

smoke it till your dreams are ripe.

Then off to sleep, my baby.

 

 

[mbfrancis]

Tracy is perfect - I would start with that one and finish it (or record it).

 

I Always WIll has some striking lines, really excellent. If you're going for Dylan it probably needs some pruning of the formal Broadway-type phrases,roughing up.

 

Lullabye is growing on me, I'm digesting it.

[songcat]

You need to finish Tracy. What a great write! Hope to see the final version of it soon.

[LCK]

You need to finish Tracy. What a great write! Hope to see the final version of it soon.

 

Thanks!

 

It has a lovely little 3/4 time tune. I'll have to re-string my guitar tomorrow.