I also dabble in Lyrics/songwriting. I mostly alternate between Folk and Folk Blues and straight-on poetry to which musical accompaniment can be added. If you are looking for lyrics, these songs may work for you. They are of course copyright and I am a member of SOCAN.
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Was Blind Blues
by Kevin Alan McGill
(Medium 12-Bar Blues Boogie Rhythm in G7 (G7 D7 C7)
Verse 1 – Chorus – Verse 2 – Chorus – Verse 3 – Chorus – Verse 4 – Chorus
– (No Acc) Outro
Choruses and Verses:
G7
Fool me once …. Shame on you
G7
Fool me twice … That’s on me
C7 G7
I was blind … I was blind
D7 C7 G7 D7
Was blind … but now … now I see
Verse 1:
Preachers preaching love/
Urgin’ me to hate, ain’t that a shame/
Preachers preaching love
Urging me to hate, ain’t that a shame
And I played that game/
Was blind, … but now, … now I see
Chorus:
Verse 2:
Schools teachin’ lessons/
Leavin’ me unlearnt, ain’t that a shame/
Schools teachin’ lessons/
Leavin’ me unlearnt, ain’t that a shame/
And I played that game/
Was blind, but now, … now I see
Chorus:
Verse 3:
Drugs, Sports and Entertainments
Make me look away, ain’t that a shame
Drugs, Sports and entertainments
Make me look away, ain’t that a shame
And I played that game/
Was blind … but now, … now I see
Chorus:
Verse 4:
Told beware of others
Help us hurt them won’t you please, ain’t that a shame
Told beware of others
Help us hurt them won’t you please, ain’t that a shame
And I played that game/
Was blind … but now … now I see
Chorus:
Outro – No accompaniment
Shove your preachin’, your lame ass teachin’
Those folks I’m suppose to pain? I ain’t doing that again
I can miss a game on Sunday, Keep me sober so that one day
No longer am I gonna … play that game
Hallelujah, … when the sighted … can now see
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Party of One
Chord progression – C _F C; C G ; C _F C; C F G F C
So I’ve been thinking alot about my childhood recently and I wrote down this song.
Intro (Mostly spoken)
(C) Sweet childhood memories,
(F) laughter and smiling folks
(C) ‘Long as I
block out the (G) crap
that (G) hid (F) behind the (C) jokes!
G,A,B _
Verse 1
(C) Born on Sunday, so wrecked (F) that week’s football (C) game.
(C) One of many ‘my bads’ for (G) which I take full blame
(C) I learned to keep my mouth shut, to (F) recognize the (C) mood
(C) Didn’t give no (F) back talk and I (G) didn’t need (F) much (C) food.
BUT….
Chorus:
(C) Don’t you worry, I see (F) life my special (C) way
(C) No, don’t you worry, nothing (G) bugs me and anyway, I’m
(C) all in for denial, and (F) making my own (C) fun
(C) I just keep on (F) dancing at my (G) party (F) of (C) one
Verse 2
(C) It’s not that my parents didn’t love me or much (F) wished that I was (C) dead
(C) They just _ real–ly _ wished they’d had _ almost (G) anything else instead
(C) And I could kind of understand that because I (F) often wished were (C) true
(C) That I lived anywhere (F) else on this earth in (G) stead of that (F) family (C) zoo
BUT….
Chorus:
(C) Don’t you worry, I see (F) life my special (C) way
(C) No, don’t you worry, nothing (G) bugs me and anyway, I’m
(C) all in for denial, and (F) making my own (C) fun
(C) I just keep on (F) dancing at my (G) party (F) of (C) one
Verse 3
(C) Then there’s the “hood I grew up in, it sure (F) taught me wrong from (C) right
(C) Like yes you could discuss things, but it was (G) easier just to fight
(C) Some crazy brought a gun to school and (F) wasn’t that a (C) hoot
(C) Turns out it was the (F) principal who (G) told him (F) who to (C) shoot
BUT….
Chorus:
(C) Don’t you worry, I see (F) life my special (C) way
(C) No, don’t you worry, nothing (G) bugs me and anyway, I’m
(C) all in for denial, and (F) making my own (C) fun
(C) I just keep on (F) dancing at my (G) party (F) of (C) one
Verse 4
(C) Grandma’s now gone senile, Grandpa’s (F) parts have been ex (C) posed
(C) Mom and Pop won’t get back home un (G) til the bar is closed
(C) One brother ’s down the river while the (F) other ’s up a (C) creek
(C) Sis may have quin (F) tuplets, one for each (G) guy she (F) met last (C) week
BUT….
Chorus:
(C) Don’t you worry, I see (F) life my special (C) way
(C) No, don’t you worry, nothing (G) bugs me and anyway, I’m
(C) all in for denial, and (F) making my own (C) fun
(C) I just keep on (F) dancing at my (G) party (F) of (C) one
Verse 5
(C) And now, my life is simple, I (F) take it day to (C) day
(C) I try to get enough to eat and (G) every night I play
(C) And if you see me smiling, a (F) grin upon my (C) face
(C) I’m no longer where you (F) see me ’cause I’m (G) in my (F) happy (C) place.
YES ….
Chorus:
(C) Don’t you worry, I see (F) life my special (C) way
(C) Now, don’t you worry, nothing (G) bugs me and anyway, I’m
(C) all in for denial, and (F) making my own (C) fun
(C) I just keep on (F) dancing at my (G) party (F) of (C) one
Outro
(C) And if you see me smiling, a (F) grin upon my (C) face
(C) I’m no longer where you (F) see me ’cause I’m (G) in my (F) happy (C)
place.
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Pay the Piper
(A Celtic-influenced folk song)
“Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Daffy done did it, he’ll get what’s due
It’s the hangman’s knot or the Aleman’s brew
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Sally might have been but she was not
They’ll lay her out in the dress she bought
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Billy knew the way and walked a path
Will he find peace or the demon’s wrath
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Dullah stored money, Dullah stored bread
Came the famine when many lay dead
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
What did Deelah do with what she saw
Truth or lies in the springtime thaw
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Person be good or person bad
Step to the weighing to be had
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon
Pay the piper, Dance the tune
Stands your ghost in the wailing moon”
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I feel your pain blues
Intro:
Well, I’ve been sitting on the sofa
Feeling kinda down
But wasn’t anything wrong with me
To bring upon this frown
Where’s this coming from
Started searching for the clues
And I realized my problem
“I Feel Your Pain” Blues
Chorus:
“I Feel Your Pain”, “I Feel Your Pain”
Again and again, I’ve Felt Your Pain
And I don’t/ mean to offend/
But feeling your feelings is/ Something I must mend
Verse 1
Well, I’ve tried to be there for you
To be your kind of friend
But there’s such a thing as burnout
And I have reached my end
When your lip, it starts to quiver
It sends shivers up my spine
So your melancholy, baby, must be yours
And can’t be mine.
Chorus:
Verse 2
Well, I know your feeling upset
But that’s just something that you do
It can no longer be my full-time job
To live my life for you
When your lip, it starts to quiver
It sends shivers up my spine
So your melancholy, baby, must be yours
And can’t be mine.
Chorus:
Verse 3
Well, I know that it’s my problem
This separating me from you
But I find I’ve reached my limit
For dealing with boo hoo
When your lip, it starts to quiver
It sends shivers up my spine
So your melancholy, baby, must be yours
And can’t be mine.
Chorus:
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Leave Me Be Blues
Verse 1
Bring on the clouds/ block out the sun
Bring on the clouds/ block out the sun
Heat raises steam in/ the coldness of my heart
Nightfall’s my colour/ in my Leave Me Be Blues
(Instrumental)
Verse 2
Bring on the darkness/ turn off the light
Bring on the darkness/ turn off the light
Light shows life shadows/ that half-scare me to death
Nightfall’s my colour/ in my Leave Me Be Blues
(Instrumental)
Verse 3
Gimme a high/ then a crash to the lows
Gimme a high/ then a crash to the lows
The tears and the screaming, the drugs and the booze
Nightfall’s my colour/ in my Leave Me Be Blues
(Instrumental)
Verse 4
Gimme some noise so/ I can’t hear my thoughts
Gimme some noise so/ I can’t hear my thoughts
My thinking is stinking and maybe sinking too low
Nightfall is coming / to my Leave Me Be Blues
(Instrumental)
Verse 5
Yeah, feels like I’m sinkin’/ no ground ‘neath my feet
Feels like I’m sinkin’/ no ground ‘neath my feet
It’s become hell in high water, and this ignorance ain’t bliss
Might need me some
Might need me some
Break me some dawn
on my Leave Me Be Blues
(Instrumental)
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Free Woman Looking
I’m a Free Woman Looking for a man knows his place
Free Woman Looking for a man can win a race
Free Woman Looking for a man finds the spot
Free Woman Looking for a man knows he’s not
I’m a Free Woman Looking … Looking for herself
I’m a Free Woman Looking for the best for her child
Free Woman Looking for a chance to go wild
Free Woman Looking for protection of a sort
Free Woman Looking for the ball in her court
I’m a Free Woman Looking … Looking for herself
I’m a Free Woman Looking for that extra piece of pie
Free Woman Looking who’s stopped answering why
Free Woman Looking makes her own choice
Free Woman Looking speaks her own voice
I’m a Free Woman Looking … Looking for herself
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I got the Grays
Intro: F, G, F, Bb; F, G, F, Bb; F, G, F, Bb,Db,Eb,F
Verse 1
(Bb) Woke up this morning/ so (Bb) that means I ain’t dead,
Took some (Bb) medical marijuana ___ to (Bb) face the day ahead
(Eb) Opened up the curtains, ___ said (Eb) hello there to the day
(F//////////) Time for this golden oldie to get my chassis under way
Chorus
I got the (Bb///////////) Grays, __ baby, ___ mmm, got the grays (Bb///) (Bb///)
Gonna (Eb/////////) keep on keepin’ on baby, ___ shaking it every day (Bb////) (Bb////)
(F) Ain’t/ (F) got/ (Eb) time for the blues ___
(Bb//////////) Except for the boogie-woogie in the music I choose
Verse 2
(F, G, F, Bb) May not run no races/ but I (Bb) strut a mean Tai Chi
And I (Bb) don’t give a hoot ___ what you’re (Bb) thinkin’ about me
(Eb) Don’t you worry, baby/ how I’m (Eb) spendin’ my time
(F) I ain’t old baby ___ I’m (Bb///) in my second prime!
Chorus
I got the (Bb///////////) Grays, __ baby, ___ mmm, got the grays (Bb///) (Bb///)
Gonna (Eb/////////) keep on keepin’ on baby ___ shaking it every day (Bb////) (Bb////)
(F) Ain’t/ (F) got/ (Eb) time for the blues ___
(Bb//////////) Except for the boogie-woogie in the music I choose
Verse 3
(F, G, F, Bb) And much, much later/ when I (Bb) lay me down to sleep
(Bb) Imma countin’ my blessings/ ’cause I’ve (Bb) never been a sheep
(Eb) And if I should die/ you won’t (Eb) hear me curse
(F) long as the tunes are blaring in that shiny black hearse
Chorus
I got the (Bb///////////) Grays, __ baby, ___ mmm, got the grays (Bb///) (Bb///)
Gonna (Eb/////////) keep on keepin’ on, baby ___ shaking it every day (Bb////) (Bb////)
(F) Ain’t/ (F) got/ (Eb) time for the blues ___
(Bb//////////) Except for the boogie-woogie in the music I choose
F////////_(Eb//), F, Eb _ Bb/////// – I got the Grays! Bb
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The Wreck of the George
This here’s a Sea Shanty. Don’t know why. It just came out that way.
Key of C – Chord Progression: C D = (C – R,5) (D – R,4)
This might be about a treasure ship, the ill-fated George. or who knows it might be about the ship of life.
Intro Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below
And I really think we should (D) tack
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below
And I’m all for turning (C) back
Verse 1:
(C) I was up in the riggin’, when I spied the rocks,
And I shouted my (D) alarm,
(D) But the captain’s eyes were on the big prize
And he would not see the (C) harm.
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Verse 2:
(C) So I yelled again at the top of me voice
As the first mate happened (D) by,
(D) But his mind was set on the share he’d get
And he heeded not my (C) cry
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Verse 3:
(C) I slid to the deck and grabbed at the knots
And I yelled for help from the (D) crew,
(D) But they stayed at the rail, watchin’ ‘er sail,
Calling (D) _”come, look at the (C) view”.
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Verse 4:
(C) So we hurtled on t’wards jagged death,
The cabin boy next t’ me (D) cryin’
(D) To that lad I did say, in the face of the spray
We’re both too young for (C) dyin’.
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Verse 5:
(C) The rats didn’t leave ‘cause they never got on
And that should’ve been my first (D) clue
(D) Long ‘fore this bunch hit the rocks with a crunch
And give the George what was (C) due.
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Verse 6:
(C) From Heaven and Hell sing the songs of men
Who have sailed an unquestioned (D) sea.
(D) The hues and the cries and the too-late-whys
And the how’d this happen to (C) me.
Chorus:
(C) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I really think we should (D) tack.
(D) Say hey, say ho, there’s danger below,
And I’m all for tuning back (C) back
Outro: slowly
So,
(C) Shall the wood still rot, its lessons untaught
To all but the questioning (D) few
(D) With the crew (start to slow) at the rail, watchin’ ‘er sail
Calling, (D) ___ come_ look ___at the ___ (C) view.
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Small Town Laundry
D-E-F-G-A-B-A-G-A-G-F-E-D-A
Small town dirty laundry, a list everybody knows
Small town dirty laundry, the stain grows and grows
D-B-A-F-A-B-D-D-E-F-D
Under Friday night lights she became soiled delight, the spread was 10 to 1
They called her a name, a word that took the blame and declared the deed as done.
(Cymbals only)
Sermon and prayer, yet nobody’s there
While we’re washing it all away
He’s a wrong parents’ child, so let him run wild, just one more prince of the street
Got his label soon as he was able, at least jail has food and heat
Sermon and prayer, yet nobody’s there
While we’re washing it all away
They’re not like us, so, a beating’s a must, despite what it says in the law
Backed into a corner, citizen or foreigner, what they did is all we saw
(Musical Interlude)
Hallelujah! What’s it to ya?
Black and white turns to gray.
Sermon and prayer, yet nobody’s there
While we’re washing it all away
Small town dirty laundry, a list everybody knows
Small town dirty laundry, the stain grows and grows
Swoosh
Swoosh
Swoosh
Swoosh