A Song Each Day

Instruments:
JM: guitar, bass, keys, vocals

Lyrics:
Feels like I’m stranded in a mobile home
Stranded and I can’t can’t go on
But I just noticed the microphone was on

Feel like dancing all alone
Four wheels sound like they’re part of the song
By morning I wonder will the snow be gone

Made it up in my mind
Do those things from time to time

Feel like singing in a phone
Sing singin’ like you can’t do wrong
But I know all my coins I left at home

Instruments:
JM: guitar, bass, vocals
Kristen Massey: keys, percussion (stix)

Lyrics:
Met her in a bar ordered a beer
She just stood there overcome with fear
I know what to say I know what to do
Diamonds stole alone are easier with two

In the morning sun over some food
Layout the plans of what goes down at noon
She will drive the car and wrestle with the tears
As I pull away with twenty years

Later at a bar order a beer
I just stood there conceal the tears
I know what to say I know what to do
Diamonds stole alone are easier with two

Here is Song #4 – You can stream it by clicking the little PLAY button, or download it by right-clicking the title:

This song originated with a simple 3-note melody on my Casio keyboard – I honestly had no real direction…I just wanted to play the Casio. I didn’t want to over complicate the song by adding another part, and I wanted it to be reminiscent of older Magnetic Fields stuff…so I just made it a little over a minute long. Once the Casio track was recorded, I played a simple little Melodica melody over it – but it sounded like shit so I left it out of the final mix. Next was a simple little strummed ukulele part, and then I topped it off with some shakers.

During the course of recording the other parts, a vocal melody had emerged, but I had no theme for the lyrics. So, I flipped through my notebook looking for random lines that might inspire me; I like to scribble down random sentences or phrases that come to mind and then use them later. I found a little scribble that said “I will turn to stone, and you will turn to gold – until we both decay.” I thought I could make a song out of that, so I just went with it.

Once the vocals were done, I doused the mix in swirly echoes, and it was done! Also of note – my dog and cat would not leave me alone while I worked on this song, so I put my camera in their faces and made the music video below.

Instruments used:
Baritone ukulele (1950’s, no name)
Casio keyboard (CasioTone from the ’80s)
Shakers (those little egg-shaped things)
Vocals

Lyrics:
Snow turns from white to blood red
And in the field or ice and rain lay more
Of those who stayed, and I can’t be like them
And if I stay, I will test your faith
With trials and hoops to leap through
I will turn to stone and you will turn to gold until we decay
What a mistake it was to leave here, I was at home
What a mistake it was to go
Born to leave, but doomed to stay