The Acoustic Dream comprises very early song demos recorded mostly in my home studio. These songs rank among my earliest recordings and my foray into recording digital audio. Most songs are circa 1997-2001. These songs are mainly acoustic in nature.
Mary (2001)
Written sometime around 1999 and recorded at a friend’s home studio in early 2001. All tracks were recorded live, starting with the drums. I had just invested in a new drum kit; the cymbals really sparkle in this recording. Lyrics were contributed by good friend and collaborator Mark Coffman.
the day began, her baby cried, she’s been up all night
she took a moment to wonder why, and pray to sleep tonight
she’s too young to take this on, herself a child not that long
though this joy she can call her own, she never thought she’d be alone
Mary, Mary, my yoke is light
Mary, Mary, I’ll carry your burden tonight
Bead (2003)
Bead was written back in 1995 with friend and collaborator Liam Gray. It is a beautiful, haunting song about love, loss and hope. Bead is one of my favorite songs I have ever worked on. I recorded this version in my home studio with my Washburn EA20 acoustic and a Shure SM57.
darkness is creeping in
pushing away the light of the sun
a luminescent glimmer still lights my world
walking across the grass of God
my name reaches my ears
i turn to see whose voice beckons me
hair thrown back, you smile at me
your gift was in the air
God, don’t let me drop it
please don’t let me drop it
it’s just a bead made of wood
like the cross that Christ withstood
God, don’t let me drop it
please don’t let me drop that bead
Evergreen (1997)
Evergreen is one of the earliest songs I have written; this was pieced together while in college. It’s a simple melody reflecting on the constants in life amidst change. Recorded several years later in my home studio using a Washburn EA20 acoustic, Yamaha PF500 and some cheap mics. This was my first experiment with panning tracks and offset stereo delays.
evergreen within me, the thought of you
withering discreetly, the sands of time i thought i knew
in time i turn, like the seasons before me
in time i turn, like a midsummer’s dream
California (1999)
California is an instrumental piece that originally was to be used as an intro to Difference, the track that would follow. This piece is played in Double Drop D, a tuning I would really utilize years down the road to write songs such as Fortnight of the Soul, Attaboy and Whirlybirds. California, as one can tell simply by listening to the first few measures, pays direct homage to Led Zeppelin’s masterful song Going to California. Recorded with a Washburn EA20 (and a whole lotta love/reverb).
Difference (1999)
Difference is a sketch piece about choosing the correct path to walk upon. Inspired by Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, the lyrics were written in collaboration with good friend and collaborator Liam Gray. I recorded this track in my home studio using a Washburn P2, Line 6 guitar effects, Fender Jazz Bass and some over-the-top drum playing on a Clavia D-Drum kit.
i always heard there was a place, where two roads separate
one curved off and one was straight, i must decide which one to take
there is a difference
can you tell the difference between the light we made and light we need
can you tell the difference between where the broad or the narrow leads
people i see who walk both ways, a few go home while many stray
the broad seems easy with friends around; the narrow calling, you lost be found
there is a difference
here at the fork but who could know, where one will lead or the other goes
but the lives i see they will not show where the traffic flows
can you tell the difference, there is a difference
Where Were You (2001)
This song is about the moral absolutes in life and how it is pointless to shift blame on anyone but ourselves. Recorded in my home studio using a Washburn EA20 and some Shure microphones. In this track I use a lot of offset track delays to create a very wide guitar sound.
where were you when the buildings fell, or when the world was shaken
where were you when the innocent man and child were slaughtered by the millions
i don’t remember you being there
where were you when the bomb was dropped, or when the war was over
where were you when the rains came down and washed us all away
i don’t remember you being there
where were you when we walked away; when we chose to die