The Book That Changed My Life

THE BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE The book that changed my life was Tropic Of Capricorn by Henry Miller. Wow! This one was monumental, a real game changer. We were in the kitchen of his House Party after work, when my friend John Graham just for laughs, picks up a book and starts reading out loud. Everyone laughed, we were shocked and couldn't believe it. What is incredible was that somebody was crazy enough and not only willing to just try, but had actually managed to get away with this. The quotes mainly consisted of rude and offensive passages from The Land Of Fuck / Interlude section. It was the battle cry of a soul that had had enough, the defiant rage of the isolated and condemned. He didn't belong anymore, just couldn't fit in, The Stranger at odds with the so called civilized world. His soul had died from grave suffering, but was somehow now resurrected. Henceforth he ascended far beyond the sick and tired, and the sick and tired of the sick and tired. He had been born anew. A triumph of the human spirit, a reject, free of the soul crushing system. What made Henry Miller so impressive was his ability to go from the vulgar to the sublime, he wrote exactly the way people actually speak. Non linear. Absurd Narratives. Wild Immoral Tales. Vivid portrayals and graphic depictions of The Common Man. Utilizing the rich vocabulary of an erudite thinker and brilliant philosopher. There were layers of profaneness, tragedy laced with humour, pleasure and anguish, joy and suffering. We all thought it was hilarious, but as he read on it began to dawn on me. There is poetry here, something transformative. And so the more he read the more I began to think, "This Is What I Want To Do..."

Forgotten Dreams

FORGOTTEN DREAMS Have you ever abandoned a childhood dream? Is there a skill or gift that came quite naturally, something you used to love to do? Have you ever enjoyed doing your thing so much that you forgot about the time, or it felt like time stood still? Does it make you feel good? Did you take it for granted? At the beginning of 2013 I had a very pivotal dream. In the dream I was sitting on a garden wall or partition, at the center of the lounge or smoking area, inside this massive club or rave. I get up, walk straight over to the far wall, and began painting a huge mural. I observe myself in this manner, applying paint, until I wake up... Many years ago when I was seven years old, I accidentally discovered I could draw and copy anything. I guess I secretly desired to be a painter, but felt intimidated, and so I never got around to it. As a teenager, before teaching myself to read music and play the piano, drawing would have been my favourite pastime. But as the years go by, following friends, as time goes by, drifting through life, from experience to experience. I must have buried my dream... At the time I was THe Singer Songwriter Who Worked As An Actor in TV, Film and Commercials. Being an Artist was not part of the plan. Yet there was no doubt, I knew it in my heart, it was time to paint. At first my mind was going through them changes, thoughts and feelings vacillated between hope and fear. They ranged from 1) I always wanted to paint. To 2) I don't wanna be a Starving Artist. . But as I painted, I would catch myself smiling from time to time. I was so much happier now. Reconnected, with a forgotten part of me... Dreams Are For Real.

Rosy (Anatomy of A Song)

 One day many years ago, I decided to learn the soulful ballad part of the Flash Gordon theme, by Queen, on piano. 

The song is epic, there's a certain majesty and power in the music. It's very dramatic but there was one part I just had to learn, a small segment I was really feeling. It was during the slow part, when Mercury sings: 

"No one but the pure in heart, can FIND THE GOLDEN GRAIL, Oh Flash, oh oh..."

It's a 2 Bar Pattern = 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4, (repeat & fade), (1) F Major (2), (3) C Major (4), (1) F Major (2) F# Minor 7 Flat 5, (3) G 11 (4). The chords were F Major to C Major with the 3rd (E) in the bass.

(F Major) "No one but the", (E /C major) "pure in heart."  Is a descending, chromatic bass line.

But "Find The Golden Grail", was the part that really grabbed me. It was triumphant, uplifting.

" FIND THE GOLDEN GRAIL" was F Major to F# / A Minor (F# Minor 7, Flat 5), to G / F Major (G 11). 

It's an ascending chromatic bass line, very powerful.

(I'ave recently discovered that the F# Minor 7 Flat 5 chord is actually a D 9 chord without the D root, which only goes to show you don't have to know what you're doing, to Just Do It.  

Anyway, this chord progression would serve as the foundation. You see at that point in time I was much more limited in terms of my awareness of the infinite possibilities, because I had a system. Play the 2 Bar Pattern by finding a cool synth pad mixed with electric piano and laying it down over a funky beat. From there I would add counterparts, layering or building these grooves until it all sounds good, until it works. You listen to the music over and over, picking out the best parts, the most hypnotic riffs, the catchy hooks, the magical moments where holy accidents happen. I was launched, I was on my way, but I had no chorus... Funny thing, after I kinda figured out these chords I stopped learning the Flash Gordon song.

Time would pass, probably years...

One day while learning some Guns n Roses, probably from Guitar Player magazine or some other zine that Transcribed or Lifted the guitar parts of hit songs, it was probably Patience / November Rain or a bit of both. 

I found 4 chords: G Major to D Major, F Major to C Major, that was it. Now I had the Chorus or The Hook.

Usually the beat came first, but this time it was created last.

The drum beat would be the foundation, everything else would be built on top.

I made a beat I liked, it reminded me of "The Beautiful Ones" by Prince.

I got hyped, now I was good to go.

I was in the studio now, putting it down, layering tracks. 

Things was moving now, the song would be ready soon.

In the studio, you can add parts and layer forever. 

But one too many parts, and the song become too muddy / too heavy.

Space was indeed a crucial factor.

One day the voice in my head said, turn off the drums and listen. Just to see if everything works, to check if the seperate parts can both standout on their own, yet compliment each other when played together.

When I turned off the drums that day, that's when I really heard it.

 It was orchestral, like a symphony.

It was something new. Unlike anything I'ave ever done before or since.

For me, arranging this song lead to a major breakthrough, I consider it a masterpiece.

The concept of no drums was the last thing I expected, previously the drums and or bass was allways the foundation. By going against the grain I was forced to innovate, creating a style I hope to explore further...

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Love 69 (Lyrics)

 Love what can it be? Love what can it be? Love what can it be?

Like the clouds are hanging from my wall. Is mine the saddest view?

Either I don't care enough at all, or it's too good to be true.

They say I'ave got the finest taste, best that money can buy.

So why are all the good ones taken, leaving me with tears in my eye.

Love what can it be? Always seems to happen, but it never seems to happen to me.

Love what can it be? Always seems to happen but it never seems to happen to me.

Maybe I try way much too hard? It's written all over my face.

Chasing candy canes in racing cars, meet me at my place.

I'll take you to the boulevard, buy diamonds and precious things.

Close your hand close your eyes baby, I wanna give you my wonder thing.

Love what can it be? Always seems to happen, but it never seems to happen to me.

Love what can it be? Always seems to happen but it never seems to happen to me.

In love oh - ove, oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah - ove.

In love oh - ove oh - ove. Oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah- ove.

In Love.

Love what can it be?

Still waiting for that special thing, to happen overnight.

Sick an tired of fly and freaky flings, it's time to do it right.

Friends ask when will it be your turn? situations looking ripe.

But smell the rubber tires burn, maybe I'm not the type, to fall in.

In love oh - ove, oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah - ove.

In love oh - ove oh - ove. Oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah- ove.

In love oh - ove, oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah - ove.

In love oh - ove oh - ove. Oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah- ove.

In love oh - ove, oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah - ove.

In love oh - ove oh - ove. Oo a oo a oo. In love, a ah a ah ah- ove.

In Love.

She loves me? she loves me not? He loves me? he loves me not?

She loves me? she loves me not? He loves me? he loves me not?

She loves me? she loves me not? He loves me? he loves me not?

She loves me? she loves me not? He loves me? he loves me not?

She loves me? she loves me not? He loves me? he loves me not?

She loves me?

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God Is Everywhere (Lyrics)

 Yes my friend, I'm back again. Morning wakes, with me again.

Sun is shining, cool in the trees. Breeze is blowing, birds and the bees.

And I get lifted, and I'm feeling so nice. I'm young and gifted, I won't even think twice.

And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere. And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere.

Yes my friends, no guess again. On the streets, set free again.

Sweaty salty, hot and thirsty. Smelling something, what could it be?

And I get lifted, and I'm feeling so fine. I'm young and gifted, but still need some time.

And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere. And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere.

Yes my friend, I'm back again. Dawning breaks, for me again.

Insense burning, stretching yawning. Cellphone sing in, syncronicity.

And I get lifted, and I'm feeling so nice. I'm young and gifted, I won't even think twice.

Yes I get lifted, and I'm feeling so fine. I'm young and gifted, but I'm drinking some wine.

And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere. And on a day like this, it's gorgeous everywhere.

Another big fat juicy, gorgeous fucking day. Another big fat juicy, gorgeous fucking day.

God Is Everywhere, God Is Everywhere. God Is Everywhere, God Is Everywhere.

God Is...

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Idiot Move

I was standing behind my shopping cart, in the cashier line up at Walmart.

Just waiting my turn, when I suddenly spot a Fifty dollar bill on the ground.

It was almost straight ahead, but on my right side.

No one else seems to have noticed it lying there. 

It was calling me.

So I step forward quickly and casually pick it up.

The customer directly before me is a middle aged woman. 

She has that Guyanese or Trini Caribbean Indian look.

I also notice she's holding some twenty dollar bills, at least two or three, in her right hand.

So like an idiot, I do the right thing, walk up and say: 

"did you drop this?" or something equally stupid like "is this your money?"

Right away she says no, then a second or two later she's like: 

"oh I gave it to my nephew to buy food at McDonald's."

So I give her the fifty but inside I know, she just looked me in the face and lied. 

The black man behind me says "I don't think it's her money. I didn't even notice it."

Less than a minute later as I'm passing McDonald's, I see the woman's nephew and his friend.

How's he paying for food if he or she dropped the money?

What she just told me don't make no sense? 

That money was for me, but I wasn't ready to accept a gift. 

Damn...

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