by Marc Gunn, Dec 10, 2009

I love lullabies. One of these days I'd love to have an album of music for sleeping, but until then I decided to write a lullaby for my sweetheart.

It's sle-e-epytime, beddy-bye time
Lay your head down to sleep
Close your sweet eyes, dream of soft kisses
Walking along with me

Your cats curl up, with barely a twitch
That's how that you know it's a dream
No cats in your tub or digs at your rugs
They just want to warm your cold feet

We'll walk hand in hand, in our New Orleans
A future that's more than a dream
Sun nips our cheeks, warms us to our knees
As we lay our seed down to sleep.

Lay down on the planks. Gaze up at the shanks
Of a new life of love begun
Long and it's clear, rest easy my dear
In the morning, you'll wake next to me


KEY G

chorus:
G G G
D D D
G G G
D D G

verse:
D D D
C D G
D D D
C D G

by Marc Gunn, March 13, 2009

I was listening to an author speak about the muse and how at times it flies at you. As an artist, your job is to capture that muse and hold onto it as long as you possibly can.

The problem for me is that when I do capture the muse and create song that I love, I can't relax. I find myself overwhelmed by the song that repeats over and over in my head as I try to shape it into a simple form. Or the song might even be complete ready to go, that's even more torture because I want to record it and get it out of my hands. It just doesn't work that way though. Such was the case with this song.

The night before I wrote this song, the Muse came visiting. It was late, as it often is. I wanted to get a good night's sleep for my show the next day so I tried going to be early. She wouldn't leave me be. I tossed in bed, got up, went back to bed. Eventually, I got her out of my mind and slept.

The next morning, I felt her still whispering in my ear. But I wanted more sleep. I got up, used the restroom, and climbed back into bed. She kept prodding. "Get up," she said. "I know how to wake you..."

Then the lyrics came "There are no songs still left to sing." That wasn't enough for me to wake up for. Then another line "There's no music still left to score." Okay. That was kinda compelling, but still not enough to get out of bed. Having recently watched "Beyond the Sea" about the life of Bobby Darin, the last two lines came to me. I got up and transcribed the Muse's words. Then we sat down and wrote the rest of the song.

And the music? It had a crooner swing feel. I played and sang. The music and chord progression just flowed from me. I recorded a rough version so I wouldn't forget. Then the torture began.

The rest of the day, the song haunted me. The following day, I went to a horse race track. My mind was not in the races. It was singing the song over and over throughout the day. Is the Muse wanting more? Mayhaps. For now, I must sing. And try and think up a name for the new song. I recorded it for my CD The Bridge.


There are no songs still left to sing
There's no music still left to score
All the melodies have left the moon beams
Ever since you left my door

I heard that little quip that you made
Caused me a little bit of pain and woe
While fireworks sparked on the Fourth of July
Your silhouette dimmed street lamp glow

Now music won't grace my window
I can't remember a single song that I sung
All I know is I long for moon beams
And the melodies when I was young.


KEY C

first chorus/solo
d d C C
d d C C
B B F F
C C d d

verse:
C C d d
C C B B
F F g g
C C F F

chorus:
C C d d
C C d d
B B F F
C C d d

by Marc Gunn, February 22, 2009

Years ago, I heard an Italian song called "La Pulce de L'Acqua". I thought it was about the Black Death. I thought that was a great idea for song. I mentioned it to my former Brobdingnagian Bards music partner Andrew McKee, and the idea of a CD called Happy Songs of Death was born. I would've put that song on the CD except I mistranslated the song. It wasn't about the Black Death at all. So I decided to write one based on an old quote I read from a priest in Florence who said "he'll be dining with his father in Heaven". Add a little inspiration from the book Pillars of the Earth and I came up with this catchy little song for Happy Songs of Death.

Red, red and black
Your Father's lying on his back
Dining with his friends in Paradise.
Run, run, run,
Or the Devil will take your son.
Your brother's family got it twice.

Red, red and black
Take a whip to you back
Purge all the sins from your soul
Jump up and down
Drive the Devil out of town
Fire burns away the blackened coal.

Red, red and black
Now you're lying on your back
Eyes on your Father in Paradise
Burn, burn, burn,
Well, I guess it is your turn.
At least, Death won't visit you twice.


KEY C

verse:
C C
F F
C C G G
C C
F F
C C G C

by Marc Gunn, around 1992

I was listening to a lot of "Weird Al" Yankovic when I wrote this song. You will note there is nothing about reflexology in the song. That's because after writing the lyrics on a sheet of paper, I was watching TV and saw a feature on reflexology. It sounded interesting so I wrote it on the paper. The name sorta stuck.

I hurt you. I'm sorry.
But the fault isn't all mine
What am I to do when you break my autoharp
Across my spine.

We were in love. You knew
This love was true.
But your jealousy was so bad
You broke us, my autoharp, and my back in two.

I'll take you back into my arms
My darling, I'll forgive you
If you'd only stop this jealousy
And if only I could move.

Paralyzed from the neck down,
Don't worry. There's no pain.
If you'd only come back to be my love
Since I'll never play again.

I'll take you back to be my love
My darling, I'll forgive you.
But if you won't come back into my arms.
Then get ready for one helluva a law suit.

by Marc Gunn, April 11, 1997

One of my more silly songs. This one was born out of the idea of a man rejected through each of the body's senses.

When we French under the sun,
You can bite off my tongue (x2)
If you think I'll forget the taste of you.
But when you bite off my tongue (x3)
The memory of your sweet juice I'll recall anew.

I say you smell just like a rose.
So you plug up my nose (x2)
You fill both my nostrils with super glue.
But when you plug up my nose (x3)
Your sweet scent wafts right through.

Feel... whatchu got.
Feel... the beat get hot.
Feel... yourself a lot.
I feel...

Feel... whatchu got.
Feel... the music get hot.
Feel... this song rock.
I feel... myself inside of you.

The sight of you gives me butterflies.
So you poke out my eyes (x2)
You blind me to your beauty when my tummy flies.
But when you poke out my eyes (x3)
My heart is my window to see outside.

Your voice makes me cheer.
So you cut off my ears (x2)
Make me deaf to the chorus that my angel sings.
But when you cut off my ears (x3)
Like tinnitis in my ear your song forever rings.

Your touch gives me drive.
So you skin me alive (x2)
What's a man who feels supposed to do.
But when you skin me alive (x3)
Feel the rhythm of my heart that beats for you.

by Marc Gunn and Andrew McKee, 2002

This is one of the first songs Andrew and I wrote together with the Brobdingnagian Bards. I don't remember how the melody goes. We didn't spend much time playing it.

I walked alone in foggy dew
Just me and my memories
A voice out seaward beckons thru
A whistle of love for me, for me
A whistle of love for me.

T'was two moons 'go her father stole
My love away from me
Arranged to wed a soldier red
My love's gone 'cross the sea, the sea
My love's gone 'cross the sea.

For ten days long our love grew strong
She swore her "love to thee"
Each night up high on mountainside
She'd whistle her love for me, for me
She'd whistle her love for me.

Late one night, my fire alight
Awaiting for her to see
My wait was long, o' what could be wrong
Where could my true love be, love be
Where could my true love be

A light 'cross waters latern glow
Was all mine eyes could see
And from below noise drifted slow
Like a 'gull come back from sea, from sea
Like a 'gull come back from sea.

Her song it haunts me still this day
Notes of uncertainty
If heaven laughs at prayers of mine
Then it never was to be, to be
Then it never was to be.

KEY: D

verse:
D F C D
D F C-D
D F C D
D F C-D

chorus:
F C G D
F G C-D
F C D G
D F C-D