FOREVER A STEP

WELL!!!!!!!

Do you ever have the feeling you are on the verge of something but it always seems just a step away from being your ideal reality? This sense of constant urgency seems to be a forward motivating force field; there's always a dream to live.

This is a pop rock tune with a northern first nations combined with a Brazilian off-beat jungle rhythm.

Forever A Step:Song Track

FOREVER A STEP: Lyrics

Although the sky may fall,
the ocean may open and swallow us all.
The dream it dwells in a river
while marching am I to the hot fire cry.

Forever just a step away.
Dream our dream another day, until the end.

I start but cannot complete,
for fear of having no dreams in the keep.
But here the kingdom is vast
where many before us will live their dreams last.

Forever just a step away.
Dream our dream another day, until the end.

While we struggle with thirst,
the moment is near to live our dream first.
Close the dream it does call
and many weary souls do fall.

Forever just a step away.
Dream our dream another day, until the end.

Although the sky may fall,
the ocean may open and swallow us all.
The dream it dwells in a river
while marching am I to the hot fire cry

Forever just a step away.
Dream our dream another day, until the end.

Best regards to all

PJ

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

POLITICAL RAT RACE SHUFFLE

Greetings to everyone,

Political Rat Race Shuffle

POLITICAL RAT RACE SHUFFLE:Lyrics

I'll take a bow, then, pour me up some more Champaign.
Tonight we celebrate the victory of the vain.
As the bubbles rise all inhibition fades,
I warm to trophy spoils of the rat race game;

A fancy car, a new fur coat.
A bank account, six digits to float.

To tell you the truth that this way is a shell of a dream
that we had when the miracle happened to be our life.

Let us clear the land and put a factory there.
We'll make a fortune poisoning the water and air.
Don't have to think, just imagine all the money from this place.
Another gang of bureaucrats can make their way;

A fancy car, a house in the burbs.
An indexed pension, on our work it does serve.

To tell you the truth that this way is a shell of a dream
that we had when the miracle happened to be our life.

A fancy car, a new fur coat.
A bank account, six digits to float.

To tell you the truth that this way is a shell of a dream
that we had when the miracle happened to be our life.

I'll take a bow, then, pour me up some more Champaign.
Tonight we celebrate the victory of the vain.

Best regards to all!!!

PJ

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

WRITER'S BLOCK BLUES

Greetings on a sunny Sunday to all kind people,

Writer's Block Blues: Song Track

I woke up Saturday with strange harmonies rolling through my brain and had to act on them before they vanished into the mist as these musical ideas will if they are not performed shortly after invading my space. I was in a blue mood and thus wrangled these concepts into a blue song about having writer's block and the possibility of not being able to write songs when one has the blues. This song is in the style of Steely Dan...WARNING! It is very easy listening and has put me to sleep a couple of times while I was listening and uploading today...do not operate heavy machinery while listening :-) ..

WRITER'S BLOCK BLUES: Lyrics

When the voices talk inside my head
in music they do speak.
Whispering songs made of perfect notes,
sometimes a dream that can be played.

Is it in time?
Should the words rhyme?
Am I just out of my head?
Will it ever please my lover's ear?
Is it in style?
Will it walk a mile?
Will they only tear the song apart?
Will it only break my lover's heart?

The dream expands to fill an empty space,
music permeates the air.
One foot ahead is further from that place
of silence, darkness and despair.

Is it in time?
Should the words rhyme?
Am I just out of my head?
Will it ever please my lover's ear?
Is it in style?
Will it walk a mile?
Will they only tear the song apart?
Will it only break my lover's heart?

Is it in style?
Will it walk a mile?
Will they only tear the song apart?
Will it only break my lover's heart?

Best regards and have a great week

PJ

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

LIFE'S WALTZ

Excellent Friends and Family!!!

Life's Waltz: Song Track

Today I decided to finish this ditty for you because I could. This song started as an unplugged campfire concept and I then I heard a larger version in my mind. I gathered every tone and style that I like except the kitchen sink sound and except the folks on the Harley Davidsons up and down Winston Churchill Blvd sounds...and brewed up this "blues-soul-revival-country-cowboy-waltz" song... because I could....and there's not a lot of words this time...so I'll almost remember them at the next camp fire...maybe ;-). Terri and Cassie generously offered to be crash test victims for this song...Thanks to Terri and Cassie...

LIFE'S WALTZ: Lyrics

Take me out in style,
such a short time to be.
Sentimental child
full of wonder, running free.

Although the world seems heavy,
like it tries to press you down,
the weight is all illusion,
your imagination wild.

Walk me down the aisle
and never let me go.
Impressionable child,
will always be so.

Have a wonderful weekend folks!!!

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

SLOW DANCING IN THE TWILIGHT

Hello to all fine folks and also welcome to new recipients on the Digital Birdman distribution list!

Slow Dancing Dancing in the
Twilight: Song Track

Well!!...I decided to get serious about writing a more popular style of country/folk song. The engineer 'analyst' buried deep inside me decreed that it had to follow a strict production formula and execution sequencing. First was devised a mathematically clever guitar progression that tickled the inner ear with particularly enjoyable resonant styling and predictably comfortable changes. The next complex convolution was a very strong love sentiment setting into a foundation upon which to write words of a strong love sentiment nature...and...voila!!! the blueprint and prototype for PJ Slack's popular country/folk song was born and the inaugural track burned onto the drive after 50 takes....my voice totally shot after 2 late evenings of takes to get it almost right for all of you...

The next step in the song genesis was to tweak and then test the prototype to ensure the enduring primacy of public safety everywhere... and so.. the other night at Bruce's barbecue event gathered a particularly diverse group of unknowing crash test victims around a campfire ambiance; a picture perfect popular country/folk song venue and test suite. I cleared my throat, limbered and warmed my fingers and set the crash vehicle in motion thus commencing the precarious test procedure. The test vehicle was loosing nuts and bolts as it shimmied down the track as I had forgot the words in the nervous manner that I perform and couldn't read them from the sheet because it was too dark outside.... my fingers fumbling ...
looking for those supposedly enjoyable changes in the dark. Finally, the children were lulled asleep, the dogs whimpered, the cats purred, the ladies sighed, the crickets stopped chirping , and master maestro Bruce gave an approving smile...AS IF ALL AT ONCE IN A CATACLYSMIC CALAMITY OF ERROR, the popular style country song had tested compatible and safe for this particular version of the universe and suitable for public consumption.

This love sentiment is for Terri, my wonderful slow dancing partner since 1981, and dedicated to all of you and your loving, slow dancing mates..

SLOW DANCING IN THE TWILIGHT: Lyrics

Embrace into the night,
whisper in my ear.
Deafened by my heart
singing of undying love.
Savour every moment.
So crystal clear
I hear your love
right next to mine.
Slow dancing in the twilight
we sail into the night together
and it feels so right
a warm embrace forever together.
Love in trance
in unison we dance.
Innocence and wonder
deepening romance.
Savour every moment.
So crystal clear
I hear your love
right next to mine.
Slow dancing in the twilight
we sail into the night together
and it feels so right
a warm embrace forever together.
Voices in the night
saying all things right.
We walk along a rainbow
to all a wondrous sight.
Savour every moment.
So crystal clear,
I hear your love
right next to mine.
Slow dancing in the twilight,
we walk into the night together,
and it feels so right,
a warm embrace forever together.

Thank you to all for your many kind words of encouragement and for your enduring patience.

Peter J Slack
The artist formerly know as PJ Slack

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

LULLABY OF THE MULTIVERSE

Greetings fine people,

I read an abstract by a scientist who is intent on proving that parallel universes (ie the multiverse) exist. His method is to construct a quantum computer and essentially perform a calculation such that parts of the calculation are done in the parallel universes and combine to the final answer in our universe; sort of multitasking in the multiverse. So I got to thinking...given that our brains are essentially quantum computers of a sort, then perhaps when we dream our brains are actually drawing on images from parallel universes. I was thus inspired to write a lullaby to help everyone to get to sleep and experience the multiverse. You'll notice that the chorus in this song is slightly different each time....you just have to use your imagination that each chorus in fact exists in a different universe ;-)...So here it is, live off the floor from the catatorium..

Lullaby of the Multiverse: Song Track

LULLABY OF THE MULTIVERSE: Lyrics

Close your eyes and drift away.
All your troubles vanish

into the infinite center of a dream
of a thousand faces of you and I.

Rest your head and slumber
on this pillow soft and

into the infinite center of a dream
of the many faces of you and I.

Bring no fear, just let go.
Set your spirit floating

into the beautiful center of the dream
of a thousand faces of you and I.

Dreams collide to take form
of the new day we live joyful

into the infinite center of the dream
of a thousand journeys of you and I.

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

LIGHT FANTASTICA

Hello friends,

I sincerely wish that everyone is enjoying life to the fullest extent possible.

Light Fantastica: Song Track

We were having a party in Whitehorse over at big sister Wendy's house to kick off a new business venture. We had all the players there and there was a geologist friend who came up to me and said "people here say that there is an incredible energy band that crosses the Yukon and, if you look closely, the colours are protruding from the third eye on my forehead" as he pointed to his forehead. Two sheets to the wind, I squinted at his forehead and, in my best redneck accent, I said; "Buddy!? I can't see yer third eye"....for me, things progressed into the much stranger category from that point.

This was originally intended to be a rock song but....I wanted to be different today... Here's a country song for y'all:

LIGHT FANTASTICA: Lyrics

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of light,
I had to close my eyes.
Coincidence, or was it meant to be
That only I would see the blue sky?

It was a long haul road with that light fantastica,
trailing me every step of the way.

20 days and 20 long, long nights,
A thousand year rain.
The water mark had reached the final crest,
Our livelihoods on the line.

It was a long haul road with that light fantastica,
trailing me every step of the way.

Opening up, the sky told me its plan,
The water and the air of life.
Opened up, I told the sky my plan
Of the water and the air of life

It was a long haul road with that light fantastica,
trailing me every step of the way.

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of light
I had to close my eyes.
Coincidence, or was it meant to be
That only I would see the blue sky?

It was a long haul road with that light fantastica,
trailing me every step of the way.

ALL THE BEST FOR THE LONG WEEKEND

PJ

PS) HERE'S THE ROCK PRE-VERSION:
LONG ROAD: Song Track

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

A LOSS FOR WORDS

Hello once again to all fine people,

A Loss For Words: Song Track

A dear friend gave me this book by a fellow named Douglas Hofstadter who had written a column in the Scientific American magazine called "Metamagical Themas" (also the title of the book). In the preface he begins to describe what he calls "Whirly Art" which describes as his particular form of artistic expression. As he describes; he begins with a form (many times the alphabet) and then begins to freely doodle strange variations of lines and patterns off the top of his head and onto the paper creating new alphabets and "fontscapes" with no purpose or practical end use intended.

I could relate to this sort of obsession given that most everyone in my family does this whirly art of one form or another while talking on the phone or doing something while having a pen and paper in hand. I don't think there are any Slacks who can just jot down a phone number without frilling it up with whirly art and I certainly have never sat through a meeting without a full page of doodling..

When the kids arrive at home at the end of the school day, they litter the house with free form "whirly art" for which I have a large stack of paper and markers available. It's really a great pass time to exercise creative tensions and sometimes there are some very interesting and wonderful creations that emerge. In my opinion Douglas is on to something big here...

Finally I realized that I needed to confess to all of you that much of the music I create is doodling whirly art!!. I begin with a pleasing construct with form and then layer all sorts of free form expressions on top with no purpose or practical end use other than to annoy all of you with endless uploads. This particular song I tried to write words and construct a vocal melody but it just wasn't working for me. Some times there are words that don't require music and some times there is music that doesn't require words. So I decided to do some whirly art with the guitar voice instead, and backed up with some far north Brazilian backdrop. Most people wouldn't consider broadcasting their whirly art on the internet....But why not?!! ...It would be revolutionary!! ;-)

All the best to all of you,

PJ Slack

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

BROWN JUG SEPARATION

Dearest and most gracious music listeners..

Brown Jug Separation: Song Track

I sincerely hope everyone is on top of the world.

One of the most difficult things to do as a performer (at least for me) is to play an instrument and sing at the same time. For the past 4 months I have been working on techniques to achieve "separation" in my performance on guitar and piano both along with vocals and also separation in guitar and piano playing techniques in themselves. This song is a my benchmark thus far for guitar and vocals. The song is about my chosen separation from beer ...It kind of makes you want to have a beer...hmmmmmmm

I was inspired by some other performers to write and perform this song and it is dedicated to, and in the style of 2 musicians whom I met recently. Both of these performers have super natural abilities of separation and are both incredible artists.

The first fine fellow is Trevor Mills ( TREVOR MILLS ). The second time I met Trevor we sort of spontaneously decided to find some instruments and jam. While we were jamming I was totally blown away that he could carry on a perfectly normal conversation with another person (who was with us but not jamming) while jamming with me....The whole thing threw me off just thinking about what was going on at that moment :-) I finally figured out that this was Trevor's way of achieving separation of guitar playing and singing. He really is incredible and he is an inspiration to me. I highly recommend his new album "Karyoke Cowboy".

The other fine fellow is Manitoba Hal ( MANITOBA HAL ) who completely blew my mind when he performed at the Hughs room some time ago. His latest album "This Condition" is an absolute must for anyone who enjoys the style of this song. I've been working a similar guitar method with the help of Bruce who gave me some classical pieces to study in order to achieve separation of the thumb and forefingers in a unique finger picking style like Manitoba Hal....

...So here it is, live off the floor (only one track this time... ;-) from the catatorium on Winston Churchill BLVD...

Brown Jug Separation: Song Track

BROWN JUG SEPARATION: Lyrics

I found joy in a little brown jug;
you press it to your lips and it feels like love.

...ahhhh not like any kind of love you want...cold crystal clear love!!!

You can buy the brown jug at the market square.
The lady will tell you "you're going to grow hair".

....ahhh not like any hair you want....brown jug hair...

When you're making sweat, and your throat is dry,
the little brown jug; by your side.

....won't be making sweat for much longer...you'll be on your back..too
many brown jugs will do that to you, yah know...

In my garage, in a far dark corner;
a thousand brown jugs we call the dead soldiers.

...ahhh not like any war you've seen...a war of leisure...a war with
yourself.

Then one day I came to my senses;
I threw brown jug away and started mending fences.

...ahhhh I had a lot of fences to mend...police towed my car...just going
crazy everywhere.

I once found joy in a little brown jug;
you press it to your lips and it feels like love.....but it isn't.

LOVE TO ALL

PJ Slack

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN

THE EXTRA CONVERSATION

Hello music listeners,

Today I have no music but instead some writing inspired by some scientific concepts floating around out there. It is very difficult not to be inspired by the bright minds, talents and passions of the many great scientists on our planet searching for truth and discovering themselves among other incredible and magical things. For all, the pursuit is a struggle and is truly fine art in so much as theories can be expressions and opinions that others can either accept or reject.

..And so love it or hate it... Here is an expression and an opinion :-)

THE EXTRA CONVERSATION

On the edge of my mind are the words I want to say,
yet without voice, the words are spoken anyways.
I hear the words on the edge of your mind,
urging me not to speak those words today.

It's the extra conversations that create
the sometimes silent, awkward pause in time,
to allow the seed of the same thoughts in each mind,
to speak in locked rhythms of ocean, air and other earthly places
complete.

It's the extra conversation that intertwine the senses
thus weaving a thought complete with wonder and hope
of a better place far off in the rays of the sun expressed,
where words can flow harmless as a gentle breeze.

It's the extra conversation that is the vessel
carrying the truth in our words and in our hearts
to shed all doubt that we say what we mean
and what we say is in a meaningful way received.

On the tip of my tongue are the words I want to say.
Near or far those words travel, without speaking,
to the thoughtful observers transcending both time and space,
and whose careful voices whisper back the body of all knowledge for ever
assuring a place for the meanings of the words I want to say.
Finally replying "I know", shedding the rays of all knowledge through the
universe in a cascading symphony of belonging.

PJ Slack

WORDS & MUSIC ©2004 Peter J. Slack, SOCAN