music of the mask

little big time

music of the mask

words and chords collide...

commercial free zone

let me get this off my chest right now--i am not selling anything on this website. i don't care to use a serious topic forum for such petty goals as material gain. if you want to buy my music, great. don't do it here.

a small step for man

but i am an artist...wait, strike that. i'm an aspiring artist. someday, with a ton more practice, bleeding fingers, massive migraines, and small sweaty venues, i will achieve artistry. not necessarily fame, but artistry. it's a difficult and arduous process, and this site, along with my blog, is one more step.

artsy pfartsy initials

do not read this

i'm not sure you care, so skip this if you don't, but i want to take a moment to explain my view of music and art. i believe art isn't art unless it is excellent. admirable. praiseworthy. whatever, you get the idea. i highly doubt any of my songs up to now meet this criteria...maybe one or two. definetly not these mp3 recordings. but i also believe art isn't really worth musing over unless it is also true. ok, so we might disagree on what truth is, and we can discuss that. but the point is, it needs to reflect truth to be art worth deliberation or imitation.

summing up. if it's excellent (meaning it's art) and it's true (meaning in content), then i need to imitate it, pursue it, muse over it. if it falls short in either category, then i need to call it what it is--unworthy of my time. not that i can't ever descend to that level, but i don't need to spend much time there.

tonight's feature presentation

here's the deal. you can see the words to these songs, and you can download an mp3 of them. i've put together a little cd for people who are really interested in my stuff, and i don't charge anything for it (except shipping, if need be). so, if you want a better copy, get in touch. otherwise, i hope you learn some stuff about me and about truth from some of these.

this is a little embarrassing. it is the first complete song i ever wrote. i was 12 years old. it's very straightforward, much like the 12 year old me. enjoy.

diversions (mp3 coming)

this world has diversions in every shape and every form

they say it's nothin', they say it's just the norm

do you believe 'em? are you gonna check it out?

are you gonna just accept it, or is there still a doubt?

what're you gonna say when the world comes your way, how you gonna handle it?

what're you gonna do, are you gonna make it through, or are you just gonna quit?

turnin' on the tv, excercise your thumbs

music on a cd, your ears are feelin' numb

drown out your feelings in sports or food or school

gotta be in the "in" crowd, if you aren't they'll think you're a fool

the biggest problem with christianity is...christians. well, specifically, christian hypocrites. this song is a rant against all that. (for more on the gnat and camel stuff, e-mail me).

hypocrite (mp3 coming)

hypocrite, some are fooled by your illusion of piety

counterfeit, i'm not fooled by your delusion, don't lie to me

you're exquisite exterior might seem bona fide; but there's a

definite conspirator when you look on the inside

you're double minded double crossing and you're double trouble

for those who're in this for real....

if you're gonna run, race to be first

if you're gonna swim, dive in headfirst

if you're gonna live, then live out loud

if you're gonna go along, then go all out

you strain a gnat, and swallow a camel in the way you act

it's because of that, you're advice is hard to swallow: that's a fact

why can't you try to be consistent with what you say you believe?

and live a life, that will challenge those around you, make 'em think

you're like a wave, blown and tossed by the wind

so please hear me make my appeal.....

friendly funny guy (1.5 Mb)

ok, here's an interesting one. the namesake for my blog. this is a true story in spirit, though specific words have been changed to protect artistic license. i mean, the innocent.

you looked at me, you saw a friendly funny guy

and now you like to call me your friend

i looked at you, your eyes were blue and captivating

so now i like to think you a friend

now things are going fine, we talk alot and laugh together

always ready to impress you with my wit

you try to take me deeper, go below the superficial

but my pride effectively tells you to quit

so you looked at me, your eyes pierced me deep

you put your hand on my shoulder and you said to me

"a man must strong to admit that he's weak

i know there's more to you

so why can't you let you show through?"

i turned and walked away, i tried to cut you off,

but your words burned deep inside my mind

then i thought "why should i sweat it, i've got alot of friendships"

so i bottled up my problems deep inside.

(chorus)

found myself a teddy bear, i curled up in the corner

who could understand what i'm living through?

your voice is all around me, i just wanna be alone

i wanna be alone...

i don't like to feel alone

(chorus)

opened up, light slices my soul

and all the things i was pretending

are given up

and now i'm whole.