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Foo Bar Baz

by Common Lisp

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1.
Now Polly is a positive proton, she was born a long time ago; a ten billionth of a second after the big bang created in that great inferno. She survived the mass annihilation | when the universe was one second old; only one in a billion baryons made it and went on to become everything we can hold. Almost four hundred thousand years later, the first atoms became stable; little Polly acquired an electron and they're nearly inseparable. After the first supernova, there was oxygen floating around, created by the alpha process, and little Polly was chemically bound. She was part of a molecule of water at the time of the solar system's birth; she became part of the accretion disc that eventually formed our Earth. Yeah... the one we live on. Now Polly experienced gravitation; Polly joined up with a comet's core. She was getting ready to change the clmate -- so suck on that, Al Gore. The comet crashed into the young planet Earth; Polly melted into the sea. They say a lot of the water we have now arrived very suddenly. Polly was part of the primeval ocean when the earth was still young and hot; there was no atmosphere; there was no life; but Polly was not distraught. In the blazing sun she steamed away and floated in the sky so black; she condensed on some dust and put her trust in gravity, and rode on back. It wouldn't be the last time. Polly the proton's been here before; she was once part of King Tut's sweat. Way back in ancient Egyptian times, she made his royal forehead wet A breeze blew up across the Nile, and Polly was vaporized. The invisible vapor cooled and then Polly was not surprised to meet up with a speck of dust and more water molecules; they formed a droplet and then a cloud made up of tiny globules. Now when you're feeling jerked around, and when you're feeling blue, or when you think no one could run in circles half as much as you do -- take a moment to think of Polly. She's gone 'round again and again; she still hasn't gotten tired of the ride but I've got no more rhymes for our friend. She just keeps on riding that waterslide. [Prechorus] Yeah, Polly the Proton's been everywhere All around this old galaxy Polly's been part of a glacier And Polly's been lost in the sea Polly the Proton's been down your throat And passed through your left kidney Yeah, she's been drunk, she's been pissed Been frozen; she's been dissed And what she loves the most is being rain [The original plan was for the song to run verse -- prechorus -- chorus 3 times with a longer ad lib and fade, but the song was going to run well over 5 minutes that way. I rearranged it to put the first two verses back to back, leave out chorus 2, and remove the longer ad lib vocal fade out.] [Chorus 1] Polly loves the rain Coming down as rain Since long before the plain was formed Since long before Spain was named Polly's loved the rain [Chorus 2] Polly loves the rain Coming down as rain Splashing on the Spanish plain Spaniards fine it quite mundane But Polly loves the rain [Chorus 3] Polly loves the rain Onto fields of grain Over Alba's* great floodplains Failing** up the river Tay*** Polly loves the rain [Ad lib and fade-out] Polly rides the rain Polly's in the rain Polly is the rain Polly has no brain But Polly loves the rain *Joe sang this Scottish word for Scotland **Joe's Scottish pronunciation of "filling" ***I suggested "a river or Loch that fits the rhyming scheme" and Joe picked the one that runs by his home city of Dundee
2.
War Criminal 03:50
Dick Cheney is a loving husband (war criminal) The government is on your side Dick Cheney is a wonderful dad (war criminal) Washington is your best friend Dick Cheney is a man of his word (war criminal) And you're good looking and oh so well informed CHORUS: Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney Shot his friend right in the face Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney Bloody hands and a rotting heart Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney Your next undisclosed location will be in hell Dick Cheney is a loving husband (war criminal) The terrorists just hate our freedoms Dick Cheney is a wonderful dad (war criminal) Abu Ghraib was just a few bad apples Dick Cheney is a man of his word (war criminal) The Founding Fathers would surely have agreed REPEAT CHORUS BRIDGE Waterboarding is harmless And Guantanamo is a playground The Geneva Conventions Simply don't apply Extraordinary Rendition Is a tropical vacation Cheney's a man of convictions So let's give him a few more This song is filled with beautiful rhymes And you can't fool all the people... every goddamn day SOLO Dick Cheney is a loving husband (war criminal) America can do no wrong Dick Cheney is a wonderful dad (war criminal) Jesus Christ approves of torture Dick Cheney is a man of his word (war criminal) And there will never be a Dick like him REPEAT CHORUS
3.
Ann Arbor You haven't got a harbor But you've got a big arbor- etum, and enormous U- niversity; you've harbored me Since I was twenty-three But now I'm... CHORUS: Leaving Ann Arbor, packing up my apartment I'd share my regrets but regret's not my department It's been a fun lifestyle, but Ann Arbor I just can't afford to love you anymore In 1990 Zingerman's was just a deli Borders was still a bookstore With no pretentions to be more One cafe was all I needed My hairline had not receeded But now I'm... REPEAT CHORUS RAP SECTION: You're liberals who say "That's so very fucking gay" You're a traffic nightmare Every football Saturday You're overpriced restaurants That follow every trend You're the good schools my kids Aren't allowed to attend Your home prices are obscene It's insane, I'm not so keen To drop a cool quarter mil Don't want to pay that mortgage bill For a tiny little shack With no yard out in the back The market's ready for correction It's gonna lose its erection My disclosure: your foreclosure Will make you lose your composure Ann Arbor, you're a pipe dream You're high property tax You're diversity But without any blacks You're a pretty young thing with an Oozing cold sore You're a fraud, you're a cheat, You're an overpriced whore It's my soul that's a stake 'Cuz I know your love is fake Not to mention my empty bank Account, you skank I'ts been a good ride But I'm swallowing my pride I've given up, I'm done, I'm through I can't afford to love you Any more - no, I can't afford to love you any more FADEOUT: "You know how to get to Ann Arbor, right?" "How do you get to Ann Arbor?" "You fake left and take a hard right." "Awesome!" I'm leaving Ann Arbor (Car driving away)
4.
SPOKEN: I am a scientist, true. But define "mad." VERSE 1: Once I was blinded by beauty That I mistook for technology I loved to play with electronics Producing all kinds of crazy sonics But these days I'm a nature lover Give me a human under the covers CHORUS: BEAUTY mistaken for SCIENCE in the service of MONEY producing new TECHNOLOGY Connections, rejections Maybe too much introspection Too much to handle It can't hold a candle to you SPOKEN: Goodness, Miss Sakamoto! Is it really you? Do come in. My, my, you haven't aged a day! May I offer you a cup of tea? You've heard, perhaps, that my little inventions have made me a wealthy man? VERSE 2: My meters are all a-quiver Your touch gives me the shivers Now let's conduct an experiment Oh never mind, it's completely irrelevant My vacuum tube's overheated I've lost my cool, I'm completely defeated REPEAT CHORUS SPOKEN: ThinkPods and GeekPads and things that warm up Devices that vibrate chips that make music Psionics, dildonics Good old telephonics Machines that go "bing," Science chthonic, Glowing rectangles And cables in tangles Just hop on the network You don't need to do legwork To find my location You won't need cogitation Texting is peachy But pheromones can't reach me Your webcam is online But that's not in real time Come over to my place I can't feel you in cyberspace... (SYNTH SOLO) SPOKEN: I see your teacup is empty! Oh, dear, we've run out of sherry as well Please be careful where you step; the laboratory is so cluttered. It's very hard to find qualified help these days. What? You say you might be interested in assuming your old... position? VERSE 3: Now your machinery's in order You can trust me, I'm a doctor You know that science is dandy But come on honey, give me some candy I want to study biology In specific, your anatomy (REPEAT CHORUS) SPOKEN (on drums/fadeout): It was so good to see you, Miss Sakamoto! Do come back and see me again soon. Perhaps next time, you might care to have a look at my etchings? My door is always open.
5.
I've spent my career teaching history But my colleagues always mock me My papers are rejected My letters to the editor never selected My memories of those days are mostly a blur Of crudely drawn animation With our horn-rimmed glasses, we'd explore The pasts of many nations His bowtie he always kept impeccable The puns were completely unacceptable I tell you this without much joy For I'm no longer Peabody's... boy CHORUS: My life has been so ordinary Since the day he went away Now it's been almost fifty years And I am old and gray I've never stopped believing That he'll come back for me My master, mentor, friend Mister Peabody VERSE 2: I followed Peabody's detailed instructions To make sure our history functions Fixing problems in our past We righted wrongs and we had ourselves a blast When our show got cancelled, he took it really hard We heard him howling in the yard On that fateful day, he broke his chain And with nothing but his big brain He trotted right through the door of his machine We'd know where he went, but he broke the view screen The government men took it away Now how can I... get back... to yesterday? (REPEAT CHORUS) BRIDGE: Cartoons can live forever But not so human men I'm hoping that he gets here soon So I can see his fuzzy face again Maybe he traveled forward And in some very different when Some clever future doctors Can fix me and make me young again Now night is fast approaching But if we meet up one day We'll be dog and boy like it was yesterday VERSE 3: I had to pack up and go back to school Which felt so very cruel The history books all seemed strange It's not nearly as fun when it can't be rearranged Me, I just got older, and I discovered girls But they never seemed to like me Maybe the dog tags put them off Or maybe they saw me scratch a flea I never got married and I never had friends I really hope this isn't how it ends I hope my master won't forget me And I'll make history with Mister Peabody (REPEAT CHORUS) CODA: Now you might think I'm just confused And age has left me in a fog But I never minded playing second fiddle To a dog
6.
7.
There will come a day When I will die When you will die When all we are has passed away Today is not Today is not Today is not that day There will be a time When all we are is not When everything we've got Will not be ours, and that's OK Today is not Today is not Today is not that day No one can know the hour The hour or the moment Dance like your heart's on fire Dance like it's your last chance And when we are no more We will join the dance The dance of all who were Everyone who was and will be gone Today is here Today is all Today is not Today is not Today is not that day
8.
Act One: The Dream Ambient nature sounds (wind) Spoken: "Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleeve of care The death of each day's life Sore labour's bath; Balm of hurt minds, Great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast." - Shakespeare Note: guitar is down-tuned 2 half-steps, so I play these chords on guitar as Dm, Gm, Dsus4, Gm, Am7, C and Bbmaj7. As heard it is in the key of C minor (relative minor to Eb)... I think. I'm not so great with the music theory. Cm I've been here before Fm Csus4 I can't see where I'm going Cm Fm There's darkness behind me Gm7 Bb Cm Darkness ahead Cm Fm There's a man in the shadows Gm7 Fm I can't see his face Cm Fm I thought he was chasing Gm7 Bb But it turns out I'm running Cm Fm It turns out I'm chasing Gm7 Bb The man in the shadows Cm Fm But my legs are so tired Gm7 Bb Cm I know I'm not strong 1d. Csus4 Cm Why won't he wait? Bb Gm7 Abmaj7 Did I do something wrong? Cm Fm I can't catch my breath. Gm7 Bb Cm Don't leave me alone. Spoken: To sleep, perchance to Dream; Ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. - Shakespeare Act Two: The Nightmare I will not cry I'm running, not crying I can't catch my breath My lungs, they are aching 2b. The man in the shadows Is gone and I'm calling Not crying but screaming Screaming and trying to Run and I'm slipping The path it is crumbling I'm screaming and gasping Falling forever I scream in the silence Too frightened for crying Falling for ever and Ever and falling I'm sitting bolt upright And sweating and shaking Down the hall mom is crying Her heart must be breaking The man in the shadows is Gone and I'll always be Missing his love, I'll always be aching Act Three: The Waking Dream Ambient nature sounds (beach) Instrumental break: shifts key to C major, I think. Cm Fm Csus4 Gm7 Abmaj Gm F7 Cm Fm Csus4 Gm7 Abmaj7 Gm F7 G7 Am7 E F C F C When I was small, so small C G I rode on your shoulders F G My hands felt your beard C F It was scratchy and warm C When I was small (Ambient sound: wind sounds return) F C Now you are gone, gone, gone F G In the sun on the beach F G We were laughing and playing F G In the grass on the dunes F G You ran and I chased you G F On a day long ago C And then you were gone C G Gone from your children F G Gone from your wife C G Gone from my brother F G Gone from our lives G And though I've awakened And though I've awakened I'll always be aching I'll always be aching I'll always be runing I'll always be runing I'll always be chasing I'll always be chasing I'll always be falling I'll always be falling Spoken: All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own. - Plutarch
9.
This one is for all you special gentlemen out there, who are looking for someone you just can't get from the ladies. No, that's not exactly what I mean. SpinTunes, represent! Sometimes songwriting contests -- they get a bad rap. I'm speaking in verse since I've been told I can't sing First off, let's establish this isn't a gay thing And though I am sensitive and sometimes sing show tunes There ain't no Santorum on the sheets in my bedroom I'm pensive and anxious; not so good socializing Bad at eye contact; find friendship quite trying It always gets competitive; I feel disrespected So though I need contact I remain disconnected If you like, we could do this right in front of my wife She and the kids would probably join in; that's my life I get slobbered on, clobbered, watch boogers get eaten Get wet on and sat on, but I can't be beaten Real life is messy; babysitters cost money Kids are drippy and messy; they think chaos is funny If I manage to get out for a moment of quiet When I get home the whole place looks like there was a riot CHORUS: When I was a child You had to bring each boy and girl a cutesie card Bring enough for the class Or you can fold them up and stuff them up your ass Now that I am grown I kind of miss those days and often feel alone Please don't be shocked This is not about your goddamn cock Brother can you spare the time To be my man-crush bromance Valentine? So friendship gets difficult, especially past 40 But what really frustrates is all those who can't see The value of contact not whatever's on cable Of human conversation around a dinner table You could bring along your own girlfriend or spouse Throw in some wine or whisky, not to get soused But for social lubrication; get the words flowing Talk politics or culture, until our eyes are glowing Ideas and philosophies, pedantic or not Libertarian, contrarian, agrarian or fraught with Conservatism, idealism, concepts good or bad Try listening respectfully, although it makes you mad We're not Limbaugh or Maddow; we're not in it for the ratings We don't need to practice hate or engage in race-baiting The art of debate was once taught in every school What passes for it now is depressingly uncool (REPEAT CHORUS) So friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter When everything is virtual, real life goes in the shitter Social media is corporate and the product is us Now this is what it's come to, imagine my disgust Hanging out IRL* seems increasingly unlikely We've transcended friendship; it's messy and unsightly I age and rage against the dying of the light Maybe I'll catch you on the other side; I bid you good night I've got just one special Valentine's Day wish for you, my brother -- only connect. *"In Real Life"
10.
I.O.U. 03:50
My seven letters are I, O, Y, M, L, A, and W I owe you my life, my love All I am and all I own is yours When we met long years ago, you Welcomed me with love and laughter My incandescent love I owe you Another year's improvisation I'll melt with willing obligation I offer you my lullabye I owe you my life, my love All I am and all I own is yours Adieu, my lady love I owe you my life

about

This album collects my original songs written to date for the Song Fu and SpinTunes songwriting competitions, the original versions (perhaps in slightly better-mastered mixes), as well as any additional versions, such as a remixes or live versions, recorded after the contest deadline.

Deadlines were generally a week to ten days. Given the realities of my day job and parenting duties, that generally means 20-50 hours of very late-night recording sessions (when the kids are asleep and the neighborhood is quiet). It's an interesting challenge to write, perform, record, mix, and master a track from beginning to end in such a short time -- you generally have to push forward from your first concept forward without the luxury of starting over or making major changes.

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released February 2, 2010

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Common Lisp Ann Arbor, Michigan

Common Lisp is Paul R. Potts, an amateur musician living in Saginaw, Michigan.

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