"I believe in intuition and inspiration... I sometimes feel that I am right, even when I don't know that I am." -Albert Einstein
Just another track from: 'The Walkersville Sessions' album, released back in Jan. 2009. Just another song that I somewhat inadvertently tried to experiment with, as best I could, using one of the music video service sites. Yea, I have to admit, some of the final results kinda' makes me cringe, as do some of the lyrics (which were written sorta' like 'tongue in cheek' to begin with, and during that time period while living in Maryland). But (even though I am something of a perfectionist) that's how you learn, I guess, if nothing else...
I was also sorta' like on a certain time frame schedule, as I tried to coordinate the release of the album with the online distributor, so I really couldn't go back and change some of the lyrics for instance, or experiment too much with the track at that time. Once its assigned an ISRC code by the Distributor/Publisher for instance, that's it, you can't make any changes...
I kinda like let it ride, to never-the-less see the results of what the final product would turn out to be. (Like an artist using a canvas). And to then, just sorta like forget about it. Almost like throwing dice. Yea, ya' see, I've also become something of a student of psychology, for various reasons, and in certain ways; also, because of the fact that I just happen to be extremely intuitive and all. (Can't help really being that way. It seems to be, just the way I am). I pick up on EVERYTHING! (Like sonar). In other words, I pick-up on how things may be interpreted, whether those interpretations are either (maybe even) deliberately wrong, or right. I know how different (and certain) people think. (And am a great judge of character). Ohh, yeaa. But that's sorta' besides the point. (I mostly just mention it, because you have that intuition part in the lyrics and all. Not sure where I was really going with that to begin with). In other words, the track was basically, kinda' like, just a snapshot in time. I like to document certain things in my life, but at the same time, do get a little nervous about getting too personal, because I know there are (unfortunately) allot of crazy people out there. (And the U.S. has become pretty crazy). So, I do see the benefits of abstract lyric writing, sorta like how the group 'Yes' used to write. (Even with some of these blog posts for instance, I get somehwat nervous; also depending on the particular area I may happen to find myself. Not to even mention the fact, that I was a Whistleblower and all). But anyway...
The reference to God, and the like, in that certain section of the lyrics, was sorta' influenced by things related to (during a rather short period of time) attending a Jewish Community Center - that also had something of a Synagogue (or like a Jewish Chapel, if you will) with an Ark in it. This was after a dream I had of talking to a Rabbi, which I really still don't fully understand. But there he was, when I decided to kinda' test the dream, and walked in! (I don't read too much into it though). Did sometimes attend some of the services though, and would even sometimes go in and pray before the Ark in solitude. Not particularly very religious though. Just kinda' like wanted to know: "What does it all mean?!" Just like the current demo version of the track: Sweet Madonna* - which is really a throwback to a time, when I was a kid, and my musician friend Dave had converted to Catholicism, and we were invited to play guitar for a Charismatic religious group; which we would do sometimes, and then were invited by a bunch of girls to attend a weekly rosary meeting. And then, revamping the lyrics many years later, when I visited the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Maryland; sorta like reminiscing of that time in my life. (The girls were really sweet, and very pretty, I have to say). Also, thought I could turn it into like an interesting Disney type, animation, lyrical image, of like fairyland or somethin'...
You see, back then, after Dave talked to me about the Bible and all (and still somewhat naive) I thought I had found the meaning to life; and being the type of person that I am, I like read the Bible from cover to cover, probably twice! So, I know allot of these guys are full of shit, when they try to interpret it to fit their own agenda and all. (So this track, is one of those songs from the album, also because of some of the things I was going thru at the time, in a very unusual place to begin with, like the 'Sweet Madonna' demo track* - recorded around the same time period, was just a reflection of that spiritual searching, if you will, for a rather short period of time, for meaning, and answers).
But anyway, getting back to my point, yea, trying to fit that God part into the lyrics, within a certain number of bars, etc. was definitely a challenge, and as I said, kinda' makes me cringe when I listen back to it. Oh, well...
With all that being said, I do have to say (like with Eastern Mysticism, and Kabbalah, for example) some of the learning and influences do kinda' remain with you, even if it is just for a certain period of time...
*The original version of the song: 'Sweet Madonna' is posted to the Blog here on April 21st, 2018 at about 23min and 23secs into the live video. See below for the current demo version of the track, with the revamped lyrics mentioned above...