JH Michaels

I just had to jump in on the married train...my first wife ended up in the state hospital for the mentally whacked. Not my fault! Honest! By the way Les, for some reason I keep adding "baby" after D-Day in your first submission...

Hi Amy, thanks for the vote of confidence! I think it could be fun as well. I'm just learning how to use DAW software and as you know, there are some quite talented and thoroughly fantastic song smiths and musicians in this forum who are far and away better than I am. so please...check out some of my songs on soundcloud before you decide. and if you still do....let's talk.

Yay Amy! Congrats!

I'm working on something as well....but I will most likely not have it ready for submission by the dead-line.

Nicely done Ames....these are some good, solid lyrics. I don't know what you had in mind for music, but I had some fun with it in a 12 bar blues in A.

I made a few tweeks but this feels good to me as a final write. Thanks to everyone for the crits and praise. This was a good one, John! Innocent Eyes Copyright 2016- JH Michaels (all rights reserved) Verse: 1 We’re born into this world with innocent eyes With no distrust and none to hate But we learn from those we trust the most Our mothers, fathers, and zealous faith That shades our innocent eyes Verse: 2 Some shout out that “It’s the word of God”! But God doesn’t say these things And He shudders at the crimson opera Each demonic voice sings To destroy our innocent eyes Bridge: We’re one and the same Each and all Only learning to walk After we crawl We’re born by fate With a blank slate We often never realize When we lost Our innocent eyes Verse: 3 Oh tell me the colors of tears or blood When skin is yellow, brown, white or black The answer lies buried deep in our soul But all we have to do is look back Through innocent eyes Outro: We’re all the same Through innocent eyes (x3) Oh God let us keep Our innocent eyes. End

Ames and Les.....you can thank my great-grandma for that one.....it's the worst language I ever heard her say. I have no idea where she got it though.

Good Goobers! You came up with that "real quick" ? sheesh, nicely done.......and I like the theme. Just a couple of nits from me.....I know mic rhymes with bike...but....mics don't blast anything so I have a hang up there....the other nit is that you should have another verse after the bridge .......so if this is what you can do real quick....I'd love to see what you add to the song.

Thanks for the kind words my friend.....I've been thinking about it this weekend and I think I agree that the transition from Opera to "Each demonic voice...." needs just a little something to make it smoother. Musically, I've been lengthening some syllables to make it work in the 3rd verse....I might try adding a word or two to make it more consistant with verses 1 and 2 though. Good points! - john

Nice write Les! Personally, I like "If this is the Devil's music, bring on the four horsemen" FWIW, though, the bridge feels a bit short and stuttery (is that even a word?) at the last. maybe changing "music" to "anthem" to rhyme better with horsemen? maybe adding two mores line for a little more depth maybe with the hook again on the last line (eg. won't get no parole......while I ride to Rock n Roll") ? . Just some thoughts to consider. - John

I couldn't find anything in there to use as a refrain either, that being said, I think that you could come up with one pretty easily given the subject matter. I see the public figure, Death, and obsidian could be construed as a color in this context. I'm not seeing the reference to music genre (personally, I'd love to see a reference to polka..lol), or a number or a bridge that would follow the ballad form. I think you have some good material to comb through and massage into the proper format. I'd like to see what you do with it.

Here's my submission....I think I have the proper form and all the ingredients required ....color: crimson, black, white publicfigure: God (why not go for the top) music genre: opera and number: one. I'm still working out the final chord progression, change-ups and transitions, but here are the lyrics I'm using. Any comments are welcome! Innocent Eyes Copyright 2016- JH Michaels (all rights reserved) Verse: 1 We’re born into this world with innocent eyes With no distrust and none to hate But we learn from those we trust the most Mothers, fathers, and pious faith That shades our innocent eyes Verse: 2 Some shout out that “It’s the word of God”! But God doesn’t say these things And He shudders at the crimson opera Each demonic voice sings To destroy our innocent eyes Bridge: We’re one and the same Each and all Only learning to walk After we crawl We’re just a blank slate Born by fate We often don’t realize We have lost Our innocent eyes Verse: 3 Oh tell me the colors of tears or blood When skin is white or black The answer is deep in our soul All we have to do is look back Through innocent eyes Outro: We’re all the same Through innocent eyes We’re all the same Through innocent eyes. Inst then fade End

Hi Les, so far I'm hearing Ozzy Osborne doing this..that's a good thing...for some reason I keep hearing this to "Bark At the Moon" The only nit I have is the line " Knows not what he does they cry". It's more like David's favorite phrase "Yoda-speak" IMHO. Would you consider something like "Forgive me, for I have sinned" or at something else more direct? I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest of this! - John

Ok....I feel like I just opened the musical version of the "Chopped" entre basket......thanks John....this ought to be fun!

Hi Rev, You've got the right idea going here and I particularly like the line "so tired of chasing flowers that wilt away" However, the rest, I feel is low on content. With just two small verses, you aren't saying much, it almost feels over before you've really started if that makes sense. Take a look at all the previous lyrics, there is so much that can and should be said, thought or felt in such a personal disaster as a break-up. I think this song should be expanded to give it more depth. Just my 2 cents and keep at it!

You guys work well together...kind of a real cinderella story. I would suggest " Or is there another route" for verse two or something shortened like that (I know it could be pronounced "root"). It feels more rhythmic with the verse to me and when I sing it with some music it flows a little better. Other than that small nit, this is a nicely written set of lyrics.

I like it......well done Richard....I get a lot of imagery with these lyrics...and that is what they are supposed to do...

Hey John, I really hear this with some serious blues......I think it needs more content as well. a bridge, more chorus...another verse....lot's of stuff to choose from. I'd love to hear some music with this.

Hi Timbre, These are very tight lyrics..nicely done. The only minor nit I have would be "What kind of man holds the world in his hands" . I would think about changing that to " How can a man who holds my world in his hands.....let it go on just a whim" To me it makes him sound more like the callous,thoughtless, selfish, b****rd he is lol. Just a thought. Loved the read.

Hi Richard, I have to agree with timbre that the chorus could be stronger......to me it doesn't carry the same weight as the verses. As a suggestion maybe something like: And all the things we've done A life that was ours to run You gave it all away For a lie from yesterday Maybe a tweak or two in the verses to tie in the "Buddy, you blew that one" theme. just my two cents and I did enjoy the read....keep them coming!

That is so funny.....my wife does the very same thing......so here's my entry for the big breakup. I just posted a song like this so I didn't think it would be fair to use it lol. Let Me Down Softly Copyright 2016 JH Michaels All rights reserved Verse: I see you walking toward me With a look that says Something’s on your mind So I’m holding my breath You say we have to talk Well don’t it always start that way You came to say good-bye And you just can’t stay Pre-Chorus: So like golden sunlight On an autumn day Like falling leaves So please…………………….. Chorus: Let me down softly Oh Let me down softly Bridge: It’s not a surprise you found someone new You said it started out small then changed and grew You tried to warn me so many times, oh it’s true That you needed more than I could give to you. Pre-chorus: So like golden sunlight On an autumn day Like falling leaves So please……………………… Chorus Verse: I’m quietly dying inside But I put on a brave show And tell you I wish you all the best While you sadly smile and go And with you goes a part of me That will forever be gone And how can I stop loving you When you’re all I want Pre-chorus: So like golden sunlight On an autumn day Like falling leaves So please……………………… Chorus/end: Let me down softly Oh Let me down softly Yeah Let me down softly Oh Let me down softly

I'm thinking that this might be good for Alanis Morisette as a female artist......Nickelback for male artist/group. Obviously this is about a chronic abuser that finally gets theirs in the end. Definitely not my normal lyrics. A Street Stained Red Copyright JH Michaels 2016 All Rights Reserved Intro: Face down in the street stained red Think about every word you said Blood pourin’ over me like rain Face down in the street stained red Think about every slap where I bled This is where it all comes to an end Verse: Don’t look at me that way I couldn’t help this, I couldn’t stop the rage I’m not the only one that you’ve beat this way And when you hit the ground I’m not the only face in the crowd I’m not the only one that wants to end you Chorus: x2 Face down in the street stained red Think about every word you said Blood pourin’ over me like rain It’s your turn to feel the pain Verse: This is really the end You’ll never, ever do this to me again Did you know that the deepest, darkest part of me fears you? Well I heard all those “sorry’s” before It don’t matter to me, I can’t hear those lies no more Well I’m not the one I’m not the one I will not be the one to be scared Chorus: x2 Instr Bridge: Down to the line That separates you and I with all those lies I was so damned blind From that moment in time when you and I became one Outro: Don’t look at me that way I couldn’t help this, I couldn’t stop the rage I’m not going to be the one to keep living this way….yeah Chorus: x2 This is where it all comes to an end Yeah (gun shot) End

I've got one...I'll post it up later today. Just a little thing like a day job to hold things up a bit lol.

Thanks David....who said you can't write love songs....lol That's a nice chorus...It would change the music quite a bit, however, but it's not like it's written in stone. There's always room for a little changer here and there.

After I read the back-story I understand how it all ties together......but for those that don't have that leg-up...a reference to a hospital or a crash, some terrible event that caused the whole situation would help. Here's a twist...(true story as far as I know). a soldier was blown into a wall by a mortar blast....he was in a coma for 2 weeks. his wife never left the hospital for the entire time and she was there when he woke up. He was blind from the damage but knew instantly it was her that was there.. the happy ending in that story is that eventually his eye sight returned after a few months. so I guess what I'm trying to say is that it should be a hugely powerful moment at the awakening with a set up prior to the bridge and I think you are close. Overall.....I really like the write and the idea, Les.