Nod Your Head If You're Feeling This

S.I.P #17 "Get Up And Do"

2006-10-21T00:08:00.000-05:00

temporary pain you can't measure
the day the feeling came was good weather
until i heard the rain i did't know whether to stay or go
after much deliberation, i chose the latter
you tried to reach out but it didn't seem to matter
i was deep inside myself and tethered to my ways

Get up and do something more than you've ever dreamed.
Get up and do something more than you've conceived.
imagined or fathomed

Why wait, when you can have it now
just take a look around
kick whatever's down
Reach out, grab what you can

Dry Spell

2006-04-13T16:15:00.000-05:00

I haven't written anything in a very long time. I've been trying to force some stuff out hoping that it would get the juices flowing and that writing would become natural again but so far no luck. My first priority is finishing my first novel, The Silver Dollar Story. Add it on myspace to get the first look. www.myspace.com/thesilverdollarstory

Long Gone (But Still Hanging On)

2005-01-26T01:23:00.000-05:00

Caught in a haze
I remember the days
When you and I used to be cool
We would just drive
Singing like we knew the words
to every song on the radio
even though we knew only a few

I'm still hanging on to things that are long gone.
(You have moved on.)

DISCLAIMER

2004-12-19T02:08:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be doing some major overhaul to the content of this blog, so read this stuff while you can. I've decided to stop putting up everything I write and to only post songs that are somewhat complete. This means that most of the 'Songs In Progress' will be taken down. It also means I will post less frequently. I'm going to go back through what old stuff I have, most of it was lost when my hard drive fried, and post it also. I'm almost ready to start recording some demos, I'll be keeping a studio log here when I do. Hope you and your family has a great holiday season! Go watch ELF!!!!

S.I.P #16 ("i ' m s o l o s t i c a n ' t b e f o u n d")

2004-12-05T03:57:00.000-05:00

the whiskey burns right through my pain
but i think i want to take it all away
is this the day
is this the day
is this the day
i'm staring at my wrists trying to resist
the tempation to make them spit
spew the blood that feeds my heart
it's been so malnourished for so long
i'm not sure this would even be wrong
is this the day
is this the day
is this the day
once again i've let it all slip
see my sin as i slowly slit my wrists
no
no
no
it is never the day
it was September, 22nd when I realized
that in my life i'd missed the point
I've been running by this angel
that you sent to save my life
she's stepping up; bunkered down on bended knee
God don't let me let her getaway
apathy is slowly killing me
clever
lines
are
so
hard
to
find
so i'll write just what's on my mind:

lot's of blank spaces lots-o-whines

today is the day
to change

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii am so lost
that iiiiiiiiiiiii never expect to be found
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'm so sorry i've let you down
you should just move on
(god, didn't i ask you to not let me let her go)
answered prayers are a thing of my past
cliches are the new now
g o o n t o b e t t e r t h i n g s
i'm too busy suffering (not literally)... so screw me (figuretively)....................................

S.I.P #15 ("Drinking With The Enemy")

2004-11-07T01:08:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be the end of me
When you saw me drinking with the enemy
But I didn't think to quit
It's not the right time nor the right place
To stop on a dime just to save face
I grabbed a newspaper
Just to make it look like I care
But the outside world meant nothing to me
All I wanted was an apathetic way to be
Revel in the Devil's sin
Drinking just to be 'in'
The elite group of the disenchanted
And gave up everything to ensure that wish was granted

S.I.P #14 ("Never Alone")

2004-11-03T15:59:00.000-05:00

A burst of light flashes from the television screen
And the color clashes with it's dark surroundings
My knees are bloody and my heart is broken
My eyes are drowning in the flood of tears caused by my sin
But I feel safe because of the word's You have spoken

Here I am, rasing my hands in praise to you.
Now I know that I will never be alone.
Because you have brought me through
The times when I did not know what to do
I'll admit that I still have my doubts
But I'm confident You'll work those out

S.I.P #13 ("To Be")

2004-11-01T01:42:00.000-05:00

They say I'm nothing short of brave
For digging up my skeletons
And exposing these dirty graves
The truth is, I was not brave enough
To live another day without God's unfailing love

I stand upon the mistakes I've made
In hopes of reaching a higher place
It's not a matter of having guts
I simply have had enough
Of failing on my own
So I'm giving up on going alone

Make me, stronger
Fortify me with Your mercy
I'm faking no longer
Honesty has revealed me
To be the person I never wanted
Doing things I said I wasn't
Now the only thing I want is just to be

"You're so great for coming clean!"
Are you even listening?
I said that I denied God's existence
And pursued wrong with persistance

S.I.P. #12 ("Phantom Girlfriends")

2004-10-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

It's nearly 3:25
The sun's not in the sky
But I'm still up thinking of you
I try to tell my brain
That dreaming's just the same
But imaginary situations just won't do

I'm sick of all these phantom girlfriends moving in and taking up space
Twirling round in fantasy whirlwinds, I now see my heads not on straight

Her eyes connect with mine
For what seems an eternal time
So I've made up my mind
To speak with her the next chance I find
Chances are chances won't come
Surely I'll pass over them

I'm sick of all these phantom girlfriends moving in and taking up space
Twirling round in fantasy whirlwinds, I now see my heads not on straight

I'm in college now
But I still do not know how
To take what's running through my mind
And tell it to the other kind
All the girls that hear this song
Please don't take this wrong
When a guy keeps looking at you
Maybe it's time to make a move
'Cause we don't always know how to
Talk with someone as pretty as you

S.I.P. #11 ("Untitled")

2004-10-09T01:04:00.000-05:00

Where are you now?
They all said you'd save me
Said you'd make me happy
But, God I feel like sh**
Where is your salvation?
Don't wanna deal with it

This life I lead is quite pathetic
Sometimes I wonder if I have what it takes
Don't even know if I want to be great

Straightway #4 ("Bring Your Burdens")

2004-10-02T17:04:00.000-05:00

I will sing
While I bring to You the burdens
Bring to you the burdens that I have
I will sing
While you take away the burdens
Take away the burdens that I have
Sing
While you bring to Him your burdens
Bring to Him the burdens that you have
Sing
While He takes away the burdens
Takes away the burdens that you have.

Straightway #3 ("No Longer Normal")

2004-10-02T16:56:00.000-05:00

We too often sing
Like it's the theme
Of the story
You see here's the thing
God is the King
Of Glory

So go wash your hands
And make new plans
To no longer be normal
It's about time
We take off the shine
And stop being oh so formal

Sing from the heart
Sing from the soul
If you love God
Let Him Know
This is not a show
But a humple plea
Nothing I do will be done normally

Straightway #2 ("Breathing Love")

2004-10-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

I'm drowning in the depth of my own sin.
I'm frowning at the path of death I've taken.
But thanks to You, oh Lord,
I'm putting to rest this death I live in,
I'm breathing Your love.

I'm alive 'cause You died to pay the fee.
I'm alive 'cause You rose to set me free.
I'm alive 'cause Your spirit lives in me.
I'm alive, though You could of let me die.
I'm alive 'cause I'm breathing Your love.

I'm choking on the things I've done.
I'm poking at the times that've gone.
But thanks to You, oh Lord,
I'm putting to rest this living in death.
I'm breathing Your love.

I'm breathing in Your mercy, I'm breathing in Your grace.
I've found such beauty lying in Your face.
I'm serving You forever and for You I'll die.
Thanks Lord, Your such a great air supply.

We're alive 'cause You died to pay the fee.
We're alive 'cause You rose to set men free.
We're alive, though You could of let us die.
We're alive 'cause we're breathing Your love.

Posting the Backlog

2004-10-02T16:18:00.000-05:00

I'm going through the 'ol catalog today and posting a lot of songs that were written a while back. Some of these were written over 6 years ago, around when I was 12 or 13. Most of the one's I wrote back then are junk but I think a few of them are pretty good, so I'm going to post as many of those as I can today. I might even post some of the crappy ones so you can see if I've grown at all over the years. I think I have, a lot, but let's see what you think about it. If you haven't caught on to how I do things around here, I've got two fairly distinct sets of writing. Some of my stuff, mostly the songs written when I was younger, fall under the praise category that is so popular today. I put these under the title, Straightway. That name comes from when Jesus called His disciples to drop everything and follow him, the Bible says they went 'straightway'. I don't think any of these songs contain my greatest lyrical moments, but they serve a purpose. Most of these were written before I developed my now cynical view of popular Christian music. But that's for a whole 'nother discussion. The more personal set of songs, which often dwelve into spiritual topics also, go under the title Comet HV. Over the years I've come up with stupid little reasons as to why this is a cool band name, but the true story of how the name came about is much less thrilling. One day my dad came home with an old riding lawn mower he'd bought at a garage sale for $10, it was a Snapper Comet HV. Musically these songs are often much more aggresive and advanced than the ones for Straightway and I generally am closer to this project. Maybe at another time I'll talk about the great shift that occured in my musical philosophy and output about 2 years ago. There's another title I use when posting songs on this blog, "S.I.P" or song in progress. These are usually songs I've had in my head for a little while and often this is the only place I've written them out. You'll notice that most of the newer ones are more Comet HV than Straightway, that's just what I've been putting out lately. Enjoy these! And please leave any comments you may have.

Later... Jon

NEW Comet HV PureVolume Page

2004-09-30T12:59:00.000-05:00

Last night I received an e-mail stating that my PureVolume account had been approved. This means I now have a way to share my songs with the world. The site is www.purevolume.com/comethv , right now there is one song up. The song is an instrumental called "Testing 3, 4" and is really just me experimenting with GarageBand. I might put up a few more 'experimental' songs over the next couple of days. In a few weeks I'll be ready to post some of the demos I've been working on, that's when I'll really start trying to get the word out about the site.

Just to let you know, I am no longer with the band I mentioned a little while back. I was enjoying working with the guys but in the end we just didn't fit perfectly. When I get a certain musical idea I'm pretty stubborn about keeping it the way I want it, and I just didn't feel I would be able to express what I needed to with those guys. If I ever am in a band, I will have to be the 'driving force' so to speak, it's just not me to sit back and sing someone elses song. Best of luck to the band as they search for a lead singer and continue on in creating great music. On a similar note, I've talked with some people about a possible music publishing deal I was looking at signing. I have decided to not go forward with that at this time. The songs I've written come from deep inside me and are very personally connected to my soul, I'm not sure I could ever write songs for other people to sing.

Be sure to watch the debate tonight, it's at 8 est I believe.

Later...

S.I.P. #10 ("Better For Me")

2004-09-30T01:45:00.000-05:00

If I could get you to believe that I have no feelings
I think it would be better for me
Because you don't need to know what I'm really thinking
It's what I shouldn't be thinking
And if I could make you think that I'm not doing
The things I love to do the most
It would be better for me

Given a picture to paint by the numbers
I just couldn't use the prescribed colors
Can you still make this beautiful
I never could stay inside the lines
'Cause it takes too much time to do things right
Can you make my efforts fit

I try to come across like I have no cares
But believe me, I care more than most
And I scare easier too
Any 'ol ghost can haunt my thoughts forever
They just need to bring up the night I let it all go

Given a picture to paint by the numbers
I just couldn't use the prescribed colors
Can you still make this beautiful
I never could stay inside the lines
'Cause it takes too much time to do things right
Can you make my efforts fit

No doubt, I've got it all figured out
That's what I try to portray
I'm sure my doubt comes across anyway
I don't think anyone is who they think they are

Given a picture to paint by the numbers
I just couldn't use the prescribed colors
Can you still make this beautiful
I never could stay inside the lines
'Cause it takes too much time to do things right
Can you make my efforts fit
Or do I have to be perfect
I can't be, even with the strength of grace
You'll have to replace me with someone else
'Cause I suck at talking nice and being polite
Could that turn out better for me
Am I the man I'm supposed to be
I feel I should be doing so much more
But I don't want it that bad

Sometimes to lift us up
He has to let us fall

S.I.P #9 ("Maybe")

2004-09-27T01:14:00.000-05:00

(WARNING: This is very much an unfinished rough draft, more so than usual.)

Standing there across the square
Is a girl with gorgeous hair
All the guys are paralyzed
When this wonder woman passes by
And all the other girls wonder why
They can't steal one pair of eyes
All I know is that you exist
I'm all alone, but thoughts persist

Maybe you're the one for me, maybe you're the one.
Maybe this fling ought to be more than just for fun.

How can I make
Changes to your tastes
Maybe I'm too blind to see
That you have never wanted me
Stop sending me these signals
With no way for me to read them

Baby, you're the one for me, baby you're the one.
Baby, why can't you see, that I'm not gonna run.

Possible/Probable Demo Tracklistings

2004-09-14T12:47:00.000-05:00

Here's a list of the songs I plan to record as demos. The songs with an * by them are original compositions.

Straightway:

Breathing Love*
Amazing Grace
100% Of The Time*
No Longer Normal*
Mighty God*
Rebellious Love*
Father God
Nephesh Chayah*
Imago Dei*
Bring Your Burdens*
Fisherman*
I Want*
Maker Of Peace*

Comet HV:

A Beauty Queen's Photo Barrier*
Come With Me*
Falling Away*
I Do (Just Haven't Met You)*
I'm Up*
Beautifully Gorgeous*
Daydreams*
Listen*
When You're Near Me*
Loaded Napkin*
Recover*
On The Verge Of Beautiful*
Out To Sea*
Angular Thinking Along The Straight And Narrow*

News Break... DEMOnS

2004-09-03T01:46:00.000-05:00

I want to apologize for the two demos I posted about not being up still. My old hard drive was hit by lightning and it isn't easy to recover the data. Maybe the demo demons are just trying to hold me back. If and when they are recovered, I will post them ASAP.

But, I do have some good news. I've started laying down vocals for some new demos. A lot of new demos. I'm going through my entire library of songs and testing every single one. Some of these will never be heard by another human being. Most of these, in my humble opinion, are great songs. There are a few that I'm looking at selling to a publisher, the rest I'm keeping for myself. I'm living in Nashville now, so I'm smack dab in the middle of the music business. I've only written two country-ish songs, and only one of those is any good. Actually, I think it's very good. "Daydreams", the tentative title, is a definite candidate for country radio. Most of these demos will be vocal tracks only, as their purpose is to perserve the melodies. I've always just written my lyrics down, but with over 400 songs I don't always remember what tune I had with which words. A few of my songs are suited perfectly for the a cappella treatment, so those are the ones you'll probably be hearing. With the help of GarageBand I may be adding music to a handful of these tracks, but it won't be very many.

On a side note... I've been practicing with a new band, as yet unnamed, for the past week or so. I presented the songs I already had to the guys, and, while they like them, we all decided to do this band seperate and apart from the other projects I have going. In other words, we're starting fresh. Right now there are four of us; two guitarists, a pianist, and me. We're mulling over keeping the line up like that. I would be doing drums (programming really), bass, and whatever else is needed on the computer as well as handling lead vocals. We all can sing fairly well, so that adds some pretty cool dynamics to the sound. With modern technology I've got almost any sound we want right here on my laptop. We've been kicking around some song ideas and I'm really loving how the piano fits into the sound. Usually we've had one guy play an electric and the other play an acoustic. Be on the lookout for more news on that.

Later...

S.I.P. #8 ("You... And I")

2004-08-23T02:02:00.000-05:00

See the eyes escape
Watch the evidence evaporate
No one wants you to know that they're looking
And it gets me thinking... about

Where you are
Where I am
And why we'll never be holding hands
This damn cat
Won't let go
So, I'm incapable of letting you know
That I feel that I could love you
If given the chance
But I'm sure that you aren't interested
or you may already be invested
Before we've even talked, I must say good bye
It's just impossible that we'll ever be you and I

Demos "Amazing Grace"

2004-08-04T16:19:00.000-05:00

Another little demo I recorded a few weeks ago. This recording has given me a lot of confidence and has made me decide to continue creating music. For a while I was doubting my ability to perform the songs I have written. I think this recording shows that I have a decent enough voice for what I want to do. Hope you enjoy my take on this classic.

**Will Be Posted Soon! Same Problem As Below, It Is Being Fixed**

Demos ("We Won't Give Up")

2004-07-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

I was messing around with Apple's amazing GarageBand application and came up with this little ditty. I was about to add some vocals when it became apparent that my computer does not have the processing speed needed to record music. So I left it with just the instruments and shortened it. I am soon going to purchase a G4 laptop that will easily handle the load that GarageBand requires. When that happens I might lengthen this song and add some vocals, but this is what I've got for now. All the instruments you hear, except for a small guitar part that I recorded on my Les Paul Special, are software instruments. Hope you enjoy it and please leave your comments.

***DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, I CAN NOT UPLOAD THE CLIP AT THIS TIME. I'M SO SORRY! I'LL HAVE IT POSTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE***

S.I.P. #7 (Cut Me Down)

2004-06-18T00:02:00.000-05:00

Just try and and cut me down
I won't hear the sound of your voice
because the alcohol makes it all feel better
Now that I've cracked under pressure
I need to be cut down

I think I've got what it takes
to be something more
So why do I lay here?
Can't pull myself up off the floor

One day I'll realize that I can't do this on my own
but right now I'm too damn stubborn to let you in
Some day I'll decide that I don't want to be alone
but right now I'm too naive to know where to begin

S.I.P. #6 (Inside the Outside)

2004-04-17T22:46:00.000-05:00

He asked me
Son, are you who you need to be
To help others live imortally
Look at all the things I've given you
See the tools you never use

You've got to get inside the outside
They're the one's losing the fight
Just a word or two from you
Could help pull someone through
The wreckage of failed attempts at life

S.I.P #5 (Untitled)

2004-04-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

I'm making voices
from the misery
I'm making voices
and they're singing

So, listen to me
listen to me
and be free

I'm pouring water from these ashes
I'm sparking fire in the sea
I'm giving hope to the losers
and letting prisoners flee the scene

So, listen to me
listen to me
and be free

Innocence was sent
To be slain
So we would not feel pain

Straightway #1 (I Want)

2004-03-22T23:45:00.000-05:00

I wan'a be holy, wan'a be clean.
I wan'a be accepting, don’t wan'a be mean.
I wan'a see your glory, wan'a hear your voice.
Wan'a have a thankful heart, wan'a rejoice.
Yesterday was the day I cried.
Yesterday was the day I died.
Yesterday was the day fell,
It was the day I rung the bell.
Yesterday was the day I crumbled.
It was the day I mumbled:
I want more for living this life,
I want more for striving to be like, you.
I want more for all that I do,
I want more for what I go through.
Some people think I’m a fake.
They see what I do and don’t believe that I believe in you.
I wan'a see the changes love can make,
I want them to see I’m not a fake.
So please come and rejuvenate my heart.
I wan'a be holy, I wan'a be clean.
I wan'a be accepting, don’t wan'a be mean.
I wan'a see your glory, wan'a hear your voice.
Wan'a have a thankful heart, wan'a rejoice.

Comet HV #3 (Falling Away)

2004-03-22T23:41:00.000-05:00

Only one more day, 'til it all falls away.

I’m falling to nothing-ness,
Ignorance ain’t bringing bliss,
Finding nothing but emptiness,
I’m falling away.

Finding it all would be the grand ending to a lifetime spent searching for it all,
So much time spent in the fall, yet I’m still:

Falling to nothing-ness,
Ignorance ain’t bringing bliss,
There has to be more than this,
I’m falling away.

The rain starts pouring, with no sign of stopping,
It just keeps coming and now it’s flooding.
My life justs sinks, it’s drowning in a loss of meaning.

And I’m falling to nothing-ness,
ignorance ain’t bringing bliss,
finding nothing but emptiness,
I’m falling away (there has to be more than this)

There’s a coffin waiting for my descent,
Ready for any evil intent.

Comet HV #2 (Come With Me)

2004-03-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

You actually believe in these people?
You actually put trust in their lies?
You actually listen to their stories?
You actually look in their eyes?

Come with me, now, we’ll take a ride
Please come join me on the other side
We’ll go away from all the things you knew
Leave behind the harm you’ve been through

You actually believe in these people?
You actually put trust in their lies?
You actually listen to their stories?
You actually look in their eyes?

I can’t believe you trust in these people
just listen to me: you are beautiful!
They just try to drag you down
underwater, make you drown
They just want to eat the crumbs falling from your face
They wouldn’t care if you left this place
So come with me, please, I beg you
Leave behind all these things you do
Society has no place for us
Let’s leave them crawling in the dust

You could have been a star, if you’d stayed true to their predictions
You would have gone far, if you’d followed their calculations
I admire the fact that you turned it all around
won’t you come and find fame with me underground

You actually believe in these people?
You actually put trust in their lies?
You actually listen to their stories?
You actually look in to their eyes?
Come believe what’s true,
it’ll be just me and you
Please, please, come with me

S.I.P. #4 (Break Me, Kick Me, Choke Me)

2004-03-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

I will be mean to you tonight
'Cause you broke me, you break me every time
No longer will I be nice
'Cause you kicked me, you kick me every time
You choked me, you choke me every time

Comet HV #1 (A Beauty Queen's Photo Barrier)

2004-03-22T22:58:00.000-05:00

There’s a ghost in the window, he asks to take a picture
You say, “I don’t know... oh, okay, sure.”
The photograph turns out fine
Captures the perfect moment in time
I wish that it could be mine
‘Cause that picture changed your world
Yeah, that photograph was the end of my world

It brought hope throughout your life
Made everything turn out right
And gave you confidence through the night
They all said you looked pretty, all said you looked cool
Little did they know you never made it through school
The picture didn’t show the status of your soul
They will never know, never have a clue,
Not even a glimpse at the real you
You hide behind that photograph
To take attention from your heart
When I talk of your past
You don’t even want to start

She’s let this photo barrier
Pick’er up and carry her
It’s covering the scars
Putting her among the stars
She’s a phony, nothing you see is real
Every picture really does steal
Just a little more of her reality
And makes what she wants us to see

She’s a beauty queen (her soul’s on lease)
Says she’s not mean (wants world peace)
She’s got a crown on her head
But what does that mean when she’s dead
Absolutely nothing

Song In Progress #3 (When You're Near Me)

2004-03-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

Someday I may go blind
But never enough to stop seeing you
'Cause, girl, you're inside of me
Painted my mind with your picture
So I could finally get some sleep

I can't breathe when you're near me
(‘cause the air, rightfully, tries to please only you)
I freeze when you're near me
(‘cause all energy is consumed by the power of your smile)
I feel more alive when you're near me
(‘cause you provide a reason for me to keep living)
I thrive when you’re near me
(‘cause the things I need, happen to be your specialties)

Song In Progress #2 (Loaded Napkin)

2004-03-22T22:38:00.000-05:00

Tell me what happens
When you wrap a gun in a napkin
Does it still wipe away the stains
I was there when you killed a man
Saw the blood in his hair and the pistol in your hand
Right then I just wanted to spend
some time away from you my friend
I'm back, once again, after much time spent
Thinking 'bout what I should do
Now the guns in my grip
And I've got the sight aimed dead-on you
But I choose to let you up of the floor
Put the loaded napkin back in the drawer
A second chance is something everyone could use

Song In Progress #1 (Untitled)

2004-03-21T00:42:00.000-05:00

Climb out of the window, dig into the ground
Put your ear up to the soil and wait to hear the sound
The passerby, he wonders why you're just standing there
You reply, with your sight, in a cold and daring glare

Look up, the sky is like a pie
Take a piece and make it your's tonight