New album: Garden of Change

 

Song: Cousins

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Song: A Happy Man

Song: The Mad Again

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The Mad Again

              (apologies to Lewis Carol) Lyrics by Harley Halpern, Music by Doug Smith

 ‘Twas Grunin and the P.A.A.

Did grumble on the stage;

All gloomy was the stage crew, 

And the Mad Again outraged.  

Beware the Wilson Mark my son,

The steely stare the haughty frown,

And beware the Young Milk Shell

And don’t eat lunch when they’re around. 

You shouldn’t fool with the master crew

And make them feel upstaged

It’s bound to cost you once you’ve got

the Mad Again outraged

The Mad Again, The Mad Again, The Mad Again outraged

The Mad Again, The Mad Again, The Mad Again outraged

He took his crescent wrench in hand,

And focused lights, and mopped the floor,

He set up chairs and music stands,

Then opened the stage door. 

And there behind the door he saw

The Wilson Mark as dark as night

Battling the Young Milk Shell

He nearly fainted from stage fright.  

(chorus)

One, two, three, four and through the door

The stage technician fled,

But Mark and Shell each grabbed an arm,

 “You now belong to me,” they said. 

Then from the grid, the Mad Again

Let loose the 10-pound weights,

And the Wilson Mark and Young Milk Shell

Both met their gruesome fates. 

(chorus)

‘Twas Grunin and the P.A.A.

Did gossip on the stage

All gloomy was the stage crew

And the Mad Again outraged.

And hast thou slain the Mark and Shell,

For breaking theatre's laws?

The stage crew gathered round her

And broke into applause. 

Song: I'm Just a Bulldog

Here's a song for my favorite bulldog.

I’m Just a Bulldog (Doug Smith)

C                               F                  C        F

I’m just a bulldog the bestest breed

                    C     G                     C

I’m all the dog you will ever need

C                                  F               C       F

I’m just a bulldog, and that’s OK

                       C         G                         C

Take me for walks, I’ll make your day

D7                    G

Yes I will do, just as I pleases

D7                            G

When I’m outside sniffin’ the breezes

I’m just a bulldog, strong and lean

Wash my face, keep my creases clean

You must be happy with what you’ve got

The way you kiss me, and wipe my butt

I may not have much of a tail

But look at those eyes — they’ll never fail

I’m just a bulldog, I’m truly cool

Pay attention — clean up my drool

(c) 2017 Douglas Brent Smith

Song: Run Away!

Run Away! (Douglas Brent Smith)

Don’t go to the basement in your underwear

Maybe you can’t tell but there’s a monster down there

Do yourself a favor and turn on a light

Pay attention if you want to live thru the night

Did you notice that the kitchen knives are missing?

Now is not the time for teen age lover kissing

Did you notice that the lights are blinking?

Why head for the danger? What are you thinking?

(chorus:)

Every scary movie has them: brainless fools

Walking into danger as the monster drools

Zombies and slashers love ‘em, they taste so good

And never do the one thing that they should:

Run away!     Run away!    Are you an idiot?     Run away!

If you’re smart you’ll avoid that cabin in the woods

the one with a history of evil up to no good

If it’s Friday the 13th you might want to stay awake

Dreaming on that night could be a really big mistake  (chorus)


(c) 2017 Douglas Brent Smith

Song: Jesus Ain't Afraid of Halloween

Jesus Ain’t Afraid of Halloween (Douglas Brent Smith)

        C                       Em                Am                       G

She looked at me sternly with what she had to say 

      C                  Em            Am              G

“We do not celebrate the devil’s holiday”

     F                          G               Em          Am

Believe what you believe but I had to grin

     F                          G               Em          Am      D7       G

I don’t see trick or treat as some kind of sin

C                   Am                      F        G

Jesus ain’t afraid of Halloween

C                        Am                F          G

Pagans can be fun we all agree

F                        G                          C     C/B       Am

dressing up in costumes, why take it seriously?

F                        G                     C

Jesus ain’t afraid of Halloween

  C                    Em                           Am        G

Satan did his best to scare him once

  C                                 Em                Am      G

the devil just turned out to be a dunce

                F                       G

because Jesus doesn’t scare

       C      C/B        Am

his daddy’s everywhere

F                      G                    C

Jesus ain’t afraid of Halloween

C                       Em             Am      G

Witches and goblins are all in jest

C          Em              Am    G

It’s no theological test

 F                  G                    Em          Am

Everybody knows that it’s all pretend

      F                          G                        F  F/E   F/D C

And Jesus has the Holy Ghost as his best friend

(c) 2017 Douglas Brent Smith

Song: Scary Halloween

i went shopping for a pumpkin
ran into a Christmas tree
instead of seeing orange and black
i saw red and green

scary Halloween, scary Halloween
i got stuck in between
Christmas and scary Halloween

i went looking for Frankenstein
and monsters to fill me with fear
but instead i found Santa Claus
and his flying reindeer

scary Halloween, scary Halloween
i got stuck in between
Christmas and scary Halloween

tried to find my favorites at the grocery store
but they're hard to find so tucked away
things aren't where they usually live
everything is there to give
attention to the holiday display

scary Halloween, scary Halloween
i got stuck in between
Christmas and scary Halloween

i don't like to complain too much
but why are we in such a holiday rush?
with so many days between now and then
but here we are counting down the days again

scary Halloween, scary Halloween
i got stuck in between
Christmas and scary Halloween

-----------------------------------
(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Song: Hopin'

you were young and so was i i'd get on my bike and ride i'd go where you'd know i was up and down your road i'd go on that three-speed very slow hopin' you'd see me... up and down your road i'd go acting like it didn't show hopin' you'd open your door my how the years went by we missed it you and i i'll give it one more try hopin' you'll open your door (c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Song: Don't Give Up Your Day Job

Don’t Give Up Your Day Job (Douglas Brent Smith)

Chorus:  

Don’t give up your day job

You could end up a poor slob

Life without a paycheck

Could make you a physical wreck

Don’t give up, don’t give up your day job

   

All my friends are artists, one way or another

Filled with talent filled with skills still yet undiscovered

When the routine looms they hunger for the road

Checking out, dropping off another heavy load

Before they jump into something absurd                                                                                                                  

They catch their breath, count to ten and say these six important words  (chorus)

Chicago is the kind of place the race is always steady

the competition’s stiff and hits when you’re not ready

But people here never fear we work until we drop

and one way or another they will end up on the top

But even when we reach the sky and soar just like a bird

we’re sure to tell the story well of those six important words

(chorus)

(Bridge:)

A good job is hard to find

You must be out of your mind

To chase some crazy dreams way out of reach

(chorus)

(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Here's My ReverbNation Playlist

Song: Blue Before You Got Here

i was blue before you got here -- i'll be down after you leave
it's deeper than you understand, recognize or believe
when you're sad you could be crying - when love is dying you've got to grieve
and i was blue before you got here - and i'll be blue after you leave

i was blue before you got here -- you didn't change a thing
you had no lasting happiness available to bring
there is no lovers' island no blissful wedding ring
and i was blue before you got here -- you didn't change a thing

you warned me that you didn't care
but how could that be true?
thru endless conversations
i felt so close to you
you told me "don't start dreaming
nothing good could last"
and when you got tired of me
you put me in your past

but i was blue before you got here, you didn't pull me down
no matter how good it felt -- having you around
it hurts more than it did before, when i thought that we'd be found
but i was blue before you got here, you just kind of kept me down

(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Song: Boomerang Babies

boomerang babies (douglas brent smith)

everybody's got grown children still living at home
boomerang babies, who can't live on their own

they've got cable TV - absolutely free
all they need WIFI - no need to buy
food in the fridge - they're living like kids
boomerang babies, living at home

everybody's got grown children still living at home
boomerang babies who can't live on their own

the ground rules have been bended
ended or suspended
we did the best that we could do
and now we've got grandchildren, too!
grown children, and their children, living at home

to be fair, a place costs more these days
college loans are more than our mortgage to pay
opportunities at work don't get them any higher
because our generation won't retire
(what's a  boomer to do? we can't afford to)

they've got cable TV - absolutely free
all they need WIFI - no need to buy
food in the fridge, they're living like kids
boomerang babies, living at home

i love those boomerang babies it's not your fault
you got caught in a troubled mess and you're so distraught
but if it's not too much trouble could you do one thing for me?
and set yourself free...


(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Song: Not Tonight

not tonight (douglas brent smith)

there have been nights when all the treasures
of the world seemed close at hand
when there wasn't any problem
too big to understand

nights when all my dreams came true
and things turned out alright
but not tonight

there have been women who have loved me
and pampered me with smiles
swore they'd last forever
and never change with style

times when all my fantasies
became such sweet realities
but not tonight

tonight it seems that everything
is too far out of reach
like some lost message thrown to sea
washed up along the beach

(repeat first verse)






(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

Song: Make Each Other Smile

(c) douglas brent smith

Song: Answered Prayer

the canaanite woman came to the Lord
her daughter was demon owned
the Lord's friends said to send her away
Jesus, just leave her alone

but even the dogs eat the crumbs
that fall from their master's table
and even the lowest low of all
with you Lord, we are able

Moses had troubles on every side
his enemies, even his friends
the Lord was his helper and his guide
from Egypt thru the desert till the end

(chorus)

Elijah was scared and in a cave
hiding from Jezabelle
he'd seed destruction and violence
and now he feared for himself

(chorus)

in these troubled times of woe
the hurt can said us reeling
crippled by causes we can't control
fallen, in need of healing

(chorus)

(c) Douglas Brent Smith

Song: A Happy Man

like an old sailor
who's drawn to the sea
the voice of the highway
whispers to me
i can't give a reason
for why i must go
the life of a drifter
is all that i know

i worked at the factory
the office, the store
i gave it my best shot
couldn't take any more
you can't stop a tiger
from chasing its prey
and you can't stop a drifter
from going away

every day is a road movie
every night is a new story
everyone you touch you hold forever

my kids call me crazy
but they understand
they know that i'm doing
the best that i can
you can't stop the ocean
from meeting the land
and you'll never reform
a happy man

like an old sailor
who's drawn to the sea
the voice of the highway
whispers to me
you can't stop the ocean
from kissing the sand
and you'll never reform
a happy man

whoa...that's all i am
whoa...a happy man

(c) douglas brent smith

song: i hate waiting in line

(c) 2017 douglas brent smith

song: better than before

Better Than Before   (Judi Madigan/Doug Smith)

Em                  G                 Em        A7       Em      G       Em   A7

You said you don’t ever want to fall in love again

It hurts too much when people run and relationships end

And we’ve been dancing around these feelings we can’t deny

And if you’re feeling them, too come on let’s not be shy

C7                                       B7                      Em          A7      Em    A7

And if you want me to share what I believe is true

I think that I might be — falling in love with you

Em                  G                 Em        A7       Em      G       Em   A7

We talk on the phone for hours every night

It’s not the end of the day until you say good night

We haven’t laughed this hard since we can’t remember when

I think it’s time to admit that we’re much more than friends

C7                                       B7                      Em          A7      Em    A7 

There’s no one else I’d rather pour my heart out to

I think that I might be - falling in love with you

Bridge:

F#                   G                                           Em          G    Em   A7

Everybody makes mistakes and we’ll make a few

But this is no mistake I can’t get enough of you

C7                                       B7                      Em          G         Em    A7 

So let’s connect and see how good this could be

I’m really hoping that you — are falling in love with me

You say that the steel walls have a chink in them

the crack is small but people run and relationships still end

the dance is working its magic with feelings that can't deceive

you know you’re feeling it too and you want to share what you believe

C7                                       B7                      Em          G         Em    A7

So let’s connect and discover how great it can be

you think that you might be — falling in love with me

F#                   G                                           Em          G    Em   A7

Everybody makes mistakes in the things they do,

But this is no mistake you say that you need me, too

No-one else you'd rather talk with endlessly
Now you think that you might be falling in love with me

C7                                     B7                                   Em            G    Em   A7

The years fly by and who knows what this has in store

We’re falling back in love and it’s better than before

Words: judi madigan and douglas brent smith
Music: douglas brent smith
(c) 2015 douglas brent smith

from the album "better than before"

song: we both know

Every once in a while I'll just record a song while I'm writing it. It comes out raw, with a few mistakes, and a few formative moments. This is one of those songs.

(c) 2016 douglas brent smith
From an intended album in progress "better than before"