Sunflowers

One morning I stepped out the back door and saw the light that had not yet graced the earth glowing in the wings of geese. I thought, "The least I can do is rise with the geese."

For seventeen years I had neglected my music career — Now it was time to Fill the World with Song. (track 3)
Vision of Victory (track 23) is about returning to the scene of the climb. "When I could climb the mountain I didn't—now that I can't I'm gonna." "I heard the cries that came from below." Were the cries from within me, or from people who were just down in the valley?

"You go as high as you can go — and then your climb begins.”

I'm not putting a human face on an impossible dream; I'm putting a Godly face on a possible dream.


A long ago I was on the incline
And everything
Above the clouds was mine
With the summit in sight
A few steps to go
I heard the cries
That came from below

I think I'm gonna make it
I'm gonna make it up to you
I've made it to the mountain
This time I'll see it through

Stayed in the valley
Put off the climb
Mountain remained
In back of my mind

The valley grew quiet
As time slipped away
Kept telling myself
I'll make it some day

My dreams are filled
With rocks and snow
Triumphant air is thin
You go as high as you can go
And then your climb begins

I'm gonna make it
I've crossed the abyss
But does this mountain
really exist?
The impossible pile
Of rocks that I face
Is just an old friend
I forgot to embrace

1. Imaginary Mountains

A whimsical love song, where semi-insurmountable obstacles become Imaginary Mountains: "The sun shines on the mountain, The streams are charged with gold, There just might be some nuggets, In all that icy cold."

In Blue Whale Blues (track 7) I have an iceberg as an obstacle for two love-sick whales, but if love is hot enough it will melt anything. The bridge has evolved — now I sing it: "You may feel just like a whale seeking love in all the wrong oceans, just keep the faith and you'll prevail, with the object of your devotion.”

2. Carousel Wind

I was working at a kiosk beside the Venetian Carousel at the Garden State Plaza and would often notice a girl in her early twenties being left by her parents on the same bench. She looked lonely as she watched the carousel — it made me wonder what was going through her mind day after day — so much so that I started writing a song about her. The theme of song was to speculate on what she might be dreaming, that perhaps the wind generated by the carousel might carry her off with its phantom embraces. I suggested in the song that if you happened to see her at the mall to say hello to her, but hadn’t done so myself. So I said hello to her and asked why she sat at the same bench beside the carousel. She said that she liked to see the smiles on the faces of the children. That became part of the song… “See the smiles on the faces of kids spinning ‘round…”

4 Favorite Pony (Ukulele version)

An unpainted pony is ridden by a Prince: "Imagine a merry-go-round, In a Kingdom of Fantasy."

5. Philosopher and Clown

Two characters trades places with humorous results. If I had my life to live over again I would sing this song with the line "As the train disappeared in smoke down the line" When I recorded it in an attic home studio in 1997 I did it one take.

6. When the Silver Whistle Blows

At the end of the illustrious career a world-class-clown recalls his life in the big top as he make his way from the engine to the caboose of a circus rain on its way to the home run.
"The dice may loaded the deck may be stacked, but for hope I've never lacked…”

8. Junkyard in the Sky

The resemblance of people to rusty rockets is noted: "My cruise control it is engaged, My toes are on the dash; I just might land upon my feet, If I hit Wall Street and crash."

9 Sweeping the Fog Away

"He did a little soft shoe, Like a raggedy rogue, One last time, Made pistons of his brogues."

Grandpa dances a Little Soft Shoe (track 10) to a catchy tune: "With a bench for a bed all covered in dew, My only cover was yesterdays news."



11. Battlefield of My Body

"A company of Potato chip soldiers, March down the streets of my throat, They leave the marble statues of teeth to rot, While the cookie castles crumble in the moat.”

12. Spitting in the Eye of a Hurricane

"When the world was just a little ball, people huddled on top to avoid a fall. Then some one stood up to extend a hand, and that's when the world began to expand."

16 Sunflowers

Sunflowers grow from the tears of former foes gathered on the battlefield: "I dreamed of endless rows of thousands of soldiers, They all threw down their guns."

17. The First Earth-rise

The Apollo 8 mission becomes the vehicle for a Christmas Carol.

20. Tour De Farce

The artist hires a double-decker bus for a joy ride: "Picnic here at Philosopher's Walk, Passing the six strings around, This musical feast will rock and roll, Right up to the top of the town."

21. Jet Fuel Folderol

“I used to mix my metaphors and splash them on the wall, now I just extend them with some Jet Stream Aerosol”

22. Walking On Air

Circus puns lionize love: "The tall man's legs are straight and true, But he can't get very far, If I were as big as my love for you, I'd go tripping from star to star."

Artists who worked on these songs were mainly Kevin Picard, Sharkey McEwen and Ken Whiteley. Tony Muccigrosso too.