Her Song

Once upon a time, there was an artist named Spaceship. He was feeling quite despondent about making music. It seemed a superficial means to an end, and ultimately a waste of time. He decided at once to do something about it. He decided to do something for charity.

The result is As the Head Turns, an album wherewith half of all the financial contributions would go to some particular charity. After much debate and research, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, or NAEH, was the final choice. This is available for purchase to hopefully help to end a growing yet sadly ignored problem in the United States that is happening more and more often.

Recorded in glorious mono.

From Marcie Diaz-Ordorica:

Relationship. The true encounter and recognition of another person. It's in the vulnerable intimacy of receiving and reciprocating that “Duérmete (It's Early)” was born for me. The conversations I've had with the friend who inspired the title have always ended with the reassurance that the sun is coming up, both in my life and in the sky. Rest will come.

Spaceship has taken this small piece of my life and has joined it to a piece of his – wholly personal in expression, music, lyrics. Somehow, he's managed to navigate it all and create something entirely new without sacrificing any familiarity. This friend and I, we recognized the song the moment we first heard it. I am still in awe.

Proceeds from this project will go toward the fight against homelessness, and as I write this on Thanksgiving Day, it is in that same spirit that I say “thank you” to Spaceship, to Sean (for giving us a forum to make this possible), to my dear friend, and to everyone who has contributed to this album in some way. We are all in relationship. Having received, now, we give.

From Mindy Johnson:

"Every life is narrow. Our only escape is not to run away, but to learn to love the people we are and the world in which we find ourselves." - Mark Haddon

I suggested "Escape Artists" for a song title as it is a term open to interpretation and personal reflection. I also thought it would allow for the most freedom of creativity. An escape artist can be defined not only as someone who breaks free from physical restraints, but can also apply to someone who has overcome emotional barriers, or someone who seeks to escape from the harshness of reality. Salvador Dali's Portrait of Juan de Pareja Adjusting a String on His Mandolin often comes to mind when I think "escape artist."

I left it up to Spaceship to decide which direction to take the song, all I asked is that he approach it with simplicity, as music is sometimes at it's best stripped down to the most basic elements. Singer/Songwriter Sarah Daly's vocals added just the right amount of depth, richness, and balance the song needed. I was very pleased with the outcome, and am very proud of Spaceship and how far he has come as a musician since I virtually "met" him via internet in 2006.

From Lee New (before the song was a gleam in Spaceship's eye):

"Lapis Lazuli" will be about the night sky seen over the Blue Ridge mountains by the powerfully flowing James River after sunset while sitting with my lover by a campfire. Only starlight and distant planets break the great lapis blue monotony above the flickering flames from the firelight below until a blazing comet unexpectedly lights up the entire night sky with an incredible awe-inspiring natural fireworks display. It will have a quietly-starting upbeat rock rhythm, but with an assortment of odd ethnic instruments (didgeridoo or theremin) appearing subtly in the background like some obscure forgotten Pink Floyd tune.

From Ron Debranski, AKA Monkey Chow:

Although I once wrote a song with Spaceship through the magic of cyberspace, I really don't know who he is or from whence he hails. One thing I do know is that Spaceship is a musical genius who possesses all the chops necessary to create brilliant music. This is not to say Spaceship hasn't improved greatly since I have come to "know" of him and his music through the Sean Lennon message board, first through his covers of Sean's music, and then through Spaceship's original work.

Spaceship and Sean Lennon inspired me to figure out the new digital musical recording possibilities available today. But enough about me.

Spaceship came up with the idea of creating an album using title suggestions from "Seanions", the affectionate name of Sean Lennon fans from Sean's message board. The idea was to create an album, solicit monetary contributions, and give part of the proceeds to charity.

I threw out the suggestion, "What's in a Name", that I conveniently stole from Shakespeare. Spaceship went with it, enlisted the help of the brilliant songstress, Metaphorest a/k/a Sarah Daly, and even gave me the opportunity to contribute. The result is a great song added to a tremendous album.

From Tina Guler:

The idea for "You Smell Like Winter" came about when I picked up the shirt I had worn the night before off the floor. I brought it to my face and recognized the scent of the man I love. It intoxicated me. I wanted to breathe it in forever. Like inhaling the crisp winter wind, marked with the smoky hints of wood burning in the distance. It left me wanting more. Thus, I wrote the first line "She said, You smell like winter. Can I keep you forever?".

1. Sean

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, synth bass, melodica, drums, maracas, tambourine, glockenspiel, sampled strings.
Dwarf McDougal, Jr.: vocals.

With one foot in the snow
And the other one in the air
Old man winter was falling down
And we were standing there

Like rabbits in their holes
Making others out as fools
We were learning how to laugh
While others learned to lose

Though the sun disappeared
Still it's shining in my ears
I am wrapped up in doing nothing
Frozen in fear

Now it's time for you to go
I hope you find relief
In the barest branch above you
The promise of belief

2. Duérmete (It's Early)

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, melodica, bass, maracas, chimes.

Go to sleep my little one
While the moonlight dangles
Like a sphere of little mirrors
Things aren't as bad
As they seem to appear

Go to sleep my little one
One by one all the stars appear
Holding onto little flashlights
Looking for signs
That the morning is near

You've been crying for so many years
You'd fill a lake with all your tears
Through the sleepless night you lay
In a pool of a lonely day

Go to sleep my little one
Before the sun is a counterfeit
Shining on your Sunday eyes

As I lullaby you
As I lullaby you

3. Escape Artists

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitars, electric slide guitar, bass, bass drum, tambourine.
Metaphorest: vocals.

Stolen nights, stolen mornings
How did it feel to be a friend of mine
Broken chains, broken promises
How did you do the things you did to me

Here is my song
It won't take long
To break free from it
Here is my song
You won't take along

Furtive signs, inverted warnings
How can I be a better broken man
Stolen nights, stolen mornings
How did it feel to catch a fleeting glimpse

Here is my song
It won't take long
To break free from it
Here is my song
You won't take along

4. The Cats of Mirikitani

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, tambourine, tamboura, tubular bells, hand claps, sampled strings.

He has learned how to land on his feet
Sleeping in stars on a busy street
He is found on the ground in the cold
Wrinkled and scarred, wizened and old

Come on and catch him if you can
Because he'll be leaving and he won't come again
Come out and see him while the offer stands
It's slipping through your hands

A single rose grows from the concrete
He is the soul longing for home
And home is a secret that he can't repeat
So he has learned how to land on his feet

And I wonder at your idle tears and laughter
You know not for you think you're truly free
And I wonder in sad shame as the head turns
Oh, it's slipping through to me

Come on and catch him if you can
Because he'll be leaving and he won't come again
Come out and see him while the offer stands
It's slipping through your hands

5. Lapis Lazuli

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, theremin, bass, drums, tambourine, hand claps.

Bye bye the slowly flowing river
The skyline is a tangled sheen
My soul is in the hands of my love
She smiles with one eye weeping

By the velvet lights above us
Like cosmic candles in plastic boats
She is just like I imagined
We smile with both sides burning

La la la lapis
La la lazuli

Finally I
Finally I hope for what I have
Finally I
Finally I am not profoundly sad

6. What's in a Name

Spaceship: vocals, piano, acoustic rhythm and slide guitar, synth bass
Metaphorest: vocals
Monkey Chow: vocals, bass

You are to my thoughts
As food to my life
For a piece of your love
You know I would die
If I could take you today
Into my arms again
Like I did yesterday

What's in a name, what's in a name
What's in a name, what's in a name
When I hear it said
Whoa I wish I was dead
Oh, what's in a name

Well, I gave you some love
But it wasn't enough
I won't say sorry for that
I take nothing back
No I'm not gonna play
Into your hands again
Like I did yesterday

What's in a name, what's in a name
What's in a name, what's in a name
When I hear it said
Whoa I wish I was dead
Oh, what's in a name

I'll watch out for your name
In casual conversation
If they play our song
Then I'll change the station
Guess it's all just the same
Who knows, maybe we'll meet again
Like we did yesterday

What's in a name, what's in a name
What's in a name, what's in a name
When I hear it said
Whoa I wish I was dead
Oh, what's in a name

7. You Smell Like Winter

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, melodica, bass, drums, maracas, tambourine.
Tina Guler: spoken word.

She said, You smell like winter
Can I keep you forever
How can you measure
Your love for another

Love was the desert in my hands
The driest lands of driest lands
Stood stark naked and held us we
The blackness in your eyes was stoning me
And words were only dying baby's breath

This was written in the dark
Where reason holds the reins
Where the pills that made you numb
Made you lighter than perfume
And heavy as the hail

I was your purchaser of silence
But the gas lit up the fireman
I pleaded for love and painted smiles
But the green grass in your eyes was awful light
A kiss has killed our guiltiness
Now I am singing in the dark
Where reason holds the reins, the reins
Where the thoughts that make me numb
Make me sadder than I seem

Now I am singing in the dark
Where reason holds the reins, the reins
Where the thoughts that make me numb
Make me sadder than I seem
When I laugh at some dead face
When I laugh at the empty space

8. Who Am I

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, melodica, piano, organ, celeste, keyboards, maracas, tambourine.

You remind me of
A TV show I used to love
That I still watch the reruns of
And I can't forget
The episode I long to regret
I have tried but I haven't yet

I used to go
To the shelter of my radio
But you're in every song
No longer do I sing along

Tell me, who am I
I ask myself a thousand times
And the answer is hard to find

I have these things
That remind me how
Your memory clings
All I can do is try
But hey, that's me
And who am I

9. Love in My Ear

Spaceship: lead and backing vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, electric slide guitar, keyboards, synth bass, tambourine,
Richie Snare: drums.

I was the clock with no hands
That you never noticed before
I was the stage without a band
Now I'm waiting at your door
To sleep on your floor

Shoot me with your cursory looks
File me in with only read in books
Let me step into your state of fear
Let me whisper love in your ear

You keep on shoving poison down your throat
Some toxic waste of carbonated Coke
While you're sitting in your bubble
While they keep on crowning idols on TV
And it doesn't mean a thing to me

The clock is ticking and the show will soon begin
So stop your sleeping and try to live again
Honey, won't you wake up
And say the words I've waiting to hear
Love in my ear

10. Overcome

Spaceship: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, salt shaker, harmonica.

Overcome
Get a hold of yourself
Drive out the demons
But what are you without a foe

11. Her Song

Spaceship: vocals, acoustic guitars.
Sarah Daly: vocals.

If my heart was made of gold,
You'd steal it, wouldn't you?
If my lungs were made of silver,
You'd probably take those, too.

When my memory's forgotten,
But you're richer than can be,
Would you know how much I love you,
And remember you loved me?

If my eyes they shone like rubies,
Would you take them from my head
And sell them on the market
To buy yourself a bed?

When my memory's forgotten,
But you're richer than can be,
Would you know how much I love you,
And remember you loved me?

When my soul turns to opals
Would you steal that from me, too,
And haul my body far away,
Left in an empty room?

When my memory's forgotten,
But you're richer than can be,
Would you know how much I love you,
And remember you loved me?

And when the time turns over,
And the sands come sweeping in,
And my bones are turned to diamonds,
Would you know where to begin?

When my memory's forgotten,
But you're richer than can be,
Would you know how much I love you,
And remember you loved me?