Original Music – Studio Recording Sessions: Set Lists

Posted on June 27, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary)

I have started the process of converting the recordings of some of my songs from DAT (Digital Audio Tape) into CD versions, so that I can eventually post them to this blog as a, “part of my life’s journey.” As a songwriter, I want these rough demos that I recorded to be available for you to listen to, as they are a significant part of what I have accomplished in my life. The whole purpose of recording these songs was so that another musician could listen to my songs and understand how the melodies went, because I couldn’t write them out correctly by hand. These songs are only a portion of the total number of songs that I’ve written, and the others were not recorded as part of this project because I couldn’t play them on guitar, and because my piano playing wasn’t good enough to play them, sing – and do it all correctly at the same time.

In fact, the first time that I ever even attempted to play the piano and sing while recording was on Sets 17 and 18A. I had a lot of trouble playing the studio piano well, because my old piano at home had “slippery” keys, and this expensive studio electric piano had “non-slippery” keys. I found that my fingers didn’t move and slide around as I wanted them to; which was frustrating to me because it all didn’t work out very well and the performances were sub-par at best. I suppose that my sweating palms had a little something to do with it too!

I found a quote in WikiAnswers, from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, “In Memoriam: 27, 1850,” that says: “Hold it true, whate’er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all.” So in the end, I would rather have dreamed of writing songs, written songs and then recorded my own attempts at translating them for the world, then to have never tried. If no one in the entire world likes these songs, and negatively critiques my abilities to write and record songs – that’s fine – because I actually did something that I had dreamed of doing! 🙂 And, exceeded my own personal expectations in the process. When I originally said a prayer for the ability to write songs; at the time I had never written a song, couldn’t sing, couldn’t play guitar, and my piano playing was only really a distant memory from grade school. I then started writing my first song in the very minute the prayer was finished. The fact that I actually wrote and recorded 18 Sets of songs in this process (and wrote more that are not recorded here) – really amazes me.

During the process of writing songs in the very beginning; I asked a friend of mine, Gordon Olvera, to try and help play them for me – as I didn’t sing and didn’t play guitar. I wrote all of my early songs on the piano only, and had everything else “floating in my head” that I couldn’t get out. I have always personally thought of Gordon as the American version of “Paul McCartney” – as he is the most gifted and talented musician, vocalist and guitar player that I have ever known. We played with these early songs and eventually progressed to a little practice studio to have fun with them. Gordon gave my songs a “voice” in the beginning. I had originally written them, and we then worked on them together, and there was no way to know where my original version and his contributions started and stopped; so when I went to register them for copyright protection I gave Gordon full songwriting credits for all of the early songs we worked on together – indicated by an asterisk (*) below.

As I’ve said before, you can listen, play and perform these songs for your personal use and enjoyment as you like. The only thing I ask is for you to remember that they are copyrighted; so if you want to do anything in a commercial capacity with them – like sell or publish them, I ask that you contact me to discuss your project(s). (mark.d.jones @cox.net – close the gap when sending an email to me) I’ll sort out the details with Gordon as necessary. On Monday I go to a local studio to begin the DAT tape to CD project, and once I have the recordings on CD, I’ll figure out how to get them posted into this blog for you. Each song will eventually be posted as a separate article with the song’s background, lyrics and chords; but this will take some time. So, if you hear a song from this collection and would like the lyrics and chords to it, just let me know – and I’ll get it posted for you as soon as I can get to it! 🙂

Mark D. Jones – Studio Recording Sessions – Set Lists

1996-1998, at ZigZag Music Productions, Cambridgeshire, UK (http://www.zigzagmusic.com)

Set One: (DAT Tape #1, September 21, 1996 – Vocals & Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar)

The Lord’s Prayer
The 23^rd Psalm (Take One)
The 23^rd Psalm (Take Two)
Simple Man
The World Gently Weeps
Hold out for the Dawn (Plus Distortion)
Hold out for the Dawn (Minus Distortion)
Children of Woodstock (Slow Tempo) *
Children of Woodstock (Fast Tempo) *
Walkin’ Shoes
Masquerade
Little Darlin’ *
Open My Eyes
One Man
Dreams Never Die

Set Two: (DAT Tape #1, October 5, 1996 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Acoustic Guitar)

(16) Green Eyed Sally
(17) Cross of My Lord
(18) Time Stands Still
(19) Labor of Love
(20) Reflections
(21) Love and Life
(22) Answered the Wind
(23) Baby, Baby
(24) Show the World
(25) Changed Man

Set Three: (DAT Tape #1, October 19, 1996 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Acoustic Guitar)

(26) You’re the One (Take One – With Pick) *
(27) You’re the One (Take Two – Fingers Only) *
(28) You’re the One (Take Three – Fingers Only) *
(29) Love You So (Take One)
(30) Love You So (Take Two)
(31) Dreamer *
(32) Follow Your Heart
(33) Promised Land *
(34) Walk With Me
(35) Lost and Found
(36) Love Again *
(37) Jennifer *
(38) Do You Care

Set Four: (DAT Tape #2, November 16, 1996 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Acoustic Guitar)

(39) The Dream Lives On (Take One)
(40) The Dream Lives On (Take Two)
(41) Treat ‘em Nice (Take One)
(42) Treat ‘em Nice (Take Two)
(43) Sign of the Times
(44) On My Knees (Take One)
(45) On My Knees (Take Two)
(46) Lord You Know
(47) Papa
(48) Workin’ Man
(49) Need Your Lovin’
(50) Love For You
(51) You Get What You Pray For

Set Five: (DAT Tape #2 or #3, November 30, 1996 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Acoustic Guitar)

(52) Simple Man (Version II) (Take One)
(53) Simple Man (Version II) (Take Two)
(54) Dance With Me *
(55) Dawn of Morning (Take One)
(56) Dawn of Morning (Take Two)
(57) Live For You (Take One)
(58) Live For You (Take Two)
(59) Love’s Like a Rainbow (Take One) *
(60) Love’s Like a Rainbow (Take Two) *
(61) Love’s Like a Rainbow (Take Three) *
(62) Girl Next Door
(63) Loves Me Crazy
(64) Love is the Key (Take One) *
(65) Love is the Key (Take Two) *
(66) Christ Callin’
(67) Sixteen Candles (Take One)
(68) Sixteen Candles (Take Two)

Set Six: (DAT Tape #3, December 14, 1996 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Acoustic Guitar)

(69) Mercy, Mercy (Take One)
(70) Mercy, Mercy (Take Two)
(71) Mercy, Mercy (Take Three)
(72) Winds of Change
(73) Copenhagen (Take One) *
(74) Copenhagen (Take Two) *
(75) My Life’s Journey (Take One)
(76) My Life’s Journey (Take Two)
(77) Little Baby *
(78) Too young To Understand
(79) Looking For the Sun (Take One) *
(80) Looking For the Sun (Take Two) *
(81) The Emperor Has no Clothes
(82) One Man Against Time *
(83) One Day

Set Seven: (DAT Tape #4, January, 18, 1997 – Vocals & Ovation 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(84) England (Take One)
(85) England (Take Two)
(86) Thousand Faces *
(87) Mountain Starlight *
(88) Tropical Dreams *
(89) Climbing My Mountain
(90) Penny For Your Thoughts (Take One)
(91) Penny For Your Thoughts (Take Two)
(92) House of the Lord
(93) Like a River (Take One)
(94) Like a River (Take Two)
(95) Still Have Time
(96) When Will We Begin (Take One) *
(97) When Will We Begin (Take Two) *

Set Eight: (DAT Tape #4, February 15, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(98) Hand in Hand (Take One)
(99) Hand in Hand (Take Two)
(100) Singin’ the Blues
(101) My Little Lady
(102) Seems Like Rain (Take One) *
(103) Seems Like Rain (Take Two) *
(104) Lonely Eyes (Take One)
(105) Lonely Eyes (Take Two)
(106) Great Divide
(107) Love is Like a Flower (Take One)
(108) Love is Like a Flower (Take Two)
(109) On the Trail (Take One)
(110) On the Trail (Take Two)
(111) On the Trail (Take Three)
(112) Your Love (Take One) *
(113) Your Love (Take Two) *
(114) Oh Lord (Take One)
(115) Oh Lord (Take Two)
(116) Oh Lord (Take Three)

Set Nine: (DAT Tape #5, March 1, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(117) Hills of Tennessee (Take One)
(118) Hills of Tennessee (Take Two)
(119) Hills of Tennessee (Take Three)
(120) Blues State of Mind
(121) For You *
(122) Hypnotized
(123) A Feelin’ (Take One)
(124) A Feelin’ (Take Two)
(125) Barriers
(126) Amen
(127) The One I Never Knew (Take One) *
(128) The One I Never Knew (Take Two) *
(129) Dreamin’ Man
(130) Yahweh (God) (Take One)
(131) Yahweh (God) (Take Two)

Set Ten: (DAT Tape #5 and #6, April 26, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(132) Fly Eagle Fly (Take One)
(133) Fly Eagle Fly (Take Two)
(134) Times of Our Lives (Take One)
(135) Times of Our Lives (Take Two)
(136) Sail Away (Take One)
(137) Sail Away (Take Two)
(138) Lookin’ For Heaven (Take One)
(139) Lookin’ For Heaven (Take Two)
(140) Tell Me Please (Take One)
(141) Tell Me Please (Take Two)
(142) Dry My Tears (Take One)
(143) Dry My Tears (Take Two)
(144) Someone New (Take One)
(145) Someone New (Take Two)
(146) You Challenge Me (Take One)
(147) You Challenge Me (Take Two)
(148) Can’t Stop That Feelin’ (Take One)
(149) Can’t Stop That Feelin’ (Take Two)
(150) A Better Way (Take One)
(151) A Better Way (Take Two)

Set Eleven: (DAT Tape #6, May 24, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(152) You and Me (Take One) *
(153) You and Me (Take Two) *
(154) Story of My Life
(155) Lady, Oh Lady (Take One)
(156) Lady, Oh Lady (Take Two)
(157) Lady, Oh Lady (Take Three)
(158) Lady, Oh Lady (Take Four)
(159) Follow the Light (Take One)
(160) Follow the Light (Take Two)
(161) Breakthrough (Take One)
(162) Breakthrough (Take Two)
(163) Who Do You Love
(164) Time Gives Me No Answers (Take One) *
(165) Time Gives Me No Answers (Take Two) *
(166) Only One (Take One)
(167) Only One (Take Two)
(168) Two Paths
(169) Do You Know (Take One)
(170) Do You Know (Take Two)
(171) Do You Know (Take Three)
(172) For The World (Take One)
(173) For The World (Take Two)
(174) For The World (Take Three)

Set Twelve: (DAT Tape #6, June 28, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(175) Man and Wife
(176) Lost in Love (Take One)
(177) Lost in Love (Take Two)
(178) Unconditional Love (Take One)
(179) Unconditional Love (Take Two)
(180) Missin’ Her (Take One)
(181) Missin’ Her (Take Two)
(182) Fly Away (Take One)
(183) Fly Away (Take Two)
(184) Pretty Baby (Take One)
(185) Pretty Baby (Take Two)
(186) Mary
(187) On My Own (Take One) *
(188) On My Own (Take Two) *
(189) Win the Peace (Take One)
(190) Win the Peace (Take Two)
(191) Dreams Come True (Take One)
(192) Dreams Come True (Take Two)
(193) Girls (Take One)
(194) Girls (Take Two)
(195) Follow Your Dreams (Take One)
(196) Follow Your Dreams (Take Two)
(197) Follow Your Dreams (Take Three)

Set Thirteen: (DAT Tape #7, August 30, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(198) Christmas Comes But Once A Year (Take One)
(199) Christmas Comes But Once A Year (Take Two)
(200) Sing Songs of Joy
(201) An Old Fashioned Christmas (Take One)
(202) An Old Fashioned Christmas (Take Two)
(203) Glory To God
(204) Light Of Christ
(205) Peace Be With You
(206) Noel
(207) How Could I Serve Him
(208) Eyes of a Child (Take One)
(209) Eyes of a Child (Take Two)
(210) Just as I Have Loved You

Set Fourteen: (DAT Tape #7, September 27, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(211) Merry Christmas (Take One)
(212) Merry Christmas (Take Two)
(213) Open Your Heart
(214) Live As One
(215) Love At First Sight
(216) My Lord My God
(217) Amazed
(218) Amazed
(219) Crooked Highway
(220) Smile For Me
(221) I Try To Understand (In Memory of Capt Jerry Lindh and Maj David M. McGuire)
(222) Fountain Of Love (Take One)
(223) Fountain Of Love (Take Two)

Set Fifteen: (DAT Tape #7 and #8, November 15, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(224) Crossroads (Take One)
(225) Crossroads (Take Two)
(226) Crossroads (Take Three)
(227) Highway To Nowhere (Take One) *
(228) Highway To Nowhere (Take Two) *
(229) Lord Knows
(230) The One That I Loved (Take One) *
(231) The One That I Loved (Take Two) *
(232) Still Got The Blues
(233) Fruit Of Your Heart
(234) The World
(235) Me and My Piano (Take One)
(236) Me and My Piano (Take Two)
(237) In A Song (Take One)
(238) In A Song (Take Two)
(239) In A Song (Take Three)
(240) Heart and Soul (Take One)
(241) Heart and Soul (Take Two)
(242) Heart and Soul (Take Three)

Set Sixteen: (DAT Tape #8, December 13, 1997 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(243) Ridin’ That Train (Take One) *
(244) Ridin’ That Train (Take Two) *
(245) Ridin’ That Train (Take Three) *
(246) Ridin’ That Train (Take Four) *
(247) In The Name Of Pride *
(248) Only Three (David’s Song) (Take One) *
(249) Only Three (David’s Song) (Take Two) *
(250) Only Three (David’s Song) (Take Three) *
(251) Paradise (Take One) *
(252) Paradise (Take Two) *
(253) Changes *
(254) A Little Time (Take One) *
(255) A Little Time (Take Two) *
(256) Sunshine (Take One) *
(257) Sunshine (Take Two) *
(258) Sonny (In Memory of 1Lt Steve Sundstrom) *
(259) Do You Think About Me (Take One) *
(260) Do You Think About Me (Take Two) *
(261) When Will You See (Take One) *
(262) When Will You See (Take Two) *

Set Seventeen: (DAT Tape #8, January 17, 1998 – Vocals & 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar)

(263) Comin’ Home
(264) Do You Wonder (Take One)
(265) Do You Wonder (Take Two)
(266) No Reason Why (Take One)
(267) No Reason Why (Take Two)
(268) Lucky One
(269) Wait and See (Take One)
(270) Wait and See (Take Two)
(271) No Man’s Land
(272) Run To You
(273) More Than Friends
(274) Do You Know
(275) Alright Tonight

Set Seventeen (Test): (DAT Tape #8, January 17, 1998 – Vocals & Electric Piano Test Session)

(276) Alright Tonight
(277) Comin’ Home
(278) Do You Wonder
(279) No Reason Why
(280) Lucky One
(281) Wait and See (Take One)
(282) Wait and See (Take Two)
(283) No Man’s Land
(284) Run To You
(285) More Than Friends
(286) Do You Know

Set Eighteen “A”: (DAT Tape #9, March 7, 1998 – Vocals, 12 String Ovation Acoustic Guitar & Electric Piano Test Session)

(287) Sweet Blues * (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
(288) Where Have You Been * (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
(289) Louder Than Words * (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
(290) Sweet Love * (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
(291) Lady Of My Dreams * (Vocals, Guitar, Piano)
(292) Sweet Blues * (Vocals, Guitar)
(293) Where Have You Been * (Vocals, Guitar)
(294) Louder Than Words * (Vocals, Guitar)
(295) Sweet Love * (Vocals, Guitar)
(296) Lady Of My Dreams * (Vocals, Guitar)
(297) Sweet Blues * (Piano)
(298) Where Have You Been * (Piano)
(299) Louder Than Words * (Piano)
(300) Sweet Love * (Piano)
(301) Lady Of My Dreams * (Piano)

Original Song – “Green Eyed Sally”

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary), Im - "You Get What You Pray For" - Collected Works Volume XIII

Green Eyed Sally is a complex song about relationships. It tells the story of Sally, a girlfriend or spouse who has decided to throw away her current life to go off and search for herself – for who she really is and wants to be. The story line discusses the age old tale of ‘the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ and the personal search for meaning and fulfillment.

There often comes a point in people’s lives when they realize that the dream, or song, that they carry somewhere deep inside of them has been deferred too long – to the point where they suddenly realize that they never even attempted to live out their hopes and dreams. Once they realize this, the tendency is to make an irrational decision to throw everything away and finally chase that dream before it’s too late. Too often they are too late and ill equipped to succeed in their last ditch attempt to rescue their lives – and in the process others get hurt – spouses, children, family and friends. How much better it would be to deliberately live a life with purpose and meaning all along, so as to not face a mid-life crisis in a panic after realizing that you never even reached for your dreams.

Green Eyed Sally builds over four verses to peak at the song’s conclusion. The singer’s impassioned plea is an attempt to build a bridge to her and find some common ground for her to return home, “I’m looking at your rainbow’s end right before our door, I know that you’ve always wanted a little somethin’ more, Maybe you and I can find, Somethin’ worth staying for, Won’t you come back to me…”

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I recorded my original song “Green Eyed Sally” on Set Two in 1996, and it tells the story of a woman who has left home to search for herself – while her significant other makes an impassioned plea for her to return back home. If I was to do this song again I would begin much slower, instead of racing from the beginning, but this is simply a snapshot from that day in my life ~ enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark

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(Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)

Green Eyed Sally

Intro:

E/A (x4)

D/A (x4)

E/F/G7/D

Verse One:

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Won’t you come’ on home to me

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Come’ on back to me

You’ve been chasing every rainbow, lookin’ for your pot of gold

You’ve been running around with every guy, that you could grab a’ hold

You turned your back on me, and left me standin’ in the cold

G7 D

Won’t you come home to me (x3) (End)

Verse Two:

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

You know I love you so

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Why did you have to go

You packed your bags and moved away, drivin’ on down the road

You said you’ve got to play the field, before you got too old

You threw away your life with me, tryin’ to lighten your load

G7 D

Don’t you still care for me (x3)

Verse Three:

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Where are you runnin’ to

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

What are you going to do

You’ve run around this town all night, flirtin’ with every guy

Has it ever crossed your mind to stop, for awhile and wonder why

Guys will take you home but then, they’ll always say good bye

G7 D

Won’t you still love me (x3)

Verse Four:

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Won’t you think of me

D G

Green eyed Sally

D G

Home’s where you ought to be

I’m lookin’ at your rainbow’s end, right before our door

I know that you’ve always wanted, a little something more

Maybe you and I can find, somethin’ worth stayin’ for

G7 D

Won’t you come back to me (x3) (Return to verse one and repeat)

Original Song – “Masquerade”

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary), Im - "You Get What You Pray For" - Collected Works Volume XIII

Masquerade is a special song for me, that is, if it was possible that one song could mean any more than the others to a songwriter. Every song holds something special and unique in a songwriter’s heart, because the song itself is an extension and a direct reflection of that heart. Conceptually, as if in a dreamy video, the singer is walking through the reality of what is life today, and looking around and commenting on what he sees – without complete clarity or understanding himself – but no one seems to notice him, hear him or even know that he is there. He is a detached presence trying to get everyone’s attention and wake them up to how they’re living, but they keep going about their normal lives. The song is about the contrast of good versus evil, beauty versus emptiness, kind hearts versus cold hearts, awareness versus unknowing, love versus pretense, truth versus masquerade and what’s possible versus the status quo. It starts slow and passionately and slowly builds in intensity. During Verse II there is a sharp, dramatic and momentary pause or hesitation after the word “stop” – before immediately beginning again with continued intensity.

Someone not from our world – say a visionary angel who came to our world to enlighten us – could rightly ask us to justify why we live and have structured a society the way we have. Why have we placed the emphasis on ourselves and not on others? Since we live for such a short relative time span, why don’t we concentrate our priorities on values instead of possessions? When love is the most precious element of the universe, and is universally free and in unlimited supply, why isn’t the foundation of our society constructed with such a wondrous substance? Why do we hold currency and precious metals as a currency of exchange – instead of kindness, tenderness and love?

When we finally experience Heaven, we will truly understand what it means to love, to be loved, to cherish and to hold dear the things of the heart. In our human experience we can’t understand the vast potential of possibility that could exist here on Earth – if we only but tried. One thing I’m very sure about though – if I was to start over with the Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs on the living room carpet in order to build a new society completely from scratch – it wouldn’t look anything like ours does today. Here I’m talking about the social fabric and not the political structure. For humans, nothing can replace democracy, but even that can be improved upon. The emphasis in my new world would be on truth, on values, on cherishing time as a precious commodity, and heartbeats as a measure of units. Value would come from hearts that are true, and our treasure would be the love we share and give away.

Perhaps dreaming of things unknown, but long hoped for isn’t a prestigious job title in our society today – but sign me up – because it’s the job that I want and the job that I strive for. I would rather be a volunteer in a self-defined imaginary position, than to accept something less. Because time is fleeting and short – and this just may be the very last job title that I ever hold – even if no one reads it or recognizes the value in it. It really doesn’t matter in the end, because it’s the job title that I’ve given myself – “Dreamer of All Things Possible, but Unknown to the World.” Welcome to my world – there’s room for everyone!

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‘Masquerade’ is another song from my first recorded set of songs, and you can tell how my voice wavers a lot from my nerves ~ especially in the first half of the song before settling down a bit in the second half of the song. In the coming days I’ll post one song a day from all 19 sets of songs that I recorded back in the mid-1990’s ~ enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark

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Masquerade

Verse I:

Everywhere I look around

I see the sights and hear the sounds

D A

Of life, as I pass along my way

Things I see and things I hear

Are often cloudy never clear

D A

Where, is the truth in life today

The world has turned itself upside

Down the things we’ve lost can’t be

D A

Found, it’s only a masquerade

D A

It’s only, a masquerade (x2)

Chorus:

C G

Where, has beauty gone

D A

Where, have kind hearts gone

C G

Why, is life so cold

D A

Why, does evil hold

C G

The hearts, of so many men

D A

I pray, Lord Amen

C G

That love, will fill the world

D A

That love, will fill the world

G A

That love, will fill the world

Verse II:

Can’t you see the things I see

Can’t you feel the things I feel

D A

As I look around me every day

Why does the world have to go on this

Way why don’t we stop – and

D A

Say, we’ve had enough today

Let’s, build a world based on

Love, build a world we can be proud

D A

Of, instead, of a masquerade

D A

Instead, of a masquerade (x2)

Original Song – “Cross Of My Lord”

Posted on March 28, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary), If - "Three Chords and a Prayer" - Collected Works Volume VI

Easter is fast approaching, so I thought I’d post the only Easter song that I’ve written – Cross Of My Lord – before the season of Lent is over and the Easter celebration is completed. The lyrics are really quite powerful, in a reflective, introspective and personal way, as we examine our own personal relationship with Jesus and the cross.

The song tells the entire Easter story through the eyes of an eye witness observer of the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse one, the crucifixion of Jesus is over, the crowds have dispersed and all gone home, and it is the next morning as the sun rises and a “new day dawns.” From the lyrics we understand that the observer followed Jesus, observed his triumphant Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem, knew his teachings, watched the crucifixion with the crowds, and has now returned the next morning to contemplate the meaning of the empty cross. The crowds have all gone home, and he finds himself alone, face to face with the cross of his Lord – trying to understand the events of the day before and what the empty cross means to him personally.

In verse two, the observer and eye witness looks upon the tomb of Jesus, with the stone rolled away. Again, the observer has arrived after the crowds have departed as the sun “dawns on a new day.” He or she searches their heart for the meaning of the empty tomb and steps inside to see where Jesus defeated death and walked away. The observer notes that “death lost its power that day” as Jesus rose from and defeated death once and for all.

Verse three describes the events observed by many eye witnesses after the resurrection of Jesus – walking along the road with Jesus, blessing and breaking bread with Jesus, conversing with and being enlightened by Jesus, displaying the wounds on His hands and feet, eating fish and ascending to Heaven – all as a “new day dawned.”

The chorus echoes the reflective, introspective and personal relationship the observer has with Jesus. The cross remains and the fear is gone, because Christ died for him and “death has no power over me” – Jesus died to save his soul and wash his sins away. As the song ends it slowly fades into a refrain that asks for Jesus and God the Father to return and for the Holy Spirit to descend upon us – Hallelujah.

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It’s only appropriate that I’m posting the only Easter song I’ve written here on Easter, 2014. This song is from Set 2 and I play my Fender Strat run through an effect that I liked at the time. The song is about the impressions of an eye witness to the events leading up to and after Easter Sunday. The singer returns to the site of the empty cross and tomb long after the crowds have left and reflects on what has happened ~ and what it all means… Easter Blessings to you all! ♡ 🙂 Mark

Cross Of My Lord

Verse One:

F G

The cross of my Lord stands on Calvary’s hill

F G

The wind is calm and the silence still

F G

As the sun comes up from behind the hill

C D

And a new day dawns

C D

As a new day dawns

F G

I look to the cross and I stand alone

F G

The crowds have left and all gone home

F G

I search myself as I’m standin’ there

C D

For they’ve taken my Lord away

C D

They’ve taken my Lord away

Chorus:

G Em C D

I look to the cross and I have nothing to fear

G Em C D

For my Lord died for me on the cross of Calvary

G Em C D

But it stands empty now and death has no power over me

F C G

For my Lord rose again from the grave

F C G

He died so my soul would be saved

F C G

He died so my sins would be washed away

Ending (after last chorus):

F C G

He died so my soul would be saved

F G

The cross of my Lord stands on Calvary’s hill

F G

The wind is calm and the silence still

F G

As the sun comes up from behind the hill

C D

And a new day dawns

C D

As a new day dawns

C D C D

Come, Lord Jesus…Hal-le-lu-jah

C D C D

Come, Jesus Christ…Hal-le-lu-jah

C D C D

Come, Holy Spirit…Hal-le-lu-jah

C D C D

Come, God the Father…Hal-le-lu-jah

C D

Come, Lord Christ

Verse Two:

F G

The stone from the tomb was rolled away

F G

My Lord got up and walked away

F G

And death lost its power today

C D

And a new day dawned

C D

As a new day dawned

F G

I look in the tomb and I stand alone

F G

The crowds have left and all gone home

F G

I search myself as I’m standing there

C D

For my Lord has risen today

C D

For my Lord has risen today

Verse Three:

F G

My Lord walked along the road today

F G

He blessed the bread and broke it today

F G

He talked to many and showed us the way

C D

As a new day dawned

C D

As a new day dawned

F G

He showed the wounds on His hands and feet

F G

When He was hungry He had a piece of fish to eat

F G

He rose to Heaven to take His seat

C D

Beside God today

C D

To the right of the Father today

Original Song – “Hold Out For The Dawn”

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary), Im - "You Get What You Pray For" - Collected Works Volume XIII

Hold Out For The Dawn was written on the guitar and is rather up tempo and can be played slow to start and rather fast to finish. It has the urgency of someone who is at wits end, with the symbology of someone about to drown or dry up in the desert – except the real theme is the fallen world around us. The singer is pleading for salvation for the fallen world and the only answer is in Jesus Christ. The singer equates the salvation of Christ to a life ring thrown to a drowning man or someone that is lost struggling to be found – for both them self and for the world. The guitar chord Esus4* has the asterisk because it is slightly modified. My guitar is put away right now, but I’m sure that only the top two strings of the three that are normally depressed to make the chord are held down – the other four remain open. It is still an Esus4 – but not only is it easier to play, I think it gives a slight modification to the chord’s sound that I liked. The melody remains flat along the first line, and then rises falls and rises again on the second line. The chorus goes downhill as far as melody goes. I like to think of song lyrics as complete entities all to them self, sort of like poetry, telling a story or making a point that can stand alone. Good song lyrics could be published without the chords or music as literature that stands alone. The (x3) notation at the end of the verses and chorus denotes that the line is to be repeated three times. I suppose that the type of rock music today that would equate to this song when played well would be U2 – with Edge keeping a consistent rhythm throughout the verses and cutting loose into the chorus. As a songwriter…it is my option to dream big dreams! 🙂

"You Get What You Pray For", Collected Works Volume XIII, Copyright 1992, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Hold Out For The Dawn

Verse I:

E Esus4*

Where do you go when life around you

E Esus4*

Seems to fall apart

E Esus4*

Where do you look when the world around you

E Esus4*

Slowly breaks your heart

E Esus4*

What do you do and where do you go

E Esus4*

Is anywhere safe today

E Esus4*

I’m watchin’ as the world around me

E Esus4*

Slowly fades away (x3)

Chorus:

G A E

As we slide into the dark (x3)

D A E

Hold on to the light

D A E

Don’t let the darkness come

D A E

Hold on with all your might

D A E

Hold out for the Dawn (x3)

Verse 2:

E Esus4*

Stranded in the desert sun

E Esus4*

Without a drop to drink

E Esus4*

Cast off in a lifeboat

E Esus4*

As the ship begins to sink

E Esus4*

We are the victims in the world

E Esus4*

As man tears himself apart

E Esus4*

Lookin’ all around me

E Esus4*

Slowly breaks my heart (x3)

Verse 3:

E Esus4*

I’m reachin’ out for somethin’

E Esus4*

That I can understand

E Esus4*

I’m holdin’ on to a golden Cross

E Esus4*

Held tightly in my hands

E Esus4*

Please Lord will you give me

E Esus4*

The strength of your guiding light

E Esus4*

Lord give me Salvation

E Esus4*

And save my soul tonight (x3)

Original Song – “Me and My Piano”

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Mark D. Jones under I - Original Songs (All Lyrics, Music and Commentary), Id - "Listen to the Music" - Collected Works Volume IV

Me and My Piano captures the essence of my early songwriting on the piano, as I worked late into the night getting a new song completed and transcribed onto paper from the piano. It’s an endearing song for me, because it captures all those long, lonely nights on the piano in my early period of songwriting, while later on I wrote mostly on the guitar. I cherish the memories of writing songs late into the night on my piano, and hope you can carry away at least the essence of this love relationship between me, my piano, lyric, rhyme, verse and melody!

~~~~~~~~~~

I recorded my original song “Me And My Piano” in two takes as demos on Set 15 in 1997, and it’s an autobiographical glimpse into my songwriting done on the piano, yet played on the guitar, “It’s been years in the makin’, Spending long, lonely nights, Me and my piano, Workin’ late into the night…” Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark

~~~~~~~~~~

(Note: Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)

"Listen to the Music", Collected Works Volume IV, Mark D. Jones, Copyright 1991, All Rights Reserved

Me and My Piano

Verse I:

C Am F

It’s been years in the makin’

Am Am F

Spending long, lonely nights

G G Dm

Me and my piano

Dm Am F

Workin’ late into the night

C C F

Sometimes it don’t come easy

Dm Am

Sometimes it don’t come at all

Dm Dm G

And minutes run into hours

Am F G

Long after nightfall

C C Am

But sometimes music flows

Am Dm Dm Am

Sometimes it works out right

Dm Dm G

As it races on before me

Am F G

Running into the night

Dm Dm G

Me and my piano

Dm C

We’re doin’ alright—

Verse II:

C Am F

Running into the night

Am Am F

As the hours run along

G G Dm

Looking for a love song

Dm Am F

As I search inside of me

C C F

For the feelings that I have

Dm Dm Am

Somewhere deep inside of me

Dm G

And the melody to fit them

Am F G

With the proper harmony

C C Am

I (often) lose —– myself

Am Dm Dm Am

As the music starts to flow

Dm Dm G

And I (often) keep on playing

Am F G

Until late into the night

Dm Dm G

Me and my piano

Dm C

We’re doin’ alright

Dm Dm G

Me and my piano

Dm C

We’re doin’ alright—

Life, Love and the Human Condition

A Philosophical and Autobiographical Blog about Life ~ a collection of my Original Songs, Photos and Thoughts here on my original blog… (Scroll to the Footer for Categories & More)

Tag Archives: Music

Original Music – Studio Recording Sessions: Set Lists

Original Song – “Green Eyed Sally”

Original Song – “Masquerade”

Original Song – “Cross Of My Lord”

Original Song – “Hold Out For The Dawn”

Original Song – “Me and My Piano”