Solo, by Dennis Finnegan

Solo

by Dennis Finnegan

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1.	Raft Song 03:02	lyrics	buy track
Once we have lost our home We have been blown By each passing draft And now we are floating free With uncertainty On our little raft We’re caught up in this maelstrom Spinning and turning all around Slowly we might disappear Vanish or drown Oh it has been so long Since we’ve even laughed On our little raft
2.	Washington Square 04:03	lyrics	buy track
One day I’ll be old in Washington Square Just a little bit worse for the wear On a sunny afternoon in fall By the church of Saints Peter and Paul Parrots squawking in the trees Stopped for mid-day causeries And maybe I might spot again The ghost of Richard Brautigan Then I’ll look up and see you there On the other side of Washington Square You’ll be walking straight-on towards me Be kind enough not to avoid me Elegant, sophisticated Beauty time will not have faded How strange it is we should meet Near our old house on Chestnut Street When I’m old in Washington Square… “Hello,” you’ll say and I’ll reply You’ll smile and I’ll try To keep my voice sounding steady And then I’ll say, “Oh you look pretty” I’ll ask about our one-time friends The ones I’ll never see again Those friends will talk of us Of how things were and what once was When I’m old in Washington Square… “Well”, you’ll say, “I’ve got to go But we should keep in touch, you know” And then I’ll feel my heart go crack As you walk away and don’t look back Oh, you’ll leave me sitting there All alone in Washington Square But maybe by then I won’t care When I’m old in Washington Square When I’m old in Washington Square…
3.	I Don't Feel Like Dancing (After Simko) 03:48	lyrics	buy track
I have my directions Written in some uncertain kind of code I know these groves and orchards But not the people that I see here on the road And I have changed my money For the paper they use here to pay At stores where they speak that other language And street lamp shadows slip on doorways And I don’t feel like dancing Wish you could hold my hand tonight No I don’t feel like dancing Wish you could hold me tight I don’t feel like dancing any more It’s snow. It’s snowing. Footprints are running like a line of news Black marks on white lined paper Only history, just an insult, a bruise These fields here don’t quite fit right Like a map I don’t know how to fold It’s one story. It still matters. As long as that story is told I don’t feel like dancing… And even with my eyes closed I’d know this place that might have been my home The woods where trees are still scarred With my name carved in like a poem I barely fill this coat up Sleeves as empty as the twilight sky I’m heading to that house where I once saw my father cry And I don’t feel like dancing…
4.	Dream the Hardest Dream 03:52	lyrics	buy track
Lie, let the darkness come Let yourself float down the river Down that sweet dark stream Rest, let go of the day Don't be afraid of night Dream the hardest dream You can’t take flowers with you Just one small smooth stone Ravens and owls will watch you You’re not alone See, the sun starts to dissolve And goes out like a spark But stars can only shine When the sky grows dark You can’t take flowers with you Just one small smooth stone Ravens and owls will watch you You’re not alone Lie, hear the river’s song Words that will not be spoken Words that melt in light Drift into the night Dream the hardest dream
5.	Two Boys 02:16	lyrics	buy track
Once there were two boys Both their parents’ pride One brother killed The other brother died Once there were two boys Generations turn Families reverse That blessing can Become a parent’s curse Generations turn And so the lender Becomes the debtor And the begotten Begets the begetter Sin waits at your door Yet you still may rule Was that bleak Judgment kind or cruel Once there were two boys
6.	No Returns 02:23	lyrics	buy track
Gifts all lined up in a row And each one with a bow Corners all just so But I haven't any bling for you No all that I can bring for you Is the song I sing for you So when you open up My little song I hope I didn’t get The size and color wrong Well love, this is not show biz My song comes "as is" There’s no returns, as is
7.	Mr. Bluebird 03:42	lyrics	buy track
I look out my window, what do I see? A bluebird sitting in a tree He is one sad, depressive bird Doesn’t chirp or sing a word Mr. Bluebird, why are you so blue Did Mrs. Bluebird up and walk out on you? Hey Bluebird, you and I are one You’re as blue as I’ve become Well I thought that you brought happiness But that’s for other folks, I guess So let me buy you a round of birdseed Or whatever you might need Mr. Bluebird, why are you so blue Did you get tired of trying to hide it too? Hey Bluebird, you and I are one And our sorrow’s just begun
8.	Prison as Paradise 02:46	lyrics	buy track
Once this world was a prison Where my bond had no price I’m still trapped but thanks to you Now this prison is a paradise I couldn’t bear this tiny world Marked only by sacrifice You’ve transformed my cage Now this prison is a paradise Dreams, I have dreams I see the world breaking at the seams And yet somehow I’ve found peace Oh I’ve found my peace, yes I am released In the void, in the dark The slightest light will suffice So I bless you and I thank you Now this prison is a paradise
9.	Sunshine in My Heart 02:33	lyrics	buy track
Dark clouds low on the horizon The sky promises More rain before they depart These are clouds to keep your eyes on They’re very ominous But I’ve got sunshine in my heart Let it rain Go on, do your worst I won’t complain Even when those clouds burst All those rainy-day Cinderellas Ducking under the bus stop When they feel the rainfall start And they reach for their umbrellas Muttering, “This must stop!” Oh I’ve got sunshine in my heart Let it rain Go on, do your worst I won’t complain Even when those clouds burst There’s a lady on television She’s pointing at isobars On her fancy weather chart Well I’ve made all my provisions In my rainy-day penny jar Yeah, I’ve got sunshine in my heart
10.	My Blue Hour 02:40	lyrics	buy track
My blue hour When the sun has set All the light hasn’t faded yet My blue hour Memories As in a book There’s light left for one last look Memories And when the curtain falls And the lights are low On stage, just a shadow My blue hour The music’s gone down Let’s all have one last round My blue hour
11.	Dance Where You Are 02:20	lyrics	buy track
Dance where you are Berlin or Kandahar Dance in Lackawanna Ghana or Cote d’Ivoire Oh yeah Dance where you are Dance where you are To tuba and guitar Dance to marimba Kalimba or sitar Yeah yeah Dance where you are Dance where you are Don’t matter your repertoire There is no style Too wild or bizarre Oh yeah Dance where you are
12.	La Vita Nova 04:12	lyrics	buy track
Now that we can start over Now that we can begin to live I will be kind and loving I will learn to forgive I will hug all my loved ones I will care for my friends I will not get angry I will build and make amends La vita nova The rising sun Hard times are over A new day’s begun Let it come What if the world is fresh and newborn And yet I’m still the same? What if all I have to offer Is just more guilt and shame? What if I face temptation? And once again I’m overpowered? And what if I am only Just another lazy coward? La vita nova The sun will rise Are the hard times really over? Or back again in disguise? La vita nova The rising sun Hard times are over A new day has begun Let it come

about

Solo, like many projects, began during the pandemic lockdown in March of 2020. And like many people I began recording homemade videos in my attic to send out on YouTube just to kill the time. Once it became clear that this situation was going to continue for quite some time, I began to hunker down for the long haul and think about making the recordings more professional.

First off, I was unhappy with the sound I was getting in my attic (bad room bad gear) and decided to move down to the basement (better sound) and began reading blogs, watching videos and buying gear. So what started out as an attempt to improve the sound soon became a project of building a semi-pro studio. I also realized that I was no longer interested in documenting the pandemic or making videos, and my focus shifted to making a proper recording, but one that captured the time and the isolation. So I created some artificial rules: I would record the songs alone with no overdubbing and minimal editing (later I’d bring in some help with the post recording process: mixing, mastering, etc.).

I ended up recording dozens of songs. There were dozens of sessions and dozens of takes in each of those sessions. I became overwhelmed and would periodically put it aside just to keep my sanity. There were also many thoughts about the pointlessness of such a project: why and for whom am I making this? Those questions remain, yet here it is, 12 songs written by Johny Blood & me, with just me singing and playing guitar, solo.

credits

released March 31, 2023

Songs written by Dennis Finnegan & Johny Blood
Recorded & produced by Dennis Finnegan
Mixed by Dennis Finnegan, Myles Boisen, & James Crocker
Mastered by Myles Boisen
Many thanks to Chris Willging

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about

Dennis Finnegan Oakland, California

Dennis Finnegan is a singer, guitarist & composer.

He has worked with lyricist Johny Blood since the 1990s. They were the songwriters for (and members of) the eclectic rock band Along Came Jones from 2009-2013. Following Along Came Jones they wrote and performed avant-garde theater as The Book of Jones.

Mr. Finnegan has also composed for solo guitar, chamber and jazz ensembles, and film scores. ... more