"Nothing's What It Seems"

I wrote this song 13 years ago.  It’s a darker song.  I don’t really have much to say about it, but I hope you like it.  (Maybe you’ll recognize the circle-of-fifths sequence in the chorus section . . . who knows, whatever!)

Music and lyrics written by Victoria Malawey © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Title: “Nothing’s What It Seems”

Written April 2000

Lyrics:

Driving down the highway

It’s a hundred and six degrees

Looks like water on the asphalt

But nothing’s what it seems

Two men walking side by side

Reserved and speaking low

Exchanging knowing looks

But nothing’s what it seems

Nothing’s what it seems to be

That’s life’s mystery

Thinking we travel so very far

But in circles traveling are we

Got married on a sunny day

Honeymoon in Missouri

We never argued but never laughed

Oh nothing’s what it seems

Nothing’s what it seems to be

That’s life’s mystery

Thinking we travel so very far

But in circles traveling are we

Sliver of light in the sky at night

Masked by clouds

But really it’s a full round moon

Nothing’s what it seems

Nothing’s what it seems to be

That’s life’s mystery

Thinking we travel so very far

But in circles traveling are we

A brand new song: "Smiles and Lies"

This week’s song is a brand new one.  The hook (“smiles and lies”) as well the verses came really quite quickly to me last week (thank you, muse!), but the song needed a bridge, which finally came to me today.  So I sat down and recorded it and here it is:

It isn’t the most polished performance because I haven’t practiced it much since it is so new, but I thought I would be fun to share a new one with you.

Music and lyrics written by Victoria Malawey © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Title: “Smiles and Lies”

Written May 2013

Lyrics:

Smiles and lies

They’re all smiles and lies

Just who do you think you are?

An imposter’s design?

Just change everything you are

And you’ll fit in just fine

They’re all smiles and lies

Everything is ugly now

What’s this all about?

On the outside, looking in

Yet on the inside, wanting out

They’re all smiles and lies

Don’t assume the best scenario

That you’ve got it in the bag

Imposter or chameleon?

Yeah identity’s a drag

They’re all smiles and lies

Feed your addictions

They’re all you have

They’re all smiles and lies

"Hello, my friend"

It has been awhile since I posted a song with guitar.  To be honest, I have almost run out of "guitar songs" (those that I accompany myself singing with guitar).  I have maybe one more (which is more a sketch of a tune than a fully formed song), and another one, which is rather quite new and in fact, incomplete (though I do imagine that once I finish it, it will make the blog).  Guess I need to start writing more music!

I wrote this song when my guitar skills were quite abysmal (though I don't think I have ever really learned how to play . . .) so the accompaniment is a bit sparse.  I like the tune and the form of the song so it was one that I wanted to include on the blog.  Maybe some day I will re-write the guitar part to make it more interesting!

Music and lyrics written by Victoria Malawey © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Title: “Hello, my friend”

Written January 2000

Lyrics:

Hello, my friend, how you move me

I must admit these feelings are confusing to me

How can I justify the way I feel?

Don’t our thoughts make who are, not just our actions?

Afraid to say you make me happy

Your scent, your smile, how you listen and respond to me

I used to feel loved by him

Responsive to me and he’d listen

But now I sleep alone, I wonder how he gets along

And I know I can’t believe he is gone in the end

How can he justify the way he feels?

Don’t our thoughts make who are, not just our actions?

"The Only Side"

This song may have been a good one to start this blog with back in January because it tried to capture the frustration of stifling creativity.  I wrote it while trying to balance a lot of difficult things in my life--a new full-time tenure-track job, writing my dissertation, a social life and personal relationships--and I felt like there wasn't any time or space for writing songs.  

I apologize for the wacky camera angle and light from the windows behind me.  I recorded the song with my phone (as usual) in our new house, and we haven't gotten blinds yet for the room so there is no way to control the light at this time.  At any rate, here's the tune:

Music and lyrics written by Victoria Malawey © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Title: “The Only Side”

Written Winter 2005–06

Lyrics:

Been trying to sing for a long time now

But I just don’t have the time

What good is it anyhow?

To play it feels like such a crime

I tire of crying and playing this game

I dream of flying, but it’s all the same

Been trying to sing for a long time now

But I just don’t have the time

What good is it anyhow?

To play it feels like such a crime

I’m sick of trying

I dream of crying or flying far away

Been trying to sing for a long time now

But I just don’t have the time

What good is it anyhow?

To play it feels like such a crime

The only side they see of me

Is the only side they choose to see

I dream to be free

Breaking from all I’ve done

Takes away my breath

It scares me to death

Been trying to sing for a long time now

Been trying to sing for a long time now

Been trying to sing for a long time now

But I just don’t have the time

"The Morning Rain"

This week's post is another love song.  The harmony and lyrics are a little trite (again, I think it is really difficult to write a decent love song that doesn't sound cheesy!), but nevertheless I wanted to post this song, so here it is:

Music and lyrics written by Victoria Malawey © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Title: “The Morning Rain”

Written July 2004

Lyrics:

Baby I hear your breath, closed are my eyes

I can feel you near me as I arise

Waking up by you I can’t refrain from loving you

Through the morning rain

And in the night, the daytime too

I love you

Baby, come, come, come, you whisper softly to me

And as I draw nearer, I melt with you

And as the sun will rise every day

Surely so I’ll love you, come what may

And in the night, the daytime too

I love you

Baby I don’t know how you manage to

Make me laugh, make me smile when I’m with you

All I know is that the best I’ve felt dear

Is when I wake up and see you here

And in the night, the daytime too

I love you

Baby, come, come, come, you whisper softly to me

And as I draw nearer, I melt with you

And as the sun will rise every day

Surely so I’ll love you, come what may