1. Excerpt: “Someday”, performed by Wrath Creek. Recorded in 1972 at Coast Recorders in San Francisco. The recording was a present for my 16th birthday from my parents. Someday is the first song I wrote, at age 15.
2. This Day – a 2004 revision and remake of “Someday”.
When I look into your eyes, my heart – it comes alive
I love you, full of grace, we are here this day
As I feel the blessing now, touching bliss and wondering how
I love this life, even as I fear this life
We are here this night and this day
There’s a place, there’s a time, there’s a feeling, there’s a rhyme
And though my mind can never make much sense of it
Still, I find a way of peace and enter it
Ever changing, ever here, ever soon we disappear
Still, I love you, and I say, mystery and grace
This day
3. Empty Spaces – originally written and recorded in 1984. A second version
appeared on the 1997 collection entitled “Holy Ghost Dancing”. The remake
on this collection was done in 2003.
When the heroes fall, they will rise again
When the dream is fading, we awake within
When a veil is lifted, when I find a door
When a cloud is parted, I return once more
To a place where no one goes, to a face that never shows
To renew what time erases, in the empty spaces
When I seek the courage to stay the course
I renew my spirit from the living source
When the honey poisons, when a friend betrays
When deceived by desire, I recall the way
To a place outside of time, to a place I can’t define
Where the world leaves only traces, in the Empty Spaces
Underneath the surface of this stormy land
There’s an unseen presence with a helping hand
When I seek the courage to stay the course
I renew my spirit from the living source
When the story’s over, when the meaning ends
When the reasons escape me, I return again
To the Empty Spaces
4. The Knight – from “Transforming the Archetypes,” written and
recorded in 2000.
The knight has renounced his loyalty to the king and his society
The knight has removed his armor and his shield
The knight steps off of his high horse, the knight walks out of the fortress
The knight is naked and vulnerable and feels
The knight is the knight no longer, with the light of the breaking day
In the sun of the transformation he becomes the eternal ray
In the heart of the Lion’s forest, in the meadows of the spring
Is the youth of the transformation born again
So he enters the circle dancing, and his spirit begins to sing
And she offers a light to illuminate his way
With the heart of a child she greets him, she is naked in the rain
And she dances a song of freedom, as he joyfully fades away
Into the sunset, with the heart of a child
5. Excerpt: from Affirmations for Self-Healing. While I was living at a
spiritual community called Ananda, I set to music 45 of Kriyananda’s 52 affirmations appearing in his book, Affirmations for self healing. The settings appeared across 4 albums. This excerpt is from Volume IV, “Child of Eternity”.
6. Excerpt: the voice of Paramhansa Yogananda, from the SRF recording entitled “ The Great Light of God”, and serving as an introduction to the next song.
Suffice it to say that Yogananda has been, and remains, a vital presence in my life.
7. Wild Blossoms – a setting of a poem by Yogananda from his book, “Whispers from Eternity.” Written and originally recorded in 1996 for an album called “Whispers.” This remake was recorded in 2004. This voice at the end is Yogananda.
I will sing a song untouched by the voice of any
I will offer unto thee my virgin song
I will sing to thee a song which lies singing in my heart, unheard by any
I nurtured my heart song, and I bring it out unto thee for its training
I will not offer unto thee an intellectual, pre-meditated, disciplined song
I will not offer unto thee civilized, emotion-born music, or mind-made song flowers,
I will offer unto thee the wild songs of my heart
I will offer unto thee the wild blossoms, which grow on the high tracts of my soul
8. Simply I Love You – from “Holy Ghost Dancing’; written in 1995 and originally recorded in 1996. This remake was recorded in 2004
Looking back, I see this life with new eyes, now as I realize
You have always been here, right from the start, hiding within my heart
When the moments come, and they always do, when I wonder what’s really true
I remember to give it all up to you, in your light I can see anew
Simply I love you, simply I pray
Simply I love you, friend, show me the way to love you more
Caught up in this drama, I spin like a wheel I don’t know how I really feel, until
The seeming real fades to unreal, and the unreal is revealed
Take me to the still-point, deep in my heart, my true reality
Even as this shattered world falls apart, to rejoice and live ever free
Simply I love you, simply I pray
Simply I love you, friend, show me the way to love you more
9. A Realization – from “Sacred & Secular”; written and recorded in 1985. This remake was recorded in 2004, and features short excerpts of three other songs from the 1980’s in the middle of this rendition. The excerpts are: 1) “Same Situation”, from “Taxi Dancer”, 1983; 2)“The Moment”, from the 1980 recording called “Songs of Change”; 3) “Naked Eyes”, from “Future Tense”, 1984.
I’ve been a man of the world, stepping in time to my material mind
I’ve been attached to it all, lifting me up, letting me fall
I came upon a realization, that the world is just a game
It hit me like a revelation, I’ll never be the same
I could not relate. I got defensive, and I filled with hate
I was going nowhere, and still I couldn’t wait
Spinning my wheels, blame it on fate
I came upon a realization, that the world ain’t what it seems
It hit me like a revelation, I’ll never be the same
Get in touch with the Dreamer
From every dream, we are awakening
We awaken from the dream, awakening
From the Dreamer’s Dream
Father, look into my heart
Tell me what you see, looking through a glass darkly
Divine Mother, love is breaking it apart
Empty my delusions, and filling up my heart
And for a moment, I give it all I’ve got, and
I remember the light beyond the dark
10. Excerpt: Taxi Dancer, recorded live at the New Jersey club, “Hitsville”,
in 1983.
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11. The Reaper – a song I originally wrote while playing in a band called Elixir, New York City, 1981. This remake was recorded in 2004.
I am here, mysteriously here, casting shadows in the darkness
I appear, as the twilight grows near
I will write your final chapter…or will I?… think again…
I am the promise, I am the fear, I am the silence you always hear
I am the future, I am the past, I am the questions you always ask
I am you, mysteriously true. In the end we will continue
12. He Will Wait –originally written and recorded as part of a 1997 album called ”The Dark Night”. This remake was recorded in 2004.
He will wait, in this place
He will wait with tormenting patience
He will wait, until my torment transforms into surrender
In this place, he will come
He will come into this place, when I am ready to receive him
He will come into this place, and then this place will be no more
13. Friend Beloved – inspired by and written for my life-partner and dear friend, Catherine. The original rendition appeared on a 1997 album called “Songs for the Divine Consort.” This remake was recorded in 2004.
You, who sees me in the highest light
You, who sees me without judgment of my failings
I am nurtured by the beauty of your love
I am strengthened by steadfastness of your love
I am uplifted by the power of your love
Grant me strength that I may follow in your love
My friend, beloved
You, who hears the music of my seeking
You, who feels the passion of my longing
You, who knows the journey of my heart
Grant me courage to be fearless in your love
Grant me wisdom to be guided by your love
Grant me strength that I may follow in your love
I am uplifted by the power of your love
My friend, beloved
14 .Excerpt ; from a 1997 recording entitled “Unplugged”.
15. Forgiveness – from “ The Road that Starts from Here”. Written in 1999. This remake was recorded in 2004.
I walk the road that starts from here. My first door is forgiveness
Have I asked for it clearly? Have I said that I’m sorry?
There are mountains where I have walked that speak of your presence
There’s a sweetness and an aching in remembrance
I am grateful, I have deep appreciation,
I so honor, and there remains a deep love that is our making
I ask for your forgiveness for the form I have betrayed
I give you my forgiveness for the spirit you betray
I truly celebrate where I am now
There is joy and challenge, there is growth and love
This love is beautiful and real, this love is struggling and uncertain
This love is honest and relentless
This love is caring and provoking, this love is passionate and expressive
This love is genuine, deep friendship
The love that now eludes us will fill us from afar
We will need no more forgiveness, when we remember who we are
I walk the road that starts from here, and I walk with friend forgiveness
Am I ready to hear you? Are you willing to see me?
I give you my forgiveness for the form you have betrayed
And I ask for your forgiveness for the spirit I’ve betrayed
And the love that now eludes us will fill us from afar
We will need no more forgiveness when we remember who we are
16. Full Moon – from “Unplugged”; originally written and recorded in 1997. This remake recorded in 2004
Will we ever know another full moon?
The point is, we have known the full moon, and in that knowing, we know
Will we ever know another sacred space?
The truth is, we have known many sacred spaces, and
Our very knowing is a sacred space
But was our mountaintop only a metaphor?
Even so, we have known the metaphor
And in that knowing, we know
The sea parted, and I was found between watery walls of unseen circumstance
I saw, I felt, I knew
My face was stone, but my heart was soft
My hands were empty, but my heart was full
My eyes saw darkness, but my heart was light
My mind was in confusion, but my heart was certain
When the signs trembled, I returned to walk my separate island
And the ocean returned to wash away my footprints
Though my face is stone, my heart is soft
Though my hands are empty, my heart is full
Though my eyes see darkness, my heart is light
Though my mind is confusion, my heart is certain
I have known, and in that knowing, I know
A bridge remains, spanning the space-time ocean of separation
It is the bridge of remembrance – in that remembrance, I know
I will live in the remembrance, until the pain becomes my sustenance
By the grace of God, I will remember always
In that remembrance, I will know, I know
17. Sweet Innocence – written and recorded in 2001, as part of a collection entitled, “The Blessing and the 7 Mirrors.”
Oh, Sweet Innocence, it’s just a dream we’re living
Oh, Sweet Innocence, the truth is yet unseen
Beneath the falling star, the love is who we are
The story takes us far and brings us home
Bitter sweetness is our guide to a higher knowing
Let your sweet heart dance in the faith of night; awaken in light
All will be broken and be re-made, Let your heart open, don’t be afraid
Oh, Sweet Innocence, the long-forgotten love
The breaking of the heart, is where our journeys start… only start
Walk in the dream and find Her, walk in the pain and leave Her
Walk in the light; reclaim Her, become as One, the Integrated Child
Embrace the life and know Her, in wholeness know the Integrated Child
All will be broken and be re-made, let your heart open, don’t be afraid
Oh, Sweet Innocence, you can reclaim your essence
Oh, Sweet Innocence, the lost is always found
The breaking of the heart, is where our journeys start
That all may come apart to re-unite
Bitter sweetness is our guide to a higher knowing
Let your sweet heart dance in the faith of night; awaken in light.
18. Excerpt: “Metatron”. An experimental composition recorded in New York City in 1980.
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19. One Life – written and recorded in 2002, as part of an album called “Unity Cycle.”
There’s only one life, and we are all living it
There’s only one heart, and it loves through each of us
There’s only one flame, and it burns in all of us
There’s only one faith, and it simply is
This is not believing, this is not proving
This is not understanding, this is not defining
We are born with each birth, and we die with each death
We endure every suffering, and we share every joy
Beyond the veil, we are One ecstatic
We are lifting the veil, we are One ecstatic
There’s only one path, and we are all walking it
There’s only one choice, and we are all choosing it
There’s only one thought, painting all creation
There’s only one bliss, embracing us all
This is not religion, this is not political
This is not organization, this is not medicine
We don’t know where we go, we don’t know where we’re from
We are lost in our fears, we are found in our love
Beyond the veil, we are One ecstatic
We are lifting the veil, we are One ecstatic
There is no veil, we are One ecstatic, We are One ecstatic Now
20. My Love for You – from “WK”, written in 1984. This remake was recorded in 2004, the final remake for this collection. It includes an excerpt from another “WK” song at the end, entitled “Shelter from the Storm.”
Hello, hello my friend
I’ve come to be alone with you again
You are the rock – to know you, to love you
My love for you is my foundation, my love for you is my soul
My love for you is all I need in this world
It’s a joy to see, it’s a joy to feel
It’s such a joy to know that you are always here
You are the rock – to know you, to touch, you, to feel you, to love you
My love for you is always there, I can feel you everywhere
And in my heart, the deepest part is whispering, “this love is everything”
We got love
When the darkness comes, you are my shelter from the storm
My love for you is my foundation, my love for you is my soul
My love for you is all I need in this world
21. Stories Fade – the one new song on this collection, written and recorded in 2004.
Five o’clock in the morning, I can see the shadows, the horizon
Before the story pulls me in
There are a lot of stories pulling us like quicksand
Never-ending stories all laying claim to the center of the universe
The stories fade away, we are the One
Our stories separate us, when we only look through our own windows
Ultimately we are powerless to undermine ourselves
Not withstanding the magnificent disasters we concoct for ourselves
We exist beyond ourselves
The stories fade away, we are the One
The details disappear, its just the One
There comes a moment, the story slips through our grasp
It falls, it breaks – the story is lost
In that moment, before we can slip a story back on
We see each other as ourselves, as we are, as the One
It’s scary to release the story – it makes me angry
The story brings outlets for the anger to assuage the fear
The anger lashes out like a tethered horse, like a cornered bear
Like a frustrated cat
The anger releases, it also hides from it’s own truth
It hides from the in-looking inevitability
And transcendance patiently waits…
It’s alright – the contradictions are alright
It’s alright – the disappointments are alright
It’s alright – the failures and follies are alright
It’s alright – even the closing hearts are alright
The stories fade away, we are the One
The details disappear, its just the One
Relax and breath it in, we are the One
Let it out and breathe again, we are the One
I let it in, I am the One… “we’re better off for all that we let in”
Quote from Emily of The Indigo Girls
22. Excerpt: “Coney Island Baby,” here performed in 1975 by a college barbershop quartet of which I was a part called “The Blue Moons”.
23. Door of My Heart – a traditional Bengali chant, translated by Yogananda in his book “Cosmic Chants.” This recording appears on the 2003 album called “Gang of Mantras.” With this arrangement, I have re-worked the words from the original translation. Here are the words I have used on this recording.
Door of my heart, open wide I keep for thee
You are here, here with me, every moment here with me
As my days fly away, ever present you will stay
Night and day, night and day, you are with me night and day
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