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Bill Collins

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Songs & Lyrics




"Anything too stupid to be spoken is usually sung!" 

 

There is an interesting anecdote of a woman with chronic dementia due to her age. 
She could not remember integral portions of her life such as her place of birth, her place of residence, her husband, relatives, etc. 
During her life she had a short career
singing on the radio.
Despite her extreme dotage she could remember every lyric to every song she ever sang! 

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Music expresses itself by sounds, painting by colors, etc. - 
facts that are generally recognized.
But it does not end there. Music, for example, organizes its means (sounds) within time,
and painting its means (colors) upon a plane.
Time and plane must be exactly "measured'' and sound and color must be exactly "limited".
These "limits" are the preconditions of "balance" and hence of composition. 

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Songs & Lyrics

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YOU PAVED THE WAY - A tribute song about an individual with limitless aspirations.


Appear from out of nowhere
Decide it’s the year to try and go there
Higher than the likes of you have traveled
You’re all alone
They can’t believe your timing
They say that you need a bit more priming
Much too soon to start your mountain climbing
Your sight’s too high
You hear them say
There’s just no way
There are too many deceivers
And a shortage of the true believers
Divided are the blue from the achievers
It slows you down
There’s so many waiting
But independent minders
Who have taken off their selfish blinders
Know that history will bare reminders
Of today
After all the things we gave away
We are desperate for a brand new day
Today…
Will they hear your voice, and not your name?
Or will we be forced to stay the sa-a-a-me
One by one they hear you
And magically they smile, and want to cheer you
A vehicle for change, they want to steer you
Right to the top
Watching, hoping waiting
Maybe when we’re older
We will be more open and much bolder
No more looking over our shoulder
You paved the way.




<click left button to play

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RISE UP! -  An inspirational piece about determination and not giving up when life gets tough.
    

Wake up in the morning
Without knowing what’s in store
Then, without a warning
There’s trouble,
Knocking at your door
When it rains, it pours
With a heavy burden
You try hard to stay the course
Weight upon shoulders
Keep moving
Search to find the source
Of your driving force
Don’t let sorrow steer you
Down darkened roads that bring you loads of pain
Rise Up and see
Beyond the closing door
And don’t ask yourself “Why me? What for?” just…
Rise Up and be
The one who beat the storm
And survived to live life safe and warm
Keep on moving forward
Leave your painful past behind
Look forward to the future
Don’t look back
Or change your frame of mind
Seek and you will find
Life is never easy
And some people can be cruel
Don’t let them deter you
Just Rise up…
Cause hatred is the tool
Of a desperate fool
Don’t believe in rumor
And don’t forget the benefit of doubt
Rise Up and take
Your dreams and make them real
Though it seems to take time to reveal them…
Rise Up and make
Someone feel just as good
Make them understand they’re understood
Shout it from the mountain
to the valley down below
Let the pride you feel inside make you so proud to say-ay-
Savor every moment
Now that you have found your cure
And the peaceful healing
Will show you,
what you have in store
What you’re living for
The glow that surrounds you
The golden key that you can give for free
Rise Up and see
Beyond the closing door
And don’t ask yourself “Why me? What for?” just…
Rise Up and be
The one who faced the storm
And survived to live on safe and warm
Rise Up and take
Your dreams and make them real
Though it seems to take time to reveal them…
Rise Up and make
Someone feel just as good
Make them understand
they’re understood
Rise Up!





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ATHENA'S TEMPLE - This song focuses on the life of a so-called "kept" woman.  From a distance her life may look glamorous, but as with everything in life, there's a price to pay.

She's holding on to his arm as if it matters
She holds her head up high and bears the weight
Of all the pain
While keeping up a pompous gait
She wonders how many know the game she's playing
How many know that she's the concubine
It's no use
So she hides inside her glass of wine
Why is it she winds up here?
The lonely paramour, souvenir
Waiting for the show
In the shadow
It grows to be all she knows, it's her vocation
Frustration, emptiness from nine-to-five
She paints her nails
To remind herself that she’s alive
Won’t give the average man the time of day
But still she prays for convention
The rent is paid… but her bed’s unmade
She loves all the perks but hates the real illusion
Has to invent respect and dignity
She belongs to a dark, out cast society
Like Athena standing there
A marble effigy
With only dust and limestone debris
To keep her company
While lovers stroll and talk the time away
Planning days, and the future
She climbs the walls
Until he calls
But sooner than later comes the dire swan song
Her leading man chooses monogamy
With tail down low
He staggers home to his family
Why is it she winds up here?
The lonely paramour, souvenir
Waiting for the show
In the shadow
The Parthenon she held dear
Lay ruins,
Wasting here – but it’s not the first time, no… and it will reappear.


 
 
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Hello Havana -  A young man's attempt to capture and hold on to the attentions of an up-scale Cuban princess. 

  
I saw her just the other day
Boy, she sure looked good
Oh, for heaven’s sake she looked good
I don’t care who her daddy is
I’m just trying to get mine the same way he made his
My introduction lacked a bit of flare, though it worked just fine
A perfect sight her eyes meeting mine
I’ve been down this road before
But never have I wanted someone more
Tropic of Cancer sure felt nice
Changed my answers once or twice
Developed a preference for beans and rice
Hello Havana
As my little world stood still she climbed aboard
Everything I learned I ignored
Was it flattery I felt
Or just another notch there on my belt
Roast Compoyo became my favorite meal
This girls a winner, she’s a prize, she’s a steal
But she keeps me on my guard
Never have I ever worked so hard
Is the price too high for ecstasy?
Is this girl just too much for me?
Should I swear off espresso and go back to tea?
Hello Havana
I wonder where the money went? Does she really care?
A second mortgage just to do her hair
Can’t go on like this for long
When and where did I go wrong?
It wasn't worth it, but it sure was nice
It didn’t equal the sacrifice
Red hot lovers, turned cold as ice
Goodbye Havana!






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Fantasy - Be careful what you wish for because you just may get it!  In this case, it's all good.  Sometimes life really is like the movies.


Made a friend down there on Valley Road
In that old and long hallway
It was nice how she made me smile
Without much to say
I felt something different, something new
Every time that she appeared
If she asked anything at all
I always volunteered
It was just a fantasy
Not a ghost of a chance there for me
Still I could, would not let go
Oh no… so
I kept on dreaming
Had to find a way to let her know
Without sending up a flare
I knew it was a risky place to go
But still I didn’t care
Was it just a fantasy
Would my heart make a fool out of me
Without a try I’d never know
I’d never know…
Can’t keep on dreaming
Does she ever think of me?
She doesn’t let it show
But I’ve just got to know
Without a sign or guarantee
Soon I’ll see
I hear her on the telephone
Voice as sweet as it can be
It’s the first time we’ve been alone
At least to some degree
It’s now or never I decide
I swallow all my pride
Then start to confide
Surprise she doesn’t even flinch
Not one inch
Lunchtime rendezvous and dinner after dark
Oh how nervous I would be
On the bridge in that little park
I stole a kiss for me
It was all so long ago
Here we are growing old together
It started with a fantasy, lucky me…
I’m no longer dreaming, no.





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I'll Wait Right Here for You - Maybe one day she'll return?


I thought my mistakes and failures
Would make me more wise
I’ll take my things and mail yours
I’ll compromise
Or should I hold on to them
Can’t stay here any longer
The whole place is you
Maybe if I were stronger
I’d know what to do
Instead I just do nothing
I should move on and start anew
And try to let go
Instead I keep believing
That somewhere you’re thinking of me too
And one night you’ll appear
Until you do, I’ll wait right here for you
Once you were in my corner
And I was in yours
I leave the window light on
I don’t lock the doors
I go on waiting for you
I wonder if there is someone new
Can’t believe that it’s true
Instead I keep conceiving
That somewhere you’re thinking of me too
And one night you’ll appear
Until you do, I’ll wait right here for you
Why did I let you go so easy?
Same for you
There’s blame enough for two
We just went out of fashion
Like dances or styles
Witnesses to our passion
Now just sit in piles They’re still here waiting for you
Promised myself I’d find you
And bring you back home
Remind you we were blind to
Go it alone
I think we learned our lessons
I should move on and start anew
And try to let go Instead I keep believing
That somewhere you’re thinking of me too
And one night you’ll appear
Until you do, I’ll wait right here for you





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I Want Her Bad (...and that's good!) - How do you let her know how you feel about her?  How do you let her sneak a peek at the 'cards' you're holding in your hand?  When should you fold? 


Don't know what say
Don’t know what to do
Maybe today
I’ll tell her I love her
Oh, if I really could
‘Cause I want her bad and that’s good
What’s behind that smile?
I'll just have to guess
At least for a while
I should go ask her,I know that I really should
‘Cause I want her bad and that’s good
They say – good - things come to those who wait
But if I hesitate
She might disappear
And leave me here
So all alone
That’s just what I’ll do
I’ll run to her and say
“I’m crazy over you”
If she were here now, I wonder if I could
‘Cause I want her bad and that’s good
They say – good - things come to those who wait
But if I hesitate,She might disappearand leave me here
So all alone
That’s just what I’ll do
I’ll run to her and say
“I’m crazy over you”
If she were here now, I wonder if I could?
‘Cause I want her bad and that’s good





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Those High-Heel Shoes - Must I say more?



 
 

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