Jeeezis...It's cold here in Toronto today!

And speaking of cold, here's the lyrics to the first song I wrote (2 years ago) for my upcoming record. The subject has to do with the really, really cold and callous way that I was dumped! I literally read the 'Dear James' email sent from Australia where she was away on business/vacation, turned around, picked up my guitar and the first verse and chorus of 'Chalk Outline' came flowing out of my mouth. I finished the song the following day.

CHALK OUTLINE

She said she was an artist but she failed to remind
Me before she departed, she was the escape kind.

“Confrontation’s not my strongest point”.
A quotation from a phrase she coined.
It leaves my loving arms out of joint.

They said she was an artist, incomparably so.
Creating beauty from darkness, this is the darkest I’ve ever known.

Technology breaks my heart.
Gives the ability for a cruel depart.
She signed her name, it must be art.

I want her to sign my chalk outline.
I need her to sign my chalk outline.

She said I was an artist who never met his potential.
So I’ve been discarded like a worn down shading pencil.

Technology breaks my heart.
Gives the ability for a cruel depart.
She signed her name, it must be art.

I want her to sign my chalk outline.
I need her to sign my chalk outline.
I hope she signs my chalk outline.
I need her to sign my chalk outline.
My chalk outline. My chalk outline.

(c) 2006 James Clark

Next time I'll give you the words to the next song I wrote for the record. 'Kangaroo' (obviously) still deals with her breaking my heart from half way around the world. Technology certainly gives one the ability to make a cruel depart. Wow....I oughta use that in a song sometime! Til then try and stay warm. I am.

yer pal

james clark

YIKES! Where does the time go when one is writing and recording his soon to be released next widely overlooked record? I apologize friends and foes for not checking in sooner.

Well, this so called record I have been talking about for what seems like over 2 years, (note: it has been 2 years and 2 months since writing and recording began.) is juuuusssstttt about finished. No, really. I mean it this time. What's scary is I don't know what I'll have to write about once it is finished. Oh here's something....

I played a solo show last week at the club 'C'est What' located in Downtown Toronto. It was probably the best gig I've played in a while. I played fairly well but what made it so good was that there were actually people there! Not only that, but they seemed to appreciate what I was doing! It's a whole different show when there are people in the room....applauding!

So a friend of mine who I don't see very often came out to the show and afterwards asked me if I have any lyrics from my new songs posted anywhere? Hmmmm...it made me think that that would be a pretty good idea. So I've decided that I will be posting a new lyric here up until the record is released this spring. I said this spring. Yup! It's coming....spring!

So I start with a song entitled 'The World I Used To Live In'. This may end up being the opening track on the record, but that's not neccessarily why I'm starting with it. A character in the song (the curator) actually came out to the show at C'est What. Although I did indeed play this one and dedicated it to her, it was an odd feeling singing it in front of her for reasons I don't really want to get into here. She didn't say much about it when speaking with her after the show. Now I'm going to ruminate about it. Oh Great! Here ya go. Stay tuned and see ya soon...

Yer pal,
james clark

THE WORLD I USED TO LIVE IN

The law professor’s not returning my calls,
He’s busy making up brand new laws,
In case he ever catches me with his daughter again.
I’m finding out that I can no longer visit the world I used to live in.

The curator’s not willing to admit,
She used to like me like she liked your exhibits.
Now I'm on the outside wondering to myself should I peek in?
Get a final glimpse of the world that I used to live in.

Oh I’m the outsider, nail biter, town crier.
Crying to the extreme.
She’s the sidewinder, squeezing tighter,
Killing off the fighter in me.

The entrepreneur has offered me a position.
Shaming my soul but only under one condition,
That I leave his big sister alone and let her win.
Be the champion of the world that I used to live in.

Oh I’m the outsider, nail biter, town crier,
Crying to the extreme.
She’s the sidewinder, squeezing tighter,
Choking off the lover in me.

The ceramic urns are waiting to be busted.
By the jealous freak that she once stupidly trusted.
Now he's pathetically, esthetically all alone.
Pressed against the window of the world he thought he used to own.

Now I’m on the outside wondering to myself should I peek in.
Get a final glimpse of the world that I used to live in.
I'm finding out I can no longer visit the world I used to live in.
No I’m no longer welcome in the world I used to live in.

© james clark 2006