Bill deRome

 

 Autumn: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

More or less about getting older.  Starting to see the ‘those damn kids’ moments.

Lyrics:

the autumn wind won’t make deals with summer /
the light outside’s just gone down forever /
the kids don’t care they just burn the leaves /
right here in plain view of the trees /
what have you got to prove? /
you’ve already paid your dues /
the mirror shows you the man you’re never gonna be /
the autumn days won’t make way for winter /
you do your best but you’re still a sinner /
the kids blow by like you’re standing still /
looking north just to spite the hill /
what are you here to do? /
the answer is nothing new /
the future flows from your hands /
you’re never gonna leave /
it’s you and me hey love hey love /
we still believe hey love hey love /
we aim to please hey love hey love /
we own the seas hey love hey love /

 

 Surprise!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17)

this one’s about nuclear holocaust.  or that guy in front of the tank.  or you can be the judge.

Lyrics:

some day mercy dies /

while we lay inside /

and this tank won’t roll /

if we all say so /

someone runs in place /

save a windburnt face /

and it came on slow /

i was first to know /

exercising rights to fire first /

no denying once you mark this earth /

i suppose the signal is the burst /

exercising rights to fire first

 

 Ageless: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (16)

Here’s one that I’m not 100% happy with the performance of.  Now you know.  This is a song about my baby boy building a time machine for me.  Etc.

Lyrics:

crossing the age line /
not for the last time /
you are another /
standing ovation /
reincarnation /
why do we bother?  /

watch your mouth /
someone’s bugged the room /

how can i fathom /
what’s gonna happen with your generation? /
what does it matter? /
you have a whole life to make up an answer /

but watch your mouth /
someone’s bugged the room /
fold the light /
fold the light for me /

can you please take good care of my soul? /
can you feel your daddy’s love? /

if ever i breakdown /
someone deliver to your and your mother /
crossing the age line /
not for the last time /
you are another /

watch your mouth /
someone’s bugged the room /
fold the light /
fold the light for me /

can you please take good care of my soul? /
can you feel your daddy’s love? /
can you please take this sound where you go? /
can you feel your daddy’s love?

 

 Fair and Balanced: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22)

This is a song about why you shouldn’t watch the news.  It’s extremely depressing most of the time and is not indicative of the world we live in.  I was listening to a tech podcast of all things when someone spoke to the nature of bad news…  Basically, what he said was ‘if the newscasters try to say the world is ending, look out your window..  you might see differently’

Lyrics:

the curtains rise / the anchor’s right /

it’s not an opinion /

the crew’s alive / the captain died /

are you going to heaven?  film at eleven /

you’re just having a hard time, baby /

one of your favorite storeys fell /

the oceans rise / the end is nigh /

look out the window /

getting on is hard, so i got you a gift card /

you’re just having a rough night reading one of the greatest stories told (i’m told) /

love has no equal and it hurts more to be prepared /

that’s not an opinion

 

 Family Hour: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

This one’s a bit more sarcastic than it might sound, but only just so. If one mistake can ruin your whole eternity, then what is the point of ever trying again? And where does that leave the people who want you around?

Lyrics:

can you believe what you’ve been told? /
are you the same when you’ve gone old? /
seems like a waste to get a shade /
buy me a drink if you’ve gotta stay /

brother can you stand this life of belief? /
brother can i..? /

i am in my very own low /
family hour is gonna be slow /
one day of rest but i’ve been saved /
i have no secret love /

brother are you here on borrowed hard time? /
brother am i? /
brother i can’t see the shadow overhead /
overhead overhead /

i haven’t seen the rules of the road /
maybe we can find a loophole /
brother can you pay a life of belief? /
brother i’ll beg and challenge the rules /
brother, he’ll make an exception for you /

can you believe what you’ve been told

 

 Rahi: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (23)

This one’s an old one from the same too-long-for-the-quality session as Anytown, USA from 2000.  It’s about watching a divorce happen.

Lyrics:

The work of angels in a celestial joke / To have to watch the angel go /

The gift of wisdom where not a wisdom spoke / The sort of dharma you should know /

All things have their reasons / Perfect in their seasons / Still I’m left believing /

Rahi Yaad  /

I didn’t bother (the poet is no use) to steal a blessing from the king /

I hit the bottle and stumbled in your shoes / I know the words but I can’t sing /

All things have their reasons / Numb and hope receding / Help me start believing /

Rahi Yaad

 

 Anytown, USA: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

This was recorded in 2000, and the amount of time spent on it doesn’t quite translate. It’s about being kicked out of your home to make room for a highway/mall/car-wash. This was before I was using other instruments. Well, I always liked the song and I’ll revisit it one day. In the meantime, enjoy!

Lyrics:

High walls arise for native eyes / We’re buying bonds to hide the lies /

I will steal your style, vanish from this town / far away / but will you keep on file /

everything we are / everything we’re not? /

Don’t talk to us / We’ll call the guards / We’ll fight a war to fuel our cars /

I won’t have my home buried for your mall / relocated /

We avoid your bars dying for your cause / disengaging ours /

The cities secret life leaves you wishing you were out / The mayor’s empty house leaves you doubting where you are /

I won’t waste my life under your control / disappointed / who let you decide everything we are / everything we’re not? /

You hold the floor / We’re keeping score

 

 A Star is Born: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (35)

This was done about 5 years ago in (almost) the proper studio. It was never actually finished/mixed, but I thought you’d like to hear it anyway. Plus I was a bit sick this week and couldn’t record anything new..

Lyrics:

I woke in the afternoon and the sun was soon to go /

I won’t mourn the loss of light by the sentimental glow /

These brand new philosophies / Will they shred apart the old? /

I may be a hypocrite but at least I’m moving on /

I’ll break bread with who left me dead cause it’s not so black and white /

Don’t look now as a star is born and it’s lighting up my night /

I spoke with a boy today and compared him to his past /

My guess: In a few more years I will hear these lines and laugh /

I’ll emerge with a whole new face that you will not recognize /

Don’t look now as a star is born and it’s lighting up my night

 

 Easy: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (42)

This was recorded in the garage. Using only an AT4033 at a relative distance between vox and guitar. Not the best quality, but I’m experimenting with recording styles right now for speed and ease.

Lyrics:

You could have what you want but how would you ever know? /

Seems whole in the front, but in the side there’s a hole /

What can I say without affecting the whole world? /

I didn’t mean to be late /

it just feels like bad luck /

when the going gets easy you can never be sure /

I only eat if you feed me / you’d better show /

would you sit down in front? / i can’t see from the back row /

and to belabor the point i have a habit of sitting low /

what can i say that you can hear from your own world? /

i didn’t mean to be late / it just feels like bad luck /

oh… what am i saying? / you’re my hero

 

 Easter Island: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (46)

Recorded late at night in a quiet room using only an AT4033 that just happened to be situated almost perfectly.  This one came out pretty good, which got me thinking I might be able to do one every week.  The whole point is to let people hear what I’ve been working on writing without having to hassle through mixing and mastering ’studio’ versions.  I don’t want to make anyone wait any longer than they’d have to.  Also, this lets me hear it out loud and get ideas.  Enjoy!

Lyrics:

you’re the favorite life on a seasprung boat /

tied a thousand knots and you still don’t know /

what you’re gonna be when you stem the tide /

but you’ll sleep your best tonight /

tell the friends back home of the things you’ve bought /

build a great big house on the neighbor’s lot /

when the money goes you can pay with pride /

if they told you this, they lied /

i used to be whole. one land between sea /

conflicting ideals are wearing on me /

my seas they won’t shine. my amber won’t wave /

keep filling your face /

well you told yourself that you’d never leave /

when the foreman goes you can get your sleep /

and you left your friends but the phone still rings /

start packing your things