johnkloberdanz.com

Hi - If you've found yourself at this blog looking for something new, it's unlikely to happen anytime soon.  I enjoyed this project, but it's clear that my energy around it is gone once again. I've moved on for now, and I can be found at:

http://www.johnkloberdanz.com

I'll be posting songs and updates on occasion, and it would be great if you visited.

I can also be found on Facebook, where I post more often than I ever did here.

Thanks for visiting!

John K.

Rock & Roll Audit

When I walked in the first day
Couldn't believe what I saw
There was loud music playing
And dancing on the floor
The auditors were boppin'
The controller too
The Supervisor said,
"Hey what's the matter with you?"

"You're on a Rock & Roll Audit
You're on a Rock & Roll Audit
You're on a Rock & Roll Audit
Rockin' and rollin' all the time."

The room was all in shambles
Workpapers everywhere
Instead of ticks and ties
Red and blue was in their hair
With pins through their noses
And studs along their belts
A band was in the front
Led by the manager himself

I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
Rockin' and rollin' all the time.

I thought for sure they'd shape up
When the partner came to call
I couldn't believe it
When they didn't change at all
Although he looked much older
I knew something was wrong
When the partner grabbed a guitar
Played a funky dancing song

I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
Rockin' and rollin' all the time.

After standing there in shock
And wondering what to do
I ripped off my white shirt
And began to boogie too
Didn't care about the work
Only in it for the fun
Why can't it always be like this
With nothing getting done?

I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
I'm on a Rock & Roll Audit
Rockin' and rollin' all the time.

Commentary

I wrote "Rock & Roll Audit" very quickly one day in 1985, on the subway home from work. I had been challenged to come back to work the next day with a new song, and although I expressed the doubt that I could do it, in fact I did. It was a big hit! Originally I would get two women to come up and go "Rock Rock" after each line of the refrain (I would call them the Johnettes) but over time I changed it to audience participation.

I haven't performed "Rock & Roll Audit" in many years, but for some reason I found myself singing it in the shower yesterday. What made this important is that for years (literally, years) I had forgotten the third verse, forgotten so completely that I started to doubt my memory that there had ever been a third verse. I don't know if I have a recording, or written out lyrics anywhere, so I had reconciled myself to the fact that I might never know for sure. Then yesterday I remembered it as clear as day.

Working on several musical pieces right now; finishing "Across The Table" which was never properly put to music, "Too Old For Christmas", my first holiday song, and a yet-to-be-titled song about forgiveness and communion.

Democracy

Here's something I put together yesterday. 

Clarence Center Coffee Company

I played the Tuesday Open Mike at Clarence Center Coffee Company last night, here are some pictures (used with the permission of photographer Matt Brown, http://www.brownbuffalo.com, thanks Matt!). I did "Sunday Morning", "Silent Carousel", "It Dawns", and "Song For Jonas". Accompanying me was Courtney on the Spanish box.

After that I stopped by Al-E-Oops for their open mike hosted by Eric Joseph. A treat was hearing Bob Farmer for the first time in a couple of years, as well as being accompanied by Pat on drums. I did "Things Aren't Gonna Change", "You are You", "Silent Carousel", "Church Street", and "Not Happy".

It Dawns

When I have too many drinks and I start to think

Feeling sorry for myself

I'm black and blue, and the world I knew

Goes from the bar to the top shelf
They give me words of advice, they try to be nice
But sometimes I just don’t care
When I’m feeling alone, I’d rather go home
Because there’s no one there

I’ll gonna be the way I choose
After I sleep off all the booze

Refrain:
And it dawns on me
Just what I’m looking for
It dawns on me
The way the past has come and gone
And the road that I am on

If I worry too hard about my cards
Then I won’t play the hand I’m dealt
It’s not as good as it gets and I have regrets
Sometimes that’s how I’ve felt
I can’t break apart the past from things that last
Soon tomorrow's yesterday
I’ve got nothing to gain from things I can’t explain
I try to stay out of my own way

Bridge:

I know that I will be all right

If I can get through one more night

Refrain

"Solo" Verse

Bridge:

I truth is I can’t separate
The sins from what’ll get me through the gate

Refrain

Commentary

Here's this week's song class song, based on a Paul Klee piece titled "It Dawns". Allow me to clarify that: based very loosely. I'm wishing this song class wouldn't be ending this week, I'm wishing it was ongoing permanently. The trick will be to keep the urgency alive.

The Silent Carousel

I lifted my hand up
To hold back the grey
In the twilight I saw leaves
That had fallen yesterday
I never thought that I would be
Strong enough to tell
All of you that I feel I’m on
A silent carousel.

They say that everyone builds walls
Some high and some are low
People decorate them brightly
Sit and stare out their window
I thought of climbing over
But too many times I fell
I wonder if I should just ride
This silent carousel

Bridge:
Maybe there’s another way
Somewhere we’ll run and hide
A place with lower rings that we can reach
Somewhere with a breeze
And a view of the ocean
Where we can safely watch from the beach

When things are getting warmer
How am I supposed to know
If I’m feeling summer’s light
Or being burned as fire grows
I went out to the store
I fit my new mask pretty well
Now you will see me smiling on
The silent carousel

If you listen hard you still won’t hear
The silent carousel

Commentary

This is the second song I've written for the songwriting class. I performed it last Tuesday and it received very nice compliments. I am very happy with these words. This song took quite a bit of work, and so for two weeks in a row I've proven that I can focus, and edit, and edit some more, and push myself, and have a solid work product at the end.

Today Is That Day

Today is that day
and I am the one
that carries the water
to the stream,
in a backwards dance.

Today is that day
and I am the one
standing in the kitchen
running back and forth,
noticing every breathe,
every whisper,
every movement of your eyes.

Today is that day
and I am the one
folded into an envelope;
tucked inside, tossed aside.

Today is that day
and I am the one
sitting, waiting for you.

Today is that day
and I am the one
that sees the light of the sunset
and watches the night
turn into a darkness
made of blue.

Today is that day
and I am the one
holding your essential sadness.