Sunday, August 27, 2017

Lovers - Song Lyrics from the 90s - Marion Daze

This is a Marion Daze song that we never recorded as a demo. I'm not sure why as I like it. We were really hard on ourselves and we had no guidance. Maybe we just didn't think it was worthy. Our music surfaced when grunge was just taking off and we were different for the time we were living in. In the early 90s, internet didn't exist. There was no streaming service and email was debuting as the new way to communicate. And you really needed a record deal to make a good record. Those were hard to come by then. It's too bad Marion Daze didn't stick around as I think our songs would have gotten better and better. Maybe there is hope for a reunion?

Marion Daze - Live Somewhere on Bleecker Street at 13:10

Lovers
By Julie Gengo/Ohad Varsano


We are only lovers
Holding our breath
We are only lovers
Consumed by innocence

We are only lovers
In revolving unrest
We are only lovers
Holding our breath

Diving in
With my hair down
The sound of waves
In the background
La dolce dolce
Far Niente
Mystery ends
With the laughter
And the rain
The rain.....

Bop bop bop bop
oh whoa whoa whoa whoa wah
Bop bop bop bop
oh whoa whoa whoa whoa wah
Bop bop bop bop
oh whoa whoa whoa whoa ah

Young and restless
Full moon in view
Count the beats
Between the two
The measure
Never lies to you
Slip down through
There's nothing
Left to do
To do
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa

Diving in
With my hair down
The sound of waves
In the background
La dolce dolce
Far Niente
Slip down through
There's nothing
Left to do
To do
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
Whoa

We are
Only lovers
We are only lovers
Only lovers
Holding our breath

Friday, August 25, 2017

Frankly - New Lyrics from 2017

New lyrics inspired by love or the lack there of. People you meet are strange. You think they know what they want, and then they flee before you turn your back. They tease you and tease you for what? Attention? Neediness?  But then the real thing comes around but you still wonder why? Has it happened to you? There is a melody to this but I still need a guitar player partner. Know anyone who wants to help me get the right sound to these words? Hit me up, please. Of course, this is a draft that will probably morph into something quite different. It's written with a sense of humor so it's okay to smile....



Frankly
By Julie Gengo

You're not interested in me
I understand
But quite frankly
I don't give a damn

A story that I knew
Not so long ago
I count my blessings
In a row

From Shakespeare's
Rose
To a William's kiss
In Patterson
Waterfalls on lips

You're not interested in me
I understand
And quite frankly
I don't give a damn

The world is turning
a round and
upside down
But you follow me
To the edge of town

I gave you everything
I had to give
You call my name
In a whisper kiss

You loved me for a moment
That I know
You stumble now
But can't let go

What is love?
Is it for the birds?
They come and go
Without any words
Just sweet songs to allure
They catch their mates
They're on their way
And for them 
That's okay
But for me
I wanted you to stay

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Knock Knock - Song Lyrics from the 90s

When Marion Daze was performing live, we usually opened up with this song. It had a good hook and the energy level was right. The song was about living in the East Village of New York and encountering all the people that lived on the street. This is still very relevant in a nation with so much money......San Francisco and Oakland are experiencing the impact of a housing shortage I believe caused by the greedy banks that cheated people and caused real estate to soar. A problem indeed. Thousands of people are living on the streets along the boulevards and under bridges and highways often surrounded by garbage. What is the solution? 

Knock Knock - Live at CBGBs Marion Daze


Knock Knock

By Julie Gengo / Ohad Varsano

Running around
In a frazzled world
Past the man
With his potions unfurled
He knows where hes going
He knows how to pay
His secrets are tokens
In a non transferable way

He lives in a shell
Knock knock
Is the living well
I don't know why
I can't get to him

He lives in a shell
Knock knock
It's a living hell
I don't know why
I can't get to him

Traveling by night
In a fragile world
Pass the woman
Whose reading the words
Be kind to your neighbors
Don't tread on their hands
They live in the cracks
Of this bountiful land

She lives in a shell
Knock knock
Is the living well?
I don't know why
I can't get to her

She lives in a shell
Knock knock
It's a living hell
I don't know why
I can't get to her

Take my hand
I will lead you through
Down the 
The corridor
To the big black room

If you take my hand
I will lead you through
Down the
The corridor
To the big black room

La la lum
la la la la la la la la lum.....



Saturday, July 1, 2017

Warm Blood - New Lyrics from 2017

OK sometimes you hear a note and the words just flow. Then you have to sit down and make them work somehow. But you have a tune and you can sing it, so that's a good start. Here is what has emerged thus far. Still searching for that elusive guitar player to turn this into something solid. A work in progress. Since the days are longer this time of year, there seems to be more time to do it all. 

Warm Blood
Lyrics/vocal melody 
by Julie Gengo 

I can see you in the dark
Haven't changed despite what's reeling
All the mortals void of feeling
Like the man 
On top

In a cavalcade of fear
Like the handle that won't open 
What's behind the feathered fortune
All alone 
In the dark

Warm blood
In the river
Wash my hands
The stains linger
Warm blood
In the river

Oh the pain that was forsaken
Knowing he is in the distance
A ghost that follows with persistence
All alone
In the dark 

Warm blood
In the river
Wash my hands
The stains linger
Warm blood
In the river

I can see it in your eyes
Sorry can't find it's feeling
Like a desperado steeling
All the souls 
The last drop 

Warm blood
In the river
Wash my hands
The stains linger
Warm blood
In the river

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Reflex Imagery - New Lyrics from 2017

Okay so this is how it works. You gather words in a format that resembles a song. You may have a melody in mind. You can hear it in your head and sing it, but it really needs that someone that can play the amazing musical enhancements. When you work together, the words may be switched around, spaced out or scrapped altogether. We will just have to see what happens. Exciting times. Did I tell you that I want to make a record? 


Reflex Imagery
By Julie Gengo 

Just when she thought 
She was firmly planted on the ground
The wind came in 
And swooped her out of town

It does that
It's got a mind of it's own
Bitter sweet poetry
Enough to roam 
All alone 

Reflex imagery  
It felt 
Like a blinding light 
Give it all to me
The comfort you feel at night 

She moved like a dance
The willows and the rumbling sound
But the wind came in 
And swooped her out of town

A mystery 
That remains unknown 
Bittersweet poetry 
Enough to roam 
All alone

Reflex imagery 
It felt 
Like a blinding light 
Give it all to me
The comfort you feel at night 

Bitter sweet town
It left you standing there
Shuffle around
The corner
Seems to bare

Reflex imagery 
It felt 
Like a blinding light 
Give it all to me
The comfort you feel at night 




Saturday, May 6, 2017

Fly By Night - Song Lyrics from the 90s

I wrote this song walking down the street and after watching the first Gulf war unfold on the television the night before. I was still in shock as to how the major networks portrayed the situation. They were calling the bombing that we could see in the background "awesome" and "spectacular;" words that I had associated and still do with occurrences that are good and happy. The glamorizing of war was repulsive to me and I never forgot that. I used to walk from my office, which at the time was close to Central Park. I lived in the East Village on 13th street right around the corner from the original Kiehl's shop. Pretty cool right?  I would walk down Broadway and listen to music on my Walkman, remember those? I remember being on 23rd street, passing the Flatiron Building in the neighborhood of Gramercy Park when I wrote this. It was a lovely walk, especially during the spring; a nice contrast to what was happening on the other side of the world. 


Fly By Night

By Julie Gengo/Ohad Varsano

Fly by night
Attack in the air
What does it all amount to?
Are you scared?

Danger zone 
All around 
Vision 
In my eyes

Will they ever 
Stop this nonsense 
Compromise

A common candle burns at both ends
Will it ever end?
Will it ever end?

A common candle burns at both ends
Will it ever end?
Will it ever end?

I saw a crowd 
Of people standing 
In the square

I turned around 
I stopped and stared

Desperation
Not knowing 
What to say

I turned up the volume
And walked away

But that doesn't mean
That I don't care
I'm just afraid

A common candle burns at both ends
Will it ever end?
Will it ever end?

A common candle burns at both ends
Will it ever end?
Will it ever end?

But that doesn't mean
That I don't care
I'm just afraid
I'm just afraid
I'm just afraid

But that doesn't mean
That I don't care
I'm just afraid
I'm just afraid
I'm just afraid


Thursday, May 4, 2017

Hearts and Minds - Song Lyrics from the 90s

This song has a very moody, melodic melody with a carnival backdrop. This was another one that popped into my head while I was walking in the West Village of NY where I used to live. Bleecker Street to be exact. It's changed so much since then. I wonder what I would write now if I were there? 

Hearts and Minds
By Julie Gengo

Hearts and minds
In control
Touch me now
Don't let go

I'm with you now
I'm with you

Are we strong
Moving fast
Touch me now
Before we pass

I'm with you now
I'm with you

I can see you
Falling back on my hands
Have we crossed the fine line?
Slipping through the mass

Hearts and minds
Ooooooh oooh ooh ooh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

Hearts and minds
Touching down
Enamored in
Turbulent sound

I'm with you now
I'm with you

I can see you
Falling back on my hands
Have we crossed the straight line?
Are we in control?

I can't let go

And this crazy fortune in my hand
Is it telling me another plan?
Are we really who we think we are?
Have we strayed away or gone too far?

Hearts and minds
In control
Touch me now
Don't let go

I'm with you now
I'm with you now
I'm with you now
I'm with you


I

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Forgotten Fog - Song Lyrics from the 90s

This is one of the first songs that I wrote with my partner Ohad Varsano for our band Marion Daze. It has railing happy guitar parts that get you going. I will post our demo. We only made demos in our flat. I did open with this song when we played live. I even have a recording from CBGB's. I have to figure out how to convert it from a cassette to a digital format. I actually like this song exactly as it is. It exists on DAT but who has a DAT player these days? Our band did well for a solid 5 years and then we parted ways. Reunion I hope is in our future. Oh, I used to work in the Empire State Building for a while and I guess the fog made me think of the beach. I liked to daydream....


Forgotten Fog
By Julie Gengo/Ohad Varsano

Breaking away
Off the 61st floor
The forgotten fog
Off the rooftops
High as we can go

Breaking away
Off the 61st floor
The forgotten fog
Is drifting
Through my shoes
Once more

Life on a beach
Hear the sound
Of rushing water
Beneath my feet
And the complacent sensation
We come to meet

Life in discreet
Hear the rustle 
Of the wind
Between the leaves
One snap of a branch 
And I fall to my knees

Breaking away
Off the 61st floor
The forgotten fog
Off the rooftops
High as we can go

Breaking away
Off the 61st floor
The forgotten fog
Is drifting
Through my shoes
Once more

Black cats
Routine dates
Crossings
Can't ever be late
With sticky fingers
And interest rates
We wait and wait
We wait and wait
Forgotten fog



Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Marion's Daze - Song Lyrics from the 90s

I wrote this song while I was in the band Marion Daze. I felt that the band needed a title song but really this just popped into my head and then I guess it took that roll. Marion was the girlfriend of the guitarist and she was lovely. It is sort of a tribute to her mixed with a bit of fantasy. While the band was together, we lived in the same building on 13th street between Avenue A & B. It was a walk up that was extremely hot in the summer. Ohad and Marion's flat had brick walls which was nicer than mine. We all had to leave when they sold the building. I then moved to the West Village while Ohad scored a typical NY flat around the corner from Saint Marks Place. Rent was cheap back then and affordable to artists like us. 

Marion's Daze
By Julie Gengo and Ohad Varsano

It could be summer 
The sky is so clear
Beauty surrounds her
She loosens the fears

Any place or time 
Just follow her
It doesn't matter 
How or when 

Warm breezes and pleasures
The clouds are drifting 
It's all in a whisper 
She's captivating

Any place or time 
Just follow her
It doesn't matter 
How or when 

The rhythm and the rhyme 
Will comfort you
Slowly softly slip away

Oh Marion's, Marion's daze
Oh Marion's, Marion's daze

No need to surrender
She asks for nothing 
Her touch is forever
Freedom from rushing 

Any place or time 
Just follow her
It doesn't matter 
How or when 

The rhythm and the rhyme 
Will comfort you
Slowly softly slip away

Oh Marion's, Marion's daze
Oh Marion's, Marion's daze





Controls - Song Lyrics from the 90s

Venice Beach was an interesting place to live. I learned how to surf there even though the surf was never good enough to learn on. This song is something that I started and am still working on now. Not sure of the melody yet. Not sure if it's worthy of melody but that is yet to be determined. Dark and gloomy for sure like the early summer skies along the California coast. Venice was fun, but I never felt at home there. The boardwalk wasn't my favorite place and it still kind of makes me feel uncomfortable. 

Controls
By Julie Gengo

All I wanted was to make amends
Where the Red Sea parts
Is it time that bends? 
All I wanted was to settle down
When the waters came rushing in

Hard to find the controls
Where are you now? 
Crawling in a hole
Hard to find the controls

All I wanted was to play the role
But these ties that bind
Is it strength that folds?
All I wanted was to feel no pain
But the waters came rushing in 

Hard to find the controls
Where are you now? 
Crawling in a hole
Hard to find the controls

All I wanted was a place to rest
Do you remember where
I placed my head
All I wanted was to be your friend 
But the waters came rushing in 
But the waters came rushing in 



Shadow - Song Lyrics from the 90s

This one came out in pieces and is still a work in progress. I tried to record this when I moved to Venice Beach in 1994 but the people that I was working with turned out to be kind of creepy, so it was abandoned. I was experimenting with more of an electronic sound. I don't think it will end up that way. Most of my songs are written after reading something in the news or from a book. I can't remember where this one came from. It's probably just a concept piece. Dark but effective. 

Shadow
By Julie Gengo

I'm all alone
In the shadow I'm waiting, waiting
Chilled down to the bone
Some people think I'm crazy, crazy

Desolation's en vogue
But this is not my suicide
Feeling out the unknown
But I'm not crazy, crazy, crazy crazy

In the shadow I crawl
Crawl daddy over the big brick wall
In the shadow I crawl

I've met the demand
I won't be frightened anymore
Big man out of hand
You can't invade me, invade me

In this circumstance
Tomorrow won't get in my way
Now you understand
So don't invade me, invade me, invade me, invade me

In the shadow I crawl
Crawl daddy over the big brick wall
In the shadow I crawl

No thank you mam
Sugar fixes won't appease my appetite
Didn't ask for your hand
So pardon me if I don't appear polite

In the shadow I crawl
Crawl daddy over the big brick wall
In the shadow I crawl
Crawl daddy over the big brick wall

Outside In - Song Lyrics from the 90s

This one has a melody but no music yet. Lyrics started back then, but updated today. Let's try to get some music to this one. Any takers? I think the vocal melody came right away, but I can't remember why this one wasn't turned into a proper song. 


Outside In 
By Julie Gengo

Today
I feel
Upside-down
All around
The sky
Is inside out

Inside, outside, upside-down
Inside, outside
Upside-down like the wind that is blowing me

Oh lord why does it rain
Yesterday's reason's 
Tomorrow's gain
I feel my fingers 
Moving again 

Outside
All around 
The birds don't sing
Am I lost?
My recourse 
To wear the ring 
Hindsight, blind sight I can't keep from running

Oh lord why does it rain
Yesterday's reason's 
Tomorrow's gain
I don't know what 
I was thinking of then  

In the back of my mind
The blind leading the blind
Only to find
Fractured seasons pass the time

Oh lord why does it rain
Yesterday's reason's 
Tomorrow's gain
I feel my fingers 
Moving again 


Monday, April 3, 2017

Lights Out - Song lyrics from the 90s

This is another song written while living in the East Village of NYC. I lived on East 13th Street twice. Once between 2nd and 1st and the second time between 1st and A. The neighborhood still had a lot of character back in the 1980s and early 1990s. My bedroom in one of those flats faced the street and 3 times a week the garbage trucks would pick up the trash at 5:30 in the morning. It wasn't always easy living there. 

Lights Out
Words and Music
Julie Gengo

Stories I throw out that conjure up 
images of courage
What in the world was I thinking 
when you turned the light on

Now I wait in the shadows
I follow in your footsteps
I stumble in the message
to hold on

Stories I throw out that conjure up
images of courage
What in the hell was I thinking 
when you turned the light on

Now I sit in the shadows
I fumble in your presence 
I stumble in the essence 
to hold on

Lights out
Lights out
Lights out 
Lights out
Lights out

Stories I throw out that conjure up 
images of courage
What in the world was I thinking when 
you turned the lights on

Now I wait in the shadows
I tumble in your message
I crumble in the wreckage 
to hold on
The words are all wrong 
You've got it all wrong

Lights out
Lights out
Lights out 
Lights out

Lights out

Stories I throw out that conjure up
images of courage

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Windy Road

One from March 2017, written on an iPhone in the notes section, at 9:04 pm, after the storm had subsided - I made that bit up....

Windy Road
By Julie Gengo

I met you on a windy road
With all things shuffling 
Fast and furious

You stopped me
I listened 
The sky was open 
The wheat fields glistening 

The barn in view
Life was moving 
We were still 

You asked me if I knew the way to San Jose
I didn't 

You showed me your hand
I held on

I drew a map with my finger

It started from your palm
And moved all the way around your chest
And down your spine 

A clear path to get you on your way
But you didn't
You turned around  
You stayed

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Patience by Marion Daze - Song Lyrics from the 90s

More song lyrics from the 90's. Marion Daze never performed this, but the music is really good and I'm going to take another crack at it as an update is being sorted out. Stay tuned....

Patience by Marion Daze (demo)


Patience
By Julie Gengo

So much has happened now
Time moves fast
Entwined in wishes 
Memories of the past

Caught up in heavy rain
And rainy days gone mad
Where are the fundamentals
Of dreams that I once had

Sometimes I just don't know
What's really going on out there
Sister sing me a note
A little something to soothe my ear

Caught up in heavy rain
And rainy days gone mad
My dreams have been deferred
What happens to them now?

Sometimes I just don't know
What's really going on out there
Sister sing me a note
A little something to soothe my ear

If time is of the essence 
Then we must trust in our hearts
Patience so precious
Mysterious in parts

Sometimes I just don't know
Sister sing me a note

Saturday, March 11, 2017

South Ledge - Song Lyrics from the 90s

Song lyrics from the 90s. This was written during my time with my second band called Clovematic. We were only together for about a year but I was able to write some really nice songs. The music was created by a man called Eugene Lavenue based around a vocal melody that I sang to him. 

SOUTH LEDGE
Lyrics by Julie Gengo

A picket fence
A daisy chain
We walk on through
In a dream

Your hand to touch
A masquerade
Of the same old scene

But now
You and me
Sitting here
Watching the sky go by
On our south ledge
The world stands still
The angels wait
For the by and by
For the by and by

This old place
Still remains
Somewhere sits
In my dream

You said so much
I remember now
This history
Hasn’t left me

But now
You and me
Sitting here
Watching the sky go by
On our south ledge
The world stands still
And the angels wait
For the by and by
For the by and by


Friday, March 10, 2017

Monday Morning

Okay well I believe this is another poem from around 2009. I was living in Cardiff by the Sea in the bottom of a house that sat on a hill. Although my space was a converted garage, I did have an ocean view. Small but very sweet with a fence in front of the house that sat between my house and the house below the ally. That fence was covered in purple morning glories. 


Monday Morning
By Julie Gengo

Monday morning
light hovers through
purple glories
not wanting to go to work either

Streaming music keeps focus
while dragging through
mundane complexities
of why go at all
if you doubt happiness

Relinquish your everydayness
then Monday will
unravel just fine

For somewhere down the road
just a few steps
is a respite
where ease is present
and flowers bloom everywhere

A flash forward
will bring to light
all that makes sense
and all that doesn't

And Monday will
go on
and on
forever
like a good memory that lingers

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Justine - Song Lyrics from the 90s

Hello again. Another song lyric from the 90s. Yes this is a dreary song...but the melody is nice, sort of melancholic.


JUSTINE
by Julie Gengo

When you grew up before my eyes
I did not see you
Serine words were what we had
But I could not reach you

Arriving sometimes
When all things are moving
Arriving sometimes
When all thing are moving
   slowly

Oh Justine stay away from my love
When darkness falls
It shatters all
Oh Justine when darkness falls
It shatters, shatters all

Under the starlight candles burn
If only to fix this
Oh star eyes if you only knew
How I could have changed things
  for you

Arriving sometimes
When all things are moving
Arriving sometimes
When all thing are moving
   slowly

Oh Justine stay away from my love
When darkness falls
It shatters all
Oh Justine when darkness falls
It shatters, shatters all

The seabirds are all we've got tonight
Serine words won't suffice tonight
I've tried so hard
To turn the key around

Oh Justine stay away from my love
When darkness falls
It shatters all
Oh Justine when darkness falls
It shatters, shatters all




Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Terms and Conditions

2017 is proving to be quite lucrative in the poetry section of my mind. Sometimes, you just have to write it down.
Terms and Conditions
By Julie Gengo

If you want to enter
There are terms and conditions
Not to be confused with desires 
Like love and happiness
Violation can be 
Disastrous and permanent
There are no excuses 
Except death

One, if you wait too long 
You risk rewards like pleasure
And satisfaction 

Two, the sacred rule of response -
When there is none, rejection is imminent

Three, love must be present even in anger

Four, snarky replies don't fly

Five, speak what you mean
In slow methodical dirges that capture attention

Six, meditate before you strike

Seven, appreciate time 
Or thoughts of hole punching
In certain spots, will arise

Eight, red wine can soothe dismay
Know which one works best

Nine, avoid complication
All things flow better without

Ten, eye contact is essential
It speaks to the soul
Like lovers caught up in warm rain

Friday, March 3, 2017

Water Falls Down The Back Of My Neck

Sometimes you just have to write a love poem. Enough said...


Water Falls Down The Back Of My Neck
By Julie Gengo


The broken chair bends while twins fly by
The way he looked at her
And you at me
Slanted mailbox suspense
Subtle laughter and surprise

His words, your lips
Water falls down the back of my neck

Russian spies and Chameleons
Our friend at the bar
I smiled, you laughed
Time stopped for a moment
Among the madness

Warm hands caress
Black and while swirls and magnets

Bon Iver and Sweden’s roar
While tulips listened
To stories and poetry
When you were there and
I was here

Dreams and melody
Like butterflies and waterfalls in the distance


Wednesday, March 1, 2017

My India

In 2004, I was fortunate enough to venture to Kerala, India, deep in the coastal south. It was a breathtaking adventure and tumultuous as the same time as we were there during the horrific tsunami that shook our surrounding shores. Lives were lost and the people came together as they do in this magical place. 

My India
By Julie Gengo















When you fall in love
it transcends the world
All encompassing
and consuming

My India,
rich in pleasure
alive in movement
sacred in sound

Vibrant colors
infiltrate souls
like a tonic
on a crisp winter's night

Drink from the river
and feel
the lives of men
past and present

Bow down to
the noble one
the purveyor of light
who removes darkness

Ashes on my forehead
water at my feet
As I walk down the path
of perseverance
I transform