Paul Barsom


There aren't any downloads on this page (yet).  These are all demos of songs that will eventually appear on albums and live.  They were all written in five months during early 2006 (about 25 songs in all), then arranged and recorded by me over the following two years in my studio.  I'm performing all the parts and singing.  It's the kind of stuff that plays in my head all day, yes, even when I'm talking to you.   These songs continue to evolve.  Lots of words have changed, etc.  I'm in the process of revising and re-recording all of them for real.   Consider these version as complete first drafts. 
They will evolve over the next year, when I'll have to move on from them to a newer material.  You can be part of that process, if you want.  Feel free to send your production tips (less singing, more cowbell, etc.) and I'll use the best ones when I'm recording them.  You can help me decide the order of the songs for the album, too.  I'll credit you in the liner notes for it (production assistance).  Meanwhile, if you want a copy of one or more of them in it's current state, email me and I'll send it to you (emailed MP3 or CD-quality audio disk by mail; you choose).  Please make them your own and enjoy them with me.  It's been a long time bringing these to the surface.




Deadman
 
The Desert

Old and common cause breaking a bond that's more than strong underneath the seat between the wheels deliver my reprise so poorly guarded don't make any commited signs now I make the call in twenty minutes everyone will know the cell divides helps me decide I got the word well educated once in a paradise camp I learned how to be like a kamakaze flying into the rail I'll take the train I'll frame the cause I'll pull the pillars no time to wait for agreements failed I'll make the crate all the talk derailed they're all the same the plan unveiled so clear the slate when the goods are mailed I'll shake the cost I'll testify I got the word well educated once at a paradise camp I learned how to be a kamikaze flying into the rail I'll take the train I'll frame the cause I'll pull the pillars we'll adopt the plan for agreements failed we'll effect demands all the talk derailed check the diagrams the plan unveiled send the new commands when the goods are mailed I'll be lionized taking the fire with my bare hands on the bus at dawn the square at noon got my deadman well in hand my new belt it's tailored well I only wish my friends could all see me 

My legs are tired but I'm wide awake fold my wings gonna walk all day 

and won't be coming back again flat on my back atop a rock at 2AM sling up my rope I'm gonna clear the deck of the knowing the water drains away into the sand I wish that you could go the moon is only set change'd do you good so keep awake and watch to see if all the rain is ever gonna find me and don't forget to check the net coyote cries all night there is no time to measure I guess my clock is all but useless here no walls no windows no frozen limbo no car no smoke shield no desert snowfield go fly away I'm gonna take that easy ride a different kind of eye so you can see inside you a way to redesign you it's light the whole night and so am I up on the ridge among the rocks around my head just like an island miles of blazing distance came away to sit here all alone the sun arrives the day begins just the way it does humming in a silent ear below the dust to build a space between us the cracks in all the world are real the road is new but broken up on a cliff the sound of planes above my head to get a better look they're making red sand out there on the horizon but not inside you


Your Majesty
 

Proof

You hold your head one inch above the water the stars reflecting like a mirror the sounds are clear from the other shore I lay my head back and follow constellations crown you like a withered hand free of everything and everything for free nobody said we'd have to claim as our own all the things we really needed did they? later drying on the couch you take the warm elusive line there always was a number that you would have me guessing I get it right every time well maybe you were cheating but I don't want to know so don't tell me...

...tell me 

You know the sun's up every day you get to be the only one you get to be the planets seem to always stay on their courses the grass is sleeping now but only sleeping you can breathe in all the air you like a lot of friendly folks the equipment does the job that it seems designed to all this mess appears to be the way it ought to the odds are just exactly what they are more or less the time is just about whatever time it is give or take a little you've got both hands and, yes, you know just how to use them up and down depends on just where you are the breeze can bring on chimes and rain the sound of windblown spines prone among the cactus and penguins fly right under the water the moon's just big enough to fill all the tidepools 


Row in Order

Holes

Like sawdust and rusted gears count up your beans everything refers to everything only halfway through my ears something to pace and make lists by row in order aimless as it is while repositioning the bloodless corpse no hope just a troped refrain to justify no juicy congresses contemplated here integrated but obsolete a king who thinks he has clothes on plasma picture showing only snow and we can't wait for this all to end eyes like a python voice like the radio hope you made a big impression it's not like anyone would know a dust pile of bold cliches, you skipped a digit random thoughts presented randomly re-assembled from leftover parts busy work for those who like to stay lonely

So tonight the rain comes down and a million voices talk to me so open to try and start again to fill the holes that swallow you every time feel the space that falls away nothing left so there you stay and the time you hoped that was all you needed disappears into holes that you never saw are you enough am I enough to fill the holes is there enough anymore or is it said all said and done? I hear the rain say that everything I know once was a hole and there's enough to fill up all the holes forever and everything is in its place... 


Your Move

 

Chains

You confess and answer taking all the change and making it refrain I'm never catching on it's just a piece of paper that contains the list of everything that you and I intend to do how we ever found the line between us is the only thing that ever mattered crossed beyond then gone below the minimum you get for all the sacrifice go and show the other side then pass the hat 'cause you renew the tribe you pay your tribute to here we go facing everything how could we know what this trip would bring I'm so tired and so are you and we're not even close to being through

on and on and on and on... 

 Head up and hands unbound 
your story's hanging on the wheel
need a little patience feels like flying 
put your chains away 
fly now with a broken wing 
no motion no wind no sound 
no reservations can't stop dying 
put your chains away 
put your chains away 
hands up and head unbowed 
don't save the words that I unsay 
no consolation