Atmyspheres

STORY
(for Donovan Drayton & too many others)

The wrong hang
And the wrong turn on the right day
And so what I’m not down
This ain’t my thing hey
I’ve got no slips ain’t no record I’m trying to parlay
You wanna take a ride uh I say OK
He says alright you be the ringo
The 4th one in the back make sure the beat flows
Ain’t gonna be drama unless you see cops
I’ve got the perfect plan but then it went pop

I’ve got a story to tell
And I won’t let you tell it
And I won’t let you give it away
I’ve got a story to tell
And I’m not gonna sell it
And I’m not gonna give it away

Somebody said something wrong
Check out the news flash
And then they spun it around forget the hard facts
They got a deadline at 6 we need to be on
Make up some details later we need to come strong
OK now you be the front guy
And we’ll surround you with people who never ask why
And when the poop it’s fan well you just play cool
And if it comes back on us uh we don’t know you

I’ve got a story to tell
And I won’t let you tell it
And I won’t let you give it away
I’ve got a story to tell
And I’m not gonna sell it
And I’m not gonna give it away

Who who who who who who
Who tried to run
Who had the gun
Who lied
Who who who who
Who said the words
Who really heard
Who lied
Who lied
Who lied

This is my only son my seed I’ve planted here
Got troubles of my own but all my worst fears
I’ve kept away from him now for nearly twenty years
But here he is on the verge of doing twenty years
Rip up your box I’m not your cliché
He’s not you case number 9 before your lunch break
He’s not your victim, your problem or what you point to
For excuse you make to say we’re not like you

I’ve got a story to tell
And I won’t let you tell it
And I won’t let you give it away
I’ve got a story to tell
And I’m not gonna sell it
And I’m not gonna give it away

Who who who who who who
Who tried to run
Who had the gun
Who lied
Who who who who who who
Who said the words
Who really heard
Who lied
Who lied
…

Who lied?

Move Me

MOVE ME

07 Move Me

Now let's go back to that conversation that we had 'bout a year ago today

It's a dangerous thing to give someone expectations on empty promises that you make

So I'm sayin

Move me move me show me damn what a man can do

Move me move me mend this heart that's been broke in two

Move me move me baby stand like you understand what you're here to do

No I couldn't get mad if I believed you were trying, ain't no crime in being weak

But insincerity from a two-faced man, on this injustice I gotta do more than speak

Move me move me show me damn what a man can do

Move me move me mend this heart that's been broke in two

Move me move me baby stand like you understand what you're here to do

Excuses excuses excuses

1. Well you meant to

2. But you couldn't cause

3. You're baby momma rent due

4. You're stomach hurts aww

5. The wind blew your homework away

6. It's cold outside

7. You wanted to stay but

WHAT WHAT motherfucker WHAT WHAT

motherfucker g*ddamn WHAT

WHAT WHAT motherfucker WHAT WHAT WHAT

Move Me move me show me damn what a man can do

Move me move me mend this heart that's been broke in two

Move me move me baby stand like you understand here to do

WHAT WHAT motherfucker WHAT WHAT

Sky Is Falling

05 Sky Is Falling

Sky Is Falling

 

Children run, times a wasting, Tuesday Armageddon will be here

Watch your head as the moon falls, don’t lick the clouds, they’re salty like our tears

In the shadow is lurking a beginning end

Here we are once again

 

Sky Is Falling, down & down & ‘round we go

Sky Is Falling, on & on like we did before

Sky Is Falling, don’t you see the irony

I think another system’s coming down on me

 

Put your ear to the ground there

The heart of mother Earth is growing thin

To the ball who will come first, a specter laughing loudly at our sin

Say’s he hates to inform us of the state we’re in

But here we are once again

 

Sky Is Falling, down & down & ‘round we go

Sky Is Falling, on & on like we did before

Sky Is Falling, don’t you see the irony

I think it’s just a system coming down on me

Sky Is Falling, down & down & ‘round we go

Sky Is Falling, on & on like we did before

Sky Is Falling, don’t you see the irony

I think it’s just a system coming down on me

 

Peter L. Moreland/V. Jeffrey Smith/Sandra St. Victor

 

Shelter

Shelter

With every heartache we’ve traveled so far

Every dark night has a day

For every tear’s sake we follow a star

To the shelter of our love

Loneliness fades and happiness invades me

With you in my life you’re the way to my serenity

So undaunted you and I have mended our seams and plights

No situation is gonna steer us away from our eternity

 

With every heartache we’ve traveled so far

Every dark night has a day

For every tear’s sake we follow a star

To the shelter of our love

In a black room you kissed my aging wound then

I saw without sight the true meaning of what real love can do

When you’re with I’m never feeling empty I’m filled with your light, I’m satisfied, I never cease to be surprised with joy for you

 

With every heartache we’ve traveled so far

Every dark night has a day

For every tear’s sake we follow a star

To the shelter of our love

Finding peace in the shelter of our love

Ever sweet in the shelter of our love

An oasis in the desert, it’s the shade over the sand

Give me peace, the shelter ….

Sandra St. Victor/Tom Hammer

Ghetto Heaven

10. Ghetto Heaven (Original Soul II Soul 12_ Remix)

 

Ghetto Heaven

 

You know I love my baby, know I love my baby

My baby loves me, baby loves me

My day it gets so heavy, I need a little company

It’s quarter to wheneven,  it’s time to make some ghetto heaven

Ghetto heaven, I need a little ghetto heaven

 

Nana likes brandy, Nana likes brandy

Especially peach, ‘specially peach

She keeps it by the radio and listens to the reverend preach

It’s ten-o-seven, and time to get some ghetto heaven, ghetto heaven

Ghetto heaven, ghetto

It’s time to get some ghetto heaven, ghetto heaven,

Ghetto heaven, ghetto, she needs a little ghetto heaven

 

Baby baby baby, all I need in this world is you

And when you call baby baby baby, your touch your kiss always gets me thru oh

My

 

Sista needs her sugar, sista needs her sugar

To get her through the day, to get her through the day

She doesn’t have the money, but always got a way to pay

It’s two-o-seven, it’s time to sell some ghetto heaven

Ghetto heaven, ghetto

It’s time to sell some ghetto heaven, ghetto heaven,

Ghetto heaven, ghetto, she needs a little ghetto heaven

 

 

Peter L. Moreland/V. Jeffrey Smith/Sandra St. Victor

 

I'm A Terrible Blogger

Maybe someone should send me a reminder every now & then to tell me that I even have a blog.Well actually, my yearly charge on my credit card statement did that just now. I'm overwhelmed recently with how an artist is supposed to BE an artist, when he/she/them are supposed to keep up with so much socializin' on the web. Don't get me wrong, I kinda enjoy hearing directly form the people for once in my career. Hearing from their mouths what some of them have wanted to tell me for years. It's validating to receive a Facebook message from someone who tells you that your song got them through missions in Bosnia. It's heartwarming to get a Tweet from someone saying one of your songs helped them deal when they lost a loved one. Amazing.

i do feel blessed,

and yes, overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the simple task of, when to write songs, when to think of a song, when to sing to myself so I can hear me. It's the new paradigm y'all, and I'll make it happen. I'\m doing it. just had to cut out sleep entirely. no problem.

nothing but sincere.

Sandra St. V.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid My Friends

Marty Kaplan: President Giuliani. President Romney. President Huckabee. President Just-Shoot-Me.

Posted December  2, 2007 |

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/president-giuliani-pres_b_74985.html

Yesterday Was Tomorrow Already

This was truly a life affirming experience for me.
North Sea Jazz 2007 was amazing all around. We had Al Green, Steely Dan, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, India. Arie, Candy Dulfer featuring Rosie Gaines, Marcus Miller, and most wonderfully … Sly And The Family Stone WOW!. I was like a kid y’all.
OK … I had a ton of friends playing with quite a few acts, so I spent quite a bit of time backstage and in dressing rooms. My girl Cindy Mizelle sang with Steely Dan, my bugga bear Ready Freddie Washington played with them as well. Poogie Bell, and DJ Logic played with Marcus. And let me say that Mr. Marcus is the new hardest working man in show business, DAMN. Marcus did so many gigs and master sessions during those few days, he showed my ass what a real Gemini is supposed to look like ;-o
When Ms. Wonderfully talented, but wonderfully effed up Amy Wine-O-house didn’t show up again, who stepped in and did another awesome show, Marcus Madman Miller. Love that dude.
Anyway, although I was running from back to front of house, I took in quite a bit.
Some of these performances HAD to be had.
I was in THE FRONT ROW with the press for Sly, and oh my Lawd. First of all his band is off da hizzy. We anxiously waited, but folks were getting nervous. (I knew he was there, we’d seen him arrive backstage). He came out after about 5 songs. A bit worse for the wear of years understandably, but still the funkiest cat to open his mouth. He was fidgeting with the keyboards, and made some sort of complaining growl, like “ayyyeeeee”. THAT was even hella funky. As I’m standing there, looking up into Sly Stone’s nose hairs, and drinking this energy in, I realized how deeply his music had been embedding in me, how affected I was/am by his expression. I felt enlightened, validated. I can’t even explain it really.
He did a few tunes, then said he was an old man and had to go pee, and that he’d be back and left the stage. I went backstage at that point ‘cause folks behind us were pissed at us. I understood. If you can, please go see this band. Go feel this man.

Welcome To Tomorrow

This is my first time attempting to put my thoughts out to the world at large in an actual blog, so I need you to work with me.
I invite your candid thoughts, suggestions, ideas for blog content etc.

Where are we going musically, culturally, business-wise with this music thing?
Hmmm ... I have to think about it myself.
... I have some gigs to do for the next few days, I'll be back next week.