Monday, September 23, 2013

Munsch's The Scream inspired my newest song Slave




 At a writers' workshop with Linda Rief a couple of summers ago, I drew this, my own version of Munsch's The Scream and wrote a poem about what it inspired in me. Basically, it's the struggle I've know over the last few years battling OCD.

The scream by  Julia Nadon, Montebello, QC, August 2012
All of my fears have joined forces against me
Advancing like an army beating drums
My enemies have found their way in
Through cracks in the walls of my mind
I run from dream to memory
Searching for weapons
And strength which might set me free
From the phantoms of doubt and worry
Paralyzed by anxiety
They ambush me
And shoot me
With obsessions
I’m a slave
To these masters
Cruel in their gentility
They say they will protect me
They rape and plunder my soul
Then rear their heads back and laugh
At my weakness
When I carry out my compulsions
To no end
 Desperately trying to exorcise the terror
Their seeds have left behind
 









All of my fears
Have joined forces against me
Advancing like an army beating drums
They’ve found their way in
*******************************
Through cracks in the walls of my mind
They’ve found their way in
*****************************
From room to room I run
From dream to memory
Searching high and low
For some strength to set me free
******************************
Paralyzed by anxiety
They ambush and they shoot me
****************************
 With obsessions and compulsions
I’m a slave (To these masters)
I’m a slave (They’ved found their way in)
**************************************

Cruel in their gentility
They say they’ll protect me
While they rape and plunder my soul
Heads thrown back, they laugh at me
*****************************
They laugh at my weakness
When I carry out their commands
Trying to exorcise the terror
Their seeds have left behind
*********************************
I’m a slave (To these masters)
I’m a slave (They’ve found their way in)
********************************
********************************
I’m a slave (To these masters)
I’m a slave (They’ve found their way in)
...









Saturday, September 21, 2013

Working on a new song.

I did what Leo Babauta, the Zen habits guy, said and turned the *&?%* Internet off for an hour and it worked. I was able to concentrate long enough without my fruit fly of a brain buzzing checkng out one thing another and I got the guts of a new song down.
I started by just playing a funky chord from a song I'd learned last year and then I started adding lyrics based on a poem I,d written a couple of years ago, tweaking the lyrics to make them singable.
My fingertips need a break and the home is no longer quiet, so I'll head out and work in it later. Maybe I'll be able to uploaded in a few days.
Yeah!

9:26 pm
Ha!!
Just finished the song.
Will record this week!!

Gratitude

I changed journals at the end of August. I don't really like its thin paper. I've gotten spoiled by Studio Oh and Ecojot journals. I love their sturdy and textured covers and their thick paper makes writing with my Pentel Energel purple ink pens absolutely luxurious.
I bought a small journal at Walmart (I know, I know) because it was cheap and had butterflies on its cover, but I hadn't realized that I would hate writing on ti's flimsy paper. So instead of writing my usual minimum of 3 pages à la Julia Caeron every morning, I'm writing 5 things down in a gratitude list morning and often at night.

There has been a shift in my attitude and perspective. I see the positive or at the very least the not so negative in most everything these days.
I fully intend on purchasing beautiful journals again as soon as possible, but I will keep up with my list gratitude list.

Some of my latest Youtube uploads

I've gotten into recycling old songs. I wrote this years ago and recorded it a couple of years ago when I was putting together a CD of original compositions which I offered as a gift to family and friends. I realized that I hadn't uploaded it to my Youtube channel. So I did just that.

Last spring Remy Shand offered some original music and sent out an invitation for collaborations. I'd been tempted back then but did nothing. While the house was quiet for about an hour a coouple of Sundays ago, I decided to start fiddling with his music. Some lyrics poured out and this is what I came up with.
I direct messaged Remy Shand with a link. He actually retweeted my version of his tune and added to his playlist on his Youtube channel. I'm glad that I dared.