Words I've Written, Songs I've Sung

Store/Update

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 04:44:47 GMT

Sorry it's been a while since i've updated.

I'm happy to announce that the Store is now open.

Feel free to get anything you like. (Though I ask that you guys don't spend too much money on me, I'd feel damned guilty.

All profits will go to funding the EP I am making.

I haven't decided what all will be on the cd. What I can tell you is that tommarrow I plan on going in search of a GOOD microphone to record with, as I find myself able to afford it better than I normally would. Then the real work begins.

I have been working on songs and adjusting them, letting them grow a bit before I put them down. I have moved my computer/keyboard/guitar setup into the kitchen of my apartment because of the better acoustics.

I have rewritten part of "Brighter Day" (which I will post changes on here eventually) and have yet to decide which version I will use. I may end up taking a vote, to see which you all prefer. It might even come down to recording both and seeing which sounds best.

Also, I have been doing some (very loose) writing that may end up being a song or two that are 'studio songs'. i.e. songs that are written as they are put together, aren't wholly acoustic-guitar based or whatever. Just somehting I'm going to experiment with.

Enjoy the store, I'll keep you all posted on recording as it begins and where it'll end up.

-ben.

New Demos

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 13:47:16 GMT

I have some new demos. I've put them up on my site (benhoward.co.uk) but as some of you have experienced problems getting that to work, I've also placed them on my myspace.com page.

go to http://www.myspace.com/benhoward that should work. It should just play right there in your browser. Also, you can click on download to download them. Feel free to share them and point random people to the page as well.

There are new versions of Brighter Day and the older Behind the Scenes, as well as the first ever recording of Daybreak.

Listening through them, I an tell i recorded them all in just one take. The vocals are okay, there are rough spots where I know I can do better. You know how it is. These are demos. Not perfect. But they're better than previsou ones I can tell you that.

Enjoy.

-ben

Morning After

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 08:16:31 GMT

This is a little song I've had racking about in my brain for a while. It's been about as complete as it's going to get for close to two months now; I've constantly thought I might add to it or change it, but it occured to me tonight at work how I will end up using it.

The guitar part is obnoxiously simple. The words as well. It's a short little tune that will probably come across as a jam-band type thing, which is fine by me. It's a song more about being caught up in the moment than it is about anything that could be said. Words are sometimes just meaningless.

Morning After

The sun is rising
the lights are coming on
the city comes alive
everyone begins their daily song

Lying here with you
the morning after we found love
I'd dream of the future
but this moment seems enough

doesn't this feeling
make you want to lie around all day
doesn't it make you wish
the world would melt away
doesn't this love
feel like heaven in your arms
oh love, won't you stay
with me

won't you stay with me
won't you stay with me
won't you stay with me
etc, etc....

Lyrics without music. Thoughts.

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 04:49:13 GMT

break my heart
tear me in two
just give me a chance to be with you

I can't hide this love
can't hide the fear
of knowing that I'll never hold you near

so do what you will
so long as you stay
cause girl I can't face another day

if I don't
speak my mind
i'd rather hurt than regret it this time

so break my heart
into a million peices
just so I can say I tried

if only so I can say I tried.

Maryville College Show.

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 00:27:00 GMT

So I played that show today, and it was awesome. My dad's video camera was broken thought, so I didn't get any video/audio of it. That sort of upset me, but oh well. There will be more chances in the future.

The setlist went thus:

#41 (Dave Matthews Cover)
Behind the Scenes
Nothing
Brighter Day
Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover)
Daybreak

All in all it went so very well. I was pleased, and I got a lot of good responses from people who were there. it was extremely hot, and I got all sweaty and stuff, but that was to be expected.

Also, my old friend Lauren gave me a cd with some of my old old old songs on it. It had my original recordings of Behind the Scenes and All I can do, as well as some stuff i had forgotten about. I'm gonna play around with them a bit, see what they sound like nowadays. lol. Maybe a new tune will come out of one?

-ben.

big smile

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 05:52:39 GMT

Okay, so this is not open for business just yet, but you all have to go here:

Store and tell me what you think.

I feel so good having finally got some of this stuff done. It's a lot of work.

Be sure to click on each one, do the zoomed pics and stuff so you get a good look at everything. I want opinions, etc.

If the prices are outrageous, let me know. I tried to do the best I could. In the end I don't really care about making money, I just want to give you guys some cool stuff, and get my name out there.

Repeat, not open for business just yet. I jutt want some feedback. If you want one design moved to a different shirt, let me know. If you'd like to see some other stuff, be sure to tell me.

...Hope you enjoy. These are for you guys.

-ben

Poster.

Fri, 09 Sep 2005 03:18:31 GMT

So hey, I have an idea for a poster. But it's going to involve help from all of you. (sheesh, I'm sure becoming one of those artists who involves all his fans in everything aren't I? [I just called you fans didn't I? that feels weird. You're all close friends. There.])

It's going to involve a picture of me, yes. but it's also going to involve pictures from around the world. So here's the deal. I want pictures of all of you. and pictures of things like beaches, cities, the sky, dogs, cats. Things where you live that capture a part of your life. Most important is the pictures of you guys, but should this work out it should be a nice big collage of stuff.

you can post them as replies, you can send them in emails. do as you wish.

Also, very soon I will have some shirts for sale. I'm not sure how much or anything, and the idea is still kind of blooming. But it should happen within the week.

Any ideas can be tossed my way.

-ben

Set List

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 06:20:35 GMT

Here is My proposed set list for saturday. It might change as I practice it out some. there are two covers thrown in there. If anyone is not familiar with them, post a reply and I will put the lyrics up here.

1. #41 (Dave Matthews Cover. I like opening with a cover, helps calm me down).
2. Behind The Scenes
3. Goodbye
4. Brighter Day
5. Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover).
6. Nothing
7. Daybreak

Saturday.

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 03:41:48 GMT

So, this is very exciting, I just got a call from a friend who organizes intervarsity at a local private college about a half hour from where I live. They're having a big "beginning of the year" carnival get-together type thing, and need musical entertainment. They have two guys, but needed a third. Who did they call?

me.

I'm very excited. This will be my first "show" in front of a bunch of people who don't know who I am, and not in a cafe somewhere in downtown knoxville.

Just thought you guys might like to know.

yeah.

now to pick the songs...

Also, I'm getting ready to design a few shirts/buttons to put for sell on cafepress.com . You all need to post ideas on any lyrics you'd like to see of mine on a shirt. Or a design, or picture associated with my lyrics or whatever. Just leave ideas. Please??

-ben

icon goodness.

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 23:34:34 GMT

check out the new icon!

--many thanks to katie who took the picture. I don't think anyone has ever done anything quite so wonderful..

see the replies to 'Behind the Scenes' for the full picture.

-ben

Behind the Scenes

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 22:33:08 GMT

Okay, so. Any of you who read my personal journal heard me tell of a song. The first "real" song I ever wrote, for a friend of mine named Lauren.

Well, any time I played it at a show, I dedicated it to all the girls in the audience. And here I've played it a few times today and realized it is still a pretty good song.

This one goes out to Katie, Liz, Ashley, Eleanor, And all of Katie's girls.

Behind The Scenes

You're Sitting there with your rose-petaled stare
smile that could start a war
casually dressed, your hair's a mess
and you've got no makeup on

your beauty's in imperfections
when you haven't had the time to pretty up
hiding behind the cynic and the humourist
there's a you, I can't help but love

Give me a chance, let me dance on your beauty
don't hide away, don't hide behind the mask they wear
'cause I love who you are, behind the scenes.

You've got your jokes and your stories
I've just got my simple songs
you with your dance of mindplay and I
can't help but dance along

if you could open up my heart and look in
you'd see you fit just right
beneath my mumbles and my clumsiness
there's a love, I've got to show to you

Give me a chance, let me dance on your beauty
don't hide away, don't hide behind the mask they wear
'cause I love who you are, behind the scenes.

Layer upon layer,
it covers up who you really are
don't, please don't
cover up the you I know and love

you know love, I love

Give me a chance, let me dance on your beauty
don't hide away, don't hide behind the mask they wear
'cause I love who you are, behind the scenes.

Daybreak

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:22:16 GMT

When the lights go down
you can't see to love
when the music stops
and your feet just won't dance

you don't have to say a word
don't have to hide behind the tears
I'll hear your heart
crying out

cause Love doesn't seem
to ever find a way
and though you're broken
I'll be there to mend you

c
And daybreak comes
but we both know
it's been so long since we felt this way before

and the sun will rise
take you in my arms
and I'll be the one to show you how much love
how much love can be

v2
wipe away your tears
kiss you for a smile
cause even the stars look sad
in your eyes

I'd throw all I have away
just to hear you laugh
break myself in two
just for you

and time doesn't seem
to bring us fast enough
and though you're hurting
I'll be there to heal you

c
And daybreak comes
but we both know
it's been so long since we felt this way before

and the sun will rise
take you in my arms
and I'll be the one to show you how much love
how much love can be

and daybreak is
is coming here..here for you
and don't you know that I
oh I'd love to be the one
to show you love.

Nothing

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:21:31 GMT

sweetly stare
you're looking back at me
and i can't begin
to tell you

how I feel
when you are near
there's something here
so hard to describe

and oh when i look in your eyes
there's a song of the angels
and I know I can't put to words
what's going on

just the other day
driving down the street
I swear I saw your face
on a traffic sign

everywhere
everyone I meet
all I can do is sing and sigh

and oh I'm here again
standing at your door
and I yes I'll try again
what I've failed so many times before

searching for the words
and I fumble so
oh I'm nothing without you
nothing without you
no nothing without you

alone again
I'm searching for the dream
and I can't find a way

back to you
it always seems
and I'm losing my mind to my heart

oh I can't help but give in
you're what I seek
and there's nowhere I could go
nothing else I could be

searching for the words
and I fumble so
cause I'm nothing without you

Brighter Day

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:21:02 GMT

she's standing there
staring back at the world
looking through a mirror and he

not sure what to speak
he can't reach to hold her
plagued by these dreams

and so many times
she's wished to disappear
and so many times
he's wished that he could see her

and they say I
can't take it anymore

refuses to eat
she's wasting away
can't get any sleep, she's blurring night and day

he's prone to retreat
turn the lights off and cry
he's not sure who to be and he wonders why

so many times
she's wished to disappear
and so many times
he's wished that he could see her

and they say I
can't take it anymore

but there is a brighter day
waiting for you
just moments away

wake up and walk towards the light
fall in my arms
there's no need to cry

cause you don't have to take it any more.

cause he is me
and she is you
and love can be
misconstrued
we both know
that time's not on our side
so take this moment
for the rest of our lives

and so many times
you've wished to disappear
and every times
I've wished that I could hold you

cause I just can't take it anymore...

but there is a brighter day
waiting for you
just moments away

wake up and walk towards the light
fall in my arms
my love it'll be alright

cause you don't have to take it any more

Goodbye

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:20:34 GMT

she was an angel
she was everything
she could have told me
and I would have done anything

she was a fire
she burned in my heart
she never gave me a warning
before she tore me apart

but how can you say goodbye?
when I don't know why
and how can you say you know
everything'll be alright?
well I don't want to go
and I don't want to leave your arms
please don't say goodbye
goodbye

I was a loser
I was unsure of everything
and now I'm alone
I don't know what else to sing

we were something special
we were perfect or so I thought
I was so foolish
so naive and so distraught

but how can you say goodbye?
when I don't know why
and how can you say you know
everything'll be alright?
well I don't want to go
and I don't want to leave your arms
please don't say goodbye
goodbye

You run away please don't run away
you close the door
please don't close the door on me

how can you say goodbye?
when I don't know why
and how can you say you know
everything'll be alright?
well I don't want to go
I don't want to leave your arms
please, don't make me say
goodbye

new one.

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 20:18:41 GMT

Hello everybody. This is my new livejournal for my music.

This lj will be devoted to my songs, the words I write, how I write them, and just plain getting my name out there.

Have all your friends add me, get thema ll to come here and then to my websites to hear my music.

Get in the game!

-ben