Of Performances, Claudette Colvin, Special Women, New Lyrics, and the other stuff
It isn't as long as the title makes it sound. Thank you for reading.
I’m going to be playing a little music over the next couple weeks. Livestreaming from our loft this Wednesday at 6pm (PST) and playing a Farmer’s Market a week from Saturday (4/9). I have more information below.
Below that, lyrics for a new song, my new Substack newsletter for the technically passionate, and a short message about my recent activities.
SONGS & CONVERSATION (from the loft)
3.30.2022 - 6pm (PST)/9pm (EST)
more info & the streaming link
MATTHEW & FRIENDS AT THE MARKET
4.9.2022 - 9am-12:30pm (PST)
The Canoga Park Farmer’s Market Facebook page
It will be me and a few friends playing some songs, eating tamales and samosas, and bringing home some cabbage… and tomatoes, and other produce. ;-)
New Songs & Claudette Colvin
I had implemented a “no new songs” moratorium last month. It’s not the first time. I have a LOT of unrecorded tunes and wanted to focus there. And then last week and this week I wrote two new songs. I’m going to share the most recent.
First, do you know who Claudette Colvin is/was?
I didn’t.
I was listening to a podcast - Radio Diaries (one of my favorites) - An episode titled, Claudette Colvin: Making Trouble Then and Now.
Claudette was an African-American teen. About nine months before Rosa Park, she refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. A few years ago (60+ years after the event), her conviction was overturned. Justice can take a LONG time.
I’m writing another song more specific about Claudette. I’ve been thinking about her life as a 15 year old, compared to mine. At 15 I was smoking pot with friends in a nice, upper-middle class, 6 bedroom home with a veritable park and pool in the backyard.
Did I stand for anything at 15? Nope: no need to. And believe me, I’m grateful for that.
I also started thinking about two of my favorite women - my daughters. That led to the song below. I’m only sharing the lyrics, although I have the music done as well. I need to work on performing the song before I share it.
Below: I took this image the morning I wrote the song below. It is my view from the aforementioned loft (where I am streaming from tomorrow).
I hope you enjoy the lyrics.
Song: The Broken and The Brave
© 2022 - Matthew Moran
Verse:
She stands naked at these crossroads of life
Looking back, wonders, “was it all worth it?”
Every scar and misguided affection
Oppressive lesson, has she finally unlearned it
She raises her eyes to the future
A knowing nod to the one’s come before
Takes to the path, her first steps so uncertain
Quickens her pace then spreads her wings and soars
(chorus)
Chorus:
It’s always the heart on the line
Each choice we make, it forsakes another
Uncover clues and seeking a sign
Face the misgivings and fear you uncover
Take your rightful place among the stars
The broken and the brave It makes you who you are
Verse:
It’s never been easy, got that regular grind
Add layers of bullshit, condescending implications
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t
Are you cute or a bitch, damn that judgment and perception
Turn your back on those merchants of doubt
Their time is passing, you can feel their desperation
Double down on the vision you seek
Let’s push this truth beyond imagination
(chorus)
Introducing: The Google Automator
My lack of publishing here has NOTHING to do with a lack of activity. I’ve been working on a data reporting project for a client (along with a few other projects). For the geeky-minded, I’m using Google Apps Scripts - which is a way to automate Google Apps - creating spreadsheets, documents, reports, and automated emails - among other things.
I warned you - geeky!
I’m teaching a few people how to code in Google Apps Scripts and am launching a new substack, The Google Automator, where I provide weekly code-snippets and examples of automation for those who find such things interesting.
And Finally
Re: Christopher
A few have asked about Christopher. He’s been released from the hospital and spending time between Deb and I’s home and his mom and her husband’s place. He has a lot of physical recovery to do. And a lot of emotional and addiction recovery work to do.
But, using our day-by-day measure, yesterday (and the past several days) were good days. He is happy in light of all he has to work through. He is embarrassed and dealing with some shame. Self-evaluation is good… shame, not so much. But again, day by day.
re: You, my readers/listeners
I don’t share this enough but I appreciate you more than I can adequately express.
We are working to right some ships that we’ve allowed to drift in some doldrums… lack of attention can do that. But.. wow! We are excited about how things are going. I’m enjoying my technology work, my creative output, and the future plans that Deb and I are slowly putting into place.
More on that and some of Deb’s photography in the near future.
In the meantime, consider attending my livestream. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. Consider writing me a note or commenting on this post.
Most of all, share a little love and kindness with someone close to you and do something nice for someone you don’t know. The world can always use love and kindness.
With Love and Appreciation,
Matthew Moran
3/29/2022
I am intrigued by this line in your song:
"Each choice we make, it forsakes another"
Of course, that is absolutely true. If we do exercise A between 9 and 10 AM, we cannot do exercise B between 9 and 10 AM
This is something that I was OBSESSED about in my senior year of college
I was sort of paralyzed as I reasoned as follows: I shouldn't go for a doctorate in poli sci as that would preclude going to law school as that would preclude being in a rock and roll band as that would preclude just raising hell as I struck a pose of arrogant, aristocratic dismay and contemptuousness.
However, in retrospect, I think we can do more with our lives and time than we give ourselves credit for. I am not urging us to become hyperactive, multi-tasking capitalist nerds from hell, but one doesn't have to be a one note Johnny.
I am wondering what prompted you to write this lyric. Did your daughters have a conflict re which roads they would travel and which possibilities they would pass up.