Serve Your Master (a song about life, choices, compromise)

Learn my lines like an actor, begging pretty please

Deb has been asking me to perform this song live for awhile. I wrote it in 2019, did a quick recording to ensure I didn’t forget it, and then moved on to several new songs I’ve written since.

In fact, this morning I was adding songs to my master song list and realized there are at least 8 songs that were NOT on the list.

I wonder how many songs and song fragments have been lost due to my lack of diligence?

I had hoped to include a picture of the lyrics, as written, in my songwriting journal. As it turns out, there is a gap of 5 or 6 songs written in 2019, that were written when I had misplaced my journal. I ended up finding it in a seldom used guitar case after several months.

It may have been written in my regular note journal - the one I use for business meetings, phone call doodling, and other notes. I keep all those so I probably need to organize and scan some of those lyrics for posterity’s sake.

I posted the song a day or so ago on YouTube and posted the link to Facebook. I’ve received several compliments on the lyrics. I like them too. The song has a vibe for sure.

I promised Deb I would perform it Saturday, at the Farmer’s Market. I’ve also booked an evening performance at Barclay’s Coffee in Northridge on April 30th. I’ll play it there as well.

I was practicing a couple mornings ago and shot the video below. It is posted after the lyrics.

I hope you enjoy!
Matthew Moran
April 7, 2022

---

---

SERVE YOUR MASTER
© 2019 - Matthew Moran, Arrogant Sage Music

VERSE
Been running cross with midnight half of my life
Spent the other half dancing on the edge of knife
I don’t know where this all leads
I’m unsure which lies to believe

Been a partner to the shadows where we go unseen
Compromise and innuendo wondering what it all means
Step into that neon room
Stepping to that pumping tune
(chorus)

CHORUS
Life is for the taking, time is what we’re wasting
Faster faster, what you’re after
Life is for the living, taking and the giving
Pain or pleasure, serve your master

VERSE
Get caught up in the rat race, a bait with cheese
Learn my lines like an actor, begging pretty please
Strip away life’s tattered veil
Vice and virtue are all for sale
(chorus)

VERSE
Been running cross midnight ‘bout half of my life
Spent the other half dancing on the edge of knife
I can see where this all leads
The lies we tell and choose to believe
(chorus)