"For the Holiday," by Roger Illsley

"Dive In," by Roger Illsley

 Roger and I decided to work on a reggae song. He did the heavy lifting. I just helped with some of the lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeQw4b_9qy8

"Who Are You?" (music video)

"Sinister Blue Vine," Roger Illsley

Worrier Blues

 Wrote some lyrics--"Worrier Blues"--& Roger Illsley composed some music & recorded the song. Nice job, Roger:

"Worrier Blues"

"You're in Wichita (And I Am Not),"

 I always wanted to write an old-fashioned "country" song with spare lyrics, so I gave it a go and came up with "You're in Wichita (And I Am Not)." with assistance from Roger Illsley, who wrote some music for it and performed and recorded it for Youtube:

"You're in Wichita"

"Hallelujah, Gloria," music video

 A glum day for multiple reasons. So I decided to make a lowest budget music video of a song that Roger Illsley (music) and I (lyrics) wrote that Roger recorded. We hope it's smile-worthy. Well, here it is:

"Hallelujah, Gloria"

"On Our Way, Golden One," Roger Illsley

And the hits . . . just keep on comin', as they used to say on KFRC San Francisco. Music by Roger Illsley, lyrics by moi, performance and recording by Roger. California's in such rough shape that I thought it deserved an upbeat approach.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfWR7eC-2JI

"Alive Today With You" (song)

Recording of Roger Illsley performing "Alive Today With You," for which he wrote the music, and I wrote the lyrics:

link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv6djgQLPEU

"That's the Day I'll Forget About You"

A rather traditional love ballad. Music and performance by Roger Illsley. Lyrics by moi. Link to Youtube:

"That's the Day . . ."

From a Diary of the Plague Year (12)

(song)

When I see us back then
We're laughing in the sun
Back when we were young
And thought the other
Was the one. 

Now that the plague's descended
Priorities amended
I thought I'd beat the rush,
Reach out and get in touch
After so long.

Sorry I mocked your favorite song
And broke your bestest bong
You cooked the clutch on
My silver green Camaro
And stole my cherished vinyl
of Ravel's Bolero.
This all seems so funny
After so long, so long ago.

[repeat chorus]

Hey, I'm glad you married Craig
Hey, please don't catch the plague
I hope this letter is okay
If not, I know you'll say
So, love from so long ago
After so long ago
Some days were great, you know?
Some nights so fierce, although
Our futures were not ever
Meant to be together

[repeat chorus]


hans ostrom 2020

Sugar Blues

If I cry for the sugar,
that don't mean the sugar's mine.
Say if I cry for the sugar,
doesn't mean the sugar's mine.
But if you should own the sugar,
doesn't mean the system's fine.

Did you work for the sugar?
I bet your answer's Yes and No.
Ah, did you work for your sugar?
Oh, yeah: the answer's Yes and No.
You didn't do a lick of work,
but yes you put up half the dough.

Wealth don't have a conscience.
It gets as far as maybe guilt.
Wealth don't have no conscience,
only gets as far as guilt.
Right-and-wrong will never bother
the fortress that the wealthy built.

Sugar blues, sugar blues.
Somebody else has got the sweet.
Sugar blues, sugar blues.
I'll never get enough of sweet.
I'm a lost soul on a corner,
a fallen saint out on the street.


copyright hans ostrom 2014

Such a Lovely Education

When she walks into a room,
she shines the shadows away.
When she walks into a room,
she shows hips how to sway.

When she looks into your eyes,
she pulls them into hers.
When she looks into yours eyes,
the love-lust motor whirs.

When she talks, talks low to you,
warm honey comes to mind.
When she talks, talks low to you,
You feel your heart unbind.

The walk, the words, the look
construct this fascination.
The walk, the words, the look:
Such a lovely education.


Hans Ostrom, copyright 2012