Songs

Following are songs written by Solomon Everta. Play if you like. If you make money give some to a community group doing mutual aid.

Songs for Singing Volume 1 KISS

Songs for Singing Volume 2 the one that got away

Songs for Singing Volume 3 “not love” songs

Now Is the Time can be found here:

SolomonEverta.com/now-is-the-time

(more to come)

From Volume 3

Missing Piece

(chorus)
You’re not the missing piece of me.
With or without you I can really be me.

Not some fake show or artificial glow
Until you get to know the really real me.
100 percent real; I know that you can deal
So break through the seal that’s keeping you from me.
(chorus)
I’m lost in your eyes, but don’t be surprised
That I still am wise to who I really am.
Surrender completely and you still can be 
Who you are and see your way into my heart.
(chorus)
Embrace impermanence; let’s try presence
In this moment since I really do like you!
‘Cuz even this will end and so until then
I just want to spend my time with you being me.
(chorus)
(alternate chorus)
I’m not the missing piece of you.
Tell me now, what are you going to do?

Chords are E,G,A,C. Simple and rocking with energy!

Strength

I want you to know that I love you,
But I want you to know that I don’t need you.
I love you, but I don’t need you.
I’m trying to find some strength in that. (repeat line)

I want you to know that I miss you
And often all I want to do is kiss you.
And, yes, it’s an oversused rhyme, but that doesn’t 
     make it any less true.
I’m trying to find some strength in that. (repeat line)

I want you to know I wrote you this song.
I think you can tell that it’s not too long.
But it’s not the length that matters; It’s the love that’s 
     behind it.
I’m trying to find some strength in that. (repeat line)

Mainly play A alternating with only the middle “C” note remaining. For the 3rd line: play C and E back into the above. Then D7 alternating with a removed highest note for in between 3rd and 4th line. For 4th line: back into C and E into the original bit.

From Volume 2

The Place

I went to the place you said you’d meet me.
I went to that place and what did I see?
I went to the place you said you’d meet me
And you were not there.

So, I changed direction and went downtown.
I changed direction and walked all around.
So, I changed direction and went downtown
But you did not see me.

You were too busy kissing that girl.
Oh, you were too busy rocking my world.
You were too busy kissing that girl
So I had to leave there.
 
C(x4), F(x4), C(x4) for the first three lines of a verse
F, G, C, C for the last line of the verse  
F, G, C, C for the space between the verses
plus as much C in between verses...

Repeat the first verse at the end if you like. I’m surprised at how much I have grown to love this sad little song. Keep it sweet and sad. It’ll be okay...

Much Anymore

She’s got a new boyfriend and she’s joined the union.
I don’t see her much... anymore.
Too busy workin’ or kissin' or organizin’
Or rollin’ around... on her bedroom floor.
(break between verses using the chorus chords)
We used to talk philosophy, politics, morality,
and flirt with consequence...
But now she’s got a new beau and that red union card
I haven’t seen her... since.
(chorus only sung once)
But that’s alright with me.
I’m doin’ just fine can’t you see?
Findin’ myself and goin’ far.
I’m already in the union and I play guitar.
Watch me play guitar...
(repeat the first two lines of the first verse to end)

For the verses hammer on the bottom two fingers of an E chord in to an E, strumming 4 times in a chugging train kind of way, then play a bunch of A about 8 times (and repeat the whole thing like 4 times). Then for the chorus: C, F, and the funky hammer on E a couple times. Repeat as needed. It’s kind of  hard to explain...

Stay Still

When your
socks all need darnin’ and your shoes are worn out
And you’ve lost the compunction to wander all about,
You wonder if it’s stolen or you misplaced your will
In someone’s race car, ‘cuz you want to stay still.

You want to stay still
And you will…
Stay still.

You’ve wandered and rambled across this sweet land,
Stuck out your thumb, shook many a hand,
Slept in fields, shacks, and broken down mills.
Stay here safe tonight and you can stay still.

You can stay still
And you will…
Stay still.

And if you dream that you’re drifting away
Careening and swirling through the milky way,
Awake with a start like a falling star,
Just feel the stillness and know that you are… still.

When you yawn wide and slide out of bed,
Slip on your shoes and shake out your head,
You’ll make your way out o’er the windowsill,
The way you came in, ‘cuz you cannot stay still.

Cannot stay still…

A waltz. G Am C G for each line in the verses. Dm (x4) then F (x4) for the chorus. I add a quick little C then G to transition and add a little hammer on to the G a couple times before the next verse. The bridge (the dreaming part) uses these chords: 
Am G C F Am G C Am Am G C F Am G C…

From Volume 1

Yes We Are

(chorus)
Yes we are beautiful!
Yes we are magical!
Yes we have the power to
make this world good again! 
(verse 1)
 We are the people 
     and we have the right
To let the world be free and 
     live our lives the way we want to.
To feel safe in the darkness
     as well as the sunlight.
To walk our paths in balance so
     get the flip out of our way!
(chorus)
(verse 2)
This life is for the people
     and not the corporations
Goverments or any other
     hierarchical constructions.
We’ll revoke your charters
     and relearn how to barter.
We’ll be free and you’ll see
     when we sing out anarchy!
(chorus)
(verse 3)
The personal’s political and
      our politics are magical
This is no fad; it can’t be had
      These are our souls we’re talkin’ ‘bout.
We’re dreaming with our eyes open 
     our vision’s growing stronger.
We’ve had enough; we call your bluff.
     We won’t take this stuff any longer.
(chorus ending with “right now!)

The chords for this song are as follows:
G, G, F, C, G, G, F, C, G, G, F, C, D, D, D, D for the chorus
G, D, A, F, G, D, A, A, G, D, A, F, G, D, A, A for the verses
or 
G, G, F, C (x3) then D (x4) for the chorus
G, D, A, F, G, D, A, A (all x2) for the verses

It’s fun for me to play. I hope it’s fun for you to play as well. If you make any money by playing these songs I wrote, give some to a local mutual aid group.

The Canyon

(verse1)
You looked in my eyes and you saw the worst
you could imagine, but you know... I saw it first.
From the headwaters out to the sea
tasted my own blood, but you know... it flowed free.
(chorus)
I love you so. Let me go.
(verse 2)
There’s water in your eyes, your lips are pursed.
The Canyon isn’t hungry; you know.. it’s dying of thirst.
No matter where I wander, no matter where I flee,
I won’t be left alone, you know... I never will be free.
(chorus)
(verse 3)
When I hurt you, my heart up and burst.
As the river carves the Canyon, you know...
...I’m living out my curse.
So when you hold me close and you see
into my soul, you know... how to make me feel free.
(chorus)
(coda)
You looked in my eyes and you saw the worst
you could imagine, but you know... I saw it first.

The chords for this song are as follows: Em, B7, Am, D7

Start with an open chord, holding no strings down and come in with an Em chord about 8 times during the verse, switching over to B7 for “you know...” and back to the Em part just like the first part.

For the chorus, you keep the same rhythm and play an Am chord repeatedly until you sing the first sentence with an emphasis on the strumming. Then do the same with a D7 chord adding a G note on the high string for the emphasis while you sing the second sentence.

The rhythm stays the same through the whole song. It is meant to be like a rushing river, flowing, continually pulsing, moving, roaring.

I love this song because it can be about a person reflecting on a relationship with some self-awareness or it can be about the relationship between humans and river systems (which lines are spoken by the river?).

I am glad that I am seeing some dams come down in mylifetime. They will all come down in time.

Power With

(verse 1)
You put the rev in revolution.
Time’s up on these institutions
that oppress us -- they won’t be missed.
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in anarchist.
(chorus)
The Earth provides enough for us all
yet we each must do our part
for corporate capitalism to fall.
Keep it simple, sweetheart!
(verse 2)
Flipping cop cars and breaking windows
are distractions, for you know
Bombs don’t build egalitarian relationships.
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in anarchist.
(chorus)
The Earth provides enough for us all
yet we each must do our part
for settler colonialism to fall.
Keep it simple, sweetheart!
(verse 3)
I fell in love with you today
when I heard you describe your philosophy
in one clear and succinct quip.
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in...
You put the KISS in anarchist.
(chorus)
The Earth provides enough for us all
yet we each must do our part
for this racist, incarceral state to fall.
Keep it simple, sweetheart! 
(coda)
Power with, not power over.
Power with, not power over.
Power with, not power over.
Power with, this song is over.

The chords for this song are as follows:

G, C, A, D for the verses and in between sections.
G, D, A, C and G, D, A, A, (all x2) for the chorus.

By the way, there’s no one right way to be an anarchist.

U R the 1

(chorus)
Get up and dance. Kick off your shoes.
We’re gonna play some music and drive away those blues.
(repeat)
(verse 1)
And don’t you doubt it for a minute.
You are the one, we all want in it.
(chorus)
(verse 2)
This ain’t no contest. This ain’t no game.
You can leave behind the fear, leave behind the shame.
(chorus) (x2 at least)

The chords for this song are as follows:

D, B7, D, G7, D, B7, G7, A+ for chorus (repeated as needed).
G7, G7, D, D, G7, G7, B7, A+ for the verses.
Sing the third verse same as the first if you like. 

At the end of the last time singing the chorus, slow down on “drive away” with the G7. Then slowly hold the A as you sing “those...” and add a D to finish the line with “blues.”

Other songs

I Got ‘Em

This song is played using the following chords on guitar:

E major with a hammering of the lower two fingers

A seventh

That’s it.

I cut my fingernails
with your fingernail clippers.
I cut my fingernails 
with your fingernail clippers.
You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin.
You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin.
You think that they are lost.
But they ain't lost. No. No.
But they ain't lost. No. No.
But they ain't lost. No. No.
I got 'em.

I got 'em. I got 'em. I got 'em. I got 'em.
I put' em in the second drawer from the bottom.
I got 'em. I got 'em. I got 'em. I got 'em.
I put' em in the second drawer from the bottom.
I put 'em in a box underneath some sox
and in those sox I put some rocks
and on top of the dresser I left...
a bagel
with cream cheese and lox.
I thought it might distract you.
I thought it might distract you...
that bagel.
That bagel.

I made it by myself.
I made it all by myself.
I made it by myself.
That bagel.

I mixed the flour. I mixed the water.
I mixed that dry powder malt,
a tiny little bit of those yeasties,
and some of that salt.
Oh my sweet Miss Salt.

I threw them in the boiler
Laid them out on the pan.
Baked them at five hundred degrees
In that big ol' oven,
that bagel oven.

But you know, yes you know.
Oh you know, yes you know
that I didn't catch that cheese
and I didn't make that fish,
but I can if you please;
I can if you wish.
Haw, haw, haw!

I'd work in a cheese factory.
I'd sail upon that blue, blue sea.
(and catch some fish if you wish)
I'd work in a cheese factory.
I'd sail upon that blue, blue sea.
These things I would do
For me and you,
'Cuz I like to work.
I like to feel my body movin'
I like to work.
I like to feel my body movin'
It makes me feel like a 
like a strong, strong man.
Don't you understand?
'Cuz when you do your work,
don't you feel like a
like a strong, strong woman.

I need a strong, strong woman.
I need a strong, strong woman.

(Where are the strong strong women?)

'Cuz I feel just like a bear
with my back up against a tree
and I need a strong, strong woman to
come and scratch my back for me.

...

But the point is...
Yes, the point is...
I like your nails.
I like them painted
all sparkly green.
Don't you know what I mean?
I like your nails.
I like them painted
all sparkly green.
Don't you know what I mean?
I like those girly things you do
and I want to be your boy.
I like those girly things you do
and I want to be your boy,
but when we go on down to town
we can switch it all around
and I can wear the dress
and you can wear the suit
and we can sing:
Doot doot doot dootly doot doot
Doot doot doot dootly doot doot
Doot doot doot dootly doot doot
Doot doot doot dootly doot doot

I cut my fingernails
with your fingernail clippers.
I cut my fingernails 
with your fingernail clippers.
You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin.
You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin. You're lookin.
You think that they are lost.
But they ain't lost. No. No.
But they ain't lost. 

But they ain't lost. No. No. No.
But they ain't lost. No. No.
But they ain't lost. No.
I got 'em.