Radio station KPRI FM in San Diego has proposed the song title "Every Second"
to the San Diego Songwriters Meetup, the job of its members to write the lyrics
and melody to match. Of an expected 40 entrants, the winner's performance in
will be broadcast in the station's Sunday evening"Homegrown Hour."
I wrote the lyrics for the dark ballad "Every Second" in mid-January, 2012. Now
in mid-March, 2012, I've just received a "first draft" soundtrack of instrumentation
and vocal by Jim Wright of San Diego County (who says he's working to improve
his melody and shorten his vocal closer to 3 minutes total).
What do ya think, Gang?
Every Second
Vocal by Jim Wright
Lyrics by Richard Lee Orey
Introduction
I sit alone in my private cell
Reflecting how it came to be
That I lost the singular love of my life
Who meant the world to me.
Verses
We had driven down a lonely coast
The memory now comes in view
Four in the morning meant nothing to me
My heart yearned only for you
On the beach, we shared a lingering kiss
Or maybe it was two
My throbbing heart pounding my ears
Your loving all I knew
We held each other, O, so close
Silver waves came crashing down
The moon glow stoking our vibrant love
As we drove on into town
I stopped at the Wasted Bar and Grille
To show off my trophy girl
And a drunken stranger winked at her
And called her Precious Pearl
He moved in close and stroked her hair
And nuzzled in her space
There was no doubt in mind for me
To put him in his place
Wild jealousy and anger
Blocked everything in my head
My raging hot blood took control
And I shot him dead! dead! dead!
Chorus
Everything has a price, they say,
And now I know for sure
That giving in to jealousy
Is simply not a cure.
My life is very short now
Every Second a cherished amount
One... Two... Three.. I say
As I struggle not to count
Verses
Well, my Pastor's here to comfort me
The Warden's coming, too
The Executioner's getting ready
To do what he's paid to do.
They lift me up and on my feet
Chains dragging on the ground
I pray to God Forgive me, Lord
In religion I've just found
Chorus
Everything has a price, they say,
And now I know for sure
That giving in to jealousy
Is simply not a cure.
My life is very short now
Every Second a cherished amount
One... Two... Three... I say
As I struggle not to count
Bridge Verse
They strap me on a T-bone table
With a needle in my vein
The memory of a tragic love
My one and only pain
The juice flows in my body
The Devil says, Hello
I scream my Every Second panic
And then I just let go
Chorus
Everything has a price, they say,
And now I know for sure
That giving in to jealousy
Is simply not a cure
My life is very short now
Every Second a cherished amount
One... Two... Three... I say
As I struggle not to count
Coda
Every Second ends in life
There's nothing to let go
The Devil stands there laughing
As I nod and say Hello
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