Song #26 - Zoey & What Goes Around

The last in the series of the alphabetical fictional stories! YAY! I think this is a fitting one to end with. :) This series has been one of the most fun and exciting writing experiences I've ever had! I hope you've enjoyed getting to know all 26 girls.

So Zoey... Anyone who lived in the 80's or sees high school kids wearing 80's clothes will probably think this song is funny. I was kind of obsessed with the 60's when I was growing up... so I can understand the facination of a decade past... sort of. haha. I got to play ridiculous lead guitar too so that was fun... ha! This song would be lots of fun with a rock band and some harmonies and intertwining vocal parts!

Listen/Download Here: Zoey & What Goes Around
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Zoey & What Goes Around

Zoey seems to be stuck in the 80's
A little ironic because she's just 16
She never even set foot in that decade
But somehow the Reagan Era trickled down
A box in the basement, she found my Atari
She wears a Frogger shirt she found at a second-hand store

CHORUS:
Honestly, I never thought I'd see it again
What goes around comes around
And what comes around will go.

Zoey is always quoting 80's movies
From Ferris Buller to E.T. to Breakfast Club
Most of her friends have this fascination
Even her boyfriend French rolls his jeans
She's rocking the jams and she wearing her jellies
She knows all the lyrics to every WHAM! song

Zoey plays a mean air guitar
Every time Eddie comes on the radio
She found my old key-tar in grandma's spare room
I should have smashed it at my band's last show
she saw photos of me with my long hair
She never quite looked at me the same

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #25 - Yvette & The Zoo

Yay for Y! I've always kind of wanted to write a bluegrass'y song like this. You can thank my dad for taking me to all those bluegrass festivals while I was growing up... He's a heck of a picker and grinner... :) While I was writing this song I realized why it was so brilliant to have an ice cream stand in the shape of a giant ice cream cone. I see one every time I drive through Perry, MI on M-52. :) Still not quite sure about the logic of the giant Paul Bunyans, Deer, Cows, chairs... etc that I see while I drive around the country. ha. Kids are heavy. We should all have pet kangaroos... (Yours is pink but mine is blue.)

Listen/Download Here: Yvette & The Zoo
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Yvette & The Zoo

Yvette screams, “I want ice cream!”
She saw the giant cone on the side of the road
Double scoop of superman
Keeps her quiet for ten minutes or so
Yvette says, “Are we there yet?”
100 miles is forever when you are 4 years old.

Yvette says she is thirsty
She spilled her water about 10 miles back
Yvette is like peanut gallery
And we have front seats to the backseat
Stops at rest stops are starting to stress me out
100 miles seems like forever when you've got a 4 year old

Yvette says that she's tired
She wants to take a nap about 98 miles too late
“But wait honey we're almost at the zoo.”
“Don't you want to see the giraffes and elephants?”
“Daddy, please won't you carry me?”
Every single mile feels like forever when you're carrying a 4 year old

“Yvette, wake up. Don't you want to see...
...Lions and Tigers and Bears?” “Oh my back is killing me.”
“Yvette don't you wish we had a pet kangaroo?”
“I'd put you in the pouch, let her carry you through the zoo.”
Yvette got a second wind at the end of the zoo trip.
The 100 miles home seems like forever...
So, we got a hotel room.
With a view.
And a Pool.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #24 - Xandra & The Next Thousand Years

The all awaited X! hah. Everyone wanted to know what I was going to do for XYZ. :) Xandra is a pretty cool named... It is a form of Alexandra. I wrote this one on the acoustic but soon realized that it was better suited for the electric. This was a fun one to do... I added an ebow track too because... hey ebow is fun. Someday I want to be in a band and just play the ebow... :)

This is about one of those friends that can calm you down without even really having to do anything but listen... Their very presence is calming. We learn from these old souls, not to get stressed out the little things.

Listen/Download Here: Xandra & The Next Thousand Years
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Xandra & The Next Thousand Years

Xandra takes a sip of her tea
Chamomile with a hint of honey
“Honey, why don't you pour yourself a cup, it'll calm you down?”
“And sit with me and tell me whatever is on your mind.”
She smiled at me and held a cup in her hand
I almost forgot all the things that are worrying me
And she poured me some tea.

Xandra listens to me
Ten. Eleven. Midnight. One. Two. Three.
A.M. Eyelids struggle. I doze off in my chair.
She looks at me when I awake and brushes the hair from my face
We walked to the kitchen hand in hand
And I almost forgot all the things that were worrying me
And she poured me some tea

Xandra has calming eyes
Like she's known me for a thousand years
Reincarnation always seemed so strange to me, but maybe it is true
“Xandra, I hope I spend the next thousand years with you.”
She laughed and she turned her head to me.
I realized that most things just aren't worth the worry
And she poured me some tea.

Ending:
Xandra has a way with me
When I'm worried
The way she looks at me
So comforting
Like Chamomile tea
Xandra has a way with me
And she pours me some tea

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #23 - Wendy & Her Wanderlust

W in the ABC series. I was writing one of the other songs and this one just kind of came out and really came together when I recorded it. I think Wendy is one of my favorite of the series. A story of Wendy told in the voice of her companion. I have been so fortunate to be able to tour around the US and make lots of friends that I have stayed with... I can imagine many years from now going on a big road trip to visit everyone. :) I also know that looking back on an events like my first tours... I seem to forget any of the bad parts and the more time passes, the more perfect everything seemed.

FACTS:
-There is a late night radio show called 'Coast to Coast AM' that used to be hosted by Art Bell, that I now love and was first introduced to me by the guy that I first toured with... We'd listen to it on all night drives. It is on an AM station nearly anywhere in the USA: Check out coasttocoastam.com to find out what station is on near you.
-Hard to believe that it wasn't that long ago when you were paid "gas money..." It would actually fill your tank... a few times.
-I really want to put strings on the chorus if I record it!
-This song is pretty darn long... but I'm fine with that.

Listen/Download Here: Wendy & Her Wanderlust
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Wendy & Her Wanderlust

“Wendy, Was is 1993? When you and me drove across the country?”
'Coast to Coast' on the Radio... Late night companion, Art Bell, out on the open road
Guitar in the backseat of the car, we played for tips at the local dive bars
Drinks and dinner were always on the house, we'd sleep in the car or some stranger's couch
That was the best time of our lives, I'd give anything to go back in time

CHORUS:
“Wendy, Where did the time go?
Wendy, when did we get so old?
I remember when each other was all that we needed.
Tips would fill our gas tank and would feed us.
If I knew then what I know now...
I'd change everything.”

“Wendy, why didn't we stay out on the road just as long as we possibly could?”
“Wendy, why did we do all the sensible things that everyone told us that we should?”
In the days of cheap gasoline, everyone said what we needed was equity
So we bought this prefab house in the hills of KY, and on weekends we moonlight in the bars of Cincinnati
We've made quite a life in these KY hills, But I'd trade this house away to go back to our highway days

Sometimes late at night I still get the notion to leave it all behind and drive out to the ocean
To see what Walt Disney did to New York City and to see how the rest of the world has changed
I wonder what are friends are up to now, It's hard to tell from a yearly Christmas letter
So they took their Christmas card list, made a few calls, set their destination to spare beds and couches
Bags were packed light, guitar in the backseat and they took a road trip filled with friends and memories.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #22 - Victoria & Her Trophies

This is V of the ABC series... I wrote this song while I was teaching at a rock and roll camp about a month ago... Kids these days have all sorts of pressures to be better that the next kid... and a lot of kids are overbooked... and really feel the pressure of it... I think I may have spit on my microphone when I recorded it.. ha. Kinda of sounds like it.

Listen/Download Here: Victoria & Her Trophies
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Victoria & Her Trophies

Victoria is probably plotting against you. She always has to win...
First place. Never second. Doesn't want to disappoint...
Her father. Her Mother... Tell her she needs to win.
They need bragging rights at cocktail parties, your trophies are their prize.
She'll do whatever it takes. She'll do whatever it takes.

CHORUS:
Victoria is everything they wanted her to be.
All of the finest schools and the finest things.
But everything is not fine. Everything's not fine.

Study hard or sabotage, Its hard to be the best...
At everything and all the time... she's got her game face on.
5 hours a day for her beauty rest. 19 hours cramming to be
Their perfect little princess, their overqualified queen.
She'll do whatever it takes. She'll do whatever it takes.

Victoria. Valedictorian.
Bittersweet victories. They show you off to all of their friends.
They gave you everything, but didn't give you what you need...
She's never quite good enough but she just wants to be loved.
She'll do whatever it takes. She'll do whatever it takes.

ENDING:
Everything is not what she needs.
And the best is never good enough.
Everything is not fine. Everything is not fine.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song # 21 - Unity & Her Hippy Parents

OK... so U was the hardest to write of all of the songs in my ABC series... I have the rest of them done now too... and will post them once I get them recorded.

I looked up girl's baby names that begin with U... You may not be surprised to find that there aren't very many... at least in English... Lots of them in other languages. I decided that Unity was interesting and that you'd have to have hippy parents to give you a name like that.... and I took that idea and ran with it.

Listen/Download Here: Unity & Her Hippy Parents
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Unity & Her Hippy Parents

Unity is picking olives from a tree
Organic farming. Her parents, they are hippies.
Garlic, olives and avocados
Not to mention an orchard full of fruit trees
Unity wonders how the rest of the world sees them
With their homemade clothes, dreads, and of course they are vegan

CHORUS:
Unity is trying to fix all the problems in this great big world
And it's oh so natural for her
Brothers and sisters trying to fix all the problems in this great big world
And it's oh so natural

Unity is a middle child in a total of seven
Resides in California on a little slice of heaven
They have a bunch of crazy ideas to make the world work
If you have a few hours, you can sit and scratch the surface
It is easy to be optimistic in the California sun
But I'm still not sure how organic vegetables will save the world

I've had a crush on Unity since we were just thirteen
My parent's have a booth at the farmer's market next to hers
We talk about world peace, politics and the avocado crop
Crinkled her nose when she found out I eat meat so I told her I'd stop
I asked her if she'd like together to discuss her philosophies
I couldn't wait together with Unity

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #20 - Tina & Her Circus

I wanted to try and write a melody line similiar to the old organ parts at circuses (and ball games...etc...) following the events taking place... rises and falls... and I decided to put a little organ in there too... the real deal. :) Chances are you've known kids like Tina... Putting shows and are constantly doing things that have thier parents running to stop them... haha

Listen/Download Here: Tina & Her Circus
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Tina & Her Circus

Tina was so tiny and she walked the tight wire at the circus
And the flying trapeze, ended with skinned knees
Death defying stunts always gathered gasps from the crowd
Ohhs and Ahhs... Whew she made it through

CHORUS:
What did we tell you Tina?
Listen to me Tina!
Someday you're going to fall

Tina was the ringleader, encouraging her friends to try
To the dismay of the spectating parents
Short attention span. Long bouts of energy for Tina
Vividly imagining the jungle gym is a big top

Keep up with Tina, All the while trying to stay sane
Somersault from the highest point
Was the grand finale and it almost ended bad
But at the last moment, they ran to catch her

Tina was tired, finally laid down on the park bench
Her parent's sighed... Thier life is a circus
The sleeping circus star was carried to the backseat of the car
And tomorrow will be another circus of a day

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song # 19 - Summer & The Great Outdoors And Inside Jokes

Here is a song about a girl named Summer. I get to spent a week at camp each year teaching at a Rock and Roll camp... and have learned all about camp culture... I was a little confused for a while but after a few years I'm starting to understand all the hand motions and jokes... haha. I see why people love to go to camp (at least this one)... it is this awesome little subculture and community of people... People go to camp all through school and then become counselors. I know people who get married at camp... and/or met their spouse at camp... etc. If you've worked at a camp you'll understand this campy little song. Camp has SO many inside jokes... each year/week/day... some live on forever. I threw a couple little hints of inside jokes in the end... for the campers that will hear this eventually. :)

Listen/Download Here: Summer & The Great Outdoors And Inside Jokes
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Summer & The Great Outdoors And Inside Jokes

“Summer! Summer... time to go to camp!”
A now familiar phrase at the end of June
The first time she was scared out of her mind
But soon it became like a second home
She had friends that she couldn't wait to see
And by the end, she never wanted to leave

CHORUS:
Along this gravel road, you'll find a wooden sign
That reads -Welcome to Camp. Leave your troubles behind.

There is something about camp that other people don't understand
It is more than waterfront sand, hand motions to all of the songs
It's more than crowed cabins and campfires every night
You catch a glimpse of truth in each others faces at moonlight
Acoustic guitar comes from across the lake
You could sing camp songs, the whole night long.

A camper from grade to middle to high school
She became a counselor, She spends the whole summers
She sees her friends and sing all the songs
Oh the great outdoors and great inside jokes
Bandannas, Crocs, Tye Dies, bathing is optional
If you find love at camp, you know it must be real

Oh the great outdoors and great inside jokes.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #18 - Rosalie & The Ocean In Her Eyes

Here's 'R' for you. The first line came to me while I was working on something on another song... and went from there... I love the smell of the breeze coming off the ocean in New England... I like writing these songs about someone, as told through the eyes of someone else... all at the same time telling the story of the narrator also. I used a little bit of an irregular chord stucture for part of the verses...

Listen/Download Here: Rosalie & The Ocean In Her Eyes
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Rosalie & The Ocean In Her Eyes

Rosalie... Lived in a house down by the ocean
Rosalie was at home down by the sea
Salty New England Breeze
Filled her lungs every morning, every evening
Coffee tastes better out on the porch swing
Where she can see the tides coming in

CHORUS
Rosalie is always beautiful
I see her dress blow in the wind
The ocean in her eyes and her eyes out on the ocean
And my eyes on her

Rosalie married me out on this beach
Just forty very short years ago
All of our kids gone and grown
And have families of their own
There isn't anything I wouldn't trade in this life
To sit with my wife and watch the tides coming in

Oh I hope and pray every day
That we can spend forever and a day
Watching the river flow into the ocean
And watching the rain drops falling down
Time is a river, memories the rain
We spend our days watching the the tides coming in

Ending:
Eventually it came time for Rosalie
To leave this world behind
So, I scattered her ashes in the great Atlantic Sea
And I watched as the tide was coming in

Rosalie, She was always beautiful
I watched the ashes blow in the wind
The ocean was in her eyes and her eyes were on the ocean
And my eyes were always on her

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #17 - Quinn & The Waves Of Lake Michigan

Well... 'Q' was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. :) The melody popped into my head at some point in August... and was inspired by driving Lake Michigan to get to WI and on the way there I saw the near full moon shine on the lake and on the back I saw sunshine and sunset... It still amazes me. I've taken many roadtrips to the Lake and my friend Eric taught me how to body surf last year... apparently people also "really" surf on the lake... The waves get pretty big. And although I had already written the song, I got to go take a road trip to spent Labor Day weekend on the camping on the coast... :) Ahh... how I love the third coast... and I'm always amazed when people living in MI have never seen it!

I think this is the first song that I've ever written that I go up into my falsetto for the melody... even if it is just for one word. :)

Interesting Facts:
- Lake Michigan has the world's largest freshwater dunes line the lakeshore. (Including the Sleeping Bear Dunes.)
-Millions of people annually visit the dunes/beaches at state and national parks and lakeshores.
-The Lake is the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world.
-The Great Lakes shoreline is equal to almost 44 percent of the circumference of the earth, and Michigan's Great Lakes coast totals 3,288 mi/5,294 km, more coastline than any state but Alaska.

Listen/Download Here: Quinn & The Waves Of Lake Michigan
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Quinn & The Waves Of Lake Michigan

Quinn had never been to Lake Michigan
Even though she lived so close
He told Quinn, “It was a sin...
... Not to swim in the waves with the August Wind.”
“Besides there are dunes for climbing...”
“Sleeping Bear and her cubs.”
“If no one else will take you, I will drive you there myself.”
So there packed up his car to go.

CHORUS:
Everyone loves a little road trip
Everyone wants a little romance
Everyone needs a little vacation in the summer...
So, let's go to the coast

Quinn had never been in Lake Michigan
She was afraid to get in over her head
The waves are at least as tall as she is
And he wants to teach her to body surf
“Quinn, One, Two Three!”
“Follow me... Run into the waves.”
“If no one else will take you, I will drive you there myself.”
“Come on. Get into the water let's go!”

Quinn never wanted to leave
She had seen sunshine, sunset, and moonlight...
Like she'd never seen them before
She'd run through the dune sand and the dune grass
Sometimes we don't notice what is so close
Until we take a chance and get in over our heads
“If no one else will take you, I will drive you there myself.”
So, come on get in the car, let's go.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)

Song #16 - Penelope & The Hour Glass

I wrote this one in a little cabin while I was teaching at camp. It was inspired partly by the kids in the early verses and walking out to a camp fire, that I was late for and seeing all of the stars... There is nothing like seeing stars in the middle of nowhere... Really awe-inspiring.

This is another one of the songs that takes a dark turn in the middle... BUT it ends with hope.

Listen/Download Here: Penelope & The Hour Glass
(Donate or Buy Merch HERE)

Penelope & The Hour Glass

Penelope wants to be everything and more.
Just a child. You should see her smile.
Full of dreams. The world's an oyster and she is a pearl.
She'd give it a whirl. outgoing girl.
Innocent eyes see beautiful things.
Innocent mouth always sings.

Chorus:
Starlight. Star Bright. I wish upon the first star I see tonight.

Penelope, teenager, trying to fit in...
with the other kids, with the other sins.
Did what she could to run with the crowd.
She was loud. At least for now.
Penelope held everything inside.
Ambitions slide. Easier to hide.

Marriage then divorce, baby on the way.
Bills to pay. Works all day.
No one seems to care she's a mother to be.
What about dreams? What about me?
It's always harder when things don't go as planned.
Hour glass. Sinking sand.

Penelope gets older, the world seems to change.
Isn't strange? Things rearrange.
Schedules and pocketbooks, bills pile up.
Isn't it enough, just to not give up?
Dreams are fading now, she's running out of time.
In a bind. Forgot her lines.

Penelope, gray hair, frail bones.
She's going home... alone.
Her daughter turned out just like her.
Last chance or so it seems...
...Is her granddaughter, she teaches her to sing, to believe, to follow her dreams.

(c) & (p) Daniel L. Vaillancourt (ASCAP)