EARLY DEMOS summary by Claude
The Early Demos features guitar, piano, and keyboard recordings from 1974–1984 — Kirkmire's earliest songwriting period. The collection shows a young songwriter already working across a wide tonal range — from playful and comedic to earnest and politically aware. The writing is inventive, witty, and emotionally direct.
Song Highlights by Theme:
Humor & Wit Coffee — a jealous narrator rails against his partner's obsessive love of coffee, treating "Mister Coffee" as a romantic rival. Genuinely funny; Popular Person — a satirical send-up of conformity and trend-chasing, wanting to say, sing, and wear only what's fashionable; L-O (U R 1 Q-T) — a playful, entirely phonetic/alphabet-spelled love song ("L-O, U R 1 Q-T / I M 1 M-T B-B") — clever and ahead of its time given today's texting culture; Mary Lou — a lighthearted rock-inflected song asking a flirtatious girl, "Is it me or my car?"
Love & Longing -- Think It Over — a warm, melodic song about being captivated by someone's look, unable to stop thinking about them; Turn Around June — a tender, melancholy breakup song watching a lover pack and leave; Everyday — a heartfelt tribute to a steady, supportive love, asking for patience and forgiveness; Victoria — a playfully romantic, springtime flirtation song with a comic, lilting energy; The Hurt — an honest song of regret over letting someone slip away; Support — a cheerful, domestic song from a partner offering to handle all the chores in exchange for love and encouragement.
Social & Political -- Side by Side — opens with a sobering nuclear-age warning ("when the nuke goes puke in the pretty sky") before settling into a message of human togetherness in the face of catastrophe; Come On — features a beggar outside a church challenging passers-by, arguing that love matters more than prayer or sympathy; Get Out — a defiant breakup song asserting hard-won independence.
Character Stories -- Dancing Out the Steps — an upbeat, funky call to action: stop sitting on the sidelines and show up for romance; Goodbye — a darkly comic story-song about a long-suffering wife who finally knocks her drunk husband down the stairs and walks out.
Overall The early songs reveal the same qualities that run through all of Kirkmire's work — wordplay, emotional range, social curiosity, and a warm but unsentimental view of human relationships. Even in demo form from decades ago, the songwriting voice is already distinctly his own.
The Early Demos features guitar, piano, and keyboard recordings from 1974–1984 — Kirkmire's earliest songwriting period. The collection shows a young songwriter already working across a wide tonal range — from playful and comedic to earnest and politically aware. The writing is inventive, witty, and emotionally direct.
Song Highlights by Theme:
Humor & Wit Coffee — a jealous narrator rails against his partner's obsessive love of coffee, treating "Mister Coffee" as a romantic rival. Genuinely funny; Popular Person — a satirical send-up of conformity and trend-chasing, wanting to say, sing, and wear only what's fashionable; L-O (U R 1 Q-T) — a playful, entirely phonetic/alphabet-spelled love song ("L-O, U R 1 Q-T / I M 1 M-T B-B") — clever and ahead of its time given today's texting culture; Mary Lou — a lighthearted rock-inflected song asking a flirtatious girl, "Is it me or my car?"
Love & Longing -- Think It Over — a warm, melodic song about being captivated by someone's look, unable to stop thinking about them; Turn Around June — a tender, melancholy breakup song watching a lover pack and leave; Everyday — a heartfelt tribute to a steady, supportive love, asking for patience and forgiveness; Victoria — a playfully romantic, springtime flirtation song with a comic, lilting energy; The Hurt — an honest song of regret over letting someone slip away; Support — a cheerful, domestic song from a partner offering to handle all the chores in exchange for love and encouragement.
Social & Political -- Side by Side — opens with a sobering nuclear-age warning ("when the nuke goes puke in the pretty sky") before settling into a message of human togetherness in the face of catastrophe; Come On — features a beggar outside a church challenging passers-by, arguing that love matters more than prayer or sympathy; Get Out — a defiant breakup song asserting hard-won independence.
Character Stories -- Dancing Out the Steps — an upbeat, funky call to action: stop sitting on the sidelines and show up for romance; Goodbye — a darkly comic story-song about a long-suffering wife who finally knocks her drunk husband down the stairs and walks out.
Overall The early songs reveal the same qualities that run through all of Kirkmire's work — wordplay, emotional range, social curiosity, and a warm but unsentimental view of human relationships. Even in demo form from decades ago, the songwriting voice is already distinctly his own.
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Well, on this point we must all agree, through thick and thin and catastrophe,
we've got to care no matter where we roam, no more sticks and stones. 'cause when there's nowhere left to run, when there's no place left to fly, we will be together side by side. if the nuke goes puke in the pretty sky, walls’ll fall down and they’ll vaporize, and your lovely face’ll bake like a cherry pie, my oh my. when there's nowhere left to climb, when there's no place left to hide, we'll still be together side by side... (instr.) when there's no air left around, when there's nothing left alive, we will be skewered side by side, eternally, side by side. There you go again lost in reverie, thinking about that first cup you'll need.
I try to be fair on how you get your kicks but frankly this substance makes me sick... ... coffee, coffee, early in the morning the smell of those beans, jump out of bed, forget about me. No, I don't like, coffee. Looking so happy snuggled to your cup. There's cheatin' in your eyes the way your love the stuff. Finish the pot then head straight to the can, geezus there's something’s I don't understand... ... coffee, coffee, early in the morning the smell of those beans, jump out of bed, forget about me. No, I don't like, coffee. The smell of your breath by mid-day, like your tongue is dying and rotting decay Late at night when it's time for bed Honey, get that damn man out of your head... ....Mister Coffee, Mister Coffee, early in the morning, noon and night taking my baby on a flight, no I don’t like coffee. coffee, coffee, early in the morning the smell of those beans, jump out of bed, forget about me. No, I don't like, coffee. Mary Lou, take the thumb out of your mouth,
don't be crude, stop the teasin' now, I'd really like to know is it me or my car? Is it true, you like the chase through town, are you amused the way you lead me around, you drove me too far and I'm not feelin' to smart. Don't Want To Lose You... (instr.) Don't want to lose you but is it me or my car? Mary Lou, why you goin' down, down, downtown? Whata you doin', drivin' me into the ground. Why you draggin' your parts down the boulevard. You've been draggin' my heart down the boulevard. What are you doin' ? Don't want to lose you but is it me or my car? She was a beggar outside of the church, standing there cursing scripture.
She said: "...nothing's ever fair or ever pure, we all come from the same plot, of dirt. You spend years with your heads in a vice, looking to long at the sky, don't you see with Adam and Eve in the family tree, why doesn't thou comfort thee?... ...oh, come out of there, to hell with your prayer, come on, come on, come out of there. Come on, come on, come out, love is the thing that I need, not prayer or sympathy, love is the thing that you need, love's almost everything. She said, “Have you ever seen a smile cover a lie? It's amazing how the truth can hide. You're passing by, looking so sincere, can't even spare some change for my career?..." oh, come out of there, to hell with your prayer, come on, come on, come out of there. Come on, come on, come out, love is the thing that I need, not prayer or sympathy, love is the thing that you need, love's almost everything. come on, come on, come on out here. come here I should've escaped when you told me to wait a bit longer.
I went for the bait, even knelt down and prayed to be stronger. Victoria, Victoria. My hormones just store moans, it's the quest of the testosterones. Like the birds and the bees, like a squirrel up a tree, I get lonely. Victoria, Victoria, koochy ka, koochy ko, koochy koo. Springtime is cling time it's only one thing time, come to the running brook. Will you or won't you, do you or don't you, oh please put down that book. The looks that you spawn make me feel like a pawn gone wrong now. I just want a taste just to see why I've wasted so long now. My honey bake, my sugar cake, koochy ka, koochy ko, koochy koo Victoria, Victoria, koochy ka, koochy ko, koochy koo Victoria, Victoria, koochy ka, koochy ko, koochy-koochy koo Walks in the door like you think you own this place,
barging through like you think you have a case. Don't climb all over me I'm not your tree, if you can't control your own life, don't try it on me. No I'm not feeling guilty anymore 'cause of you, We took the chance and neither one of us found a truce, and that was months ago and you don't own my shoes, the only thing you'll ever own is what you do. ... So get out, get out, get out, get out of my life. Get up, get up and get on, get on with your own. Get out, get out, get out, get out of my life, get on with your own. Well, of course I've changed and you know it's done me quite good. Doin' what I like, sorry you disapprove. Don't make me out to be the villain to all of your friends, I'm not responsible if you can't hold on to your own ends... L-O, U R 1 Q-T. L-O, I M 1 M-T B-B,
O U N I R 1, I I, C C C Y, O B-D I U C Y, G U X-L N I-Q, E-Z 2 N-V U. …..O U N I R 1 O-O 1, U C I C, I C U C. O U N I R 1 O-O-O-O 1 -- 2 B O 9 2 B L-O, U R A Q-T, L-O, I M 1 M-T B-B O U N I R 1... L-O, U R 1 Q-D, L-O, A M 2 P M 4 U O U N I R 1, G U N I R 1 I I, C C, C C Learned how to laugh, it all went by fast, then you're leaving,
and though I don't cry there's a look in my eyes disbelieving. Turn around... Feel cut in half you know I didn't grasp last evening . It's foreign, it's pourin', this mornin' there's no relieving Turn around June, turn around. I watched you pack your pain. See how love remains... turn around, turn around Think I can drink but I only can sink like a stone, into the ground not making a sound into my holes. Turn around June, turn around, turn around June, round and round ... I watched you pack your pain. See how love remains. |
If you wanna know a fact, baby here’s the way we can meet. Meet.
You gotta do an act, you really aughta move them feet. Feet. I don’t wanna see you on your seat. If you wanna get in touch, baby here’s the way to that deed. Indeed. If you’re wantin’ me so much, baby gotta show me your lead. Lead. ‘cause I don’t wanna see you on your seat. I want you dancin’ out the steps to romance, dancin’ out the steps to romance, dancin’ out the steps... (instr.) If you wanna make a fuss, baby here’s the way to my street. Street. If you’re wantin’ me to trust, baby gotta come completely ‘cause I don’t wanna see you on your seat. I want you dancin’ out the steps to romance dancin’ out the steps to romance, dancin’ out the steps (instr.) I want you dancin’ out the steps You've got a look that hooks deep inside.
And how I try to tell you so. Don't imagine it will ever subside, thinking it over, think it over. There's a pleasure whenever you arrive. It never leaves me alone. You add the measure to make life alive, I'm thinking it over, think it over... Suddenly I know, all there is to know, now it's too late to run, too late to hide You've got that look that took me aside. It follows me all around town, I lay it on my pillow late at night, thinking it over, think it over Suddenly I know, all there is to know, now it's too late to run, too late to hide You've got a look that hooks deep inside. And how I try to tell you so. Don't imagine it will ever subside, thinking it over, think it over. thinking it over, and over, and over. Please leave the laundry for me, darlin'.
I can make a soiled load disappear. I can dust all the dust, rub out the rust, sweep til it's clean clear dear. I can take out the garbage, darlin'. I can weed and seed the garden new. I shovel and rake, scrape, sand and paint, any chore I'll bore right through... ... just give me a whisper, darlin'. Just a tiny wink will do. Toss a kiss here, darlin', 'cause support is important from you. I can make most grains of bread, darlin', though we need dough together it's true. I don't shuffle off to work, it's you who fills the purse, I don't care to work for anyone 'cept you... ... just give me a whisper, darlin'. Just a tiny wink will do. Toss a kiss here, darlin', 'cause support is important from you. Just stroke my whiskers, darlin', 'cause support is important from you. Support is important too. Give me a hand I can use, a chance to improve,
make a stand that won’t fall away. Give me a mind I can move, come find me if you could, sometime if I lose my way. It’s you I’m looking to, pull me through everyday, everyday. I love you, love you, forgive me when I make mistakes. you give the strength I need, always have believed in you, you. You’ve a touch that I miss, a shoulder with a kiss, a smile that defines the way. It’s you I’m looking to, pull me through everyday, everyday. I love you, love you, forgive me when I make mistakes. Give the strength I need, always have believed in you, you. (Instr.) Standing right beside, straight ahead and all behind you. You, everyday... Everyday No excuse will fit, nor can forget, how I let you slip away.
Now it's over with and I hurt you so, guess I got some dues to pay. I'm full of doubt, I can't hide the pain, thought I could ignore the change. But it's over with, I miss you so, can't get on with my own way. The hurt, see the hurt. It hurts, didn't see the hurt. It's more, so much more, it so much more than I can take. I've been wrong before and this is just once more, can't believe you're gone today. Is it over with, 'cause I miss you so, can't get on with my old way. The hurt, see the hurt. It hurts, I didn't see the hurt. It's more, so much more, it so much more than I can take... I need you. I want to be a popular person, say the popular thing,
thrill you with popular opinions, whatever the Times may bring. With ideas like yours no one gets sore, sure enough you'll never be bored. I want to be a popular person and say the popular thing. I want to be a popular person, sing the popular song, thrill you with popular melodies the kind you find at sing-along’s. With words you've heard I'll touch a nerve, certainly I'll never go wrong. I want to be a popular person and sing the popular song (instr.) I want to be a popular person, dress the popular dress, thrill you with popular clothing, the kind that stays a stitch ahead. From ads of fads you wish you had, watch me as I strut and stroll. I'm gonna be a popular person, someday before I get old I'm gonna be a popular person, someday before I get old He sat at the counter drunk again, saw his wife and his life too stale. Drinking again into a frenzy when she came to bring him home.
He followed her to the exit door, told her his life had died and gone to hell. Said he hadn't laughed since their wedding day, except to stick his bucket in her well... ... well, she socked him in the head, knocked him down the steps, sent him flying to the floor in a dive. The little lady with the lonely eyes had a funny way of saying goodbye. Woke up feeling the slap of fate, wandered home but he was years too late. There on the stairs she had packed her bags, And had one more move to make... ... well, she socked him in the head, knocked him down the steps, sent him flying to the floor in a dive. The little lady with the lonely eyes had a funny way of saying goodbye. As time goes by he's at the bar again, wonders what he's doing in such a sty. And every time he thinks of her almost laughs so hard he cries... ... when she socked him in the head, knocked him down the steps, sent him flying to the floor in a dive. The little lady with the lonely eyes had a funny way, a funny way, had a funny way of saying goodbye. |