In the book there are several song lyrics included as a way of illustrating the journey and I figured it was important to the story that the songs match what they are being described as. For the narrative, Will You Be There or Come Alive need to be something an 80's band could have had a hit with. Class of '84 Reunion can be picked up easily and playfully played at a backyard BBQ, Morning Dues needs to be impactful, Echoes needs to have a stark intensity. The problem is, as the writer, I can only tell you it's poppy, playful, intense. And that -for me - does impact the narrative. If I were reading the book, I'd be saying, "well, you say that Rock a Little Longer is a crowd pleaser, but it's all just words on the page."

And maybe that doesn't bother anyone else, that's why imagination goes a long way when reading a novel, but still...

In my head these songs are all of these things, and I don't want the reader to have to imagine that, they should know they are what I'm saying they are. I wrote the book, finished it up, but the song lyrics still existed and the melodies bounced around my head. What to do?

There are likely easier ways to have resolved this but what I did was, in 2017, I learned the guitar. This had to happen, and I'm not really good at it, but good enough to structure a pop song. In the past, I created some songs through GarageBand (see the Oreland Station lyric page), it is a great software program, but in the end, stringing together sound clips is a form of karaoke. I needed these to be songs that had notes, silly as that sounds, that was the key for them existing.

But, I never really played before, so I watched some YouTube videos, printed out some chord and note sheets, and figured out enough to get though my songs. My intention was not to learn other songs, except as it would provide a key to figuring out my own songs. Next I identified a core group of songs that were featured in the book and also were easy to get to demo status. In other words, if it required becoming Bohemian Rhapsody that wasn't happening. Next up was the factor that singing was never going to be my calling card, but there the forgiving echoes and reverbs of GarageBand could be leveraged.

First up was the song Morning Dues. Funny enough, as soon as I tried to take what was in my head into being, I ended up with a neat little guitar riff that changed the whole melody. Oh, well, happy accident, and really that is how this should be, the song in my head really has never existed in that sense and it's only in trying to bring it into being that I deal with the factors that will impact what it becomes.

At this point I have demos of 10 songs, listed below. All have multiple versions at this point, some I have added a drum track, some I have added backing vocals and other sweeteners, but I will create a page per song below as I add content and as I write a new story; this time it's not fiction, it's the true story of the songs of Morning Dues as they go from pieces in a book to the real thing.

Morning Dues

1. Morning Dues

2. Will You Be There

3. Motion Man

4. I Think the Kid's Name Was Robby

5. Little Boy under the Stars

6. Rock A Little Longer

7. A Pretty Girl Can Save the World

8. Class of '84 Reunion

Come Alive

Morning Dues 

Shaken and awaken to a day when I was sixteen 

Standing in the hallway lost in another daydream 

Walking by/her eyes/locked mine and didn’t stray 

Self-aware and scared I froze then turned away 

Yea, I turned away… 

(Chorus) 

Morning dues and country tunes 

And stories ‘bout the Pope in the Daily News 

I took what I had 

Nothing to lose 

And paid my morning dues 

I was a… 

Twenty-something loner with a chip on my shoulder 

Fate on my plate would have to wait til I was older 

But there’s no bigger waste of time than just bluffing 

And falling for anything and standing for nothing 

Yea, I stood in the crowd… 

Chorus 

There’s no Shangri-La gate we can reach in this lifetime 

There’s no walk in the sun where everything gets fine 

But I’ll keep on trying for my own piece of just right 

Because standing your ground is still a helluva good fight 

Yea, it’s a good good fight… 

Chorus 

Pull your map, see where it’s strong 

Find where it leads and go along 

Will You Be There 

When I’m walking tall but my head is hanging low 

Will you be there, will you be there 

When the world’s too much, 

too hard to make it through 

Will you be there, will you be there 

Cause some times and times again, 

I’ll be looking for a friend 

Who will be there, will you be there 

Seems at night the walls start talking the floors move on their own 

Will you be there, will you be there 

Seems at night I should be sleeping, 

I’m too fraid to sleep alone 

Will you be there, will you be there 

Cause some times and times again, 

I’ll be looking for a friend 

Who will be there, will you be there 

I can put up with a job, 

busting my ass all night long 

I can take my boss, because I know he’s wrong 

But when I need to put up a heavy front 

Can I put it up to you? 

Cause some times and times again, I’ll be looking for a friend 

Who will be there, will you be there 

To see me through the morning 

right through the day’s end 

Will you be there, will you be there 

And if ever comes a time when I step out of line 

Knock me back there, I will go there 

Cause some times and times again, 

I’ll be looking for a friend 

Who will be there, will you be there 

Motion Man 

Baby, pop the clutch and roll into first gear 

Cold motor rumble is buzzing through my ears 

Exhaust pipe’s coughing up a chunk of dirty air 

We can shake the dust and rust and drive it anywhere 

Shaking and a burning 

Let’s toss it into third gear 

(Chorus) 

We’re gonna need a bigger boat! 

If we want to cross this ocean 

When it’s time to get moving 

And put your life in motion 

I’m your motion man 

Let’s test this motor out and grind it up to fourth gear 

Pistons start to fire shaking in the back rear 

Sparks fly metal fry spinning through the tight chain 

Gas pumps mad rush like blood through the vein 

Shaking and a burning 

Let’s slide it into fifth gear 

(Chorus) 

We’re gonna need a bigger boat! 

If we want to cross this ocean 

If you want to get moving 

And put it in motion 

I’m your motion man 

Cruising the fast lane can we take it up to sixth gear? 

The world rushes by but the breeze is all I hear 

Engine straining as the gas is draining 

Bolts are popping and we’re redline topping 

Shaking and a burning 

I only wish I had a tenth gear 

We’re gonna need a bigger boat! 

To make it cross this ocean 

Mighty waves crash down 

But we’re in sync with the motion 

If you want a guy 

Who can shift it on the fly 

Take you by the hand 

and help with your plan 

to put it all in motion… 

I’m your motion man 

I Think the Kid’s Name Was Robby 

He was a kid named Rob or Bob or Bobby 

Definitely not Robert, but something – maybe Robby 

And Robby and I met with our families on summer vacation 

12 years old hanging around at the Beach Surf Station 

So we ordered pizza and argued Phils versus Mets 

And we hung out all night on the porch by the back fence 

We played wiffle ball on the beach and then we’d start 

To tell each other jokes we heard back home in schools 100 miles apart 

We were too young for email, address exchanges or phone calls 

And the two weeks ended as sure as summer’s followed by fall 

And I never saw Robby again 

Jokes we heard in schools 100 miles apart 

And I had friends throughout school and work and in the neighborhood 

But I never felt it be so easy never felt the times go by so good 

As on those warm July nights 

Phils vs Mets 

Which guitarist was best 

Sitcom quotes and dirty junior high jokes 

And you could discuss the world 

In a life before girls 

Familiar enough yet I could walk outside the back home clique I belonged 

Strangered enough yet we knew all the same shows and songs 

And something so random I’d carry for life in my heart 

Jokes we heard in schools 100 miles apart 

Little Boy Under the Stars 

All my friends back in old Leo 

Got no time to listen to my woe 

They’re all sitting round killing time 

And wish there problems were as bad as mine 

I’m a little boy 

Little boy under the stars 

Down on a street called Shaded Sun 

They take their seats there one by- one 

But I got something to decide 

I got two tickets for a one way ride 

I’m a little boy 

Little boy under the stars 

The sunlight is warm to be under 

But the moonlight fills with wonder 

I got something to decide 

Two tickets on a one way ride 

Rock A Little Longer 

Jeremy’s got the TV turned down 

He’s looking for that rock and roll sound 

He’s tuned in to his radio 

And watching his favorite TV show 

Don’t matter what it takes to fill your soul 

You’re gonna need that rock and roll 

Chorus 

And I say hey, hey, baby 

We’re gonna rock a little longer tonight 

C’mon say yea, yea, baby 

Co’mon let’s rock a little louder tonight 

C’mon and bop, bop 

Rock a little louder 

Bop, bop 

Rock a little longer 

Bop, bop 

Do it up tonight 

Timmy works at an eatery 

Tuned in to ninety-three-three 

Driving home with a radio 

He goes to sleep with his stereo 

It don’t matter if you are slowing 

Rock and roll will keep you going 

Chorus 

I’m riding on the boulevard 

I’m sitting in my backyard 

Passing people I don’t even know 

Watch detectives on my TV show 

Don’t matter where you are 

Rock and roll is never far 

Chorus 

A Pretty Girl Can Save the World 

When the world has done its number on you 

You feel defeated and all alone, too 

You catch a glimpse and your fears are stilled 

And in that moment all the joy is fulfilled 

Suddenly, things aren’t so bad 

Rejoice and be glad 

(Chorus) 

I believe I believe 

That it’s easy to see 

A pretty girl can save the world 

I believe I believe 

Cause it’s happened to me 

A pretty girl can save the world 

The bride begins her walk down the aisle 

A look to the groom and his goofy smile 

But there is a meaning for all who are there 

Witnessed love is a joy that they share 

And it’s easier returning to life 

Knowing they’re gonna be alright 

(chorus) 

A blemished world is what we endure 

Light shines out from love that is pure 

The mother holds on to her child’s hand 

And leads her baby through this twisted land 

And through the folly of the day 

I survived to stand and say 

(Chorus) 

Class of ‘84 Reunion 

Hello, my name is Brian 

Thanks for the name tag yea the years have been flying 

No I really didn’t travel far 

The hall looks nice hey, is there a wet bar? 

Yea I wanted to see everybody again 

And now that I have, well I’m good for another 10 

(Chorus) 

Reunion of the class of ‘84 

Now we’ve taken the pictures and sneaking out the back door 

And do you remember me? 

Voted most likely to agree 

Reunion of the class of ‘84 

Reunion of the class of ‘84 

Hello hello my name is “Guido” 

We had some bad words years ago 

And it still bothers me 

You’re the one guy here I wanted to see 

But now I’m just not as mad 

Can you even realize the effect you had? 

(Chorus) 

Hello hello my name is Joe 

Yea, just Joe, that’s all you’d know 

You have a familiar face 

Were you the guy who did that thing at that place? 

Nah, I guess I’m thinking of someone else 

Well it was nice to see you, and here’s to your good health 

Hello, hello my name is “Back Row” 

I’m somebody you saw but didn’t know 

‘Cos every day at 2:15 

I’d head on my Mustang not to be seen 

Until the morning bell I’m back before then 

I never thought I’d see you people again 

Hello hello my name is “Study Hall” 

The girl you joked with by the back wall 

You’re a friendly face from the past 

You helped me fit in when I felt like an outcast 

And there was a missed opportunity 

But I was so shy guess it was never meant to be 

(Chorus) 

Reunion of the class of ’84… 

We’re the class of ’84 and we’re out of here 

Come Alive 

I see you shaking 

Yea, you’re shaking 

There’s a chance you wanna be taking now 

Wanna do more than survive 

Come Alive 

A choice you’re making 

The walls you’re breaking 

The next step that you’re gonna be taking now 

Wanna do more than survive 

Come Alive / Come Alive… 

The days rush by time goes by 

If you let it, it’ll pass til you die 

Don’t wait for it to arrive 

Come Alive / Come Alive… 

I see you shaking 

Yea, you’re shaking 

There’s a chance you wanna be taking 

Come Alive / Come Alive… 

I’ve been wrong I’ve gone along 

Been tested, tested to be strong 

Stay alive 

Then one day the pain won’t go away 

I dropped to my knees to pray 

To survive 

You’ve been hated 

You’ve been down graded 

They took your passion then berated 

Time has come to revive 

Come Alive / Come Alive… 

Life is joy life is sorrow 

We all got ‘em but come tomorrow 

For better days to arrive 

Come Alive 

I see you shaking 

Yea you’re shaking 

There’s a chance you wanna be taking 

Wanna do more than survive 

Come Alive / Come Alive… 

Echoes 

Shadows and fog and the weight of living 

Ghosts and memories and the late night haze 

A million miles gone and a million miles coming 

Gasoline smell and all those lost days 

Streets are dark – am I the only one living? 

No lights no cars nothing blocking my way 

Radio is static – am I the only one living? 

Eyes are heavy am I fading away? 

I hear voices rise up from endless grey hills 

I gun the engine - faster to nowhere 

Roll down the window and feel the night chills 

The sound of hissing tires the sound of dead air 

And the howling dog howls 

And the howling dog howls 

And the howling dog howls 

Just to hear his bark 

I got echoes in the night 

Echoes in the dark 

I got two more hours until the sun rises 

I got two hundred miles until I’m home 

I got an ugly side of me and I can’t fix the damage 

My whole world’s this car and I’m driving alone 

I got a real good one if you want to hear my story 

I interview myself when the ride gets long 

He asks about a girl and a time not forgotten 

I hesitate at first then I sing him my song 

I felt the grace of love every time I was with her 

I felt anger and betrayal when we were apart 

I’d do anything for her- except change my behavior 

The sound of hissing tires the sound of dead air 

And the howling dog howls 

And the howling dog howls 

And the howling dog howls 

Just to hear his bark 

I got echoes in the night