Marshall Stern's Songs

It's the week after the 2004 election. I spent 20 hours in the rain and cold at a polling place in Pittsburgh and witnessed first hand the underhanded tactics employed by the Cheater In Chief. I still can't believe that Son Of A Bitch stole another election but I was clear it would not have been possible without the zombie like unquestioning support of the Fundies. I was so pissed at their hypocrisy so I wrote this song for them. Ah shit...I'm still pissed.

This is a pretty little romantic sketch. I love the idea that the biggest things in our lives are symbolized by very little mundane things. Hence the images of ordinary run of the mill stuff that means so much more.

Another Hodge Cook Co-write. We were both going through seperation/divorce issues at this time, hence the "Go Away Liitle Girl" attitude. I also really wanted to see how far I could go with a non rhyming rhyme so I put it in the payoff line of the Chorus. I take odd pleasure in that.You don't think "learn" rhymes with "stone"? It does in Nashville.

Life goes by. It seems to speed up as you get older. I have found that it is best to live in the now. Most people don't do that and end up like the man in this song having nothing but pictures in the end. I co wrote this with a young lady named Lee. Unfortunately I don't remember her last name, so Lee, if you hear this please contact me and tell me your last name. I guess the old guy in this song isn't the only senile one.

Just Fun. I love those old balladeers and the songs of that era. This was an homage written with Hodge Cook. This was a chance to play with lyrics.

This song, co-written with Hodge Cook, is one of my all time favorites. It's a word picture I wrote at a time when things were stinking pretty badly but there was a spark of hope and I wanted to write a song about that. The point is, winter is always followed by spring. I used to love singing this one A Cappella with my dear freinds the Radlauers in Nashville. Nancy and I are doing the harmonies on this recording.

I belonged to a wonderful race relations group in Nashville. I wrote this one for them. This is one of Nancy's favorites. I am very proud of the imagery of the burning tree.

I was reading "A Return To Love" by Marianne Williamson and there was this great line in there; "If It didn't stop at the station, it wasn't your train." Well, I thought, not only is that a great philosophy but it has a train in it, hence, it could be a Country song. Unlike my 15 minute songs, this one took years to write. The version here evolved over 13 years. I love what this song has to say. If you can take it to heart, you can enjoy your life.

I sat in my home studio for three hours trying to write something and came up with nothing. Suddenly I looked up and said to G-d, "I haven't written one for you in a while. Would you like me to?" Ten Minutes later "Aren't We Children" was finished. I love this song and what it says. I also like the drop D tuning. Nancy, (my sweetie), is doing harmonies on this along with me.

Wherever you go, there you are. It doesn't matter what route you take, your own true nature is always the destination. What is your own true nature? Ask the Buddha. If he answers you, kill him.