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A​-​Ha​-​Ha (Demos Volume 1)

by Mark Laurent

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1.
That's What It's Like (A-Ha-Ha) 03:54
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THAT’S WHAT IT’S LIKE Well the dog jumped up and bit me my bird lay down and died I ran my kitty over as I backed out of the drive that’s what it’s like, that’s what it’s like when feeling down and troubled that’s what it’s like. My baby’s gonna leave me she told me just today said my best friend treats her beter besides he gets better paid that’s what it’s like… Is God still up in heaven is he anywhere around I saw a guy who looked just like him he was hitching out of town that’s what it’s like… There’s philosophies and religions they all try to save my soul I might just a well go down into my basement and dig holes that’s what it’s like… Can anybody answer me? can anybody tell? lord I think so much about heaven man it makes me feel like hell that’s what it’s like… Well I really don’t care too much about the answer anyway why should I worry about tomorrow when I can be depressed today? that’s what it’s like…
2.
Change 03:56
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CHANGE I’ve been working for money hoping for fame no matter which way I pitch it, yeah it always ends up the same money might make a few dreams come true but it’ll never make a scratch in the real you and I’m looking for change… I was living in the city the city was getting me down stuck between the smog and the stuffed-suit salesmen I’m wearing a permanent frown some people think it’s real cool to be busy but to tell you the truth it just makes me dizzy and I’m looking for change… Some people think that bigger and bigger is the logical way to go and I used to want to be a real high flier but now I’m not so sure because your centre of gravity’s not so good when you’re fifty stories tall and I’ve never been afraid of heights but it’s a hell of a way to fall Every coin has two sides and there’s a farther shore to every sea and if you don’t like it in the shade of the rock there’s sunnier places to be and just like the night time follows the day every road leads both ways and I’m looking for change…
3.
Me TV 05:13
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ME TV It’s a rainy day and I’m not going out it’s a rainy day outside a rainy day, I think I’ll hang about it’s a rainy day all my life All my friends, they’ve gone somewhere else I’m in my room sitting by myself these rainy days are no surprise to me rainy days happen regularly I’m here alone, and I feel just alright I’ve got my remote control I can turn on and off my life these rainy days don’t mean much to me rainy days look better on TV Where everybody’s got this new sensation everybody wants to play the game where we’re all stars, it’s a talk-show nation it’s better than reality, it’s Me TV Can you see me? It’s a rainy day all around th3 world it’s a rainy day tonight a rainy day, and I don’t really care rainy day, but that’s alright Because everybody’s got their new sensation everybody wants to play the game and we’re all stars, it’s a talk-show nation \better than reality, it’s Me TV.
4.
Green Chair 03:21
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GREEN CHAIR There’s a green chair in the sun green chair in the sun it’s a sunny afternoon sunny afternoon You’ve been on my mind it happens every time there's a sunny afternoon sunny afternoon There’s nothing much to do But sit and think of you On this lazy afternoon Lazy afternoon There’s a green chair in the sun and I’m the only one this sunny afternoon sunny afternoon.
5.
Poetree 03:50
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POETREE There’s a tui singing right outside I think he must be on a natural high To sing like that, and be able to fly Well if he’s not a happy bird Then the world really is absurd If he’s not happy, then I don’t know why There’s a little song in everything Winter holds the seeds of spring So come on ... Some days I feel like I’ve got nothing to say People can be funny that way And if I had a penny I’d spend it today But I come on like the prodigal son It’s a wonder I get anything done, sometimes You think about these things too hard They’re going to blow you away But there’s a little song in everything Winter holds the seeds of spring So come on, have a go, do your own thing Inspiration is like a shout You never know when one might break out And sometimes you just have to open your mouth Like that tui singing right outside Just to listen to him makes me feel high And if I’m not happy, then I don’t know why. There’s a little song in everything Winter holds the seeds of spring So come on, have a go, do your own thing It’s poetree.
6.
Games 03:27
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GAMES There are a lot of tightrope walkers in the sky smiling clown faces passing by I’d like to see some of them clear of eye why do we play these games? Streets full of children hanging round home sit their parents losing ground their whole system’s come tumbling down I don’t like to see it go I don’t want to be there, no! God is there an answer to this life? the riddles, the changes parody and strife why do we play these games day and night? that’s all I ask for now I’d like to know somehow.
7.
The Wall 05:46
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THE WALL In my dream I saw a wall that wall fell upon itself we walked out into the light in my dream there’s no more night You may think that I’m a fool to believe in miracles but I do, and so will you when your wall begins to fall You can dream if you want to dream and step away from the shadows when your wall begins to fall.
8.
Brand New Blues 04:02
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BRAND NEW BLUES Well I used to drink whisky But I won’t do that any more Yeah I used to drink whisky Bu I won’t do that any more Because since I followed Jesus I chased that old mistress right out the door. Well I used to smoke on Sundays A little grass would get me high Yeah I used to smoke on Sundays A little grass would get me high But since I followed Jesus, I found out He’s got the only way to fly. There’s lots of things that try to make you happy But they never last too long Lots of things that try to satisfy But they’ll never do it, no matter how strong But if you follow Jesus He’s going to give you a brand new song. Yeah I used to drink whisky But I won’t do that any more And I used to smoke on Sunday But every Monday morning you’d find me down on the floor But since I follow Jesus I don’t have to sing the blues any more.
9.
Fair Question 03:44
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FAIR QUESTION Where do I travel to when I close my eyes? and where does my spirit go when my body dies all this talk of heaven is it just a pack of lies? that’s a fair question They say our earth is dying from the foolishness of man all our greed, all our selfishness has compromised the plan if we change our ways tomorrow is there time to start again? that’s a fair question Do you love me, do you care or am I just a pest? have I given you anything at all or will failure always be my best? I feel like an apprentice here but who has set this test? that’s a fair question The night is blue and you are gold like Midas I am drawn please may I have this dance with you? I’d like to walk you home so will you spend some time with me or must I be alone? that’s a fair question.
10.
Guru 05:37
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GURU I used to want to be a guru I used to want to be the one I used to want to be a saviour do the things that must be done but I will never be a saviour no I’m really not that strong so I just want to be your friend from now on I used to want to be a hero really thought that I could fly I used to want to be the wise one answer when you asked me why but I will never be a wise man no I’m really not that kind but I just want to be a friend if you don’t mind When I was a little younger I used to want to change the world I used to want to be your lover I always hoped you’d be my girl but I have never been a lovert I don’t do it vbery well I just want to be your friend I hope you can tell Well I will never be a guru and I will never be the one I will never be the saviour there’s too much growing to be done but I’m making you a promise and I’ll keep it ‘til the end just give me a little time I’m going to be your friend.
11.
No Direction Blues (written by Brenda Liddiard) 04:28
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NO DIRECTION BLUES @Brenda Liddiard I've been sitting around with my head in my hands stuck on a feeling I couldn't understand wondering what on earth am I doing in this place it's even hard to put a smile on my face suddenly I knew I had the no direction blues I don't know where I'm going, don't know what to do don't even know how I feel about you don't know why I did all those things I did before I only know the reasons don't exist anymore you were the clue, and now I've got the no direction blues Why'd it take me so long to see just what your presence really meant to me? it really didn't matter if I was going nowhere just as long as you were there Now at last I'll try to break away from your spell I'm going to start some sort of life for myself got to choose a road from all these sign-posts I see or lead a life of mediocrity I have to choose to lose the no direction blues.
12.
The Rope 03:57
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THE ROPE Oh it feels so strange it’s like there’s this rope around me pretty soon something’s got to change this darkness won’t let me be Oh my dear friend tell me, what do you see? can you see this rope around me? The days are getting colder and the nights are getting long I sit all alone by the fireside I cry my tears so strong Oh my dear friend tell me, what do you see? time’s getting short, there’s this rope around me Oh my dear friend hey my darling one I’ll hold onto you, you hold onto me we can shine like the sun It’s so dark out on the water but there’s a light by the shore a boat is leaving on the next tide I want to get on board Oh my dear friend won’t you come with me? I’m cutting this rope around me.
13.
I Just Wanna Be God (the Subliminal session) 03:40
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I JUST WANNA B GOD I don’t want to be the president of some fortune 500 company And I don’t want to be the mayor of some overpopulated, polluted big city I don’t want to have tea with the queen or form a trio with Bono and Rod I don’t want too much of anything - I just wanna be god. I don’t need a big white mansion and I don’t need a swimming pool I don’t need to be a pillar of fashion or somebody’s dancing fool I don’t need a genuine Picasso hanging on the wall just to prove how much taste I’ve got I don’t need anything special - I just wanna be god. I don’t like too many possessions I don’t like a stressful life I don’t like religious obsessi0ons and I only want one wife I don’t like to be a pawn in the hands of manipulative men who rip you off I don’t like to make a fuss - but I just wanna be god. I can play pretty good guitar and I can sing a song for you I can take a book of words and make them say anything that I want to I could grab a little piece of earth and make of it a slice of heaven if you want I think that this life is pretty fine - but I’d still like to be god So if I can ever find the time - I’d just like to b god And I hope that you don’t mind - I’d jut like to b god.
14.
Trimmed & Burning #2 05:37
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TRIMMED AND BURNING I’m trimmed and burning ready for the night No man lights a candle just to hide it away but when you light a candle you turn the darkness into day a city built on a mountain just can’t hide from the storm but when you stand on a mountain you’re the first to see the dawn There’s just no point in turning back once you put your hand to the plough now we’re on this long, winding road we’re going to make it somehow I’m trimmed and burning ready for the night.
15.
Seagull In The Storm #1 03:59
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SEAGULL IN THE STORM I’ve never really been strong Never really held on to my direction Like a needle seeking north I can be thrown off by any vibration So I call out to you Like a seagull in the storm A baby who cries for his mother’s arms Sun is warm upon my back Green earth instructs and enfolds me There is nothing that I lack Except the truth of the stories you told me When I called out to you Like a heckler in the crowd A sinner at the edge of your circle of friends. I’ve never really been alone Only in the depths of my imagination And when there’s nowhere to go I stand still and hope for salvation Then I call out to you Like a shepherd in the dark Just outside the shelter where love is born.
16.
Trust (studio version) 03:26
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TRUST Why wake up early And go to bed so late When worry won’t add one minute to your time (I’m learning to put away things too hard for me) Consider the sparrows See how the lilies grow God himself takes care of all their needs So how much more must he care for us When he gave so much to make us free. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord. I spent most of my life Chasing fantasies The grass was always greener over there I’ve hands-full of nothing for my care And you seem so anxious About so many things But just one thing is needful in the end Hold onto that good part, my friend On this you can depend. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord. The world is in anguish Like a woman giving birth Our foolishness and sin have brought this on Now the time is at hand, it won’t be long As we stand in the valley of decision every day Fear can make you feel so paralysed But there’s a bright road up ahead If we’ll open up our eyes. And blessed are those who trust in the Lord.
17.
Be My Vision Blues 02:41
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BE MY VISION BLUES re-write of the traditional hymn Be my vision oh Lord of my heart nothing else matters except that you are you are my best thought by day or by night waking or sleeping your presence is my light Be my wisdom and be my true word I'm always with you and you with me Lord you're my dear father and I your true son you're always with me and I with you - we're one Be my breastplate and a sword for the fight be my inheritance and my delight be my strong shelter and be my high tower guard me and keep me, oh power of my power Riches I crave not, or man's earthly praise you're my inheritance now and always you and you only be first in my heart high king of heaven, my treasure is what you are High king of glory, when the victory's won may I reach heaven, oh bright heaven's sun heart of my own heart, whatever befall still be my vision, oh ruler of all still be my vision.

about

I've always had some sort of basic recording setup, and over the years collected a lot of demos. This album and its companion are some of the better ones. When you're recording just for yourself often you're more relaxed than you might be in a professional studio where the clock is ticking and the $$ are fast slipping away. This often means that demos have a more relaxed, fun feel than the final studio versions capture. Most of the songs are previously unreleased, except for Youtube clips etc, and the few that have appeared on albums are given quite different treatments here. I hope you enjoy this lot.

credits

released August 8, 2018

All instruments and vocals are by me.

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Mark Laurent Auckland, New Zealand

I've been a professional guitarist/singer/songwriter for 40 years, & I've recorded & worked on many albums. I'm also an author with 4 collections of poetry & an illustrated children's storybook published, & I've written articles & reviews for various magazines. I live in Auckland, New Zealand. As well as cafes, concerts & churches I also do a bit of busking to keep in touch with the 'real world'. ... more

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