bedroomCLASSICS

bedroomCLASSICS: That Sheep and Those Sheep

Welcome to the third installment of bedroomCLASSICS. This is a brand new song that is going to be on my upcoming album—I am right in the middle of recording it as I speak.

The lyrics are based off of an old Aesop Fable, amongst other things.

I find fables fascinating because of their elegant moral and practical message summed in a concise story often using animal protagonists. The relevance of their message has managed to traverse thousands of years and many languages, and has even found its place in popular religious texts such as the Bible. For example, the Gospel of Matthew (7:15-16), Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Wise words… and if I may add, I worry about far more than just false prophets.

That Sheep and Those Sheep
Words and Music by Mike Vitale

a wolf in a meadow
came across a body
a lamb who had perished
wandering from its herd

the wolf had a notion
disguised is woolen shoddy
to infiltrate their ranks
with an appetite so naughty, singing

that sheep and those sheep will be all mine
sure enough a few followed behind
then the few became the whole herd
a flock of sheep that hung on every word

supper time
the shepherd went home
he left his herd alone

the wolf would conceal
his snarl and bloody grin
and preach of forgiveness
amongst his new brethren

the fruit of his words
a labor towards fruition
to feed his hungry urge
and shady disposition, singing

that sheep and those sheep will be all mine
sure enough a few followed behind
then the few became the whole herd
a flock of sheep that hung on every word

supper time
the shepherd went home
he left his herd alone

supper time
the shepherd went home
he left his herd alone

bedroomCLASSICS: Roxanne

Here is my second installment of bedroomCLASSICS. I spent a lot of time fooling around with this today and learned quite a bit about improving the quality of my videos, so hopefully this will reflect in some of the future performances I post. This is “Roxanne” by The Police. For anyone who has ever seen me play live solo acoustic, I do a lot of looping stuff like this utilizing a bunch of digital toys at my feet. If you like this video, please share it with your friends.

bedroomCLASSICS:  Latchkey Kid

Welcome to my first installment of bedroomCLASSICS: This is a brand new song called “Latchkey Kid” and it is going to be on my next album which I am currently in the process of writing. I debuted it at The 2010 Orange County Music Awards Showcase a week or so ago—I wish I could adequately describe the pleasure, gratification, and magic of having 200 people sing along to a song. Perhaps we all have a bit of Latchkey Kid inside of us—or perhaps not. Either way, I hope you like it: I’ve included the words below the video.

Latchkey Kid
Words and Music: Mike Vitale

Coloring books when I was nine
Anything that I could do to pass the time
Finished up my homework after I go home from school
Built a blanket fort in my living room

Set the oven to 400 degrees myself
Perched up on the countertop to reach a kitchen shelf
It’s dinner time, and my parents are nowhere to be seen
So corn dogs and fish sticks are my routine

I’m a Latchkey Kid, and nobody cares about the trouble that I’m gettin’ in

Waiting by the phone for my parents to call
Staring at our family portrait hanging on the wall
My daddy says no T.V. if stay up too late
Too bad he aint here to regulate

I’m a Latchkey Kid, and nobody cares about the trouble that I’m gettin’ in
I’m a Latchkey Kid, and nobody cares about the trouble that I’m gettin’ in

Sometimes my father would come home late
And my mother would be drunk by then, smell perfume, and throw a dinner plate
No one to read me story when I tuck myself into bed
So I dream of love
I dream of love
and then start my day again

I’m a latchkey kid, and nobody cares about the trouble that I’m gettin’ in
I’m a latchkey kid, and nobody cares about the trouble that I’m gettin’ in
I’m a latchkey kid
I’m a latchkey kid
I’m a latchkey kid