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Unfinished Melodies: Demos, Rare & Unreleased 2003​-​2013 Vol. III

by Jason Reischel

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1.
Lazy days have got me putting of what I cannot hide I'll do tomorrow what I promised just give me time to move Off this burly, old couch I feel tied down and I can't remember a time when I said to you Take the children, take the dog, call my mother when you are through The great provider that you are, I know that you need to rest your head On this burly, old couch You should lie down, relax, and let me take full control for you You may not ask me if I'm ready to go You may not ask me if I forgot I know what I said, I will do it tonight Just give me time Lazy days have got me putting off what I cannot see I wrote it down, made a list And posted it plainly there for you to see But this burly, old couch Keeps me tied down And I can't remember a time when I did what I should do But this burly old couch Keeps me tied down And I can't remember a time when I did what I should do
2.
Nothing is permanent; nothing is harder to forget Than giving it all away, giving it all away for love And when you’ve lost that spark Think of someone close to your heart Think of them with gratitude for what they’ve done for you If you smile more than you cry If they are always on your mind If when you touch hands, it’s a warm extended embrace If it’s just a memory or a path you seek Remember that all things change, all things change It can be overnight, or it can take time There’s nothing we can do, it’s going to happen So let’s just enjoy the time we have before it ends Think of me with gratitude for what I’ve done for you If you smile more than you cry If they are always on your mind If when you touch hands, it’s a warm extended embrace If it’s just a memory or a path you seek Remember that all things change, all things change Like fabric and flowers, and colors of walls And the hours of sunset If you smile more than you cry If they are always on your mind If when you touch hands, it’s a warm extended embrace If it’s just a memory or a path you seek Remember that all things change, all things change
3.
Now everyone knows that the way that I feel I mean I haven't been that quiet or confused I've have looking through memories And reliving old times It's like yesterday and we hadn't a clue Of what was real or where we were going It didn’t' matter cause we both knew Bad decisions were made by the dozen But if we made enough we'd make up for them Bad Mistakes Bad Mistakes Now everyone knows that they way that it is And I never thought to change it at all We'll work through our problems And we'll work for our kids And we'll work until we can't work at all Was that the dream when we got going It doesn't matter cause we both know Bad decisions are made by the dozen And we've made enough to be sure of it Bad Mistakes Bad Mistakes You've got your ball and you've got your chain But you've got the time to do it all Only you can change the rules of the game Bad Mistakes Bad Mistakes
4.
You’ll never know why I love you so You’ll never see what you mean to me You’ll never hear my words so clear No, not today for I’m miles away And a long way from home I’ll fill you in on all the places I’ve been We’ll cut the rug before I’m done I’ve seen your face in every town I’ve been in And will tonight, it’s a sight that I like I count the days before I went away And never knew there’d be much sorrow I count the days since I left on my way Would love to be with you tomorrow But it’s a long way from home You’ll never see what time does to me You’ll never know how much I missed you so The only thing that can save me Is you tonight, in my arms, holding tight I count the days before I went away And never knew there’d be much sorrow I count the days since I left on my way Would love to be with you tomorrow But it’s a long way from home I count the days before I went away And never knew there’d be much sorrow I count the days since I left on my way Would love to be with you tomorrow But it’s a long way from home You’ll never know why I love you so You’ll never see what you mean to me You’ll never hear my words so clear No, not today for I’m miles away And a long way from home Not today for I’m miles away And a long way from home
5.
I stil feel the way i do When I first saw you It wasn't that long ago It wasn't that long ago When we first me on these streets What promise did we keep? New York gets cold at night New York gets cold at night What good am I to you If I can't speak the truth New York gets cold at night New York gets cold at night I still feel the way i do I only think of you Why are you so far away? Why are you so far away from me? One sign is all I need Let me know you think of me New York gets cold at night New York gets cold at night What good am I to you If I can't speak the truth New York gets cold at night New York gets cold at night
6.
She don’t know what she is waiting for She can’t see, she can’t unlock the door That she can’t find, happens all the time lately She can’t wait to dance When she bought the dress that she would wear tonight A different circumstance, she would’ve cut her hair For it has grown too long To pull it back, or leave it down No necklace, or just leave it on She don’t know what she is waiting for She can’t see, she can’t unlock the door That she can’t find, happens all the time lately Much too lately Much too hasty she feels she’s been with him She can’t wait to dance When she bought the dress that she would wear tonight A different circumstance, she would’ve cut her hair For it has grown too long To pull it back, or leave it down No necklace, or just leave it on Much too lately Much too hasty she feels she’s been with him
7.
I used to write it down, I think I used to have it all I never had a thing I didn’t need But then you came along, and you gave me nothing at all That’s when I knew you were all I needed I lay awake each and every night Waiting to fall asleep, a tear in each open eye Working over-time to fight the light Wondering what happened to the night, to the moon I stumble through the day, and then I stumble through the night I can’t tell if this is all a dream I’ve talking to the Ivory Man who live beneath the stairs He seems to think you are all I needed I lay awake each and every night Trying to fall asleep, your book is by my side Helping me with boredom and rebirth Helping to detach me from this earth, and you I can’t stop thinking of you I can’t stop thinking of you I can’t stop thinking of you I can’t stop thinking of you I can’t stop thinking of you I can’t stop thinking of you
8.
If you stay, I will say the right things What I’ve never said before I know that you will not be satisfied until I have Told you the things that I want you to hear I’ve been waiting for the right time But now I know it’s been here All along, although I never thought to try To tell you what you wanted to hear Even though that I said we’d be happy I had no way to ever know So I’ve been putting all our memories in boxes So I can lock them away and save them for you There’s no such thing as the right time To tell the ones that you love That you do everyday, and in every way Then the meaning of life will surely come to you The meaning of life will surely come to you The meaning of life will surely come to you The meaning of life will surely come to you
9.
Alone and on this darkened road I dreamt I had to row my way back to you Alone, the hot sun fries my bones They’re aching ‘cause I’m old enough to know what to do I could sit in silence But when I closed my eyelids I can see the water crashing down on me Why do I dream of drowning? What is it that is hounding me? I’ll have a cup a coffee to stay awake all night Alone, these nightmares that I own are owning me I’m told that I’ll see what they mean Alone, like a thief caught in the night I awake to find that I am still home Am I searching for an answer? To a question I can’t bare to ask Why am I afraid to fall asleep tonight? I could sit in silence But when I closed my eyelids I can see the water crashing down on me Why do I dream of drowning? What is it that is hounding me? I’ll have a cup a coffee to stay awake all night Alone and on this darkened road I dreamt I had to row my way back to you
10.
I want you to know that if you fall down on me I’d be inclined to pick you up Do you share that sentiment? Cause lately, I’ve noticed you looking down on me And not even try to hide your smile Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why? Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why? I haven’t had a thing to do That wasn’t what I wanted to do anyway It’s still the same, nothing has changed But now I look the other way I want you to know that if you fall down on me I’d be inclined to pick you up Do you share that sentiment? Cause lately, I’ve noticed you looking down on me And not even try to hide your smile Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why?
11.
I want you to know that if you fall down on me I’d be inclined to pick you up Do you share that sentiment? Cause lately, I’ve noticed you looking down on me And not even try to hide your smile Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why? Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why? I haven’t had a thing to do That wasn’t what I wanted to do anyway It’s still the same, nothing has changed But now I look the other way I want you to know that if you fall down on me I’d be inclined to pick you up Do you share that sentiment? Cause lately, I’ve noticed you looking down on me And not even try to hide your smile Lately, I’ve been avoiding you Did you ask yourself why? Lately, I’ve had no excuse to be rude Did you ask yourself why? Do you wanna know why?
12.
The one way to survive is to stay on your toes The one way to survive is to know what nobody knows What nobody knows The one thing you can't forget is to look them in the eye The one thing you can't forget is that everybody lies Contain the fire But you can't put it out Contain the fire But you can't put it out Contain the fire But you can't put it out Contain the fire But you can't put it out Contain the fire But you can't put it out
13.
Not that long ago I was hopeless and feeling I would never find a woman like you And since we've been talking I feel I've been walking on air I just don't know what to do My friends tell me to just take it slow But I worry that I'll let you go I can't help but feeling this way I have done it before I want to change my ways Since I met you all my questions are answered And now I know what I need to do I place in your hands all my faith and compassion And I trust that you will see me through My love for you grows stronger each day More than double when you are away The time has come for me to give in I've never done it before but I can't wait to begin To have your hand, and hold your heart And wake up in the morning with you To have your hand and hold your heart And know that it's the right thing to do My love for you grows stronger each day More than double when you are away It's taken me time to give up But I know this is real, I know this is love My love for you grows stronger each day More than double when you are away The time has come for me to give in I've never done it before but I can't wait to begin More than double when I am with you More than double when I am with you More than double when I am with you
14.
What can I say? When I see your face I melt away And your eyes I'm surprised I can even look away Lazy summer days spent in the park On the bench but sitting in the dark Until you come and take Until you come take me away Into the light I'll your hand and I will hold it tight One kiss I'd steal Just to make that you were real And not a dream I had of love I lost Of beauty so grand that I lose my voice I can never say What it is I want to say to you To know how I fell Do you even know how you feel? And when I kiss you Do you curl your toes? Are your knees weak touching nose to nose? Do you feel the same Do you want to yell my name So I will run to you? Not a yell A whisper will do
15.
I forgot, you know, what it is you do That keeps you up for hours while I snooze Chicago, It must be in the air Chicago, I really don’t care I forgot, you know, what it is you do When you’re low and you can’t shake them blues When cocaine has gone to the brain When all thoughts are one in the same You can’t break my bottle and give it back You can’t break my bottle and give it back Do you know where I can get a gun? Must shoot straight, must be the only one That you would take to a duel That you know would never fail you You can’t break my bottle and give it back You can’t break my bottle and give it back You know you’re on the wrong side of the tracks Bob Crosby would love to take you back Just let him peak into your little sack, Jack Then you’ll know you’re on the wrong side of the tracks I forgot what it is they say To feel the jack is to be blown away Like Lester did every night As we just did right now at this time You can’t break my bottle and give it back You can’t break my bottle and give it back
16.
You can try to put me inside the hole But it’s not where I belong You can turn me around, but I will never change Unless you want me to, but we can’t change the game I’ll leave it up to you, I don’t know where to go But you can try me here You can put me aside to concentrate your mind On the task at hand And I will understand if you change your mind Wait and take your time And play the game, rewind And make the pieces fall in place Don’t push too hard Don’t pry Don’t bend to make it slide Cause when you’ve found the one you’ll know Don’t tear or mutilate If there’s one lost A waste of everything we’ve tried to do You are almost there Your border of the air is only so close to me That I can feel the breeze Of your sneeze touching me
17.
I haven’t smoked in two years I never had the thought That you might not be waiting For me to come home I try hard to remember The time and how it relates to you If it’s eight in the morning Is it two to you? You could never know the pain I’m hiding from No, you would never make it through I have my doubts if even I am a stronger than you Are you strong enough for two? I can’t seem to find fire And the room is cold Is New York as warm as a fireplace On November 4th? I don’t know if I look out my window On a different road I can see if it’s raining or snowing by you I have no way to know You could never know the pain I’m hiding from No, you would never make it through I have my doubts if even I am a stronger than you Are you strong enough for two? When will I see that you love me When will I see that you care I have to admit that it’s a little unfair I haven’t smoked in two years I never had the thought That you might not be waiting For me to come home I’m not drunk, but I’m drowning my sorrows For this I like to be alone That said, I haven’t had many callers Not one, and I should know You could never know the pain I’m hiding from No, you would never make it through I have my doubts if even I am a stronger than you Are you strong enough for two?
18.
I don't need a fence to keep me from you I won't take offense if you build one I will still come through Because you need me just as much As I need you I don't need a fence And you don't need one too We can work in the garden And plant seeds in the bed And wait until the morning And then talk over what we did I don't need a fence to keep me from you I won't take offense if you build one I will still come through Because you need me just as much As I need you I don't need a fence And you don't need one too You don't need to hide behind Your fears by making mine come true Now what to do? We can work in the garden And plant seeds in the bed And wait until the morning And then talk over what we did I don't need a fence to keep me from you I won't take offense if you build one I will still come through Because you need me just as much As I need you I don't need a fence I don't need a fence I don't need a fence I don't need a fence
19.
Not long ago I asked of you To take me back Take me back Even though I was untrue Won't you take me back Take me back I know I was wrong Everyday I think about your brown eyes Can you stay? A lifetime's too long Holding onto the unknown And thinking of your brown eyes Please don't become a memory Take me back Take me back My world is too dark to see It's all turned black Take me back I know I was wrong Everyday I think about your brown eyes Anyway you can see me tonight? There's so much that I want to try To do for you I know I was wrong Everyday I think about your brown eyes And the way you made me feel I'm hoping that this isn't real Can’t stop thinking about your brown eyes Thinking about your brown eyes Thinking about your brown eyes
20.
I cried for you Part of me died The part that was so true to you Turned and ran Left my heart exposed to your demands But I tried I cried for you I have made a few mistakes But though so have you So let's just stop counting on For our time is running out So let's try I cried for you Now that I have lost you The fault is all mine I lied to myself until the end That it was you playing games That I forced you to play But you tried I cried for you I have made a few mistakes But though so have you So let's just stop counting on For our time is running out So let's try I cried for you I cried for you I have made a few mistakes But though, so have you So let's just stop counting on For our time is running out So let's try I cried for you Mistakes For our time is running out So let's try I cried for you
21.
You could’ve been a heart-throb You could’ve been a doll If I go out of my head You could’ve been them all From the top of my head To the top of my shoes To the music in the air To the moments that are true That I will have a long night On the old one 55 Take me into Memphis Where I have to see tonight In the back of my head You haven’t changed in a year My Juanita, mi amor Quien te regalo la flor I can see the sunshine I can see the sun In this moonlight hour On this midnight run But time is going to slow Seconds turn into days Only Mississippi stands in the way Could’ve been a nightmare Must’ve been a dream If you were talking to yourself Then you were talking in your sleep But I heard another voice whisper in your ear An unfinished melody for you to hear It was an unfinished melody for you to hear
22.
Why do I always run away from Far away from you Now that you know that I have a lot to give And I can't explain What's its like to live with it That's why I often confide in myself Instead of you If the ties that do bind us Woud ever have to give Well, then I must admit That "take it or leave it" is really not my choice And if forced to choose I feel that you would know my choice It's not something that I need to hide from you With you I feel that everyone would know With you I feel that everyone would know With you I feel that everyone would know With me you're a famous thief
23.
Take me, there was one time when I knew a girl She told me she was single and she liked to twirl I talked her into walking and i knew right away That her story was true And the night dissipated away, away Before I even knew she awoke and was gone But she left me this note that i've been scribbling on To try to place a name or a face I believe there happens to be one picture I didn't delete I know that I took many but late in the night We tried to erase any evidence of our crime It was late I think I left my camera in my jacket downstairs So we will l have a quick look and I'll check if it's there I'm pretty sure I put it where I wouldn't forget For I was pretty unsure of even where we were at Somewhere off the 6 train, or the A or the C Somewhere near the garden 'cause you wouldn't believe The looks I got from walking with her in the night I admit it felt good, I would have given a fight for her It was late Words don't do her justice, so let's take this outside and see if I have a picture of my sweet Caroline So let me look here first for I don't know if its right To let you see her, let you see her in this light I can't be too sure that you would keep your eyes closed So I will take a step back where I will cover it up So let me turn it on, the battery it is low I'll have to scroll fast-forward and I can't take it slow The pictures are all gone there nothing left to see I thank you for the cigarette, I'll take it with me
24.
Oh, me and Debbie we were not like normal friends I never called her up to ask her out But we could laugh and we’d sit around and reminisce On all the wrong turns we made in our life Now I keep thinking on the way she talked A little bit uneasy, I wonder if anything’s wrong We’re both survivors, that’s what me and Debbie say Rolled with the punches and got on with our lives If not for these talks, I’ll veture and I’d dare to say I’d never credit myself with this life Now I keep thinking on the way she talked A little bit uneasy, I wonder if anything’s wrong Debbie never made her mind up for herself She looked to me to help to guide her along But how can I sort through all this mess She wasn’t quite as strong as she liked to think She came in with the dawn, and then she’d leave with the night Is there anything right? Debbie never made her mind up for herself She looked to me to help to guide her along But how can I sort through all this mess She wasn’t quite as strong as she liked to think She came in with the dawn, and then she’d leave with the night Is there anything right? Oh, me and Debbie we were not like normal friends I never called her up to ask her out But we could laugh and we’d sit around and reminisce On all the wrong turns we made in our life Now I keep thinking on the way she talked A little bit uneasy, I wonder if anything’s wrong
25.
I’ve always loved you First time I knew was the first time I saw you Walk into the room I thought you might have made a wrong turn I didn’t realize How I’d come to adore you And love your face And every wrinkle we will erase by never knowing Sunsets alone I didn’t realize How my whole world would crumble when I first saw you Nothing else mattered It was only you I look back fondly on those days, my love I didn’t realize that you were the one We can grow old together Watching rising tides, and setting suns Moonlight drives I’ll cook you breakfast on Sunday mornings We can grow old together Watching rising tides, and setting suns Moonlight drives I’ll cook you breakfast on Sunday mornings Sunday mornings Sunday mornings
26.
I was never one to wait To wait for your call I never wanted to wonder at all If you would come through to me Honey, that is why I’m taking I’m taking my time I don’t ever want to cross that line Where I can’t pass through again But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? And if I count the hours Since I last saw you-still It doesn’t help me to swallow the pill That I will see you before long And if I had one fault, dear It’s that I spend too much time Being lost in my mind Thinking of you But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait for you But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait? But how long can I wait for you

about

The majority of these demos are first takes that were recorded immediately after being written. My songwriting process involves trying to capture a song in a single 1-2 hour session. I have always claimed that I don't write these songs, I just pull them out of thin air and they are already complete. Everything has to come to me within those 2 hours (lyrics, chords, melody, and arrangement) or it is not going to come at all. I never go back and work on a song if it takes longer than 2 hours. I lose interest.

Once I decide the song is done, I record a quick, one-take demo (unless I really mess it up and have to do it again!) These recordings serve to remind me of the vocal melody, the guitar part and arrangement, as well as to capture the mood and the feel.

These demos were never meant for commercial release. They are very raw and some even have wrong notes/harmonies and bad percussion thrown in there for good measure. They are very "in the moment", and that is what I love about them. They sound exactly as I heard them in my head on the day I wrote them. It also is a good collection to see the evolution of a songwriter over a ten -year period. I hope that some of these songs speak to you the way they spoke to me.

Jason Reischel
Brooklyn, NY
March 6, 2014

credits

released March 6, 2013

All songs written by Jason Reischel (BMI) unless otherwise noted.

Produced by Jason Reischel
Recorded on either a) an iPhone using the "voice memo" app, or b) on Garageband using the laptop speaker as a microphone
Mastered by Danny Wolf at Man Eat Wolf studios
Cover photo by Patrick Eves
Cover design by Naira Ayvazyan for Preillusion Design
www.facebook.com/prellusion

Musicians:
Jason Reischel: guitars, vocals, percussion, ukelele, harmonica
Terry Quire: guitar on
Sam Pettit: guitar on 11
Russ Flynn: bass on 11
Danny Wolf: drums on 11

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