I created a first version of ‘Jump before you touch the ground’ some nine years ago. Now there’s an entirely new remake which is way stronger, compact and balanced. AND there are lyrics, vocals, drums, bass, rhythm- and leadguitar played by real musicians: Chris Bouchard, Jeff Bragg, Jordi Ribas, Mark Adams and Tez Katajala. I’m ever so grateful their contributions made my track come to life.

Jump before you
Touch the ground
Shout before you
Make a sound

Reality is
Somewhere around
If you look
It can be found

Looking for answers
In the dark
Need to go back
To the start
Every time is different
Until it’s all the same
What’s going on
Inside my brain

Jump before you
Touch the ground
Shout before you
Make a sound
Going up
Coming down
Space is
All around

Don’t wait
Till it is too late
Now’s the time
To consolidate

Abate
The way you relate
Be the one
To compensate

Jump before you
Touch the ground
Shout before you
Make a sound
Going up
Coming down
Space is
All around

Refine
The way you define
How you live
And communicate

It’s time
To come back down
Time to give
And consummate

(Lyrics: Tez Katajala, Vocals: Jeff Bragg)

Patricia Kigilcim wrote some appropriate lyrics to my tune and did some modest vocals. Bill McCarthy -drums-, Joey Six -lead guitar- and JeanLui Toudou -bass- joined and we were half way there. But then Ian T came along: he did some amazing vocals and harmonies and while he was at it, he spiced up the track with several tasty rhythm guitar parts. And where most JustVera productions take months or even years, this one took less than 3 weeks. Magic doesn’t always take time.

BTW… You also might want to check an alternative version, featuring EllenDXY: https://justvera.com/2020/09/12/anytime-you-need-me-ft-ellendxy/

One step forward, two steps back
Daily struggle, do I trust?
Gotta watch your back
Reach on out
When you hear me call
Baby take my hand

Anywhere you’re going, I wanna go
Anytime you need me, baby let me know
You bring light, peace to my soul
Fill this life
Positivity, can you feel it?

When you need a friend
When you’ve lost all hope
‘n’ you’re feeling all alone
Don’t give up, hold on and know
I’ll be there, to help you ease the load

Anywhere you’re going, I wanna go
Anytime you need me, baby let me know
Positivity, can you feel it?

When you’re feeling all alone
Hold on and know

Anytime you need me, baby let me know

(Lyrics: Patricia Kigilcim, Vocals: Ian T)

The creation of ‘Get away’ was an experiment on my part. I challenged writers to send me their dearest set of lyrics. The first one who responded was Amanda Moubarak. Living in Lebanon and writing about her life in a pretty devastated country. It took me several months to come up with the right music to match her story.

Long story short: with the help of Lloyd Plueschow -lead guitar- and Tarjei Skarlund -awesome vocals- we created ‘Get away’. Straight from the heart.

Life’s too short for lifeless music.

Do you know what it’s like
to fight and never win?
Not once in your life
did you get what you were wishing.

Do you know what it’s like
to live in constant battle?
With others, with yourself
did you ever feel fragile?

Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day
Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day

Well do you know?
I guess you don’t
You’re lucky you don’t have to
Do you feel?
I guess you won’t
have to love the way I do

(Lebanese)
do you know the feeling of being on your last breath
your heart tells you keep going but your mind says stop
you stop at the end of the road with only one step left
you’re afraid that you’re gonna fall in the end
do you know when you hear the voice of every one who said
you will never make it then they leave you fighting alone
those voices have combined into one complaining voice
that voice is yours so you decide now what you want to say

Did you ever feel so helpless against the time?
Feeling low when you’re supposed to be on your prime
Trying to fit another word into the same old rhyme
the same old rhyme, the same old rhyme

Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day
Get away
I know what it takes
to try to live
another day

(Lebanese reprise)

Get away, get away
I know what it takes
to live another day

(Lyrics: Amanda Moubarak, Vocals: Tarjei Skarlun)

And now for something completely different: ‘YOU CAME’.

The Leading Pleasures, Bill McCarthy, Parm Eah and Nigel Robinson giving it their best shots. Temporary Britpop JustVera style!

You came right into my life
You came and made me feel alive
And now the summer’s come again
And never ends…

All night and all of the day
Your light scares all my fears away
And now the good time’s here to stay
Come what may…

You came
And I see clearly now
The rain
It has gone
And the sun is coming

Out…to play
Today…OK

There was a time long ago
Everything was for show
Now I see it…no more shadows
They’ve gone away…gone away

You came right into my life
You came and made me feel alive
And now the summer’s come again
And never ends…
And never ends…
And never ends….

(Lyrics and vocals by Nigel Robinson)

AlexanderK -guitars- and me had been working on this one for some weeks in creative seclusion. Then Rick Farrell joined with the lyrics and vocals to match. And ultimately we decided to swop the programmed bass and drums for the real thing by Jordi Ribas and Todd Vierra.

‘River of Black’ shows the power of our online collaboration. Clenched energy. And… another original side of JustVera.

Save yourselves
From all that’s lost
Your faith is withered
Bare a cross
Around your heart
And cross that river

Even though
The weight is gone
Nothing seems alright
Grab those chains
And break them all
And cross that River

Let’s say a prayer for all
Let’s say a prayer for you
Let’s bury all the deep of hate
And watch them quiver

In the night
In the night
I feel the rage
In the night

I don’t fear you
You don’t need me again
I can tell you
You keep running away

Running, away
And running away
You keep
Running and running
Away
You keep running..
In the night
You keep runnin’

I can tell
By the way
That you
Watch me burn
You can sing
All you want
But there is a
Lesson to learn

And if you
Take that step away
And if you
Cross that river
And in the night
I can’t be saved.

(Lyrics and vocals by Rick Farrell)

‘Cow NOW’ probably is the best pop song I produced in years. Period. With a little help from my friends Robert Saint Denis, Tom H., Pepino Lorenzo and last but not least: Ian T.: some Team…

When you call
I think ya
Know the score
It’s gonna
Open doors
You can blame who you like
But it’s you that they want, oooooh!

Stand in line
You gotta
Bide your time
Cos you’ll
Wanna jump
But the problem with that
Is you’re in the wrong queue!

Slamming doors
Blue-collar
Making sure
Will you
Wait in line?
Well it’s time grow up
Cos I know you’re strong, yeah!

You gotta help yourself
Take it to a place you have never been
If you can’t see
That your life isn’t free

What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me to do about it?
What you want me?

wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
wow NOW!
brown COW!

(Lyrics and vocals by Ian T.)

Once upon a time thousands of cenotes were created all over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. They were revered by the ancient Mayans as sacred wells. Now, 66 million years later there’s ‘The deepest blue’. Quite a special song, full of groove, originality, surprise and mystery. Thanks to a bunch of top league online musicians:
Bill McCarthy (drums)
Jean Lui Toudou (bass)
Rob Glass (bass)
Joey Six (guitars)
Mike Patterson (lyrics & vocals)

Discover a new sensation…
comfortable at elevation
Welcome to the deepest blue
Scary, but it beckons still…
Leap into the indigo

Step into the portico
then enter the vestibule
The world awaits…
your quest… Investigate!

It’s something you’ve never seen
A field of the truest green
In front of you
a sea of the deepest blue

One door closed, a new one opens
Plunge into the azure ocean
(Welcome to the deepest blue)
It’s a little scary at first
till you rediscover that thirst

Something like a divination
Every scene a revelation
(Welcome to the deepest blue)
It feels like this was meant to be
Utopia surrounding me
It’s just what I’ve been searching for
and now I’m wanting more and more
(Welcome to the deepest blue)
The deepest blue… it comforts me
but can this really be reality?

(Lyrics & vocals by Mike Patterson)

What if? You’ll never know…
Perhaps listening to ‘Loved you enough’ will help though. Contemplative words by Joel Sattler, performed by IanT. and backed up by NunoW with some convincing guitar parts. Here’s your answer;-).

would I be on this path
if only I’d loved you enough
would I be able to laugh
if only I’d loved you enough

would my soul rise from the ash
would my heart be torn in half
would I even need to ask
if only I had loved you enough

would the future be warm and bright
if only I’d loved you enough
would I be able to sleep at night
if only I’d loved you enough

would I be able to put up a fight
see things with a clearer sight

see things with a clearer sight

would I be able to make things right
if only I had loved you enough

the prologue is in the past
they say love can never last
but I feel like I’m tied to the mast
while the sirens sing of my loss
I thought I knew what I should do
but I didn’t know then what is true
I should have left it up to you
but I didn’t reckon the cost

would tomorrow be something good
if only I’d loved you enough
would I be more than I could
if only I’d loved you enough

and in all likelihood
the storms could have been withstood
I should have understood
if only I had loved you enough

(Lyrics by Joel Sattler)

Jen Carie wrote about a traumatic event in a child’s life. And performed it like only she can. Heidar Sigurdsson added the haunting beats and bass and NunoW took care of rhythm and lead guitars. Some shivering production…

The child frozen in place
It only took one shot
What was seen and heard that night
Ripped out innocence, must turn to rock

Daddy whatcha got
Keep breathing, don’t go
Loud bang of a .45
Thief robbed the child’s soul

Ballerina in my box
Dance for me
Ballerina in my box
Set this child in me free

The screams of momma’s voice
Turned to silent stares
Whispers that he had a choice
Streaks of angry tears

Daddy whatcha got
Keep breathing, don’t go
Loud bang of a .45
Thief robbed the child’s soul

Ballerina
Ballerina in my box
Dance for me

(Lyrics & vocals by Jen Carie)