(a Parody of Ring of Fire) Cacao is a magic thing And it makes our taste buds sing Driving Wild Desire I Fell Into A Chocolate Mire I Fell Into A swirling Chocolate Mire, I Went Down, Down, Down As The Calories went Higher And It Churns, Churns, Churns The Chocolate Mire The Chocolate Mire The Taste Of Chocolate’s Sweet The finest thing to eat I Fell when the railing failed, On chocolate blades I was impaled
Archives: Projects
Remember June 4
Em G Em G No Candles in Victoria Park, C G D After thirty years of lighting the dark, Em G Em C The poison cloud from China has spread, Em G D G To once free Hong Kong, where democracy’s dead. No flames recall the students songs, In freedom gathered 10,000 strong, Single souls with candle lights, Burning freedom, into the night. C G Remember June 4, D G Remember June 4, Em G You want us to forget, D G But we remember June 4. The bodies in the tower’s frame, Destroyed by police, to hide China’s shame, But the pillar lives in a million hearts, The shame still screams, though torn apart The heroes of Tiananmen square, Who cried out freedom and democracy there, Were slaughtered by the thousand that day, Their memories can’t be hidden away.
The Upside Down
by Daniel Kelly – 2022
Dm There’s a growling in the forest, C Dm And a crackle in the air, Am G As the lights they start to flicker, Am But you see nothing is there, Dm Am The air’s heavy with the darkness, C G As the dust is floating down, Am When you are living, C G Am When you are Living in the Upside Down When you rolled dice for protection, But you should have rolled for fire, There’s Eleven in the basement, And the stakes are getting higher, Be careful at the quarry, If you fall in you will drown, … And you cannot trust the government, They’re never what they seem, Experiments behind the blast doors, You can hear the children scream, The thing that they’ve awoken, Will soon destroy the town … But the will to find the lost boy, It drives companions three, Past the conflict and the liars, The truth will set you free, But you better bring a gun girl, And make your mother frown, … At last the evil Doctor, Destroyed by his own beast, The town in celebration, A well earned Christmas feast, But I fear it isn’t over, Stranger things will come around, ..
Isaac and an AR-15
by Daniel Kelly – 2022
Asus Em They are lain upon the altar, G Asus Tied down by hate and fear, C Am Looking over to the thorn bush, G Am A young ram entangled there But the knife it gleams in lifted hand, That sleek AR-15 And the father’s ears are deafened, To the bleating and the screams, And he demands a sacrifice, He who made the stars, That god of blood and violence, The champion of Mars And the stones they cry out hungry, For the slaughter to begin, For it feeds the wealth and power, Of the nation drenched in Sin, Sins of gluttony and anger, Of jealousy and spite, Of the arrogance and violence, That drives those on the right, Sins of pride and smug indulgence, In the freedom without price, As the left smashes the order, Which once told virtue from vice Take them down from the altar, Those lives yet to begin, Cast the knife and gun into the lake, And turn away from sin, Not the sins of your religion, The worshiping of gold, But the sin of your indifference, And a heart the beats so cold
God Made Cats
by Daniel Kelly – 2022
G C G On the six days of creation, D G God made all the things, G C G The planets and the water D7 The trees and birds with wings, G C G She made doctors, frogs and lawyers, C D Em But a little after that, G C G On the seventh day of creation, G D G God made cats. C G She made cats, she made cats, G C G On the seventh day of creation, G D G God made cats On the seventh day she rested, Or so you have been told, But let me share a secret, If I may be so bold, She wasn’t really resting, She pulled something from her hat So cats got all the best bits, That creation had to give, They’re fast and smart and furry, With nine fine lives to live, They expect humans to serve them, After all they hunt the rat And cats they well remember, That they were made the last, The pinnacle, the zenith, Of all creations past, As they contemplate life’s mysteries While sitting on your lap
Mothers Song
New words for Ed Pickford’s ‘Workers Song’
Come all of you mothers Who toil night and day By hand and by brain Without any pay Who for centuries long past Have made the world’s bread Have bled for your children And counted your dead. In the factories and mills Hospitals and schools You’ve often been told To follow the rules Your skills are not valued The men run the job With unequal pay, Your pride they have robbed. But when the sky darkens And the money gets hard, Who’s given a spade And then pushed to the yard? The family to feed, By the work of your hand When you never owned One handful of land. She’s the first one to starve She’s the first one to die She’s the first one in line For that “pie in the sky” And she’s always the last When the cream is shared out For the mother is working When the husbands are out When it comes to your body, And the rights that you own, It’s been made a prison, Enslaved in your home, You are blamed for the rape, And the pregnancy too, And now the decisions Are not up to you. All of these things The mother has done From tilling a field To bearing the young Yoked to the plough Since time first began And always expected to carry the man
Song for David
Written for the Canadian human rights campaigner David Kilgour by Daniel Kelly, 2022.
Am C When David sat down by the brook, G Am considering the stones, C G He watched the water flowing by, Am G Am And listen to its moan. C G Stand up stand up, you bravest son, C G Am And take five stones from me, C G And by the strength of your right hand, Am G Am These people will be free. So David took the stones so smooth, The stones of truth were made, He took his sling into his hand, On shepherds staff his hand was laid. And David strode into the field, To face the violent foe, Who taunted, jeered, and massacred, The world’s good people so. And on the field he made a stand, And spoke his truth quite plain, Your time has come, you wicked fiend, You’ll slaughter not again. The foe he wailed and shook his fist, He cursed by gods so vile, The world will never listen boy, Not while the dollars pile. But David’s stone, flew fast and true, It struck a mortal blow, And before the setting of the sun, The world had come to know. Now David’s gone, that hero strong, Of silent souls defending, We miss his voice and steady hand, As lives and worlds are ending.
Easter Hare
The goddess was sleeping within the cold earth, Waiting for the sounds that foretold the spring’s birth, The thump of the hares on the new fallen snow, Said life had awakened, in the soil below. Ostara she shook out her bonny red hair, And breathed in the frost, and tasted the cold air, But she spied a young sparrow, lying under a tree, Hatched out of it’s egg, too soon broken free. The heart of the goddess, was heavy and torn, Had she slept in too late, that bright star of the morn, She took the limp sparrow, into her warm hand, And looked out upon awakening land. Your wings I can’t mend, from the cold they are bare, But I’ll give you the form of a swift running hare, Swapping feathers for fur, you will stay safe and warm, In your nest on the ground in the harsh winter storm. And once every year, when the spring voice is heard, You will lay a sweet egg, just as you were a bird, And in all of the world, my praises they’ll sing, For the merciful goddess that brings in the spring.
Devil in the Steel
by Daniel Kelly - 2022 A When we first came to this country, We toiled with our hands, G Breaking stone and cutting trees, D All across the land. A But then there came a magic, G From far across the sea, E A way to trap the Geni, D G A So the people might be free, E Devil in the steel, D Devil in the steel, G D No one asked how he feels, A That devil in the steel. G He works to pack our hay bales, D He works to grind the corn, E That devil’s been a working, G D A Since the day that he was born. We trapped him in the iron, We trapped him in the steel, We fed him on the diesel, And listened to him squeal, We cooled his fire with water, Lest he should get to hot, While spinning up the fly wheel, With everything he’s got. Chorus Sometime that devil’s angry, He’ll take an arm or hand, From any pool unlucky soul, Not careful where he stands. If it wasn’t for that devil, This country wouldn’t run, We still worship that devil, For all the work he’s done.
Easter Hunt
by Daniel Kelly G C It’s another Easter morning, G D The hunt is under way C Bm Am Treasures glitter under every tree While life is springing in the north, It’s waning in the south, C D G We revel in the last warm autumn days. G D Running on, Running Free C D G Through each flower, leaf and tree, Bm C Let the magic of each moment C D G Take you where you need to be. Bm C Not a care for tomorrow, G D Just living for today, C D G Laughing at the beauty on the way. The seasons they are turning, In the mind of every child, Nature shares its message clear and true. But absurd religious dogma, Then eats their dreams away, Draining colour from the summer leaves Chorus Hold on to your child eyes, Keep the wonder in your heart Never let your searching soul be tamed
Building Bridges
Written for the Filk Ontario Song Contest 2022
C Now I’ve been writing songs, G C Since I was four or five, F C They help me to engage with life, F G And let emotion thrive, F C But I’ve got a little problem, F C That I’ll put into this song, F C There’s a part of writing,(So I’m told) C G C That I’ve been getting wrong. F It’s not a song, C It’s not a song, F C If it’s just got verse and chorus, Dm G then you’re doing it all wrong, F It’s not a song, C (Not a proper song), F C If it hasn’t got a bridge, G C Then it’s not a proper song, There was this song that I had writ, I thought was pretty fine, So elegant in melody, I crafted every line, But then in the competition, The feedback it was thus, If you’d only put a bridge in, It might have impressed us. Chorus I think I’m doomed to writing, These songs that aren’t complete, If I could figure bridges out, That would be pretty neat. But I don’t know how to build one, And I haven’t got a plan, So I’ll stick to writing the mediocre, Half songs that I can.
Hellsong
G Em D G Who is he that the faithful flock would let him lead? G Bm At what cost, is your honour lost, Em D G Your heart filled with greed, Em D G Your heart filled with greed, C D G It is a con you see, C G D Oh, yes a con indeed Em D G Em You’re no child of God, not a chance C G D G You were never freed, never freed. Sell the doctrine, of success, watch the money breed, Paint a lie, of pious life, With a poison seed, With a poison seed, Just you take, some simple chords, and an emotive lead, Tap the insecurity, and you can make them bleed, yes you can make them bleed, Pay the writers, pennies worth, claim it a Christian deed, Push the goods, on the gullible, Watch your congregation breed, Watch your congregation breed, Buddies with Prime Ministers, you share a common creed, Sell the dream, of prosperity, When it’s on them you feed, When it’s on them you feed
Turning the Wheel
by Daniel Kelly – 2022
G Em Nations rise, cultures fall, C G Planets and atoms spin, Am D The wheel revolves and changes all, C G Come seek the truth within. C G The wheel held lightly in your hands, Am D Will make the world anew, Em G Changing everything around, C D G Just as it changes you. G C C G Nine times forward, and nine times back, Am D The ghost and demons reel, Em G The ship sales safely through the storm, C D G While the Master turns the wheel The world of ten directions, Shaken to it’s core, A wish to find salvation, A hope that there is more. To walk the path of honesty, With compassion held for all, To endure the worlds suffering, Upright and standing tall The tempering of will and flesh, No easy road to take, The sand it must be sifted, If gold you wish to make. Amidst the vat of fortune, Of money lies and fame, The heart can be so easily Drawn deep into the game
Bad Vlad
by Daniel Kelly 2022
Intro C E7 F G7 C A7 G7 C What are you doin’ Vladimir? C A7 G7 Dm Your game plan is not quit clear, G7 Dm F Dm We know that you don’t really want Ukraine, C A7 Dm C So what are you doin’, please explain. They paint you as the bad guy, on TV, But you must have known, this is what we’d see, Bombings of children, horrific war, Things we’ve seen hundreds of time before. Is this just revenge, for the NATO snub, Back in Y2K when you asked to join the club. You left upset, with your bat and ball, Have you come back now, to burn it all? With a little soft power, and some good fake news, Ukraine would be yours, with a puppet you choose, So why have you put on a violent show, There must be a reason, please let use know. Did you invade to silence, the Oligarchs, Have the Western sanctions hit their mark? While you moved your own wealth safe onshore, Russian Billionaire kids, post against the war. If I put on, my tinfoil hat, Is Zelenskyy an actor, imagine that, Is this all a charade for the great reset, How much darker is it going to get
Ukraine Abandoned
by Daniel Kelly - 2022
Em I am chained upon this mountain side, C Em A sacrificial feast, G D For the hungry bear that roams the Em D Em barren wasteland of the East, C G I can hear the stamping of his paws, D The grinding of this teeth, Em C The claws that rip the tender flesh, Em D Em Devour what’s underneath. I gave my weapons up to you, In 1994, You said that you would come for me, If there ever was a war, But war is here, and it seems that you Are nowhere to be seen, The promises of western powers, Are merely lies and dreams, You think I am the maiden, Scarified for peace, But I am the pandora’s box, From which horror is released, Because if you will not come to my aid, The path is global war, With brother fighting brother, As has ever been before. The princes in their power, Move pieces on the board, Giving up the Ukraine, To appease the Russian horde, But the fight will soon come do their door, Their mothers and their sons, For it will be the same for all, As it is allowed for one. You say Putin is the monster, The source of all the pain, Invading land he doesn’t own, For nationalistic gain, But it was you who held out NATO, Used the Ukraine as a shield, But left them in the hour of need, To be slaughtered on the field,
Keep Politics out of Sport
by Daniel Kelly – 2022
Dm Keep Politics out of Sport, C Is what I heard him say, Dm If we let them hide, the genocide, C It’s sure to go away. Am There’s people making money here, G And there’s sports careers at stake, Am Em This ain’t the time to make a stand, Am G Am Even as the Uyghurs break. Keep Politics out of Sport, Is what he said to me, They promised in 2008, that everyone was free, This isn’t a surveillance state, We have the rule of law, Peng Shui is safe, insider her home, Of that you can be sure. Keep Politics out of Sport, Remember your history, We joined the games in 36’ In an open Germany, I can’t recall what happened next, They were probably okay, It’s not like they used the platform, To justify their violent way, Keep Politics out of Sport, Just let the players play, The Uyghurs and the Falun Gong, Are probably okay, We don’t understand the drivers, They have a different need, To beat, kill and to imprison, People who should be freed. Keep Politics out of Sport, Forget about Taiwan, They’re probably gonna end up, Like the people in Hong Kong, We can’t impose democracy, We can’t enforce what’s right, If we boycott Beijing’s Olympics, We could well start a fight.
Super Worms
by Daniel Kelly - 2022 G Am Could it be a stick, could it be a string, D C G Lying in the dirt, not doing a thing, G Am But wait, it wiggles, it moves and squirms, D G Could this be one of those super worms? C G D C Worms, Worms, short and long, D G They help our plants grow fast and strong, C G Am Worms, Worms, in the ground, D G They’re super friends to have around. Worms they eat the fallen leaves, Drag them down, munch as they please, And when they poop the stuff back out, It makes the plants all dance about. Sometimes the dirt is big and rough, For roots of plants, it’s just too tough, But worms they grind it nice and small, Enough to eat, for one and all. Worms leave holes, wherever they go, So water and air can freely flow, The keep the dirt healthy and strong, With lot of worms, you can’t go wrong. Out in the field, the cows and sheep, They weigh a lot, but here’s a secret to keep, The worms below, down in the ground, Weigh more than them, it has been found. So when you see another worm, Take a while to watch it squirm, And you should remember to, There’s 7 million worms for every one of you.
Gawain and the Green Knight
by Daniel Kelly - 2021 (based on the anonymous 14th century story) Am C King Arthur lay at Camelot, G Am Upon a Christmas-tide, C G And sought a tale, before his feast, Am G Am From in his kingdom wide, He asked the knights, of table round, What wonders they had could share, But before a one could start his tale, An ill wind filled the air. And through the hall, a great Knight rode, On charger decked in green, In one hand he held a holly branch, In other an Axe Obscene. I lay this challenge, Arthur King, To your knights if they be bold, To strike me on this New Year’s Eve, With my axe of steel and gold, This Knight may keep my axe so fine, When I am on my way, But I’ll return to him a strike the same, A year hence from this day, Gawain arose and clasped the Axe, The Green Knight he knelt down, And at a swift and even stroke, green head fell to the ground. But from the floor, all slick with blood, The Green Knight retrieved his head, “Come find me in a year from now” Was what the grim thing said. Gawain he spent the year in mirth, As season’s turned about, And when it came to Christmas-tide, He sought the Green Knight out. On Gringalet, he ventured far, 5-pointed star upon his shield, But no trace at all of knight so green, Did his long questing yield, Until he came to Castle strong, In the Wirral Wilderness, And asked the Lord for lodging there, As reprieve from his distress. Gawain was welcomed to the home, By Lady and by Lord, And seeing he was weary sore, They bid him put up his sword. When Gawain told them of his quest, The Lord replied with glee, The Green Knight he lives near to us, In a chapel by the lea Lie here within my castle fine, My wife will ye attend, While to the hunt I’ll go each morn, A pleasant sojourn spend. But let us have a wager small, At the ending of the day, I’ll give you what I get at hunt, And what you find here you’ll pay. The first day the wife did woo Gawain, As he lay on the bed, Seeking from him a chastened kiss, As her husband’s hunt he led. The Lord returned with many deer, And paid Gawain his due, Gawain proffered the Lord a kiss, Just as his wife did do. The second day a raging boar, Was hunted in the field, The wife sought of Gawain his love, But it he would not yield. The lady dressed in raiment fine, And tried Gawain again, But while he turned away her love, Her girdle he took then. The girdle of embroidered green, Sewn of fine silk and gold, Was charmed to keep it’s wearer safe, Woven with magic old. The next day, being the New Year, Gawain took his axe and shield, And rode unto the Chapel Green, Thinking his fate was sealed. The Green Knight raised the fateful axe, And struck at Gawain times three, The first he flinched, the second held, And third the blood ran free. Tis but a scratch, the Green Knight said, For though you spurned my wife, You took her girdle, shamefully And sought to preserve your life. Gawain returned to Camelot, And told them of his tale, How Morgaine Le Fay and tested him, And his courage did not fail.
GNU’s Not Unix (v1.2)
License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (Attribution, NonCommercial, ShareAlike) by Daniel Kelly - 2022 C G C Well GNU’s Not Unix, F C What is Unix? You may ask, F C It’s a Computer Operating System, F G From the distant past. F C Long before Micro was Soft, or F C Apple had a mouse, F C Unix was the solid rock, C G C On which Software built its house. But Unix was a jealous beast, Held tight by AT&T, They'd send trade-secret binaries, No source code you could see. The price, it was a pittance, But it cost your liberty: You couldn't change and share it, for that code wasn't free. And then a knight, burst on the scene, A warrior of code, Free Software was his battle cry, And up to the beast he strode, I can do this just as well as you, Is what Richard Stallman said, And If you won’t release source code, Then I’ll write my own instead. There was one little problem, At the heart of Richard’s Plan, The GNU she lacked a kernel, Without which nothing ran, But there was a Finnish Wizard, Who’d been working in the lab, To build a kernel of his own, That penguin turned out fab. So when you use that Android phone, or boot up your PC, Remember Richard Stallman, Who set your software free, And remember Linus Torvalds, The Finn who wrote the code, For the Penguin that flaps at the hearts, Of a billion server nodes.
Diprotodon Blues
to Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' Once upon a time, I was super-sized There was nothing in the bush my teeth could not incise I spent so many days, just knocking down the trees I sniffed the breeze And I did just what I pleased Now on the track I take less space Down evolutions winding road it seems I’ve lost first place I should have ate those stupid bipods, Instead of letting them eat me If I had known for just one second I’d be smaller than a tree No I’ll grow, I’ll eat some more Just chow on down now I won’t be tiny anymore I’m sick of living down in my tiny hole It’s time to rumble! I’ll take the title that you stole, Oh yes now I’ll more than survive For as long as I know how to grow, I know I'm sure to thrive, I've got all my trees to eat, And I'm so agile on me feet, I will revive I’ll super-size Hey hey I had to get real small, so I wouldn’t go extinct When the ocean started moving, and life was on the brink, And I spent more than a thousand years just shrinking down myself I used to cry, but now I hold my paws up high And you’ll see me, 9 foot two I'm not that tiny little wombat you saw at the zoo And when you feel like dropping in, expecting a cutee I'll be savin' all my chewing for those who started eating me