Master Of Time ...

I thought I'd do something a little different this time around. Most of you know by now that I'm currently working on an album with my band BIG GAME. Some of you may also know that I released a solo album called 'A SLICE OF THE PIE' in June, 2004. Well it did not do as well commercially because the production company only pressed a thousand copies (yes, the local English market in Malaysia isn't very large). It did get reasonably good reviews and was nominated for 2 AIM (Anugerah Industri Malaysia) awards :o)

Anyway I would like to share the lyrics of 2 songs on that album with you. The first one is called 'MASTER OF TIME' which I co-wrote in college with another singer/songwriter friend of mine, PREM NARAYANAN. Prem currently lives in the USA (where I was supposed to go to finish my degree but couldn't because I ran out of cash and ended up playing music here in Malaysia ... ha ha) and he also happens to be on my 360 friend list. Yes he is, he's been pretty quiet, that's why a lot of you don't know he's around. Well I shall speak for myself when I say this song is what I think God & Religion is about. You are most welcome to intepret it anyway you want, I think that's the beauty of music and prose.

The second song is something I call 'PRAY' and I think it's pretty self-explanatory. Enough said ...

MASTER OF TIME

In worlds of illusion, time is immaterial
You’re slaves of delusion, you believe everything is real
Life’s one big equation, don’t need to be an Einstein to solve
You’re slaves of an aberration, all it needs is resolve

You look but you don’t see me
Yet I’m there beyond your mind
But if you listen close you’ll hear me
I’m the master of time

@ Ever changing, reaffirming
Contemplating the roads you’re taking
I’m on the edge of obscurity, in all forms of purity
You confuse what I really am
With what you think I’m supposed to be

If you want to know my true nature
You must first learn to still your mind
And when you’re steeped in the rapture
You’ll know me the master of time

Repeat @

There was a time when I was alone
No one to love me and nothing was known
I was in need of finding expression
So I dreamt creation in an act of affection
Soon my dreams longed to be real
You begged of me to set you free
And in my love did I let you go
And you in turn now dream of me

Solo

This is the riddle and cause of creation
It’s up to you from that dream to awaken
Know that in shadows I am concealed
That I am the only, eternal and real
-------------------------------------------

PRAY

There’s an old man who sits at the edge of the world
With eyes that don’t see
And he anxiously waits for a sign of the one
Who will set him free ... and he said to me,
"What good is a clear strong vision
In a world that refuses to see
I’d rather be one with the mountains and trees
Feel the strength of the cool ocean breeze
While I wait and pray"

There’s a lady they say she’s been touched by an angel
She speaks incoherently
But in a moment of pure and unbridled lucidity
She whispered to me,
"What good is a clear strong mind
In a world that refuses to reason
I’d rather be one with the birds and the bees
And feel the change of all the four seasons
While I wait and pray"

So forgive me Father, for I have sinned
It’s been so long since my last confession
Believe me Father, I was led astray
So caught up in my worldly possessions
Now I wait and pray

Now I sit and I wait for the one called ‘Salvation’
And I hope, he passes my way
And as the first rays of light touch the eastern horizon
I hang my head and I pray
---------------------------------

Thank you so much for taking the time and do let me know what you think for it is much appreciated!

Gerard Singh

P.S. Ha ha ... try to be kind though!

Innuendo ...

I have said that I do prefer people to speak their minds but after much thought, I have come to realize that that only applies to certain situations. When you have a certain point to get across, it's always best not to mince your words too much. Also, tact must be employed to a certain degree when dealing with another's feelings. That has been dealt with in a previous blog entry and that's not what I want to talk about this time around.

There is this game of 'wits' that people play with each other, especially when there's an attraction involved! It has all the allure of the proverbial apple in the garden of Eden. It has been played by the best of them over the centuries and it is still being played today. I choose to call it INNUENDO. It's the art of not being obvious, of saying and doing just enough to peek another's interest. Even in the dictionary, the meaning of the word is elusive. Look under INNUENDO and you will be told to refer to another word ... INSINUATE, which means to insert gradually or craftily and/or to hint artfully. A 'gradual insertion', in a certain context ... does sound like a lot of fun after all! Ha ha ... that would explain why millions of people spend hours upon hours of their lives perfecting their game. Like a 'hunt' ... it has always been about the thrill of the chase. Two prize fighters circling each other, not wanting the other to know exactly what the next move would be.

Once again technology has given mankind new avenues to take things to higher levels of playability. The computer and internet AND ALSO, the cellphone and text messaging. These two pairs have been responsible for taking the game to heights never possible before. Instant messaging, e-mailing, text messaging and the like have achieved almost 'art' like status. People are not even restricted by distance anymore ... in fact to many, distance has become THE comfort zone. When playing over great distances, the 'hunt' lasts even longer ... 'sweetening' the play and strategem. Some games have been known to last for years but some end almost immediately after they start. Players range in size, age, colour, gender, sexual preference and even marital status. Anyone can play anyone these days! You can be anyone you choose to be in the game and you can play the game with anyone at all, and with as many as you like ... and you never even have to meet!

People toy with each other all the time in the game and once you get caught in its web, it feels like that habit you always want to give up but never really can. It consumes you like a hungry beast. It almost always sends a thrill down your spine and you shiver with the anticipation of your opponent's next move. Waiting for that response, the reply to your message ... for a sign that the game is still ON! You spend your days cooking up new strategies to advance to the next level but always in the back of your mind ... you do not want to be too obvious! You take it to bed with you at night ... trying to think of your next play as you fall asleep. That is the game after all ... and it's all about keeping the butterflies in your tummy. Some have even progressed to levels where their senses are so acute that they almost know if the game they're going to play will be a good one. Like grand masters of chess ... they are always on the look out for worthy opponents. Opponents who will take them to the limits of their ability ... and sometimes even leave them out to dry when they lose.

I believe all of us go thru our lives playing the game to some degree and honing our gaming skills as we progress. A flirtatious look, a suggestive word or gesture can get us into all sorts of situations, some we don't want to get into but most we do. Some of us play the game to escape, some play out of boredom and some actually play for the love of the game. Whichever group you belong to, there is no denying the fact that the game is addictive, because the game is FUN. Having said that, I must say that I do dip my hand into the cookie jar every now and again, it is after all a deviously delicious use of free time ... :o)

Gerard Singh

A Better Sense Of Civility!

I don't claim to be the most civilized person in the world but I think a lot about how I can go through my day just being myself and without stepping on too many toes. I just wish more people would do that! In the course of my 18 year career as a pub musician (yes, it's been that long), I have come across all sorts of individuals, most of them very very nice but a few who aren't so considerate! I just fail to comprehend how some people can end up being so mean and rude ... especially to people in the service industry. I have seen waiters/waitresses being insulted by customers for petty reasons. Is it really that difficult to be kinder? Would it be so hard to speak politely? There is such a thing as 'using the proper channels', isn't there? An inefficient waiter/waitress could simply mean ... bad management! The management is almost always to be blamed for inefficient staff. Why? Because the management hires the individual in the first place and they are supposed to train them well. So if someone is dissatisfied with the service shouldn't he/she complain to the mangement? Why deride the individual in public? Does it mean you have bigger b_lls (ladies...this applies to you too) when you do something like that? I don't think so ... you just come across as an a_ _ hole in the 1st degree when you do that!

Just the other night while we were at work, we had a request to play a song by 'Egland Dan & John Ford Coley'. Ha ha ... fine, most of you may not like their music but I happen to think they write wonderful love songs. So being the accomodating musicians that we are (we're predominantly a cover band after all) we comply and what do we get? Some a_ _ hole in the crowd who actually thought his b_lls were big enough, shouting 'boring'. What rubbish, you're not the only person in the club so stuff it already! Well I let it by the 1st time around, simply because I wasn't sure who it was (maybe his b_lls weren't all that big after all). The next week it happened again, this time after we performed 'When The Children Cry', no request this time ... I just happen to think that's a very good song, so we played it. Same thing happens and this time I know who it is so I don't let it slide. I literally tell him to f_ _k off and he doesn't like it, but do I care? Not a bit! Yes I know, maybe I should have spoken to the management about it but I couldn't help wanting to give that a_ _hole a dose of his own medicine. I have since found out that the culprit sells toilet bowls for a living ... ha ha, that would explain why he's so full of S_ _T (pun intended)! For those of you who have done something like that to anyone in the service industry, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Never do that again because it is just not civil! If you don't like something/someone in a certain place go somewhere else. Don't expect changes to be made just to suit your fancy ... if you want that, start you own joint! :o)

Having said all I've said above, this brings me to another issue. 'Oh ... I'm sorry, I was drunk!'. Haven't we all heard that line at some point or other in our lives. That's about the lamest excuse ever! That's why there are laws against drunk driving. If you can't handle your alcohol then DON'T DRINK!!! What's with saying, 'Sorry I didn't mean to do or say that ... I was irretrievably drunk!'. Get real ... isn't there also a saying that goes 'DRUNK PEOPLE DON'T LIE!'? I believe that's so much closer to the truth ... so please save yourselves some embarassment by getting in touch with your inner selves as intimately as possible before taking on that all exposing pastime called 'HAVING A FEW' or to some of you early birds ... 'HAPPY HOUR'. It certainly would save those around you the trouble of cooking up excuses for your errant behaviour!

Another thing that sits at the top of my 'Human Traits That Bug Me The Most' list is this, why can't people just be straightforward? A lot of problems can crop up when people don't speak their minds. There'll almost always be a lot of apologizing later that way! When confronted about their lack of 'straight forwardness' a lot of them say this famous little line that really really irks me, 'I'm sorry...I didn't want to hurt your feelings'. Rubbish ... then why insinuate in the first place? Fine, a certain level of tact must be used and a certain level of diplomacy practiced ... so when you've got that magic balance right already, just spit it out! Come on...I'm a musician, not a mind reader. If you are reading this and you don't know the difference between the two, please stop now and go away! Don't be offended because I only have your best interest in mind. We all know that time is precious and I honestly do not want to waste yours!

Asking politely also goes a very long way but one should always remember that just because you ask for something politely, it doesn't mean you are going to get it! Ha ha ... this is something I'm desperately trying to instill in my 8 year old, especially when we walk down the aisles of the very expensive TOYS 'R' US store! Like I said she's only 8, most of the people I deal with are adults ... what's their excuse? I think understanding this is really important! Asking politely does increase your percentage for success though but nothing in life is guaranteed! I know God said, 'ask and you shall receive' but I believe He/She meant that for a different time. Those days people just TOOK without ASKING. Try that now and see where you end up!

After all has been said and done, I am a firm believer that no single person exists solely by themselves. We all need one another ... like pieces to a giant jigsaw puzzle. As James Taylor so clearly pointed out in his song 'SHOWER THE PEOPLE', 'it's true what they say about this squeaky wheel, always get in the grease...' . Aren't we all spokes in this giant wheel of life ... so come on, think of civility as the grease that helps our wheel spin squeak free ... SPREAD IT AROUND, coz there's nothing like A WELL OILED MACHINE!!!

Gerard Singh