Written by Bruce Stevenson. Vocals by Danny Stevenson.
Written at the height of the Covid crisis, I was perhaps a little too optimistic about when it would end. Nevertheless, it is indeed a song about the elation of coming through any crisis, and the gratitude we should feel. The only response to that feeling of gratitude for me is to love life and everyone I meet.
First rays of sunlight find my face
and I know the end of darkness has begun.
A stormy night has given way to quiet hope
that the worst is fin’lly done.
All my sorrow seems to melt away
with the warming of the sun.
No more fear as I greet the dawning day
with the strength of all of us as one.
In the morning, after rain,
I can breathe the air again
free from all the pain.
In the morning, after rain –
a world bright and new again –
life is everywhere.
In the quiet love remains,
children playing games,
in the morning, after rain.
Won’t soon forget the pain and tears,
and I know the suffering it’s caused.
Things that meant so much to me all of these years – had to set them free, nothing lost.
Written by Bruce Stevenson; lead guitar: Mike Fowler; bass: Watson Pryor
I came up with this Zeppelin-like riff and because we were writing songs for the album that paid tribute to the bands we covered when we were touring, I thought it would be nice to try to make something that sounded like the instrumental Zeppelin (who could replicate Robert Plant’s singing anyway?!). The drum solo is not great, but it is a LIVE solo, unedited. I haven’t done a live solo in nearly forty years, so it is the best I could do and be authentic.
Written by Danny and Bruce Stevenson (ca 1972). Vocal by Danny.
When we were a local teenage rock band, Hereafter was well known and did a few original songs mixed in secretly with our cover songs. Bruce pulled this song out of the old recordings and revamped it with some better drumming and added Mike Fowler on lead (Mike had toured with us when we turned pro in 1974). Steve Guyer’s son, Gabe, does the “old man” voice in the song that was his father’s part in the song when we played it live. Steve had recently passed away when this album was being recorded. Gabe sounds EXACTLY like Steve did back then. What a great gift to us all!
As we grew up, we dealt with mental illness in the family, strange family stories, and the era of psychedelic music. Danny tells a very personal story within this style.
Written by Bruce Stevenson. Vocals by Bruce, with Danny singing the choruses.
This song throws the kitchen sink at the idea of Fear as a weapon. The King Crimson quote (licensed for use) is from “Epitaph” on the In the Court of the Crimson King album (ca 1969).
They heard it said in ‘33
that fear is our worst enemy.
Mongers spewed their brands of hate,
and spoke of doom and deadly fate.
Is that still true in this century?
If FDR were alive today,
I’m not sure what he would say.
If he listened to all the news,
I’m not sure which side he’d choose,
but I’m certain he’d be very afraid.
Fear is what they try to sell
with all the lies they tell –
we buy it all and we drink
from the poisonous well.
Hate is the other face of fear.
Because we hold so dear
to things we’ve been fed,
Lies become truth instead.
(Quote from Epitaph by King Crimson):
“The wall on which the prophets wrote
is cracking at the seams.
Upon the instruments of death,
the sunlight brightly gleams.
When every man is torn apart
with nightmares and with dreams,
will no one lay the laurel wreath
when silence drowns the screams?”
Fear is what they try to sell
with all the lies they tell –
we buy it all and we drink
from the poisonous well.
Hate is the other face of fear.
Because we hold so dear
to things we’ve been fed,
Lies become truth instead.
Soundbites and quotes:
FDR’s Inaugural speech 1933
Geena Davis (from the movie “The Fly”)
Dies Irae – (Day of Wrath from Mass for the Dead – traditional)
Written by Bruce Stevenson. Vocal by Danny Stevenson.
This guy is truly delusional – and the comedy keeps coming. The song begins with some funny lines from movies, continues with a ridiculous series of gaffs, and includes a rock rendition of the love theme from Tchaikowsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” – it’s all just crazy fun.
I had kind of a thought –
a plan formulating in my mind –
I think I’ll give her a call
and ask her if she’d be so kind
as to be my lover –
I’m sure she’ll say “That sounds divine!” –
But nobody answers.
I’ll call another time…
In my head she dreams of me
and I’m her perfect lover.
In my head she’s everything
and I’m her only love.
In my dreams there’s a vision
of her complete submission
and this is how our love should be.
I’ll have to ditch that plan
and throw the phone on the floor.
I’ll have to be a man
and just go knock on her door.
She asks, “Who is there?”
I say, “It’s the love of your life!”
She cries, “Please go away!”
No! Please let me stay…
In my head you dream of me
and I’m your only lover.
In my head you worship me
and I’m your only love.
In your dreams there’s a vision
of our complete submission
to our perfect life – just you and me…
(Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet by P. Tchaikovsky)
