Category: Music

My original music and collaborations with various songwriters

The Dream
by David Becker, Paul Battersby

This is a mellow song that Dave wrote during a time when friends and family were dealing with illness. I liked it as soon as I heard it and with Dave’s permission, I contributed some tracks of my own.

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The Dream
by David S. Becker © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Verse 1
Well I’m Walking
Down a narrow road
I’m Carrying
Such a heavy load
I’m losing my breath
Trying not to fall behind
I’m Struggling
To Stay within the lines

Verse 2
A weight it lifts
No more need to fight
A blast of air
And a radiant light
I’m for once at ease
As the air it fills my lungs
The pain is gone
My body and mind go numb

Pre-Chorus
But I can’t escape
From this nightmare
Why must I have to wake
This existence I’d forsake
I’ve survived too long
In this hospice
In my dream I’m set free
It’s where I want to be

Chorus
I want to go home
Home
There’s nothing here for me
But pain & misery
Home
I need to go home
Won’t someone set me free
Take these shackles off of me

Bridge
Well I have a pulse
My heart’s beating
I can take a breath
I’m breathing
But the pain it’s never easing
And to suffer there’s no reason

Verse 3
I am sleeping
With a peaceful ease
No bitter cold
Just a soothing breeze
There’s a voice that’s faint
Shouting “stay with me”
A shock to the chest
Why can’t they let me be

Repeat Pre-chorus
Repeat Chorus

David Beckersong writing, lead vocals, harmony vocals, guitar tracks x 3
Paul Battersbyflute, piccolo, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, drums, bass, mixing

Fly Like A Bird
by Joel Sattler, Kevin Skiles, Paul Battersby

When I first heard this song I liked the melody and the instrumentation of the original version but what really got me was the style of the vocals. Apparently Kevin (the singer/guitar player) sang Opera for 30 years but likes to sing Folk now.

This song presented a particular challenge for me in that I wanted to use full orchestra for it but it just wasn’t sounding right and the instincts that I was fighting, gave me the feeling that what I mostly needed to add was strings playing chords but that just seemed too plain to me. Then I remembered what I read as I was researching tips on creativity years ago and one tip was to limit yourself to a subset of instruments. Sometimes that adds focus rather than having too many choices. Once I chose to restrict my instruments to strings and a solo flute (and stop fighting my instincts), I knew I was on the right path for this song.

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Fly Like A Bird
Lyrics by: Joel Sattler

How many times have I heard you say
All you want is your life all you ask for each day
Is to fly like a bird never to fall
To be free as the air to climb over every wall

And if I could I would give you the sky
I would stand on the ground and I’d watch you fly

And if you flew a way never seen a gain
I would stay here for you as your for ever friend

Fly little lady fly like a bird
Fly may be fly like a bird

(instrumental)

But you’ll never soar and you’ll never fly
No matter the wish, no matter the try
We are rooted to earth, we are creatures of land
To live on the soil, and be buried in sand

But if somehow, you could spread your wings
And take to the sky, I would sing as you sing
So never the less, no matter the end
Whatever occurs, I’m your forever friend

Fly little lady, lady do fly
If you fly like a bird, don’t ask why

Joel Sattlerlyrics
Kevin Skilesvocals, guitars
Paul Battersby1st violins, 2nd violins, violas, cellos, string bass, flute, piccolo, mixing
YouTube video
Audio only


You might also like: When I Get Over You

Note: the above, is my own personal mix of the song. You can listen to the mix Joel and Kevin created (that also includes my tracks) by clicking here

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Playing With Autumn Leaves
by Gustavo Lopez, Paul Battersby

This is a beautiful piano piece by a composer in Belgium who was looking for someone to add some orchestral accompaniment. To quote Gustavo:

Do not have kids, but if I did wish I could play with them in the autumn leaves.

Note: this initially starts out very quiet but it gets louder.

Gustavo Lopezpiano
Paul Battersbyflute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violins, 2nd violins, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, harp, percussion, glockenspiel, mixing
YouTube video
Audio only


You might also like: Red Nose, The Lighthouse

Leaving Footprints – remix
by Dave Semple, Paul Battersby

(New video added Mar 26. 2023)

This is a remix of the original from Dec 2011, done at a professional recording studio.

Be sure to check out the big finish to this song. Somewhat like you might hear from a Bon Jovi power ballad.

From Dave:

“You left a footprint” is a phrase I use with my kids when they do something nice for people, me included. It comes from a story I heard in Sunday school when I was a kid about how, when we are nice to people, we leave a footprint in the sand of their memory; hence, the title. The song is about how even when days are shitty, my kids remind me to have fun and not take it all so seriously… Leaving Footprints.

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Leaving Footprints
Lyrics by: Dave Semple

(Verse 1)
When October leaves are turning
Changing faces as the young become the old
You go jumping in leaf piles and I sigh,
As you leave your footprints ‘cross the floor
You leave your footprints ‘cross the floor

(Verse 2)
When January snow has hardened
And winter’s bitter wind is cutting to the bone
Out you are creating angels and I watch
As you leave your footprints in the snow
You leave your footprints in the snow

(Chorus)
You remind me to see.
All of the joys in front of me
Through your eyes, I learn to fly,
Not sit and watch as life passes by
In the dark, you are the light.
When I am blind, you give me sight

(Verse 3)
And when April rain is falling
Leaving streaks across the window of my mind
You’re out dancing in the puddles by the door
You leave your footprints by the door

(Repeat Chorus)

(Verse 4)
And by July, the sun will sparkle
In it’s reflection off the water as it rolls
You’ll be building dreams of castles in the sand
And leaving footprints on the shore
Leaving footprints on the shore

(Repeat Chorus)
You leave your footprints on my soul
You leave your footprints on my soul

(c) Dave Semple Nov 25, 2011

Dave Semplesong writing, lead vocals, harmony, clean guitar, distortion guitar,piano
Paul Battersbydrums, 1st violins, 2nd violins, viola, flute, clarinet, bass guitar, church organ, conga drums
Bruce Valerianiprofessional mixing and production donated by Bruce at Blue Bear Sound
YouTube video
Audio onlyVisit Dave Semple at Reverb Nation


You might also like: Seven Ages, The Lighthouse

Images used that require attribution:

Winter Scene with horse
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Snow Angels
Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Aurora (Northern Lights)
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Internet Love
by Ron DeFrain, Paul Battersby

The Modern Day Love Song, based on a True Story.

For this song, Ron acquired the services of a demo company to put music (and vocals) to his lyrics. I heard the song, minus drums and bass and offered my services. It’s a fun song that I think you’ll like

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Internet Love
Lyrics by Ron DeFrain

Verse 1
I looked to the heavens; I looked to the stars
Searched in churches; I searched in bars
Bought them gifts, tried to be fun
Gave all my love, and affection
When all was said and done
I still stood as one

Chorus 1
I used to always hope and pray
That love would finally come my way
Now I don’t ask for help from above
Come on and join the latest buzz
‘Cause it sure ain’t like it was
I put my heart online, searchin’ for my Internet love.

Verse 2
I’ve reminisced with people, from way back when
Went out on blind dates, with friends of friends
Candlelight dinner and maybe a show
Wherever they wanted to go
There’s nothing I didn’t try
Now I have to, wonder why

Chorus 2
I used to always hope and pray
That love would, finally come my way
Now I don’t ask, for help from above
Come on and join the latest buzz
‘Cause it sure ain’t like it was
I put my heart online, searchin’ for my Internet love.

Bridge
Stood on the balcony in my red dress
Like a damsel, in distress
Waiting for my knight, in armor to come

Verse 3
An email came like never before
With all the things I’ve been looking for
A loving man made just for me
The way it was meant to be
I know this will be the man
To forever hold my hand

Chorus 3
I used to always hope and pray
That love would finally come my way
Now I don’t ask for help from above
‘Cause I found love, sweet, sweet love
It sure ain’t like it was
I put my heart online, finally found my Internet love.
Cause I found love,
Finally found Internet love

Ron DeFrainlyrics
Demo Companyvocals, guitar
Paul Battersbydrums, bass

No Way To Live
by Josh Howatt, Paul Battersby

This is a song Josh wrote with someone like Carrie Underwood in mind to sing it but Josh is a good singer himself and I think his voice suits the song very well.

Josh posted this song in a music forum and requested feedback. I responded with some suggestions about his existing string part, explained what I meant and offered to show him, so he let me rewrite and record the strings for his song.

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No Way To live
Lyrics © 2011 by Josh Howatt (BMI)

You and I, we’re facing down this open road
And one direction wins, and one we lose.

And I’m afraid, oh no I can hardly say it
But baby I pray that love’s the one we choose.

‘Cause up till now life has been all second chances
And turning ’round, when the road got too hard.

If it’s all or nothin’
I’ll come runnin’
Just tell me where and when and if it’s too late to forgive me

(Chorus)
For always lying
When I said I’m trying
But something inside of me I know has got to give
‘Cause living without you is no way to live
No way to live

Please, just listen
All this time that we’ve been given’s
Not a life at all worth living without you

And I’d be cross,
Always blind, forever lost
I don’t care what the cost, or what I have to do.

‘Cause up till now,
Life has been all trip and stumble,
And eyes to the ground, so afraid of fallin.

(Chorus)

Living just don’t feel right
Without your love in it, I
Don’t understand
How am I supposed to go on breathin
Air without exhale
In a world where nothing
Make sense
So I need another chance.

If it’s all or nothing
I’ll come running
Just tell me where and when and if it’s too late to forgive me

For always lying
When I said I’m trying
But something inside of me I know has gotta give
All I need’s a chance and surely I can fix it
‘Cause living without you is no way to live
No way to live

Josh Howattsong writing, vocals, piano, drums, bass guitar, mixing
Paul Battersbystrings, mixing
Hear the original version on soundcloud.com

On Your Own Terms
by Dave Semple, Paul Battersby

A nice vocals and guitar ballad that Dave wrote a long time ago. He more recently recorded it and let me add accompaniment.

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On Your Own Terms
Lyrics by: Dave Semple

You sit back and wonder where you are,
Where you’re going, where you’ve been, and who you are.
Teardrops on your pillow,
Make you think about your life: all the conflicts, all the strife.
Don’t look back. The past is gone. It’s over now and all is done.
Face the world on your own terms,
‘Cause you’re the only sunshine.

Pull back the curtains. Take a look out the window.
If you see what’s going wrong, you can change it. You are strong.
Don’t be afraid to face the world on your own terms.
Catch a rainbow by it’s tail. Catch the wind that fills your sail,
And face the dawn… Face the dawn.

Sometimes you’ll get frightened.
That’s OK. Don’t you know that we’ve all been scared before.
Memories remind you,
Of the times when you’ve been wrong; when your will was not so strong.
Memories can be so sad. You keep the good; accept the bad.
Face the past on your own terms,
‘Cause you’re the only sunshine.

Tear off the blindfold. Free yourself from the darkness.
All the fears you have inside; you must face them. You can’t hide.
Tear down the fortress in your mind. Free the spirit that has held you in its arms,
Kept you safe; made you strong.
Face the dawn… Face the dawn.

You are strong now, and you can face the dawn.

Pull back the curtains. Take a look out the window.
If you see what’s going wrong, you can change it. You are strong.
Don’t be afraid to face the world on your own terms.
Catch a rainbow by it’s tail. Catch the wind that fills your sail,
And face the dawn.
Face the dawn.

© December 1985

Dave Semplesongwriting, vocals, guitars
Paul Battersbyflute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, french horn, trombone, mixing
Visit Dave Semple at Reverb Nation

Center Stage
by Dave Semple, Paul Battersby

A song about an old, forgotten piano that longs to leave the storage room in which it’s been forgotten and return to perform on center stage. The song is written in a style that serves as a tribute to Billy Joel.

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Center Stage
Lyrics by: Dave Semple

Well, my ebony’s worn and my ivories are yellowed and stained.
My pedals, they squeak, but I manage to hold my sustain.
My tuning is off, just a little, and my hammers grow brittle and grey,
And my strings aren’t as bright as they used to be back in the day.

In a ten-by-ten storage room somewhere stage left off the wings,
They have piled me high with stage curtains and boxes of things.
Not a window to look through at all, and the paint is all faded to grey
Then one night someone slipped though the door and started to play.

He sang… I want to play center stage. How my music will take them away,
Through majors and minors, augmented, diminished, I will play.
When the lights shine on me, center stage, oh, I’ll carry their spirits away.
How I dream of the day when they ask me to play center stage.

He was young and inspired and his eyes held the depth of his dreams
He was rough ’round the edges in his faded T-shirt and jeans
His lyrics were honest and gentle, but his melodies yearned to be free.
How I wanted to tell him I’ve been where he’s longing to be.

‘Cause I used to play center stage, and my music, it took them away.
Through majors and minors, augmented, diminished, I did play.
When the lights shone on me, center stage, oh, I carried their spirits away.
Now, I dream of the days when I used to play center stage.

And as his fingers flowed over the ivories in that storage room forgotten and grey
Well, he gave back to me all the sweet memories of my life in the lights on the stage
And then he closed his eyes in the moment, and the storage room faded away
His future, my past, from the first to the last, found the music to take us away…

To where we could play center stage, and the music, it takes us away,
Through majors and minors, augmented, diminished, we play.
And the spotlights, they shine, center stage, and it carries our spirits away,
In the dead of the night, in a moment so right,
His future, my past, from the first to the last,
We’ll hold on to this night for the rest of our lives
As we stand in the light and we play…

Center Stage

Dave Semplesong writing, vocals, piano, video
Paul Battersbystrings, brass, drums, mixing
YouTube video
Audio onlyVisit Dave Semple at Reverb Nation


You might also like: Leaving Footprints, The Lighthouse