Alan Popa Project - Music from The Box Show - 2019.06.15

INTRODUCTION:

Thank you for your interest in my little musical project.    Below you will find information about the songs performed at the Music from The Box Show in Alboraya, Spain on June 15th, 2019.  You can also hear studio and live versions of these songs on my Bandcamp page here and videos for some of these songs on my YouTube channel here.

THE TAO SERIES 1-3

These songs were inspired by the Jane English/Gia-Fu Fang translation (one of my favorite translations) of the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.   Below is the player for the original album which also contains acoustic, live recordings of Tao I, II and III from 2016.

One

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and Earth.
The named is the mother of the ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name; this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery.

Tao I - Alan Popa (SHT Musik)



The way that I speak of ,  the eternal way no way.
Names I´m givin´, not eternal names.
The sky and earth come from a place without names.
The name is the mother of a million billion things.

A secret´s not a secret when it´s not kept secret.
Things I never told you, truest of them all.

Desire is master, only see the trees.
Master desire, the forest can be seen.
Different not really, the source is the same.
Chaos hard to handle, the culprit is the name.

A secret´s not a secret when it´s not kept secret.
Things I never told you, truest of them all.

Truest of them all dear, truest of them all.
Things I never told you, truest of them all.

A secret´s not a secret when it´s not kept secret.
Things I never told you, truest of them all.

Darkness within darkness, the gate to mystery.
Darkness within darkness, are we too blind to see?

Are we too blind to see?   Are we too blind to see?
Things I never told you...

Two

Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Long and short contrast each other:
High and low rest upon each other;
Voice and sound harmonize each other;
Front and back follow one another.

Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.
The ten thousand things rise and fall without cease,
Creating, yet not possessing.
Working, yet not taking credit.
Work is done, then forgotten.
Therefore it lasts forever.

Tao II - Alan Popa (SHT Musik)




In this world we all know beauty as beauty knowing ugliness.
In this world we all need evil, through evil we know true goodness.

So to have and not to have come together.
Difficult and easy work off each other.
Front and back are father and are mother.
Long and short follow one another.
High and low build upon each other.
Sound and silence need each other.

So the wise walk this world doing nothing, teaching no-talking, going with the flow.
Millions rise, millions fall, they burn so brightly, don´t cling too tightly, love them let them go.

Creating yet not holding ever.
Working without trying to look clever.
Work is done no credit taken whatsoever.
That way it lasts forever.
That way it lasts forever.

In this world we all know beauty, yours truly, knowing ugliness.

Three

Not exalting the gifted prevents quarreling.
Not collecting treasures prevents stealing.
Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart.

The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
If men lack knowledge and desire, then clever people will not try to interfere.
If nothing is done, then all will be well.

Tao III - Alan Popa (SHT Musik)



Looking for losers, having a contest.
Fight to the finish, only one is best.
But all this struggle, so like a muggle.
Learn how to lose falling flat.
No pulling rabbits from your hat.

All of your gold eggs just in one basket. 
Dude comes along and he tries to snatch it. 
Own all you want to.
Things can own you too.
The bait always brings out the rat.
Hooked on that sweet, salty fat.

Leaders don´t lead us to temptation.
Borrowing from future generations.
And all the pundits pushing what tastes good.
Don´t chase shiny new.
Do what you know you should.
The hero did all he could.
Do what you know you should.
The hero did all she could.

Society´s based on terms of temptation.
Taboo on the screen, surreal titallation.
You´re not OK, they´re OK.
Models in negligee.
They stare at you.  Don´t stare back.
They live to show what you lack.

They live to show what you...
They live  to show what you...
They live to show what you lack.

They stare at you.  Don´t stare...
They stare at you.  Don´t stare...
They stare at you.  Don´t stare back.


Poor Me - Alan Popa (SHT Musik)




Poor me poor little lonely me 
Pour me another drink 
Make it a double for all my trouble 
I don´t wanna think 

Wasn´t really payin´ attention 
Until she went away 
Call came out of the blue informing me 
Soon it would be D-Day 

Days and nights are so damn long 
Now that she´s gone 
Days and nights are so damn long 
Now that she´s gone 
Gone forever more 

Always laughed at baby come back songs 
Thought they sounded weak 
Thought I had it all figured out and I 
Wasn´t exactly meek 

Cold war raged I tried to wait it out 
She plotted her escape 
Finally woke up found out what time it was 
It was already too late 

Days and nights are so damn long 
Now that she´s gone 
Days and nights are so damn long 
Now that she´s gone 
Gone forever more 

My sweet Eleanor 
Gone forever more 
My sweet Eleanor 
Walked right out that door 
My sweet Eleanor 
Gone forever more 
My sweet Eleanor 

Poor me poor little lonely me 
Pour me another drink 
Make it a double for all my trouble 
I don´t wanna think 


Poor me poor little lonely me 
Pour me another drink 
Make it a double for all my trouble 
I don´t wanna think



I´m Nobody - Alan Popa (SHT Musik) 
Based on the poem by Emily Dickinson

I´m nobody 
Who are you? 
I´m nobody 
Are you nobody too? 
A pair of us 
Don´t you dare tell 
They´d banish us 
Straight to hell 
Don´t you know 


I´m nobody 
Who are you? (who are you?) 
I´m nobody 
Are you nobody too? (are you nobody too?) 
Being somebody 
A man among mice (a man among mice) 
Being somebody 
You sacrifice (you sacrifice) 
Living your life 
Under scrutiny (under scrutiny) 
No warm blankets 
No privacy 

You can have my fifteen minutes of fame 
I don´t want it, don´t wanna be a household name 
Don´t get me wrong, the fortune would be nice 
But in the end I´ve seen the piper pay the price 
The piper always pays the price 

I´m nobody 
Who are you (who are you?) 
I´m nobody 
Are you nobody too?
So very nice to meet you.

I´m Nobody.   Who are you?  - Emily Dickinson 
First published version.

I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us -- don't tell!
They'd banish -- you know!

How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong day
To an admiring bog! 


Great Expectations - Alan Popa (SHT Musik) 



It all started a long time ago 
I was just a little kid 
Always tried to get my way 
Seems I never did 

Now I´m sitting stinking thinking 
Wee hours of the night 
Born alone, die alone 
Stumble towards the light 

Searchin´ all night for a love not a fight 
Hungry for inspiration 
Lyin´ in bed, crazy thoughts in my head 
Tryin´self medication 
Fill the hole inside my soul 
With great expectations 
Great expectations. 

It´s a trick that makes me tick 
A fickly little trap 
A bouncin´ baby boy is born 
Welcomed with a slap. 

People say, "Seize the day." 
Kinda like graspin´ for air 
Gaspin´ for air, a wing and a prayer 
My god is everywhere. 

Searchin´ all night for a love not a fight 
Hungry for inspiration 
Playin´ in bed, hazy thoughts in my head 
Tryin´self medication 
Fill the hole inside my soul 
With great expectations 
Great expectations.


Day After Day - Alan Popa (SHT Musik) 

Capo on the 5th fret 

C G*(G7-G nada-G Add D 2nd string – G nada) 
Day after day I get up 
My body screams for a few more hours of sleep 
F G* 
Night after night I sit up 
Going for broke, going deep 
C G* 
Day after day I´m certain 
Know where and when know what for 
F G* 
Night after night I´m hurtin´ 
Take all I got still (I) want more 

Am G F 
Days turn into nights turn into years 
Days turn into nights turn into fears Am G 
Days turn into nights turn into years turn tail and disappear oh
Am G F F 
Days turn into nights turn into years ooohhhhhh----- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
D G5(open) D G5 
Night dude says, ¨"fuck you day dude" 
Day dude says, " come on now let´s be friends" 
D G5 F E 
Night dude says, " no way day dude " 
Thinks the means justify the end 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
C G*(G7-G nada-G Add D 2nd string – G nada) 
Day after day so busy 
My schemes my dreams all have to wait 
F G* 
Night after night drunk and dizzy 
Notice the time much too late 
C G* 
Day after day I wonder 
Am I sick or just misunderstood 
F G* 
Night after night I blunder 
Stealing from myself a reckless Robin Hood 

Am G F 
Days turn into nights turn into years 
Days turn into nights turn into fears Am G 
Days turn into nights turn into years turn tail and disappear and 
Am G F F Am 
Days turn into nights turn into years ooohhhhhh---ho


Art For Art´s Sake (Not For Primetime)  - Alan Popa (SHT Musik) 



This song is not for primetime 
This song is not worth a dime 
This song is my life of crime 
This song is not worth your time 
----------------------------- 

Art for art´s sake fabrication 
Put a face on inspiration 
Here you have my speculation 
My best guess extrapolation 

Open heart to heart
Art just for the sake of art 
Everybody take part 
Art just for the sake of art 
----------------------------- 

This boy is not for primetime 

This boy is way past his prime
This boy is snips and snails and slime  
This boy is taking his time 
----------------------------- 

Art for art´s sake good vibrations 
Existential revelation 
The high the low the modulations 
Travel space time generations 

Open heart to heart
Art just for the sake of art 
Everybody take part 
Art just for the sake of art 
----------------------------- 

The closer to death you are 
The easier it becomes x 4

Art for art´s sake hell yeah!
----------------------------- 

This life is not for primetime 
This life is an uphill climb 
This life is all guts and grime 
This life is just killing time 

Open heart to heart
Art just for the sake of art 
Everybody take part 
Art just for the sake of art 

Art for art´s sake fascination 
With the world and love´s temptation 
Haters call it masturbation 
I am shameless it´s my salvation 

Open heart to heart
Art just for the sake of art 
Everybody take part 
Art just for the sake of art