The Hobbit: A Few Crumbs to Tide Us Over

As the clock ticks down the last remaining weeks to the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, I was thrilled to find that the lead song from the film's soundtrack has been made available to excited fans everywhere. Neil Finn has penned an rousing ballad worthy of the works of JRR Tolkien that is poised to rival the success of Enya's May It Be featured on the Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack.

Born from the Dwarf song at the beginning of the film, Song of the Lonely Mountain conjures fleeting images of the lands of Middle Earth with surging strings, earthy guitar and the stirring percussion that includes the sounds of hammer on anvil, reminiscent of dwarven smiths at their forges. The song's rousing lyrics and strong vocals will make you want to race out of your door without your pocket handkerchief on the heels of Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves as they embark on one of the most epic of adventures in fantasy fiction history.

Liftoff from Normalcy

A 9 to 5? Nah, not for me.

Don't wanna be no desk jockey.

Don't wanna see just black or white

Or even shades of grey,

I want colours that pop,

And sizzle in the light of day.

Give me sounds that throb and echo back

Like living souvenirs

Of the sights I've seen, 

The places I've been,

And the people I met in between.

I want to be cut loose

From the tethers that keep me on the ground

And fly with no cold walls to surround;

Just the wind in my hair, in my ears, in my face

As higher and higher I soar and I race.

I want to explore the ocean depths

And take a tour of Mars.

I'd like to camp out on the moon

And make music with the stars.

I want to take naps in the clouds

And dance on mountain tops.

I'd love to sing under a waterfall

With the river marking time on the rocks.

I feel the beat as the rain plays drums

On glossy rainforest leaves,

And the desert wind like a warm gust of air

From the sigh a giant heaves.

Though, the ordinary is all right at times,

It just is not my speed.

The ordinary and the mundane

Just don't fulfil my needs.

And while I can appreciate consistency,

Too much of it moves me to flee.

And a constant state of normalcy,

Just ain't the life for me.

Morning Ritual

Another dawn come round too soon.

Crack an eye open 

And peer around the room.

Punch the alarm for one last snooze;

Wishing it were a pause button instead

So I could spend the day in bed.

Tryin' to be brave 

When all I wanna do is cry,

The ticking clock is my enemy;

I feel time passing me by.

Finally haul myself to my feet- 

Physically conscious 

But emotionally asleep.

Start prepping my game face

On my way to the shower;

Visualizing day's end

As I count down the hours.

Caribbean Vybz

Every now and then I feel the need to get back to my roots and right now I'm doing it musically. Here's a smooth little number by Nelson Serieux that I'm enjoying at the moment. If you like his sound, check out his Youtube channel.

Sucker for You

The things you said, 

The words you spoke,

The lies you told,

My heart they broke.

And just when I felt I could take no more,

I see you come back through the door

Arms outstretched, a smile so wide...

And just like that,

I find

I've already let you back inside.

One for a Rainy Monday

I have already posted stuff about these two but I happened across this video and felt the need to give them some props for this interpretation of Rihanna's You Da One. Maybe it's the effect of the this Monday rain and gloom but, I feel like the duo have taken the song and brought a softness and (for lack of a better word at this point). Check out more of the girls work on their Youtube channel VanJess24.

Click the song title to access the Rhinna's version if you need a refresher. ^_^

Today's Groove: Alabama Shakes

This group is really grooving! I absolutely love their vibe. Hope you guys enjoy^^. Thanks to Ms. Alicia Keys for this latest musical treasure. Check her out at http://thekeysofalicia.tumblr.com/.

No Frills

Ah, to be absolutely carefree!

Maybe, just maybe

If I forgot the comparisons and just be me

I'd see

I'd be flying 

Fetterless, 

Chainless, 

Painless 

And weightless,

Ever blessed,

Making my way into the West.

No harness;
No tether,

No stress
No anxiety

Or heavy duress,

Just free

To be

Simply 

Me.

Sugar Addict

 You’re bad for me

The way junk food

Is bad for the body;

The way water

Is bad for electricity;

The way that deforestation

Is bad for the honeybee.

But just like a craving

For homemade apple pie,

Your sweetness is a pleasure

I can’t bring myself to deny.

I’ve set myself limits,

Gone on diets,

Shut you out with strongbolt and latches;

Even tried a 12-step programme

And patches.

But nothing compares

To the rush you give me,

So even when I’m full

I always return

And wait at your table

For seconds and thirds…

At the end of the day

I know that you know,

Despite the words I say,

When it comes to you honey

I just can’t stay away.

Age of Enlightenment

Scattered.

That's what my thoughts are.

Unfocused .

That's what you could call my efforts.

Potential.

Is what everybody says I've got,

though it goes unharvested

More often than not. But,

Little

Would more accurately describe 

The things I've accomplished in my life.

Aware.

Is what I have become;

Enlightement,

My goal for the long run.

Open,

The position in which I place my mind.

Prepared

To receive you with arms open wide.

Weekend Oasis

Been a long week;

I can't take no mo'.

Waiting impatiently 

For the whistle to blow.

Quiting time

And I go charging out the door.

Monday come round too quickly 

To hang back doin' extra chores.

I don't know

How other people do it

Or what 

It takes to get them through it.

All I know is come the weekend,

My brain gets disconnected.

And in those precious hours

No thoughts

Of work gon' get resurrected.

So, if you feel me

Get in line.

Shake the lead out,

'Cause it's party time.

No need to get

Dressed up to the nines.

Come as you are

And you'll be just fine. 

This life is short 

So let's kick it into high gear.

Not gonna sweat the small stuff,

Ain't got one second to spare.

Pay the Piper

I tried my best,

Gave all I could

And then some.

I pushed the upper limit

And I jumped the gun.

Now the musicians

Have taken up their instruments;

The band's about to play.

The fat lady's in position;

The piper's calling for his pay.

I scan the room in a heartbeat

Looking for a dark corner,

An obscure place to hide

But there's nowhere to go

Though I search far and wide.

So now it comes down to it,

I stand erect, poised and alert

Yet fragile like a china doll,

Shuddering, I close my eyes 

And wait for the hammerfall.

Back to Bag End

I tried to hold back and keep myself from posting this. And for the past three odd months, I have succeeded. Last night, however, I went to the cinema and during the "interminable" 15 minutes of pre-feature advertisements, they ran the trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The two-minute teaser brought all the old excitement  rushing back. That's when my resolve began to crack and less than 24 hours later, here comes proof of just how much of a geek I am at heart. But I don't really care who knows it. I am counting down the days until the movie comes out. Judging from the buzz from the internet community, it looks like Peter Jackson is poised to have another mega blockbuster on his hands (no pressure Petey). 

If you haven't seen the trailer yet (although short of having been on an expedition through the wilderness for the past few months, I can't see how you could've missed it), take a look at the video below. As for those of you who have seen it before, I'm sure you won't object to watching it a second (or two thousand and second) time ;)

Quietly

Something different...

Drops of rain

Fall soundessly past the window pane.

A single sprout 

Works tireslessly upward through layers of dirt,

Breaking the surface of the soil

To surprise the planter...

An old man in his apartment

Is watching his favourite show.

He leans back to rest his eyes,

 Enjoying the theme music

And softly breathes his last...

Somewhere else,

A babe is born...

Winter passes into spring,

Then spring to summer,

Summer transitions into fall

And back again...

And life goes on 

...quietly.

And change happens 

...quietly.

You live out your days

With your nose to the grindstone

And wake up one day

To find things are different.

So the world turns

...quietly.

...And that's the way it goes...

A Nature Break

Watching this left me nostalgic for spring. Please don't be long!

Loafing

You can't tell me what to do.

Don't even try, 

I won't listen to you.

Today I've a mind to take a break;

Don't care about work, or school,

Or anything else that might be at stake.

I've made my decision;

Hope it's not a sin

Cause, honey child, 

Today

I'm not doing a blessed thing!

Surrendering

It's not about the battle,

It's about the victory. 

It's not the destination,

It's about what you gain from the journey.

It's not about the money,

It's about the value of your soul;

It's not the diploma

It's about the experiences that help you grow.

It's not about the struggles,

It's the rewards they bring.

It's not about all the noise they make,

It's about the message in the words they sing.

It's not about the things you hear

From the voices that whisper in your ear,

It's about the truth taking root like a plant

Sprouting from the seed God sowed deep in your heart.

It's not about the circumstances,

Pay no attention to the things you see.

It's not about where you are today,

What matters is who you choose to be.

Expectancy

You said you'd be the ONE

To stand by me

When others turned tail

To flee.

You said you'd be there

When the going got tough;

That you'd have my back

When the world called my bluff.

You promised that you'd

Be my guide;

That when other lights went out,

You'd stay by my side.

Now it has come to the point.

Got my back to the wall;

I'm waiting on you 

Please answer my call!

Chicken

Jam the accelerator to the floor pad

Can you feel the adrenalin pumping through your body, man?

See my opponent in the rear view,

Next minute he's caught up with me from out of the blue.

Racing at top speed to the road's end;

Hear my co-pilot try to soothe his nerves by counting down from ten.

Thinking of the drop waiting for us at the edge,

I feel my pulse quicken and break into a sweat.

Do I have the stomach? Will my constitution fail?

Not knowing what the answer is, my heart begins to quail.

Rounding the final corner, as the precipice appears

I steady my hands, steel my nerve and send up frantic prayers.

Tightrope

How many times did I turn you 

away?

How many ways did you ask me to 

stay?

How long did it take me to come to my 

senses?

Too long, I daresay. Too long to 

mention.

How far back does this pattern go in your 

recollection?

How much will it cost us to maintain this high

tension?

Message in a Bottle

Hi there.

I've missed you

Very much.

All this time

I've been thinking about

Doing something about this

Silence that's grown between us.

It's just been so hard

Staying away.

Now, at last, I have

Overcome my feelings of shame

Toward you...and myself.

Do you think we could start

Everything over and turn

A new page, even though we can't 
Turn back the clock? 'Cause

Heaven knows, we've wasted enough time                                                          as it is.

Fantasy Finale

I used to watch you

From a distance

And wish I could 

Summon up the courage

To tell you that I would

Like to take you out

On a coffee date,

Or a long walk

Where we'd talk 

Until daybreak.

But no matter how hard I tried

To draw your attention

You never seemed to notice me,

Never gave me any mention.

I tried all kinds of strategies

To get you off my mind,

Short of going down to the local  pub

And drinking myself blind.

To no avail.

I couldn't keep my thoughts 

From straying back to you.

No matter what I said, or where I went 

Or what I tried to do,

I couldn't change the fact 

That what it always came down to

Was me wanting to love 

And be loved by you.

Today I've finally managed

To gather up my strength

At last I have discovered

The way to break your spell.
And for my emotional health

I learned how to cut off this obsession

Without betraying myself.

Today, I choose to let you go

Though you never asked a thing of me.

Today, I choose to give you up

With no hate or animosity.

I choose to leave this thing behind

That demands so much energy.
And take the time 
To occupy my life with things of necessity

These choices let me free myself 
From all this useless pain.

So I can learn, and heal and grow...

And, one day, 
Be free to love again.

Feel Good

Baby, I am 

So happy you're here.

Baby, you 

Give me joy when you are near.

Baby, I know 

Just how lucky I am.

Baby, I'm just so blessed,

Blessed to be your man.

Breaking the Cycle

A charmer.

That's what you are.

The way the words roll like diamonds

Off your silver tongue,

It's hard to trace the end

Back to where you begun.

All I know is 

You got a way about you

That makes it hard to even doubt you.

You walk with the confidence of one who knows up front

That their lips have the power 

To give them everything they want.

 You enchant all the women

And bedazzle the men

Everywhere you go,

From sunup to day's end.

It may sound like I'm jealous

But I ain't tryin to throw shade.

I know the road you walk has already been laid.

All this I've known 

And yet I've learnt more,

But at this point, one thing is for sure:

You did a lot of damage; 

Left me nothing but rage.

And today I realise that this cycle's gotta change.

So, I'm taking a time out and I'm not gonna pretend.

It'll be a little while til I'm back on the mend.

That's why I can never let you in again.

It's been a nice ride but this is the end.

Alone

Late nights spent on the phone,

Conversating til the break of dawn,

Telling each other about what's going on

And sharing thoughts we'd always hid from everyone.

Invited to a party, standing at the door.

Watching all the other people who came in by the score.

Feeling isolated, left out, some old bore.

Hand off the doorknob, back away real slow.

Turn around and then start running like you never have before.

Down in the metro, hopped on the first train.

Maybe it's my line but if not, it's all the same.

Wonder why you left the house; why you even came.

Didn't ya know they'd always hurt you?

All they do is cause you pain.

Looking out the window at the cold gray buildings, you see

All the happy families

Talking over dinner or curled up watching TV,

Oblivious to the fact that their homey aeries

Could sollicite so much unadulterated envy.

Walking down the busy streets and the crowded avenues,

Surrounded by a storm of sound and colourful views,

Jostled by the swarming masses of wannabes and their crews,

Blissfully impervious to the beggar singing the blues.

Last flight of stairs. You're finally home.

Shut your door to all sound save the one haunting tone

From the beggarman's song that left you chilled to the bone.

You've enjoyed the laughter; the waves of shame you rode.

Yes, you came through the battle 

Just to find you're alone.

Awakening

Key's in the ignition.

I give it a turn.

Been a long journey

But the lesson's been learned.

Now the motor's humming.

Letting it warm up.

I can feel my baby revving.

She's itching to run

Down the miles of highway

That still lie ahead.

Like a champion athlete,

Who done worked out the lead.

I've been under,

I've been misled

And now that I've surfaced

Ain't no getting in my head.

I've found my purpose-

A light in the dark

And now that it's shining

I'ma strive for the mark.

So if you not with me,

Get out of my way

'Cause baby,

I am back.

And I'm here to stay!

Wondering into Reality

Maybe there's a possibility

That you and I could be.

Maybe there's a way

That two "I"s can make a "we."

Maybe if I tried real hard,

The thought of you and me

Might pass from just a theory,

To come alive from day to day as my reality.

Maybe to you all this may sound quite freaky,

But I needed to put it out there

So you could know me truly. 

On Hold

A hollow drum, 

An empty shell, 

A chilly, numbing kind of hell

Where a shapeless nothing has come to dwell.

Lost the will to move or think,

And here suspended,

I feel myself sink

And realise that I teeter on the brink 

Of a gulf before which I cringe and shrink.

Deaf to ambition's strident call;

Lost to friends and family who scold and warn,

Far from feeling lonely and forlorn, 

I find I don't feel anything at all.

And from the depths of this new low,

I wonder how much further this will go.

There couldn't possibly be more below;

Nothing worse could ever follow.

If this is rock bottom,

Then surely, I soon will rise.

But if not, then what unsavoury surprise

Lays hidden past the scope of my eyes?

For now, I confess I'd rather not be told.

I wanna let it go and wait for things to unfold.

Just turn off the lights and get into bed;

Pull the covers over my head.

At this moment, I prefer not to know.

Good night world. We'll pick things up tomorrow.