| Home | |
 Karmalu Productions |
 |
|
Lyrics,
Stories, and Instrument information from the Life
Stages CD
Click on the
title of each song for to read lyrics and the
stories behind each.
Also on this page: Information about album, the musicians, and their instruments. |
|
This album of 20 songs includes many of Verlene's recent songs, but also several songs that were written years ago, but that didn't quite fit the themes of her five previous albums of original songs. As she was compiling the songs for this album, she became aware of a theme that would tie them all together. Many of the recently written songs were about a new stage in her life, watching aging parents enter a new stage in their lives. Also included were songs written for significant occasions throughout life, such as turning 30, attending high school reunion, and concerns about the future. The title for the album, "Life Stages" encompasses all these topics and more. Next to each song's lyrics you'll find a story from Verlene about each song and also a list of the instruments that were used on the recording. The photo montage on the CD shows a glimpse into Verlene's musical life stages. You can see larger versions plus the story behind each photo on the Life Stages Photo Album page. The musicians are:Verlene Schermer on all vocals, harps, guitars, piano, violin, mandolin, hardingfele, nyckelharpa, and drum machine programming Linnette Bommarito on flute Jon Schermer on trombone Preston Carter on electric bass Don Frank on drums and percussion Verlene's instruments: Triplett Celtic 34 string
harp Yamaha P-115 digital
piano Taylor 514CE steel string
guitar Reproduction Stradiverius
Violin made in 1723 by an anonymous violin maker Martin Westermark
nyckelharpa (a Swedish keyed fiddle) made in Sweden
in 2006 Gibson F-4 mandolin made in 1939 Alesis SR18 drum machine Linnette's flute is a silver Prima flute by Sankyo Flute Company Jon's trombone is a Selmer Bolero Preston's basses:
• Alder body Don played his studio trap set and a truck full of percussion -- too many to list. But worth noting is the "garden weasel" that is literally a garden tool that he found to have a cool rattle sound. |
Life StagesOnce I had the title of the album, I got to thinking about the famous quote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." The quote comes from Shakespeare's "As You Like It" and the speech goes on to describe the 7 ages of man. That concept is what inspired the song "Life Stages" which I composed in October of 2017. Verlene: Triplett harp, drum
machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer We're young and full of hope and
we can't wait to be full grown Life has many stages, we travel
through each one We take a bow and bask in all
the glory of the show Life has many stages, we travel
through each one The body will betray us but
we'll do the best we can Life has many stages, we travel
through each one |
At the Heart of MeI got involved with helping to find class members for our High School's 30 Year Reunion, and started reminiscing and musing about why we felt compelled to meet up after all these years... I composed this song the morning of the reunion in October of 2003, and brought my double strung harp along that evening so I could play it for my classmates at the reunion. Verlene: double strung harp,
piano, drum machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer You’re at the heart of me,
You’re at the start of my history Some of us came here to gawk,
some of us came her to be gawked at You’re at the heart of me,
You’re at the start of my history And every time that I hear that
tune You’re at the heart of me,
You’re at the start of my history |
When You Turn 30I wrote this song in 1983 when I was about to turn 29. I was starting to panic that I was not at all where I thought I'd be at that age... I had recorded it with a few other musicians, but the album we were putting together never materialized, so all I had left was a deteriorating copy on cassette tape. I was hoping to simply find out who had the original multi-track recording and remix that, but had no luck, so I re-recorded it in a different key, and a slightly different vibe -- I like it even better now! I thought about changing the lyrics to reflect my current age, but then decided it was true enough as is... And if you are well past 30 as I am, you are welcome to substitute in your mind whatever age you think is more relevant to you! Verlene: piano, Triplett harp,
violin with effects for a rock sound, drum machine,
vocals © 2018 Verlene Schermer When you turn thirty When you turn thirty What’s all this talk about
going over the hill When you turn thirty, you don’t
have it all together |
Find Me TimeOne day, in 1989, when I had just finished teaching a vocal lesson in my studio at Guitar Showcase, a man came in to talk to me. Thinking he wanted vocal lessons, I got out my calendar, but he told me that he is going to be a famous country singer and that all he needs is a hit song. He wanted me to write him one... I politely told him that I don't write country music and I especially don't write on demand, and wouldn't have time to write a song for him. Then driving home, I started thinking "yeah, right, find me time to do it..." and this song was almost completely written in my head by the time I arrived home! But I still wasn't going to give it to this guy -- and no, he didn't actually become famous... Velene: piano, Taylor guitar,
violin, mandolin, drum machine, vocals © 2018 Verlene Schermer Find me time to do it and I’ll
write a song for you Find me time, find me a little
time Find me time to do it and I’ll
build a house for you Find me time, find me a little
time Well the road has come to own
me, now time’s not mine to spend I know I’d do things
diff’rently, I’d save some time for just you and me Find me time, find me a little
time |
DefinitionsI wrote this song in 1981 but made some minor changes to both melody and lyrics in 2018. I have reflected back on this song from time to time when I hear people making judgments about a person or a cultural group -- and I use the song to remind myself that there is more to a person or a people than my presuppositions... Verlene: Martin guitar in drop
D tuning, drum machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer I’ve tried to define you I’m so afraid to let my
misconceptions go But when I define you I’m so afraid to let my
misconceptions go I’m so afraid to let my
misconceptions go |
Because You Choose ToI have played my Rees double-strung harp at Stanford Hospital for patients at bedside, as well as in units and waiting areas since 2003. By 2013, I'd had many experiences playing for patients, some that were always alone in their rooms, and others who always had a family member or close friend by their side. What a difference the support of that primary caregiver made to the experience of the patient during their hospitalization! I wanted to sing a song that honored the caregiver, but couldn't find one that really expressed it, so, naturally, I wrote one... Verlene: double-strung harp, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer I never chose to be here lying
in this bed I have the easy part, I sleep
most of the time Just come and hold my hand,
listen while I cry They give me medication to
reduce my sense of pain Just come and hold my hand,
listen while I cry Now those long, sleepless nights
are telling on you |
MysteryI am a huge mystery fan -- books, movies, serials -- and life is a mystery as well, so this song just sort of bubbled up in 1982 and has been percolating ever since. Verlene: piano, Triplett harp,
hardingfele , drum machine, vocals © 1982 Verlene Schermer Mystery, what places are we
going this time Wait and see, is what you say
to me Mystery, what fortunes are we
seeking this time Wait and see, is what you
always say to me Mystery, mystery... Back to song titles |
The TideI wrote this song in 2016 when Dad was having to make huge adjustments to living in a retirement community after Mom passed away. He would tell people, "This is my daughter -- I used to help her on the computer, and now she helps me." And more and more, my sister and I were needed to help him with things he used to do for himself. Verlene: Triplett harp,
vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer One day this small
five-year-old sent Auntie from the door The teenaged me was not afraid
to do things my own way |
By ‘80I wrote this song in 1981 when I realized we'd passed the "future" that I was always told about... 1980... When we were kids in the 60s we thought we'd be living like the Jetsons by then! Originally the last line said "95" instead of "25" but hey, it's my song, I can change the date! Verlene: piano, Taylor guitar,
violin, drum machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer Way back in the 60’s when I was
just a girl So where’s the cure for cancer
they promised us by ‘80 Where’s the ghetto answer they
said we’d have by ‘80 Well we still have unemployment
and justice is abused Well we still have unemployment
and justice is abused Where’s the rapid transit that
can handle it by ‘80 |
I Wanna Walk With YouI am learning how to have a lot more patience when I go somewhere with my 89 year old Dad... I wrote this song in 2018. Verlene: Triplett harp, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer I remember redwood trees, hiking
trails and scabby knees Daddy slow down! My legs are
short but yours are long I remember years ago, couldn't
wait 'til I would grow Daughter slow down! My
legs are weak but yours are strong Daughter slow down! My
legs are weak but yours are strong |
Keep in TouchWhen my supervisor at Stanford Hospital made a career change in 2006, I wrote this song for her. Verlene: Triplett harp, vocals © 2018 Verlene Schermer This is not goodbye, we have
made a true connection Keep in touch, there is much we
still can share You've been carried to this
place, and you've made the right decision Keep in touch, there is much we
still can share Keep in touch, there is much we
still can share |
A Jig in Your PocketI published a series of harp books called "Harp Newbies" and wrote several little tunes for the books in order to teach progressively more challenging tunes. At first I didn't give the little tunes titles, just used them as practice examples and studies. But this one in particular called for a title. It was a little jig, so I called it "A Jig in Your Pocket." Before I completed the series in early 2018, I found myself singing the title, and continuing on until I had a complete lyric! Verlene: Triplett harp, violin,
mandolin, Taylor guitar, nyckelharpa, and bodhran (an
Irish hand drum), vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer A jig in your pocket to pull out
for fun, And when the night's over and
daylight appears |
Bleeding HeartDuring the last year my mother was alive, I was helping my Dad "get caught up" with his mail. Stacks and stacks and stacks of mail! As we went through each one he had a hard time letting me help him reduce the stacks to only important things -- like bills... The bulk of the mail was from various organizations with "important" surveys, all asking for money. I suspect that many of them are scams, and that most of the money he sent them went into someone's pocket. But with dementia beginning to set in, he was convinced that he was helping them decide what they should be doing and that each and every piece of mail had to be responded to. I believe it is a form of elder abuse. We finally have it under control, but as usual, writing a song was the best way for me to express my frustration. This one was written in early 2015. Verlene: piano, Taylor guitar,
"jazz" violin, vocals © 2015 Verlene Schermer You are so dear, your concern is
genuine They've got your name, and they
know how to get to you They rely upon your aging memory They thank you with another new
calendar |
SolitaireI used to play solitaire with a deck of cards on the living room floor -- long before computers and devices had the digital version. It was not so much about winning the hand, but more like a way to come at my thoughts from a different angle. With my focus on something else, creative solutions could be seen out of the corner of my mind's eye. I wrote the song initially sometime during the 1990s but never wrote the date down, as the song wasn't quite finished. It was finally finished in 2018 in time to include on this album! Verlene: piano, Taylor guitar,
mandolin, cross-strung harp, drum machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer Lay ‘em down, pretty diamond,
pretty heart Life is like the way these
cards go down Lay ‘em down, six to seven,
eight to the nine Life is like the way these
cards go down Lay ‘em down, pretty
diamond, broken heart Not always a winner’s game, and not the loser’s blame Life is like the way these cards go down Life is like the way these cards go down Back to song titles |
As Much As BeforeWhen my Dad was finally diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia in 2016, I wrote this song for him, from all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Verlene: Triplett harp, Taylor
guitar, vocal © 2016 Verlene Schermer We'd like to spend some time
with you, doing things you'd like to do And all you need to do is to be
who you are We know how hard it is for you
giving up what you once knew All you need to do is to be who
you are You have so much to give, so
much more life to live Well, all you need to do is to
be who you are |
Apparent In MeIn March, 2018, my cousin, Robyn, sent a photo she made of herself and her mother merged together -- half her, and half her mom. She volunteered to do one of me and my mother. I wrote this song shortly after she sent my merged photo to me! Verlene: Triplett harp, drum
machine, vocals © 2018 Verlene Schermer I used to think I must have been
adopted, I was such an odd kid Don't get me wrong, I'm still
an individual, still have some residual All my life I've tried to
show the world how I'm a special girl, but now Don't get me wrong, I'm still
an individual, still have some residual And now I only hope that what's
inherent coming from each parent Don't get me wrong, I'm still
an individual, still have some residual |
Picture of YouI wrote this song during my mother's final stay at the hospital in January, 2015. The doctor had just talked to us about her prognosis, and to prepare for her end of life. I recorded just piano and vocal and put it on my phone to play it for her. We lost her the next Monday evening... Verlene: piano, Taylor guitar,
vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer Your beautiful smile -- the
window of your heart This is my picture of you, that
I will hold on
to
You created a home infused with
your own style This is my picture of you, that
I will hold on
to
This is my picture of you, that
I will hold on
to
|
FlyingThis song was written in 1997. I revised the song and added a second bridge in 2018. This is dedicated to my husband of more than 30 years, Jon. Verlene: piano, Triplett harp,
violin, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer Whisper words and watch them
wash away my woe Hold my heart and head up high
and help me home I see the sunrise shining in
your eyes Bring me to the brilliance of a
brighter day The wind is wild and whistling
outside |
GrownupsThe story behind this song... well, I don't believe that I'm the only one who is tired of the political scene these past few years. I wrote this in late 2017 and finished it in 2018. Hopefully it will become outdated in a few more years... Verlene: Triplett harp, violin,
drum machine, vocal © 2018 Verlene Schermer Once upon the safe and snug, top
of the world and feeling smug Politicians stuck in teen-dom We lost more than our innocence,
no more sitting on the fence Politicians stuck in teen-dom All that we can hope to do, if
they won't change their point of view Politicians stuck in teen-dom |
New Year WishesAt the end of 2017 as the new year was approaching, I began to muse about what I want to see happen in the coming year. I always write a list of goals, and think about the past year's accomplishments to keep me moving forward. This song started writing itself, and I had words jotted down in a notebook with a few ideas about melody. In February of 2018, I found the words and notes again, and sang it for my harp friends at our annual retreat, making it up as I went along. I refined the melody, and noticed the "Canon in D" flavor of the chord progression, and composed the flute parts to bring it out the flavor of the canon. Verlene: Triplett harp, vocals © 2018 Verlene Schermer May the coming year bring you
peace, good health and good fortune And most of all may love pour
in and out of you May the coming year bring us
peace, good health and good fortune And most of all may love pour
in and out of us And most of all may love pour in
and out of us |