Waves

WAVES was Jay's last solo pop album. With it he explored new writing styles and engineering techniques. The rich production has many layers mirroring the intricately-crafted lyrics, many of which were adapted from poems that Jay had penned years before.
Jay enlisted the help of three other musicians in the making of this recording: inventive cellist Gideon Freudmann, Dots guitarist David Gowler and dedicated drummer Scott Haworth. As with his previous albums, Jay performed the vocals, rhythm guitar and keyboards.
The songs range from the jubilance of the opener, Bright Side of the Street, to the desperation and resignation of The Light That Burns the Brightest (derived from the movie Blade Runner). The theme that ties the album together is the search for truth.
Two songs sound like they belong on another album: the "pacifist fight song," I Will Not Fight and a song that was written for School Bus Driver's Week in Massachusetts, Riding on the Bus. Both were his most-requested songs when Jay performed in concert during that period. Since this was planned to be his last recording, Jay included them for posterity.

Sheet music for this collection is available here.

THE SONGS

Bright Side Of The Street

Status Quo

I Keep Waiting

The Force Within Myself

Search for the Source

More Than The Stars

The Light That Burns The Brightest

Return to Jay's Early Recordings

BRIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

I used to walk alone at night
Always hiding out of sight
Thinking my life was best left unseen
I was haunted by my dreams
My own shadow made me scream
I was afraid of what it all might mean

I thought the light would burn me
I thought I couldn't take the heat
But now I've crossed on over
To the bright side of the street

I used to stumble in the dark
Always end up off the mark
And pretend it's where I wanted to be
I would justify my flight
Always pretending I was right
As if hiding out would set me free

To think of all the energy
I spent on self-defeat
Until I crossed on over
To the bright side of the street

So why keep your eyes closed tight
Always pretending that it's night
Grasping groping clasping hoping
Putting up a fight
You don't need no new technique
All you do is move your feet
Leave your mind behind
And find the bright side of the street

It's always dark behind you
No reason to retreat
Put your best foot forward
To the bright side of the street

STATUS QUO copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

If I want money
If I want fame
If I want success
I'll change my name
If I want girls
I'll change my clothes
I'll dye my hair
I'll fix my nose

I'm losing my identity
Improving my appeal
Changing me so radically
Nobody will know what's real

Who cares if I'm unique
Today that ain't the way to go
The road from rags to riches
Is along the status quo

I won't make trouble
I won't offend
I won't make waves
I won't buck the trend
If I want money
If I want fame
If I want success
I'll play the game

No originality
Style and nothing more
Pander to the status quo
That's the only way to score

Who cares if I'm unique
Today that ain't the way to go
The road from rags to riches
Is along the status quo

I KEEP WAITING copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

standing high above the crowds
feel like I can touch the clouds
look for friends who should be there
before I step into the air

I keep waiting
don't want to lose this high
I keep waiting
as life moves swiftly by

reach out for a passing hand
miss and God knows where I'll land
leap into the danger zone
suddenly I feel alone

I keep waiting
for someone else to fall
I keep waiting
for destiny to call

all my life spent on the ground
wishing that my home was in the sky
falling free without a sound
briefly I believe that I can fly

I keep waiting
to reach the other side
I keep waiting
courage is my guide

have to choose with no regret
take my chance without a net
fall through space like summer rain
can't wait to begin again

I keep waiting...
I keep waiting...

THE FORCE WITHIN MYSELF copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

more powerful than gravity
the force within myself
encourages a hidden darker side
appearing from the shadows
emerging from its shell
more powerful than gravity
the force within myself

always fascinated by
the force within myself
can't leave well enough alone
play with dynamite
bound to lose my self-control
bound to lose my mind
destiny I can't avoid
the force within myself

doors left open as I enter
never wanting to return
racing to outrun the future
and secrets no one should ever learn

stumbling uncontrollably
straining for the light
slipping into darkness
and emerging once again
fighting inner demons
like wrestling with the air
knowing I can never tame
the force within myself

I WILL NOT FIGHT copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

I don't understand
Why some take delight
In violence and bloodshed
I will not fight
I don't believe
That might makes right
It makes no sense
I will not fight

I will not fight
I will not fight
Not now, not then
Not ever again
Be all you can be
And as for me
I will not fight
I will not fight

It's clear to me
As black and white
To kill is wrong
I will not fight
No weapon aimed
No prey in sight
I live in peace
I will not fight

I will not fight
I will not fight
Not now, not then
Not ever again
Be all you can be
And as for me
I will not fight
I will not fight

If governed by force
If ruled by fright
I won't be swayed
I will not fight
Though burning with prejudice
Anger and spite
I won't be swayed
I will not fight

I will not fight
I will not fight
Not now, not then
Not ever again
Be all you can be
And as for me
I will not fight
I will not fight

I'll do unto others
I won't hurt my brothers
I will not fight
I will not fight

RIDING ON THE BUS copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

Standing at the bus stop
Next to the traffic cop
Waiting for the morning ride
Right on time
Stops on a dime
Doors fold back and open wide
Don't push, don't worry
There's no big hurry
Just hop aboard and you'll
Get safely there and back again
Riding on the bus to school

Sit tight
Don't fight
Everybody's all right
Sticking to the golden rule
Green light
Keep right
Waking up at daylight
Riding on the bus to school

Riding down the street
Got lots of friends to meet
Gonna sit with 'em in the back
Gotta keep it quiet
Don't wanna cause a riot
Don't wanna give the driver a heart attack
No hyper feet
Gotta keep 'em in the seat
Don't wanna look like a fool
Stay in line
And everything's fine
Riding on the bus to school

Sit tight
Don't fight
Everybody's all right
Sticking to the golden rule
Green light
Keep right
Waking up at daylight
Riding on the bus to school

Time you need
To be able to read
So you won't be dumb as a mule
Get homework done
It's tons of fun
Riding on the bus to school

Sit tight
Don't fight
Everybody's all right
Sticking to the golden rule
Green light
Keep right
Waking up at daylight
Riding on the bus to school

when darkness falls I search for the light
hidden by the silent river below
chasing after ghosts in the night
breathing fast but moving slow

the air is warm but the ground is cold
wet with footprints close behind
there's danger here or so I'm told
maybe danger's what I'm here to find

a silhouette against the sky
a bridge across to the other side
nights on end I've passed it by
thought to cross but never tried

time has come to change my course
one small step and it's done
once it's done there's no recourse
a whole new life will have begun

the bridge ahead is far and dark
and damp with fear
still I walk

once I had the chance to walk through fire
once I had the chance and let it go
destiny returns me to the river
destiny will pass like the water below

the bridge ahead is far and dark
and damp with fear
still I walk

another morning to jump out of bed
another pill to stop the pounding in my head
another day with obligations to be met
another day goes by and look what I get

tension -- I can feel my heart race
tension -- carving lines in my face
tension -- can't keep up the pace
tension -- give me some space

ringing in my ears -- rip out the phone
grit my teeth and grind them down to the bone
quick cup of coffee then turn in for the night
can't get to sleep 'cause I'm wound up too tight

tension -- I can feel my heart race
tension -- carving lines in my face
tension -- can't keep up the pace
tension -- give me some space

space to pause
space to breathe
space to just relax a while
time to rest
time to waste
time to drift away

tension -- from the moment I'm awake
tension -- every muscle starts to ache
tension -- every limb begins to shake
tension -- give me a break

another morning to jump out of bed (tension)
another day of this and maybe I'll be dead (tension)

life is short -- keep that date
what's the time -- can't be late (tension)

floor the car -- run the light
crash in bed -- scream all night

soon the tide will change

I rest my body
on the warm white beach
and let the rolling ocean
wash in over me
I've watched the water
uncounted days
there's something out there
floating on the waves

it drifts so slowly
so far from my reach
a falling tide has drawn it
out into the sea
the rising moon dimly passes
through another phase
there's something out there
floating on the waves

it circles near
but never tries to land
and as it moves
time is slipping from my hands
stranded on this island
where the ocean seems so strange
I have to practice patience

soon the tide will change

I know I saw it
closer to the shore
but it moved off
now I can't see it anymore
and though it disappears behind the evening haze
I know it's somewhere out there
floating on the waves

soon the tide will change

drifting
on a pond beneath a tree
drifting
waves and wind for company
gazing at the hazy sky
watching lazy clouds roll by

drifting
waiting for the clouds to pass
drifting
water still as glass
on my raft
lying down
floating farther from the town
drifting

echoes of a waterfall
sounds as soft as rain
distant cars, factories
the whistle of a train

drifting
seems like I've been here for years
drifting
every worry disappears
all my pressures wash away
taking with them one more day
drifting...
drifting...

not in this lifetime
not in the next
not in this music
not in the text
not in the future
not in the past
not for the first time
not for the last

there's something that surrounds
without colors, without sounds
flesh and blood and spirit
but then why can't I go near it
something in the air
crying "look I'm over there"
chasing after ghosts
that fade when I come close

stay the course
search for the source

not on a mountain
not on a wave
not in a desert
not in a cave
not in the daytime
not in the night
not disappearing
yet not in sight

there's something that must drive
my desire to be alive
when all hope is gone
it gives me strength to carry on
I feel a touch, I look behind
there's something that controls my mind
in the sky or underground
I won't give up until it's found

stay the course
search for the source

god above or god below
a guiding hand that won't let go
scared I'll someday turn and see
it's hiding deep inside of me

stay the course
search for the source

once trees stood tall and grass was green
once water flowed cold and clean
the land gave life, we flourished here
it gave us bison, birds and deer

How many roamed the earth?
More than the stars

then strangers came from across the sea
to conquer earth like an enemy
forever changed the peace we knew
we fear for them, for what they do

How many more will come?
More than the stars

so many lives built upon this land
lost in the grip of a stranger's hand

how many years till our fears are gone
how many years must our tears flow on
our harvest burns, our streams run dry
I ask the earth, I ask the sky

How many years must pass?
More than the stars

I haven't been around very long
Always felt the need to come on strong
Pushed myself beyond the crowds
Who couldn't see the sun behind the clouds

Now that I know I'm fading fast
Stunned how soon my time has passed
The knowledge sinks in like a long dull knife
And I find myself desperately clinging to life

But the light that burns the brightest quickly dies
With so much more to do that time denies
Before it all goes dark
I want to leave my mark
And send my spirit soaring through the skies

Somehow always thought that I'd endure
Now it's much too late to find a cure
Lost my friends one by one
Never thought I'd end up so alone

But the light that burns the brightest quickly dies
With so much more to do that time denies
Before it all goes dark
I want to leave my mark
And send my spirit soaring through the skies

The memories of all I've done
The treasured thoughts of all I've seen
All my dreams will soon be gone
As if they'd never been

Years pass in moments
Blurring my sight
Clouds fill the heavens
Rain fills the night
Not even my creator can correct what's wrong
I haven't been around very long