Cool Down Now
The Cool Down Now project extended over the majority the first decade of the 21st century. It began in the autumn of 2001, in the midst of the high-tech meltdown, with the events of 9/11 in the all-too-recent past. Who could know what the decade would hold! But as the project progressed, themes of resolve and recovery, of journeys taken and not taken – and of attitudes and response towards the world’s challenges began to take form through the music.
Cool Down Now is in many ways an extension of our 1999 album, The Network Man, the title of which we have kept as our artistic name. The Network Man captured the highs and lows of one of the most interesting periods of innovation the world has seen. Cool Down Now became the “day after the party” project. But while some tracks are not totally upbeat, there is a theme of resilience and resolve built into this work. And perhaps that is what people need to develop further as we enter the next decade.
We started this project with the song Coming Up for Air, based on recovery from the high-tech era. We then looked at media control, global warming, and a number of other issues. The last song we wrote was National Goals. This was intended to be a hockey anthem. Yes, that’s right. A hockey anthem. That may sound strange – but then again, it was a strange decade. C’est la vie.
© Copyright 2009 Network Man Productions.
Turn Off The Heat
First recorded in August 2007, lyrics were created right on the music stand while playing the guitar live. A hard look at global environmental problems.
Lyrics
It’s way too hot;
This is all we got;
This is our last shot;
It won’t take a lot.
[Pre Chorus:]
Wind it all down now; the world goes all round now.
[Chorus:]
Turn off the heat, gotta cool down now; Turn off the heat, gotta cool down now;
Turn off the heat and we gotta cool down now…….cool down now.
Something is wrong;
Ice caps are gone;
Don’t be a pawn;
Time isn’t long.
[Pre Chorus:]
Wind it all down now; let’s not all drown now.
[Chorus]
Turn off the heat…. gotta cool down now.
Gotta Get Away
A composite of four short songs put together: Down by the Canary; She Wants to Go to London ; Running Down the Road; and Long Way Home. Sometimes you have to get away to find your way back home.
Lyrics
I’m sitting down by the Canary;
‘Cause it’s so bright and airy;
And I’m drinking margaritas in the bright sunshine;
And oh she’s looking so good;
I wonder if [a] she would;
Oh I know that she could if she only would.
She wants to live in New York; she wants to live in LA;
Her boyfriend’s in Chicago; she says it’s such a long day;
She wants to go London, she wants to go Paris;
She wants to sing in Stockholm; her boyfriend’s so embarrassed.
What’s she gonna do, where’s she gonna go;
She’s gotta get a plan, I’m sure she doesn’t know;
Who’s she gonna tell; and what’s she gonna say;
It’s time to get moving; yeah, yeah….
She’s gotta get away,she’s gotta get away, she’s gotta get away, she’s gotta get away….
‘Cause she’s running down the road; got the pedal to the metal;
She ain’t got time to lose and she’s gotta get away;
She used to like to think that she was a happy camper;
But it doesn’t seem to be true tomorrow or today.
Hey, hey, hey she’s gotta get away, she’s gotta get away if she can;
Hey, hey, hey she’s gotta get away, she’s gotta get away when she can;
She’s gotta get away if she can, she’s gotta get away if she can…
‘Cause it’s a long way home, it’s just a long way home;
It’s such a long way home; oh yeah, a long way home…..
Knowing what you need;
You gotta take the lead;
There’s limits to exceed;
You maximize your speed.
Long way home, long way home…..(such a long way home)
Long way home……. (she’s gotta get away)
Riboflavin King
Lyrics written in the middle of the night (can’t you tell?). Etienne learned the guitar to create this song. One more thing, regarding the Riboflavin King, you don’t always know what you’re dealing with, do you?
Lyrics
Well I met her at a shiny downtown store;
I asked for help and she gave me more;
I said don’t you know what you’re all about;
And she said she’d like to roar and shout.
[Chorus:]
Riboflavin King, yeah, yeah;
She’s the Riboflavin King, yeah, yeah;
Riboflavin King, yeah, yeah;
She’s the Riboflavin King, yeah, yeah.
Went into the local hairstyle den;
I asked her why and she said when;
She looks like a movie star;
We’ll go to her cabin which ain’t too far.
[Chorus]
The wilderness was way too cool;
I had to forget about jobs and school;
She said boy don’t you dance in time;
I said girl I like to follow the line.
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
It didn’t last long but that’s all right;
We had a real blast, not a single fight;
But if you ask me what’s the funniest thing;
I never understood about the Riboflavin King.
[Chorus]
Just So Fine
Recorded live in 4 takes. A simple love song, served straight up.
Lyrics
She used to work so hard,
She used to play so very, very hard;
Now she’s leveled off;
But she keeps it all;
Everything is always just so fine.
She walks so cool you know;
She knows just where she really wants to go;
She always holds her head;
Up so very high;
Everything is always just so fine.
[Bridge]
She tells me it’s OK;
She says there’ll be a better, better day;
She looks into the past;
The troubles will not last;
Everything is always just so fine.
The brilliant orange sky;
Cradles the bright sunrise, of yeah, yeah, yeah;
I love to be with her;
There’s nothing I prefer;
Everything is always just so fine.
Trinity
Traditional new age style song. Written for Etienne’s late aunt, Sister Thérèse (Adéline) de la Trinité.
Big Car Blues
The evolution of this song has seen rampant consumption, excessive energy prices, environmental concerns, and near-global economic collapse… Blues!
Lyrics
Driving down the highway in my little car;
I ain’t going too fast, not going too far;
One thing’s for sure, I’ll never be a star;
Until I get some cash, gotta get a big car.
[Chorus:]
Big car blues;
Big car blues, yeah, yeah;
Big car blues, big card blues.
Well, you gotta relax, get away from the noise;
You must keep your cool and maintain your poise;
There is an escape and you have some choice;
BMW, Mercedes Benz or a Rolls Royce.
[Chorus]
So I’ll work all day and I’ll work all night;
When I get that car, things will be all right;
I’ll look so great – an impressive sight;
A big car in my future looks oh so bright;
[Bridge]
So, I got my car, yeah I felt so sure;
The shining luxury had fantastic allure;
But I don’t got the money to drive or tour;
This stupid big car has made me so poor
Big car blues;
Big car blues, yeah, yeah;
Big car blues, has made me so poor.
Lost and Found
Created out of a desire to merge new age, trance and metal guitar styles. Quest, loss and recovery connect to the imagery and emotional drive of searching for someone dear or something important.
Lyrics
Searching all through the night;
Searching all through the day;
The quest never ends.
Lost? Not lost. Found.
Found.
Coming Up For Air
This song was written in the wake of the early-2000s high-tech meltdown, with the job losses and discouragement that accompanied it. Now, in early-2021, with a global pandemic at hand and numerous political and economic challenges, the song and video may be helpful.
The song is dedicated to our friend Susan Kemp (I’m there for you).
Lyrics
We’re coming up for air, corning up for air;
We’re coming up for air, corning up for air.
It’s so awfully dark down here;
So terribly cold down here;
The sharks are out, and oh don’t you know;
Swimming around – there’s nowhere to go, swimming around.
[Chorus:]
We’re coming up for air;
Yeah it’s too bleak down here;
We’re coming up for air;
Coming up for air;
You know it never was fair;
Yeah we’re coming up for air.
I know you tried to be the best;
You worked so hard; you never took a rest;
You should know I’m there for you;
There for you;
You should know, I’m there for you.
[Bridge]
We’re coming up for air, coming up for air
We’re coming up for air, coming up for air
Learn what you can – turn trouble to gain;
Get everybody out of the shark’s domain;
Well all get to the surface soon, soon don’t you know;
We’ll be swimming around with somewhere to go, swimming around.
[Chorus]
Don’t fret; you know we’ll be OK;
Well make our mark; we’ll come back someday;
And don’t forget, I’m there for you, there for you.
Camino
Reflecting on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Etienne’s 800km walk in northern Spain in the fall of 2006.
Misty Memories
A reflective love ballad from an earlier time.
Lyrics
It was a fine time;
It was a very good time;
The leaves just dripped with honey dew.
And when I met you;
The sun was bright in the sky;
It sang to me, that I was for you.
And so together we scuffed our way;
Through those trying times;
At work and at play.
And when you climbed on the bus;
On that wintry day
Your cheeks so rosy as you smiled.
That moment stays with me now;
As I look back through the years;
The dim-lit visions of a child.
And these memories drift away;
Taking tomorrow, taking today.
It was a fine time;
It was a very good time.
Mind Runners
Multiple tempo changes & musical attitudes, refined right up to the very end of this project. The forces of the media are extremely powerful. In olden days there were rum runners; today there are mind runners beware. We don’t expect anyone to be humming this song in a downtown café.
Lyrics
I’m a voyageur, I’m a raconteur;
I’m a fellow who knows a good find;
I’m the ajax dude who’s a little too crude;
And I really love to try to unwind.
Mind Runners, oh they’re always there;
But don’t let them through the gate;
Need not worry, just lock up tight;
Make them chill out while they wait.
Mind runners, mind runners.
[Chorus:]
Mind Runners, gotta get away, gotta get away
Mind Runners, gotta get away, gotta get away and play;
Mind Runners, gotta get away, gotta get away;
Mind Runners, gotta get away, gotta get away today.
Well Suzie’s good but she don’t do what she could;
She’s a girl who don’t know what she don’t know;
She’s a cooking with gas and she’s slowing fast;
But she don’t know how to go with the flow.
We got a handle on the microgate scandal;
And we lived in the sewers with the rats;
But we wound up keener and an awful lot meaner;
Logging time with the toughest alley cats.
So we’re the tag team two and we’re taming the shrew;
We’re the folks you really need to have your say;
And we’ll push the line – it may be yours or mine;
Lose those info-hounds in the noisy fray.
Got to get out
Got to get out, got to get out now.
[Chorus]
National Goals
National Goals is the last song on our 2nd album, “Cool Down Now” and was submitted to the CBC Hockey Anthem
contest as we finalized the album.
Hockey requires skill, determination, strategy and teamwork. These qualities are necessary to score goals; and to achieve goals, whether they be personal, local or national.