"Is Anybody Looking?"

Vin Colella and I were both part of the band JEREMIAH, and when that project broke up, we began working as a songwriting and recording duo. After our first night of collaborating, I took the bits and pieces we’d come up with and created three separate songs from those fragments: “Is Anybody Looking?” “Chicago Bungalow,” and “New Life.” Of the three, “Is Anybody Looking” may be my favorite lyrically, but only “New Life” has been recorded.

Is Anybody Looking?

© 1987 Brian Hutzell and Vin Colella

Former nights I searched the town and found a lonely mile

Going out, the crowds were loud but never out of style

Last night, I found the lights too bright

They hurt my eyes

Often I’ve been taken for a man with no disguise

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

On the street, the scene to me seems slightly out of step

No one there cares what it is or where the secret’s kept

As I try to analyze, I’m spending all my time

Puzzling over notes I wrote and wishing they were mine

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

And when it comes I won’t be waiting underneath

No, I’ll be far away and standing on my feet

Much better to be safe and cry a little less

By being prudent I’ll live longer than the rest

On the tube, the news is soothing

Skip the bits of sin

Musn’t send offensive messages; they’ll wreck the kids

Horrid as it seems to us, the truth is even worse

Mercy at this turn could hardly minimize the hurt

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

“Look”

© 2003 Brian Hutzell

From Brand New Bouncing Suit

"New Life"

This is the first song Vin and I collaborated on when we reunited after the breakup of JEREMIAH. I recorded it for my Spring 88 tape.

New Life

© 1987 Vin Colella and Brian Hutzell

Former nights I searched the town and found a lonely mile

Going out, the crowds were loud, but never out of style

Last night, I found the lights too bright

They hurt my eyes 

Often I’ve been taken for a man with no disguise

Sometimes, I think I’ve changed
Sometimes I feel so strange
Now I’m beginning to see
New life in front of me
I used to look but never see
How much more could I take from me?
The more I ran, the less I’d find
How was I so blind?

On the street, the scene to me seems bleak and out of step
Spending every empty evening wondering where I’ve slept
Friends I used to choose to use are left without a clue
Ask me and I’ll stand to lose unless I change my tune

Sometimes I think it will last
Sometimes, it’s best not to ask
How I’m beginning to see
New life in front of me
The more I think I’m doing fine
The more I have to keep in mind
Every day’s another test
I just have to try my best

There’s a time to make waves
And there’s a time to behave
There's a new life just ahead and I feel brave
There’s a lesson to be learned
From all the stories that I’ve heard
There’s a new life and I’m ready for my turn

Why should I look back? The fact is past and gone away
Why pursue the future through a maze of yesterdays?
Sometimes I feel so sure
My life is too secure
Just when I’m feeling tired
New life, and I’m inspired
The more I try to analyze
Why I feel this way inside
The more I find there’s more to me
And I like the surprise

“Unfolded 15 (JEREMIAH)”

Brian Hutzell

From Unfolded

Part 3 of MMXIII Variations

"Take Me For A Fool"

"Take Me For A Fool" on YouTube

Take Me For A Fool

© 1988 Vin Colella and Brian Hutzell

I told you it takes time; I'm not rushing it

That's one way to get trapped

I'm not trying to muscle in till the time is right

People always told me I should be on my way

Never think about tomorrow--just live for today

Last in line, biding my time

Take me for a fool, did you?

Step by step, closer to you

Take me for a fool, but I'm from a different school

Sitting back, but not too far, planning my attack

Could be any day

Look at you--dancing all around in the air

Go and do as you may; I'm keeping you in sight

Now it's come to terms and I'm on my way

I'll take the lead tomorrow 'cause I set the stage today

Last in line, biding my time

Take me for a fool, did you?

Step by step, closer to you

Take me for a fool and you're gonna regret it

Out of time, out of reach

You were almost there, but you took a fall

Watch me as I go slowly strolling by

I look back and hear you call,

"People always told me I should be on my way

Never think about tomorrow, just live for today."

Last in line, biding my time

Take me for a fool, did you?

Step by step, closer to you

Take me for a fool, a fool no more

“Tex”

Brian Hutzell

My art career only lasted a few short years, mostly in Cambridge, but also with shows in Queens and Des Moines. Much of my digital art only exists virtually. I’d love to put together another exhibit in the physical world, with high quality prints of the artworks since my last show at The Lift in Des Moines.

"Teila"

Hugh Prather said, “If the urge to write is not accompanied by actual writing, then the urge is not to write.” That’s something to think about all those times when I tell myself I want to be a writer, but don’t start writing. As a musician, I found it fairly easy to practice every day simply out of habit. I haven’t ingrained the writing habit firmly into my life yet. I do a lot of writing for school and in my journal(s), but I’m inconsistent. In addition to these short pieces, I need to get in the habit of working on longer works.

“Teila” onYouTube

Teila

© 1988 Vin Colella and Brian Hutzell

Raised the proper debutante, your life well-chaperoned

Did your best to meet all expectations but your own

Teila, it’s time

Now you're free to choose

Teila, reach out

The future waits for you

Go on

Do what you’ve gotta do

Move on

Move on to something new

Teila, I know you have the power

Teila, to succeed

Teila, this is your finest hour

Teila, find your dreams

You’ve been blessed with happiness

Your plate was always full

But the lure of such security has lost its pull

Teila, there’s more if you take the chance

Teila, don’t wait till the moment’s past

Go on

Do what you’ve gotta do

Move on

Move on to something new

Teila, I know you have the power

Teila, to succeed

Teila, this is your finest hour

Teila, find your dreams

All your life you’ve had what you want

You’ve had your way

Now you’re on your own and everything has changed

Teila, remember friends you left behind

Teila, don’t run; you’ve a world of time

Go on

Do what you’ve gotta do

Move on

Move on to something new

Teila, I know you have the power

Teila, to succeed

Teila, this is your finest hour

Teila, find your dreams

"A place to feel special"

Brian Hutzell

"Till I Was Gone"

I don’t think this was the best song Vin and I wrote together, but it’s the best recording we made. If I had to pick which is more important, the song or the recording, I would say the song is far more important. So what’s the best song we wrote as a team? I’m not sure. “Teila?” “Love of Mine?” “Innocence?”

"Till I Was Gone" on YouTube

Till I Was Gone

© 1988 Brian Hutzell and Vin Colella

There, not looking at me

What do I care; I'm better off free

She let her hair grow long

I always begged her to

But she never did till I was gone

No she never did till I was gone

There, standing in the sea

And in the air: the smell of debris

Who knows what's going on?

Who'll take the blame?

Broken promises, and now they're gone

Broken promises, and now they're gone

Ooo, na na na

Dat'n dat'n dada

It's too late

Ooo, na na na

Dat'n dat'n dada

It can't wait

We live in fear

Of what we joked about when it appeared

Now we sing our rock-a-byes

To all those who've died

But we never cared till they were gone

No we never cared till they were gone

Ooo, na na na

Dat'n dat'n dada

It's too late

Ooo, na na na

Dat'n dat'n dada

It can't wait

Now it's down to the eleventh hour

We face the fire--feel the heat

Heads in a sack of flour

The laughs we desired left us nothing to eat

Ignorance of the consequences fed our craving to devour

Intended paradise backfired like the apple fallen from the tree

Funny how we all thought it would be so safe and sound, so carefree

We took it all, and more then we'd ever need

All the while to blind to see

That all the way to the Promised Land

Is a history filled with misled plans

Looking back won't take us there

Gotta look ahead, and this time beware...

"Vinnie got a record deal"

Brian Hutzell

"To See Her Hand"

Here’s one Vin and I wrote during our Kidd phase. The lyrics were inspired by Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence. I’ve always loved reading. Lately, I’ve been reading mostly non-fiction and textbooks for school. Yesterday, though I finished reading Truman Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms. Mr. Kirk, my seventh grade English teacher, introduced me to the Capote’s work. Mr. Kirk used to read to the class now and then, and I learned about some great books that way. To this day, he remains on my short list of favorite teachers.

"To See Her Hand" on YouTube

To See Her Hand

© 1988 Vin Colella and Brian Hutzell

The meeting: so fleeting and innocent as can be

She must be too trusting of childhood friends like me

Those days before the change, I held her tiny hand

Do I dare suggest an affair, and would she understand?

If only to see her hand again

I should have to follow her

If only to see her hand and then

Maybe I could call on her

I see it--her hand is at rest upon her knee

So slender and tender--still looking young to me

What has she done these past long years?  I may not discover

Her hands caressing one, at least, and maybe others

If only to see her hand again

I should have to follow her

If only to see her hand and then

Maybe I could call on her

She and I

Just for a moment

In my mind

Sweet old emotion

If only to see her hand again

I should have to follow her

If only to see her hand and then

Maybe I could call on her

If only to see her hand again

I should have to follow her

If only to see her hand and then

Maybe I could call on her

"Save some pie for me"

Brian Hutzell

"History"

Late 80s, from Medford. Vin and I wrote and recorded this one while I was going to school at U. Mass for a finance BS. Once graduated, I’ve never had a job in the finance industry.

“History” on YouTube

History

© 1989 Vin Colella and Brian Hutzell

Lessons learned from the wise men

Who give us clues as best they can

And off them we feed

Mistakes are made as we all know

Then someone says, "Just let it go,"

And we all let it bleed.

There's a story told about a pot of gold

That I can't seem to find

Years and years I've been on this road

My heart is open wide

There's a ringing in our ears

That always seems to draw our tears

It's the sounding of a gun

Reaching out two greedy hands

Having to share's not what we planned

And war has just begun

There's a story told about a pot of gold

That I can't seem to find

Years and years I've been on this road

My heart is open wide

Maybe someday we will open our eyes

Give a little in, drop our disguise

It's up to you

There's a story told about a pot of gold

That I can't seem to find

Years and years I've been on this road

And I’m running out of time

"At Sixteen"

Janis Ian wrote “At Seventeen,” so I wrote “At Sixteen.” I often think of the 1980s as my decade, but I’m really more of a child of the 1970s. Most of the references in this song, from the orange Trans-Am to the TV shows mentioned at the end are from the 1970s. This is from a song collection called Rented Ideas that I wrote while living in Chicago a few years ago. I had lived there through much of the 1990s, and mostly loved it. When Hitomi and I moved back there in 2011 though, it was a disaster. Neither of us could find jobs, we hated our apartment, we had rude noisy neighbors, and the whole episode only lasted about 6 months.

I had one solo coffeeshop gig while there, at a place called Let Them Eat Chocolate. (Here’s a video Hitomi made to promote the event. The song is “To See Her Hand,” by Vin & Brian. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QLji5mu-Bg)It’s a cute little place, but the gig was a dud, with an audience I could count on one hand. I debuted a few songs from Rented Ideas there, the only time to date they’ve been performed live. Too bad, because I really like the songs. Rented Ideas and Cut Pieces are probably my best collections from recent years.

At Sixteen

© 2011 Brian Hutzell

Wouldn’t I look good in this

Thirty years ago?

I flatter myself by thinking I’m the same I’ve always been

But then I look again

And wonder what went wrong

Has it been that long?

But the moment I start singing

Suddenly the pain is less

And if my life is not the best

It’s not that bad

I guess I’ve had

Some pretty good times

I remember her beautiful

Younger than a Spring Angel

Leaning on my piano

Or steaming up the windows on the car in the parking lot

What happened next?

Where did she go?

Until yesterday,

I didn’t know

Gonna buy an orange Trans-Am

With a firebird on the hood

Steve Miller on 8-track tape

I’ll be looking and sounding good

Clutch Cargo’s gonna save me

Jonny Quest will be my friend

Cool McCool will solve the mystery

And the Houndcats ride again

Party hearty, Marty!

Less talk, more rock!