"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.

"Take The Veil Away"

I think we all have part of us of which we are not proud. We are not always consistent. We do things that are impossible to explain.

"Take The Veil Away" on YouTube

Take The Veil Away

© 1989 Brian Hutzell

Yes, it was all very true

I remember it too, though not so clearly

Yet the remarkable thing is how it keeps on reappearing

And it's more like a dream each time I see it

More like a fantasy than a memory

If I could take the veil away

Maybe I could see the face

Lost behind the barricade

Bring it to the light of day

If I could take the veil away

See beneath the masquerade

Then I might fail to feel afraid

If I take the veil away

Yes, I believe it was night

I remember the fight

The steel was gleaming

Sweat as I ran for my life

And the sound of my flight was a helpless screaming

What was I doing there?

Who were the players?

Was I a victim or a slayer?

If I could take the veil away

Maybe I'd recall a name

Someone vanished from that place

Banished during my escape

If I could take the veil away

Focus till it's not so vague

Then I can face the field with safety

If I take the veil away

Traumatize

Drama ties together scenes never imagined

Kept from view

Swept into some wilderness left unexamined

Yes, I remember the next day

I must have read the morning paper

Red were my eyes

But my hands were white as I took up the razor

Throughout the day I must have listened

To stories of events already distant

If I could take the veil away

Maybe I could find a trace

Any signpost, any stain

The taste is there, but very faint

If I could take the veil away

Make the scene evaporate

I have faith the fever will break

When I take the veil away.

"Things On My Mind"

Brian Hutzell

"Taking Lizards To Bed"

Some things just aren’t worth the effort. Some causes are lost right from the start. In the case of a hopeless endeavor, giving up is the only sensible thing to do. We all know people who love to be martyrs. Even though here I am preaching against folly, I’m glad there are some Don Quixotes in the world. We need our lunatic fringe if only in order to recognize the reasonable. Plus, sometimes the loons are correct. Sometimes a lost cause ends up winning. Maybe the windmills really are giants that need to be conquered. Just don’t keep taking lizards to bed, all the while wondering why you’re not getting any action.

Taking Lizards To Bed

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

Help can be a hazard

But suicide is faster

Put your hand out often enough

Someone'll bite it off

Bending over backwards

Just bending over forwards

Push it down a little more

You only touch the floor

No more

No more

No more taking lizards to bed

I could be a lover

Or I could be a brother

Try to make me into a slave

Race you to your grave

Owe you no favors

Just cause we're neighbors

Pull my leg, twist my arm

Don't go near my heart

No more

No more

No more taking lizards to bed

I won't bother

Changing my clothes no more

I won't bother

Why should I waste my time?

(No reason, man, no way!)

I won't bother

Taking my dose no more

Raising a toast no more

No more taking lizards to bed

No more

No more

No more taking lizards to bed

Taking lizards to bed

Talking to the dead

Taking lizards to bed

...Keeping tapeworms well-fed...

...Wearing thorns on my head...

...Following every trend...

Bigsong 2, pages 54-55

Brian Hutzell

Whereas Unperformable Music was inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bigsong 2 was inspired by Keith Haring. Despite the title, it bears no relation to the original Bigsong from 1990.

"Talkin’ Silly"

I wrote this song after my first taste of the 1980s New York nightclub scene. I would never have gotten in except that I happened to have a friend who had a friend who knew all the right people. He got us into Area and Limelight, including the VIP lounges. It was fun and funny to whiz right past the folks standing in line, right around the velvet rope! I couldn’t have been more out of place.

Talkin’ Silly

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

Talkin’ silly

That’s all they do in New York City

Sittin’ pretty

It’s quite the rage in New York City

Ya gotta do it

To get ya through it

Talkin’ silly

It’s kinda stupid

But you can do it

In the city

Talkin’ silly

I haven’t heard an intelligent word

Even birds can be stirred

To communicate intelligently.

We're talkin’ silly

In the city

You may not choose it

But you must use it

Talkin’ silly

I haven’t seen a smart human being

Even beans can be seen

Interacting intelligently.

We’re talkin silly.

Acting trendy

Theatrical till you can’t stand it

Never-ending

If you don’t give it they demand it

Ya gotta do it

Or you may lose out

In the city

In New York City

You can’t abuse it

You’re never too loud

In the city

In New York City

We’re talkin’ silly

Talk silly!

Listen

Will you tell me where you got those fierce legs?

My loft has no hot water

Can I take a shower at your place?

Ron’s got AIDS, did you hear?

And the rest have something else.

Fuck me now!

I’ve got a blue fish flying about my nostril.

Must be the blow!

These are but shadows of what might be a group of highly paid professional bullshitters in their unnatural environment, so repent, Ebeneezer Scrooge, and party till you’re broke!

Acting silly

Talkin’ silly

Being trendy

It’s never-ending

In the city

In New York City

Talk silly!

Blibber blabber

Talk silly!

Fidget maclinabort eeble skipoo

Talk silly!

Fodmoddle bobba-dobba wop bop wif wif whingle

Talk silly!

Beefter meef pottadoo globshabobsha glibby go gloo

Talk silly!

Tween wheem foffamop cuntadroya peter

Talk silly!

Bwar!

Talk silly!

Kerfloofleflorf

Plit, ploo, plurp,

Ztnam 2cprt 3etbl

"Teddy's At Charlie's"

This one appears on my tape October 1985, which was the beginning of a set of six tapes which in many ways mark my most creative period. Everything since then has been trying to recapture that energy. My goal is no longer to be a pop star, though. My focus these days is on school and writing.

Teddy's At Charlie's

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

Teddy called Sunday

Said he'd be late to work on Monday

What a mistake he made assuming

No one would notice

Wasn't he foolish?

Teddy left early

Feeling the urge

He went to Charlie's

Said he was sure that he was hardly evil

But still he felt a bit guilty

What did he do?

Why did he do it?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

What does he know?

Where does he go?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

Teddy's at Charlie's

Spending the money he made on Monday

Telling someone he was a bad boy

Suddenly stands up, tries to run

But alcohol grabs him

Feeling a bad spin,

Teddy falls, landing heavily on the floor at Charlie's

Lost his dinner then went to sleep there

What did he do?

Why did he do it?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

What does he know?

Where does he go?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

Charlie creates then solves Teddy's problems

(Charlie does, Charlie does)

What he does he does well

(What's he do? What's he do?)

Charlie's killing Teddy

(Oh yeah! You bet! He's killing him, killing him!)

What he does he does well

(Charlie! Charlie!)

Teddy called Sunday

Said he'd be late to work on Monday

What a mistake he made assuming

No one would notice

Wasn't he foolish?

What did he do?

Why did he do it?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

What does he know?

Where does he go?

Teddy's at Charlie's (Charlie's)

What he does he does well

(What's he do? What's he do?)

Charlie's killing Teddy

"Sing!"

Brian Hutzell

"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

"The Temptress"

I’ve always been proud of my Plastic Mikey lyrics. The music of the songs is very simple, based on only two chords. Many of the Plastic Mikey songs followed that formula: very basic chord structure of just two or three chords (sometime only one!) with the lyrics and melody creating the forward momentum. It gives the songs an almost zen-like feel…whatever that means.

"The Temptress" on MelodyFusion (rough demo)

The Temptress

© 1994 Kevin Dempsey and Brian Hutzell

Night comes early, warm but refined

With a chilling look, she drives me inside

Sometime I run and sometimes I crawl

And I find her a witch or a dancing doll

Shackled and swollen I scream and I beg

But she won't ease the pain at the top of my legs

Primal instincts--reckless and raw

I surrender beneath her claws

This is where the leather struck

You can feel the welt, but you'll never know how it felt

When the lash fell from the hand of The Temptress

My time as a slave is a time of release

Only in chains are my emotions set free

The guilt of pleasure is washed away

By the cleansing sting of tears when I pray

Beaten and burning I tremble and cry

In my bondage I'm bursting and ready to die

This is where the leather struck

You can feel the welt, but you'll never know how it felt

When the lash fell from the hand of The Temptress

Death comes early, gentle and sweet

And again I'm amazed she knows just what I need

I'm fine for the moment, but it never lasts

I'll be back to indulge in the magic she casts

This is where the leather struck

You can feel the welt, but you'll never know how it felt

When the lash fell from the hand of The Temptress

"Blurple"

Brian Hutzell

"That Could Be Me"

Whenever I take my songs too seriously, the result is usually bad lyrics. Not always, but usually, and definitely in this case. Paul Simon once said in an interview that he is embarrassed by the youthful earnestness of many of the early Simon & Garfunkel lyrics. I wish I could blame this one on youthful earnestness, but I was over 30 when I wrote it. The music is nice, though. Here’s the link to a really rough demo recording:

"That Could Be Me" on MelodyFusion

That Could Be Me

© 1995 Brian Hutzell

Saw a couple on the subway late at night

I’d been partying; I was feeling alright

They were kissing & hugging – holding each other tight

Not afraid to display their affection in my sight

And I watched

And I caught myself staring

As I thought…

That could be me in those shoes

That could be me in that hat

That could be me in that place

And the face I’m seeing could be me

Saw a man with a trumpet on my way home

He was in a doorway, playing alone

”St. James Infirmary” – sad and low

Threw him fifty cents, then I had to go

And I listened

And I caught myself humming

As I thought…

That could be me in those shoes

That could be me in that hat

That could be me in that place

And the face I’m seeing could be me

There’s a family living in a box

I see the homeless on my walks

Am I a better man?  Who am I better than?

Am I being compassionate or smug when I think…

That could be me in those shoes

That could be me in that hat

That could be me in that place

And the face I’m seeing could be me

"PyraPerson"

Brian Hutzell

"That’s What I’ve Been Told"

Before this song found its way into my musical A Heart Calls Quietly, it had slightly different lyrics, and a different bridge. That was in 1988. Before that, it existed as a much different song, “The Altar of aDream,” of which only the chorus survived, and even that got a complete lyrical rewrite. Before that, it was yet another song called “Starfish,” which had lyrics by Becky Talmadge. That’s a lot of evolving.

"That’s What I’ve Been Told" on YouTube

That’s What I’ve Been Told

© 1989 Brian Hutzell

Grapevine talk doesn’t mean a lot

I put no stock in such gossip, but new reports from a trusted source

Opened my eyes where they once were shut

I heard a name that I thought was hers linked up with mine,

But I must be sure

Maybe no, but that’s what I’ve been told

Love is knocking at my door; who could ask for more?

Rumors fly concerning her and I

I don’t know but that’s what I’ve been told

Tidings of an unspoken love upon the wind have been travelin’

This to you is no longer news, but I’m so relieved at this bulletin

I’ve got the same feelings in my heart for her,

But I don’t know where to start

I’ve got hope ‘cause that’s what I’ve been told

Love is knocking at my door; who could ask for more?

Rumors fly concerning her and I

I don’t know but that’s what I’ve been told

This whispering takes me back in time

Feel like a kid with a Valentine

Maybe no, but that’s what I’ve been told

Could this be the truth at last--now before my youth has passed?

Long I’ve wished for what has come to this

Love is knocking at my door; who could ask for more?

I’ve got hope ‘cause that’s what I’ve been told

Luck be with me all the way. Till the happy wedding day

Rumors fly concerning her and I

I don’t know but that’s what I’ve been

Don’t know but that’s what I’ve been told

"There Is a Lady"

Pre-Sondheim, a Broadway song was considered successful if it could be pulled from the show and stand alone as a hit. These days, with so much emphasis on fully integrated scores, it’s a rare song that can be pulled from a modern musical and retain any legs on which to stand. Most of my score for A Heart Calls Quietly fits the latter description, but I included a few songs that I wanted to be able to have a life outside of the context of the show. Not surprisingly, those are the songs hardcore theatre folks hate, but pop people like. This is one of those songs designed to be capable of breathing on its own. It was recorded as part of my original 4-song demo for the show, but I was never very happy with the way it came out. The other three songs (the title song, “Anything,” and “That’s What I’ve Been Told”) fared better.

There Is a Lady

© 1989 Brian Hutzell

I believe I make it seem like I never fall from my duty
It's my routine; it's my resolve
I attempted to live a life of solitude
Once contented, but now that's not my mood

There is a lady
Her name is Muriel
And I have never felt a love so real
My heart is aching for Lady Muriel
And still I'm afraid to tell her how I feel

You're aware how much I care
Now I've let you in to my secret
And you see what a state I'm in
If I take it into my head to read awhile
Every page is a picture of her smile

There is a lady
And she is everywhere
In dreams, I find her there
For me she waits
Then I'm embracing my Lady Muriel
My fears are overwhelmed till morning breaks

And how you're saying
Why am I still alone?
No reason can I show for staying away
From such a lady as Lady Muriel
Defenses: I have none
Excuses: only one
She's my first love!

"Things Go Together"

I did a whole series of artworks combining various pride flags with black and white footprints. It was a way of bringing things together. Can bringing two distinct art images together bring people together? When the ancient prophets added a physical act to their words, for example Jeremiah breaking the pottery flask (Jer 19:10), such an act was not just a visual aid, but was thought to actually set the prophecy in motion. I’m no prophet, but artists sometimes serve a similar function.

Things Go Together

© 1986 Brian Hutzell

How often do you find yourself well-situated

Lookin' like you made it?

More often than not, things go wrong

And you're not contented

You intended to be far away by now

You oughtta be gone by now

It's always better when things go together

Always better when you get the mix just right

Always better when things go together

Always better when you get your way

It's always better when things go together

Fall into place on opening night

Always better when things go together

Just the way you want it and exactly on time

You made a promise to yourself when you left high school:

You'd be big soon

You said to your friends, "See you again

And I'll be returning when I'm earning enough to make me proud."

You oughtta be home by now

It's always better when things go together

Always better when you get the mix just right

Always better when things go together

Always better when you get your way

It's always better when things go together

Fall into place on opening night

Always better when things go together

Just the way you want it and exactly on time

Always better when things go together

Always better

You tried to be a movie star

Even though I warned ya, went to California

Your plane had a scare, fell from the air

As the cabin panicked, made a desperate landing

But the gods took a liking to you

You landed in Studio Two

It's always better when things go together

Always better when you get the mix just right

Always better when things go together

Always better when you get your way

It's always better when things go together

Fall into place on opening night

Always better when things go together

Just the way you want it and exactly on time

 “All Together – Variation 2”

Brian Hutzell

"Thinking About Next Christmas"

This was from my Christmas-themed tape of November 1985, This Day Can Last All Year.

Thinking About Next Christmas

© Brian Hutzell 1984

I'm thinking about next Christmas

About spending Christmas Eve with you

I'm thinking about Christmas vacation

Time away from work

Time away from school

Time to be with you

It's not too early

To think about next Christmas

Never too early

To think about Christmas Eve

There's almost a year to go

But time goes fast, you know

And it seems to me my dear

Christmas is almost here

It's not too early

To think about next Christmas

Never too early

To think about Christmas Eve

There's almost a year to go

But time goes fast, you know

And it seems to me my dear

Christmas is almost here

Now it's January

Spring will come before you're ready

Summer's soon to follow

Seems just like tomorrow

Fall is not too far at all

And then it's winter time again

The snow that tells us Christmas time is coming

Santa's sleigh will soon be running

And then it's Christmas

It's Christmas

I'm thinking about next Christmas

And it isn't far away

It's not too early

To think about next Christmas

Never too early

To think about Christmas Eve

"Tickle My Pickle"

“Romeo climbs the balcony with soup.” That line is so weird it makes me smile. This song is sort of a sequel to “Stop Jerkin’ My Gherkin,” also from 2011. The lyrics here also reference a few of other songs from Rented Ideas.

Tickle My Pickle

© 2011 Brian Hutzell

You sing of alienation as if you had a clue

But I know it’s affectation ’cause you’ve nothing else to do

As If I had all the time in the world

You want me to wait for you

But I’m going solo

Maybe I’ll go to Oslo

I hear people are happier there than here

At sixteen

Things look different than at forty-six

No, I am not being negative

Revisiting history

Thinking this time I can change it

Striving after wind

But not hearing its voice

Jesus slept

While Herb played his trumpet

Stop jerkin’ my gherkin

Don’t tickle my pickle

It won’t affect me in the least

How ’bout a kiss for a creep?

From this dusty room

I see a clean beginning

Time to clear away

These cobwebs I’ve been spinning

Put a cork in the kettle and the lid blows off

Romeo climbs the balcony with soup

"Sheet Music"

Brian Hutzell