Flopping on the Deck

By Matt Kavan

A collection of 160 songs and poems about travel, water, experiences, struggles, drinking, jokers, myths and dreams, random thoughts, and writing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781304772695

Book preview

Flopping on the Deck

Flopping on the Deck

Songs and Poems of Travels, Water, Experience, Struggles, Drinking, Jokers, Myths, Dreams, Random Thoughts, Writing

First Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Matt Kavan

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

ISBN: 978-1-304-77269-5

Learn more by going to http://www.mattkavan.com

Dedication

To my parents, thanks for the canoe.

Introduction

What started as an occasional attempt at song writing for a few open mics in San Francisco, over the years grew to a much larger collection of writings, both for actual songs that have been played as well as shorter pieces.  This was done while out having a beer, traveling, during a power outage, or simply unwinding at the end of the day.

By the end of 2013, I had over 500 songs and poems, spanning across a wide range of ideas and perspectives. After a review, I selected 160 that have been played live, are ones I’d like to play, or thought interesting enough to leave on their own.  The writings have been organized in nine different categories.  These include travels, water, experiences, struggles, drinking, jokers, myths and dreams, random thoughts, and writing.

Travels: Not so much about any specific places, but rather the general experience of travel, entering new places, being the stranger and meeting new people.

Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers: For when you’re near or on the water, whether on your own, with friends, or what you could call connecting with a few other water creatures, such as seagulls, turtles and fish.

Experiences: Individualistic perspectives from different roles, jobs, conversations, and other experiences.

Struggles: Climbing uphill, trying something new, hitting walls, falling down and any other way you’d like to describe crash course learning experiences.

Drinking: Having a few, unwinding, or hanging out with friends.

Jokers, Clowns, and Hatters: Follow the fool when you don’t know what to do, embracing the foolish perspective.

Myths and Dreams: Usually hard to define and symbols are everywhere, such as owls, cows, ravens, falling, snakes, dragons, wolves, whales, salmon, dolphins, turtles, ants, donkeys, lions, dogs, cats and more.

Random Thoughts: Reflections, questions, and ideas that aren’t topical for other categories or are in a niche of their own, the square pegs in round holes.

Writing: Paying tribute to the actual writing process, something that can be as mysterious as the stories it creates.

With that, enjoy the song and poems included, may they help inspire your own ideas and dreams.

Travels

Doors

Traveling down a path, all turning to black

The idle abyss, stalled or not with the pack

Need to think, receiving a reset

How to go forward, perceiving to transit

No longer working out, another dead end

One door ends, another to begin

What will it be, will it be worth it

Bridges that burned, or mold from neglect

Never understanding, the why or the reason

Need to protect, from unknown treason

Doing something different, why not just call it a sin

One door ends, another to begin

Moving forward, no matter how small

Call it order, from a crumbling wall

A hidden castle, or room with a view

Holding secrets, helping to see through

Distractions aplenty, throw ‘em in the bin

One door ends, another to begin

How many doors, have you made it through

Did you leave a rope, for others to grab onto

If nobody will follow, don’t bother to wait

They’ll come when they see, all is ok

Until then, use the key of the skeleton

One door ends, another to begin

I’m Still Walking

On a long familiar road

Traveling always so alone

With no place to call my home

It’s such a lonely world

With a cold to the bone

And nothing to look back to

Chorus

So hard, to keep evolving new

Around so many, hanging in a noose

I’m still walking, can you say that too

Will it always be this way

Always neglected like a stray

Nobody having anything to say

Maybe too scared or afraid

Of what must be betrayed

To go anywhere brand new

Chorus

Don’t look like others in dress

Too much scruff too much fuss

So letting it go by the broken trust

Falling off desires of lust

Anything remaining break and bust

Only yourself remaining true

Chorus

To a new place, street or town

New bookstore, thinking known

Or a pub, drinking clowns

Step inside, see the frowns

Cast aside from others in gowns

Drowning fast, all is blue

Chorus

Into the Cave

Walking down the staircase, of a long forgotten cave

Away from the sun, away from the shade

All is silent, except for a few droppings

Collecting in pools, from external reliance

The drops get louder, as they hit the water

Echoing throughout, the hollow matter

Need to keep going, to the light up ahead

Crimson reminders, of something to dread

But going anyway, it’s the world you fell into

How or why it started, too late for what’s coming due

Just running along, without any consequence

Following paths, marked by convenience

When one day was different, but all still the same

If only you knew, who was watching your game

As you see yourself, nothing is new

Magnified forever, every eye becoming you

Chorus

Into the cave, so dark and deep

All are going, from the world we keep

If you know it, your path is chosen

Alive and awake, this hell is broken

The place is getting hotter, but have to keep going

Only one direction left, in these new surroundings

Why you do it, don’t have any choice any more

Hooks all around you, tearing to the bone

When all is gone, existence is finished

If there’s anything left, believing will replenish

Tried to build it up, as much as possible over time

But fell so often, from that fruit on the vine

Floating up like, the smoke from the ashes

Sitting at once, in a chair of some guidance

Looking around, at this new found kingdom

Not much different, from which you came from

This isn’t real, you’re telling yourself

Where is the balance, from all my struggle

When other forms appear, to ask what you mean

If what you say is true, the divine is allowed to speak

Chorus

Why did I have to through, such a wasted life

Everyone in chains, physical or mind in melt

Pulling the trigger, standing by, making far away plans

All in fear of, the end of the sentence

Instead of evolving, learning how to grow

Then teaching to others, no need to hoard

For everyone knows, that has gotten to this place

No need for, anything to be replaced

But inside I feel, I know is itself unique

From my own perspectives, and what I tried to seek

Six crooked roads, but kept going to the one

But what could I do, when always on the run

I tried when I could, when had anything extra

Even after given up, what’s desired for asking

Increasingly in hope, but always in struggle

Nobody is willing, to go to the next level

Chorus

And that’s when I realized, more and more of the plan

That it doesn’t matter, just get busy and stand

Keep on moving, making it up as you go

The rest are just spectators, enjoying the show

But don’t worry, if acceptance isn’t granted

If you know it’s right, doesn’t harm what’s planted

Maybe others will see, and help when they can

Giving what’s needed, and all to understand

Chorus

Just Another Day

At the base of a mountain, another day awaits

Will I have the courage, for the climbing today

With rocks and rain, and cliffs galore

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

Can I remain standing, through the hardest times of all

Rings of fortitude expanding, no direction to fall

Illusions washing over, the piers on the shore

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

Will I continue further, or stop off for a rest

Putting down a few, and maybe to nest

Temperance not beholden, no stopping for the lore

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

What will keep me going, against so many odds

Hoping to be able, to make it a few more yards

One in a million, with nobody keeping the score

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

Afternoon setting in, no turning back from within

Getting stronger and leaner, from all the places I’ve been

Nothing needing changing, from what’s inside the core

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

Almost at the peak, a sentence paid in full

But unable to go further, hear the clinging of the bell

Nothing more is needed, the clothes that you wore

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

After dropping off, you’re last bit of security

Letting go to others, some call it charity

Finally now light enough, taking that last step more

Just another day, not knowing what’s in store

Never Ending Walking

You want a song, to