Kjband’s tenth album is called More Love Songs. This can be considered a companion piece to the third album, First Love, as these are all songs written in that same time period in the early 1980’s. There were so many good love songs written to Carolyn Moses during that time that deserved to be recorded and released. And it was fitting that I (the songwriter) and Carolyn (love interest/lyricist) sing the lead vocals this time. Similar to First Love, there are a couple of songs at the beginning of the record to set the tone and introduce the character of the protagonist, and then the love songs, further telling of this epic story that has manifested itself in so much good art, and personal happiness.
Fortunately, all of the same musicians that have appeared in recent kjband albums were available and helped make these older songs sound fresh and vibrant. How wonderful it was to fully realize these songs written over 30 years ago and bring them beautifully to life finally!
Recording of this album started in the spring of 2017 and was finished late in 2018. It is available on ITunes, Amazon.com, Spotify, and the major streaming services.
Songs on Album
(click below for lyrics)
Circles
Ken Johnston
Up and down
All around
In circles I run, in circles I run
Here I’m glad
Now I’m sad
In circles I run, in circles I run
But round and whole and sure am I
Rolling along as time goes by
Never ending to infinity
And always spinning, spinning free
Life Without Complications
Ken Johnston
Life without complications
Wouldn’t that be nice?
Live like the flowers do
Soak up the sun and get your strength from the ground
Living, just living
Not asking why
Living, just living
It is fun to dream
Lose the complications
Live like the flowers do
Love and create the simple, beautiful things
Living, just living
Not asking why
Living, just living
But those who love life the most
Are the ones most hurt by it too
We don’t accept reality
We’d rather live in our beautiful dreams
Living, just living
Not asking why
Living, just living
Save Me
Ken Johnston
I miss the tender touch of a hand
Fingers lightly through my hair
And eyes that look at me with love
Smiling brightly just for me
Where are you?
Come and find me
I’m waiting here for someone to come
And save me from myself
I need to feel the warmth of love’s glow
Shining my way constantly
And to release the love that builds up within
Without you safely by my side
Where are you?…
Now don’t you hurry, it’s ok
Take your time, I’m happy to wait
Cause I know you’re out there, somewhere near
Eager to find me and take me away
Where are you?…
Blind All the Time
Ken Johnston
We search for the love that will save us
Chasing after lofty ideals
We search for the love that will save us
Trying to translate needs
But blind, blind all the time
Blind, blind all the time
Blind, blind all the time
What am I really looking for?
Maybe it’s just me
What am I really looking for?
Still I stumble around
Blind, blind all the time
Blind, blind all the time
Blind, blind all the time
Inside and outside please reconcile
Let me see and follow
Light instead of darkness
Light instead of darkness
Light instead of darkness
Alone, Together
Johnston/Moses
Once again it’s time for changing
For rearranging, all alone
Distort the ties you have at home
Time to grow out on your own
It’s been said that life’s a cycle
From beginning to end
If that’s true, won’t you
Let it end in us?
When you’re away it’s hard to say
Exactly what it is you feel
Time goes on, you’re still alone
Memories begin to fade
Counting the days ’till we’re together
Fighting off the lonesome moods
Trying our best to make the most
Of this time we have alone
Never Alone Again
Ken Johnston
Living without you
Is something I can’t do
Now I know it’s true
Since you are gone
We’ve done it before
But never any more
Pain is what’s in store
When you are gone
There is nothing I can do
If I can’t share it with you
I have lost direction, too
Without you by me
Without you by me
I’ve got to be strong
It won’t be too long
But it feels so wrong
To be apart
I feel so empty
Without you by me
Please say that you’ll be
With me always
If you want to go away
I will ask you to stay
Or go with you if I may
I must be with you
I must be with you
What I Want to Say to You
Ken Johnston
When I am sad all I have to do
Is pick up the phone and call you
You’ll come over and comfort me
Once you are here I’m not lonely
What I want to say to you
You can tell from the things that I do
So you know what I say is true
I miss you –
When I’m not with you
When you’re away
Whenever you’re not around
Every evening we say goodnight
But for me it doesn’t seem right
I get in my car and I drive it home
Only to find that again I’m alone
What I want to say to you…
I wish I could wake up tomorrow and see
Years gone by and we’re both ready
Then we can marry and set things right
And never again really say goodnight
What I want to say to you…
Smooth Sailing
Ken Johnston
I’d like to let go of the past
I want to make this feeling last
But when I think of my past – I’m afraid
Of the future
And what I may do
How far will I wander?
Will I drift away from you?
I’m growing stronger every day
I can look back and say
I’m not the same man today – that I was
And I’m not afraid
Of what I may do
I don’t think that I’ll wander
Or drift away from you
Faithful
Ken Johnston
Pretty girl – looking so good
What I’d do to you, if I could
Temptation is always under my eyes
But I just look – ’cause I’m too wise
I’m faithful to you
I’m faithful to you
I’m faithful to you
It’s not just one – it’s a parade
Marching past my eyes, every day
That it’s look don’t touch, it’s plain to see
When simple fantasy, makes me feel guilty
I’m faithful to you…
You know that I won’t stray – on that you have my word
I’ll just wait, and save it all for you
I’m faithful to you…
Help Me
Ken Johnston
Day after day/ Changes and changes
Nothing’s the same / Going through stages
Never can tell / If they’re here to stay
Can’t figure out / What I am today
Stop – wait for me
Please – let me see
People will say / It’s all up to me
I can determine / What I want to be
But I always let / The outside control me
I never like / Where it leads me
Stop – wait for me
Please – let me see
Never can see / Beyond my horizon
Even the present / It all flies by me
Let my mind / Catch up to my feelings
Help me to see / Please won’t you help me?
Stop – wait for me
Please – let me see
I’ve Got You
Ken Johnston
I want to try to help things
It’s what I need to do
But it’s not so easy
The way I carry on
I should be more forceful
And not expect too much
How can my friends help me
If I don’t help myself?
But I’ve got you to help me
Together we can face it
I’ve got you to help me
Everything will work out fine
I must be afraid
Of what they’ll think of me
If I let them see
What’s inside of me
So I hide my feelings
Even to myself
Finding comfort in sadness
I need to change my ways
But I’ve got you to help me…
Habits are so hard to break
When they’ve gone on for so long
But with you to help me
We can do it
But I’ve got you to help me…
We’re Ready
Johnston/Moses
Now we’re finally free of the past
Hopefully, this time it’s forever
All secrets are in the open at last
We’re ready to start our life together
No one but you and me
The love ahead is all we see
Oh how easy and so grand
It was in those innocent days
Before life played its hand
And made us go our separate ways
Now there is no you and me
Memories are all we see
Life goes on relentlessly
For better or for worse
One thing they can’t take away
Are the memories captured in verse
No one but you and me
The love is all I see