Waves

WAVES was Jay's last solo pop album. It payed homage to the New Wave movement of the 1980s. Some of the album's tunes were inspired by the band The Fixx. The rest draw on influences such as Thomas Dolby, Ultravox and The Moody Blues. The rich production has many layers, mirroring the intricately-crafted lyrics which were based on poems that Jay had penned years before.

Jay enlisted the help of three other musicians in the making of this album: inventive cellist Gideon Freudmann, Dots guitarist David Gowler and dedicated drummer Scott Haworth all helped give the songs a unique sound. As he did on his previous albums, Jay performed lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar and keyboards.

THE SONGS

Bright Side Of The Street

Status Quo

I Keep Waiting

The Force Within Myself

Search for the Source

More Than The Stars

The Light That Burns The Brightest

JAY'S RECORDINGS or HOME

BRIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

I used to walk alone at night / Always hiding out of sight / Thinking my life was best left unseen / I was haunted by my dreams / My own shadow made me scream / I was afraid of what it all might mean // I thought the light would burn me / I thought I couldn't take the heat / But now I've crossed on over / To the bright side of the street // I used to stumble in the dark / Always end up off the mark / And pretend it's where I wanted to be / I would justify my flight / Always pretending I was right / As if hiding out would set me free // To think of all the energy / I spent on self-defeat / Until I crossed on over / To the bright side of the street // So why keep your eyes closed tight / Always pretending that it's night / Grasping groping clasping hoping / Putting up a fight / You don't need no new technique / All you do is move your feet / Leave your mind behind / And find the bright side of the street // It's always dark behind you / No reason to retreat / Put your best foot forward / To the bright side of the street

STATUS QUO copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

If I want money / If I want fame / If I want success / I'll change my name / If I want girls / I'll change my clothes / I'll dye my hair / I'll fix my nose / I'm losing my identity / Improving my appeal / Changing me so radically / Nobody will know what's real // Who cares if I'm unique / Today that ain't the way to go / The road from rags to riches / Is along the status quo // I won't make trouble / I won't offend / I won't make waves / I won't buck the trend / If I want money / If I want fame / If I want success I'll play the game / No originality / Style and nothing more / Pander to the status quo / That's the only way to score // Who cares if I'm unique / Today that ain't the way to go / The road from rags to riches / Is along the status quo

I KEEP WAITING copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

standing high above the crowds / feel like I can touch the clouds / look for friends who should be there / before I step into the air // I keep waiting / don't want to lose this high / I keep waiting / as life moves swiftly by // reach out for a passing hand / miss and God knows where I'll land / leap into the danger zone / suddenly I feel alone // I keep waiting / for someone else to fall / I keep waiting / for destiny to call // all my life spent on the ground / wishing that my home was in the sky / falling free without a sound / briefly I believe that I can fly // I keep waiting / to reach the other side / I keep waiting / courage is my guide // have to choose with no regret / take my chance without a net / fall through space like summer rain / can't wait to begin again // I keep waiting / I keep waiting...

THE FORCE WITHIN MYSELF copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

more powerful than gravity / the force within myself / encourages a hidden darker side / appearing from the shadows / emerging from its shell / more powerful than gravity / the force within myself // always fascinated by / the force within myself / can't leave well enough alone / play with dynamite / bound to lose my self-control / bound to lose my mind / destiny I can't avoid / the force within myself // doors left open as I enter / never wanting to return / racing to outrun the future / and secrets no one should ever learn // stumbling uncontrollably / straining for the light / slipping into darkness / and emerging once again / fighting inner demons / like wrestling with the air / knowing I can never tame / the force within myself / knowing I can never tame / the force within myself

I WILL NOT FIGHT copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

I don't understand / Why some take delight / In violence and bloodshed / I will not fight / I don't believe / That might makes right / It makes no sense / I will not fight // I will not fight / I will not fight / Not now, not then / Not ever again / Be all you can be / And as for me / I will not fight / I will not fight // It's clear to me / As black and white / To kill is wrong / I will not fight / No weapon aimed / No prey in sight / I live in peace / I will not fight // I will not fight / I will not fight / Not now, not then / Not ever again / Be all you can be / And as for me / I will not fight / I will not fight // If governed by force / If ruled by fright / I won't be swayed / I will not fight / Though burning with prejudice / Anger and spite / I won't be swayed / I will not fight // I will not fight / I will not fight / Not now, not then / Not ever again / Be all you can be / And as for me / I will not fight / I will not fight / I'll do unto others / I won't hurt my brothers / I will not fight / I will not fight

RIDING ON THE BUS copyright Jay Ducharme 1993

Standing at the bus stop / Next to the traffic cop / Waiting for the morning ride / Right on time / Stops on a dime / Doors fold back and open wide / Don't push, don't worry / There's no big hurry / Just hop aboard and you'll / Get safely there and back again / Riding on the bus to school // Sit tight / Don't fight / Everybody's all right / Sticking to the golden rule / Green light / Keep right / Waking up at daylight / Riding on the bus to school // Riding down the street / Got lots of friends to meet / Gonna sit with 'em in the back / Gotta keep it quiet / Don't wanna cause a riot / Don't wanna give the driver a heart attack / No hyper feet / Gotta keep 'em in the seat / Don't wanna look like a fool / Stay in line / And everything's fine / Riding on the bus to school // Sit tight / Don't fight / Everybody's all right / Sticking to the golden rule / Green light / Keep right / Waking up at daylight / Riding on the bus to school // Time you need / To be able to read / So you won't be dumb as a mule / Get homework done / It's lots of fun / Riding on the bus to school // Sit tight / Don't fight / Everybody's all right / Sticking to the golden rule / Green light / Keep right / Waking up at daylight / Riding on the bus to school

when darkness falls I search for the light / hidden by the silent river below / chasing after ghosts in the night / breathing fast but moving slow / the air is warm but the ground is cold / wet with footprints close behind / There's danger here or so I'm told / maybe danger's what I'm here to find // a silouette against the sky / a bridge across to the other side / nights on end I've passed it by / thought to cross but never tried / time has come to change my course / one small step and it's done / once it's done there's no recourse / a whole new life will have begun // the bridge ahead is far and dark / and damp with fear / still I walk // once I had the chance to walk through fire / once I had the chance and let it go / destiny returns me to the river / destiny will pass like the water below // the bridge ahead is far and dark / and damp with fear / still I walk

another morning to jump out of bed / another pill to stop the pounding in my head / another day with obligations to be met / another day goes by and look what I get // tension -- I can feel my heart race / tension -- carving lines in my face / tension -- can't keep up the pace / tension -- give me some space // ringing in my ears -- rip out the phone / grit my teeth and grind them down to the bone / quick cup of coffee then turn in for the night / can't get to sleep 'cause I'm wound up too tight // tension -- I can feel my heart race / tension -- carving lines in my face / tension -- can't keep up the pace / tension -- give me some space // space to pause / space to breathe / space to just relax a while / time to rest / time to waste / time to drift away // tension -- from the moment I'm awake / tension -- every muscle starts to ache / tension -- every limb begins to shake / tension -- give me a break // another morning to jump out of bed (tension) / another day of this and maybe I'll be dead (tension) // life is short -- keep that date / what's the time -- can't be late // floor the car -- run the light / crash in bed -- scream all night

soon the tide will change // I rest my body / on the warm white beach / and let the rolling ocean / wash in over me / I've watched the water / uncounted days / there's something out there / floating on the waves // it drifts so slowly / so far from my reach / a falling tide has drawn it / out into the sea / the rising moon dimly passes / through another phase / there's something out there / floating on the waves // it circles near / but never tries to land / and as it moves / time is slipping from my hands / stranded on this island / where the ocean seems so strange / I have to practice patience /soon the tide will change // I know I saw it / closer to the shore / but it moved off / now I can't see it anymore / and though it disappears behind the evening haze / I know it's somewhere out there / floating on the waves // soon the tide will change

drifting / on a pond beneath a tree / drifting / waves and wind for company / gazing at the hazy sky / watching lazy clouds roll by // drifting / waiting for the clouds to pass / drifting / water still as glass / on my raft / lying down / floating farther from the town / drifting // echoes of a waterfall / sounds as soft as rain / distant cars, factories / the whistle of a train // drifting / seems like I've been here for years / drifting / every worry disappears / all my pressures wash away / taking with them one more day / drifting ... drifting ...

not in this lifetime / not in the next / not in this music / not in the text / not in the future / not in the past / not for the first time / not for the last // there's something that surrounds / without colors, without sounds / flesh and blood and spirit / but then why can't I go near it / something in the air / crying "look I'm over there" / chasing after ghosts / that fade when I come close // stay the course / search for the source // not on a mountain / not on a wave / not in a desert / not in a cave / not in the daytime / not in the night / not disappearing / yet not in sight // there's something that must drive / my desire to be alive / when all hope is gone / it gives me strength to carry on / I feel a touch, I look behind / there's something that controls my mind / in the sky or underground / I won't give up until it's found // stay the course / search for the source // god above or god below / a guiding hand that won't let go / scared I'll someday turn and see / it's hiding deep inside of me // stay the course / search for the source

once trees stood tall and grass was green / once water flowed cold and clean / the land gave life, we flourished here / it gave us bison, birds and deer // How many roamed the earth? / More than the stars // then strangers came from across the sea / to conquer earth like an enemy / forever changed the peace we knew / we fear for them, for what they do // How many more will come? / More than the stars // so many lives built upon this land / lost in the grip of a stranger's hand // how many years till our fears are gone / how many years must our tears flow on / our harvest burns, our streams run dry / I ask the earth, I ask the sky // How many years must pass? / More than the stars / More than the stars...

I haven't been around very long / Always felt the need to come on strong / Pushed myself beyond the crowds / Who couldn't see the sun behind the clouds // Now that I know I'm fading fast / Stunned how soon my time has passed / The knowledge sinks in like a long dull knife / And I find myself desperately clinging to life // But the light that burns the brightest quickly dies / With so much more to do that time denies / Before it all goes dark / I want to leave my mark / And send my spirit soaring through the skies // Somehow always thought that I'd endure / Now it's much too late to find a cure / Lost my friends one by one / Never thought I'd end up so alone // But the light that burns the brightest quickly dies / With so much more to do that time denies / Before it all goes dark / I want to leave my mark / And send my spirit soaring through the skies // The memories of all I've done / The treasured thoughts of all I've seen / All my dreams will soon be gone / As if they'd never been // Years pass in moments / blurring my sight / Clouds fill the heavens / Rain fills the night / Not even my creator can correct what's wrong / I haven't been around very long