Stalking with Death

Death first noticed me

When I was close to twenty

We ordered the same drink

I made an innocent comment

He’s been stalking me since then

Next I saw him in a car

Outside of my apartment

It was only his silhouette

He was smoking a cigar

Now I see him every day

I didn’t know him as death

Until the profile hit

“Mending the Population”

He was reducing it

Everyone was grateful

We last met this morning

He is exactly the same

I have aged badly

I greeted him by name

He smiled at me

I will be playing somewhere in Riverfront Park July 5.  My friend Flor will be with me playing her drum.  I hope to see you there

Hi All

I had another successful outing tonight.  I played for two hours outside of Hastings.  I chatted with a few people and even got to speak with a girl who is just falling in love with music and singing and wants to do something with it.  It’s cool to feel inspirational.

I don’t know when or where I will next be out in Spokane, but it will be soon.  I’ll be the one wearing long pants and singing away.  Probably Saturday.  Keep checking back for updates.  Please contact me if you are interested in receiving an email with my “concert” plans.

If you know a place that would welcome live music, especially outdoors, please pass me the information.

Take it easy and enjoy the holiday tomorrow.

Frankie

I’m going to start playing in a few minutes outside of Hastings on 29th. Come on over

Where can you find Frankie Ghee performing for free this summer? 

Okay, here’s the deal.  There are a few places I have found hospitable to spontaneous performances.  Thus far, I’ve been hitting them randomly.  Sometimes when I get to the place I planned to play, someone else is already there, or there is construction or a toxic gas spill.  You know? 

If the Universe works it so my first choice of venue is a no-go.  I go to the next spot. 

At this moment, I am thinking I will try outside of Hastings and the Dollar store on the South Hill tomorrow 5:30-7:00pm. 

I’ll send a tweet when I get there.

If, for some reason, that plan needs adjustment, I will tweet the location of my landing.

Today, I ended up playing outside next to the Jimmy John’s near Trader Joe’s on the South Hill.  I had lots of really nice people stop by and even got to chat a bit with an up and coming singer/guitar player and future busker.

Again, thanks for all the kindness.  Man, I love this Town.

FVG

UP THE STAIRWAY DOWN

The petit wedding planner in the bright blue tank top and the fitted yoga pants walks up the black, metal stairway that begins where Spokane’s 8th Avenue South abruptly ends. The stairway is almost brand new, a definite improvement over the crumbling wreck of a thing it replaced last year. The stairway is new, but the thing that has followed her all the way from the house she rents on the north side, over the Monroe Street Bridge, through Down Town Spokane and finally up Sherman Street’s steep climb is older than ancient, and it is hungry.

This monstrosity that dogs her step for step and breath for breath was once something like a massive bird or bat like thing. Millennia of travel, abuse and aggression have distorted and maimed the creature rendering it gangly and impatient.

The woman walks purposefully up the stairway, absent mindedly gripping the railing as she counts each step. At the top, she stands firm and reaches out a small manicured hand. The creature opens its mouth and extends a purple, plump and pitted tongue roughly the size and coloring of a loaf of moldy wheat bread. There is a moment of shared affection. Then, together the small woman and the beast sit at the top of the stairway and wait.

The two of them always wait, sometimes hours for a lonesome traveler. When the meal finally arrives, usually wearing something with a zipper and sporting headphones, they set upon it together with a ravenous fury befitting the giant mongrel thing and belying the dainty, fresh faced siren with whom it dines.

Only when the meal is done and the stairway has been licked clean of gristle and gore might one hear the playful banter of a young woman and her pet.

“Who’s a good boy?” she asks with good humor in a sweet mother’s voice.

“I am. I am a good boy.” It growls back at her.

They play for a few moments on the stairway and then head back down.

Street Music

Street Music is a pretty spontaneous thing. I get motivated, and I go out there. Sometimes though, I plan ahead by a few hours. Contact me on this site if you would like to be informed of my next stop. If I have something planned, you’ll be among the first to know. You can also follow me on Twitter for on-the-fly updates. Let’s have some fun with this.

CALENDAR
Wednesday, July 2– I plan to play outside of the Dollar Store and Hastings on The South Hill in the evening from around 5-7pm. I will confirm on Twitter when I get there. If the spot is already taken, or if I feel lonely, I’ll tweet my alternate plan.

Come Alive

Verse 1:

A song floats.  A spell is lifted

A dark eye sees the light

A heart that ached can feel compassion

And share the warm delight

Pre-chorus:

Now I can feel the snows of winter

And I can hear the rain

I can feel the snows of Winter and I can hear the rain

Chorus:

Come alive

(Come alive, come alive come alive) 

And live forever

(Come alive you can feel if you try)

Come alive

(Come alive, come alive, come alive)

And live for now

Come alive

(Come alive, come alive, come alive)

 Let’s share love together

(Come alive you can feel if you try)

Come alive.

(Come alive, come alive, come alive) 

I’ll show you how

(With your heart and sing)

Verse 2:

You found me in my darkest hour

My senses numbed by need

Your song was passion filled with laughter

And dances warm and sweet

Pre-chorus

Chorus:

Verse 3:

A loved heart is filled with rapture

But love comes only once

And when love dies, it leaves disaster

And that’s what you have done

Pre-chorus

Chorus

fade

copyright Frankie Valinda Ghee

Real

Verse 1

On the darkest of all roads they wither

Real as the road that winds

Real on the highway wet and old things slither

Real is a state of mind

Tall, they sway and twitch and force the mind

How, with a whisper and a fear that blinds

Real holds a hungry mouth to fill

Chorus

Twilight brings out the darker side of the human mind

Real as the rustling and the sway

Starlight brings out an angry tide on the mountain side

Real as the molding and decay

As we huddle by the fire

See the shadows grip and tear the air

Watching as the murky water turns from black to fading gray.