Chris Van Cleave Singer-Songwriter-Actor Feature Page

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3. The Game: “SEE HOW THEY RUN” co-written by Walker Daniels, Chris Van Cleave, and Laura Branigan. Lyrics
Laura was lead vocalist on this with Walker and I doing harmonies. He and I also played the acoustic guitars on all of our songs.

Rain come down, wash away
All the tears that she cried
All the times that I've lied
I'd like to come up shining
In my baby's eyes
I'll never go away again
You know I don't want to end up
Like my good friends
Those three blind mice
See how they run

4. The Street: “LAWLESS LADY” by S. Albert and M. Newman. Lyrics
Laura sang this song and used her acting skills to put a lot of character work into the performance. This was the only song in our recording together that we did not have a hand in writing. It was brought into the mix by our publisher/manager George Pincus, and I believe that our producer, Lou Hemsey, may have been a part of this song’s inclusion.

5. The Question: “COMPLETELY” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics
I sang the lead vocal on this and the track did get some air play. It was the first time I heard myself singing on the radio which was a very surreal experience as we did not expect this one to be played. As George would sometimes say to us, “It’s a good album cut, kid.”

Hey, where's my mind
Am I blind
I was looking for a sign
They say to seek and you will find
But what I've seen seems so unkind
Do we fly just to die
Should I sit and reason why
Does my curiosity make it hard
For me to see myself completely
Am I ever gonna see myself completely?

6. The Dream: “ARTIST” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics
This is one that I was to have sung on the album, but we loved Laura’s voice on it, so she is the featured vocalist on this with my providing the distant harmony vocal and, again, with Walker and my guitars. I was surprised to see three decades later that she is credited with writing this song, but this is not the case. It is one of her first explorations as a recording artist singing with dramatic interpretation and I am still deeply moved hearing her rendition of it. (Available on Selected Eclectic #16 at my Store). It is interesting to see that some other folks out there in cyberspace have enjoyed this song as well, as I have seen several postings along with sound and video clips of it.

My sleep is sound
I lay me down upon the ground
In my mind while the time is still kind
Now here is room for things to bloom
Above the sky for me to fly

You can also hear her singing "Artist" on You Tube: created by devoted fans.
Tribute page to Laura Branigan
The song dubbed over Laura acting in her movie Backstage

7. The Road: “CANE & ABLE” co-written by Walker Daniels and Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics
Walker was the lead vocalist on this, the first song we wrote together soon after our initial meeting at the deli across from AADA. This is a story-song with metaphysical and spiritual inferences, which were laced through many of the songs created during our time together. Walker came from a Christian Science background and my church roots were Episcopalian. I still consider Walker to be a big catalyst in my continued interest in spiritual growth and writing.

He said, would you mind
I'd like to borrow your time
Time is the only thing that I owned
I told him he could take it freely
I said it was sad it was all that I had
He said that it's all you need, really
He said if you would only dare to listen
I'll show you all of the joy ya been missin' ...

He said, sing for love and no more sorrows
Sing about where we're gonna be tomorrow
Who said we have to live on borrowed time
No, we don't have to live on borrowed time
Throw away your cane
And you are able

8. The Celebration: “SWEET LIFE” co-written by Walker Daniels, Chris Van Cleave, and Laura Branigan. Lyrics
Walker was the lead vocalist on this, with Laura and I doing all the harmony vocals. This song was born out of an earlier incarnation of a song sketch I had called “I Need a Woman,” which gives you an idea of what my earlier writings were about. I am grateful for the change in direction.

And I love you sweet life
I love your consequence
The night gives gently to the dawn
I'd like to thank you now
For turning me on
I love your sweet song
I love your harmony

9. In the End: ”EVERYTHING I’VE KNOWN” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics
I was the featured vocalist on this, with Laura and Walker doing some lovely harmony vocals. This song (sung here by me but not the Meadow version) was one I wrote during my early days of working with Walker and the first one of mine that he really liked. Its simple innocence and perhaps honest humility has resonated with many people who have heard it, even in recent concerts. Lou Hemsey was particularly fond of this one, and his sensitively tasteful arrangements on this recording are in my opinion some of his best work on the album. As the recent feedback from concerts has been so positive, I may do another recording of this song in the near future. But the Meadow version of “Everything I’ve Known” with Laura and Walker will always be dear to me, as will Laura’s rendering of “Artist.”

When I close my eyes my last
And all my seeds are sown
You can lay my body down
Beneath a tree I've grown
I'll be there under the care
Of everything I've known
I won't ever feel alone

10 ”THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO REMEMBER” written by Walker Daniels.
Walker is featured vocalist on this, with Laura and I harmonizing with wild abandonment most of the way through. This one was born, really, of our jamming on a riff and repeated lyric idea that Walker had. Our publisher used to caution us about our tendency to be too poetic and advised us, “You’re killing yourselves writing all these beautiful lyrics. Just repeat the title of the song twenty-five times, keep it under three minutes, and you will have a hit! “ Well, this little ditty was a bit of tongue-in-cheek response from us and perhaps a simple metaphysical nod to the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.”

Always remember one thing
There's only one thing to remember
LOVE

11. In the Beginning: ”HOME FREE (THE FRIEND SHIP)” by Walker Daniels and Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics
This is another song that I have a heart connection with, but it is one that probably eludes many people as it is laced with esoteric meaning and imagery. Walker and I wrote this one through a long night of exploration and metaphysical discussion. From the time I met him, he was deeply into the hidden meanings within symbols––e.g., Masonic imagery on the back of the dollar bill, the mystical meaning of numbers––and heady metaphysical books like the The Urantia Book, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, Carlos Castaneda’s The Teachings of Don Juan, and Be Here Now all of which I enjoyed reading.

So please, send us the keys
To all of your mysteries
Of sevens and threes
Heven's and B's
Three hundred and sixty degrees

OUR ARGUMENT on "THE PATH TO GOD"

The last mentioned book by Ram Dass was the forerunner to an anecdote about an argument that Walker and I had concerning the path to God. It was about a week before Christmas. Walker and I had gotten into a heated debate. He was saying, “There is only one way to God,” while I argued that “There must be as many ways to God as there are people because everyone is unique and all have their own way to reach understanding.” Well, the argument became even more heated, as it has throughout the history of mankind. So before any further damage was done, I left Walker and Sharon’s apartment there on 3rd Avenue, between 37th and 38th to wander out into the snowy streets of

	Back to previous page 3. The Game: “SEE HOW THEY RUN” co-written by Walker Daniels, Chris Van Cleave, and Laura Branigan. Lyrics Laura was lead vocalist on this with Walker and I doing harmonies. He and I also played the acoustic guitars on all of our songs. Rain come down, wash away All the tears that she cried All the times that I've lied I'd like to come up shining In my baby's eyes I'll never go away again You know I don't want to end up Like my good friends Those three blind mice See how they run 4. The Street: “LAWLESS LADY” by S. Albert and M. Newman. Lyrics Laura sang this song and used her acting skills to put a lot of character work into the performance. This was the only song in our recording together that we did not have a hand in writing. It was brought into the mix by our publisher/manager George Pincus, and I believe that our producer, Lou Hemsey, may have been a part of this song’s inclusion. 5. The Question: “COMPLETELY” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics I sang the lead vocal on this and the track did get some air play. It was the first time I heard myself singing on the radio which was a very surreal experience as we did not expect this one to be played. As George would sometimes say to us, “It’s a good album cut, kid.” Hey, where's my mind Am I blind I was looking for a sign They say to seek and you will find But what I've seen seems so unkind Do we fly just to die Should I sit and reason why Does my curiosity make it hard For me to see myself completely Am I ever gonna see myself completely? 6. The Dream: “ARTIST” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics This is one that I was to have sung on the album, but we loved Laura’s voice on it, so she is the featured vocalist on this with my providing the distant harmony vocal and, again, with Walker and my guitars. I was surprised to see three decades later that she is credited with writing this song, but this is not the case. It is one of her first explorations as a recording artist singing with dramatic interpretation and I am still deeply moved hearing her rendition of it. (Available on Selected Eclectic #16 at my Store). It is interesting to see that some other folks out there in cyberspace have enjoyed this song as well, as I have seen several postings along with sound and video clips of it. My sleep is sound I lay me down upon the ground In my mind while the time is still kind Now here is room for things to bloom Above the sky for me to fly You can also hear her singing "Artist" on You Tube: created by devoted fans. Tribute page to Laura Branigan The song dubbed over Laura acting in her movie Backstage 7. The Road: “CANE & ABLE” co-written by Walker Daniels and Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics Walker was the lead vocalist on this, the first song we wrote together soon after our initial meeting at the deli across from AADA. This is a story-song with metaphysical and spiritual inferences, which were laced through many of the songs created during our time together. Walker came from a Christian Science background and my church roots were Episcopalian. I still consider Walker to be a big catalyst in my continued interest in spiritual growth and writing. He said, would you mind I'd like to borrow your time Time is the only thing that I owned I told him he could take it freely I said it was sad it was all that I had He said that it's all you need, really He said if you would only dare to listen I'll show you all of the joy ya been missin' ... He said, sing for love and no more sorrows Sing about where we're gonna be tomorrow Who said we have to live on borrowed time No, we don't have to live on borrowed time Throw away your cane And you are able 8. The Celebration: “SWEET LIFE” co-written by Walker Daniels, Chris Van Cleave, and Laura Branigan. Lyrics Walker was the lead vocalist on this, with Laura and I doing all the harmony vocals. This song was born out of an earlier incarnation of a song sketch I had called “I Need a Woman,” which gives you an idea of what my earlier writings were about. I am grateful for the change in direction. And I love you sweet life I love your consequence The night gives gently to the dawn I'd like to thank you now For turning me on I love your sweet song I love your harmony 9. In the End: ”EVERYTHING I’VE KNOWN” written by Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics I was the featured vocalist on this, with Laura and Walker doing some lovely harmony vocals. This song (sung here by me but not the Meadow version) was one I wrote during my early days of working with Walker and the first one of mine that he really liked. Its simple innocence and perhaps honest humility has resonated with many people who have heard it, even in recent concerts. Lou Hemsey was particularly fond of this one, and his sensitively tasteful arrangements on this recording are in my opinion some of his best work on the album. As the recent feedback from concerts has been so positive, I may do another recording of this song in the near future. But the Meadow version of “Everything I’ve Known” with Laura and Walker will always be dear to me, as will Laura’s rendering of “Artist.” When I close my eyes my last And all my seeds are sown You can lay my body down Beneath a tree I've grown I'll be there under the care Of everything I've known I won't ever feel alone 10 ”THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO REMEMBER” written by Walker Daniels. Walker is featured vocalist on this, with Laura and I harmonizing with wild abandonment most of the way through. This one was born, really, of our jamming on a riff and repeated lyric idea that Walker had. Our publisher used to caution us about our tendency to be too poetic and advised us, “You’re killing yourselves writing all these beautiful lyrics. Just repeat the title of the song twenty-five times, keep it under three minutes, and you will have a hit! “ Well, this little ditty was a bit of tongue-in-cheek response from us and perhaps a simple metaphysical nod to the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.” Always remember one thing There's only one thing to remember LOVE 11. In the Beginning: ”HOME FREE (THE FRIEND SHIP)” by Walker Daniels and Chris Van Cleave. Lyrics This is another song that I have a heart connection with, but it is one that probably eludes many people as it is laced with esoteric meaning and imagery. Walker and I wrote this one through a long night of exploration and metaphysical discussion. From the time I met him, he was deeply into the hidden meanings within symbols––e.g., Masonic imagery on the back of the dollar bill, the mystical meaning of numbers––and heady metaphysical books like the The Urantia Book, The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, Carlos Castaneda’s The Teachings of Don Juan, and Be Here Now all of which I enjoyed reading. So please, send us the keys To all of your mysteries Of sevens and threes Heven's and B's Three hundred and sixty degrees OUR ARGUMENT on "THE PATH TO GOD" The last mentioned book by Ram Dass was the forerunner to an anecdote about an argument that Walker and I had concerning *the path to God*. It was about a week before Christmas. Walker and I had gotten into a heated debate. He was saying, “There is only one way to God,” while I argued that “There must be as many ways to God as there are people because everyone is unique and all have their own way to reach understanding.” Well, the argument became even more heated, as it has throughout the history of mankind. So before any further damage was done, I left Walker and Sharon’s apartment there on 3rd Avenue, between 37th and 38th to wander out into the snowy streets of Read more.... /3