Lyrics - Have a Nice Life

Hey Friends,

This song is a little bitter about relationships gone wrong so stop reading now if you're not into reading about that kind of stuff. I've been through a few gold medal winners lately so I've had lots of inspiration! You know, after all the shitty relationships I've experienced recently, I've got many songs like this one brewing. I'm sure some of you girls can relate. The dating world is just not a pretty one these days or at least, not for me. Has it ever been? Let's hope for happier times...I'm keeping the faith that a special someone will come out of the woodworks someday, when the time is right. Maybe I'm just not ready for it yet...

With that being said, don't worry guys, I am well aware that not all of you are shitheads and that there's a lot of really great guys out there who deserve recognition. I've got lots of great guy friends in my life to prove it. Unfortunately though, in the dating scene, I just haven't met many good ones recently. I'm also aware that a lot of women can be pretty nasty to men as well and so guys, you can take this as being a song for those shithead women as well! : )

Just had to get it out I guess, especially on a night like tonight. I'm in one of those moods...

Have a Nice Life

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

I got many stories about relationships gone wrong...
I thought I would share one of them with you as you may relate to this song
It's about a guy who I once liked, who I hadn't dated for that long
Just a few weeks of fun and great inspiration for this song.

You made plans to meet me for coffee,
I was looking forward to seeing you all day
I'd been working really hard and was ready for a break
The moment I saw you, something in my gut told me something was wrong
And I chose to ignore it, even when you wouldn't look me in the eyes for that long

And then you blurted it out,
You have feelings for another girl
You've liked her for the past six months
Yet you've never told me about her before!
I bet the moment she found out about me,
She's been wanting you more and more
And now she can have you
As I'm not going to compete for your attention
If it's her that you adore

So I walked out of that coffee shop, feeling like crap in every way
If he was still around to listen, this is what I'd have to say...

Have yourself a nice life and now get out of my sight
It's been nice knowing you, au revoir, goodbye
You're just the asshole type,
The kind of guy that I really don't need in my life
I deserve so much better than you
Really, thank you for leaving
And now have yourself a nice life

Don't try to call me when you finally realize that I'm gone
Don't write me letters apologizing for all that you've done wrong
You made your decision the moment you chose to leave
And now I wish you the best and please, just leave me be.

Heck, at least you gave me some inspiration to write this song
Now I'll put all those harsh feelings into the trash where they belong

WOW 2006 - Jasper and Edmonton

WOW 2006, the two day trip I spent on the road with my good friend Fred that took us from Banff to Jasper to Edmonton. We called it WOW 2006 because that seemed to be the most popular word coming out of our mouths the entire time we were travelling together! I don't think I've had that much fun on a road trip ever!

This pic was taken just outside of Jasper, on our way to Edmonton. The sun was beginning to set and it was a spectacular view. I was just amazed by how many elk were in this one spot! I stood there for ages, soaking it all in and never wanting to leave. What beautiful animals.
Same place, with a view of the mountains and more elk. On this trip, I also saw a female moose and a coyote. Talk about a truly magical place!
Fred in Jasper, standing by the town's cutest cartoon character. You find these guys everywhere in Jasper! It's well worth the drive. In just over three hours from Banff, you get to experience some of the most beautiful mountain driving I have ever experienced.
Just hanging around!
The Columbia Icefields. You should see this for real. It was spectacular and so beautiful with the sun shining bright. The picture misses the blues that were so striking to experience in person!

Edmonton's Velvet Underground, this really cool indie spot that just happened to be a block away from our downtown hotel. We stumbled upon it after I read in the weekly music listings that a Vancouver band I've always wanted to see, called, You Say Party! We Say Die! was performing there. Am I ever glad we checked it out! The band in this picture is an Edmonton band called, The Frosted Tipz. Their main singer just happens to have the same name as me, Rosalind! How cool is that? Man, they really rocked. They reminded me of what I've been really missing since I moved out to Banff - indie rock! Got a good dose of it that night and more in Fred's truck as we were driving.
This was a guy I met at the Velvet Underground, named Dan who is a science student at the University of Alberta. Super cool guy. Fred and I had such a great time hanging out with him. I look forward to hanging out again with Dan when I'm in Edmonton at the end of March. He's gonna take me to all his fave spots...
The headlining band, You Say Party! We Say Die! They put on a fantastic show.
More band pics of You Say Party, We Say Die!...
And another one of Dan and I. Fun times! How I love meeting new people on the road. It's amazing how you can connect so easily with folks you hardly know if you're open to it.
Me and yet another glass of Crown Royal on the rocks. The night became pretty hazy after a few too many! I even forgot the fleece of my jacket that night and luckily was able to get it the next morning when the cleaning people were there at 9am!
Fred's getting the boot out of Edmonton! This was taken close to the West Edmonton Mall.

Other trip highlights:

Wandering around the West Edmonton Mall and shooting video. What a huge place and they have EVERYTHING and I mean, EVERYTHING there! You got to experience it for yourself to truly understand....Listening to awesome tunes the whole time we were driving in Fred's truck and all those great talks...Eating candy and popsicles on the way back to Banff...and so much more...

I have so much more footage of our trip, including amazing shots of the mountains while we were driving but it's all in video format. Got to figure out how to post video on my blog soon so that I can share more stuff with sound. It's pretty entertaining to listen to all the dialogue, that's for sure!

Fred, thank you for such an amazing trip. You are an angel for taking me hostage and showing me this beautiful province.

That's all for now... : )

Some Neat Pics from Valentine's Day

I took all of these pics yesterday, during a very fun Banff Valentine's Day. Thought I would post them in case some of the folks who I spent such a fun day with are looking at this. : )

Some of my friends from the Banff Centre. We were outside, celebrating the opening of Paula's ice hut creation at the "G Spot." We danced, played music, drank dark rum in cups made out of ice and burned a lovely campfire as the sun set behind the mountains. A very magical time.

My good friend Fred

Contemplating...Or at least trying to...It was soooo cold!!! I'm with my composer friend Damien.

Johnston Canyon, such a magical spot. My friend Adam took me for a really beautiful hike earlier in the day. You wouldn't believe how blue the ice was, just like a beautiful blue sky. Simply breathtaking.

You can see the blue better in this pic...

And the ultimate part of the hike, just at the very end. you gotta experience it for yourself to truly understand...Thank you Adam for taking me to this special spot! : )

So this is my friend Adam who made my day such a fun one. He called me up on Valentine's morning, letting me know that he was in town and we ended up spending a really great day together. Thanks Adam! You helped make my Valentine's one of the most memorable ones I've ever had! : ) And thanks for the guitar lessons! Adam taught me how to play bar chords as well as taught me how to play a few great tunes. Adam's from Port Dover, Ontario and is out here working on the oil rigs. I met him in Banff after a Bruno's jam and we've been partying it up and playing lots of fun music together ever since. This picture was taken in my music hut late at night while we were jamming...Man, that was so much fun! It's the first time I've tried to play with another guitarist. Wasn't very good at it but now I know what I need to practice - quicker chord changes! Can't wait to do it again...

Well that's it for now folks. Thanks to all of you who made my V Day so special. It was such a memorable one... : )

Happy Valentine's Day

Photo: Rozalind MacPhail

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

I hope everyone has a special day on what has usually turned out to be the least romantic day of the year for me. But I'm taking Valentine's by surprise this year and am all excited to share the love this morning. Just spent the night making Valentine's cards for everyone at the Banff Centre and am about to walk around the campus to hand them out. I feel like a little kid again, all excited to see everyone's excited smiles and spread the joy. I'll see what I can muster up around here.
So I thought I would include lyrics to a song which is one of my faves called, "All the Sweet Things That You Do." I wrote it for someone very special back in Ottawa, someone who has never read the lyrics before. I told him that he would have to wait for the CD to come out before hearing the song I wrote about my experience with him but hey, it's Valentine's Day and it feels like the right time to share it.

Love Rozalind XOX

All The Sweet Things That You Do

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

All the sweet things that you do
Been thinking about you, oh yeah
All the sweet things that you do
Gonna miss you, oh yeah

Waking up beside you,
Your warm breath teases my neck,
The intoxicating smell of your skin,
Leaves me craving more of you in my bed
I never want this moment to end...

You excite me, like no other man
Talk to me, talk to me sexy
Talk to me, like I know you can...
Like I know you can

All the sweet things that you do
Been thinking about you, oh yeah
All the sweet things that you do
Gonna miss you.

Chasing Sunshine - From Mystery Poet Boy

Photo: Rozalind MacPhail

So I met an Australian guy at Bruno's a while back. We've had the nicest chats each week and I keep asking him when he's going to perform at the Open Stage. Last Wednesday, we chatted as we always do and I asked him if he would write a title for a new song in my songwriting book. He kept my book for a very long time and gave it back to me just as he was leaving the bar. I didn't look at it until much later in the evening and was just blown away when I did! It's strange when someone you hardly know anything about writes something that is so revealing about who you are. He was dead on and I thank him for his words as they have taught me a huge life lesson. You also must see the gorgeous handwriting that MPB used to put his poem in my songwriting book. It is artwork in itself. I still don't even know his name, hence, Mystery Poet Boy for now... : ) Last night, as I was admiring the moon while practicing in my hut, I wrote the music to his poem and plan to perform it at Bruno's this Wednesday, for solo voice.

Chasing Sunshine

Words by Mystery Poet Boy

Music by Rozalind MacPhail

So go now be happy

and enjoy these days

Smile for the weather if fine

We can't let the notes, lead to material antidotes,

because we can't buy back our time!

For me happiness is the ultimate,

yet many people spend time

doing things that they believe

will lead to happiness in the

future.

Why not be happy now?

Chase dreams

Break boundaries

Burn to Shine.

Lyrics - Life's Gonna Turn Around For You

Photo: Rozalind MacPhail - taken on Ward's Island, Toronto

Life's Gonna Turn Around For You

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

Woke up this morning...
Feeling so damn blue
Didn't know quite what to do
Feeling like the world's hanging over my head
Wondering why I even got myself out of bed

And then the phone rings
It's my Mom on the other end
I tell her my story and she listens like a good friend
She says, "Now listen up, I got some good advice for you.
Remember these words when your feeling the blues."

"Don't you worry, Life's gonna turn around for you
I swear, I promise
It always happens when you least expect good news
Life's gonna turn around for you, yeah
Out with the old and in with the new
Life's gonna turn around for you."

And then the phone rings again
It's my very dear girlfriend
She's crying like a baby on the other end
Her boyfriend left her with nothing but a broken heart
and now she's wondering where she's gonna start

and then I said...

"Don't you worry, life's gonna turn around for you
I swear, I promise.
It always happens when you least expect good news
Life's gonna turn around for you, yeah
Out with the old and in with the new
Life's gonna turn around for you."

We always like to give good life advice to those we love
But we hardly apply that advice to our own lives
So remember these words when you're feeling blue
Remember what I am sharing with you...

"Don't you worry, life's gonna turn around for you
I swear, I promise.
It always happens when you least expect good news
Life's gonna turn around for you, yeah
Out with the old and in with the new
Life's gonna turn around for you."

Lyrics - Crying on the Inside

Photo: Rozalind MacPhail

Crying on the Inside

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

I'm crying on the inside

So I gotta be on my own for a while

While I'm crying on the inside

I'll keep watching that candle burning bright

as the wind gives up the fight outside

Why do we always want what we can't have?

Why do we never want what's actually possible to find?

I say, why do we always want what we can't have?

Why do we never want what's actually possible to find?

Sometimes I just feel so blind...

Sometimes I really can't remember why...

Sometimes I just want you so damn bad...

Sometimes I realize that I just don't got a chance...

So I'm crying on the inside

and I gotta be on my own for a while

while I'm crying on the inside

I'll keep watching that candle burning bright

as the wind gives up the fight outside

Banff Pics

Mount Rundle, my favourite mountain. I get to see Rundle every morning when I venture to my music hut. Talk about being spoiled. It's breathtaking out here!
My practice hut in the woods, hut #3
Inside my practice hut
A cool sculpture I discovered on a snowy hike through the woods. Did it ever freak me out from afar! I was walking on my own and was a little spooked until I discovered what it was...
The teddy bear snowman I made outside my hut the first day we got lots of snow. I felt like a little kid again!
And later that day, I excitedly discovered two more snowmen had been made by fellow music hut dwellers!
Bruno's open stage, every Wednesday night. Erik the Viking is playing the guitar. What a fun time and some seriously talented musicians come out to play each week. It reminds me of Cafe Nostalgica in Ottawa. It's so great to meet up with so many local folks.They play solely for the love of music which I admire so much. One guy, a pianist named Greg actually drives all the way from Calgary to come and play each week!
A male deer. This one walked right by me on my hike with my friend Larry!
This was a sign that was on the bathroom door of a gas station just outside of Lake Louise. I thought it was hysterical!
Cross country skiing at Emerald Lake, a magical spot.
Another shot of Emerald Lake. So beautiful. Winter Wonderland.
A female deer! This one was right outside my residence door as I walked outside in the afternoon.
The same deer a little further away...Oh how I love those deer!

That's it for now folks. I'll post more pics soon...

Love Rozalind

Banff - Week? February 3rd, 2006

Hey Everyone!

Sorry it's been a while. I got myself awful sick with a bad virus that was a mixture of the flu and a really bad cold and then pinched a nerve in my neck to top it all off. Made for interesting times. The good news is that I'm back at it and feeling great! I wrote two new songs tonight, titled, "My Life Sentence" and "Crying on the Inside." You would think from the titles that they are really dark and I guess parts of them are but they needed to come out. This is supposed to be a personal blog so I might as well share what it feels like to be a musician, on the bad days...

Photo: Rozalind MacPhail

My Life Sentence

Words and Music by Rozalind MacPhail

Catch me on a good day and I'll say I love what I do
I'll share my proudest moments and maybe even share a tune with you
But catch me on a bad day and I'll sing a very different tune
I'll call it my life sentence and I'll share stories about what makes me so damn blue...

It's my life sentence to do what I do
I just don't see any other way of life
It's my life sentence to do what I love to do
And I choose to stick it through

Call me stubborn, call me persistent, call me motivated
Call me whatever you choose
I'm here for good
and I will always remain,
I'm here to stay.

So many highs, So many lows
Unexpected moments,
Never knowing where to go
Obstacles as high as mountains
and disappointments that can crush the soul
Meeting assholes who never seem to tell the truth

But the good moments are rays of sunshine
and make every bit of pain worthwhile
The adrenaline of the stage
It's an addiction,
that I cannot give up
for it is fruit for my soul...