The Answer is You

The process by which I write songs some times can be odd. In late December of 1990 I was on the 118 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley [Northwest Los Angeles] on my way with a new girlfriend to A Michael Bolton / Kenny G. concert at the Universal Amphitheater. We were late. Half way there a phrase popped into my head:

The Answer is You.

I knew right away it was a seed for a new song... Usaully I'd write it down and then let it germinate in the back of my mind until it was ready to be written. But I could not write it down I was flying down the freeway in my 1984 White Jimmy 4x4.  So I started repeating it over and over under my breath afraid I would for get it. 

When we got to to Universal City we found out the concert had been canceled and we were turned around and dumped right back on the freeway. I still had not written the song down --  I was desperate! I took the first exit -- Lankershim Boulevard which is the street that runs in front of the Universal Studios.  

All the while my date is looking at me like I was crazy. I pulled over in the first place I could find... an alley way by the Los Angeles River and I started digging madly in the center console to find a scrap of junk mail and a pen. Once I had it written down I explained to my date, Cynthia, what it was I had written down and explained that sometimes I got seeds for songs this way...

On December 31st, 1990 I sat in my tiny apartment in the West San Fernando Valley and wrote the song. I was happy that Cynthia was with me then, as I am happy now that she is still with me... 

The song is written in a Caribbean / Reggae arrangement.

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The Answer is You


I was troubled, I was down
Lookin' for what couldn't be found
Runnin' `round de every where
Draggin' `long my every care
Didn't know what i should do
Was so lost, was so blue
'Till a voice inside a me
Said deez words dat set me free


Chorus #1:
De answer Is I, My Friend
De answer is I
What ever you want from life,
De answer is I

Verse #2:
Deez crazy words, what do dey mean?
Look in my eyes, see what dey seen.
Cos i got up, i look all around
Love was all dat i found
From de mountains down to da seas
Down in de valleys an' up in de trees
i heard de words to dis song
Askin' me to sing along:

Chorus #2
De answer Is Love, my friend
De answer Is Love,
What ever you want from life,
De answer Is Love

Bridge:
Say de words: i am true
Now i know what i must do
Say de words: i am free
Now i know what i must be

Verse #3
Wherever you go, well dare you are
Follow your dreams, become a star
All you needz inside a you
Follow your heart, it know what to do
An' like de beach on de cloudy day
When de sun burnz dem clouds away
Let deez words open your eyes
To de bright, joyful sunny skies

Chorus #3
De answer Is You, my friend
De answer Is You,
What ever you want from life,
De answer Is You,

repeat bridge and chorus #2

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