Hello to all my fans on N1M, here's wishing you a very Happy New Year! For the New Year, I've uploaded 3 of my newest tunes. A Long Way Home, Firewater and California. I could't have chosen three more diverse songs. I only have the free membership, so unfortunately I had to remove the three songs I had on this site, so I could upload these new ones. I apologize in advance to all my fans who have my previous songs on their playlists. I hope you enjoy what you hear. Here's a brief description of these tunes. A Long Way Home: This is both a song of introspection and a cry for Divine help. I suppose one could call it a prayer. I wrote it at a time when I was feeling a bit hopeless and confused, after peering inside with self reflection, not liking some of the things that I saw and asking God for help. It speaks to some very powerful and dark emotions, of feeling lost, purposeless, lacking in direction. It's a look into the the darkness of the storm and wondering "where's the way out?" There's not a person who at one time or another has not had to deal with these emotions. We've all been there. But as I said earlier, it is not just a song of feeling hopeless. It's also a cry for and expectation of help from above. "I need a gust of wind (the wind of the spirit) to move me, " I need an angel (divine intervention) by my side. Firewater: This song is a both a warning and a call to arms. Watching the news one evening, I saw story after story about terrible things happening to children, abuse and neglect, abduction, sex trafficking, street violence, etc. I was overwhelmed with both sorrow and anger and filled with utter disdain and disgust. The terms Firewater and Poison Water are metaphors with which to describe these horrors. The call to arms? We must stand in the gap for our children, they are our legacy, our hope for the future. We must, as a society, do more to protect them and shield them from such heinous crimes! We have to love, save, teach and protect the children, our future as a society depends on it. California: This is a Murder Ballad, set in the time of the California Gold Rush circa 1848 - 1855, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. It was a tumultuous and very dangerous time on our history. The "Lust for Gold" lured hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors from all over the United States as well as internationally to California, in the hopes of striking it rich. Only a small fraction of these hopefuls actually did become wealthy. Most were unsuccessful and many who did strike gold were murdered and robbed by bandits and fellow prospectors. This song is a fictitious account of one such prospector. I hope you enjoy listening and I look forward to your feedback. Mitch