RETREAT
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

Been workin’ hard, the job’s hardly done
A zero-sum game table for one
I’ve lost my style, I’m losin’ the knack
I’ve got to find a way back on track

So, I’m leavin’, I’m on a retreat
I’m cruisin’, avoiding defeat
My lowly routines have come to a stop
I’ll be climbin’ to the mountaintop

I asked for help without sayin’ please
Was barkin’ up, up all the wrong trees
But now I’m saved, I’m saved by the bell
I hope to hear that ring for a spell

‘Cause I’m leavin’, I’m on a retreat
I’m cruisin’, avoiding defeat
My lowly routines have come to a stop
I’ll be climbin’ to the mountaintop

You can come along, we’ll explore together
some reason and rhyme through the nasty weather

We’re leavin’, we’re on a retreat
We’re cruisin’, avoiding defeat
Our lowly routines have come to a stop
We’ll be climbin’ to the mountaintop

We are bustin’ out, we’re in need of good rest
But you haven’t seen the very last of us yet

We’re leavin’, we’re on a retreat
We’re cruisin’, avoiding defeat
Our lowly routines have come to a stop
We’ll be climbin’ to the mountaintop

We’re leavin’, we’re on a retreat
We’re cruisin’, avoiding defeat
Our lowly routines have come to a stop
We’ll be climbin’ to the mountaintop

INTANGIBLE FRONTIER
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

Let’s weigh the anchor, the wind will take us
The journey starts when we set ourselves free
Exploring new life and new directions
We’ll hoist the sails, map the uncharted sea

We’ll set our course for the intangible frontier
Forging our way right through the storms faced without fear
We’ll ride the waves and follow the stars
Working together now, we’ll travel far
In the intangible frontier, the intangible frontier

We’ll search the world to find the treasures
That moth and rust cannot ever destroy
The truth will guide us to peaceful harbors
And charity for all hands to employ

We’ll set our course for the intangible frontier
Forging our way right through the storms faced without fear
We’ll ride the waves and follow the stars
Working together now, we’ll travel far
In the intangible frontier, the intangible frontier

We’ll fight our battles and sail on
Resisting the enemies inside us all

We’ll set our course for the intangible frontier
Forging our way right through the storms faced without fear
We’ll ride the waves and follow the stars
Working together now, we’ll travel far
In the intangible frontier, the intangible frontier

THE TALE OF SLADE PENCARROW
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2024

Slade grew up on the streets as a noble clan outcast
His own father would look away from him in great shame
He’s the bastard that nobody ever talked about
He’s the Molesworth archduke that got secretly kicked out
Was forbidden the use of his rightful fam’ly name

Slade Pencarrow keeps his sword nearby
But keeps one hand on the wheel of fortune
Slade Pencarrow could see in your soul
But keeps one eye on the blue horizon

Slade’s charisma and theft got him by out on the street
Fights and scheming became now his only way of life
Upon stowing away to the Caribbean Seas
Became part of the crew of the stolen Golden Fleece
Wind filled mainsails and gold filled his treasure chest of dreams

Slade Pencarrow keeps his sword nearby
But keeps one hand on the wheel of fortune
Slade Pencarrow could see in your soul
But keeps one eye on the blue horizon

Pencarrow rose in fame and in standing
Best helmsman of the ship and the sea
All feared his sword and keen mind in battle
Emerged from treasure fights with the key

In Jamaica he dodged his half-brother and his wrath
As the Gov’nor, decreed Captain Bannister the noose
Slade then snuck to the farms setting free the island slaves
And together rose up, local tribes joined them in waves
They constructed a fleet that is unmatched to this day

Slade Pencarrow keeps his sword nearby
But keeps one hand on the wheel of fortune
Slade Pencarrow could see in your soul
But keeps one eye on the blue horizon

Pencarrow sails the Nomadic Spectre
The crew appearing when there is need
They went from rags to rags to riches
And helped the people whom they have freed

Slade Pencarrow keeps his sword nearby
But keeps one hand on the wheel of fortune
Slade Pencarrow could see in your soul
But keeps one eye on the blue horizon

TREE CANOPY
Words and Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

See beneath the canopy
Find the hidden treasures

(canopy)
The truth runs deep in the calm of the water
(under the canopy)
The light reflects through the leaves of the trees
(under the canopy)
Your state of mind will commence a transforming
(under the canopy)
And bring you to a place where you can breathe

Hear beneath the canopy
Find the hidden treasures

(canopy)
A symphony echoes out from the branches
(under the canopy)
The wind will dance through the leaves of the trees
(under the canopy)
The birds take flight and begin a new movement
(under the canopy)
With sounds of life that are carried on the breeze

Walk beneath the canopy
Find the hidden treasures

(canopy)
Explore the big and the small of the forest
(under the canopy)
The path leads you to your own peace of mind
(under the canopy)
You will arrive at the point where you started
(under the canopy)
And you will know the place for the first time

RAVEN STOLE THE SUN
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2023

A long time ago as Raven soared through the air
The people below lived in the dark with despair
The selfish old chief kept hidden the ball of light
To handle the grief the Trickster planned a strange fight

The Raven circled above ancient trees
He watched the people and heard all their pleas
The darkness held them in unending night
The Raven carried their hope in its flight

The Raven changed to a tiny spruce needle look
He floated on through by riding the forest brook
The chief’s daughter came to have a drink in her cup
All seemed as the same, she drank the spruce needle up

The Raven circled above ancient trees
He watched the people and heard all their pleas
The darkness held them in unending night
The Raven carried their hope in its flight

The daughter gave birth, the boy was Raven’s disguise
And down on the earth the chief heard his many cries
That selfish old chief now finally gave him the ball
With wings in relief he lifted brightness to all

The Raven circled above ancient trees
He watched the people and heard all their pleas
The darkness held them in unending night
The Raven carried
The Raven carried
The Raven carried their hope in its flight

SHARING ALL THE GOLD
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

The streets are full of mud
The shoppes are closing down
The swords are stained with blood
The beggars fill this town
Remaining hopeful eyes look to the sea

Captain Pencarrow approaches at the helm
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
Captain Pencarrow brings freedom to the realm
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
There is enough for us all

The rulers turn away
Discussions are in vain
Their greed has won the day
The slaves are still in chains
Remaining hopeful eyes look to be free

Captain Pencarrow approaches at the helm
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
Captain Pencarrow brings freedom to the realm
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
There is enough for us all

With Slade Pencarrow this crew will never fail
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
We’ll raise the anchor and hoist up all the sails
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold

We’ve joined the captain to fin’lly see this through
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
The blue horizon brings joy to all the crew
Huzzah! Huzzah! Sharing all the gold
There is enough for us all

CAPTAIN AEOLUS
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

At the dawn of the creation
Aeolus held the charge of wind
Akin to thee angelic forces
He formed the atmosphere from within
Filled the voids between expanses
And lifted clouds above the sea
And once the earth was in a balance
The godness set the wind to blow free

Captain Aeolus soared across the sky
Led storms through the mountains, taught the eagles to fly
Captain Aeolus whistled through the trees
Cruised down through the valley, sailing over the sea

Seeds of life swirling the planet
Abundance sprung from fertile land
Aeolus fought for life that’s fragile
And hurled against those with choking hands
Stormed the shores and every castle
Then guided ships across the sea
And once the earth was in a balance
The godness set the wind to blow free

Captain Aeolus soared across the sky
Led storms through the mountains, taught the eagles to fly
Captain Aeolus whistled through the trees
Cruised down through the valley, sailing over the sea

Captain Aeolus soared across the sky
Captain Aeolus whistled through the trees

Captain Aeolus soared across the sky
Led storms through the mountains, taught the eagles to fly
Captain Aeolus whistled through the trees
Cruised down through the valley, sailing over the sea

JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

So many eyes on the glamorous for bringing us love
So many ears on the squeaky wheel for bringing priorities
So many minds on a fantasy for bringing us joy
So many fights based on fearfulness for bringing security

On a quest, throw a saddle on a powerful beast
Boldly go, ride to where all the cartographers cease
On the verge, turn away at the mysterious end
No no no, back to jumping to conclusions again

So many steps to what’s comforting for bringing us peace
So many hopes on the magical for bringing us certainty
So many goals of no consequence for bringing success
So many bets on the speedy hare for bringing us victory

On a quest, throw a saddle on a powerful beast
Boldly go, ride to where all the cartographers cease
On the verge, turn away at the mysterious end
No no no, back to jumping to conclusions again

If we can live more fearlessly
With science and discovery
The self-correcting paradigm
Is surely marching through our time

On a quest, throw a saddle on a powerful beast
Boldly go, ride to where all the cartographers cease
On the verge, turn away at the mysterious end
No no no, back to jumping to
back to jumping to conclusions again

Boldly go
Breaking through
Make it so

WHISKEY BEND
Words & Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2025

Time for bikin’ on up the road, up the river
Up to Whiskey Bend
Time for hikin’ to Goblins Gate, Geyser Valley
Up past Whiskey Bend

Oh sweet sunshine makin’ my day
Oh sweet moonshine makin’ my way
Goin’ fishin’ without a care
‘Til my supper’s stole by a bear

Time for bikin’ on up the road, up the river
Up to Whiskey Bend
Time for hikin’ to Goblins Gate, Geyser Valley
Up past Whiskey Bend

Hikin’ waytrails for many miles
Kickin’ off my boots for a while
Teasin’ my friends for a good laugh
Got me with a riverside splash

Time for bikin’ on up the road, up the river
Up to Whiskey Bend
Time for hikin’ to Goblins Gate, Geyser Valley
Up past Whiskey Bend

I’m afraid my canteen has sprouted a leak
But the water’s so pure at Hurricane Creek

I am watchin’ the mist way up on the ridge
I am checkin’ for trolls at Dodger Point Bridge

Watching elk and skippin’ some stones
Tellin’ stories without our phones
Stress drifts by like leaves from a tree
Down the river so far from me

Time for bikin’ on up the road, up the river
Up to Whiskey Bend
Time for hikin’ to Goblins Gate, Geyser Valley
Up past Whiskey Bend

Time for bikin’ on up the road, up the river
Up to Whiskey Bend
Time for hikin’ to Goblins Gate, Geyser Valley
Up past Whiskey Bend

ETHEREAL ELEVATIONS
Words and Music by John Eric Klemesrud © 2023

Envision beautiful gliding doves and eagles
Engaging bicyclers gladly dodge alder elders
Escaping bullheaded growling dogs ain’t easy
Exploring botanists groupies dream about expos

Ethereal elevations, euphorical emanations
Empirical expeditions, exuberant explanations

Excelling bonafide groovy dudes axe egos
Enchanted blueberry garden days appear epic
Enlightened Buddhistic guru dads ace ethics
Explicit bittersweet godly dice astound empires

Ethereal elevations, euphorical emanations
Empirical expeditions, exuberant explanations

Equipment broadcasting guarded discs aired eyeful
Encoded bionic golden droids alarm evil
Essentials benefit ghostly dregs as earthlings
Ensembles battering graveyard drums arouse echoes

Ethereal elevations, euphorical emanations
Empirical expeditions, exuberant explanations

Envision beautiful gliding doves and eagles