Instructions to

Using This Book

Use these lyrics and suggested chords to create finished songs.

Use your melodies, harmonies, and chord changes to practice alone or in groups.

Record your finished songs and upload the files to your favorite Social Media accounts.

Tag your videos with either of the following:

#UnknownSongsBook

#HaroldHumphreyBook

Collaborate with other musicians.

Play the songs using multiple instruments.

Search these hashtags to see what others are doing.

Let us create an album of songs paying tribute to humanity’s ability to create and make music.

Preface

I have longed to put together these songs for years, and I have often wondered, “For what purpose?” This book is my answer. I believe the songs have worth; they chronicle my development as an artist and musician over many years and, therefore, may have some impact on the understanding of human existence. Also, I consider them a creative endeavor of some value as self-expression.

And we’ve designed this book to include your self-expression, too.

I began writing songs around 1964. I taught myself to play the guitar well enough to play popular songs. Soon, I wrote my first songs, which were about looking for love, finding love, or losing love. I wrote about the events of the times, I was socially concerned, and I wrote what I thought were “activist songs,” folk songs, and protests. Around 1970, I began keeping a record of my songs.

I wanted a songwriting career and made various attempts, but I was unsuccessful. I thought I had something to say, so maybe the lyrics had value as poetry.

In the late 70’s, I had a life-changing experience where I was “saved” from a life-or-death situation. I attributed this help to God and was set on a path to find out about him. Many of the songs are about my faith, and I think they are good indications of the path I took.

The message of the songs could be clear or obscure.

The songs are not all autobiographical, although some are. They are stories, philosophy, theology, prophecy, and dreaming, works of my imagination.

Many of my songs are about Jesus, I am not looking to convert anyone; I am simply expressing my experience and insights. I hope people are moved to consider God in the various ways I have expressed myself.

However, the songs speak for themselves.

I am still considering the reason to publish. My first question is, am I simply being vain? Throughout my many endeavors, I have always been looking for fame. I wanted to be appreciated, and I still do. However, along the way, I have changed how I think about myself. My idea of success has changed. It is important to me now to be a good person.

If a person’s relationship with God is a grand collaboration, let these works be a collaboration between you and me, gentle reader.

Take up your instruments, use the suggested chords, and make the songs your own.

The images are another way of expressing myself. Their meanings are not self-evident. Most of them are abstractions of ideas. They will mean different things to all. Most are digital images/files created on the computer. I typically use basic photography to start manipulating the image. I enlarge, distort, re-image, and change aspects of the pixels in color, shape, technique, texture, and much more. I have placed them with the songs as a counterpoint, not exactly an expression of the song. The abstract aspect has unlimited depth and multiple meanings. I am fond of the “random numbers theory,” trying to alter sequence as not “orderly” or “systematic.”

Use the images to move you in your melodies and harmonies as you create songs from my lyrics.

I do hope you get some enjoyment from these songs and images.

~ Harold Humphrey