honea byrne

...then there are some songs that are created by trying to learn cover songs. One day around three years ago, I decided I wanted to learn Poison's "Every Rose has its Thorn." After all, that's a great crowd pleaser. I wasn't at patient enough to learn it on guitar.. I laugh, as I write this, thinking about how it's one of those cheesy heart break songs. One of those songs you listen to over and over again. thus carrying the angst longer than you should. I remember twenty years ago, when I'd think I was playing it on a kids keyboard that one of my friend's gave me. I drank a lot. An in the meantime, the days go on and you find yourself. Find yourself able to want to live life again to the fullest. Yet,unable to because you have a fear of being hurt again. I looked into the audience and wondered how many more were out there trying to fill that part they think is missing. Then the hook verse came, "I been watching all these crazy things you say and...

...an I revisit songs that  I wanted to learn to play, but I wasn't at that guitar playing skill level. Well, more truthfully, I didn't take time to learn some songs because I didn't want to face the emotions associated.  Years ago, I had the Neil Young cassette in my car tape deck playing the song "Out of the Blue Into the Black" while my friend, Ed, and I were getting breakfast from Burger King. Hours later, we would be on a bus going to the pentagon (911). We were in the US Army,  the 54th Quartermaster company. Our job was to care for the dead. I slowly practice strums going to the c chord to the e, to the a, end on the f chord as  I sing the verse to the Neil Young song, "...and once you're gone you can't come." Eighteen years ago, most of us had never done our military jobs in a real life. The Pentagon clean up effort, known as 'Operation Noble Eagle.' Many of us have ptsd from that experience, and also from the wars that foll...

...I can't remember many of the times I asked God to show me a sign. I also can't remember many of the times I asked God for help. Of course, I wanted instant guidance that was on my own terms. Just because I can't remember doesn't mean God didn't forget. Good thing that I didn't get what i thought I wanted. I may have not been ready. or maybe if I would have gotten what I wanted it would have damaged me. Or maybe God's time wasn't the same as my time.  This whole human will thing can be quite a fickle matter. It can be interesting to guess at what were signs and answers from God. It can be emotionally exhausting and exhilarating when searching, and putting meaning into events of our lives. What if events aren't meant to have meanings? Not having a meaning can be a meaning within itself. the other day when I received a message that was a scam. It was an invitation to join 'The Illuminati Brotherhood.' They were offering things like sp...

"I'll pay you back when it happens," that was supposed to be the hook to convince his father to give him money. "You still looking for a job?" His father asked, already knowing that his son hadn't been looking. He had spoken to his son's mother, his second wife. "Oh yea I been looking for jobs. I have an interview with Anderson Law firm." Then the son continued with another lie. "I'm going to need some money to get some nice clothes." A few seconds later the father asked him, "Well, how much do you need?" "Two hundred dollars." "I'll give you fifty. Here you go, son." "Thanks, dad."  The son then quickly left the office, hearing the secretary and a client, "And there he goes." "Is that really his son?" "I'll show them all when it happens. I'll throw hundreds on the ground just to watch them grovel!" The son said out-loud. It was as if saying...

Driving on that road. This road doesn’t seem to end. Been driving for hours now. I have a few more hours to go. Atlanta’s traffic sucks. Has twelve lanes that seem more like twenty lanes. Have to get a rhyme done. My next performance is a couple days from now. My cd’s are always with me when I drive. Listening to my cds helps me to pass the time. Many times, I’ll write down what ones I’ll listen to. I’m listening to Poison’s greatest hits. In seconds, there I am. It’s the 1980’s and the joys of driving a car. Me and my best friend are in the mall. I remember when he bought Poison’s first album. I remember the album Look What The Cat Dragged In. They were really beautiful looking women. And Now I find myself singing along with to the songs. I keep my sights peripheral. Thus comes a damning thought, “What will they think of me?” Then comes that classic song, “Was it something I said or something I did…” Damn the clouds are looking dark. Did I hear thunder? Or was it just the big truc...

Years ago The Owner escaped a drug raid by jumping into an abandoned sewage  drain. While being in the darkness, and surrounded raw sewage, The Owner  made a deal with   God and the devil. His prayers were answered when he came  to see a bright light at the   end of a tunnel. At the end of the bright light he discovered a hybrid wild growing Marijuana plant. This plant was the results of numerous drugs being flushed down the drain mixed  with human waste.   Shortly thereafter, he would sell this hybrid on the streets.   It didn't take long for the authorities to catch up with The Owner. While trying to   save his best friend Heath, The Owner turned himself in to the authorities. After serving around ten years in a Louisiana state prison, he was released to his    friend Heath and a former junkie (Felicia). While The Owner was locked away, Heath  was able to reproduce the hybrid marijuana for medicinal purp...

The Owner stood side by side, in the bar room, with a man who has a thick West African accent The tall very dark complected man wearing a dated three piece suit . This man is the human form of Popa Legba. Popa Legba is the Voodoo God who stands at The Spiritual Crossroads. The Owner and Legba watched the storm come in. “How long has the creature been here?” The Owner asked Legba. They both were looking at the water outside. The waves were getting worse.  “It has been here before man. Some call it Leviathan. Others call it Cthulhu. Most who know of it, say that the beast sleeps. From time to time someone will awake Cthulhu. When we were on that ship. So many of us were praying to die. Others,  were praying for vengeance." The slave trade that came to New Orleans. The flies had made their way to the insides of the ship. To feast upon the slaves that were packed like sardines in a can. .Legba possessed a body, before the body died. He was stung on the f...