My Birthday Wishes

Last night I went to a potluck party where I celebrated my birthday with dear people from my record label and some friends. It was fun. Good friends, great music, lots of food and booze. I went home at 4am in the morning. Took a bus going home to Bulacan. Got a copy of fresh newspaper from a boy half my age just to follow the news on violence and political mumbo-jumbo.

(Blowing candles with co-celebrant Paolo Peralta, who happens to share the same birthdate)

Woke up at 2pm today and realized I’m already 33 years old. Blew a candle last night but never really thought about making a wish so I decided to make time and blog about it in between sips of herbal coffee only to end up composing a new song. It became pretty intense I worked around it for 4 hours without leaving my desk and continuously plucking an old acoustic guitar.

By the time I was satisfied with the verses and flow of the song I was also completely exhausted with my fingers already giving up on the fat string gauge. I manage to record a live demo directly on my beat up laptop in the living room while everyone is doing siesta.

I don’t normally share demos to the public but since it’s my birthday paired with eagerness to relate what is currently in my emphatic mind, I decided to upload my first live demo take. This is very raw and will surely evolve overtime as I continue developing it. I hope to arrange this piece sometime soon with my bandmates and properly record it in a studio. Maybe include it in the next album. We’ll see.

My Birthday Wishes (Live Demo)
words and music by Clementine

I call upon the Universe
To never take the shine off common people
Whose eyes are still gleaming with hope
I call upon the President
To limit her ambitions
There are far more greater things in life than power

I wish for peace and love
A better country and a happy coexistence
Longevity of the people I love
All these years I think of nothing, no one but myself
In birthday wishes
Now I think of you.
Now I think of you.

I pray to you my sweetest Lord
Paint us a portrait of your Love
I sing to you my dearest friends
Never cease believing
Dreams do come true.

I wish for peace and love
A better country and a happy coexistence
Longevity of the people I love
All these years I think of nothing, no one but myself
In birthday wishes
Now I think of you.
Now I think of you.

Oh, grant me these wishes
Oh, grant me these wishes
Something good ends, something better will begin
Something good ends, something better will begin
And in this fog i use my heart as a compass
And in the darkness, my faith is my lamp
And in depression I learn the real value of living.