L.A. Jones
Liner Notes:
At a certain point, I realized that music would be a part of My Own Private Ninja. Consequently, the all-encompassing theme song that became "Ninja Garden" was penned and performed by my nephew, Tim Bailey. Then my character Zeal Roland reached out with the idea of "Hajimemashou" (Should We Start?), and a songs-journey began for me; it has stretched to include all three books within The Ninja Garden series and more!
Hajimemashou (realized by Tim Bailey and JJ Bailey)
Hajimemashou—should we start?
Hai, hai, draw your silken line down on the field of battle,
Dare me to cross.
Your black eyes,
Like the space between the stars,
Are they hiding love or lies?
You're a shuriken, shuriken, shuriken, shuriken,
Shuriken to the heart.
Hajimemashou—should we start?
Hai, hai, play your killing notes into the blushing night;
I am listening.
Your black eyes,
Like the space between the stars,
Are they hiding love or lies?
You're a shuriken, shuriken, shuriken, shuriken,
Shuriken to the heart.
Hajimemashou—should we start?
Hai, hai, set the brutal course and I will surely follow;
I am at your heels.
Your black eyes,
Like the space between the stars,
Are they hiding love or lies?
You're a shuriken, shuriken, shuriken, shuriken,
Shuriken to the heart.
Let's start...
Ninja Garden (written and realized by Tim Bailey)
From My Own Private Ninja: "Come and get me!" his voice drifts down. I fist pump the air—game on! The willow's trunk is knotted with age but smooth as glass. Its branches offer a million paths up. I spot sensei near the top, wedged into a shadowy fork. I move swiftly up, keeping him firmly in my sights. As I reach the fork I grab for him, but I grab empty air.
Sleight of Hand Blues (Synthesized)
From The Raven: A bunch of photos pop up. His face rings a bell: he's the hot man-package from the rolling ad. Scrolling through the photos, I find one that's got my jaw dropping. It's Villegreen in a fabulous gray/green suit, which matches his fabulous gray/green eyes—eyes I've seen somewhere else. A snow-white dove, wings extended, perches on Villegreen's palm. On Villegreen's shoulder, appearing to grin for the camera, sits Houdini, the black-and-white rat. It blows my mind, but the pathetic magician I'd first encountered by Caesar's is fabulous and famous Mack Villegreen. Sleight of Hand Blues (Song Lyrics) Met you on the corner, Desp'rate for a dime Next thing I knew You were stealin' all my time You're a sleight of hand man, Sure can hustle, it's true You're hustlin' me, now; I don't know what to do Thought I knew you, baby; I don't know you at all (No I don't, no I don't, no I...) You and your mean tricks Set me up good for a bad fall... Skinny-as-a-wand man, Just as bold as you please, Wild as a nightmare and Smooth as any breeze You're a conjurin' man, Don't know what's up your sleeve, Don't have the answers; It's quite a spell you weave Thought I knew you, baby; I don't know you at all, (No I don't, no I don't, no I...) You and your mean tricks Set me up good for a bad fall... Abracadabra; Can't believe my eyes Don't know the truth and I can't see all the lies Know you're gonna vanish; Leave me sad and blue Gone in a heartbeat and My heart gone with you Thought I knew you, baby; I don't know you at all (No I don't, no I don't, no I...) You and your mean tricks Set me up good for a bad fall... Got the sleight of hand blues; Mister Magic's come to call You and your mean tricks Set me up good for a bad fall...
It's Magic (Synthesized)
From The Raven: I can't believe in magic. I know it for a trick. But, it's a trick I can't explain. Is that the same as magic? It's Magic (Song Lyrics) You can analyze it; Take it apart and Compromise it; Try to figure what makes it tick. Go on, analyze it; Pick it apart; Philosophize it; Try to figure what makes the trick. Still you won't know it; Find that special part That animates it, cuz It's magic... It's magic... Incalculable, Indestructible, Magic... Magic...
When the Curtain Falls (Synthesized)
From The Raven: The song, some kind of slow-driving tango, speaks love and loss, and I feel my heart breaking over Tadashi again... When the curtain falls on the stage we share, we like to call a love affair, when the spots go out on fantastic schemes, and everything's no more than it seems, will we remember the pact we made when artifice fades? Say you love me, say it, say it, while the curtain's up, while the lights are bright, while I'm dazzling in your sight, say you love me... When the curtain falls on the stage we share, we like to call a love affair, when the stage lights dim on the dreams you write, and we crash down from a dizzy height, will we remember the pact we made when fantasy fades? Say you love me, say it, say it, while the curtain's up, while the lights are kind, while I'm dazzling to your mind, say you love me...
Private Heart
From The Raven: I jump onto the Night Train behind Mack. It takes some adjusting to the macho, rumbling machine under me. I've never been on a Harley before. Soon enough, though, I'm comfortable with the ride. I've got no problem at all keeping my hands to myself, my booted feet square on the pegs. My issue's more to do with my brain. It wants to believe Tadashi's the one on the bike with me, taking me who knows where... (In darker moments, Zeal doubts Tadashi's love) Private Heart (Song Lyrics) Private heart, Closed with deep stitches, Locked with a missing key, Buried in your private heart Ten thousand mysteries. What's inside your private heart, Solace or a cell; Inside your private heart, Heaven or a hell? Only to reach you, Only to teach you, I'll take a velvet hammer to that Strongbox in your chest. It's the private heart Screaming loudest Let me out! Private heart, Like a stone-cold fortress, Locked with a missing key, Buried in your private heart A dark eternity. What's inside your private heart, Solace or a cell; Inside your private heart, Heaven or a hell? Only to reach you, Only to teach you, I'll take a velvet hammer to that Strongbox in your chest. It's the private heart Screaming loudest Let me out! Private heart, Spilling no secrets, Locked with a missing key, Buried in your private heart A hollow melody. What's inside your private heart, Solace or a cell; Inside your private heart, Heaven or a hell? Only to reach you, Only to teach you, I'll take a velvet hammer to that Strongbox in your chest. It's the private heart Screaming loudest Let me out! It's the private heart, Screaming loudest Let me out! It's the private heart, Screaming loudest Let me out!
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Pink Petals (Synthesized)
From Love in Yin-Yang (Return of the Ninja): At the top of a mega-steep hill, pink blossoms burst into sight. I'm cast back to a park in Tokyo, clouds of pink blossoms, petals fluttering like confetti on the breeze... Pink petals rain like confetti, welcome to our party! Will you ask me to dance? Butterflies float like confetti, happy to take a chance! Will you ask me to dance? There's no games or flares, no chocolate eclairs, no hats or party favors; Only me and you without much to do and... Blue birdies sing pretty music. Isn't that a neat trick? Will you ask me to dance? Buzzing bees hum pretty music. How 'bout we make romance? Will you ask me to dance? There's no chips or dips, no clown turning flips, no thirty-one great flavors; Only us in the springtime and stuff on the wing time. So won't you take a chance? Will you ask me to dance? Cha, cha, cha...
Oyasuminasai
From Love in Yin-Yang (Return of the Ninja): I get a little bored and start messing with my train, wishing Tadashi could see me in the knockout gown even Li Wu can't compete with; that he could check out my perfume and I could brag how I'd won the right to name it "Love in Yin-Yang," which is autobiographical. I raise my eyes, and, from all the way across the room and through a crowd of people, Tadashi's drill into me. I can't breathe! Breathe, I tell myself, breathe or die... Oyasuminasai (Song Lyrics) Shut your eyes on the dark midnight. I'll come to you by the lantern light. We'll walk the path where the cherries bloom, Sweetly, so sweetly, under the moon. Take my hand; it's held out to you. I'll show you everything bright and new. We'll walk the path where the ivy twines, Sweetly, so sweetly, the moonlight shines. Pull the binds from your crystal core; Open to true love forevermore. We'll walk the path where the cherries bloom, Sweetly, so sweetly, under the moon. Close your eyes to the harsh midday. In the dream land kind shadows lay. We'll walk the path where the ivy twines, Sweetly, so sweetly, the moonlight shines.
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Additional Songs:
Myron's Song (If I'm Only Human)
From Myron: Then visions occurred to Myron he'd never before experienced, visions of Hades' kingdom, pale as unadorned clay, plunged in cruel shadows and mirthless whispers. Myron began to understand the action some on Helicon called a crime, Hades luring vivacious Persephone to him with a flower, Earth cracking open just as she grasped it. Myron's Song (Lyrics) If I'm only human, I'll never fly. Someday I'll die. I cry when my heart breaks, And it breaks often. I think I'll drown. World's upside down. No crown on my head, There's no halo either. Maybe it's wrong, But we can't all be strong; We can't all be heroes. Does it mean I'm a zero If I'm only human? If I'm only human, Steel makes me bleed. Hard to succeed, My deeds won't be legend, Only a dead end. My more is less. I'm weak, I guess. No "S" on my chest, I'm only a Clark Kent. Maybe it's wrong, But we can't all be stong; We can't all be heroes. Does it mean I'm a zero If I'm only human?
Poochini's Song
From B.B. Talks Again aka The Poochini Papers: I'm Poochini, a Szechuan pai dog. A Szechuan pai dog is loyal to his emperor. This is Jones, my emperor. Jones and I have an unbreakable bond. We share secrets. We go places Poochini's Song (Lyrics) I'm Poochini. I'm a pooch and kind of ini; No bigger than a large zucchini. That's just me. I'm outrageous, Funny bones super contagious, My quirky tail's a tad flirtatious; That's on me. I'll make you laugh now. There's nobody knows no better how. I'll make you laugh, and then I'll take a bow, Bow wow wow. Who's Poochini? I'm not known to be a fast Lee. I'm sometimes known to be a vast Lee. Don't you know? I'm a dumpling; Nicely rounded bit of plumpling; My quirky tail's a lovely stumpling; Way to go! I'll make you laugh hard. There's nobody says I'm not a card. I'll make you laugh, and then you'll drop your guard; Lose your woe. I'm no poodle; I'm a lapster napster oodle. My quirky tail's a wagging noodle. That's all me. I'm so funny. I'm a deluxe funny bunny. My disposition's super sunny; Total glee. I'll make you laugh some. There's nobody says I'm just ho-hum. I'll make you laugh and let you rub my tum, All for free. I'm Poochini; Poochini's me!