Side One

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Description

Liner Notes:

After 35 years, I have finally gotten around to recording a solo project.

Side One is an EP consisting of 5 original songs that are some of the most personal, most deeply felt songs I’ve ever written and recorded. You’re bound to hear the influences of all the great people I’ve been lucky enough to work with and listen to throughout my career. I’m grateful for what they gave me along the way, and I’ve been grateful for their encouragement to do this project.

I sincerely hope that you enjoy listening to this music at least half as much as I enjoyed making it.

About the Songs


I Found You

The first thing to change are the expectations
It’s what wounded hearts just do
So I guess I was true to form when I found you
I almost passed on your invitations
I nearly missed my cue
So it’s more than a miracle that I found you

You gave me more than just second chances
You made it easy to try
Now that We are beyond all those awkward dances
I know what it feels like to fly

TIL I FOUND YOU
I Lost My Cynical POINT OF VIEW
NOW A THOUSAND DREAMS
I NEVER DARED TO DREAM ARE COMING TRUE
SINCE I FOUND YOU

When did the guy who showed so much promise
Finally start coming through
It must have been on the day that I found you
When did all the trees start to blossom
And when did birds start to sing
And where did all of this sunshine come from
Shining down on everything

TIL I FOUND YOU
I NEVER NOTICED WHAT LOVE COULD DO
NOW A THOUSAND DREAMS I NEVER DARED
TO DREAM ARE COMING TRUE
SINCE I FOUND YOU

If I had known this feeling, Wasn’t saved for just a few
I’d have started a lifetime sooner trying to find you, oh yeah

NOW A THOUSAND DREAMS
I NEVER DARED TO DREAM ARE COMING TRUE Oh Yeah
Oh Since I FOUND YOU
Now Everything Feels Brand New
NOW A THOUSAND DREAMS I NEVER DARED
TO DREAM ARE COMING TRUE
SINCE I FOUND YOU Yeah I Found You Don’t You Know
Oh since I Found You, Yeah I Found You

Writing Credit
John Batdorf and Michael McLean 2005 All rights reserved

The opening song, “I FOUND YOU” is a throwback to the simpler innocent song writing period of the 60’s, which I was raised on and adored. This song went through many stages until I reached what I thought was finally the finished version. I loved the way the two part harmony worked and the hook felt very infectious. Because it felt like an early sixties vibe, it needed that “George Harrisony” touch with the volume pedal used on the simple electric guitar solo after the obvious and shameless tribute to a 60s Liverpool-like bridge. All in all, this is a very fun song and felt like it had to be the opener!


All For You (Song from an unknown soldier)

Come to think of it.. I’d have chosen some other way
Come to think of it.. I was hoping for one more day
And something is slipping away, I can’t hold on to

I don’t pretend I’m brave But everything I gave
I gave for you
Tried to rescue you Tried to see you through
What you could not do
Gave it all for you

Come to think of it… I’m not sure that you asked for this
And the price I’ve paid…I don’t believe that this was your wish
My gift is not mine alone My family gives too

Those who cry for me and said goodbye to me
Shed a tear or two And hope when you are free
You’ll think of them and me With gratitude
For what we gave to you

Some say you won’t But I have faith and believe
Ours is a gift you’ll truly receive

Come to think of it .. There’s no flag at half staff today
Come to think of it .. You don’t know how I died today
What I’ve done, others have done When love asked them to

We gave all we could Cause we believed you should
Be free to choose And did it cause we cared
That”s why we came and dared To die for you
It’s why I died for you … It’s why I died for you
We did it all for you

Writing Credit
John Batdorf and Michael McLean 2005 All rights reserved

“ALL FOR YOU (Song from an unknown soldier)” was started with a little guitar riff and I kept singing “Come to think of it” not really knowing where the song was going but the phrase seemed to work. As I watched the news each day and heard the reports from Iraq, I have a different perspective now that I have twenty year old twin boys. There is not a draft anymore, but thank God there are people with the same intense passion about serving their country as I do about creating music and the idea was born. This song needed to be a patriotic song about the people who choose to serve their country. Michael heard the structure of the song with melody, chords and limited lyrics and he was very moved. He asked me, “What does this need to be about?”, and I shared my thoughts. This is where the genius of Michael McLean begins. He drove to a remote area near the beach and spent several emotional hours crafting a lyric that would convey our thoughts. The song was crafted using the perspective of a soldier who knew he was in a battle that he probably would not survive. The song’s lyrics are what that soldier was thinking about with his life on the line. Michael emailed the first draft and I was very moved . We refined everything in the next few days and I feel it is our finest moment as songwriters.


Only Seventeen

I heard ‘em talkin’ in the parking lot
The guy was acting like a thief who’d just been caught
His friend said brother have you got no sense?
And then I listened to, the other guy’s defense

Who’d believe she was only seventeen
Lennon only danced, with this one in his dreams
Who’d believe she was only seventeen
You’d know what I mean, if you saw what I’ve seen

I took my place behind the check out stand
And there she was with a six pack in her hand
One look at her and I was mesmerized
When I checked her I.D. , man was I surprised!

Who’d believe she was only seventeen
Lennon only danced, with this one in his dreams
Who’d believe she was only seventeen
You’d know what I mean, if you saw what I’ve seen

I saw her standing there in tight blue jeans
She was the finest woman, I had ever seen
She seemed to smile and say “I need a ride”
But she ran right past me to my son’s car and jumped inside

Who’d believe she was only seventeen
Lennon only danced, with this one in his dreams
Who’d believe she was only seventeen
You’d know what I mean, if you saw what I’ve seen

Who’d believe she was only seventeen
Lennon only danced, with this one in his dreams
No way could she be only seventeen
You’d know what I mean, if you saw what I’ve seen

Writing Credit
John Batdorf and Michael McLean 2005 All rights reserved

“ONLY SEVENTEEN” was born from a comment my wife made to me regarding my then 18 year old son’s newest girlfriend we met for the first. My wife said to me, “I can’t believe she’s only sixteen!!” She looked at least twenty or so and the idea was launched. It is a totally fun song as per the lyric in the third verse. Just pokin’ fun at old guys like me who still think we look hot to catch the eye of all those young beautiful girls that seem to be everywhere!!” Since this was a lyrical take off on the Beatles, “I Saw Her Standing There” we used the “Lennon only danced” line on the chorus and the yeah, yeah, yeah vocal on the fade. When it came time for the obvious guitar solo all I kept hearing was the end of “Suite:Judy Blue Eyes” and thus my vocal tribute to one of my favorite bands, CSN.


One of the Lucky Ones

I am a lucky one …….. One of the lucky ones
Oh I’m watching some photographs…… Of a terrible loss
And nobody seems to be sure…….. How much damage was done
Or how much it will cost so

WHY AM I ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES?
WHY CAN I FLY WHEN SO MANY CANNOT RUN
AND WHY DOES A STRANGER WHOSE DREAMS WERE DENIED
HAVE ME WONDERING WHY I’M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES

One of the lucky ones

I am a lucky one…..Don’t know how this could fair
To be one of the lucky ones….Could have been me who could have been there
I can hear voices unspoken…… They are calling my name
And the eyes of those who’ve been broken…..Keep on staring at me
Begging me to explain oh…….

WHY AM I ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES?
WHY CAN I FLY WHEN SO MANY CANNOT RUN
AND WHY DOES A STRANGER….. WHOSE DREAMS WERE DENIED
HAVE ME WONDERING WHY……… I’M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES

This yearning I feel, it won’t go quietly
The answer I seek is somewhere inside me
Oh Why , Oh Why ……One of theLucky Ones……….. One of the Lucky Ones

I know Why…… I’m one of the lucky ones
And I know Why I can fly………….. when so many cannot run
A stranger’s misfortune ……… Brings a promise tonight
That I’ll do what’s right ……..And feel someone’s plight
And help him take flight………… Like one of the lucky ones

Like one of the lucky ones……. One Of The Lucky Ones………
One Of The Lucky Ones
Yeah I Am A Lucky One

Writing Credit
John Batdorf and Michael McLean 2005 All rights reserved

“One Of The Lucky Ones” was a song title idea that came to me one morning as I was waking up. The only thought that was in my head was, “Wow, I sure have been a lucky one to have lived such a charmed life“ and somehow I wanted to write a song about those intense feelings.” That was right around the time of the Tsunami and seeing all that destruction really hammered the point about how blessed I have been and I was thinking, why was I so lucky, why wasn’t I one of the people so devastated? The lyric begins to weave a tale of someone who realizes that they have been so lucky and blessed not to have had to endure the tragedy and heartache like so many others in the world have endured. As the song moves on this person becomes haunted by the fact that he has been so lucky and starts to feel somewhat guilty and keeps wondering, “Why am I one of the lucky ones.” As the story twists and turns, the answer to the question is so clear! By being a one of the “Lucky Ones”, one has the ability to help those not so fortunate and give them the opportunity to be “One Of The Lucky Ones”.


See Us Shine

Someone shows some kindess..Someone gives their time
Someone helps a neighbor…See us shine

Someone lifts a brother..As he falls behind
Someone shares his burden…See us shine

See us shining, everywhere, Every color, Every kind
At the dawning of a brighter day, Hope will lead the way and
See us shine

Someone says “I’m sorry”…Someone knows it’s time
Time for some forgiveness…See us shine

See us shining, Everywhere, Hope is in our hearts and minds
There reminding us it’s so surprise..Love is everywhere,
Just see us shine

And it doesn’t matter where you are some heart will be shining
There’s a method in the gladness to stop the madness
See us shine

Someone throws a line out..Someone holds and climbs
Someone’s there to catch them…See us shine

See them shining, everywhere, Every color, every kind
At the dawning of a brighter age
Hope will lead the way and SEE US SHINE….Shine, shine, shine
Hope will lead the way and SEE US SHINE

Writing Credit
John Batdorf and Michael McLean 1996 All rights reserved

Lastly, “SEE US SHINE” was one of the first songs I wrote with McLean around the time of the LA riots. We were approached by the advertising agency which represents Coca Cola, because they were looking for a heart felt anthem-like song for a new Coke campaign. They heard our brand new song ” See Us Shine” and told us it was perfect! The agency gave us a little money to make a musical presentation piece. Unfortunately, the commercial campaign didn’t work out but we loved the song so much we threw the song onto the our first CD together “You’ve Always Been There For Me”, using the arrangement we had done for Coke since our budget was so small. I always regretted that decision and for years had wanted to do a real arrangement of the song with acoustic guitars, etc. and finally I have done just that!

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