Lyrics and Song Stories 

Liner Notes

This text-only version of the liner notes is provided for free as an accompanying album bonus. (Download a pdf version here.)

Want to support the artist? Buy the CD in the store or purchase the album on bandcamp which includes a pdf download of the full-colour artwork and booklet including lyrics, stories, liner notes and pics.

Copyright 2025 Kevin Boese Music.

Intro

I must admit that I'm quite overwhelmed by how this has worked out.

My last recording project was 14 years ago and in the meantime much has changed. I didn't play much music for a chunk of that time and did very little songwriting for most of that time. But thank God for Dave Matthews Band! I was a late arrival to that party (I only dove deep into DMB in the last 10 years) and a few years in had the thought that maybe I should try learning to play a DMB tune. I started with "So Much To Say". I like to joke (it's not really a joke) that when I learned songs to play in church, I could learn most of those songs in about 10 minutes. This DMB tune took me over 10 HOURS. But it was so fun! I went on to learn about 20 more songs. That inspired me to take a crack at creating acoustic guitar versions of a few songs by Rush (my lifetime favourite prog-rock band) which was also super fun. That eventually inspired me to start writing songs with these influences over the last few years. All that led to this album.

I've always been a music-first listener, but of course, lyrics are important! I've had lots of new thoughts to write about over these past few years, inspired by life events, family, authors, podcasts, conversations, etc. Like the title of my previous album "ONE", I'm still fascinated by the fact that we're all connected in crazy ways, with ourselves, each other, the earth, the universe... but despite that connection, we still don't understand each other all that well (or ourselves for that matter). We definitely need each other to continue to figure all this stuff out!

Speaking of needing each other, this album wouldn’t have happened without the special community of family, friends, artists and donors that I’m so privileged to know.

First of all, Nancy, you are such a beautiful person and partner, and my biggest supporter. Thank you for your constant encouragement of my gifts and for inspiring me by stepping out in yours. My kids and their partners, I love your uniqueness and how fun you are to be around. Thank you for seemingly not minding my old guy music, for your support in different ways, and for even coming out to my shows!

My Mom and Dad, even though you are sadly no longer with us, you’re obviously still a big part of who I am and how I turned out (for better or worse :)) Thank you for raising me right and supporting me all along the way.

My older brother Glen, thank you for introducing me to Rush back in elementary school, for going deep with me into two Rush podcasts, and for being a great brother and musical sounding board. My oldest brother Barry, thanks for also being a great brother and supporter of my music, even though you’re not really into music. :)

To Nancy’s family, thank you for always being kind even if my music isn’t always your cup of tea. :)

Chris, you have blown the doors off what it means to be a good friend, especially through this album creation process. From flying in from Ontario and surprising me in my kitchen on fundraiser show day, to being a great sounding board for mixes and lyric questions, and yeah, generously throwing bucks my way too. You’ve just been so freaking encouraging in spite of the tough season it’s been. Thank you, man. Frankly, you ARE a cool guy.

Jeff, my close friend and main mountain biking buddy – we get to do this! Thank you for your friendship and your generous, multifaceted encouragement. You’re a good, good friend.

Lando, thank you for your diverse support of what I’m doing, especially in taking a lead role in planning my fundraiser and release shows. I’m not sure you know how much that means to me.

Philip, thank you for putting up with some uncomfortable discussions and nitpickiness, and remaining my friend. You’ve hit it out of the park here, yet again. Or should I have used a golf analogy?

To the uber-talented musicians on this album, I’m so freakin’ lucky to have you involved. Jared, you’ve gone over and above in several ways. Brian, your playing and friendship are gifts to me. Matt, amazing and creative playing as usual. And Brenda, your beautiful singing takes things up a notch for sure!

Jonathan, thank you for coming to my rescue with the website stuff. Your excitement, encouragement, and artistic creativity made me want to keep working with you on the album art and I love the direction we came up with together (big thank you, Nancy) which you brought to life!

And this last list could be way longer, and sorry to anyone significant I leave out, but much thanks for the help and encouragement I’ve received from Cathy H, Chris J, Luke V, Brian D and Nate R. And shoutout to Jonas Janz for great pics and videography for my website and promo stuff, and Ron for the pro shots in this artwork.

And finally, but definitely not the least importantly, a HUGE thank-you to the many donors that financially backed a good chunk of this project. I am humbled, and I could not have done it without you.

                 -Kevin

Special thanks to

Supporter level:

Barry and Jennifer Boese

Karen and Glen Boese

Chris and Bonnie Fowler

Howie and Tanya Thiessen

Co-producer level:

Levi Karreman

Lando and Kathy Klassen

Evy and Steve Klassen

Jeff and Bonnie Kornelsen

Track List

1. Solitaire

2. Lottery

3. Life Is

4. Grey Street (acoustic DMB cover)

5. Isn’t Everything Enough

6. Interlude One

7. Grace To Love (acoustic version feat. Brenda Janz)

8. A Mile In Your Shoes

9. Interlude Two

10. Your Beauty

11. Entre Nous (acoustic Rush cover)

12. When I’m Ready

13. A Special Kind Of Happy

14. Interlude Three…

Musicians:

Kevin Boese: lead vocals and acoustic guitars

Philip Janz: vocals, keyboards, percussion, programming, drums on tracks 8 and 10

Jared Falk: drums on tracks 1, 2, 5, 12 and 13

Matt Weeks: bass guitar

Brian Thiessen: electric guitars and dobro

Brenda Janz: vocals and guest vocalist on “Grace to Love”

All songs written by Kevin Boese except the cover tunes noted.

Production:

Kevin and Nancy Boese

Produced by Philip Janz, Co-Produced by Kevin Boese

Album artwork by Jonathan Warkentin-Lovely

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Philip Janz at Hi Tyme Studios,

Abbotsford, BC, Canada

SOLITAIRE

Better to keep moving than stagnating

Better to notice than be totally unaware

Better to try and fail than not to try at all, right?

That's why I'm trying right now

That's what I'm trying right now

Playing solitaire on my phone

With some concern that life is passing me by

Is this what it's like to be stuck?

Well, it sure at least feels that way

Trying to know what I don't understand

Learning to feel what I can't

Falling to get up and try it again

I'm trying again

Better to ask some questions, with no answers

Better to listen than keep blowing hot air

I don't need to figure this out!

I can't keep pointing the same way

I can't keep track of where I've been

I can't keep up with everything

I can keep on forgiving me

I can keep stepping out in faith

I can keep trying anything

This was the first tune I wrote in my “new season of songwriting” inspired by learning twenty DMB tunes and a couple of Rush songs. “Isn't Everything Enough” came soon after. Playing these two songs was my first experience of enjoying my own stuff on a whole new level. In big part this was because of the increased difficulty of singing and playing them, and the satisfaction of pulling them off well. Just playing them by myself in rehearsal was fun enough but pulling them off live has been a major rush.

LOTTERY

Forget scratch and win, I was born a winner

This part of the world, my family of origin

Nature and nurture have worked in my favour

I can get down, frustrated with where I'm at

I may not be where I want to be

But then I look around, it's not so hard to see

I've won the friggin' lottery

Forget hashtag blessed or my own bootstraps

A self-made man is a ridiculous concept

Nature and nurture have worked in my favour

It's not a cop-out but necessitates thankfulness

When much has been given, much is expected

Just look around, it's not so hard to see

I've won the friggin' lottery

This one generates some interesting discussions. Being a white male of certain privilege is something to be reckoned with.

LIFE IS

I hate that it's so hard for you

When it's so easy for me, to see beyond

The losses life will force us through

While I can carry on a peaceful, joyful, optimistic, disconnected 

Life is paradox and contradiction

Life is heaven on earth and going through hell this

Life is all the above and all that we know so far

I hate that it's so hard for you

While I've been lucky, it seems, at least compared to

You and all you've had to do

To even glimpse a happier maybe even loving, fulfilled and contented

Life is paradox and contradiction

Life is heaven on earth and going through hell, this

Life is disappointment, full of surprises

Life is rock and a hard place, light in the tunnel

Life is all the above and all that we know so far

So near and yet so far

Life is paradox and contradiction

Life is heaven on earth and going through hell, this

Life is disappointment, full of surprises

Life is rock and a hard place, light in the tunnel

Life is ecstasy and devastation

Life is mundane and boring, vacations and parties

Life is all the above and all that we know so far

So near and yet so far

I hate that it's so hard for you

While many struggle with what's been called a Monkey Brain, I seem to have a pretty mellow monkey. And while I can get emotional here and there, I'm nowhere near the “feeler” that my wife (and others in my life) are. I'm learning how to begin to maybe try and get a glimpse into understanding how folks are different from me. Speaking of differences, so much of life is seeing and holding the tension of extremes. For that reason, I thought about calling this album “Both And”. I've always been inspired by Father Richard Rohr's phrase, “Everything belongs” which can be challenging to consider.

GREY STREET (acoustic Dave Matthews Band cover)

Oh look at how she listens

She says nothing of what she thinks

She just goes stumbling through her memories

Staring out onto Grey Street

She thinks, “Hey, how did I come to this

I dream myself a thousand times around the world

But I can't get out of this place?”

There's emptiness inside her

And she'd do anything to fill it in

But all the colors mix together to grey

And it breaks her heart

How she wishes it was different

She prays to God most every night

And though she swears it doesn't listen

There's still a hope in her it might

She says, “I pray, but they fall on deaf ears

Am I supposed to take this on myself

To get out of this place?”

And there's loneliness inside her

And she'd do anything to fill it in

And though it's red blood bleeding from her now

It feels like cold blue ice in her heart

When all the colors mix together to grey

And it breaks her heart

There's a stranger speaks outside her door

Says “Take what you can from your dreams

Make them as real as anything

It'd take the work out of the courage”

But she says, “Please, there's a crazy man creeping outside my door

I live on the corner of Grey Street and the end of the world”

And there's an emptiness inside her

And she'd do anything to fill it in

And though it's red blood bleeding from her now

It's more like cold blue ice in her heart

She feels like kicking out all the windows 

And setting fire to this life

She could change everything about her using colors bold and bright 

But all the colors mix together to grey

And it breaks her heart

It feels so grey, and it breaks my heart

This is definitely one of my favourite DMB tunes. I feel like it addresses folks (like some of my own family members) who struggle with their mental health, in a powerful way. I always feel like it takes a lot out of me, physically and emotionally, to perform this song well. 

ISN'T EVERYTHING ENOUGH 

All we have is here

Now is all we have

Guilt and shame of the past

Future fears and unknowns

Attempt to disturb our peace

Isn't everything enough

Isn't everything enough

Isn't everything enough

Spinning, swirling thoughts, known and unknown, keep us

Spinning, swirling through our lives mostly unknown

All we have is here

Now is all we have

Isn't everything enough

All we have is here

Now is all we have

The joy of each breath

The quiet of peace

Simple is often best

Isn't everything enough

Isn't everything enough

All we have is here

Thank you, Sam Harris, for the quote I heard on your Waking Up meditation app which was something like, “All we have is here. Isn't everything enough?” I LOVE playing this song as I think it's the best of my music as influenced by Rush and DMB. Philip really captured that in this production.

GRACE TO LOVE (acoustic version feat. Brenda Janz)

I'm a mess, you're a mess

Let's be a mess together

Your eyes are blind, and so are mine

Let's look at one another, and see grace

I'm a judge, you're a judge

Let's release each other

You're a sinner and a saint

I'm a peasant and a king

Let's see ourselves and others with

Grace to light each other's world

Grace to lift each other's load

Grace to love, grace to love

Grace to give when others take

Grace to forgive a friend's mistake

Grace to love, grace to love

(Grace to believe the best when we've heard the worst)

You may be right, I may be right

Let's work it out together

You're not the same as me

And I, I am different than you so

Let's be ourselves together

(Grace to give and take a word that's hard to hear

Grace to see, really see each other

Grace to give up our right to be right ...)

Together we can light the world

Together we can share the load

With grace to love, grace to love

Together we're a work of art

Together we're stronger than apart

With grace to love, grace to love

I wrote this song back in 2010 as I was recording my previous album ONE, on which it first appeared. It continues to be a favourite of mine and others. One day I stumbled into this arrangement of it and thought it was worth recording again. Hope you do too.

A MILE IN YOUR SHOES

Could I walk a mile in your shoes

If I could I'd realize just what you've been through

That has led you to this place, the demons you have faced

Could I walk a mile in your shoes

Do I have the right to presume

That I would choose differently if I had been you

How arrogant and blind, to think I'd get it right

Do I have the right to presume

Tell me your story, if you can trust me

Show me your scars

Tell me your story

Would it take a miracle of grace

To try to understand each other, whatever it takes

To look you in the eye, to honour what I find

Would it take miracle of grace

Tell me your story, if you can trust me

Show me your scars

Tell me your story, if you believe I'm listening, really listening

Could I walk a mile in your shoes

If I could I'd realize just what you've been through

I'd look you in the eye, and honour what I find

Would it take miracle, should it take a miracle

Could I walk a mile with you

Could I wear your shoes

What if I were you

Many years ago, we got to know a guy who had spent 20 years in prison and he eventually came to live with us for almost a year. During that time, I heard more about his traumatic, dysfunctional, addiction fueled upbringing and began to ask myself the questions that became this song.

YOUR BEAUTY

Wandering through this life together

Wondering what has brought us close

Knowing you're the greater part of this relational equation

I think I realize what it is

The beauty in your courage helps me face my fears and doubts

The beauty in your strength lifts me up from where I've fallen

The beauty in your heart stirs my passion for you

Your beauty captivates me

Do you really know this truth that I'm singing

Can you let it sink right in

Growing older with you brings so much pleasure (well, mostly pleasure)

Here are some reasons why that is

(not an exhaustive list…)

The beauty in your courage helps me face my fears and doubts

The beauty in your strength lifts me up from where I've fallen

The beauty in your heart stirs my passion for you

Your beauty draws me near, your beauty draws me closer

Your beauty captivates me

Before and early in our marriage I wrote a number of songs for Nan, some better than others. This one has stood the test of time for me, so I surprised her by including it here and must have earned at least a few points. I obviously wrote this around the time John Mayer's first album “Room For Squares” came out :).

ENTRE NOUS (acoustic Rush cover)

We are secrets to each other

Each one's life a novel no one else has read

Even joined in bonds of love

We're linked to one another by such slender threads

We are planets to each other

Drifting in our orbits to a brief eclipse

Each of us a world apart

Alone and yet together like two passing ships

Just between us

I think it's time for us to recognize

The differences we sometimes feared to show

Just between us

I think it's time for us to realize

The spaces in between leave room

For you and I to grow

We are strangers to each other

Full of sliding panels, an illusion show

Acting well-rehearsed routines

Or playing from the heart, it's hard for one to know

We are islands to each other

Building hopeful bridges on a troubled sea

Some are burned or swept away

Some we would not choose but we're not always free

The iconic Canadian rock band Rush has been my all-time favourite band since elementary school. I remember in grade 6 or 7 playing their song “By-Tor and the Snow Dog” for a friend, which features amazing drum fills right off the bat after each phrase of the first verse. This amazing drummer, Neil Peart, is considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, but, interestingly, he also wrote nearly all the band's lyrics, which are so creatively featured in this song. Tragically he died of brain cancer in 2020 at the age of 67, just a couple of years into his retirement. I created this arrangement at that time to honour him.

WHEN I'M READY

Well I'm not cute, but I got a lot going on

You can say what you want me to do

And I'll mull it over for a while

I'll make some good points

Various takes on authors recently read

You'll scratch your head and reply

That's all good but will you do that thing I asked

I'll do it when I'm ready

I'll do it when it's right for me to do 

I'll do it when I'm ready

When it suits me, not only you

I'm not the only one here with issues

Your reaction is proving that to be true

I didn't ask you to take the ring to Mordor

Though I was a little crusty too

We got a rip-roaring game going on here

Where's this back and forth going to land

But I'm taking a timeout for snack time

I'll let you know when I'm back in

I'll do it when I want to 

I'll do it when it works for me to do

I'll do it when I'm ready

When it suits me, not only you

In addition to writing songs for Nan, it makes sense that I've written songs for my kids as well. But a couple of years ago I realized one of the four didn't have a song yet. So, I set about writing one for their birthday. I was inspired by their overall reluctance to do things before they were good and ready, and by several funny phrases they've used over the years that we still have a good laugh about. It turned into a song that I really love to play so it made it onto this album. Sorry to the other kids whose songs haven't made it onto an album … yet.

A SPECIAL KIND OF HAPPY

Day off on a sunny day

Bike on the rack in my rear-view mirror

Trails dry and running fast

Big smile on my face

Is this a special kind of happy 

Does it get better than this

Is this a special kind of happy

I get to experience, this

Old stories passed around

Kids laughing out loud

Catching Nancy's loving eyes, with a   

Big smile on my face

God knows life can be devastating

None are spared of pain

But in spite or because of it I know the gift of this

Grateful for this 

Standing here in front of you

Singing my heart out through these songs and

Knowing we're in this together

Big smile on my face

I get to do this

We get to do this

Maybe not so surprisingly, the title of this song came to me while mountain biking on a sunny day off. :) A phrase I've often repeated with my mountain biking buddy Jeff is “We get to do this.” A while back one of my daughters helped me design a Yeti mug with that phrase, as mementos for Jeff and myself. So, when I played this song for her she immediately said, “You need to sing 'We get to do this' at the end!” It was right there. Not sure how I missed it.