"Rocky" Saga Movies Ranked (It's my list & I'll cry if I want to...)

With the recent release of Creed 2, much has been made about the legacy of the Rocky franchise.  From the heartfelt to the inane, Rocky has run the gamut on emotion.  What follows is my definitive list of greatest in the series, complete with thoughts on their placement.

8. Rocky V - Set immediately after the events in Russia, this film was intended to be the denouement of Robert Balboa, with Rocky set to die in Adrian's arms at the end.  What it turned into was a shallow attempt to place Rocky back in the life he led in film one.  While there is a fair amount of ridiculousness going on, there are some worthy moments.  First and foremost, the exchange before the final fight after Paulie gets punched.  I mean, really, who doesn't get a little pumped up when Rock turns to the camera and says "You knocked him down, now why don't you try knockin' me down..."  Sure it ain't Shakespeare, but it's Balboa-speare and it works.  I don't seek it out, but I'll tolerate it on a rainy day.

7. Rocky III - My favorite part of this flick, aside from Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", is the Adrian/Rocky dustup on the beach.  She just seems to know what the man needs to hear and when he needs to hear it.  Losing Mick is tough as hell, but gaining Apollo, albeit for selfish reasons never delved into, makes it palatable.  I've just always felt while it's an entertaining story, I didn't feel fully invested in the narrative.

6. Creed II - Probably too low on this list, maybe only due to its newness.  The real story in this installment is the relationships of fathers/sons, family/friends, internal/external.  The finish of the Drago family story is simply heartbreaking, yet one of optimism as the relationship is reconciled in the face of emotional tragedy.  Michael B. Jordan has proven to be a worthy bearer of the Rocky torch.

5. Rocky IV - I'll be lambasted by many a friend for this placement, but I have my reasons.  First being the undercurrents of the story have not aged well.  I still find it highly entertaining, and the soundtrack may well be the best soundtrack ever assembled.  Second, in retrospect it's just so far over the top I can't give it any loftier of a status.  That being said, this flick contains my absolute favorite Adrian/Rocky soliloquy in the franchises history.  That scene, played out from the top and bottom of the stairs of the Balboa home, perfectly exemplifies what Rocky is all about: a love story that happens to feature a boxer.  

4. Rocky Balboa - From the earliest scene of Rocky and Paulie visiting all the places most dear to the Adrian/Rocky romance, I was completely drawn into the solitude that Rocky was feeling as he felt his later years catching up with him.  It also features my third favorite speech, delivered on the street out side Adrian's restaurant, as Rocky tries to impart hard life wisdom on his adult son.  A little outlandish?  Sure.  But the nostalgia factor was high (with Spider Rico and little Marie providing) and, again, the themes of fathers/sons/family providing the pathos.

3. Creed - Ryan Coogler took the childhood emotions of watching his father's love of Rocky and simply turned in a tour de force, relaunching a franchise many assumed done.  Infusing the script with equal parts humor and humility, I was astounded how much I enjoyed this film.  As poorly as Star Wars VII rehashed Star Wars IV, Creed took the same formula and somehow made it fresh in the retelling.  Much of that can be traced to the performances of Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson, with a splash of Sly, who falls so easily into the Rocky character it has to be part of who he is.  One of the most powerful scenes came later, when Adonis revealed his true motivations for following in his father's footsteps.  The final scene walking up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is such a poignant, yet uplifting, piece of cinema.  

2. Rocky II - For many, Rocky II was amazingly slow and too late to develop to be put into such a lofty position, but for me it was the slow burn that helped create the legacy.  What I mean is that at its core, Rocky is a love story that happens to feature boxing.  What Adrian represents in the entire series is the strength behind Rocky and the rock that he continually leans on to get through life's challenges.  Simply said, Adrian is the heart of the Rocky franchise, and that is no better represented than the simple word "Win".  Rocky needs the approval of Adrain's love to navigate the doubts in himself, thus helping to raise him up to heights he could never reach alone.  Really, go back and watch the series and tell me that Adrian isn't actually the strongest partner in the Balboa household... it's the crux of the whole story.

1. Rocky - There is no other place for this one to land.  Maybe the advent of the most perfect American film character ever created.  Stallone did something with this script that literally no one on the face of the Earth could've foreseen.  Watch it as a love story and it works.  Watch it as a character study and it works.  Watch it as a sports film and it works.  Featuring my favorite introspective moment,  Rocky comes back home after checking out the ring, and realizes he knows he won't win, but just by being there at the end he'll validate himself.  That scene alone embodies what Rocky would always be about; and knowing that it was a one take effort due to money constraints makes it all the more impressive.  Without that scene, the fact he made it to the end wouldn't hold the emotional weight necessary to carry an entire franchise for 40+ years.  

By now, faithful reader, you can probably tell that Rocky holds a special place in my heart.  He transcends time, place, and era.  Near the end of Creed 2, Rocky looks at Adonis and says "It's your time, kid" and, truth be told, I shed a tear.  In that one line, I knew that my filmic hero would soon be leaving the movie landscape for good.  Rocky had just essentially passed the franchise to Adonis Creed and I fully expect Robert Balboa to join the heavyweights in the sky come Creed 3.  I guess I'm ok with it, mostly because he will leave a treasure trove of life lessons, passed down from Adrian Balboa, Mickey Goldmill, Apollo Creed, Paulie Pennino, et al.  

I leave you with the wise words of Mickey Goldmill, spoken to Rocky many years ago in the face of adversity, and something I think of often when things turn tough: "If you ever get hurt and you feel that you're goin' down, this little angel is gonna whisper in your ear.  It's gonna say "Get up, you son of a bitch, cuz Mickey loves you".

Reflections on Jani Lane: The Unreleased Edition

Many don't realize that Jani was working on an interesting project with Dito Godwin in the early 90's called Jabberwocky.  A completed version of these songs was pressed, but never released since Jani reconvened with Warrant.  Anyways, I thought it served as a reminder that he was unappreciated for his lyrics & sense of melodies.  So take the journey with me & remember just how talented John Kennedy Oswald was...

All You Had To Say - What a wonderful mid-tempo feel to this tune.  The verse melody elicits the dichotomy of uplifting, yet melancholy.  Considering this was written in the mid 90's, one can draw a comparison to many top 40 songs of that period.  I've always been a fan of Jani's mellow vocal side and this song fits in that pocket perfectly.

Private Blue World - My favorite of the unreleased Jani catalogue.  Just listen to the sentiment of that chorus: "Stand in line and be the next heart that she breaks..." Masterful.  This song, along with Stronger Now, epitomizes the legacy of Jani Lane: great lyrics, memorable melody, heartfelt delivery. This one never gets skipped when it comes on...

One More For The Road - Love the bridge on this tune.  Mostly unfinished, but the mood is there.

Unrealistic - Another classic "story" song in the vein of "Bed of Roses".  Features the 90's double snare staple.  Obviously an early demo, but there's some left to flesh out.  Many Beatles elements present in this, from the solo section to the melody.

Washington Square - Amazing melody throughout.  For me there's just something about Jani's vocal phrasing that hits my ear the right way.  Just listen to the flow of those verses.

Comfortable With Sad - If you listen close, you can hear his personal struggles played out in the songs.  Analyzing the more introspective Jani Lane compositions, the signs were there that he struggled with acceptance and realizing he was appreciated.

This Town - RUN this song to some country artist and you have your next hit.  Just a perfect slice of mid tempo pop excellence.

Pretty On The Inside - Obviously not in the Warrant vein, but upon inspection Jani always wrote outside of the rock world, just fitting songs into that genre.  This song has a real Matchbox 20 groove to it.

The Deeper End - Love the acoustic/electric opening.  I'm having trouble understanding where this song would fit musically; maybe adult contemporary.

Stained - I like how the beginning creates such tension, just waiting for the release in the bridge.  "The first time I don't have any stains..."  shows you where his head was at.

House Of Cards - Just listen to that verse melody!  Just a moving groove.  Very underappreciated talent for vocal phrasing.

Changes - Impressive mid tempo rocker, with a great melodic verse section.  I know he was doing a lot of writing for other artists.  Unfortunately, he died before many of those connections could be realized, but there's a good deal of songs here that would be worthy of another look.

I Can't Help Myself - Probably top 2 of my favorite unreleased Jani demos.  From the verse to the bridge to the chorus, there's so many wonderfully melodic moments.  This song, along with a very select few, really deserve to be heard on a larger scale.  It really captures his unique songwriting abilities.

Yeah… SO much more than the "Cherry Pie Guy".  I miss him...

MY Top 20 KISS Songs

Inspired by the Eddie Trunk Volume show top 20 KISS songs, I thought I'd throw mine out.  I left out the solo albums, but included live ones.

20. Nothin' To Lose - I think this song is vaguely about anal sex, but I'll defer to ignorance in my old age.  Swinging groove, trade off vox; Peter is fine form in the chorus.
19. Forever - 2nd highest charting single after Beth.  Great melody, outstanding acoustic solo, solid drums for a ballad.
18. C'mon and Love Me (Alive I) - How can one argue with poetry like "I'm a Capricorn and she's a Cancer"?  The energy and pace of this song live is excellent, and Ace's solo is, like usual, a song within the song.
17. God of Thunder (Alive II) - Yes, you need to sit through the horrid drum solo, but just listen to Gene's voice after that: cracking, powerful, demonic.  Also, the tempo is so much better than the dirge of the album version.
16. Got To Choose - Another prime example of an Ace solo being a song within a song.  Love the group vox in the chorus
15. Rock Bottom (live) - Great pinch harmonics from Ace on the live version, plus he takes an extended solo after the 1st verse.
14. Psycho Circus - Going recent... if 20 years is considered recent.  Powerful tune, great riff, Paul is in fine voice on this one.
13. Nowhere To Run - Off the Killers disc, Paul wails on this one.  Bob Kulick plays some excellent guitar fills.  Hidden gem.
12. Love Her All I Can - Something for every band member on this one.  Jaunty little diddy, showing their southern influence, even being a NY band.  Great solo by Ace, as per usual.
11. Mr. Speed - Another one that could easily be a Skynyrd outtake.  Sing along melody and Ace busts out a phenomenal solo on this.
10. A Million To One - 2nd non-makeup tune & it's a doozy.  Paul lets out some raw emotion on this one.  Great melody with the help of Vinnie Vincent.
9. Sure Know Something (Unplugged) - So powerful in its acoustic form.  The band really shines on vocals & Paul was SO good back then (lyric screw up non-withstanding).
8. Goin' Blind (Unplugged) - Take the creepy factor out of the lyrics (I'm 93, you're 16), this is a truly melodious tune.  Gene sings his ass off on this one.
7. Thrills In The Night - Always loved the palm muted verse riff, leading into the gang chorus.  Extremely underrated tune and often forgotten.
6. Deuce - Linked to a live show in '75, just to remind everyone that KISS was "dangerous" way back when.  The song Ace auditioned on, with much of the off-the-cuff solo making its way to the final version.
5. Turn on the Night - Call me cheesy if you want, but I just LOVE the pick harmonics in the bridge.  And Bruce's outro solo is pretty badass.
4. King of the Nighttime World - Driven by a great chord riff & Peter's staccato drumming, the melody is so outstanding.  Written by Kim Fowley about some adult "actions" in an alley by the light of a car, KISS made it about getting away from commandeering parents & having a good time.
3. Who Wants To Be Lonely - Great riff, huge Eric Carr drums, what's not to like?  Too high?  Maybe, but it's my list...
2. Comin' Home (Unplugged) - I went unplugged here for the energy.  Many might think this is too high, but I based this list on KISS songs I wouldn't turn off for fatigue factor, so this stays at #2.
1. Black Diamond (Alive I) - No brainer for me: Outstanding arpeggio opening, Paul's soft vocal leading into a bombastic riff, followed by Peter Criss' pure raspiness... Add to that the Ace guitar wizardry on the outro, you have yourself a classic EPIC tune.

I can literally guarantee this list will change by morning, possibly several times.

MY Top 10 Favorite Harem Scarem Songs (A.K.A. Who??)

And we're back with another exciting edition of Slicky's Favorite Tunes.  Today we venture off to explore a heretofore unknown AOR Canadian export, Harem Scarem.  To those that know me well, this band came on my radar in the early 2000's and has ascended to top 5 status since.  They are a masterful mix of powerful melodies, amazing guitar riffs, and hooks that would make a seasoned fisherman jealous.  If these catch your attention, I highly recommend diving deeper into their catalogue where you'll find a blend of several genres represented.  So come on in, the water's fine...

10. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow - I place this one here simply due to perspective I've gleaned over the last year & a half; about life, opportunity, self... We're here today, gone tomorrow, searching for some higher meaning.  Something I struggle with on occasion, but the sentiment is universal, I think.
9. All I Need - I continue to insist if this song was done by a current pop star it would be unstoppable.  A solid slice of mid-tempo excellence from note one.  That chorus is simply exquisite; powerful, memorable, simple, yet effective.
     "The walls are there to hide
       The scars and hurt that's on the other side..."
The post-solo breakdown with only vox & drums is so perfectly executed.
8. The Midnight Hours -  I've included the live version here to highlight just how impressive it is when a band can replicate recorded vocals.  The main riff/verse is extremely challenging, with almost a reggae feel, but once that bridge hits, the song really takes off into AOR heaven.  Written as an "F U" to past record companies, it features some thinly veiled biting lyrics in the bridge section:
     "But the silence wakes a guilty mind
       And you lie awake as your conscience tries to run and hide"
This is how melodic AOR should sound...
7. Empty Promises - Just an angry tune... "I'll be prying those words from your mouth, cuz I always think you're lying...".  Aggressive main riff, interesting slides in the bridge, helping to create the tension needed to convey the message in the chorus: "I would be alright if I could live on empty promises".  Not to mention a phenomenal dive bomb, whammy-bar release at the end of the solo that gets me every time.
6. Whatever It Takes - This song takes me back to my younger years, when a lost love felt like your heart would forever be empty.  That first verse is just a killer... These guys have an uncanny ability to create uplifting melodies from the saddest messages.
    "Tell me what you want, tell me what you need
      So I can stop this heart racing out of me..."
5. One of Life's Mysteries - Another song rooted in yearning for love one can never quite grasp.  Just a HUGE chorus that drives the song to new emotional heights.
     "You're one of life's mysteries, a wall of secrecy
       Maybe I was never meant to know
       You're one of life's mysteries that I can't seem to solve yet"
Add that to the phenomenal bridge lyrics: "If love is a healer, then I'm living wounded...".  Again, the message is of hurt and pain, yet the melody is so positive the song becomes something other than what the lyrics suggest it should be.
4. If There Was A Time - After a beautiful piano/vocal intro, Harry Hess bursts into a Steelheart-worthy scream, launching this song into a perfect mid-tempo ballad.
     "Last time I checked I'm at 34 sins
      Another won't matter cuz I'm never gonna win
      Hoping now I'm on a road that I can change..."
A sentiment many of us have felt at some point in life.  It's a song of hope, one of self-reflection that no matter what is happening now, tomorrow is, in fact, a tomorrow.  Today doesn't need to define you (ok, enough from the Dr. Phil pulpit... onward we go).
3. No Justice - First tune I ever heard from HS, and wondered "Who is this guitarist channeling his inner Nuno?".  The strength of this song is in the driving beat laid down by Darren Smith allowing the band to shine in their respective areas.  The solo is damn near a song within itself, as Pete Lesperance lays all his influences out in just under a minute of tasteful note choices.
2. Die Off Hard - After a solid driving opening riff, I enjoy how the verses morph into more of a bouncy, rollicking groove.  Then when that bridge hits, the song changes into a more aggressive approach.
     "It's been a long time coming
      I'm tired of failing you
      It's been a long time coming
      It's time to face the truth of old habits
      That die off hard..."
There are so many melody changes in here, I never get tired of hearing this tune.  The solo also shines in this one.
1. Weight of the World - The start of this one will need to grow on many, as it's relatively dissonant until the acoustic gives way to the absolutely monstrous opening riff.  The verse is a master class in how to use space to create tension, while the chorus delivers the release of that tension in spades.  Pete's use of pinch harmonics and string sliding in the solo matches up so perfectly to the tone of the song, it's almost a song within itself.

I hope you give these songs an open minded listen.  There's SO much more out there like Rain, In My State of Mind, Higher, Staying Away, Victim of Fate... Another band that "Should've been huge".

MY Top 10 Favorite Mr. Big Songs

What the heck, let's do another tonight... this time in the wake of drummer Pat Torpey's passing, I'll tackle some Mr. Big.  When this lineup was announced in late '88 I remember being very excited.  I'd known Eric Martin from his solo albums, Sheehan from Talis & DLR Band and Paul Gilbert from Racer X.  With Eric's R&B influence, coupled with the chops of Billy & Paul, this had the makings of some phenomenal songs. Luckily, there is a laundry list of memorable tunes to choose from, but here is MY list of favorites.  A good helping of these will be outside what most will know, so here's a chance to broaden your understanding of this impressive quartet.

Honorable Mention: Next Time Around - Recorded as they reformed after several years, it was a castoff from Lean Into It... castoff... this was a hit!  Oh well, it's always nice to find the hidden gems years later.  What a chorus!

10. I Don't Want To Be Happy - Such a perfect tongue-in-cheek offering.  "I married my high school drama queen..." LOL!  C'mon, that's just gold.  "I don't want to be happy, that's why I'm with you"... hilarious!
9. Wake Up - Written by Richie Kotzen along with Richie Zito, this song just flows.  Excellent energy throughout and a memorable chorus.
8. A Rose Alone - I just love the melodies on this whole thing.  The verses are so understated until exploding into the chorus.  Kotzen does some tasty slide on this.  Very southern rock feel.
7. Nothing But Love - For the record, those strings at the beginning are actually a guitar being played through a Paul Gilbert designed synthesizer.  The solo is really the star of this song as much as the heartfelt singing of Eric Martin.
6. Forever and Back - Off the new Defying Gravity, it takes some listens to really understand the nuances, but that chorus is so LARGE!  I particularly enjoy the background "Ah, ah, ah".  I marvel at the vocal prowess of Eric Martin at 57.
5. Shine - Straight up mid-tempo rocker written by Kotzen that Eric Martin-izes.  Just a perfect blend of melody and music.  Hummable, memorable, and, sadly, lost in the wash.  Should've been huge...
4. Take Cover - Simplistic, yet quite reliant on percussion and precise guitar acumen.  The music really lets Eric's vox shine, letting the vocal melody become a secondary driver of the song.  Not the usual Mr. Big fare, but still a song I never skip on the iPod.
3. Just Take My Heart - That opening sounds heartbreaking, which just reinforces the sentiment that comes after.  Eric Martin's finest Mr. Big vocal performance, IMO; subtle, pained, understated.  Again, the solo really adds to the emotion contained within the composition.  I love the chorus modulation after the solo, almost makes it end on a optimistic note.
2. Stay Together - I often call this the best written arrangement ever.  Here's why: Just listen to each player independently within the song... EM is on his game.  PG plays a solid chord-filled melodic progression.  Billy does some amazing Motown bass runs in the chorus.  And Pat Torpey throws in some of the tastiest, simple drum fills.  I especially enjoy the understated solo section; it really adds some tension to a sad, yet upbeat tune.  I contend this is their most "band oriented" song as each player shines within the song.
1. Green-Tinted Sixties Mind - NO BRAINER!  Even Mau can't argue with this one... From the finger-tapped opening to the simplistic, melodic main riff into the verse/chorus, it really is a fine song.  The sheer lush melody of the chorus makes this far and away their best song.  Eric is in fine voice throughout and when Paul launches into that solo, it really takes off.

So germinating from a sad day in Mr. Big land, I thought I'd throw this out there so we never forget that music is really the base of our lives.  It has the power to inspire, uplift, upset, and everywhere in between.  I hope this challenges you, Interested Listener, into seeking out some more of Mr. Big's impressive musical offerings.

MY Top 10 Favorite Def Leppard Songs

Anyone who knows me understands I am very much NOT a "Greatest Hits" type fan.  Yes, I understand the hits are The Hits for a reason.  But I also believe focusing too much on the familiar leaves one susceptible to missing out a lot of other, better songs.  My dad introduced me to Def Lep in '80 as a wee 7-year-old.  "Rock Brigade", "Wasted", "Hello America", these were all raw, heavy introductions to English rock, continuing on from Zep, Priest, and the like. 

It wasn't until their second offering, High 'N' Dry, that I really understood just how good this band could be.  Sure, I was only 8 at the time, but for a kid that got KISS: Destroyer at age 4, I was a music expert, right?  Well, I could go on all day with the history lesson... OR, I could just throw out my top 10 and wait for the rebuttals.  So let's strap on the stirrups and take a Ride Into The Sun:

10. Love and Affection - Could've been yet another hit off this monster.  I've always been drawn to the lyrics: "Don't give me love and affection... or what you think it should be".  Great melody, great solo.
9. Ride Into The Sun - Gotta love the doo-wop piano intro, kicking into the full chord opening riff.  I think part of the intrigue is the guitar tone: bright, yet crunchy.
8. Lady Strange - High 'N' Dry, still their best album, front to back.  Just listen to that staccato opening, leading into the melodic second.  I can see why they fell into the NWOBHM early on.  The solo also sheds some light on where Tesla's influence came from on songs such as "Freedom Slaves".
7. Torn To Shreds - Newer song, yet lost in today's landscape.  This chorus is HUGE!  What a melodic bridge, leading into a quite memorable chorus.  This comes off the X album and I highly suggest it.
6. When Love & Hate Collide - I attached the lyric vid as this song is all about the lyrics and vocals.  I think what really grabbed me about this song is near the end,  The lyric changes from "...do you have a heart of stone" to "...if you have a heart at all"... I think we can all apply this song to our lives at some point.
5. Long, Long Way To Go - Also off the X disc, is so soft, yet bombastic vocally.  "We always were the better part of me"... what a lyric, delivered so well.  The pre-solo bridge has some of the most universal heartbreak lyrics I can remember.  This is arguably one of their best "lost" songs, ignored by radio.  One listen just isn't enough.
4. Let It Go - That opening riff is savage, with a hint of AC/DC attitude.  Joe's vox are so silky, yet raw throughout.  As Gene Simmons once said "It has more balls than the World Series".  The guitar is so crunchy and melds with the vocals so well.  The middle breakdown is classic English metal.
3. Stagefright - I SAID WELCOME TO MY SHOW!!!! Listen to that chugging riff to open this Pyromania classic... hard, heavy, and inviting.  I just love this chorus, with the melody and gang vox.  One of the first solos done by Phil Collen upon joining the band.
2. Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes) - Such a heavy riff to open, leading into a very sparse verse section, building tension... Then the gang vocals again "Take a look into my eyes...".  A very well arranged song by Mutt Lange.  A veiled ode to cocaine use, yet one could read a love lost into it also.
1. Photograph - One of the first licks I learned to play on guitar; simple, yet memorable.  Slightly based on an unhealthy obsession with Marilyn Monroe, there's more hooks here than on a deep see fishing expedition.  Hints of Duran Duran in the chorus guitar, pop influence galore, they were masters of blending genres into rock.

So there it is... feel free to disagree, or not.  In any case, thanx for listening for awhile.

RIP Pat Torpey - Mr. Big

Tonight we crank some Mr. Big: RIP Pat Torpey. I'll never forget seeing in RIP magazine that this guys were putting out an album & counting the days. Eric Martin's R&B-rooted vox, Billy's bass-dancing, Mr. Paul Gilbert's fretboard histrionics, & PT's chameleon drumming on American Bandstand... I KNEW these guys would write some killer tunes. Look beyond "To Be With You"... there's a treasure trove of songwriting & musicianship that, sadly, will now come to an end. I'll leave you with a Torpey/Cordola composition from "The Stories We Could Tell"

     Sitting astride in a chair, watching as the ice slowly melts in a somewhat cheap blended whiskey, it occurs to him that much of one’s life can be seen within that glass: a watered-down version of what an older man envisioned for his younger self.   Can he pinpoint exactly when the road forked, or did the worm glacially turn over in its grave?

     

     It’s an odd feeling, trying to measure mortality against the successes and failures of a life not quite led to its fullest.  Not quite healthy, not quite happy; mostly just… being.  Which, truth be told, isn’t exactly the worst place to find yourself.  There’s a certain comfort afforded by being just what you are at this moment, good, bad or indifferent.

                

     The problem becomes finding the want to be better, or at the very least, a better version of whatever this is.  Presumably, it’s there.  The ambition to match the realization.  The actualization, however, takes a certain commitment that isn’t so easy to identify. 

                

     We now see a man worn by his perceived frivolity and indifference slowly place the glass on the countertop, realizing that it was indeed a simple metaphor.  He has come to understand the glass, empty of its sweetly distilled contents, is exactly what the mirror sees.  It is in the fading daylight the epiphany emerges, not as a punch, but as a delicate touch. 

                

     I can be better… I can be much better… I can be the best parts of what I should’ve wanted for myself all those years ago.  There’s still time on the clock and I have downs to go.  No need for a timeout, I know exactly what play to call…

               

     Well, then run it and let’s get the hell out of here…