Lost Gem: "Schemer Dreamer" - Steve Walsh (1980)

"... he's busy lighting candles
at both ends.
Playing king with all his friends."
~ Steve Walsh ~


Steve Walsh had been the excellent keyboardist/vocalist with prog-rock band...Kansas...since 1974 before releasing his first solo album.

The album was a highly energetic rock offering that had little likeness to the proggier Kansas sound. Much looser to the goose.

Yea, Steve lightens up a wee bit...even while feeling the need to break some balls.

Lost gem:--> "Schemer Dreamer" is a piano driven rock-breaker with killer vocals and wicked fun lyrics. Deserved better airplay.

Have you heard this one?


Well the schemer's world is dizzy by the look of
things he's busy lighting candles at both ends
playing king with all his friends.
And his big plans for the future lay on someone
else's shoulders but he never tells them so, well
he don't want them to know.
I don't think I like the schemer's scheme: they use
abuse and I've paid my dues - excuse me if I don't
stay, that's all I've got to say.
Well he thinks I owe my life to him what a humble guy
It was better late than never when he said goodbye
If you hear me out there schemer boy, you blew
it bad
But that's alright for you.

Well the dreamer's situation's sure a sign of
certain death
He thinks he's found his way at last, but he don't
know this dream peaks fast.
And his politics and morals, just a phrase of fancy
words and then he thinks he's warm and real, but
he's still as cold as steel.
I don't think I like this dreamer's dreams, try to
light they don't ignite
Bite and he don't bleed, fight and he'll concede.
Well, he's got a lot, but I can't ignore the price he paid
Looking down his sloppy front he thinks he got
it made.
Well, if you hear me out there, dreamer boy, you
blew it bad.
But that's alright for you.

Well, prissy miss Christina don't tell no one she's
sixteen, ah but she knows just what to sell
promised Mommy not to tell.
And she's over bred and under fed - you'd like to
take her right to bed
Tries hard to look the part like she'd be nasty in
the dark.
Well, once I tried to win it she said "Just a New
York minute, boy,
Before we can get along don't you know you've got
to grease my palm."
I said "look madam, one dollar's all that I can find"
So she screamed "Get out. Get out before I lose
my mind!"
Well, if you hear me out there schemer, girl, you could
have had
But that's alright for you.
That's alright for you.

Good stuff!

Casey Chambers
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