Vanity Sleeps

Friday song highlight #13: DUI Bike Mike
This song was born from a text message. I was driving my kids to school in Morton when I saw someone who looked exactly like my friend Donovan (who plays drums on this track) riding a bike. Donovan doesn't live in town, so I texted him about his doppelgänger. He joked back: "That actually was me. I got a DUI. You can call me DUI Bike Mike."

The song took off from there. People are sometimes disappointed to find out "Mike" isn't a real person, but in a way, he is. He’s an amalgamation of three different guys I’ve known, and I think everyone has someone like "Mike" in their life. He may not be a factual character, but he's still a true character.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5ukGZQILodgaqGshFZSiaT?si=08c06cca4f544466

They called him DUI Bike Mike
Since he was 25
But he never lost his license
Never even learned to drive
He biked 'cause he was too afraid
to get behind the wheel
But he never wore a helmet
It baffles me still

Mike was a not a quiet guy,
no fan of subtlety
He'd burst in like the Kool-Aid Man,
and say "The mob is out to get me."
He wasn't really paranoid,
just watched too much TV
And anything you'd tell him
he was bound to believe

So engrossed with the story
that anybody tells
If you said the sky was falling,
He'd think it already fell
But the tales that really get me are the ones he'd tell himself
I wonder how he’s doing now
(I really hope he’s doing well; I wonder what he’s doing now)

He only spoke in cursive
Like a Tarantino film
Walking in italics
His world at a tilt
And nothing seemed to phase him
Though it never went his way
He wore his heart out on his sleeve,
with a smile on his face

We lost touch a while ago
Life led us separate ways
I look him up every year or so
It's like he's been erased
He dreamed to move to Hollywood
and surf out his days
I hope he finally made it,
and is catching those waves

Friday song highlight #12: Sanctuary

This song has a bit of a different history than the others. It was originally recorded as a live take for a St. Jude benefit compilation, (https://smallworldconnections-worshipbandsforstjude.bandcamp.com/album/potters-wheel-songcraft-for-st-jude-from-one-accord-christian-songwriting-community) but I needed one more song to fill out the album and wanted to give this one the "full band" treatment.

Technically, it’s not a full band, becuase I played all the instruments myself, but it allowed me to build the arrangement exactly how I heard it. Notably, this is the only track on either of the albums where I play the piano.

What matters most to me about this song is the idea of simply sitting with someone exactly where they are. It’s about empathizing with their sadness without trying to "fix" it immediately, and then being there to celebrate the eventual joy when they’re ready to fly again.

https://open.spotify.com/track/040ThjvMqNLu1nlFXBO3q6?si=132c401410084eed

Open your eyes
you will see me there
standing by to take you in
You don't have to cry,
but if you do, my dear,
you'll find me waiting to wipe away your tears

I'll be your sanctuary
I'll be your shelter from the storm
If you are here with me,
I'll be your comfort through this cold and lonely (godforsaken) world

I know the pain
I can see in your eyes
Heaven knows how I've been there
Some day
you will rise
I'll carry you 'til you can walk again

And when you're able to smile,
I'll be smiling with you.
And when you take off to fly,
I'll be right up there with you

Sanctuary Vanity Sleeps · Through the Keyhole · Song · 2026

Today is Bandcamp Friday, where fees are waived so all money goes directly to the artist. If you haven't bought Vanity Sleeps or Through the Keyhole, you can get vinyl or CD here: vanitysleeps.bandcamp.com