Welcome to Noel Carol's Music Page
This is where you'll find rarely-heard-before songs that are written with distinctive 60s, 70s, and 80s feels to them. Whether it's a heartfelt ballad, a progressive rock anthem, a raunchy blues tune, or a backroads country music track, Noel's music is sure to resonate with the most attuned indie music lovers out there.
We've uploaded a selection of different song styles of his to give you a broad glimpse into what he has to offer you.
We're also providing a synopsis of where the inspiration came from for each of the songs listed.
And for your enjoyment and convenience, you can follow along with the lyrics, which are inserted below each set of audio clips.
Experience Noel's 60s/70s/80s inspired sound
Noel Carol's music, presented with a unique blend of musical influences from the 60s, 70s, and 80s especially appeals to baby boomers and anyone else who values meaningful lyrics or unpredictable, yet melodic songs.
His musical composition influences range between that of Simon and Garfunkle, Lennon and McCartney, Pink Floyd, Gerry Rafferty, The Alan Parsons Project, Chicago, CSNY, Eric Clapton, George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, and Leonard Cohen, to name a few.
Not only do his song lyrics tell authentic stories of lost love, hard times, and struggle, but they also convey feelings of hope and inspiration.
Each well-crafted song of his, many of which were written during his four-year stint as a street person, is sure to touch your heart and quite possibly transport you back to a time when you might have experienced a similar storyline in your own life.
Discover the musical sounds of Noel Carol that resonate with real-life experiences and emotions.
Straight from the Streets
Live! at the Stone Angel
Click on any of the links below to listen to your choice of artist from
Straight from the Streets
Live! at the Stone Angel
Recorded Live! off the floor
at The Stone Angel in Ottawa, ON, 1998
In 1998, while Noel was barely surviving as a street person in our nation's capitol, he somehow managed to produce six Live! shows, showcasing 15 indie artists, including himself. Each Live! performance was recorded then one song was chosen from each artist to be included in this compilation CD, titled …
Straight from the Streets
Live! at the Stone Angel
Straight from the Streets
Live! at the Stone Angel
We've provided a snippet of each song from the CD. You can choose between downloading individual MP3s, downloading the complete CD, or placing an order for the physical CD, itself.
If you ever felt compelled to support indie music, never will you come across such a great opportunity to do so than right now. This album didn't become available until 26 years after the fact. Some of the performers were teenagers at the time of recording. Many of them were in their 20's and a few of them were in their 30s and 40s. The CD contains a nice blend of folk music, soft rock, country blues, eclectic guitar instrumentals and even spoken word poetry.
Find out a little more about how this Indie Arts Fest came about by clicking on the link below.
Left Unread © Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
Left Unread
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
This clip contains the
1st Verse & PreChorus 1
Time: 1:32
1st of 3 clips
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LEFT UNREAD.
Left Unread
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
This clip contains
PreChorus 2, Chorus 1,
& Interlude
Time: 1:05
2nd of 3 clips
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LEFT UNREAD.
Left Unread
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
This clip contains the 3rd Verse, PreChorus 3, Chorus 2, & Interlude
Time: 1:39
3rd of 3 clips
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LEFT UNREAD.
The writing of this song changed the trajectory of
Noel's pursuit as a singer songwriter.
Noel penned LEFT UNREAD in 2000 during an episode of second-guessing his continued pursuit of his musical ambitions. By the time he got to the chorus of the song, he changed his mind about quitting and decided to not give up no matter what gets thrown my way. That lyric inspired him to keep pursuing his musical dream. However, the following lyric that immediately followed the above line, inspired him to take things one step further. He instantly decided to write a book that tells the stories behind many of his songs. The following words were what inspired him, writing: I'll not end up like some book on a shelf … LEFT UNREAD.
The realization of the book finally came to fruition when he began writing his incredible story 22 years later in July of '22. He's now ready to introduce you to what is actually required of an artist who's determined to not give up chasing the dream, "no matter what gets thrown my way".
The complete story behind this song is told in
Chapter Twenty-three of Noel's newly-published book,
LEFT UNREAD The Stories Behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Guitars and Midi Production by Noel Carol
Back up Vocals performed by Lyra Rowe and Grant Porter
Recorded and Mixed by Grant Porter
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the black and white lyrics sheet below
to download a high quality MP3 of LEFT UNREAD.
LEFT UNREAD
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2000 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
LEFT UNREAD
I've been up and I've been down
inside out and in between
but the way I've been for such a long, long time
runnin’ scared in one bad dream
not quite seein’ where I'm goin’
darkness overtakin’ me
And I've been right and I've been wrong
upside down and in between
but the way that I've been lately
done in, snared, too weak to scream
'spite of all the seeds I'm sowin'
every step I'm making
every breath I'm taking
keep gettin’ harder to do every day
but I've just gotta be true to myself
and not give up no matter what gets thrown my way
I'll not end up like some book on a shelf
Left Unread, Left Unread
I've been high and I've been low
east to west and in between
how I'm feelin’ when my buskin’ days are done
that remains yet to be seen
though there ain't no way of knowin’
but if I'm not mistaken
one day I'll awaken
To realize the dream of darkness turned into day
'cuz I remained to be true to myself
and not give up, no matter what got thrown my way
and I'll thank God I'm not some book on a shelf
Left Unread, Left Unread, Left Unread
LEFT UNREAD
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2000 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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black and white lyrics sheet
to download a high quality MP3 of
LEFT UNREAD.
Scroll down to listen to more of Noel's songs
But first, feel free to leave a comment in the section below on Left Unread.
My Maggie © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
My Maggie © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
This clip contains the Intro, PreChorus 1, Chorus 1
Time: 2:12
1st of 3 clips
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My Maggie.
My Maggie © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
This clip contains the PreChorus 2, Chorus 2, Bridge, Interlude
Time: 1:39
2nd of 3 clips
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My Maggie.
My Maggie © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
This clip contains the
3rd verse & Outro
Time: 2:18
3rd of 3 clips
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My Maggie.
My Maggie is definitely one of those songs that you just need to sit back and enjoy - from start to finish.
If you love smooth, dream-like melodies, along with lyrics that tell a great story, this song will not disappoint! Do take the time to listen when you have nothing else to do - allowing yourself to become drifted off into paradise with Noel and Maggie.
In case you're wondering, Maggie is Noel's guitar. This is a song of love written directly to her.
The complete story behind this song is told in
Chapter Eleven of
Left Unread The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Harmonica and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Additional MIDI tracks produced by Michael Fogarty
Recorded by Janine Rostron
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the drawing of Maggie below
to download a high quality MP3 of
My Maggie.
My Maggie
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1997 – 2025
My Maggie
It's the time of day when I feel so lonely
Sun is startin' to go down and I'm thinkin if only
I can get me through the night here all by myself
Nothin’, no one, not a sound, sensin' nothin' else
But the touch of my fingers along your neck
The slide of my hand along your body
The beat of your heart as I tug your strings
You're the world to me, among other things
Mmm, mmm my Maggie
Mmm, mmm my Maggie
Can't begin to explain all that you've done for me
All this time you've been around through my destined alchemy
Things are gonna be alright here all by myself
When we're through, I'll lay you down, thinkin' of nothin' else
But the song of love that we just shared
The cigarette that I just smoked
The peacefulness I feel within
When I hold you close, among other things
Mmm, mmm my Maggie
Mmm, mmm my Maggie
Where would I be? So lost at sea . . . if you were not with me
Night has fallin' hard, time to close my eyes
Dreamin' you and I are found alone in paradise
If I can only get it right here all by myself
We'll be someday touchin' ground, doin' nothin' else
But plantin' seeds in our new garden
And watchin' the buds turn into bloom
Listenin' to the birds that sing
You're the world to me, among other things
Mmm, mmm My Maggie
Mmm, mmm My Maggie
Mmm, mmm
My Maggie
Lyrics and Music by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Click on the drawing of Maggie
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My Maggie.
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Drifting Lost at Sea © Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the Intro, 1st Verse
& 2nd Verse
Time: 1:48
1st of 6 clips
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the 2nd Verse
& PreChorus 1
Time: 1:14
2nd of 6 clips
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the 2nd Prechorus, 1st Chorus, 3rd Verse
Time: 1:43
3rd of 6 clips
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the 3rd Verse, 4th Verse, 3rd PreChorus
& 4th PreChorus
Time: 2:19
4th of 6 clips
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains
Interlude 1, Bridge 1, Bridge 2a, Bridge 2b
& Interlude 2
Time: 2:44
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains
Interlude 2, Interlude 3, Bridge 3, Verse 5, Verse 6, Outro
Time: 4:01
6th of 6 clips
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea was written over
a period of 30 months.
Judging from the six clips provided, Drifting Lost at Sea appears to be a fairly long song. Well, it is … 13 m 7s long, in fact. But I assure you, none of it will bore you. In a sense, it's six songs in one. Here's why this song turned out to be as long as it is …
As one might imagine, a whole lot had transpired during those 30 months of writing. Noel was just beginning his journey in '95, experiencing lows he'd never felt before. This song started out being a poem, which was addressed to God. Noel had been under the impression that he was chosen to do some miraculous thing; however, he had no idea what it might have been. The poem began as his official resignation from the appointment. But as with other things he has since written, he was to discover that his mind would be changed in the midst of quitting. This was the first of several times this had happened to him.
In the midst of his quitting, he followed up by writing, "But if it is indeed me, whom you have chosen to do what I now view as such an impossible dream, at least guide me in the right direction, because I'm still foolish enough to believe that impossible is only a figment of other people's imaginations, not mine!"
By the time he finished writing the song in December of '97, he'd gone from living indoors to becoming a street person … all the while, musical inspiration was bellowing out of him through every pore.
The development of the song came in spurts. Typically, as life unfolded for him in precarious ways, both the mood of the melody and the storyline of the song would transform along with what he'd been experiencing in real time. There were lines of lyric that he wrote that made no absolute sense to him at the time of writing them down.
He jotted the words down anyway, thinking he'd change them later. What he didn't know was that much of what was being written were words being spoken to him. It wasn't until he discovered that it was he who was being addressed in those mysterious lines of lyric before he was able to write the last two verses to the song, at which time more of what was evolving for him became revealed to him.
This is all I can tell you about the song's ending for now. The complete story behind this song is told in Chapter Fifteen of Left Unread The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass, and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Flute by Kelly Aulin
Recorded by Janine Rostron
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the Image of Noel drifting lost at sea below
to download a high quality MP3 of Drifting Lost at Sea
Drifting Lost at Sea
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1995 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Drifting Lost at Sea
Clouds above me, depths below me
Winds that shove me, waves that slow me
Lightning striking, thunder shattering hmm mmm
Vision’s blinding, nothing mattering to me
Why am I? Where am I?
Tell me, show me, help me, know me
Mind me, choose me, find me
Or lose me to my hand
Your demands defy me, crucify me
Untie me and guide me
Destitution, no solution
Mass confusion, such illusion to me
Ship is sinking, pain’s astounding
No resisting, feels like drowning to me
One last cry, one last try
To save me or grave me
To slave me or knave me
Land before my eyes
If another mirage, this time I’ll drown
Music and cheer, this must be paradise
I must taste the wine, retrieve the crown
This messenger’s been drifting lost at aea
Seems like a lifetime
Chasing this elusive dream
That you have put inside my mind
Knowing that this land I see’s within my reach
Though it took so long to find
Show me the sign
Finally, after years of drifting lost at sea, I land
Firm belief, inner piece, tranquility, I hold within my hand
Suddenly my fears have lifted, I am free
I know, now, why I am
Where I am
I’ve got so many things to say to you
Like the fact you’re always on my mind
If I could, I’d love to spend the day with you
But lately time is just so hard to find
Father, why have you forsaken me?
Must you test me and stress me ‘til
I’ve gone right out of my mind?
And Father, this land that you’ve taken me
Has the bend in the road and the rainbow
But I see no sign
My son, you have waited so patiently
Sometimes questioning why
Still believing but yet, you’re so blind
My son, go forth, lead relentlessly
Now’s the time to announce
Wear the crown, for you are the sign
Drifting Lost at Sea
Words and music written by Noel Carol © 1995 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Noel drifting lost at sea
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Drifting Lost at Sea
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Caught in the Crossfire © Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
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Caught in the Crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the 1st Verse, 2nd Verse, 1st Chorus, Interlude Time 2:00
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Caught in the Crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
This clip contains the Interlude, 3rd verse, 4th Verse
Time: 1:26
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Caught in the Crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
© Noel Carol 1995 - 2025
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Time: 2:48
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Caught in the Crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
Her name was Dahlia - the woman behind the inspiration of Caught in the Crossfire.
She and Noel had first met by accident. They had instantly hit it off together. She had a most likable personality and was also cute as a button. Her short hair, as black as coal, magnificently contrasted with her natural, ruby-red lips. They secretly dated for a brief period, if it could even be considered dating. When together, they shared topics of mutual interest and simply enjoyed wonderful conversations together. The risk that he was taking was comparable to that of walking a high wire without caring whether he’d fall or how he might land if and when he did. But Noel was foolishly falling for her and the landing was unlikely to be a pleasant one.
Early on in their rendezvous’, romance was held at bay between them, except for one particular time when they became semi-naked together in her car. She knew that he was married. Perhaps neither of their consciences would allow their actions to go any further than they had, so the idea of taking things further was zipped and buttoned up on the spot within the first few moments of passion.
The entire story of the unfolding of this song
can be found in Chapter Five of
Left Unread The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Vocals by Tara Heft
Lead Guitar by Van Lebrun
Keyboards by John Geraldson
Harmonica by Lee Hamer
Recorded and mixed by Chris Carriere Studio B
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the Crossfire Image below
to download a high quality MP3 of Caught in the Crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1995 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Caught in the Crossfire
Hold me close, close your eyes
Just for once, no more lies
Tell me where you’ve been to all these nights
Who’s this woman on your mind
Do you hold her tight, make her burn
With the passion that I yearn
While I wait here for you to return
Tell me what you hope to find
Wish that all this could be different
But the fact is that it isn’t
Must confess, I really don’t know who I am
While I’m caught up in the crossfire
Walkin’ on a high wire
Seems I’m fallin’ but I don’t care how I land
There you are, here I am
Cold reality is at hand
Slowly workin’ out my future plans (future plans)
Takin’ one day at a time (one day at a time)
You were right, we were wrong
For each other all along
All that we created, words for songs (words for songs)
One more day, another line (one day, one more line)
Thought you knew what you were doin’
After all, you end up losin’
As for me, I finally know who I am
While you’re caught up in the crossfire
Playin’ with a live wire
Hope it’s not too late when you decide to land
Caught up
I’m caught up in the crossfire
(Walkin’ on a high wire - I’m caught up in the crossfire
(Playin’ with a live wire - I’m caught up in the crossfire
Caught in the Crossfire
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1995 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Wishin', Hopin', Prayin' © Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
This clip contains the Intro & 1st Verse
Time: 1:12
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Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
This clip contain the 2nd Verse, Chorus 1
& Interlude
Time: 1:32
2nd of 3 clips
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Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
This clip contains the 3rd Verse, 4th Verse, Chorus 2 & Outro
Time: 2:59
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Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
This particular song came about while Noel was in a more subdued mood than he’d been in for a long time. Life’s problems were still present, but he was feeling a little more relaxed for a change.
Wishin’, Hopin’, Prayin’ was more or less a reflective moment for him. He took a somber look into the timeframe of his having gotten married at such a young age, viewing his wife and himself for what they truly were at the time of marriage. And what’s that, exactly? She was just a child, 17, and he was just a boy with wild dreams.
What were some of those dreams that he had for himself? Perhaps they consisted of one day experiencing a taste of fame and fortune. Perhaps they had something to do with one day making a significant impact on the entire world. Maybe he dreamed of experiencing perfect love. Whatever his dreams might have been, if he described them as being wild, they likely fell into the realm of being almost impossible for the average person to achieve.
In the first half of the song lyrics, Noel reflected on the long hours he’d worked during his early years of marriage. Life didn’t come about without its share of struggles in the late ’70s; life was, in fact, hard! He also reflected on how she might have felt being left alone at night while he was out doing his thing, as he worked excessively long hours during the week and played in bar bands on weekends. From the perspective of looking in from the outside, it might be difficult to imagine that someone could write such tender words to a song while simultaneously being so utterly evasive and absent as he’d been throughout the same time period to which his lyrics referenced.
The second half of the song momentarily transports the listener to a time in Noel’s recent past, and then, immediately afterward, leaps into the present. It begins as though he’s telling the story to the listener, providing a synopsis of what can happen to someone who has forever lived in a state of
disillusionment. It concludes as if he’s summarizing it all to himself – making himself believe that he had come a long way by this time.
The storyline of the first two verses kind of makes the singer appear to be somewhat of a hero – and in some ways, that’s exactly who and what he was. However, the last two verses could leave the listener with a sense of sorrow and perhaps even pity for the singer, who is evidently living in a state of fear, confusion, self-doubt and emptiness.
The entire story of the unfolding of this song
can be found in Chapter Nine of
Left Unread The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Vocals by Tara Heft
Lead Guitar by Van Lebrun
Keyboards by John Geraldson
Harmonica. by Lee Hamer
Recorded and mixed by Chris Carriere Studio B
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the Dice Image below
to download a high quality MP3 of Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
She was just a child, seventeen
He was just a boy with wild dreams
Long ago but they were much too young to know
Life was harder than it seemed
He worked night and day to get ahead
She lost track of all the tears she shed
Missed the touch of the man she loved so much
While she lie alone in bed
Wishin’, hopin’, prayin’ for his arms to hold her tight
And his kiss upon her lips before she’d turn out the light
Years of loneliness can take its toll
Makes you lose sight of your greatest goal
Love, it seems, in all your wildest dreams
Can create a bitter soul
When you’ve reached the point of no return
Givin’ up on love that you so yearn
Fall again? While fearing it might end
Though there’s so much that you’ve learned
Wishin’, hopin’, prayin’ for someone to hold you tight
And the kiss upon your lips before you turn out the light
Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Wishin', Hopin', Prayin'
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I Do © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
I Do © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
Intro, 1st Verse, Prechorus, 1st Chorus
Time: 2:00
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Noel Carol performing at the Stone Angel
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I Do © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
1st Chorus, 2nd Verse
Time: 1:41
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Noel Carol performing at the Stone Angel
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I Do © Noel Carol 1997 - 2025
2nd Verse, 2nd Chorus, Outro
Time: 2:48
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An excerpt from Chapter Fourteen titled "I Do" of
Left Unread The Stories Behind the Songs of Noel Carol
To sum it up in a nutshell, he couldn’t allow his hardships to be witnessed by his kids, especially not by Krista.
Perhaps you could describe it as his being ashamed of himself, being embarrassed by his situation, fearing the potential of rejection on his part, or all of the above – he just couldn’t bring himself to reach out to her. His reluctance to reach out didn’t imply that he didn’t care, although it must have certainly appeared that way to her. He knew that she was hurting deep inside, too, and she was likely harboring resentment toward him, which was undoubtedly growing exponentially as time ticked by. He had to do something about that, so on this one particular day, he decided to sit down and write her a letter.
After 30 minutes or so of staring at the pad of paper, nothing more was written. He simply could not find the words to express what he wanted to say. Each opening sentence that he previewed in his mind just didn’t seem adequate to him.
Maggie, of course, was with him at the time. He opened up his tattered blue-jean-covered guitar case and set her on his lap. He doodled around with some open chords that included the open E, B, and A strings, playing around with various strumming patterns. A new sound began to emerge for him, quite different from what he’d been producing until then. He liked how the three open notes sustained themselves as he continued with the intermittent pounding on the other strings. The open notes that lingered in the playing of Aadd9 and D5 droned, reflecting his being lost for words to express in his letter. The intermittent notes illustrated the unsettling back-and-forth turmoil within him.
After a while of experimenting with this musical idea, the words began to appear on the page. He simply started by stating what
and how he was doing and what was generally happening in his life. He went on to express how much he was missing her while also trying to explain that his absence from her life was not an indication that he didn’t care about her, because he did. The complete verse is sung, shifting back and forth between the unrelenting and painfully sad Aadd9 and D5 chords.
The entire story of the unfolding of this song
can be found in Chapter Fourteen of
Left Unread The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals and Acoustic Guitar by Noel Carol
Recorded by Chris Carriere from Studio B
Live! at the Stone Angel
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Sound Productions
Remastered by NMW Music Productions
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"I Do" at the Stone Angel below
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I Do
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1997 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
I Do
Sat down to write a letter to let you know I’m doin’ fine
But what am I to tell ya when words are not enough to bring you any piece of mind
A conversation that I had the other day with some friends of mine
Made me stop to think of just how much I’m missin’ you
It’s been such a long time with no sign of ever seein’ you soon
I know that these times are tryin’ but I need more time to make it up to you
My absence doesn’t mean that I don’t care
I do
So long since we’ve been together or even chatted on the phone
Seems like years since I last held ya
Time moves much too slow when too much time’s spent all alone
Circumstances always getting in the way
‘though I have all these seeds yet to be sown
But they just add to all the pain I feel from missin’ you
It’s been such a long time with no sign of ever seein’ you soon
I know that there’s no denyin’ that you need more time to think this whole thing through
And my absence doesn’t mean that I don’t care
I do
I said my absence doesn’t mean that I don’t care
I do
I Do
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1997 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Paperclips, Pennies and Dust © Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
Intro, 1st Verse, 1st half of 2nd Verse Time: 1:35
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Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
2nd half of 2nd Verse,
1st PreChorus, 1st Chorus
Time: 2:05
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Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
3rd Verse, 2nd PreChorus,
2nd Chorus, Outro
Time: 2:46
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Here's an excerpt from Chapter Twelve of
Left Unread The Stories Behind the Songs of Noel Carol
titled
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
He had a hard time falling asleep and when he finally did fall asleep, it wasn’t a restful one. He tossed and turned all night long, his dreams replaying the reality of the long, crooked road that lay ahead of him. With all that he’d been going through, he still believed that all he had to do was to get around the next bend in the road and there’d be a rainbow of hope waiting to greet him.
He finally woke up from his restless sleep, made himself a pot of coffee and opened his pouch of Drum tobacco to roll his first smoke of the morning. “Yeah, right! I’m outta smokes,” he was suddenly reminded.
He then went on a desperate rampage, searching through every last pocket in his jackets and jeans in search of loose cash. He managed to find some but it wasn’t enough. Next, he looked inside every single cup in the kitchen cupboards. Still nothing! He had this one remaining cup to check out, which sat on a table in the living room. He’d always tossed loose change in there in the past as an insurance policy for times like this. He took a quick look inside, then, grabbing hold of the handle, he emptied its contents onto the table, sifting through them with his index finger. He slowly concluded that he’d already raided this piggy bank cup. Under his breath, he whispered to himself, “Hmm, paperclips, pennies and dust.”
That’s all it took for the smoke to clear from his thoughts, thus inspiring the storyline of yet another song to be written. Forgetting about his need for a cigarette for the time being, he sat in his rickety old kitchen chair with Maggie on his lap. Yes,
his dream had turned into a living nightmare for him and his life had now become a complete and absolute contradiction to everything he held dear. But on the bright side, all it would take would be one great song and his whole life would become easier than it currently was. Yet, it seemed to him that instead of being on Easy Street, he was doing nothing but taking the back roads to success. And, of course, to make matters worse, his darlin’ had just picked up and gone.
The complete story behind this song is told
in Chapter Twelve of
Left Unread - The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Recorded by Janine Rostron
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the Paperclips, Pennies and Dust Image
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Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
Stress runnin’ high, cash runnin’ low
Gas tank’s on empty with places to go
Rent’s overdue for the last month or so
And my darlin’s just picked up and gone
Everything right’s turned out wrong
Reason to write one more song
I just gotta laugh, although I should cry
To tell you the truth, wish it all were a lie
My palms are all wet but my wallet is dry
And my darlin’s just cashed in her time
Just couldn’t make up her mind
But she’ll see it’s her loss, not mine
All night tossin’ and turnin’, wonderin’ where this road ends
Still believin’ my rainbow’s round the very next bend
Spent the next mornin’ searchin’, thinkin’ life’s such a joke
For nickels, dimes, pennies, quarters, enough to buy me some smokes
Went through every last pocket, then each single cup
To find paperclips, pennies and dust
Paperclips, pennies and dust
Times can be tough when you’re chasin’ a dream
To try make life easy, though sometimes, it seems
You’re takin’ the back roads, if you know what I mean
When your darlin’ just can’t understand
Picks up and changes your plan
But there’s no compromisin’ my stand
Well, I won’t let her forget me
And how she did me so wrong
Cuz when she turns on the dial and hears me singin’ this song
She’ll remember my lovin’
Tears’ll come to her eyes
She’ll regret that she left and that’s when she’ll realize
That there’s more to this man that she thought would go bust
Than paperclips, pennies and dust
Paperclips, pennies and dust
Paperclips, Pennies and Dust
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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After Today © Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
After Today
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
Intro, 1st Verse
Time: 1:28
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After Today
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
2nd verse, Chorus
Time: 1:32
2nd of 3 clips
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After Today
© Noel Carol 1996 - 2025
Chorus, 3rd verse, Outro
Time: 1:53
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An excerpt from
Chapter Ten, titled "After Today"
tells the story about the second of Noel's childhood friends having ended his life, which was the impetus
for this song to become written.
With as much courage as he could muster, Gerald replied, “My cousin and your friend, Renaud, is dead. But that’s not all. So are his wife and son; it happened yesterday.
Noel’s heart sank, not knowing what to say next. His heart raced. His thoughts raced even faster. “Who did this? Must’ve been a motorcycle accident. Did their house burn down? What the fuck? First Moe and now Renaud? Things happen in threes. That’s a sign that I’m next in line, I just know it!”
Yes, Renaud had taken the same route of escape as Moe had previously done only a few years prior. The only exception was that Renaud’s actions were three times as tragic.
As if Noel needed more demons to deal with! But regardless of whether he needed them or not, they just kept piling on, one after the other.
Noel had much to think about and digest. With the front-page article taped to his bare living room wall, he pulled up one of his rickety old kitchen chairs and set it directly in front of the photo of Renaud’s mom. His frame of mind was at a most fragile point. For three solid days, he sat and stared, remembered and analyzed, prayed and cried, contemplating and dwelling on what his own next move would be.
By this particular time in his life, Noel hadn’t been a stranger to the thought of ending his life. Throughout those three days, he imagined every conceivable method in which he could join his two childhood friends. He, too, had experienced his share of countless moments that had brought him to such devastating lows in the past year; yet, with all that he’d gone through, with all the times that he’d considered putting an end to the torment, he still had never gone through with it. “So, if Moe and Renaud hadn’t been able to deal with either of their life’s problems, they must have really been going through some tough shit!” he assessed.
Then it happened! His decision was made! He knew precisely how, when and where.
But then something else happened immediately after making his decision. A new melody entered his mind, one so devastatingly sad, that he had no choice but to explore it.
Once he began exploring it, he was given no alternative but to express how he felt by writing the song! Even though he believed that there was nothing left to say, he still had to say it.
Although it was too late to say anything anyway, he still had to make that known. And even though all had been said that he ever had to say, it still had to be written down. Considering the headspace he was in, he convinced himself that, “There will be nothing more worth saying, After Today.”
As painful as it was, there was no getting around it. He was left with no choice. So he sat there and wrote … After Today
Miraculously, the words of finality that Noel had written down that day had a reverse effect on him. Once again, he faced the need to change his thought process, enabling him to eventually figure things out and get back on track. This is his hope for you as well: that you won’t let his lyrics trigger you into harming yourself. Instead, let them inspire you to overcome what troubles you.
Having long since written those words, he’s developed the hope of one day inspiring you and others to come to the realization that: “No matter how much yesterday’s sorrows might lead you to believe that today holds nothing but empty tomorrows … as impossible as it may seem to be at the time, there will always be something more worth dreaming – After Today!”
The complete story behind this song is told
in Chapter Ten of
Left Unread - The Stories behind the Songs of Noel Carol.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Recorded by Janine Rostron
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the Image below
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After Today
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
After Today
A writer with nothing left to say
Is a writer with nothing
Too late to say anything, anyway
All has been said that there ever was to say
There will be nothing more worth saying after today
And a singer with nothing left to sing
Is a singer with nothing
Too late to sing about anything, anyway
All has been sung that there ever was to sing
There will be nothing more worth singing after today
After today are only empty tomorrows
Since yesterday is filled with such endless sorrow
I’m empty deep inside
Just wanna run and hide
Can’t push this pain aside
My mind just can’t decide a way
To end the way I feel
What’s fake from what is real
Too late, I cannot heal
Too much pain to conceal after today
And a dreamer with nothing left to dream
Is a dreamer with nothing
Too late to dream about anything, anyway
All has been seen that there ever was to see
There will be nothing more worth dreamin’ after today
After Today
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 1996 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Just for Fun © Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
Just for Fun
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
Intro 1:14
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"Just for Fun" Lyrics
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Just for Fun
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
Intro 1:37
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Just for Fun
© Noel Carol 2000 - 2025
Intro 2:24
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Chapter ???, titled "Just for Fun" tells the story about
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Recorded by Janine Rostron
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
Click on the "Just for Fun" Lyrics below
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Just for Fun
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2000 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Just for Fun
Well, it’s another night of loneliness occupying my time
I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout the two of us and maybe I should drop a line
There’s really nothin’ left to say
But I’ll just write it anyway
Just for fun
And throw it in the drawer with the other ones
No, nothin’s really new, I’m still livin’ day to day
I’m still hurtin’ over you but, in fact, I’m quite okay
Though I’ve got all these things to do
Thought I’d write a line or two
Just for fun
And throw ‘em in the drawer with the other ones
‘Cuz every once in a while my thoughts go back in time
Thinkin’ I could’ve changed the way things sorta went
For you, I walked the highest mountains
Just to learn you weren’t worth the climb
‘Cuz you never understood what the word ‘love’ meant
No, it wouldn’t change a thing, my walkin’ to the post
‘Sides, I’m lookin’ t’ward the spring, I may be headin’ for the coast
I feel it betters all the pain
Writin’ letters all in vain
Just for fun
To throw ‘em in the drawer with the other ones
If I knew then what I know so well today
I’d not be in the shape I’m in
If I’m just a game for your mind to play
Next time, I’m gonna win
‘Though I’ll not send it anyhow
I’ll just say so long for now
Just for fun
And throw it in the drawer with the other ones
Just for Fun
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2000 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Since and for Eternity © Noel Carol 2003 - 2025
Since and For Eternity
© Noel Carol 2003 - 2025
Intro 2:24
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Since and for Eternity
Since and For Eternity
© Noel Carol 2003 - 2025
Verse 1, 2 and Prechorus 2:35
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Since and for Eternity
Since and For Eternity
© Noel Carol 2003 - 2025
Chorus and Outro 2:34
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Since and for Eternity
Chapter 27, titled "Since and for Eternity" tells the story about Noel and Roxanne.
Here's an excerpt of it, to give you a little insight behind the lyrics of the song.
Just a few days after landing this new means to an end, Noel was to come across a woman with the face of an angel. She was walking up the same set of library stairs that he was descending. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. She had the most dazzling, magnificent pair of eyes. For Noel, it was love at first sight! He stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and watched her as she made her way up the staircase until he’d lost sight of her as she headed toward a table against the windowed wall. He couldn’t resist the temptation to approach her. I mean, she had the face of an angel!
If Noel had ever held an imagined vision of the woman whom he’d hoped to one day find, he had indeed discovered her at that very moment. How could he ignore that she was the one he’d been secretly searching for his entire life. He’d always known that if that day were to ever arrive, he’d know just what to do the moment he saw her face.
Song Contributors:
Music and Lyrics written by Noel Carol
All Vocals, Guitars, and MIDI Production by Noel Carol
Recorded by Sammy Sungh and Manny Goman
Mixed by Manny Goman
Mastered by NMW Music Productions
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Since and for Eternity
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2003 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
Since and for Eternity
Promise, I shall love you
Forever, as I always have
All my life
My whole life through
I've been searchin' for a girl
A girl like you
To share my life
My whole life through
Knowin' when I'd see your face
I'd know just what to do . . . ooo ooo
Then there you were
Right before my eyes
Walkin' down the paths we'd shared
In my mind, in paradise
Emotion stirred
Passion starts to rise
Forever lost in time and space
Since the moment I found you . . . you
Promise, I shall love you
Forever, as I always have
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo doo da doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo doo da doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo da doo doo da doo
Ah hah.......ah hah......ah hah
Since and for Eternity
Since and for Eternity
Since and for Eternity
Since and for Eternity
Lyrics and music written by Noel Carol © 2003 – 2025
noelcarol@noelcarolmusic.com
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Straight from the Streets
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Straight from the Streets
Compilation CD
Recorded Live! off the floor at the Stone Angel, in Ottawa, ON in 1998, featuring 15 indie recording artists.
A small community was involved in the production. They've been acknowledged in Chapter 16 of Left Unread; however, it's imperative they become acknowledged here, as well. They are:
Catherine Walker - Hostess
Lucy Hall - Data entry and layout design
Eddie Blad - Assistant
Danyk Amyot - MC
Jack Knox - Contributing visual artist
Chris Carriere - Audio recording
Robin Johnson - Video recording
Geoff Madore - Video recording
Darlene Belanger - Director
Virginia, Emily, and Rebecca - Servers
Stephanie Gelson - Greeter
Straight from the Streets Indy Arts Fest was …
Produced by NMW Music Productions © 1998 - 2025
Recorded by Chris Carriere Studio B
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Sound Productions
Post Production by NMW Music Productions
CD Snippets in order of performance
© NMW Music Productions 1997 - 2025 Time: 4:47
Honky Tonk Blues
© Joseph King 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:26
Excerpt from Left Unread
Will the real Neil Young please take a bow? No, Neil wasn’t one of the performers but a fellow by the name of Joseph King surely was! Aside from being a singer-songwriter, he also did a Neil Young tribute as part of his regular gig. With your back turned, it’s quite hard to distinguish the difference in the sound of their singing voices. Joseph’s original contribution to the album is titled “Honky Tonk Blues.”
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Honky Tonk Blues
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Free Spirit
© Steve Conrad 1997 - 2025 Time 1:49
Excerpt from Left Unread
Singer-songwriters come in all shapes and sizes. Steve Conrad is a tall, soft-spoken country gentleman, who wrote songs about real life situations, including topics related to the environment.
Steve performed some great songs at the festival, and once again, not only were the audience’s expectations met but they were also far exceeded.
The song selected to showcase Steve’s songwriting talent is titled “Free Spirit.”
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Free Spirit
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This is the Sound of Light
© Armour Patrick Garland 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:20
Excerpt from Left Unread
There was this other interesting chap, named Armour Patrick Garland. He could always be found performing his spoken word poetry at the Terry Fox memorial underpass. That’s where he and Noel had first met. Armour was self-described as an anarchist. His poetic perspective was both intriguing and entertaining. Somewhere in the mix, he was introduced to Rey, who then partnered with him on stage with his trumpet. The whole audience welcomed the unique combination of their joint performance. Thanks for your participation, fellas! The title of Armour’s and Rey’s spoken word, trumpet-driven poetry piece that was used on the album is “This is the Sound of Light.”
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This is the Sound of Light
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Come Down to the Farm
© Matt Brennan 1997 - 2025 Time 1:32
Excerpt from Left Unread
Matt was among the early recruits to the roster. Noel had stumbled upon him accidentally one day when he noticed Matt with a guitar case in his hand, prompting Noel to speak with him about the upcoming festival. The rest is history.
Matt performed with a down-home, no frills, folk music charm. He simply played great songs he’d written, each of which had a fine story to tell. "Come Down to the Farm" was the song that was chosen for the Straight from the Streets compilation. His songs appealed to every single person in the room.
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Come Down to the Farm
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The Life Song
© Mindy 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:35
Excerpt from Left Unread
Mindy was yet another talented young busker who also preferred to perform in some of Noel’s favorite busking spots. She had a most uncannily unique voice and guitar style that Noel truly admired, having compared her style to that of Ani DiFranco. Naturally, he invited her to join him on the expedition.
The audience loved her music as much as Noel did. He had no doubts beforehand about how they might react to her songs. The song that was chosen to be included on the compilation album was titled, “The Life Song.”
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The Life Song
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She
© Sylvain Dicaire 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:44
Excerpt from Left Unread
Rarely has anyone witnessed a musical audience lose their collective breath in unison, such as Sylvain Dicaire, another street busker, had accomplished in one of his song performances. Every single song of his was well received by everyone in the audience; however, his song, titled “She,” was definitely a favorite that left them breathless. This song naturally became the selection for the album.
Sylvain, although quite accustomed to singing in front of hundreds from a dimly lit sidewalk in the early hours of the morning, was nervous about performing before a seated audience. However, he utilized what might have been perceived as an obstacle, to his advantage. His already very melodic voice developed a slight shakiness to it, which only enhanced the charm of his performance. Be careful! You just might also lose your breath when you finally get to listen to his song, “She.” Sylvain, Noel was truly proud to share the stage with you. Thank you for your greatness.
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She
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The Bold and the Shy
© Danyk Amyot 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:41
Excerpt from Left Unread
With his natural ability to think on his feet, Danyk was a shoe-in for the MC job that Noel needed to fill. This was the first part of his contributions to the festival. He also performed some stand up spoken word poetry for the audience members, to which he received much applause. The title of his album performance is “The Bold and the Shy.” Thanks for all your efforts, Danyk.
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The Bold and the Shy
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It's Black
© Mike Moore 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:34
Excerpt from Left Unread
Next on the list of people to recognize is a singer-songwriter named Mike Moore. Mike’s songs, for the most part, are dark; however, that doesn’t mean to say that his songs aren’t great. Au contraire! His deep voice and engaging lyrics will immerse you in the setting he creates through his writing. Mike played guitar and performed with a bassist named, Al Fleury, who also sang backup. Mike’s song, titled "It’s Black," was chosen for the album.
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It's Black
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Washed Away
© Sean Riley 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:35
Excerpt from Left Unread
It was there (at The Whipping Post) that Noel met Sean Riley, a singer-songwriter, who also had something worthwhile to contribute to the Indy Arts Festival.
As it turned out, Sean had a five-piece band called Machine Gun Kelly, which included Hazel Figurine, Russ Lovatt, Grayden Gardiner and Tanya Onysco. After having several meetings with Noel, Sean agreed to have his band perform at the festival. Everyone enjoyed the band’s sound. His original song, "Washed Away," was chosen for placement on the album. Thank you for your contribution, Sean et al.
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Washed Away
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Hang on to Your Hat
© John Sperry 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:14
Excerpt from Left Unread
Word of the upcoming festival had begun to gain momentum in the underground music community. As time progressed, several individuals tracked Noel down in hopes of getting on board with the project. John Sperry just so happened to be one of those people. John had a unique, ahead-of-his-time guitar-playing style. His joining the project was definitely a treat for the audience. His unique piece that was exhibited on the compilation is an instrumental titled, “Hang on to Your Hat.”
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Why
© Stu Brody and Susan Wheatley
1997 - 2025 Time: 1:28
Excerpt from Left Unread
Last but not least is a band called Ether, comprised of Stu Brody, Susan Wheatley, Chris Giguere, Jason Simser, and Brad Craig. Noel first met Susan at another downtown live music venue. Upon his discovering that she, too, wrote songs with her bandmate, Stu, Noel could finally finalize the fifteenth act for the roster. He attended one of their rehearsals to listen to their music, to which he immediately developed an appreciation for their style and cohesion as a band. Ether’s performances received a warm welcome by the audience members. The song that was chosen for their spot on the album is called "Why." Thanks for your contribution, guys and gal!
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What Do You Think You're Askin' Me
© John Bond 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:17
Excerpt from Left Unread
Another local pub, called The Mad Cow, had also been a favorite place of Noel’s to visit, usually with a handful of friends in tow. It was there that Noel was introduced to John Bond, another eclectic singer-songwriter who had a uniquely distinct sound. John would sometimes get up on stage by himself and at other times he’d perform with a somewhat thrown-together group of friends of his to play several of his songs. Either way, whether performing alone or with the group, Noel had always enjoyed what he’d heard from John.
Graham Pilkington, Frank Easton, and Jacques Charpentier are the three supporting musicians who performed on stage with John at the Indy Arts Fest. The crowd at the festival truly enjoyed their style of music. "What Do You Think You’re Askin' Me" is the song that was chosen for the compilation.
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Mists of Time
© Paul McDonald 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:26
Excerpt from Left Unread
The last solo artist to be signed to the roster was another gentleman named Paul McDonald. He’d been traveling the world, but just so happened to be in Ottawa at the time the festival was about to commence, much to the Indy Arts Fest’s appreciation. He’d heard about it through the grapevine and took it upon himself to seek Noel out. They met at a coffee shop, and the rest was history in the making. Paul recorded his beautiful song titled “Mists of Time.”
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I'm Fallin'
© Robb Kerr 1997 - 2025 Time: 1:37
Excerpt from Left Unread
The festival wasn't titled Straight from the Streets for nothing. It was a reality, in fact! This next chap, Robb Kerr, was another street busker whom Noel got to know. When Noel first met him, he was performing as part of a duo. They had a great musical vibe going on between them, with wonderful harmonies and musicianship. Unfortunately, the duo fell apart before the shows got underway. That didn’t prevent Robb from delivering a fantastic performance on his own, though. His melodic voice and choice of original songs were a huge hit in the room. His song, titled “I’m Fallin’,” was selected for the album cut.
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I Do
© Noel Carol 1997 - 2025 1:43
Excerpt from Left Unread
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I Do
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“I’ve always paid close attention to song lyrics, especially those that are melancholic and speak of love lost or of being hard-won. Most people can relate to this type of human struggle. Noel seems to have written these lyrics from a very honest perspective regarding his experience. There is something beautiful about the juxtaposition of a rose being given to someone in the coldness of November, which I think conveys a slight warmth and leaves the listener on the verge of emotion throughout the entire song. I believe ‘Roses in November’ would easily become a country hit single if given even a small chance to be released in the world.”
Words written by Dave about "Roses in November",
taken from Chapter 29 of Left Unread The Stories Behind the Songs of Noel Carol
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