My life story ...so far

When I was 14, I decided to be a musician. It was a lifetime decision that I have never looked back on. I have talked to people who are my age that still don't know what the hell they want to be and it makes me feel so lucky and blessed that I knew who I wanted to be so long ago. However, I do not have my own house,a steady income, my own children who will carry on my family gene, daily phone calls from friends, a car I can depend on, money to travel with or a degree. A life, as they say.

What I do have, though, is this relentless passion and motivation to make music for all of you who chose to take on life's trials and tribulations day by day, with hard work and the willingness to survive. To some how filter all this chaotic bullshit that we create into moments of blissfulll ear joy. When I play a song to people who enjoy it, it gives me another reason to be here for another day. When someone tells me that my music makes them feel good, I have to make more. It's because of this that my life doesn't seem like work. Regardless of the countless hours I have spent alone, rain or shine composing music. Thanks to my family and friends, I have been awarded the time I need to create music. I am not speaking for every musician out there. I am telling you how I feel. Why? Because this is my life story. It's being written everyday that I am alive. My songs are going to out live me. I appreciate that dearly anytime I listen to Jimi or SRV or Robert Johnson or...any artist that is gone.

So I think it is important to make time to say these things that I will not be able to say one day. Technology makes it possible and very easy to record my thoughts and feelings, as well as songs. I'd hate for my entire life story to be read as a facebook thread, as I add one more file to the countless records of peoples lives being kept by...someone out there. And since I am a musician, the soundtrack, pretty much, writes itself.

It is quite a self empowering moment to realize that I do have control of my life if I am writing the story each day.

This is my life story...so far.

Your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

my opinion is biased and reflects the age and experience I have had as an American citizen. As a 41 year old Black and Japanese American musician, I have been debating with people, defending and honoring your name since you have become the President of the United states of America.

I enjoy it very much. I hope that you get re-elected in 2012.

your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

For the Conquering

Here is a song I wrote recently. It's one of my many replies to all the political whining that's going on in the democratic party. When I heard that someone was "tired and exhausted" of defending President Obama, I was disheartened a bit. And I wondered if maybe during Dr. Martin Luther King's walk to the capitol, it was this person's relative who mentioned this same kind of thing to Dr. King.

"Mr. King...I'm getting tired of all this walking AND defending you. I thought you said we were gonna get 40acres AND a pony! "

Impatience wasn't the virtue I had read about.

Especially when it includes say an ENTIRE NATION of people.

But...instead of actually saying this to somebody...I wrote down these words with one of those old fashion tools we used to keep around the house. I think it's called a pen.

So this one is about internal struggle with in the camp; no fighting in the temple; bringing down the moral...etc...

We have technology. Let's use it to stick together...

You voted for change, now you wanna back out

I don't really know what you're talking about

You partied all night on the 8th of November

Now you try to act like you don't remember

You said if he lost you would move far away

And leave us with the people who continue to hate

They want us to flock like birds of a feather

Who can't take the pressure of sticking together

So let me remind you my friends

They unite to divide us all for the conquering

I don't mean to diss or scare you away

But the party on the right's pushin' judgement day

They're so quick to republish the hype

The monotonous drone of a stereo type

They got you shakin' like your sittin' on ice

Afraid to speak out because it wouldn't sound nice

You can't stand the words I've said

I CAN TELL BY THE CAPS IN YOUR COMMENT THREAD

Let me remind you again

They unite to divide us all for the conquering

Divided we fall, united we live

In spite of it all I could never give in

Lookin' back I would have to admit

That loose lips sink relationships

And if we end up lost at sea

You'll be looking down tryin' to tread on me

So hold tight to your hopes and dreams

They want control of the whole damn thing

And let me remind you again

They unite to divide us all for the conquering

~Musashi Lethridge

This song will be up soon on

The Musashi Trio at Reverbnation page...

AKA your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

Po'tree: Impossible...

In our hearts beat the rhythm of infinite dreams

In our souls we need not know what this means

Faith is the compass that wakes us tomorrow

Time is the essence of all things we borrow

I like to lean with a smile to tease gravity

Everything we do means the world to me

Through out our own lives we may see why we live

The reason we're here is our reason to give

Those who make haste to control other's dreams

Lose the meaning of hope and destroy everything

The heaven they've made with their insecure minds

Will be void of their soul like a light to the blind

Karma and justice divided by grief

Subtracted by moments of pure disbelief

All tell a tale that we find so endearing

When we take the time to confront what we're fearing

Negative news is abusive and crass

It manifests future events from the past

Focused on this type of sincerity

Brings out the worst of our humanity

Truth is a razor, a shield and a cup

It cuts and protects and might swallow you up

A day without truth is a child with no smile

I can live with your lies but I'd drown in denial

For every lost heart there's a family of dreams

For every cruel act there's an ocean of streams

For every lost moment that echos with pain

There's a chance of pure hope to remind you again

It is impossible for all to be lost...

your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

The next level of Haiku poetry: Edition #1

As a Black and Japanese person, I thought it would be fitting to revisit an old folklore tradition called "yo mama caps", (which was very popular among Black youths in my school days) and blend it with a Japanese poem format called Haiku.

"Yo mama caps" as I remember, was (and still is) the art of creating an imaginary mother of a friendly foe and manifesting insult, within an improv theme. Often done near a small audience of friends and/or acquaintances acting as a judiciary panel for deemed scoring ability. Shouts of "oooh shiiiiiiiiit!" and " Daaayuuuum!" were the equivalent of scored points in a match.

Popularized as a "one liner delivery" form, I though it would be a challenge to consolidate this "street thespianism" into Haiku format.

Haiku format, as you may know has 3 lines only.

The 1st and 3rd lines of poem must be 5 syllables. The 2nd line must be 7.

Some find Haiku poetry extremely challenging. Some do not.

As it turns out...I have a natural gift for this new hybrid art from which I have dubbed:

"Haiku Yo Mama-san"

I hope you enjoy this collection of works as much as I did creating it.

Your mom is so fat

she went outside today

The whole earth stood still

Your mom's so greasy

Rosie O donnel once said

she tastes like chicken

Your mom is so dumb

she could not write a haiku

and misspelled E.T.

Your mom is so poor

she used the corn on her feet

to feed you today

Your mom is so big

The Sun Belt holds up her pants

The Moon is eclipsed

Your momma's so dumb

she jumped out of a window

and fell to the sky

Your mom's so greasy

Jermaine Jackson had to say

your mom's so greasy

Your mom's retarded

She must wear a blue sticker

to think thoughts out loud

Your Mom is so large

the big bang theory still stands

right under your mom

Your mom smells so bad

I saw a skunk hold his breath

when he walked by her

Your mom drives so bad

my asian relatives say

your mom should not drive

Your mom drives so bad

I heard she failed the exam

on your new skateboard

Your mom is so fat

Greenpeace has taken the fifth

and has walked away

Your mom is so thin

she jumped into a fruit loop

and then disappeared

Stay tuned for Edition #2 of "Haiku Yo Mama-san"

Your friendly cyberhood

Uncle samurai