Hey there JPFers! Mike LeBlanc kindly let me have at his lyric and this is where I took it. Have a listen or two and tell us what you think. If I had a more growly voice like Gregg Allman, I think I could make it even better but, it wasn't meant to be.

https://soundcloud.com/rickib/prison-called-love

Prison Called Love

Lyrics - Mike LeBlanc
Music - Ricki E. Bellos

You put your ball and chain on me many years ago
I never once wanted to shake free
I'm doing all my time in your sweet arms, won’t let go
A life sentence so throw away the key

I could never imagine myself escapin’ from you
I wouldn't want to spend one night alone
I’ll never be a free bird singin' those lonesome blues
With a heart always cold as a stone

So lock me away, forever and a day
One hundred years would never be enough
I'm guilty as charged of crimes of the heart
Here in this prison called love

This has got to be the easiest way to do my time
You'll never see me try to make a break
I can tell that your days with me are just as fine
We both guard this love that's at stake

So lock me away, forever and a day
One hundred years would never be enough
I'm guilty as charged of crimes of the heart
Here in this prison called love

So lock me away, forever and a day
One hundred years would never be enough
I'm guilty as charged of crimes of the heart
Here in this prison
Here in this prison
Here in this prison called love
Locked away in this prison called love

Really fine work Ricki!Diggin' the guitar and all around feel of the song.Thanks a bunch for bringin' this one to life.Mike

If one must "do time"... this is the path I would choose! Really nice work, Michael and Ricki. Enjoyed so much. ----Dave

((( [color:#3366FF]GOOD TEAM WORK )))

It's your type of song Ricki.

Calvin

The Blood Of My Youth..... [/color]http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

I like how this went!! The metaphor is perfect!! Great job!! :)))) Scotty

Glad you liked how it turned out, Mike. I was hearing the music before I finished reading the lyrics and like I said, it always sounds better in my head, but I did my best. Thank you for letting me play!

Ricki

Me too, Dave. Glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks Calvin. It is my type of song, which is why the music came so easily. Thanks for listening.

Ricki

Thanks for listening, Scotty. That Mike guy has a way with words!

Ricki

thanks Dave R.!Mike

Thanks Calvin,yeah Ricki handles these real good.Mike

thank ya there Scotty!Mike

Hi Mike and Ricki,

Great lyric, musical rendering, and performance.

Addiction is not mentioned, nor is being a slave--other metaphors for writing about love as an unbalanced affair. Leonard Cohen is constantly coming back to the idea of love between two as often encompassing some kind of benign master/slave relationship, or at least alluding to that.

There's some great "smoke-and mirrors" going on that makes this work for me. Love is a prison in this song, and it seems like we should be hearing about wanting to get OUT of a prison! It's the use of lingo that accompanies prison life like "make a brake" and "ball and chain" that makes it work, and it works great. We understand that "prison" is used as a metaphor for being addicted (to his love) and that addiction is itself, the prison.

Ricki, nice job on the blue notes in the singing and I've often heard a love of Gregg Allman in your performance and compositions.

Beautiful work!

Mike

Nice!

Well done, y'all!

(cool vocal)

fj

thanks a lot for that Michael.Mike

When I saw the lyric I expected to hear a JC train rhythm going on so was pleasantly surprised.

I like the melody and most of the lyric apart from a couple of lines that seem overcrowded but nothing that can't be fixed.
That is of course just my own opinion and I could be just too picky. :-)

Vic

Mike, thanks for listening. I didn't write the lyrics but in my mind, they're saying that the singer doesn't want to escape and while for some, the feeling of being in prison should be a bad thing, for the singer, it's what she/he wants and, the feeling is mutual so, no slave/master here. Just the feeling I got from it. And thanks for the comments on the vocal. I should practice screaming more to roughen it up a bit and really get my Greggette on!

Ricki

Thanks Floyd, and thanks for listening.

Ricki

Hey Picky Vic, thanks for listening and letting us know what you think. We like to surprise folks, hopefully pleasantly.

RIcki

Hey Ricki and Michael

Really enjoyed the lyric and Ricki's magical touch with the music. I am not hearing Gregg Allman though. I am hearing Springsteen with a track from the Nebraska album. Very stark, simple and haunting.

Dave

Thanks for listening Dave. Try putting the Allman Brothers behind it...

thanks for the visit Floyd.Mike

thanks for the listen and your thoughts on this one Vic.Mike

thank ya Dave!Mike

An interesting concept. I guess prison's not such a bad place if you're happy.

What a creative lyric, and really cool music too! I could hear this for a singer like Janiva Magness. Check her out..

YEP! If you're facing a life sentence, it would best be served alongside someone you love. Anything less is unacceptable.
Thanks for listening, Jim.

Ricki

I did check her out and you're right, this would be great for her. Got her number? Thanks for the listen and glad you liked what you heard.

Ricki

Haha, nah I don't. But I know of a writer who pitched a song to her through a Taxi listing, and got it cut. It's the song "Badass" on her album "Original". That's a fact, so, don't rule it out. These things still happens if you seek them out.

Thanks Magne, but I'd probably have as much luck sending smoke signals.