Silverleaf 16 Feb 2026

Posted by Blue - 10 March 2026

Tags: blog Silverleaf

The Songwriter’s Open Mic at Dan’s Silverleaf Hosted by Justin Collins

Dan’s Silverleaf is home to a weekly Monday-night Songwriter’s Open Mic hosted by Justin Collins.

Justin Collins opening the mic at Dan's Silverleaf, 16 February 2026. — Justin Collins opening the mic at Dan’s Silverleaf, 16 February 2026. Photo by Blue Ajay

It’s worth a visit just for Justin’s opening performance.

My two songs:

This particular event features, on average, two songs for each performer.

“At the Bell” is a Jobian tale about one who was born destined to box with the devil.

At the Bell

Expand for lyrics and details.

At the Bell

This is just another nail in my plain pine coffin
familiar as a pre-rain ache
Another loop on the noose
Another drip down the candle
just another regret to forsake

Maybe it’s my calling, maybe it’s my aura
I’m fated to lose and that’s the rub
By now it’s just accepted that
I’m ready and I’m chomping at
the bit to toe to toe with Beelzebub

I lost a hand of blackjack on the lid of my own box
before a winning round of Russian Roulette
Got a splinter in my eye acclimating to these digs
Pulled it out by a wilted bouquet

I’m acquainted with these losses
among statues and crosses
in this untended back acre plot
Working my own shovel, and working my own iron
These blisters are the only thing I’ve got

Well, I’ve got dreams and I’ve got plans
beyond this throwing of the hands
but my agency might just be a lie
My gut is feeding hunches that
foreshadow only punches
This was scripted by promoters from on high

I’m gonna toe to toe throw hands with Beelzebub
I’m gonna toe to toe throw hands with Beelzebub
It’s on the card, it’s on the poster
Winning chicken in the roaster
Been my booking since the moment I was formed
At the bell I’ll come out swinging like a storm
At the bell I’ll come out swinging like a storm
It’s on the card, it’s on the poster
Winning chicken in the roaster
Been my booking since the moment I was formed
At the bell I’ll come out swinging like a storm
At the bell I’ll come out swinging like a storm

Inspired by May 2025 Denton Songwriters Guild prompt, “I’ve got dreams”.

Words and music by Blue Ajay
Written 16 April 2025
© 2025 Sanity Check Musec ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission

No Silver

My second song for the night, “No Silver” appears on the final Booze Monkey album, the New Mythology E.P..

Expand for lyrics and details.

No Silver

I’ve traded blows with satan
took jesus out in two
I’ve railed at god for a title bout
he’s too chicken shit he’ll lose

There’s no silver to my lining
There’s no twinkle to my eye
my tongue is nowhere near my cheek
I’m just waiting here to die
For the most part baby it’s clear enough
I’m just waiting here to die

I danced with a voodoo priestess
on a thick and murky night
we were listening to swampy blues
and rutting in the moon light
I’ve beaten back so many demons
Hell hound now guards my door
I got this ring from a Flathead shaman
who I then paid to sweep my floor
There’s no silver…

solo section

I’ve been stalked by the darkest clouds
as well as the fluffy & white
been struck by lightning 13 times
strike me down if I’m telling a lie
I’ve met parasites & preachers
their soldiers & their teachers
back around biting reachers
all sorts of leaches

There’s no silver to my lining
there’s no twinkle to my eye
my tongue is nowhere near my cheek
I’m just waiting here to die
There’s no silver to my lining
I’m just waiting here to die
There’s no silver to my lining
I’m just waiting here to die

Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2014 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission

Snapshots

Christina and I take photographs with our phones. We attempt to snag one or two flattering photos of each performer.

Then I muck up the pix using Hipstamatic.

We can seldom stay until the end of the night, so we don’t usually get photos of the songwriters who perform later in the evening. Having performed at the song-swap in Arlington TX the night before, we left a bit earlier than usual this night.

– Blue