"I BELIEVE"

Music and Lyrics: Michael Foster
Written: Negril, Jamaica December, 1978
Music Rearranged in June, 2006
Recorded in June, 2006 at ROUGH CUT STUDIO...Eastford, Conn.
Mixed at GOLDEN SUN STUDIO...North Palm Beach, Florida.
Mastered by: David Pendragon at THE STUDIO...Canberra, Australia.
Michael Foster: Electric Guitars (Pan Left), Vocals, First Guitar Solo,
Mark Easton: Electric Guitars (Pan Right), Second Guitar Solo
Guest Vocalist (Harmonies): Stephanie Krowka
Copyright 1979, 2006, by Crystal Magic Music Publishing (ASCAP)

This song..."I Believe" was one of many songs I wrote while on one of the many "retreats" to a villa I would rent every year in Negril, Jamaica...to rest and recharge...and almost always, to write new music. An amazingly beautiful and spiritual place...Negril was always very conducive to my songwriting...and this song reflects that special energy very well, I think.

This is a song about the things in my life that I deem to be most important...and that also reflects my belief that we all must assume responsibility for the state of the world...as we find it. Saying what I believe is any easy thing to do. Living my life by those principles is a bit more difficult...and requires constant effort on my part. Each of us is responsible for creating our own little corner of the world...and just because the world tells me that it isn't my fault for the "state of things"...my own spiritual beliefs tell me that is a lie. Just like a pebble thrown into a still pond sends ripples outwards from where it enters the water...and touches places on the opposite shore I may not even be able to see...the energy I "send" out by my actions and my beliefs...whether positive and healing... or negative and harmful... also extends outward....and touches places far from where I may actually be physically at. A smile for a stranger...who is having a bad day...can cause that person's day to brighten...and in turn...he or she passes along a smile instead of a frown, to other people they may have contact with...and so it goes...on and on...long after I have moved on to another location. And so each of us plays a role...in either healing the planet...or wounding it. I guess...this is just what "I Believe"...because to me, the irrefutable logic of it...is the only proof I need. I am either a part of the problem...or I am a part of the solution.

Avalanche performed this song live during the initial years that the original band was together...and it was very well received when we performed it in our live concerts...but this is the first time since we ( the surviving original members) have reformed (there were a few different incarnations of the band over the years) that we have been able to get this song recorded. This is also the first time ever that a female voice has been part of an Avalanche recording. Special thanks to Stephanie Krowka for her fine vocal contributions to this track.

1st Verse 

I believe in love...and I believe in light 
I believe in sound...and I believe in sight 
I believe in old...I believe in new 
I believe in me...I believe in you 
I believe in you... 

2nd Verse 

I believe in music, 

I believe in soft...and I believe in hard 
I believe in rock and roll...and I believe in God 
I believe in friendship...and I believe in Truth 
I believe from all these things... 
We taste the sweetest fruits... 
Yeah, we taste the sweetest fruits. 

And I hope to love tomorrow...I love to live today 
And I guess I don't believe...in living life in...yesterday... 
And should tomorrow's promises...never come to be... 
Don't turn away...(Don't turn away...the blame will fall) 
Don't turn away...(Don't turn away...the blame will fall) 
Don't turn away...(Don't turn away...the blame will fall) 
Don't turn away...Don't turn away... 

Don't turn away...(Don't turn away...the blame will fall) 
Don't turn away...the blame will really fall... 
On you and me...the blame will fall on you and me.