Metaphor was written together with a fellow soldier and good friend, Jay Treadway. Back in 2002 we were both stationed in Germany. he was about to leave on a deployment. We weren’t sure if we were ever going to see each other again.

So I remember he and I got together in an empty barracks room with a laptop computer. I perform the lyrical part and the harmonica, but Jay Treadway is the driving rhythm in the background.

This song is a romantic look at what it was like to be the crew chief for UH 60 helicopter. Or maybe it was just about a girl.

MUSIC DAVE

Music Dave arrived in Alaska in 1999 with the U.S. military and found himself drawn to storytelling during the long, dark winters of the Interior. Picking up an acoustic guitar for comfort and creativity, he soon began writing songs about love, war, and aviation—deeply personal themes inspired by life, service, and the vast Alaskan landscape.

He quickly took his stories to the people of Fairbanks, performing at places like Ivory Jack’s, on street corners, and at local farmers markets. These early performances built a lasting connection between Music Dave and the Fairbanks community—one grounded in honesty, humor, and human experience.

Driven by a love of language and craft, Dave enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and earned his Bachelor’s degree in English. His academic background continues to shape his approach to songwriting, allowing him to merge poetic storytelling with melody in meaningful and accessible ways.

In recent years, his storytelling has evolved into multimedia form. He is the creator of The Adventures of Music Dave, an online flipbook that combines original fiction with a unique, integrated soundtrack. This immersive story, which he describes as intergalactic Alaskan folk, follows a character named Music Dave on a cosmic journey of self-discovery across galaxies. The project lives exclusively at musicdaves.com, where readers can experience the story enhanced by original music embedded directly on the page—an innovative blend of song and narrative that expands the possibilities of storytelling in the digital age.

Still rooted in his Fairbanks home, Music Dave continues to perform live, especially during weeklyunday night shows in his own backyard off Gillam Way. These intimate gatherings, known locally as the Artist Market, showcase new music, foster community, and keep the spirit of local storytelling alive.

With over two decades of experience, Music Dave remains committed to sharing stories that are grounded in Alaskan life but reach far beyond—songs and tales that connect, uplift, and imagine a bigger world.

Listen to samples of all tracks at www.musicdaves.com