HAL POLLOCK

Set the World to Music — The Living Songbook
The Living Songbook of Hal Pollock

For people who still read the liner notes.

An anthology you read while you listen.
300+ original songs

or explore the full songbook →

Remember the ritual? Sliding the record from its sleeve, reading every word on the jacket while the first song played. The lyrics. The credits. The story behind the music. We stopped doing that.
This brings it back.

This week's song — read it, then hear it
Where Did All the Time Go — Hal Pollock (Live)
Where Did All the Time Go
Lyrics by Hal Pollock  ·  Live
Where did all the time go? I wasted on the way Is there a way to get it back To live another day? If I knew then what I know now I'd never waste my time But time is wasted by the young No reason and no rhyme

The story

One of Hal's most reflective songs — a live take on looking back, on the time we let slip away, and the wish to hold on a little longer to the people we love. [Add the backstory here if you'd like — who performed it live, where, or what it means to you.]

What's inside the songbook

  • Full lyrics to 300+ original songs — read every word.
  • Recordings by artists from around the world, bringing Hal's words to life.
  • The stories behind the songs: who, why, and how they came to be.
  • Save your favorites and build your own songlist.
  • New songs, recordings, and collaborations added regularly.
  • For artists: a recording workbook — find your next song to record.
The lyricist behind the songs

Hal Pollock has spent decades writing lyrics that move people. He paints pictures with words — songs of peace, of overcoming, of holding onto hope. As founder of Esquire Records, he's built one of the most dynamic independent catalogs in music: pop, Broadway-style ballads, big band, country, R&B, and inspirational anthems.

"Music is a healing force. It knows no boundaries — the universal language of love."Hal Pollock, Founder, Esquire Records

The whole anthology, open

$9.99 / month · cancel anytime
  • Full access to every song — lyrics, recordings, and stories.
  • Save favorites and build your songlist.
  • New releases and collaborations as they're added.
Start your access

Start with a song. It's free.

One song a week — the words, the voice, and the story behind it — in your inbox.

or open the full songbook now