#35 TODAY WE ALL REMEMBER
(Folk-Pop)
Last week an old dear friend died,
I was there at her bedside.
Co-workers from way back when,
But where to begin?
No relations still living,
She made piles of friends.
Her eulogy, the task is mine,
Will do my best, I need to shine.
How to start? No challenge there,
Today we all remember.
Abigail Jensen Parker,
Died the ninth of September.
I'll say how we all loved her,
Knew few, if any, above her.
We're now forced to discover,
From a great loss must recover.
I'll end with words we always hear:
A world now slightly darker.
Without the love and light of
Abigail Jensen Parker.
While these words I am saying,
My thoughts inside fraying.
Because we were a great team,
The struggles we've seen.
Treating children with cancer,
Her nurse and me doc.
Brought back many from death's door,
But then lost so many more.
Sure, I'll keep my words safe but,
Inside have a heart full of rage.
As I cry and mourn my friend,
Fret my hour upon this stage.
At the end her cancer was bad,
She suffered for so many days.
One single thought that I had,
From which I could not stray:
Should have been me dying on that bed.
Too dark? How's this for darker?
Damn you God for what you did to
Abigail Jensen Parker.
#34 DON'T AND DON'T (MISTER BABY)
(Country)
You were always sweet,
Credit where credit's due.
But then things turned,
Much less us, much more you.
Time out with the boys.
Time in with your toys.
One day lazy you showed up,
Followed by stoned you as well.
And stoned brought in goofy,
You'd all laugh and yell.
Had my fill, tossed you out,
Our time now spent.
But then someone,
Could not take the hint.
You'd claim we're still dating,
When our friends ask.
You say I'm just moody,
A phase, it'll pass.
Your big body must contain,
A jumbo toddler brain.
Why else would a
Gentle happy giant.
Fail to figure out,
What broken up meant.
Your weird's making me,
Grumpy and bolder.
So I keep repeating,
Over and over.
Just stop, let us drop!
Every time when we meet,
Your playlist, stuck on repeat.
"Let me hug you skin to skin"
"I'm packed, ready to move back in."
That brain of yours is all locked doors.
Tell you like I did before:
"Don't and don't! Don't and don't!"
What to do? And where do I go?
'Cause you just can't hear me say no.
Ask me who's that over yonder?
Meet my ex, the six foot toddler.
Not unsafe, you won't hurt a fly,
Just frustrating, not gonna lie.
Mister Baby who thinks we're fine,
Forcing me to take a hard line.
Just stop, let us drop!
Every time when we meet,
Your playlist, stuck on repeat.
"Let me hug you skin to skin"
"I'm packed, ready to move back in."
That brain of yours all locked doors.
Tell you like I did before:
"Don't and don't! Don't and don't!"
Let us stop, just drop!
Same thing when we meet,
Your playlist, stuck on repeat.
"Let me hug you skin to skin"
"I'm packed, ready to move back in."
That brain of yours all locked doors.
Tell you like I did before:
"Don't and don't! Don't and don't!"
Until that day you finally grow up,
I'll have the same words and tone.
I hear you beg, plead and moan?
Once more: "Don't and don't!"
#33 GET IN THE WAY
(Protest Song)
Weary and tired of seeing,
Videos on the web every night.
What they're doing to our country,
Nothing about this is right.
Thugs with their faces covered,
They're hurting people, neighbors to me.
Folks invited by Lady Liberty,
Huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,
Get in the car,
Phone on broadcast.
Get in the crowd,
Struggle will last.
Get in the fight,
Show up in town.
Get in the way,
Bear witness,
Send them all the hell down.
Came from all four corners of this rock.
Make "a better life" more than just talk.
Each one your brother, welcome in!
And stand between hatred and them.
Think "get in the way" is a cause that's lost?
Go learn more about that guy on the cross.
A call for action: make good trouble
Don't point fingers, we know who's to blame.
Let's work together, there's no need
To settle for more of the same.
You're wondering what can be done,
How injustice we can all forbid?
Enough people join in, say enough,
The only thing that ever did.
Get in the car,
Phone on broadcast.
Get in the crowd,
Struggle will last.
Get in the fight,
Show up in town.
Get in the way,
Bear witness,
Send them all the hell down.
Get in the car,
Phone on broadcast.
Get in the crowd,
Struggle will last.
Get in the fight,
Show up in town.
Get in the way,
Bear witness,
Send them all the hell down.
Get in the car,
Phone on broadcast.
Get in the crowd,
Struggle will last.
Get in the fight,
Show up in town.
Get in the way,
Bear witness,
Send them all the hell down.
#32 TOGETHER WE'RE HOME
(Americana)
When I saw you first, you looked rather sad,
You caught my eye, no choice but to try.
Was feeling a feeling I never had,
I smiled a hello, you frowned a good bye, oh no!
But a month later, I got to try once more,
Because the universe cut me a real break.
Saw you at Sam's cookout down at the shore
Of Robert R. Jackson lake.
I went straight up and asked you...
Do you believe in fate?
'Cause there's no time to wait.
When you meet your true one,
Searching's done, game is won.
Game is won.
Let's now open that door,
A better life and much more.
Our hearts shared and shown,
The world ours now to roam.
And as we travel, one truth we'll own:
When we're together, together we're home.
You didn't know, this is far from my usual talk,
I'm lucky you didn't call it nonsense or a crock.
You smiled and just rolled with my urgent mood,
As I'm bouncing off the walls, you laughed, stayed subdued.
I said I'll show you a man who walks the walk.
Please let this lucky penguin bring you all the rocks.
And now we'll both have to learn how to trust,
That high above the clouds there's still stardust.
No time to wait for a change in the weather,
I'm ready to spend the rest of this life together
Do you believe in fate?
'Cause there's no time to wait.
When you meet your true one,
Searching's done, game is won.
Game is won.
Let's now open that door,
A better life and much more.
Our hearts shared and shown,
The world ours now to roam.
And as we travel, one truth we'll own:
When we're together, together we're home.
#31 CHASING RUST
(Americana)
Baby, you heard the latest?
It's gonna change our lives.
Dancing on our socials,
When the new wonder arrives.
It's a diet, it's a gadget,
Some weird trick, gilded gold.
Looks smart, shiny and new,
But it's dumb, rusty and old.
We all so deeply want something new
Don't forget the salesmen know it too.
Hope for a new us from outside in.
But inside out's where true change begins.
Hey, something new and special,
Got to have it, it's a must!
Same old crap, new wrapper,
Stale bread beneath fresh crust.
At first glance it's perfect,
All boom, until the bust.
Think we're catching fire,
But we're just chasing rust.
Since that dark day when the sun first rose,
We all want the Emperor's new clothes.
All the stuff we have are so just less.
Things will be better with something fresh.
Hope for a flaming, gleaming other,
But we get fire's slower brother.
As for those selling new,
Swole bastards, long in tooth.
If pressed they will admit,
Less money in the truth.
Verge of tossing old for new,
Don't let this idea lapse.
Fire's just rust in a hurry,
Wisdom in that perhaps.
Hey, something new and special,
Got to have it, it's a must!
Same old crap, new wrapper,
Stale bread beneath fresh crust.
At first glance it's perfect,
All boom, until the bust.
Think we're catching fire,
But we're just chasing rust.
Hey, something new and special,
Got to have it, it's a must!
Same old crap, new wrapper,
Stale bread beneath fresh crust.
At first glance it's perfect,
All boom, until the bust.
Think we're catching fire,
But we're just chasing rust.
Simple truth that there's nothing new under the sun,
But race to chase the new will be forever run.
#30 SINGING FRANK
(Big Band Swing)
Talking on our sofa,
And you've come to learn.
Your small worry is growing,
Into more than just concern.
You feel I barely talk to you,
Spend most my time when able.
Singing along to records,
On my turntable.
But when I sing as Sinatra's playing,
With each song, one thing to you I'm saying.
My darling dear I love you through these words,
Thought by now you'd heard.
More than thirteen hundred songs,
Ol' Blue Eyes put on wax.
You can't find an emotion,
That any record lacks.
These songs show my true feelings,
Nowhere near a prank.
Please know I'm speaking frankly,
When I'm singing Frank.
So less time with me singing Frank,
And some more time spent with you.
Fair trade: 'cause if we ended,
I wouldn't know what to do.
But please every now and then,
A little Frank, that's my plea.
You listening and laughing,
Me singing joyful and carefree.
All these perfect songs, just where to begin?
Please Come Fly With Me on the Summer Wind.
In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,
My love, I’ve Got the World on a String.
The Lady is a tramp, love her through thick and thin,
Just In Time, I've Got You Under My Skin.
More than thirteen hundred songs,
Ol' Blue Eyes put on wax.
You can't find an emotion,
That any record lacks.
These songs show my true feelings,
Nowhere near a prank.
Please know I'm speaking frankly,
When I'm singing Frank.
A vast cavalcade of songs,
Francis Albert put on wax.
Not even one emotion,
A single record lacks.
These songs are my true feelings,
I cannot be more frank.
This heart is speaking frankly,
When I'm singing Frank.
One last great song in case,
My love still hasn't flowed.
Just one for my baby,
and one more for the road.
#29 AGAIN
(Pop)
Pick him up and then toss him,
Way up in the air.
Sunday morning in the park,
Us both without care.
You let me see him weekends,
As we work things out.
"Again daddy!" He's laughing.
A toss or he pouts.
I'll toss him a thousand times,
If that's just what it takes.
And I'll do the same for you,
Undo my mistakes.
See what our son's asking?
Key to how we'll win.
A thousand lifetimes with you,
Over and again.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
Repeat our life's journey
Each better than before.
High up the mountain's peak,
Dark down the ocean's floor.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
Heard a song say "once, twice, forever."
And at the time seemed only clever.
A way to get through some rough weather.
But with a chance we're not together?
It makes me realize that I never,
Want to live after, only ever.
I know just what I'm asking:
Reliving some pain.
But Maribel you're worth it,
And I can explain.
Let's say it's only one life.
This one then we're done.
Then I still won't change my plan,
Til your heart I've once more won.
Just one life, or a thousand.
Moving forward past the past.
Our next moments together
Each one better than the last.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
Repeat our life's journey
Each better than before.
High up the mountain's peak,
Dark down the ocean's floor.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
Repeat our life's journey
Each better than before.
High up the mountain's peak,
Dark down the ocean's floor.
Again, then another,
And then some others more.
My wish for recurring endless cycles?
A strange thing to ask for, that is true.
But all those lifetimes I'd be living?
They'll be again and again with you.
#28 GRAND CENTRAL STATION
(Americana)
Four faces made of opal
It's worth twenty million.
Hey, just a stupid old clock,
My tears begun.
"Meet here, leave for the weekend,"
He said. "Drink, dancing, fun."
When I look down at my screen,
Text says we're done.
We'd been fine for quite a time,
All the troubles now behind.
Told friends we were back online,
Turns out he was just lying.
And now I'm...
Crying by the clock in Grand Central Station
There's no one who stares,
But no one who cares.
Falling's just like flying,
Without the information.
That's me at this location,
Standing all alone in Grand Central Station.
I'm sitting on my suitcase,
Looking around, just in case.
Calling, texting, all's silence,
But then it starts to makes sense.
To me we would be lifelong,
To him, we were just plain wrong.
Each face of the clock is curved,
Up high, seen in a crowd.
Talking 'bout the damn clock so I
Don't scream aloud.
Text says "It's better this way."
You don't say. Maybe for you.
All I have is the question,
What do I do?
Other than keep...
Crying by the clock in Grand Central Station
There's no one who stares,
But no one who cares.
Falling's just like flying,
Without the information.
That's me at this location,
Standing all alone in Grand Central Station.
Crying by the clock in Grand Central Station
There's no one who stares,
But no one who cares.
Falling's just like flying,
Without the information.
That's me at this location,
Standing all alone in Grand Central Station.
Thirty thousand people an hour, heading home,
And yet somehow here I am, standing all alone.
#27 BRAIN RADIO
(Country)
Been sixteen days and fourteen hours,
Since she left, and it's all gone wrong.
My brain keeps fuzzing, tuned to something,
It damn sure ain't a song.
Had those days where thoughts would chatter,
But her leaving's caused something else.
Endless half-formed thoughts and ideas,
Can't even find myself.
Asked a friend for some wisdom, he
Said brain radio that's the name.
All those racing thoughts unceasing?
Your mind's now aflame
When I have it, I stand by water,
Walking, rest and mindful tricks.
Like tai chi, meditation,
But here's a simpler fix.
He said...
Go play some fantastic music and sing along,
Hal Ketchum, Trisha or The Allman Brothers Band.
Music always soothes a frantic mind and will then,
Tell your brain's DJ damn Brain Radio's banned.
So I started playing lots of tunes,
Impatient, wanting change soon.
Added walks at the lake, in the woods,
After a while things turned for the good.
Slowly my head changed the station,
Brain Radio on vacation.
But while I'm singing about all this,
See how I've made no mention of her?
The one who broke my brain by leaving,
Left me in a stir.
Truth is we all know why she left me:
So many times I acted half-grown.
Made the future I live in,
One where I listen alone.
Wish I could tell her how I'm doing,
I miss her eyes and her smile.
Now since I'm dreaming, I could then say,
Come home, stay a while.
We'll play our favorite music and sing along,
Jason, Patsy, Kacey, and Lyle and his Large Band.
We'll do a two-step laughing, and when it's time for,
Something a little slower, sway right where we stand.
We'll play our favorite music and sing along,
Loretta, Dolly, Levon, Robbie and The Band,
We'll do a two-step laughing, and when it's time for,
Something a little slower, sway right where we stand.
Maybe there's a simple reason, when she left,
For all that trouble I found.
The station my brain radio should have been tuned to,
No longer around.
#26 MORE OR LESS
(Country)
Scrolling through the pictures slowly,
Night out, we're dancing joined as one.
Smiling, laughing, holding, perfect.
Soul mates, life together just begun.
He smiles, reaches out, pulls me close,
I'm so warm and safe, protected.
Now hide that back part of my mind,
Keep those doubts undetected.
This love is real, so much more than just a crush.
But my indifference whispers in the hush.
So which is true: when my feelings t'wards him rush?
Or that uncertainty these thoughts often brush.
Need him every single moment,
Now and then, mostly yes.
And want him more than anything,
Kind of, sort of, I guess.
Love him truly madly deeply,
Give or take, more or less.
Love him truly madly deeply,
More or less.
For the most part I worry never.
Up to a point we last forever.
Neither here nor there I am fear free.
Could go either way that we're meant to be.
Roughly speaking there's only gladness.
Almost but not quite never sadness.
Small cloud in the clear sky above,
Cracked pane in a tall wall of glass.
Might the slight smudge I keep seeing,
Mean the die is already cast.
The leap forward or the pull back,
On that choice I can't help obsess.
Will the truth be found in what's more?
Or does my fate lie in what's less.
Need him every single moment,
Now and then, mostly yes.
And want him more than anything,
Kind of, sort of, I guess.
Love him truly madly deeply,
Give or take, more or less.
Love him truly madly deeply,
More or less.
Need him every single moment,
Now and then, mostly yes.
And want him more than anything,
Kind of, sort of, I guess.
Love him truly madly deeply,
Give or take, more or less.
Love him truly madly deeply,
More or less.
Truly.
Madly.
Deeply.
More or less.
#25 COMES A TURN
(New Orleans Blues)
Rough and cold as I grip it tightly,
The amber knob on that pale blue door.
Scared to hear what could be said when opened:
You say "I can't do this any more."
Snow falls softly, our house is silent,
Door's unlocked, but I'm locked in place.
See the warm fire through the window,
Out here colder than outer space.
Thought we'd at last broken clear,
Less fighting, glimpses of cheer.
Calm waters, harbor's drawing near,
But that's when change will appear.
In this life, certain times you learn:
When that door's closed, silent and stern,
Speeding down the road with concern.
Or next in line behind the curtain.
One thing's for certain,
There always comes a turn.
Turn this knob, talk to you and what then?
Turn the corner, and begin again.
Turn the tide, and slowly make it right,
Turn back time, to when it all was bright.
Or turn the knife on mistakes mistook.
Turn the page, close the book.
It hurts to see you through the window,
Staring at nothing, tears on your face.
All the turns that led us to now turn
On each other, end up in this place.
I still love you Lana, I DON'T want
To take the turn from trying to tried.
Can't make you, but I'll ask you when
I take a breath, turn the knob, go inside.
In this life, certain times you learn:
When that door's closed, silent and stern,
Speeding down the road with concern.
Or next in line behind the curtain.
One thing's for certain,
There always comes a turn.
In this life, certain times you learn:
When that door's closed, silent and stern,
Speeding down the road with concern.
Or next in line behind the curtain.
One thing's for certain,
There always comes a turn.
Expect it when you least expect it,
But there always comes a turn.
#24 STARTIN' LATE
(Country)
'Fraid I know what's coming,
From the sound of your voice.
But thank you for hearing me out,
Before you let me know your choice.
Laura Anne you've learned so well that,
Delaying is my worst trait.
I know the right thing to do,
But then I'm always startin' late.
Day one til this very moment,
I'll make the same mistake.
Stuck worrying, overthinking,
And end up startin' late.
The man you see inside me,
He'll be coming, just you wait.
And we'll be good together, please
Forgive me for startin' late.
Have to admit there's a problem
And I do, there's no debate.
Next step is counting all the ways,
That I've been startin' late.
Startin' late to open this heart,
Startin' late to let you in.
Startin' late to step forward,
And let the best of us begin.
Startin' late to let you love me,
Startin' late to get your care.
Startin' late to just let go,
Together rise up in the air.
Hope they've made room for stragglers,
Way up there at heaven's gate.
Lucky few know where they're going,
The rest of us, we're startin' late.
Laura Anne I do so love you,
Me beside you, it's my fate.
Thank the lord you're letting me earn it,
Despite me startin' so late.
Thought I knew what was coming,
From the sound of your voice.
But then you kindly heard me out,
And gave me time to earn your choice.
Keep tempting fate by startin' late.
Same ol' mistakes by startin' late.
But now a new day's gonna break.
'Cause I've started stoppin' startin' late.
#23 MY LIBRARIAN
(Country)
Age nine, I replaced Barbie with E. B. White,
And haven't looked back since.
Tomboy bookworm with my new friends:
A spider, a mouse, and The Little Prince.
Books carried me to everywhere,
Stories collected, more friends made.
Though in fifth grade the boys called me,
Spooky reading girl, 'cause I made them afraid.
No sad tale, by high school I had real friends,
Goofy oddballs who loved books!
Serious about college,
Clear choice for where I looked.
Thought I'd be a librarian,
A decision this girl made.
At first, a literary win
Great classes, good grades.
A career surrounded,
By books? Mark me astounded.
In no time, my life would begin,
Gonna be a reference librarian.
Looking back now, I was so young,
'Cause to a different path I swung.
Books -- didn't need to lend them,
Books -- I needed to pen them!
I wrote and wrote, compelled,
Got signed, first novel sells well.
If by now my song does mystify,
Well, I'm singing about meeting a guy.
I'd write where there's all the books,
Seamus worked where I spent my days.
From a catalog of looks,
Gave me his smoldering gaze.
Looks turned to words, words turned to love,
The universe is contrarian.
Just one letter changed, now perfect,
Not ME librarian,
It's MY librarian!
So my guy's my librarian,
Looks things up, looks at me.
Shared dreams we're carrying,
In our shared story, you see.
Each chapter 'til ever after,
A book full of love and laughter.
From that first look he's always been,
No lie. My librarian.
So my guy's my librarian,
Looks things up, looks at me.
Shared dreams we're carrying,
In our shared story, you see.
Each chapter 'til ever after,
A book full of love and laughter.
From that first look he's always been,
No lie. My librarian.
My librarian.
My librarian.
Time and time again.
He just makes me grin.
I love me and him.
Will be marrying.
My librarian.
#22 ALREADY THERE
(Country)
I was so lost and couldn't find my way,
That winter my life finally found me.
Dropped our of college, cried every day,
I'd sit in Granny's barn, rosin my bow, and just play.
One day Uncle Albert's there tuning his truck,
Turned and asked the question that turned my luck.
"Lila, you ever gonna play a song of your own?"
"You're as talented as I have ever known."
Told him I just play music, I can't write a song,
He said 'Til you try, won't know if that's right or wrong.
I asked how do you start? Go read a book?
He said helpful, but the secret is learning to look.
He said...
Creation's just a patient search for just a little more,
And when it's time for your search, say a little prayer.
Open heart, open mind, time to unlock the door.
Now go out and find it, your song's already there.
That day I tried to write one song, next day tried one more.
First afraid and unsure, kept them all in a drawer.
Simply no way of knowing from what came before,
How far those songs would take me from Granny's barn door.
Now I'm waiting backstage, looking out at a full floor,
My fans already standing and ready to roar.
Another night on the road, another big crowd,
My band hit the pocket, the crowd happy and loud.
Green room after, smiling fans, all with backstage pass.
Worked the room, saw one little girl, near the last.
I crouch down, wide-eyed she shows me her violin,
"What's your name? Play your own songs? If not, you should begin."
"I'm Maggie, I love to play. But I can't write a song."
"Maggie I have a secret for you, might mean you're wrong."
I said...
Creation's just a patient search for just a little more,
And when it's time for your search, say a little prayer.
Open heart, open mind, time to unlock the door.
Now go out and find it, your song's already...
Creation's just a patient search for just a little more,
And when it's time for your search, say a little prayer.
Open heart, open mind, time to unlock the door.
Now go out and find it, your song's already there.
Your song's already there.
Your song's already there.
Now, then, and forever after,
Your song's already there.
#21 BETTER THAN PRETENDING
(Rhythm & Blues)
She tilts her head, then starts to smile,
Skin smells sweet, like peaches in the sun.
Wraps her arms around you, pulls in close,
Her breathing slows, both entwined as one.
Your heart clings to that memory.
But it's done. Wish I had more to say.
She won't talk, and you get angry.
That love that was, nowhere today.
That feeling when love's the answer?
It's the answer when love's a test.
If you lose the romance, sir,
Make it right, or leave what's left.
Leave what's left when Cupid's dying,
Doesn't matter how hard you're trying.
Go ahead and start the ending,
Better than pretending.
Pretending it's still working.
Pretending you'll forever care.
Pretending she'll always be your reason.
Pretending you'll always be there.
Pretending love's not breaking, only bending.
Pretending it's still the middle, not the ending.
Summer storm lashing the windows,
She's sits crying, you're pacing by the door.
Things have moved past cracked to shattered,
Harder and harder to ignore.
When your love was strong and thriving,
You shared a truth that now deceives.
I know this because I AM you,
Time for you to be the one who leaves.
That feeling when love's the answer?
It's the answer when love's a test.
If you lose the romance, sir,
Make it right, or leave what's left.
Leave what's left when Cupid's dying,
Doesn't matter how hard you're trying.
Go ahead and start your ending,
Better than pretending.
Sad days rolling slowly, not fast,
When the world was right, now in the past.
The love you hate to see couldn't last,
Goodbye still better than pretending.
#20 THE TOWER OF GOODBYE
(Bluegrass)
At the end of a long night,
The cold morning just before dawn.
They all came in and told me,
They'd tried their best, but you were gone.
Happened in an instant, a car,
Met with yours on the freeway.
No. I simply won't allow this,
You and I have more things to say.
I've now been trapped for months with,
My feelings frozen: can't cry or scream.
Then one night without warning,
A white tiger joined me in a dream.
We stood atop a great mountain,
Gazed down at the strange land below.
She points out stops and places,
And told me where I must go.
Past the Ruins of Surrender,
Beyond the Forest of Farewell.
Is the place where all your loved ones,
On their last journey, briefly dwell.
Where The River of Forever,
Meets The Ocean of No More.
Find yourself at land's end,
As you stand upon the shore.
Turn away from that vast ocean,
Look left and raise your eye.
The place you're seeking now before you,
The Tower of Goodbye.
Ice-blue, standing tall and silent,
Then you slowly climb the tower.
At the top will be your wife,
Together you're allowed one hour.
I woke up, the tiger vanished,
Dripping sweat, pounding in my chest.
Unable to calm down and get,
Back to dreams to begin the quest.
It's been over four long days now,
Only shortest moments of sleep.
One night sleeping pills, one night whiskey
But nothing takes me deep.
So the very next time I am dreaming,
At night, or even afternoon.
Know this my darling Rosalee,
I promise: I will see you soon.
When I make it to that tower,
Those in charge better be believing.
Once I have you and I'm holding you,
Count on this: I will not be leaving.