Country Mama1975

I wrote this back in 1975. I didn't realize until about 10 years ago that it didn't rhyme. Anywhere. Cool.

County mama, sitting back with her country man,
On the porch of the old farmhouse.
Occasionally, a salesman passes in his big sedan
And he waves to them as he passes by.
Theirs is but a quiet life on the old farmhouse
A '52 Chevy pickup truck
Parked around the back.
"What do you say we go in ma, and have a bite to eat
Before I head on into town?"

"Okay Pa", she says to him, and fixes him a meal
Of homemade bread, chicken and apple pie.
Both their kid's have moved away, they rarely hear from them,
They both have jobs, are married and have kids of their own.

They've sold most of the farm; they have a little left.
Mama keeps a garden; pappy has some cows.
Not much left there anymore, just enough to keep them happy.
Enough to keep memories of times gone by.
Enough to keep these memories....
Alive.

Learning How to Fly2003

"Now I know how deep shallow can be." I love that line.

When I first saw you smile at me, I fell into your heart.
I thought that I was lost, but I was found at last.
When I first looked into your eyes, man, I knew that was it.
I never thought that I could fall so far, so fast.

Chorus:

Now I know, what wasn't meant to be,
Has happened right before my very eyes.
Now I know, how deep shallow can be.
I've fallen, but I'm learning how to fly.

When I first heard you speak to me, I fell somewhere unknown.
Direction was a concept that was lost on me.
When I first felt your finger-tips I knew my life had changed.
I knew I couldn't be the man I used to be.

Chorus.

Bridge;

I just want to tell you,
But I know I cannot tell you,
Reality would just get in the way.

Chorus.

Now I know, what wasn't meant to be,
Has happened right before my very eyes.
Now I know how deep shallow can be.
I've fallen, but I've learned how to fly.

Since I first saw you smile.

No One's Little Girl1991

I like how it celebrates the acceptance of a woman's freedom, yet it comes at the expense of a broken heart. Check that...maybe I don't like it...

The last time I saw you, you were sipping on champagne
Laughing with the devil
Dancing in the rain.
The last time I saw you, you were naked to the world
Proving more than ever
You were no one's little girl.

The last time I saw you, you were smoking cigarettes
Listening to Mozart; joining every fete.
The last time I saw you, you were dangling your pearls
Proving more than ever
You were no one's little girl.

Break

Bridge

Darling I'm just standing on the outside
Trying to make some sense of all of this
I used to love your warmth and understanding
But now I find that you're too cold to kiss.
Darling I'm just looking at the inside
Instead of joining in your brand new world
Knowing you're out there proving more than ever
That you're nobody's little girl.

The last time I saw you, two men were at your side
You were enjoying being single, when once you were my bride.
The last time I saw you, you were closing down your world
Proving more that ever
You were no one's little girl.
Ah, proving more than ever
You were no one's little girl.

Four in the Morning2003

One of the challenges from Writer's Bloc a few years ago was to write a song in three/four time. So I wrote this to present to the group. I was so proud of it, and couldn't wait to play it for them. And nobody showed. Sigh.

It's four in the morning, I can't get you off of my mind
A new day is dawning, but I can't let the last one unwind.
The last thing I saw were your tail-lights as you sped away,
It's four in the morning, and I just found the right words to say.

We took it for granted we both went along for the ride
Our hearts have been emptied; we're here with what's left of our pride.
You needed your freedom; you needed much more than I gave,
It's four in the morning and I just found the right song to play.

Who would have thought that the dreams that we had
Would crumble and die before they began.
Who would have thought that the life that we knew
Would never amount to the things we had planned.

Break

Who would have thought that the dreams that we had
Were visions of grandeur that just went unsaid?
Who would have thought that the world that we knew
Was only a dream locked away in our heads.

It's four in the morning; I can't find the sleep that I crave.
A new day is dawning, but the last one is still in my way.
I thought we had something; I find I've got nothing but time.
It's four in the morning, and I can't get you off of my mind.
It's four in the morning, and I can't get you off of my mind.

Broken Windows2006

Somewhere in the writing of this, it became a song of personal strength and affirmation. It's funny where songs take you.

I've watched the world through rose colored glasses.
I've seen through bad to get to the best.
I've held beliefs despite all disasters.
I'm either cursed or heavenly blest.

I've taken note of all that's around me.
I've taken stock of all that I have.
I've held beliefs despite all disasters.
I've taken measures to be who I am.

Chorus:
I've looked through broken windows.
The world outside looked rather a mess.
I've looked through broken windows.
And I carry on after nary a rest.
Broken windows….
Who would've thought that I'd be so obsessed.
Broken windows….

I've watched the world unfolding before me.
I've watched my world come tumbling down.
I've held beliefs despite all disasters.
I've held my head up while standing my ground.

Chorus:

I only know I'll carry on,
By being weak I shall be strong,
I now believe that I belong,
I belong….

Chorus.

Into Your Mirror1991

I didn't have a name for this song for the longest time. Then one night I played it, and someone asked me what it was called. After a stunned silence, I announced was "Into Your Mirror." Works for me.

We went down by the water last night
To catch reflections of the old moon light
And wish upon a star, if there happened to be one.
So many wishes do not come true
But if I had a wish, well, I'd wish you
Would hold me in your arms, at least until the sun came up.

Chorus

Watching the river flow to the sea
Watching the world rolling right through me,
And into your mirror.
Holding a moment that won''t stand still
Holding a memory, I probably always will
As I keep looking deeper.

We strolled over to a little café
Had a glass of courage and started to say
Every little thing that must mean something.
Little inhibitions attempt to hide
The words that are there but can only describe
The feelings that we hold, hey they gotta mean something.

Chorus

Break

Chorus

We went down by the water last night
To catch reflections of the old moon light
And wish upon a star if there happened to be one.

And hey, there happened to be one.

Through The Walls2006

A song about being insecure. I'm sure no one else has ever felt that way in a relationship.

I hear your voice coming through the walls
I wonder what you say; I haven't got a clue.
It's all a mystery.
I hear your steps pacing down the hall
I wonder where you walk; I haven't got a clue
It's all a mystery….

I feel the ice flowing through my veins
I feel the chilling winter call.
I feel that I suspect the worst
When I hear your voice

I hear your laugh penetrate the air
I wonder why you laugh; I wonder who you're with
It's all a mystery.
I hear a sigh, a most contented sigh
It's then the harps of angels of fall
I wonder why you sigh
It's all a mystery…

I feel the ice flowing through my veins
I feel the chilling winter call
I feel that I suspect the worst
When I hear your voice

I feel the ice flowing through my veins
I feel the chilling winter call
I feel that I suspect the worst
When I hear your voice
When I hear your voice
When I hear your voice

Riding Reckless1990

What a fun song! With all the musicians playing on this song, it becomes a joyous country rocker. Too bad it's a crying in your beer tune.

He's riding reckless, thru the streets somewhere unknown
He looks determined, but he don't know where he's goin'
He's headed somewhere, as far as it will take
To lose the memory of some woman''s heartbreak
He's heading on.

He's got a bottle sitting between his knees
His line of vision is nothing but a breeze
He's riding reckless, but he don't know where he's bound
Life's hard to swallow, but the whiskey sure goes down
He's heading on.

He thinks someday the sun will shine, and he'll forget her name
And maybe if he drinks enough, he'll wipe out the pain
Then maybe he can settle back, and try to live again.

He's riding reckless, but no one seems to care
He's slowing down now, but her memory's still there
Can't seem to shake it, no matter what he does
May as well go home now, coz life just carries on
He's heading home.
He's heading home.
He's heading
Home.

Pete The Barber1975

When I was growing up, my dad used to take me to a barber shop down in a guy's basement. Quite an interesting place. I figured I would give the shop a small town atmosphere and put in on Main Street where it belongs. I love the simplicity of the arrangement. It's sort of like a front porch performance.

There's a little barbershop on the corner
Where business isn't what it used to be
But Pete still runs it just the way he used to
And some of the regulars hang around
John and Frank play checkers in the corner
Gerry always reads a magazine
I smoke my pipe and sip a coca-cola.
For many years this is the way it's been.

Everyone in town knows Pete the barber,
Coz everybody there's been in his shop
But nowadays, people get their hair styled, and this is the reason business dropped.
The barbershop's the same as when it opened
A calendar on the wall of the Maple Leaf's
A picture of Pete's army pals beside the empty cases
Of Coca-Cola stashed against the wall.

The mirror on the wall is cracked a little;
After all it's 43 years old.
And Pete is bald, except for a little,
And that part is still a reddish gold.
I remember the day the shop was opened,
Good old Pete was just as proud as punch
He still has the sign he hangs at eleven;
"Sorry folks, but I'm out to lunch."

Well a lot of folks say that Pete is crazy to stay here
But Pete says cutting hair is his whole life.
He almost closed the shop back in sixty-seven
That was the year he lost his darling wife.
John and Frank play checkers in the corner, Gerry always reads a magazine
I smoke my pipe and sip a Coca-Cola
And Pete still shaves us pretty clean.

Lullabies to You1990

I got a phone message one day, and it was a recording of my daughter playing this song live at a club in St. John's Newfoundland. I cried.

I've been gazing at the moon
For such a long, long time
I've been waiting for the sun to rise.
I've been wishing on a star and,
Singing lullabies
I've been singing lullabies to you.

I've been dreaming 'bout the day when
You and I were young
The passion flowed just like a tidal wave.
I've been hoping that these waves would,
Come around again
They would flow surrounding you and me.

Waves of passion in the night
Down on you and me tonight
I've been singing lullabies
Oh my lady, don't you cry.

I've been gazing at the moon for
Such a long, long time
I've been waiting for your love to rise.
I've been wishing on a star and,
Singing lullabies
I've been singing lullabies to you.
I've been singing lullabies to you.

Stepping Stone2006

I took the idea for this song from another song that was written about understanding a man, and sung by a woman, and turned it around into being a song about the woman, sung by a man from the woman's point of view. Confused? Not after you hear it.

All you ever wanted was a wife and a son
And a house with a garden to keep your secrets in
So you worked and you slaved and you put it all away
And you asked if you could marry me and I replied, "you may".

Chorus
And it's one more drink and its one more day
And it's one more bottle that you put away.
All the time you're thinking 'bout how I done you wrong
You never once considered me more than a stepping stone.

We bought a little house that needed some repair
And you hammered and you sawed and you showed off quite a flair
But you built those walls around me, and a fence to keep me in
And you thought that I should be happy, and your jealousy crept in.

Chorus

Bridge:
What ever happened to the dreams that we shared
You and I were partners till your world made me scared
What ever happened to the gentle man I knew
How could what we thought was love be so misconstrued?

On the day I left you, I vowed to my heart
No one would ever hold me in by tearing me apart.
And I have kept my promise; to mine own self I'm true
And I will never trust a man the way I trusted you.

Chorus, 2X

...And it's one more drink...

The Good Fight2007

I'd like to dedicate this song to my mom and dad.

Battling through thick and thin
Wondering where the other's been
Holding on to what we have
Letting go, and being glad

That we have fought the good fight
We've made it through the thick and thin
We have fought the good fight
Been through hell and back again
We have fought the good fight
And managed to remain as one
The good fight
All right,
all life long.

Battling the days gone by
Holding all our victories high
Making sure we're eye to eye
It won't work if we don't try

We have fought the good fight
We've made it through the tick and thin
We have fought the good fight
Been through hell and back again
We have fought the good fight
And managed to remain as one
The good fight,
All right,
all life long. (2x)