Rivers - ©2006

Sitting in a seaside bar right next to Mexico
Pretty girl pulls up and smiles and says to me
"I can tell your future for a fifty dollar bill
or I can make you smile right now for free"

All the people that we meet
Rivers flowing endlessly

Sixteen degrees and no one else is on the road
Drifter up ahead, I slow and let him in (he said)
"I could tell you stories that would make you laugh for hours
But hell if I remember where I've been"

All these mem'ries that we keep
Rivers flowing endlessly

[instrumental break]

Little girl says "daddy can you play me your guitar?"
I just smile and nod my head (she said)
"You should write a simple song that makes me want to sing
And play it for me when I go to sleep"

All these reasons we believe
Rivers flowing...

Endlessly

[instrumental ending]

A Place of Forgetting

This is an older instrumental idea/theme that I decided to finally put to "tape" tonight. I'd like to put some lyrics and melody to this idea, but time will tell.
Thanks for listening.
J

New One

Well, after a few months away, I've started in on a new one. It's pretty loose and relaxed, but here's some lyrics to get started.

Intro
Palm mute
Full chords

Verse
Palm mute

I don't know
just how it's gonna end
I can only see
this road in front of me


Chorus
So c'mon
take me by the hand
So c'mon
Let's get it while we can
Hold on
to those moments as they pass
Won't be long
It all goes by...... so fast (strum Cadd9)

Stop the Rain - ©2006

For Mom (03Nov33-15May06)

VERSE
Baby cryin' on the floor
Ain't nothin' easy anymore
Bank man said it's all come due
Lord he's comin to the door

Fifteen years not one's been kind
So much weighin' on my mind

PRE-CHORUS
What we need
What we need
Is some sort of a miracle

What we need
What we need
Is nothin' short of miracle

CHORUS
Is there something I can do
Some way to explain
Make me believe again

Is there somewhere I can go
To ease the strain
Some way to stop this rain
Stop the rain

VERSE
Old man came in with the news
He said a month or maybe two
I took her hand and held it tight
Said there's nothing they can do

Sixty years not one's been kind
So much weighin' on my mind

PRE-CHORUS
What we need
What we need
Is some sort of a miracle

What we need
What we need
Is nothin' short of miracle

CHORUS
Is there something I can do
Some way to explain
Make me believe again

Is there somewhere I can go
To ease the strain
Some way to stop this rain

OUTTRO FADE OUT
Stop the rain
Some way to give again
Stop the rain
Some way to love again
All this rain
And learn to live again

Nothing Left to Burn - ©2006

Verse 1
She headed home to Cincinnati
Lightning flashed along the way
The person she'd become had gotten much to old
The ocean seems so far away

There's a boy back on Long Island
With four empty dresser drawers
Rusty lighter in the pocket of her jeans
But she's got nothing left to burn
She's got nothing left to burn

Verse 2
She took a look back in the mirror
Her mind went back to better days
One by one she watched as every memory
Slowly vanished in the haze

Lonely rhythm on the windshield
Wipers beat in perfect time
Her friends all said she'd never have the strength to leave
Now she's got nothin' left to prove
She's got nothing left to prove

Verse 3
She drove all night into the morning
To make that demon disappear
The sun came up just as she pulled into the drive
Now she's got nothing left to fear
She's got nothing left to fear

updated 19April06 - to add third verse
updated 09April06 - to finish second verse

Untitled/Unfinished - ©2006

Verse
One candle bright
Hold it way up high
Don't think twice
Here comes the night

Here's to life
And everything that's right
You gotta try
It's worth the fight


Verse
I don't mind
If I never find
All that shines
'Cause it ain't really mine

Shallow Song - ©2006

Verse 1
All this time we spend - alone
These empty days we call - our own
Spending what is left
No anger, no regret

We just move along
Singing our shallow song

Trying hard to forget

Verse 2
I remember you - and me
We were young and wrong - as we could be
Said that we'd go slow
That seems so long ago

Now we move along
Singing our shallow song

Trying hard to let go

Verse 3
Shadows of the past - remain
Falling hard on me - like rain
No desire to try
Never knowing why

I'll just move along
Singing this shallow song

Trying hard to get by

This Time - ©2006

Verse 1
Left this mornin' for the city
Getting closer to the glow
Put a thousand miles behind me
One left turn to go

Pre-Chorus
Gonna try to get it right
I'm gonna hold on tight

Chorus
This time (Time...)
This time

Verse 2
There's this girl that I remember
She should be just around the bend
Haven't seen her since December
Lord, I wonder how she's been

Pre-Chorus
I miss those eyes that shine
I'm gonna try to make them mine

Chorus
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)

Bridge
It's not often that love gives a second chance
Far to often we let go of true romance
We just do nothing till somebody walks away
But now I'm gonna try to make her stay

Chorus
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)
This time (Time...)

Verse (reprise)
Left this morning for the city
Getting closer to the glow
Put a thousand miles behind me
One left turn to go

She's Gone - © 2006

Verse
One last note nailed to the door
All my clothes thrown on the floor
These signs are too plain to ignore
Looks like she won't be back for more

Chorus
I thought our love would still be strong
Now it looks like I was wrong
She's gone
She's gone

Verse
I just can't make myself believe
This is happening to me
I never thought she'd set me free
Seems that she would disagree

Chorus
I thought our love would still be strong
Now it looks like I was wrong
She’s gone
She’s gone

Bridge
She’s gone…
I guess I crossed the line
She’s gone…
I never saw the signs

Verse
It seems her patience has expired
Our old front porch was set on fire
One hasty moment of desire
My service no longer required

Chorus
I thought our love would still be strong
Now it looks like I was wrong
I thought our love would still be strong
Now it looks like I was wrong
She’s gone
She’s gone

Untitled/Unfinished - 02Dec05

This one is in the works. Chorus (ABABAB) or Bridge (AAABA) OR both (ABABCB) to come.

Photographs in wooden frames lay scattered on the floor
An obvious reminder of the pain that came before
Driving rain falls hard upon the mortar and the stone
While watchful walls say nothing, stained glass windows cry alone

Open doors and rain soaked floors will never be the same
Candlesticks lie broken, and no longer hold the flame
In the cellar there’s a suitcase that was left behind for good
And a box of faded letters that would open if it could

Flowers in the garden have all given up the ghost
Nothing seems to grow here having lost what matters most
Echoes of the past come crawling down the spiral stairs
But when they reach the door they simply vanish in thin air

A knight in silver armor standing tall and shining bright
Remembers being noble, now he’s lost his will to fight
Ghosts upon the mantle and the demons in the yard
Stumble into shallow graves with angels standing guard

My Mistake - ©2005

V
Don't come cryin' 'round here no more
Don't tell me what's wrong
I don't care what happens now
As long as you're movin' on

You go east and I'll go west
All your bags are packed
There ain't nothin' left to see
Don't you dare look back

Chorus
Go Away
Go Away
Go Away
You're my... Mistake

V
A heart made of stone so cold
You're head's full of lies
The ghosts of your bitterness
Hide behind empty eyes

All those years that I trusted you
Now those days have been lost
See your cold dead heart tangled up
In that line you have crossed

Chorus
Go Away
Go Away
Go Away
You're my... Mistake

Go Away
Go Away
Go Away
You're my...
my...
my...

You're my... Mistake

Time to Go Now - ©2005

V
How long have you been reachin'
searching for a passing feeling
not really sure of who you are

It's sometimes hard to be strong
when everything just goes wrong
you're feelin' like a falling star

V
You've spent your whole life dreaming
making plans and always scheming
you've never really lived at all

You'll never get yourself right
by going down without a fight
it's time for you to stand up tall

Chorus
Time to go now
Go now
On to somethin' new

Time to go now
Go now
Do all you can do

V
It's hard to keep believing
when you can't find the reasons
you sometimes stumble in the dark

You've gotten tired of all the pain
too many fingers in the flames
when all you need is just a spark

V
If you could just reach deep inside
get rid of all your foolish pride
how long will you keep hangin' on

You say you're not sure what to do
or how to make those missing dreams come true
truth is you've known it all along

Chorus
Time to go now
Go now
On to somethin' new

Time to go now
Go now
Do all you can do

Reprise Verse
How long have you been reachin'
searching for a passing feeling
not really sure of who you are...

Heaven Help the Man - ©2005

V1
Heaven help the man
to do all that he can
Help him understand
it's all part of a grander plan

Chorus
Help him understand
Give the man a hand
Heaven help the man, yeah

V2
Give him eyes to see
nothing in this life is free
help him find the key
to bein' all that he should be

Chorus
Help him understand
Give that man a hand
Heaven help the man, yeah

Bridge
Sometimes all it takes is just a touch or simple smile
to turn all the frustration into something he can use
Maybe you can help the man to go that extra mile
and help him to be firm and know that he will never lose

V3
Help him to be strong
even when he can't go on
when everything is gone
let him know where he belongs

Chorus
Help him understand
Give that man a hand
Heaven help the man, yeah

Outtro (like verse)
Heaven help the man
to do all that he can
when everything is gone
let him know where he belongs...

Carousel - ©2005

Verse 1
Momma knew that he was different from the rest
Always tryin’ to make her smile
Can't remember when it was his daddy left
But he knows it’s been awhile

He grew up strong and true in ways he never knew
Five more brothers came before
Four grew up and left New Waterford for good
The oldest died at twenty four

Chorus x 2
Hold on tight
Time will tell
Round we go
Carousel

Verse 2
Momma did the best she could without a man
Always seemed to make ends meet
She knew the day would come when he would finally go
Then she’d feel so incomplete

One Sunday morning as the light came shinin’ in
Her son said “mom I’m movin’ on”
She couldn’t bear to watch him walk across the room
She turned around and he was gone

Bridge
People come and then they go
Life can be so bittersweet
Through it all we never know
When our better days will be

Chorus x 2
So hold on tight
Only time will tell
Round we go on this
Carousel

Verse 3
He never thought he’d ever get that bitter news
As he stumbled for the phone
His brother told him that she died a peaceful death
He told him she had died alone

As he finally knelt beside his momma’s grave
A single tear stopped at his smile
He can't remember just how long ago he left
But he knows it’s been awhile

Chorus x 2
Hold on tight
Time will tell
Round we go
Carousel

Outtro (like verse)
Momma knew that he was different from the rest
Always tryin’ to make her smile...

Love Belongs - ©2005

Verse 1
Sometimes the road can be so rough
peaceful moments far too few
But being here is calm enough
as long as I am here with you

How is it that I seem to feel
so many things I seldom see
With you these thoughts become so real
now you're finally here with me

Verse 2
Been looking for you for so long
to the sky and to this old guitar
Every star and every song
Seem to wonder where you are

How is it that you seem to say
the very words I need to hear
As long as you are here to stay
I have nothing left to fear

Chorus
People come and people go
Buildings crumble into dust
Through the ashes this I know
Love belongs to each of us

Verse 3
For this moment I am fine
But then the world will call, I know
I promise to be strong this time
When it’s time for you to go

Please tell me how we seem to be
So close and yet so far away
One gentle smile, just for me
Will help me through another day

Chorus
People come and people go
Buildings crumble into dust
Through the ashes this I know
Love belongs to each of us

Outtro
Been looking for you for so long
I promise to be strong this time
Just being here is calm enough
For this moment I am fine

Your Fool - ©2005

Verse 1
Part of me, Wants to stay
Another part of me, Wants to go away
Such mindless contradiction
Hopeless indecision
I don't know what to do

Chorus 1
I want to be with you
Let me be your fool
I want to see it through
your eyes
and know it's gonna be alright
With you

Verse 2
Hard to see, What you want with me
Never hard to see, Reasons I should leave
Such mindless contradiction
This hopeless indecision
I don't know what to do

Chorus 2
I want to be with you
Let me be your fool
I want to see it through...
your eyes
and know it's gonna be alright...
With you

Bridge[maybe just oohs and ahhs.... not sure yet]

Verse 3
Wanna be, Always on your mind
Don't ever wanna be, Left behind
Such mindless contradiction
This hopeless indecision
I don't know what to do

Chorus 3
I want to be with you
Let me be your fool
I want to see it through
your eyes
and know it's gonna be alright
With you

Outtro
I know just what to do
I wanna be with you
Got nothin' left to prove
Baby, let me be your fool

You Won't Go - ©2005

Verse 1
I hear what people say
They're talkin' every day
Some say you'll go away
But I know that you'll stay

It's such a horrible lie
Makes me want to cry
Please let me clarify
Even they cannot deny

Chorus
There ain't no guarantees
So many empty hopes and dreams
Nothing in life is free
But there is one thing that I know
You won't go

Verse 2
I hope that you'll agree
This ain't no mystery
Yeah, even I can see
The way you're lookin' at me
People are asking why
You don't find another guy
Please let me specify
Upon me you can rely

Chorus
There ain't no guarantees
So many empty hopes and dreams
Nothing in life is free
But there is one thing that I know
You won't go

Bridge
Down the road
Around the bend
You've always been with me
No matter what
The world throws at us
I know you'll never leave

Verse 3
So many years have passed
They seem to go so fast
There've been some things we've lacked
But this love will always last

Chorus
There ain't no guarantees
So many empty hopes and dreams
Nothing in life is free
But there is one thing that I know
You won't go

One Cut Too Deep - ©2005

verse 1
Fist closed tightly
She braces for the pain
The edge of frustration
Opens virgin skin

Cold steel warms quickly
As blue turns to red
Blade falls gently
Light flickers overhead

She only wanted to hurt
Didn't mean to go this far
Just to feel something worse
Or leave another scar

Moment of emptiness
Grave consequence to keep
Precious soul flies away
Body goes to sleep

chorus 1
Can't undo what's been done
And now she's gone
One cut too deep

verse 2
Voices of children
Crawl underneath the door
Blood falls like teardrops
Through cracks in the floor

Nothing left to feed on
Demons finally die
Angel at the window
Hides her head to cry

chorus 2
Dreams fall to the ground
And now she's gone
One cut too deep

verse 3
Suddenly peaceful
She doesn't feel a thing
No disappointments
Or things that might have been

No explanations
Or farewell notes to find
Reasons are lost now
Forever in her mind

chorus 3
Soon comes the dawn
And now she's gone
One cut too deep

outtro
Can't undo what's been done
And now she's gone...

Just Breathe - ©2005

verse 1
All the roads in front of you
Different paths for you to choose
So afraid to move - Scared to lose

Voice keeps tellin' you to leave
Now's the time to live your dreams
But for now, baby, just breathe

chorus
You were born to chase the winds that blow
Like seasons come, and then they go
Away
What lies ahead you'll never know
Like fields of gold and skies of blue
Or gray

verse 2
Don't know much, but I know this
Just as sure as love's first kiss
Some you'll leave behind - but some you'll miss

I know that you can't see it now
A wearied mind so filled with doubt
You'll find your way along - somehow

chorus

verse 3
Someday when it's calm and quiet
Just remember for awhile
Look how far you've come - and smile

But until your time shall come
Don't let the simple break you down
Just remember this - be strong

chorus

'Round We Go - ©2005

verse 1
Another day, comes to a hurried end
Some people pray, trying to reach a friend
Somebody who knows, all of your hopes
Somebody to love...
You

chorus 1
Nothing to slow it down
Feet never touch the ground
No answers to be found
This world keeps spinnin'
Around (and around n round n round n round we go)

verse 2
So little time, memories can fade so fast
It's hard to find, a love that was made to last
Two people who know, each other's hopes
A love that will stay...
True

chorus 2
Life is a mystery, sometimes it's so hard to see
What's next for you and me
This world keeps on spinnin'
Around (and around n round n round n round we go)


outtro
When it's gonna stop
Nobody knows
How this all ends
Nobody knows
Who's in control
Nobody knows
Why we want to know
Nobody knows