songs

someone wanted the lyrics for this song. here they be….

I stared down broadway
stood out on madison and vine
seen this land scared
by man and the hands of time
i know this old world will pass on
sure as my body hungers
for a new home in the ground
still they buried my heart
in a shallow grave
the day they tore old beale street down

everybody wants to cheat the reaper
anywhere you may go
to tear it down and build it up
sure makes you feel like you have control
so it has been
since this whole world started spinnin round
but my heart fell in a shallow grave
the day they tore old beale street down

i walked up church street
one of these days
they’re gonna carry me back down
up the stairs into daylight
past mr hamilton
and poor old mary brown
how the high and mighty do fall
and gather as dust onto the ground
still they buried my heart in their shallow grave
the day they tore old beale street down

With apologies to John Prine and Don Ho….
A somewhat cute 10 minute wonder.

———————————————————————-

I ain’t never goin to Hawaii
To learn to dance the Hula
Thought a time or two I’d do it
But now I just say screw it

Ain’t gonna make it to Lihue
Man there just ain’t no way
Don’t wanna’ be just a stinkin haole
So I’ll stay right here in LA

But I can see my feet
In the golden sand
I’d become a slack key
One man Band
You would be
My Biggest fan
My oh my
Wouldn’t it be grand
But I guess I gotta’ find me
A different plan….

Aint’ never goin’ to Hawaii
N catch me a mahi mahi
You could be my wahini nani
God these rhymes come so damn eas-ay

So I’ll drive home to Encino
Blow my paycheck out in Reno
Rope a philly at the casino
so much for my big dreamo

But I can see my feet
In the golden sand
I’d become a ukulele
slinging man
You would be
My Biggest fan
My oh my
Wouldn’t life be grand
But I guess I gotta’ find me
A different plan….

I ain’t never goin to Hawaii
To learn to dance the Hula
Thought a time or two I’d do it
But now I just say screw it

Ain’t gonna make it to Lihue
Man there just ain’t no way
Don’t wanna’ be just a stinkin haole
So I’ll stay right here in LA

It’s an old song I wrote for “nobody.” At least I thought so at the time. This morning as I picked up the guitar, it came back to haunt me. Hurt my hands to play it. Just had to suffer through the couple of bar chords.

old mp3—> Lovin’ You

Lovin’ you
is sweepin’ leaves on a windy day
cause every time I get close to you
it all just blows away
I’ve waited half a lifetime
to find someone so true
but sometimes a dream’s further out of reach
when it’s standing right in front of you

honey
people don’t last forever
no matter what you say or do
n’ if you stand around this world long enough
someone might make a believer
even out of you

darlin’ you
burn the ice right off of my heart
on the coldest day
in the deep of night
you fire up my dark
but it’s a world of apprehension
with more fears than the fallin’ snow
n’ there’s an ocean of tears
with more shipwrecked hearts
than anyone can ever know

but I can’t wait forever
pretty soon I’ll pass right through
but if you stand next to me long enough
i could make a believer
even out of you

Wrote this a couple of months ago. A variation on the theme as it were. Figured it wouldn’t see the light of day for public consumption, but, with all the computer issues I’ve been having, I figured I should post it so it doesn’t vanish, like everything else seems to do these days.

mp3–> angel

spears of sunlight shine like diamonds
wake the world from its dream
waves of emeralds dancing around her
a silhouette that sings to me

oh my beautiful angel of the star-swept sea

misty breezes kiss the daybreak
waves caressing at her feet
every color playing before her
this dreamer wakes from his sleep

oh my beautiful angel of the star-swept sea

all my vision all of my longing
all the hopes prayers and strength in me
lights on misha my darling angel
of the star-swept sea

oh my beautiful angel of the star-swept sea
oh my beautiful angel of the star-swept sea
when will its send you home to me

Really more of a poem set to music. Please excuse the really bad recording. I’m in the middle of a move and all my recording gear is packed away. Just recorded directly into the mic of a crappy laptop.

mp3–> mysterious

it’s a hard world
soft with tender tears
we’ll always be a part
You’re the the sunrise
and I’m the dark
and starry night

a silent ocean
divides me from
from your kind saving smile
let me dream a little while
before I fall
back into mystery
my angel of the starlit sea

ku’u anela nani ke kai hoku ao
just let me dream a little longer
while I fall
back into mystery
my angel of the starlit sea

It’s a sweet world
with bitter tears
countless as these stars
you’re the sunrise
and I’m the powder
of the dark

let me dream just a little while
before it’s dawn
back into mystery
my angel of the starlit sea

Powered by ScribeFire.

Making up memories of you.

Originally uploaded by spoot.

A new song. Hats off to Steven Foster, Townes and maybe Leonard Cohen for this one. A little bit of a Carter scratch.

mp3–> Making up memories of you

Every night I sit alone and pray
that you will come home here to me
Every day I watch the sunflowers fade
And dream of what we too should be

On the dawn before the streetlights die
I fold my hands up to the stars
A lonely tear falls down before my eyes
My only prayer, to be where you are

Held by the great divide
Bound by the wild wide sea
Loose one the tides
Deep in the blues
Just making up memories of you

Today I walked alone by the old hotel
Where poets and lovers both died
I’d gladly give up this life of stone and steel
To see the world in your sea green eyes

Held on the great divide
Bound by the wide wild sea
Lost on the tides
Deep in the blues
And making up memories of you
Making up memories of you

Someone else using one of my instrumental tunes for a vid. This one for the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. And since the tune is about my Florida home, it seems fitting.

In Sunday’s TwinCities paper, they are using a couple of my tunes for a vid in the outdoor section. Go to this url and click on the ’scenes from the trip’ flash video.

a new song.

mp3—>> sunshine

——-

downtown tonight

it looks a lot like rain

the last rays of sunshine

dance along my window pane

down on the sidewalk

I can hear laughin n talkin

up here in the twilight

only silence isn’t broken

oh goodbye rain

hello sunshine

please warm me with your kisses

fill me with your light

good bye rain

hello sunshine

wrap you lovin arms around me

show me that you’re mine

goodbye rain

She told me that she loved me

she told me it was true

prayed for me her whole life

like better angels do

seems dreams are just for dreamers

hard streets lie just below

full of laughing prisoners

hearts locked up on death row

oh goodbye rain

hello sunshine

warm me with your kisses

please fill me with your light

good bye rain

hello sunshine

wrap you lovin arms around me

n show me that you’re mine

goodbye rain

i only know just one thing

one thing truly real

you gotta give it all away

the only way you’ll ever feel

the surrender of the moment

the laughter from above

you got to let it go

my angel, my true love

goodbye rain

hello sunshine

warm me with your kisses

fill me with your light

good bye rain

hello sunshine

wrap you lovin arms around me

show me that you’re mine

goodbye rain

hello sunshine

warm me with your kisses

fill me with your light

good bye rain

hello sunshine

wrap you lovin arms around me

show me that you’re mine

goodbye rain

Angel

mp3—>> John Ford-Angel

No use looking to the stars tonight

Still you may never know

How a world of shattered glass

Can make a dark sky glow

So fall down with an angel

You’ll never come to harm

And dream you’re young again

When she holds you in her arms

The banker has his dollars

And the lawyer owns his crimes

We all grasp on to something

To hold the whole world blind

Fall down with an angel

And never come to harm

And dream you’re young again

When she held you in her arms

I’ve been walking the streets

Looking for you tonight

From bedford sti

To washington heights

I’ve been drinkin all day

And the pain has finally numbed

That thing some of us can’t help

That we can become

Still I’m looking to the sky tonight

But the starlight leaves me dark

You never know what could be shining

If yould just let her in your heart

And fall down with the angel

She will never do you harm

And dream you’re young again

When she holds you in her arms