Musings
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
Some birds’ feathers are too bright to be caged
I know I’m not that colorful but a bird just the same
Open up your gate now, let me put down my load
So I can feel at ease and go back to my home
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
Sun beatin’ down, my legs can’t seem to stand
There’s a boss man at a turnrow with a rifle in his hand
I’ve got nine child, nothin’ in the pan
My wife she died hungry while I was plowin’ land
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
Can’t see when I go to work, can’t see when I get off
How do you expect a man not to get lost
Every year I just keep getting deeper in debt
If there’s a happy day, Lord, I haven’t seen one yet
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
Land that I love is the land that I’m workin’
But it’s hard to love it all the time when your back is a-hurtin’
Gettin’ too old now to push this here plow
Please let me lay down so I can look at the clouds
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
Land that I know is where two rivers collide
The Brazos the Navaso and the big blue sky
Flood plains, freight trains, watermelon vines
Of any place on God’s green earth,
Take ‘em away, take ‘em away, Lord
Take away these chains from me
My heart is broken ‘cause my spirit’s not free
Lord take away these chains from me
- Old Crow Medicine Show
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“November Rains Again”
November rains again,
high winds, lofty thoughts.
But no matter what,
the way I see it,
you are still here.
Rain everywhere, feet wet.
big puddles, wet all over.
I think of you, but,
I know you aren’t really here,
yet I see you clearly.
You are always right here.
Maybe forever,
but if not, at least for now.
Damn, I miss you anyway.
Your lust for life,
no fear, pushing, pushing,
no limits, time non-existent.
Do your wings ever itch?
Do angels really cry?
I think they do.
I’m no angel, but I sure cry a lot.
Your brother, so sweet and simple,
kind, thoughtful, always here, now.
You were too.
The two of you were the yin and the yang.
You the braveheart,
He, a simple man.
Both of you – perfectly, perfect.
Did you see that?
Did I ever tell you how much I loved you?
I think I did.
But, if I didn’t,
please forgive me.
Forgive my tears,
forgive my sadness,
forgive my thoughts
forgive my fear,
forgive my anger,
forgive me.
Does Karma really exist?
I hope so.
I have a lot to make up.
November rains again.
I like it.
- Ann
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“Forever Young” by Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
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A Long Way to Fall
I felt the flames on my face
when I found the nerve to meet your eyes, so green
I stumbled towards your elegance
I tumbled, wide awake into a dream
and there you stood, so beautiful
destiny seduces, after all
I fell into the fire
that’s a long way to fall
You gave me strength to speak
when my voice was weak and words were hard to find
your faith in me was solid and
it stood me up when I couldn’t steady mine
all those times I cried at night
you promised me it’d be all right
you held me while my demons danced and crawled
I fell into your open arms
that’s a long way to fall
A long way to fall
a long way to fall
I never should have drifted
I never should have left you all alone
I don’t know what comes over me
looks like I’ll always be
the troubled kid that runs away from home
I reached for you the other night
you rolled away and moved against the wall
I fell into the space between us
that’s a long way to fall
A long way to fall
a long way to fall
I got no one to hold on to and
I’m sinking slowly to my knees
I might learn to pray down here
or maybe I’ll beg you baby, please
but you stare at me with marble eyes
and I don’t think I’ve ever
felt this small
I’ve fallen out of your good graces
that’s a long way to fall
A long way to fall, a long way to fall
a long way to fall, a long way to fall
- Mary Gauthier
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“Sailing Down My Golden River”
Sailing down my golden river,
Sun and water all my own,
Yet I was never alone.
Sun and water, old life givers,
I’ll have them where e’er I roam,
And I was not far from home.
Sunlight glancing on the water,
Life and death are all my own,
Yet I was never alone.
Life to raise my sons and daughters,
Golden sparkles in the foam,
And I was not far from home.
Sailing down this winding highway,
Travelers from near and far,
Yet I was never alone.
Exploring all the little by-ways,
Sighting all the distant stars,
And I was not far from home.
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Words & music by Pete Seeger, 1971, in support of his work with the sloop Clearwater on the Hudson River.
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“Urge for Going”
I woke up today and found
Frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky
And gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And shivering trees are standing in a naked row
I get the urge for going
I never seem to go
And I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summer time is falling down
Winter closing in.
I had a girl in summertime
With summer colored skin
And not another man in town
My darling’s heart could win
But when the leaves fell trembling down
And bully winds did rub their faces in the snow
She got the urge for going
And I had to let her go
And she got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
Summer time was falling down
Winter closing in.
The warriors of winter
Give a cold triumphant shout
All that stays is dying
All that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight
Laughing and a-racing on before the snow
They got the urge for going
And they got the wings to go
And they get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summer time is falling down
Winter closing in.
I’ll ply the fire with kindling
Pull the blankets to my chin
I’ll lock the vagrant winter out
And bolt my wanderings in
I’d like to call back summertime
And have her stay for just another month or so
She’s got the urge for going
I guess she’ll have to go
And she gets the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empires are falling down
Winter closing in.
And I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summer time is falling down.
- Tom Rush
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May 9, 2011
Loudon Wainwright song – feels right tonight:
“New Paint”
At the station you can meet her
With that smile you couldn’t cheat her
A woman that kind is hard to find
It’s good to take a girl
In the not so very good world
And walk in the park until it gets dark
Sometimes I feel ugly and old
Excuse me baby if I’m acting bold
My head gets hot but my feet aren’t cold
Excuse me if you will
Take a breather on a bench
Helps to build up the suspense
Then the two of you go to a movie show
If she’s woman there’s a chance
That she maybe likes to dance
So you go to the hall and you out step ‘em all
Don’t make a hullabaloo I’m not the hoipaloi
I’m try any trick and I’ll pull any ploy
I’m a used up twentieth century boy
Excuse me if you will
She takes you home to meet the folks
Laughing at the fathers jokes
Shall we watch TV, it’s all right with me
Time to go you’re going to miss her
In the doorway try to kiss her
Oh it tastes so good, like you hoped it would
If I was 16 again I’d give my eyetooth
I’m tired and I’m hungry and I’m looking for my youth
I’m a little uncool and I’m a little uncouth
Oh excuse me yes excuse me if you will
At the station you can meet her
With that smile you couldn’t cheat her
A woman that kind is hard to find
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“Everything Betty”
Betty Crocker she was not,
But an avid reader – cream of the crop!
Her nose always hidden in a book,
And if you interrupted, you got “the look.”
The look, you see, was known far and wide,
But everyone knew it was filled with pride.
She fought for freedom, rejected the modern,
Her presence, a catalyst for the down-trodden.
She knew that peace could rule the world,
Yet stood tall and brave when a flag unfurled.
She searched for justice and found her voice,
A mighty gift, and a blessed choice!
That everyone live free, her only hope,
No whips nor chains, no hanging ropes.
Freedom for all – black, yellow, red or white!
She followed her dreams; she fed the light.
And when nothing remained for her to fulfill,
She left upon a rainbow and whispered “Until.”
