"Ready to Go"

You showed to me the stairway
That leads up to the light
You told me that some secrets
Are hidden deep in time
You said I'll understand
What I never thought I'd know
But don't know if I'm ready to go

You've shown to me a river
Flowing endless on and on
You told me of a footprint
That's left here when I'm gone
You said that there's a message
Waiting, from somebody I know
But I don't know if I'm ready to go

The distance is calling like a voice from a dream
Offering glimpses of places that I've seen
Whispering softly like stars up in the sky
It's time to walk that path by and by

You've shown to me a vision of someplace far away
Yet
I still have tasks undone, I still have words to say
I still have songs unsung, things I need to know
So, I don't know if I'm ready to go

The distance is still calling like voices in a dream
Offering glimpses of places that I've seen
Whispering softly like stars up in the sky
Come walk this path with me
With me you'll walk this path
By and by

“ Riding for the Brand “

Used to be a time, not so long ago
You’d lace ‘em up and head on out
   Driving rain or snow

Used to be a time
you’d always lend your hand
Never was a question
   You were riding for the brand

A place to hang your hat
  A place to rest your bones
    A warm and friendly fire
      Never felt alone

A job that must be done
  A callouse built with time
    Gloves and rope and wire
      Down along the line

Used to be a time
you gave it all you had
A cup of joe to help you go
   Neither good nor bad

Used to be a time
you’d rise to make a stand
A battle line once more drawn
   You were riding for the brand

A tale told once again
  A whiskey helped you hear
    A long lost love left behind
      Could bring a man to tears

A sunrise mornings chill
  Brings it  back again
    Hitch ‘em up and head on out
      Another chapter penned

Riding for the brand
The way it once was done
You did your time out on the line
   Then porched it in the sun

Riding for the brand
The way it used to be
I’d take care of them that cared
   Then they’d take care of me

Used to be a time
somewhere in the past
A handshake done, one on one
   A bond was built to last


Used to be a time , the labor of the years

  Would pay your way to own a space
  Keep your spot on a mountaintop
Clean your slate at the dinner plate
    Keep you warm ‘til the early morn’
  Hold the sun when the day was done
Through a lifetimes smiles and tears

Used to be a time
not so long ago
You’d lace ‘em up and head on out
   Driving rain or snow

Used to be a time
you’d always lend your hand
Never was a question
   You were riding for the brand

“Second Time Round”

I’m going on a search
     Pulling out the map
I’m going through the open door
     There'll be no turning back

I’ll go on down the road
     I’ll walk along the shore
I’m going back for something
     ‘cause I know there’s something more

I’ll talk to all the workers
     I’ll talk to all their friends
I’ll ask them if they know the place
     Where the means equal the ends

I’ll kneel down with the Protestants
     I’ll pray with Catholics
I’ll ask them for the rosary that
     They make their magic with

I’m going back for happiness
Gone for peace of mind
I’ll go to find the state of grace
My heart could never find

I’m going back for laughter
Going back for joy
I'm gone to find the old cliché where
Country girl meets city boy

I’ll find the kiss I missed
I’ll hold the girl who smiled
I’ll find the love I left behind
That left me so beguiled

I’ll walk out to the rocky point
   I'll cast fate to the winds
I’ll fill my lungs with salty air
And there begin again

To find the folks who wear my skin
     To see the ones who don’t
To shake the hands of ones who care
     To hug the ones who won’t

I’ll climb up to the mountain high
     And ask God for a sign
And as his hands then lift me up
    I’ll say a fond goodbye


And then again my path begins
To start this life anew
New  roads start where
Old roads end
And I’ll walk the road with you
I'll walk this road with you

“ Sometimes “                  

Sometimes the ship sails
    Deep into the night
We wave goodbye but it’s
      Long gone out of sight
Sometimes our dreams
       Come crashing to the ground
Sometimes our tears fall
        And never make a sound

Sometimes I’d wonder
  If the night would ever fall
I’d look for starlight
     Shadows on the wall
Sometimes I’d pray for
Mornings brand new day
Sometimes I'd know that
      Love will find a way

Lead me Anam Cara

Sometimes I laugh
  Just before i cry
And keep on fighting
      Though never knowing why
Sometimes I look through
       Scrapbooks of the past
Sometimes it feels like
      I’ve found my home at last  

Sometimes I’m running
      Blindly down the lane
Singing wildly
    Dancing in the rain
Sometimes I’m lost in
  A whirlwind of our time
Sometimes I feel like
I’m paying for my crimes

Teach me Anam Cara

Sometimes I feel like I’m
     Walking on the moon
I sing to the heavens
     But am woeful out of tune
Sometimes I’m holding
A winner in my hand
Sometimes it seems like
   I’ve found my place to stand

Sometimes the light comes
   Just before the dawn
My feet are planted
     But I must be moving on
    Sometimes it seems that I’m
    Swallowed by the tide
Sometimes I pray that
   God is on my side

Free me Anam Cara

Sometimes the ship sails
Deep into the night
Sometimes this dog
is always in the fight
Sometimes my love is
Lost along the way
Sometimes I've said
All there is to say

"Strange Breed"

It's a strange breed we are
Wandering blindly in the mist
Stumbling, bumbling, rumbling and fumbling
Ranting and raving, pounding our fists

One thing's for sure
We think we know more than we do
When we start to believe
The shadow webs we weave, we're through

It's a strange breed we are
Winding our way through the days
Laughing and crying, living and dying
So helpless and lost along the way

It's a strange breed we are
Sharing and loving, heartless and cruel
Saints and sinners, losers and winners
Polished and fine like a jewel

One thing is true
It's me and it's you on this train
If we hold real tight, we'll get through the night
And the rain

One thing's for sure
There's always a door to go through
Grab hold of my hand and we'll get to the land
of the new

It's a strange breed we are
Wandering blindly through this mist

“Struggle”

Struggle  to reach the sea
    As it steals you from the wind
Struggle to find the sails
    To bring you back again
Struggle to kiss the sky
      As it hands you another chance
Struggle to get back to the dance

Struggle to kiss her face
    Familiar as it seems
Struggle to hold her smile
     Forever in your dreams
Struggle to reach the stars
       As distant as they are
Struggle to see that far


      Have you ever considered that

Often in the distant night,
The angels called your name
And in the morning lights
you answered with the same

Struggle to find your love
      As you knock on every door
Struggle to steer the ship
        On course to distant shores
Struggle to feel your heart
        Beat against the night
Struggle to find your sight


      Have you ever considered that

Often in the dreamland
The angels gave you wings
And in the morning silence
You heard the rivers sing

And

Once upon a rainbow
The angels set you free
And someday on a windy hill
      They’ll
      Come again for me

"Symphony"

I'll take you 'cross the universe
I'll lead you through the fields
I'll show you places never seen
I'll give you dreams unreal

You'll gaze deeply in my eyes
You'll gently hold my hand
You'll show me all your secret dreams
You're castles in the sand

I'll kneel down in the tide
I'll bow my head in prayer
I'll ask to taste the special love
And one with whom to share

You will turn and smile once more
You'll give your heart to me
Your tears of joy will fill my soul
And free me magically

We'll take each other to the edge
And sing out to the sea
Then
one more time our simple song
becomes a symphony

So
Take me 'cross the universe
Lead me through the fields
Show me places never seen
Give me dreams unreal

I'll
Bring you flowers in the night
I'll leave you will a smile
I'll take your hand and hold it close
For all the endless miles