“O’hara’s Gone”            

O’hara’s gone now
he left just the other day
   They say he left his wife a schilling or two
Opened the door, tipped his hat
then was on his way
   Nobody knows the direction he took
   Nobody noticed that faraway look


O’hara’s gone now
they say he was a steady type
  Worked in the factory ten years and a day
Would go with the boys to the pub
on the Friday nights
  Everyone figured he’d had it his way
  Everyone knew just the words that he’d say


O’hara’s gone now
the town doesn’t seem the same
  Some say he longed for the love he once had
His courage and spirit
he’d left for the younger men
  Some say the way that it ended was sad
  Some say that surely he’d finally gone mad

  
But

off in the thunder that
rolls through the stormy night
  Sometimes I see old O’hara again
He lifts up his glass and he
toasts to the dogs that bite

  Now he no longer has to defend

  Now he no longer has to pretend

“What we Can”

I reach for the stars
I reach for my dreams
I’ve journeyed so far
To know what that means

I’ve known you before
I’ve seen you in time
We sang a love song
We spoke it in rhyme

We gaze at the moon
We dream from the heart
It’s over to soon
It’s doomed from then start

But here we still are
And here we will stay
‘til we find us a cloud
To take us away

So
Kiss me again
And hold tight my hand
As we reach for the stars
As we do what we can

"Where I Go "

I take my music with me where I go
It doesn't matter rain or wind or snow
A place to rest my head and soothe my soul
Melody and words are what I know

Long ago I tried to climb the hill
I found a ledge that left me standing still
As Crowley said it's just "Do what you will!"
I did and I was left to foot the bill

Sometimes it seems there ain't no seeds to sow
I don't know much but here is what I know
Somewhere soon they're putting on a show
And everyone is free to come or go

I won't whine, just covering my tracks
I'll tell you all there ain't no looking back
If today you're standing in the past
You'll find you're rolling downhill mighty fast

Still,
Every now and then I need to rail
It's better off than ending up in jail
With great new friends you wouldn't want to fail
Waiting for their letters in the mail

I've always known when casting out my line
I better learn the meaning of sublime
There's more to words than learning how to rhyme
There's more to life than dancing on a dime

Sometimes the clouds are soft and  warm and white
Sometimes the darkness overtakes the light
Sometimes we're flailing wildly in the fight
Sometimes we're just not sure what's wrong or right

These questions that still lead us on and on
Are here today, the next we know they're gone
As we drive all night into the dawn
We'll stop and rest to make our way beyond

So,

I've finally learned to dance and sing in tune
I've finally learned that song about the moon
I'm finally filling up that empty room
Just in time for moving on so soon

It's said we just don't know what we don't know
I'll say I've learned on bumpy roads it's so
So,
Once more on that bumpy road I'll roll
And I'll take my music with me where I go

“Eyes of Blue”

We surely knew in younger days
Our eyes of blue would never change
The paths we walked, the dreams we held
The hearts we touched, the love we felt

The hand we shook, the trust we gave
The moments lived, the memories saved
The days we laughed, the nights we cried
The truths we told, the hidden lies


We knew as well as the stars at night
Our aim was true, the time was right
Our words were gold, the map was new
We’d never change our eyes of blue


We fought the hearts of jaded hue
Who’d walked this road with eyes of blue
And told the tale of fading dreams
Of setting sun and raging streams

Who said it’s all a compromise
The color changes in your eyes
But bold as youth with voices clear
Our hearts of gold would be our mirror


We knew as well as the stars at night
Our aim was true, the time was right
Our words were gold, the map was new
We’d never change our eyes of blue


Our minds were young, our vision strong
We’d found the ground where we belonged
We’d ride that train into the sun
We’d play that song ‘til it was done


And though the road was full of holes
When days were hot and nights were cold
We set the course to save our souls
Our eyes were blue, our hearts were gold


We knew as well as the stars at night
Our aim was true, the time was right
Our words were gold, the map was new
We’d never change our eyes of blue

We knew as well as the stars above
Our song was real, the word was love
Our dreams were true, the map was old
With
Eyes of blue and hearts of gold

“Raging Fire”

I woke to hear the tune the morning sings
Saw sunlight dancing upon silver wings
I reached to touch your hand and felt nothing
No matter how I tried
I could find no place to hide
From the feelings deep inside that were missing

I turned to see that bird had taken flight
I felt a loss that it had left my sight
My heart cried out to you with all my might
I could not stop the tears
Of all the hungry years
And all the endless fears that I’d held inside

The road’s a raging fire
That’s left its scars on me
And
The flames keep climbing higher
Blocking my route to the sea

I rose and dressed to face another day
Fighting hard just to make my way
I felt just like the child gone astray
You know the road is rough
These times they can be tough
I just can’t get enough of
What I need these days

The road’s a raging fire
That’s left its scars on me
And
The flames keep climbing higher
Blocking my route to the sea

I woke to hear the tune
The morning sings

“Someday”

I used to be a painter
‘til the sunsets fell from my eyes
I used to be a writer
‘til my hand could pen no more lies
I used to be a lover
Until the day she went away
I used to be a dreamer
Until I lost the faith to say

I believe in the stars, I believe in the sea
I believe in you, I believe in me

I used to be an actor
Until the lines were to far from my heart
I used to be a laugher
‘til the tears tore me apart
I used to be a dancer
Until my shoes were stole away
I used to be a climber
Until I slipped and lost my way

I believed in the stars, I believed in the sea
I believed in you, I believed in me


Someday I’ll be a painter
When the sunsets again fill my eyes
Someday I’ll be a writer
When my pen transcends the lies
Someday I’ll be a dancer
If my feet can find their way
Someday I’ll be a dreamer
If I can find the strength to say

I believe in love, I believe in free
I believe in you, I believe in me

“Crazy Horse”

Crazy Horse was right
he rode into the loneliness
of the darkest night
he rode across the land he'd known
the land that he'd called home

Crazy Horse was right
Somewhere in the distance
he'd seen the light
knew that there'd come a day
a day he'd have to fight

For as long as the grass grows
as long as the wind blows
as long as the water flows

Crazy Horse was right
he knew that they'd rode too far
inside his heart
a place he'd have to end
a place he'd have to start

For as long as the grass grows
as long as the wind blows
as long as the water flows

“Turn Around”

I wandered down that dusty road
so long
it took me all the way
to hell and gone
     all I heard was an empty sound
     all it gave was the cold, hard ground
and all that I could do was turn around

I used to think the romance
  was in the pain
I’d sell my soul just to feel it
once again
     I cried at that high lonesome sound
     somewhere in that sleepy town
and all that I could do was turn around


The whistling train left
an echo in the wind
I tried but I could never
  hear that train again
     somewhere in that sleepy town
     I paid for all that cold, hard ground
and all that I could do was turn around


Down along that lost
and lonely road
I finally heard the words
that I’d been told
     I cast a wish on the nights
first star
  despite the rain
  I’d come so far
     despite the wind
       I’d listened for the sound
and all that I could do was
  Turn around
all that I can do is
turn around

“The Only Blues I know”

The snow across the westward ridge
the horizon in the sky
your Mother's angry barbeque
you never question why

The bleeding heart across the land
your Father in cheap suits
the gift you gave in tender times
that left you destitute

And

the only blues I know are the ones that make me cry
the only way to Jerico is 'cross the ocean wide
the only blues I know are with me night and day
tell me less than what you know
is more than what you say

The danger in the distant lights
the jostle in the crowd
your brother's ancient retrospect
he's shouting right out loud

The claim of your intrinsic rights
the sister you ignore
hidden deep beneath your smile
is the pain that you adore

And

the only blues I know are the ones that make me cry
the only way to Jerico is 'cross the ocean wide
the only blues I know are with me night and day
tell me more than what you know
is less than what you say

"Jazz Between the Trees"

Snow's melting on the back roads
The sky, it shows some blue
The fog and sleet have come to meet
The ending of the season too
And in the changing daydream
From the dark and dreary scene
Floats a little Jazz bewteen the trees

Yes, even in the pine trees
The far and distant woods
Miles and dreams from city scenes
You hear those sounds so good
The magic in the music
As it's been and still will be
Floatsa little Jazz between the trees

Give me Coltrane, give me Miles
Give me Brubeck, makes me smile
Give me Louis, give me Getz
Dizzy in a whirlwind yet
Hand me Evans, Billie too
Even a touch of Frank will do
Once more in that 6/8 time
And I'm just sure to lose my mind

Yes, as the days come winding down
And one more cold night's on it's way
The Shamans of the magic sound
Are coming home to stay
They'll gather on the front porch
In a gentle summer breeze
And float a little Jazz between the trees

Give meColtrane, give me Miles
Give me Brubeck, makes me smile
Give me Louis, give me Getz
Dizzy in his whirlwind yet
Hand me Evans, Billie too
Even a little Frank will do
Once more in that 6/8 time
And I'm just sure to lose my mind
So
Chow to Old Man Winter's
Never ending freeze
Here comes a little Jazz between the trees

“A Painting Hanging Crooked on the Wall”

There's a painting hanging crooked on the wall
Photographs are fading down the hall
And every now and then
you still can feel so small
like that painting hanging crooked on the wall

There's a beat up old jalopy in the yard
it used to be the place you'd park your car
and every now and then
you want to drive so far
away from that jalopy in the yard

There's a barely working TV on the stand
it long ago belonged to your old man
it's all he left behind
and you still can't understand
the bills he left you holding in your hand

There's a rusty box of tools in the garage
a dusty torn award from some old lodge
a place he used to love
a place you used to dodge
like the rusty tools he left in the garage

There's a bleeding in the heart from distant wounds
and the healing that will come can't come too soon
you step out from the mire
and reach out to the moon
and pray you'll get the chance to change that worn out tune

So you write another poem, still accused
and tell another tale to stay amused
and though you hear the gavel slam
you still remain confused
at the verdict that you wear for feeling used

Yes,
You're just another prisoner of the past
you once believed or hoped it wouldn't last
but you never could escape
from the shadow that was cast
long ago, when  once you ran so fast


There's a painting hanging crooked on the wall
There's photographs a fading down the hall
and every now and then
you still can feel so small
like that painting hanging crooked on the wall

“The Birds of Time”

There’s horses in them hills
Voices in the night
Time a standin’ still
A glimpse of city light

There’s silence in the dawn
Stars still in the sky
A vision from beyond
Taught me how to fly

Been running all my life
And never knowing why
Been walking on a trail
Toward mountains in the night


I’ve seen the birds of time
Cutting through the sky
They’ve shown me who I am
They taught me how to fly

"Good Horse"

I'm looking for a good horse
Who can run all day long
Who'll take me to a new town
Where they haven't heard my song

I'll saddle up a new rig
A woolen blanket underneath
And 'll lace up my good boots
And head out through the trees

I'll ride ‘til I find a place
Where the music never ends
And
Between the morning sun and evening moon
I'll find me some new friends

I'll lay out my bedroll
And get the fire burning
Lay my weary body down
And let my dreams start churning

Maybe then I'll have a home
Somewhere soft and quiet and warm
Fruit trees and a rippling pond
That'll keep me safe in the storm

Yes,

I'm looking for a good horse
Who won't seem to mind
If we never stop the riding
Never hold what we're looking to find

“With the Wind”

I seen you on the wrong side of town
    I knew someday you’d come ‘round
‘round 9 we started to dance
   ‘round 10 we hadn’t a chance
last round they told us again
    then we were gone with the wind

I tried to climb to the top of the world
    I grabbed hold of one lucky girl
   she said her name was alone
   she said I’d reap what I’d sown
she said to look in her eyes
and then she told me goodbye

I walked to the end of the tracks
Turned ‘round and never looked back
That town faded from view
Along with memories of you
The sun rose with the dawn
That’s when I knew you were gone

So now I ride to the end of the line
Just like a con who is still doing time
‘round 9 I started to dance
“round 10 I hadn’t a chance
last round he called out again
and then I was gone with the wind

“By and By”

It seems like so long since you left here
It seems like an hour ago
It seems like you’d be here forever
It seems that I’m missing you so

I still see your face in the water
I still hear your voice in the wind
I still feel your touch on my shoulder
I feel it again and again

And
I won’t forget you, I won’t let you
Fade like the clouds in the sky
For
You are with me, you’re always with me
Even though you’ve kissed me goodbye



Did you know that your smile lasts forever
Did you know that your love never dies
Did you know I’ll be seeing you later
I’ll be holding your hand
By and by

And
I won’t forget you, I won’t let you
Fade like the clouds in the sky
For
I am with you, I’m always with you
Even though you have
Kissed me
goodbye

“Times Square”

  I sat there at the table
     gazed out at Time's Square
  sipped my cup of coffee
     surprised that I was there

  Watched the crowds meander
     a term from days gone by
  more controlled confusion
      put a twinkle in my eye

  The lights, the noise, the people
     and all that it became
  the heartbeat had a magic
     sitting sideline for the game

  The night was soft and subtle
     was music in the air
  young lovers held each other
     old folks moved with care

  The children ran like rabbits
     like at a country fair
  another glimpse of yesterday
     when they did it all with flair

  My eyes they wandered skyward
     up monoliths of steel
  with stories from before my time
     of lifetimes that were real

  Of men who walked the girders
     who risked their lives each day
  and helped to build this city
     that took my breath away

so,

  As I drank my coffee
     and watched the carnival prepare
  I knew the best I’d ever see
     was right here in Times Square

"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

"Your Story"

   You told the world your story
   In a language long forgotten
With pictures from a scrapbook
    Of memories misbegotten
Like a snapshot from tomorrow
   Or a song from yesterday
You told the world your story
  Like you'd never go away

You sent the world a postcard
Of a visit to the sea
   Standing near the rumbling tide
     You flashed the sign of peace
But off behind the swaying palms
      Deep down in the sand
  You dug a hole of burning rage
       You'll never understand

You played the world a ballad
   A composition from your past
Of stolen dreams and broken hearts
      Never meant to last
  But at the end of every day
     When you lay your burden down
   You'll find the ghosts you thought were gone
    Forever stand their ground

You showed the world a copy
  Of a fine agreement signed
       That if you shake, I'll also shake
       And all will be just fine
       And no matter who we might become
      Or who we'll never be
  The clouds will pass, the sun will shine
   We'll live in ecstasy

  But the world will tell our stories
  In the way that it decides
The struggles and the victories
The places that we hide
The grand designs we'd penciled in
     To lead us to our dreams
      Yes, the world will tell our stories
        And it's never what it seems


So, you told the world your story
    And you gave it all you had
    You tried to keep it happy
    Yet somehow left it sad
  But when it's all been said and done
   With all you've had to say
   You've told the world your story
        And it's just another day

“Walk Through this Life”

The trade winds blow, sailors go to the sea
to find their place in the shadows
Warriors leave their homes in the dream they’ll
return someday to lie in green meadows

They walk through this life , they run
     through the fields as they follow the stars
They sail on the winds, they’ll come back again
as they follow their hearts
and somewhere in the night
they’ll find a chance at love
  And somewhere in their lives
they’ll know it from above

Cowboys ride to the end of the line as they stake their claim
to a piece of forever
children run into the sun
as the days fade from laughter eternal

We walk through this life, we run through
     the fields as we follow the stars
we sail on the winds, we’ll go back again
     as we follow our hearts
and somewhere in the night
we’ll find chance at love
  and somewhere in our lives
we’ll know it from above

A warm wind cuts through the night as I hear
the voices of yesterdays sorrows
Moonlight captures my gaze as a tear falls
on grounds rightly hallowed

I walk through this life, I run through the
     Fields as I follow the stars
I sail on the winds, I’ll go back again as I
     Follow my heart
and somewhere in the night
I’ll find a chance at love
  and somewhere in my life
I’ll know it from above
    from above