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… I was alone
The fire was strong …

… I’m going to stand here, show you who I am
Tell you the truth, the best I can
And you may not like what you see
But who knows, might fall in love with me …

… In another universe, they say
You and I are going out together
But not in this one, you say …

… Life is good
You make your own luck
When you’re sunstruck …

Recorded live at Nana’s Soup House, Feb. 16, 2008

… But I want to tell you that I think you’re doing fine
We’re all born with our own mountains to climb …

… If she stands firm, your costume cracks
and a darkness at your roots is exposed …

This is one of those songs that popped out fully formed -- lyrics, guitar all at once. I love when that happens. It's only about two months old. This one is so slow; I think the vocals have to be done perfectly in order for it to work (I don't think I achieved that here) -- there has to be some emotion in there to hold your attention.

This one is an old one. I started writing it in New York -- the first song I started after recording my first album. I never did finish it until recently. I haven't gotten to the point where the words are one hundred percent locked down, but I think I _might_ have. It takes me a while to decide. This one has a bit of a syncopation in it which I like, but which I don't know if I play up enough when I'm performing it.

… countless crooked crosses
misty wraiths that slip my eye
a field of standing stones
marking souls who thought they could fly …

… I may not have my hipster credentials
It’s essential that you know, I never will …

This is another old/recently finished song. The first two verses were written long ago, and I always wanted the song to move into the second riff with lyrics but it never happened until recently I began working on it again, and the whole thing turned direction and became cohesive.

I raised my eyes to the Sun above
and I thought to myself, what a dream

What’s happening
in the spaces in between
the desperate silence
and the silent screams

Everyday
I wake up and smile
and I look into the eyes of my girl

You’re going to rise
Every day of your life
It’s a spiral dance

Interestingly enough, "Tide Came In" is one of my son's favorite songs -- I think he can remember me putting him to sleep with it with the drone rhythm. It still works!

This is just what it's entitled, but it has a nice message. I love this demo version -- playing it live I don't get the amped guitar part. Josh says, "but ... it's three chords." And I reply, "Yes, but it's like Tenacious D's 'Tribute' -- IT'S not the simple song, it's ABOUT the simple song."

This one has some cheesy drums on it. It's recognizable as how I hear this song, but I don't really love the demo. But you get the idea.

… I tried to fly my love across the sky
That spanned between us so blue
But I never had to try … lovin’ you …

I love this song but it borders on cheesy. So this one is on the fence, I think.

… We’ll be together
‘til the morning
When the new day
is dawning …

… In another life, we might have played a different role
but I never done nothin’ so awful as break my mama’s heart …

… On a mountainside, I found my shady grove
And one day a long time ago, I met a black bear …

… he said I’ll see you soon,
he seems to have lied …

… the day after the boy that died …

… you do not walk alone,
No, you do not walk alone …

… Don’t have no time for the future …
Just need some wings, if I should fall …

… Dance with me darling, hold me as long as it takes
Oh, I’m going to shiver and shake! …

… Seven times I’ve gone to chapel,
Once upon the steps I cried,
Seven times I put hand out,
Seven times denied …

… Gonna break the chains that bind us …
bind us to the floor …
Gonna set our dragons flying high …

… Whisper here, the whisper said,
The sea will keep your deepest dreams,
Safely there, they may remain,
Until the wolves throw them back again …

… I’m going to rest my bones, yeah, like the lion in the sun
and if you hear that lion roar, you know you better run …

… There are many rivers that flow,
and they all lead to the sea.
And every time I wonder which way to go,
I let that river carry me …

… Can’t you hear the horn? Calling to the sky?
We’re trying hard not to let that die…
We never will ‘cause we’re stronger every day …

… I’m not dirty
not uncouth
I’m not mean
and not cruel …

… Broken…
Burned…
By the words you’ve spoken,
But here I stand …

… Something failed with Jesus, when he died up on the cross…
Well, he tried to free us, but all of us are lost and I say…
Why can’t I, and what’s it cost? …

… When it’s time I’ll go out, yeah with my boots on
but life is now, and the fever’s never gone …

… There’s a road stretching out for me…
On my dying day, there’s a road, oh my,
There’s a road stretching out for me …

… Life in the City is a strange, strange thing
Like a dragon’s wings, or his flames, it can lead to a ring …

… David the King was grieved and moved,
He went to his chamber and cried.
He went to his chamber and cried …

… I really love, the way you move…
‘Cause it’s sexy way you groove …

… Sometimes, you’ve got to jump, and pray for wings
While others who can’t abide such things
Remain behind, and watching as you rise,
Will wonder how you learned to fly …

… Took the King’s Highway and we rode,
and the friends were good, and the beer was cold.
Well, I smiled at her, and she smiled at me,
We were headed to the Jubilee …

… We lay in bed while it rained outside
It felt like heaven with her there by my side
We spoke of gods and a revolution
Looked in her eyes, I saw oceans …

… Before I ride into the Light,
Once, before braving all,
Before Exemption’s final call,
Oh, to jump, and not to fall …

… You say he treats you right, he put a rose on your pillow,
But later in the park, you’re ‘neath the weeping willow,
Crying to yourself about your circumstance, once again…

… But I won’t go see no doctor,
don’t want to hear how my troubles will end,
I’m going to find myself a bottle,
I’m going to self-medicate again …

… Dreaming of you, lady,
I sighed …