1. |
I Shudder To Think
02:49
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I Shudder To Think
I had me this dream just the other night
and there I was in the future, and it was all big as life
and what I saw there; oh it was such a sight.
Some of the science fiction scared me to the brink;
and if some of it was to come true,
hey, I shudder to think.
It was all so futuristic; this place in my dream
the buildings and the cars, well, you wouldn’t believe;
but behind the facade, things were not what they seem
as people moved around quick as a wink
all with this sense of distrust,
whoa, I shudder to think.
The cities seemed to have some new magical charm
as more people moved out, off and away from the farm.
Values were changed causing even more harm
as divorces took to paper and ink,
and what that did to the institute of marriage,
ooh, I shudder to think.
As subtleties and politicians turned the truth into lies
morality seemed to falter right before their own eyes.
The family was weakened and dismantled down to size
as people were more concerned with their quality of life
And their older family members were all institutionalized
meanwhile their economy was going down the drink
and where that was all leading to;
whoa,… I shudder to think.
So I had me this dream and what I saw, I tell you,
it made me stop and think, what if it all did come true?
Last thing I saw was them trying to take God out of view
and I wondered, would they rise up to stop it or shrink,
Could this really happen to us?
Oh ho, I shudder to think.
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2. |
It Comes And It Goes
04:53
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It Comes And It Goes
One step at a time,… taking life with care to plan
but some things only come around once;
gotta enjoy em while you can.
Nice to keep your eyes open as changes happen faster than thought
like children that grow up,
whether you’re there to see it or not.
There’s a brief special window; a chance to see it open and close
as the fleeting transformation evolves;
it comes and it goes.
Always in a state of unhappiness; your situation and hopeless fate;
forlorn with your own appearance,
and your meager financial state.
Always thinking that tomorrow, life will get better than this day you’ve got
till you look back and realize,
things were not as bad then as you thought.
It’s all a matter of perspective to a future that nobody knows,
this journey; this place marker in your life;
it comes and it goes.
Sometimes there’s a defining moment
put before us to step up and to carry it through
and we either rise to the occasion or we regret what we didn’t do.
Whether we failed or succeeded, either way we’re prone to learn then
reminding us on how we will act
if and when the situation comes around again.
Our lives are shaped and reshaped, dealing with the many highs and lows
As we press on through the slipstream of time;
it comes and it goes.
Attuned with life; so precious and fleeting, adjusting to the feel as it flows
to acquire a sense of our being and place in the universe as
it comes and it goes.
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3. |
A Mind Of Her Own
04:51
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A Mind Of Her Own
From the time the world began, it’s been a puzzlement to man
to understand why a woman thinks the way she does.
A wild thought comes from who knows whence
lacking reasoning and common sense
still, she’s in motion to amend that whatever was.
And before she might begin, I’d politely offer to step in,
to be of help as she approaches that unknown,
but truth is, though I’m her friend
she needs to do things her way in the end
because the woman’s got a mind of her own.
I don’t try to play the role of the one who needs control
over everything that goes on in that world of hers,
but at times I think it best
that I might tenderly suggest
to have her stop and think before something bad occurs.
And she might stop, straightaway, like she’s considering what I say
to have some relevance and truth that we might atone,
and yet most times she does not stray
from doing things her own way,
hey, the woman’s got a mind of her own.
Although I may not understand all or part of what she’s planned
I know her good intentions from what is or is not shown,
when she doesn’t need me as a guide
I gotta be ready to step aside
knowing that the woman’s got a mind of her own.
As she gets herself entwined with inherent plans she’s designed
I try to figure out what she might be thinking of.
And with a hope and a prayer
I see her flittering here and there
to make the difference that she administers with love.
And even though she drifts some days I’ve kind a gotten used to her ways,
of her doing things together or alone.
So most times I can only suggest
and hope that providence will do the rest
knowing that the woman’s got a mind of her own.
Though she exudes concern and strife
I thank God she’s in my life,
and that the woman’s got a mind of her own.
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4. |
Don't You Know
03:12
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Don’t You Know?
Don’t you know that I will always love you;
can’t you see that I will always care?
Don’t you understand, that though I leave you;
in my heart you will always be there?
Don’t you know how hard it is to leave you;
Don’t you see how much I want to stay?
Don’t you know I feel the pain you’re feeling
with me gone so many miles away?
Don’t you know that we have something special
can’t you feel our love grow stronger with each day?
Don’t you understand that my soul purpose
is to get back with you, to stay?
Don’t you know how hard this is to leave you
Don’t you know how much my heart will yearn?
Can’t you kind of feel what we have together
will help weather the pain till I return?
Don’t you know that I will always love you;
don’t you know that I will always care?
Don’t you understand, that though I leave you;
in your heart I will always be there?
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5. |
It'll Be Okay
04:19
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It’ll Be Okay
Chaos and order battle throughout the day
and we’re caught up in the middle of their war.
It’s never easy to deal with trouble uncontrolled
and after a while,
you might not care anymore.
But time flows on like a river and we’re stuck
going upstream going only one-way.
You can’t change that past, only do better today,
and know that at the end of the day
it’ll be okay.
Nonsense and logic are strange bedfellows
each with their own lesson to be learned.
And there you are trying way too hard
to control the wheel
that has already turned.
That mistake you made to cover with that lie
may come back at you to make its play.
Better to give out the truth and be free of that pain,
and know at the end of the day;
it’ll be okay.
Trying so much to rise above his supposed station
letting go of his father’s ties and his mother’s hem.
Looking down on that awkward family past
to think that maybe now he might
be better than all of them.
But they who he distances himself out of embarrassment and shame
will always be with him; no matter what he might do or say,
and they forgive him for his follies and they know without doubt,
at the end of the day;
it’ll be okay.
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6. |
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No One’s Coming After All
Up until near the day he died, my father held the belief
that he would be back on the stage
irregardless of how brief.
There wasn’t a day gone by that he didn’t think of him being in a show
and that there would be that knock on the door
asking him to go.
And he never stopped believing, that he was gonna get that call
he never gave up and never considered
no one’s coming after all.
Sitting at the keyboard, working out a challenging phrase
putting final touches on something
I’d worked on for a few days.
Then listening, couldn’t help but think this will be the one to take flight;
to take me out of this here and now
and put me off and into the light.
But then gazing up at the Stratocaster hanging on the wall
a slight doubt returned the thought that
no one’s coming after all.
How can I continue doing this thing and embrace the reality
that all I’ve done and all I’ll do is for nothing save just for me?
I do the work, I put in so much time, so much so, it doesn’t make sense
that in the end I just give away my work
hoping for a wider audience.
Yes, there is joy in this thing I’m called to do and I feel inspired all the time,
but vanity and ego wants the talent, the genius
to be validated; to shine.
Oh I’ve heard and the woman reminds me that pride comes before the fall
but with family and friends supporting me all the way,
how could I even think that no one’s coming after all.
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7. |
Relax
02:45
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Relax
Relax, take your mind off the tax.
Let the whole mess rot, bring yourself to a stop.
Relax, don’t think about that.
Whittle out some wood, do yourself some good.
All this self-destruction you’ve found,
through your useless running around,
you ought to crash like you can’t remember when,
and slow down, just enough so you can think again.
Relax, forget about that fat.
take off your shoes, for goodness sake,
and give yourself a break
and relax.
Someday you won’t have to carry that axe,
and you can relax, relax, relax.
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8. |
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Oh Well, There Goes That Dream
I was so darned ready when it came around this time
and I was just sure that this was
my turn to finally shine.
With my best foot forward, it all looked like a safe bet,
all I needed was that one big chance
and I’d be set.
But sometimes things have a way of coming apart at the seam
as it did at the last moment;
oh well, there goes that dream.
I guess, years from now, this’ll all seem funny in some way
thinking how I put out all that energy
that my life would fall into play.
All the promises built on too many ifs that failed time and again,
but to me it was never about an, “if”
it was only a question of when.
And now it’s over and I’m back to being the one-man team
just like it was yesterday;
oh well, there goes that dream.
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9. |
When It Rains, It Pours
04:26
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When It Rains, It Pours
Don’t look for reasons that might make sense,
there’s no logic in what we do.
I know that you’ve told me, but I’m still kind of dense,
and I just don’t understand you.
You feel uneasy, but you don’t know why.
you think you need to go home by train.
So I’m on this platform, waving goodbye,
and now it’s going to rain.
When it rains, it pours in buckets on me.
It’s all at once, no breaks in between.
Everything falls apart at the same time it seems.
When it rains, it pours, and it’s always on me.
It doesn’t make sense that you’d need to leave,
but if you feel it’s right, you’ve got to go.
I don’t understand it, but you know, I believe
when you’re ready, you’ll head back home.
In marriage, there’s so much confusion and doubt,
all the adjustments can be such a strain.
So I’m walking home, trying to sort this all out,
and now, now it’s going to rain.
When it rains, it pours in buckets on me.
It’s all at once, no breaks in between.
Everything falls apart, at the same time it seems.
When it rains, it pours, and it’s always on me.
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10. |
Nowadays
05:01
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Nowadays
As of late, me and Honey, we been thinking
how things have changed since the fall.
We were part of a bigger picture
with a sense of purpose; thought we’d always belong.
But we’re finding out all those years of commitment
Didn’t end up meaning anything at all;
loyalty should mean something more,
turns out we were wrong.
And the older we get the further we are away
from the strength and trust of old fashioned integrity.
Nowadays, that life is a million miles away
from the way and what it all used to be.
Me and Honey been feeling disillusioned
after our sense of being is being shaken loose,
trying to keep things together to ward off cynicism when it comes along;
Apparently we’re not part of the future picture anymore
and we don’t seem to belong or have a sense of use.
we were just so sure we would always be needed
turns out we were wrong.
And the older we are the further we get away
from being connected with that good sense of family.
Nowadays, those elements are a million miles away
from the way and what it all used to be.
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11. |
I'm Flying
01:01
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I'm Flying
I'm Flying,
I'm Flying
over your head,...
I'm flying,
I'm flying,
and you don't know
my name,...
and you don't know
my name
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12. |
I’ve Been Hearing Things
03:38
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I’ve Been Hearing Things
Word is going round, things are not so sound as they seem.
They say, there’s no doubt,
and you’re running out on me.
I play along like they’re all wrong
and we still have the love shining through,
and the words have wings,
I been hearing things about you.
I have tried to ignore and not hear anymore of all the dirt.
Wouldn’t have these doubts
if I thought they we’re out just to make me hurt.
Maybe I’m all wrong because I play along
but you’re one I’d never want to lose.
Parties and overnight flings,
I been hearing things about you.
You play around, and you’ll sure let down your best friend.
They say, what goes around,
comes back around in the end.
I hope and pray things are not that way
and the gossip just isn’t true,
but this feeling clings and
I been hearing things about you.
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13. |
I Love The Rain
03:54
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I Love The Rain
I live out in the Pacific Northwest where the weather is mostly always fair.
Some call this the land of flying water
from all the moisture in the air.
A lot of days with gray clouds in passing but I sure can’t complain,
not with the aftermath of seeing green everywhere,
oh man, I love the rain.
I love the rain coming down on my Tumwater town,
on the mountains creating more snow.
I love the rain as it beats on my roof and out on the streets,
reminding me there’s nowhere that I gotta go.
I know to an outsider, this almost sounds insane,
but oh; I love the rain.
If you’re from parts of California or Arizona; you might be wondering why
anyone could love any other place
that isn’t always warm and dry.
And maybe for you having to deal with mud puddles can be such a pain,
but I got me some boots and a bright yellow hat
oh yeah, I love the rain.
I love the rain coming down on my Tumwater town,
on the mountains creating more snow.
I love the rain as it beats on my roof and out on the streets,
reminding me there’s nowhere that I gotta go.
I know to an outsider, this almost sounds insane,
but oh; I love the rain.
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14. |
Working On It
05:27
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Working On It
It may look like I got some plan of action
like I’m a guy that’s in the know,
but I’m just putting one foot in front of the other
and making this all up as I go.
My redeeming quality and my saving grace
that powers me and carries me through
is to know that I’m not in this world all alone
and that I can be myself and still be loved by you.
And there we are, working on it;
for heaven sake, we’re working on it; working on it.
I see myself where it is that I should be,
and from where I am; it’s just so far to go.
Falling short from other’s expectations;
there’s so much I can’t do and that I don’t know.
But from all I have or have not attained
the one thing that I know to be true
is that you see the potential in all we can be,
that we have each other and that’s enough for now for me and you.
And there we are, working on it;
for heaven sake, we’re working on it; working on it.
Always under construction; A work in progress,
measured by the tiny victories in our lives;
we are finding what does and what doesn't work
and it's getting better all the time.
As I stand in awe over how far we’ve come
and at all the things that we’ve gone through,
I see us like strong trees braving the wind,
our branches intertwined – a tender weave of me and you.
Hey, there we are, working on it; working on it;
for heaven sake, we’re working on it; working on it.
There we are, working on it; working on it;
for heaven sake, we’re working on it; working on it.
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15. |
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Things Will Get Better,
Somewhere Down The Road
“Will I always be this poor?” I heard the young girl say
as she reached into her purse at a grocery store to pay.
“I don’t need this, I can do without”,
I heard her softly speak,
and only filled one bag to hold her for a week.
But things will get better, and we’ll be out of debt.
I can feel the good times coming, they just ain’t here yet.
It could be a whole lot worse, this ain’t a heavy load.
Things will get better, somewhere down the road.
His sign said, “Work For Food, anything around”.
Sitting on a curb staring at the ground.
“I got a wife and three kids living in a shack,
I just gotta bring them food, or else I can’t go back.”
But things will get better, and we’ll be out of debt.
I can feel the good times coming, they just ain’t here yet.
It could be a whole lot worse, this ain’t a heavy load.
Things will get better, somewhere down the road.
They were living in a van camped out at a park.
He labored all the summer from sun up till dark.
Making just enough to get by, with nothing left to keep,
Still happy every night, he’d sing them all to sleep.
Singing, “Things will get better, and we’ll be out of debt.
I can feel the good times coming, they just ain’t here yet.
It could be a whole lot worse,
this ain’t a heavy load, and things will get better,
somewhere down the road.”
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16. |
Where’d Everybody Go?
03:56
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Where’d Everybody Go?
Running; covering a lot of ground,
moving forward, hardly ever looking back.
Ignoring distractions, staying focused
while trying my best to stay on track.
On track? Who am I kidding here,
what’s really happening and what do I know
as I stop to reflect on my life so far
and I kind of wonder, where’d everybody go?
Flying from Seattle to California
then to Texas and onward to Tennessee,
thinking about maybe retiring again
as my agent says it’s not an option for me.
Sitting in the wings, tuning my guitar
dressed and ready for the next show
I’m thinking about folks I ain’t seen for a while
wondering, where’d everybody go?
Never thought I’d be the last man standing
when I was plowing through time, years ago,
but with each new day, another soldier falls;
another voice gone from the big show.
Taking a break with a few days off
before I head out on the next tour;
and I’m reminiscing the good and bad times
when we were hungry, when we were poor.
Remembering making music with my friends
in the studios and again, on the road
but as I go on stage, I kind of look around
asking myself without needing any answer,
oh Lord, where’d everybody go?
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17. |
Waiting Here For You
04:10
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Waiting Here For You
Who knows why trials fall on the same one, every time,
it’s not fair it’s hardly right
but it’s what happens here in life.
And we’re all here on the sidelines cheering you on but all the while
holding back our desperate tears
as we see you brave your trial.
Most times I feel lost watching the things you’re going through
but you’ll only see the stoic me
waiting here for you.
This is a time of high anxiety, as I stare through the opaque glass
and I have to hurry up to wait and to wait
for the next thing to finally pass.
At times I want to take your hands; to somehow take away your pain,
but in the end seems the only thing that I can ever do
is get used to the clouds and rain.
Fact is, I’m so helpless and at times, I don’t know what to do
save to stand guard in my own way
as I’m waiting here for you.
As you step forward yet again, with supposed confidence and hope,
I am two steps back behind you
not sure what and where we go.
Who knows about tomorrow or what I should be thinking of;
I know only of right now
of our journey, of our love.
At times I lacked the wisdom of what was key and what was true
but for now, it all comes to me with clarity
as I’m waiting here for you.
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Lord Baldwin Olympia, Washington
Lord Baldwin has created 44 ALBUMS
between 1991 and 2001
Between 2011 and 2023, created, 23
ALBUMS
Published a 4-book series called, “Stepping Between The Ants”
A 4-book series called, “From The Lost Letters Sent” chronicling the first 44 albums' songs created between 1968 to 2001
As playwright, wrote a musical play (book) called;
““RESILIENT the Musical” A Web-Based Episodic Play & Story”
... more
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