1. |
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When The World Opens Up Again
When the world opens up again,
and we return to what we left undone
I hope we might treat each other with a little more kindness
and compassion for everyone.
I hope we remember the ones in danger
that stayed out there on the front lines,
providing needed goods and services for all of us
so we could stay safe in our confines.
I hope we can start to build a better future
learning lessons from where we’ve been;
and move forward with love and positive resolve
when the world opens up again.
When the world opens up again,
I hope the powers world might spread the call
that we now place the same value on everyone everywhere
celebrating the diversities of us all.
I hope all nations we can work together;
all the presidents, kings and queens,
set our differences aside, working for the common good
where we share all our assets and means.
I hope we can learn from our past failings
and what we did wrong back then;
stepping up to accountability with the strong color of forgiveness
when the world opens up again.
When the world opens up again,
we can rebuild with features carefully styled
to cultivate and nurture our delicate earth back to health
with the love and care we would to our own child.
When the world opens up again,
so many drawbacks we could repair
as we might come together as one with a united purpose
implemented for all, everywhere.
When the world opens up again,
couldn’t we recommit ourselves to serve
each other with equality, as brothers and sisters
with the dignity and respect we all deserve
.
Seems impossible to conceive countries without borders
where we could be the best of the best we’ve ever been
and be blessed with a bright and hopeful tomorrow
when the world opens up again.
We could be blessed with a bright and hopeful tomorrow
when the world opens up again.
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2. |
Crash And Burn
04:38
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Crash And Burn
Going too fast for comfort, but it’s keep-up or fall-behind.
Put the pedal to the metal where the rubber meets the road
and avoid getting in a bind.
Like to get out on the open road
open er up and let er fly
but I gotta be oh so careful
or my sponsor’ll want to know why.
If I going a hundred miles an hour,
ain’t no way I’m gonna make the turn,
and if I hit that wall, I’ll be unhappy
and lose my forward progress,
and crash and burn.
Yeah, crash and burn.
People tired of injustice; out there trying to speak their peace,
while those opportunities to tell their tale;
are going, going, gone for you and me.
There’s heat in the streets divided by foe and friend,
frustrated by propaganda
that cannot give nor love nor bend.
Power to the good folks,
that are out there listening to learn,
be careful driving out at night from unseen enemies
or you’ll crash and burn.
Yeah, you’ll crash and burn.
There’s a rumbling in the valley and a fire on the hill,
things are happening more these days
with prophecies to fulfill.
Peace in the hearts of the people that get the message and its sum,
and power to the powers
that understand where the power comes from.
Authority to the ones,
who know who commands the stern,
for you who still seeks to know; better find where you stand
or you’ll crash and burn.
Crash and burn. Yeah, crash and burn.
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3. |
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Heavenly Father Is Looking For You
Like you, I was navigating my way through my life
and maybe like you, I was somewhat lost,
and I came upon this man standing on the edge of a mountain
speaking boldly to whomever his path crossed.
He was speaking to the crowd that had gathered in the valley;
his words were strangely familiar, like a déjà vu dream
and although there was a multitude that had gathered there to hear him
it seemed the old man was focused and looking right at me,… saying,
Heavenly Father is looking for you
to get yourself together as soon as you can.
he’d like to have your help to bring to pass
that long ago, promised, eternal plan.
Heavenly Father is looking for you
you ought to make yourself available soon,
I’m sure by now you can feel the gravity of the situation
that; Heavenly Father is looking for you.
I was thinking, this strange prognosticator was wrong
I couldn’t be the one; I’m not honorable to stand that tall;
I’m sure there’s many others out there far more worthy than me
that could step up to fulfill this remarkable call.
But then the timbre of the man’s voice seemed to suddenly change;
his words, like fire, burned brightly inside my head;
cutting through all my imperfections and failings
and I’m sure the man looked right at me as he said,…
Heavenly Father is looking for you
to get yourself together as soon as you can.
so you can be an important tool to help to bring about
the ushering in of His master plan.
Heavenly Father is looking for you
so be mindful of what you say and do,
you already got feel the weight of the importance of all of this,…
Heavenly Father is looking for you.
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4. |
My Dad
04:55
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My Dad, Looking Back at Me
Through an ongoing process; so slowly done that I didn’t see
the gradual changes that were happening
over the past few years to me.
One day I had my hair and youth; I had a plan, a direction, a dream,
the next day, well, couple years later,
I’m just not the guy I used to be.
I’m glancing in the mirror at the changes while I’m there, brushing my teeth
and suddenly I see him standing there;
my dad, looking back at me.
“Hello there,” I said with curiosity, beckoning us both to draw near,
and I said, “This is kind of a surprise to me,
and, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
It was uncanny; it was, eerie, neither of us had anything rehearsed,
as he stood there, looking surprised
waiting for me to say something first.
The standoff lasted for a long moment till the spell broke and I was free
but I could still kind a see him standing there;
my dad, looking back at me.
We want to know where we’re going following maps from where we’ve been;
and somewhere out there in our past,
is a family from way back then.
It’s you mother and your father’s gift connecting you to your long-lost crew;
it’s all the people; it’s all your people
and sure, some of em are bound to look like you.
So I’m taking it easy now, I try not to look too close or let on that I care
at that guy on the other side of the mirrors
that keeps popping up everywhere.
I’m starting to believe there’s a reason that he persistently calls,
but I haven’t stopped to ask how long
he’ll be ghosting within these walls.
In a way, this situation, he seems more curious about my belief
and I see him smile as he’s looking out;
my dad, looking back at me.
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5. |
During These Last Days
05:12
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During These Last Days
As time moves in one direction it’s not so hard for anyone to see
there’s a truth that follows and continues
to hint of what’s to come to be.
It’s foolish to continue to value things that mean so little if brought about,
with a past that’s already been written
and a future that is running out.
Some things unresolved need to be fixed without any more delays,
to make restitutions; to be forgiven and to forgive
during these last days.
You may believe you were never a great person
certainly not from the standards of these times,
not really accomplished to be notable,
just another soul passing through this life.
You always kind of knew what side of the fence you were destined to be on
as you monitored both sides, yearning for a share
of the prizes before they were gone.
It’s obvious, to follow the game plan you’ll need to calculate all the right plays;
to ready yourself to be in good position for the next move
during these last days.
Years ago, you thought about you being here in this day and age;
and how you would need to break free of your self-abuse ways;
so as to fit into an undertaking with your amended spirit and heart
that for this purpose, you might be ready to enact your allotted part.
You’ve moved on past the all about me; looking to them that you hold dear
that need to get it, that need to know
the end of hours is drawing near.
You know you’re not alone; others are making ready to tally their final score,
so, stay focused on the endgame,
and don’t let the wrong call you out anymore.
While some look for signs to be sure, this isn’t just some new trend or phase
you want to be prepared, to shine your light in all directions,
during these last days.
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6. |
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Baby’s Getting Married Today
Baby’s getting married today, in a church down by the bay.
No, I wasn’t invited to go, but I don’t think I’d be going anyway.
Baby said we just needed space to get back to where we’d been,
but too much distance and time has gone by
and now we’ll never be together again.
It’s been a long time, but I guess I was hoping
she’d come to her senses and come back home,
Baby’s getting married today
and now, I’ll really be alone.
Baby’s getting married today, to some high-power business man they say.
I never got introduced to that guy, but I’ve no desire to meet him anyway.
Baby must have been beguiled or hypnotized
by him and his station in life,
for her to drop and forget all we had and fall in love in the blink of an eye.
Could she love him; knowing him for such a short time?
It’s not like her, but I don’t know.
Baby’s getting married today
and now, I’m really alone.
“Baby’s getting married today.” Just saying those words hurts my head.
And what things could I possibly say now
that at some time didn’t already get said?
Baby was always so danged sure that thing’d be fine eventually.
Fine for her, but I’m still trying to figure out
how to go about without the “her” in me.
It’s been a long time, but I assumed before too long
she’d change her mind and come back home,
Baby’s getting married today
so I’ll just have to get used to being alone.
Baby’s getting married today,
and it’s all my fault that things went this way.
I guess I never realized how much she meant to me
I never really told her how much I loved her
and now she’s gone away.
There’s an emptiness in my heart that has nowhere to go,
and she was the reason I called this place home,
Hey Baby’s getting married today,
and now I’m gonna have to get used to being alone; being alone.
Baby’s getting married today. Baby’s getting married today.
Baby’s getting married today. Baby’s getting married today.
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7. |
Weighted Down
04:50
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Weighted Down
Maybe it’s being in that grocery line
with these food insecurities of mine
worried that before too long, we may not get enough;
maybe me feeling the times in play
where we’re getting pushed out of the way
and nobody notices; hey, the times are getting tough.
Perhaps it’s knowing deep inside
I’m here just along for the ride
and nothing I do or say will make a difference with a smile or frown,
maybe it’s just me that’s askew
or maybe this is happening to you;
a hopeless feeling of being lost and weighted down.
Maybe it’s another’s need to be met
and the unwanted obligations I get
thrust upon me, whether I like it or not.
Perhaps it’s the fact that before I’ve begun
another job needs to be done
and the never-ended commitment taxing all I’ve got.
Maybe it’s finding out in the end
that they’re really not my friend
and I’m being used till their real pals get back in town,
either way, it taxes my brain
and it’s more than too much of a strain
to keep me troubled, on edge, and wearily weighted down.
Maybe it’s this virus squeeze
and all the vague uncertainties
what with all the bad news still coming round every day;
maybe it’s me feeling so ill-at-ease
with the economy in such a squeeze
looking like we may never recover from the dire change.
Perhaps it’s the protests in the street
because of the bad cop on the beat
or the country being led astray by some foolhardy clown;
maybe it’s just me that’s feeling this blue
or maybe you’re feeling this way too;
feeling apprehension and heavily weighted down.
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8. |
When I'm Here With You
04:22
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Weighted Down
Maybe it’s being in that grocery line
with these food insecurities of mine
worried that before too long, we may not get enough;
maybe me feeling the times in play
where we’re getting pushed out of the way
and nobody notices; hey, the times are getting tough.
Perhaps it’s knowing deep inside
I’m here just along for the ride
and nothing I do or say will make a difference with a smile or frown,
maybe it’s just me that’s askew
or maybe this is happening to you;
a hopeless feeling of being lost and weighted down.
Maybe it’s another’s need to be met
and the unwanted obligations I get
thrust upon me, whether I like it or not.
Perhaps it’s the fact that before I’ve begun
another job needs to be done
and the never-ended commitment taxing all I’ve got.
Maybe it’s finding out in the end
that they’re really not my friend
and I’m being used till their real pals get back in town,
either way, it taxes my brain
and it’s more than too much of a strain
to keep me troubled, on edge, and wearily weighted down.
Maybe it’s this virus squeeze
and all the vague uncertainties
what with all the bad news still coming round every day;
maybe it’s me feeling so ill-at-ease
with the economy in such a squeeze
looking like we may never recover from the dire change.
Perhaps it’s the protests in the street
because of the bad cop on the beat
or the country being led astray by some foolhardy clown;
maybe it’s just me that’s feeling this blue
or maybe you’re feeling this way too;
feeling apprehension and heavily weighted down.
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9. |
My Blue Heart
05:39
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My Blue Heart
If I remember things correctly It was you that came to me
Seeing something in what
We might come to know
Flying in the face of all the adversity
That with me
you’d most certainly have to go
For me it was all too perfect, meant for someone else’s run
Girl of the future
Man of beware
And I guess you had to tell your family where I’d come from
But you had to know, without approval
Things just wouldn’t go very well for us from there
And my blue heart
Wonders what it was that you were thinking of
My blue heart
Is broken,...
broken
without your love
I know some of my deepest blues will stay with me here in my heart
And my soul will always wonder
What happened to you
I know the pain is a reminder of a promise that fell apart
And of tomorrow’s dream
That would not come true
Oh, you said you loved me,... That you would always be there
Clandestine girl
Mysterious man in black
But you left that afternoon with your folks, to go to who knows where
Leaving me to wonder, to put my life on hold and question
Whether you were gonna come back
And my blue heart
Wonders why it was I just wasn't enough
My blue heart
Is broken,...
broken
without your love
For someone like you
It was maybe just an exercise
In how you’re gonna spend your extra time
But for someone like me, it was like
It was like everything
I could ever want in life
Now my blue heart
Is wondering what it was you were thinking of
My blue heart
It’s broken,...
Broken
Without your love
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10. |
Hooverville
04:16
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Hooverville
I’m the father in that photograph,
that was probably taken a while ago,
as the country fell upon hard times;
leaving us nothing with nowhere to go.
My wife, her mother and our eight children
all standing there in front of a borrowed tent,
and have you no dignity; can’t you see
that all of mine has already been spent?
Nowadays, poverty’s no stranger,
but how we lost the farm still ain’t clear.
hard times may be just around the corner
but in Hooverville, hard times have found us, here.
You can tell I’m worried about tomorrow,
Living in this cardboard town with nothing to my name
hoping there be food enough to feed the kids
but, with my luck, I ain’t never gonna catch a break.
I’ve tried, and Lord knows this ain’t the way
I ever wanted things to turn out to be.
Meanwhile, as we are, pretty much done for,
sad to say, it’s all because of me.
When poverty came a knocking
I was too busy to see it drawing near.
till them hard times turned around the corner
and in Hooverville, hard times have found us, here.
when the American dream is broken
and can’t seem to shift back into gear;
them hard times aren’t just around the corner,
in Hooverville, hard times have found us, here.
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11. |
Stay Home
05:46
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Stay Home
Another new day; not sure what day it is,
or what it is I’m supposed to do
or what I would have been doing if it weren’t for
this weird state of affairs that we’re going through.
Finding purpose in making my breakfast
then it’s off to find out who I might be
that is, as long as I keep to the house or the yard
and not let cabin fever take a hold of me.
Hard to shelter in place these days,
or to not feel just a little bit lost and alone
but I tell myself to be brave and strong
and stay calm, stay safe, stay home.
Trying to grasp the odd situation here
while fending off uncertainty that just lingers in the air
it’s hard not to succumb to the hopelessness of it all
or to what’s happening to the rest of the world out there.
With a timeline uncertain, no cure in sight
and with the government on the run
I guess it’s alright to just sit here and compose another song
and make myself believe I’m getting something done.
In the demographics of being old,
I can’t just go out into the world and roam,
so for the foreseeable future I’ll have to be content
to stay calm, stay safe, stay home.
Besides the worries of my health, and all the caustic news
and the ambiguity of each and every day
is the not knowing when this whole thing will finally end
and we can all get back to normal and go on our way.
Still not sure exactly what day it is,
only that I might as well make it a big deal
Because we got the family cyber-visiting with Zoom this afternoon
I’m off to a good start for my psyche to heal.
Finding purpose is a state of mind,
I’m somewhere between chaos and Zen
fighting off my psychosomatic inclinations
to be ready when the world opens up again.
Settling in for an adventure in the yard;
searching to discover a new unknown
as I tell myself to be happy with the way things are;
stay calm, stay safe, stay home.
Yeah, stay calm, stay safe, stay home.
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12. |
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What We’ve Done With Our Lives
I remember the day when our new world began
seeing you for the first time on the other side
and us sharing our fries on break while working at Burger Chef
both searching to find out what is life.
and I remember pushing my bike alongside of us as we navigated
through downtown Portland in seventy-two
and the touch of your hand safely in mine as we walked
in the evening rain, on our way down Park Avenue
And I remember praying for you to be that one; the only one
to end my loneliness and bring me round right
and with the very same hopes and prayers,
you came to me to share so far
with what we’ve done with our lives
I remember the helpless feelings that we both bore
and the tearful sorry streaming from your eyes
that day when everything stood so silently still
after losing the star of the show; our prize
And I remember just how brave and courageous you were
steering us away from the sirens of hopelessness,
and I remember a special gift of tender mercies
with another child to have, to love; to bless.
And I remember us a team working to raise a family
pressing forward; ever on to new heights
but to see how we’ve grown from then to now, I’m so happy with
what we’ve done with our lives
I remember the day when our last child flew off;
how brave and strong you pretended to be back then
and I remember how we spent those many days and nights
getting to know a little bit more about each other again
And I remember just how daring and fearless we were
braving all the new adventures that you kept thinking of,
and now I see your smile; your eyes burning brightly back at me
saying I’m so glad to have you to love.
I see us as eternal, moving forward, doing good
and I see you and I in the middle of the rise
we’ve come so far and loved so much; hard not to be amazed
with what we’ve done with our lives
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13. |
Tell Me What’s Real
06:25
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Tell Me What’s Real
With everything perfect;
There’s never been a need for you to have to give
any room for pause.
When it’s not perfect;
you point in all other directions
to divert from your failings and flaws.
You want respect, you want to be loved,
even in light of your big mistake
but in the end, how can you give back
if all you know now is, how to take?
You’re not perfect;
but none of us are, and for all of us, it’s never been a big deal.
So, don’t tell me what you think it is that I want to hear;
tell me what’s real.
Coming from privilege;
you can spin a lie, keeping it going as long as
it makes you look good.
Coming from privilege;
you exaggerate everything; hoping no one is
looking under the hood.
With values stilted and warped,
you want everyone to buy in and agree
but how come you expect or even think
you could ever relate to me?
Coming from privilege;
there’s no way that someone like you
could ever know how I feel,
so don’t blatantly lie to my face,
tell me what’s real.
You know you’re better;
better than others; it’s how you’ve coped with
the world thus far.
You feel you’re better;
and you over inflate yourself to look much bigger
than you really are.
And when they finally call you out
you call them liars, you call them fools
and if they persist because they’re right
you stop playing by the rules.
You think you’re better;
from that vantage point
there’s no way you could ever know how I feel,
so don’t tell me what it is that you think
I want to hear,
tell me what’s real.
Yeah, tell me what's real
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14. |
Down A Rabbit Hole
03:45
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Down A Rabbit Hole
When I was a kid on the farm,
and out doing my chores at night,
my dad would come out to the barn
to make sure I was doing things right.
He’d get sidetracked with a project
that he’d left sometime before
run back to the house for a tool
or drive into town to the hardware store.
Thing is, he never did come back to the barn
to complete his goal
just work on piecemeal projects,
never to finish, and wind up
down a rabbit hole.
Now I’m following in my father’s footsteps;
I’ve taken note to where he’s been
in hopes of learning from his mistakes
and not go down that road again.
But with so many other commitments,
limited time; albeit good or bad
I’m stuck with some of the same options
and parameters my father had.
That brings me back to understanding
why it is that I have little control
to stop from getting lost in thought,
and drifting from one thing to another
down a rabbit hole.
Doesn’t matter how many times I been down that road before,
when I’m taken away with the sounds of a distant drum;
leading me astray, chasing a butterfly and nothing more
till I end up back to where I started from.
Cruising the information highway
as I’m asked to stay in place
killing time, educating myself
surfing the web’s database,
but hyperlinks lead me away;
each one opening another door
till I’m lightyears from where I was
and I forget what I was looking for.
and maybe like you, I end up in the whirlpool,
circling the bowl
slowly moving round in a clockwise direction
down a rabbit hole.
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15. |
Figuring It Out
06:47
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Figuring It Out
Life itself is a complex puzzle
the pieces are fragments of some greater scenes,
where I try to make sense of the chaos
to finally know what it all means.
My existence is made up of abstract thoughts
with hints and clues, scattered about,
I gather intel, examine all the data;
trying to make sense of it all
piece by piece, figuring it out.
Figuring it out.
Seems like there’s far too many parts here,
with some things that don’t match at all,
mingled with segments that look almost right
but don’t correspond to any square and ball.
Still, I feel that everything I need is here somewhere
I gotta just find the right fit to route
for the reveal; it’s cryptic answers;
sizing the pieces together
sure but steady, figuring it out.
Figuring it out.
My logical reasoning and analysis?
It can help confirm what I already know,
but I gotta ponder and hope and pray
to catch the vision of how it’s supposed to go.
Each puzzle piece; a part of the bigger picture
interlocking sides to reveal more of the scene,
to glimpse a delineation as it falls into place
to what the finished reflection could be.
My jigsaw will never be complete
till I push past my uncertainties and doubt
and methodically put the final fragments into place
one by one, bit by bit; figuring it out.
Figuring it out.
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16. |
Get Yourself Together
04:10
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Get Yourself Together
Hey, Prophet on the platform
prophesizing the people’s fate
telling the people to return to the Lord
before it gets too late.
Better get yourself together.
Better get yourself together.
Better get yourself together,
before it gets too late
Yeah, he’s looking out at everybody saying,
“ya gotta change your ways”
and, “I know you’ve gotten mighty comfortable
but you’re running out of days.”
Gotta get yourself together.
Said ya gotta get yourself together.
Gotta get yourself together,
you’re running out of days.”
He says, “the devil’s been telling lies
that many of you believe are true,
But you’ll have to choose the better side,
to have the Lord be there for you.”
Ya have to get yourself together.
Ya have to get yourself together.
Ya have to get yourself together,
for the Lord to be there for you
The prophet says,
“the Lord knows that the people want to survive
and He’s there if you but ask
to have your spirit made alive.”
You need to get yourself together.
You need to get yourself together.
You need to get yourself together,
to have your spirit made alive.”
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17. |
Doing This For You
03:48
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Doing This For You
I been spending so much time trying to get me in that game
trying to get myself noticed; trying to make me a name,
I’ve lost sight of that special dream that I had as a boy
of the reason I was out here;
of the passion and the joy.
So I’m done for now, promoting myself
or second thinking this thing through
so, I’m doing this thing I do, for me, and I’m doing this for you.
I’m was slipping and a sliding but lost direction for my art,
with dollar signs in my eyes and lust for prominence in my heart.
I was going, going, gone up but the journey was still ill fared,
with me frustrated all the time
hoping somebody really cared.
Well, I’m off that kick and I’m coming at this,
from a direction, fresh and new
I’m laying these eight tracks down, for me, and, I’m doing this for you.
I’m working now to show myself this is more than just a whim;
that that other guy can do what he wants, I don’t have to be like him.
No, I think I’ve found the balance, and it’s making me feel nice;
It’s not what you get but what you give
that matters here in life.
No need for that negativity,
bringing me down and making me blue
so, I’m honing this one with a bit of care for me, and, I’m doing this for you.
We all gotta find a purpose as we journey through each day;
we all need to feel what we’re doing is important in some way.
For me, I’ve come to know as my heart will rise and fall;
to stand and lift, to give, to share,
is why we’re here, after all.
So I’m kind a getting excited
and here’s hoping you do too
I’m putting the finishing touches on this, for me,
and, I’m doing this for you.
Hey Friends,
Just wanted to thank all you folks out there in record-land for taking your time to listen to my songs.
It really does mean a lot to me.
Anyway, take care, and, keep chasing that dream.
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18. |
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The Thing I Was Called To Do
There have been times I’ve been in the right place
at the right time,
but I never knew.
I was always looking for
the prize, the glory,
that never seemed to come through.
There are times when I feel complete;
overcome,
because I know it’s true,
as I’m touched by the spirit
that confirms
the thing I’m doing
is the thing I was called to do.
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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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