1. |
Ditty 4
01:00
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2. |
Dreaming ...Leaving
04:03
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Seems Like most of these songs I sing are empty and hollow, don't mean a thing but I keep on singing cause I like it when you hum along.
Seems like I spend most my time saying 'Hello' or 'Goodbye' but the time in the middle, it don't seem very long.
I am thankful for those places that I rest. When I am tired from work is when I sleep best.
And I'll be leaving in the morning, dreaming west all night. I'll meet you in the city of New Orleans if it all goes right. We'll drive to Nantahala maybe spend the night in that place where we sang by the fireside.
When I get to California, I'll owe you a call. An update on my state-to-state and the strength of my heart. I'll tell you that the leaves are changing earlier this fall. That I hope they don't delay the spring, I'm headed north to watch those rivers thaw up in the mountains where I began to lose my youth. I got far enough away from home to realize the truth that freedom does not rest in the soil between one's shoes. But much more with those I love and even more with those I lose.
The enless sun of summer on your breath, there are moments we ain't had time to share yet.
And I'll be leaving in the morning, dreaming west all night. I'll meet you in the city of New Orleans if it all goes right.
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3. |
Keep Listening
02:23
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Keep on listening to the sound of silence. Keep on raising your eyes to the sky. Keep on asking 'Why?'
Keep on alighting on your flower, butter fly. Little Bear play your songs tonight, there is a fire in our eyes that make us burn bright.
Keep on dancing, we'll go out tonight. If you watch what I drink then we'll be alright. Move your feet to the music and I'll watch your face glow, but if you don't like the place, then we'll go back to the woods where everything is calm at night and I'll hold your hand so you feel safe tonight.
If your foot be tapping, why won't you join right in? If you've got no music to bring than throw a dollar to a friend because I miss you won't mean nothing from another's bed and 'I love you' don't mean shit until it's said.
I admit how I sing, I don’t much care. Im going to keep raising my voice to the air.
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4. |
Don't Turn the Light On
03:54
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Please don’t turn the light on, if you’re going to leave. I don’t want my last memory to be your silhouette passing through a darkened door. So for my sake, won’t you kiss me once more so that I might remember you by the smell upon your neck and the way your hair tickles my forehead
and I know it sounds crazy, ‘cause you’ll be leaving me baby, but I gotta ask one thing, this one thing, I have to ask this one thing: Please be gentle as you walk away.
Don’t bother closing the door, I won’t need it anymore, I got nothing to protect or hide away. When you came into my life, it was an electrifying lightning strike and the thunder rumbled, kept us both up night and day. The years have gone by, we’ve struggled against a rising tide and somehow life has gotten in the way. When you came into my life it was an electrifying lightning strike the thunder rumbled, kept us both up night and day.
And that storm, it has subsided and it seems that you’ve decided on all those things I am too scared to say.
So please don’t turn the light on, if you’re going to leave. I don’t want my last memory to be your silhouette passing through a darkened door. So for my sake won’t you kiss me once more so that I might remember you by the smell upon your neck, and the way your hair tickles my forehead.
and I know it might sound crazy cause you’ll be leaving me baby, but I have to ask one thing, just this one thing. I have to ask this one thing:
Please be gentle as you walk away.
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5. |
Ditty 32
00:34
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6. |
Dunes
03:53
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He stole that purse, it was a grab and run. She was hot on his heels but you saw them coming on, stopped him silent and we were gone with the riots at our backs. Sand dunes off to our left, the moon was rising large and low I stopped to light a cigarette, you said 'Those things, they'll be you're death' and I asked 'How would you know?'
Then you looked into my eyes and I smelled salt air on the scrub brushes and the pines. The sand moves lightly in the breeze. You kissed me bent softly at your knees to give your reply.
I told you about my past and you said 'the things that are meant to last will last' and 'the shit that comes down from above you gotta dust it off and forgive with love...but sometimes you walk away'
Said you were tired of the east and all those dusty city streets. The way that your knees creak as you walk up to your sleep so you broke your lease. You sold all your things and you bought a car, headed nowhere near or far. You were just trying to remember who you are and leave behind those neighborhood bars and all the concrete.
Said that you were glad we met and I protested we didn't even know each other yet. You said you'd love me for a long time but we're living on borrowed time.
Then you left.
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7. |
Open Letter
03:23
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I will hold you to your word, as long as you hold me to mine. It may seem a bit absurd, but I can’t seem to always know my mind. When we first met, I was traveling around, trying to forget all those things I though I knew I believed. The desert screamed “Go ahead, feel lonely”
The desert screamed “Go ahead, Feel lonely,” and I squint my eyes in the dark I can see. The moonlight came late tonight, so the stars are shining bright, almost bright enough to read.
All those letters sent and received. Messages dear, I could not clearly read.
Are these thoughts coming in or going out of me? What is it that I think myself to be?
Much more than my thoughts, I am my actions so I try to do what I want to be. It’s taken a lot of practice, baby, to live life so patiently.
So as we say so long I am grateful for those times you put your arms around me. For reminding me that I can stay playful from the time I wake, until I fall back to sleep.
I will recall you fondly, maybe send you letters from overseas. One thing to remember always:
We loved each other enough to be free.
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8. |
Sailor, Dreamer, Lover
03:39
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Jackson was a sailor, but he never learned to sail. He would drink his beer out by that old wishing well and read maps and books of a nautical persuasion through the tears of his endless sailing vacation. He never fixed the hole in that boat, he just tried to drink away the lump in his throat.
Me, I'm just a dreamer and I'm trying to believe in a selfless life and a loving creed and I'm trying to remember the way a I felt that November when I came home to see about my dad. His life seemed to be nearing the end my friends, it was an experience that must be had.
And she, she is a lover and she is trying to discover all the things she thinks she needs to be complete. One day she climbed up a sycamore tree, she was singing songs down of those mysteries that we will never understand. Some things in life can not be planned.
When autumn came a calling and the leaves they started falling, the wind a rain a squall, but she felt free. Then winter came around and there was snow on the ground and there was a boy climbing into her tree.
She said 'Hey boy, what do you think you're doing? I climbed up here for liberty. The branches are big enough for just me' I said ' I ain't got a choice, I have been listening to your voice for many seasons now my dear, and I don't know it all, but I am not afraid to fall and some things you won't know until you try.'
When I reached the top, in her eyes I saw fear and I pushed her hair behind her ear and I gently began to sing. I sang 'This is all I want. I just want to hold you close until the spring.'
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9. |
Last Lullaby
03:50
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This one will be your last lullaby. Don't cry no tears from those eyes. This one will have to be our last goodbye, cause I see sleep deep in your eyes. When you get out there and you feel all alone, remember the places you used to call home. Think of the places that you have been recall the smiles and live them again. I have been in love with beggars and with thieves, been friends with people that just ain't like me but every now and again you find someone who is true and for your sake I hope you find someone who's true to you.
And it might take all of us a little bit longer to figure out what makes a man, but I can tell you myself from personal knowledge it's more than the gun in his hand.
And I know I'll be smiling when you last see me so I'll tell you what I can do: I will play on my guitar your last lullaby so you're asleep when I leave the room.
This one will be your last lullaby. Don't cry no tears from those eyes. This one will have to be our last goodbye, cause I see sleep deep in your eyes.
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10. |
The Other Night
03:03
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I had a dream the other night that I met the lord. She was dressed like a peasant and she carried no sword and I was not afraid when she looked deep into my soul. She spoke: 'Hey there child you are free if you want to go"
Jesus, he walked beside her. He had blood on his hands, had tears in his eyes he said he'd just killed a man. 'But not to worry,' he said, 'it had to be done. That poor sinner's soul it just could not be won.
I asked them if this was how the game was played? they said 'Don't worry son, just don't forget to pray' but I am not the praying, the praying kind of man. No the most you can ask from me lord, is that I do the best that I can.
They just smiled, they knelt on the ground. They didn't say a word, they were waiting on the sound of my voice to say that I admit that I see a God in you. Well there's god in me just like there is a god in you. Trust me when I tell you that there ain't no more judging left to do.
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11. |
Ditty 21
00:53
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12. |
Northern Winter
04:32
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Looking at those flags, I remembered the first time I saw the wind: Death Valley took my breath away. Now I am dreaming of prayer, of scotch whiskey and long red hair. Today is a good day to come in a good way. I walk to the river when I pray. I know someday soon the snow will fly, and I know someday soon so will I.
I got to spend with you an evening in the casino lights we were beaming, and neither of us was leaving but we found our way. I don't know if you remember? I choose gentle over clever and I stand with all people standing tall.
Well, my love I share with all.
Well, my love, sometimes I fall.
We drove back down to Denver at the end of December. Hey, brother do you remember when our family stood strong? You drove back up to Rapid City, I was glad to have you back so quickly. To our friends we wish a safe return to where the North winds blow and the fires burn.
There is much more work to do, and as it comes we will see it through. It is for the love of life that we will fight, and it's for the experience of love i sing tonight. I don't know if you remember? You said some ties cannot be severed, and when you feel the pull you answer the call. That you stand with all people standing tall.
My love, my love I share with all.
My love, my love sometimes I fall.
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