B i o g r a p h y
 (by Wikipedia)

The Innocence Mission is a band centered around the husband-and-wife songwriters Karen Peris (vocals, guitar, keyboards), and Don Peris (guitars, vocals). The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass) and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the early 1980s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group's writing.
Their debut album, Tending the Rose Garden, was released in 1986. The song "Trust" was a hit on Christian radio, while "Can't Anybody Stay Together" made the playlists on mainstream Adult Contemporary and CHR stations. Their eponymous second album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the Billboard charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, "Black Sheep Wall", released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, "Clear to You", was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, Umbrella.

Their third and final A&M album, Glow, released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein's heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring's lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group's guitar work and to Karen's vocals and lyrics.
Glow contains songs that appear on the soundtracks of the films Empire Records and Dream for an Insomniac, as well as the television series Party of Five. The album’s second track, "Bright as Yellow", peaked on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks at #33.

In 1999 the band recorded for a new label, Badman. Additionally, drummer Steve Brown left the band to pursue a career as a chef. On the subsequent album, Birds of My Neighborhood, Brown played drums and brushes on "Snow," but otherwise the group became a trio. Now bereft of drums, their sound took an even more acoustic direction. Some songs featured just Don and Karen, and a few, such as "She May Turn Around", featured only Karen's voice and instrumentation.
The 2000 release of Christ Is My Hope, featuring religious music that had inspired them over the years, was independently released on their own website. Small Planes, released in 2001, featured outtakes from Glow and Birds of My Neighborhood. Befriended was their next "proper" album, in 2003.
In 2004, the Innocence Mission released Now the Day Is Over, a collection of lullabies. Except for "My Love Goes with You", all songs are cover versions, such as a stripped-down vocal and piano rendition of Henry Mancini's "Moon River". We Walked in Song was released in 2007.
Don Peris has recorded three solo albums, Ten Silver Slide Trombones in 2001, Go When the Morning Shineth in 2006, and an instrumental solo guitar Christmas album, Brighter Visions Beam Afar, in 2007.



Click HERE To View The Non Albums Lyrics Section Of The Innocence Mission



The Innocence Mission
- 1989-08-29 -

Paper Dolls
Black Sheep Wall
Surreal
Curious
Clear to You
Mercy
Broken Circle
I Remember Me
You Chase the Light
Notebook
Come Around and See Me
Wonder of Birds
Medjugorje
 

Umbrella
- 1991-07-23 -

And Hiding Away
Sorry and Glad Together
Umbrella
Every Hour Here
Evensong
Now in This Hush
Beginning the World
Flags
Someday Coming
Joan
Revolving Man
My Waltzing Days are Over

Glow
- 1995 -

Keeping Awake
Bright As Yellow
Brave
That Was Another Country
Speak Our Minds
Happy, The End
Our Harry
Go
Everything's Different Now
Spinning
There
I Hear You Say So

Birds Of My Neighborhood
- 1999-08-10 -

Where Does The Time Go
Snow
Follow Me
The Lakes Of Canada
You Are the Light
Birdless
I Haven't Seen This Day Before
She May Turn Around
I Was in The Air
July
Going Away
Green Grass, Red Tree
Christ Is My Hope
- 2000-04-10 -

It Is Well With My Soul
O Lord Of Light
500 Miles
No Storms Come
Christ Is My Hope
Morning Star
O Sacred Head Surrounded
Were You There
Fare Thee Well

Beautiful Saviour
 
Small Planes
- 2001-09-21 -

Rooftop
Too Early to Say
Migration
Today
Girl on My Left
Song About Traveling
Oh Do Not Fly Away
I Left the Grounds
Some Clear Joy Is Coming
Small Planes
I Have Loved You
 
Befriended
- 2003-09-02 -

Tomorrow on The Runway
When Mac Was Swimming
I Never Knew You from the Sun
Beautiful Change
Martha Avenue Love Song
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
No Storms Come
Sweep Down Early
Walking Around
Look For Me as You Go By
 
Now The Day is Over
- 2004-11-09 -

Stay Awake
Over The Rainbow
What a Wonderful World
Moon River
Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone
Prelude in A ( Instrumental )
Once Upon A Summertime
My Love Goes With You
Edelweiss
Sonata no. 8 ( Instrumental )
Bye-lo
It Is Well With My Soul
Now The Day Is Over
 
We Walked In Song
- 2007-03-13 -

Brotherhood of Man
Happy Birthday
Love That Boy
Into Brooklyn, Early In The Morning
Lake Shore Drive
Song For Tom
Since I Still Tell You My Every Day
A Wave Is Rolling
Colors Of The World
Over The Moon
My Sisters Return From Ireland
 
My Room In The Trees
- 2010-07-13 -

Rain (Setting Out In The Leaf Boat)
The Happy Mondays
God Is Love
Gentle The Rain
Spring
All The Weather
Rhode Island
North American Field Song
Mile-Marker ( Instrumental )
The Leaves Lift High
I’d Follow If I Could
The Melendys Go Abroad ( Instrumental )
Shout For Joy
 

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The Innocence Mission

Paper Dolls

I am lining up my heroes
Like big paper dolls
And I find they need a wall behind them
To lean on
No, they won't stand up
By themselves at all
Oh I guess it's time to grow up now

Black sheep wall

This is how I love you
I wish for a shade I can pull
I feel so afraid of watching you grow up
This love hurts too much

And I try to build a wall
So I don't have to see you fall
And I pray
Go away from my thoughts

Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Over black sheep wall

Oh, I’d love to hold you close
But I play it cool
And keep my thoughts in a jar
Marked "dangerous"

And everyone says
"Never fear all the boys his age experiment with their lives"
But all my eyes want to close you out
I'll close you out

Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Over black sheep wall

Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Why do you keep coming back
Over black sheep wall

Brother black sheep, love is strong
There's a shepherd out in every storm
And he's not afraid of a little rain
Why am I

Why do I keep building up
Why do I keep building up
Why do I keep building up
This black sheep wall

Oh, I love you so
Do you really know
How much, how deep
Black sheep

This is how I love you
This is how I love you
This is how I love you

This is how I love you
With closed eyes
This is how I love you
With turned back
This is how I love you
With distance
I love you, yes I love you...

Surreal

Don't fire your gun at the pressure, it's only surreal
Don't heed the crowd noise and laughter, they're only surreal
This is a test for discovering who really loves you
The answers will come soon enough

You hold my heart and your fingers are shaking, don't drop it
Fumbling in darkness, the darkness is only surreal
I know that there is a light in here somewhere
Do you see it, you'll have to turn it on

Can you see it now, can you see it
Can you see it now
It’s only surreal, it’s only surreal
I know that there is a light in here somewhere
Do you see it

You'll have to turn it on
You'll have to turn it on
Oh, oh you’ll have to turn it on
Can you turn it on

Curious

We're curious about the one he loves
We're getting carried away with our guesses
What is she like, we want to know
She'll be the bride of our dear brother

She's very nice
She's very nice
She's very nice
That's all he said

We're curious, curious
We're curious about the whole affair

She comes from London
WWe think that is so romantic
Maybe she is distantly related to Di
He met her at college
She'll graduate with honors
Maybe our brother fell in love with her mind

She's very bright
She's very bright
She's very bright
That's what he said

That's news to us, news to us
We're curious about the whole affair

I know our brother
I know what he wants
He wants to make an entrance in grand style

And I know our brother
He's trying to tease us
He knows the wheels are turning in our minds

We're curious, curious
We're curious about the whole affair
So curious, curious
So curious
It's so unfair

Clear To You

I thought that it was just a fluke
When I heard that London Bridge was falling
Now I fall from dizzy heights and expectations
Why do I hit the ground so hard

When it's, when it's clear to you
I'll be near to you, I will be around
When it's, when it's clear to you
I'll be near to you, I won't let you down

I look for the good in everything
It hurts when I cannot find it
I don't want to wear a suit of armor
Do I have to come out fighting on

When it's, when it's clear to you
I'll be near to you, I will be around
When it's, when it's clear to you
I'll be near to you, I won't let you down

I was wishing you would not be let down
You would not be disappointed at all

Now you say, when it's, when it's clear to you
I will be near to you, I will be around
When it's, when it's clear to you
I'll be near to you, I won't let you down

I won't, I won't let you down
I won't, I won't let you down
And it's going to be hard times
Till like seems like you want to ride

I won't let you down
I won't let you down
Let you down

Mercy

There is my kite caught around a signpost
The sign says: "you are almost there"
So I was right, there is a Heaven
Very near, very near

There are no fires of hell
There is only mercy
There are no fires of hell
There is only mercy

Some days my kite goes where I cannot see
And I feel happy for its freedom
When it's tangled in trees and wires
I know it's my own fault, all my own fault

There are no fires of hell
There is only mercy
There are no fires of hell
There is only mercy

One day my kite will escape forever
And I will jump to catch the trailing string
Wishes and wants will fall from my pocket
As I wave, full of peace

There are no fires
There is only mercy
There are no fires of hell
There is only mercy

There are no fires
There are no fires
There is only mercy
There is only mercy
Mercy, mercy

There are no fires
There is only mercy

Broken circle

What can we do as a family
What plan can we devise
That accommodates everyone's schedule
And still survives

At the alter of progress
The family is sacrificed
Is wishing there was another way
To pay the price

Ashes, ashes
We all fall down
No one wants a broken circle
Get up off of the ground

Family, family
Center of our lives
Broken circle, heal thyself
Hands together, bind

There is a painting on our wall
I've loved it all these years
Without knowing the reason
And now it's clear

A happy company of people
Going out to a ball
Mother, brother, father
Sisters, all

Ashes, ashes
We all fall down
No one wants a broken circle
Can you get up off of the ground

Family, family
Center of our lives
Broken circle, heal thyself
Hands together, bind...

I remember me

Oh, the world is hard to understand
It's better to forget now
Why was I left all alone
To fight the darkness that surrounds me

Clouds in the upstairs
Clouds in the memory

I'm a headline
Non-existent person
I'm a shell with no name
I am no one
Family doesn't want me
No one comes to claim me
Claim me

With scars on my forehead
Scars on my memory
I've got scars on my poor hands
Scars all over me

I know, I know, I know who I am
I know, I think I should know
I think I should know who I am

I remember me
I remember me
I remember me

Because I am a daughter of a soldier
You won't see me crying
"Malenkaya" that's what papa called me
So I always will be, will be

With clouds in the upstairs
Clouds in the memory
I've got clouds in the upstairs
Clouds in the memory

I've got clouds in the upstairs
But I still remember

I remember me
I remember me
I remember me
In the back of my head
In the middle of the night

You chase the light

You get out of my head now, honey
You got out of my head
You and your colors
You and your painting
I can forget you
Probably

You stay out of my way now, honey
You just stay out of my way
This is my grace coast
This is my homeland
You're always coming and going

But i always come back
I am drawn to this place
As I’m drawn to you
As I’m drawn to you
As I’m drawn to light
A moth to the light
To the light

Let's talk about your freedom
Talk about my lack of it
Let's talk about my feelings
Talk about your lack of them
You preach such beauty
You miss the point

You go down with your friends every day
You go down to the sea
Light on the water
For the light on the water
I work the whole day
You chase the light

Look out there!
Can't you see what I see

Go paint the ladies on the beach
They mean nothing to me
They are part of the scenery
I don't know why you go this way
With crinolines and parasols
To shade their beautiful faces
From the sunlight that you love so well

I love you more, I love you more
Isn't that funny
No, I don't think that's funny
I think it's funny

So, you get out of my head now, won't you
Just stay out of my head
Move down the coastline
Move to a new town
And don't say you love me
What does that mean
I don't want to keep you bottled in my glass
You are a free moth
Go chase the light
And leave me something

Notebook

I showed him my notebook
The underside of my soul
Released in scribbles on pages
He smiled and held my hand

I knew that he would see
For he dreams of touching beauty, too
There has to be more than the work day

He's painting houses
He's painting houses for a while
I'm home to his canvas
Coming to life

I write in my notebook
With feeling that takes me by surprise
And thoughts that I don't know I have

They're hidden by useless facts
That I've compiled at the office where I work
Where there is no time for feeling anything

You see I just work there
To finance the real life that begins
With scribbles on pages
And thoughts of how and when

Museums on Sundays
Whenever we, can we both go
And stay there for hours
Feeding our spirit

And beauty is still free
And beauty is not exclusive
And beauty is ours to touch and to know
To touch and to know

Don't you think there's more
I really have to know
Don't you think there's more to life

Don't you think there's more
I really have to know
Don't you think there's more to life

Don't you think there's more to life
Don't you think there's more to life
Don't you think there's more to life
And don't you think there's more to life

Come around and see me

Here I am, a sort of prisoner
My body is the cell
And, perhaps you are the cell key
I have all day long to sit here
And all day is a long time
But my legs don't want to move me now

Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you come around and see me

The game shows in the mornings
Do their best to entertain
And the news does its best to worry me
I don't know why I watch it
But I like the way the TV fills the room with human voice
And sometimes it is amusing, sometimes

Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you come around and see me, see me

Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you come around and see me
Why don't you come around
Why don't you come around

In the middle of the afternoon
I'm sure it's much too quiet
Then again, maybe there is noise
And I just can't hear it

Please, all I ask is that you come around
Please, all I ask is that you
Please, all I ask is that you come around and see me, see me

Please, just half an hour inside the twenty-four
Please, just one half an hour
Please, all I ask is that you come around
Why don't you come around and see me
Come around and see me

Do you think that I won't know you
Well, I’m not senile yet
You talk about putting people in small boxes
You know how that is

Do you, do you, do you
Do you, do you, do you
Do you, do you, do you

Oh, when you are my age
You're in my place
You'll understand, understand, understand
I know you will

Wonder Of Birds

We keep our hands above the water
We know that someday we will fly away
With all the wonder of birds
With all the wonder of birds

We keep our voices as guarded secrets
Wait for awhile and we will surely sing
With all the wonder of birds
With all the wonder of birds

Wonder of
Wonder of birds
Wonder of
Wonder of birds

We make a sky where we may be
We build a home with windows to fly through
Windows to fly through

We learn to dance with broomstick partners
Grace will be ours when we will grow our wings
With all the wonders of birds
With all the wonders of birds

Wonder of
Wonder of birds
Wonder of
Wonder of birds...

Medjugorje

So I took a plane to Medjugorje
To be with you
Mother Mary, Mother
Filling up this place with hope of peace

Are you, are you here
you're everywhere
Everywhere

Everywhere
Everywhere

Umbrella

And hiding away

I prize the cloudy, tearing sky
For the thoughts that flap and fly
For staying in and reading by
For sitting under

I read a book of Madeline
And her friends in two straight lines
In Paris, in a house with vines
Over its old face
Far, far is Paris
And the sky is dark with mystery

Try, catch the thoughts that flap and fly
In the cloudy, tearing sky
That touch and stir and won't be tied
And try to speak them

I think of my old flower sky
Of us, when we thought we were spies
Of bobbing eggs in Easter dyes
Of walks in London
Try, try to hold my love for you
It knows no measure

This is a day for hearing bagpipes
Somewhere playing
This is a day for hearing sarabands
And hiding away, hiding away
Hiding away, hiding away

Sky, I hold my tears if you do
Starling thoughts, go over me

Sorry and Glad Together

This flurry of plans is over, over
And I'm sorry and glad together
Our bustling house is sane now, sane now
And I'm sorry and glad together

Didn't it go by so quickly, Mary
I am missing our sewing in secret
Making up his holiday

It's finally come round
It's been a long time, a long time
And I'm sorry and glad together now

Now we watch out of doors for May
And the travels of summer ahead with
What will we bring

Thoughts of trains, thoughts of sea
Will they come
And what will we say

How possible everything is in this wondering
Endless wait and how sure is joy and safe
In May I will say, "I am sorry and glad together now"

Umbrella

I am going out now, darling
Pass me my umbrella, darling
I wear it like a crutch to the ground
Like a shade and nothing comes down on me

I walk along beside the drivers
However do they drive so bravely
When I still hear the bang
Sudden bang in my head

And the scar runs on my face
And on my hands, they held the wheel
And on my mind it was distracted

And saved from scarring anybody else
I'm lodged between the could haves, could haves
I want you to be proud of me, proud of me, proud
And how can you be

When I wear my umbrella like this
When I dwell on myself like this
When I need to be reassured like this

You dance around with my umbrella
You dance around the obvious weaknesses
Around the room with my umbrella
You dance around the room with me
I see us in the mirror going by look at my happy face
See what you do for me

Every Hour Here

We ride our bikes around the circle in the cemetery weaving
I wave up to you on the Cross
Am I to come upon you suddenly like this forever
Happy, relieved that you are here and I can see you
I can feel You, I can see, see you

You are like the ticket-half
I find inside the pocket of my old lead-raking coat
There all the time, all the while forgotten
I so often seem to leave you in churches and other islands
And on my beads where I can see you, I can feel you
I can see, see you

I take the ticket-half and put it on the table saying
This is God and He's here through my comings and my goings
But I walk past the ticket-half, I walk past the ticket-half
I walk past the ticket-half just as I’ve walked past the Cross on our wall

Our self-importance grows so dazzling we don't see you
But gentle Jesus, aren't you always
Aren't you every hour here

Evensong

The day is over and still so heavy on the mind
In flew glowing, smiling mother, butterfly in yellow
To join the frowning cactus crowd
Finding flowers even there to flutter round

I thought, isn't mother grand, the way she flies and flies
Into the sting of the cold and the prick of the barbed wire
Isn't mother grand to gladly fly and swiftly fly
Into the sting of the cold and the prick of the barbed wire

The day is over and still goes passing through the mind:
In came glowing, smiling mother, sure and kind
To rouse us, to give ourselves out and to cry
Birth to warm intentions, worthless otherwise

Oh, the lives that brush against us, pass us by and by
The friends who may or may not come if we would first invite
Oh, to open doors, to always gladly fly and fly
Into the sting of the cold and the prick of the barded wire

Now In This Hush

Oh, bless me, am I going silent now
Oh, have I overnight been emptied
If I could call these thoughts to come, to stand on this paper
I could read what I mean, may I, may I

Oh, bless me, now I seem to come apart, to sink
Inside this overwhelming, what can I do
What have I made of all of these new days
And forgive my despair

Where is color this hour, where is music this hour
Are they still going on somewhere
But where now, in this hush
Where are words in this hush and what am I

Oh, bless us for we give our hearts to fear
For so we give our minds to worry
If I could brush this sorrow dust from off of our faces
And see our joy again, may I, may I

Oh, let us make a joyful noise resound
Oh, let us make a noise and hear it

Beginning The World

I was home by the winter
I was home from the school town, undecided
And questions came, like,
What did you say you're doing now

Well, I, I had hopes for my music
And I imagined their faces said
Well you can't do that, you silly thing
God, He gave me a brave heart
But God, He gave me a chicken head and I felt I'd failed

I am always beginning the world
Beginning the world

Aren't you bursting with butterflies
On the fourth of September
Like you'll have to get on the bus
In your tartan dress, with your lunch box
Though your body is twenty-nine
Though your mind is an old thing
I mean, don't you ever get sigh

I am always beginning the world
Beginning the world
I am always beginning the world
Beginning the world

Always the same underdog stance
Under the same happy sad sky
Eternally crying, am I still shy

I am always beginning the world
Beginning the world
I am always beginning the world
Beginning the world, beginning the world

Flags

I have seen your garden growing madly
There I find you, hands in the earth
I have heard you talking with your children
On your level, never talking down

And I don't know how you cannot see
Where your gifts may be found

You say you know no tricks, have no talents
Isn't everyone supposed to have their own
Yes, but few are obvious
Few draw notice to those who possess them
Like flags waving themselves

And you wonder how, how I can say
That your gifts do abound

I don't know how you cannot see
Where your gifts may be found
Do you understand when I say
That your gifts do abound

Someday Coming

My someday coming child
I name and I re-name you
I make up memories for you of melodies
And friends from books I want to give you
And horse and buggy sounds outside

But of the someday coming world
I don't know, I don't know
There is so much I would keep you from
If I, if I could

The heroes, selfish fools they only want their freedom
The hero makers' greed prevails
And we are all shock numb
And watch the shock increasing
And shame is something old, outgrown

And of the someday coming, world
I don't know, I don't know
There is so much I would keep you from
If I, if I could

Oh, maybe you won't see
My too self-conscious tumblings
My running from the phone, my fears

Because I can be very strong
Say I can, say I can
There is so much to believe in
There are angel words to teach you
There is hope, my daydream child

Joan

So, I see their easels at the water from the window
I know his is not as his is never with them
Seven years I've watched them sadly
Watching with them, understanding

Joan, my head hurts, my head hurts
Joan, I must close the curtain

They will come back in the evening
See the way the sky is changing
Can you see the colors
He would say to me

Well, of course, I see the colors
Sea is silver, red and white
And no, you don't look, you don't see
No, you don't look, you don't see

In the squares of sun
Slanted on the floor
Slanted over my feet, Joan
This is how he painted me

A halo round me like our lady
Bathed his brush in sun
And blurred my faults away

Joan, the sunlight the sunlight
Joan, I must close the curtain

Revolving Man

Ah, revolving man, don't you ever get ahead
All your days are spent in catching up the rent
Ah, revolve, revolve, don't you ever get a Sunday
To read the paper and jump into leaves or water

You're laughing
Of course I'm laughing, I'm happy
To revolve around my children
To revolve around my love

Ah, revolving man, don't you ever want to cry
All your nights are spent in catching up your breath
And the children need well, they're always needing something
Growing out of clothes they grow into yesterday

You young ones don't believe in nothing
But freedom from yourselves
Where are you getting ahead to
It's I who am sorry for you.

And God is in His heaven
All's right with the world

My waltzing days are over

My waltzing days are over
Thank you just the same
I wouldn't want to embarrass you
You are so kind
And I will remember this night
For years to come

I am no fool
I have no romantic notions in my head
At my age, I’m content to watch
So go on, go on

My waltzing days are over
Thank you just the same
I wouldn't want to embarrass you
But you are so kind
And I will remember this night
For years to come


Glow

Keeping awake

Hearing your voice in the blue light
Claming people in the house
Traveling upstairs
Good to be there
Now, right now

Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake
Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake
Hearing your voice in the house, in the house
Hearing your voice in the house

Under those trees we will all be
Sitting, blankets down
It's tomorrow, yes it is

Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake
Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake
Hearing your voice in the house, in the house
Hearing your voice in the house

Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake
Oh, I’m near to sleeping, I’m keeping awake

My room is held in someone's arms
My bed is held in someone's arms
I am, I'm held now

In the house
In the heart of paper vines
And Junie runs into her room
Next to mine, dancing
And we are all in for the night
Talking is coming
Is coming up over the stairs

Bright as yellow

And you live life with your arms reached out
Eye to eye when speaking
Enter rooms with great joy shouts
Happy to be meeting

And bright
Bright
Bright, bright as yellow
Warm as yellow

And I do now want to be a rose
I do not wish to be pale pink
But flower scarlet, flower gold
And have no thorns to distance me

And bright
Bright
Bright, bright as yellow
Warm as yellow

Even if I’m shining, even if I’m shining here inside
Even if I’m shouting do you see that I’m wanting
That I want to be so

So bright
Bright
Bright, bright as yellow
Warm as yellow…

Brave

You paint a tulip red with joy
You say the psalm, I will not fear
Somehow, knowing what you do know
Still you tremble out and in

You cry up in your room
Aunt Ruthie comes
You cannot still your limbs
Somehow, knowing what you do know
Still you tremble out and in.

You see how I go to pieces
That I’m laying on the ground
Like the sky is so heavy
When I could be brave

And I always go to pieces
And I have it in my mind
That the sky is tall and heavy
When I could be brave, brave

You go outside
You see the holy spirit
Burning in your trees
And walk on, glowing with the same glow
Still you tremble out and in

And the birds of all your yellow teacups sing
And you know this hymn
Somehow, knowing what you know
Still you tremble out and in

You see how I go to pieces
That I’m laying on the ground
Like the sky is so heavy
When I could be brave

Oh I know it, I know it, here is God beside
I meant it, I meant I’m sure of that
But the sky is tall and heavy
When I could be brave, brave

That was another country

Rowing out into the air
Taking blankets to the bay
It's the same, and he was fine
And, in the first place, was around
That was another country, that was another country

I'm taking these dumb paper lanterns down
Yards, no, miles they strung along
And me with them
And how was I supposed to know about that
That was another country, that was another country

Are you alright, are you alright
You are my friend, are you alright

Rowing into the air
Driving home, home from the bay
And we sang, and he was fine
And what is more, he was around
That was another country, that was another country

But are you alright, are you alright
You are still my friend, you didn't go out of my life

Speak our minds

I'm leaning down, I’m reaching to the lawn
It is shining, shining with the weather
Recent sorrows have not touched the sky
We walk to Mary’s and speak our minds

We're trying not to say it isn't fair
We are crossing over to the tree side
Oh i am not feeling all that tired
We walk to Mary’s, and speak our minds

This street light says we should go on
Through the tall buildings, to the sound
Oh my own true friend, my friend and I
We walk to Mary’s and speak our minds
Home, paint the kitchen and speak our minds

Happy, the end

In this story
We sit down on Lunda Bridge
And catch snow in our cupped hands
And music is coming from the houses
Or it sings inside me
I begin to mind
Oh happy, oh happy, the end
The end, the end

In this painting
The whole world is navy blue
I run home from the mailbox
In all the dim of five o'clock
To see you
Cars and trees go by me
You are in the yard
And in my arms again
Oh happy, oh happy, the end
The end , the end
Happy, oh happy
The end

Our Harry

We will squint into the sun
Waving madly at the camera
Harry standing in the front
And I will be sitting on his shoulders

When our Harry sails in the summer
When our Harry will sail away
Our Harry sails in the summer
Far from me
Across the sea

He said it is time now he does something
And sent his hope to join the Peace Corps
I can't think what I’ll do when my time comes
I cannot see myself standing alone

When our Harry sails in the summer
When our Harry will sail away
Our Harry sails in the summer
Far from me
Across the sea

Go

Georgia, it grew in the night when you thought it was tired
And how can it always recover and come
And want to whirl you around with your eyes closed
No matter how you say, I won't go, go

Georgia, we follow along, it goes pretty far
You go ahead, I’m going to wait in the car
Instead of run with my feet when they won't go
Okay I will, but I don't know
Go, go

And you would think now hope would be tired, but it's alright
You would think now hope would be tired but it's alright
You would think tired, ragged and oil-brown
But it's alright

And I know it seems useless
I know how it always turns out
Georgia, since everything's possible we will still go, go
And you would think now hope would be tired but it's alright
It's alright

Everything's different now

Now we're in the yard
Aunt Mary’s car is coming, coming
And all of our plans
Are giants in this light

Now that we're coming away
We are coming away, everything's changed
Everything's different now
Everything even the sun

You say suddenly you
Cannot see yourself out in the world
With your school suitcase
Tomorrow, well, you don't know
You don't know

Now that we're coming away
We are coming away, everything's changed
Everything's different now
Everything even the sun

Spinning

Harry, another day we will feel better about this
And we'll go through yellow yards, to the library lions
Closing our eyes, spinning in autumn

Harry, another day we will feel better about things.
And we'll dance through yellow yards, like a dress on the line
Closing our eyes, losing this

I know nothing about so many, too many things,
I see I have come to the wall, come to the ending of me again

I don't know, I, no
What are you saying, why don't you just
Isn't this, isn't this funny Harry, all of this

I know nothing about so many, too many things
I see I’ve come to the wall

I'm turning around now
I'm spinning around now

There

It's a long day, a long way into your arms,
A long, long, get up, get up, through a snowy yard

And I think you will see me coming under the sky
And I think you will see me coming and open your arms wide

To be there, be there
To be there

It's a long day, a long way into your arms
A long, long looking forward, through a straining eye

And I think you will see me coming under the sky
And I think you will see me coming, and open you arms
I try

To be there, be there
To be there

And all the clouds are weary whales swimming by to find you
And I’m sorry, sorry how, how slow my steps are slow as hours

To be there, be there
To be there where you are
To be there where you are

I hear you say so

I think I hear you saying
In the green June, now
Singing in, ringing out
I hear you say so

I walk a pale blue mile to my house
In the evenings and I know
Singing in, ringing out
I hear you say so

Say about iron bridges
They rattle the rattle but never give way
And this boy who is leaving his home
Who is reaching out, says
Yes I’m sure about some things
When I will be driving away
I will not be along there, and I know
I hear you say so
I hear you say so

Birds Of My Neighborhood

Where Does The Time Go

We will walk on a hill
Red hats and blue coats and everything still
Snow will cover until
We can't tell the sky from the ground
Where are the buildings the old wounds of mine
Did I ever once cry

Waiting for you to arrive
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go

Friends have moved away
One tree has come down another one flowers and sways
Miri was lost for five days
From upstate at school one friend writes
Everything is changing while the day sky stays blue
Changing around him and me without you

Waiting for you to arrive
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go

Balconies and flights
Of wooden stairs down to the water at low tide
I'll carry you and we will walk in the light

Waiting for you to arrive
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go
Where does the time go

Snow

If I go out in the morning snow
In my pajamas and my winter coat
And take from the house our darker thoughts
And take away the memory of loss
And if I drop them into the snow
Will we never find them anymore

To see him
To see him happy
To see him
To see him happy

In the same field where we have stood
To see your brother fly away in spring
In a light blue and silver plane
Now the snow has covered everything
I think we will be made clean like the snow
I think we will become new like the snow

To see him
To see him happy
To see him
To see him happy

Some winters are harder than others
We are going to take our cameras
And look through at black trees with empty arms
And sled tracks wandering as we are

To see him
To see him happy
To see him
To see him happy

Follow Me

( John Denver )

It's by far the hardest thing I've ever known
To be so in love with you and so alone

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me

It's long been on my mind you know it's been a long long time
I'll try to find the way that I can make you understand
The way I feel about you and just how much I need you
To be there where I can talk to you when there's no-one else around

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way and all around
Take my hand and say you'll follow me

Follow me where I go what I do and who I know
Make it part of you to be a part of me
Follow me up and down all the way
Take my hand and I will follow you

The Lakes Of Canada

Look for me another day
I feel that I could change
I feel that I could change
There's a sudden joy that's like
A fish, a moving light
I thought I saw it
Rowing on the lakes of Canada

Oh laughing man, what have you won
Don't tell me what cannot be done
My little mouth, my winter lungs
Don't tell me what can't be done

Walking in the circle of a flashlight
Someone starts to sing, to join in
Talk of loneliness in quiet voices
I am shy but you can reach me
Rowing on the lakes of Canada
Rowing on the lakes of Canada

Oh laughing man what have you won
Don't tell me what cannot be done
My little mouth, my winter lungs
Don’t tell me what can't be done

Look for me another time
Give me another day
I feel that I could change
Rowing on the lakes of Canada
Rowing on the lakes of Canada

You Are The Light

And I would like to cry in the car
The blue violet hills and the voice of Neil Young
I left the flowers outside your door
Your curtains were flying
Though you were not at home

And I can only say that I have hoped for you
Safety from fears and darkness
Are you feeling better than before

There's a hidden life for everyone
Sorrow remains though you can tell no one

The Host on your tongue is a perfect moon
It does shine inside you
You shine into the room

And I can only say that I have hoped for you
Safety from fears and darkness
Are you feeling better than before

Down in the hallways in wintertime
There is your great kindness
And you are the light

And I can only say that I have hoped for you
Safety from fears and darkness
Are you feeling better than before

And I can only say that I have hoped for you
Safety from fears and darkness
Are you feeling better than before

Birdless

Something will shine in the backyard
Blue lanterns, or Saint Gerard
Who was lost in the snow

Something will shine on the ground
My Father will bend His ear to the ground

When we are lost in Carlisle
When we are birdless
Flowerless in the spring
And we cannot sing

Oh Father John in the driveway
When we walk out he will bless us
With his hands on our heads

All down the sidewalk there are these
Chalk ballerinas the neighbours
Drew with arms to the sky

When we are lost in Carlisle
When we are birdless
Flowerless in the spring
And we cannot sing

Where are we going tomorrow
Where are we going
Oh I can only say we will be found

Something will shine in the backyard
Blue lanterns, or Saint Gerard
Who was lost in the snow

I Haven't Seen This Day Before

If I could I would break into flower
If I could I'd no longer be barren
This day is filling up my room
Is coming through my door
Oh I have not seen this day before

Oh mourning dove we'll go up to my roof
Oh mourning dove we'll go into the sky
This day is filling up my room
Is coming through my door
Oh I have not seen this day before

And the cars are a stream running by me
Bend away to a place I don't know
This day is filling up my room
Is coming through my door
Oh I have not seen this day before

She May Turn Around

This was the summer of your dad at the UN
And the voice of Brian Wilson
And the rain

Maybe she'll come back to you now
She could turn around on Friday
Maybe she'll realise it then

Shouldn't your friends know better now
Maybe they say these unkind things
Never dreaming they hurt you

And she may turn around
And see a clearer day

You would like to get away
To arrive in the Delta on a train
With one suitcase
And if you had a grandmother in Jackson
You would stay with her and rest beneath
The dogwood trees

And she may turn around
And see a clearer day
And see a clearer light
You won't you will not give in to despair
You start your car, it's everywhere
But in your heart

I Was In The Air

Birds of every wing shall dwell within
Birds of every wing shall dwell within
Who raised high the lowest tree
Who raised high the lowest tree
Birds of every wing shall dwell within

This far will you come but no more
This far will you come but no more
Who holds back the raging sea
Who keeps trouble far from me
This far will you come but no more

I was in the air and you were there
I was in the air and you were there
Like my mother at the fair
Like my father at the fair
I was in the air and you were there

July

This barren July
We both wake up so dry
That no more tears can leave us
And all we've found
Are roads we can't go down
Eyes on a day we can't see
I hope it comes
I hope that water comes
And drenches us in our clothes
The world at night
Has seen the greatest light
Too much light to deny

You never know
You never really know
And you can't have people figured out
One friend came in
Out of nowhere with lit
Sparklers in both her hands for me
And saved the day
When I had run away
To envy and black feelings
And the world at night
Could see the greatest light
Too much light to deny

July, July
The man I love and I
Will lift our heads together
July, July
I've seen the greatest light
To much light to deny

Going Away

Sixty miles or six hundred
The shadow of the pines
Or the sunny station wagon
We're looking at the map
And we're laughing and we're going

I hope some other time
I won't care so much about
Being understood as I do now
I will leave myself and go away
I would like to follow you away

Would you let me take care of you
I would like to sing you a song in the morning
Walk you to the car when you're going
Where you're going

And then some other time
I wouldn't care so much about
Being understood as I do now
I would leave myself and go away
I would like to follow you away

Walk you to the car when you're going
Where you're going

I wouldn't care so much about
Being understood as I do now
I would leave myself and go away
I would like to follow you away

Seeing you I know what is right
And what is true
Oh I see the way I want to be
Oh I see the way I want to be

Green Grass Red Tree

Green grass, go on
Green grass, go on
There's nothing to keep you
Green grass, go on

Red tree, go on
Red tree, go on
You've waited a long time
You've waited a long time
You've waited a long time
You've waited a long time

Christ Is My Hope

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows, like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well
It is well
With my soul
It is well
It is well
With my soul

O Lord of light

O Lord of light, who made the stars
O Dawn by whom we see the way
O Christ redeemer of us all
Make haste to listen as we pray

In lowliness you came on earth
To rescue us from Satan's snares
O wondrous love that healed our wounds
By taking up our mortal cares

To God the Father and the Son
For ages of eternal days
Together with the spirit be
All glory, honor, might and praise

500 Miles

( Hedy West )

If you miss the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

A hundred miles, a hundred miles
A hundred miles, a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two
Lord I'm three, Lord I'm four
Lord I'm five hundred miles from my home

Five hundred miles, five hundred miles
Five hundred miles, five hundred miles
Lord I'm five hundred miles from my home

Not a shirt on my back
Not a penny to my name
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way

This a-away, this a-way
This a-way, this a-way
Lord I can't go a-home this a-way

If you miss the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

No Storms Come

I have desired to go
Oh, I have asked to go
Where a few lilies blow
To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail
And springs not fail
And springs not fail

And I have asked to be
Oh, I have asked to be
Out of the swing of the sea
Where the green swell is in the heavens won
And no storms come
And no storms come

Christ Is My Hope

You can say the word
Unworthy though I am

O bread of life
O bread of life
I will be healed and come

Hold me in your arms
Bridegroom of my soul

O bread of life
O bread of life
I will be healed and come

Christ, Christ is my hope
O Christ, Christ is my light
Christ, Christ is my hope
O Christ, Christ is my light
O my light

I have been afraid
but I’m on the way to this table

O bread of life
o bread of life
I will be healed and come

Christ, Christ is my hope
O Christ, Christ is my light

Morning Star

Morning Star so radiant and holy
Shine on me in my great hour of need
Jesus Christ so beautiful and lovely
Shine over me

Morning Star so radiant and holy
Shine on me in my great hour of need
Jesus Christ so beautiful and lovely
Shine over me

O sacred head, surrounded

( Traditional )

O sacred head, surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn
O bleeding head, so wounded
Reviled and put to scorn

Our sins have marred the glory
Of thy most holy face
Yet angel hosts adore thee
And tremble as they gaze

The Lord of every nation
Was hung upon a tree
His death was our salvation
Our sins, his agony

O Jesus, by thy passion
Thy life in us increase
Thy death for us did fashion
Our pardon and our peace

Were You There

Were you there
When they crucified my Lord
Were you there
When they crucified my Lord
Oh, oh, oh
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord

Were you there when the sun refuse to shine
Were you there when the sun refuse to shine
Oh, oh, oh
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when the sun refuse to shine

Were you there when He rose up from the grave
Were you there when He rose up from the grave
Oh, oh, oh
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when He rose up from the grave

Fare Thee Well

Oh fare thee well, I must be gone
And leave you for awhile
Wherever I go, I will return
If I go ten thousand miles
If I go, if I go, if I go ten thousand miles

Oh, ten thousand miles it is so far
To leave me here alone
Well, I may lie, lament and cry
And you'll, you'll not hear my mourn
And you'll, no you'll, and you'll not hear my mourn

Oh, the crow that is so black, my love
Will change his color white
If ever I should prove false to thee
The day, day will turn to night
Yes, the day, oh the day, yes the day will turn to night

Beautiful Saviour

Beautiful Savior, King of Creation
Son of God and Son of Man
You will we cherish, You will we honor
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown

Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands
Robed in the flowers of blooming spring
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing

Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight
Bright the sparkling stars on high
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky

Small Planes

Rooftop

I hope you are on your rooftop now
In the sun, in the middle of five hundred flowers
And the warm wind blows your scarf around
Flying like a flag
I hope you are on your rooftop now

I hope you are on your rooftop now
In the sun, in the middle of five hundred flowers
And the warm wind blows your scarf straight out
Flying like a flag
I hope you are on your rooftop now

Too Early To Say

Long roads of orange groves
I try, try to see down
Joyful arrival may be far, far away
When will I see you coming so many miles
It is too early to say

Out in the backyard I will wait for a downpour
The sky may open but it won’t be today
When will I see you coming so many miles
It is too early to say

Oh down orange groves, narrow roads
I have been looking
I am half in tomorrow and half in today
When will I see you coming so many miles
It is too early to say
Wait for bright news to reach us
Wait for bright news to reach me

We will sing through the city
We will sing through the day
When will I see you coming so many miles
It is too early to say

Migration

My love will sail this ship
Through great storms and ice flows
He is not afraid as I am
He is not afraid

And this is why he knows the way
And this is why he knows the way
He knows the way

Oh my brothers and sisters, he is so kind
Despite the losses that have made us this sad
Five blocks of sidewalk chalk he steers us clear of
Blue ice skaters and animals

And this is why he knows the way
And this is why he knows the way
He knows the way

All the birds of this neighborhood are leaving
Some days we feel left behind

Today

Into the traffic changing
A good friend I have had
Today, today his leaving
Makes me sad

My friend is starting over
There is a trembling
Today, today is trembling
Through the trees

If you see him there on your street
Will you smile or shake his hand
Today, today
The brotherhood of man

The Girl On My Left

Some days ring out into night
My failures with people right here
The living room growing wide
If I get near, what will I say

Miles to fly over
Miles to the girl on my left

The boy I love, he can walk
Right over to anyone here
And talk about anything
Rain porches, car trips to the sea

Miles to fly over
Miles to the girl on my left
Walk over, fly over, run over
Walk over there

People feel loved when he's around
People feel light when he's around

Song About Traveling

A man said Why, why does traveling
In cars and in trains make him feel sad
A beautiful sadness
I've felt this before
It's the people in the cities you'll never know
It is everything you pass by
Wondering will you ever return

The colors of rowboats, the greens and the blues
Orange grove side streets you only see halfway
And beaches in winter
And when kites are flown
It's the people in the cities you'll never know
It is everything you pass by
Wondering will you ever return

Oh Do Not Fly Away

I'll wait to ring the bells awhile
Till all the light and color
Have stayed the whole of spring
Until I believe it

And if, and if I count on you
Oh do not fly away
I dare not count on you
It is too early to say

Oh can you tell me of the future
If something is the matter
I am afraid to look
Down the road much further

And if, and if I count on you
Oh do not fly away
I dare not count on you
It is too early to say

All through the dog paths and hazel
In every place I’ve entered
I've looked for you to come
Years ago or sooner

And if, and if I count on you
Oh do not fly away
I dare not count on you
It is too early to say

I Left The Grounds

I have turned around
I'm walking back to join the choir
Leaves are flying through the sky

There's a hidden life
There's a life that no one knows
There are things that can't be told

And Sister Michael didn't know
I've never said a word to her
It's not her fault
But it was getting hard enough
To be around
I left the grounds

Some Clear Joy Is Coming

Father John in the driveway
Comes here to bless me
My Father in the morning
Will bend to hear me
Some clear joy is coming on some slowest train
I am hearing it coming again

Flowerless in the country
Birdless in the spring
My man and I are weeping
We have been weeping
Some clear joy is coming on some slowest train
Do you hear that it's coming again

Small Planes

I know what you mean
When you want to run to meet the world
Intentions may not carry you far
Small planes are here
But they never leave my room at all
They don't make it through
They don't make it out
.
I want to be like Sister Veronica,
Whose life connects with so many lives
Small planes are here
But they never leave my room at all
They don't make it through
They don't make it out

My words to him
They didn't touch him, not at all
And I never can say what I mean to say
Small planes are here
But they never leave my room at all
They don't make it through
They don't make it out

Twenty-five miles or thousands of miles
When am I going to leave here
Twenty-five miles or thousands of miles
When am I going to get there
Twenty-five miles or thousands of miles
Who am I going to help there
Twenty-five miles or thousands of miles
When am I going to get there

I Have Loved You

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

Seek the face of the lord and long for him
He will bring you his light and his peace

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

Seek the face of the lord and long for him
He will bring you his joy and his hope

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine


Befriended

Tomorrow On The Runway

Old days, don't come to find me
The sun is just about to climb up over there
'While my heart is sinking I do not want my voice
To go out into the air'
Did you leave the darkness without me
You're always miles ahead
And you're standing in tomorrow on the runway

Oh be the music in my head
The air around my bed, oh be my rest
Replace the small disgraces of
The times and places that I never really left
Did you leave the darkness without me
You're always miles ahead
And you're standing in tomorrow on the runway

Oh I want to fly, fly forward into the light
Be alive, to come alive
On the leaf-bright Friday drive
Sudden horses at the red light
Turn around, see clearer ways to go now

When Mac Was Swimming

When Mac was swimming I was running late
Walking around New Orleans looking for a birthday cake
It was a great surprise to him so many people came
Nobody knows, darling
Nobody knows how they are loved
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up

Let's get up early now, dive clear into the day
Let's get out of the car with open arms
Not wait to be embraced
The flowers that grew, the things that happened
Since the day you came
Nobody knows, darling
Nobody knows how they are loved
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up

I Never Knew You From The Sun

(for Mary McCullough)

What a time it was
I was befriended and was a friend
For the longest while, you were here
And I never knew you from the sun

Snow is on the ground
But this is not my landscape now
Where I find myself without you
Oh I never knew you from the sun

Oh I had a friend. I had a friend I loved
Now I walk for miles
Into dark forests of piano songs, I'm lost

Deep into my sleeves, deep in my sleeves
Pockets down where I always reach
You are there
Oh I never knew you from the sun
Never, never knew you from the sun

Beautiful Change

Oh I'm going to find some peace of mind
At any time I could change, any day
A beautiful change
Some low sinking clouds become reindeer
While I'm standing here at the door
Looking for a beautiful change

The snow is here
The light is bright

Flower forth, and soon, branch of Easter
I want to be here when he needs me
He will see a beautiful change
Oh and he wades into the yard
Nothing has been what I'd guessed so far
Unforeseen, this most sweet, beautiful change

Martha Avenue Love Song

Walking through the world, walking under trees
Many things that only you and only I have seen
When you say oh look and see
Then there is the sky, five o'clock in winter
When the pink and green arrive

Now we're blown around
And I can't let you down
My sun and my sweetest sound
Oh you are my friend, oh you are my friend

One For Sorrow, Two For Joy

Today is a winter Sunday
We wear our heavy coats
The soul of my brother
Is pure, though he doesn't think so
Oh one for sorrow
Oh one for sorrow, two for joy

We walk the whole two miles to Holly
I want to hold his hand but I don't
The thoughts of my brother
Where and when they fly I don't know

What is coming down from the north road
What is coming up from the ground
Though we don't know much at all
Stand ever firmly, love

No Storms Come

(lyrics adapted from the Gerard Manley Hopkins Poem "Heaven-Haven 'A nun takes the veil'")

I have desired to go
Oh I have asked to go
Where a few lilies blow
To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail
And springs not fail
And springs not fail
And I have asked to be
Oh I have asked to be
Out of the swing of the sea
Where the green swell is in the heavens dumb
And no storms come
And no storms come

Sweep Down Early

Sweep down early, tomorrow, come
Ring out, tell me you have arrived
I will kiss all the faces of my beloved ones
I will meet the morning
Sweep down early, my friend

And we will go somewhere now
And it feels like we can go
In the morning, when the morning comes

Flower forth, all you branches of Easter
Why won't the spring come
Sweep down early, tomorrow, come
Tell me that I can just start over again
Sweep down early, my friend

Walking Around

Rain happens into my room at night
When there is so much time to miss you
Beautiful changes I’ve seen sometimes
The clouds changing into reindeer and flying
To places clear of sorrow

Walking around
You know I’ve had enough of this trouble
Following me high and low
Now it can go

Some boy I knew said, Hang on, stay gold
Before he left here for England
Beautiful changes I feel sometimes
In the middle of the late morning dishes
When you say I might do anything at all

Walking around
You know I’ve had enough of this trouble
Following me high and low
Now it can go

Look For Me As You Go By

Hang my head low, so low
Don't see me only as I am but
See me how I long to be
Shining like a flowering tree
Under a gray Pennsylvania sky
Look for me as you go by
Hang my head low, so low
Every burden shall be lifted
Every stone upon your back slide into the sea
It's me for you and you for me


Now the day is over

Stay Awake

( Sherman )

Stay awake, don't rest your head
Don't lie down upon your bed
While the moon drifts in the skies
Stay awake, don't close your eyes

Though the world is fast asleep
Though your pillow's soft and deep
You're not sleepy as you seem
Stay awake, don't nod and dream
Stay awake, don't nod and dream

Over The Rainbow

( Arlen, Harburg )

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I

If happy little bluebirds fly
Behond the rainbow
Why oh why can't I

What A Wonderful World

( Thiele, Weiss )

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself
"What a wonderful world!"

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself
"What a wonderful world!"

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying "How do you do"
They really say: "I love you"

I hear babies crying I watch them grow
They'll learn so much more than I’ll ever know
And I think to myself
"What a wonderful world!"
And I think to myself
"What a wonderful world!"

Moon River

( Mancini, Mercer )

Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end
It's just around the bend
My huckleberry friend
Moon River and me

Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone

( Blake )

Somewhere a star shines for everyone
Somewhere one's shining for me
No matter how rich or poor you are
If you are born with the lucky star

Somewhere a star shines for everyone
No matter who, you believe
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Somewhere a star shines for me

Once Upon A Summertime

( Barclay, Legrand, Mercer )

Once upon a summertime, if you recall
We stopped beside a little flower stall
A bunch of bright forget-me-nots was all
I'd let you buy me

Once upon a summerday, just like today
We laughed the happy afternoon away
And stole a kiss in every street cafe

You were sweeter than the blossoms on the tree
I was as proud as any girl could be
As if the Mayor had offered me the key to Paris

Now, another wintertime has come and gone
The pigeons feeding in the square have flown
And I remember when the vespers chime
You loved me once upon a summertime

My Love Goes With You

( Peris )

Beautiful and dearest child
Morning comes soon, sleep awhile
Fly away to trees that sway
In dreams peaceful and green

Of the happiness you bring
I will sing, oh I will sing
My love goes following
You into your dreams

By lo, by lo
My love goes with you now
My love, my love
My love goes with you now

Edelweiss

( Hammerstein, Rodgers )

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

By-lo

( Traditional )

By-lo baby
By-lo baby
By-lo baby
By-lo baby, by

Mama will love you
Mama will love you
Mama will love you
All my life

Daddy will loves you
Daddy will loves you
Daddy will loves you
All his life

By-lo baby
By-lo baby
By-lo baby
By-lo baby, by

It Is Well With My Soul

( Bliss, Spafford )

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul

Now The Day Is Over

( Baring-Gould, Barnby )

Now the day is over
Night is drawing nigh
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky

Grant to little children
Visions bright of thee
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep blue sea

When the morning wakens
Then may I arise
Pure and fresh and sinless
In thy holy eyes

Now the day is over
Night is drawing nigh
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky

We walked in song

Brotherhood of man

All day, since your haircut in the morning
You have looked like a painting, even more than usual
We are in the wind, planting the maples
We meet an older man who seems to know I miss my dad

And he smiles through the limbs
We talk easily with him
Until the rain begins

This is the brotherhood of man
This is the brotherhood of man
This is the brotherhood of man

Waiting at the airport on my suitcase
A girl travelling from Spain became my sudden friend
Though I did not learn her name
And when the subway dimmed
A stranger lit my way

This is the brotherhood of man
This is the brotherhood of man
This is the brotherhood of man

I never can say what I mean
But you will understand
Coming through clouds on the way

This is the brotherhood of man.
This is the brotherhood of man
This is the brotherhood of man

Happy birthday

When you wake up sun will shine
We will not go under any cloud
Let balloons go up in town
Ring out every bell
Happy birthday, beautiful
All the birds of this day
Sing a song, sing a song

Dream of trains carrying you
Through the state parks with the cherry flowers
When you wake up it will be
The beginning of the world

Happy birthday, beautiful
In the fields of this day
Hear a song, hear a song

Oh, undeserved sweetness and light
Stay by my side
We will go out in the morning now
A crown of maple leaves, a crown of flowers
Circling your sweet head

Happy birthday, beautiful
In the streets of this day
Play a song, play a song

Happy birthday, beautiful
In the streets of this day
Play a song, play a song
Play a song, play a song

Love that boy

I love that boy and he is my friend
I see him going down the long hall
I love that boy and he is my friend
I wave to him from very far off

He goes uphill
I wish that I could follow after him
He goes uphill
Please let him be safe there, across the way
I love that boy, I say
I love him all the day

I love that boy and he is my friend
We’re driving through the state of Maryland
I love that boy and he is my friend
I love to see him sleeping in back

He goes uphill
I wish that I could follow after him
He goes uphill
He dreams a city street a hundred ways
I love that boy, I say
I love him all the day

And I’m standing up under the trees
I'm cheering every day
I love that boy, I say

Into Brooklyn, early in the morning

Yes, the sidewalk soon will launch you
Into Brooklyn, through the air
And they will give a cheer, I am sure
When you are coming near
To the ground

Oh, early in the morning
When you fly away
Early in the morning
When you fly away

Beautiful life, full of grieving
So will sing the Russian choir
They will sing in the square
As you come down through the Brooklyn air
To the ground

Oh, early in the morning
When you fly away
Early in the morning
When you fly away

Since I still tell you my every day

Since I still tell you my every day
My darling, I think you always hear me
From the sweet away, the sweet away
Did you see us picnicking at lakeside
In the state park today
All these things I want you to be part of
Darling, you'll be

One song singing through this neighbourhood
Is loneliness
Since I still tell you my everyday
I think you hear
With a perfect vision now
Oh with a perfect ear
To me
All my life I don't find anyone like you

I wish you'd be at Bethany
I wish you'd come to violin with me
Since I still tell you my every day
All these things I want you to be part of
Darling, you'll be

Lake shore drive

Regret has gone down in my estimation now
The old world had you smiling out
Putting your arms around
I tell myself now
Things I would have told to you
The smallest plan, the greatest news
The more days come, the more it’s true

Right now I’ve got to get back home
In from the sad day out
Missing you forever
Yes, I shout, yes I, yes I, yes I am

It seems the right time
To let go of the steep incline
Of this day and to know you’re mine
Forever and I will be fine
In me will you shine
Shine, shine, will you shine

I’m stepping through
The streams and fountains of the sad day out
Missing you forever
Yes, I shout, yes I, yes I, yes I am
Yes I, yes I, yes I am

A wave is rolling

There are the days I cannot know
Or understand
A piano in a moving van, way behind
At the light

And a wave is rolling over
A wave is moving over
A wave is rolling over me, over me

The time of mistakes
Will it ever change to another time
Like a season when the snow
Will slide off the house
And leave the house clean

And a wave is rolling over
A wave is moving over
A wave is rolling over me, over me

A singing bird, I call your name
In the middle of the nighttime
I'm the smallest bird who calls your name
In the middle of the day

And a wave is rolling over
A wave is moving over
A wave is rolling over me, over me

Song for Tom

Let's go, Tom
The weather's here but you are strong
The wax tears on your raincoat come
From candles when we walked in song
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Though so much is gone

You are my friend
Though words will fail me here again
The sacraments will lift us
And we set out in the day again
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Though so much is gone

And you're standing up
And it is coming down
Standing up and it is coming down
Standing up and it is coming down to you
Dear Tom
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Oh, you'll never lose that light
Though so much is gone

Colors of the world

Blue could be a winter coat
Or the sea, lake Maureen, a window
Or a downpour on my street
This bit of yellow could be a leaf
Or a beam of light, a girl in a taxi

And I think of you in the colors of the world
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
When I was traveling a long way from my home
And you are a friend of mine

Black is the piano you play at school in the lobby
Looking out at the gray and orange
Green grass on your feet

And I think of you in the colors of the world.
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
When I was traveling a long way from my home
And you are a friend of mine

Over the moon

I'm over the moon, taller than clouds
I'm sailing along, smiling out loud
Windows, doorways, you can't hold me
Branches never hold me, no
I'm over the moon

Can this be the same day of all rain
When i was down in and there was no sky
Now windows, doorways, you can't hold me
Branches never hold me, no
I'm over the moon

My sisters return from Ireland

What did you see
When, walking down bridges, did you come
Into cloud light at sea
Green fields forever
Kindness of strangers
Tracing the old streets, tracing the names

If somebody calls to me
I'm hoping to not fear, not fear to answer
How will it be

My Room In The Trees

Rain (Setting Out In The Leaf Boat)

This dress that I made
Out of the curtains
Was on the line
Dancing around
Better than I can
Now we walk up
To the top of the street

Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know

There go the lawn chairs
Some frogs are racing them
To catch up with me
Gray buildings go by
Violety sky lit up with trees in yellow

Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know

Hey, is that you
Going by, swimming by
Hey, is that you
Zig-zagging, whizzing by
Sailing up, sailing by

Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know

The Happy Mondays

The happy Mondays
We blow down alleyways
In our raincoats, in afternoons
The imaginary dogs beside us are old friends
They will speak to you

Happy in the daylight
Breathe out, breathe in the end of school time
Happy on the way home
The west side also feels
And they know everything that I know

The happy Mondays
We are blue-green in the air
We are yellow, too
The clouds of Pennsylvania break apart
they move away from me and from you

Happy in the daylight
Breathe out, breathe in the end of school time
Happy on the way home
The west side also feels
And they know everything that I know

Happy in the daylight
Breathe out, breathe in the end of school time
Happy on the way home
The west side also feels
And they know everything that I know
Everything that I know

God is love

Rain or shine
This street of mine is golden
Rain or shine
This street of mine is golden

With the gold of hickory leaves
I can walk under these clouds
Rain or shine
This street of mine is golden

God is love
And love will never fail me
God is love
And love will never fail me

If I’m driving there today
And I really am this afraid
God is love
And love will never fail me

Some birds I know are moving on this weekend
Some birds I know are moving on this weekend
And I’m under the sky, I am on the ground, with my coat
Some birds I know are moving on this weekend

God is love
And love will never fail me
God is love
And love will never fail me

And some days I will decide
To let everything else go by
God is love
And love will never fail me
Love will never fail me

Gentle the Rain at Home

Brave in the clothes of Georgie’s
You take a train to the North
Winding through New York
State in the morning, leaves on the floor

Gentle the rain at home
Gentle the rain at home
When we can and will return
When we can and will return

He said I could just take the canoe whenever I need
And, if I go back over the lake, the clouds may recede

Gentle the rain at home
Gentle the rain at home
When we can and will return
When we can and will return
When we can and will return
When we can and will return

Spring

Look out for spring
The life underground
The life underground

The thawing and the overflow
Oh early, early in the morning we’ll go

Seven shades of green
Are painted on your door
Painted on your door

The field alive under the snow
Oh early, early in the morning we’ll go

Oh world of rooftops, hearing one field song
The walk in raincoats, the wait for Easter, Tom
We are awake or waking, awake or waking from
Here that day comes

Look out for spring
The life underground
The life underground

The thawing and the overflow
Oh early, early in the morning we’ll go

Oh world of rooftops, hearing one field song
The walk in raincoats, the wait for Easter, Tom
We are awake or waking, awake or waking from

All the Weather

Now I want the sun to swing my feet
Washington Harbor
Dogs may come around
And they won't care that I'm a stranger

Oh, it's over
Oh, it's over
All the weather
All the weather is gone

First I let you down
And then the streets were in a downpour
Onto everything inside the state of Maryland

And listen
Oh, it's over
Oh, it's over
All the weather
All the weather is gone

And listen
Oh, it's over
Oh, it's over
All the weather
All the weather is gone

Rhode Island

In June, we’re washing in the water
We are walking to the sand
In the summer of a hard year
You are swinging both our hands
In Rhode Island, Rhode Island

Now we will go gleaming into tomorrow
I am leaning, leaning into tomorrow
From Rhode Island, cradled on the waves

I don’t want to tell you sad news
I don’t want to let you down
We drive away, we don’t know
What is going to happen now
From Rhode Island, Rhode Island

Now we will go gleaming into tomorrow
I am leaning, leaning into tomorrow
From Rhode Island, cradled on the waves

North American Field Song

Raincoats, Finlandia
Raincoats and lakes
The best words, I take
Along in my field bag

Across the morning
The beautiful air
I will be aware
I'll speak if I dare

And stay calm
Stay calm, stay calm
Stay calm in the meantime
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm,
Through the red and the green light, stay calm

No one can be so embarrassed as me
I say to these trees
Where I walk with my head down
Across the morning, the beautiful air,
I will be aware, my father is there

And stay calm
Stay calm, stay calm
Stay calm in the meantime
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm,
Through the red and the green light, stay calm

The Leaves Lift High

Flying down lanes, bicycles red and blue
And tunnels of tall trees, with you
Together we are very small
Riding across the great land

On the Eastern Avenue
The morning is bigger, taller than I knew
The leaves lift high, the light gets through
Shoulder of the lake at Clement Farm
You’re in the crossing of my arms
Wherever you may be, whatever day this is

On the Eastern Avenue
On all streets I know, I know I look for you
The leaves lift high, the light gets through

All of the days I travel with you
Dearest to me, child
Dearest to me, child
You are dearest to me, child

All of the bells I ever knew
Ring out at the same time
Ring out at the same time
Together, together, together

All of the bells I ever knew
Ring out at the same time
We look up at the same time
Together, together, together

On the Eastern Avenue, on all streets
I know I know I count on you
The leaves lift high, the light gets through

I'd Follow if I Could

I'd follow if I could
A thing that's hard to bear
To see you going down
The road somewhere

To blink and then you're gone
The scene is rolled away
It makes another mile from me
Wherever you go, it's too far
You're a shooting star

Wherever you go, it's too far
You're a shooting star
Wherever you go, it's too far
You're a shooting star

Shout for Joy

All we can do, in this deep summer hour
With the rain, the taxis and the flowers
Walking between the dear ones holding on
Is shout, shout for joy

Everything that has been broken you’ll mend
Throughout the morning of one day
Sleeves fluttering in the air, in the air
And we’ll shout, shout for joy

I said so little
I could not think of replies
The words all flew away
Up away from me, up into the trees
Where they shout, oh shout for joy

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