Surroundings

Sorry I Missed That

You said as a child you slept under the stars
at the edge of a sunflower field.
You dug up wild leeks in trillium valley
that you fried in a pan with morel's.
They were a treasure you would find near the
Jack and the Pulpits or the trunk of ancient oak.
They made up a basket for old Mrs. Swanson
with white clover honey and sage soap.
    I'm sorry I missed that.
    Sorry I missed that.
Your soul bares a fondness for Western Wisconsin
and your mother's love affair with the land.
Her touch for the loom, for blending bright colors -
her floor rugs were a local demand.
She found inspiration in each change of season
and the rebirth of her children's delight.
She taught you to worship all of abundance, all of
creation and all light.
    I'm Sorry I missed that.
    Sorry I missed that.
    I'm sorry I missed that.
    Sorry I missed that.
You said as a child you slept under the stars -
at the edge of a sunflower field.

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Ma'am

Rain water washed out the old pine road
causing the sheriff to come around.
He started asking all sorts of curious questions
about the wild plants in the South East field.
He told Mama he noticed her oldest boy Bobby
driving a new Ford pickup truck.
He said he's been hangin' around the old bowling
and the Wal*Mart parking lot.
    Then he said Ma'am
    Ma'am
    Just one bad apple could spoil the whole bunch.
They charged Robert Junior with possession of
illegal contraband.
Turned him over to the courts of Ramsey County
where he sat out his whole sentence.
His sister skipped biology, she skipped sociology
just to visit him once a week.
Kept his best secrets and kept his crops growing
'til that letter came from Principle Gene.
    Now it said Ma'am
    Ma'am
    Just one bad apple could spoil the whole bunch.
Then Mama got bitten by this bug called religion and
had her grown up babies baptized.
She took to going to local function trying to find herself
and available man.
In the eyes of her Lord all children need a father to set
rules and force discipline.
She found herself a strong one with some knowledge of
farming, but you know that man had a shit eating grin.
    Ma'am
    Ma'am
    Just one bad apple could spoil the whole bunch.

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Katy

At eighteen years Katy packed up her bags and said
"So long man I am free!"
"I'm leaving behind all these well kept secrets hidden in this
family tree."
In the rear view mirror she watched her sister growing
smaller and frozen in fear.
The road ahead has promised her freedom.
and a strength in the shifting of gears.
    She believes.
She kept ahead of the wind most nights with isolation
companioning rage.
Set up tent on a snowy Christmas, leaving the outcome
to fate.
Thoughts of her sister shot through the silence as
drowsiness lengthened it's hold.
In that moment of question she had a Great Vision
surviving isn't living alone.
    She believes.
She knew that with the years she had grown much thinner.
That the hard times were causing the gray.
She wondered if her sister would recognize her.
Could she ever bring herself to say?
She is sorry for the fact that she couldn't have stopped him
and as sorry for the innocence lost.
Her mind was not playing false betrayal and the memories
aren't erased with the cost.
    She believes.

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Mother Nature's Pace

This mornings rain made it final.
You are not going to plant that corn.
The city has a tale of road rage.
If you are going there be fore warned.
The water is full of contaminants
due to an unexpected flood.
You could place your bet on alfalfa
if the soil would strangle the mud.
    You can stay one step ahead of Mother
    Nature's pace - stay one step ahead
    of Mother Nature's Grace.
That smooth talkin' man in his silk suit
said to call him if you change your way.
The product isn't fit for humans but
think of all the dollars you'll save.
Yeah, you might kill off a few monarch's
but you'll feed chicken, cattle and pig.
Demoralize a third world country but "Hey
man you got to think big!"
    If you're going to stay one step ahead
    of Mother Nature's pace - stay one step ahead
    of Mother Nature's Grace
Now the death count is up to forty.
Concerned parents are standing in line.
Greenpeace has made an awareness while the
hippies are carrying signs.
They removed the baby beverages quickly.
Now the frozen food is under test.
It's too late to stop that franchise but hey man,
they tell me it's best.
    So I can stay one step ahead - of Mother
    Nature's pace - stay one step ahead of
    Mother Nature's Grace.
    You tell me I'm a step ahead.
    A step ahead?

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Dreams

Quickly I had crumbled and fallen to my knees.
I got here on a wing and prayer and distorted need.
Then you came along adding rhythm to my rhyme.
You came along and you believe in my dream.

Five nights a week in the coffee house.
I sleep in the Park & Ride.
A drifter can only drift as long as the wind
is on her side.
You came along and you helped me find my way.
You came along and you believe in my dream.
    You believe I can be anything.

I heard my own voice on the radio
on Sunday afternoon.
I knew right then I had crossed a bridge, worked
hard and paid some dues.
You came along and encouraged me to sing.
You came along and you believe in my dreams.
    You believe I can be anything.
    In reality.

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Across The Bridge

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Anything You Need

Late night air is thick and heavy and is filling weighted lungs.
There is a poison in the bitterness of what may come undone.
She is watching your shadow dancing in the window of her view.
She felt the sting of no response and immediately knew.
    She will feed you from her breast, anything you need.
    Give you her last breath, to suit your dying needs.
In your strong hand you hold the bottle, your bruised lips so
full and wet. Your weakness is a stumbling block of confusion and
regret. You wrote a promise in the family bible, thinking the all mighty
would keep you clean. Your only child is quiet now and afraid of the
new routine.
    She will fee you from her breast, anything you need.
    Give you her last breath, to suit your dying needs.
Your secrets have held you closely. You paid homage to a friend.
You shared a needle in a rental car knowing this would be the end.
You dropped him at the station of nowhere and in-between.
The police report is full of doubt and you're assumed missing.
    Still she will feed you from her breast, anything you need.
    Give you her last breath, to suit your dying needs.
    Like your mother or your father, sister or your brother, yes
    your lover does.
    Like your mother, father, sister, brother, your lover does.
    Feed you from her breast, anything you need.
    Give you her last breath to suit your dying needs.

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Myself To Blame

This waxing moon is telling me all sorts of lies.
Dividing the reason and I 'm left to fantasize.
You walk right unlike you have a stake of claim.
Then you turn right back around, leaving me all alone
    with myself to blame.
A few hours there and here is less then meeting my needs.
Your strong lean fingers all point directly at me.
I can taste the sensation across this crowded room.
I'm one quick drink away from leaving here with you and
    myself to blame.
It has been close to four years now that I've been
wearing this wedding ring. An assertive temptation has
me noticing shades of green. Still you lick your lips like
I am a sustaining force. If I would bring mine to your
I'm sure to drown in the remorse
    of myself to blame.
    To blame but you look good enough
    for me to blame myself. This is all about you looking
    good enough for me to blame myself. Blame myself.

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Hold On

A silent sideways glance.
A cold chill fills our home.
I said something careless and cruel
without thinking.
We've been together for so long.
Word no longer fill the space,
when feelings run rampant in a heart,
a heart that is aching.
    Hold on - Hold on - love is stronger
    then this pain - of this I'm certain.
I'll take my old neutral stand,
own what is mine to own,
knowing God Blessed well this could
continue.
With time we'll be able to accept,
and honor all that we believe.
We have come together in this life
for a larger reason.
    Hold on - Hold on - love is stronger
    then this pain - of this I'm certain.
I'm sorry the tears have chosen to hide.
I still can't get past this wall.
I know I'm storing every ounce of pain
and sorrow.
I love you more and more each day,
with the patience and kindness you provide.
One day I will be able to give back
everything you have given.
    Hold on - Hold on - love is stronger
    then this pain - of this I'm certain.
    I'm certain.

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Tumble In Grace

Jesus hitched a ride to the coast.
The coast of California.
Jesus hitched a ride to the coast.
Then on up the Pacific Rim.
Because he need to get away.
He need some time and some space.
Most of all he needed a friend to share his day

Mary has a passion for the Sea.
She worships its salty shore.
Mary has a passion for the Sea.
She makes potions of it's offerings.
She set to get away from her man.
A man who laid a heavy hand.
When she asked him why he did he said
"Because he can!"

Now Jesus makes his living staining glass.
He cares less what you think of him
Mary is trying to better of this world.
by naming violence Original Sin.
They threw caution to the wisdom of a change,
bask freely in the bounty of their faith,
they twirl and spin and smile at the sky as
they tumble in Grace.
In Grace. Grace.
They threw caution to the wisdom of a change,
bask freely in the bounty of their faith,
twirl and spin and smile at the sky as
they tumble in Grace.
Grace.

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Full Life

I got a phone call this morning from your angel
stating softly "It's time for you to leave."
He said "Be strong, as strong as you are, realize
this moment as a sweet release."
    I was thinking maybe he had the wrong number.
    Thinking maybe he has somehow misdialed,
    because the woman he said is leaving
    has yet to live a full life.
I got a phone call this morning from our mother.
She said "Sit down, sit down child I've got bad news."
Then she asked me how does something like this happen.
How can something like this be real?
    I was thinking maybe she has the wrong number.
    Maybe she somehow misdia
    because the woman she said is leaving
    has yet to live a full life.
I placed a phone call this evening to your lover.
In an instant I completely understood.
If all I need is to believe then I believe.
There is a life for the living elsewhere.
    I was hoping maybe I had the wrong number.
    Maybe I had somehow misdialed.
    The woman I know is leaving has yet
    to live her full life.
    She has yet to live a full life.

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Legacy

A smaller then average child
enters this world alone.
Fearful of every waking day,
wrestling with risk to find the hope.
    To leave behind a legacy.
    To leave behind a legacy.
Spending the best years of this life
lending a hand and giving care.
Alter the system from within, living
honest, living fair.
    To leave behind a legacy.
    To leave behind a legacy.
A final promise to the earth
giving the gift of life itself.
No poisoning of our precious soil,
preserving the land instead of wealth.
    To leave behind a legacy.
    To leave behind a legacy.
    Leaving behind a legacy.
    Leaving behind a legacy.

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