Armstrong Avenue

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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The Grace of Grace

with grace in charge of my estate
and her sight set on the poor.
an aim like cupid and a child like heart,
who could want for anything more?

hallelujah, amen,
blessed be - with the grace of grace go i.

she broke her fast at the Dorothy Day,
with the homeless folks downtown.
they told her stories over third helpings,
their laughter is a glorious sound.

chorus

afternoon tea at a women's shelter,
grace was helping with the folding of clothes.
she dried some tears and she held some hands,
said some prayers of letting go.

chorus

lights out for all at the halfway house -
even gracie has to follow all the rules.
serenity is granted and wisdom gained,
for the love of grace is true.

chorus-repeat 

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Notice Me

i wasn't quite prepared for this flood of feelings,
or for how quickly you would look away.
i'm scared to death of thinking of the words unspoken,
so i'll lean into my guitar with the reality i face.

i may never see you smile, hear you laugh or sing your songs,
watch your eyes of blue invite this world to come along.
more than anything, you may never notice me.

i wasn't quite prepared for you to be a vision
of rising moon and setting sun simultaneously.
if its true that every soul has a guardian angel
then i hope that yours and mine embrace gently.

chorus

i wasn't quite prepared for this flood of feelings,
or for how quickly you would look away.
you looked away. you looked away.
you looked away. you looked away.

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Three Part Harmony

if i were to divide myself into three equal parts,
qualify, name each section, this is the place i would start -
by telling you, i'm in a perfect harmony with you.

i'm living within a perfect three part harmony with you.

my body would glide thru dancing flames
to gently rest by your side.
absorbing the warmth of a deeper truth
with heart and arms open wide,
so naturally - so perfectly in a harmony.

i'm living within a perfect three part harmony with you.

my mind has wrung itself free of fear
and i'm enjoying all the mystery.
faith and wisdom have leant their hope
and together we can truly be

so naturally, so perfectly in a harmony.
i'm living within a perfect three part harmony with you.

my spirit would rise up with each new moon
and tell pleiades of this love.
i'd ask the sisters if they had witnessed
this kind of union above.

so naturally. so perfectly in a harmony.
i'm living within a perfect three part harmony with you.
i'm living within a perfect three part harmony with you.
body and mind, body and spirit. 

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Anna Mae

emotionally braided in her brothers faithful trust,
her sisters gained esteem through the teaching of the love,
and the whispering wind sings the song of the one so brave.
daughters cry out for their mothers tender touch,
her lovers deepest wounds are not greater than the love
of the woman with the warrior spirit named anna mae.

are you still here? are you still here? anna mae,
anna mae are you still here?

south dakota badlands and a complacent winter night,
a thief with a poisoned heart cowardly stole the life,
of the creators child, actively seeking peace.
the creators child, working for her peoples peace.
the creators child, creators child.

are you still here? are you still here? anna mae,
anna mae are you still here?
through your sisters, yours brothers, your daughters, your lovers
are you still here?
anna mae, anna mae.

in living memory we are called upon to answer,
through our sense of dignity and find the one,
the one who stole you from our world so unjustly, oh anna mae.
you were stolen from this world.
you were stolen from this world.
 

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Sage

Yesterday I was standing less then afraid
with madness in my corner and eyelids full of haze
stood up proud and strong asked these five words
why can't we get along and build a peaceful world

with no need indeed of a sage
with no need indeed of a sage

cried most the night letting the hours run their course
felt a stirring deep inside felt a drawing off a source
slipped into this dream where sweetness filled the land
where hatred had yet been born and people held out hands

chorus

Daybreak and the morning news brought another house in flame
another rape in the park a body that claims no name
the gays still fight for rights the racists still bring forth fear
the natives still fight for land after 2000 years

chorus -repeat 

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Liberty

lovely liberty, 
lady liberty, 
precious liberty, 
live through me. 

take my hand, come with me, 
i will honor you and you will truly be free.
My friends and I will ease the pain
of neglect you suffer that is not in our name.

lovely liberty, 
lady liberty, 
precious liberty, 
live through me. 

a circle of women, all ages, each race
have gathered together and offer you a sacred space.
we share the knowledge, the spirit and the strength
and by coming together we are amazing as grace.

chorus

your promise means i can love whom i love
your promise means i can choose as i choose
your promise is my freedom to love
your promise is my choice.

chorus

only love makes a family - liberty you're welcome here.
there are no rules to follow - no judgment no fear.
your sister does not fall silent - your brother does not spread hate.
your father will hear you and your mother is free from shame.

chorus 

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Neither Here Nor There

neither here nor there. neither here nor there.
pass tradition around, perfect line and melody
neither here nor there. neither here nor there.
pass religion around, bearing the cross of reverie.
i'm neither here nor there. I'm neither here nor there.
i lay my body down, dust and ashes, memory.
bearing the cross of reverie.
each line, each melody.

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Resistance

you're sitting far too close, i feel the heat off of your thigh.
a golden circle flashes, blinding my mind.

will i follow the path of least resistance?
can i follow the path of least resistance?

now we've been down this road and we both know where it ends.
you pour the wine, i dim the light, a show begins.

on our path of least resistance.
our path of least resistance.

i can see in your lovers eyes everything she's trying to hide.
i hear the thought she's thinking, i am a witness to her sigh.

on the path of least resistance.
her path of least resistance.
path of least resistance.
path of least resistance.

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Right Now

did you come here to ask my opinion?
clearly i'm thinking of you.
and how you look so good tonight -
clearly i'm thinking of you.

right here, right now. 
right here, right now.

i'm too old to take up that issue
and i believe it is already solved.
have a sip, wash down that bitter
sweet bitter - cause that you've found

right here, right here, right now.
right here, right here, right now.

there's a new moon moments from rising
and i have a room moments from here.
i'm aching to let go of something,
yes i am aching to set something free.
yes i am aching to let go of something and i am aching to set something free. 

right here, right now. right here, right now.
right here, right here. right here. right here right now. 

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I'm with You

i'll meet you on the west side of stonehenge way.
in the long gaze of luna - you can come kiss the flame.
time will be measure with a beat of a drum,
and the distance between us is closest to none.
the rhythm of magic is ours to be had,
and pain is but a pleasure for the palm of the hand.

i'm with you and we are now one.
i'm with you and we are now one.

a northern wind moves clockwise while the east is facing south.
tonic tones and the minds eye, both feet up off the ground.
smell the dark loam of the forest, the fern and great pine.
taste the honeysuckle sweetness, a gift so divine.

i'm with you and we are now one.
i'm with you and we are now one.
i'm with you. i'm with you 

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Sweet Serenity

you?re my sweet serenity. my sweet serenity. serenity so sweet.

maple syrup cookies with chocolate chip smiles,
the tender touch of a grandmother's hand.
peppermint candies with a swirl of delight,
as precious as living on free land.

you're my sweet serenity. my sweet serenity. serenity so sweet.

catechism homework that never seemed to end,
you made easy to understand and sound true.
a constant reminder that jesus has a mom,
and that her love for me is bigger than the moon.

you're my sweet serenity. my sweet serenity. serenity so sweet.

your support of my protest while others disagree,
starts with a husband surviving a world war.
though footsteps have been followed and that flag is waving high,
you support my protest all the more.

you're my sweet serenity. my sweet serenity. serenity so sweet. 
you're my sweet serenity. my sweet serenity. serenity so sweet.

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Meadow Mountain Cafe

with a nomadic heart i have traveled far and wide,
over the oceans to new cities and levels of the sea.
walked through the Van Gogh museum, just past the basilica
to the home of Anne Frank.

that was nothing like colorado and falling in love with you
at meadow mountain cafe.
our new lovers game of scrabble with a rocky mountain view -
meadow mountain cafe.

with a nomadic heart i have traveled, hopped a ferry,
and hitched a highway to the end of  the road.
took a week off for the cedar forest, another for the shore line,
and watching winter storms.

chorus

with a nomadic heart i have traveled far and wide.
over the deserts, through thin passes, and into the
canyon of the deepest red sand.
swam to holy spirit island and witnessed colors
i believe to be unknown to man.

chorus 

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