Forgive me if this has been posted already.

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standing by
When "happily ever after" fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly
But i know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by man
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass wave in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie
But i know a place where we can go
And was away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by

And the tall grass wave in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say good bye
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Excellent choice, rayven80. I'd all but forgotten it...

Got another one.....
Somebody's down to their last dime
Somebody's running out of time
Not too far from here.

Somebody's got no where else to go
Somebody needs a little hope
Not too far from here.

And I may not know their name but I'm praying just the same
That you'll use me Lord to wipe away a tear
Cause somebody's crying, not too far from here.

Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
Somebody's dying for love
Not too far from here

Help me Lord not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep

Now I'm letting down my guard
and I'm opening my heart
Help me speak Your love to every needful ear
Cause somebody's waiting not too far from here

Someone is waiting, not too far from here

This was sung by Michael Crawford, the original "Phantom of the Opera" and has become the theme of my ministry.

A song I have always identified with :

A winters day
In a deep and dark december;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
Ive built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
Its laughter and its loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Dont talk of love,
But Ive heard the words before;
Its sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Ah yes - me too! Especially ' "a rock feels no pain and an island never cries"

Wore the groves out on that one, too...and hadn't thought of it in a while. Good choice.

S & G were an amazing duo both poetically and musically. This one (nearly forgotten) was a favorite way before the 'sky' was a Hazy Shade of Winter

Time,
Time,
Time, see what's become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities.
I was so hard to please.
Look around,
Leaves are brown,
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.

Hear the Salvation Army band.
Down by the riverside's
Bound to be a better ride
Than what you've got planned.
Carry your cup in your hand.
And look around,
Leaves are brown,
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.

Hang on to your hopes, my friend.
That's an easy thing to say,
But if your hopes should pass away
Simply pretend that you can build them again.
Look around,
The grass is high,
The fields are ripe,
It's the springtime of my life

Seasons change with the scenery;
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me

At any convenient time?
Funny how my memory skips
Looking over manuscripts
Of unpublished rhyme.
Drinking my vodka and lime,
I look around
Leaves are brown,
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.

Glad you liked my choice .I've always put this in the same bracket ;ie could have been written for or about me ! .

-------------------------
Shall I tell you about my life
They say I'm a man of the world
I've flown across every tide
And I've seen lots of pretty girls

I guess I've got everything I need
I would't ask for more
And there's no one I'd rather be
But I just wish that I'd never been born


And I need a good woman
to make me feel like a good man should
I don't say I'm a good man
Oh, but I would be if I could

I could tell you about my life
And keep you amused I'm sure
About all the times I've cried
And how I don't want to be sad anymore
And how I wish I was in love


-----------------------
I'm not sure it's as relevant to me as it once was ,but it's still a great song .Now if only I could learn how to play it on my guitar !

Martin, through a weird connection (my mind usually works that way ), some of the lyrics you posted reminded me of this old favourite:


Completely untouchable, I knew no surprises
Wrapped in a cold world, of my own devising
But I heard you smashing and swinging hard outside
Saw your sweet face and I nearly died, I nearly died

Violently
You came to me
Said I could be a different man, a different man
Violently
Your words hit me
And I broke gently into your hands

A frozen survivor, all brittle and hateful
I'm uncomprehending — who would want this fool?
But you chipped away until some poor soul appeared
Shivering, trembling, stumbling around — then you brought me near

Violently
You came to me
Said I could be a different man, a different man
Violently
Your words hit me
And I broke gently into your hands

I hope you don't mind me jumping in too, I really love this one..

----------------

Songbird - Fleetwood Mac


For you, there'll be no more crying,
For you, the sun will be shining,
And I feel that when Im with you,
Its alright, I know its right

To you, I'll give the world
To you, I'll never be cold
cause I feel that when I'm with you,
Its alright, I know its right.

And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score,
And I love you, I love you, I love you,
Like never before.

And I wish you all the love in the world,
But most of all, I wish it from myself.

And the songbirds keep singing,
Like they know the score,
And I love you, I love you, I love you,
Like never before, like never before.

The age is a little off but the idea holds.

She was in the backyard say it was a little past nine
When her prince pulled up, white pickup truck
Her folks should've seen it comin' it was only just a matter of time
Plenty old enough and you can stop love
She stuck a note on the screen door, "Sorry but I got to go."
That was all she wrote, her mommma's heart was broke
That was all she wrote, and so the story goes
Now her daddy's in the kitchen staring out the window, scratchin' and rackin' his brain
How could eighteen years just up and walk away
Our little ponytail girl grown up to be a woman now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line
Don't you wonder what the preacher's gonna preach about Sunday morning
Nothing quite like this has happened here before
Well he must've been a looker, a smoot-talkin son-of-a-gun
For such a grounded girl to just up and run
'Course you can't fence time, and you can't stop love
Now all the biddies in the beauty shop
Gossip goin non-stop
Sippin on pink lemonade
How could eighteen years just up and walk away
Our little ponytail girl grown up to be a woman now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line
She's got her pretty little bare feet hanging out the window and they're headed up to Vegas tonight
How could eighteen years just up and walk away
Our little ponytail girl grown up to be a woman now she's gone in the blink of an eye
She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line
She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line
She was in the backyard say it was a little past nine
When her prince pulled up, white pick up truck
Plenty old enough and you can't stop love
No you can't fence time and you can't stop love.

A lot of these songs have brought back memories. Thanks for reviving those memories.

I think I need to post a repeat here today, folks.

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
(I) just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things,
I've come to take you home."

To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
"Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" I said "You can keep my things,
they've come to take me home."

"The Logical Song"/Supertramp.

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.

And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world's asleep,
the questions run too deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical,
liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Won't you sign up your name, we'd like to feel you're
acceptable, respectable, presentable, a vegetable!

At night, when all the world's asleep,
the questions run so deep
for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
but please tell me who I am.

Amarillo by morning
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I got on
When that sun is high
In that Texas sky
I'll be buckin' it to County Fair
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo, I'll be there

They took my saddle in Houston
Broke my leg in Santa Fe
Lost my wife and a girlfriend
Somewhere along the way
I'll be looking for 8 when they pull that gate
And I hope that judge aint blind
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo's on my mind

Amarillo by morning
Up from San Antone
Everything that I got
Is just what I got on
I aint got a dime
But what I got is mine
I aint rich but Lord I'm free
Amarillo by morning
Amarillo's where I'll be

Amarillo by morning
Amarillo's where I'll be

Pushin horns weren't easy like the movie said it was
And I don't recall no dance hall girls
Or hotel rooms with rugs
You worked hot and tired and nasty
Rode your pony's head too low
There were all the nights you couldn't sleep
'Cause it was too damn cold
And you'd sing "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe"

Like the time we hit the river
And the rains began to fall
And the water was risin' so damn fast
We thought it'd drown us all
We lost a lot of steers that day
And four to five good mounts
But when all the boys rode into camp
We knew that's what counts
And we sang, yippie ti yi yay and "Amazing Grace"

Or the night they broke behind us
And then took us by surprise
I whistled out to Bonner, I seen the terror in his
eyes
And he rode for all his horse would ride
And I know he done his best
But he crossed over Jordan ridin' Dunny to his death
And we sang "Bringing in the Sheaves" and "The Rugged
Cross"
So when you see the cowboy, he's not ragged by his
choice
He never meant to bow them legs
Or put that gravel in his voice
He's just chasin' what he really loves
And what's burnin' in his soul
Wishin' to God that he'd benn born a hundred years
ago
Still singin' "Strawberry Roan" and "Little Joe"

Back when I was a kid, life was going swell.
Till something happened, blew every thing to hell.
That night my daddy stumbled in, all pale and weak,
Said "A woman up the block just gave birth to a geek."

Mom said, "Sell it to the circus, what the heck."
Dad said, "Nope, this one's a pencil neck.
And if there's one thing lower than a side show freak,
It's a grit eatin', scum suckin', pencil neck geek."

You see if you take a pencil that won't hold lead,
Looks like a pipe cleaner atached to a head,
Add a buggy whip body with a brain that leaks,
You got yourself a grit eatin', pencil neck geek.

(chorus)
Pencil neck geek, grit eatin' freak,
scum suckin', pea head with a lousy physique.
He's a one man, no gut, loosing streak.
Nothin' but a pencil neck geek.

Soon the geeks were poppin' up all over town.
You couldn't hardly sneeze without knockin' one down.
After a nice juicy steak, if you need a toothpick,
Just reach for a geek, they'll do the trick.

One day we cut one up for fish bait.
Learned our lesson just a little bit late.
Soon as the geek hit the drink, the water turned red.
Next day, sure enough, all the fish were dead.

chorus

Most any night you know where I can be found.
Yeah, stomping some geek's head into the ground.
So keep the faith 'cause in Blassie you can trust,
I won't give up 'til the last geek bites the dust.

chorus

They say, "these geeks come a dime a dozen."
I'm lookin' for the guy who's supplyin' the dimes.
Its gonna be real hard times for all of these
grit eatin',
scum suckin',
boot lickin',
drop kickin',
gut grindin',
nail bitin',
glue sniffin',
scab pickin',
butt scratchin',
egg hatchin',
sleezy,
smelly,
pepper bellied,
dirty, lousy, rotten, stinkin', freaks.
Nothing but a pencil neck geek.

They got a vintage Victrola 1951
Full of my favorite records that I grew up on
They got ole Hank and Lefty and there's B24
Set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor
Set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor

I'm gonna spend the night like every night before
Play a new tune and I'll play 'em some more
I've gotta have a shot of them old troubadours
Set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor
Set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor

All my neon neighbors they like what I play
Cause they've heard it every night since you've walked away
Every day they replace old B24
Cause every night I run a needle through Walking The Floor
Every night I run a needle through Walking The Floor

I'm gonna spend the night like every night before
Play a new tune and I'll play 'em some more
I've gotta have a shot of them old troubadours
Set 'em up Joe, and play ?Walking The Floor
Set 'em up Joe, and play ?Walking The Floor
Set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor
I said set 'em up Joe, and play Walking The Floor

I was sittin' in the front yard
Lawn chair, kiddie pool, soakin' up the sun
Old man walks by and said
We got this thing called ambition
Why don't you buy a suit
And get you some

Chorus
Like he ain't got enough of his own business
Now he's got to go mindin' mine
Opportunity knocks and I miss it
It ain't no crime
It ain't no crime
If I wanna kick back and kill a little time
It ain't no crime

I was gettin' some pink in my color
Next door lady says, why you always layin' 'round
Fine you man like you
Should be married with some children
Instead of all those honeys
Running in and out

Chorus
Like she ain't got enough of her own business
Now she's got to go mindin' mine
I don't have a lot of kids and a Mrs.
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime
If I wanna kick back and steal a kiss some time
It ain't no crime

If everybody minded their own business
They'd be too busy to worry 'bout mine
If I live life the way I wanna live it
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime
If I wanna kick back and chill or steal
A kiss from a girl, I will every time
It ain't no crime
It ain't no crime
It ain't no crime

Looking down on empty streets, all she can see
Are the dreams all made solid
Are the dreams all made real

All of the buildings, all of those cars
Were once just a dream
In somebodys head

She pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
She pictures a soul
With no leak at the seam

Lets take the boat out
Wait until darkness
Lets take the boat out
Wait until darkness comes

Nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
Nowhere in the suburbs
In the cold light of day

There in the midst of it so alive and alone
Words support like bone

Dreaming of mercy st.
Wear your inside out
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddy(s arms again
Dreaming of mercy st.
swear they moved that sign
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddys arms

Pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
Tugging at the darkness, word upon word

Confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
To the priest-hes the doctor
He can handle the shocks

Dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
Of kissing marys lips

Dreaming of mercy st.
Wear your insides out
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddys arms again
Dreaming of mercy st.
swear they moved that sign
Looking for mercy
In your daddys arms

Mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
Mercy, mercy, looking for mercy

Anne, with her father is out in the boat
Riding the water
Riding the waves on the sea

Here's an oldie but a goodie -the best work ever rendered by a pop culture amphibian-


Why are there so many
songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbows are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
believe it
But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers- and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone else believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That it keeps us star gazing
What do we think we might see?

Someday we'll find it
That rainbow connection
The lovers the dreamers - and me

Have you been half asleep
And did you hear voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that call
the young sailor?
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers - and me...

GREAT choice, ktstew!

I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing
'Til they got a hold of me.
I opened doors for little old ladies,
I helped the blind to see.
I got no friends 'cause they read the papers.
They can't be seen with me and I'm gettin' real shot down
And I'm feeling mean.

No more Mister Nice Guy,
No more Mister Clean,
No more Mister Nice Guy,
They say he's sick, he's obscene.

My dog bit me on the leg today.
My cat clawed my eyes.
Ma's been thrown out of the social circle,
And dad has to hide.
I went to church incognito.
When everybody rose, the Reverend Smith,
He recognized me,
And punched me in the nose.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
No more Mister Clean,
No more Mister Nice Guy,
They say he's sick, he's obscene.

Shane McGowan seems to be renting space in my brain this month. Fortunately, I have retained ownership of my teeth and my liver.



If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried 'neath the sod
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go, boys
Let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

This land was always ours
Was the proud land of our fathers
It belongs to us and them
Not to any of the others

Let them go, boys
Let them go, boys
Let them go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock upon the waves
Then no corpse can lie upon me

It's coming up three, boys
Keeps coming up three, boys
Let them go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried 'neath the sod
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go, boys
Let me go, boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

Now THAT is a great song!