Friday, July 21, 2006

Stone Table

Yesterday was my Mom's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Margaret Lee Canterbury.

She has always said she wants "Pomp and Circumstance" played at her funeral.

Here's a little ditty I wrote several years ago. I think it was wrought from the combination of a C.S. Lewis inspired nightmare and the after-effects of some bad choices, acquainting me with mortality. Again.

Stone Table

Lay me down on the Stone Table
Watch with me through the night
When the sun shines on the Stone Table
I feel my soul take flight
Take flight

When mornin' comes you will find me
Dead to the World and its ways
Like my brother the Son and my father before me
I've no desire to stay

Where doubt and fear plague the nations
And most men walk alone
Where everybody's askin' questions
But few have directions home

Lay me down, shelter my spirit
Lay me down, God rest my bones
Lay me down on the Stone Table
Good Lord gonna take me home

Oh, lay me down, shelter our Spirits
Lay me down, God rest my bones
Lay me down on the Stone Table
Good Lord gonna take me home
Take me home
Take me home
Take me home


© Daniel Dain, 1997.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Western Blvd.

Western Blvd.


It happened down on Western Blvd.
The cobblestones, the broken bottles, broken cars and hearts
Too little sleep and too much drink
Combined to leave no room to think
But we think we think we know....

Four in the morning and a date with destiny
He left that light so late that he was way too early
It was a shiny red Impala, and the sight is with me still
He flew right through that windshield and was impaled upon the grill


(Chorus)
And we think we think we know
Think we’ll hear the footsteps
Think we’ll know it’s time to go
We think we think we know

Well, his mom was from Missouri, so he had the attitude
She left him in Ohio, and he had oh so much to prove
Never was the pretty boy, had to fight to hold his own
Desperate blood was in his eye and he left it on the chrome


(Chorus)

(Bridge)
Most of us get everything we need when we are born
We start out healthy, big, and strong, and still manage to ignore
Don’t take what’s freely given and try to make it any more
And I'm thinkin' we're all so surprised when the Mover slams the door


Dried blood is so much darker than bright cherry paint
And it stains the cobblestone
Here's hopin' he's still on his game
And that he finally made it home

(Chorus + chorus)

It happened down on Western Blvd.

Monday, July 03, 2006

The Libertarian Folksinger's Lament

Several years ago, from the last row of a John Gorka show, but written for Fred Eaglesmith.

The Libertarian Folksinger's Lament - (Get My Way)

I’m fairly certain it can’t be my pretty face
And my taste except for music is just way too commonplace
….To suit you
My dress is not androgynous
I don’t cater to that new-age fuss you make….
Aww, that pretty fluff you take

But I’m happy jus’ to be here
And you know I came to play
And I know that we can get along
If you would only, let me…. get my way

My politics aren’t where you think they have to be
I’m jus’ plain full of antisocial tendencies
My friends are all annoying; forgive if I offend you all by toying
With your genteel sensibilities

(Bridge)
My girlfriend’s lookin’ way too tough,
My lyrics are not sweet enough to sell you
And I paid the band in cash
And they are out there gittin’ trashed
An’ if you think they drink too much, well….
Jus’ let me tell you….

But I’m happy jus’ to be here
And you know I came to play
And I know that we can get along
If you would only, let me…. get my way

I’m here because I heard your towers call to me
From your ivy-covered eyes and universities
Adversity is hard to see, empowered tho’ you be
When your crystal’s on the fritz
It takes some balls to be….

Happy jus’ to be here
An’ you know I came to play
And I know that we can get along
If you would only, let me…. get my way

© 2004 - D. Dain