CHICO • November 6, 2015
Did We Sing?
When we were dancing I did not tell you
I wanted to be your triangle so
could enable you to view it
Believe it before we could see it through
Did we sing? Did we sing Dreams?
I do not know
I don’t want to take what it is you’re made of
I wanted to use my own materials
Don’t have to ghostwrite most of an outline
Your halo already has defined you
Did we sing? Did we sing Dreams?
I do not know
When we were dancing I did not tell you
I wanted so much to be all there
I wanted to channel----
My jaw dropped as you hopped in the cab alone
Did we sing? Did we sing Dreams?
I do not know
If we did, then I liked it
My love, this much I am sure of.
Sunkeeper
Something is rearranging
The fire knows, shaking his shadows
Checking the door codes
Gatekeeper keymaster, losing sleep over...
Lightning, just climb inside me
Open my dark cloak, made for my twin
Expertly sewn, awake at the window
Nightrider baywatcher one in the other
Sunkeeper dark harbor, will it blow over?
Come on, you were always the soundest sleeper
Could you feel how I tried each night?
Come on, let me hold my night and keep her
Don’t you see how I try? Don’t I?
Cousin, be a cold firm hard believer
And we’ll both sleep at night, each night
Come on, let me hold my night and keep her
Don’t you see how I try? Don’t I?
Here Are My Shells
Hear all my bells, here is my wealth
Laden in shells
Here is my bonnet, here are my bees
Loud around town, sleeping up in the trees
I don’t need to live forever anymore
I’ll make you a boat, you’ll take it to sea
You’ll never get cold
Listen my lamb, you’ll know how to leave
You’ll lick the stamp on an envelope full of seeds
I don’t need to live forever anymore
Hear all my bells, here is my wealth
Take all my shells, put on these beads
Here are my bells, here I’m myself
Here are my dreams laid out underneath
Laid out under your feet
No I don’t need... Yes I’ve got me a boy
I don’t need to live forever anymore
Once More Gone
Oh I long to be once more gone in the garden
My apartment, whatever they call it
Off again and I’m on the trail pulling flowers
Sucking sours, sapping power
Oh I didn’t make it to the bar last night
Oh I just fell into your arms last night
It takes time and the family finally understands it
Speaking candid with the grandkids
How we bend when we’re in
The windy wooded acres
The nows and laters are all breathtaking
I made a map of where it’s at if you need it
Oh I didn’t make it to the bar last night
Oh I just fell into your arms last night
Disguises
My love, he is hiding
In my songs, I’ve disguised him
Came here with a vision to runaway
You can’t drink it; it’s not poison
My love, he is hiding
In my songs, try and find him
Came here with a vision so let me say
You can’t drink it; it’s not poison
You just take it, take it as it’s going on
Came here with a vision:
My twins always living
You can’t drink it; it’s not poison
You just take it, take it as it’s going gone
Jefferson
I don’t care for much these days
I’m not sure I’d like to sway
Below my family tree
Tiptoe on the last limb
Laid down, the money’s bet
Left town for Jefferson
I’m not there I’m not home
I’m not dead I’m broken I’m hellbent
I’m only one man; I had to leave the meadow
Lived for a monument
Maidenhead came and went
Eyes set to ascend the steps
Now my life’s split into
Dried bone under the half moon
I’m sure I’ll see you soon
I’m not there I’m not home
I’m not dead I’m broken I’m hellbent
I’m only one man
I can’t keep pounding all this pavement
I’ve got to pause one moment
Jefferson, my money’s bet
And on a whim we’re sleeping in
(Jefferson, the money’s bet, and on a whim
Jefferson, the lobbyists laid to rest
Our forested monument pushed off the cliff)
Sun On Ice
Sun on ice, open my eyes to the occasion
Often I’m beyond the tense of my own presence
Sometimes I forget to breathe and
I stunt my growth
Thanks to those who came and went
You’ve given me so many things,
Things I can’t use; I have so many things.
Sun on ice opened my ice to the occasion
All my thoughts cut through fog
I placed a wager
Made an arrangement, just a safe bet
Sun on ice lifting my legs to the oasis
Over the seams stresses I sang their praises
Sun on ice, open my eyes to the engagement
No Human
One at a time I feel like I’ve been quitting
Ditching all of my commitments
Leaving doors dead bolted
Vines disguise the bricks I sleep in
And when I reply to “How have you been?”
I’m singing two hymns to him
Don’t believe me because I’m just so uncertain
No human can deliver what I want.
And when I catch a glimpse
Of sunlight landing on the limbs
Am I lost in thought or moss in mist?
Keep on breathing in keep on bleeding
Gin! My mouth is soaking in sin!
Stepping in soft silhouettes (let’s swim!)
I’m singing two hymns to him
Don’t believe me because I’m just so uncertain
No human can deliver what I want.
Who’s In Town?
Who’s in town? You’s in town
Calling you cuz you’re around
Who’s an artist? Who feels helpless?
Who’s alone? Get on the guest list
You’re not lonely, you’re just money
Where your mouth is
Common grounding
Where your mouth is
Who is taken? I can’t take it
Let’s drive his car into the lake’s end
If it floats then we’ll burn it at the stake...
Who is foolish? Who believes it?
God is good, wish I could keep him
You’re not stupid, you’re just fluid
Where your mouth is
Common grounding
Where your mouth is
All Hour Harps
Oh sell me the farm
I’m buying a pine condo
The last round up, from the ground up
In a straight line
Fell off of my perch
Called home to the earth feet first
Cut off of the hooks, and into the books
At room temperature
We’re taking our harps for some happy haunting
To move in your art and do some of your laundry
Danced off in a fog
Blessing the rock with my heels
Kicked off my clogs, now I’m just a cog
In the color wheel--yes I am
Juggling halos
Turning up all ten toes
Lying in states, pushing the daisies
Up from below
We’re taking our harps for some happy haunting
To move in your art and do some of your laundry
We lived for so long, I know you got to know me
We had some good fun every Friday evening
We’re taking our harps for some happy haunting
To sing for all hours and do some of your laundry
Taking jn The Mist
(for j.)
If I could ever be reborn
It wouldn’t matter in what skin
The only thing I’d ask is
You live it again as my twin
Were we little herbs of the earth
Standing on the mountainside so slightly
Planted so like-mindedly taking it in
Taking in the mist
Shaking in the wind
But if when I’m done I dissolve
I hope I’m still a water drop
Revisiting my rock in the formlessness of a fog
Forever everybody’s twin
Passing out and moving in
And passing away is just passing on by your lips
Taking in the mist
Shaking in the wind