Tchefuncte Funk

Down at the end of 59, in east Lousiane
That's where my Meagy live with Brother John- her only man
Due north of Ponchartrain, due east- Abita Springs
On the red banks of the ol' Tchefuncte, the crawfish up and sing:

Tchefuncte Funk, Tchefuncte Funk

The sun go down 'bout suppertime, and the kids in bed by eight
Liquor's loose 'bout ten o'clock, the music's sounding great
I don't need no record deal, I don't need no T-bone steak
Just give me that ol' Tchefuncte and the sweet sounds that she makes, she sings . . .

Tchefuncte Funk, Tchefuncte Funk

Just when I've had enough and my feet won't go no more,
I bathe in the waters of the ol' Tchefuncte and kneel upon her shore
I thank her for the food she bears and the good times that we've had
Then I get up feelin' ten years younger, and feelin' twice as bad

Tchefuncte Funk, Tchefuncte Funk

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Phineas Gage

Eighteen forty-eight,
Young Phineas is feelin' great
Cavendish is his homeplace

Foreman of the railroad crew
He's handsome, reliable, and modest too
So nice a man, so little luck

"Time is Money!" he would always say
Until the rod fired up like a runaway train
Sending that poor man straight down to the ground

Don't Look Back, But if you do don't stare
The wrath of the rod is more than you can bare

Against all odds the Lord brought him through
But his brain was split like ol' bamboo
Wirey ol' Bamboo

Systems severed in his brain
Emotions bled like cheap champagne
Dusty old champagne

Phineas Gage, don't try to walk that line
You'll soon reveal the truth to all mankind

Abandoned by his sanity
Only nature's critters could bring him peace
Phineas Gage, won't you help me if you please

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Vanguard

Armed only with hope, he’s out on the Vanguard
Brave yet alone, he’s his only Vanguard
Sole sentry of his destiny is his only post
Beautiful yet often darker roads

Working best alone, he’s out on the Vanguard
His heart has found no home, out on the Vanguard
Crippled by the very trait which makes him strong-
Blinded by the light to which he’s drawn

Peace in pain after the mind defeats resistance
The soldier who’s lifted, focused yet lost
A prisoner of a war that is fought within his armour
The victor remains to be seen- seeking, seeking

[top]

Summer Haze

Speak with me, Don't speak to me
Summer's here, and so are longer days
So dry your eyes, please don't cry
'Cause this is what you wanted

Walk with me, don't walk on me
Foolish pride can fool no fear
The devil said, "Don't bring out your dead"
Now your down with disease

Summer Haze Summer Days
Burn Away

Fall on Fall, it won't be long
'Til leaves burn crimson, then our love be gone
I can't see the ocean for the waves
I can't be the summer for the haze

Summer haze and summer days
Are bringing us down
Summer haze in so many ways
Is gonna burn away

[top]

Blackbird

You were only waiting for this moment to arrive. . .
You were only waiting for this moment to be free. . .

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arrive

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
Your were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

You were only waiting for this moment to arrive. . .
You were only waiting for this moment to be free. . .

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Left Alone / Again

Where's the love that's made to fill my heart?
Where's the one from whom I'll never part?
First they hurt me then desert me
I'm left alone so all alone

There's no place that I can call my home
There's no house from which I'll never roam
Town or city, it's a pity
I'm left alone, so all alone

Seek and find they always say
but up 'til now it's not that way

Maybe fate has let her pass me by
Or perhaps we'll meet before I die
Hearts will open, but until then
I'm left alone, so all alone,

Again

Take the bad day
Today
The sun will shine
Again

And though the sun don't shine
Love still glows
And though the sun don't shine
Love will grow. . .

Again

[top]

Antiques Made Daily

Woke up this morning feeling fine
Me and my girl, we're headin' down to Caroline
Well the pig is smokin' steady-slow
and Aunt Gayle's doin' the dosey-doe
Right around the Daily Antique Store

Antiques Made Daily, Antiques Made Daily
Handcrafted daily by Uncle Bailey
If your ever in a fix these days-
For something old that's just been made-
Then follow me I'm headin' down that way

Well there's hickory, oak and pine
Anything at all, you know it don't take time
When you need a chair that sits just right
Somethin' old- made overnight
Then follow me, I'm headin' down that way

Antiques Made Daily, Antiques Made Daily
Handcrafted daily by Uncle Bailey
If your ever in a fix these days-
For something old that's just been made-
Then follow me I'm headin' down that way

[top]

Rain

When the rain comes, they run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
When the rain comes, when the rain comes

When the sun shines, they slip into the shade
And slip they're lemonade
When the sun shines, when the sun shines

Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine

I can show you that when it starts to rain
Everything's the same
I can show you, I can show you

Can you hear me? If it rains or shines
It's just a state of mind
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine

[top]

She's Not from Here

She’s not from here
But she’s rooted in my heart
To my winter fears
She brings a candle to the dark

And as I discard my guard
Abandoning my shield
That I hold to this lovely art
H er shadow at the window of this fort around my heart

And I don't know where she's coming from
I don't know when she comes
I don't know if she'll ever come. . .

. . .but she's not from here

[top]

Loneliness Leads to Madness

Long gone, are my old friends to farther reaches
Of the world- And I'm not leaving
Chained, To stutter my soliloquy
And sing- It seems that I'm not leaving here today

Far Away, Is my one love who's stuck inside
Machinery- And she's not driving
To the end, to the fringe- that's where she needs to be
I'm pullin' hair, wishing she could could stay

Loneliness leads to Madness
Loneliness leads to Sadness

Old and grey, the other world's still out there
I'm still here- my body's barely breathing
In the air, so hot I can barely breathe it
In today, another day of silence washed away

Lover's Care, Won't do no good cause I still don't know
Who to love, or why I'm even living
Like I am- I gotta make room for the other
Just to feel real, that's why I'm beggin' you to stay

Loneliness leads to Madness
Loneliness leads to Sadness

[top]

Mrs. Knight

Mrs. Knight I hear you laughing
Laughing while we hide your cane
Restless are we playful children
Brought in from the summer rain

Mrs. Knight I hear your stories,
Stories 'bought the days gone by
One room schoolhouse in the country
Wilbur Wright up in the sky

Hold me now to stop the crying
Parents gone and scared are we
The demons of the dark won't find us
In your arms security
Hey Knight, Goodnight

Mrs. Knight I see you smiling
The smile that put's my soul at ease
The sandman's sand has found another
Little boy to put to sleep

Mrs. Knight I feel you leaving
Going to meet the One you love
Going to meet the One who loves you
For all the caring deeds you've done

Hold me now to stop the crying
Parents gone and scared are we
The demons of the dark won't find us
In your arms security
Good Knight, Goodnight

Untethered

Rested
Soundly, Calmly
Extended silence of lid-darkened eyes

Dreamed
Untethered and travelling
Like meteors that fill the cold night sky

Awakened
Clear, clean
Like shadows on naked trunks of trees

With images of you dancing with those wonderful shadows