1. |
this year
04:34
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This Year
I saw the spring, for the very first time,
this year, this year
it was resplendent, extravagant, and kind
this year, this year
the blossoms came and stayed so very long
during the worst of times, this year
I saw the fall for the very first time
this year, this year
it was warm and magical and it unwound my mind
this year, this year
the leaves remained attached for so very long
during this yearning time, this year
I saw your face for the very last time
this year, this year
you stayed with us for too short a time
this year, this year
the blossoms came and stayed so very long
during the worst of times, this year
the leaves remained attached for so very long
during this yearning time, this year
now I’m stepping out for a walk in the snow,
this year, this year
and I’ve been changed more than I know
this year, this year
this year.
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2. |
rest along the way
04:06
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its a long long climb to the mountain top
but we can rest along the way
we can rest along the way boys
but you know we cannot stay
its miles to go to the riverside
but we can rest along the way
we can rest along the way boys
but you know we cannot stay
for the days are growing darker
and the wind is blowing cold
and this old earth needs some healing
before our story's told
blood in the streets, blood on our hands
and serpentines of harm
it's time to pay some attention boys
to amend and to disarm
it's been a wondrous ride, a waterslide
our consumer's paradise
untethered dreams of fortune boys
on this we've rolled the dice
for the days are growing warmer
and the rains are blowing bold
time to breath in obligations
as we're growing old
its a long long climb to the mountain top
but we can rest along the way
we can rest along the way boys,
but you know we cannot stay
its miles to go to the riverside
but we can rest along the way
we can rest along the way boys
but you know we cannot stay
the days are growing brighter
and a sun is shining bold
and this old earth was striving
long before our tale was told.
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3. |
murmurings
03:24
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let us go to the river
and we'll lay our bodies down
in the cool rushing water
with the cedars all around
as the clouds dance above us
and the birdsongs come and go
we can let go our burdens
and the things we think we know.
the sun glints on dragonflies
darting to and fro
rocks sink into my back
as I let my troubles go
and the waters keeps flowing
from before and way beyond
cut this canyon through the granite
carving spaces in this song
let us go to the river
and we'll lay our bodies down
in the cool rushing water
with the cedars all around
as the clouds dance above us
and the birdsongs come and go
we can let go our burdens
and the things we think we know.
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4. |
sinking suspicion
03:23
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sinking suspicion - October 2021
I've got a sinking suspicion,
that my daily denials keep me safe
in a cozy little titanic place
singing la la la la la
I've got a sinking suspicion
that my solutions are just part of the mess
and my concepts may be more than bereft
singing la la la la la
I've got a sinking suspicion
I'm running from death
into the arms of the sirens
singing la la la la la
part of me can't be trusted
part of me wants to know who to blame
part of me longs for rescue
part of me just gets lost in the game
part of me brims joyful
part of me's forgotten my name
I've got a sinking suspicion
that the way I hear the robin's call
is full of bad faith and a berlin wall
singing la la la la la
part of me can't be trusted
part of me wants to know who to blame
part of me longs for rescue
part of me just gets lost in the game
I've got a sinking suspicion,
that my daily denials keep me safe
in a cozy little titanic place
singing la la la la la
singing la la la la la
singing la la la la la
singing la la la la la
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5. |
falling to earth
06:12
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Falling to Earth - September 2021
we can move it faster, longer, further
we can send it way beyond the sky
we can drill it down below the oceans
we can do it with all our reasons why
but it's - falling, falling to earth
falling, falling to earth
we can imagine ourselves as separate
alive yet somehow on our own
a pinnacle of effort and achievement
with nature just a thing to own
but it's falling, falling to earth
falling, falling to earth
we can wish away our dying
imagine limitless wellbeing
delusional visions of perfection
with illness just a distant dream
but we're still falling, falling to earth
falling, falling to earth
now the winds of change are blowing
you can feel it in your bones
seeds of petro-power a-growing
remind us we are not alone
we thought we were the only actors
all-knowing masters of our fate
now as our actions turn to bite us
maybe they'll remind us
of our plight
now it's fallen, fallen to earth
fallen, fallen to earth
it's falling falling to earth
falling falling to earth
there's no certainty or promise
that things will ever come out right
but let's find ways to help each other
through this long, long warming night
as were falling
falling to earth
falling falling to earth
come on down
it's a beautifully terrifying place
all around, all around this earth
but we're falling, falling to earth
falling falling to earth
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6. |
headlong rush
03:08
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Headlong Rush
you who are so quick to judge
act now before it's too late
on our headlong rush to nowhere
sit down and listen in to the
tidal wave of panic
in our headlong rush to nowhere
take a breath, take a break
take a good look around
on this headlong rush to nowhere
place your feet on the earth
feel the pounding, feel the hurt
of our headlong rush to nowhere
what are we going to do? ...
the harming and the healing
are all so revealing
on our headlong rush to nowhere
we're in a mess, there is no answer
let's open our hearts, and stop moving faster
on our headlong rush to nowhere
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7. |
can we be more?
03:33
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I said it once before
and I'll say it again
it's a strange, strange time we're livin' in
sliding to the right
othering the plight
while we need each other to pitch in
can we be more
open our hearts
dance in the streets
one more ride for you and me
I'm hanging around
on this sacred ground
can't make sense of whatever's goin' down
planet in the balance
looking for the cadence
just open to the sound
joy is the force
life is the course
love in the streets
one more ride for you and for me
Cornell West said is best
justice is what love
looks like in public,
let's be around for more
try to rise above
the trouble
joy is the force
life is the course
love in the streets
one more ride for you and for me
I said it once before
and I'll say it once again
it's a strange, strange time we're livin' in
sliding to the right
othering the plight
While we need each other to pitch in
can we be more
open our hearts
love in the streets
one more dance for you and me
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8. |
boundaries
03:24
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BOUNDARIES
One could respect the authority of time
that contains all we have together
fluid yet forever
and once we were another
there's is a beginning and an end
as we bend to each other
love transcends identities
turns our hearts towards the weather
there's is a beginning and an end
as we bend to each other
love transcends identities
turns our hearts to the weather
hold lightly to beliefs
they're the way we cope with our
boundaries.
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robin howarth Toronto, Ontario
thanks for visiting/listening!...all paintings/photos on this site are by me, along with the songs. Song-writing has helped
to keep me afloat (at least somewhat) during the pandemic - along with family, friends, work and singing and playing with my friends in the Raz Jam group (some of whom play on these songs).
- rob (Oct 2021)
... more
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