©
saving the daylight
minimize fright
while tossing off biorhythms
beams of early morning go back to sleep
shifting consciousness
profit margin rules the clock
makes a mockery of time
toe the line of rigid measured
parcels of moments on end
saving tomorrow
our future’s not to spend another dime
before we get there
measured time
©
where do we walk? we walk in the fire
where do we dance? we dance on the moon
just like that grandmother living inside her
we have the power of life in the womb
we cannot sail by the breath of the north wind
without protection from impending doom
look, there is guidance in the sun’s reflection
womanpath in the cycles of the moon
each step we take on our path through the fire
give us the freedom to take one step more
just like old jericho, as we desire
the walls will crumble we’ll dance through the door
©
rage
the great equalizer
from love it emerges, swerves, charges
ducks and shimmies
enlarges the heart
a page from the book of art
it paints itself huge in the eyes of true enemies
shining light on pain
rage refuses to back down
making it’s own path through a rain of tears
rage pulls near to it’s target with justified screaming
internal beaming lights drown out fear
when rage enters a room
the air shimmers with glee
while naysayers flee the power of this
naked lover of truth
rage dispels myths
repels lies
defeats shadowy deals
lays to waste polite banter
brings hurt to it’s knees
rage sees itself as the keys
knows the deep combination of love and battle
rage sees truth in the mirror
©
the morning was so normal
the afternoon was, too
i took the day in stride
a thing i always do
then off to a good friend’s house
i rode there on my bike
just to see on the tv news
a thing i didn’t like
there was that anchor lady she was
tellin’ us the news
i didn’t think that we were gonna
end up with the blues
your picture flashed across the screen
sadness crossed my mind
i knew she was about to say
a thing that was unkind
before that woman read her story
tears came to my eyes
then she read the words before her
john lennon dies
john lennon dies
at the mercy
of a man without a cause
he called your name
then he shot you down . now you’re gone
at the mercy of a man without a cause
he called your name
he looked you in the eye
he pulled the trigger
then he watched you die
you’ll never write another song
you’ll ask for peace no more
but at least there’s one good thing
you won’t be here for the war
even though your body’s gone
your song remains the same
we won’t forget your energy
we won’t forget your name
it’s sad the things some people do
that’s the way things are
your life here has been sacrificed
we’ve lost another star
we’ve lost another star
at the mercy
of a man without a cause
i guess he couldn’t stand your fame
he couldn’t let it be
he took your life on earth
but i think he set you free
i know he set you free
he set you free
© 1980
©
there’s no stain on your collar . no sweat rollin’ down your brow
there’s no stain on your collar . no sweat rollin’ down your brow
when we talk to you about hunger, you say it’s something america won’t allow
you’ got your sirloin on the table, cows are grazing in the field
you’ got your sirloin on the table, live ones out there grazing in the field
at least a hundred thousand workers could live on the grain that ground would yield
i wash my clothes down by the river . water makes holes all in my sleeve
i wash my clothes down by the river . that water makes holes all in my sleeves
the fish can’t see what they’re drinking, but i can see the air that i breathe
you’ got investments in your pocket, driving a brand new limousine
investments in your pocket, driving a brand new limousine
all the dividends from wall street won’t buy you a clear, bubblin’ mountain stream
©
i’ got a job that drives me crazy
with some people that make me mad
but when it comes to money well i’ll tell ya honey
it’s the best gig i ever had …
i wake up in the morning, put on my dirty clothes
it’s not the kind of gig you go to smelling like a rose
rubber gloves in pocket and i’m ready for the job
it’s really not much fun when the visitors are slobs
well i’ll do your laundry, and i’ll make your bed
but don’t you get superior ideas in your head
i’m the cleaning lady . you think i’m overpaid
i’m the cleaning lady . i don’t serve lemonade
don’t give me no lip and don’t give me no jive
’cause takin’ your money is the pleasure i derive
i’m the cleaning lady, but i’m not the maid
i vacuum the carpets, pull the cobwebs off the walls
shine up your picture frames and dust your china dolls
i wash your windows so you can see outside
i clean your nasty toilet bowls with dignity and pride
i wipe the boogers and bad breath from the phone
but you’d better treat me nicely or i’ll leave you on your own
i’m the cleaning lady . you think i’m overpaid
i’m the cleaning lady . i don’t serve lemonade
don’t give me no lip and don’t give me no jive
’cause takin’ your money is the pleasure i derive
i’m the cleaning lady, but i’m not the maid
i’m the cleaning lady, and i just got paid!!!
©
it won’t be long ’til you are here
it won’t be long ’til i can hold you in my arms
it won’t be long until you face the sunrise
my surprise . my surprise
i see you standing in the moonlight
i see you dancing in the sun
i see you hiding in the shadow
my surprise . my surprise
my surprise . my surprise
there are ways that we can think about you
pray you will not be deprived
but we can not know the future
we won’t know you ’til you arrive
we won’t know you ’til you arrive
my surprise . my surprise
now you are growing like a spiral
growing wings that keep your feet just off the ground
growing taller than your mama ever dreamed
my surprise . my surprise
my surprise . my surprise
there are ways that we can think about you
pray you will not be deprived
but we can not know the future
we won’t know you ’til you arrive
we won’t know you ’til you arrive
my surprise . my surprise
©
i didn’t use to be afraid of the dark
but living in the city has made it’s mark on me
now when i take a walk alone downtown
got to keep on looking around and ’round
never know when some brain damaged, deranged creep
‘ll sneak up and send me to my final sleep
it’s a shame to walk in a hurry
it’s a shame . instead of shuffling i have to scurry
it’s a doggone shame, but that’s the way it goes
even the nicest looking kids could be a gang of foes
so don’t go strolling down the sidewalk with your eyes in a cast
but take the middle of the lane, and keep on looking fast
it used to be a family spent the night at home
all the kids could play outside when it was safe to roam
we sneaked out in the moonlight leaving truth for dare
used to make up lies and stories for a good night scare
now our ghosts and all our goblins seem like pastel hues
compared to what’s in living color on the evening news
it’s a shame to walk in a hurry
it’s a shame . instead of shuffling i have to scurry
it’s a doggone shame, but that’s the way it goes
even the nicest looking kids could be a gang of foes
so don’t go strolling down the sidewalk with your eyes in a cast
but take the middle of the lane, and keep on looking fast
©
i am a member of the human race
i donate my blood for any medical case
i don’t mind to give it up if you’ll use it carefully
but when you shoot me it squirts all over the place
i don’t wanna go to war
don’t wanna fight no more
you can have your oil, i’ll keep my grain
i’d rather ride my bicycle with my own energy
than a wheelchair with a bullet in my brain
i don’t wanna go to war
don’t wanna fight no more
i’d rather throw baseballs than grenades
my hands were made for holding, not for pulling pins
my fingers were made for rings and not band-aids
i am a member of the human race
i donate my blood for any medical case
i don’t mind to give it up if you’ll use it carefully
but when you shoot me it squirts all over the place
i don’t wanna go to war
don’t wanna fight no more
my head’s just the right size for my ears
and if it gets blown off, they won’t have no place to go
and then i won’t be able to hear
i don’t wanna go to war
don’t wanna fight no more
you can have your oil, i’ll keep my grain
i’d rather ride my bicycle with my own energy
than a wheelchair with a bullet in my brain
©
another river flooding … rain come down
another river flooding . water rising high
‘nother river flooding, raindrops diving from the sky
earth can drink her pleasure while we face destiny
beachcliff houses fall into the sea
rain come down
stormy winds are blowing, skyscrapers won’t last
stormy winds are blowing, mother’s trees are holding fast
seems it should be summer . we’ all waiting for the sun
looks like winter never will be done
rain come down
snow falls on the mountain . it’s springtime’s second moon
rain falls in the desert . now we’re coming into june
mountain flowers freezing while the desert turning green
come on down rain . come and wash us clean
rain come down