Song Lyrics - Sixty
Beautiful Man
Hey now you beautiful man
On this city street with your golden dog
Looks so wrong on this wet, black street > You hang your head
I see you riding on the plain
Flowing in the wind- your long black hair
And your horses main – hooves pound the rock-hard sand > The red terrain
Your feet are as the lightening, your footprints desert rose
Your skin is red as sunset, your heartbeat never slows
The bareness of your body, no bridle and no rein
Surrounded by the thunder – you fly across the plain
Do you feel lost on these city streets?
Are the buildings closing in on you?
Can you feel God in the tar and concrete > Beneath your feet?
Determined blue meets hot red land
Your eyes shine – black obsidian
Earth spreads out before you, you ride across the palm > Of your Mother’s hand
I can see ones so proud and strong
The tearful eyes of a nation gone
Your great ancestors looking down > Their spirits in the sky
Can you find that freedom here
Your freedom that they took away
Now you walk these Eastern streets > It’s just another day
Hey now you beautiful man
On this city street with your golden dog
Looks so wrong on this wet, black street > You hang your head
I see you riding on the plain
Flowing in the wind- your long black hair
And your horses main – hooves pound the rock-hard sand > The red terrain
Your feet are as the lightening, your footprints desert rose
Your skin is red as sunset, your heartbeat never slows
The bareness of your body, no bridle and no rein
Surrounded by the thunder – you fly across the plain
Do you feel lost on these city streets?
Are the buildings closing in on you?
Can you feel God in the tar and concrete > Beneath your feet?
Determined blue meets hot red land
Your eyes shine – black obsidian
Earth spreads out before you, you ride across the palm > Of your Mother’s hand
I can see ones so proud and strong
The tearful eyes of a nation gone
Your great ancestors looking down > Their spirits in the sky
Can you find that freedom here
Your freedom that they took away
Now you walk these Eastern streets > It’s just another day
Love Eludes You Still
She left him in the summer, he’d often thought about it
He knew that she would leave him, it always worked that way
A self-fulfilling prophesy like many times before
He knew he wasn’t man enough to hold her anymore
You must learn to say goodbye
Beware the lightening in the sky
The strike has found you once again
You lift yourself and only then
You feel that old familiar chill
Love eludes you still
He’d call her in the nighttime and watch her from the alley
He loved her so intently he couldn’t sleep at night
Oh how he craved her body he thought he’d lost his mind
But in the dark of nighttime, logic’s redefined
His life is Sisyphean and not to be fulfilled
He can only watch as the boulder rolls downhill
He tried to quiet the voices and stay within some reason
But he saw the end was coming when summer was the season
She left him in the summer, he’d often thought about it
He knew that she would leave him, it always worked that way
A self-fulfilling prophesy like many times before
He knew he wasn’t man enough to hold her anymore
You must learn to say goodbye
Beware the lightening in the sky
The strike has found you once again
You lift yourself and only then
You feel that old familiar chill
Love eludes you still
He’d call her in the nighttime and watch her from the alley
He loved her so intently he couldn’t sleep at night
Oh how he craved her body he thought he’d lost his mind
But in the dark of nighttime, logic’s redefined
His life is Sisyphean and not to be fulfilled
He can only watch as the boulder rolls downhill
He tried to quiet the voices and stay within some reason
But he saw the end was coming when summer was the season
Worlds Apart
I drive out in the morning, the sky’s that crystal blue
A beautiful day as I make my way, all I can think of is you
The fight we had reminds me of just how far apart we are
I wonder just how this happened and how it’s gone this far
I can’t help but wonder beneath this crystal blue
Same sun shining down on us, is it beautiful for you too?
I can’t help but wonder beneath this crystal blue
Can this be the same world, the same world for me and you?
You bring it on yourself it seems, I can’t keep from crying
But you know just how to push me, you and your perfect timing
I think I’m always justified, I will not apologize
But maybe that’s the problem, I keep telling myself lies
Looks like we’ve grown apart it seems and I can’t ever change you
But God only know I’ve tried and you can’t change me too
The fight we had this morning makes me question who we are
I wonder just how this happened and how it’s gone this far
I drive out in the morning, the sky’s that crystal blue
A beautiful day as I make my way, all I can think of is you
The fight we had reminds me of just how far apart we are
I wonder just how this happened and how it’s gone this far
I can’t help but wonder beneath this crystal blue
Same sun shining down on us, is it beautiful for you too?
I can’t help but wonder beneath this crystal blue
Can this be the same world, the same world for me and you?
You bring it on yourself it seems, I can’t keep from crying
But you know just how to push me, you and your perfect timing
I think I’m always justified, I will not apologize
But maybe that’s the problem, I keep telling myself lies
Looks like we’ve grown apart it seems and I can’t ever change you
But God only know I’ve tried and you can’t change me too
The fight we had this morning makes me question who we are
I wonder just how this happened and how it’s gone this far
Your Angel
You might think that I’m the Rock of Gibraltar, you might think that I’m solid and sound
You believe that I’ve a firm foundation, but I feel like unstable ground
I am your silent mountain as constant as the Northern Star
But I’m as fragile as a moment you’re not safe as you think you are.
Do you put your faith in angels, to bring you safely to the shore?
Can your angel follow fast enough and not let you go too far
Do you glance across your shoulder, do you ever turn around
To see if your angel’s close behind to keep you safe and sound?
I’m your beacon on the horizon but still fifteen miles away
I’ll guide you and comfort you, if you ask me to I’ll stay
I would like to be here for you, as sure as the sun will rise
But can I last forever as constant as the tides?
You might think that I’m the Rock of Gibraltar, you might think that I’m solid and sound
You believe that I’ve a firm foundation but I feel like unstable ground
If you believe in this one angel and you feel that I’m so strong
I will carry you a distance but you’ll never know how long
You might think that I’m the Rock of Gibraltar, you might think that I’m solid and sound
You believe that I’ve a firm foundation, but I feel like unstable ground
I am your silent mountain as constant as the Northern Star
But I’m as fragile as a moment you’re not safe as you think you are.
Do you put your faith in angels, to bring you safely to the shore?
Can your angel follow fast enough and not let you go too far
Do you glance across your shoulder, do you ever turn around
To see if your angel’s close behind to keep you safe and sound?
I’m your beacon on the horizon but still fifteen miles away
I’ll guide you and comfort you, if you ask me to I’ll stay
I would like to be here for you, as sure as the sun will rise
But can I last forever as constant as the tides?
You might think that I’m the Rock of Gibraltar, you might think that I’m solid and sound
You believe that I’ve a firm foundation but I feel like unstable ground
If you believe in this one angel and you feel that I’m so strong
I will carry you a distance but you’ll never know how long
The Ring
There’s a finger on my left hand, that’s smaller than the rest
It’s an obvious indentation, from where the gold ring pressed
Placed on my hand our wedding day, stayed for thirty years
And all that time, it made its mark, was a symbol and was clear.
Forever was our only plan, it was our only path
But forever changed it’s meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
And now the ghostly image of the golden ring remains
It’s shrouded in a wooden box with my marriage and my name
Was the time we spent together time we spent in vain?
Will the mark upon my finger stay as long as all the pain?
Forever was our only plan, it was our only path
But forever changed it’s meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
Golden rings are cherished things, like love, rings can be lost
From our hands those rings can fall, the loss more than the cost.
The symbol of our union, that classic simple token
Sits buried in the silence like our vows that day, were spoken.
There’s a finger on my left hand, that’s smaller than the rest
It’s an obvious indentation, from where the gold ring pressed
Placed on my hand our wedding day, stayed for thirty years
And all that time, it made its mark, was a symbol and was clear.
Forever was our only plan, it became a lonely path
And forever changed its meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
There’s a finger on my left hand, that’s smaller than the rest
It’s an obvious indentation, from where the gold ring pressed
Placed on my hand our wedding day, stayed for thirty years
And all that time, it made its mark, was a symbol and was clear.
Forever was our only plan, it was our only path
But forever changed it’s meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
And now the ghostly image of the golden ring remains
It’s shrouded in a wooden box with my marriage and my name
Was the time we spent together time we spent in vain?
Will the mark upon my finger stay as long as all the pain?
Forever was our only plan, it was our only path
But forever changed it’s meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
Golden rings are cherished things, like love, rings can be lost
From our hands those rings can fall, the loss more than the cost.
The symbol of our union, that classic simple token
Sits buried in the silence like our vows that day, were spoken.
There’s a finger on my left hand, that’s smaller than the rest
It’s an obvious indentation, from where the gold ring pressed
Placed on my hand our wedding day, stayed for thirty years
And all that time, it made its mark, was a symbol and was clear.
Forever was our only plan, it became a lonely path
And forever changed its meaning, as the years kept rushing past.
Father's Fire
The world has got the order wrong, with no good that he can discern
What can a grieving father do, but build a fire and watch it burn
How helpless can a father feel, to watch his child go crashing down?
Before him, falling, falling far, his helpless arms could not surround
His shoulders curve with weight unseen, it makes him crazy, makes him mean
“Why couldn’t I have just foreseen?” This father could not intervene.
The world must have the order wrong, to take his daughter from him now
His soul is scalded; pain so strong, lines of torment on his brow
But we’ll dance under the stars for you
And we’ll watch the flames and sparks for you
And watch the sparks rise to the sky
To join the million stars and cry
“We’ll think about you always, child”
His days were filled with bright sunlight, but now are dim and dark as night
And now his life seems so finite, will he lose or will he fight?
“Dear God – where are you now, Dear God – where have you gone
Dear God why have you gone away from me and left me on my own?”
But we’ll dance under the stars for you
And we’ll watch the flames and sparks for you
And watch the sparks rise to the sky
To join the million stars and cry
“We’ll think about you always, child, we’ll think about you always, child”
The world has got the order wrong, with no good that he can discern
What can a grieving father do, but build a fire and watch it burn
How helpless can a father feel, to watch his child go crashing down?
Before him, falling, falling far, his helpless arms could not surround
His shoulders curve with weight unseen, it makes him crazy, makes him mean
“Why couldn’t I have just foreseen?” This father could not intervene.
The world must have the order wrong, to take his daughter from him now
His soul is scalded; pain so strong, lines of torment on his brow
But we’ll dance under the stars for you
And we’ll watch the flames and sparks for you
And watch the sparks rise to the sky
To join the million stars and cry
“We’ll think about you always, child”
His days were filled with bright sunlight, but now are dim and dark as night
And now his life seems so finite, will he lose or will he fight?
“Dear God – where are you now, Dear God – where have you gone
Dear God why have you gone away from me and left me on my own?”
But we’ll dance under the stars for you
And we’ll watch the flames and sparks for you
And watch the sparks rise to the sky
To join the million stars and cry
“We’ll think about you always, child, we’ll think about you always, child”
She Broke The Rules
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
Cut her down to fit your box, just ignore the aftershocks
Innocence you have maligned, but who has sight, who is blind?
Not a choice, not a fault, put her in your righteous vault
Heaven is where you’ll reside, or so you think, God’s on your side.
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
And their judgement prejudicial, so their verdict consequential
What’s become of justice, blind – the sentence does not fit the crime
“There’s no proof, we are not buying”
“We decide what’s truth, what’s lying”
“Clearly she cannot be trusted”
Wheels of justice soon are rusted. Amen.
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
Cut her down to fit your box, just ignore the aftershocks
Innocence you have maligned, but who has sight, who is blind?
Not a choice, not a fault, put her in your righteous vault
Heaven is where you’ll reside, or so you think, God’s on your side.
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
And their judgement prejudicial, so their verdict consequential
What’s become of justice, blind – the sentence does not fit the crime
“There’s no proof, we are not buying”
“We decide what’s truth, what’s lying”
“Clearly she cannot be trusted”
Wheels of justice soon are rusted. Amen.
She broke the rules, the day that she was born
Somebody’s rules, from a book the page was torn
They all are fools, they never saw what she was seeing
She broke the rules, by simply being, she broke the rules.
Telescopes and Time Machines
You pushed me through the airlock, shut the hatch behind me
I float outside this capsule, outer space behind me
Rocket full of love, we blasted off together
True and steady course, our heading was forever
Telescopes and time machines won’t show me where I’m bound
And the past cannot explain the love I thought I’d found
You promised all the stars that I could and could not see
But now I’m in this vacuum, you’ve set me floating free
I’m in this slow rotation, the cold is creeping in
A lonely satellite, slowly I spin
I see you in the window, Earth lights up in the dawn
And now you stare right through me to your universe beyond
Why has my companion gone? Why have you left me here?
To float out in this void until I disappear
You have set a new course, I’m grasping at your tether
I hold on tight but realize my lifeline slowly severs
I’m in this slow rotation, the cold is creeping in
A lonely satellite, slowly I spin
I see you in the window, Earth lights up in the dawn
And now you stare right through me to your universe beyond
You pushed me through the airlock, shut the hatch behind me
I float outside this capsule, outer space behind me
Rocket full of love, we blasted off together
True and steady course, our heading was forever
Telescopes and time machines won’t show me where I’m bound
And the past cannot explain the love I thought I’d found
You promised all the stars that I could and could not see
But now I’m in this vacuum, you’ve set me floating free
I’m in this slow rotation, the cold is creeping in
A lonely satellite, slowly I spin
I see you in the window, Earth lights up in the dawn
And now you stare right through me to your universe beyond
Why has my companion gone? Why have you left me here?
To float out in this void until I disappear
You have set a new course, I’m grasping at your tether
I hold on tight but realize my lifeline slowly severs
I’m in this slow rotation, the cold is creeping in
A lonely satellite, slowly I spin
I see you in the window, Earth lights up in the dawn
And now you stare right through me to your universe beyond
Smoke Signals
You’ve got your tiki torches lit out back that tells me you are home
That’s your open invitation, but I’m not sure I will come
I’ll wander around my kitchen, sweep up and feed the cat
I’m looking out my window to see if you’re still out back
I should accept your invitation, I can spot your signal fire
Be nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
You got those torches burning bright, you’re sitting by your fire
Glass of bourbon in your hand, I’ll go in a little while
I’ll fluff the sofa pillows, and rearrange some books
Think about my schedule, raise the window, take a look
I should accept your invitation, I can spot your signal fire
Be nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
Your tiki torches glowing red, you’re poking at the burning wood
You said to come on over - just don’t know if I should
I’ll light another cigarette, glance at a magazine
Bite off a ragged fingernail, peek out through the screen
I can see you glancing over here, I hide behind the shade
Don’t want you to see me looking I won’t give myself away
You had your tiki torches lit, you sat out all alone
Your fire has gone to ashes and you walked back in your home
I should have accepted your invitation, I could spot your signal fire
Been nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
You’ve got your tiki torches lit out back that tells me you are home
That’s your open invitation, but I’m not sure I will come
I’ll wander around my kitchen, sweep up and feed the cat
I’m looking out my window to see if you’re still out back
I should accept your invitation, I can spot your signal fire
Be nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
You got those torches burning bright, you’re sitting by your fire
Glass of bourbon in your hand, I’ll go in a little while
I’ll fluff the sofa pillows, and rearrange some books
Think about my schedule, raise the window, take a look
I should accept your invitation, I can spot your signal fire
Be nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
Your tiki torches glowing red, you’re poking at the burning wood
You said to come on over - just don’t know if I should
I’ll light another cigarette, glance at a magazine
Bite off a ragged fingernail, peek out through the screen
I can see you glancing over here, I hide behind the shade
Don’t want you to see me looking I won’t give myself away
You had your tiki torches lit, you sat out all alone
Your fire has gone to ashes and you walked back in your home
I should have accepted your invitation, I could spot your signal fire
Been nice to have some company, all that’s missing is desire.
Red Red Rocker
The red, red rocker on the beach house porch, was where she sat, from where she watched
She watched the sand come and go as cold Nor’easters wind would blow
And saw the summer’s lightning shine along the sharp horizon’s line
That red rocker on the beach house porch where she sat, where she watched
She watched her lover casting line loved that handsome figure fine
He looked back at her and so kind, she hung his portrait in her mind
The red rocker on the porch sat still, when she sat on the sand ‘til the water filled
Tidal pools, sandy creeks, her babies glowed with sunny cheeks
Taught her children how to love the sea; knew this place would set them free
The red rocker at the house she loved was where she sat, from high above
She watched her lover digging deep built a castle with towers steep
The children gathered shells and grass helped the builder with his task
The red rocker on the shady porch was where she sat, from where she watched
When the house was silent, stomachs filled, sleep was deep voices still
The children in their sandy beds -sun-tight skin, sun-bleached heads
The red, red rocker on the beach house porch was where she sat, from where she watched
Boats and birds – they’d come and go she watched the tides – would come and go
And stars and moon phase – come and go, the rhythms of the sea she knows
The vision of her lover gone, shadows of children moving on
Now she too has passed along but the wooden rocker carries on, the wind and rocker carry on.
The red, red rocker on the beach house porch, was where she sat, from where she watched
She watched the sand come and go as cold Nor’easters wind would blow
And saw the summer’s lightning shine along the sharp horizon’s line
That red rocker on the beach house porch where she sat, where she watched
She watched her lover casting line loved that handsome figure fine
He looked back at her and so kind, she hung his portrait in her mind
The red rocker on the porch sat still, when she sat on the sand ‘til the water filled
Tidal pools, sandy creeks, her babies glowed with sunny cheeks
Taught her children how to love the sea; knew this place would set them free
The red rocker at the house she loved was where she sat, from high above
She watched her lover digging deep built a castle with towers steep
The children gathered shells and grass helped the builder with his task
The red rocker on the shady porch was where she sat, from where she watched
When the house was silent, stomachs filled, sleep was deep voices still
The children in their sandy beds -sun-tight skin, sun-bleached heads
The red, red rocker on the beach house porch was where she sat, from where she watched
Boats and birds – they’d come and go she watched the tides – would come and go
And stars and moon phase – come and go, the rhythms of the sea she knows
The vision of her lover gone, shadows of children moving on
Now she too has passed along but the wooden rocker carries on, the wind and rocker carry on.
Tsunami
He felt the quake beneath him - Knew the tide was turning
He searched in vain to save her - From the wreckage and the burning
He could see her hand stretched toward him - As her body passed before him as she took another lover - Him left alone beside the sea
Gone, gone they were gone in a moment. Gone, gone they were gone in a moment.
Gone, gone they were gone in a moment, gone in a moment, no more.
He watched as all the fishermen - Threw off lines and raised their anchors
And with all their engines’ power - They drove straight for the wave
He looked across his shoulder - At the faces of their families
As they fled into the mountains - And the captains raced away
He knew her will was broken - Parted lips – no words were spoken
She was forced into its slavery - Never to return
He walked out on the seawall - Looked out at his lover
She reached her arms around him - And pulled him to her breast
He felt the quake beneath him - Knew the tide was turning
He searched in vain to save her - From the wreckage and the burning
He could see her hand stretched toward him - As her body passed before him as she took another lover - Him left alone beside the sea
Gone, gone they were gone in a moment. Gone, gone they were gone in a moment.
Gone, gone they were gone in a moment, gone in a moment, no more.
He watched as all the fishermen - Threw off lines and raised their anchors
And with all their engines’ power - They drove straight for the wave
He looked across his shoulder - At the faces of their families
As they fled into the mountains - And the captains raced away
He knew her will was broken - Parted lips – no words were spoken
She was forced into its slavery - Never to return
He walked out on the seawall - Looked out at his lover
She reached her arms around him - And pulled him to her breast
Your Sweet Familiar Face
There’s not one cell of mine that existed way back then
But with all the passages I’ve seen I still love you like back then
You reach across the table in our old familiar place
To touch my hand so gently, lantern’s glow lights up your face
And beside our old camper in our spot beneath the trees
We’ve kept the embers kindled, no better times than these
That old Coleman lantern lights your sweet, familiar face
With no one I would rather be in this sweet, familiar place
That old green Coleman lantern we bought for our honeymoon
To light your daddy’s camper on that chilly night in June
I wore my red high-top Chucks beneath my wedding dress
And you wore that big smile of yours and embraced my craziness
You wrapped me in your warmth that night and that I still recall
We’re in that same old camper like no time has passed at all
The lines in your face remind me of rivers flowing past
And the paths we’ve hiked together, setting suns and shadows cast
There’s not one cell of mine that existed way back then
But with all the passages I’ve seen I still love you like back then
You reach across the table in our old familiar place
To touch my hand so gently, lantern’s glow lights up your face
And beside our old camper in our spot beneath the trees
We’ve kept the embers kindled, no better times than these
That old Coleman lantern lights your sweet, familiar face
With no one I would rather be in this sweet, familiar place
That old green Coleman lantern we bought for our honeymoon
To light your daddy’s camper on that chilly night in June
I wore my red high-top Chucks beneath my wedding dress
And you wore that big smile of yours and embraced my craziness
You wrapped me in your warmth that night and that I still recall
We’re in that same old camper like no time has passed at all
The lines in your face remind me of rivers flowing past
And the paths we’ve hiked together, setting suns and shadows cast
Mother Doesn't Live Here Anymore
I slide the key, unlock the door, about to start this ancient chore
This burden I must realize, her life that I must finalize
The room where so much time was spent, is only filled with my mother’s scent
Her pillow and her dressing gown, I breathe them in can’t put them down.
Mother doesn’t live here anymore, Mother doesn’t live here anymore,
Mother doesn’t live here anymore.
Heartache’s real I always heard, but thought it just a poets word
But when I saw her one last breath, my heart ached with the shock of death
Her orphan has been left behind to sort through papers, sort through time
I need her here to get me through this labor my heart has to do
Dazed, I circle lonely rooms, through the window her garden blooms
Empty vases, empty walls, empty heart, empty halls.
The truck is gone, last box is packed, Scotch poured in her Waterford glass
I raise my toast and finally know, my work is done and I must go.
I slide the key, unlock the door, about to start this ancient chore
This burden I must realize, her life that I must finalize
The room where so much time was spent, is only filled with my mother’s scent
Her pillow and her dressing gown, I breathe them in can’t put them down.
Mother doesn’t live here anymore, Mother doesn’t live here anymore,
Mother doesn’t live here anymore.
Heartache’s real I always heard, but thought it just a poets word
But when I saw her one last breath, my heart ached with the shock of death
Her orphan has been left behind to sort through papers, sort through time
I need her here to get me through this labor my heart has to do
Dazed, I circle lonely rooms, through the window her garden blooms
Empty vases, empty walls, empty heart, empty halls.
The truck is gone, last box is packed, Scotch poured in her Waterford glass
I raise my toast and finally know, my work is done and I must go.