Author: Joel D Canfield

I’m Not Dead

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

woke up this morning found that I’m not dead
woke up this morning found that I’m not dead
my good old days must be right ahead

clouds are moving winds begun to blow
clouds are moving winds begun to blow
might be sunny somewhere I don’t know

Shuffled the cards and dealt a hand
taking nickels from the boys in the band
this road trip’s taking longer than I thought
I’m always in the train station when my ship comes into port

grass needs mowin, weeds are getting tall
grass needs mowin, weeds are getting tall
I’ll disappear entirely when I fall

grocery store stopped selling my favorite cheese
grocery store stopped selling my favorite cheese
I’d ask ’em why but I ain’t gettin on my knees

she took my money to pay the fare
then acted like I wasn’t even there
my socks don’t match and I’m wearing high-heeled shoes
pocket’s got a hole I got nothing to lose

butter ain’t the only thing to churn
butter ain’t the only thing to churn
my eyes are ringin my ears are starting to burn

radio station’s fading in and out
radio station’s fading in and out
that fool doesn’t know what he’s talking about

that look you’ve got’s a fine how-do-you-do
got a box of matches down in my shoe
I taught myself to read when I was three years old
keep using your head you’ll wind up left out in the cold

woke up this morning found that I’m not dead
woke up this morning found that I’m not dead
my good old days must be right ahead

Get Up and Go

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

If you’re leaving
get up and go
I won’t be grieving
just so you know
I stopped believing
long time ago
so if you’re leaving
get up and go

I don’t need you
Anymore
Won’t impede you
that’s for sure
Let me lead you
to the door
Cause I don’t need you
anymore

If you can get
something better for you
Someone who’ll forget
when you’re untrue
I won’t be upset
I’m glad to be through
So go see if you can get
something better for you

If you’re leaving
get up and go
I won’t be grieving
just so you know
I stopped believing
long time ago
so if you’re leaving
get up and go

Stars of Your Eyes

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I know that you love him; he’s taken your heart
It seems you’re determined to tear us apart
So this is the end of the life that we share
But I know you love me; I know you still care
You say you’re ready to stand by his side
but I’m not prepared for my baby to become a bride

Under the stars by the campfire’s glow
Sharing the secrets that only we know
Flickering lights making stars of your eyes
The mem’ries remind me just how the time flies
You say that he gives you that same glow inside
but I’m not prepared for my baby to become a bride

Sometimes only music can say what I mean
A bittersweet moment each father’s foreseen
But life isn’t ever quite what you had planned
You gave him your heart so I’ll give him your hand
I know that you’re ready; this knot will be tied
but I’m not prepared for my baby to become a bride

Sure Isn’t Hank

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I’ve been a fan all my life long
Of rock and roll’s electric three-chord songs
But I’ve come to a crossroads; time to move on
cause it all sounds the same, I guess the thrill is gone

So the first time in years I turned the dial
Looking for something new and worthwhile
I spun the knob and the next thing you know
Some guys leavin’ his woman for a rodeo

Chorus:
What’s that playing on my radio?
Can’t tell if it’s country
Or rock and roll
Hey, I kinda like it
I’m not just some crank
But it isn’t Led Zeppelin
And it sure isn’t Hank

My daddy used to sing and play guitar
He thought my rock and roll idols were pretty bizarre
Jimmie Rodgers and Hank, either Williams or Snow
He stuck with his heroes and let the rest go

So I knew about country – or I thought I did
Had some preconcieved notions from when I was a kid
But the next song’s about a singin’ mechanic
And some music advice and prodsponder panic

Chorus:
What’s that playing on my radio?
Can’t tell if it’s country
Or rock and roll
Hey, I kinda like it
I’m not just some crank
But it isn’t Led Zeppelin
And it sure isn’t Hank

Bridge:
Well you really got me on a stairway to heaven somehow
With or without you I feel like a free bird now

It’s interesting how my horizon’s expanded
Haven’t been this unsettled since the Eagles disbanded
But I’ll settle in and spend my afternoons
With guitars and Cadillacs and hillbilly tunes

Chorus:
What’s that playing on my radio?
Can’t tell if it’s country
Or rock and roll
Hey, I kinda like it
I’m not just some crank
But it isn’t Led Zeppelin
And it sure isn’t Hank

Soon Today Now

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

intro D notes
D A
the hole we’re in keeps getting deeper
G D
everything’s darker than night
the life we were promised feels so far away
you said you’d make everything right

I try to be patient, keep on believing
I know that it’s all true
we’re all hanging on by a thread and I wonder
there’s something I have to ask you

G
please tell me now
A
show me somehow
G A
please answer, ’cause I need to know

D A G
is it soon today now? I need to know
is it soon today now? I need you to show me
it’s soon today now, ’cause I need to know

as everything crumbles to dust all around us
we’re trying hard to hang on
you know we trust you with all of our hearts
can’t wait till this old world is gone

prechorus
chorus

A G
some days we feel we can’t take anymore
so many have waited so long
it keeps getting harder day after day
G A
give us the faith to hold on

chorus

Path of Least Regret

Posted on by Joel D Canfield 
    they say the planes are grounded
    we'll be here all night
    left a nice warm hotel room
    to make this flight

    won't be the first time
    I've slept sitting up
    might as well have some coffee
    you want a cup?

        coffee? no, I don't think so
        that'd just make it worse
        you may have slept in airports before
        but this is my first
    
        I could sure use a drink, though
        But first I need a phone
        Gotta call my wife
        Tell her I won't be home
    
There's a million roads through life
Not one's a sure bet
The best you can hope for
Is the path of least regret

    I've got no one to call
    No place I belong
    No one's waitin' for me anywhere
    Not for way too long
        
    Made a choice and lost that life
    Long time ago
    Sittin' in an airport just like this
    Watchin' the falling snow
    
        My wife won't be waiting for me
        Not after this call
        I'm not headed home right now
        Not goin' home at all
        
        It's over between us
        The spark we had is gone
        No point in tryin' to bring it back
        So I'm moving on
    
There's a million roads through life
Not one's a sure bet
The best you can hope for
Is the path of least regret

    That's exactly the choice I made
    So far in the past
    Left a wife I didn't think I loved
    For greener grass
    
    But there's always another field
    Just beyond the fence
    After while the paths I chose
    Stopped making sense
    
        I don't know if I love her or not
        Don't know my own heart
        The past year something's changed
        We just drifted apart
        
        Tonight I stopped finding reasons
        To keep it afloat
        Just a whimper, not a bang
        Like the man wrote
    
There's a million roads through life
Not one's a sure bet
The best you can hope for
Is the path of least regret

    I wanted to change his mind
    Didn't know what to say
    I could've used some good advice
    Before I left that day
    
    But no one even tried
    I'll never know for sure
    If I might have gone back that night
    And spent my life with her
    
        Hope he's not trying to change my mind
        Nothing he could say
        I don't need anyone's advice
        I can make my own way
        
        But maybe I'll take my time
        Nothin else to do
        Sit a while and watch the snow
        And think it all through
    
There's a million roads through life
Not one's a sure bet
The best you can hope for
Is the path of least regret

Mexican Food

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I love Mexican food
really hits the spot
I love Mexican food
I want it burning hot

chilequiles, a quesadilla
or just rice and beans
juice of a lime and pickled jalapeños
you’ll see what I mean

I love Mexican food
really hits the spot
I love Mexican food
I want it burning hot

chicken mole and corn tortillas
albondigas chipotle
pico de gallo and chiles rellenos
what more can I say?

I love Mexican food
really hits the spot
I love Mexican food
I want it burning hot

I want it burning hot

I want it burning h-o-o-o-o-o-t

ouch!

Little Boy’s Dream

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

story time’s done for tonight
those puppies got home safe again
you never get tired of that story
tuck you in, say a prayer, and then

chorus:
In the land of a little boy’s dream
Full of singing and games and ice cream
you’ve played hard all day
now sleep takes you away
to the land of a little boy’s dream

you’re asleep in no time at all
you never waste time counting sheep
I’m wondering what’s
going on in your head
and watching a while as you sleep

chorus

I know that some day you’ll grow up
to find out that life ain’t what it seems
but for now every night
it’ll all be alright
in the land of a little boy’s dream

chorus

to the land of a little boy’s dream

I Wish I Had a Ukulele

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Oh baby, I wish I had a ukulele
Driving me crazy
I wish I had a ukulele

My mandolin is in the same sonic range
But any acoustical engineer will tell you it’s just not the same
Oh baby, I wish I had a ukulele

I’ve got a piano
It’s actually an electronic keyboard
A friend bought when he went on vacation
So he wouldn’t be bored
We all know a piano makes a mahvelous sound
And every songwriter should have one around
But baby, I wish I had a ukulele

Bridge
My bass is like a musical anchor
I can play it night and day without the slightest bit of rancor
Those drums in the corner, I can’t do much with ’em
But I know they come in handy when you’re laying down a rhythm

Oh baby, I wish I had a ukulele
Driving me crazy
I wish I had a ukulele

Like many of you I’ve got a guitar
There’s a parlor size you can play pretty much wherever you are
But baby, I wish I had a ukulele

Oh baby, I wish I had a ukulele
Driving me crazy
I wish I had a ukulele