Author: Joel D Canfield

I Won’t Ask for More

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I love getting all the kids singing along. I love getting their parents singing along.

Worst rhyme for chocolate ever. No one will care.

I saved up all my pennies for at least a hundred years
I thought I’d better spend it before it disappears
I thought of all the places I’d been to before
I thought the place to spend it was at the candy store

They have so many goodies you won’t believe your eyes
Every kind of candy in jars of every size
They serve you with their fingers, never mind the germs
They don’t really matter when you’re eating gummy worms

Give me one, give me two,
Give me three or four
If you give me all of them
I won’t ask for more

It’s important to eat healthy to grow up big and strong, but
That’s not the kind of nonsense you put in a children’s song
The vegetables in a candy store are called jelly beans

Give me one, give me two,
Give me three or four
If you give me all of them
I won’t ask for more

Maybe you’ve a hankering for something dark and chewy
We don’t need an excuse to choose another treat, now do we?
You’ve heard about the sticky sweets they call Swedish fish
You can keep the silly things, give me licorice

Give me one, give me two,
Give me three or four
If you give me all of them
I won’t ask for more

Now we’re to the good stuff, the reason that I’m here
Whenever this is mentioned, all the mommies cheer
No need to describe it, I won’t talk a lot
The best thing in the candy store is a thing called . . .
. . .spinach! ha!
No need to describe it, I won’t talk a lot
The best thing in the candy store is a thing called chocolate

Give me one, give me two,
Give me three or four
If you give me all of them
I won’t ask for more

Each Day Has Its Own Anxieties

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

capo 2

    C                          
  I know about the Paradise          
F                G
under God’s  Kingdom,
    C   
And I believe with all my heart 
     F                G
that better days will come.
    Am                G
But sometimes in this life, for me,
     F              C
It’s hard to see the things unseen,
   Dm              Em
To feel the love I know is there
F                           G
when my heart is in despair.
      F              G
But I know Jehovah’s near.

           C               Em
So I say a prayer from the heart.
     F           C
When worries overtake my mind,
F                       G
On his strength I can rely.
         C                 Em
I’m not alone; I know he’s there.
  F                 C
I have his words of comfort
         F                  G
And true friends who really care.
          F           C      Em      Am
Yes, each day has its own anxieties.
              F             C
So I take one day at a time;
        F              C
Leave tomorrow until tomorrow;
F               C        F   G    C
Peace is what I find One day at a time.

   C
So take these words I’ve said, my friend,
    F           G
And know that I care.
C
Focus on the joys in life,
        F               G
Not the burdens that we bear.
Am               G
Think about what God has done.
   F                 C
To show his love, he gave his Son.
   Dm                Em
So never doubt; keep trusting him.
   F                              G
He gave his best so we could live.
   F                G
So don’t give in to fear.

      C                    Em
Say a prayer from the heart.
     F               C
When worries overtake our mind,
F                         G
On his strength we can rely.
           C               Em
We’re not alone, for he is there.
   F                 C
We have his words of comfort
         F                  G
And true friends who really care.
          F           C      Em    Am
Yes, each day has its own anxieties.
            A        C
So take one day at a time;
        F              C
Leave tomorrow until tomorrow;
F                   C
Peace is what we’ll find
    F   G    C
One day at a time​—
    F   G    C
One day at a time.

Bells

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

D A C G
I really don’t blame him he chose not to call
he’d been there for hours crouched in the hall
he sent me the message my heart tore in two
said someone was dead he said it was you

there should have been bells
so everyone would know
’cause the silence is killing me
since you had to go

Why didn’t I see you were so lost?
Would have done anything, paid any cost
But I never asked, and you never said
And some days I wish, it was me instead

chorus

no matter how black there’s always hope
but it’s hard to see at the end of your rope
in the middle of love now there’s a hole
silence so loud taking its toll

chorus x2

His mother picked up his sister from our house. She said he’s not answering his phone we have to go.

His mother, young enough to be my daughter, cut him down.

His sister ran to the neighbor, my friend: he’s dead he’s dead.

My friend knelt over him in the hallway for two hours doing CPR until the paramedics came. Two hours.

The paramedics worked for two hours before they gave up.

My friend texted me. He just didn’t have the strength for the phone call.

I told my wife. She cried.

We talked. We told our daughter. She cried. Her first death.

My wife said I have to be there. We went over.

We hugged everybody. Everybody hugged everybody.

There was no crying left.

Three months later I wrote this song.

I finally cried.

This Will All Make Sense

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

capo 2 play in A
A until D E D A D E A

Had a dream • last night •
and it gave me a fright
Now why do you think that is?

There’s a fish • in the sea •
looks nothing like me
Now why do you think that is?

Ate a peach • with a stone •
and it made me groan
Now why do you think that is?

Kissed a girl • who could twirl •
and it made my toes curl
Now why do you think that is?

E A D E
Like the wigwam and the tipi
I gave you present tents
You’re thinking somewhere down the line
This will all make sense

Ran a mile • down the aisle •
and I fell in a pile
Now why do you think that is?

Saw the sun • on my run •
and I ran till I won
Now why do you think that is?

Like the time I took your dollar
Cause I didn’t have no cents
You’re thinking somewhere down the line
This will all make sense

Took a nap • in my cap •
with a wooly earflap
Now why do you think that is?

Made a bet • you’d forget •
what I haven’t sung yet
Now why do you think that is?

Like the time I wandered through your yard
and then you took offense
You’re thinking somewhere down the line
This will all make sense

Found the end • my friend •
and that’s all I penned
Now why do you think that is?

Good Pair of Jeans

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

hot rods
intro A7 D7 x2
A7 D7
my fav’rite hat is crushed and flat, it’s ragged at the brim
my next best boots are scuffed n scraped and looking mighty grim
my overcoat of black cashmere no longer looks as slim
E A7
but nothing beats a good pair of jeans

nothing beats a good pair of jeans
just take a look at these and you’ll see what I mean
blue or black, I’d even wear ’em aquamarine
nothing beats a good pair of jeans

my sweetheart has a couple pairs with legs as long as hers
they seem to fit her well enough and follow all her curves
follow ’em down to the ground, down where she wears her spurs
no, nothing beats a good pair of jeans

nothing beats a good pair of jeans
turn around and check the mirror, you’ll see what I mean
I’m thinking maybe she should get a pair in aubergine
nothing beats a good pair of jeans

I put all the holes in these; they ain’t no acid wash
I got some from Levi and some others from Oshkosh
wear ’em when I sit and read, wear ’em when I nosh,
’cause nothing beats a good pair of jeans

nothing beats a good pair of jeans
take a look down at your own and you’ll see what I mean
blue or black, I’d even wear ’em aquamarine
I’m thinking maybe we should all get a pair in tangerine
if your best friend’s Cap’n Kangaroo you can even wear ’em [F#m] green
’cause nothing beats a good pair of jeans
no nothing beats a good pair of jeans

bass notes

intro D A P-A T-E
   D                                      A              
my fav’rite hat is crushed and flat, it’s ragged at the brim
   D                                           A               
my next best boots are scuffed and scraped and looking mighty grim
   D                             A                
my overcoat of black cashmere no longer looks as slim
    E               E   speed up A      E A E
but nothing beats a good pair of jeans

D       A       D    A       A     E A E
nothing beats a good pair of jeans
     D      A       D    A    A          E      A    E
just take a look at these and you’ll see what I mean
D       A          D    A       A  E   A   E
blue or black, I’d even wear ’em aquamarine
E       B       E    B       A     E A E
nothing beats a good pair of jeans 
E B  E B  A E  A E then vamp A E

my sweetheart has a couple pairs with legs as long as hers
they seem to fit her well enough and follow all her curves
follow ’em right to the ground, right where she wears her spurs
no, nothing beats a good pair of jeans

nothing beats a good pair of jeans
turn around and check the mirror, you’ll see what I mean
I’m thinking maybe she should get a pair in tangerine
nothing beats a good pair of jeans
E B  E B  A E  A E then vamp A E

I put all the holes in these; they ain’t no acid wash
I got some from Levi and some others from Oshkosh
wear ’em when I sit and read, wear ’em when I nosh,
’cause nothing beats a good pair of jeans

D       A       D    A       A     E A E
nothing beats a good pair of jeans
D      A         D       A       A          E      A    E
take a look down at your own and you’ll see what I mean
D       A          D    A       A  E   A   E
blue or black, I’d even wear ’em aquamarine
    D        A     D         A         A       E    A   E
I’m thinking maybe we should all get a pair in aubergine
        D             A       D    A           A    E        F#
if your best friend’s Captain Kangaroo you can even wear ’em green
       E       B       E    B       A     E A E
’cause nothing beats a good pair of jeans
   E       B       E    B       A    E  AEA
no nothing beats a good pair of jeans

I was stuck on the lyrics of another song and decided to switch to this idea.

45 minutes later this was written and recorded.

Sometimes a song just needs its own space.

First Rodeo, Last Ride

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

open D (Harmony) 12 – 5 – 7

it’s hard to find the words
to say how it hurts
bet it all on that bull and I lost my shirt
thought I could take him
but didn’t have enough inside
well this ain’t my first rodeo
but it might be my last ride

didn’t see eye to eye
that bull and I
and I was laying there looking at the great big sky
it was mutual
we each wanted some of the other one’s hide
well this ain’t my first rodeo
but it might be my last ride

when you hit the gate
better do your eight
I had more than I could handle on a bull sized plate
partly my fault
a fact I’ve never denied
well this ain’t my first rodeo
but it might be my last ride

I make a mess of things
and it really stings
outrageous fortune and its arrows and slings
get knocked down
but I try to take it all in stride
well this ain’t my first rodeo
but it might be my last ride

A friend who has worked with everyone from Commander Cody and Buddy Guy to Aaron Copeland and Tina Turner is teaching me some slide.

I recorded 6 choruses of a 12-bar blues in a D tuning on my acoustic. Shuffled things around a bit after I came up with the ‘first rodeo/last ride’ idea, then whipped together some lyrics and there ya go.

Inspired by Your Wonders

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

change to 1 4 5
original key is D

A
I hear the birds singing out to the sunrise.
           D                                 A         E
I see the stars fading away in the morning
A
Golden sun shines on down through the treetops,
                  D                                A      E
Where there is a summer breeze that whispers so soft.

                A                E
And I sing, “O Jah, Jehovah my God,
                  A                    D                     E
The work of your hands fills us with awe.” I stare at the stars,
           D                    E
Wondering how you care who we are.
            A            E          D
I see your wonders, and I sing to you.
I see your wonders, and I sing to you.
           A
I sing to you.

These wondrous, moving, breathing creations​—
Oh, in the night, in the day—can you hear what they say?
From mountaintops to the bottoms of oceans,
Let every living thing sing out to your praise.
chorus

A             E   &nb
Looking past what we can see with our eyes,
         A            E                        D    D  E
We will come to know more about the One who gave us life.

And I sing, “O Jah, Jehovah my God,
The work of your hands fills us with awe.” I stare at the stars,
Wondering how you care who we are.
            A            E         D
I see your wonders, and I sing to you.
I see your wonders, and I sing to you.
I see your wonders, and I—I sing to you.
I see your wonders, and I—I sing to you.
I see your wonders, and I—I sing to you.
I sing to you.

Sometimes

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

D E
I know you love me with all of your heart
G A7
and you couldn’t be happy if we were apart
You try not to worry when money gets tight
and you think I don’t hear when you cry in the night

Chorus
D E
You deserve a home in the country
G D A7
with a nice cozy fire when the weather gets rough
D E
I try to love you the best that I can
G A7
but I’m just a man and sometimes
D
I’m not enough

I worry sometimes You’ve had all you can take
and that maybe you’re thinking you made a mistake
in trading the life that you had when we met
even though you keep saying you’ve had no regrets

Chorus

We’ve both had our struggles to get where we are
I’ll try to remember we’ve both come so far
you try to remember this is where you belong
and we’ll both keep in mind this is only a song

Chorus

Headlights

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

“Try the peach pie, hon; it’s to die for.”

brushes
capo 4 A E7 D

Headlights shine on down the road (x3)
gotta keep moving so I don’t get towed
Headlights shine on down the road

Wipers scraping through the rain (x3)
gotta keep moving to make that train
Wipers scraping through the rain

Radio scratching out a song (x3)
gotta keep moving while the signal’s strong
Radio scratching out a song

Big wheels rolling through the night (x3)
gotta keep moving ’cause it’s almost light
Big wheels rolling through the night

Headlights shine on down the road (x3)
gotta keep moving so I don’t get towed
Headlights shine on down the road (x3)

bass notes

T-Db P-Gb
Db Ab Db Ab Db Ab Db Ab
Headlights shine on down the road
Db Ab Db Ab Ab Eb Ab Eb
Headlights shine on down the road
Db Ab Db Ab
Headlights shine on down the road,
Gb Db Gb Db
gotta keep moving so I don’t get towed
Db Ab Db Ab Db Ab Db Ab
Headlights shine on down the road

Big wheels rolling through the night (x3)
gotta keep moving ’cause it’s almost light
Big wheels rolling through the night

Wipers scraping through the rain (x3)
gotta keep moving to make that train
Wipers scraping through the rain

Radio scratching out a song (x3)
gotta keep moving while the signal’s strong
Radio scratching out a song

Headlights shine on down the road (x3)
gotta keep moving get what I’m owed
Headlights shine on down the road (x3)

She Was Gone

Posted on by Joel D Canfield
1-5-4 in D
D
one day she was crawling on the floor
A
in a pale green onesie
G D A
everything she found straight in her mouth or up her nose
G A
one day she was crawling on the floor
G A D
and the next day I looked down and she was gone

one day she was riding her tricycle
backwards around the yard
getting madder by the minute ’cause it didn’t work
one day she was riding her trike
and the next day I looked out and she was gone

one day she was painting her nails
in alternating polka dots
foreseeable fuchsia and lavender different each hand
one day she was painting her nails
and the next day I looked in and she was gone

A
every time I turn away
G
five years gone like yesterday
A
and every time I look at you
G D
my little girl’s gone and turned into someone new

D
one day she walked down the aisle
A
I wanted to cry but I managed to smile
G D A
we had a dance and some cake and champagne, all of us together
G A G A
one minute she was there and the next, I looked back…