A pretty dress
And you look lovely in it
So much to say
But where do I begin it?
The way your jewels
Twinkle in the light
Why don’t we just stay in tonight?
Old worn out tux
Shiny at the elbows
Too tight to button
I’m quite a sight, heaven knows
But I’m in love and won’t give in without a fight
Why don’t we just stay in tonight?
Why don’t we just stay in and dream about the past?
Hold hands beside the fire and
Tell each other
How we know
A love like this will last
I wonder if
Our friends would care
To have their fun
If we’re not there
It’s our anniversary, ought to be our right
Why don’t we just stay in tonight?
I know that ballr
But why don’t we just stay in
Wouldn’t you rather just stay in
Why don’t we just stay in tonight?
I discovered this simple 2-chord tropical sounding pattern a few years ago. I have a mild number obsession. I don’t know where the whole coffee thing came from. I drink it but it’s not my religion or anything.
sometimes it seems I’m all at sea with you
but in my dreams, all I see is you
your tide gives me a lift
then you set my heart adrift
then I’m wading through the foaming waves to shore, just sure you’re waiting there
sometimes it seems I’m all at sea with you
sometimes it seems I can’t agree with you
but I love you just the same
and that’s why you share my name
but sometimes it seems I’m all at sea with you
I’m going to start posting older songs so I have all my music in one place.
This demo was recorded at Ray’s Barn, a studio owned by a marvelous musician named Ray Brown. My first time in a studio, I was so nervous my throat practically closed and I found myself muscling my way through every song.
I learned all about words when I was just a lad
Reading piles of books like my mom and my dad
Merriam Webster was a good friend to me
Shakespeare and Seuss suited me to a T
There must be a word I’ll find so apropos
I don’t know it yet but here’s one thing I know
It’s more than love, there must be a name
It’s more than love that fires the flame
I look into your eyes and I find myself there
I look into your heart and I’m walking on air
I don’t know what it is, but it’s more than love
I know so many words about living and life
So many words about husband and wife
Words like ‘forever’ and words like ‘forgive’
Words like ‘together as long as we live’
But I can’t seem to find the right word for the way
I keep feeling inside, so here’s all I can say
chorus, then bridge
Words might never say the way you make me feel
But I’ll keep trying until I find the one word that’s ideal
I’ve read millions of words in those books on the shelf
And there’s a million more that I’ve written myself
You’d think one of those would say just what I mean
But they all seem to fall just below or between
I know so many words that say just what it’s not
So I’ll try to describe it with words that I’ve got
chorus, then
I don’t know what it is, but it’s more than love
As much as I miss the greens and whites of northern Wisconsin, I’ve long been in love with the purple orange sunsets of the Arizona desert.
This song owes much to The Sons of the Pioneers, especially by way of Michael Nesmith’s album Tropical Campfires and the songs Moon Over the Rio Grande and Twilight on the Trail.
tenor reverb
as the last rays of the sun spill pink and orange into a purple sky
stony grey encircles lazy flames that flicker yellow-red
cerulean and sage fade into the quiet of the night
twinkling dewdrops stitched across the royal velvet quilt overhead
unhurried now we nestle in the glowing warm as day is done
shorter days and colder nights, a slower rhythm to our day
simple food and quiet talk till silence crackles in the fire
nodding heads let dreaming gently take our hand and lead us on our way
our blankets bring a balm that soothes and wipes away the aches
the sweetest sleep falls over those who know their work has all been done
when we awake tomorrow we’ll start afresh and journey down the trail
for now we’ll rest beneath the purple sky left by the pink and orange sun
for now we’ll rest beneath the purple sky left by the pink and orange sun
C F G
you were a little bit older
and a whole lot bigger than me
a little more fun more popular than I’ll ever be
only thing you cared about was a football score
‘fore the bell finished ringing you’d be out the door
to rehearsal or practice whatever you call it
that Friday I was walking home from school
you and your buddies thought that it would be cool
to knock me down and make off with my wallet
made fun of my girlfriend threw her picture away
chased me all the way home and buddy right to this day
there’s a scar inside of me I’ve always kept carefully hid
when you knocked me down it didn’t leave a mark
so you’ll never know there’s a pain in my heart
to think that anybody would treat me the way that you did
sometimes I pretend you grew up all right
but once in a while I lay awake at night
and try to tell myself
that we were just a couple of kids
you were a little bit older
and a whole lot bigger than me
I had a really hard time as a kid, in school, at home, pretty much anywhere; there was always someone bigger and harder than me and it took me half a century to figure out how to stay out of their way.
Am G F E7 [2122]
I’ve sailed upon this wilderness all my life
This sea has taught me everything I’ve learned
It’s taken from me everything I ever had
And all I ever had has been returned
Hard weather howled horizon to horizon
Tackle overboard and lost for good
Fearsome creatures prowling in my wake each day
Sun and stars still found me when they could
So many islands green and fair crossed my bow
So many times I thought to go ashore
But not one held the port I knew awaited me
One by one they fell astern forevermore
The time has come to furl my sails and ship the oars
Time to end this life on brine and foam
My time’s been spent in just the way it should have been
And now’s the time, and now, oh now I’m home
Best Beloved’s feet are even itchier than mine. We’ve driven all over two countries and we’ll never really settle down.
Seed for the song (this version, #3 I think) came from the discovery that Best Beloved’s favorite client was born in the tiny hamlet of Valentine Nebraska, a place we considered moving after driving through, just because it was so beautiful.
like I said last night it’s time to go
ain’t sayin nothin you don’t already know
can’t do the math to stay in one place too long
I’ll tell you something so you know nothing’s wrong
gear’s loaded, truck’s warming up
good strong coffee, poured you a cup
guitar behind the seat, backpacks in the bed
so get your boots on, we gotta go just like I said
can’t do the math where you and I get divided
pluses and minuses are all pretty one-sided
you’ve already seen some action
but I’m telling you it’s only a fraction
add it all up you’ll get the same answer I did
valley in north Nebraska near Valentine
couple of minutes from the South Dakota state line
peaceful quiet and green where the river winds through
I’ve seen it before but now I wanna see it with you
can’t do the math where you and I get divided
pluses and minuses are all pretty one-sided
you’ve already seen some action
but I’m telling you it’s only a fraction
add it all up you’ll get the same answer I did
middle of the country the tall grass covers the plains
speed limit means we can have some fun racing the trains
sit behind the Flint Hills see the sunset silhouette
I’ve seen it before, but I haven’t seen it with you yet
can’t do the math where you and I get divided
pluses and minuses are all pretty one-sided
you’ve already seen some action
but I’m telling you it’s only a fraction
add it all up you’ll get the same answer I did
follow the ocean San Diego up to Vancouver
water left, dirt right; not a complicated maneuver
head across to Newfoundland take a ferry over the sea
how you do the math doesn’t make any difference to me
except I can’t do the math where you and I get divided
pluses and minuses are all pretty one-sided
you’ve already seen some action
but I’m telling you it’s only a fraction
add it all up you’ll get the same answer I did
Needed to jot some notes about a song and this is as good a place as any
I’m tired, but I don’t want to sleep
One more thing I need to do
Almost done
It’s something for someone
Only take a minute or two
I’m tired but I don’t think I can sleep
Rather play with my friends than shut my eyes
It’s just a song
It won’t take long
We’ll sing a while and then say our goodbyes
I’m so tired, might be time to go
There’s one more thing I have to say
I look at you
You’re tired too
So I love you, now I’ll be on my way
Yeah I’m tired, but I don’t want to sleep
Okay, that’s all I’ve got right now, but the bones are there and I’ll flesh it out on our drive to Tucson. [Edit: I had a few more minutes. Pretty much done.]
