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A Song For A Sunday.

For Good

Vocals: Performed by American actresses and singers, Ms Kristin Chenoweth and Ms Idina Menzel from the Musical WICKED. [Book by Winnie Holzman].

Lyrics: American musical composer and theatre lyricist, Mr Stephen Lawrence Schwartz.

For Good

I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason,
Bringing something we must learn,
And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them,
And we help them in return.
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true,
But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you.
Like a comet pulled from orbit, as it passes the sun.
Like a stream that meets a boulder, halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better,
But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
It well may be that we will never meet again, in this lifetime,
So, let me say before we part,
So much of me is made of what I learned from you.
You’ll be with me,
Like a handprint on my heart and now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have rewritten mine, by being my friend.
Like a ship blown from its mooring, by a wind off the sea.
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird in a distant wood.
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better,
But because I knew you, because I knew you,
I have been changed for good.
And just to clear the air,
I ask forgiveness for the things I’ve done, you blame me for,
But then I guess, we know there’s blame to share,
And none of it seems to matter any more.
Like a comet pulled from orbit (like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes the sun (by a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (like a seed dropped by a bird),
Halfway through the wood (in the wood),
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better.
I do believe I have been changed for the better and because I knew you.
Because I knew you. Because I knew you.
I have been changed for good.

END

The House That Built Me.

“And, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue, pants to the place from whence at first she flew, I still had hopes, my long vexations past, here to return and die at home at last”.
Extract from the poem “The Deserted Village”, by Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright, dramatist and poet Oliver Goldsmith.

Returning to the place that was once your home, following a long absence, will generate mixed feelings that can bring you, as a returning emigrant, joyous memories, but sometimes a little sadness also. Our readers who have had this experience, will no doubt concur.

The House That Built Me.

Vocals: American singer-songwriter / guitarist Miranda Lambert.

Lyrics: American singers / songwriters Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin.

The House That Built Me.

I know they say you can’t go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma’am, I know you don’t know me from Adam,
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine.
Up those stairs in that little back bedroom,
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar,
And I bet you didn’t know under that live oak,
My favourite dog is buried in the yard.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it,
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave,
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory,
From the house that built me.
Momma cut out pictures of houses for years,
From better homes and garden magazine.
Plans were drawn and concrete poured,
Nail by nail and board by board,
Daddy gave life to momma’s dream.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it.
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself,
If I could just come in, I swear I’ll leave,
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory
From the house that built me.
You leave home, you move on,
And you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world,
And forgot who I am.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it.
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here, it’s like I’m someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself,
If I could walk around, I swear I’ll leave,
Won’t take nothin’ but a memory,
From the house that built me.


End

Time Comes For All Of Us.

Don’t let the old man in.

Vocals: American singer-songwriter and actor Toby Keith (Toby Keith Covel).

Lyrics: Toby Keith.


“Not letting the old man in”, could be the secret to living longer.
Song lyrics inspired by a question Toby Keith asked of American actor and film director Clint Eastwood (latter then aged 87 back in 2017). He asked how Eastwood managed to keep going at his age?
Clint Eastwood replied; “I just don’t let the old man in”.

Don’t let the old man in.

Don’t let the old man in,
I wanna leave this alone.
Can’t leave it up to him,
He’s knocking on my door.

And I knew all of my life,
That someday it would end.
Get up and go outside,
Don’t let the old man in.

Many moons I have lived,
My body’s weathered and worn.
Ask yourself how would you be,
If you didn’t know the day you were born.

Try to love on your wife,
And stay close to your friends.
Toast each sundown with wine,
Don’t let the old man in.

Many moons I have lived.
My body’s weathered and worn.
Ask yourself how would you be,
If you didn’t know the day you were born.

When he rides up on his horse,
And you feel that cold bitter wind.
Look out your window and smile,
Don’t let the old man in.

Look out your window and smile,
Don’t let the old man in.

END.

A Song For A Sunday.

I Watch The Sunrise

Vocals: British singer Ms Kathryn Crosweller.
Lyrics: Colin James Murphy and John Michael Glynn.

I Watch The Sunrise

I watch the sunrise lighting the sky,
Casting its shadows near,
And on this morning bright though it be,
I feel those shadows near me.
But you are always close to me, following all my ways.
May I be always close to you, following all your ways, Lord.
I watch the sunlight shine through the clouds,
Warming the earth below,
And at the mid-day life seems to say,
I feel your brightness near me.
For you are always close to me, following all my ways.
May I be always close to you, following all your ways, Lord.
I watch the sunset fading away, lighting the clouds with sleep,
And as the evening closes its eyes, I feel your brightness near me.
For you are always close to me, following all my ways.
May I be always close to you, following all your ways, Lord.
I watch the moonlight guarding the night, waiting ’til morning comes.
The air is silent, earth is at rest, only your peace is near me.
Yes, you are always close to me, following all my ways.
May I be always close to you, following all your ways, Lord.
Yes, you are always close to me, following all my ways.
May I be always close to you, following all your ways, Lord.

END.

Both Sides, Now.

Both Sides, Now

Lyrics: Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell composed sometime before 1967 and inspired by a passage in “Henderson the Rain King”, latter a 1959 novel by Saul Bellow.

Vocals: Joni Mitchell, latter born Roberta Joan Anderson.

Both Sides, Now.

Rows and flows of angels hair,
And ice cream castles in the air,
And feather canyons everywhere,
Looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun,
They rain and they snow on everyone,
So many things I would have done,
But clouds got in my way.
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down and still somehow,
It’s cloud illusions I recall,
I really don’t know clouds at all.
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels.
The dizzy dancing way that you feel,
As every fairy tale comes real,
I’ve looked at love that way.
But now it’s just another show,
And you leave ’em laughing when you go,
And if you care, don’t let them know,
Don’t give yourself away.
I’ve looked at love from both sides now,
From give and take and still somehow,
It’s love’s illusions that I recall,
I really don’t know love.
Really don’t know love at all.
Tears and fears and feeling proud,
To say, “I love you” right out loud.
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds,
I’ve looked at life that way.
Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange,
And they shake their heads and they tell me that I’ve changed.
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained,
In living every day.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now,
From win and lose and still somehow,
It’s life’s illusions I recall.
I really don’t know life at all.
It’s life’s illusions that I recall.
I really don’t know life,
I really don’t know life at all.

END