1. |
Some Things Last
03:47
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The screen door, it slammed, and then out he ran in a huff,
She had put up with him for so long, but enough was enough
So she took off her rings and threw all his things on the lawn,
She didn’t need to look out the window to know he was gone.
I could pick flowers for hours and hours a day,
But take ‘em inside and shortly their life will fade
Neither knew how they arrived at their vows, they would say,
But the happiness they held, like the flowers, had faded away.
Chorus:
Some things will last and others just won’t,
You’d better hold on to the things that do cause some just don’t,
And they won’t.
He collected his things and then sold his ring for the cash,
But he left behind photos and letters and pieces of trash
She just leaves the stuff there and pretends not to care about the pain,
But those mem’ries won’t dissolve like those Polaroids out in the rain.
Chorus
Now she knits people scarves and sends people cards when they’re sick,
Oh you know she’s been burned once before, she won’t fall for no tricks
And it’s love that she sends to all of her friends from the past,
She calls it “love at an arm’s length, the only way it will last.”
Chorus
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2. |
Bells
04:18
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Took a walk down to the school,
Kids were kicking soccer balls,
One kid made a shot on goal,
School bells rang and that was all.
Took a walk down to the church,
To join the other people there,
People in a lifelong search,
The bells rang as a call to prayer.
Chorus:
Bells ring loud and clear,
Down into the valley for everyone to hear,
Bells ring loud and strong,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
And winter soon be gone.
Took a walk in an open field,
Heralding the dawn of spring,
To the long grass I would steal,
In the breeze the bluebells seemed to ring.
Chorus
In the meadow damp and green,
Cows and sheep graze placidly,
Birds are tuning in the trees,
Cattle bells join in the melody.
Chorus
And when the bells ring for my death,
Don’t let them ring sullenly,
Let them sing the depth and breadth,
Of a life lived most fully.
Chorus:
Bells ring loud and clear,
Down into the valley for everyone to hear,
Bells ring loud and strong,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
Tell ‘em summer’s coming,
And winter soon be gone.
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3. |
Walking Shoes
04:34
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Hand me now my walking shoes,
And shut the door behind me as I go,
Oh I know I’ve been a long time gone,
And it’ll be a long time before I’m home,
You promise me that you’ll be true ‘til I’m coming home to you,
Hand me now my walking shoes,
And shut the door behind me as I go.
The nights are cold and the days are long,
As I wander north and south and God knows where,
Oh my love, you’re waiting patiently,
And I promise you that I will soon be there,
I hope you can occupy your time, ‘til my hand’s in yours and yours in mine,
The nights are cold and the days are long,
As I wander north and south and God knows where.
Of all the pleasures in life I’ve found,
There’s not a place so sweet as in your arms,
And I just know that I won’t sleep sound,
Until I’m lying there away from harm,
Wet your pillow with your tears, time will make the reasons clear,
Of all the pleasures in life I’ve found,
There’s not a place so sweet as in your arms.
A thousand miles and a hundred days,
And I’ll be makin’ my way on back to you,
We’ve been together four years and a day,
And I know my love that we can see it through,
With each rising of the sun, a hundred days is closer to none,
A thousand miles and a hundred days,
And I’ll be makin’ my way on back to you.
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4. |
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I packed my bag at the urging of my mother
She said, “Go find a better life out yonder.”
So I gathered my things, my cap, a coat, a banjo,
And I made my way
Northwest to Juneau.
My only friend will have five strings,
And my companions, the songs that I sing,
While the wind carries me as it will,
Through the land where time stands still,
Through the land where time stands still.
A crescent moon sits o’er the prairie,
And here I pull out the tunes that I will carry,
Over mountain pass, down in the valley,
And through the forests
Dark and green and lonely.
And though this tune won’t carry me home,
It will comfort me as I roam,
Here I’ll sit by a fire as I fend off a chill,
In the land where time stands still,
In the land where time stands still.
The railroad tracks hold so much myst’ry,
Black soot and coal color all of my memories,
An open boxcar, a song, a weary sigh,
Fingers of black smoke
Reach up to touch the sky.
And so this song, it’ll give me rest,
As this iron horse carries me west,
Then blow the whistle, so sad and shrill,
Through the land where time stands still,
Through the land where time stands still.
The sad news came in a letter,
It said, “I hope you’ve found a life that’s better,
Your mother’s gone, sorry you weren’t near her,
I hope this letter finds you
Wherever you may wander.
And so this song, it will dry my tears,
As I think about all of these years,
My song is joined by the cry of the whippoorwill,
In the land where time stands still,
In the land where time stands still.
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5. |
O Love of Mine
03:10
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The sun streams in the window and it warms up the sheets,
You sigh and I roll over as we drift on back to sleep,
We could say good morning, but there isn’t any need,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
The rain came on down and the skies were turning gray,
We shed our sodden clothes and stayed inside for the whole day,
I looked at you, you looked at me, we didn’t have anything to say,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
I could write you a song, pour love into every word I sing,
I could have the voice of angels and make the heavens ring,
But when I look into your eyes I know I needn’t say a thing,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
I’ve looked at a sunset, wrote down everything I heard,
My metaphors like thunder, poetry singing like the birds,
But darling when I look at you, I can’t even muster a word,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
The finest words can woo, enthrall, seduce, and beguile,
Or in simple ways they compliment your hair or your smile,
But I’m content to hold your hand and stare at you a while,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
I look forward to the day when our love is an antique,
When I have lived and loved you every day of every week,
When we know each other so completely that we don’t even need to speak,
O love of mine, O love of mine.
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6. |
25 Years
05:56
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He holds the suitcase in his hand,
She just flew in from the eastern land,
The tweed on the luggage sticks to his pants,
He sheepishly grins.
Hold your hands and take a walk,
Down the stairs to Haystack Rock,
Startled the gulls, oh you scattered the flock,
You laughed as they flew.
Hold your love and try to let go,
Plane’s boarding now and then you know,
There’ll be three thousand miles or so,
Between your hands.
Hold her letter and put up the flag,
Hope that another one soon comes back,
Wait for the mailman to come with his bag,
And bring a reply.
Hold your breath as he walks in the door,
You’re hiding in a box on the living room floor,
Jump out and laugh, how your spirits will soar,
In his arms again.
Hold your vows and say, “I do,”
Showing off your love and how it grew,
Money will be borrowed, but no one will be blue,
And you’re on your way, it’s the walk of life.
Hold the first years in your deepest heart,
A new chapter of life, a bright new start,
Everybody says that it’s gonna be hard,
But you won’t be alone.
Hold your grief with your eyes closed tight,
Tears ‘cause there won’t be any cries in the night,
Nothin’ could ever fully make this right,
But somehow you move on.
Hold your baby boy and look into his eyes,
Feed him when he’s hungry,
Pull him close when he cries,
A parent’s gotta learn how to improvise,
In love all over again.
Hold your little children as they grow tall
They don’t know the half of it,
They’ll never know it all,
You’ve showed ‘em how to love,
And you’ve showed ‘em how to fall,
And how to get up again.
Hold in your souls these twenty-five years
Hold all of your hopes and all of your fears
Some were unfounded,
And some became tears,
But you were never alone.
Some days you were far,
And your others were near,
But you were never alone.
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7. |
Partners in Crime
03:44
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I’ll steal the towels if you will steal the sheets,
And maybe we won’t pay our check in the restaurant where we eat,
Why would we ever pay again for linens or to dine?
I’ll be your partner in crime.
I’ll call the insurance if you go start the fire,
We’ll leave no trace and go to Bermuda to retire,
We’ll watch the smoke rise to the sky and drink our pricey wine,
And I’ll be your partner in crime.
I’ll forge the Hamiltons if you will forge the Bens,
We’ll be printing everything from hundreds down to tens,
We’ll tie up the bills in paper packages with twine,
And I’ll be your partner in crime.
I’ll drive the getaway if you go crack the safe,
We’ll hide the jewels in a giant wedding cake,
Pretend we’re caterers and get away just fine,
I’ll be your partner in crime.
I’ll cut out the letters in the ransom note you write,
We’ll tie up the hostage, make sure the bonds are nice and tight,
We’ll make sure he doesn’t escape and watch him all the time,
And I’ll be your partner in crime.
You know that I hate orange and you know that I hate stripes,
And if the sirens call in the middle of the night,
Even if we’re caught, at least we’ll be on Dateline,
And I’ll still be your partner in crime.
I’ll make you smile as they’re taking our mug shots,
You won’t be discouraged cause you’ll know we’ve got a plot,
All we’ll need is a file and rope, to freedom we will climb,
And I’ll be your partner in crime,
Oh, I’ll be your partner in crime.
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8. |
Liars
03:41
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I know I’m right,
It’s as clear as sight,
Can’t you see it dear?
That it’s just so clear.
I know I’m wrong,
But I’ll keep on singin’ this same old song,
Til my face is blue,
Or till I’ve changed my tune.
And I say,
“Oooh, why do you care about the truth?
Oooh, I know you’re a liar too.”
Oh, it’s plain to see,
You’re a little bit upset with me,
Is it ‘cause I snore in my sleep?
Or the promises I don’t keep?
Yeah, I’ve told a lie,
Maybe four or five hundred times,
But you don’t need to be so cruel,
Just ‘cause I’ve cried wolf.
And I say,
“Oooh, why do you care about the truth?
Oooh, I know you’re a liar too.”
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9. |
Stray Dog
03:45
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Oh, the wind is in the trees,
I long to be loved again,
As the grass bends in the breeze,
I long for a home again.
So I’ll stand here at your door,
And with my eyes implore you
To let me in,
Amidst the icy blast,
My breath fogs up the glass,
Won’t you let me in?
Oh the corn’s been taken in,
The geese are flying southward,
How I wish I could join them,
On the wings of birds.
So I’ll sit on the prairies wide,
With my nose up to the sky,
Sit and wonder,
Why did they decide
To force me out under the skies
That I’m under?
I smelled your food and so I came,
I wound up at your doorstep,
But I’m a menace, so you claim,
Not the kind of dog you’d let your children pet.
You’ll be afraid, turn up your nose,
Leave me out here in the cold,
Where’s your humanity?
You think I’ll dirty up your floor,
So close your blinds and lock the door,
What if I were you, and you were me?
Oh, the wind is in the trees,
I long to be loved again,
As the grass bends in the breeze,
I long for a home again.
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10. |
Too Much to Ask
03:54
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Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For a million billion dollars? You can make it out to cash,
Am I asking too much, am I taking you for a ride?
Is it too much to ask to be the richest man alive?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
To rule over a nation, to set the income tax?
Am I asking too much, for power heaven sent?
Is it too much to ask to be the president?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For twenty more sports cars like the red one that I crashed?
Am I asking too much for 19 Ferraris and a Dodge?
Is it too much to ask for a twenty-car garage?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For a swimming pool or five I can jump into with a splash?
Am I asking too much, have I taken my fill?
Is it too much to ask for a little house in Beverly Hills?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
I’d really like a promotion and someone has to get the sack,
Am I asking too much, are you starting to get tired?
Is it too much to ask that that guy at work gets fired?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For a roof over my head, for a steady job that lasts?
Am I asking too much, have you even heard me yet?
Is it too much to ask to have my basic needs met?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For a cup that runneth over, for a bottomless whiskey flask?
Am I asking too much, can you tell me what you think?
Is it too much to ask to never run out of drink?
Is it too much to ask, dear Lord, is it too much to ask,
For someone who sees my beauty and is willing to wade through all my trash?
It’s the last thing that I’m asking from you up above,
The only thing I’m wanting is to be loved.
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11. |
Can I Be Close to You
04:23
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Evening breeze is comin’ through
Evening breeze is comin’ through
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Hold my hand and I’ll hold you,
Hold my hand and I’ll hold you,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
I gotta go and I’m leavin’ soon,
Big old sun is leavin’ too,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
I don’t care if the creek runs dry,
I don’t care if the oceans rise,
All I want is just you and I,
Can I be close to you?
Shed a tear and I’ll cry with you,
Cry with me and I’ll cry with you,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Crickets sing a lonely tune,
Crickets sing a lonely tune,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Oh count up the mem’ries that we knew,
Big old sun remembers too,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
I don’t care if the stars don’t shine,
I don’t care if this world’s unkind,
I am yours and you are mine,
Can I be close to you?
Count the miles till I get to you,
Count the miles till I get to you,
I’ll wear out my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Rain falls down on the old tin roof,
Ain’t it a shame when the rain comes through?
My socks are wet in my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Watch the sky turn gray to blue,
Big old sun shinin’ back on through,
I’ll put on my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
I don’t care where we may be,
I don’t care if we have any money,
All I want is just you and me,
Can I be close to you?
Look at our love and how it grew,
Look at our love and how it grew,
I’ll take off my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Back in the arms of my lover true,
Back in the arms of my lover true,
I’ll take off my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Nothin’ but a smile when I’m with you,
Big old sun is smilin’ too,
I’ll take off my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
Nothin’ but a smile when I’m with you,
Big old sun is shinin’ through,
I’ll throw away my walkin’ shoes,
Can I be close to you?
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Andrew Pauls Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Andrew Pauls is a folk musician who writes and sings about everyday joys and tragedies. He records his own music and does his own stunts.
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