1. |
Why, Oh Papa, Why
03:14
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Why, oh papa, why does our love run dry?
Why does youthful lust crumble into dust?
My son, you would not believe
how beautiful a woman can be,
how sweet every smile and every tear,
till you've loved her down through the years
Time Flies
Lines surround her eyes with the weight of life
My son, you would not believe
how beautiful a woman can be,
how sweet every smile and every tear,
till you've loved her down through the years
Who can tell me this: why does love exist?
Life's so much the worse with its burning curse
My son, you would not believe
how beautiful a woman can be,
how sweet every smile and every tear,
till you've loved her down through the years
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2. |
If I Was a Bird
03:09
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Even the strong grow weak;
even the proud have tears.
Water comes running from our eyes
once every six or seven years
So right now if I was a bird
I'd build a pretty little nest
there in the cusp of your arms
and lay my head upon your breast
Sometimes I stand like a stone,
bold as a mountaintop,
but, like a king upon his throne,
sometimes the act stops
So right now if I was a bird
I'd build a pretty little nest
there in the cusp of your arms
and lay my head upon your breast
Some days I'm young and I'm strong.
Some days I'm sick in bed.
Some days my life is just beginning.
One day I'll draw my last breath.
So right now if I was a bird
I'd build a pretty little nest
there in the cusp of your arms
and lay my head upon your breast
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3. |
What Are We Looking For
04:06
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Just like a wave sorrow comes and it calls by your name,
and rising we answer the call.
And so we hope one day peace will come calling the same;
until then we'll slip and we'll fall
I tried a one night's stand, but she wasn't that kind of girl
She took me by the hand, said "what are we looking for?"
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
To eyes that begged for an answer I had to reply,
but how could I know what to say?
That was the same answer I was out trying to find,
but how could I learn this-a-way?
I had a master plan that I wasn't gonna care no more--
Let love be damned-- and I knew that it would work.
I tried a one night's stand, but she wasn't that kind of girl
She took me by the hand, said "what are we looking for?"
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
I shrugged my arms, shook my head, and I said, "Life's a dream.
We live and we laugh and we die."
I touched my lips to her cheek, and she whispered to me,
"We're already dying inside."
I was a lonely man, and I'd had about enough of words.
I run my hand down a couple little supple curves.
I tried a one night's stand, but she wasn't that kind of girl
She took me by the hand, said "what are we looking for?"
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
I walked away, headed home, down the street all alone,
the loneliest hour of the year.
That's when the words that she said cut me down to the bone.
They're echoing now in my ear.
I should've turned and ran when I saw that she could hurt.
I didn't understand: I am just like her.
I could have searched this land trying to find a better girl
She took me by the hand, said "what are we looking for?"
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
what are we looking for?
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4. |
Rocky Ground
04:50
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Go dig a hole and plant a seed
Beware you don’t know what it needs
Some face the thorns and other trials
Some find the good old earth, it sometimes takes a while
I laid my love on rocky ground
And then the sun came beating down
It nearly dried my little leaves away
But I’m still standing here today
For rivers change and mountains fall
A little faith, a miracle
The earth will break, a tree will rise
Out of the cracks, and reach up to the skies
I laid my love on rocky ground
And now my heart is sinking down
I’m praying for a taste of rain
To feel that rush of life again
For rivers change and mountains fall
A little faith, a miracle
The earth will break, a tree will rise
Out of the cracks, and reach up to the skies
I know below that rocky crust
The good old earth is there for us
I laid my love down on the rocky ground
Cause there’s a good love, and it’s gotta be found
For rivers change and mountains fall
A little faith, a miracle
The earth will break, a tree will rise
Out of the cracks, and reach up to the skies
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5. |
I've Whispered
02:39
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I've walked these trails for you, my love.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
Love isn't always just a walk through the daisies.
So many times I find me here among the hills.
And do the trees believe I'm going crazy
when they hear the things I say to myself.
I've walked these trails for you, my love.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
How can I rest
when the woman I love is stuck in my head?
How can I
find a moment of quiet?
You make me weak,
so my muttering mind's beginning to speak
in my woods,
but it don't do me no good.
I've walked these trails for you, my love.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
I've whispered, I've whispered for you.
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6. |
Chasing after Venus
03:14
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A lonely man, chasing after Venus:
don't tell my tale, cause no one would believe us,
but I have seen her dancing, clueless to her nakedness.
She was free and laughing, but who am I to look upon this.
I am a man of shame, and yet the music played,
and I awoke to find, much to my surprise she'd been a maid.
Such silly dreams catch us for a moment.
What crazy thoughts-- that a man should love a woman!
That she should be his princess, even when she's pitiful.
He'll think she's a goddess. He'll believe she's beautiful now.
So is this fairy tale a work of honest art,
or is a humble girl not enough to satisfy a heart?
What do you seek? What do you desire?
A heart that's meek, burning like a fire.
Then open up your eyes, friend, tune your heart to what is true.
Here is your surprise friend: heaven's everywhere around you.
Forget your goddesses. Forget your movie stars.
Sacrifice your aimless love. Give it to a girl of humble heart.
A lonely man, chasing after Venus.
Don't tell my tale, cause no one would believe us,
but I have found her. Heaven's everywhere around you.
Go and find her. Tune your heart to what is true.
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7. |
I Promise You
02:12
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So you want a bright, shining night,
a man of wonder and might,
to fill your heart with a sweet delight?
Well this is the song that I write
I won't promise you all your dreams come true.
I won't say I'll always be divine.
But I promise you to be ever true
and to give you love for a lifetime.
Well the time is now drawing near
to face your dreams and your fears.
Come go with me to that great frontier,
for tomorrow is already here.
I won't promise you all your dreams come true.
I won't say I'll always be divine.
But I promise you to be ever true
and to give you love for a lifetime.
So I'm not that bright, shining knight,
just a man who will treat you right,
to walk with you to the end of life,
hand in hand, a humble man and his wife.
And I promise if you love me too
that love will be a dream divine.
And I promise you to be ever true
and to give you love for a lifetime.
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8. |
Hold to Me
02:25
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You may be a thousand miles away from me,
over mountains through the sky beyond the sea,
but your heart is here inside of me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Every wind that whispers sings your name to me
Every wave that crashes plays a melody
Every night I tell you in a dream
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Over mountains, through the sky, you come to me
Only for a moment you are here with me
Sweet and fine and while we've got the time
Rest your little heart inside of mine
In this place where love and peace abide
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Hold to me, hold to me, hold to me
Rest your little heart inside of mine
In this place where love and peace abide
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9. |
I Have Waited for You
04:32
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I have waited for you
through the days and down through the nights,
dreaming of the day the rain is cleared away.
When you're far away I still hold you tight.
I have waited for you
in the sweetest little moments of this life.
Even in the farthest reaches of my youth,
I begin to believe that you were on my mind.
Love has turned our water to wine,
filled our weary hearts with life,
set a vision in our eyes
I can see
You are mine.
I have tried to live
with an innocence beyond my bumbling grasp,
but a longing and a sorrow found my heart
and I cried out for a better life at last.
I have waited for you
in the dreariest of moments in this life,
but I felt a welling hope that you would come,
not a hope for being loved but for to love.
Love has turned our water to wine,
filled our weary hearts with life,
set a vision in our eyes
I can see
You are mine.
I have waited for you
while you fought and scratched and held your heart away,
while you set up little walls and broke them down,
knowing I would find what dwells inside one day
I have waited for you
since I first beheld the beauty of your heart.
You were sweeter than the best in life to me.
You were beautiful and you will always be.
Love has turned our water to wine,
filled our weary hearts with life,
set a vision in our eyes
I can see
You are mine.
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10. |
Wide River
02:11
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Wide river, tell me a tale:
Paint this city like a big old jail.
Wide river, sing me a song.
Let those ripples carry me along to freedom
Roll river roll.
I got no sail I got no paddle.
Take me on down your riverbank.
Make me believe that nothing is the matter with me.
Take me on down that muddy old Mississippi
Wide river, tell me a lie:
in this whole world it's just you and I.
Wide river, wash me clean.
Let this rickety raft careen to freedom.
Roll river roll.
I got no sail I got no paddle.
Take me on down your riverbank.
Make me believe that nothing is the matter with me.
Take me on down that muddy old Mississippi
Roll river, roll on river.
Teach me in endless whispers.
Roll river, roll on river.
Roll on and on and on and on forever.
Roll river roll.
I got no sail I got no paddle.
Take me on down your riverbank.
Make me believe that nothing is the matter with me.
Take me on down that muddy old Mississippi
Take me on down that muddy old Mississippi
Take me on down that muddy old Mississip
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11. |
Winter Wheat
03:53
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With my back to the wind
Watching the waves of a wheat field a’blowing
It ain’t like the tide coming in
Ain’t like the view on the shores where you’re going
But love, I can’t change the way you see these fields
Sixteen hours a day
In the harvest that’s the price you pay
But there is freedom in a field
Tragic peace in the shadow of the yield
But love, I can’t change the way you see this life
Cause how could you be a simple famer’s wife?
If you follow any road
They’ll all lead out away from home
Take you to an ocean or a sea
Six or seven hundred miles away from me
But love, I can’t change the way you look at me
While there’s life in my blood
I’ll be here at the center of all roads
Sweating sixteen hours in a day
Gazing out across the amber waves of grain
Cause love, I can’t change the only way I know
I will be the lover of your youth
Give all of my heart to you in truth
Be a father, husband, and a friend
Faithful till this life comes to its earthly end
Or love I will be a specter in the field.
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12. |
Knock, Knock
02:27
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Knock, knock.
Take a look.
Take a look. Take a look around.
Take a look you'll see what I've found.
Come along. Come along with me.
There's a world I'll help you to see.
So don't be scared no more
when I come knocking on your door.
Don't turn your heart away.
I'll making the message clear,
and I'll be standing here all day.
Here: a knock I cannot answer.
Here: a road I cannot take.
Lay to rest your knocking hand, sir.
Put your foot down on the brake.
I won't be scared no more
I won't be scared no more
I will not turn away
I'll listen closely now.
And we will find a way somehow.
Go away you sweet romancer.
Go and find another beau.
Lay to rest your knocking hand, sir.
Make your way on down that road.
Don't you get it
I'm not scared
Well it's true
I will never follow you there
Don't be silly
I won't do it
You don't stand a chance.
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13. |
Hopes and Memories
02:44
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Today I drove along a country highway,
stillness reaching far,
and I recalled, just like it was yesterday,
the magic of the hour
when we met
Tonight I dined alone at my table
beneath a candle's light,
tried to enjoy (but found I wasn't able)
remembering the time
when I loved you
But who am I to call this a disaster?
Who am I to try to turn the tide?
Maybe there's a reason why it's all over now.
Who am I to say it's not alright?
Tonight I sat and gazed up into heaven
beyond the Milky Way,
and every star seemed to ask in unison
if I recalled the day
when I forgave you.
I wish I loved you.
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14. |
I Gave My Love a Cherry
01:37
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I gave my love a cherry that had no stone.
I gave my love a chicken; it had no bone.
I gave my love a baby with no crying.
I told my love a story; it had no end.
How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there be a baby with no crying?
How can there be a story that has no end?
A cherry when it's blooming: it has no stone.
A chicken when it's pipping: it has no bone.
A baby when it's sleeping has no crying.
And when I say I love you, it has no end.
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15. |
Yours
04:21
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When I awake and the wind begins to blow
down from the hills, through the lonesome, dusty road,
Here in my heart I am yours for today.
Gone to the hills, my heart has flown away.
See how it flies, 'cross the pale, yellow skies,
chasing your voice and the memory of your eyes.
Here is my word: I am yours for today.
Faithful each hour, my heart has flown away.
Softly I sing in the stillness of my room.
Unto our love, I consecrate the tune.
Here in my heart I am yours for today.
Far above this place, my heart has flown away.
Day passes by; it bows its head to rest.
Night after night I dream of you again
Here is my word: I am yours through the years,
faithful each hour, in joy, in peace, in tears.
Here in my heart I am yours for today.
Gone to the hills, my heart has flown away.
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John Bahler Kokomo, Indiana
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