This one makes my heart sad.  Great reminder about perspective.

Words and music by Barry Lane and Jay Banta.  copyright 2011

Know your higher self.

I was standing
by the school door,
waiting for the bell,
when Roger pushed me over,
so hard that I fell.
I wanted to just punch him
and make him feel my hurt
but something deep inside me
sounded the alert.

 1st Chorus
Know your higher self,
take it off the shelf.
give  it room to play,
every single day.

Forget about the fight,
reach for what is right.
you can teach yourself to fly,
when you want to cry.

One day in the lunchroom,
some friends were laughing loud,
about the newest student,
and they formed a crowd.


I started laughing with them,
then saw how sad he looked.
I turned to him, said  “Hello,”
and picked up all his books.


2nd Chorus
Know your higher self,
take it off the shelf,
give  it room to play
every single day.

Forget about the fight.
reach for what is right,
You can teach yourself to fly,
When you want to cry.

Sometimes I don’t behave,
the best way that I can.
Sometimes I’m afraid,
to lend a helping hand.

But then then a little
 voice comes,
from somewhere deep inside,
and tells me that the best in me
doesn’t have to hide.

Chorus
Know your higher self,
take it off the shelf,
give  it room to play,
every single day.

Forget about the fight,
reach for  what is right.
You can teach yourself to fly
When you want to cry.


One day I hope the world
will listen to this song,
and all the leaders think about,
what’s right and wrong.

They’ll sit down at a table
and talk about their fears,
without endless battles,
rumbling on for years.

Chorus
Know your Higher self,
take it off the shelf,
give it room to play,
every single day.

Forget about the fight,
reach for what is right.
You can teach yourself to fly,
When you want to cry.

You can teach yourself to fly,When you want to cry.

Barry Lane and Jay Banta copyright 2011

Know Your Higher Self

For Grace Shoshana who wrote the chorus

New song about mindfulness. We must all learn to press pause.


Let me know what your students think.  barry@disoverwriting.com

Press Pause       Barry Lane

Your little brother teases you
Your sister makes a face
The kids at school are mean again
You did not win the race

You’re feeling kind of angry
and you’re feeling kind of sad
How do you choose the good
when you want to choose the bad

Press pause 
and remember you’re all right
Press Pause. 
Fill your darkness up with light
Press Pause 
and the world becomes more kind
Use your heart and use your mind
For there is no greater cause
Press Pause

You were so late to school today 
and then you flunked the test
Your friends are so much smarter
 you’re so different than the rest
You can’t look in the mirror
 without feeling that fear
What planet did you come from and how’d you end up here?

Press  Pause 
and remember you’re all right
Press Pause.  
Fill your darkness up with light
Press Pause  
Learn to treat yourself more kind
Use your heart and use your mind
For there is no greater cause
Press Pause

Breathe in Breathe out 
Help your mind sort it out

Don’t scream, don’t shout
Breathe in Breathe out

Breathe in Breathe out 
Help your mind sort it out

Don’t scream, don’t shout
Breathe in Breathe out

25 years later you have children of your own
They’re running in your living room
and messing up your home
You’re getting kind of frustrated 
but you don’t raise your voice
You know a little secret 
every person has a choice

Press  Pause 
and remember you’re all right
Press Pause.  
Fill your darkness up with light
Press Pause  
and the world becomes more kind
Use your heart and use your mind
For there is no greater cause
Press pause

Breathe in Breathe out 
Help your mind sort it out

Don’t scream, don’t shout
Breathe in Breathe out

Breathe in Breathe out 
Help your mind sort it out

Don’t scream, don’t shout
Breathe in Breathe out

Breathe in Breathe out

Breathe in Breathe out

Breathe in Breathe out


Press Pause.


Press Pause. Take 1 Demo

With half the world in darkness, how can we see the light.  Stand up for girls education.

Herstory

Old Path (Acoustic)

Higher Void

My cover of Matilde Bernabei's "Thunder" @ NYC's "The Bitter End"

Thunder by Matilde Bernabei

Talk with Me: Demo

The Me I Never Was

Words by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Music by Barry Lane 



If I’d been born a baby
In a very different place
I’d look up at my mama
Who would have a different face.

I’d speak another language
I don’t know what I’d eat
I’d look out of my window
At an unfamiliar street

If you wonder why I do not hate
I’ll tell you it’s because
I sit here  and  I ponder 
The me I never was


I would know the little birds
When my mama sang to me
I’d giggle at the words
When I gazed up at the trees

We might be safe
We might be scared
We might be in a war
I might call home a village
on a dreamy, distant  shore


If you wonder why I do not hate
I’ll tell you it’s because
I sit here and I  ponder 
The me I never was
  
    






   (bridge)
What if I were hungry
Or cold or sad or scared?
Would someone else imagine me
And try to show they cared?

I hug them in my heart
These imaginary mes’
I sit here and I  ponder
The` possibilities.


I’m  standing in my backyard.
I’m riding in my car.
I’m laughing with my mama
I’m looking  at the stars

I’m grateful for my happy home
So safe, so sweet, so warm
But how can anybody know
the life where they ‘ll be born?


If you wonder why I do not hate
I’ll tell you it’s because
I sit here and I  ponder 
The me I never was
	

The me I never was
The me that I might be
I sit here and I  ponder  
The possibilities

The Me I Never Was

This poem is from The Poem Farm, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's ad-free, searchable blog full of hundreds of poems, poem mini lessons, and poetry ideas for home and classroom. www.poemfarm.amylv.com

I Keep it on My Desk - a poem by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

I Write the Tests, I Write the Tests
                   
                           (Barry Manilow, Barry Lane, Carol-lee Lane, Amy Ludwig Van Derwater)



I write the tests that make the whole world fail,
if you don’t pass we’ll put your school up for sale.
I write the tests that make the whole world see
our corporatized reality

We stack the data just to monetize,
kids education, so it’s no surprise,
your school is failing and must privatize,
and our stock begins to rise.

I write the tests that really stunt our schools,
don’t think or write or ask, just follow the rules.
Forget the arts and curiosity,
No need for a democracy.

I write the tests and there’s no time for play,
you will sit down and you will do what I say.
For half the year it will be judgment day.
Just watch your childhood melt away.

I write the tests that keep the status quo.
Buy them today. Watch our economy grow

Don’t tell the emperor he has no clothes,
just keep your students on their toes.

Don’t tell the emperor he has no clothes,
just keep your students on their toes.


I Write the Tests,  I Write the Tests

TOO SWEET

TOO SWEET (feat. Unknown Mortal Orchestra)

I am a writer, singer, producer, publisher. I work with children and teachers of all grade levels and ages teaching a love of writing and tools of the craft. I believe, like Pete Seeger that songs, can unite people, touch  them deeply and change the world in the process.  


I Write the Tests, I Write the Tests

Barrylane55

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