so you found your place
in a land of steeps and pines
down that winding road
you won’t turn around and you’ll never look back
-
through a breach in the pines
comes a golden winter morning light so fine
and the road just winds
across the ridges towards the pass
-
so you made mistakes
in the questions that you asked
down that winding road
you won’t turn around and you’ll never look back
-
in the midday shine
a frozen finger of the parapets on high
slices through the sky
throwing shadows made of glass
-
wonder’s been replaced
with a solemn sense of truth
down that winding road
if you wanted to come home you woulda by now
-
but you 
spend most of your time singing 
forgotten songs
and the rest of your time living 
like there’s no tomorrow
-
as the sun slides behind
the jagged features of the looming skyline 
well the road it just winds
between the future and the past

© 2019 Caleb Braley

Madrone

Winding Road

I can’t go no more
I just crossed the mountain today
through semper and madrone
down by my humble home
by the river bend
in the valley below, oh
-
if broken wings could fly
i’d take to the sky
right between the twilight and the stars
instead of drowning in this whisky jar
tonight
by the fireside
-
the alpenglow
is the first suggestion of the day
and though the night came cold
i see the coals are still aglow
from the night before
like the stories we told
-
if broken hearts could love
well then i would take to the skies above
right between the twilight and the stars
instead of sitting down in Monty’s bar
by the fireside
-
an open door
a passage to a different kind of place
i stand on the threshold
in the morning meadow glow
and i take a step towards the other side
-
if broken things can mend
well then I will follow you my friend
out to see the twilight and the stars
instead of wandering here in the dark

© 2019 Caleb Braley

Semper & Madrone

a small black dot on a windswept ridge
on the other side of a grey and vast plateau 
grew in to a ramshackle, wattle-and-daub hinterland abode
-
and as golden light spilled out the windows 
slicing through the thick high-desert cold
i found myself
-
standing outside
standing right outside of the door
what’s on the other side 
don’t worry me no more
-
cause I just found
my threshold place to stand
between the devil’s arms
and the promised land
-
standing outside
standing right outside in the storm
what you got inside
don’t bother me no more
-
cause I just found
my threshold place to stand
between the devil’s arms
and the promised land

© 2019 Caleb Braley

Threshold

up on the rocks of a long forgotten shore
that’s where my wreck was found
sunken, settled, grown into the reef
that’s where my wreck was found
-
by the stars I’d plotted me a course
i lost my way and ran aground
floating, aimless, beholden to the storm
i lost my way and ran aground
-
amidst the waves and the anger of the ocean 
i heard a whisper in the fog
a golden song 
an angel in the night
singing so many reasons not to drown
-
on your way up I’m the bough you break
i brave the flood when your river jumps its banks
no matter what it takes
i’ll shine my light until the darkness fades away
-
i’ll shine it on, through the blackest night
on the coast, two days south of the golden mines
i’ll write a poem, reminiscing about the better times
when your dreams were flowing strong
i’ll shine it on, through the winds and the raging tides
on the coast, two days south of the golden mines
a little song, reminiscing about the better times
before you lost your way and ran aground
-
oh! the dust from that raging sea of jade
would burn my eyes if I came around
crashing breakers turn these cliffs to sand
out where my wreck was found
-
on your way up I’m the bough you break
and all your doubts will fill this empty space
no matter what it takes
i’ll shine my light until the darkness fades away
-
when i looked up underneath that wave
from the peaceful depths, rolling emerald, sage
that when I saw my mistake

© 2019 Caleb Braley

Beacon

out on the open road
I found my mind wandering back home
-
across the river through the trees
where they built all those fancy houses
i catch this old rhythm i used to know
way back when i used to wonder what i was missing
out there on the open road
-
on them back roads that we used to drive
i just catch this old vibe i used to know
way back when i used to spend all my days singing
songs of longing for the other coast
-
what if we chase our dreams
but only catch the feelings
what if that’s all we ever know?
-
don’t bury all of those memories in the ground
cause ten years on you will still recognize the shroud
don’t tell yourself that you will never be the same
once you cross the divide
you know it’s a long way down to the other side
don’t burn up all of those memories in the fire
ten years gone you would still wonder if its wise
to tell yourself that you will never be the same
once you cross the divide
in the blackest night
and see the other side
-
across the river through the trees
out where they built all those fancy houses
watching the leaves and the branches blow
like way back when I used to listen (well now I don’t listen)
to nothing but the sound of the open road
-
and on them back roads that we used to drive
do the days of august still have that glow?
like way back when i used to miss you (now I don’t miss you no more)
i think that’s why I’m on this road alone
-
if we chase our dreams but only catch the feeling
then what the fuck are you waiting for?

© 2019 Caleb Braley

Fancy Houses

Indie robo-folklore produced at a cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Working on my second EP now, looking to collaborate with others and tour the western states.

Cajib