Lovely Lady

Of all the songs Johnny and I have written we feel this one most passionately. Young men and women are being killed and maimed in incomprehensible wars but far worse is the fact that their political masters are failing to take care of them. This story is everywhere in America today. This song is dedicated to the young courageous service men and women and their spouses who endure the unbearable every day. God Bless them.

"Dulce est Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori" is the old lie that parents have told their children for centuries. "It is sweet and proper to die for your country".
It is neither. You are just dead.

In the Blink of an Eye
Music and Lyrics by John Serrano and Charles Feilding

He was someone I knew long ago
Who was once handsome and tall as you
He thought that he had it made, ( he did you know! )
But it didn't turn out that way
She was young, she was lovely and loved him
They were married right out of high school
But the Devil won't stand for happiness

In the blink of an eye
Like a flash in the pan
It was a million to one
Everything changes

So he signed up with Uncle Sam
She stayed home with the kids and her fears.
He would video home on his cell phone
(How they struggled to keep love alive.!)
But the horrors of war would dethrone him
Now he screams in his dreams (when he sleeps)
And his night clothes are drenched to the bone

In the blink of an eye
Like a flash in the pan
Everything changes

In the blink of an eye he saw death
Rule in the name of freedom
With a flash in the pan he killed his first man,
It's a million to one he came home at all
Just another life fed to the dogs of war.
She wheels him around and dreams of days gone by.

In the blink of an eye
Like a flash in the pan
It's a million to one
Everything changes

There's a thousand yard stare in his eyes
And sometimes there's just no one home
Everyone says he's a hero
But no one can know what it cost
I don't think two new legs and a medal
Can ever replace what he lost
Was it all worth the pain and the suffering?

In the blink of an eye
(Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori)
It was a million to one
(Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori)
Everything changed

In The Blink Of An Eye

The Seeds of Happiness

There's a painting on the wall of my studio 
Of the woman who gave breath to my soul
It was painted by the hand of my father  
Who died before his time so long ago.

She looks a little sad in the painting
Though kindness lifts the corners of her eyes
She loved me for as long as I remember being alive
And I loved her until the day she died.

Chorus
She taught me the three things we need to be happy
Her words so simple I cannot forget
Something to do, someone to love,  something to hope for
These are the seeds of happiness.

She told me that the order is important
You need something to do just to survive
But money won't bring happiness till it's shared with one you love.
Love brings happiness to life

It's so easy to be swayed by temptations
To think that better things make better lives.
But time will show these things to be empty hollow promises
Happiness comes only from inside

She taught me the three things we need to be happy
Her words so simple I cannot forget
Something to do, someone to love,  something to hope for.
These are the seeds of happiness.

Something to do
Some one to love
Something to hope for
These are the seeds of happiness.

Seeds Of Happiness

Dawn Light

In the silence between dreams I sometimes hear
The whisper of a voice that I once loved -  long ago.
But the darkness cannot hide the joy we shared - the love we made
And I lie awake and dream of long lost times, 
And I hold her in my arms
Till the  Dawn Light  breaks the spell in the morning..

She always was the beauty at the dance
And I never thought that I could win her heart - and her soul
And when ever I would hear her lilting  laugh - it  reminds me
Of the long lost love we shared so sweet and strong, 
And I hold her in my arms
Till the  Dawn Light breaks the spell 

She always gave me shelter from the rain
She was always there to cool and sooth my pain
She showed me what it meant to  be a man
The life we made burned bright if not long
And I fall into the dream...too much too soon
And hold her in my heart 
Till the  Dawn Light breaks the spell in the morning

Funny how some loves refuse to die
And in the end her life and mine both went their different ways in the end
But then sometimes when the night is cold and still - I seem to hear 
The echo of her voice so sweet and clear - 
And I hold her in my arms
Till the Dawn Light beaks the spell 

She always gave me shelter from the rain
She was always there to cool and sooth my pain
She showed me what it meant to be a man
The life we made burned brightly if not long
And I fall into the dream… too much too soon
And I hold her in my heart 
Till the  Dawn Light  breaks the spell in the morning

C3
I always gave her shelter from the rain
I was always there to cool and sooth her pain
She always was a woman when I needed her to be
The life we made burned brightly if not long
And I fall into the dream..too much too soon
And I hold her in my heart 
Till the  Dawn Light breaks the spell in the morning

Dawn-Light


Music by Johnny Serrano and Charlie Feilding
Lyrics by Charlie Feilding



The Grand Design

I am growing old
My shadow's growing longer
Much longer than it used to be
When I was just a boy..
I am growing old 
My eyes are growing dimmer
Yet I can see much further than 
I ever did before.

I have seen the Grand Design
The whole arc of creation
By standing on the shoulders of
All those who came before me.
There are no words to describe it,
Just shadows on a window pane.
The wonders of the universe 
Are in the Grand Design.

We are the dance of life
On a stage beyond imagining.
Where we're from and where we go,
Is not for us to see.
We must care for each other
Ease each other's suffering.
Love and understanding are
The only things we need.

Everything we need to know
Is all right here before us,
The sparkle in a baby's eyes,
A blazing sunset sky.
It doesn't need a single God,
It doesn't need a special church.
Creation is it's own reward
Is all that I have learned

Born at the dawn of time 
The bright fires of creation 
Made all the stars that we can see
The earth, and you and me
We are all born of star light so
Teach your children as they grow
Dance with them the dance of life, 
Show them all you know.

They will see the Grand Design
The whole arc of creation,
By standing on the shoulders of
All those who came before them.
There are no words to describe it
Like shadows on a window pane
The wonders of the universe 
Are in the Grand Design.

The Grand Design

I always wondered why I love to travel.
For me it was a brushstroke on a Vase.

China Vase

There is a time in a boy's life (about 10-12 years old) when he falls madly in love with a beautiful girl and would gladly die for her. She, however, is content to play catch on Saturday but otherwise he does not exist. Mine was called Belinda.


Music Johnny Serrano
Lyrics Charles Feilding
Arranged Charles and Johnny

Lovely Belinda sing me your love song.
Waken my spirit, please don't you be long.
Help me find a world of purest fantasy.
Love that never ends and life that's always free.
In your face I see the light of certainty
In your vision I believe..

Saturday morning we'll be together
Climbing the hillside running for ever
I can see her hair like golden strands of sun.
Hear her silver laugh like ripples on the pond.
Like two new born birds just learning how to fly,
We were cast upon the wind!

All along I knew she never would be mine
I can't catch the wind nor cage the passing time.
So we'll sing our love songs try to make each day long
Living and laughing we'll try to find our way.
We'll try to find our way.

Lovely Belinda, she is my best friend
I'll never tell her just what our love meant.
Soon the time will come when she'll be far away
I'll remember her until my dying day.
Hear her love songs dancing lightly from her smile
Words we sing but dare not say..

All along I knew she never could be mine
I can't catch the wind nor cage the passing time.
So we sang our love songs tried to make each day long
Living and laughing we'll try to find our way.
We try to find our way
Living for each day
Trying not so say...."I love you"


Lovely Belinda

In 1972 I must have been crazy in love with someone - but it didn't work out as planned. This song is about the hope that comes with young love

The Image Of The Rose
 
Scarcely a moment ago
You and I first began
Almost a lifetime to share
Now that we know we can

We'll see a rosebud unfurl
Lift bright wings to the day
Open it's heart to the sun
And its love to the world.

Let us laugh without care
Let richness fill our souls
Some dreams to warm the cold.
Let us love without fear
We'll pass the days with ease
We know what we will be
As a Rosebud knows
The Image of a Rose

We will give breath to a soul
Leave new life when we're gone
Kindle a new flame of love
So the world can live on

Rosebuds are soon overblown
Scarlet petals may fade
Winter will scatter the leaves
But the rose still remains
Blessed by the rain
It will grow once again



The Image Of The Rose

Seasons. When a woman loves you unconditionally for 30+ years the least a man can do is to write a song about her. This is about April - my one true love in all seasons..

Seasons
 Music: Johnny Serrano 
Lyric: Charlie Feilding


Oh I can't quite explain how I feel 
Cause the meaning of words are too frail 
Still I want you to know how I feel my love 
What a wonderful life it has been! 
And it's only your love made it so every day.

How I wish there were words I could use.
 I would paint all the shades of your soul
 Every color I choose would reveal in bright hues
 All the joys I have shared thanks to you!
 And its only your love made it so every day my love.

I know Seasons go round in their turn 
And that Spring is for rebirth and joy
 Summer brings fruitful harvests of gold
 Lovely Autumn dreams fall on the land 
Old man Winter kept us warm under snow
 But I know that it all has to end.
 So I'm taking the time to write down this song 
Which I hope will explain how I feel
 Just how grateful I am for the life you've given me my love.

It's the love in your heart kept me warm
 It's the light in your eyes let me see
 It's the sound of your laugh kept the joy in my heart 
It's the touch of your lips set me free
 And its only your love made it so every day my love.

I know Seasons go round in their turn
 And that April is for rebirth and joy
 Summer brings fruitful harvests of gold
 Lovely Autumn dreams fall on the land 
Old man Winter kept us warm under snow
 But I know that it all has to end
 So I'm taking the time to write down this song 
Which I hope will explain how I feel
 Just how grateful I am for the life you've given me my love.
My love 
My love
 My love
My love
 For the life you've given me my love.


Seasons

New York is one of the great cities of the world and you can find anything you look for there - good and bad. I always loved the New Yorker's typically resilient reaction to catastrophe - a shrug and "Eh, its just summer in New York." or words to that effect.  My first apartment in NYC was a sublet in the Village with some unusual features - like the lavatory was not actually in the apartment - it was just outside the front door in the hall. As a result it got frequent visitors many of whom left their wisdom on the wall. My favorite was "If you think you're one in a million there's seven in New York just like yer".  All of which were the inspiration for this song. Once again I am deeply indebted to my partner Johnny Serrano for bringing this song to life. I wrote it in the early 80's but its not a song till someone sings it.

Summer in New York
Music Charles Feilding
Lyrics Charles Feilding
Vocal Johny Serrano


It's Summer in New York
All the pretty girls come out to play
Soaking up the sun in Central Park
Girl be home, be home before dark

It's Summer in the City,
Here when Beauty lies down with the Beast
Beggars starve within sight of the feast
And all the people look the other way.

Here every lost desire can find its place
Just pay your money boy and hide your face
And  I would take the time to feel your pain but it's just Summer 
Summer In New York again

Bethesda Fountain band is hot
Rocking to the Quintos and the Congas
Sirens chase the echoes of a shot
It's just New York's way of keeping down the numbers..

Here every form of madness shows its cause
For every one that wins so many lost
And I would take the time to count the cost but it's just Summer
Summer in New York again..

Here every lost desire can find its place,
Just pay yet money boy and hide your face 
I hope one day you join the human race but it's just Summer
Summer in New York again.

If you think you're one in a million
There's eight point two  in New York just like yer.
If you want to succeed  in the City  
Your gonna have to do  better than that, you gotta clean up your act
	
Here every form of genius shines its light
Here every fighter comes to join the fight
And I would take the time to learn whats right
But its just Summer In New York again.


Charlie & Johnnie

Popular tracks