On October 12th, 2010, Amanda Todd took her life after ruthless and relentless cyber bullying.  I can’t tell you exactly how I learned of this tragedy on that day, but it was likely through television or MSN news.  I also can’t tell you how much it impacted me; but I image that, with it being bundled up with many of the world’s tragedies on that day, it likely wasn’t as much as it should have.  

Fast forward approximately 2 years.  I stumbled across the video that she posted on Youtube, and this time it affected me greatly.  What I saw was a young girl who was desperately seeking friendship/companionship, and in an attempt to gain this, made a few bad choices (as we all do at that age) and was absolutely crucified for it.  

I thought of how we can sometimes be quick to judge a person’s actions, instead of taking a moment to try and determine where these actions are coming from.  I also thought of the nursery rhyme “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me”, and how it doesn’t seem to apply any more.  Sticks and stones are temporary, whereas these new verbal attacks can be permanent, and so this song was born.

I hope you enjoy it, and I also hope that you find it thought provoking. 
 

Sticks And Stones

The Journey

Lyrics by Kathryn Berry-Sauvageau
Music by Craig McIvor
Sung by Kathryn Berry-Sauvageau

Bar St. Marie

Verse I
On a Tuesday night, we’re on stage
Drums, guitar and electric bass
Ring the buzzer, she’ll let you in
The air is thick here with all kinds of sin
At the bar she only takes cash
Sips a beer that she holds in her lap

Chorus
At bar Saint Marie
They’ll take your money
While the band plays for free

Verse II
Over there, at the ATM
Cost you three dollars just to get a cent
The one armed bandit at the back
is not the only hustler in this trap
pushing forty, yellow hair
Cigarette smoke clinging to leather
He’s got something you might need
Meet you at the side door but be discrete

Chorus (2X)

From up on stage, it’s quite a show
Watching life by the empty and the stoned
Behind the bar, she flicks her hair
Sings along, knowing good music never lasts here
The end of the night, we pack up
10% of sales? Not even a buck

Chorus (2X)

Like the sign says ‘only cash’
No profits here
That's why the bands never last.





Challenge # 6 - Bar St. Marie Edited Version (Craig McIvor and Kathryn Berry-Sauvageau)

The Road

She hits the road. Her bags packed and loaded
Somewhat scared, but glad to be out on her own
There she goes, on her way to New York City
With the small town in the dust, and the memory of him standing there alone
She loves him so, but she hope he knows

Life is a road, a road that's meant for driving
If you're not, you're just surviving
That's no way to live, and
No matter where you are, it's not that far to get back home
When you know you can go
Hit the road

She hits the road. The Big Apple in the mirror
Things would be a little clearer without tears filling her eyes
It didn't go quite the way she planned it
Now she's heading home, she hopes he hasn't found somebody new,
What would she do, if that were true, but

Life is a road adding lines to the spaces
Creating links to all the places, where we all want to go, and
No matter where you pare, it's not that far to get back home
Because you know you can go....

Flying down the highway is the only way to go
Let the road just take you, come what may
Leaving all your troubles on the black top far behind you
Let the wind blow all your cares away

Back on the road. A ring upon her finger
Kids sleeping in the back seat. Husband there behind the wheel
There she goes. A new dream on the horizon
Everything has changed; all her dreams are sitting right there in the car
She didn't have to travel far

Life is a road. A road of our creation
Not about the destination, but the miles along the way
Go it alone, or take passenger there with you, but
No matter where you are, it's not that far to get back home
When you know you can go
Hit the road


The Road

PANNING FOR GOLD
Lyrics by Ros Schwartz
Music by Craig McIvor
© 2016

CHORUS
Journeying through time and space
Another day another place
Don't know what the future holds
Will the streets be paved with gold?

VERSE
Under cycling stars and sun
A search for treasure has begun
What riches wait around the twists and bends?
Do I have the Midas touch 
 … but just a little, not too much!
Will strangers I've not met transmute to friends?

CHORUS
Journeying through time and space
Another day another place
Don't know what the future holds
Perhaps I'll find a pot of gold

BRIDGE 
Panning through the sand and water 
Searching for that golden glow
The dust we find upon the surface
Hints of hidden veins below

VERSE
Full moon blessing from on high
Golden lantern in the sky
Lights a golden bridge from there to here
Our hearts linked by a golden chain
From you to me and back again
Our friendship is a treasure to hold dear

CHORUS
Journeying through time and space
Another day another place
Don't know what the future holds
But friendship is as good as gold

BRIDGE 
Panning through the sand and water 
Searching for that golden glow
The dust we find upon the surface
Hints of hidden veins below

CHORUS
Journeying through time and space
Another day another place
Don't know what the future holds
But friendship is as good as gold



Panning For Gold

One Step

Two wrongs can sometimes make a right
So come be wrong with me tonight
I know you're scared, taking a chance is hard
I'll show you what it's like to be free

Your world gets smaller every day
Walls closing in, while you chase all your fears away
No room to grow when you're cooped up inside yourself
That's just no way for you to be

(Chorus)
Step off with me
You're just one foot over the edge
and a free-fall away from changing everything
Step off with me
Put one foot over the edge, and free-fall
in to where you're meant to be 
take one step over with me

You know you're meant for bigger things
Stretch out you legs to find what this big world brings
There's so much there for you to see
You'll finally taste what it's like to be free.

Chorus

Instrumental Verse

Chorus


One Step - Craig McIvor

Lyrics:  Craig McIvor/Les Hauge
Music: Craig McIvor

Been here too long
Watching you move to a Michael Ray song
I can feel something cooking
Big fight Last night
Me and my baby we just ain't right
That don't mean that I'm looking

I see your blue eyes coming this way

Don't keep doing that thing
You’re shaking your hips and it’s driving me crazy
Don't keep pulling my strings
Moving in close and calling me baby
Don't stare there, playing with your hair there, thinking this is going anywhere
Just don't

You look so hot, even better with every shot
of this whiskey I'm drinking

Should be home not warming this stool
Shouldn't've said things, Should have been cool
What the hell was I thinking

I know exactly what you're going to say, so just

Don't keep doing that thing
You’re shaking your hips and it’s driving me crazy
Don't keep pulling my strings
Moving in close and calling me baby
Don't stare there, playing with your hair there, thinking this is going anywhere
Just don't

I saw this coming from a mile away

Don't keep doing that thing
You’re shaking your hips and it’s driving me crazy
Don't keep pulling my strings
Moving in close and calling me baby
Don't stare there, playing with your hair there, thinking this is going anywhere
Just don't
Just don’t

Don't - Craig McIvor Les Hauge

Music and Lyrics by:  Craig McIvor

In the distance I see the sun is on the rise
In an instant I'll feel the heat come from its light
Now the difference is that you're not here with me
In a minute I'll think of ways to fill my day without you in it
Because I don't know what to do, I'm just a broken man
I don't understand what made you leave

But I've got to believe (that)

Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow will be better than today
Maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and say
I'm better off this way

Was it something that was pushing you from me or
Was it nothing, you just wanted to be free
I'll spend the afternoon, thinking 'bout how you did me wrong

Then I gotta move on (so)

Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow will be better than today
Maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and say
I'm better off this way

The only constant is change
I could use a little change right now
‘Cause life without you’s getting harder to take, but I’ll
Get through somehow.

In the evening I'll drink away my tears and finally 
Stop believing that you're ever coming back (but)

Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow will be better than today
Maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and say
I'm better off this way

Maybe Tomorrow - Craig McIvor

I wake up early 'cause I can't be late
Big day ahead, the world on my plate and
I hurry and worry about all of the things that I'll face

I get all dressed up, head down the stairs
There you are curled up in your favorite chair
I stop for a moment, to take it all in
That's when I know it, you bring

The best out of me
Lift me up when I've fallen
The best out of me
Make me smile when down
The best out of me
Keep reminding me all of the time
Everything's fine, you bring
The best out of me (X2)

Walk through the door at the end of the day
Worn and tired of running this race
Holding on tight, I'm ready to break down inside
I head down the hallway, straight to the kitchen
There you are singing, hard not to listen 
I stop for a moment to take it all in
that's when I know it, you bring
The best out of me
Lift me up when I've fallen
The best out of me
Make me smile when down
The best out of me
Keep reminding me all of the time
Everything's fine, you bring
The best out of me

Repeat Chorus

The Best Out Of Me - Craig McIvor/North Easton

Table for one

VERSE
Late night in a crowded café
Tryin’ to will you to look my way
Your hair, your face, your denim and lace
I feel my heart start to race

It pleases me that you’re alone
Though your head is stuck in your phone
I know a great dessert we can share
But your table has only one chair

        CHORUS
	You’re sittin’ there ten feet away
	Ten thousand words I’d like to say
	Before we walk off in the sun
	But I may not get the chance
	You won’t give me the slightest glance
	And you’re at a table for one

Closing time is drawing near
Will you even know I’m here
This fool will never be your friend
If I cross your path again

Losing faith, I hesitate
You keep starin’ at your plate
Goodbye love, hello despair
I’m nowhere without a chair

	REPEAT CHORUS

		BRIDGE
		Then you smile at me and flip your hair
		And ask the waiter for one more chair

	FINAL CHORUS
	You’re sitting here two feet away
	Ten thousand things I’m gonna say
        As we walk off in the sun
	Together now we have a chance
	To make all kinds of crazy plans
	No longer a table for one

Craigster67

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