The Instrument – By Jeff G – 1/28/2021
Intro
[C] [G]

[C]I’m not very
[F]Big or [C]heavy
[C]I sit most days
[F]In a [C]stand
[G]I sometimes get a
[F]Little [G]dusty
[C]Some days I’m not much
[F]In de[C]mand
But [Am]I can be as patient [G]
As I re[C]main [F][C] [C][F][C][G]

[C]My skin can sure
[F]Take a [C]beating
[C]Though my body still
[F]Keeps it’s [C]curves
[G]My neck is long
[F]And out [G]sticking
[C]To my head that
Set[F]tles my [C]nerves 
To[Am]gether I’m almost whole 
But I’m [G]better if someone [C]plays me [F][C] [C][F][C]

And my [Am]strings
Are better [F]strummed
And the [C]sound 
I make when [G]someone 
Begins to [Am]play
A melody some[F]times
Hopeful[C]ly
In [G]time with a [F]song [C][F][C] [C][F][C][G]

And the [C]sound can last
[F]A [C]while
[C]Played in any old 
[F]kind of [C]style
[G]I’m not 
Par[F]ticu[G]lar
[C]No tune
[F]Can de[C]file
So [Am]pick me up
[G]Tune me right in and [C]play me [F][C]
Yes [Am]pick me up
[G]Tune me right in and [C]play me [F][C] [C][F][C]

The Instrument

Saint Lucia – By Jeff Gilpin

Intro Verse chords

[Dm]Sounds of the surf at the start of the day
[Bb]Walking the beach as the waves break away
[F]Looking for treasure washed up on the sand
[C]Refused by the sea to land where it lands

There’s nothing else to hear all around
Beach chairs are empty no people sound
Palm trees, sea almond trees gently sway
Going to get busy here later today

[Bb]One of my favorite parts of the [F]day
Peaceful awaking
[Bb]One of my favorite parts of the [F]day
There’s no [C]mistaking

I see a path on the side of the beach
Meanders on over where locals all meet
No noisy tourists walk over to play
Mostly the resort is where they all stay 

This time of the morning resort is prepping
Cleaning up trash tables resetting
Making things ready for all their guest
Who’ll sit on their beach chairs that look to the west
 
One of my favorite parts of the day
Peaceful awaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
There’s no mistaking

But I’m taking that path to wander on over
My morning walk no sun on my shoulder
The sand just same the waves the same too
Trees on the beach, mango, cashew

A waking up local waves and says hi
We talk about trees, the weather, the sky
He passes on knowledge all about his bay
Cracks open some almonds explaining the way

One of my favorite parts of the day
Peaceful awaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
There’s no mistaking

We talk for a while about all his dreams
About his tiny hut and his future schemes
Starting out simple but his dreams are grand
Going to make gold out of his piece of sand

I see the dream he has in his mind
See he believes that he’ll keep trying
Keep working hard keep doing right
That might just payoff but not overnight  

One of my favorite parts of the day
Peaceful awaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
There’s no mistaking

Sun starts to peek in through the trees
Warming the up day with humidity
He shares some local fruit that has grown
On his stretch of beach where he calls home

We talk some more and we feel the rain patter
Doesn’t last long as clouds start to scatter  
We say our goodbyes and I wish him well
And I end up with another story to tell

One of my favorite parts of the day
Peaceful awaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
There’s no mistaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
Peaceful awaking
One of my favorite parts of the day
There’s no mistaking

End Strumming Dm

Saint Lucia

My Hourglass of Sand – By Jeff Gilpin

[C]Upstairs writing words
[G]Whatever comes to mind
[C]What I’ve gained what I’ve lost
And [F]what I’ve left behind
[C]Trying, thinking what to say
[G]To drive her hurt away
[F]Words are sitting here to stay
‘Til she comes back a[C]round

[C]Problem’s that she’s far away
[G]Yet in my thoughts to stay
[C]Taking up her residence
My [F]mind her unmade bed
[C]I see her sitting there
[G]Me, she doesn’t want to hear
[F]But it keeps her picture near
Refreshing my mind’s [C]eye

And [F]I know that she knows
[C]But that’s the way it goes
The [F]days just flow on and on 
In my [G]hourglass of sand [F]

[C]Wonder when she’ll come around
[G]Maybe come on back to town
[C]Hope I’ll be a little spry but
[F]Likely tired and catching five
[C] The continent divides
[G]But I’m not trying to hide and
[F]She knows where she can find
Her old man growing [C]older

Solo on chorus F C F G F

[C]Until that time I guess
[G]I’ll stay here in my mess
[C]Where only I can find
[F]A way to mend this tear
[C]I’m good at fixing stuff
[G]Hopefully I’m good enough
To [F]fix the gulf between us
And to make us whole a[C]gain

Chorus x 2 end fade on verse chords

none

My Hourglass of Sand

Yesterday’s Hero -  By Jeff Gilpin - November 4, 2012

He [Am]grew up in America
[F]Loved his [G]country [Am]so
After school he enlisted as
A [F]regular [G]GI [Am]Joe
[C]He went off to [G]fight the war
[F]A hero through and [G]through
[Am]Served his country long and proud
The [F]way some [G]heroes [Am]do

[C][G][F][G][E][E7]

[Am]Trained to use a rifle
To [F]be part [G]of a [Am]team
Kept all his issued equipment
[F]Servicea[G]ble and [Am]clean
[C]Kept head when [G]things went red
[F]Spun down when things were [G]done
Made [Am]sure his feelings stayed in check
[F]Didn’t have [G]too much [Am]fun

[C][G][F][G][E][E7]

[Am]Finished up his duty
[F]Honora[G]bly dis[Am]charged
Thanked for all his service 
[F]Given [G]his re[Am]ward
Has [C]skills that he must [G]put away
Un[F]less he can ap[G]ply
[Am]All his deadly solder skills
[F]Much more [G]civi[Am]lized

[C][G][F][G][E][E7]

[Am]Never found a job that fit
[F]Now he’s [G]hearing [Am]voices
Comes from being wound to tight
And [F]making [G]deadly [Am]choices
He’s [C]living on the [G]street somewhere
His [F]job now to sur[G]vive
[Am]Shelter food and drink and warmth
[F]Trying to[G]stay a[Am]live

[C][G][F][G][E][E7]

He’s [Am]got another team now
With the [F]unit [G]of the [Am]homeless
Heros from forgotten times
[F]Though he [G]couldn’t [Am]care less
He [C]doesn’t mind the [G]lifestyle
For he’s [F]done it all be[G]fore
[Am]Kept his country safe and sound
U[F]pon some [G]foreign [Am]shore

[C][G][F][G][Am][F][G][Am]

Yesterday's Hero

Things Are Going to Change – By Jeff Gilpin – 9-25-2022

[Am]Time goes by things change
[Am]It’s always been that way
[F]Life gets rearranged
[Am]Nothing’s here to stay
From the [G]cradle to the grave
The [C]one thing you can’t [G]save
[Am]Because [G]things are going to [Am]change [Em]

[Am]Too far back for me
[Am]Forgotten how it was
[F]But some hidden memories
[Am]Remain just because
[G]Even way back long ago
[C]Far too quickly [G]never slow
[Am]I learned [G]things will always [Am]change

Interlude F G Am F G D E

[Am]Early memories
When [Am]I was just a kid
[F]Forest full of trees
When I [Am]wanted to be hid
[G]Then I left the trees behind
[C]Moved with other [G]place to hide
New [Am]places that [G]came with a lot of [Am]change [Em]

[Am]Life’s all full of changes
[Am]Good, bad, in betweens
[F]Always filled rearranging
[Am]Nothing is as it seemed
[G]Sometimes better sometimes worse
[C]Just the way of the [G]universe
[Am]Always [G]thing are going to [Am]change

Repeat interlude

[Am]Time goes by things change
[Am]It’s always been that way
[F]Life gets rearranged
[Am]Nothing’s here to stay
From the [G]cradle to the grave
The [C]one thing you can’t [G]save
[Am]Because [G]things are going to [Am]change x 2 - end strumming Am7

Things Are Going to Change

Things are Going to Change

Hey Lisa - By Jeff Gilpin - March 31st, 2008
Intro
[E]x4[A][Em/D]
Verse 1
[E]Hey Lisa would you help me please
[E]You got the only set of car keys
Could you [A]give me a ride to the other side of [E]town
I’ve [B7]got to go out and [A]see what’s going [E]down [A] [Em/D]
[E]Lisa, if you’re going out could I come too
[E]Just staying home I got nothing to do
I [A]promise I won’t get in your [E]way
So [B7]let me go with you [A]come on Lis’ what do you [E]say [A] [Em/D]

Chorus 
[A]I’m just your little brother
But I’m [A]also your friend
I’ll [E]always be there too [E7]
You [A]let me hang around
With you [A]all over town
[B7]Hey Lisa this one’s for you [A] [Em/D]

Verse 2
[E]Hey Lisa now you’re off at school
[E]Could I come over, I won’t act a fool
[A]Let me meet your friends and see this college [E]life
[B7]Show me your struggles and [A]show me all of your [E]strife [A] [Em/D]
[E]Hey Lisa seems a lot of fun
[E]Campus life is crazy always on the run 
[A]But I’m not sure it’s the life for [E]me
[B7]I think I’ll go off and [A]join the milita[E]ry [A][Em/D]

Chorus 
[A]I’m just your little brother
But I’m [A]also your friend
I’ll [E]always be there too [E7]
You [A]let me hang around
With you [A]all over town
[B7]Hey Lisa this one’s for you [A] [Em/D]

Verse 3
Hey [E]Lisa I see you’re now overseas
I guess [E]military life runs in our family
[A]You’re a ground pounder while I took to the [E]air
[B7]Doesn’t really matter because [A]we’re both over [E]there [A][Em/D]
[E]Hey Lisa, what’s that you say
You’re [E]hanging up your boots at the end of the day
You’re [A]going to go back, try your hand at civilian [E]life
[B7]Spend a little time as a [A]mom and as a [E]wife [A][Em/D]

Chorus 
[A]I’m just your little brother
But I’m [A]also your friend
I’ll [E]always be there too [E7]
You [A]let me hang around
With you [A]all over town
[B7]Hey Lisa this one’s for you [A] [Em/D]

Verse 4
[E]Hey Lisa you’re a Grandma now
[E]All I can say is, Holy Cow
I [A]never would have guessed it way back in the [E]day
But [B7]there you are now and [A]there you’re going to [E]stay [A][Em/D]
Well [E]all in all I guess it all worked out
[E]Looking way back when you drove me about
[A]You were my pal then and you’re still my pal [E]now
[B7]I’m a pretty lucky [A]brother, brother and [E]how [A][Em/D]

Chorus 
[A]I’m just your little brother
But I’m [A]also your friend
I’ll [E]always be there too [E7]
You [A]let me hang around
With you [A]all over town
[B7]Hey Lisa this one’s for you [A] [Em/D][E][E7]

Hey Lisa

Trying to Steer (You Back Home to Me) – Jeff G – 4/2/2023

[F][G][G][C]
Will you [C]grieve 
After I’m [G]gone
Will you [Am]cry 
After I [G]pass 
Will you [C]say 
How much you [G]miss me
If you [Am]miss me 
After my [G]last
Will you [C]whisper
Tender [G]words
That [Am]fall upon 
Dead [G]ears
Will you [F]grieve
When I’m [G]gone
Through forgot
About me [C]tears

[F]But I’m here today
[Am]Missing you that way
[F]Living over here just
[G]Trying to steer
You back on home to [C]me

[C] [G] [Am] [G] [F] [G] [G] [C]

A [C]flower
In the [G]woods
Sur[Am]viving
Through the [G]storms
[C]Hardened
By the [G]world outside
[Am]Driven and
Re[G]formed
[C]Memories
Fall a[G]way
[Am]Good bad
In be[G]tween
[F]Somewhere
In the [G]cracks
Are your memories
Of [C]me

The [F]me you used to know
[Am]Wherever I’d go
[F]Forgot all those times
Life was [G]sunshine
You back home with [C]me

[F] [Am] [F] [G] [C]

I [C]know
Where you [G]are
These [Am]words won’t
Reach that [G]far
If they [C]even
Reach at [G]all
A[Am]mong your
Trees so [G]tall
But I [C]send 
Them your [G]way
Like a [Am]cat
A feral [G]stray
[F]Reaching 
You they [G]may
Remind you
Of [C]me

[F]Writing you today
[Am]Missing you that way
[F]Living over here
Just [G]trying to steer
You back home to [Am]me [F][G][C]

Trying to Steer

The Distant Shore – Jeff Gilpin – 4/8/2023

[A]A ship full of memories
[A]Sails out on the ocean
[G]Destined for the distant [A]shore
[A]Braving the waters
Like a [A]house full of squatters
Getting kicked [G]out on the distant [A]shore
But [G]oh, oh there’re so [A]many
And the [G]ship she’s far from [A]empty
[G]Riding [C]low[D] for the distant [A]shore

Tossed and turned and driven
Like the house we once lived in
Destined for that distant shore
Stories told of wonder
Like the sounds of distant thunder
Beckoning we want some more
But [G]oh, oh there’re so [A]many
And the [G]story’s near the [A]ending
[G]List[C]en[D]ing for the distant [A]shore

Solo on verse and chords while humming

The distant shore she calls us
Like fish to a walrus
Hungrily wanting more
While we go on swimming
Thinking we are winning
Finishing at the mongers store
But [G]oh, oh there’re so [A]many
And the [G]stores are selling [A]plenty
[G]Was[C]ting a[D]way on the distant [A]shore

The Distant Shore

Good Company – Jeff Gilpin (started in 11/3/2014 – finished in 5/20/2023)

[Aadd4]Dancing to the [Am]band with [Aadd2]no one [Am]else
[Aadd4]Just came as a [Am]friend now I’m [Aadd2]by my[Am]self
[F]Making the best of the [G]situation
[F]Hear the beat to the [G]same sensation
In a [C]crowd but all alone
[Am]Better than sitting at home
[F]Making good compa[G]ny
With my[F]self [G]

But [C]one day I will meet
The [Am]one I’ve been waiting for
[F]Out there somewhere
[G]Maybe even on the [C]dance floor [G]
[C]Keeping my eyes wide open
[Am]For my destiny
[F]Somewhere out there
[G]Waiting for [F]me

[Aadd4]Thinking that [Am]maybe I’m a [Aadd2]wasting my [Am]time
[Aadd4]Shed enough [Am]tears now I’m [Aadd2]done with [Am]crying
[F]Shaking it off both the [G]good and bad
[F]No sense reliving all the [G]times I’ve had
[C]Seeing the road ahead
On the [Am]crooked path I’ve lead
[F]Made good compa[G]ny
With my[F]self [G]

But [C]one day I will meet
The [Am]one I’ve been waiting for
[F]Out there somewhere
[G]Maybe even on the [C]dance floor [G]
[C]Keeping my eyes wide open
[Am]For my destiny
[F]Somewhere out there
[G]Waiting for [F]me

Good Company

Just A Rumor – Jeff Gilpin – 8/10/2023

Introduction – C / C / F / F X2
  
[Am]Waking up late
Go for a walk
Down by the lake
Sit there and talk
Out to the water
Out to the air
Doesn’t really matter
No one's there

Repeat intro C / C / F / F X2

[Am]Come back home
Coffee to make
Try not to spill it or
Make a mistake
Get it all started
Sit for a spell
Nothing to worry about
All is well

Repeat intro C / C / F / F X2 plus G at the end

[Em]As time passes on
I'm settling on in
Life's full of Changes
From the beginning to end
People cross our path
Then go away
I think about them all
Here comes another day

Repeat Intro C / C / F / F X2

[Am]Getting used to
Changing times
World keeps spinning
Like repeated rhymes
Time’s a great
Equalizer
As I get older
Not much wiser

Repeat Intro C / C / F / F X2

[Am]Out with the old
In with the new
All folks still
Need something to do
I'm watching it all
With commentary
See lots of wicked
Not a lot of wary

Repeat intro C / C / F / F X2 plus G on the end

[Em]I’m just over here
Seeing where we go
Life-like forecast
Not a lot of snow
I'll keep on grinning
Though not a lot of humor
“Hey, I heard you retired?”
“Ah, that’s just a rumor.”
Outro (Intro chords) C / C / F / F X2 G C

Just a Rumor

G C G C G C G

[C]Woke up to the [Am]rain
Set my [G]mind to mus[C]ing
To the [G]sound so soo[C]thing
While my [G]ears were sadly loo[C]sing
[G]Most of the [Am]details

[C]Thunder rumbles [Am]on
Off in the [G]distance down a [C]ways
After [G]flashing vein like [C]rays
As [G]nighttime leaves for the [C]day
A [G]cloud muted [Am]sunrise

Stormy [G]morning [C]
Stormy [G]morning [C] [G] [C] [D]

Try to shut my eyes
But my mind refuses to bend
Not going down that path again
With my dreams forgotten
At least for the moment

Roll on out of bed
Go through my morning routine
Replay the familiar old scene
Tee-shirt, sneakers, and jeans
Then go take the dog out

Stormy [G]morning [C]
Stormy [G]morning [C] [G] [C] [D]

And we [Am]walk for a [C]while through shimmering [G]showers
[Am]Blinking, reflecting [C]light seems like for [G]hours
[Am]Our time, me and my [C]dog strengthening powers  [D]

After our short morning stroll
Our journey comes to an end
An unhurried meeting with friends
The kind you want to remember
When you start forgetting

Cleaning up doesn’t take long
Just a towel off and a shake
A treat for my doggy to take
After one paw and handshake
Mission accomplished

Stormy [G]morning [C]
Stormy [G]morning [C] [G] [C] [G] [C]

Stormy Morning

Rambling Boy – Jeff Gilpin – 9/1/2023
Intro 
[E]-[A]-[E]-[A]-[E]-[A]-[E]-[A]-[E]
~
[A]I’m nothing [E]more than a [A]rambling [E]boy
Just a [A]rambling [E]boy just a [A]rambling [E]boy
[A]I’m nothing [E]more than a [A]rambling [E]boy
Just a [A]rambling a[E]way this [A]morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Rambled on down to the Apple Festival
To the Apple Festival to the Apple Festival
Rambled on down to the Apple Festival
To the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Saw pretty Cindy just a sitting there
Just a sitting there just a sitting there
Saw pretty Cindy just a sitting there
At the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Saw honey crisp just the color of her hair
Just the color of her hair just the color of her hair
Saw honey crisp just the color of her hair
At the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
One’ll cost me a dollar and a half
Just a dollar and a half Just a dollar and a half
One’ll cost me a dollar and a half
At the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Only had a quarter to my name
Just a quarter to my name it’s a crying shame
Only had a quarter to my name
At the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Rambled on up to the Aldi store
To the Aldi Store to the Aldi Store
Rambled on up to the Aldi Store
From the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Quarters in the carts and a couple on the floor
Yes, a couple on the floor, just a couple on the floor
Quarters in the carts and a couple on the floor
At the Aldi Store this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Left the Aldi store with my pockets full
With my pockets full with my pockets full
Left the Aldi store with my pockets full
With my pockets full this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Headed back to the Apple Festival
Bought a Honey Crisp, Bought a Honey Chrisp
Headed back to the Apple Festival
Bought a Honey Crisp this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
Looked for Cindy but she was gone
Long gone without a so long
Looked for Cindy but she was gone
From the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
[E7]So.... I sat down and ate my Honey Crisp
Ate my Honey Crisp, Ate my Honey Crisp
Down to the core so sweet on my lips
At the Apple Festival this morning
~
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
~
[A]I’m nothing [E]more than a [A]rambling [E]boy
Just a [A]rambling [E]boy. Just a [A]rambling [E]boy
[A]I’m nothing [E]more than a [A]rambling [E]boy
Just a [A]rambling a[E]way this [A]morning
[Bm] [F] [D] [A] [E] [A] [E] x2
End on [A7] [E7] [A7]

Rambling Boy

Here on the Earth Where I Stand – Jeff Gilpin – 9-22-2023

Verse
A A D A D A E E7 A A D A D A E A
Chorus
E E D E D A E A A D A D A E A	
There’re [A]stars up in the [A]heavens
And there’re [D]stars up in my [A]eyes
They [D]glitter and [A]shine
Like the [E]thoughts of the [E7]wise
And they’re [A]blinking and a [A]twinkling
And they’re [D]flirting with my [A]mind
Saying [D]come up and [A]see me
Leave [E]your world be[A]hind

I [E]don’t have to [E]answer
Those [D]flirtatious [A]calls
I [D]plan to stay [A]just where I [E]am [E7]
But I’ll [A]gaze up in [A]wonder
At [D]all that I [A]see
[D]Here on the [A]earth where [E]I [A]stand

Solo
E E D A D A E A A D A D A E A

The [A]night shines u[A]pon me
The [D]stars and the [A]moon
I [D]grin right back [A]at them 
A [E]Cheshire cat [E7]loon
[A]Content with this [A]evening
Filled with [D]stars and [A]delight
For [D]those I can [A]see 
And for [E] those out of [A]sight

I could [E]spend my whole [E]lifetime
Just [D]gazing at [A]stars
De[D]lighting my [A]thoughts from the [E]land
As I [A]gaze up in [A]wonder
At [D]all that I [A]see
[D]Here on the [A]earth where [E]I [A]stand X 2

Here on the Earth Where I Stand

Up in the Mountains – Jeff Gilpin – 10-30-2023

Intro picking and/or strumming  A

[A]They said head on to the mountains
Head on through the hills
Don’t stop until you get there
It’ll [A7]cure your worldly ills
Way up in the [D]mountains
Where the air is clean and [A]pure
So I [E]set out for the mountains [D]
Heading there for [A]sure [E]

Made it to the mountains
Didn’t take us long
Listening to that bluegrass music
While we drove along
And got to the mountains
Those Blueridge kind
Now I’m home in the mountains
Yeah mountain people are my kind

Solo on verse chords

Neighbors are from Florida
Arizona too
Some from Califor-ni-a
Maybe some from Timbuktu
But we’re all now in the mountains
Where we’re all going to stay
Might buy me a rocking chair 
Or put that off for another day

[D]Warm mountain day time
Cooler in the night
[A]Grass grows a bit greener [A7]too
[D]Hiking in the mountains
Resting when I’m done
[E]Set aside the rat race
No [E7]longer on the run
I’m up in the [A]mountains

Looking out my window
Leaves are starting to fall
Finally head up hiking
Where the people all say y’all
Way on up in the mountains
You know those Blueridge kind
Yeah, now I’m home in the mountains
Mountain people are my kind  - end on D7 the slowly strumming A

Up in the Mountains

Amara (How Can I Go on)  By Jeff Gilpin - Written sometime after 2010 and polished a bit in 2019 & 2020
 
Intro strumming C

Verse 1
[C]Let me tell you so
Of a girl I used to know
She [F]had this kind of air of majes[C]ty,
And the [F]boys across the land
Oh [C]boy how they did [Am]stand
And [D]ogle her from [D7]sea to shining [G]sea. [G7]

Verse 2
Now her [C]name was Amara
And for me well as far ah
As there [F]was no fairer damsel that I [C]knew,
And [F]I would try and woo her
Trying to [C]be her only [Am]suitor,
Bur [D]try as I [D7]might I couldn’t [G]do. [G7]

Chorus
I ask, “[F]Amara can you love me
And put no one else above me?”
[C]Amara asked of me, could I be true.
“Oh [F]true, yes, I will be.
Now Amara can you see
It in your [G]heart to also love me [F]too? ….Amara can [C]you?”

Verse 3
But A[C]mara and her beauty
Was observed by one on duty,
It was [F]officer McNalty on his [C]beat,
And Mc[F]Nalty for a time
Failed to [C]witness any [Am]crime
While [D]Amara’s beauty [D7]gave his eyes a [G]treat. [G7]

Verse 4
Now Mc[C]Nalty came up to her
And he said he thought he knew her.
She said, “[F]Officer I think you are mis[C]taken,
Be[F]cause I’ll tell you true
If [C]ever I’d met [Am]you
I would [D]surely re[D7]member one so [G]handsome.” [G7]

Chorus 2
And he said, “[F]Amara can you love me
And put no one else above me.”
Asked [C]Amara, “Can you be true?”
“Oh [F]true, yes, I will be.
Now Amara can you see
It in your [G]heart to also love me [F]too.” [C]

Solo on verse chords

Ending Chorus
And [F]so my poor heart 
Was then and there by torn apart.
[C]Amara how can I go on without?
[F]Now that she’s wedded to
That other officer in blue
As I’m [G]left alone, no one to hear my [F]shouts.

[G]Amara how can I go on with[F]out you?
[G]Amara how can I go on? [F] Amara? [C]

Amara - How Can I Go On

This song is about my Granddaughter, Lyla. I wrote this several ears ago, but I never go around to posting.

La Da Dum La Da Lyla - By Jeff Gilpin - June 5th, 2011
Intro
Strumming [C]
Chorus
[C]La da dum la da Lyla
[G]La da dum la da [C]Lyla
[F]La da dum la da [C]lyla
[G]La da [C]dum [G] [C]
Verse 1
[F]Lyla wakes up in the [C]morning
[G]Wiping the sleep from here [C]eyes
[F]The day sure-ly won't be [C]boring
[D]Always full of sur[G]prise
Chorus
Verse 2
[F]Waking up's Brodie her [C]brother
[G]Wanting a little to [C]eat
[F]Drinking and eating and [C]smiling
To the [D]patter of Lyla's [G]feet
Chorus
bridge
[D]Will she go out[G]side
[D]Will she go up [G]stairs
[D]Will she sing us a [G]song or two
[D]Whatever she [G7]dares, little [C]Lyla
Chorus
Verse 3
[F]Coming downstairs clean and [C]smiling
[G]After her trip to the [C]tub
[F]Smelling all clean eyes a [C]gleaming
[D]Gives her grandpa a [G]hug
Chorus
Verse 4
[F]Brodie's clean now and they're [C]ready
[G]Heading to bed for the [C]night
[F]Getting a story from [C]mama
[D]Then off to bed to sleep [G]tight
Chorus
bridge
[D]She dreams about [G]playing
[D]She dreams about having [G]fun
[D]She dreams about [G]everything
[D]Everything under the [G7]sun, little [C]Lyla
Chorus

La Da Dum La Da Lyla

Prompt 5 - Five in Five Days Song Writing Challenge
Prompt – I dare you to write a song that gives you the advice you need right now. Amplifier – Tap out the tempo of your heartbeat and write to it.  ~ 64 bpm

Emptying Out That Box – Jeff Gilpin

[C]Days run into days run into [F]daze.
[C]Time will not rewind while in the [F]maze.
[F]All I want to [C]do,
[C]And never can get [F]to
Un[F]til I [C]punch that final [F]clock.

[C]Getting home so tired it makes me [F]laze.
[C]Nothing getting done put off for [F]days.
[F]Work sunrise to [C]set,
[C]Until the day I [F]get to
[F]Finally to [C]punch that final [F]clock.

And [Bb]while I work my [F]life away
All the [Am]things I want to [C]do
[G]Fill up an empty box
Just like old [C]shoes. [Bb] [F]

[C]Maybe it’s the time to back a[F]way
[C]From my daily grind, maybe to[F]day.
[F]Work that’s done by [C]me,
[C]Someone else can [F]see to.
[F]Let someone [C]else punch that [F]clock.

[C]Opening up my dust-covered [F]list,
[C]Tucked away somewhere I can’t for[F]get.
[F]Start to figure [C]out
[C]What my life is a[F]bout
[F]Only so much [C]time left on my [F]clock.

[Bb]Putting my work [F]life away,
Doing [Am]what I want to [C]do.
[G]Emptying out that box,
Wear out my [C]shoes. [Bb] [F]

Emptying Out That Box

Sowing Creativity – Jeff Gilpin – 2-10-2021

Intro G C G D

I could [G]write about the weather
Or I could [G]sing about the stars
[G]Dream about the planets
[G7]Jupiter maybe Mars
Or I could [Em]sink
Into my [D]head
Dig a[G]round in there [C][G][D]

My [G]thoughts could take me anywhere
That I could [G]possibly want to go
[G]Speeding through reality
Or Fanta[G7]size taking it slow
Because I’ve [Em]got
[D] Plenty of
Mate[G]rial in there [C][G][G7]

So I go [C]digging in my head
Sowing creative[G]ty [C][G]
[C]Turning my thoughts
Into reali[D]ty [D7]

Solo on chorus chords C G  - C D D7  - G C G C D

The [G]weather’s just a metaphor
The [G]stars a state of mind
The [G]planets are just people
Yet to meet or left far be[G7]hind
Though I [Em]never really
Leave [D]anyone
Far be[G]hind [C][G][D]

So I [G]start a little thinking
[G]Letting my mind go
[G]Any old direction it wants to
At any [G7]speed fast or slow
Auto[Em]pilot’s
Kicking it [D]in
And leading me [G]on [C][G][G7]

As I go [C]digging in my head
Sowing creative[G]ty [C][G]
[C]Turning all my thoughts
Into reali[D]ty [D7] outro G C G C G let the last G ring

None

Sowing Creativity

Fading Memories – by Jeff Gilpin – 2/11/2021 (Updated chords 2/7/2023)

Intro E D E D

[E]Stories un[D]told
Don’t [E]go any[D]where
[E]Unresolved [D]plots
Just [E]sit there and [D]stare
[Am7]Disguised as [CMaj7]ideas
Of a [A]wandering [CAdd9]mind
[E]Stories un[D]told
Eventual[E]ly fall be[D]hind

E D E D

[E]Memories all [D]fade
If [E]they’re not passed [D]on
[E]They get their [D]polish
The [E]more looked u[D]pon
But [Am7]left in the [CMaj7]attic
[A]Dusty they’ll [CAdd9]grow
For[E]gotten an[D]tiques
[E]Melting like [D]snow

[CMaj7]Too many roads
Too [Am7]many second guesses
[CMaj7]About stories forgotten in [Am7]time
So [CMaj7]hard going back
So [Am7]hard to remember
[D]Memories fragile sub[B7]lime

[E]Putting to[D]gether 
A [E]fantasy [D]tale
Made [E]up of old [D]memories
And [E]bottles of [D]ale
Re[Am7]flecting the [CMaj7]times
That no [A]longer re[CAdd9]main
[E]All pieced to[D]gether
But [E]not quite the [D]same

E D E D

But these [E]will have to [D]do
These [E]fantasy [D]tales
You [E]can’t buy a [D]ticket
For a [E]ship once it [D]sails
So [Am7]faded old [CMaj7]memories
Will [A]just have to [CAdd9]do
As I [E]piece them to[D]gether
These [E]stories un[D]true

[CMaj7]Too many roads
Too [Am7]many second guesses
[CMaj7]About stories forgotten in [Am7]time
So [CMaj7]hard going back
So [Am7]hard to remember
[D]Memories fragile sub[B7]lime 

Outro E D E D E

Faded Memories

I am a bit of a music/songwriting hobbyist. I write a ton of songs and often get requests to share scratch recordings so that is why I started using soundcloud. I am very active on chordie.com and currently one of the moderators helping out on the songwriting and song request forums. I have some of my more polished songs on reverbnation.com -  http://www.reverbnation.com/jeffgilpin - but I do not have the time or backing to pursue music other than a hobby. I do like all types of music but I tend to lean towards the more obscure artists than the one who get the majority of radio play. I always wonder some great talents never have been able to "make it" in music but I enjoy the stories that go along with all artist's careers and lives. 

jets60

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