Be The Reason (#484, 210704)

 * Co-written with Chris Gantry * 

How many times I almost quit
Turned my back on life said to hell with it
But somewhere deep inside me
A voice spoke to remind me
How good it's about to get

I didn't wanna' hear that stuff
No I was shut down I couldn't feel no love
But slowly by degrees
A couple things got through to me
Like maybe it's enough

To be the reason someone smiles
Give 'em somethin' to believe in for a little while
Walk beside 'em step by step
God will guide 'em through the rest
He gives the gifts we're just here to help receive 'em
That's our job to be the reason

At first I couldn't put it into words
Like a highway with one too many curves
When you're racin' in the dark
You can blow right past your heart
Sometimes it takes a lotta' nerve

To be the reason someone smiles
Give 'em somethin' to believe in for a little while
Walk beside 'em step by step
God will guide 'em through the rest
He gives the gifts we're just here to help receive 'em
That's our job to be the reason

I walked that walk as if the blind could lead the blind
'Til something opened up my mind
The voice of reason in my ear
My better self right beside me in the mirror

Week 28a - Be The Reason (210704)

In the style of a rebound roll-in-the-hay, this is my first recording after my post-house-move slump. We're all a bit shame-faced about it, but it needed doing.

Based on a couple of quotes from Rumi (which may or may not have required some pumped-up beats), here are the lyrics:
This being human is a guest house
Each morning brings a new arrival

A joy, depression, or a meanness,
Or unexpectedly, a momentary awareness

Welcome every one them
Even crowds of sorrows,
who sweep your out house violently
And strip your things away,
Still, treat each guest honorably,
And entertain each visitor
They may be making space in you
for some new delight

The da-ark thought, the shame, the malice,
MEET them at the door laughing...
Invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
Each one’ s a guide sent from the beyond

Chorus

Today, 
like every other day, 
we wake up empty
and frightened
Don't grab your phone, no
Reach for your guitar

Let the beauty
we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways 
to kneel and kiss the ground.

Guesthouse

"Corner Of The World" (#487, 210723)

Standing at the corner of the world
Finally see how wrong I've been
It ain't round I'm trippin' on the edge
Losin' touch and fallin' in

Arguin' with the corner of world
Dead wrong but what difference does it make
Six sides to every story and I can't see 'em all
There's too much water in the way

Out here at the corner of the world
No one there to reel me in
Ride the waves until the current rose up good
Goin' overboard again

Reachin' for the corner of the world
Like a silent foxhole prayer
Sharp as a razor and colder than the night
Get me outta' there

Facin' down the corner of the world
Like it's my only friend
Speak the words make the moves do it all
If it'll keep me from the end

Week 30 - Corner Of The World (210723)

When the sunlight hits the water
And all the ripples sparkle gold
You meet with mother nature's daughter 
She's a wonder to behold
You can feel the life arising
As the crickets buzz and jump
And all the earth's awake and thriving
And you can tell the time has come 

Chorus:
And when you know you know you know
You just feel what's there to feel
You're gonna go where you got to go
to dream the dream and make it real
You gotta be what you got to be
When you see her there you see
When you know you know you know

And the spirit's there to guide you
And you've woken up to love
You can feel it there inside you
You just have to open up
And the heat is like a furnace
But the water's cold and sweet
Just to see her makes you nervous
Til your eyes will softly meet

Chorus

M8
That love has finally found its way to you after oh so long
Love has finally come and made you it's own

When you roll down to the river
And you hear those crickets play
When you see the gold light shimmer
Off the crest of every wave
Well if you meet her there you'll feel it
The ancient spell re-cast anew
You say the words and know you mean it
No, no-one teaches it to you  

Chorus

You Know You Know

26-(still catching up on SAW 2021 list)
Saturday night late
1.Last night we watched the tennis 
We cheered Ash Barty home
She held my every childhood dream and never let it go
Our eyes were sore with weeping
All joy came pouring down
This prize was for her keeping
Our hearts adorned her crown

2.We stayed up til the finish
Past 3am at least
We jumped and sang like children
It brought our hearts release
Weve just returned to lockdown
For weeks we must stay in
But none can steal our love for Ash
Nor quench the pride within

3.Twas 40 years of waiting
and watching for the day
Since Evonne in all elegance
Performed a great display
And perfect that another 
Would come and take her place
A shining star of courage
A girl so filled with grace

4.So heres to Ash and Evonne
Heres to childhood dreams
For us back home in Sydney
We toast our london queens
a rare and treasured moment
All glorious and bright
Beneath the milky way we sing 
And celebrate tonight

saturday night up late SAW 26

"What Is And What Could Be" (#488, 210729)

If you're fixed on takin' off that ring
Guess I'll take mine off too
Moving truck it took everything
Everything except the truth

Things are gonna' change for us
Kids will learn my new address
Every other weekend ain't enough
But I'll take what I can get

There's a lesson in the losin' and a grace in each goodbye
Bittersweet like all things human we can't know until we try
Sometimes I don't see it comin' other times it's outta' reach
Ain't we all in search of something between what is and what could be

After all the wishing
The waiting and the walking out
Somehow I quit the chasing
Grabbed hold of here and now

Week 31 - What Is And What Could Be (210729)

Week 32 (For me it's week #2)
songaweek.org Theme: No uncertain Terms
r/songaweek Theme: Road Trip

A7           B7
Firing up the engine
on a sunday night
i know where I'm headed
everything's alright

Fm                       E7             A7
There is nothing but the way on my mind
it's the road myself the time and the light

The radio is playing
The best bloc party song
the steering wheel is dancing
fingers tap along

the road marking is glowing
a sign shows I went far
but I don't care bout traveltime
I love it in my car

Fm                       E7             A7
There is nothing but the way on my mind
it's the road myself the time and the light

         D              E7
It's the warm and fiery morning sky
        A7              A7->
that's guarding my goodbye
I am coming please don't wait
I'll take my time


A7           B7
Leaving home is easy
with cuuuriousity
I think the world is waiting
a concrete fantasy

Fm                       E7             A7
There is nothing but the way on my mind
it's the road myself the time and the light

The truck drivers are greeting
Am I now one of them?
I feel like I am flying
smelling gasoline

The towns that I am passing 
have names I can't pronounce
but I don't need coordinates
I am straight southbound

Fm                       E7             A7
There is nothing but the way on my mind
it's the road myself the time and the light

         D              E7
It's the warm and fiery morning sky
        Fm                A7->
that's guarding my goodbye
I am coming please don't wait
I'll take my time

         D              E7
It's the warm and fiery morning sky
        Fm              F#
that's guarding my goodbye
        A7               C
I am coming please don't wait
E7              A
I'll take my time

The Road, Myself, the Time, and the Light

Anythings_possible(2).wav

Spanish.
Son sesenta hombres
Que hacen guardia al lecho del rey,
Guerreros valientes de Israel.

Todos expertos son
En la guerra; tienen...
Todos expertos son
En la guerra; tienen...

Su espada en su muslo por
Los temores nocturnos.
Son sesenta hombres
Que hacen guardia al lecho del rey,
Guerreros valientes de Israel.

Con Cristo en una unión de amor
Su amada combate a fin... de que El
Pueda reposar.
Cristo nos da Su palabra fiel:
Una espada con poder,
Viva palabra que_al decir
Hace al enemigo huir.

Descansamos unidos a El,
Combatiendo por Su interés.
Son sesenta hombres
Que hacen guardia al lecho del rey,
Guerreros valientes de Israel.


🌹🎻🎶🌺🌱🌸🌷☘️🌹🎻🎶🌺


There is Solomon’s bed,
Sixty mighty men surround it
Of the mighty men of Israel

All of them wield the sword, and are expert in war,
All of them wield the sword, and are expert in war,
Each man has his sword at his thigh, because of the night alarms

(counter melody)

In a union of love with Christ,
His lover fights to keep Him at rest,
keep Him at rest
Christ as the Spirit and the Word
Equips us with a sword
The instant word to defeat
And slay the enemy
In this dark age we fight,
And rest in oneness with Him.

There is Solomon’s bed, sixty mighty men surround it
Of the mighty men of Israel.

(can be sung in rounds)


🌹🎻🎶🌺🌱☘️🌷🌸🌹🎻🎶🌺

Son sesenta hombres (There is Solomon's bed_Spanish)

The Tracks by ELee.mp3

The Chase

Nashville songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Godin Guitars Official Artist and Founder of www.songaweek.org.

His catalog of 500+ titles includes collaborations with hit writers Mark Narmore, Elliott Park, Steve Dean, and Pete & Pat Luboff, among others internationally from England to Australia.

Redding's music has landed cuts by numerous recording artists including Dan Whitehouse, Emma Gale, and David Easterling.

Week 31 - What Is And What Could Be (210729)

JamesTristanRedding