First time jamming on the mandolin, part of FAWM February album writing month.

Mandolin freestyle

She was born on a Wednesday in a backwoods town 
Not 3:30 in the afternoon, the sun’s already going down
The doc was late – he got caught up in the snow
The last of six, weakest in the rank
Her mama played bingo and her daddy drank
At night she’d pray that the four winds a-blowin’
Would take her away

The kids at school she had to run and hide from
At home, she was the invisible one
Couldn’t find no friends in a world that seemed so cold
She’d retreat inside a head full of dreams
‘bout the kind of lives that people live in magazines
In her locked-up diary, she’d try and bare her soul

Please take me away to Paris or Ontario
Where the spring comes fast and the night don’t fall so hard
Where the bigger kids aren’t always picking fights
No daddies in the drunk tanks on Friday nights
When I get older, that’s where I’m gonna go

Grew up, worked the gas bar to make some pay
No other place to stop 200 miles each way
The truckers would pull up always hang out for a while
Most of them were married but she didn’t mind
She just hoped that she could find one that would be so kind
As to ask that she help span the weary mile

And take her away to Paris or Ontario
Where the spring comes fast and the night don’t fall so hard
Where you can work in a gallery and make good pay
Talk with artists about God wear nice clothes every single day
When I get money that’s I swear I’m gonna go

After saving up a chunk of change
And three rides on a jet plane
Couldn’t afford Toronto headed to a smaller town
But after three months of winter rain
In a town she picked because she liked the name
She had to admit, she was starting to come around

Please take me away from Paris, Ontario
Give me back the night, I wanna see the stars
I’ll take family and the same old trees
Give me the long days of night, the -40 degrees
I know I just got here, but now I wanna go

And see, she’s sailing through the sky into the arms of home tonight
Head for the horizon, sail straight into the morning light
From Paris Ontario

Paris Or Ontario

You still remember the summer of ‘98
Mama put a bowl up on your head, with the scissors swore she’d make it straight
From a quarter mile you’d hear them laughing
Mama said those little slags are jealous of your carefree attitude
And maybe that was true, after all
Suddenly you were glad
That those kids didn’t know they were jealous of something that you never had

Those Sunday mornings never seemed to end
Mama said if you can’t pray, at least close your eyes and just pretend
Later party boys would line you up and say
Take the body of Christ from your outstretched hand onto your tongue and let it melt away
Secret you’d never tell
You never prayed to God, and maybe that was just as well

I saw you once, at the doctor’s, in the hallway
You looked into my eyes and then quickly we both looked away
Now I wish I had told you how good you look when you’re just coming out of the rain
Now I wish I had told you ‘cause I know I’m never gonna see you again
Think of it more than I should
Maybe that passing glance could have been the start of something good

Who are you now? Just a lone figure on a dark stretch of highway
Out on that strip of grass ‘tween where Goodies’ was and Super A
I wonder where you’ll sleep tonight, I hope that you’re alright
I wonder where you’ll sleep, wonder where you’ll sleep, wonder where you’ll sleep tonight
I hope that you’re alright

Bowl Cut

(Sometimes I Get) Lost In All Of It Again

I don't own this music, it's a cover of a song by Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson.

10 New Songs

Alexandra Leaving (Leonard Cohen Cover)

When night falls uncertainly, unsure of what’s to come
And there’s fires all around, though a fine rain’s just begun
What a dream it was to be lying by your side
How I wish I had you with me on this dark and stormy ride

Sending out a signal on a shooting satellite
Like a tether to another world where everything’s alright
I can’t hear your voice but your words they keep me warm
Like a bright light dispelling worry as it starts to swarm

I know when the night is through, I’ll somehow stagger home to you
Pick me up like you always do, carry me into the rest of days
As the freight grows bigger, so too this weary burned out groove
Oh love is all there is to lose in all the best of ways

There’s no one on the highway, fog and smoke like rolling hills
Gas station’s taking only cash my lonely twenty dollar bill
Well I’ll trade it for some miles tomorrow if this road will see us through
And I’ll find a patch of sky where we can lie down me and you

I know when the night is through, I’ll somehow stagger home to you
Pick me up like you always do, carry me into the rest of days
As the freight grows bigger, so too this weary burned out groove
Oh love is all there is to lose 
Love is all there is to lose 
Love is all there is to lose in all the best of ways

All There Is

Credit to Matthew Toothill for the harmonica

The plane’s coming in from Edmonton, its wheels are touching down
The sun is up there turning tricks while I sit here on the ground
This runway’s good for nothing when you’re feeling battered through
Can’t think of a single place right now that I could take off to
And when the world is ugly, I just try to take my time
Don’t need to go on laugh and force a smile
Just let me lie, I swear that I’ll be fine
I’ll find some company when the night is slowly lifting

I had a lover love me but he couldn’t make me good
Good was always further down the line
Beholding my reflection now I try not to be so cruel
It’s a hard night’s work just chasing these feral blues out of my mind

Don’t hold me if I’m crying cause I know that I can’t win
But I ain’t losing if I try to hold real still
Just let me lie, I swear that I’ll be fine
I’ll find some company when the night is slowly lifting

Used to find some freedom on that jumbo jet plane
Can’t touch me if I’m up here flying high
But with two feet on the ground, feels like there’s so much more to gain
Even watching every lonesome thought like railcars passing by

And you know that I’m not lying when I say I love you still
I just need to be alone for a little while
Just let me lie, I swear that I’ll be fine
I’ll find some company when the night is slowly lifting
Just your sweet company when the night is slowly lifting

My second FAWM song for 2025.
Guitar - DADGAD

Similar approach.
I had just the main very simple finger picking in my fingers and came up with a brief idea and improvised the structure.
Crafted the melody & lyrics to fit that.

#fingerstyleguitar #alternatetuning #dadgad #harmonies

There's a place I go
When the winds change
All to rain and snow
Frozen parts of me
melt and thaw til I am free
I am grateful

There's a fear stuck in my chest
like a string when you are close
all the tender parts
you pull and pull, the broken heals
you pull and pull, sweet release
I am grateful

there's a home I have found
close my eyes for dreaming
you are near, we play and sing
share our hearts, make a home
share our home, bring new life
I am grateful

02 FAWM 2025 I Am Grateful (Richard Garvey - Denman Island, BC - Feb 10, 2025)

Lifesoundsrich

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