Story

Love Songs

AI Music

Women by name

© Copyright 2007, 2015 Peter Lloyd

A stranger as cold as the winter that bore him
Walked up to our church all alone
The long, snow-capped roof, shingles of grey
Old walls and worn steps of stone

Why he stopped only God knows, but he lingered outside
And gazed at the sign on our door
It's hung there forever and there it'll stay
For its few words are hard to ignore

I went out to greet him, a lost soul to save
But he shot me a terrified eye 
"Don't try to save me," he warned, "It's no use
"I'm just looking for a warm place to die"

	No arches of marble, no statues of gold
	Just a home for the hearts of her people
	The sign on the door says "There's room for one more"
	The church with the styrofoam steeple

"Our chapel is humble, but it's warm," I replied
"And you're welcome to rest here a while"
We walked up together as he shivered and coughed
He entered without even a smile

I'd hoped to unburden the stranger that night
As I brought him hot coffee, I said
"If you won't let me help you at least tell me why 
"You think that you're better off dead"

"Maybe you know me," he began, "maybe you don't
"But my name's been all over the news
"I've hobnobbed with kings back in my better days
"When this old church cost less than my shoes

	No arches of marble, no statues of gold
	Just a home for the hearts of her people
	The sign on the door says "There's room for one more"
	The church with the styrofoam steeple

"I've preached in cathedrals under spires of gold
"Looking down on my flock from my throne
"But the uncommon love I bore witness to there
"I'm afraid I never have known

"So would you please oblige me one pure act of love
"Take this pistol and prove that you care
"Agree to this kindness, no strings attached
"Lift my burden of hopeless despair"

"I'll hold the gun with you," I promised the stranger
"If you'll bow your head with me and pray"
But his body had already slumped in my arms
As the gun's report echoed away

	No arches of marble, no statues of gold
	Just a home for the hearts of her people
	The sign on the door says "There's room for one more"
	The church with the styrofoam steeple

Did I pull the trigger? The judge says I did
Powder burns marked both our hands
But the Lord does his work in mysterious ways
And love makes peculiar demands

	No arches of marble, no statues of gold
	Just a home for the hearts of her people
	The sign on the door still says "There's room for one more"
	The church with the styrofoam steeple

The Church with the Styrofoam Steeple

© Copyright 1976 Peter Lloyd

Take me to Louisville, driver, I got the fare
I love a woman livin’ somewhere ‘round there  
I was gonna marry her, but I got up tight 
Watching her dance on a Saturday night
Watching her dance on a Saturday night  

Stole into Louisville A-W-O-L
With two pints of Echo, the whiskey from hell 
Stashed ‘em a Greyhound rental box down there 
When a woman came up with long, curly hair
A woman came up with long, curly hair  

She took a package from the box next to mine
I knew that our futures would soon intertwine 
She told me my birthday and the day I would die 
I saw a spark in the dark of her eye
I saw a spark in the dark of her eye  

Bought her a Pepsi in the station restaurant 
She said, “I’m able to provide what you want 
I’ve got some money, we could travel in style 
You wait right here. I’ll be back in a while
You wait right here. I’ll be back in a while  

I waited one hour and I waited for two
Got sorta nervous wonderin’ what she would do 
Walked ‘round the lobby one more time, then I thought 
If I don’t go, I’ll bound to get caught
If I don’t go, I’ll bound to get caught  

Took out a bottle and decided to go
‘Cross to the burlesque, continuous show 
Found me a seat and settled down for the night 
Guess who I saw steppin’ out in the light
Guess who I saw steppin’ out in the light  

Opened my Echo as she started to dance 
Finished it right when she took off her pants  
Dirty old men in there kept shoutin’ for more 
I stood up to fight, ended up on the floor
I stood up to fight, ended up on the floor  

Police in Louisville took me back to Fort Knox 
Who knows what Greyhound ever did with my box 
Don’t know her number and I don’t know her name 
Might never know, but drive just the same
Might never know, but drive just the same  

And take me to Louisville, driver, I got the fare 
Find me that woman with long, curly hair 
This time I’ll marry her and I won’t lose my mind 
Cuz this time I will leave my Echo behind
This time I will leave my Echo behind
This time I will leave my Echo behind

Leave My Echo Behind

©Copyright 1973, 2015 Peter Lloyd

You can take my shoes, you can drink my soup
I no longer lock my door at night
Here the moon comes up when the sun goes down
And the mountains roll ‘round the thunder clouds
While the river, she winds her way behind

It’s like beautiful, beautiful music
Mellowed in the Appalachian way
Folks come and go, but these mountains kow
That you take a bluegrass tune down to your grave

When Tom Gentry died, I cried and cried
Then one night I heard his voice below the ground
I said, “Oh, Tom, you make such a sweet, bright sound.
Can you tell me, my old partner, what have you found?”
And he sang these words I’m singing to you

It’s like beautiful, beautiful music
Mellowed in the Appalachian way
Folks come and go, but these mountains know
That you take a bluegrass tune down to your grave

When my stories are all told and my bones are cold
And all that’s left is an empty rocking chair
Won’t you wrap me up and carry me down
Cover me over with that sweet, black ground        
And pick a bluegrass tune above my head

It’s like beautiful, beautiful music
Mellowed in the Appalachian way
Folks come and go, but these mountains know
That you take a bluegrass tune down to your grave

Folks come and they go
But these mountains stay right here and they know
That you can take a bluegrass tune down to your grave
Yes, you take them bluegrass tunes down to your grave

Bluegrass Music

© Copyright 2022 Peter Lloyd

You’re the best, Jen Psaki, your the best (You’re the best!)
You’re the best, Jen Psaki, when you meet the press
You look ‘em in the eye, and no, you never lie
You will pass the test, cuz you’re the best!

Man, you rock, Jen Psaki, yeah, you rock! (Yes, you rock!)
Yes, you rock, Jen Psaki, no more poppycock
Never snarky, go! No malarkey, no!
After so much schlock, it’s a treat to see you rock

{soc}
With the truth, you never have to cheat 
From the truth, you never must retreat
(We repeat!)
{eoc}

You’re the best, Jen Psaki, your the best (You’re the best!)
You’re the best, Jen Psaki, when you meet the press
Now we all declare, no one can compare
Diss you if they dare, cuz we all know you’re the best!

You’re the best, Jen Psaki
And you rock, Jen Psaki
You’re the best, Jen Psaki
You’re the best!

Jen Psaki March

© Copyright 2023 Peter Lloyd

Arleen was just about seventeen and so was Frank, plus three
When he saw Arleen at the record hop and asked, “Hey, wanna dance with me?”
Arleen was like a feather on her feet, sweet as honeycomb  
When the dee jay stopped, Frank bowed and said, "Arleen, let me walk you home"

Arleen said, no! Arleen said, no (she said)
You've gone about as far as you gon’ go
I’m fun but I ain’t easy, and I like you more or less (but)
You got a few more hoops to jump through, Frank, before I acquiesce

A few days later, Frank called Arleen and asked her for a date
She agreed and they proceeded. Things were goin great
Frank drove her home ‘round midnight and walked her to her door
Kissed Arleen on the cheek and asked, "How ‘bout a little bit more?"

Arleen said, no! Arleen said, no (she said)
You've gone about as far as you gon’ go
I’m fun but I ain’t easy, and I like you more or less (but)
You got a few more hoops to jump through, Frank, before I acquiesce

When Arleen and Frank started goin steady, she proudly wore his ring
They did a whole a lot a-huggin and a-kissin up on her front-porch swing
Things got hot and heavy, so close to satisfied
Made Frank whine and plead and beg, "Arleen, can't we go inside?"

Arleen said, no! Arleen said, no (she said)
You've gone about as far as you gon’ go
I’m fun but I ain’t easy, and I like you more or less (but)
You got a few more hoops to jump through, Frank, before I acquiesce

The very next time Frank saw Arleen, he got down on his knee 
Gently held her hand and asked, "Arleen, will you marry me?"
She paused and thought about it. Then she smiled and answered, yes
They’ve been so gosh-darn happy now, ever since Arleen acquiesced 

Oh, Frank’s so glad Arleen acquiesced

Ballad of Frank and Arleen

© Copyright 2024 Peter Lloyd
Produced and played by David Lloyd

Sister Mary Jean Therese
Going back, long time ago
Boys’ hair tamed with axle grease
Girls all sugar, spice and nice
Like Sister Mary Jean Terese

Long gray habit, starched black veil
Patient hands, buffed with chalk
Tidy desks in rows and files
From where we raised our hands to talk

Such a pretty face! You could take your place
Among movie stars
What a lovely voice! You were my first choice 
For the hit parade
Your beautiful eyes saw beyond the sky
Where lay the vow you made
To surrender your hands to the tender demands 
Of second grade 

Every word i’ve ever I scribed 
Since my first scrawled masterpiece 
I owe in part to the sacred heart
Of Sister Mary Jean Therese

Such a pretty face! You could take your place
Among movie stars
What a lovely voice! You were my first choice 
For the hit parade
Your beautiful eyes saw beyond the sky
Where lay the vow you made
To surrender your hands to the tender demands 
Of second grade 

You surrendered your hands to the tender demands 
Of second grade  

© Copyright 2024 Peter Lloyd

Sister Mary Jean Therese

Words and music © Copyright by Peter Lloyd 1999

Early every morning the prisoner opens his eyes 
Turns his pillow over and tells himself he never cries 
But words fall from the radio, a memory fits like a glove
He thinks of you and wonders, How long is your love?

Days still dawn without you to carry his dreams on your voice
The walls around him echo the curses of derelict choice
Today he’s building barricades his predators can’t rise above
To bide his time and wonder, How long is your love?

He knows your love is strong enough,  abusing it—his crime
He hopes your love is long enough to stand the strains of time

Night gives little shelter should hungry eyes meet in the dark 
When they trade their secrets, they tremble without a remark 
Tonight he carves a makeshift knife just in case push comes to shove
He hides his pride and wonders, How long is your love?

He knows your love is strong enough,  abusing it—his crime
He hopes your love is long enough to stand the strains of time

Early every morning the prisoner opens his eyes 
Turns his pillow over and tells himself love never dies 
But words fall from the radio, a memory fits like a glove
He thinks of you and wonders, How long is your love?

Yes, he thinks of you and wonders, How long is your love?

How Long Is Your Love

Performed and produced by Caitlin and Jason Ayers
Words and music © Copyright 1969, 2015 Peter Lloyd

Sometimes I'm up. Sometimes I'm down
In this world there could not be a smile if it were not for the frown
Every 24 hours, if there's a night there's a daytime, too
No matter what shape my face may take
I'm always in love with you

Sometimes I'm caught so deep in thought
You may think that there's no room for you around my troubled mind
A love is hard to find, but it's worth it when you know it's true
No matter what shape my face may take
I'm always in love with you

Your love gave me a purpose
You love showed me the way
Your love gave my heart a song to sing
I'm gonna sing it every day

Just because I'm low sometimes, don't let me go
If you're looking for the perfect love, you'll be looking till your dying day
Just remember, Darling, when I'm feeling blue
No matter what shape my face may take
I'm always in love with you

Your love gave me a purpose
You love showed me the way
Your love gave my heart a song to sing
I'm gonna sing it every day

Sometimes I'm up. Sometimes I'm down
In this world there could not be a smile if it were not for the frown
Every 24 hours, if there's a night there's a daytime, too
No matter what shape my face may take
I'm always in love with you
In love with you
In love with you

Sometimes (Sherry's Song)

Words and music by Ben Lawson. Ben sent his version of this song around to friends and invited them to re-do it. So I did. The image features Dash of the Ayers family.

I don't know why I think like a dog
But I'll run all day, yeah, like a dog
If runnings what I gotta do
I'll do it for you

I can't explain why I'm hungry all the time
But I go without food, yeah, I'll be fine
If starvings what I gotta do
I'll starve for you

I don't understand why you make me wait outside
When all I wanna do is be by your side
If waitings what I gotta do
I'll do it for you

If waitings what I gotta do
I'll wait for you
If that's what it's coming to
That's what I'll do

Laika Dawg

Words and music by Peter Lloyd © Copyright 2006, 2015 Peter Lloyd

Look outside my door, sun is shinin' bright 
What's the sun good for? Might as well be night
Ain't it plain to see I miss Marie

Left without a trace, why I'll never know 
Still I see her face everywhere I go 
Where can she be I miss Marie

I sit here reminiscin’ 'bout the huggin' and the kissin' 
She swore would never end
Nobody wants to listen but a part of me is missin' 
And I need some time to mend

Now it's time to go to the Town Hall Dance Me 
I'm layin' low, I don't stand a chance 
Everyone will see I miss Marie

I sit here reminiscin 'bout the huggin' and the kissin' 
She swore would never end
Nobody wants to listen but a part of me is missin' 
So why should I pretend?

Look inside my door. What an awful sight 
Lying on the floor, I'll be here all night
Ain’t it plain to see, I miss Marie

Well, it's plain to me I miss Marie

I Miss Marie

Queria hablar español, and so
I wandered my way to Bolivia 
Now from my cell in the heart of La Paz
I pine for my lovely Olivia

Olivia appeared like a long-lost dream
From Heaven she said God had hastened her
“Sip my elixir of love,” she implored 
 My trust then I readily placed in her

We sang to the stars of the southern sky
And sipped sucumbé, tea and lemonade
Danced to the whims of her passion until
Polícia cut short our escapade

O-li-iv-ia, if God sent you down from the sky to me 
O-li-iv-ia, when I asked you your age, why’d you lie to me?    

My sentence may outlive my life, but now
I must not let misery harden me
Locked in La Paz for the rest of my life 
I pray presidente may pardon me

O-li-iv-ia, if God sent you down from the sky to me 
O-li-iv-ia, when I asked you your age, why’d you lie to me?    

My lovely Olivia. Of course, I forgive ya
Olivia, I give ya my love    
Olivia, te doy mi amor    

© Copyright 2025 Peter Lloyd
Music composed with Suno AI

Olivia

Another November I stand with the trees
Their black branches robbed by a mean autumn breeze
I lean on a tall oak, my cheek to her bark
And mourn my companion as the woodland grows dark

Oh, I miss my companion, always more, never less
As the years wrap around me, they embrace my distress
I return to you empty. Speak again what you teach
From the ages inside you round and as wide as my reach

Then the oak speaks for hours and her wisdom I heed
I hear in her silence all the solace I need
"Stay standing, she minds me, "let death do its worst
"Welcome each sunrise as if it's your first"

Yes, another November I stand with the trees
Their black branches robbed by a mean autumn breeze
I must leave you again now with tears on your bark
But I'll come back each autumn till my memory goes dark

© Copyright 2025 Peter Lloyd
Music with Suno AI

Companion

Justine, you make me feel so clean
Justine, you make me feel so clean
You took my love and run it through the washing machine

Justine, I hate to walk with you downtown
Justine, I hate to walk with you downtown
You talk so loud and you're always putting me down

Justine, you make me feel so clean
Justine, you make me feel so clean
You took my love and run it through the washing machine

Justine, you wear your clothes inside out
Justine, you wear your clothes inside out
Your hearts so full of anger and your heads so full of doubt

Justine, you make me feel so clean
Justine, you make me feel so clean
You took my love and run it through the washing machine

Justine, come and get your cigarets
Justine, come and get your cigarets
You left them on the table and I'm trying to forget

Justine, you make me feel so clean
Justine, you make me feel so clean
You took my love and run it through the washing machine

© Copyright 1976, 2000 , 2025Peter Lloyd
Music with Suno AI

Justine

Well, I never climbed a mountain, no, I never even tried
What’s the point of crawlin halfway to the sky? 
When everything I wanna see is somewhere in your eyes
And I never have to ever leave your side 

No, I’ll never solve a mystery or cure a rare disease
My face will never grace Time magazine 
And though I try to please you and keep you trouble free
I can never ever give you guarantees 

But every day I try to make you smile and never cry
Help you soothe your wounds and chase away your blues 
I’ll never get it all right and always come up shy
But I’ll never ever give you alibis 

Oh, there’s so much more I haven’t done and so much more to do
To be the man you hoped that I would be 
But there’ll always be one promise you can count on comin true
I will never, no not ever, not love you 

And every day I try to make you smile and never cry
Help you soothe your wounds and chase away your blues 
I’ll never get it all right and always come up shy
And I’ll never ever give you alibis 

Oh, there’s so much more I haven’t done and so much more to do
To be the man you hoped that I would be 
But there’ll always be one promise you can count on comin true
I will never, no not ever, not love you

No, I’ll never, no not ever, not love you 

Words © Copyright 2014 Peter Lloyd
Music with help from Suno AI

Never

let’s remember Alice Ball, long unrecognized 
found a cure for leprosy, so long ago   
Alice died at twenty-three      
white men called her work their own
I think we all know why
I think we all know why

let us give Charles Drew his due, long unrecognized
taught us how to share our blood, so long ago
volunteered to donate first
white men turned charles drew away
I think we all know why
I think we all know why

where have all the lepers gone?
Alice healed them all
blood banks save so many lives
Charles made it so
why were they not recognized?
jealous white men feared their fame

I think we all know why
I think we all know why

© Copyright 2025
Music with Suno AI

We All Know Why

© Copyright 2018 Peter Lloyd

Dick and Jane were my best friends
When I learned how to read
Played in perfect harmony
Thrived in thought and deed 
But as they grew it happened
No longer did they click
Jane became a better Jane
Dick remained a dick

Jane stands strong and lovely now
Wise beyond her years
Whenever someone needs a hand
It’s Jane who volunteers
Never judges anyone 
Forgives and then forgets
Nothing she holds dearer than
Life without regrets

Dick still loves loud farting sounds
And savors dirty jokes
Drives a two-ton S-U-V
Calls climate change a hoax
Judges women solely by 
The contour of their buns
Nothing he hold dearer than 
His Bible and his guns

See Dick run. Run, Dick, run.
See Jane run. Oh, what fun!

Jane commands respect at work
She lets her people steer
Dick rules with an iron fist
Drives his team with fear
If you had to work with one
I know who you’d pick
Jane became a better Jane
Dick remained a dick

See Dick run. Run, Dick, run.
See Jane run. Oh, what fun!

The moral of this story
Not too hard to find 
The more you try to run ahead
The more you fall behind
If you have a penis
No need to be a prick
Act a little more like Jane
Don’t be such a dick

Act a little more like Jane
Don’t be such a dick

Dick and Jane

Songwriter since 1966. Can't believe I still have to write protest songs. Prefer writing love songs and songs of praise for stand-up women and men, parodies, lyrical nonsense, blues and adaptations.