Maybe not the best one to play for your kids

I’m Not Letting Santa Leave

She had already half-decided, this just forced her hand.
“I’ll never fall again,” she confided, that’s not in the plan.
Then something happened, her plans fell apart. 
Love found its way to her heart.

He had not given it much thought at all; he’d failed at love before.
Confident that he’d never fall, then she walked thru that door.
Then something happened, he knew right from the start.  
Love found its way to his heart.

And it surprised them both, they thought they never could.
They both thought love was dead – but they were wrong – misunderstood.
Second time around – there’ll be a brand-new look, a brand-new sound.
You’ll have to hold on tight to keep your feet on the ground, second time.
Second time you’ll see a different attitude, a new philosophy.
You’ll find the door’s unlocked – love is the key – second time.

They never thought love would happen again; what was, was no   more.
But they both left a crack, undetected, and love walked thru that door.
Then something happened, took their breath    away.  
This time love came to stay.

And it surprised them both, they thought they never would.
They both thought love was dead – but they were wrong – misunderstood.
Second time around – there’ll be a brand-new look, a brand-new sound.
You’ll have to hold on tight to keep your feet on the ground, second time.
Second time you’ll see a different attitude, a new philosophy.
You’ll find the door’s unlocked – love is the key – second time.

Second Time Around

Karen decided to leave in the spring, said she no longer believed anything
That I told her, or promised, or even most of what she saw.
Maybe it should, but I have to admit, 
Her leaving did not surprise me a bit.
I’m just surprised that she managed to say goodbye at all.

The fault was all mine, this much I do know. That much is clear, I must confess.
I never wanted love more than then. I never tried any less.

I can see now it was destined to fail. She was the wind and I was the sail.
And the wind was so much that I couldn’t keep up …
When the wind blows, if you’re ready, that’s great. 
But if you’re not you get left at the gate.
Often the lessons you learn are too late

The fault was all mine, this much I do know. That much is clear, I must confess.
I never wanted love more than then. I never tried any 

Less than I could, but much more than I had.
Just enough to believe what I lost.

Karen was gone, so too was the wind. Left to imagine just what might have been.
And my imagination wasn’t up to the task.
When the wind blows, if you’re ready, that’s great.
But if you’re not you get left at the gate.
Often the lessons you learn are too late



She Was the Wind

When in Rome, you’ve got to do as the romans they do
Try to look all tough in your mini skirt, and feed the lions a Christian or two

When in Nashville we sleep in our cars
The songs in our heads ain’t makin us bread
But our eyes are full of stars
When in Nashville

I went punk in up in New York City, grew my hair out in LA
But when I went glam in ol’ alabam’ they escorted me right out of the state

When in Nashville, we all get along
The hippie’s the hicks and the hypocrites
Spinning lies in to songs
When in Nashville 

Every waitress has a demo
Every barman's got a band
Even the outlaws have a song to sing
So they brought them to the promised land
They say dreams come here to die
But they just change shape under neon light
Maybe the story's in the struggle
and maybe that alright 

When in Nashville, I think I found where I belong
Spinning daydreams in to stories, 
and heartbreak in to songs
When in Nashville

When in Nashville

Not Your Granny's Ireland Anymore

Stars Of My Life - 11:18:24, 10.23 AM

She sat by the door to the church every day
Praying that someone would care. 
All the fine ladies and gents came to pray, heard her prayer.

She sat at the table, her nose in a book,
Trying to hide in plain sight.
Did anyone notice? Did they even look -  offer a bite? 

Don’t straighten the line, follow the curve, trust in supply and demand.
Adore the Divine, then have the nerve to say you want a Christian land.

The question was simple, “Can you spare a dime?”
I’ve got a family to feed.
Look straight ahead, it’s not a crime, you’ve got your needs. 

Don’t straighten the line, follow the curve, trust in supply and demand.
Adore the Divine, then have the nerve to say you want a Christian land.

Feed the hungry, find the lost. Don’t complain how much it costs.
Love the ones no one else will, love your neighbor.
Heal the sick and offer hope, give the fallen ones a rope.
Do the things he told you to.


Living Simply

Weren’t we a pair, we two. 
So full of life, confident, confused.
Making it up as we go.

Were there still questions? Of course.
Falling off, getting back on that horse. 
Making it up as we go.

I can remember that day, long ago, you said you’d always be mine.
We had big plans,  still did not know what our tomorrow would bring.
Thirty-five years ago we gave each other rings.  

INSTRUMENTAL

I can remember that day, long ago, you said you’d always be mine.
We had big plans,  still did not know what our tomorrow would bring.
Thirty-five years ago we gave each other rings.  

Sure, we expected the best.
All the while not certain we’d pass that test.
Making it up as we go. 


Making It Up As We Go

I’m not the one to fix your broken heart.
I’m not the one that tore it all apart.
Some days you're just s’posed to cry.
I’m not the one that brought you into pain.
He’d be the one, and he’ll do it again.
Some days you're just s’posed to cry.
Cry, ‘cause the tears won’t destroy you.
Laugh, ‘cause I think you’ll enjoy you more like that.
Dream, ‘cause the ending is seldom written down in stone.

INSTRUMENTAL

I’m not the one who shattered all your dreams.
He is the one, he knows what it means.
Some days you're just s’posed to cry.
Cry, ‘cause the tears won’t destroy you.
Laugh, ‘cause I think you’ll enjoy you more like that.
Dream, ‘cause the ending is seldom written down in stone.

Some Days

He was just looking for his salvation, and they all came, extending a hand.
We can get you on track, nothing holding you back. Just listen to the plan.
With options so many, he wondered, is what they’re telling me real?
They all gave the steps to take my life back, but nobody asks how I feel.
He rejects everything this world expects.

There were times that the world was all rosy, no one can say where or when.
But sometimes it fell and it all went to hell, fighting those demons within.
And so he avoided decisions. Anything’s fine, I don’t care.
From the outside it sure looked like he tried, but inside the clouds were still there.
He rejects everything this world expects.

Dreams, they say, are a window to the soul
A map to where you’ve been.
When the dreams just take off and leave a hole,
Sometimes you just fall in.

So the lesson to learn, if there is one, is that life is complex, and it knows,
You can plan and predict, control and restrict, label and put into rows.
But all stories are not happy endings, if yours are, rejoice it made sense.
When your story is shared, relived and compared, not all will take offense.
He rejects everything this world expects.

Expectations (Song for Travis)

Sitting on a park bench, watching people.
Never know just who or what will come by.
A class from 2nd grade, a bunch of weirdos on parade,
A girl I used to know in Junior High.
There’s a man who looks just like Pat Sajak.
I asked him if I could buy a vowel.
I guess he’d heard that before, he said, “Sure, there are four,”
“You wanna buy some more or solve the puzzle now?

A man who asked me if I had a quarter.
I didn’t, but I gave him a dollar bill.
A bunch of kids on skates, a lawyer running late.
Someone’s grandma selling daffodils.
A man came by and asked if he could join me.
I said I didn’t know I was coming apart.
He grinned, told me his name, I grinned back and did the same,
Then for forty-five minutes he opened up his heart.

I should be happy with this life I’ve got.
I should be happy, but I’m ‘fraid I’m not.
I should be happy, but I find, happy’s just a waste of time.
Sadness comes along and smooths things out.

He proceeds to share with me his story.
I could not believe the tales he spun.
Some lives have been charmed, some lives have been harmed,
But my new friend, he’d had neither one.
“Everything I touch,” he said’s, “been middling.
I have never had the highs, nor lows.
You may think that sounds grand, but what you fail to understand,
Is that it gets so lonely with no place to go.

He asked me if I thought I was happy.
I paused to think it through, then I agreed.
“That’s what I once thought,” he said, “Least what I was taught instead
Of looking at my life with honesty.
But I noticed all those peaks and valleys
Started looking like a parking lot.
It was flat, it was square, and it never went anywhere,
I spent all my time just looking for my spot.

I should be happy with this life I’ve got.
I should be happy, but I’m ‘fraid I’m not.
I should be happy, but I find, happy’s just a waste of time.
Sadness comes along and smooths things out.

I’ve been thinking ‘bout this man’s dilemma, pondering the moral of his tale.
Do sad and happy cancel out? Do whispers balance when you shout,
Is winning just the opposite of fail?
Or are they all companions in this journey we’re all in together?
Would life be complete if one was gone?
You gotcha good, you gotcha bad, you gotcha happy and your sad.
And they all come together and wind up in this song.

So when life gives you happy, grab it all.
And when you’re short of happy, still stand tall.
Do what you can with all the rest, hold on tight and do your best,
Another dose of happy’s heading your way.
And if you’re still running short, I’m happy to report.
I’ve got another dose of happy heading your way.



I Should Be Happy

Retired the beginning of 2023. Been writing music seriously for about six years. Thanks for listening - and sharing!

Expectations (Song for Travis)

Scott Orr

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