All of my songs from the last couple of years, which I'm trying cull through to pull together a couple of official album releases.

The ALL

We go deeper, always deeper in the sun
When the light of the day, day is done
When the world is upside down
And the sky is holy ground

Now we're rolling, oh rolling out the scrolls
And cracking all the codes
The cipher lies within the book
Cryptic pages, take, take a look
In a glass, an image undefined
But a face beautiful and kind

Pull the strings that light has spun
Fall deeper, deeper in the sun
And the last, the last shall be first
And the meek will inherit the earth
When we shake, we shake the curse
In this glass, this image undefined
And the face beautiful and kind
In the sun, deeper in the sun
Down down

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitars, vocals, synths

Deeper In The Sun

Listen boy now to your elders
And you won't play the fool
Listen to their wisdom
And wear it like a jewel
A glittering jewel
The golden path of progress
Is sometimes much ado
Oh turn around, look backwards

And now this is me, I am he
And the time has come

Listen boy now did you think that
This was all new?
Nothing comes from nothing
Or appears out of the blue
The beautiful blue

And now mark the time, free the mind
And dig for the truth
Don't forget, no regret
They will forgive our youth

Listen boy now, there's a strange man
In the mirror
If you look close boy, the face
Is getting clearer
Now what do you fear?
And what do you hear?

I am you, that much is true
And the years have run
Break the chains, strengthen what remains
Yes the time has come

Listen boy now to your elders
And you won't play the fool

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitar, vocals
Dan Lawonn - cello, 12 string guitar, tenor guitar

Listen Boy Now

Don't look at me, don't you think I see
The light in your eyes?
The beauty everywhere, I'm trying not to stare
Or idolize, it's no surprise
I could never be the only one you need
It's in the eyes, they tell no lies
So don't look at me, now don't you think I bleed
Like everyone?

Oh stay, stay a little while
You can still make me smile
And you never know

Oh don't look at me, not so longingly
If it's not what you mean
I don't want to share any castles in the air
No fantasies, chimera dreams
No don't look at me if you really don't believe
'Cause there's no in between

But stay, stay a little while
You can always make me smile
I will wait like a little child
'Cause you never know
Where the wind will blow
And I want you so

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitars, vocals
Dan Lawonn - cellos, tenor guitar

Don't Look At Me

Won't you name the thing you want?
Let me be your confidant
Do not fear, I will not taunt
That desire

Oh come on, claim the thing you need
Wrap your arms around the sea
Shake, shake the tree
Of desire

I know you think a lot
And I can hear your secret thought
The little flame that burns so hot 
Desire

So speak the dream that lies within
Let it out and don't give in
It's not, no not a whim
This desire

Could be the last, last thing you do
Before the door closes on you
Kick it down and run right through
Into desire

And I know you try so hard
And you wonder when you can drop your guard
Join the game, play your card
Now you're just tired

And I know you think a lot
And I don't want to put you on the spot
But I've heard your secret thought
That desire

Image by Tim Lang

Desire

When the night descends like a cloud
When you try not to think too loud
You never want to be proud
You just want to fade

When the last ember burns out
When you just want to forget about
The remains of the day, listen

Oh hide, hide away
Sweep it all, all away, away
In the silence float away
And fade

All the clamor, the rush of the crowd
Hear the crack of that thundercloud
Is there refuge somewhere underground?
'Cause you want to fade

And now so far below
Take it easy, make it slow
'Cause there's nowhere to go
Just a world to dream
And hey, hey, oh listen
Hey, hey, hey, hey

Now hide, hide away
Send it all, all away, away
In the silence float away
And fade

Yes hide, hide away
Throw it all, all away, away
In the quiet drift away
And fade

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitar, vocals

To Fade

Took a walk in the garden
As the day was starting
And the clouds were parting
At the turning of the wheel

I want to drink it
Not overthink it
Deflate or shrink it
This turning of the wheel

Have I been be hypnotized
Or mesmerized
By moonlit skies
At the turning of the wheel?

Now the memories are returning
And all the yearning
My heart was burning
At the turning of the wheel

Took a stroll in the garden
As the day was starting
Felt like a pardon
This turning of the wheel

The Turning Of The Wheel

Video now at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lTXvFZJpF8

She stood there in "the shiver ring"
That was the name we gave the ring
Our footsteps made in the snow, a circle of truth

Let go all the lies and the make-believe
There's no snow jobs in the shiver, shiver ring
So she stood there and spoke her truth
When she said "I love you"

And in the cold, cold wintertide
The hard truths can't be denied
And I, I say I love her true
I really do

When we stepped into the shiver ring
Our breath in the air was glistening
A vapor born of something new

So goodbye winter and hello spring
Now we're rising from the shiver ring
My love, oh I remember
And everything still rings true

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitars, vocals
Dan Lawonn - cellos

The Shiver Ring

There is a light in the deepest of dark
Reaches on through and pierces the heart
You think I'm joking but that is the art of true love

I've lived too long to question the thing
(Do I imagine this radiant stream?
Like fingers that crawl through my brain
Just winding, slithering?)

But hey, hey, hey
I need it now, I cannot see
Hey, hey, hey
It's all shadows

I am stretched out, I am thin
Everything here is growing dim
Let the light enter in (true love)

And hey, hey, hey
I need it now, oh now
Hey, hey, hey
Lift the clouds
Hey, hey, hey
Just one more time, one more day
Hey, hey, hey
Send the light

Yes there is a light in the deepest of dark
Rushes right in, ignites the spark
You think I'm crazy but that is the art of true love

Oh hey, hey, hey
I need it now, oh now
Hey, hey, hey
Lift the clouds
Hey, hey, hey
Just one more time, one more day
Hey, hey, hey
Send the light

Image by Dezaldy Irfan

There Is A Light

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitars
Dan Lawonn - acoustic guitar, tenor guitar, cello

Entwined

The time must come, I know, I know
The leaves must fall before the snow
But I never thought it'd feel this cold
Here at the end of the road

I spent too long staring at the throne
Should've kept my eyes closer to home
Now I grieve but I'm not alone
Here at the end of the road

Everything has changed, changed tomorrow (what have we done?)
It's uncertain days, up, up ahead (where do we go?)
Now there's no more, no time to borrow (who can say?)
We've turned our world on its head

Nothing is forever, yes I know
Wheels turn 'round and dreams come and go
Look for the spring after the snow
Even here at the end of the road

Everything has changed, changed tomorrow (what have we done?)
It's uncertain days, up, up ahead (where do we go?)
Now there's no more, no time to borrow (I don't know)
We've turned our world on its head

Everything has changed, changed tomorrow (what have we done?)
Could be dreadful days, up, up ahead (where do we go?)
And I know there will be sorrow (who can say?)
We've turned the truth on its head

Image by Barry Sherbeck

Our World On Its Head

Work-in-progress track (still needs vocals in the bridge and various other instrumental bits):

She's hiding from the blue
You know she waits for you
Now you've got something up your sleeve

She pulls the curtains closed
Do you suppose
The the morning is too much to believe?

Abandoned by the sun
She thinks that the day will never come
And there's only this endless humdrum
Abandoned by the sun

Yes you know what to do
You've got a trick or two
You'll pull the rabbit from your hat

She's huddled in the dark
Sheltering her heart
Don't let her fade to black

Abandoned by the sun
She thinks the new day will never come
And there's only this endless humdrum
Abandoned by the sun

She says "there's nowhere to run
Been abandoned by the sun
And I need a helping hand"

And you know what to do
No hiding from the blue
And she knows you understand

Abandoned by the sun
She fears that the day will never come
And there's only this endless humdrum
Now you know what must be done

Abandoned by the sun
She's not the only one
And you know what must be done
Abandoned by the sun

Image by Barry Sherbeck

Abandoned By The Sun

Update of a recent song:

Hello 3 AM, the storm wakes me again
And hello my old friend, adrenaline

I hear the chimes ringing out as the wind whips them all about
And now there is no doubt

That I must greet the day in the darkness
There's no other way
That's the curse of light sleepers
Night's castaways

This vigil, it is mine, and once again, it is time
So open bleary eyes

And meet the coming day, in the darkness
There's no other way
That's the curse of light sleepers
Night's castaways

Yes I must greet the day in the darkness
And what can you say?
It's the curse of light sleepers
Night's castaways

Now here we go, yes here we go

Light Sleepers

I stand upon the shore
Looking out at all that I adore
Here at the turning of the tide
Wondering if this is goodbye?

And I will sing a lament
For all the riches now misspent
And the blessings thrown away

I grieve for all the coming tears
I grieve for all those who cheer
The destruction of all they fear
Who celebrate, mock and jeer

Now hear my lament
As the straight paths now are bent
And so many are led astray

I can't believe I've lived so long
To see such simple things gone wrong
There's always hope, I know, I know
In the truths that now seem so old

But I will lament
What is lost in our descent
And I will pray we will repent
Everything we've thrown away

Tom Hanson - acoustic guitar, vocals
Dan Lawonn - cellos, ambient electric guitar

A Lament

Slow Revelations

One of my favorite recent songs.  I was looking to include it in a specific album, but in that collection it didn't quite fit--until I experimented with removing the bass guitar.  That changed the mood and now it fit better.  I do dig the bass part so not sure what I'll do, but thought I'd share this version while I "sit with it" for a while:

Swirling in the sun
Did you dream the starling again?
The many and the one
Soaring like a starling again
You hear the haunting sound, look around
Will you be the starling again?

Join the chorus, sing along
That murmuration song

You hear the cries
And you are a starling again
Ride the rhythm of the skies
Will you dance the starling again?

In a chorus, a symphony
A canticle

Oh I don't know why
You are so shy today
You don't know when
It will come again your way

The isolation fades
And you are a starling again
Down the desolation days
Fly like a starling again
The madness, the rage, turn the page
Oh you are a starling again

Join the chorus, sing along
That murmuration song

I don't know why
You try to hide away
Who can say when
It may come again your way?
Look to the skies
Starlings will rise today

Starlings (alternate)

She wore a garland of daisies
She skipped across the field
The morning sky was hazy
It all seemed a bit unreal

I tried to tell you about her
I cried, "come, come along"
You ran right through the clearing
By then she was gone

All these moments, like memories, slip away
Pretty flowers fading with the day
Silver raindrops that quietly evaporate
Just like time my love, just like time

She seemed a little like changeling
A child of the fey
It was the way she floated
And glided on her way

I really wish you could have seen her
And the daisies in her hair
I turned to you for a second
Then she wasn't there

All these moments, like emotions, melt away
Pretty flowers wilting with the gray
Silver raindrops that softly evaporate
With time my love, with time

Image by Jeanette Ranney

Then She Wasn't There

Posted this track earlier as an instrumental, and it may stay that way, but I also wanted to give it a whirl with vocals:

Take a look now on the veranda
Her sacred space, her panorama
A surround sound extravaganza
And as she sits she hears the panoply
The magical cacophony

She is a woman of many chimes
She feels them ringing in her mind
They sing so sweetly, they intertwine
The tenor, the soprano, the alto and the bass
Sometimes a discord, sometimes such grace

She is a woman of many chimes
She collects them, they are her prize
She arrays them to solemnize
All the battles in her soul, the skirmishes that never end
They clang, they jingle-jangle, clatter in the wind
On the veranda, they wheel and spin
For the woman of many chimes

Image by Bernd Dittrich

A Woman Of Many Chimes (update)

Dream, dream, dream, oh dream my darling
Green, green, green the grass on your hill (on your hill)
You know I wish you all the world
If only it were up to me my girl

Dream, dream, dream, oh dream a star
You know in my eyes that's what, what you are (yes what you are)
Rain drops fall from storm clouds overhead
And you will be washed clean again and again

And this is my promise
This is my prayer
And my, my purpose
To see, see you there

Yes dream, dream, dream, oh dream my angel
Who knows how high you may fly (but oh you'll fly)
And you know I wish you all the world
And if it were up to me my girl
You'd have it, oh yes you would

And this is my promise
This is my prayer
And my, my purpose
To see, to lead you there
This is my promise
Now this is my prayer
Oh my purpose
To see, see you there

Dream, dream, dream oh dream

Image by Barry Sherbeck

This Is My Promise

An alternate, more concise version of this recent song:

She comes bearing, and sharing
Her gifts for everyone
But we're all so wary, we barely
See her when she comes
What are we thinking, eyes blinking
Turning from the sun?
Let her light shine on down, do not run

She will banish the shadows, as she hallows
A brand new day
She's still rising, baptizing
The world with her rays
So why do we lie in this grave?
Why do we try to hide in the dark
And bury our hearts away?

She comes bearing, and sharing
Good gifts for everyone
Her circle unbroken, she's spoken
Will we respond?
And take our place in the sun?
And take a break from this race that we run
And greet her face?

Image by Susan Wilkinson

She Still Rises (alt)

Alternate version of "Mary Jane (In The Rain)," with a different lyric and arrangement:

Did you lie when you said
"Let it fall on my head"?
Why would you pull on that thread?
It binds us together

And did you lie when you cried
"I am yours and you are mine"?
"I'll be with you 'till the end of time"?
I think that's forever, I don't know
I'm not the clever one

Now lay, lay down, no, no do not lie
Lay, lay down every alibi
All the fear and the battle cry
Come on, lay it down

And did you lie upon a bed
A bed of roses when you said
"The light has dawned, now lift your head
The sky's open wide"?

Oh did you lie in daydreams
On peaceful waters, gentle streams?
Now do you know what that means?
Can't keep it all, all inside
Hard times will come, can't be denied
Now if you will just

Lay, lay down, no, no do not lie
Lay, lay down every alibi
All the fear and the battle cry
Come on, lay it down

Lay, lay down now, no do not lie
Don't take the blame no, no do not hide
This could all be, be a lie
Come on, lay it down

Lay Down (Do Not Lie)

Here you will find little acoustic pop songs; melancholy, dreamy-folk things. Sometimes some jangly, fuzzy rock tunes or ambient pieces as well. Work-in-progress demos to finished tracks, informal playlists to official album releases. Enjoy.