Leaving Home

I’m leaving home,
I’m free to roam
Into a wilderness today
And eternity tomorrow.

My past is gone
And all debts paid.
The man I was before
Is going fast to fade.

I cut the cord
And moved away;
Another night
Is another day.

My past is gone,
I’m leaving home.
I’m leaving home,
I’m moving on.

All restrictions gone,
There are no rules;
I’m not the same,
I’m a brand new fool.

The meter’s running,
I won’t pay a dime.
Will keep it running
Away from time.

I’ll fill a hole in the ocean,
I’ll grab a pie in the sky;
The water’s calm and mighty,
Sky is seven thousand feet high.

I cut the cord
And moved away;
Another night
Is another day.

My past is gone,
I’m leaving home.
I’m leaving home,
I’m moving on.


Jackson Lucas ©2024
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

Pilgrim Road

Leaving Home

A plea for peace, not a political statement because, you will agree, far too many innocent people, many thousands women and children, have died in Gaza and other war zones around the world.

The Bloody Gates of Paradise


Many things will break your heart then leave you none too wise,
Lives on earth built for years, wrecked in the blink of an eye.
Sent the killers down below, whores were kept for the late night show.
Horrors of war far and near; hopes and dreams lost to fear.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know who is playing nice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.
 
Think about it ‘fore you rise: no bad will, no strong denies
Keep us clean: we’re all in, just cannot see through all the lies.
Memories float slowly by, how much hate can we survive?
Past quickly flies as we stare death, trying to stay alive
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, asking wasn’t smart or wise
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.
 
The dead don’t care who is wrong, don’t give a hoot if we are right;
Don’t much care if we get along, or if we always fight.
The dead, they could not care less, their corpses rotting in the snow
Don’t tell us where souls will go: some go up, some head below.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, felt no pressure, heard no cries
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.

We don’t pretend we have it all, we’re work in progress to be sure;
Preacher says man’s bound to fall, hopes & dreams may not endure.
Let’s pray and show the world our best and not repeat the lies
We hear often far and near the bloody gates of paradise.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know death threw the dice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.

Why are God’s children punished? can’t they try & make amends,
Live together like they did before on their ancient lands?
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know death threw the dice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.  

Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

The Bloody Gates of Paradise : Gaza

If you feel sad & lonely at night, this song is for you.... 

time a broken wire

a windswept corner
time a broken wire
tears like sawdust
kiss like molten fire

I move on down
sleep sea around
smile a naked smile
I know I know
everything is a lie.

no way to light
kind darkness inside
a green yellow night
low mounts and ride

that’s way up yes
and hell and gone

my soul is a cage
a dark storage space
she comes inside
once in a while
once in a while


Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

time a broken wire

life, travel, the state of mind that takes us through it all

traveler

mountains are high
valleys are deep
up down i roll
before i sleep

old dirt road
lead me somewhere
lead me anywhere
have no time to spare

top of the mountain
is nowhere to go
going down slow
to the valley below

down in the valley
look up and see
a winding dirt road
far among hills

old dirt road
lead me somewhere
lead me anywhere
have no time to spare

i am a traveler
all day all night
dirt road the cross
in my dancing light



Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

Traveler Remix

Leaving home is hard, even if you don’t have many fond memories growing up in it.

Leaving Home

I’m leaving home,
I’m free to roam
Into a wilderness today
And eternity tomorrow.

My past is gone
And all debts paid.
The man I was before
Is going fast to fade.

I cut the cord
And moved away;
Another night
Is another day.

My past is gone,
I’m leaving home.
I’m leaving home,
I’m moving on.

All restrictions gone,
There are no rules;
I’m not the same,
I’m a brand new fool.

The meter’s running,
I won’t pay a dime.
Will keep it running
Away from time.

I’ll fill a hole in the ocean,
I’ll grab a pie in the sky;
The water’s calm and mighty,
Sky is seven thousand feet high.

I cut the cord
And moved away;
Another night
Is another day.

My past is gone,
I’m leaving home.
I’m leaving home,
I’m moving on.


Jackson Lucas ©2024
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

Leaving Home Remix

looking

i am sitting on
my broken keel
looking for some
words to use
some tension
wire to repair

a crown of 
moons in her
studied glare
looking at 
me sideways
how can i forget

great bitterness
we borrow and
move on to
higher ground

dark green bark
covers grass
my pet lizard
looks at me
at an angle
i bring him water

& then
proceed inside
looking for peace
while said
peace is outside
looking in

great bitterness
we borrow and
move on to
higher ground

with eyes closed looking
looking on a world to share


Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

looking

the first track of Geometric, a jazz poetry groove of the Jackson Lucas Project

line

a line in the sky
a line in the sand
a line in the water
a line on dry land

a line is the shortest distance between two hearts
that hate each other when they are apart

a line in the sky
where eagles fly

a line in the sand
at the water’s end

a line in the water
to make you hotter

a line on dry land
so you understand

a line is the shortest distance between two hearts
that hate each other when they are apart

somehow
some way
some day
a line will break
and you will stay



J Jackson Lucas 2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

line

A classic jazz organ trio instrumental in the style of Jimmy Smith, Grant Green & Kenny Burrell

line instrumental

the kind of love song you want to hear sitting alone at a bar at midnight...

my beautiful lie
a jazz piano ballad

so many words in the air
line them up lying words 
always sound so good 
better than true

my beautiful lie
how will i spend
eternity without you

mad and at peace
i am trying to connect
i am trying to connect
to anybody else out 
there in the madlands

my beautiful lie
how will i spend
eternity without you


Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com

my beautiful lie

A song for peace, against war, not a political statement!

The Bloody Gates of Paradise


Many things will break your heart then leave you none too wise,
Lives on earth built for years, wrecked in the blink of an eye.
Sent the killers down below, whores were kept for the late night show.
Horrors of war far and near; hopes and dreams lost to fear.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know who is playing nice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.
 
Think about it ‘fore you rise: no bad will, no strong denies
Keep us clean: we’re all in, just cannot see through all the lies.
Memories float slowly by, how much hate can we survive?
Past quickly flies as we stare death, trying to stay alive
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, asking wasn’t smart or wise
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.
 
The dead don’t care who is wrong, don’t give a hoot if we are right;
Don’t much care if we get along, or if we always fight.
The dead, they could not care less, their corpses rotting in the snow
Don’t tell us where souls will go: some go up, some head below.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, felt no pressure, heard no cries
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.

We don’t pretend we have it all, we’re work in progress to be sure;
Preacher says man’s bound to fall, hopes & dreams may not endure.
Let’s pray and show the world our best and not repeat the lies
We hear often far and near the bloody gates of paradise.
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know death threw the dice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.

Why are God’s children punished? can’t they try & make amends,
Live together like they did before on their ancient lands?
Didn’t know who’s wrong or right, didn’t know death threw the dice
Till we came upon the bodies at the bloody gates of paradise.  

Jackson Lucas ©2025
jjacksonlucas@yahoo.com