How Do I Get Past This Dad

She came to me in tears
Said Dad I did the best I could
Shared with him my inner most
Became clear he never would
Gave him back his ring
He took it hard, I feel so bad
How can I get past this Dad

You hope he'll be okay
Wonder if he'll forgive and forget
Question if he'll change
Or be swallowed by regret

Men who fear getting close
Won't risk appearing weak
Can't share in the intimacy
You and others seek

Chorus

I too feared getting close
Caused break ups too
The pain of my broken hear
Told me what to do

Became willing to risk
To share my inner most
Your Mom helped me overcome
My fear of getting close

Chorus

His heaart and your will heal
How he learns not to conceal
His inner most
His next chance to get close

Hold to your convictions
Don't compromise
You'll find your Mr. Right
Don't mess with other guys

With time she came to me and said
He took it hard, hope he's grown
As have I more than I could have known
No longer feel bad, thanks for helping Dad

How Can I Get Past This Dad

Have You Ever Noticed
By Jim Wood
Chorus
Have you ever noticed
The tendency to focus
More on what's wrong
Than what's right

Rarely live in the moment
When life's in our grasp
Worrying about the future
Or bemoaning the past

We're better that the worst things we've done
More than the heartache we've known
Forgiveness starts with number one
Life measures how much we've grown

Taught to look for trouble
Alert to any threat
Can't enjoy the present
Consumed by fear or regret

Chorus

Becoming mindful is the key
To shed harmful perceptions
A chance to be free
Of our misconceptions

Need to find gratitude
And strive to be kind
With the right attitude
You'll gain peace of mind

Chorus

No need to be a Polly Anna
Nor a wide eyed optimist
Reframe life's drama
Gain the power to persist

Modified Chorus
Have you ever noticed
We can choose to focus
More on what's right
Than wha's wrong

Have You Ever Noticed

Just One More Time

Been on my own too long
Not able to commit
Fear of getting hurt 
Accounts for most of it
But tired of being alone
Yearn to belong
Now willing to take the risk
Know I’ve done it wrong

Chorus
At last, I’m ready to love
Hope I can find
Someone who’ll take a chance on me
Just one more time

Dropped my defenses
Stand unprotected, exposed
Loneliness crushed my fear 
My heart’s no longer closed
Know I need to change
To listen more than speak
Seek first to understand
Welcome love’s critique

Chorus
At last, I’m ready to love
Hope I can find
Someone who’ll take a chance on me
Just one more time

Long to love without restraint
Soothe my need for affection
Give my all with no complaint
Find intimate connection
Eager to anticipate
Seeing my heart’s delight
Give and receive love’s tenderness
Commit with all my might

Chorus
At last, I’m ready to love
Hope I can find
Someone who’ll take a chance on me
Just one more time

Just One More Time

Reform, Restore and Teach
By Jim Wood 11/12/22


Some say be hard on crime
Yeah, Lock ‘em up make ‘em pay
If they hurt bad enough
Once released they won’t stray
Punish, degrade berate
Eye for an eye, tooth a for tooth
That’s how we breed hate
Hard on crime’s inherent truth


Chorus
All have value despite the crime
How to bring out the best in each
Do more than sentence time
Reform, restore and teach

Prisons overflowing
Crime still on the rise
With time served where’s redemption
Reoffending ain’t no surprise
What motivates self improvement
Encouragement or blame
The answer made evident
Nurture pride over shame

Chorus
All have value despite the crime
How to bring out the best in each
Do more than sentence time
Reform, restore and teach

Want to help the wayward
Use a humane approach
Walk a mile in their shoes
Don’t condemn but coach
How to stop the rise in crime
Help the offender find their way
Use a pride based paradigm
Teach ‘em job skills to earn their pay

Chorus
All have value despite the crime
How to bring out the best in each
Do more than sentence time
Reform, restore and teach

Reform, restore and teach

Since We Ended
By Jim Wood 11/12/22 

If you’ll give me a chance
You’ll see I’m now mended
No longer the man you knew
Worked on changing since we ended

Our breakup ‘bout did me in
Had to change or die trying
Finally turned my life around
Let me prove I’m not lying
Heartache brought humility
Exposed my inflated pride
Saw the error of my ways
My arrogance slowly died

If you’ll give me a chance
You’ll see I’m now mended
No longer the man you knew
Worked on changing since we end

Took stock of my worthiness
Found it severely lacking
Deficient in loving you
No wonder you sent me packing
Never shared my feelings
Wouldn’t get too close
Feared vulnerability
Rather than change, I’d just coast

If you’ll give me a chance
You’ll see that I’m now mended
No longer the man you knew
Worked on changing since we ended

Loved me despite my faults
Couldn’t see them or your kindness
Losing you opened my eyes
Finally ending my blindness
Asking for your forgiveness
and so much more
Let the new me love you
As I should have before


If you’ll give me a chance
You’ll see I’m now mended
No longer the man you knew
Worked on changing since we ended

Since We Ended

Chorus
When in the present moment
Free from regrets of the past
No worry about the future
Find peace of mind at last

Practitioner of meditation 
Which opens the door
To enlightenment and joy
Who could want for more
Life’s riddle unfolds
Awakened to its revealing
Abundance for those 
who seek wisdom and healing

Chorus
When in the present moment
Free from regrets of the past
No worry about the future
Find peace of mind at last

Made from energy and matter
Which simply cannot die
But what happens when we’re gone
An ending we can’t defy
Able to trust there is a plan
Letting go of trying to control
Like a wave in an ocean
We’re all connected to the whole

Chorus
When in the present moment
Free from regrets of the past
No worry about the future
Find peace of mind at last

Aspire to tame conflict within
Not be lost to rash emotions
Strive to quell anger’s sin
And all hurtful notions
To rise above all distractions
Seek a grateful attitude
Avoid knee jerk reactions
Sustain a loving kindness mood

Chorus
When in the present moment
Free from regrets of the past
No worry about the future
Find peace of mind at last

Find Peace Of Mind At Last

Campfire on the lake shore
Roasting s’mores just right
Sunsets over the bay
Slow strolls in the moonlight
Watching toddler’s first steps
Mother’s kiss on a skinned knee
Children’s squeals of joy
Little ones living carefree

Chorus
Sometimes the smallest things 
Take up the most room in your heart
Cherished moments that
Give life its spark

Joking with old pals
Kidding and poking fun
Teasing to show we care
Telling tall tales we’ve spun
Road trips both short and long
Countrysides, historic towns
Seashores, mountains too
Taking in the sights and sounds

Chorus
Yeah, Sometimes the smallest things 
Take up the most room in your heart
Cherished moments that
Give life its spark

Watching snow fall at night
Bourbon’s warm glow on the rocks
Sweet smell of a cracking fire
Curled up sharing love talks
Helping a stranger
Before being asked
Feels good to do it 
No matter the task

Chorus
Yeah, Sometimes the smallest things 
Take up the most room in your heart
Cherished moments that
Give life its spark


Credit: Soulful Blues Groove Guitar Backing Track Jam in A by Elevated Jam Track purchased 1/20/2023

Give Life Its Spark

Wants Trump in ‘24
By Jim Wood 3/21/23

Ultra conservative
Tucker Carlson fan
Fears losing his power
Privilege of the white man
Minorities at his door
Wants Trump in ‘24

Pro-life activist
Protector of the unborn
Hates welfare recipients
Views single Moms with scorn
Won’t pay for them any more
Wants Trump in ‘24

Death penalty advocate
Second amendment as well
Owns AR 15s for sending
The next “bad guy” to hell
Any gun control means war
Wants Trump in ‘24

Attends church every Sunday
Wednesday night too
But has yet to ask
“What would Jesus do?”
Too many heathens to ignore
Wants Trump in ‘24

Thinks sexual orientation
Is a matter of choice
Won’t ponder how he chose his
Can’t allow doubt any voice
More queers by the score
Wants Trump in ‘24

He’s a Proud Boy in spirit
Didn’t make January 6
Regrets that he didn’t 
Get into the mix
To stop the steal on the floor
Wants Trump in ‘24

If Trump is found guilty
For any alleged crime
His arsenal is ready
Any place any time
No matter the blood and gore
Wants Trump in ‘24

Wants Trump In ‘24

Forsaking Help When They Break
By Jim Wood 4/18/23

Been over 20 years 
Since their tragic honeymoon trip
His long adoring looks 
Proved to be a fatal slip
Drifted out of his lane
Ending her life, his was never the same

Tried to hide the years pain
That weighed upon his soul
His grieved expression
Said he’s more broke than whole
Some men choose to ache
Forsaking help when they break

Always blamed himself
For the death of his soulmate
Couldn’t seek another love
His guilt was far too great
Since then he’s lived alone
Relentless grief cuts to the bone

Had flashbacks and nightmares
Wouldn’t get back behind the wheel
Numbed his fear with Jim Beam
Didn’t find peace or heal
Some men choose to ache
Forsaking help when they break

Told him of my concern
Shrugged and shook his head
Declined my offer of help
Whispered, “I’m already dead”
Hurt to see him in such pain
His love of life turned to disdain

Buried him today
Under that old oak tree
Laid him next to her
Where he chose to be
Yes this world he did depart
Finally released from his grieving heart

Some men choose to ache
Forsaking help when they break

Forsaking Help When They Break

Love Needs Tending to Survive 

Mutual attraction
Attentive to each detail
Captivated, Fascinated 
With each breath we’d inhale
Made our commitment 
Married that Spring
Our love wanted more
Found the joy a child could bring

Each heart knows
How to keep love alive 
Near or far apart
Love needs tending to survive 

Life got busy 
We got distracted 
Less attentive, 
Less attracted 
Slid into neglect
Loss of temper 
Loss of kindness 
Loss of respect 

Each heart knows
How to keep love alive 
Near or far apart
Love needs tending to survive 

Finding fault increased
Appreciation died
Needs were ignored 
Hid behind our pride
We were about to end
Then saw the love we lost
Decided to try again
Built a bridge and crossed

Each heart knows
How to keep love alive 
Near or far apart
Love needs tending to survive 

Restored loving kindness
The love we lost regained
Addressed our problems
Attentiveness sustained
Patience and forgiveness 
Love’s lessons learned
Seek first to understand 
Embittered hearts can be turned

Each heart knows
How to keep love alive 
Near or far apart
Love needs tending to survive

Love Needs Tending to Survive

Didn’t Expect to Stay


Traveled to Ireland
In search for my clan
Began in Dublin graveyards
Found where my roots began

Then met distant cousins
Who warmly welcomed me
Guest of Shawn and Mary
And their daughters three

Their eldest, Scarlett
With her fetching smile
Gave me sufficient pause
To stick around awhile

Chorus
Made it to Ireland
Straight from the U.S.A.
Didn’t plan to fall in love
Didn’t expect to stay

As we became acquainted
Her smiles did increase
Entranced and beguiled
My eyes began to feast

Her hair sunset crimson
Her eyes emerald green
Her figure enticing
A fine thing this colleen

Found her beauty
Went deeper than her skin
Came to know her kindness
Her heart I hoped to win

Chorus
Made it to Ireland
Straight from the U.S.A.
Didn’t plan to fall in love
Didn’t expect to stay

Got a job in town
With my salesman’s skills
Prepared to settle down
Had the means to pay my bills
 
After three months of yearning 
Had enough to buy the ring
Asked Shawn for her hand
What relief his blessing did bring

 
  
Came time for the final test
Got down on one knee
Thank the Lord she said yes
From now on it’s Scarlett and me

Chorus
Made it to Ireland
Straight from the U.S.A.
Yes I fell in love
Yes I’m going to stay

Jimwood150

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