Recorded in Juneau AK in the fall of 1995. Co-produced with Albert McDonnell.
SUCH A GIFT (written 2/10 & 6/15/94, Juneau AK)
Awake in the mystery, the glowing soul alive, a part
Aware of timeless changes in manifest design
Letting go of history, realigning head with heart
Disasters rearrange when we let our candle shine,
Let it shine
Around the next destiny, the threshold drawing ever near
Commencement of the currents, flowing waterfall of light
Light that really gets to me, rays that paint the circle clear
Beams that bear assurance of the healing now in sight
Such a gift, as if we were kissed out of sleeping
Such a wonderful gift, a harvest ripe for reaping
Coming to, and yesterday’s all a mirage
Along a spiral behind such a gift, such a gift
Across the periphery, new prisms now approach, arrive,
Appear as spectral rainbows, magnificent and fine
Awake in the mystery, dormant love released alive
t’s anyway the wind blows once the sun’s begun to shine,
The sun’s begun to shine
Such a gift, as if we were kissed out of sleeping
Such a wonderful gift, a harvest ripe for reaping
Coming to, and yesterday’s all a mirage
A long long spiral behind such a gift, such a gift,
Such a gift
Such a, such a gift, Lord (try it now)
WATER MEDICINE (written 6/7/92, Athens OH)
I meander down from mountains where the snowfall gave me birth
I was only a young stream when I began to know my worth
Now I’m rushing past the banks and riding channels in the earth
Toward my rendezvous at large with endless ocean
Sometimes lazy, sometimes rapid, it depends on the terrain
Irrigating all around me, ancient elm and sandhill crane
Through the valleys, fields and meadows, wetland marsh and delta plain
Flowing onward through this landscape to the ocean
Children float upon my surface, swimmers race my undertow
There is not a pool or puddle where I hesitate to go
Yet no matter the distraction I return to what I know,
A steady pilgrimage to blend with endless ocean
I was once a mighty storm cloud; Father Sun assembled me,
Then I turned into a raindrop, Thunderbird had set me free
Now I know myself as river, soon I lose myself at sea
Any moment bound to turn into the ocean
From cradle unto grave
From snowflake unto tidal wave
Who denies all oneness and survives?
Who perishes but keeps their heart alive?
As I ramble past your cities many lessons I am learning
I see money building prisons, I see dreamers trapped and yearning
But you can’t evaporate the source, to her I am returning
With my currents magnetized to endless ocean
As a cloud I dreamed the rainbow, as a drop I dreamed the stream
As a rivulet I dreamed the bucket turning into steam
As river now my only hope is living out this dream
Through the moment of embrace with endless ocean
MAGIC LIGHTBULBS (written 1/24/92, Athens OH)
I dreamed I got into an airplane in the east
With all four Beatles—it was 1968
And we flew across the country to the west for one last show
And as I watched them from the bleachers they were great
I felt the heights of their devotion as the bodies swirled in motion,
And magic lightbulbs dancing in mid-air
And afterward we braved the crowds and drove back to their plane
Along the way John pointed out the lonely border people
I asked him how he liked the show and John spoke only of the pain
Of being painted into corners as a plastic Beatle
I felt the depths of his emotion as it rolled into the ocean,
And magic lightbulbs dancing even there
And within moments we were airborne and high above the earth
Where the pilot, sensing turbulence, gave John the maps to hold
And then John handed me a compass and we flew towards the birth
Of magic lightbulbs, and I woke up at the crossroads
I felt the breadth of our ability, the dawn of possibility,
And magic lightbulbs, magic lightbulbs dancing to get there
We were magic lightbulbs dancing in fresh air
THE BALLAD OF HARVEY MILK (written 1/31/91, Athens OH)
You have heard of brother Gandhi, you have learned of brother King
How they overcame the mighty, how they taught the dumb to sing
From the New York town of Woodmere came another in their line
Who gave the world a great example, teaching manhood redefined
Harvey Milk came out of nowhere,
Harvey Milk was here and gone
Harvey Milk has never left us,
Harvey Milk will carry on
He was born into a body that appeared completely male
But at times his inner longings left him running scared and frail
For although he loved his sisters they were not his heart’s desire
Once he recognized his nature, to the closet he’d retire
He roamed and rambled through the fifties, in and out of many scenes
And it grew harder to deny the honest truth within his genes
Like a lightbulb in the dungeon, something calling him to go
There was something he was meant for, something clear he had to show
(Chorus)
Harvey came to San Francisco, saw the sixties loose and free
And he sensed a strange awakening of new community
For converging on the bayside, legions of the ostracized
Women hurt for loving women, men outcast for loving guys
He bought a camera store on Castro and came out to organize
Humble was the small shop owner as the movement grew in size
Many times he felt discouraged and he suffered many trials
For the backlash was outrageous and reaction was in style
(Chorus)
Three times he ran for office, three times he was kept down
Still he led the Gay Pride rallies with the wonder of a clown
In the year of seven-seven San Francisco gave assent
To the candidate named Harvey, placed him in the government
Then a beauty queen-turned-bigot rose up publicly to pray
That the Lord would punish Frisco and Gay Pride would blow away
Harvey Milk rose to the challenge, Harvey Milk stood to the test
And he traveled California preaching justice without rest
(Chorus)
Though Dan White was Harvey’s colleague, his resentment it was great
This disgruntled supervisor’s anger sealed up Harvey’s fate
All-American his background, aspiration his downfall
Coke and twinkies in his blood, he snuck into the City Hall
First he strode up to the mayor, and he gunned Moscone down
Then he set his sights on Harvey, down the hallway did he bound
And he asked for a discussion, so polite and so discreet
Then he pumped five dum-dum bullets through the Mayor of Castro Street
Public Square that night was silent as all the people gathered ’round
For to shed a trillion teardrops, burn a billion candles down
And lo, they could have rioted, and though they could have screamed
They gently wept in heartache at the death of Harvey’s dream
But (Chorus)
Harvey knew that it was coming, Harvey knew what he stood for
He said, “The bullet that my brain will catch destroys the closet door”
Now my own preference is hetero, me I’m a woman-loving man,
But in the hour of retrospect my heart can understand
There is beauty in diversity and freedom is at hand
With the end of animosity for differences demand
That each respect the other, let the phobias disband
Harvey’s lovelight lingers on for Love’s what makes a man a man
(Chorus 3x)
LIFEBOATS (written 9/22/93, Juneau AK)
Cynicism’s easy, optimism’s tough
Keeping hope alive in times like these is pretty rough
It’s tempting to accept the separation but what if it’s a bluff?
The image is chaotic but appearances deceive
Illusion’s on the chopping block and only fools can grieve
Some of us are coming to conclusions, some of us believe
The waves are crashing down upon the rock to which we’re clinging
Exposed to the elements, revealed by the storm
The breakers slam and tear across our shoulders as we’re singing
To each other, to ourselves, to the light that keeps us warm
Reactionary values are drifting out of date
Attach the self to fear and all too soon it’s much too late
The lines we’re most afraid to cross converge upon a sinking ship of state
Each lifeboat’s small and simple but the engineering’s strong
The oars are pure compassion and the anchor’s but a song
Whichever way you turn there’s love to steer by; you’ve known this all along
The waves are crashing down upon the rock to which we’re clinging
Exposed to the elements, naked in the storm
The breakers slam and tear across our shoulders as we’re singing
To each other, to ourselves, to the light that keeps us warm
It’s a matter of confidence, a question of solid intention
Reunification manifested
Imagine a sixth sense, consider an honest connection
Straight to the source, by the grace of which we’re tested
The waves are crashing down upon the rock to which we’re clinging
Exposed to the elements, safe inside the storm
The breakers slam and tear across our shoulders as we’re singing
To each other, to ourselves, to the waves all crashing
Down upon the rock to which we’re clinging
Exposed to the elements, so safe inside the storm
The breakers slam and tear across our shoulders as we’re singing
To each other, to ourselves, to the light that keeps us warm,
Safe inside the storm
The light that keeps us warm,
Safe inside the storm
Anchors aweigh!
OUT IN THE WOODSHED (written 9/18/94, Juneau AK)
Out in the woodshed, piling up logs
Fixin’ the wagon, oiling the cogs
Savin’ twigs for kindling and the warmth that it brings
Out in the woodshed, pickin’ at the strings
Before I sing my heart to the sky
Before my wings are ready to fly
I’ve got some fresh wood ready to split
I’ll just pick a few chords and see how they fit
(Chorus)
High aspirations, places to go
Stages to sing on, faces to know
A blazing inferno needs a solitary spark
Out in the woodshed, pickin’ in the dark
Somewhere the lights of Broadway do shine
Someone is facing someone’s deadline
But out in this woodshed nothing invades
There’s a wellspring of music just behind the shades
When IU’m out in the woodshed, piling up logs
Fixin’ the wagon, oiling all the cogs
Savin’ twigs for kindling and the warmth that it brings
Out in the woodshed, pickin’ at the strings in the woodshed,
Pickin’ at them out in the woodshed, pickin’ at the strings
REALLY YOU (written 5/9/94, Juneau AK)
I saw your outer layers crack and crumble
Your elaborate defenses lost integrity
I heard your voice ring clear where once you’d mumble
Scales fell from your heart’s visual capacity
I watched as your resistance dissipated
Your centuries of torment lost their grip and power
I saw you reaching out to those you’d hated
And witnessed how your soul shone in this magic hour
And who is that emerging from behind the veil of tears?
Who is that releasing ancient fears?
Revealed without disguises, one look into your eyes is
All I need to know that love has made you new,
And if it’s true, it’s really you
I wandered in my silence for a long time
Convinced that we’re all family despite the border wars
I’m wondering now that bells of freedom chime
If everyone can make it through the unlocked doors
(Chorus)
And now I know how good the mother feels
When her child is healthy and strong
The planet groans and the matter yields
And Holy Spirit sings her simple song
I can see your inner blessings finally showing
And nothing can diminish the pulsing of your heart
It nourishes you and it keeps you growing
And bridges all the distances that kept us so apart,
Bridges all the distances that kept us so apart
And who is that emerging from behind the veil of tears?
Who is that releasing ancient fears?
Revealed without disguises, one look into your eyes is
All I need to know that love has made you new,
And I need to know if love can make you new,
It’s so fine to see how love has made you new
‘Cause if it’s true, it’s really you,
Really you, really you
One look into your eyes is all I need to know that
Love has made you new, really you, really you
One look into your eyes is all I need to know that
Love has made you new, really you, really you
One look into your eyes is all I need to know that
Love has made you new
FULLNESS (written 6/8/94, Juneau AK)
Fingertips touch fingertips touch strings of wonder
Weaving threads of melody from oceanic skies
Light breezes brush the grasses, growing roots reach under
Above the clouds a blessed band in rapture flies
We happen on each other and a song commences
We climb toward a peaceful place together all alone
We settle in the meadow with no sign of fences
You reach me through the telepathic telephone, singin’
Watch for the winds to rise
Spread your wings across the skies
Don’t deny the fullness of your heart’s desire
When will the time be right?
Whenever love’s in sight
Your heart will let you know what love requires
Hardly know your form but I can sense your essence
Embracing on the waves of swelling notes and spiral sounds
And as the hands of harmony resolve resistance
I feel the laws of gravity release me from the ground
You come to me in dreaming and I wake without you
But I feel as I am with you on that hillside all alone
Light breezes brush the strings, I see what fingertips can do
I’m dialing on the telepathic telephone, singin’
(Chorus 2x) > La, la la…
STOKIN’ THIS FIRE (written 7/24/94, Juneau AK)
Here again I’m cuppin’ my hands right around a naked flame
Out here alone at this campsite, silently staking this claim
Cold wind on my shoulder says there’s nothing there at all
But light spills through these fingers and tears fall
Nursing just a flicker of hope, seeking a sign of love’s presence
Passion consumes the kindling in purple flames of purest essence
Solemn undertaking of a cleansing on the way
Certain that this spark is here to stay
Stokin’ this fire, here, today
Diving inside this shell made of clay
Burning desire from light years away
Stokin’ this fire, right here, today
Careful, careful, don’t blow it out
Don’t you know what this flame’s about?
Sittin’ by a circle of stones, like again as unto the One
Start to feel the heat in these bones beaming through the eyes of the sun
Light spills through these branches, cold wind turns into a breeze
Hands that cup the flame can turn the keys
(Chorus 2x)
Careful, don’t blow it out
You know what this flame’s about
So careful not to blow it out
Knowing what this flame’s about
Stokin’ this fire, stokin’ this fire, right here, today
EQUILIBRIUM (written 12/15/92 & 1/6/93, Homer AK)
The farther you travel out on the limb,
The less weight the branch can bear
The lighter your baggage the better the chances
Of keeping your balance out there
‘Cause if you go carrying excess
And dancing with gravity
You’ll need to go light for the sake of yourself and the tree
But after some practice equilibrium is found
And every act is centered, roots are firm and sound
This silent information’s turning everyone around
Equilibrium advancing all around
The closer you get to the edge of secure,
The wilder the chaos appears
And when you look into the face of the void,
You’ll witness your deepest fears
And suddenly soft surrender
Carries you through the fright
A vision arrives and you’re left with a feeling of flight
And after some practice equilibrium is found
And every act is centered, roots are firm and sound
This simple information’s turning everything around
Equilibrium advancing all around
Some things seem too impossible to be
The path to a clearer framework
How can there ever be the opposite of this,
Tumbling down these clockworks?
But some things that go out of balance have to go
A little farther out ‘fore we find
A moment arrives when you lift from the limb half-blind, but never mind
‘Cause after some practice every act is centered
Equilibrium is found, roots reaching firm and sound
This vital information, once lost becoming found
Equilibrium advancing all around, all around, all around, all around
HARBOR OF THE HEART (words: 11/13/92, Homer AK; music: 9/23/93, Juneau AK)
I am always with you, so do not be afraid,
There is no storm nor ocean that can keep us apart
Have no fear or sorrow for the choices you have made
You’ll find consistent shelter in the harbor of the heart
Thy light is my own, so do not fear the sunrise
Be assured about the morning, suffer not the lonely night
Every moment of this journey I come shining through your heart’s eyes
As an ever-present witness of this iridescent light
If in dreaming you are startled by the pounding of the waves,
I will fly on wings of starlight that your turbulence be still
So hang on to no illusion for the source in all ways saves
Those who love the destination shall survive the winter’s chill
So do not be afraid, I am always with you
There is no cliff nor chasm that can keep us apart
For the choices you have made, have no fear or sorrow
You will find consistent shelter in the harbor
You will find consistent shelter in the harbor of the heart
AS FAR AS THE HEART GOES (written 12/6/94, Juneau AK, for John Bartlett)
You’re walking pathways through the stars again
I’m weaving circles on this globe
I’m standing upright on the beach again
Your body’s going back below
I can’t be strong so I break down again
Where is your warm and loving smile?
Cold winter winds caress my cheek again
You say, “I’ll see you in a while”
Through tears I say, “I can’t believe you’re gone,
I have so much to give you still”
Your silence tells me to receive the song
From deep inside creation’s will
You saw the heart of all the best of me
You were my sweetest truest friend
The seeds you planted in the rest of me
Convince me that this is not the end
You are a seagull now, dancing on air
I can’t go with you yet, but soon I’ll be there
I’m feeling human now, breaking apart
You left a rainbow as far as the heart goes
We knew this was temporary,
So why do I look so surprised?
I guess your flight’s as necessary
As the sunshine I saw in your sparkling eyes
A long, long journey to the source of peace,
A joyous climbing through the years
Has brought your spirit now to sweet release
And through our eyes so many tears
Reflect your songs about the rainbow dream
Your children laughing in the sun
Along this journey to the source of peace,
I’ll know that you and I are One,
But you are a seagull now, dancing on air
I can’t go with you yet, but soon enough, I’ll be there
I’m feeling human now, breaking apart
You left a rainbow, a sparkling rainbow,
Yeah, you left a rainbow as far as the heart goes
HOMECOMING (written 6/18 & 7/10/95, Juneau AK)
I’ve been riding rough waters, caught in a trance
Bearing my burden and missing the dance
Too lost in sideshows to see the romance
Of this never-ending journey
But the wind’s in my favor, my sail’s filling fast
Before I know it the storm will have passed
Comforting harbors will beckon at last
I can feel the circles turning
Though the light’s small and distant, I see it
By the soft glow of starshine, I’m finding the shores
Though the dream’s trapped within, I can free it
Like a homecoming vessel back on course
I’ve been walking a wire, a long way from home
No net below me, up here alone
Sometimes it feels like I’m drilling through stone
In search of one rough diamond
But the moon’s still in orbit, my compass is true
The rock of ages is pulling me through
And every step leads me closer to you,
Our destination shining
Though the light’s small and distant, I see it
By the soft glow of starshine, I’m finding the shores
Though the dream’s trapped within, I can free it
Like a homecoming vessel back on course
Like a homecoming vessel back on course