WHEN I WAS A BOY
when I was a boy
I would play
night and day
and I could see
a world of make believe
the heroes I wanted to be
when I was a boy
I spoke like a boy
but now those ways
have come to an end
and I couldn’t wait
just to understand
what it means to be a man
when I was a boy
when I was a boy
ghost riding my bike
afraid of girls I liked
and I would stare
at the way she wore her hair
at the way she smiled so sweet
when I was a boy
I would stare at the wall
I would wait for her to call
of course she wouldn’t
but maybe she
was waiting on me
waiting on a man
when I was a boy
when I was a boy
I would hide
I knew how to escape from danger
and I was aware
even then that the world’s not fair
I wondered why I should care at all
when I was a boy
I merely survived
and surviving turned me
into a man
and now I find
hope, faith, and love abide
but still I long for the time
when I was a boy
THERE BESIDE ME
I want to quit my job
but I’m afraid
I might not find another one
who wants to come home tired?
aching to the bone
Susan, I’m tired
none of this comes easy
in fact it comes hard
still if I’d never met you
I would still be looking for you
in the coldest winter
I dream of green leaves blooming
and you are there beside me
you are there beside me
I want to split this town
and run away
oh but where would I go?
who wants to be a stranger?
feeling all alone
Susan, I’m a stranger
none of this comes easy
in fact it comes hard
still if I’d never met you
I would still be looking for you
in the coldest winter
I dream of green leaves blooming
and you are there beside me
you are there beside me
none of this comes easy
in fact it comes hard
still if I’d never met you
I would still be looking for you
in the darkest hour
I am dreaming of the dawning
and you are there beside me
you are there beside me
you are there beside me
DON’T TAKE ME FOR GRANTED
I watch the daylight fade
I watch the seasons change
I see your face showing your age
as you stare off in the distance
I wonder what you’re thinking about
I wonder if you’ll ever figure out
the difference between what you profess
and what you exhibit
don’t take me for granted
don’t leave me behind
when you get distracted
keep me in your mind
you say that you love me
but I’ve become disenchanted
with the way that you treat me
don’t take me for granted
maybe I don't expect enough
but I'm certainly not asking much
when all I ask of you
is a little recognition
some nights I leave the house
without my phone
and wander through the streets
on my own
it feels good just to be alone
with no sense of direction
don’t take me for granted
don’t leave me behind
when you get distracted
keep me in your mind
you say that you love me
but I’ve become disenchanted
with the way that you treat me
don’t take me for granted
you’ll be sorry
don’t take me for granted
MONDAY MORNING
Monday morning
I wish I was sleeping in
I just can’t begin
another day again
maybe I’ll just call in sick
maybe I’ll just call it quits
just let me be
worry free
on Monday morning
Monday morning
I got work to do
things to attend to
reminded of responsibilities
‘til I’m down on my knees
just let me be
worry free
on Monday morning
considering my circumstance
I don’t stand much of a chance
I’m sorry
seeing that my hands are tied
to a debt I must abide
I’m sorry
you’ll be sorry
hear it from a friend
beware of the hand that lends
Monday morning
should I even sing your blues?
you’re just a little bruise
my wife reminds me that so many have it worse
as I make my blessings out to be a curse
and I know she's right
but still I whine
over Monday morning
ROCKING CHAIR
she’s in my mind and I’m in hers
as if some wish we made became a curse
what felt so good at one time starts to hurt
gonna need another wish
before things get even worse
oh, won’t you offer me your guidance?
before it is too late
oh I won’t suffer in silence
don’t you wait for that right day to come
rocking chair, I am pleading
undo any spell that has been cast in me
surely, you know now how I am feeling
oh rocking chair please set me free
oh rocking chair please set me free
I’m in her dreams and she’s in mine
as if our lives are somehow intertwined
I can still see her there amongst the pines
under the half-moon and north star as it shines
oh, won’t you offer me your guidance?
before it is too late
oh I won’t suffer in silence
don’t you wait for that right day to come
rocking chair, I am pleading
undo any spell that has been cast in me
surely, you know now how I am feeling
oh rocking chair please set me free
oh rocking chair please set me free
REWRITING TOMORROW
he understands he brings his troubles on himself
as he wonders how another choice might have felt
and he secretly admits to himself he needs help
but wonders who’s left to turn to
and so what are you grieving? what do you need?
you know there’s no relieving a hunger that feeds
he tried to wait it out ‘til he was down on his knees
vowing to rewrite tomorrow
she disregards all the plans that she’s made
and sees to it that all her bills are paid
as she steps off the stage
from the role she has played
so well so long
and so what are you grieving? what do you need?
by the time she left Cleveland there was little to leave
but she understood she had to get herself free
if she wanted to rewrite tomorrow
and now he’s suffering those long shot blues
he went and paid the rent before he paid his dues
now any little dream he might like to pursue
stands beyond the horizon
and so what are you grieving? what do you need?
you know the cost of living here is more than it seems
once the month is up you’re just a mouth to feed
trying to rewrite tomorrow
she regrets ever getting involved
but a troubled man has a certain kind of draw
that makes her feel as if all her problems are solved
by attending to another
and so what are you grieving? what do you need?
there will be no retrieving the things that you leave
when you gotta get out you just grab what you need
if you want to rewrite tomorrow
despite the fear of being alone
they’re both glad to be free now and on their own
choosing their destination and the road
that will get them there
and so what are you grieving? what do you need?
in those early years we were so happy
and that’s what I miss more than anything
as I go and rewrite tomorrow
