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Lyrics to the Traces
Album
The steed of ths valley is
patience
Without it you can't reach the goal
And if you strive for a hundred thousand years
and yet fail to behold the beauty of the Friend ye
should not falter
In this journey the seeker
Seeth all created things wandering distracted in
Search of the Friend
How many Jacobs he'll see hunting his Joseph
Through the valley, through the valley
Seek a trace of the traceless Friend
Through the valley
The steed of this valley is pain
Without it the journey won't end
A lover fearest nothing and no harm can come
nigh him thou seest him chill in the fire dry in
the sea
Out of doubt into certitude
He will set ajar the gate of truth
In a drop he finds in the ocean deep
He beholds the secrets of the sea
[This song is inspired by 'The Seven Valleys'
written by Baha'u'llah]
Tamasha forever wandering
Tamasha forever sightseeing
You held the hand laughed and rn
With the Promised Man
Tamasha flying through orange groves
Tamasha splash where the fountain flows
And in my mind I'm back in time Tamasha
So short a life, Husayn, but we'd all
give our own
To be the same, for just one day, Tamasha
[Inspired by the grandson of Bahaullah who loved
to go on outings with his grandfather. His death at the
age of four was commemorated by a Tablet in which
Baha'u'llah described him as sightseeing in the next world.]
One day Your name will be on
all lips
And Your words at their fingertips
They'll have at last
The new world in their grasp
You'll see tall trees
Where we planted new seeds
In the ground scattered all around
They'll know how to grow
And rise above
And when I try to forget myself
And find it so hard to live the life
I know that I must rely on You
And I'll pray I'll play a part
And fill my heart with Your love
Each and every day
And there'll be
One world one day
One cell that keeps on dividing
Latent power mirrored inside
A whole well of potential in hiding
A vein of jewels in the deepest mine
You'll find the whole me
Right there waiting
The whole me waiting inside
The whole me right there waiting.
Oh can't you see
The gifts witihin me
Time's past and the layers are growing
Dust on my soul and a veil round my eyes
But dig deep you'll find virtues I'm showing
A rough diamond so thinly disguised
Can you see the tree inside the tiny seed
Can you see the drops that hold the mighty sea
Pearls held in the closed shell in the deep
And it's always been just there
[We are all born with potential talents, capacities
and virtues that are deep within us like jewels in a
mine. Shouldn't the goal of education be to bring
these gems to the surface?]
[Inspired by The Fire Tablet by Baha'u'llah]
Keith added the wonderful handclaps and percussion
Was a time when I'd never even
heard of You
And for a while I foolishly ridiculed
I was blind and I couldn't haved seen the truth
Took a sign to finally break through
To a heart so cool and now
I, I believe in You [Baha'u'llah] and now
I, I believe in You [Baha'u'llah]
For a while I thought all belief was a crutch
To support poor simple minds when life became
too much
But the first light of dawn shines on the dust
And like a stone wrapped up in the dark
I was just...just out of Your touch and now
Oh to be shown in a dream
Of a word that's unseen, finally released
From all my doubt and disbelief
And oh, You gave voice to the Word
And I finally heard, and now I understand
That my soul's in Your hand and now...
The One in whose hand in my soul...
[I was blessed by a dream in which I was held
in an enormous hand, cradled and told that
everything would be all right]
Composed on Godrevy Beach in Penwith in Cornwall
Broken winged bird whose flight
is so slow
Assist him to fly to the summit to the apex
Winging his way with the utmost joy
Through limitless space raise His melody
O Son of Spirit, won't you fly like the phoenix
In ye I have treasured all the pearls of my mysteries
The gems of my knowledge
O Son of Man
I loved thy creation, hence I created thee
Wherefore do thou love Me
That I may name thy name and fill thy soul
With the spirit of life
[Inspired by the Bahai Writings]
You lie in the dreamtime country
Mesmerized by the sky
Where Lizard Man named the cave and
the waterhole
Spinning out the songlines
An ancient voice sung the world into existence
The same spirit moved the dream
But I've heard a strange bird calling
Bringing sweetness to my soul
I've learned melodies on the breeze
Of a greater alchemy
Than base metal into gold
You walk in the foothills of the ancestors
Every step on sacred ground
You talk of the spiritual landscape
And wrestle with your needs and doubts
A chosen path that severed my connection
Left no fruit upon the tree
But I've heard ..
Sub atomic life outreaching
Molecules desperately seeking
The power of opposite attraction
In magnetic fields of action
The inner outer worlds unfolding
The information lines exploding
The heady swirl of planets spinning
The integrated universe singing of love
[The ancient voice of God has been calling for eternity]
Little eyes on the screen there
in my dream
It could have been my little boy it could have
been him
How could you let it happen?
How could you break their hearts?
Why do we have to suffer so much?
But I know that he
Soars so high and flies
On the breath of their prayers
And his soul survives and lies
In His tender caress
So many lives that are brief - struck by our greed
Why does this one make us weep
and feel so weak?
Why can't we treat them as precious?
Why aren't they all worthwhile?
Why can't we see they're all treasure
in His eyes?
How can I ever know how he feels?
But I know in the other world
That's where we'll meet and we'll soar ....
[Written for James Bulger]
Living waters in your hands
A stream of dreams..in each and every land
A mighty river from above
To fill with oceans..with one great love
Time after time..a messenger comes
A light so bright from the rays of the sun
To teach mankind with a special force
A wave of life from one great source
And for this age came a new daystar
To unite the earth called Baha'u'llah
To make sense of all out differences
To plan for peace and a world government
Well it's a strange time to
be on earth
There's so many problems
A nightmare's begun
We just can't believe it will all work out
When people are screaming "what now?"
But there's one Man that I know
Who said a hundred years ago..
We should be living
Under the tree of unity
Sheltering all of humanity
Where we should be for eternity
Under the tree of unity
There's so many people who are good at heart
They just want their children to live in peace
When all our systems are breaking down
They want changes but just don't know how
Can't go on living with our head in the sand
Changing partners in politcal dances
Only love will win in the end
I'll take my chances...
One people on planet
There's no reason why we cannot
Live together-peacefully
There are many reasons to be fighting
But the healing is in the Writing
Says we are the leaves..leaves of one tree
In this world of satellite stations
There's a breakdown in communications
There's a message here for all who want to hear
There are many reasons to be divided
But the Teaching says be united
Says we are the waves waves of one sea
In this world of computerization
There's still poverty, disease and starvation
All I want is just a chance to make you see.
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Lyrics to the Fragile
Leaf Album
| The Dancer [ inspired
by Mica] |
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I love to watch you dancing
your spirit free and wild
Your feet as light as snowflakes you're my whirling dervish child
And I hope the light that shines in you won't dim in the absence
of youth
For we were made to sing and play and we were made to laugh
we were made to fall in love and you were born to dance
I love to watch you dancing the way you spin and jump and glide
Your focus, poise and energy make me feel so old and tired
And I hope your joy and confidence won't ever be crushed by self-doubt
For we were made to sing and play we were made to laugh
we were made to fall in love and you were born to dance
And we've danced for the harvest we've danced to the moon
We've danced to the God who inspired the tune
We've danced within circles and underneath stars
We've danced away worries in each others arms
And I love to watch you dancing your limbs so full of life
And I see something reflected a radiant burning light
And I know it's brightness never fades if you keep it deep in your
heart
For we were made to sing and play and we were made to laugh
And we were made to fall in love and you were born to dance
Walking through trees feeling
the breeze
Swirling all around
Watching the leaves fall to my knees
In red gold brown
Colours will fade beauty decays
Down into the ground
Keeping the faith green will replace
Dark black boughs
Like a fragile leaf that can come tumbling to the ground
Like a boat cast off upon the sea
Like one strong tree withstands the wind and rain around
I know a greater love waits for me
Walking the hill voices are still
Moving through the grass
Keeping the frame deep in my brain
one moment lasts…
Silent but strong spirits are one
Holding on to hands
Forgive me I pray.. please let me stay
In Your command
[the journey of the soul inspired by a story written by [ Ali Nakhjavani]
Run river run to the clear
blue sea from the deepest well you arise
Where you spring up from is a mystery who knows where your source
ever lies
To the land that's low the water flows river run river run
As you seep through the earth your life's just begun
Trickling over hard stony ground
One more sparkling stream underneath the sun
Carving rock as it cascades down
In the sweet valleys you take your ease river run
And now as the river slows the trees on the banks are low
The leaves fall and branches choke and weeds tangled almost broke
Its spirit in silent waits praying for the storm to break
And swollen with blessed rain it moves through the world again
Let your soul roam free in the deep blue sea river run
[`Plenty to Come Yet `is a stretch of water between Godrevy lighthouse
and the mainland a rich fishing ground near Hayle in Cornwall]
The sun sets on a new generation
high ideals in their sights
The old let their memories sustain them content not to fight the
good fight
But the house shines and the light guides
Where ever you are like a bright morning star
Green water flowing at` Plenty to Come Yet`
The tide is racing to take you away
Know way of knowing whether you'll come back and stay
The young scorn the wisdom of ages riding hell bent for the truth
The old sit patiently waiting waving good bye to their youth
And you can't always teach and you can't always learn
But you soon find out if the fire will burn
The sands always shifting but the lamp always lights
The boat's loose and drifting out of sight but not out of mind
Any one can tell a story anyone
can spin a line
But it takes a special confidence
To fabricate a lie
Anyone can get the facts mixed up and change the way they feel
But some create a different version and believe it to be real
`The truth is out there` =anyway
But who believes a word you say
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive
Oh what a mess we leave behind
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive
Oh what a mess we leave behind when we believe the fiction in our
mind
Words run out the time is up
The house of cards falls down.. the rug is pulled and reveals the
fool
Tumbling to the ground
She's flying, flying she's
got wings to fly
She's trying, trying God knows how hard she tries
She's struggle on and on to get the things she wants
She's got to prove she's strong
But the memories haunt…
And she's high, high as a kite
Where will she go, will she come down
Try, try as she might
She's bound to the ground….bound to the ground
She's hiding..hiding in her work each day
Denying…denying all the hurt and pain
She's bound to find her way and she's caught the spark
One step closer every day on that narrow path
Feel the power of the wind
That makes you fly in the sky
It's how you feel within
That keeps you high
[written for the Josefatow family who showered us with hospitality
in 98/99 as did the Smith family in Penticton]
Raspberry-Robson in British
Columbia
The pulp-mill is busy roaring all night
A great log cabin looms out of the shadows
Out of the dark pines a welcoming light
Kathryn says make yourself home anywhere
You can even try the tent by the river
We opt for the house 'cause we're so scared of bears
We English are so lily-livered
But we were warm in Kathryn's cabin
Swim in the river paddle a canoe
Climb up the mountain with a great dog or two
We try to go fishing and we never catch any
There are so many memories that we share with you
And Kathryn says won't you just stay one more night
One night expands into seven
We go back five times in that wonderful year
To stay in that little piece of heaven
And we were warm in Kathryn's cabin
The quiet tiptoe of the deer in the snow
Just outside the window Christmas morning
Feel the warm glow though it's fifteen below
Cause inside the log fire is burning, burning
And Kathryn says maybe we'll make enough pay
Fly four thousand miles to visit
I say by that day well we'll be old and grey
I wonder how likely is it ?
But we were warm in Kathryn's cabin
[Dedicated to the Babi martyrs]
All the town went out to see
the spectacle put on for free
The people came to cheer and shout as the lover in his best strode
out
The candlemaker brought a gift the finest wax that he could give
He bathed the lovers path that night in a crimson incandescent light
as he
Danced to the garden danced to the garden danced to the garden
On his wedding day
The blacksmith wouldn't miss a chance to help the lover in dance
He made him magic shoes of fire to bring him closer to his hearts
desire
All the tradesmen used their craft to make the lover smile and laugh
And all the presents they would bring made his spirit soar and his
heart to sing as he..
As the garden gate drew near a vision all in white appeared
The lifted veil revealed her face and she drew him in her warm embrace
The reddest roses grew around shed their perfumed petals on the
ground
The lovers crushed them with their feet and their blood red juice
ran down the street as they..
[Written in response to a radio songwriters course challenge to use
the words `languish` and `orange` in a song -more personally it`s
about prayer]
Languish a little bit more
that's my body sweet talking my soul
Come on spirit just rest and repose in this warm and comforting
glow
Something is drawing me out of my bed mysterious music inside my
head
And behold me standing in Your light and behold me gazing left
and right
And behold me calling out Your name keeping this fire aflame
And I'm sensing a fragrant perfume orange blossom pervading this
room
Directing me just to whom this lowly one supplicates to
Body and spirit joined with my head wrapped in the beautiful words
that are said
This comes hard to a novice of prayer it's such a miracle You planted
me where
The rain could fall and the sun could shine and I unfold and cry
"Here am I, here am I!"
[The dichotomy between materialism and wilderness and the fragility
of both human and animal life caught between the two]
Well he shuffles down the
ridge that over looks the town
His belly's sore and empty, no berries to be found
And he's driven down by hunger to a place he should fear
Where he can roam no longer for neon lights reign here
And he's programmed for survival and obeys the natural law
There's a winter he must get through and a life worth fighting for
Oh but there's nothing there no comfort to be found
Nothing there in this shiny, plastic town
Nothing there no sustenance at all
Nothing there this fall……
He stumbles down on main-street, a wildness in his eyes
Two houses to call home now… one heart to divide
And he wanders through the mall there's so much you can buy
To fill up empty spaces where real love should reside
And they're trading junk for time spent building happy families
Stealing every moment for work and pleasure needs
Boy and the bear part of one creation
Nurture and care is what they need
I lost you, I lost you where
did you go
I lost you, I lost you like a child in the snow
I lost you, I lost you what did you see
That cost you, that cost you your whole family
You had a path so clear but found another track
It's still waiting here to claim you back
And I'll pray for you thinking every day of you
And stay as true to the words I say for you
I saw your, I saw your beautiful face
That once shone, that once shone with God's radiance
And I know that, I know that things always change
And never, and never will ever be the same
A little boy bereft breaking down inside
Repay the father's debt open your heart wide
Any one can tell a story anyone
can spin a line
But it takes a special confidence
To fabricate a lie
Anyone can get the facts mixed up and change the way they feel
But some create a different version and believe it to be real
`The truth is out there` =anyway
But who believes a word you say
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive
Oh what a mess we leave behind
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive
Oh what a mess we leave behind when we believe the fiction in our
mind
Words run out the time is up
The house of cards falls down.. the rug is pulled and reveals the
fool
Tumbling to the ground
How can you hope to stay together?
How can you hope to love forever?
How can you hope to trust without the truth?
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