1. |
Wax and Wane
02:58
|
|||
|
If I was a butterfly
A-hanging on a tree
Everybody’d stop and sigh
When they caught sight of me
Sunlight sparkle on my wings
Nectar sweet as tea
If I was a butterfly
A-hanging on a tree
But would they stop and swoon
For a little brown cocoon
Could they see that someday soon
I’d become a butterfly
A-hanging on a tree
If I was a snowflake falling
Laughing through the sky
They’d all try to catch me
On their tongue as I spun by
I’d lead them and I’d tease them
A glimmer in my eye
If I was a snowflake falling
Laughing through the sky
But soon comes Mr. Sun
To melt through all our fun
Soon they walk right past my puddle
But once I was a snowflake
Laughing through the sky
Well if I was the moon above
I’d wax and I would wane
And in my glow they’d dance below
Like moths around a flame
I’d light up all their favorite nights
Caress them in their pain
If I was the moon above
I’d wax and I would wane
And though I’d come and go
Well everybody knows
The tides will always ebb and flow
If I was the moon above
I’d wax and I would wane
I’d wax and I would wane
Yes if I was the moon above
I’d wax and I would wane
I’d wax and I would wane…
|
||||
2. |
It's Just Sunrise
03:46
|
|||
|
When day breaks
Like heartache
And the first snow stumbles to the ground
Will you find sense
In the silence
Or be swallowed in the lingering darkness
Drowning in the sound
When your breath sags
And your feet drag
And the words fall heavy from your hand
Will you sit still
Feel the ground swell
Spread your fingers out to brush the grains
Of swiftly flowing sand
And as the time flies by your eyes
The light breaks through
It’s just sunrise
And today the sky may not be blue
You might not see through all your to-dos
But I promise you
It’s just sunrise
And as the time flies by your eyes
The light breaks through
It’s just sunrise
And today the sky may not be blue
You might not see through all your to-dos
But I promise you
It’s just sunrise
|
||||
3. |
Was It Worth the Kiss
05:15
|
|||
|
Why’d we wait so long again?
Straining to stay awake in bed
If this isn’t nice, what is?
But I won’t be here in the morning
My lonesome railway car is calling
Was it worth the kiss
To end up like this?
Tangled torsos
Knotted limbs
Clinging like you’re gonna fly away
Fingers soft like gentle grass
Melting in your strong caress
Hoping that you won’t ask me to stay
Not today; not today
Why’d we wait so long again?
Straining to stay awake in bed
If this isn’t nice, what is?
But I won’t be here in the morning
My lonesome railway car is calling
Was it worth the kiss
To end up like this?
Working magic spells
Anticipation pricking
As we work our way under each others’ skin
Smothering tomorrow
Feeling our way forward
In and out-of-body throwing caution
To the unforgiving wind
Why’d we wait so long again?
Straining to stay awake in bed
If this isn’t nice, what is?
But I won’t be here in the morning
My lonesome railway car is calling
Was it worth the kiss
To end up like this?
Next time round
Maybe we’ll know better
Get the whole thing right, the place and time
Fumble through familiar ruts
Long-forgotten trust and touch
And when it comes down to the bottom line
More or less, we’re gonna be fine
More or less, we’re gonna be fine
|
||||
4. |
Rather Be a Stranger
03:43
|
|||
|
September smells like beaches
Families scattered 'cross the shore
Salty breezes conjuring
A childhood ocean’s roar
And as the evening sun sinks low
The darkness whispers danger
And yet, it seems I’d rather be a stranger
A passing glance, a smile
The sidewalk strangers part
Trailing off between them
A faint, imagined spark
They could write their story, build a home
Garden half an acre
And yet, it seems I’d rather be a stranger
The gates of Heaven buckle
Shatter into glass
The windows of the broken heart
Show the faintest crack
And in the pageant trumpets blare
Heralding the Maker
And yet, it seems I’d rather be a stranger
|
||||
5. |
Postman
03:11
|
|||
|
The postman’s got a letter
He’s standing at your door
Your ears are ringing, he won’t stop singing
Open up, we’ve been through this before
Dearest Joseph
It’s been so long
Why don’t you write? I’m not angry
I just want to know, did I do something wrong?
When I knew you, you’d smile and laugh
At just about anything thrown your way
But last time you wrote, something felt different
Are you doing okay?
The postman’s got a letter
He’s standing at your door
Your ears are ringing, he won’t stop singing
Open up, we’ve been through this before
Dearest Joseph
It’s been years
The leaves they’re a-changing, the world rearranging
So are you; least that’s what I hear
After changes upon changes
Are we more or less the same?
Or do we live and die each year
Like flowers in the rain?
Last thing, Joseph
I think you know
If you’re traveling east and you want to go west
How far do you have to go?
That’s all, not a lot
I hope these letters found you well
And if your turning takes you here
My door’s got a bell
The postman’s got a letter
He’s standing at your door
Your ears are ringing, he won’t stop singing
Open up, we’ve been through this before
Open up, we’ve been through this before
Open up, we’ve been through this before
|
||||
6. |
House Repair
04:59
|
|||
|
What’s a home?
Is it the way
You sink into the couch
At the end of a long day?
The creases in the wall you know
Just how to work the cranky stove
A gentle sense from in your bones
Inviting you to stay
How’s it built?
What are the steps?
Can you write instructions
Mail them out in little kits?
A poster here, the bed frame there
Nudge the thermostat a hair
And don’t forget some cozy chairs
For treasured friends to sit
It’s been said
The folks inside
Light it up with warmth
A sense of place, its pride
But sometimes in a lightning flash
Tempers flare, and words, they crack
Like thunder—the foundation fractures
Doors blown open wide
Then silence reigns
The storm is run
The roof is leaking tears
Where it once was thatched with love
But what if there’s no patch to place
No taking back words said in haste
What if you can’t begin to face
The damage that you’ve done
This house is old
It’s seen its share
If it has a heart
It holds more than ours can bear
And if it’s stood the test of time
Then it’s seen worse than yours and mine
So would you—do you want to try
Our hands at one repair?
|
||||
7. |
Garden of Eden
03:33
|
|||
|
I’m driving down to Boston town tomorrow
And though I wish it, I know you won’t follow
I know you’re bound where I can’t go
Where the ground is hushed with snow
Where the sweet spring waters flow
But someday, my friend
We’ll meet again
In the Garden of Eden
If I had time to find the words to reach you
I’d say them, sing them, a thousand times ‘til I got through
I wonder what you’d think of me
If I could let myself be free
Follow you across the sea
But someday, my friend
We’ll meet again
In the Garden of Eden
And maybe we will never know how we feel
Whether it’s imagined or it’s real
And maybe I got this all wrong
The laugh that feels like we belong
The glance we hold a bit too long
But someday, my friend
We’ll meet again
In the Garden of Eden
|
||||
8. |
Pardes (The Orchard)
04:11
|
|||
|
Ben Azzai left this plane
And entered in the orchard
Faint in his ears, his teacher’s words:
“Have faith and do not falter
And when you see pure marble stones
Do not say ‘Water, water’”
But ben Azzai, he glimpsed and died
Was it pleasing? Was it precious?
Was his pious zeal all worth it?
Now ben Zoma took his turn
Arose into the orchard
Still in his ears, his teacher’s words:
“Have faith and do not falter
And when you see pure marble stones
Do not say ‘Water, water’”
But Zoma was so terrified
The visions never left his mind
Of him, it is written:
“You’ve found honey, feast upon it
But only eat what you can stomach
Lest you become full from it and vomit”
Aḥer, oh Aḥer
Ascended to the orchard
Fresh in his ears, his teacher’s words:
“Have faith and do not falter
And when you see pure marble stones
Do not say ‘Water, water’”
But poor Aḥer, in retrospect
Became a heretic and left
Now Reb Akiva slowly rose
And entered in the orchard
Speaking the words the others heard:
“Have faith and do not falter
And when you see pure marble stones
Do not say ‘Water, water’”
And Reb Akiva, blessed was he
He came out all in one piece
Of him, it is written:
“He who twists his tongue in lies
Shall not be established
Before my eyes”
|
||||
9. |
||||
|
Being, becoming
Always running
Never sated watching clouds
Half a body
Half a mind
To run off, join the dancing clowns
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
Circles forming
Spirals run
Migrations 'round the earth, the sun
Time unraveled
Each thread traveled
Return, return, oh troubled one
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai, ya dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
Yai dai dai, ya dai dai
Ya da dai ya dai dai dai
|
||||
10. |
Drifter's Lullaby
02:13
|
|||
|
Close your eyes, wander past
Memories that weren’t meant to last
To the time before time, or minutes back
With many miles to go
Here’s to new beginnings
Here’s to things that end
Here’s to time, to fate, to change
To peeking 'round the bend
Close your eyes, wander past
Memories that weren’t meant to last
To the time before time, or minutes back
With many miles to go
Where’s the porch-light burning
Where’s the dying star
Where do gamblers sleep at night
Where’s the winning card
Close your eyes, wander past
Memories that weren’t meant to last
To the time before time, or minutes back
With many miles to go
Here’s to new beginnings
Here’s to things that end
Here’s to time, to fate, to change
To peeking 'round the bend
Close your eyes, wander past
Memories that weren’t meant to last
To the time before time, or minutes back
With many miles to go
|
||||
Measuring Marigolds Chicago, Illinois
Measuring Marigolds is a folk singer from Pennsylvania who’s called the Midwest home for the last 10 years. Their introspective songwriting explores the quiet moments in life; the days when you wake up and have 30 seconds before the existential dread sets in; the joy in catching a snowflake on your tongue. ... more
If you like Measuring Marigolds, you may also like:
Ruth's sophomore release explores sacred signs against a backdrop of folk melodies and acoustic guitar.
go to album
I Need to Start a Garden
by Haley Heynderickx
featured on Bandcamp Radio Apr 10, 2018
go to album
Bring Us to New Islands
by Sam Rae
featured on Bandcamp Radio Feb 28, 2017
go to album
The latest from the UK’s Chris Brain is a gorgeously wrought album of tender acoustic folk music.
go to album
Meet Me at the River
by Dawn Landes
On “Meet Me By the River,” Dawn Landes’s self-described “Nashville record,” buoyant country melodies settle deep into lush instrumentation.
go to album
Fran & Flora’s waltzing traditional folk music is breathtaking in its minimalism, with guitar and violin twirling gently.
go to album
Arcadian Pages
by alex rose ~ canyon counterpoint
The rich, warm songs on “Arcadian Pages” pair delicate instrumentation with assured, slow-winding vocal melodies.
go to album
