The Rail

Lights, camera, action. We pick our story up with our hero on the run. I'm gonna make my bed on the railroad tracks tonight. And when they say, "oh, that boy's insane," I've got the heart and fury of a hurricane. I'm gonna stand my ground when the freight train comes tonight. We've taken casualties but we're still alive.

Oh, go on and call me soft, go on and write me off. But if you try to find a way of leading me off this road, then I will find a way to let you go.

This isn't your choice.  I'll never leave it up to you, cause you're not stopping me from doing what I want to.  So when they say, "oh, that boy's long gone," I'm gonna bang my drum, gonna sing my song. I'm gonna stand my ground when the big guns fire tonight.

Hands In The Air

Hands in the air and everyone say, "I am alive!"

Winding down around 2 AM, and I'm fading to a place where my hands can move mountains. I had the craziest dream last night, you were running uphill into an avalanche and I was on your shoulders.

Hands in the air and everyone say, "I am alive and stronger each day!"

Winding down around 2 AM, and I'm fading into a place where I control the thunder. My heart is like a beating drum, its persistent, consistent, and never in need of assistance, oh no.

Prelude To A Shipwreck

Oh baby come on!  We've gotta go before they find us. We're living with a single purpose: to keep this dream alive.  Oh baby it's on!  They're coming quick and our demise is on their minds.  But we've got strong convictions and benedictions, oh we'll see this through tonight.  Chin up darling, the end is in our sights.  I wanna see that smile.

Can you hear me?  This is a promise: I'm not letting go tonight.  Can you hear me?  This is my declaration song: I will never let you down.

The clouds are forming; baby our ship is in their sights.  But I'm ready for this.  Can I get a witness?  Amen!  So bring on the storm and watch my heart float safely away in the wake of the rising tide.  You're not stopping me this time.

Shipwrecked Safe & Sound

I feel it coming in the air, we're getting ready for a tidal wave.  But there's a stowaway sowing lies somewhere on deck.  So sound the alarm: "Intruder!  Intruder!"  And deadbolt the door, cause my heart can't include your doubt.  And if you know me then you know that I love the nights where things make sense, hanging out with all my friends at The Dry Leaf Project show, singing "Glory, glory!"

Oh, send the rain!  Let our paddles crack, our vessels sink, our bodies break.  And maybe we'll see that these hearts of ours, they are strong.  And as the water fills our lungs we'll sing our final song: "Oh God, I'm free!  Thank God I'm free!"

Maybe this is what's meant to be, and all my wandering has led me to this moment, this decision.  Now I am afloat, but I would sink willingly.  Calm and content, as water is filling me.  Up, up, up and away I'd go as the ship is going down.  So sound the alarm!

Beautiful Disaster

Today I found you staring at the sunrise; your toes beneath the sand, your mind immersed in images of foreign lands.  And I have heard the stories of their treasures, and how ours don't compare.  There's rumors that the snow and ice can't stay alive down there.  And I'm sure that they're true.

I could be your beautiful disaster, my arms are tidal waves.  And they will save you from the doldrums that your heart's been living in, and replace them even faster with songs that make your spirit sing, and every sort of pretty thing.  You'd do the same for me.  What a beautiful disaster that would be.

Today I found you cursing at the sunset; again you felt ignored.  When will the sky explode with light and keep our village warm?  Well why waste our time wishing for a palm tree line.  I'll take the pine, the snow is fine if you are mine.

I could be your beautiful disaster, my arms are hurricanes.  And all the pain that you've been living in, I will carry it away and replace them even faster with songs that make your spirit sing, and every sort of pretty thing.  You'd do the same for me.  What a beautiful disaster that would be.

I could be your beautiful disaster, my arms are avalanches.  These branches that you cling to, I will carry them away and replace them even faster with songs that make your spirit sing, and every sort of pretty thing.  You'd do the same for me.  What a beautiful disaster that would be.

Goodnight, sleep tight.  When we wake to morning light we'll find we've been shanghaied.  Better get used to the tide; this is our new life.

The Road

I couldn't get lost in this town if I tried.  I think I've seen everything, they might as well make me king.  I love all the familiar faces I see, the voices joining with me every time that I sing.  My biggest stage is all of 13 feet, but that's how I want it to be, that's how I want it to be.  Cause I'm not the king of Hollywood Boulevard, but I've got my Michigan Ave, and that is just fine with me.

If our chances come and go, if we come up short we'll know it was never meant to be.  But we'll still be the kings and queens.

Can't lie and say I haven't dreamed of escape when the Spring is in doubt and the sun hides out of my sight.  But I've got a place that keeps me sheltered and safe, and a love that I'll cling to with all of my might.  We've got the beat and we'll keep it steady, so if you're ready let me hear you sing, "Oh!  Oh!"

If our chances come and go, if we come up short we'll know it was never meant to be.  But we'll still be the kings and queens.

We've taken our share of shots, and we learned that our hearts could dance even when our legs could not.  And when we look back at yesterday, I think it's easy to say we've come a long, long way.

If our moment never comes, if we never see the sun, if nobody knows our names, we'll still be the kings and queens.