1. |
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Here come those existential fears
That I will lose all I hold dear
The little things keep me up at night
I cross myself, I hope to die
Do anything to get shut eye
I tell my selves, "It'll probably be all right."
I lost my home, health, sense of fun
The how-to relate to anyone
Raised my fists, Sugar Ray punched my lights
Nihilist, realist, hope there's a God
But by hook, by crook, against the odds
I'm here, and it's clear that I'm all right
Be all right, be all right, it'll probably be all right
Down in the groove, up to the heights
You lose a limb, regain your sight
It's a mess at best, but I guess that it's all right
The worst case might be the one that sticks
No surefire way to guard from it
You fear she'll leave, it's possible she might
But each gauntlet that you tumble through
Leaves scrapes and scars but wisdom, too
You're tried and true, you're blue, but you're all right
Be all right, be all right, it'll probably be all right
It ducks, it dodges, flows like wine
It's his, it's hers, it's yours, ours, mine
It's all, and all in all, it's all all right
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2. |
I Do What I Can
03:21
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Sometimes I'm serious, sometimes uptight-ly wound
Sometimes I’m a loose cannon shooting six feet off the ground
Sometimes I’ve got it figured out, sometimes I break my plans
Hey, I do what I can
Sometimes I want to wear a suit and run for president
Sometimes I want to hold a sign and protest my government
Sometimes I smile and say thank you, sometimes I bite the hand
Hey, I do what I can
Build me up, cut me at my knees
I thumb my nose, I’m begging please
I’m a sinner dressed up like a saint
I’m gonna live out on the edge
I'm stepping back from the ledge
There’s virtue in both courage and restraint
Sometimes I'm an optimist and sing that all is well
Sometimes I’m a cynic promising a living hell
Sometimes my faith is mighty, sometimes I can hardly stand
Hey, I do what I can
I’m facing up, I’m looking down
I dig for scraps, I wear the crown
Tell us, young man, what do you want to be?
I’m confident, I'm self-assured
I am too shy to say a word
I cannot say, because I cannot see!
Sometimes I'm greedy, I've got money on my heart
Sometimes I seek God in nature and beauty in art
If I’m with you or against you, Lord, please tell me where to stamp!
Hey, I do what I can
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3. |
Circle the Wagons
05:53
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Now the tempest has receded
Soldiers march off toward the sun
With all we've bargained and conceded
It's hard to tell who won
You take yours, and I'll take mine
In a zero sum truce
When you put your heart on the line
There's much to gain but more to lose
I don't know how to walk from here
How to walk from here
Even though it's all been said, so much remains unclear
So much remains unclear
I lay my love to rest
In so doing I bury my best
I'd like to show you what you're missing
But I can't reach out to you
Bursts of affection bring resentment
What's a bitter man to do?
Sometimes I wonder if you're happy
Sometimes I don't give a damn
How can I separate all we shared
From the person I now am?
I don't know how to walk from here
How to walk from here
Even though it's all been said, so much remains unclear
So much remains unclear
I lay my love to rest
In do doing I bury my best...
...to carry on without looking o'er your shoulder
Best not to beat your breast cursing her name
The world is hard enough
There's no need to make it colder
Ruminating about who's to blame
Like all things, we will pass on
From each other torn but freed
I will still circle the wagons
Should you find yourself in need
Taking hurt but also wisdom
We who live must change and grow
Never losing who we once were
Bearing each self as we go
I don't know how to walk from here
How to walk from here
Even though it's all been said, so much remains unclear
So much remains unclear
I lay my love to rest
In so doing I bury my best
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Brian Harper Chicago, Illinois
Brian Harper has been playing music since he was a young child. In 2010 and 2011, he recorded his first CD, Young Love, providing all of the vocals and the majority of the instrumentation on the album’s eight tracks. He has lived in South Africa and Peru and performed and taught music in these places as well. You can hear his music and read his writing at www.brianharper.net. ... more
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