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Step Inside the Circle Dixon-Kolar (2014)/Asharta Music/ASCAP
In Africa, there is a culture
that welcomes newborns into the tribe with a song made just for them. We could all use a welcoming like that
and a reminder that we’re part of a larger village.
Chorus:
Step inside the circle
The song holds you strong
It’s been sung since your beginning
And it goes ever on
The circle holds you closely
Let’s you know who you are
When you step inside the
Circle of song
Chorus
Finding your own path
Sometimes getting lost along the way
Losing the song that was sung at your
birth
Forgetting who you are
Chorus
And the song says: You are my
beloved
You are my beloved
You are my beloved
And it goes ever on
Child born into the song
Mother sings it soft and low
The village keeps the song alive
For the child as she grows
Chorus 2x
Step inside the circle
You are my beloved
The song holds you strong
You are my beloved
It’s been sung since your beginning
You are my beloved
It goes ever on
And it goes ever on
And it goes ever on
Blundering Toward Heaven Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
The
wonderful thing about saints is that they were human. They lost their tempers,
scolded God, were egotistical or testy or impatient in their turns, made
mistakes and regretted them. Still they went on doggedly blundering toward
heaven. – Phyllis McGinley
Me and the saints we got a lot in common
Both born of mothers and we know that death is comin’
We’re all human but they’ve found that state of grace
For me, I doubt if I’ll ever reach that place
But I’ll keep blundering toward heaven
Doggedly stumbling on
I’ll keep struggling toward heaven
I’ll keep blundering on
Man over there got a call today
Lawyer said there’s nothin’ he can do
She’s gone, you drove your wife away
Next step is up to you
He says well, maybe I’ll just go back to bed
It’s so safe and warm in here
Throw the covers on my head
Give myself over to fear
Or I can blunder my way toward heaven
Doggedly stumble along
Make my mistakes I’ll keep struggling for heaven
I’ll try again, I’ll blunder on
We’re oh so human
In what we’re doing
But we can hear the call of saints
And blunder on
That woman lost her job today
Boss he showed her to the door
You can’t keep screwing up your life this way
Don’t you think you’re worth so much more?
She says well, yeah, there’ll be an end to it all
You know it’s gonna come eventually
‘Til I get that final call
There’s so much to do and be
So I’ll keep blundering toward heaven
Doggedly stumbling along
Make all my mistakes, struggling toward heaven
And like the saints, I’ll keep blundering on
We’re all so human
In what we’re doing
But we can heed the call of saints…
The Dancers Dixon-Kolar (c)2014 Asharta Music/ASCAP
My cousin Michael sculpted this
incredible statue that I’ve loved since it was built. The year of my 25th wedding anniversary, the
statue was hit by a terrible storm.
All around it was destruction, but the statue stood strong! That sums up my incredible marriage as
well – good and bad times happen, but we stand strong.
Crafted in love, grounded with care
The statue guarding home, full of joy, no despair
Look out the door, children, into the night
The dancers are waltzing in the moonlight
Red sky warning, sunrise comes
We’re still swaying to the music
Though the party’s long done
Twenty-five years the dancing keeps on
It’s a calm peaceful morning
But there’s always a calm in the storm
Chorus:
And we’ll dance in the calm
Dance though storms are raging
Our steps in sync, perfected with aging
We’ll dance in the calm and the storm
Winds scream wild, houses crumble like leaves
Structures blown down, uprooting old trees
In its wake devastation, young minds can’t conceive
That the dancers hold strong
And continue their waltz through the storm
Chorus
Flesh and bone, metal and stone
We can each stand alone
But the bond’s the strength that keeps us dancing on
And on
Twenty-five years since the music began
Battered and blown, solid we stand
While the song is playing, hand in hand
Together we’re dancing
No matter if calm or if storm
Chorus x 2
Now is the Cool of the Day Jean Ritchie ©1971, Geordie Music Publishing
Jean Ritchie wrote this in
1971, as a plea to keep this planet and its people cared for and healthy. It still needs to be sung today.
My Lord he said unto me
Do you love my garden so fair?
You may live in my garden if you keep the grasses green
And I’ll return in the cool of the day
Chorus:
Now is the cool of the day
Now is the cool of the day
Oh this earth is a garden, the garden of my Lord
And s/he walks in (his/her) garden
In the cool of the day
My Lord she said unto me
Do you love this garden so pure?
You may live in this garden if you keep the water clean
And I’ll return in the cool of the day
Chorus
My Lord he said unto me
Do you love this pasture so green?
You may live in this garden if you will feed my sheep
And I’ll return in the cool of the day
Chorus
My Lord she said unto me
Do you love this garden so free?
You may live in this garden if you keep my people free
And I’ll return in the cool of the day
Chorus (2x)
Sliding Down Clay Mountains Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
Sooner or later, every
songwriter comes up with a song about their youth. Mine was spent by a river in Northeast Maryland. That place will always be my soul’s
home.
Bands of lightening put on a show
Rain line coming toward us but we know
All night Scrabble makes the darkness fun
We’ll play our games until the thunder’s done
And we are sliding down clay mountains
Relay races in the sand
Lower porch shows and made up bands
Pete and Billy getting up on one
Sarah’s stories and Rosy, oh, we had such fun
And we’re all sliding down clay mountains
Chorus:
Lone tree bell calls out the time
Sights and sounds forever singing, dancing, playing in my mind
Mason’s farm and Wells’ hill
Sailing down Jones’ Creek, keeping still
Blue heron flying toward the sun
We’ll keep exploring ‘til the day is done
And we’re still sliding down clay mountains
Catching minnows by waterside
Jumping off the dock with pals of mine
All the grown-ups finishing their day
Sitting on the banks and watching sunset fade away
And we’re all sliding down clay mountains
Chorus
Now we’ve all moved on from these old fields
But that’s the point of life we know as real
Our hearts still beat in that old home
And there we’ll stay no matter where we roam
And we’re still sliding down clay mountains
Chorus
And we’re still sliding down clay mountains
We’re always sliding down clay mountains
Waiting for the Sun to be
Revealed Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
I have absolutely no idea
where this song came from, but I had such a good time writing it, and then
having Bill Brickey join me on this – just too fun!
I am lonely
I am waiting
In the darkness of my windowless room
For the light to shine again
And the sun to be revealed
You’ve been gone
For so long
My laughter keeps melting back into tears
And I sit here crying
Waiting for the sun to be revealed
Chorus
The life you left
Full of beauty and sun
The love that filled my heart
The time we shared
Becoming as one
And now you’ve torn it all apart
I keep waiting
Wandering lonely
As I enter each dark and empty room
Your face shadowing my mind, but
I’m waiting for the sun to be revealed
Chorus
I am lonely
I am waiting
In the darkness of my windowless room
For the light to shine again
And the sun to be revealed
For the light to shine again
And the sun to be revealed
Compassion’s Heart Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
Sometimes you can love
someone deeply but, for your own survival, you need to let them conquer life on
their own.
You’re
lost at sea, you look to me
But I have no rope nor anchor
My arm’s too short to reach you
From dry ground
Chorus:
Compassion’s heart
Where does it start
And should it ever end
The
path we climb, you fall behind
And lose yourself along the way
I journey on without you
To high ground
Chorus
Helpless
I stand, you reach out your hand
Waiting for me to lift you
But I have not the strength to bring you
To safe ground
Chorus
How
do I prove I love you when giving you my hand
Means you never learn to reach solid ground
On your own
Chorus
You’re lost as sea, you look to me
But I have no rope nor anchor
Tell Me Now Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
After hearing folks speak at a friend’s
memorial service, I started thinking that it’s better to tell people how you
feel before they’re gone. Right?
Tell
me now, about the smile on my face
Tell me now how I walked the world with grace
Tell me now about my spirit in this place
Don’t wait until I’m gone, tell me now
Tell me now about all I used to do
Tell me now if I’ve offended you
Tell me now how to give the world its due
Don’t wait until I’m gone tell me now
Chorus:
Please don’t wait ‘til I’m ashes in a jar
Or lying in the cold, dark ground
Tell me what you’re thinking, the ugly and the good
It’ll mean more to me now.
I wish you would.
Tell me how I’ve helped my fellow man
Tell me now how to follow some great plan
Tell me now if I’ve done all that I can
Don’t wait until I’m gone tell me now
Tell me now how my words affected you
Tell me now if there’s changing I must do
Tell me now what I have meant to you
Don’t wait until I’m gone tell me now.
Chorus
Tell me now, come on, what you gonna say?
Tell me now before I’ve gone away
Tell me now while we’re standing here today
Don’t wait until I’m gone 2X
Could be before the dawn
If I’ve been right or I’ve been wrong
Tell me now
Kathy’s Dance Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
My dear friend Kathy passed away at age
80. She lived an incredible life
and, right before she died, I had a vision of her, unencumbered by the effects
of age, joyously dancing. I knew
then that I could cry for me and celebrate for her at the same time.
Kick your heels up Kathy, put on your dancing shoes
Now it’s your time Kathy, to let yourself cut loose
Your lover, he’s been waiting such a long long time
For you to leave your heavy cares behind
He’s been patient but he’s waited for the chance
To sweep you in his arms and Kathy dance
Kathy, dance
Have you seen this dance floor?
It’s a garden of delight
Everything’s prepared for you this night
You’ve been patient but you’ve prayed for the chance
To be swept up in his arms and finally free to dance
Kathy, dance
Since I was young I’ve seen the dance in your eyes
Now it’s grown to universal size
Always waiting for the time to come
To be one with your love
The dance has now begun!
Kick your heels up Kathy, your lover’s opening the door
We’ll all join you someday
Dancing ‘round on heaven’s floor
You know that someday Kathy,
We’ll be out on this starlit floor
There’s room enough for billions more
We’ve been patient, but we hoped there was a chance
To be swept up in his arms and
Finally free to dance
Kathy, dance!
Kick your heels up Kathy, put on those dancing shoes
Now it’s your time Kathy, to let yourself cut loose
Kathy dance (x2)
I see you dancing Kathy
At the End of the Day Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
We’re all so busy nowadays… A modern love song?
Too many people, too many calls
Too many notes and messages tacked up to my wall
And at the end of the day
All we can say is good night, see you tomorrow
Too many places where I’m supposed to be
Too many obligations for just the one of me
And at the end of the day
All we can say is good night, see you tomorrow
Said with that touch of sorrow
Good night
We need to run away
Down to the river listening to the wind
Call ‘Silence’
It’s alright
Too many flashing lights
Too many blinking screens
Too many noises and emails and texts
I know you know what I mean
At the end of the day
All we can say is good night, maybe tomorrow
I had a dream we walked hand in hand along the beach
When I awoke we’d been holding hands in our sleep
Silence
Too many people need, so many others lost
We’ll try to do our best but there’s always gonna be a cost
And at the end of the day
All we can say is good night, see you tomorrow
Said with a touch of sorrow
Good night
We need to run away
Down to the river and listen to the wind
Sing ‘Silence’
And know it’s right
Good night
I love you,
Good night
There’s always tomorrow
Good night.
Silence.
Good night.
Waiting Room Dixon-Kolar (2014) Asharta Music/ASCAP
Most people have had the
experience of having an ill child or family member. Long nights in a hospital waiting room can bring up so many fears.
Midnight waiting, plastic chairs no good for sleeping
Up all night, need a word or a sign
Just a glimmer of something to keep us going
Guess I’ll get myself more coffee
Will he make it? Can I see
him? Can I hold him?
Can I touch his arm, is that all right?
Fragility shrouds him like a web-spun blanket
Guess I’ll sleep here in the rocker
Are we in limbo or paying for some sin?
What crimes of the child land him here?
Transgressions of the newborn that led to fall from grace
Or sins of the mother he bears with disgrace
3 AM, another early morning scare
Alarms blaring warning sirens scream
Fear playing with our heads but tiny baby breathing
Guess he made it through one more night
Are we in limbo or paying for some sin?
What crimes of the child land him here?
Transgressions of the newborn that led to fall from grace
Or sins of the mother we bear with disgrace
The gods say wait and see, well I’m done with all that
I want real answers for him and for me
Enough of this living in limbo
But I don’t get no say
So I guess I’ll sit here rocking
Repenting all my sins
Drinking lots more coffee
Praying he’ll make it through another night
Swimming to the Other Side Pat Humphries ©1990, 1992, Moving Forward Music, BMI
A song I’ve loved for a very long time. I’m honored to share it here.
We are living 'neath the great big dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in this stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side
I am alone and
I am searching
Hungering for
answers in my time
I am balanced
at the brink of wisdom
I'm impatient
to receive a sign
I move forward
with my senses open
Imperfection,
it be my crime
In humility, I
will listen
We're all
swimming to the other side
On this
journey through thoughts and feelings
Binding
intuition, my head, my heart
I am gathering
the tools together
I'm preparing
to do my part
All of those
who have come before me
Band together
and be my guide
Loving lessons
that I will follow
We're all swimming
to the other side
When we get
there we'll discover
All of the
gifts we've been given to share
Have been with
us since life's beginning
And we never
noticed they were there
We can balance
at the brink of wisdom
Never
recognizing that we've arrived
Loving spirits
will live together
We're all swimming to the other side
Wash My Eyes – Greg Brown © 1988 Brown/Feldman Publishing
A prayer for the world.
Wash my eyes that I might see
The yellow return to the willow tree
Open my ears that I might hear
The river running swift and clear
And please wash my eyes
And please open my ears
Wash this world that is one place
And wears a mad and a fearful face
Let the cruel raging cease
And let these children sleep in peace
And please wash this world
And please let the children
Sleep in peace
__________________________________________
All songs by Amy Dixon-Kolar, ©2014 Asharta Music, ASCAP, except
‘Now is the Cool of the Day” by Jean Ritchie ©1971,
Geordie Music Publishing
“Swimming to the Other Side” by Pat Humphries
©1990, 1992, Moving Forward Music, BMI
“Wash My Eyes”
by Greg Brown © 1988 Brown/Feldman Publishing
All used by permission. All rights reserved.