1. |
Apple Blossom Highway
03:32
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Apple Blossom Highway
Young men and wise men have stumbled
To girls of a fancy summer smile
As forests of flowers will dance through the hours
Of gypsy bells calling the fortunes of doom
It’s time to
Stand up, John my brother
Reach out somewhere, grab another
Dance down the apple blossom highway
Why don’t you
Stand up, John my brother
Reach our somewhere, grab another
Dance down the apple blossom way
Young men and wise men are weary
And tired of apologizing bows
Too few ears are listening
Too many bodies glistening
In sheltered bikinis and all too sheltered minds
It’s time to
Young men and wise men are smilin’
On times they’ve forgotten that were dim
From candy floss visions
Of midnight decisions
In giggles of happy young puppy dog tales
It’s time to
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2. |
Sometimes
03:38
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Sometimes
Sometimes it’s the morning
Sometimes, it’s a little past noon
Sometimes it’s the evening
Sometimes I still don’t think of you
Way back as kids when we were three or four
One day in that old house you don’t live in any more
We were playin’ doctor, your dad caught us, fancy that
Chased me all the way home, swingin’ his baseball bat
School days were the cruel days we were growin’ up too fast
We’d go down to the drive-in, and park way in the back
Talk about our virtues and the things that folks might say
Didn’t seem to matter much, we’d still go all the way
Finally we got married and had four kids in a row
Diapers to pajamas, kindergarten on through school
Figured you were happy, you didn’t have too much to say
But one day you walked out on me, I guess we lost our way
Saw you last Tuesday, you were shoppin’ down at Sears
Lookin’ through the lingerie to buy a new brassiere
You still look like a B cup but I guess I didn’t mind
You were ready pretty steady, and I hope you’re doin’ fine
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3. |
The Ballad of Nancy Rose
05:16
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The Ballad of Nancy Rose
Her maiden call was Nancy Rose
Her father’s name was Jacob
Two sisters young, two brothers bold
Her mother close to dyin’
Now Jacob tilled and broke the land
Her sisters they were a’courtin’
Her brothers bold had left for war
Her mother close to dyin’
She heard from far a horrid cry
Her brother John had fallen
In battle plains so few return
She prayed for brother Gordon
A fortnight fled to see new days
Her sister Jane was weddin’
She smiled on Jane then turned and wept
Her mother close to dyin’
As moons had drifted slowly by
Old Jacob took a fever
And in the noon his life did ebb
Still clutching to his tiller
Now Nancy Rose was left alone
She lingered by her mother
Then came the news of Gordon Rose
Like brother John he’d fallen
Within her tears she did recall
Her family numbered seven
And still no word from sister Mae
Her mother close to dyin’
For three long years she toiled the land
Once toiled by her father
She washed the dress, prepared for two
Just Nancy and her mother
Her memories they lingered on
When she had been a maiden
But through the times her beauty fled
Beside her dyin’ mother
Her maiden call was Nancy Rose
Her fathers name was Jacob
Two sisters young, two brothers bold
She died before her mother
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4. |
Dance If You Can
04:24
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Dance If You Can
You want to talk like a lady and walk like a lady can
And you want to act like a lady but no one will understand
Dance if you can, dance if you can, dance if you can
I dressed you in satins and linens, we strolled by a lovers’ stream
Rode through the park in a buggy and dined on a French cuisine
We waltzed until three, just you and me, like off in a dream
You looked like the new light of morning, the lace, the coffee, the smiles
You showered some dusty like petals & danced through my mind all the while
We dipped and we twirled, a pause and swirl, our very own style
I chased you ‘round old Piccadilly and caught you in Monterrey
One eve down in Holland I lost you, saw you dancin’ in Marseilles
As you leapt through the air, not even a care, you saw me and waved
One night many years from tomorrow, we’ll meet once again by a shore
With the stars as the lights to our ballroom my arms will entwine you once more
The old one, two, three, as we glide to the sea like never before
Dance if you can, to the tune of the band, dance if you can
In three quarter time, when the last dance was mine,
But you don’t understand
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5. |
Star of Death
03:07
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Star of Death
A tired and weary traveler came to the old inn door
He rapped upon it softly and then rapped again once more
As the grumbling aged keeper cursed the hour of the dawn
The pilgrim reeled and clutched the air
And then fell upon the ground
The cursing of the landlord cut the silent summer hour
What a drunken shameless vagabond, a scoundrel and a coward
Many times before he’d seen them as he sent them on their way
So befitting of his selfish mind he left him where he lay
For the time so soon ensuing as a chill stung through the night
And the humble man began to stir but struggle as he might
All his efforts were to no avail, his failure was his doom
He slumped upon a withered weed, and died beneath the moon
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6. |
Lacey
04:09
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Lacey
“We loved in the summertime, we loved in the fall
Winter, spring we’re loving one another most of all”
Told her Dad and Mom as she left the farm, “Please take care of my dog
He ain’t much good, did the best I could, think I gave him all of my love”
Just fifteen in the city, her prospects scared her to death
She hit the streets playin trick or treat ‘till she damn near ran out of breath
Lacey come back soon, love your Mom and your Dad
Your dog’s gone Lacey, he took all the love that you had
She met some kid sort of wild and crazy, told her that he bust out of jail
They made their lovin’ sort of long and lazy, she learned about heaven and hell
Took about a year ‘fore the law got near, he said they’d never take him alive
They started to run, the kid used his gun, left a deputy lyin’ behind
They ran all night ‘till dark set in, found an abandoned shack for the night
But the posse come about a hundred strong, they were in for a helluva fight
Lacey come back soon, love your Mom and your Dad
Your dog’s gone Lacey, he took all the love that you had
You never should have got runnin’
You know you always could have come home
So come back Lacey, you never should have left us alone
Heard the sheriff shout “Kid if you both come out we might even take you alive”
The kid said “Nich, nich, you’re a son of a bitch” but he was bleeding heavily in the side
Lacey cried as her man lay dyin’, got a wound that may not mend
She screamed out loud to the angry crowd, “Come and get us if you can”
They still won’t say what happened, rumours are still goin’ ‘round
The guns let go like a thunder roar and the shack came tumblin’ down
Make way for the sinners Lord
The lady didn’t mean you no harm
Send her back on a better track
She should have stayed home on the farm
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7. |
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Some Pitter Patter Morning
Softly, oh softly at a tattered window pane
As majestic clouds came rolling in
With whispers calling, rain
And hints of rainbow blades of grass
Did shiver from the cold
In the silence of a pitter patter morning
So gently did an old man rise from slumber of the eve
And weary bones gave quiet groans
In efforts to believe
That today still followed yesterday
Tomorrow yet to come
With another silent pitter patter morning
Then massive hands did stretch and yawn and life began to flow
With passing dreams of finer years
At rest, now grown old
But life did not retreat his tale
His legend still to fall
On some other silent pitter patter morning
So why would but a poet young with years so full ahead
Take moments yearned by those who lost
And find some words to wed
Upon a scribbled flake of parchment
Of a man about to die
On another silent pitter patter morning
So many men have come and gone like shadows in the night
Remembered but by chosen few
In tears of soft delight
But what could men be searching for
As born to life and fear
They die some silent pitter patter morning
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8. |
Sadness
04:46
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Sadness
Sadness rides as destiny along the trails of my brain
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
My mind wanders slowly but my thoughts they all remain the same
My misunderstanding, no one ‘round to blame
I hurt your pride while you only hurt my shame
Don’t deserve you ‘round me, don’t deserve my own name
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
Sadness torments tender hours throughout the break and wane
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
My journey must be ended, my highway was drowned in the rain
And shadows may not linger, their shelter stands in vain
Just for a moment I returned from where I came
Fading as the loser as I sought for my own game
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
Sadness rumbles slowly as a subway beaten tame
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
The efforts ever failing, decision seeming lame
The lonely fear of solitude to challenge my own game
And then I saw your eyes, my body turned insane
I feared of the findings to where the troubled aimed
Sadness is sorrow, sadness is pain
Repeat first verse.
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9. |
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The Little Baby Jesus, and me
The wind is faintly calling around the old inn door
While out back in a stable a little child is born
The mother’s name is Mary, she smiles at what she sees
The little baby Jesus, and me
The cattle are a’lowing, a donkey softly brays
Some shepherds and some wise men were silent as they prayed
A star is brightly shining for everyone to see
The little baby Jesus, and me
For this is Christmas evening, it comes but once a year
Where all are drawn together to ones they hold most dear
And so alone this evening am I on bended knee
With little baby Jesus, for me
Each one of us a part of him, a treasure to adorn
For He is the greatest gift of all men to be born
And so a Happy Yuletide wherever you may be
From little baby Jesus, and me
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10. |
Somebody Told Me
05:18
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Somebody Told Me
Somebody told me, might be a lie
Somebody kissed you, oh my
Somebody told me, that you weren’t mine no more
Somebody told me, makin’ me blue
That there’s some other guy who’s seein’ you
Somebody told me, you weren’t mine no more
A fickled feathered friend informed me
Forewarned me, I’d be sorry
No matter one way or the other, it’s over
Now there’s another, you’ve discovered
You say you’ll change, don’t bother
Somebody told me, think it’s a sin
That you’ve been doin’ little things to him
Somebody told me, you weren’t mine no more
Somebody told me, ain’t that a shame
That you’ve been messin’ ‘round with what’s his name
Somebody told me, you weren’t mine no more
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11. |
Someday I'll Be Home
02:45
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Someday I’ll Be Home
If you hear raindrops falling where they never fell
If you hear no one calling, no ones there to call
If no one passes by then you are all alone
Don’t cry, don’t be afraid for one day I’ll be home
If cloudy summer days should hide the autumns eve
If sunshine fails to hide the tears you shed for me
I shed the same tears now I know our love is true
And in tomorrows morn I’ll come back home to you
You tried to tell me when I left you on that day
That I might not return but please hear what I say
My darling
If you hear raindrops falling where they never fell
If you hear no one calling, no one’s there to call
If no one passes by then you are all alone
Don’t cry, don’t be afraid for one day I’ll be home
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12. |
Sailin' Away
04:18
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Sailin’ Away
Sailin’ away, sailin’ away
On such a beautiful day, a beautiful day
Breeze is blowin’ my way. blowin’ my way
And I get carried away, carried away
We’ll leave Vancouver Island to Tokyo
The sampans of Taipei to Borneo
Lunch in Darwin and Singapore
And stay, until I go
We can spin ‘round Ceylon to old Bombay
And Oman borders the Arabian Sea
Mozambique to Mossle Bay
And stay, until I go
Then we’ll turn for Lagos and Grand Bassam
Pass by the Senegal and into Lisbon
End up in London where I began
And stay, until I go
Cross to Dartmouth to Sanibel
Out past the Amazon and ‘round Cape Horn
Back up to Lima, dock in Tambor
And stay
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Roland Digh British Columbia
A British writer now living on Vancouver Island. Loves writing songs in different genres and hearing them through other artists. After playing on six continents in some fifty-eight countries he is settling down to write another album.
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