1. |
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Great-Grandpa Frank came to these plains
to find his fortune, make his name.
And with his lover, sweet Lorraine
they'd live the life they dreamed of.
They sailed upon the great Atlantic,
struck an iceberg, nearly sank.
But young Lorraine held on to Frank,
they'd live the life they dreamed of.
The winters came down harsh and cold
but love was warm and bright and bold.
They thanked their Lord as they grew old.
and lived the life they dreamed of.
-
They lost a child in Nova Scotia,
swapped their faith for raw emotion.
Found faith again, and deep devotion
to live the life they dreamed of.
And when they finally settled down
in this small Alberta town.
Lorraine and Frank did make a vow
to live the life they dreamed of.
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Way up north the land gets wild,
lonely roads that stretch for miles.
The soul-crossed lovers had a while
to live the life they dreamed of.
They worked the land for thirty years,
gave it all: blood, sweat and tears.
Fair and true through joy and fear,
they lived the life they dreamed of.
-
They say the old man lost his sight,
then his hearing and his mind.
But he still had his true delight
and lived the life they dreamed of.
And when I think about those two
despite the hard times they saw through,
they showed a way for me and you
to live the life we dream of.
2013
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2. |
Do and Don't
03:22
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Do what you do,
please stay true.
Don't take for granted
love shown to you.
Do what you can,
Take your stand.
Don't be afraid,
Hold my hand.
Even though the days are long,
feeling that you can't go on.
Everything you say turns out wrong.
I'll be here.
Do what you love,
love what you do.
Don't be afraid
love pulls you through.
Jan 2012
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3. |
On Magdalen Green
03:50
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On Magdalen Green, I stare at the scene:
The Tay and the bridge before me.
This river is bright, reflecting the light,
A tiny white bird flies over me.
I cross over the track, with just a glance back
The sparkling water is calling me.
This river is bright, reflecting the light,
The wee dove of peace still follows me.
What do you know, where do you go
Up in the clouds, in the sky
What can you see as you look down on me?
How does it feel when you fly?
On Magdalen Green, I stare at the scene,
My wee bird has flown o'er the river now.
She's gone without trace, and leaves only grace.
And peace, oh peace like I've never known.
2013
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4. |
Le Pain, Du Vin
03:31
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The roads all lead to places you don't know.
The people smile but their faces are for show.
How far you've come, but so much is the same.
The past is gone, you can't go back again.
Le pain, du vin, c'est tres bien
Eat it up while you still can
The bread and wine are both divine
Drink up while you have the time.
To love and lose your love is hard,
It shakes your soul and breaks your heart.
To love and choose to turn your back,
Is harder still, your heart's attacked.
And all the games that you played
You never won, never won.
And all the promises you made
They came undone one by one.
The paths we take to places we don't know,
They twist and turn when faith is running low.
How far we've come, but so much still to learn,
The past is gone, you can't go back again.
Written in southern France, summer 2012
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5. |
Simple Life
04:18
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Once upon a time I had a simple life
A fishing boat, a dog and a wife
A son and daughter, we lived by the water
We had no worries in our simple life.
When the weather was right I would pack my net
Kiss farewell to my Juliet
Down to the shore, off once more
Out on the waves, see what I get.
O'er the waves
O'er the sea
O'er the waves
Oh, a simple life for me
Oh, a simple life
Then one morning a man came by
Smiled as he passed and caught my eye
We sat together, enjoyed the weather
Talking about work and the simple life.
He said, "Maybe I could share some tricks I know,
Help your fishing business grow:
Buy more boats, hire more men
Catch more fish, make more profit
Be your own boss: kick back and enjoy life more..."
I thanked the man and took his card
Wished him well, said, "Don't work too hard"
Back to my net, and Juliet
My children, dog and simple life.
My son said, "Dad, that man had style
The two of you sure talked for a while.
Did he offer money, or say something funny?"
"You're right both times son", I said and smiled.
"He made me an 'offer I couldn't refuse'
But I did, and told how it was in my shoes.
He had to go, but I'll let him know
If I ever tire of the simple life".
Jan 2012
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6. |
Hold On
03:34
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You hold on to your heart so tight
somehow it doesn't seem so right
when all your friends have left and gone away.
You want to clutch it to yourself
sometimes you wish you'd asked for help, but
now it's all too late is all you say.
You lose the tears you can't hold back
as your heart of stone begins to crack,
and the wounded cries for mercy flood your soul.
Don't wait until these cries are gone,
don't lose the tears you've held so long,
don't let the fear deception take control.
Even if your heart's not there,
You've heard them say that God still cares,
but who would want a heart that breaks like yours?
You close your eyes and give up hope
and soon you know you'll never cope,
but somehow now your empty heart's made pure.
And the mystery of your endless flight
from a darkness filled with candlelight
through memories of the brokenness of dreams.
You still hold on, you won't let go,
now you're living like you'd never known
that the broken life is better than it seems.
Summer 1995
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7. |
Stolen Moment
03:46
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A stolen moment is more precious than hours and hours of time that's wasted.
So take those hours and hours and make them count.
Until a stolen moment comes about.
A kiss of passion is more precious than heartless lips and cold embraces.
So take these heartless lips and make them count.
Until a kiss of passion comes about.
A pinch of true love is more precious than buckets full of good intentions.
So take those good intentions and make them count.
Until a pinch of true love comes about.
Apr 2012
runner-up in Nairn Festival 2013 Songwriting competition
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8. |
Ode to the Kingsway
03:52
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Many years ago Great Britain's first ring road
Was built around Dundee.
On the bank of the Tay, the mighty Kingsway,
A super sight to see.
Kingsway, oh Kingsway, you save us lots of time.
Kingsway, oh Kingsway, your circles are so fine.
Now the jewel in the crown some would say
Was the double-circle at the top of the Kingsway.
From north to south, east to west,
The double circle was the best.
You could come in from Arbroath
And use one circle or both,
Turn down to the town, or west to Perth
Or north to Forfar and Aberdeen,
But if you made a figure of eight
You'd be back to where you'd been.
But the double-circle didn't last,
Their concrete curves are a thing of the past.
Now junctions fill that space,
And too many traffic lights take their place.
From the flow of the circle to the stop of the lights
Progress travels on.
And the cars and lorries through the day and night
Keep the Kingsway going strong.
Early 2013
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9. |
World May End
02:53
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The world may end tomorrow,
And if it really does,
We'll be gone before I've done
The bridge and second verse.
The world may end tomorrow,
If so, I won't be here.
But then again, you too my friends
Will all have disappeared.
Oh, where did our world go?
The world may end tomorrow
Forget all you have planned.
The seas may rise up to the skies
And cover all the land.
The world may end tomorrow
And we'd lose all we know:
Our love and laughter, in the hereafter
Above or down below.
Oh, where did our world go?
So far the world's not ended
But if you knew just when,
The things you'd change or rearrange
Would all be done by then.
So far the world's still turning
Despite the shape it's in,
So grasp the nettle, put on the kettle
And let the fun begin!
Dec 2012
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Ed Muirhead Dundee
old-fashioned songwriting, new-fashioned roots, folk songs & tunes
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