Originals

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Was it in 93 or 95? 

Never felt so free, never felt so alive

Endless beach, endless sky 

Endless city standing by

It all called to me, back in 93

Alt country, indie rock and R&B

Jazz on the south side

It was all there for me

I played in all the reggae bands

After the games

The Cubbies never won

But everyone loved 'em just the same

I smoked lots of reds cuz I just didn’t care Going to bed with the smell of the tavern 

In my hair, I didn't care

Cuz I felt so free, way back in 93

Was it in 95 or 93? 

Never felt so alive, never felt so free

Loading up our beater cars 

Heading down to city bars

On Lake Shore Drive

Way back in 95

Laying down some tracks 

For a couple of bands

Getting on the road 

And putting some miles on the van

Played my accordion where I could

Singing telegrams

Man I knew every neighborhood

And being on a label never really meant 

That you’d paid a single bill 

Or that you’d made your rent 

Oh but still, it was such a thrill 

Just to be alive

Way back in 95

There in 23, I was just where I should be

Thirty years down the road

Now that’s good to know

Oh but still, I get such a thrill

To look back and see 

93

Sometimes it's good to 

Look back at your life

You know I like to 

Look back at my life

I never felt so free

Never felt so free

As back in 93

Sometimes late at night

I’m lost inside my head

And I just can’t fall asleep 

With this mounting sense of dread

My mother’s growing old

I’m getting older too

And I just can’t but think

About that other shoe

When’s it gonna drop now

What’s gonna happen next?

Not a person in this room can know

It’s anybody’s guess

I feel all alone here

Like I'm floating in this world

And there’s nothing that can save 

This frightened girl

This house of cards must fall

Down come one and all

We’re passing through this place 

In space and time

I just wish that I could see

What the dealer held for me

There are those among us

Whose troubles run so deep

And their heart are heavy-laden

With the secrets that they keep

This is any one of us

Maybe a stranger passing by

If you look close you might see yourself

Inside their eyes

This house of cards must fall

Down come one and all

We’re passing through this place 

In space and time

I just wish that I could see

What the dealer held for me

Fragile as we are, we must all persevere 

And hold on til the end

Soon enough the end will be here

To the souls among us

Who for hope cannot be felt

Oh if I were only able

To change the hands you're dealt

I bear witness to the struggles

I can’t read upon your face

And I know that we’re all human 

And it's not a race

This house of cards must fall

Down come one and all

We’re passing through this place 

In space and time

I just wish that I could see

What the dealer held for you and me

This house of cards must fall

Inside I knew you were a geek

Not the way you looked on the street 

I knew the real you

I was a pretty girl, pretty insecure 

In my world, and you knew that too

We grew up together

We were babies when we met

And the way that things have gone 

Since then

It’s so easy to forget

That we needed each other back then

My old friend

We worked together playing in some bands Had the good fortune to travel the land Together we two

I taught you some stuff

You taught me stuff too 

Just the way two people in love will do

We grew up together

We were babies when we met

And the way that things have gone 

Since then

It's so easy to forget

That we needed each other back then

My old friend

I will always love you, that will not expire Unlike the fire of our first days

I will always be here, until the end

My old friend

Things began to pull apart

It’s hard to know just when

But we stuck in out, and we had a child Before we met our end

To this day I’ve never quite made peace 

With the way you left my life

But I guess we were better off as friends

And not as man and wife

We grew up together

We were babies you and me

And the way that things have gone down 

Since then, it’s not easy to see

That we needed each other back then

My old friend

I will always love you, that will not expire Unlike the fire of our first days

I will always be here, until the end

My old friend

It’s hard to understand 

The changes in life’s plans

It’s so hard to comprehend 

The way things have to end, my old friend

I'll see you on the other side

We'll fix things on that other side

My old friend

It wasn’t as though I knew her well

I met her a time or two

But even then I could tell 

How her light came shining through

Yesterday, when I heard she died

I just couldn’t believe the news

How could someone like that ever lose?

A World War II vet on his own

Living on Locust Grove

His young wife hit and killed by a car

Years ago as she crossed the road

He vowed never to touch the wheel

So he simply just walked everywhere

He lived most of his life all alone

His lot in life wasn’t fair

Whoever told you that life was fair? 

My mother would say to me

As a child that was everyone 

That I’d ever met, since the age of three

You play nice, share your toys

Be good girls and be good boys

Play by the rules

Now I know why the rules are there

Cuz the game of life’s not fair

Most of us are doin ok 

We got what we need to get by

But one misstep and it all can change  

And you’ll be asking yourself why

When it’s good you gotta lean in hard 

Making every moment count

Cuz I guarantee that things will change

Don’t you believe that they won’t

Whoever told you that was fair

Well they did not understand

That things can go wrong anytime

That’s the law of the land

You play nice, share your toys

Be good girls and be good boys

Play by the rules

Now I know why the rules are there

Cuz the game of life’s not fair

You may believe in karma

That everything works itself out

You may be right, it might work that way

But for me, I have my doubts

Now I understand

That things don’t always go right

Make the most of the ride you’re on

Don’t give your soul up to that night

Live life best as you’re able

Make happiness the choice

And do it all with love and care

Go on and make some joyful noise

Whoever told you that life was fair? 

Well they might not be right

Still you gotta live in this world 

Looking for the light

So just play fair, share your toys, 

Be good girls and be good boys

Play by the rules

Now you know why the rules are there

Now you know why the rules are there

Cuz the game of life’s not fair

Waiting on the couch

As the living room grows dark 

I've got too much to do 

And yet I sit

The solitude is heavier 

Than it has even been before 

This new life doesn't seem a perfect fit

 
Such a time as this it seems 

Your thoughts begin to burn 

Somehow it all hits at once

This time you really learn  

You had your turn, you had your turn 

You had your turn

The suppertimes, the evening baths 

A book and then to bed 

My son he rests his head as I lay near 

Years and years and years like this

So close we're almost one

But now that time is done and he's not here

All alone so late in life 

It just never was my plan

Somehow I always thought there'd be Somebody here to hold my hand

To hold my hand, to hold my hand

Lists of all the things to do

Fix the old and buy the new

Seems a trivial pursuit 

To keep the heartache down 

I know that it's time to fly 

To live my life before I die  

Above me is that waiting sky 

I just have to leave the ground

I have to leave the ground

My life it overtook me

I just never had a plan

I don't regret a single day

It's just that I'm not sure now 

Where I stand

I guess it's clear, I stand right here 

I stand right here 

I guess it's clear, I stand right here

I stand right here

Beneath the clear

And waiting sky   

Deep south on a hot and muggy night

Old plantation homestead shining bright

A nearby river, velvet black 

Shimmers passing by

The stories from this place will never die

Western desert clay of red and gold

Widest skies the deepest water holes

The ancient ones who came before 

And gave this land their souls

Their stories will live on 

Though they’re untold

Every one of us

We are water running down 

Spirits who are bound 

To join the sea

All the deepest hardships 

And the joys that we have found

Will bring us one day to a place of peace

Thickest Appalachia by a stream

Hills and woods 

Like something from a dream

The people there work hard

Sharing life in every song

And through the music legacy lives on

A northern town upon a distant bay 

Where boats are moored 

And waiting by the quay

The scent of brine defines this place

And for all those living there

The open ocean’s lore lives in the air

Every one of us

We are water running down 

Spirits who are bound 

To join the sea

All the deepest hardships

And the joys that we have found

Will bring us one day to a place of peace

Rivers join the ocean 

Which touches every shore

All of it one flowing piece 

From here to ever more

A chain link fence surrounds a city block Noises from the street they never stop

Children splashing in the puddles 

Laughing, unaware

Of the universal song that they all share

Of the universal song that we all share because

Every one of us

We are water running down 

Spirits who are bound 

To join the sea

All the deepest hardships 

And the joys that we have found

Will bring us one day to a place of peace

Rivers join the ocean 

Which touches every shore

All of it one flowing piece

From here to ever more

Flowing here to ever more 

We are flowing here to ever more 

Hey it's good to see you again

What's it been now, five, six years? 

Maybe ten?

So much to catch up on 

We can't do it here

Let's stay in touch

Sometime we'll grab a beer

Hey, I think I know her from somewhere

Damn this over-50 brain, it just aint fair

We had some good times 

That much I know

But I can't recall her name 

So I'll let it go

I'm reaching for the memories 

And I'm pulling them apart 

Searching for the tiny clues 

Remaining in my heart 

I know that I remember

Cuz the feelings all live on 

It's just the words, the details 

And the names are gone

When you see me start to hesitate

I know you know just what it's like

And so you wait

You show me a friendly bit of care

You know that the answer's 

Still inside somewhere

No one here is going it alone

Yeah it's really hard to contemplate

This path we're on

Slow your pace and keep it steady on

Keep leaning into life until it's gone

I'm reaching for the memories 

And I'm pulling them apart 

Searching for the tiny clues 

Remaining in my heart 

I know that I remember

Cuz the feelings all live on

It's just the words, the details 

And the names are gone

When my father lay dying

And his mind was scattered

He still knew that we loved him

And that was all that mattered

Looking back on all the things I've done

From playing in the bands

To raising up my son

I have always done the best I can

A tiny piece inside a larger plan

Many of my stories now are lost

Casualties of life, I'll pay the cost

But everything's that's lost is not in vain

It disappears then reappears

Just like the rain

I'm reaching for the memories 

And I'm pulling them apart 

Searching for the tiny clues 

Remaining in my heart 

I know that I remember

Cuz the feelings all live on

It's just the words, the details 

And the names are gone
The words, the details 

And the names are gone

But is a raindrop 

Ever really gone? 

I never planned things out much

When I was just a kid

I thought that things would work out

And I guess they kinda did

But I’m not that certain 

I’m not that certain anymore

Now I’ve put some years behind me 

And nothing looks the same

The roadmaps and the rule books 

In fact the whole damn game

I don’t know how to play 

I just don’t know how to play the game

Sometimes it’s just so easy

To wanna kiss it all goodbye

Sometimes it’s just so easy 

To wanna lay right down and die

Sometimes it’s just so easy 

I wanna just break down and cry

Oh no, I know I gotta try

Now the path ahead

Is where we all must go

Where angels fear to tread 

But where that is I just don’t know

I don’t know where it is that we’re gonna go

Sometimes it’s just so easy

To wanna kiss it all goodbye

Sometimes it's just so easy

To wanna lay right down and die

Sometimes it's just so easy

I wanna just break down and cry

Oh no, I know I gotta try

Oh, I just wanna lay me down wanna say goodbye Oh no, I know I gotta try

Sometimes it’s just so easy

To wanna kiss it all goodbye

Sometimes it's just so easy

To wanna lay right down and die

Sometimes it's just so easy

I wanna just break down and cry

Oh no, I know I gotta try
Oh no, I know I gotta try
 

For thousands of years 

Upon the river people lived 

Thriving off the bounty of the land

Never needing more 

Than what nature could provide

Until one day there came 

The turning of the tide

The ship looked like a longhouse 

Arriving on the shore Just one boat at first But soon came many more

Mohicans met the visitors 

Without a second thought

Never knowing in the future 

They would all of them be bought

For the payment of a musket 

Five shillings and some stores

They gave the Dutch the land 

And left familiar shores

The Dutch became the envy 

Of the English, they began

To fight among each other

For the right to own the land

Soon industry and commerce 

Sank their roots deep in the town

Giving rise to a culture

For all those money-bound

Hannah Montague of 3rdStreet 

In her innocence began 

A trend that would become 

The need of every working man

And thus the modern bastion 

Of the Collar City rose 

To its height and finest glory

In the place a white man chose

With the comforts of today

It is easily forgotten 

That they were all begotten

From the toil 

Of countless fellow humans 

Who gave their lives in service

To make a better life upon this soil
We thank everyone before us

Every woman, every man

Every tiny girl and every tiny boy

Who labored all their lives 

And never had a choice

We thank the ones 

Who gave their lives to Troy

We thank everyone before us 

Every woman, every man

Every tiny girl and every tiny boy

Who labored all their lives 

And never had a choice

We thank the ones 

Who gave their lives to Troy
We thank the ones

Who gave their lives to Troy 

Saratoga, what a lovely place to be

Saratoga Springs, pretty as a Christmas tree

High end shops and gourmet places to eat Sidewalk cafes where people like to meet Fair trade gifts, always something new

IPAs handcrafted just for you (in)

Saratoga, seat of US history 

Saratoga Springs

A destination tourists want to see

Visit Caffe Lena, catch a show at SPAC 

Live entertainment’s 

Not something that we lack

Drink from the springs or keep yourself cool By diving into our grand Victoria Pool

A homeless guy or two 

Will try to hustle a buck off of you,

But send them on their way 

Cuz baby you came here to play (in)

Saratoga, it’s where people come to shine Saratoga Springs, aging like the finest wine

Hit the track and then Siro’s too 

Head downtown, it’s all waiting for you

Dress to the nines and stroll Broadway

Every head will surely turn your way

After dark, back in the park

The lost ones go to hide

I love my town, but truth be told

There lives a darker side of Saratoga

The haves and the have nots 

Sharing the same spots

Put your money on a pony 

In a town that’s oh-so tony, yeah

Saratoga Springs

It's lots of different things 

Pretty Saratoga 

It's a tourist town most all of the year 

You get a lotta guitar players 

Playin round here 

They like their loopers, yes they do 

And they like their bars of eight 

They hit that silver button 

And they sound great  

Here in this three-chord town

That's what they're all putting down 

Here in Saratoga Springs

Three chords work just fine 

But oh Lord, just three chords?

Pretty please

You gotta give me more

I'm waiting to be floored

In a three-chord town

 
Lou Reed once said

And he wasn't going to cushion it 

One chord works just fine 

Two chords is pushing it 

Now Lou Reed also said 

Three chords is jazz 

Cuz one chord works just fine 

And it always has

Here in this three-chord town 

That's what they're all putting down

Here in Saratoga Springs

Three chords works fine

Give me some Steely Dan

Or some standards too

Without those extra chords

What's a girl to do?

Stuck here feeling blue

In a three-chord town

Give the people what they want to hear 

Just three chords, the answer's clear  

I can't be so dear in this three-chord town

Forgive my snark, but that's just how I roll

I guess I better get ready to sell my soul

And just give up my jelly roll 

All to this three-chord town (goin down) 

Down to this three-chord town 

  (rubato)

I haven't showered in a week

I'm eating loads of carbs

I'm getting fatter as we speak

So easy on the barbs

I'm not the girl I used to be

There's much more of me now

But I'll make it somehow

Through these

(in time)

Pandemic times, it’s a struggle that’s new Everyone is bored and eating 

But what can we do

Inside we must retain our sanity 

The last thing on our minds 

Should be our vanity (in these)

Pandemic times, it’s a struggle that’s new

Now the kids are home all day 

Whatever shall we do

Books and forts and games 

And lots of videos 

Pulling all the stops out

Now anything goes 

(someday)

We will tell our children 

Way back in 2020

When fear and sickness were aplenty

Somehow it’s true, that we made it through (those)

Pandemic times, it’s a struggle that’s new

Now the box of wine is gone 

Whatever shall we do

I guess it’s just a first world problem at best

But I would like a glass or two

To help my mind rest (through these)

Pandemic times, social media’s king 

A great way we can stay in touch

A wonderful thing

I can’t hold your hand 

But I can see your face

It restores my faith

In the whole human race 

Kazoo solo over verse

Pandemic times, it feels somehow unreal

But in due time it will be passed

And we will all heal

From these scary

 Oh so hairy Pandemic times!