secret handshake

I wish I had a best friend
we would have a secret handshake
we would synchronize our watches
in the treehouse in your yard
seems like everything I touch
turns into a mistake
but when you share a secret handshake
living ain't so hard

you are loved 3

I am an old, old man
yes I am
a long time on this planet
I need to talk to you
yes I do
so shut those phones off
damnit
I'm getting up in years
but still have my eyes and ears 
about me
here's what I want you to hear
before I disappear
before it's time to live without me

you are smart
you are strong
you're my child
you belong
you make it through
when times get tough
you are loved

I may not be here to see
what you're going to be
but that don't mean I'm gone
I'll speak to you in memory
I'll never leave
this love goes on and on

you are strong
you are smart
there's always room
inside your heart
you know exactly
what you're made of
you are loved

          I never learned to say I love you
          well, I'm saying it to you now

you make me laugh
you are wise
I see kindness
shining in your eyes
like the brightest
stars above
you are loved

you are smart
you are strong
you're my child
you belong
you make it through
when times get tough
you are loved
you are loved

always starting over

you can't get where you're going
if you're always starting over
you're gonna stay in one place
no matter how fast you run
you don't see the finish line
till the race is almost over
you're always starting over
and you've only begun

there was this childhood friend of mine
we called him crazy Jack
he'd say "I'm running away from home
and I'm never coming back
he'd fill up the ol' backpack
and swear that he was gone
then I'd see him the next morning
doing chores and mowing lawns

you can't get where you're going...

I had this credit card
maybe you can relate
I'd see all kinds of crap
and say "isn't this great?"
each month I'd pay the minimum
and think I was ahead
so I'd wake up the next morning, man,
and spend, spend, spend

you can't get where you're going...

you are loved 2

I am an old, old man
yes I am
a long time on this planet
let me say some words to you
before I'm through
so shut those phones off
damnit
I'm getting up in years
but still have my eyes and ears 
about me
here's what I want you to hear
when I disappear
when it's time to live without me

you are smart
you are strong
you're my friend
you belong
you make it through
when times get tough
you are loved

I may not be here to see
what you're going to be
but that don't mean I'm gone
I'll speak to you in memory
I'll never leave
this love goes on and on

you are strong
you are smart
there's always room
inside your heart
you know exactly
what you're made of
you are loved

          I never learned to say I love you
          well, I'm saying it to you now

you're sounding good
you're looking great
I like your hair
have you lost weight
I bet you're the best
at lots of stuff
you are loved

you make me laugh
you are wise
I see kindness
shining in your eyes
like the brightest
stars above
you are loved

you are smart
you are strong
you're my friend
you belong
you make it through
when times get tough
you are loved

when this plane lands

the lights of this city
shine like a Christmas tree
from this airplane
from this window seat 
I see the town
out there before me
I imagine my shoes
on cobblestone streets
what if they don't speak English here
what if my courage disappears
what if they're using local customs
I don't understand
all these places I don't know
all these people I don't know
where am I supposed to go
when this plane lands

when you're poor 2

when you're poor
you wait in line
you wait in line
all the time
and the line grows longer
every day
when you're poor
you do your time
you do your time
waiting in line
and when it comes your time
no one can say

when you're poor
it's so frustrating
you're always waiting
anticipating
the very worst to come true
when you're poor
you're always hating
time becomes grating
because waiting
is all you ever do

          nobody cares

          unless you have money 
          everyone's responsible
          for themselves
          nobody cares
          unless you have money
          and can help make more money
          for somebody else

when you're poor
you're always afraid
you're always afraid
rent can't be paid
and those hungry children won't be fed
when you're poor
they lay it on thick
you can't even afford to be sick
it's one of life's dirty tricks
and then you're dead

          nobody cares
          your time is worthless
          there's no reason 
          to help out
          nobody cares
          your time is worthless
          that's what business
          is about

when you're poor
you're always hoping
you don't start doping
to keep you coping
'cause better days are coming soon
when you're poor
you're always praying
that your paycheck ain't decaying
but that's okay
when you owe the company store
you grab any hope you can
when you're poor
and what's more
life ain't no Disneyland
when you're poor

happy birthday, Martin Luther King

(to the tune of "Yellow Submarine" by Lennon/McCartney)

in the good ol' USA
home of the brave
land of the free
lived a man who
dreamed of a day
when all would have
equality

          happy birthday, Martin Luther King
          Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King   
          happy birthday, Martin Luther King
          Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King

with his words
of equal rights
he inspired us
to shine our light
he held on tight
to his belief
that we could win
with means of peace

          happy birthday, Martin Luther King...

black or white
yellow or brown
ain't nobody
can keep us down
maybe Doctor King is gone
but the dream
always lives on

          happy birthday, Martin Luther King...