lyrics

Brotherhood of Man

All day, since your haircut in the morning,
you have looked like a painting, even more than usual.
We are in the wind, planting the maples.
We meet an older man who seems to know
I miss my dad.
And he smiles through the limbs.
We talk easily with him
until the rain begins.
This is the brotherhood of man.

Waiting at the airport on my suitcase,
a girl traveling from Spain became my sudden friend,
though I did not learn her name.
And when the subway dimmed
a stranger lit my way.
This is the brotherhood of man.

I never can say what I mean
but you will understand,
coming through clouds on the way.
This is the brotherhood of man.


Happy Birthday

When you wake up sun will shine.
We will not go under any cloud.
Let balloons go up in town,
ring out every bell.
Happy birthday, beautiful,
all the birds of this day
sing a song, sing a song.

Dream of trains carrying you
through the state parks with the cherry flowers.
When you wake up it will be
the beginning of the world.
Happy birthday, beautiful,
in the fields of this day
hear a song, hear a song.

Oh, undeserved sweetness and light,
stay by my side.
We will go out in the morning now,
a crown of maple leaves, a crown of flowers
circling your sweet head.
Happy birthday, beautiful,
in the streets of this day
play a song, play a song.

(for Anna)

Into Brooklyn, Early in the Morning

Yes, the sidewalk soon will launch you
into Brooklyn, through the air.
And they will give a cheer, I am sure,
when you are coming near
to the ground.
Oh, early in the morning,
when you fly away,
early in the morning,
when you fly away.

Beautiful life, full of grieving,
so will sing the Russian choir,
they will sing in the square
as you come down through the Brooklyn air
to the ground.
Oh, early in the morning,
when you fly away,
early in the morning,
when you fly away.



Since I Still Tell You My Every Day

Since I still tell you my every day,
my darling, I think you always hear me
from the sweet away, the sweet away.
Did you see us picnicking at lakeside
in the state park today?
All these things I want you to be part of,
darling, you’ll be.

One song singing through this neighborhood
is loneliness.
Since I still tell you my everyday
I think you hear,
with a perfect vision now,
oh with a perfect ear
to me.
All my life I don’t find anyone like you.

I wish you’d be at Bethany.
I wish you’d come to violin with me.
Since I still tell you my every day,
all these things I want you to be part of,
darling, you’ll be.





Lake Shore Drive

Regret has gone down in my estimation now.
The old world had you smiling out,
putting your arms around.
I tell myself now
things I would have told to you,
the smallest plan, the greatest news.
The more days come, the more it’s true.

Right now I’ve got to get back home,
in from the sad day out.
Missing you forever,
yes, I shout, yes I, yes I, yes I am.

It seems the right time
to let go of the steep incline
of this day and to know you’re mine
forever and I will be fine.
In me will you shine,
shine, shine, will you shine.

I’m stepping through
the streams and fountains of the sad day out.
Missing you forever,
yes, I shout, yes I, yes I, yes I am.
Yes I, yes I, yes I am.
Love That Boy

I love that boy and he is my friend.
I see him going down the long hall.
I love that boy and he is my friend.
I wave to him from very far off.

He goes uphill,
I wish that I could follow after him.
He goes uphill.
Please let him be safe there, across the way.
I love that boy, I say.
I love him all the day.

I love that boy and he is my friend.
We’re driving through the state of Maryland.
I love that boy and he is my friend.
I love to see him sleeping in back.

He goes uphill,
I wish that I could follow after him.
He goes uphill.
He dreams a city street a hundred ways.
I love that boy, I say.
I love him all the day.

And I’m standing up under the trees,
I’m cheering every day.
I love that boy, I say.

(For Drew.
Title borrowed from the poem by
Walter Dean Myers)



A Wave is Rolling

There are the days I cannot know
or understand,
a piano in a moving van, way behind
at the light.

And a wave is rolling over
a wave is moving over
a wave is rolling over me, over me.

The time of mistakes -
will it ever change to another time,
like a season when the snow
will slide off the house
and leave the house clean?

And a wave is rolling over
a wave is moving over
a wave is rolling over me, over me.

A singing bird, I call your name
in the middle of the nighttime.
I’m the smallest bird who calls your name
in the middle of the day.

And a wave is rolling over
a wave is moving over
a wave is rolling over me, over me.



Song for Tom

Let’s go, Tom.
The weather’s here but you are strong.
The wax tears on your raincoat come
from candles when we walked in song.
Oh, you’ll never lose that light,
oh, you’ll never lose that light
though so much is gone.

You are my friend,
though words will fail me here again.
The sacraments will lift us.
And we set out in the day again.
Oh, you’ll never lose that light,
oh, you’ll never lose that light
Though so much is gone.

And you’re standing up
and it is coming down,
standing up and it is coming down,
standing up and it is coming down to you,
dear Tom.
Oh, you’ll never lose that light,
oh, you’ll never lose that light
though so much is gone.



Colors of the World

Blue could be a winter coat
or the sea, Lake Maureen, a window
or a downpour on my street.
This bit of yellow could be a leaf
or a beam of light, a girl in a taxi.

And I think of you in the colors of the world.
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
when I was traveling a long way from my home
and you are a friend of mine.

Black is the piano you play at school in the lobby,
looking out at the gray and orange,
green grass on your feet.

And I think of you in the colors of the world.
And I did meet you in the brotherhood of man
when I was traveling a long way from my home
and you are a friend of mine.



Over the Moon

I’m over the moon, taller than clouds.
I’m sailing along, smiling out loud.
Windows, doorways, you can’t hold me,
branches never hold me, no.
I’m over the moon.

Can this be the same day of all rain
when I was down in and there was no sky?
Now windows, doorways, you can’t hold me,
branches never hold me, no.
I’m over the moon.



My Sisters Return from Ireland

What did you see?
When, walking down bridges, did you come
into cloud light at sea,
green fields forever,
kindness of strangers,
tracing the old streets, tracing the names?

If somebody calls to me
I’m hoping to not fear, not fear to answer.
How will it be?