The following lyrics were created for the musical stories which were published as our thirteenth collection in 2011 under the title of “Layers.” Simply click on the images below to go directly to the original story, music and complete lyrics along with other related links.
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Layers
Underneath it all
Where no one can see
My life is made up of layers
Each one built upon the other
Hidden far from view
Barely out of reach
Memories of graceful, simple moments
Concealed, covered over
Happenings and incidents
Haphazardly arranged
Occasion upon circumstance
Ordered by each subtle change
All align and press together
Until they are countless layers deep
Gathered, stacked upon each other
Scarcely separate layers
Unbeknownst to you
Unrecognized by me
Sometimes I find that I am
Unaware of all the layers
Color everything I do
My life is made up of layers
Each one as it’s meant to be
“Layers” is a reflective meditation on human identity, using the metaphor of stacked strata to show how random memories, subtle moments, and past experiences quietly shape our present selves. Though much of this internal history becomes hidden or forgotten beneath active consciousness, these accumulated moments press together to color everything we do, offering an ultimate sense of acceptance that every experience has contributed to who we are meant to be. Our collected awareness over an entire lifetime becomes our own personal layered contribution.
Morning Glory
Ten years had come and gone
I felt completely empty
Without a single word left
The taste of dryness lingered in my mouth
My words had all run out
Then on a day in June
Finally the drought was over
Rather than dusty days
The morning rain filled up my well again
And from then I began writing again
It just came along
As though it belonged
I became entranced
Fingers danced on the strings
Morning glory song
Up until that day I had nothing left to say
Tomorrow and then beyond
I’ll wait for my inspiration
Taking a bite of life
I will taste the words that linger in my mouth
See what songs spill out
Though it may seem sometimes
The songwriting days are over
Even when words evade me
Soon enough they’re coming ‘round again
Once again I’ll begin writing again
It will come along
Just as though it belongs
I’ll become entranced
As fingers dance on the strings
Morning glory song
There will come a time and a day
I have something more to say
Morning glory song
There will come a day when I will have something to say
Morning glory song
“Morning Glory” is a hopeful reflection on the creative process, illustrating how a daunting period of writer’s block is eventually broken by a sudden, natural rush of inspiration. By contrasting a decade-long “drought” with the restorative imagery of morning rain, the song suggests that creativity operates in natural seasons, encouraging artists to actively live their lives and trust that inspiration will always return when the time is right.
The Sound of Goodbye
No “Please come back, please don’t go”
There wasn’t any plea – not a single promise
The only thing that I heard was
The sound of goodbye
No taking back the words I said
Surely no one means what they say in anger
But piercing through all those words is
The sound of goodbye
Still I regret the things I said
Careless with fragile memories
If I could only have another chance
Then maybe we’d still be friends
I know there’ll be no second chance
Since you likely won’t trust me again
No late night calls, nothing to say
Since you don’t want to hear just how much I miss you
So when I’m all alone, sometimes I cry
The sound of goodbye
Goodbye
“The Sound of Goodbye” is a somber exploration of regret and finality, capturing the quiet aftermath of a relationship severed by harsh words spoken in anger. Acknowledging that long-held trust and fragile memories were carelessly broken, the speaker confronts the painful reality that there will be no second chances or dramatic reconciliations, only the echoing silence and grief of a permanent departure.
Taking Flight
Running in the night, trying to take flight
Breaking loose from everything
That has held me captive
Barefoot on the dew, taking every clue
I feel my feet above the ground
Rarely, barely touching down
Letting go of old ways
Making room for some change
Playing hide and seek with gravity
Hardly ever touching down
Playing hide and seek with gravity
Hardly ever touching down
Running like a child, forever free and wild
Shooting stars are in my eyes
All I see is promise
Taking to the air, breezes in my hair
Reaching out for everything
I can catch with open arms
Rarely, barely touching down
Hardly ever touching down
“Taking Flight” is an uplifting anthem of personal liberation that captures the exhilarating joy of breaking free from past constraints. Through playful imagery of weightlessness, playing hide and seek with gravity, and childlike wonder, the song illustrates the transformational relief of letting go of old ways and embracing a future filled with unbounded freedom and promise.
Standing Still
Standing still, against the wind
Somehow taking and then remaking
What comes to me
That’s just the way I do things
Guess I always will
Yet it looks as if I am
Standing still, yet again
Acting as though I am who I was
Like I’ve always been
No matter what you think
Or how it may appear
You can be sure that I am standing still
Whether there are days my heart is dancing
Times when I cannot be brought back down to earth
Not for a minute
Glad to say that I’m still in it
Or even when my heart is broken
Times so tough that I can hardly catch my breath
When nothing seems clear
Have to admit that I’m still in here
Glad to say that I’m still in it
Standing still, always will
Feeling as though I am becoming
Who I am to be
In spite of or maybe because
Whatever comes my way
Ceaselessly moving, I am standing still
Once again
Though my heart is dancing
Or broken
I am standing still
“Standing Still” is a reflective exploration of resilience and quiet inner growth, centered on the paradox of remaining grounded while constantly evolving. Though observers may see someone fixed and unchanging, the speaker is actively processing life’s emotional extremes, whether joy or heartbreak, using those experiences to become who they are meant to be while staying steadfastly present in the world—seemingly standing still.
I Found You
After all I’ve been through
Wondered when I’d find you
Someone whom
I could give my heart
Searched the whole world over
Hoping to discover
Someone with whom
I could share my life
Now my days are better than they were before
Once my nights were lonely, they’re not anymore
I found places inside, wholly unexplored
Once I found you
Since I found you
From this moment on
I will always be there for you
Simply call my name
I will be right by your side
The gift you’ve given me:
To see me through your eyes
If you ask me whether
I believe in forever
If there’s someone
Destined just for me
For so long, I waited
And if it is fated
That someone
Was waiting just for me
Well, I have no answer, how it came to be
But I found you
I found you
You found me too
“I Found You” is an earnest reflection on the healing power of love, contrasting a past marked by loneliness and persistent searching with a present filled with security, mutual devotion, and emotional discovery. Through pledges of lifelong support and awe at the mystery of fate, the song captures the profound relief and gratitude that comes with finding a partner who makes you feel truly seen and whole.
Turn Around
After all I’ve been through
Wondered when I’d find you
Someone whom
I could give my heart
Searched the whole world over
Hoping to discover
Someone with whom
I could share my life
Now my days are better than they were before
Once my nights were lonely, they’re not anymore
I found places inside, wholly unexplored
Once I found you
Since I found you
From this moment on
I will always be there for you
Simply call my name
I will be right by your side
The gift you’ve given me:
To see me through your eyes
If you ask me whether
I believe in forever
If there’s someone
Destined just for me
For so long, I waited
And if it is fated
That someone
Was waiting just for me
Well, I have no answer, how it came to be
But I found you
I found you
You found me to
“Turn Around” is a poignant reflection on restless searching, emotional blindness, and the patient power of unconditional love. The song addresses someone caught in a cycle of constant running, chasing far-off ideals while remaining oblivious to the stability and fulfillment already available to them. Through its comforting refrain, the song highlights how haste can blind us to what matters most, offering a quiet, persistent reassurance that whenever the weary traveler finally stops searching and turns around, home and belonging are waiting right where they left them.
Mine
You insist with such certainty
But your words leave no space
There’s just one way to be
Though it doesn’t really bring you joy
Is there another choice
I ask and you say “Mine”
Fine
Tired of trying with nothing gained
Though we’re on the same side
It still feels like a fight again
Maybe better not to talk at all
So when the silence falls
Then the distance suits me fine
I remember the day we met
How it felt like I found my hero
We made promises hard to forget
Now they seem so hollow
Were those promises real or imagined
Hopeful or hopelessly empty
Time
Once a friend seems an enemy
Who we are is so far
From who we used to be
Though we grieve the loss of what we had
Wouldn’t it be sad to find
That we’re running out of time
Well that just suits me fine
If your answer’s always “mine”
Fine
“Mine” captures the painful disintegration of a relationship broken by possessiveness, rigid control, and relentless conflict. Moving from early idealization to deep disillusionment, the song illustrates how one partner’s refusal to compromise drains the connection of joy, turning “Time” into an enemy and leaving the other emotionally exhausted. Ultimately, the repeated refrain of “Fine” signifies not true agreement, but a cold, resigned acceptance that walking away, or letting time run out, is better than fighting for a partnership where only one person’s needs matter.
Short In the Wire
Just before my head clears
Right before my eyes slowly adjust to the light
There’s an uneasy feeling I’ve lost my way
That I shouldn’t be here
Maybe I was asleep
Right before my bare feet touch the cold floor
There’s that feeling again: I don’t belong
That I shouldn’t be here
Seems like it was only yesterday
No one could stop me
There was nothing in my way
Walking on air, how lucky could I get
Everybody—a friend I hadn’t met
As good as it gets
Only hope I don’t wake up from this dream
Life somehow is not quite what it seems
I just don’t want to fall
Again
Then there’s a short in the wire
And I notice the spark is cold to my touch
There’s an uneasy feeling I’ve lost my way
Gone completely astray
I’m falling again
Trying hard to hold on
Find out just where I belong
“Short in the Wire” captures the unsettling jolt of waking from a period of effortless confidence into a cold, disorienting reality as a result of relentless bouts of depression. Centered on the metaphor of an internal electrical failure, the song explores the vulnerability of losing one’s sense of direction, purpose, and connection. As nostalgia for brighter days gives way to the fear of “falling again,” the lyrics convey a desperate, quiet struggle to hold on, regain emotional stability, and discover where one truly belongs.
Storytellers
Tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine
Trading woe and misery line for line
Or tell me a tale that will break my heart
When you nearly fell apart, but made it through
Or reminisce about a romance
How you found a love you thought was lost
Then I’ll bring us both to tears of sadness
When I tell you my love has gone
But even though we are strangers
We share fears and anger
Washed and then released
By telling one another what we’ve lived through
If we hold on to our stories
Deeply sad or tales of glory
Trapped, without escape
We become only storytellers
Trapped, without escape
Nothing more than storytellers
Weave me a story and I’ll listen well
Follow every word you have to tell
Open my fingers, let the tale sift through
Since no part is really me or you
“Storytellers” reflects on the double-edged nature of narrative, framing the sharing of past struggles and triumphs as a powerful way for strangers to connect, heal, and release shared pain. However, the song warns against becoming trapped by those histories; clinging too tightly to old heartbreaks or past glory transforms us into static observers of our own lives. Ultimately, it advocates for a mindful detachment, listening deeply to life’s stories as they pass through, without letting past events define who we are in the present.
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