The following lyrics were created for the musical stories which were published as our third collection in 2005 under the title of “Reason to Stay.” Simply click on the images below to go directly to the original story, music and complete lyrics along with other related links.
Back to Where I Need to Be Forward to Swinging Statues
Reason to Stay
I found your black velvet scarf
By the letter you lost in the drawer
Located the missing spare key
And the last puzzle piece on the floor
I hear our favorite song
In the car as I drive to the store
Recall every touch of your hand
See that old opal ring that you wore
Sometimes I hear your voice on the phone
Hope when I come back I’ll find you at home
Now I discover I’m on my own
Lonely and all alone
Some days I try to erase
Those reminders that get in my way
I find each lingering trace
But I can’t find a reason to stay
There isn’t a reason today
No I can’t find a reason to stay
“Reason to Stay” portrays the quiet, bitter process of letting go when a shared life has come to an end. Through small, everyday keepsakes—a forgotten scarf, a lost letter, an old ring, and a missing puzzle piece—the narrator confronts the lingering presence of someone who is suddenly gone. Despite muscle memory and moments of hope that old routines might return, the reality of solitude settles in. Ultimately, clearing away these physical reminders brings a more calm, resolute clarity, although one is still faced with the deep inner question: the need to re-establish your own purpose—your personal reason to stay.
Roses from the Garden
Winter comes, just another season
Sitting still, waiting to be warm
Missing all the roses in the garden
Are they gone, merely sleeping, or taking other form
Careful fingers, weave past thorns
Reaching for flowers
Brushing loose petals
Sending them gently down
To the ground
Voices inches from their faces
Whisper to the blooms
Yet another afternoon gathering
Flowers for every room
Each and every room
Seasons change, just another lifetime
Standing still, trying not to sigh
Dreaming of the roses from the garden
Pressed and dried
In the scrapbook
Safely held inside
Pressed and dried
In the scrapbook
Safely held inside
“Roses from the Garden” is a reflection on love, loss, and the preservation of memory. By gathering flowers and keeping them “pressed and dried” in a scrapbook, the lyrics explore how we hold onto the beauty of fleeting moments and past relationships. They suggest that while life’s seasons inevitably change and bring emotional coldness, the love and memories we cherish are never truly lost—they simply take on a new, permanent form kept safely within us.
Bad Habits
Stuck under my skin
Sliver of wood
This irritation
Does me no good
Lurking, creeping, sneaking back
Bad habits prowl
At first it’s something special
Charming quirk or a nervous tap
Uniquely individual
What makes good habits go bad
Good habits go bad
Tossing and turning, too restless to sleep
Pacing the floor, ruts surprisingly deep
Night winds howl chilling me to the bone
These bad habits have lives of their own
Caught in my throat
Little white lie
Muffled cough
Tear in my eye
Lurking, creeping, sneaking back
Bad habits crawl
By now it’s nothing special
It’s turned into a character flaw
My worst traits accentuated
These bad habits continue to gnaw
Hungry habits gnaw at me
Hungry habits gnaw
Tossing and turning, too restless to sleep
Pacing the floor, ruts surprisingly deep
Night winds howl, chilling me to the bone
These bad habits have lives of their own
Bad habits creep
Bad habits crawl, they creep and crawl
Bad habits prowl
Sneaky old bad habits
They get the best of me
The very best of me
Bad habits get the best of me
“Bad habits” examines the insidious progression of compulsion, illustrating how seemingly harmless quirks or minor dishonesty can slowly turn into destructive, deeply ingrained routines. Personifying these negative behaviors as predatory forces that gain a life of their own, the song details the physical restlessness and psychological distress that occur when small vices erode self-control and undermine a person’s character.
The Good Doctor
Not so long ago, in a small town there were
Children dreaming of what they might be someday
One longed to be known ‘round the whole world while
Another wanted to write prose and poetry
And as they shared their dreams aloud
A third boy softly spoke:
At the birth of every child, see them smile
Then to look into their eyes, open wide
I want to know each baby born, watch them grow
To be the best doctor in our town
I will be the best doctor in our town
After years of hard work finally he
Became the doctor he always thought he’d be
Yet his life was not full
In the springtime he found a young wife
Soon a son was born, completing his life
A sweet daughter, the next year
When we try, anything can happen
Confident and working hard
Sometimes what we imagine
Can become the way things are
With each baby the town slowly grew
Every single child the cherished doctor knew
So his kindness was returned
His own children loved their father even more
And his life was so much better than before
As he dreamed it would be
When we try, we can make things happen
Steadfast and working hard
Sometimes what we imagine
Is exactly just the way things are
Then he lost them one by one, first the son
His poor wife with grief-consumed followed soon
Then last summer his girl drew her last breath
Taken from the best doctor in our town
No he couldn’t save them
Even the best doctor in our town
In the mornings now, on the narrow streets he walks
Meeting people he’s known since they were children
Reflected in their eyes, he sees days gone by
Hopes passed on, woven within memories
Just not what he hoped to see
Or the way it should be
When we try to make things happen
Steadfast and working hard
Sometimes what we imagine
Is different from the way things are
The way things are
“The Good Doctor” is a tragic narrative about the limits of human control over life and mortality. It traces the journey of a dedicated man who fulfills his childhood dream of becoming a compassionate small-town physician, only to face devastating heartbreak when his medical skills fail to save his own wife and children. By contrasting his early optimism, that hard work can manifest one’s dreams, with his final, grief-stricken realization that reality often defies our best efforts, the lyrics deliver a poignant reflection on service, loss, and acceptance.
Telling the Truth
No facts, just interpretation
Plot without proof
Crimes of the heart are secret
Hiding the truth
Stealing around each corner
On the sly
Conspiring with the shadow
Silently living a lie
Motive and justification
Scheme without cause
It seems that crimes of passion
Break all the laws
Another perfect alibi
Covers tracks
Excited by the prospect
Intrigue, with no turning back
No turning back
There is no turning back
Where are those quiet moments
We used to know
It was a different life then
Where did it go?
On the weekends we’d take a walk
In the park with some friends
Do you remember, when we too were friends
Memories will never lie
Where are those peaceful moments
We used to know
It was a different life then
Where did it go
Now on the weekends there are no walks
No park and no friends
Special holidays came to an end
Those memories will never lie
Promise me good conversation
We’ll work this through
Longing for honesty
Try telling the truth
Sincere and trustworthy
Nothing to prove
Living life with intention
Always caught telling the truth
No turning back
Just tell the truth
No turning back
Why not just tell the truth
“Telling the Truth” examines the devastating impact of emotional betrayal within a relationship, tracing the shift from covert deceit to a desperate plea for honesty. Using legal and criminal metaphors, the song frames dishonesty as a calculated operation that destroys the once-peaceful, simple life. Ultimately, the lyrics acknowledge that while the past cannot be restored, confronting reality through radical transparency is the only way to move forward and escape the psychological burden of a lie. The first one we lie to is ourself.
Letting Go
He takes his first step
We catch a deep breath
Rushing to help him land
We take his hand
He is not steady
We are not ready
To stand and watch
Him go all alone
She pedals faster
And through the laughter
Her father on demand
Removes his hand
She is not steady
He is not ready
To stand and watch
Her go all alone
He is her yesterday
Where she is from
She is his yet-to-be
What can become
By letting go
Each generation
Hands hold hope for family
In letting go
By letting go
Her kind grandfather
Smiles with our daughter
The years passed by as planned
She takes his hand
He is not steady
She is not ready
To stand and watch
Him go all alone
And then her brother
Walks with my mother
He has become a man
He takes her hand
She is not steady
He is not ready
To stand and watch
Her go all alone
She is his yesterday
Where he is from
He is her yet-to-be
What can become
By letting go
Each generation
Hearts hold hope for family
In letting go
That’s how we grow
By letting go
Letting go
“Letting Go” is a tender reflection on the cyclical nature of family, aging, and the bittersweet surrender required to help loved ones grow. By drawing parallels between a child taking their first steps and an aging parent needing a steadying hand, the lyrics highlight how life comes full circle as protectors eventually become the protected. Ultimately, the song delivers an uplifting message about generational connection, showing that while stepping back is emotionally difficult, “letting go” is the ultimate act of trust that allows each new generation to step into their future and become a unique individual.
Jumble of Fences
The table caught the baseball
Also the shattered glass
Careless, yet accidental
Stray toss in a game of catch
Wild pitch in a game of catch
Impulse to flee on foot
That ball fell from the sky
Straight-faced, while convincing
It came from some passerby
Implicate another guy
There is no way they could know
Who had thrown it
Since kids always play
In the backyards
Jumble of fences
Jumble offenses
But on second thought
I could face the consequence
Take my chances
Admit it was me
But I know, on the other hand
If I say I was the one
I’ll have to work hard
Til each day is done
Simple truth
Restitution isn’t easy
It’s an uncommon decency
There is no way we can know
Who’s to blame here
Since we never stay
In our own yards
Jumble of fences
We lose our friends over
Jumbled offences
And we make amends over
Jumble of fences
Jumble of fences
“Jumble of Fences” uses a childhood accident—a stray baseball breaking a window—as a metaphor for accountability, self-preservation, and the complexity of human relationships. By tracing the inner conflict between the urge to blame someone else and the difficult choice to take responsibility, the lyrics highlight that making amends requires hard work and selflessness, making it a difficult choice. Ultimately, the song suggests that while blurred boundaries and unowned mistakes divide people, true maturity and lasting connection come only from stepping up to face the consequences of our own actions.
Rocking Chair
Weary one, day is done
Drift off to sleep
Tired eyes say goodbyes
Then slumber deep
Rocking chair, arms worn bare
From years of holding on
Gentle motion back and forth
On creaking floors
Rocking chair take me where
Cares fade to memory
Soothing sounds around me
Lullaby of pine and oak
Wood on wood
Carry me home
To the place where I find contentment
Show me the way
Give me a calm tomorrow
Offer me grace
Open my eyes and renew innocence
Wonder and awe
Rocking chair, always there
Exhausting hour after hour
Heavy head nods off to rest
As breathing slows
Rocking chair showing wear
Fingers cease holding on
Wistful worries fall away
Lullaby in slow-motion
Hand on hand
Spirit me home
To the place where I find contentment
Show me the way
Give me a calm tomorrow
Offer me grace
Cover my eyes and release innocence
Wonder and awe
Weary one, day is done
Drift off to sleep
Tired eyes say goodbyes
Then slumber deep
“Rocking Chair” is a gentle reflection on rest, aging, and the search for inner peace. Through the central motif of a well-worn chair, the song explores the quiet comfort of letting go after carrying heavy burdens, blending the everyday routine of falling asleep with a deeper longing for emotional sanctuary, grace, and renewed innocence.
House of Cards
In this house of cards
Black three holds the queen of hearts
Gently placed with care
Game of solitaire
Fragile towers, numbers and faces
Countless hours, diamonds on spades
Colors worn and cracked
Old deck, cautiously stacked
Sensing when to breathe
Becomes strategy
Steady and slow, card by card
How high they go
Will we know when our hopes have been met
and the steeple is set
Shining eyes reflect the dawning
Table kingdom slides through fingertips
Aces teeter as the joker slips
The joker slips
From these paper walls
Towers rise and fall
Start again, build new
Deck of fifty-two
In this house of cards
Black three holds the king of hearts
Gently placed with care
Game of solitaire
“House of Cards” uses the delicate process of building a card tower after a reflective game of solitaire as a metaphor for the fragility of human ambitions and the resilience needed to rebuild. Detailing the patient, high-stakes effort required to stack a lifetime of dreams, the lyrics acknowledge how quickly unforeseen chaotic moments can cause everything to collapse. Ultimately, by showing the builder calmly gathering the deck to begin again, the song highlights that true strength lies not in avoiding failure, but in the quiet determination to rebuild after life circumstances unravels our best achievements.
Another Day
When long days are over
Feeling lonely, broken, used and worn
I drag myself off to bed
Staring at the ceiling
Through the darkness at the edge of sleep
And yet I can’t seem to fall
I’d give anything if I could fall
That’s where another day begins
Worried, barely living day to day
Can’t get ahead or get a break
Sick and tired of facing reality
Just on the verge of something
Another day begins
Until now somehow I thought
Life is just too hard, so give in, don’t fight again
Yet knowing so very well
Only time will tell, my way might be okay
At the end of trying
When my eyes are dry and finally clear
I pull myself up from the bed
Standing at the mirror
Looking for a reason to believe
To take just one more chance
The darkest hour gives me one more chance
That’s where another day begins
Somehow another day begins
And then, another day begins
“Another Day” captures the grueling weight of emotional exhaustion and depression, tracing a journey from total burnout to quiet resilience. By framing the struggle of insomnia and despair as a turning point rather than an end, the lyrics illustrate how confronting one’s darkest moments can spark the courage to stand up, face the mirror, and try once more—proving that hope often begins at the exact point where we feel ready to give up. The Divine Spark within shows us the way.
Quality time is undeniably great for relationships. We've discovered that quantity of time can provide that quality. Perhaps it takes Time to Partner.