Where I Need to Be – Lyrics

The following lyrics were created for the musical stories which were published as our fourth collection in 2005 under the title of “Where I Need to Be.” 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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Where I Need to Be

Sometimes I feel friendless and alone
Fragile, yet heavy as a stone
When I am lonely, then I see
Maybe I’m just where I need to be
Maybe I’m right where I need to be

Sometimes I feel desperate and confused
Thinking there’s nothing left to lose
Angry and moody, then I see
Maybe I’m just where I need to be
Maybe I’m right where I need to be

All my worries seem to be in the way
As I hopelessly try to escape

With clever words, regrets, apologies
Attempts at breaking free
Slip from me, it seems
But when I see things a different way
My cares, one by one
Somehow become just what I need

Sometimes I’m impatient, filled with doubt
Pressing to make things all work out
Restless and edgy, then I see
Maybe I’m just where I need to be
Maybe I’m right where I need to be

 

The Fever Breaks

Into the night
Sleepless and shivering
The room spins and takes me with it
Such a fiery feeling
This fever burning
It can’t go on
No, it’s got to stop

And the fever aches
And the fever shakes
And the fever takes me

Falling into shallow sleep
I feel my body fall
Into familiar dreams and places I recall
Drifting in and out of thoughts
I feel my body ease
Breaking through this endless night
At last I am released

As the fever fades
And it slips away
Then the fever breaks

Into the light
Relieved, awakening
The room stills and I remember
Such a fiery feeling
That fever burning
It will return
And return again

And the fever aches
And the fever shakes
And the fever wakes me

 

Notes in the Margin

In for the evening
By the fire
Music is playing low
Open a favorite book to read

I see notes in the margin
Random phrases, passages underlined
Entries to keep in mind some day

But they went away
Slipped from the page
Neglected, left to lay
Lost in the days
Gone away

Living as though time was endless
Hopes on hold
Handwritten notes, good intentions
Holding them close
Gathered and composed
Collected and arranged just so
Wait for tomorrow

Tomorrow

Notes in the margin
Random phrases
Passages underlined
Entries to keep in mind some day

But they went away
Slipped from the page
Neglected, left to lay
Lost in the days
Gone away

 

Each Cell

Simple life
That is humble, yet chosen
Solitary, alone in myself
Time has stopped
And reality frozen
In each cell

Waiting
Listening for words
To release me
From myself

Open with anticipation
Light shines from within me
Flows through my hand onto the page
Enlightened
My words fall silent

Voices speak
But are hushed in a whisper
Silence broken, offering chants
Common language
A song as a vesper
In each cell

Waiting
Listening for words
To release me
From myself

Now there is waiting
Inspiration
Will release me
To myself

Now there is waiting

 

Water’s Edge

Just at the water’s edge
One small boat brings home its catch
In the net with fish, there lay
An ordinary bowl of clay

Red figures on the rim
Shades of grey surrounding them
Now recovered from the sand
Lost and rescued, as if planned

Crusty fragment release
Then fall away from the bowl
And the story lives again
Told in relief, tale to believe
History, his story

And the story lives again
Told in relief tale to believe
History, his story

Beyond the water’s edge
We can find another world
Fishing nets cast out to sea
Capture treasures meant for me

 

Shoebox

In a dusty old shoebox
Filled with pictures and stashed high on a shelf
Lid slides; inside, take another good look at myself

Spilling onto the table
Moving near the window for better light
Eyes squint, a hint: something there
Something not quite right

A few well-chosen changes
Make them fit my frame
And I tell myself
It’s basically the same

Sharp scissors follow
A coincidental tear
Clipping each detail
No longer needed there
No longer there

Familiar scenes, the story’s mine
Imaginary moments captured in time
I write and read my picture diary
The story of me

In a dusty old shoebox
Filled with pictures and stashed high on a shelf
Lid slides; inside, take another good look at myself

In a dusty old shoebox

 

Main Street

Distant cadence in a small town
Drums roll, bugles sound
Just in sight
Holiday parade
Eyes right
Soldiers march
Flags wave

Marching on Main Street
The whole town hears the same old beat
Common rhythm, matching feet
Tradition marches on, and on
Marching on

Speeches by the brave
Tell how lives were saved
Long ago and far away

Open cars pass by
Sleepy children cry
Fireworks and apple pie
Fire engines wail, dogs bark
Old Glory stars, kites sail
Kites sail

Marching on Main Street
The whole town hears the same old beat
Common rhythm, matching feet
Tradition marches on, and on
Marching on

Local heroes in a bandstand
Memories, freedom land
Rank and file
We fall in behind
Meanwhile
Long to be front line
Front line

Marching on Main Street
The whole town hears the same old beat
Common rhythm, matching feet
Tradition marches on, and on
Marching on

On Main Street

 

End of the Line

In this world of black and white, I see shades of gray
We determine wrong from right, we know how to play
We know just how to play

When will it ever end, this battle waged within again
Conflict resolved, problem solved, tension dissolved.

Constantly this or that is so extreme
Better to be in-between, that’s where
I understand your view and you see mine
Never just drawing the line
End of the line

In this scheme of up and down, I see middle ground
Never simple in or out, empty all around
There’s empty all around

When will it ever end, this battle waged within again
Conflict resolved, problem solved, tension dissolved

Constantly this or that is so extreme
Better to be in-between, that’s where
I understand your view and you see mine
Never just drawing the line
End of the line

Just beyond the cut and dried there is something more
Everyday what we decide is rarely either/or
It’s rarely either/or

When will it ever end, this battle waged within again
Conflict resolved, problem solved, tension dissolved

Tension dissolved

 

Live Again

How did it all begin
Where does it end
Simply a promise kept
Or part of some prevailing plan

Maybe tomorrow morning
I’ll take a different view
It might be safe to live again

Turn from the light, I see shadows cast again
Chasing time, racing time, pacing me
Turn toward the light, I see shadows follow my lead
Taking time, making time, enough time, facing me

Is there reason or rhyme
Just cause, just time
Simply promises kept
Or taking a courageous stand

Maybe tomorrow morning
I’ll take a different view
It might be safe to live again

I know tomorrow morning
Will bring another point of view

It will be safe to live again

Safe to live again

Live again

 

Lover’s Leap

Nudge me, shake me
Just don’t forget to wake me
Please don’t leave me alone
With what might have been
I can hardly afford to be late again

I imagine my days full of promise
Feeling maybe that this is the one
All I hope for are moments of passion
That last until my life is done

Standing ready, on the brink of a canyon
Where the next step is a lover’s leap
No Rip van Winkle with a hibernating heart
No cold feet, no regrets, and no twenty-year sleep

Nudge me, shake me
Just don’t forget to wake me
Please don’t leave me alone
With what might have been
I can hardly afford to be late again

 

Uncommon Promise

When you promised you’d be there
You were there
To see I made it through

When I panicked and feared
I was running scared, you were there
Unwavering and true, just you

As the years pass we have come to know
When we are together days hold uncommon promise

I swear a solitary
Solemn vow to you, I’ll be there
Unfaltering yet free, just me

On my life’s journey
There have been many moments
When I felt alone, searching for meaning

When I went to discover my way
I returned to find you there
Waiting for me
Patiently waiting
Anticipating, we’d be
Friends and lovers forever and a day

Sharing plenty
And times of longing, we’ll be
Lovers and friends for always

When I imagine my life
You are always there, ever there
For without you I’m alone
Even without you I’m alone with you

With you

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