By Michael Patrick Phelan
Verse 1
Well you said, “I won’t go away”
You told me you were in this for life
So unpack that bag by the door
And I’ll sing you a love song once more
Chorus
I’ll sing you a love song
I’ll sing you a song that I wrote
I’ll sing you a love song
We’ve made it through much worse, you know
Verse 2
Forget all the fights and the tears
Forget all the bad things we said
Let’s chalk it up to a bad day
Take your coat off, ‘cause I need you to stay
Chorus
And sing me a love song
Sing me a song that you know
Sing me a love song
And that way you won’t have to go
Bridge
You know tomorrow we’ll start over again
Wipe the slate clean
Make our amends
But for now we’ve got this love song
Yeah we’ve got this song that I wrote
And all we need is this love song
We made it through much worse you know
So I’ll keep singing
Cause I can’t watch you go
[back to top]
Gotta Freeze this moment
I wanna paint this scene
New York has stopped moving
Caught up in a dream
Here in this oasis
A stillness can be found
A saxophone is playing
Cacophony Is drowned
Chorus
And She’s crying out
Tryin to save our souls
And She’s reaching out
Won’t you please come home
Go in peace, go in peace
A Pink Balloon is dancing
The branches are her mate
A newly married couple
A child’s rollerskates
A future scholar scribbles
Moved by what he sees
Hand in hand companions
Are lulled by April’s breeze
Chorus
And She’s crying out
Tryin to save our souls
And She’s reaching out
Won’t you please come home
Bridge
If we could find a way to make this last
See things more clearly; stop moving so fast
And go in peace, go in peace
Gotta freeze this moment
I wanna paint this scene
New York has stopped moving
Caught up in a dream
[back to top]
I moved down to Binghamton a few years ago
Degree in hand, and dreams as big as the sky
Some came true, and some, I had to let them go
I do what I love, and most days that’s enough
We packed some things and headed north last Saturday
Crossed the river to old stompin grounds
In the air 1000 Islands called to me
Their voices told me I’d come home again
Chorus
And memories came back to me
Of things so long ago
My hometown -- just a graveyard now
A place I couldn’t go
And home is with the one you love
I’ve sure found that in you
But what of my life ‘cross the 49th
The things that I once knew
Though my life has changed
A part of me remains
At home in Canada
We took the 401 to see old Kingston town
A place that we’d escape to be alone
A fortress on the shores of Lake Ontario
Revealed to me a scene from long ago
And in that place I heard the sounds
That once brought joy to me
I saw the faces, felt the traces
Of a family
And through the tears
Across these years
A solace I have found
In those summer days, spent out on the lake
In a distant, northern town
And though life has changed
Part of me remains
Back home in Canada
We headed back to Binghamton on Labor Day
The days of summer trailing in our wake
The air had changed to something new entirely
It’s crispness leaving memories no escape
With changing leaves reminding me
Of things so long ago
Back to school and all the rules
And things no one should know
I’m older now, And I’m wiser now
I have a life that’s good
No, I won’t go back
No, I can’t go back
No, I don’t think that I should
Yet through all that’s changed
Part of me remains
At home in Canada
And though far away
Part of me will stay
Back home in Canada
[back to top]
She walks in, head held high
Just like a movie star.
Wrapped in furs, quite a portrait
In this lonely, little bar.
And you look for her entourage,
But you see, no one’s there.
Dover sole on her table
With no one to share.
And she hears “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”:
Her favorite song.
Takes her to a land that she heard of
When she was young.
And she drifts to an old empty dance floor
Under light of blue
A martini as her partner
That’s the best she can do
But in this quiet moment
Her dreams really have come true.
People laugh, say she’s crazy
But they don’t understand
She’s not there, she can’t see them
Caught up in her romance.
And he twirls her so gently,
And she melts in his hands
And she thinks, this one’s a keeper
I’ve found myself a man.
As he sings, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
She waltzes along.
Takes her to a land that she heard of
When she was young.
And she spins and she floats on an old, empty dance floor
Under light of blue.
In the arms of her lover,
She knows he’ll be true.
And in this quiet moment
Her dreams really have come true.
And her eyes open slowly
She sees no one’s there.
Just a half filled martini
And a room full of stares.
Although only for a moment,
She was floating in the air
All her failures far behind her
She danced without a care.
As he sang: “Somewhere over the Rainbow”
Her favorite song.
Took her to a land that she heard of
When she was young
She found joy on an old, empty dance floor
Under light of blue.
Though she danced without a partner,
(In the past, there’d been a few)
By herself, for that moment
Her dreams really did come true.
[back to top]
I keep wishin’, and I keep hopin’
There’s someone out there for me.
Tired of waitin’, anticipatin’
And being lonely.
I need something to keep me goin’
Through this drudgery.
So sick of teasin’, need a concrete reason;
Someone who sees me for me.
I only want a hand to hold,
A warming touch when it gets cold,
I’ve waited long enough to make this “me” and “us.”
I’ve got the in the meantime blues.
Tell me where’s that someone who
Will hold me through the long winter nights,
And we’ll get into ridiculous fights?
I’ll admit that all this pining’s
Not exactly improving my case.
Love will come when I least expect it;
Well how ‘bout shortnin’ the wait!
Cause late at night on Saturday
When all I want’s a soft embrace,
This game of solitaire
Just doesn’t seem quite fair.
I’ve got the in the meantime blues.
Tell me where’s that someone who
Will be my date for a Friday night flick,
And bring me soup when I’m feeling sick?
So many people say being single’s
A blessing, not a curse.
Sure I’ve got my freedom, with no one to please
I’m guessing it could be worse.
I know that I can tough this out.
I’ll make it through, I have no doubt
But God, please throw me a bone
Cause I sure hate bein’ alone.
I hate these in the meantime blues!
Tell me where’s that someone who
Will hold through the long winter nights,
And we’ll get into ridiculous fights?
Oh these in the meantime blues!
Wanna walk in other shoes
On moonlit strolls down the street,
With frequent stops to dance cheek to cheek.
A soul-mate, a partner, somebody to hug me;
Who’ll hold me, and squeeze me, and kiss me, and love me;
Together, forever, that’s all I need,
Not these meantime blues,
The in the meantime blues.
[back to top]
I sit here at the harbor
Watching boats go out to sea.
What waters lie in store for them
Beyond the Chesapeake?
I think about my own life –
The weather far from calm.
Take one last look behind me:
And I’m
Chorus:
Movin On, I’m Movin On
Gonna Go Somewhere where they can’t find me.
Movin on, I’m Movin on
Gonna put this pack of lies behind me.
Movin, I’m Movin On
The things you did no longer bind me
Movin On, I’m Movin On
I once was lost, but now
I’m Movin On.
We used to watch the barges
Come Sailing past our door.
We’d think of all the things they’d see
Along the ocean’s floor
But only in my mind could I go
Sailing far away.
What good’s a boat that’s forced to keep
Its anchor in the bay, So I’m
Chorus:
Movin On, I’m Movin On
Gonna Go Somewhere where they can’t find me.
Movin on, I’m Movin on
Gonna put this pack of lies behind me.
Movin, I’m Movin On
The things you did no longer bind me
Movin On, I’m Movin On
I once was lost, but now
I’m Movin On.
Bridge:
Let loose the rope and cling to hope
I’m off to seek for treasure
Raise high the sail it’s you that failed
To squander my endeavors.
I’m movin on…
Well I don’t know what’s ahead of me
I have no chartered course
I’ll only guess what storms could lie
Beyond the safe of shore.
But I’d rather take my chances
And risk a wreck at sea
Than leave my boat to petrify
While you claim victory
Chorus:
Movin On, I’m Movin On
Gonna Go Somewhere where they can’t find me.
Movin on, I’m Movin on
Gonna put this pack of lies behind me.
Movin, I’m Movin On
The things you did no longer bind me
Movin On, I’m Movin On
I once was lost, but now
I’m Movin On.
[back to top]
Birthday cards and Christmas tunes,
Only sad reminders to
Those of us whose pocketbooks
May not be bustin’ full.
I look around the shoppin’ malls
Wonder: have I seen it all?
Cause all the things in all these stores,
Not one of them seems true.
Chorus
Well maybe there’s another way
To show you how I feel.
Not advertised on billboard signs,
A way that’s much more real.
Well it might seem trite.
I’ll risk that slight.
‘Cause this song’s my gift to you.
If I won the lottery
I’d buy you lots of fancy things:
A private train, and a Cadillac
That would take you place to place.
But would it really be enough?
All that money; all that stuff?
Would it be enough to show
The things I’d want it to?
Chorus
Well maybe there’s another way
To show you how I feel.
Not advertised on billboard signs,
A way that’s much more real.
Well it might seem trite.
I’ll risk that slight.
‘Cause this song’s my gift to you.
So as the seasons come and go
I hope I do enough to show
While I may not have lots of dough
What I have, I give to you.
Chorus
Cause I think there’s another way
To show you how I feel.
Not advertised on billboard signs,
A way that’s much more real.
It might seem trite.
I’ll risk that slight.
‘Cause this song…
This song…
Yeah, this song’s my gift to you.
[back to top]
If I can’t tell you “I Love You”
Does that make our love less real?
If I can’t begin to show the
things I feel.
If we’re never walkin down an aisle
With rings on both our hands
No crowd of friends to witness
Our first dance.
Chorus:
I’ll tell Thomas he is true.
We’re not right, not me and you.
His doubts have won the day.
They were with us anyway.
There’s No…
No Love today.
The jungle gym at recess time,
That’s something that I miss;
The perfect state of innocence
And bliss.
Then we grew up.
Learned how to hate,
Learned how to disappear.
All that peace and understanding changed
By fear.
Chorus:
So tell Thomas he is true;
We’re not right, not me and you;
His doubts have won the day,
They were with us anyway.
There’s No….
No Love today...
No, No, cause they
Took you away
From me.
Took you away from me
I can’t help but think of what could be
If minds were opened wide.
Building bridges ‘cross a great divide.
I wish I were there to witness it,
Be present on that day
When like Gershwin’s tune:
“Our Love is here to stay.”
Chorus:
But that’s only fantasy.
We’re not right, not you and me.
Doubting Thomas won the day.
Now the Price is ours to pay.
There’s No….
No….
No….
No Love Today.
[back to top]
She stands at a fork in the road
Doesn’t know in which direction to go
She knows he’ll be true and he’ll be kind
Be a partner she can count on for all time
But there’s a side of her with different dreams
Secret longings for bigger things
Will choosing him mean losing part of her?
Chorus
We don’t get to know just where the roads lead that we choose
Will another way bring a brighter day? Will we win or will we lose?
We do the best with what we’ve got
We make a choice, give our best shot
But we don’t get to know just where the roads lead that we choose
No Turning Back
He thought he’d be out of there by now
Would have found a way to leave that one horse town
But life got in the way of all his plans
A wife and kids, a job that he can’t stand
When he thinks back to highschool days
The chances then, he didn’t take
He wishes he could do it all again
(to Chorus)
Bridge
And on and on and on and on
We go and go and go
Not quite sure of how we got there
Not quite sure we’ll ever know
Well I’m looking at you now and I can’t see
Anything that I don’t like, or why you’d leave
I won’t pretend to see the future and read our cards
I’ll just a leap of faith—hope we go far
I’ve made mistakes, made quite a few
Had past regrets, and so have you
In the end it’s about journeys, and not goals
(to Chorus)
[back to top]
When will you come home to me
And help me through this night?
Water’s rising, gettin’ deep,
No end of this in sight.
When will you be by my side?
My mind is caving in
Crushed by this anxiety,
No peace amidst this din.
But when you’re here, it all seems so clear;
I see your face, I’m at home.
Not lost am I, I say goodbye
To all the things my worries bring,
I’m safe at home with you.
I hear screams and I hear cries,
Are they real or false?
Wet and shivering, oh so dark and damp,
This storm shows no remorse.
Take my hand, hold me tight,
I know this too shall pass.
But you’re far away and I’m at home,
There’s nothing left to grasp.
Chorus
But when you’re here, it all seems so clear;
I see your face, I’m at home.
Not lost am I, I say goodbye
To all the things my worries bring,
I’m safe at home with you.
I hear a sound,
It’s at my door,
You’ve found me!
I see you there,
Through my despair,
You’ve found me!
Here you are, you’re home with me,
You’ll help me through this night.
Winds subside and we fall asleep,
I know we’ll be alright.
Everything’s gonna be alright.
[back to top]
We’ve all got someone
To whom we owe
A debt of gratitude
For lettin us go
Cause when you walked out
I thought I’d be blue
But life got better, baby
Without you
Put up with lyin
And your cheatin sprees
Convinced myself
It wasn’t you, it was me
But when I finally
Could admit we were through
My life got better, baby
Without you
So sorry, Charlie
You ruined my party
It’s over Betty
You’ll never get me
Guess I was blinded
By your pretty face
I let you waltz in
Take over my place
But now my vision’s
As clear as can be
And you ain't nothing
But a bad memory
So long sweet Judy
Won’t let you woo me
And you too Billy
It’s over, really
I’m gonna find
Some company
That won’t make
A fool of me
I won’t waste
My time again
On someone who
Just can’t commit
No more blurried, lovesick fog
Gonna find myself a dog
So here’s to all
Our friends from the past
Who turned out to be
A pain in the ass
Those days of cryin
Are out of my view
Cause life is better baby
Without you