jeffwiersma

Evangeline

I was left there waving my arms yesterday
I watched your shadow grace the fields
it's many years too late
with too many angry words to stay

Lucinda

so many years have passed since that day

the feelings fade but the ache remains

you were the last good thing I ever dared to dream

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I just can't shake it, I've got that hunger
I've got that empty feeling and it's gnawing at my soul
come take my hand, come pull me under
take my aimless heart and carry it back home

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Castle Hill

are you any more than just a ghost
more than just a picture in my mind?
might be wrong, but I swear that you knew me
that you said my name when you were passing by

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A Blessing And A Curse

a bleeding heart is both a blessing and a curse
your wakened soul feels compassion for the whole universe
you also taken on all the grief and all the hurt
cause a bleeding heart is both a blessing and a curse
yes a bleeding heart is both a blessing a curse

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It Was Not A Silent Night

it was not a silent night
there was pain and joy and fright
a first time mother, miles from home
forced far to travel by edicts from Rome
a young woman's cries echoed out
that night in Bethelehm town

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Word On The Street

in a small town, everyone knows your secrets
that weight is heavy where the shadows fall
your old man's lies cut your lives to pieces
word on the street is he doesn't stand so tall

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Tarquinius

on the backs of the crushed, you've built this system
power doesn't yield to ethical questions
so you tow the party line, pulling it taut
as it wraps around the throats of its victims

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The Storm Before The Calm

this is the storm before the calm
I'm so sorry to rain on your parade
yes, I used to believe in your absolutes
but they proved to be of little use

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On The Mountain Top

The contrast between the peace and quiet of the mountaintop and the perpetual noise and busyness of the real world are reminding me of how much life is an art of balance.

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Transference (It's Far From Simple)

you keep looking for love in all the right places
and still, it always goes wrong
is there anyone left with the time and patience
to be the home where you belong?
you still believe, at least you want to believe,
you're not so sure you should believe anymore
you can't outrun who you are, who you have to be,
but will you find who can be truly yours?
it's far from simple

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Spiral Upwards

Dulcinea

I keep storming castles, chasing this adventure
they keep telling me I’ve never seen your face
I keep riding off to battle, chasing ever after
they tell each other I’ve clearly gone insane

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Winter Formal

my eager heart soared as the music swayed
how I wished I could pause that scene
"youth is wasted on the young," they say
at that age, you don't know what they mean

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The Water Is Safer

song title inspired by the poem "Home" by Warsan Shire

that night, the sky was raining tears
that night, death was at our door
caught in the waves, it dragged you down beside her
the children screamed, the violent ocean roared

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Living the Questions Together

"That makes sense, but what about _____?"

"... but how are you REALLY doing?"

The best kinds of friends ask these kinds of questions; ones that stir you when you've gone stagnant or throw you a rope when you're in flood waters, as the case may be.

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The White Zone Is For Loading and Unloading Only

So there I was, standing alone at Terminal B
and I kept watching for a while, even after you were out of sight
I didn't really think you'd suddenly change your mind
but something wouldn't let me leave just yet

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Eastham

Dramamine

someone stop the ride, I want to get off

and I was left without a chair when the music stopped
someone stop the ride, I’m too sick to go on
it keeps spinning, it won’t ever stop

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Steal From The Best

silver, such shiny silver, it can’t help but catch your eye
when you see that sterling shimmer there’s no need to ask why
there's no honor among us con men and no takers at your price
don't look back, I think we lost them, now just shut up and drive

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Lower My Flag

a handful of quarters for the 7 train
the streets are still so crowded
I lowered my face against the evening's rain
right now, I could do with it

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San Antonio

he already knew the words that she'd say
still they cut him down at the knees
years build on the backs of sorry yesterdays
till there's nothing to say but "I'll leave"

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Dragon Slayer

A darkened tomorrow is looming
my eyesight has failed
old habits die hard, like you said

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Return To Sender

the sky is paler, your is voice fainter

than ever before

below, the pitch gray of winter

is all I see anymore

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Sheep and Goats

When did we see you thirty? Oh Lord, when were you in need?
Believe us, we would have noticed and brought you some relief
Lord, when were you a stranger? We would've gladly let you in
and when were you on death row for a crime you did not commit?

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Merlot

we both know where this is going

we already know how this ends

we know which way the wind is blowing

but still we try to pretend

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Farewell

don't worry, you won't have to see me anymore
won't ever need to hear my name again
it's ok, don't need to think about me anymore
the bags are packed, you're on your way again

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High Tide

I'll be the one with the empty dance card
I still have that song stuck in my head
I keep the rhythm with the beating of my heart
I'm the one who said

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A Thousand Miles East

12 hours without stopping, guided by the harvest moon
speeding down the freeway
feels like I'm running away from you
this is just the first
of many more times that I will lose
then find again, then lose again
on the hunt for something true

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Front Row Seat

the seasons come and go
the summer sun, the winter snow
yet some how I still feel just the same
I'm mostly young, no mostly old
mostly silent and alone
still hoping that my waiting's not in vain

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Stand On Edge

so when it hits me, nobody pinch me

somehow this place still feels like home

this is the real thing, so let the notes ring

let the song remind me that I'm not alone

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If You Say So

it's easy come, so hard when they go

a line stretching a lifetime long

the road to hell, years in limbo

and good things now gone wrong

and it goes on

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Spin The Disk

nothing short of a miracle or we'll end up lost at sea

I'm doing time like a criminal, you know you can't count on me

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Still Small Silence - based on the writing of Frederick Buechner

missing something we can't even seem to name

we long for what never seems to come

deep and hollow, emptiness takes its place

we pray for what never seems to come

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The Wandering Sickness

the whole world is sick with the infection
mammon, their hell has been unleashed

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Ready Fire Aim

a backhanded insult, you have always been a handful
this time I mean it, this is the end
at the point of no return, the third degree, the bridge that burned
it never ends, it just begins again

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True Blue

on your perfect day, I am half as heartless as you are

at your best, you were still light years away

hide your flaws and change the locks

you're out of my life forever

I'm still wearing all these scars, I remember

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Ichabod

you'll forgive me for not shedding any tears at your wake
I'll lead the death march when you're lowered into the grave

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No Good Reason

with closed eyes, you can't see me

with folded hands, you can't reach

the space between who you are your belief

is where I live and breath

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Eyeliner

I smell decay when you speak his name
his touch shoots atrophy through your veins
his kiss is death and not one has lived to tell

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Save Your Breath

your heroes are drowning in the shallow end

so you roll the film back and you begin again

gravity left you neck-deep in broken dreams

no mercy, its weight brought you to your knees

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Eden

that dreams reminds me of your hand in mine
but tears can't sooth me like you used to
I shouted you away with hands over my ears

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Your Great Escape

there's nothing left, so wait for sundown

light your last smoke and breath in deep

sit on the truth and watch the damage

unfold around you and kill you dreams

is this what you want?

it's getting late, so plan your great escape

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Dizzy

you pick me up, you set me down

I'm in, then out of your hands

flying high, then crashing to the ground

what part don't you understand?

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By The Sword

war's gears grind in your prayers for peace

serpent's tongues fill your mouth with poison
you, all too eager to paint fields with bloodshed
we're all dead to you

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Cut and Paste

the colors bleed through the pictures

leave fractured moments in real time

the falling stars don't glimmer

and there's no way to rewind

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Armor Bearer

you arrive just in time to toss me headlong
by all accounts, you were my greatest mistake
you gave me the gift of sleepless midnights

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