Awake Lyrics
All music and lyrics by Barbara McAfee unless otherwise noted.
© Big Bug Music
© Big Bug Music
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Lavish World
It didn’t need to be this way The sun could set the same way every day Instead we’ve got a daily blessing that takes the breath away. There could have been one kind of rose in the world Or only three shades of blue And the cardinal and crow might have had to share one song between the two Chorus: It’s a lavish world It’s a lavish world Such a lavish world It didn’t need to be this fine The smell of sun-warmed white pine The meeting of water and skin in a cool northern lake We might have lived without dancing Or in silence instead of song And the flavors upon the tongue might have been less sweet or tart or strong....Chorus It didn’t need to be sublime The Universe inventing all the time The millions of miniscule gestures that keep life alive People might have shared one language For calling God by name It could have been different, we might have all been the same Chorus I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free by Billy Taylor & Dick Dallas I wish I knew how it would feel to be free I wish I could break all the chains holding me I wish I could say all the things I should say Say ‘em loud, say, ‘em clear for the whole world to hear I wish I could share all the love that’s in my heart Remove all the bars that still keep us apart I wish you could know what it means to be me Then you’d see and agree everyone should be free I wish I could give all I’m longing to give I wish I could live like I’m longing to live I wish I could do all the things I can do Though I’m way overdue, I’d be starting anew I wish I could be like a bird in the sky How sweet it would be if I found I could fly I’d soar to the sun and look down at the sea Then I’d sing ‘cause I’d know how it feels to be free Still Living in the crouch before the leap Muscles tense and aching and my heart is fast asleep I am going nowhere ---fast I will until at last - I stand still Go fast enough, avoid the deep Life’s a messy business and the price can get so steep I am trifling with my time I will be until I’m - standing still Still -- here Still -- breathing Still -- alive Quiet desperation’s on the rise It’s reaching fever pitch right behind my eyes I am weary of the ruse And of dropping frantic clues Now I’ll stand -- still Storm clouds are gathering for the west When old things fall apart, sometimes it’s for the best We are headed for a fall That will force us each and all To stand still Still -- here Still -- breathing Still -- alive Living in the crouch before the leap Muscles tense and aching and my heart is fast asleep I am going nowhere ---fast I will until at last - I stand still Last Night I Dreamed Based on a poem by Antonio Machado, translated by Robert Bly Last night I dreamed, marvelous error There was a spring breaking out in my heart Along what secret passages water you'll come Water of new life that I've never drunk Last night I dreamed, marvelous error There was a beehive here in my heart And the golden bees were making white combs Making sweet honey from my old mistakes Last night I dreamed, marvelous error, There was a fiery sun in my heart It was fiery, it gave off warmth like a hearth Like the sun it gave light and brought tears to my eyes Last night I dreamed, marvelous error, That is was God I had here in my heart. Unfinished Kiss Unfinished kiss hangs in the air between us Lips that touched as friends catch afire: Surprising desire..... Unfinished kiss - such delicious tension Is it just me and my fancy Or did we start dancing? Your breath on skin, Your questioning eyes, Will we plunge in? Would that be wise? The door to bliss swings open on silent hinges. Will we step through? What will happen if we don’t? If we do? Flying Free By Barbara McAfee and Glen Helgeson I am flying in the water I am perfectly free I float suspended at the smooth surface of this deep freshwater sea. Sky creature, sea creature No gills, no fins, no wings Yet I am flying..........free. I am flying in the water Sweet reunion in my cells For I am made of mostly water Surely this lake can tell Mother water, I am returning To my holiest home I am flying.........free. I am soaring, I am floating, can you see me As you float there, Brother Eagle, above the trees? Sky creature, sea creature No gills, no fins, no wings Yet I am flying........free. Compared to What? Chorus: Compared to what? Compared to who? Where'd that standard come from that you're measuring up to? Compared to what? Compared to who? There's nobody else who's just like you. I'm foolish with money, I talk too much My abs aren’t sexy ‘cause they’re soft to the touch I’m shy at parties and I’m way too tall We don’t look like those people on TV at all....Chorus I’m much too rowdy to be a real girl We don’t do enough to save the world Your moods are dramatic, my tongue gets crass And don’t get me started on the shape of my ass.....Chorus Yes, you’re the only you and I’m the only me And both parties are required to make a decent “we” Let’s drive the comparisons out of our head And leave it for the apples and the oranges instead....Chorus Awake I swear, by the stars I am made of I will stay awake with you If it should fall apart I will remember the heart A dark age when the shadows descended There were those who circled round To keep the spark alight And carry it through the night The power of life Of which everything is made Will move within us and among us In the quickening..... I bow to the millions of people Whose faces I will never see Who work so faithfully To stay awake with me. A fierce joy and the song we are singing Will carry us beyond the fear That comes when it gets dark We will remember the heart The power of life Of which everything is made Will move within us and among us In the quickening..... First verse |
I’ll Never Be That Girl
I’ll never be that girl The one someone loves best in all the world The princess, the darling The one precious pearl I’ll never be that girl I’m the one that he comes to To pour out his heart when she’s making him blue The perpetual sister, the trusted friend And when he goes back to her, I’m alone again I’m so big and bright and wild Who’d ever guess I have the heart of a child Whose most secret blossoms have so rarely have unfurled I’ll never be that girl Never was the apple of my daddy’s eye Without his voice to hold me I sing my own lullaby Looking through my loving eyes My young face in old pictures cannot disguise Her sweetness runs deeper than ruffles and curls I’ll always be that girl I’ll always be that girl…… White Cow Based on a poem by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks On a small green island lives one white cow And the grass there grows thick and tall. All day the white cow eats her fill Until she’s eaten it all. The sun sets. The cow grows thin, Worried the grass won’t grow again. At light’s returning, to the cow’s surprise, The grass is shoulder high. Every day there’s plenty. Every night she doubts, And, White Cow, so do I. I am this white cow, No matter how often things work out... Now can you tell me How the poet knew Seven hundred years ago That a fretful woman In the wee small hours Would recognize this white cow? I am this white cow No matter how often things work out..... On a small green island Lives one white cow And the grass grows thick and tall All day the white cow eats her fill Until she’s eaten it all White cow I think I might Lie down and sleep tonight....... Girlfriends I always have fun with my girlfriends When we step out on the town We cry at the movies and laugh over wine They tell me their stories and listen to mine I don’t have to try with my girlfriends They take me as I am It’s never been just quite this simple with a man. It’s always so good with my girlfriends It doesn’t matter what we do We shop for our groceries and laugh through the aisles Or go to the gardens and wander for miles They give me their warmest affection Especially when I’m blue With the girlfriends at hand, there’s nothing I can’t do. You just never know with the girlfriends Exactly where you’ll end up going We solve the world’s problems, then talk about sex And dream the adventures we’re taking on next We pick out the paint for our houses Trade books or sing a tune When it’s time to part ways, it always feels too soon. Why don’t we live with our girlfriends? We wonder all the time. In old days, they tell us, the women and men Lived separately most of the time way back then There’s no disrespect for the fellas God knows we love our men It’s just so much easier to do not living with them. They give me their warmest affection Especially when I’m blue With the girlfriends at hand, there’s nothing I can’t do. Out the Door It’s high time I was leaving and I wanted you to know That a free and easy part of me left some time ago I don’t recognize this woman you take me for And my heart flies out the door You’re watching way too closely for the ways you think I’m wrong Got ideas for self-improvement you gotta pass along I shrivel under scrutiny with no kindness at its core And now my heart flies out the door I’ve no taste for provocation so I choose to bite my tongue And measure out the things I say to keep from getting stung That’s the consequence for candor that takes me to the floor My heart flies out the door There’s something so relentless In how you’re holding up that mirror And who gave you permission to come poking ‘round in here? I know everybody loses when we start keeping score.... It’s high time I was leaving and I wanted you to know That a free and easy part of me left some time ago I don’t recognize this woman you take me for And my heart flies out the door And how come each time I talk to you You get so fidgety and bored? Was that your heart I just saw flying out the door? Blessing Based on the poem, "Blessing of the Boats at St. Mary's" by Lucille Clifton May the tide that is entering even now The lip of our understanding Carry you out beyond the face of fear. May you kiss the wind and turn away Certain it will love your back. May your eyes be open To water waving forever And may you in your innocence Sail through this to that Mango Tango My love, come join me in the kitchen I have a secret waiting there for you It’s sitting boldly in the fruit bowl And blushing at the thought of what we’ll do. We’ll peel, we’ll slice the slippery morsels That glow with the color of the sun Then feast and feed them to each other And let our imaginations run When you dance the mango tango You must do so sans costume For the juice runs thick and sweet and sticky As you move with your love across the room. The juice will slide between our fingers Then drip down our elbows to our knees Our chests will run golden with the sweetness And that’s when we’ll share a sticky squeeze. When you dance the mango tango Be sure you love the partner that you choose For you’ll be stuck together for a long time Till your dancing makes you sweat and turns you loose. And one mango plus one tango will seduce |