JUINESTRUCK (1994)
Lyrics to ALL 19 Songs
All songs © Ken Lonnquist 1994
1. Junestruck
When you’re junestruck
The moon is in your eyes
Like a good luck
Charm hanging in your eyes
And your dreams tuck
You in before the night is through
When you’re junestruck
Nothing gets you down
There’s a smile stuck
Where once you wore a frown
A guitar plucks
A melody that’s just for you
Sprinkle the stars up in the sky
Mist on the river, fireflies
Playing at catch-me-if-you-can
And you believe you stand a chance
This feeling never comes in May
In July it’s gone away
So open up your heart in June
Underneath a good-luck-moon
You’re junestruck
When you’re junestruck
The world’s about to start
And you can’t duck
This feeling in your heart
That your bad luck
Is ready to depart from you
Sprinkle the stars up in the sky
Mist on the river, fireflies
Playing at catch-me-if-you-can
And you believe you stand a chance
This feeling never comes in May
In July it’s gone away
So open up your heart in June
Underneath a good-luck-moon
You’re junestruck
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2. Desire
Biding my time, smokin' what’s mine,
listening to the whistle blow
Train leaving town, wish I was bound for to go
It’s a train called Desire
Where they stoke the coals to set your heart afire
It ain’t for thieves, fools or liars
No, you must be true
For love to come to you
I been alone, far from my home,
far from anything called love
But there’s still hope, stars rung with smoke up above
From a train called Desire
Where they stoke the coals to set your heart afire
It ain’t for thieves, fools or liars
No, you must be true
For love to come to you
All I want... All I need All I ever wanted
was a love for me
Here I am, Set me free
All I ever wanted was a love for me
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3. Great Lakes Alive
The ghost of ice gone ten thousand years
Five fingers gripping the heartland
Holding fresh water so icy and clear
Fate poured it all into our hands
Alive… alive…
Name, if you can, the great five:
Superior, Huron and Michigan flow
Down into Erie and Ontario
The five survive…
Great Lakes - alive!
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4. I Don't - I Just
I don’t wanna be a star...
just wanna pay all my dues
I don’t wanna travel far...
just wanna wear out my shoes
One beam of moonlight
come to knock on my door...
And so I let it on in
One beam of moonlight
spills across my old floor...
And like a fool I jumped in
I don’t wanna chase the wind...
just wanna be where it blows
I don’t want this road to end...
just wanna see where it goes
One beam of moonlight
come to knock on my door...
And so I let it on in
One beam of moonlight
spills across my old floor...
And like a fool I jumped in
So if I’m lost in the moonlight...
then you know where I am
Like a wisp through the June night
There goes your sweet lovin’ man
And if you think you can
Maybe you could follow to where I am.
Think you can... woh, oh
You just have to understand
Dreamin’ takes you into a distant land.
Understand... woh, oh
I don’t wanna ride no train...
just wanna roll down the track
Please don’t say I’ve gone away...
Just ‘cause I’m not comin’ back
One beam of moonlight
come to knock on my door...
And so I let it on in
One beam of moonlight
spills across my old floor...
And like a fool I jump in
And if you think you can
Maybe you could follow to where I am.
Think you can... woh, oh
You just have to understand
Dreamin’ takes you into a distant land.
Understand... woh, oh
5. Hard To See
Been down a thousand highways...
‘round the river’s bend
I've seen good luck roll my way...
then roll away again
I’ve heard the words “I love you...”
believed it now and then
Still lookin’ for an answer...
lookin’ for a friend
I see her in the moonlight
I hear her in the pine
I feel her in the forest
like I’m just one step behind
In a game of hide and seek
we play out endlessly
She’s as real as the love I feel
but hard to see
The things that really matter...
are often hard to see
How deep is the love you’re feeling?
How long is eternity?
The answers lie beyond us...
beyond the naked eye
Beyond the veil of reason...
and nature’s dark disguise
There’s magic in the moonlight
singing in the pine
Beauty in the sunset
nd grace in passing time
A fear that rules the forest
and a wisdom in the trees
It’s as real as the love we feel
but hard to see
We search the world for answers... desperate to find
The mystery and meaning...
we somehow know was left behind
But it’s all around us...
a spirit close at hand
It can’t be seen by looking...
through the narrow eyes of a man
There’s magic in the moonlight
singing in the pine
Beauty in the sunset
nd grace in passing time
A fear that rules the forest
and a wisdom in the trees
It’s as real as the love we feel
but hard to see
I see her in the moonlight
I hear her in the pine
I feel her in the forest
like I’m just one step behind
In a game of hide and seek
we play out endlessly
She’s as real as the love I feel
but hard to see
6. Blueberry Pickin' Hat
Grandma died so long ago,
but I can still remember
The beat up old blue hat she wore
in the woods in early September
Off to a secret place she knew
ripe with wild blueberries
And homeward in it’s upturned brim
a burst of blue she carried
And we sang: “Turn it over, fill it up to the rim
Take it home holding on by the brim
Juicy blue, round and fat!”
Lord, I still remember that
blueberry pickin’ hat!
When we laugh now, lookin’ back,
the memory we treasure
Was helping her make recipes
where hatfuls were the measure
Grandma laughed once when I wished
she owned a hat from Texas
(So there’d be buckets full of blueberries
in every dish she fixed us!)
And we sang: “Turn it over, fill it up to the rim
Take it home holding on by the brim
Juicy blue, round and fat!”
Lord, I still remember that
blueberry pickin’ hat!
Grandma died, and I thought my days
of picking wild blueberries
Were good as gone... without Grandma
and the old blue hat she carried
But summer came, and from the wall
my oldest sister, Kat
Took down upon her golden curls
Grandma’s old blue hat
And we sang: “Turn it over, fill it up to the rim
Take it home holding on by the brim
Juicy blue, round and fat!”
Lord, I still remember that
blueberry pickin’ hat!
7. Thanksgiving
We plow in the springtime
to sow the good seed
We work toward the harvest
which answers our need
The sweat of our giving
the price that we pay
For taking this joy in another new day
So for the taking and the giving
That are a part of living
We offer our thanksgiving
Kindness to neighbors who need us we find
Wears a path back to our own doors in time
And strengthens the knowledge that each of us share
The same hidden hopes beneath our common cares
So for the taking and the giving
That are a part of living
We offer our thanksgiving
A harvest of plenty, in friendship or grain
Is born out of more than mere chance could explain
It’s faith and hard work that allow us to live
Faith and hard work as we take and we give
So for the taking and the giving
That are a part of living
We offer our thanksgiving
By sharing our laughter and comforting tears
Friends the world over will lay down their fears
It’ll come with hard work, or it won’t come at all...
We must sow in the springtime to reap in the fall
So for the taking and the giving
That are a part of living
We offer our thanksgiving
8. I Licked Elvis
I licked Elvis and it give me a thrill
Right after licking’ old Buffalo Bill
He got all sticky and I rubbed him down
On a first-class mail train
Headin’ out of town
I licked Elvis, I licked Elvis
I licked Elvis on the backside
Who else could you lick
For under thirty cents
Who shook hands stoned
With a President?
It might sound queer
It might sound scary
They may not let me in the military
‘Cause I licked Elvis, I licked Elvis
I licked Elvis on the backside
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9. Swamp Thing
Wetlands, wetlands, what the heck are those?
Just a little land where the water rose
The water rose and the water sat
Turned into a wildlife habitat
Wetlands, wetlands, tell you what they do
Help control floods, filter water, too
So important that President Bush
Promised he’d protect ‘em if shove came to push
The Swamp Thing... skip the dictionary
The Swamp Thing... look under your feet
The Swamp Thing... he promised he’d protect ‘em
Now they’re well-protected, they’re covered up with concrete
Wetlands, wetlands, frogs, birds and otters
Covered up for seven days consecutive with water
Home to the ducks and the geese and the swans
George said, “We got to save ‘em ‘fore they’re all gone!”
Wetlands, wetlands, Bush wanted votes
Told environmentalists (and I quote):
“There’ll be no net loss of our 100 million acres”
The wetlands are closed to the movers and the shakers
Wetlands, wetlands, developers were wishin’
To fill ‘em up with condos, so George changed the definition
30 million acres... free for the raping
Kill the critters, bring the concrete, start landscaping
Wetlands, wetlands, definition’s murky
George rewrote it like a spineless turkey
They’ll gobble up the wetlands now, fast and steady
Like we ain’t got enough shopping malls already!
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10. Mud In My Boots
I remember walkin’ down the road
And gettin’ mud in my boots
Through the deep spring red clay potholes
Yeah, mud in my boots
Turning through a tangle of green
A bird call, I’d look up---the path unseen for just a moment
Well, a walk gets old and your toes get cold
When you’ve got mud in your boots
It takes twice as long, you feel half as strong
When you’ve got mud in your boots
It should’ve been a lesson to me
Never put your feet where your eyes can’t see what’s comin’
Mud in your boots, mud in your boots
You got mud in your boots
Sometimes love reminds me of
Mud in my boots
You talk in your sleep, you wake up ankle deep
You got mud in your boots
Honey, I was dreamin’, that’s all
Whose name? Huh-uh, I don’t recall... I don’t remember
Well, the leaves gone red overpower my dread
Of gettin’ mud in my boots
The winds are brisk, but beauty begs the risk
Of gettin’ mud in your boots
Life is just that way all around...
To walk at all you risk bein’ sucked down at any moment
Mud in your boots, mud in your boots
You got mud in your boots
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11. Madeline Island
Madeline Island, I’ve got to see her again
Madeline Island, at the gates of the wind
She waits in birches and pine
She waits while I’m sailing time
Madeline Island, wildflowers she wears
Madeline Island, braided into her hair
She smiles, the waves crashin’ ‘round
She smiles... the mist is her gown
All the boys on that rocky isle
Dreamin’ of romance
Swept away by her misty smile
They don’t stand a ghost of a chance
Madeline Island, with the sun in her face
Madeline Island, I can feel her embrace
She calls... the wind is her voice
She calls and leaves me no choice
Madeline Island…
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12. Wherego Ego I Go
Wherego ego I go, ergo I go wherego ego
It’s been that way so long I’m getting used to it, amigo
Put everything else on the shelf
Only think about yourself
Wherego ego I go, ergo I go where
Ego goes, ‘cause ego knows
I’m way beyond compare!
Follow down the luscious lanes of self-obsession
Nothing fascinates me more than me, me, me!
I’m everything that I desire
I set my heart on fire
I lay awake at night reliving memories of me!
Lots of people seem to think that it should be illego
To allow our pride to lead the way wherever we go
But as you can plainly see
I happen to disagree
Wherego ego I go, ergo I go where
Ego goes ‘cause ego knows I’m extraordinaire!
Let’s examine one or two new thoughts I’m having!
Don’t you just agree that they’re sublime? Sublime!
Original as was the Big-Bang!
Like the song the world’s first bird sang
And on top of all of that they rhyme - in time - sublime!
Wherego ego I go, ergo I go wherego ego
I even know the Spanish word for wheat: they call it ‘trigo’!
I am so incredible! Life is hardly ever dull!
Wherego ego I go, ergo I go where
Ego goes ‘cause ego knows that I’m already there!
13. Appearances
Appearances can be deceiving
Looks can tell an outright lie
So before you start believing
See with something more than just your eyes
Love can show you something
Something that your eyes can’t see
Trust your heart to show you
Things you never dreamed could be
Can you see a child’s wonder
Or the pain of loneliness?
Can you see the sound of thunder
Or the comfort of a soft caress?
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Love can show you something
Something that your eyes can’t see
Trust your heart to show you
Things you never dreamed could be
Of the senses we’ve been given
Vision’s what I value least
It shows the surfaces we live in
But not the beauty hidden in the beast
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Love can show you something
Something that your eyes can’t see
Trust your heart to show you
Things you never dreamed could be
14. Old Man Winter
Old Man Winter come back
I don’t mind... that shiver in the pines
Old Man Winter come back
I don’t care... I got long underwear!
Old Man Winter come back
Fill my cup... hot cocoa, bottoms up!
Old Man Winter come back
Build a fire... and watch the snow drift higher!
Old Man... Old Man Winter
So cold, man... c-c-c-c
Old Man... Old Man Winter and Me...
keepin’ company
I’ll build a fire in the fireplace
I’ll bake a big ol’ batch of bread
I’ll watch the window wrapped in frosty lace
Tuck a hot water bottle into bed!
Old Man... Old Man Winter
So cold, man... c-c-c-c
Old Man... Old Man Winter and Me...
keepin’ company
Old Man Winter come back
Old Man Winter come back
Old Man Winter come back
Old Man Winter come back
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15. Howling In The Hills
“Lie still, young maid,” he snarled.
“Lie still, while still you can.”
Or I’ll take more than pleasure...
for I’m a wicked man.
And I will surely have you—
or I will surely kill.”
And all the wolves were howling in the hills
Deep snow. A full moon rising.
Shadows on the cabin floor.
She rose without a sound
and ran barefoot through the door.
He woke and followed after,
intent to keep her still
As all the wolves were howling in the hills
He cursed himself for sleeping
before he’d done the deed.
No matter. He would find her,
and the moon would watch her bleed.
A virgin snow for tracking
would lead him to the kill
Where all the wolves were howling in the hills
The hair upon his neck stood up,
her footprints were all gone
But where they ended in the snow
a four-footed track went on.
Her nightgown lay in tatters...
yet no blood was spilled
And all the wolves were howling in the hills
He started first to walkin’ back,
but then began to run
He knew that she was turning,
and now he was the hunted one.
And somewhere in the distance
they heard his cry, so shrill
Where all the wolves were howling in the hills
An empty bed awaits him,
his eyes now frozen wide
The moon’s gone down behind the hills...
and all the winds have died.
Beware, you wicked strangers:
for she is living still...
And all the wolves are howling in the hills
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16. Cigarette Smoke
Cigarette smoke, man, don’t you love it?
From the day you were born, who could forget?
Your mama coughed you out
And you began to shout
“Skip the nipple, mama
I want a cigarette!”
Cigarette smoke, there Ian’t no danger
They’re just ringin’ false alarm bells
So-called passive smoke’s
Just a non-smoker’s joke
They all secretly like how it smells
Mmm, it’s patriotic!
You’re free to do as you choose!
Not just to yourself, but to everyone else!
Hey, the fire’s red, the ash is white
And the smoke is kinda blue…
Cigarette smoke,, it’s so distinctive!
You’re de stink every place that you go!
It Ian’t cheap - that’s a fact
‘Cause for every pack
We all got to pay through the nose
And that cancer list grows and it grows
They got tombstones in row after row
Please - we love you - don’t smoke!
17. Candidate's Position
Lord, I’ve got to know the Candidate’s position
Find a former mistress you can quote
Is he someone who’ll stay firm
In his positions his whole term?
I’ve got to know before I cast my vote
I’ve got to know the Candidate’s position
Is he good at handling himself?
When he’s all alone
Can he make it on his own
With a handy reference manual on the shelf?
I want a man who’s read the Kama Sutra
A candidate who’ll flip-flop with the best!
So if today’s position doesn’t suit ya
He’ll be only too glad to try all the rest
Lord, I’ve got to know the Candidate’s position
Will he give it to us face to face?
Will he lay it on the line?
Or will he sneak up from behind
When he screws us
(As is usually the case)
18. Back Of His Hand
My Daddy never had to speak
He knew we’d understand
The language of a stinging cheek
And the back of his hand
My mama’s bruises always healed
She wore her wedding band
Trusting in the heart concealed
By the back of his hand
I watched my sister grow to think
By living with that man
That tenderness and love were linked
To the back of his hand
The blueprint of our lives was drawn
Just fighting to withstand
The deep impressions that were made
By the back of his hand
They say a circle black and blue
Comes ‘round and draws you in
Till you reach out to your own child
With the back of your hand
My Daddy never had to speak
He knew we’d understand
The language of a stinging cheek
And the back of his hand
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19. Long Time Love
(for Pete & Linda)
Today, to celebrate your love we’re bidden
But this was all decided long ago
The contract in your hearts was sealed unwritten
The one, at least, by which you’ll stay or go
Long time love, long time love
This is what the dreamers all are dreaming of
Long time love
The years have watched your lives slow intertwining
No paper promise made to leave behind
You’ve learned to last into the silver lining
Your vows were written by the hands of time
Long time love, long time love
This is what the dreamers all are dreaming of
Long time love
And so today we join in celebration
Of love that lasts beyond the glow
We wish you both the rich continuation
Of all the good things you already know
Long time love, long time love
This is what the dreamers all are dreaming of
Long time love