1. See It My Way

 

When I wake up in the morning

And I hear the wind go sailin’ past me

I just follow where it’s gone  

And I wander down the road

And hear the whistlin’ in the trees

And I can’t help but want to sing along

 

All I really want is what was given

To me on the day that I was born

See it my way: all I really need

Is a highway and the air I breathe

See it my way: all I really need

Is the air I breathe

 

When I wake up in the morning

I just think about the days ahead

And leave the past trailin’ behind

“Cause I’m better off forgetting

Than to wander in a tailspin

The ragged memories in my mind 

 

When you wake up in the morning

I should warn you not to be surprised

To find a note left in your hand

I’m a restless spirit lookin’

For the answer to a question

I’m not even sure I understand

 

​

 

2. North Wisconsin

  

My father's been gone now a year and a day

And I'm on a road and I'm rolling away

To the town he was born in a long time ago

In North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

The leaves are all turning and each passing mile

Stirs with a memory, a tear or a smile

For times in the woods where the crisp waters flow

In North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

 

Superior gleams beneath old Ashland town

Blue till the wind whips her waters around

Then bloody she turns from the red clay that flows

In North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

The blood of my ancestors flows there as well

Deep in the red clay their spirits all dwell

And I hear them whispering whenever I go

To North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

 

I came to these forests when I was a child

On my father's shoulders I learned of the wild

He could hoot like an owl and bring an echo

To North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

Deep in that tangle of birches and pine

I gathered wood for the fires in my mind

Flickering memories that still lead me home

To North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

 

Years tangled years and the roads led away

Changes brought changes and woke me one day

To find myself grown, heading out all alone

To North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

The old town is dying, or so they all say

The mills and the railroads have all gone away

But I am returning... I've got to, I know

To North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

 

The tracks may go rusty, the ties fall apart

But that will not stop me... these ghosts in my heart

Belong to a graveyard, my name carved in stone

In North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

I must have a need just to see once again

These woods that I walked with my father back then

A year and a day, as the leaves turn to gold

In North Wisconsin, cold wind and snow

 

​

 

 3. Little Lost One

 

When I wake up in the morning 

The Sun goes down

Creeping through the graveyards

From town to town

I see a little black cat over my shoulder

Al little black cat crossing my trail

A little lack cat sleeps on a tombstone

It makes me shiver, makes me grow pale

 

Tell me, little lost one, where I’m bound for

Tell me why I wander where I dream

‘Cause I’m a long, long way 

From where I belong

And just two steps shy of where 

The Devil calls home

 

Well, the little kitty tells me

To go my way

A graveyard’s not the place

To pass the time of day

Especially when a moon 

Comes over your shoulder

Or when a moonbeam crosses your trail

Or when a moonbeam 

Sleeps on a tombstone

It makes you shiver, makes you grow pale

​

Tell me, little lost one, where I’m bound for

Tell me why I wander where I dream

‘Cause I’m a long, long way 

From where I belong

And just two steps shy of where 

The Devil calls home

 

Well, the kitty chased the moonbeam

Over the iron gate

And though the Sun was rising

The hour was late

And I saw a little shadow over my shoulder

Al little shadow crossing my trail

A little shadow slept on a tombstone

It made me shiver, made me grow pale

​

Tell me, little lost one, where I’m bound for

Tell me why I wander where I dream

‘Cause I’m a long, long way 

From where I belong

And just two steps shy of where 

The Devil calls home

 

 

 

 

4. Weave 

(Lyrics: Doug Brown / Music: Ken Lonnquist)

 

What will you weave me, Winter? What will you weave?

What will you weave me, Winter? What will you weave?

I'll weave you a blanket of pure white snow

And crystal lace on your window

I'll weave you a tale of winds that blow

Through the dreams you dream as the fire burns low

 

What will you sew me, Springtime? What will you sew?

What will you sew me, Springtime? What will you sew?

I'll sew to wake you from your dreams

A morning coat of warming beams

Crackling ice in sparkling streams

And buds bursting at their seams

 

What will you spin me, Summer? What will you spin?

What will you spin me, Summer? What will you spin?

I'll spin you winds to whip the leaves

And rain tap-dancing on the eaves

Lightning stabs at trembling trees

And rolling thunder on the breeze

 

What will you knit me, Autumn? What will you knit?

What will you knit me, Autumn? What will you knit?

I'll knit you shades of richest brown

To line the forest's scarlet gown

A sunset in her golden crown

As leaves on leaves come tumbling down

 

What will you sow me, Springtime?

What will you spin me, Summer?

What will you knit me, Autumn?

What will you weave me, Winter? What will you weave?

 

 

5. Weathervane

 

I'm beginning to wonder if I should believe all I hear

I've been hearing the thunder, but the skies above me 

Are bright and clear, and clear, and clear

Oh, some folks change from time to time, I change from day to day: 

Like a weathervane

 

I'm beginning to question everything I ever did say

I've been learning a lesson: even when I want to

I still can't stay, can't stay, can't stay

Oh, some folks change from time to time, I change from day to day: 

Like a weathervane

 

Can you catch a shadow falling at night?

Can you catch a noonday sun?

Can you catch the wind?

Well, try and you might...

You can't catch me for long!

 

I'm beginning to love you like I loved nobody before

Yes, I'll be thinking of you when I leave you crying

Outside your door, your door, your door

Oh, some folks change from time to time, I change from day to day: 

Like a weathervane

 

 

 

 

6. Midnight Loves The Moon

 

You're warmer than a stove in winter

Your voice sounds pretty out of tune

You bring the tweezers for my splinters

And I love you... Like midnight loves the moon

 

You're sweeter than a summer berry

I picked you not a bit too soon

A love this ripe is almost scary

But I love you... Like midnight loves the moon

 

Like a sweet tooth loves a macaroon

Like a hopeless romantic loves to swoon

Like a wino loves a good saloon

(And the inevitable) Like a teacup loves a spoon

 

I make the coffee dark and early

You'd rather lie in bed till noon

But still... you call my bald spot "Curly"

So I love you... Like midnight loves the moon

 

You're tough as nails when it's required

Or smooth as Bing's "White Christmas" croon

That don't leave much to be desired

So I love you... Like midnight loves the moon

You don't leave much to be desired

So I love you... Like midnight loves the moon

 

 

7. A Patchwork World

  

With needles shaped from splintered swords

Of history's forgotten wars

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

And friends, the thread we use will be

Spun from the hearts of you and me

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

We'll stitch a world together from the pieces

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

We'll mend the tears and smooth away the creases

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

With colors deep and rich and fair

From every people everywhere

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

And in the beauty of it's seams

We'll gather strength to shape our dreams

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

We'll stitch a world together from the pieces

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

We'll mend the tears and smooth away the creases

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

With a swatch of golden sun

And blue where sparkling rivers run

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

A colored tapestry that gives

A space for everything that lives

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

We'll stitch a world together from the pieces

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

We'll mend the tears and smooth away the creases

We'll stitch a world... a patchwork world

 

 

8. A Candle Burns 

 

There are those who fight fire with fire

Those who match desire with desire

And as the darkness waits for them to learn

A candle burns

 

There are those who never see the tears

Of the ones who’ve cried for countless years

And as the carousel so coldly turns

A candle burns

 

Ooh, a candle burns

 

There are those whose bellies never cry

So they believe that hunger is a lie

And as they rise, case closed, the court adjourns

But a candle burns, a candled burns

 

Ooh, a candle burns

 

 

 

 

9. My Midsummer Night's Dream 

 

As the sun goes down... twilight steals around

Lavender's her hue... softly whispering through

Like a dream will do

Fireflies come out... twinkling about

Fields near and far... stepping stones they are

Circling to the stars

My midsummer night's dream come true

My midsummer night's dream is you

 

As the blue draws deep... distant shadows creep

Fairy thoughts take wing... silver moonbeams sing

In a meadow ring

Shapes within the wood... move from where they've stood

Spirits of romance... through a lover's trance

Do a rhythmic dance

My midsummer night's dream come true

My midsummer night's dream is you

 

Songs from other years... touch the dreamer's ears

Feelings stir again... from a distant "when"

We were younger then

When the tears are dry... stars bow from the sky

Wakening the sun... and the dream is done

Or it's just begun

My midsummer night's dream come true

My midsummer night's dream is you

 

 

 10. Rain Is Snow 

 

The rain is snow, and the snow is rain

Looks like one of those days again

I dress for the weather, but it’s all in vain

And my head hangs down

 

Love was new, now it’s growing old

The memory’s warm, but the room is cold

I turn to you for a hand to hold

And your head hangs down

 

Why do we try it?

Why do we try this love again… and again

We try it… why do we try this love again?

 

You’re halfway in and I’m halfway out

Words come slow as I cast about

My tongue won’t lift from the weight of doubt

And my head hangs down

 

I’m still with you and you’re still with me

Maybe we just fail to see

That what is wasn’t meant to be

And our heads hang down

 

 

 

 11. Bring The Water  

 

It’s just a spark, a careless flame

But soon the crying woods are ablaze

No one wants to answer, no one wants the blame

The fire crawls, then it flies away

 

But who’ll bring the water? Someone bring the water…

Who’ll bring the water?

 

It’s just a word, a careless thought

In the tinderbox we call the heart

It catches still, and burning hot

It isn’t long till fire starts

 

But who’ll bring the water? Someone bring the water…

Who’ll bring the water?

​

Fire takes the trees so strong and tall

Fire takes the roots so dark and small

Rising where our hearts hang in the stars

Down into the depths of who we are…

 

It’s just a bluff, a careless deed

But tempers start to flicker proudly, then

First one and then ten thousand bleed

And fire consumes us in the end

 

And who’ll bring the water? Someone bring the water…

Who’ll bring the water?

Fire takes the trees so strong and tall

Fire takes the roots so dark and small

Rising where our hearts hang in the stars

Down into the depths of who we are…