Where the Crawdads Sing: The tune was floating around my library for several years, looking for a topic. Meanwhile, my wife was reading Delia Owen’s book at the time, and I had commented at what a great title and subject that seemed like. Yet, it took several weeks for that idea to gel into a song. It was one of those “Ah-ha!” moments while playing the wordless tune over and over. So, I bought the Audio Book version (I don’t read well, better at listening). Three days later the song was “done.”
Abandoned as a little girl
Forced to find your way in the world.
Made fun of in the town.
Few friends there to be found.
So go … where the crawdads sing.
Watching as your mother left one day.
Slowly all the rest drifted away.
Growing up free and wild.
Born to be a natures child.
To go … where the crawdads sing.
In the dark night going home
Guided only by the stars.
Knowing that you’re all alone,
Wond’rin where the others are.
Watch a string of egrets take to flight.
Fire flies will trick with their light.
There’s a peace that it can bring
Far away from everything.
To go … where the crawdads sing.
Comes a time you find someone
To share the life you love.
Yet some secrets, yours to keep,
Few ever will know of.
Show me feathers, show me shells.
Teach me what each one has to tell.
Tell me what the mangroves say
While in the breeze they gently sway.
Show me … where the crawdads,
Out …. where the crawdads,
Oh … where the crawdads sing.
{Copyright (c) 2019, Ray Pascoe, Jr. All Rights Reserved}
Wonders of Kathleen: One of six Arizona 2017 songs. On that Spring hiatus, I was just in the mood for writing songs about women. Kathleen is a little bit my wife and a lot of imagination. The name choice? It had to have 2 syllables and rhyme with “green.”
Sleepy Eyes
Against the sun.
A new day has begun.
She slips from bed,
Checks the sky,
Smiles as a bird flies by.
There are times
Throughout the day,
She’s sometimes sad, but then it
Softly fades away.
I tell her that her eyes are hazel,
She insists they’re green.
That’s one of many wonders of Kathleen.
She smiles so sweetly to the songs I write.
Then she’s up to bed with a book, while I’m up half the night.
She has her crafts,
Things she makes.
Books to read,
Treats she bakes.
But, in all the times we’ve talked
I’ve never heard her dream.
It’s one of many wonders of Kathleen.
I know that she has talents that she hasn’t time for now.
And I hope at least she’d work on them sometime, somehow.
The kids will grow,
The years will pass.
We’ll find ourselves
Alone at last.
I wish that then she’ll fin’lly find
Something as yet unseen
In the many pleasures of,
The many treasures of,
The many splendid wonders of Kathleen.
{Copyright (c) 2020, Ray Pascoe, Jr. All Rights Reserved}
Plan B: Based on Tom’s Burned Down Cafe on Madeline Island, WI. The story tells it all, and more.
We travelled to an island many years ago
To eat at a favorite restaurant, at least we had hoped so.
But, recently it had burnt down to just a darkened wall.
But, they had this yellow sign in front
That helped explain it all.
It said “Control is just an illusion,
Life is lived by plan B.”
Plan B for them was an open tent that served up food and drink.
The food was great and drinks were fine. So, the fire was a minor kink.
When we left, I had to stop and read that sign once more.
‘Cause buried in the funny line
was truth you can’t ignore.
It said “Control is just an illusion.
Life is lived by Plan B.”
Now, Some may say that’s silly talk.
Your life is up to you.
That may be so, but let me add,
Best have a plan or two.
Several years since have passed. My job had been Okay.
But, rumors of a merger made me think back on that day
And of that sign that was oh-so-true
And so I’ve come to see
That control is really an illusion …
It’s just an illusion …
Yes, life is lived by Plan B!
{Copyright (c) 2020, Ray Pascoe, Jr. All Rights Reserved}
That Day: Another one of my songs without lyrics that eventually found a home. It’s based on a real life college buddy of mine who lost his battle with cancer earlier in the year. And, because our primary contact was through Christmas cards, I only found out about it after we didn’t get one this last year, prompting me to do a Google search and found his Obituary online. It’s a little worse than that … he wrote in his card the year before that he had found out he had cancer. And, I never followed up on it. Now it’s too late, though I’ve since talked with his wife.
I met him back in college.
He roomed just down the hall.
How it was we came to meet
I really don’t recall.
But, he changed my life that day … yes he did.
He really loved to argue
No matter what it was.
Made me think beyond the phrase of
“It’s simply just because.”
And, he changed my life that day … yes he did.
You think a friend’s forever. But, that sometimes isn’t so.
There’s things that come between you, things you didn’t know.
And if you just ignore it, the distances will grow
And change your life one day.
He said I was that Dutch boy,
Finger in the dam,
Holding back the waters of the
One I really am.
And he changed my life that day … Yes he did.
For years we shared adventures,
Was my closest friend.
But, then I had to move away
And it all came to an end.
And it changed my life that day … yes it did.
Oh, Christmas cards are fine, but it’s only once a year.
Often it takes more than that to bring each other cheer.
Or maybe it is just to tell of something that you fear
Will change your life one day.
Well, he lost his fight with cancer.
Several months ago.
And I missed my chance to tell him
To be sure he’d really know
That he changed my life that day.
Oh he changed my life that day … Yes he did.
{Copyright (c) 2020, Ray Pascoe, Jr. All Rights Reserved}
Sing Me a Sweet Song: I’ve written several songs about the virtual world of Second Life. This isn’t one of them. But, it was triggered by my Host (I use to perform there weekly) coming in one night and saying she’d had a bad day and was ready for some soothing “Ray songs.” A few days later, this song was born.
I’ve been singing my songs from show to show
Just to tell some folks my tales.
Some are about me and my girl
And some of far away trails.
There’s those who dance, others romance,
And some want a wink and a tease.
But, every once in a while I hear
A gentle voice saying “Please…”
Sing … Sing me a sweet song.
Sing … and sweep me away.
‘Cause I’ve been on my feet and I’m totally beat.
And I’m feeling quite hassled and stressed.
So, sing … and give my sweet soul some rest.
It’s trying to meet all those deadlines on time
And rushing around everywhere.
Grabbing a quick lunch and running,
Not even taking a chair.
And it’s chews for your tummy, pills for your head.
Now you’re out here to find some peace.
And, I see you there at the table,
Your eyes are telling me “Please …”
Sing … Sing me a sweet song.
Sing … and sweep me away.
‘Cause I’ve been on my feet and I’m totally beat.
And I’m feeling quite hassled and stressed.
So, sing … and give my sweet soul some rest.
I just want my mind to travel to a time
Or place that’s off a-far.
To dance on top of a moonbeam
Or reach out and touch a star.
(Won’t you) Sing … Sing me a sweet song.
Sing … and sweep me away.
‘Cause I’ve been on my feet and I’m totally beat.
And I’m feeling quite hassled and stressed.
So, sing … and give my sweet soul some rest.
Sing … Sing me a sweet song.
Sing … and give my sweet soul some rest.
{Copyright (c) 2009, Ray Pascoe, Jr. All Rights Reserved}