Bonnie

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I grew up on Bonnie street and spent many a summer at the neighborhood pool. That's where the title came from. The rest is just memories of summer in my youth. 

Bonnie let’s go for a swim, remember all those days back when
Playin’ till dark and then…do it all over again
I never thought about the end…couldn’t see past my best friend
On whom I could depend… again and again and again 

                  It’s been a long long time, since you and I
                  Walked along together in the sun
                  And I miss those days, and all the ways
                  We’d find the time to dream and have some fun

Bonnie let’s go for a walk, remember all those times we’d talk
‘Bout bicycles, Beatles and rock, and new friends on the block
Little league, mowin’ the lawn, can’t believe those days are gone
Stayin’ up straight into dawn, the memories go on and on

                  Chorus

                  Days gone by, becoming less clear
                  But when you go searching, they are always near

Bonnie let’s go for a ride, up that hill then down the other side
Never know what we might find, but always know we’ll have a good time 

                  Chorus (2x)

Hey Brother

• MP3 play whole song, hi-fi (broadband)

The opening verse came very quickly with a chord sequence and rhythm I wa playing. After that I just started thinking about people and things, and what we need them for. It ended up being a song about how we all need each other to make it through to whatever is next.

Hey Brother, can you hear me callin’
Hey Sister, can you see me cry
Hey Mother, will you catch me when I'm fallin'
Hey Father, will you show me how to fly 

Hey Soldier, will you save me?
Hey Teacher, will you help me learn?
Hey Preacher, will you understand me?
Hey Friend, will you be here when I return?

         Just as long as I have you, as long as you have me
         Together we'll be strong, together we'll be free
         Just take hold of my hand, side by side we'll always stand
         As we head into the promise of a promised land 

Hey Kindness, will you soothe me
Hey Freedom, can you see me smile
Hey Wonder, please don't ever leave me
Hey Love, won’t you stay with me awhile 

         Chorus

Hey Brother, can you hear me callin’
Hey Sister, can you see me cry
Hey Mother, will you catch me when I'm fallin'
Hey Father, will you show me how to fly 

Hey Father, will you show me how to fly

Watching You Watching Him

Nothing too deep here...just another "lost love" song. The title says it all.

What did I do or say, for you to treat me this way
Or did you know all along, that you and me were all wrong
You gotta help me understand, is it the taste or the brand
I feel a storm blowing in, watching you watching him 

I see that something in your eye, but it’s for some other guy
I feel the time’s drawing near, when I will have to disappear
A little corner of my mind, hopes you get what you find
Yeah my senses grow dim, watching you watching him 

     Watching you watching him clouds my vision as tears roll in
     I’m on the outside looking in, watching you watching him

If at first you don’t deceive, then I guess you go and leave
I won’t stand in your way, ain’t gonna beg you to stay
A little time is all I need, a little time yes indeed
I felt just like your whim, when I’m watching you watching him

            Chorus 

Oh……Oh…….Oh……..Oh   (repeat)

What did I do or say for you to treat me this way
Yeah you got under my skin, but I’ll survive lose or win watching you watching him
It’s time for me to begin, I don’t sink I swim, watching you watching him

Watching It Rain

Nothing is more soothing to me than sitting on my front porch during a rain storm...so I wrote a song about it.

I see a flash of light I hear a distant drum
I see the flowers smile as the wind it runs
And as the clouds roll in I take a walk outside
To where my troubles fade and my spirit flies, you’ll find me… 

Sittin’ underneath the sky on the front porch watchin’ the world go by
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain 

It’s a peaceful place right out that old front door
Where the air is full of life when the sky begins to roar
That’s when I think of her and I start to smile
That’s when I get away for just a little while, you’ll find me…

Sittin’ underneath the sky on the front porch watchin’ the world go by
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain
You’ll find me sittin’ starin’ into space and I’m thinking ‘bout her warm embrace
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain 

I don’t need the sun to put me at ease
The sound of the rain, the smell of the breeze, will find me…. 

Sittin’ underneath the sky on the front porch watchin’ the world go by
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain
You’ll find me sittin’ starin’ into space and I’m thinking ‘bout her warm embrace
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain

I’m just sittin’ underneath the sky on the front porch watchin’ the world go by
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain
You’ll find me sittin’ starin’ into space and I’m thinking ‘bout her warm embrace
Yeah I’m sittin’ and watchin’ it rain 

You’ll find me sittin’ just watchin’ it rain

Brand New Clothes

This song is one of the older songs on this record. I noticed that every time I saw a particular person they were always in the same clothes, and made the comment that they could use some brand new ones. The concept stuck, and I turned it into a metaphor for change. When thinking of titles for this record, it jumped out as the clear choice. I recently turned 50 years old, and change does indeed seem to be all around me.

Tie Dye sixty-eight lookin’ good and feelin’ great
Nineteen-seventy’s polyester fantasies
Boots and cowboy hats that was where it was at
I wonder who I’ll be 

You know I gotta look just right for goin’ on the town at night
Wearin’ my confidence on my leather vest
Gotta find a reason, gotta find a reason for me
I wonder who I’ll be 

            But now I’m lookin’ in the closet and I can’t find a thing
            Lookin’ to the future wonderin’ what it will bring
            My restlessness like a wind it blows
            Man I gotta find me some brand new clothes 

My my my Michelle, you were heaven you were hell
On the day we said goodbye never needed to ask why
Grow together and then grow apart
I wonder who I’ll be 

            But now I’m lookin’ in the closet and I can’t find a thing
            Lookin’ to the future wonderin’ what it will bring
            This thing called life has its highs and lows
            Man I gotta find me some brand new clothes 

            Goin’ under, startin’ over, don’t want to drown
            Feelin’ younger, getting’ older, change is all around 

Lost my job today, didn’t like it anyway
Watching little white lines, leaving trouble far behind
Driving at the sunset, driving at the rest of my life
I wonder who I’ll be, eventually 

            But now I’m lookin’ in the closet and I can’t find a thing
            Lookin’ to the future wonderin’ what it will bring
            Watch me as my confidence grows
            Man I gotta find me some brand new clothes

            But now I’m lookin’ in the closet and I can’t find a thing
            Lookin’ to the future wonderin’ what it will bring
            My restlessness like a wind it blows
            Man I gotta find me some brand new clothes

I Did It Again

An apology song from all men to all women. It will always be relevant. :-)

I thought I knew your mind it’s true but one more time I’m wrong
So often I wonder why we sometimes don’t get along
Intentions are a funny thing what’s mine ain’t always yours
And when I fear that you’re getting too near, that’s when I close the door 

            I did it again, I made you cry
            I did it again, and I never know why
            You’d think that I’d remember that you are my best friend
            Instead of sittin’ here and knowin’ yeah, I did it again 

Someday I hope I get it right, that day can’t come too soon
I’m angry with all my mistakes, especially the ones that hurt you
So please forgive me for the times when I have been so cruel
The mirror never lies to me when it tells me I’ve been a fool 

            Chorus

Just when I think, I’ve figured it out….and we get close once more
It happens again, I say it and then, your tears fall to the floor

I want to thank you for the times that you’ve forgiven me
I know it isn’t easy girl, yeah that much I can see
And I don’t know that we can say our troubles all are through
But I will make this promise now, to never stop loving you 

            I did it again, I made you sad
            I did it again, how does it get this bad
            You’d think that I’d remember that you are my best friend
            Instead of sittin’ here and knowin’ yeah; I did it again 

           You’d think that I’d remember that you are my best friend
           Instead of sittin’ here and knowin’ yeah; I did it again

           I did it again…I did it again…(fade..)

The Well

A song written in the late 1990's that I resurrected for this record. The Well is forgiveness, and the song warns of overusing it. I've always liked this song because of its truly pop feel, which is why it's always hung around with me.

You’re lookin’ ‘round for somethin’ new, I don’t know why
Is the grass really greener on the other side
I wait so patiently, while you wander aimlessly
Why do I always end up lookin’ like a fool..........you better not

            Go to the well too often though you try to fill it up with the tears you cry
            Don’t go to the well too often you don’t wanna find out
            That the well has just run dry

What do I see in you, God only knows
Is it your walk, your talk, your clothes, I don’t know
You break my heart and then, I take you back again
One day you’ll walk back through that door I won’t be there..........you better not 

            (Chorus)

            When I first met you I thought you would be the one
            But now I know I should have run
            What made me think I could keep you to myself
            When you’re always off and lovin’ someone else 

            (Chorus) (2x) 

Oh oh oh oh oh

Best Decision

In a truly normal moment while doing dishes, my wife Lucia turned to me and said I was the best decision she ever made. I said that was a great song title, and started writing this song almost immediately. I did ultimately thank her for saying such a lovely thing to me :-)

Many years ago I was all of twenty-one
Running ‘round kissing girls yeah having fun
Had no clue as to where my life would lead
Just getting by on getting what I need 

Then there you were with your long dark hair
And since that first day you’ve always been there
With your dimpled smile and calming hand
Luck like this must surely have been planned 

And as my life rolls on I see more clearly every day
That the road I took was right in every way
Into your pool of love I will forever wade
You’re the best decision that I ever made

Many trials have come many trials have gone
But you and me we’ve always carried on
Through the storms of life we’ve stayed above the clouds
And happier than heaven should allow 

Chorus 

Two people meet they fall in love they settle down they’ve heard there’s nothing to it
Then come the kids the ups the downs but never have they wondered why they do it
They must pursue it. That’s how they view it. ‘Cause day by day by day they’re more in love  

Now here you are with your silvery hair
And making me feel like I’m lighter than air
From loves’ first kiss to its unspoken smile
The journey is worth every single mile 

Chorus 

Into your pool of love I will forever wade
You’re the best decision that I ever made

Angel

This song was written for my daughters (twins!) on the occasion of one daughter's marriage, where I played and sang it during the reception. It was originally in a very different form than the recorded version on this album, but says what I wanted to say none-the-less.

The first line was actually inspired on a Halloween night when my wife and I were in downtown Grand Rapids and saw a woman dressed as an angel walking across the street. That line laid around for quite a while until I eventually used it for this song.

I see an angel walking across the street, she floats on a cloud
She looks so beautiful…I feel so proud
I see an angel walking across the street, she’s learning to fly
Turn around and look at me, catch a tear inside my eye

Hold my hand and look both ways
Seems like only yesterday
Picnics on the floor, family tug-of-wars
A smile and everything’s okay 

         (Chorus)

Now take his hand and go your way
Start building your own yesterdays
May all your skies be blue, and your troubles few
And may you always dance like no one’s watching you

         (Chorus)

My Wish

Inspired by a Dixie Chicks song, I envisioned this as a somewhat gospelly feeling song with a big choir on the "my wish" sections. I do indeed wish these things for all of us.

Sometimes it seems so dark and dreary
Like a cloud that don’t ever go away
And sometimes this ol’ world is kinda scary
Like it’s headin’ for its final days 

My wish…Is for a smile upon your face
My wish…Is that you find some saving grace
My wish…That you’ll never cease to dream
My wish…Is that you’ll always have a friend
My wish…That on me you always can depend
My wish…Might be closer than it seems

But I know that the sun is going to break through
Even for just a little while
And I hope that we all enjoy these moments
Before we walk our final mile 

My wish…Is that you’ll never be alone
My wish…Is that you feel it to the bone
My wish…Is that you’re strong enough to say
My wish…Is for a peace that’s everlasting
My wish…Is for an answer to the question
My wish…Gettin’ closer every day

Hold on, hold on, and you will find your way
Be strong, it won’t be long, till nighttime turns to day

My wish…Is that you see the other side
My wish…Is that you’ll never have to hide
My wish…Is that you’ll always have a song
My wish…That time will not erase the memory of all the good you’ve done
My wish…Is that you shine just like that sun

My wish…Is for a smile upon your face
My wish…Is that you find some saving grace
My wish…That you’ll never cease to dream
My wish…Is that you’ll always have a friend
My wish…That on me you always can depend
My wish…Getting closer every day

Yeah My wish…getting closer every day