Carolina Pines

Living life just passing time A kid growing up in the Carolina Pines We rode our bikes for miles and miles Running free until Sunday Squirming ‘til that church bell rings Before too long we sold those bikes To pay for some gas to go out for a night Man, how I miss those main street lights But, growing up hasn’t been too bad I moved to the mountains for a paper and a cap It was fun while it lasted Now it’s time to go back Taking me back, taking me back to the place I know Taking me back, taking me back to the place where I’ve grown Driving back to the Carolina Pines Seeing old faces that I’ve kept in my mind And thinking of the ones that I’ve lost over time Oh, how I’d kill for some of their advice ‘Cause now I’m sitting here with my soon-to-be wife Trying to plan out the rest of our lives Like how many kids and what place is right Hoping they get the Carolina Pines that we had When we were yay-high;. Taking me back, taking me back to the place I know Taking me back, taking me back to the place where I’ve grown

Face in the crowd

Another face in the crowd A drop in the ocean Ever connected, forever drowned So much engagement Most of it nameless Too distracted to care About what you’re faced with So, get on with it Join in the fun The clock’s ticking It’s already been done Oh, how cute It’s all about you No matter how loud You’re just another Face in the crowd

Can anybody be an individual?

Create or do something truly original?

Inescapable influence

It drives me insane I don’t know what to do with it

I guess I’ll put blinders on and sit down and write a song

‘Cause I don’t wanna get on with it

Or join in the fun

The clock’s ticking It’s already been done

Oh, I see It’s not about me

No matter how loud

I’m just another Face in the Crowd

Dawn, Day, Dusk

I see you and the world spinning around me

How can I keep you here in this place?

I know one day all I’ll want is to see your face

I wanna hit stop on all the thoughts that fill my brain

Half the time I just put the world in another frame

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But, it’s not the frame that needs fixing

It’s me and time that need a remission

It’s never enough, Oh, I’m never enough

Just going through the motions

Dawn, Day, Dusk

The fear of the present passing

Keeps me from here now

I gotta move past it

The years keep on lapping

I’m the one always tracking

Dawn, Day Dusk

We’re getting to the point

Where everything’s already been written

Every thought, every feeling, every human experience

I try and I try to feel some kind of new

The only time I get close is in a glimpse of you

To you the world is new

It’s undiscovered blue

Please stay as strong as my faith in you

Please stay as strong as my faith in you

It’s never enough, Oh, I’m never enough

Just going through the motions

Dawn, Day, Dusk

The fear of the present passing

Keeps me from here now

I gotta move past it

The years keep on lapping

I’m the one always tracking

Dawn, Day, Dusk

Ava’s Song

Oh, when you were a little girl I’d sit you on 

my knee            

And you and me we’d sit there ‘til I rocked 

you fast asleep

Oh, Ava you’re the sweetest thing life 

could’ve given me

If it weren’t for you and your Momma too 

I don’t know where I’d be

I’ve dreamt for you as far back

Just as far as I can see

But, nothing I ever pondered up               

Prepared me for who you’d be

I often wonder what you’ll wanna do

And the places that you’ll see       

My wish is that in this big world     

You’ll find your place to be

Oh, Ava you’re the sweetest thing life 

could’ve given me

If it weren’t for you and your Momma too 

I don’t know where I’d be

I don’t know where I’d be

Later on when things seem bent out of frame

And you find yourself singing “Stop This Train”

Just please remember you’ve got a friend

who loves you

Forever and always

Forever and always

Oh, Ava you’re the sweetest thing life

could’ve given me

If it weren’t for you and your Momma too

I don’t know where I’d be

Land of Plenty

I have nostalgia for days long gone

Years and happenings placed on a throne

There I am, sticking my thumb out

I hop in the back, just like Kerouac

No expectations, only adulation

For the freedom of the West

Taken from some, given to many                

A whole lot of greed in the Land of 

the Plenty

Hoppin’ freights and dire straits is     

how we’re meant to live

Not tied to screens, forgetting dreams

of what tomorrow might give

The driver says, “Where you headed?”

All my thoughts are then suspended

Reflecting on all my years

Stuck behind my eyes, between my ears

No expectations, only

contemplation

Full of fear of what comes next

Nothing’s real, except how we feel  

Inflicting pain for the sake of a

 thrill

There’s an endless story calling you

Don’t just simply pass on through

There’s an endless story calling you

Don’t just simply pass on through

Get out, go do, you’ll find truth

Yes, you’ll find truth

No expectations, only adulation

For the dream of what comes next

Given to some, taken from many

Try to be free in the Land of the

Plenty

40

In 15 years I’ll be 40

Maybe then I won’t be in such a hurry

I’d rather had been born in the 40s

Life was slower for those who were before me

Or at least that’s what it seems like

Maybe ‘cause I’ve watched them pass by

Like everyone I don’t wanna get older

The fear and unknowing always lurks over my shoulder

I’d like to spend more time with things

My attention span always prohibits me

But, I think my attention works just fine

There’s too much going on for a peace of mind

In 40 years I’ll be 65 

What a time to be alive

Time will have managed to slow down

Just when next to know one is around

Around, Around, Around, Around, Around, Around

Learn from loving you

Nothing beats early morning sun    

Or quiet talks when the day is done

All I want is to take some time and 

Learn from Loving You

I like to think about

What you’re like when no one’s around

What’s a thing you can’t go without

For me, it’s only you

A feeling no one else can know

A wonder how it seems to only grow

When I see your smile begin

I forget all the things that I have been

Do you know where you wanna go?

There’s so much in the world to know

The only thing that I wanna do is

Learn from Loving You

What will become of us?

Stars in the sky or simple dust?

There’s one thing that I can trust

I’ll be there with you

A feeling no one else can know

A wonder how it seems to only grow

When I see your smile begin

I know that this will never end

Na, na, na, na, na, na 

Na, na, na, na, na, na

Na, na, na, na, na, na

Learn from Loving You

Lord knows

Back when I was younger, life was so much simpler

Not a care in the world now the world is on my shoulders

Now I’m sitting here wishin’ this bottle would send me back in time

Back to a time when my folks were alive and so was I

I just wanna know where this train is going

I hope one day that I find out

I know I’m not alone in my wondering

Maybe I just need a place to figure it out

Lord knows I try

Lookin’ around at this town I feel just like a stranger

Got my head in the clouds and I don’t ever wanna come down

Wondering if this place has changed or has it changed me

I get a feeling at night that something ain’t right

I just need to be free

I just wanna know where this train is going

I hope one day that I find out

I know I’m not alone in my wondering

Maybe I just need a place to figure it out

Lord knows I try

I can sit here all day worryin’ about tomorrow

But it don’t much matter if tomorrow never comes

As the sands of time keep sinking I’ll just be here drinking

Just wasting time

Lord knows I’ll try

Lord knows I’ll try

Lord knows I’ll try

hazy sun

Hazy Sun

Dripping down the stained glass sky

Like the gold of the ages

Like the gold of the ages

Awakened by a new

beginning

Thoughts proceed without 

Ending           

Losing what it is to be bold, bright, and young.

Cathedral clouds grow above

I am uncertain of undying love

Going in circles into the night

I’m stubborn to the bone like that 

thorn in my side

My worst enemy is a good friend of mine

I’m never alone, try as I might

Just waltzing in circles into the night.

We just waltz in circles into the night.

I want so bad to be like you

To say I believe and know that it’s true

It’s just not there.

It was never felt.                 

It’s just not a card that I was dealt.

Hazy son

Wondering what it is he’s done.

He burns through the ages.

He burns through the ages.