The Pretender --- Jackson Browne

I'm going to rent myself a house
In the shade of the freeway
Gonna pack my lunch in the morning
And go to work each day
And when the evening rolls around
I'll go on home and lay my body down
And when the morning light comes streaming in
I'll get up and do it again
Amen.
Say it again
Amen.

I want to know what became of the changes
We waited for love to bring
Were they only the fitful dreams
Of some greater awakening?
I've been aware of the time going by
They say in the end it's the wink of an eye
When the morning light comes streaming in
You'll get up and do it again
Amen.

Caught between the longing for love
And the struggle for the legal tender
Where the sirens sing and the church bells ring
And the junk man pounds his fender.
Where the veterans dream of the fight
Fast asleep at the traffic light
And the children solemnly wait
For the ice cream vendor
Out into the cool of the evening
Strolls the Pretender
He knows that all his hopes and dreams
Begin and end there

Ah the laughter of the lovers
As they run through the night
Leaving nothing for the others
But to choose off and fight
And tear at the world with all their might
While the ships bearing their dreams
Sail out of sight

I'm gonna find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And we'll fill in the missing colors
In each other's paint-by-number dreams
And then we'll put our dark glasses on
And we'll make love until our strength is gone
And when the morning light comes streaming in
We'll get up and do it again
Get it up again

I'm gonna be a happy idiot
And struggle for the legal tender
Where the ads take aim and lay their claim
To the heart and the soul of the spender
And believe in whatever may lie
In those things that money can buy
where true love could have been a contender
Are you there?
Say a prayer for the Pretender.
Who started out so young and strong
Only to surrender.

Say a prayer for the pretender
Are you there for the pretender?
Say a prayer for the pretender
Are you there for the pretender?
Are you prepared for the pretender?

Confined ----- Andrea Kelley

In a box?
There are no doors. Don’t see any windows.
There is light, where is that coming from? Is the light coming from within?
The space is all around, it is so close. The air is thick.
I am confined, I scratch at the walls. Does the lack of space concern me? What is outside this space? The space is familiar, but uncomfortable.
I sit down, I am tired. Am I tired from scratching?
I am not comfortable, the slumber is not peaceful.
I stand again, I scratch. My fingertips bleed. I look at my fingertips, I weep. Again there is slumber.
There is still light, hope. I stand, I move, keep moving.
The space is closing in. I scratch again. Ouch. Scratching hurts.
What is outside? There is that darn light.
I am the light, the life. Jesus! The Holy Spirit is with me, has hold of me.
I am small, I grow. Where am I? Don’t let go. I am fresh, I am new. I am old, I am.

Love - no matter what! -----Andrea Kelley

Love – no matter what!
My star shined its light and brought gifts.
The gift –
Of admiration – admire me, admire we.
Of desire – physical, emotional, for me, for we.
Of respect – the exchanging of stars.
Of inspiration – to grow.
Of acceptance – no matter what.
Of freedom – freedom to feel and be.
Of hope – at journeys end, I will have me.
Of comfort – a soft place to land.
Of joy – ahh, the abounding laughter.
Of compassion – words don’t describe.
Of honor – my pedestal had crumbled, it was rebuilt.
So Yes, a resounding yes, love no matter what!

Even then ----- Nicole Nordeman

It's a fear that keeps me wide awake
In the middle of the night
When the expectations are too great
And the bar gets raised too high
So I do the best with what I've got
And hope that no one knows
That I strain to see how high I can
Try to stand on these toes
Until I'm measured, but You know better

So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when You see us just as we are
Fragile and frail and so far
From who we want to be
So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter and scatter like the wind
Thank-You, even then

So I put aside the masquerade
And admit that I am not okay
Which may not be the thing to say
But I'm not ashamed to need You more each day

We raise the standard and try to reach You
But we'll never make it, and we don't need to

A Dream

A dream; a dream like no other.
It reached out for mine, I woke up.
It was recognizable, yet unfamiliar.
A dream, it comforts me.
I am awake, it caused a stirring, the stirring moved.
My eyes see, they see it nearly every day; I could not and would not touch. It moves around, my eyes follow.
The stirring continued, it continued, I fought it, I denied it, the stirring grew, it would not die.
I am awake, it reached for me, it stroked my hair. Why?
The dream, I am awake.
It touched me, I am touched. The stirring, the stirring. Why?
It is becoming familiar, will it touch me again?
It touched me gently, it touched me.
It touched me everywhere; head to toe, inside, outside.
My eyes see, they see it touching me.
It is warm, it warms me, it warms me inside, outside.
It is now an extension of me.
I am awake, I am awake.
It touches me, it touches me no more.
I am awake, the stirring.
His hand.

Your Song --- Elton John

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

Would not come-----Alanis Morissette

If I make a lot of tinsel then people will want to.
If I am hardened, no fear of further abandonment.
If I am famous, then maybe Ill feel good in this skin.
If I am cultured, my words will somehow garner respect.

I would throw a party, still it would not come. I would bike, run, swim, and still it would not come. Id go traveling and still it would not come. I would starve myself and still it would not come.

If Im masculine, I will be taken more seriously.
If I take a break, it would make me irresponsible.
If Im elusive, I will surely be sought after often.
If I need assistance, then I must be incapable.

Id be filthy rich, and still it would not come. I would seduce them, and still it would not come. I would drink vodka, and still it would not come. Id have an orgasm, and still it would not come.

If I accumulate knowledge, Ill be impenetrable.
If I am aloof, no one will know when they strike a nerve.
If I keep my mouth shut, the boat will not have to be rocked.
If I am vulnerable, I will be trampled upon.

I would go shopping, and still it would not come. Id leave the country, and still it would not come. I would scream and rebel, still it would not come. I would stuff my face, and still it would not come. Id be productive, and still it would not come. Id be celebrated, and still it would not come. Id be the hero, and still it would not come. Id renunciate, and still it would not come.

Fire and Rain-----James Taylor

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone, Susanne the plans they made put an end to you.
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song, I just can't remember who to send it to.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus? You've got to help me make a stand, you've just got to see me through another day. My body's aching and my time is at hand, and I won't make it any other way.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun, Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around. Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come. Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now.
Thought I'd see you one more time again. There's just a few things coming my way this time around now, thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now.

No music

Some days no music comes. Not a note.
You move about without an awareness.
The moments tick by, the hours.
Life is happening all around you, you are not present.

Love is Like Oxygen------ELO

Love is Like Oxygen: You get too much, you get too high, not enough and you're gonna die.
Love gets you high. Love is Like Oxygen:
Time on my side. I got it all. I heard that pride always comes before a fall. There's a rumor goin' around the town, that you don't want me around. I can't shake off my city blues. Everywhere I turn, I lose...
Love is Like Oxygen: You get too much, you get too high, not enough and you're gonna die.
Love gets you high. Time is no healer. If you're not there. Holy fever. Set words in the air. Some things are better left unsaid. I'm gonna spend my days in bed. I walk the streets at night, to be hidden by the city light.
Love is Like Oxygen: You get too much, you get too high, not enough and you're gonna die.