1. |
Gypsy of the Desert
04:48
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High above the desert at angels Sixty-five
Ship biting the atmosphere, feels almost alive
Mission almost over, when I heard the engine blow
The flames were racing forward, and the ground began to grow
I pulled the cord, prayed to the lord, and left that burning hell
And like Lucifer, I fell, and fell and fell
(chorus)
She was the Gypsy of the Desert
She moved like smoke and flame
And though I never told her,
Somehow she knew my name
She brought me aid and comfort,
She put me at my ease
And her voice was gentle as the desert breeze.
High above the desert -- angels forty five
Out of air for breathing, falling through the sky
I landed hard. Without steel wings, man wasn't meant to fly
My 'chute was torn to ribbons, by rights I should have died
Down on the ground, wrack all around, beneath the desert sun
I knew that I was done, was done was done.
She found me there at the edge of death, the reaper reaching low
Bound my wounds, gave me rest, said it's not your time to go.
Lithe as a river dancing, with eyes as dark as coal
And I knew that I could trust her, down to my very soul
And I went to work at healing, resting in the Shade
Where my wounds began to fade, to fade to fade
They found me on the desert, -- no one else around,
Besides my own, there weren't even tracks upon the ground
Some say she was a fever dream, a figment of my mind
Perhaps she was a dryad, a story out of time?
Effriti kin? Perhaps a Djinn. Whose very touch could heal
I swear that she, was real, was real was real...
(Fin chorus:)
She was the Gypsy of the Desert
She moved like smoke - like flame
And though I never told her,
She always knew my name
She brought me aid and comfort,
She put me at my ease
Her voice was gentle as the desert breeze...
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2. |
Only Game in Town
03:58
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Every day it seems to me I'm playing dice with god.
And every day above the earth's one where you've beat the odds,
The Devils in the corner, and he's always counting cards,
And you know that bastard always stacks the deck.
So every day you drive to work, in this crazy old rat race,
And every yellow light's a chance to meet them face to face,
And driving Highway 12 might take a special kind of grace.
And those dice are growing heavier each day...
Coyote runs some crazy game where no one knows the rules...
Loki's dealing blackjack, and he only deals to fools.
Sedna's in the anteroom, watching the Koi pool,
But you don't get her choice you have to play.
And every day it seems to me I'm playing dice with gods
And every day above the earth's one where you beat the odds,
The Devils in the corner, and he always counts the cards,
And you know damn well that bastard stacks the deck.
You see the headlines every day - war, and plague, and strife.
Perhaps it ends in darkness, with a mugger's gun or knife.
You roll the dice, you make your bets, just another day of life.
But in the end the house will always win.
Apollo's got a Blue grass band, he's playin' the guitar,
His sister has the microphone - she's always been the star.
If the drinks seem extra strong - I think that's Thor behind the bar,
And mercy can't be found in Kali's grin...
Yes, Every day it seems to me, you roll the dice with Gods
And every day on the "Flower Side" - that day you beat the odds..
But you cannot change the game you play - the Devil's counting cards
And he marked each one before he stacked the Deck.
(instr verse)
Don't try your hand at poker, those chips are human souls
And when the gods take up the dice you hear the thunder roll
The Devil cuts the cards, and smiles; he's always in control.
And you don't get a choice you have to play.
You've never had a choice you have to play.
(spoken)
--Hand me my dice--
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3. |
Sunstone
03:21
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Long ago, in times of old, the Vikings had a stone
with birefringent calcite ore, they made the seas their own.
Even when the sun was lost, to cloud or dark or storm,
They never knew the secret was, a polarized waveform
And where is my magic crystal sunstone?
When I'm lost on a cloudy sea.
And where is the light of Galadriel?
When the dark's closing in on me?
Cause I don't need a magic sword.
I don't need a magic ring.
But a star to guide my way.
Wouldn't that be a wondrous thing?
Science solving mysteries. Magic's smaller somehow today,
And certainly we know more now, but wiser are we this way?
I'm still lost on a sea of dreams, with nothing's guiding me.
and I could use some magic still at least to some degree
So where is my magic crystal sunstone?
When I'm lost on a cloudy sea.
And where is the light of Galadriel?
When the dark's closing in on me?
Cause I don't need a magic sword.
I don't need a magic ring.
But a star to guide my way.
Wouldn't that be a wondrous thing?
A star to guide our way...
Wouldn't that be a wondrous thing?
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4. |
Spirit of Eagle
03:31
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There are spirits of the wild
For whom mankind is but a child
Thunder on the morning air,
drum of wings, she is there.
She is the spirit of the sky
where only hawks and eagles fly
she knows the secrets of the land
from mountain cliff to desert sand
No use for deceit or guile,
that's never been Eagle's style
Lightning on a summer day
that's always been Eagle's way
Bridge:
Riding thermals, without a care,
Where only, Eagle, Eagle Dares
Every direction, under the sun
Divine are the secrets Eagle has won
Soaring high and seeing far
sees things exactly as they are
Seek the wisdom of the sky?
Very few would even try.
(inst)
(inst)
Seek the wisdom of the sky?
You are braver... ...braver than I.
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5. |
Arizona
04:33
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In the old Sonoran Desert is a place that's fine and fair,
With beauty and with danger, so you better just take care,
They say once you've trod her trails, the mountains, hills, and sand
Your soul is bound forever to the land.
Arizona... where the Harris Hawks fly free
Arizona... Land of Liberty
Arizona...where I want to be,
Some say that she's a gift from high above
A hard land I cannot help but Love
Go drive the desert highway, but pause along the way
To see what man's forgotten, as he hurries through his day
The inca dove, the roadrunner, the pallo verde bowers.
The desert turning gold1 with mallow flowers
Arizona... where the Harris Hawks fly free
Arizona... Land of Liberty
Arizona...where I want to be,
Beware the summer Sun so high above
A hard land you cannot help but Love.
From the deserts to the forests, and yes we do have trees
This land called Arizona, 'neath the whispering desert breeze
From canyon wall, and piñon pine, - rimrock's wan'drin' streams,
To the wastes that evoke ghosts and fever dreams.
Arizona... where the Harris Hawks fly free
Arizona... Land of Liberty
Arizona...that's where I want to be
Raptors are watching from above
A hard land you cannot help but Love.
There's the telescopes in Flagstaff and the Ajo copper mines,
The Cotton Fields, the Citrus Groves, and Frank Loyd Wright designs.
The setting sun, could make one weep, the sight is so profound
Plus that giant mucking canyon in the ground
Arizona... where the Harris Hawks fly free
Arizona... Land of Liberty
Arizona...where I need to be,
where stars are shards of diamond high above
A hard land you cannot help but Love
Arizona...
1- Generally the Globe Mallow is Orange, not Gold
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6. |
The Bush Girl
03:52
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7. |
Rain in a Desert
02:22
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This time it's her leaving
Last time it was me
Been blinded by darkness
But the more I look I see
That I'm looking for rain in a desert
full of charlatans and fakes
looking for rain in a desert
finding sorrow and heart-ache
looking for rain in the desert
I can feel a storm is rising
is it wind or rain or sand?,
Looking for that someone,
someone who understands
We're looking for rain in the desert
unaware of our mistakes
looking for rain in a desert
that both gives and takes
looking for rain in the desert
We just keep moving forward
ignore every sign that warns
Seeking always roses
Finding only thorns
We're looking for rain in the desert
finding far too many snakes
looking for rain in the desert
with heart that always breaks
looking for rain in the desert
(instr)
looking for rain in a desert
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8. |
Cosmic Corvids
03:38
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The old Ice Crow stole the ember of the sun
Winter's growing long and very dark
The cold is closing in, on each and every one
But Ice Crow he has his shiny spark
And the Cosmic Corvids play their silly games
The Cosmic Corvids we curse their very names.
Cosmic Corvids every year the same
Stealing back and forth the fire's flame.
Envious and greedy is the Star Raven,
of the Ice Crow's bauble so bright
and plots and schemes most cravenly
to steal it away in the night.
As the cold creeps into our bones.
And winter saps all our joy
The Ice Crows's distracted by stones,
And the Star Raven steals her new toy.
And the Cosmic Corvids play their silly games
The Cosmic Corvids we curse their very names.
Cosmic Corvids every year the same
Stealing back and forth the fire's flame.
And that is the story my friends
How summer creeps back to the earth,
How each year the dark winter ends,
To begin a new season of birth.
But the Star Raven's fickle that's true,
And distracted by shiny new things,
So the Ice Crow will steal things anew,
Once again, the winter to bring.
And the Cosmic Corvids play their silly games
Cosmic Corvids we curse your very names.
Cosmic Corvids every year the same
Stealing back and forth...
Stealing back and forth...
Stealing back and forth..... the fire's..... flame.
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9. |
Oleander Highway
03:38
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Driving down the highway, through the potholes and the dust
Decades since the road was in its prime.
Fadin' aging water towers,
Miles and miles of poison flowers,
A relic of another age and time.
-It's the poison flower highway
-Highway 99.
-Oleander flowers fill the air.
-Ancient lane dividers fading everywhere,
-Faded towns and dreams beyond repair.
Produce grows where water flows, you know that's by design.
Watch the berries wither on the vine.
Farmers see their land grow dry,
Don't even have the strength to cry,
Along both sides of highway 99.
Orchards turned to firewood.
Dust and dirt where farms once stood.
The legacy of highway 99.
-It's the poison flower highway
-Highway 99.
-Oleander flowers fill the air.
-Ancient lane dividers fadin' everywhere,
-Faded towns and dreams beyond repair.
From Chico down to Stockton, from Bakersfield and Galt,
This valley fed the whole world in it's time.
Oh - Sacramento cut the flow.
You only reap what you can sow.
An' the farmers and the fields are out of time.
Politicians jut keep lying.
Towns and acres just keep dying.
California Highway 99.
-The poison flower highway
-Highway 99
-Oleander flowers fill the air.
-Ancient lane dividers fading everywhere
-Faded towns and dreams beyond repair
Faded towns and faded dreams and faded yellow lines...
California Highway 99.
Drivin' down old highway 99.
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10. |
Four Stars
05:36
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She grew up in the city. It's the only life she knows,
Surrounded by glass buildings, and the neon city's glow.
And the only stars she's ever seen were on the picture show...
But there's four stars out tonight...
There's four stars out tonight
Four stars puttin' up a fight
Four stars, shinin' with a light
Yes, there's four stars out tonight.
Light posts at every corner to keep the night at bay
She glances at the heavens as she stumbles on her way
And wonders 'bout those points of light, shinin' through The Gray
At those, four stars out tonight...
Because we fear the dark, we have cast the night away,
But the light that's shining in her eyes won't keep her safe today.
In fact they only make her safer, better, easy prey,
Beneath four stars out tonight.
We've cast away our heritage, we've cast away the night
And trapped the very stars themselves in prisons made of light
She'll never see the majesty, or wonder at the sight,
Just, four stars in the night.
We can regain out legacy, the vault of all heaven
Turn off the lights, take back the night, restore the stars again,
I know that we can do it, though I don't know how or when.
Free the billions of stars out tonight.
Yes there's billions of stars out tonight
Billions of stars trapped by city lights
And one fine day we may regain the sight,
Of all those stars out tonight,
But there's four stars out tonight...
There's four stars out tonight
Four stars puttin' up a fight
Four stars, shinin' with a light
Yes, there's four stars out tonight.
yes just four stars out tonight
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11. |
Stars and Jackelopes
02:17
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When you're tired of being tired,
And you just have to get away,
I think you need to journey,
Where the stars and the jackalope play
Far from the gritty neon cities,
With their concrete gray and gray
There is still that pure oasis
Where the stars and the jackalope play
Where the land is full of wisdom,
Where there is a better way
Where you soul may find some solace
Where the stars and the jackalope play
Far from the gritty neon cities,
Miles away from paved highways
Where the land is still unbroken
And the stars and the jackalope play
So set down your burden lightly
Pick it up some other day
And maybe learn a lesion
Where the stars and the jackalope play.
Yes the land is full of wisdom,
Though you can visit, you can't stay.
Leaving only phantom footsteps,
Where the stars and the Jackalope play.
(instr)
(instra)
A land of hope renewing
Where the stars and the Jackalope play.
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12. |
On the Wall
02:43
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"Hier endet die Freiheit".
That's what the graffito said.
Written on a wall that's rubble Now.
And thought that wall is history
The challenge still remains
For governments will do as we allow.
Remember when the president
Traveled to Berlin?.
And gave a speech, standing so proud and tall.
No one thought it'd come to pass
When he demanded of the East,
"Mr. Gorbachav, Tear Down this wall."
So many people died
Chasing freedom's crown
And the world cheered when that wall came down at last
There's little left but memory
Some stones set in the street
Strange how quickly we forget the past.
-- And no wall lasts forever
-- Tyrants always fall
-- We're casting off out fetters
-- and tearing down the walls.
Hier endet die Freiheit.
A message to the world.
A chilling warning to us one and all.
Though we cheer our victory,
We must not forget the past.
Do not forget the words writ on the Wall.
C G Am
Never forget the words writ on the Wall.
Vergessen nicht die Worte auf den Mauer.
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13. |
The Search
04:33
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Working in the fields I saw a dragon in the sky.
Rumors quickly spread, but now I've heard the reason why.
The Dragon men are riding, and they're searching through the land
For a golden egg is waiting, on the burning hatching sands.
A golden egg means a golden queen, or so I've heard it told
And it takes a Girl to tame a Queen, one both brave and bold
They say a man can't do it, so they're searching near and far
And I saw them fly this morning, beneath the blood red star.
Who will it be? - They're searching sea to sea,
Who will it be? - Wretch or nobility.
The dragons choose... choose telepathically.
Who will it be? - It could be you. It could be me.
They say the old queen's dying, but that's probably not true
Without a queen to lay the eggs, I don't know what we'd do.
Only a queen lays living eggs, at least that's what they say,
But the Dragonmen are riding, and Searching Night and Day
They are searching every farmstead, and searching every hold
I saw a dragon in the sky, a wonder to behold
It was big and bronze and scaly, and glowing in the sun
It's true. I swear. I saw them. Now listen everyone.
(Rpt Chorus)
Oh Dragonman please pick me, and take me to the Weir,
I promise to be brave; I won't show any fear.
Give me a chance to prove myself, I know that I can learn
And be the greatest hero, in the history of Pern.
(Rpt Chorus)
Who will it be? Who Will it Be? Let it be me. Let it be me.
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14. |
Gethsemene
02:11
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And we all are wandering through Gethsemane.
We all have to make our choice
To run or hide, while the soldiers abide,
Be silent or raise our voice.
We all have to face our Gethsemane
Each of us has his Gethsemane,
A path with forks in the road
Turn left or right, retreat or fight
To cast off or pick up a load
How will you answer Gethsemane?
This is the curse of Gethsemmane,
the bane of free will and life
Behold the curse of Gethsemmane,
That cuts the soul like a knife
Two paths exit from Gethsemane
Two paths and you must choose
Pray, Run away, or meekly obey
There is no win, no lose.
There's only the choice of Gethsemene
We all are wandering Gethsemene
All of us have a Gethsemene
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15. |
Distant Tales
03:55
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16. |
Pandora's Legacy
03:04
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Another year gone by, but it seems that we're still here
Lost some friends, some family, and others we hold dear.
They say time is a river, and it only flows downstream,
and I think you know exactly what I mean.
But while we breathe there's hope, you need not question why.
That horse might learn to sing, that pig might learn to fly.
Another step to take, and another day will break
I re-fuse to go softly into that night,
With every breath that's left I'll stand and fight.
No one knows how far they'll bend, right before they break.
Maybe I have reached my fill, of just what I can take.
But even if times may be tough, my cosmic dice grown cold
I'd draw another card before I fold.
And when you think you've finally reached,
the end of all your rope,
Never forget the last thing from the box...
... was hope.
I'm tired, oh so tired, and weary all the time
But I won't let it beat me, I'll stand and hold the line
Though the river's rushing forward, and white water's ahead
The Ferryman, can go and soak his head!
'Cause while we breathe there's hope, you need not question why.
That horse might learn to sing, that pig might learn to fly.
Another step to take, and another day will break
I re-fuse to go softly into that night,
With every breath that's left I'll stand and fight.
And never go softly into that night.
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17. |
Quest not for Glory
03:56
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It started, as these things always do
in a bar, full of friends and of drinking
there's always stranger or two
but this time the stranger was singing
And we search, not for hammers of Glory
Quest, not for blades or for rings
We seek, that most dangerous object
Stories of justice
and truth in all things
And we knew, without really thinking
Of the danger, this stranger foretold
The words the stranger was singing
were sedition, and dangerous bold
Hope for a better day dawning
A call to raise voice in song
His words while quiet were haunting
Go right, whatever be wrong
And we search, not for hammers of Glory
Quest, not for blades or for rings
We seek, that most dangerous object
Stories of justice
and truth in all things
As the door burst, he threw something shining
Yelled quick, go out the back door,
And we ran, the chaos entwining
I don't recall anything more
Yes we ran there's no use in lying
A shining coin clutched in my hand
It spoke of a time that was dying
When freedom and peace ruled this land
And we search, not for hammers of Glory
Quest, not for blades or for rings
We seek, that most dangerous object
Stories of justice
and truth in all things
Quest not for Glory
But truth... in all things
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18. |
Mélusine
04:10
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High above the desert, oases dot the sky
Islands high above the burning sands
Up there one fateful day, I swear I met a fae
By the brook, a golden dragon in her hand
I saw her in the dawning, from the corner of my eye
Swimming in the brook without a care
Her hair was red as fire, avatar of desire
I turned, and there was nobody there
You have to open up your heart
As springs from mountain stone...
Whispers through the piñons, and on the morning breeze
The brook singing in the morning light,
Then laughter lightly ringing, perhaps a bit of singing,
As the shadows in the clearing took to flight.
Was I being haunted, perhaps being teased?
By the spirits and legends of this land.
Then once again there splashing, silver eyes a flashing
A golden key shaped locket in her hand
Don't set yourself apart
You're not meant to walk alone.
She smiled and she beckoned waved at me, to stay
And sang as we sat beside the creek
You will travel far, questing for that star
But always fail 'till you know what you seek.
You have to open up your heart
As springs from mountain stone,
You set yourself apart
You're not meant to walk alone.
Her smile it pierced my heart, the dragon chirped and winked
Four eyes blazed with, an inner light.
I knew not what to say, in the dawning of the day
When again they vanished before my sight
You have to open up your heart
As springs from mountain stone,
Don't set yourself apart
You're not meant to walk alone.
High above the desert, oases dot the sky
Islands high above these burning sands
In the trees one magic day, I swear I met a fae
By the brook, a golden dragon in her hand
You have to open up your heart
As springs from mountain stone,
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19. |
The Bush Girl Returns
01:20
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Oh the world is a new and a wide one it's true
but infinite surely it's not
She now knows what you did and she's coming for you
Did you think that she simply forgot
With a heart that you broke and a faith you maligned,
While out seeking fortune and fame
And the freckle-faced girl that you left far behind
do you even remember her name?
Grey eyes that are colder than winter or rain
Fair heart that's been shattered in two
With razor sharp bush knife and ice in her veins,
She's hunting the wide world for you.
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Mark Horning Phoenix, Arizona
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