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"Simplicity" CD Lyrics 1. Pile of Leaves Let's jump into this pile of leaves Each one of us who still believes In celebrating golden days Before they all get swept away Let's jump into this pile of leaves Get broken bits stuck to our sleeves The crumpled dreams to which we're bound Still silhouetted on the ground Jump right in, Child... Jump right in, Child... Know this day smiled upon you in its way (x2) Let's jump into this pile of leaves Let's kick it as the evening weaves Its mask of melancholy red That signals what is still ahead Let's jump into this pile of leaves We beggars, borrowers and thieves Let's recklessly toss to the sun Our pile of promises undone... Chorus 2. Bicycle Bell There are so many sirens, the serious sound Of the absence of silence, the losing of ground As I'm sleepless and sliding into a dark well Out of the night rings a bicycle bell...bicycle bell... Maybe you were expecting a clarion call Some grand reconnecting to rescue us all From our reckless direction, our running pell-mell Just stop, look and listen for the bicycle bell The turn of the wheel, the release of the chain The journey revealed, all the miles that remain Where we are bound, truly no-one can tell But hope surely sounds like a bicycle bell (Bicycle bell...) I hear thundering injustice, deafening despair The unsettling electrical buzz in the air And a song playing for us that rises and swells A strong, gentle chorus, like bicycle bells (Chorus) 3. Wind of Change See it turning by the lakeshore Pretty pinwheel in the sky Churning up all that we hope for Light and power we can't deny Wind of change, rise up wind of change Wind of change, rise up wind of change See them dancing on the clothesline Pretty pinstripes, bright and blue As the windchime sings a love song And my heart sails back to you Wind of change, rise up wind of change Wind of change, rise up wind of change We are watching for tornadoes As we scan uncertain skies But a deeper part of me knows That a healing wind may rise There is somewhere we are headed now There is much to rearrange... Wind of change, rise up wind of change Wind of change, rise up wind of change As it lifts our fallen spirits As it cools our tender skin It is near and far beyond us It's outside and deep within Wind of change, rise up wind of change Wind of change, rise up wind of change We are watching for tornadoes As we scan uncertain skies But a deeper part of me knows That a healing wind may rise There is somewhere we are headed now There is much to rearrange... Wind of change, rise up wind of change Wind of change, rise up wind of change 4. You Rhyme With Me You rhyme with me You complete my phrase Keep time with me In your playful ways You rhyme with me Rhyme with me You rhyme with me You fit in this space Unwind with me Pieces fall in place It's fine with me How you rhyme with me Other ones, they might do Like other words not quite as true I looked so long, but now I see You rhyme with me Rhyme with me You stay with me It's not an easy thing When I disagree Tangle up the strings Pay no mind to me Just rhyme with me When you're here with me You make things make sense There is poetry In our difference Strange as it might be You rhyme with me Other ones, they might do Other loves not quite as true I looked so long, now I see You rhyme with me Rhyme with me Rhyme with me. 5. People Come and Go People come and go It happens all the time One day they just don't show It isn't such a crime The one you thought you knew Who said it isn't so People just like you People come and go People come and go People turn away And not when you expect They suddenly can't stay They leave you to reflect On the one you thought you knew Who said it isn't so Someone just like you People come and go People come and go And it's no big deal No need to make a fuss Time is just a wheel Rolling over all of us Like the one you thought you knew Who said it isn't so People just like you... People come and go People come and go People run and hide Not knowing what they seek It's something deep inside That makes the knees go weak And I could count to ten Go looking high and low But you'd disappear again Cause people come and go People come and go And it's no big deal No need to start a war It's pretty hard to heal When you're beating on a door Of the one you thought you knew Who said it isn't so... Someone just like you People come and go People come and go People come and go. 6. Crossing Guard Crossing guard I like your colourful coat It's like a little lifeboat In this cold rain Crossing guard I like the way you take note Of me walking this road Now and again As all of us are stumbling for the other side Like chickens in the middle of the road Frequently too frightened to look left or right As we are told... Crossing guard You know, I almost got hit I nearly got kicked Down to the curb Crossing guard I don't understand it The thought I could slip Had not occurred But all of us are stumbling for the other side We don't wait until the coast is clear Frequently too blinded to wait for that light I'm glad you're here, I'm glad you're here All of us, all of us... All of us, all... Crossing guard You're making me wait In this typical state Of in between You say it isn't so hard I'm not running too late To appreciate The turning green As all of us are stumbling for the other side Like chickens in the middle of the road Frequently too blinded to wait for that light As we are told, as we are told As we are told, as we are told... 7. The Things We Throw Away The things we throw away We take them to the lawn Send them on their way By Friday they'll be gone The things we throw away We leave beside the road Things we don't believe make Such a heavy load Truck is coming early today Wonder what the neighbours will say 'Bout the things we throw away All of the things we throw away The things we're giving up The things that we refuse Every gift we got We didn't ever use The things that fell apart The things all broken down Everything discarded In every part of town Truck is coming early today For the stuff that gets in the way All the things we throw away Things we throw away We hide them in a bag We seal them in a bin We don't ever look back and We don't dare peek in The things we throw away The blessings and the curse Things we try to cling to That just makes it worse The things we said we loved But now we wonder why All those things are piling up In mountains to the sky Truck is coming early today Under clouds so heavy and grey With the things we throw away All of the things we throw away The things we throw away The things that we let go Things we say goodbye to Til we say hello To everything we need That's right here at our feet As we watch that truck go Rumbling down the street Truck was coming early today Now we're stuck here Come what may With the things we throw away All of the things we throw away 8. Stuff It's getting pretty dark and it's so hard to see The way our life together is supposed to be There's so much standing in between the two of us Stuff that doesn't matter and stuff that does Stuff we brought with us when we moved in Stuff we get rid of that comes back again Stuff we don't look at, even though we must Stuff that doesn't matter and stuff that does We go up and down the ladders looking for that buzz But I'm every bit as baffled as I ever was The planet is in tatters and it's all because Can't tell the stuff that doesn't matter from the stuff that does We could turn around and we could change our ways Sanctify the ground and simplify our days Unless we're blown away in a big cloud of dust Made of stuff that doesn't matter and stuff that does So thank you all for coming, yeah you've been so kind To listen to another still dumb and blind I had something to say, I don't know what it was Could be stuff that doesn't matter or stuff that does We go up and down the ladders looking for that buzz But I'm every bit as baffled as I ever was The planet is in tatters and it's all because Can't tell the stuff that doesn't matter from the stuff that does Stuff that doesn't matter from the stuff that does. 9. Planet in a Plastic Bag I don't have time to take it nice and slow I'm in a hurry, I'll get that to go Heading home and feeling so jet-lagged Put my planet in a plastic bag I've got some things I need to get wrapped up A handle on important stuff Take a look at this fantastic swag I got this planet in a plastic bag...(x2) Holding on through thick and thin Giving it a certain spin Betting that I'm gonna win Hold on tight...I'm climbing in... I've got a strategy that's so air-tight I know The Secret of my heart's delight Keep on moving in a cool zig-zag Keep my planet in a plastic bag I did not want it in a paper sack I kept moving, I did not look back I lit up and took a nice long drag On my planet in a plastic bag (Chorus) It was handed down to us, my Dear Like a present given free and clear We were fine until we hit that snag, Put our planet in a plastic bag And if you carry it away with me We'll display it so the stars can see We will fly it like a big white flag Planet in a plastic bag Planet in a plastic bag... (Chorus) 10. Slow Me Down (Inspired by new legislation in Ontario imposing mandatory speed limitations on 18-wheeler trucks.) Forty tons of metal Shiny silver steel Heavy on the pedal All my weight upon the wheel Riding high above the highway Up above the rules I am late for my delivery And burning up my fuel... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down I don't know how it happens But every time I drive Suddenly a hundred turns into one-thirty-five Just like twenty turned to forty In the blinking of an eye And now I'm pushing fifty As the miles go clicking by Slow me down...(etc.) Funny how it hits you As you pick up speed The things you put behind you Are the things you really need You can see them in the mirror In the twilight glow They are always on your shoulder Never mind how fast you go Slow me down... They say I've got it in me Everything I need To keep my wheels in motion As I regulate my speed I know I could activate it It's just something I don't do Darling, if we're gonna make it Then I've got to turn to you, to... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down, slow me... Slow me down 11. A Little More Like June (Written in tribute to June Callwood, social activist and writer, 1924-2007) I feel a kinder breeze A sweetly warming sun It's like a hand that reaches out to everyone On this April afternoon... That feels a little more like June The sun extends a smile That lights the city skies It shines on us awhile and soon we realize So much is now in bloom... It looks a little more like June A little more awake A little more alive More willing to create more room... 'Til everyone's embraced And this old world survives To see a day a little more like June. We'll drive away the chill That lingers in the air Compassion and goodwill burn brighter than despair... Oh, the time is opportune To be a little more like June And if I raise my voice I dare to make it strong If you and I can join to right another wrong... Then this humble little tune Will sound a little more like June A little more awake A little more alive More willing to create more room... 'Til everyone's embraced And this old world survives To see a day a little more Like what we've all been waiting for... To see a day a little more like June. 12. The Thistles In the year 1907 Our hockey game was young The Stanley Cup was something Just the lucky few had won The eastern teams retained it 'Til Montreal went down At the hands of seven skaters From a tiny Western town The other teams played dirty, The Thistles kept it clean And the players they were swifter Than the league had ever seen And right here in Kenora Just a hundred years ago You could hear the roar Above the hills of ice and snow Listen to the story That we all can call our own The Thistles rode the wind The day they brought old Stanley home... The Thistles rode the wind McGimsie he played centre ice With Ed Giroux in goal The captain, Philips, on the right And on the left, Beaudro Artie Ross the point man He went on to finer things Tom Hooper and Si Griffis played With Joe Hall in the wings They flew across the surface Those young boys from the sticks They cleanly won that contest Four to two, and eight to six Chorus Today I watch him skating Right here in our backyard My grandson grabs a stick He finds the puck, he shoots it hard And the ice is like a mirror Under January skies And I can see my father In that little champion's eyes Right here in Kenora... We still here the roar... As we listen to the story That we all can call our own The Thistles rode the wind The day they brought ol' Stanley home The Thistles rode the wind... 13. Pillow When the night wears thin You take me in, my pillow... When the fabric of the world is frayed and torn How I cling to you I need you more than you know 'Cause your the place where all my dreams are born When the day grows cold It's you I hold, my pillow... When the story winds its way down to a close... Still I talk to you, I open up my windows The part of me only my pillow knows. These are hard times, Love These are hard times, Love And I'm falling down, but I won't break tonight... Oh, Pillow, my heart's tucked in tight... When our time runs out You'll hear me shout, my pillow... As I turn to you with tears upon my face I may say goodnight, but I will never let go I'll never lose the love of your embrace... Chorus Oh, pillow, my heart's tucked in Oh, pillow, my heart's tucked in Oh, pillow, my heart's tucked in tight When the night wears thin, You take me in,My pillow. |