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Lyrics to Second Grade Awakening
We
Come From the Sky
Songs from the brain, the heart, and the other guy
Autumn Breeze
Love is not a crime
The difference between the slaves
Winter Pyrite
If
Good day for the rain
Spring
Some summer day
Like a peasant
The please don't rain dance
We Come From the Sky
Lightning strikes the womb
and creation comes into full bloom
and hatred tries to separate the birth that occurs every day
but you can not stand in between the light we hold and the air we breathe
and you can not simplify the vision of an open mind
and ain't no war or political
deception could
ever come close to destroying our connection
cause it ain't about being human it's about being alive
and you ask me where we come from well I tell you now
we come from the sky
so race, gender, origin no
it does not matter to me my friend
cause we all have the same dream and we all have similarities
"to other humans" they know what you mean
"to other animals" they might disagree
"to other plants" they think that you're absurd
but we are all breathers on this earth
and I'm starting to understand the beauty in this crazy land
and I'm starting to understand leaves feathers fins and hands
and we spin around with no
other purpose
than to bathe in the light that surrounds each one of us
and I ain't afraid to look any creature in the eye
cause we are beautiful, we are ethereal, we are festive
we come from the sky
so its time to figure out
what the anger's all about
and what we see in the crystal ball when the world's so big and the
world's so small
cause it ain't about what they give and it ain't about what they got
and it ain't about what you need its all about what you want
cause I know deep down inside of you
what you want is pure and true
because every breather breathes in tune
and what we want is pure and true
so we lift our arms to the
setting sun
and we fly out loud, we'll never get stuck
cause we're as free as the wind that blows on by
peace and love created us and I tell you now
we come from the sky
© John Craigie 2004
Songs from the brain, the heart, and the other guy
I have laid myself
in front of you just like Spanish streets
and I am just as honest and I am just as crazy
my sides are filled with smoke, my hills are filled with gypsies
and I'm all right
I have crashed myself
against you just like Big Sur waves
and I've been tryin' to kiss you with my spray
and I've been running my fingers up and down your coastline
oh but I'm all right
I've just been looking
for new ways to turn you on
cause you said a simple mind is just another oxymoron
and I sing to every cloud that passes by
as I sit and write songs from the brain, the heart, and the other guy
I have fallen down
upon you just like Arizona snow
you know we're not quite the most common image that occurs to folks
but I will cool you when you're hot I will flutter from above,
but it's up to you whether I land on your nose or on your tongue
and you say, leave
me be, man, time is just a sponge
soaking up what happens and squeezing out what's to come
but I get lost from daylong trips in your eyes
gives me inspiration to write songs from the brain, the heart, and the
other guy
we have stained
each other just like Moroccan mud
we have melted in the rain, and hardened in the sun
with life's constant attempts to clean us off
but the more a stain is washed the more legendary it becomes
and I know its time
for us to leave
I just wanna say you were a better muse than the sky the stars and the
sea
come on in I got something much better than goodbye
one last session of songs from the brain, the heart, and the other guy
© John Craigie 2004
Autumn Breeze
When the rain meets
the rainbow
water means everything
when the sun hits the shadow
and death makes love to the seed
like twigs these
thoughts they either bend or snap
depending on how young they are
get breath confused with the Milky Way
holes in sheets, confused with the stars
beaches are looking
different
sand stays where it blows
but life still trusts us like a swimming pool
for that I do not know
for we have no deep,
no shallow end
none that I can see
it seems that we are more like diving boards
that hang over the sea
and as death leaps
wild and free
I do not fear the danger here
I don't spend time, time spends me
and autumn leaves are blowing free
whenever we get
cursed with comfort
we get blessed by change
life is attachment to the branch
everything else is just blowing away
you always said
"dance like nobody's watching
and love like its never gonna hurt"
but I always said "the sun and the moon are disco balls
on this dance floor we call planet earth"
and I stay barefoot
to the birds
barechested to the bees
pure love will not hurt
and autumn leaves are blowing free
© John Craigie 2004
Love is not a crime
Put your arm around whoever you may wish
and do not hide behind closed doors, because this is how it is
and scream it to the bigots for it's about time that they learned
that there ain't no difference between the hearts in them and the hearts
in those they judge
and this ain't about redemption this ain't about the past
this is about not telling someone there love is wrong just because you
don’t understand
so live and be free, hand
in hand no one should
be criticized there whole life for something so pure and good
and they will call you all their names they'll call you what they like
but don’t let them call you no criminal
because love is not a crime
so step into the land wherever
you wish to live
and do not let the conservative ignorance silence you ever again
for all there hate and judgment well I know that it will pass
for one thing that I've learned about hypocrisy is that hypocrisy can't
last
and they will lay down laws
to rationalize their fears
and then society will wonder how all the hatred got here
and all them politicians they will see the light
and come to terms with themselves they know
that love is not a crime
I see the sun, I see the
sun shine down and not judge anyone
well this is the wave sent to liberate,
and we'll save the closets for those who feel they need to live their
lives in hate
so this is where I stand
forever I will run
although I cannot change the minds of everyone
but I will raise my children as I bring them into this life
that there is "yes" and there is "no" oh but
love is not a crime
© John Craigie 2004
The difference between the slaves
Well in school they
taught me to salute the flag with my hand over my heart
and they showed me pictures of the globe and how we'd split it apart
color-coated countries flashed before my head
and I asked how come Mexico's always brown and Russia's always red?
but they said "its
all right, don’t you mind, just try and get a good grade"
but I remained curious to find the difference between the slaves
you say the youth
of today is crumbling and schools are at an all time low
but when you were cutting the budget you know art was the first to go
kids are gonna find a way to release all their creativity
and without expression in the classroom all that’s left is the
streets
and you say, "I
don't care, I just want my child to be safe"
but I urge all to stay curious and find the difference between the slaves
you can't enslave
a gender and expect to see all of their love
you won't even see a fraction of the beauty they're capable of
you who create stereotypes and deny all of their gifts
well I say turn your head and ignore them at your own risk
but you say, "it's
all right, I just want fair and equal pay"
but I urge you all to stay curious and find the difference between the
slaves
you cannot wash
the sun off you cannot stop the day
you can't make something against the law without admitting that you're
afraid
but its gets so hard to make a difference even harder to break through
cause if voting could change anything they'd probably make that illegal
too
but you say, "it's
all right, I just wanna know where all of this takes place"
but I urge you all to stay curious and find the difference between the
slaves
© John Craigie 2004
Winter Pyrite
I used to think the change was near by the icy dawn
but now I know that winter's here when my shoes come back on
and things don't need time to shine it’s a moment by moment touch
and there's no need to think about tomorrow cause tomorrow thinks enough
about us
and if you're listening to my music please turn off
all the lights
but leave the Christmas tree bright and fall asleep under the rainbow
stars
but don’t wake me if you don’t need to cause I'm only one
minute from happening
just like the sound of one hand clapping and the other side of gold
and I remember when you told me that this world was
like pyrite
and only fools like us would take it so seriously
and I remember when you held me in the winter twilight
and you said there's that thing about gold
It's just as good as any other stone
till people come along and put prices on everything
I've learned there ain't no such thing as showing off
cause in the end you can't show anymore than what you got
and you always said the secret to life is to live without any regrets
but I always said if you can't get naked in the winter believe me summer
will not be impressed
and I've been so disgusted by how secure insecurity
is
and how the more that one puts in is equal to what the other takes out
so don’t wake me if you don’t need to cause I'm only one
minute from happening
just like the sound of one hand clapping, well I'll be trying to make
that sound
and I remember when you told me that this world was
like pyrite
and only fools like us would consider it of any wealth
and I remember when you held me in the winter twilight
and you said there's that thing about snow
well nothing really grows until it melts
© John Craigie 2004
If
A man sits under a Joshua
tree
he wants to know himself before he's gotta leave
but some things brother just can't be rushed
you that things still shine even as they rust
well I've been tortured and
I've been split
I've been falling in love with that little word "if"
cause I see potential I see a chance
I've heard tears chuckled and laughter shed
oh but I'm no good at coming
home
this L.A. sun she rises to slow
and I've stopped saying that I'm not alone
that’s for the rest of you to decide
in the shadow of my cliqued
era
every dream is measured every thought is scattered
and we hold onto our youth so afraid to let go
but if you're only young once how many times are you old
and I've been confessing
to everyone
that playing music is like making love
and writing a song is like preparing for a kiss
you just close your eyes and hope they understand
oh but I'm no good at coming
home
this L.A. sun she rises to slow
and I've stopped saying that I'm not alone
that’s for the rest of you to decide
in the shade of a Joshua
tree
I wanna know myself before I gotta leave
but some things brother just can't be rushed
cause things still shine even as they rust
© John Craigie 2004
Good day for the rain
It’s a Cat Stevens
afternoon under a pale winter sky
and I've been composing campfire tunes or at least I'm trying
and I read bumper stickers that say "George Bush lost" and
"Eve was framed"
and I try so hard not to complain cause someone's tomorrow is my today
we’re just breathers
living in transit
searching for our enemy's name
we push our love up to the Atlantic
and it’s a good day for the rain
I've seen those that hate
terrorists and feel we need to drop more bombs
I've met those that love and those that support every enemy of America
but nobody burns the flag anymore, its legal now it ain't got much pull
but the protesters get confused they cry at the death but they cheer
the downfall
we’re just breathers
living in transit
searching for our enemy's name
we push our love up to the Atlantic
and it’s a good day for the rain
so you can hate the country
you are, or you can hate the country you aren't
or you can contemplate these labels and these pieces of ground that
we're standing on
cause there is only one ocean, and we are not islands
rain collects itself from the collective waters and falls on everyone's
head
all the breathers living
in transit
dying for our enemy's name
two fires burn on the Atlantic
and it’s a good day for the rain
© John Craigie 2004
Spring
Winter never leaves without
a few after shocks
It's hard to tell when spring begins through the mist and the wind
and people say souls put blankets around the things that they touch
and we're either swimming in our sweat or freezing to death these days
the snow makes its way down
towards the sun
because the higher that it fell the longer it takes to melt
and I see a little of that in everyone
cause we are determined to give spring everything it needs to say
one more time let this quiet
little planet wake up and shine
with new beginnings and stuff cause life ain't exactly the way they
told us it was
you know not every graduate has a plan and not every woman needs a man
and I know I'm watching California and paradise collide
in every orange poppy, in every monarch butterfly
that which heals your cuts
and kisses your scars
and watches every broken unicorn get a chance to regrow its horn
may not get to be there when the bandages come off
when every liar gets a chance to jump out of the fire and say
that every tree is like an
explosion that happens every spring
with new beginnings and stuff cause life ain't exactly the way they
told us it was
you know not every tadpole becomes a frog and not every woman becomes
a mom
and I know I'm watching California and paradise collide
in every blood orange, in every monarch butterfly
let it all come back, let
the green burst from the brown
let every blossom bloom let every wish come true
let every soul make a sound
often we are tempted to go
and hibernate
but life's hands pushes time on our backs oh yeah
and spring is just a metaphor for what happens every day
for we are called to rise to grow to decide and say
that some things are here
just to flash a few petals then to disappear
oh and life ain't afraid to show that weeds grow much faster than the
food that we sow
not all patience goes unrewarded and not all truth comes back distorted
and I know I'm watching California and paradise collide
in every brave midwife, in every monarch butterfly
let it all come back, let
the green burst from the brown
let every blossom bloom let every wish come true
let every soul make a sound
the sun comes in with seeds
on the wind
and the pollen comes pouring down
and every blossom blooms every wish comes true
and every soul makes a sound
© John Craigie 2004
Some summer day
I'm singing songs for the
warmth to that shy old sun
I've been believing in nothing and everything all at once
and I feel so silly about some of my words
but I can't take back the things that nobody heard
and I look across the fields
I see not much is left
just my crazy stories and your beautiful laugh
and its things like these that distance can't erase and
maybe we could combine them on some summer day
I've been trying to fall
into you and still keep us free
but people call me the blind man who pretends that he can see
but I know the challenge oh and I'll take it on
cause I'd do anything to keep us comfortable in each other's arms
and I look across the mountains
I see not much is left
just your soft forehead and my inspired lips
and its things like these that we never kept at bay and
maybe we could combine them on some summer day
the world's going crazy I
guess it always will
I guess the more we pour out the greater the chance of a spill
and war is just a symptom of the greater disease
and I think a cure is more important than temporary peace
and I look across the treeline
I see not much is left
just my sensitive ears and your sunkissed hands
and its things like these that inspired us to play and
maybe we could combine them on some summer day
well maybe I could sing this
on the season's first day
as spring says see ya next time and then slowly walks away
and maybe you could hear me from over the curve of the earth
and we could fall back to the sky for one more visit to our world
and it won't even matter
that there ain't much left
just your granting powers and my out loud wish
and all the things we've cherished from September to May and
maybe we could combine them on some summer day
© John Craigie 2004
Like a peasant
Ain't got much money
ain't got much food
but still we act like those that do
we got a job just so we could pay
for all the things that get us to our jobs everyday
ain't much has changed ain't much is new
just more bills to pay more reasons to wear shoes
I know our freedom lies around that bend
where we can laugh like peasants again
I've heard "the
only difference between democracy,
and old-fashioned slavery,
is that in democracy you do not have to feed your slaves
when they die more come eagerly to take their place"
the only thing we've done it seems
is made ourselves more visible to the king
I wanna go where royalty don't know our names
I wanna laugh like a peasant again
we spend the youthful
part of our lives
building a retirement fund just so we can sigh
some day when we're ninety and we can barely move
and we have all the money to do all the things that youthful person
wanted to
oh I wanna simplify I wanna lay in your arms
I know we can make the world smile just by singing our songs
then we can head back to the farm with our friends
and we can laugh like peasants again
© John Craigie 2004
The please don't rain dance
The decorations are all in
order, the guests are starting to arrive
the jazz is humming softly, the walls are coming alive
the vegetarians are out by the barbecue seeing how much they can eat
and the liberals are talking with the conservatives seeing on how much
they can agree
and me I'm putting the star on the tree and the folk singers are giving
me a hand
and all my friends are out on the lawn doing the please don't rain dance
and the lawyers are standing
by the alcohol cause they have so much in common
both can be mixed with almost anything, enough to feel it but not enough
to get sick
and some of the graduates are talking bout careers, and some are talking
about death
and there are those that are philosophizing that there ain't much of
a difference
and the Christians are painting with the hippies to see who can truly
draw love in the end
and all my friends are out on the lawn doing the please don't rain dance
the green party and the ACLU
are throwing darts with the CIA
and the patriot act has replaced the bull's eye and half of them don't
know how to play
and Dr. Jack he's neath the mistletoe and he's waiting for that kiss
of death
and he says "the only thing I'm guilty of is not pretending that
death doesn't exist"
and all that have been tested wait for that strange penalty of romance
and all my friends are out on the lawn doing the please don't rain dance
now Bin Laden he's in the
bathroom and he's frustratingly shaving his head
cause he's learned you can only kill people you cannot kill a concept
but George Bush he's waiting outside cause he's really got to go
and he says "I've been fighting concepts for so long, I guess people
is a more realistic goal"
and Donald Rumsfeld and Saddam Hussein are outside throwing sand
at all my friends out on the lawn doing the please don't rain dance
Timothy McViegh is slow dancing
with Jane Fonda and they're both sorry but for different reasons
and they say "wars can be global and wars can be personal,
but we are judged by the impact of our statement"
and Hilary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky are singing Christmas carols
to the pope
and the pope asks "how many journalists does it take to screw in
a lightbulb?"
and Hilary says "man they're too busy screwing other folks"
and Michael Moore is singing the Canadian national anthem to Dr. Laura
and Ayn Rand
and all my friends are out on the lawn doing the please don't rain dance
now things are getting a
little crowded, everybody's drinking their minds
cause the movie stars all wanna be rock starts and the singers just
want a little peace and quiet
and the walls are bending outward and the jazz has been set free
everybody has grabbed their coats, but nobody knows how to leave
and the next time I throw a party I'm thinking that I just might not
show up
cause everybody thinks rain is inevitable nobody thinks that it can
be stopped
I fell asleep at some point
and woke up just a few minutes ago
to the sound of thunder and lightning and rain falling on my window
everybody had pretty much cleared out except for those who needed a
place to crash
like the guys from Enron and all the dot coms and those too drunk to
head back
but me I'm headed outside cause you can't brave the storm without getting
a little wet
I'm gonna join my friends out on the lawn and do the please don't rain
dance