| All songs written by Michelle Malone ©1999 Strange Bird Songs/Ensign Music/ASCAP except Tonic, written by Michelle Malone and Leigh Lytle (Learn To Cry ©1993, Cold Cocked Music/Sony ATV Songs/BMI).
Avalon
I been thinking about the world and how it seems to have gone a bit crazy. I can’t open a paper or a magazine or turn on my TV without seeing something I don’t want to see. There’s terror on the front page news . And tragedy on channel two. And faces saying I have to buy something to make me happy.
Avalon, where are you now? If you could, would you open up your veil? Let me drink a little from your well. Avalon, I have been waiting here so patiently. For you to show the way across the summer sea. Oh, Avalon, where can you be?
I don’t understand how anyone of us could expect to feel grounded. I don’t need the madness. Makes me want to pack and head straight for the mountains. Or the canyon or the sea. ‘Cause I would rather be bombarded by the sky, if it was falling. Seek the refuge of an island. Create my own free country.
Strength For Two
Is there anything that I can say to you? Is there anything that you need me to do? ‘Cause I can see your will is gone. You say you don’t have the strength to try. But I have got the strength for two tonight.
Remember back when we first fell in love. We stood by each other through the push and shove. Now it’s hard to say where you stand today. Looking through a stranger’s tired eyes. But I have got the strength for two tonight.
Tell me what you need to hear to change your mind. I’d tell you anything, but I’m afraid that you’re not listening. When life and love get separated like a lock and key, someone gets left behind. Will it be me?
The truth is something that you cannot hide. And I feel everything you feel inside. But it’s hard to say you can go your way, before we try to make this work out right. When I have got the strength for two tonight. When I have got the strength for two tonight.
Floating Down a Dream
Floating down a dream — no thoughts, no time, no anything. Saturated in the star machine. Chariot clouds swing — Down low — I got no place to go. No bellyache, no scars, no seam.
Here everything you wanted is waiting for you, my darling. Here everything you wanted is waiting for you, my darlin.
Floating down a dream. The streets are sleepless lullabies. Feather beds and breezes, south winds blow. Jezebel swing low — slow wings are spreading out for me. Jealous gods all watching from the loge.
Here everything you wanted is waiting for you, my darling. Here everything you wanted is waiting for you, my darlin.
When the day has come and gone wave goodbye to everyone. Disappear like shadows into the setting sun.
Drifting on a sea — oh yes, you were my nemesis. A dream can become most anything. A dream can become most anything.
Suddenly
I’ve been hiding in a daze for years. I been gliding, no account for all the tears. Suddenly you’re everything I’ll ever need. And you have been right by my side the whole time.
I’ve been running straight to nowhere fast. Kept on running away from fear I could not pass. Suddenly you’re everything that I can see. And you have been right by my side the whole time.
Is it really worth it if it isn’t worth ya fighting for. But we have, yes, we have. Easy money isn’t easy, is it, if it doesn’t last. And we have, yes we have.
I’ve been loving, in a daze for years. Really loving, I’ve given up those tired fears. Suddenly you’re everything that I desire. And you have been right by my side the whole time. You have been right by my side, knowing that I could not hide. You have been right by my side the whole time.
Keeping Score
You laugh like life is the funniest joke that you’ve ever heard. Like living is the easiest job that you never had. You make me feel like a kid in your candy. Make me want to believe in a family. Make me believe that living isn’t really that hard.
When you love like you’ve never been hurt before. And you dance like no one is watching you on the floor. In these troubled times, I’ll keep yours if you’ll keep mine. And we’ll live like no one’s keeping score.
I asked you if you thought the world might be coming to an end. You smiled and you said “if it is we shouldn’t try to pretend.” No one alive can ever make it on their own. You can buy a house, but you can’t buy a home. Life isn’t worth living if you’re not giving your heart.
When you love like you’ve never been hurt before. And you dance like no one is watching you on the floor. In these troubled times, I’ll keep yours if you’ll keep mine. And we’ll live like no one’s keeping score.
No one’s keeping score, No one’s keeping score.
Brand New Dream
I got a brand new dream and you’re not in it. I been fighting myself for as long as I can stand it. Should I stay or should I go — when I listen then I know. Shadow boxing in my head is bruising my ego.
If you don’t want me to be real. Don’t expect an apology. The only thing I’m sorry for is wasting all my energy.
I got a brand new dream and you’re not in it. You don’t know what you got ‘til they push you to the limit . Money comes and money goes — if you’d listen then you’d know. I’m not the kind I used to be — I’m making it easy.
You wasted all my energy. Wasted all my energy.
I got a brand new dream and it’s got a happy ending. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to clean out your skeletons. Should I stay or should I go — when I listen then I know. Give my regards to Broadway — I’m hitting the highway.
If you don’t want me to be real. Don’t expect an apology. The only thing I’m sorry for is wasting all my energy. If you don’t want me to be real. Don’t expect an apology. The only thing I’m sorry for is wasting all my energy. You wasted all my energy. Wasted all my energy.
Learn to Cry
If I’d never had a thirst for another’s well. If my throat had never dried and my strength had never failed. On a hot summer night with a full moon rise. I’d have never gone astray if it wasn’t for the sky.
If it wasn’t for the train that came a-tickin’ down the track. The one that took you away — the one that ain’t coming back. If it wasn’t for the whistle singing soft and low, I could still hear you say that you never would go.
If it wasn’t for the sky, oh, the sky. You would never have learned to fly. If it wasn’t for the sky, oh, my eyes. I would never have learned to cry.
Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall down on me.
If it weren’t for the rain fallin’ down on me. If it weren’t for the leaves blowin’ all around me. If it weren’t for my sorrow, I wouldn’t be here today. And if it weren’t for the sky, I wouldn’t feel this way.
If it weren’t for the sky, oh, the sky. You would never have learned to fly. If it weren’t for the sky, oh, my eyes. I would never have learned to cry.
Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall down on me. Don’t you let the sky fall. You let the sky fall down on me.
Tonic
All my life I’ve been waiting for this moment to arrive. Spent my days turned around and looking back the other way. Times like these can hit so hard. Wasted years swallowing the tears, swallowing the fear.
Time can bring you to your knees, if you don’t recognize them. Let them flow then you can go and let them shine for all the world to see.
In my dreams I’ve stood blind and waiting by the midnight sea. Send me light so that I can see tomorrow and believe. Times like these can turn the tide. Wasted years swallowing the tears, swallowing the fears.
All my life I’ve been waiting for this moment to arrive. All my life, I’m gonna let it shine.
On My Way
If you saw me on the street, would you look away from me? If my heart was on display, would you turn the other way?
If I was hungry for some truth, would you feed me or would you throw me some change for a coffee or vermouth — See the hole here in my boot — you think it strange, don't you?
Because being with you was like being a toy that you left and forgot in the rain. I waited for you, but you never came through. So, I'm on my way back home.
When I see you losing breath, will I lift that anvil of guilt off of your chest? If it was really up to me would I be unfettered and free? Yes, I confess... Would I sacrifice my life for some pie high in the sky ideal? Do I listen to my head if my heart is telling me to turn my heels?
Because being with you was like being alone with a photograph and a telephone. I waited for you but you never came through so I’m on my way back home.
Home Grown
I been sitting in this apartment — feels like for thirteen years. Since I was back in college just a few short miles from here. My future was bright and shiny — I had wings upon my feet. And I didn’t give a damn about anybody else but me.
This is home — apartment number 8. This is home — won’t you sit down in the shade?
The garden’s all grown over, and the neighbors come and go. But Chris has lived across the street for 7 years or so. Now the plaster’s peeling from the walls, and the ceiling’s got some leaks. I can walk through here with my eyes closed and still avoid the creaks.
This is home — where the best plans have been laid. This is home — where I grew up much too late. Will you lay down beside me before it gets too late. And let me welcome you into my home.
I’ve been sitting in this apartment waiting for my ship to sail. But the canvas started rotting through and there’s rust upon the rail. Back when I dropped my anchor I didn’t know it’d be so long before I’d saved up enough cash to pack up and move on.
How many times can I promise myself that everything turns for the best? How many years can a woman pretend she deserves just what she gets?
But this is home — where I’ve learned from my mistakes. This is home — where my dreams began to fade. Won’t you lay down beside me before it gets too late. And let me welcome you into my home.
Havasu Falls
Marilyn, can I borrow your Jeep? I’ve got to get out of town. I think I’m through with my recovery, and I’m tired of being city bound. I hear the canyon calling, and there’s a lot to figure out. Leigh started packing this morning, and we’re ready to be heading out.
I’m going down to Havasu Falls. Gonna drop myself in the water without a sound in Havasu Falls. Gonna wash my spirit clean. When the walls start closing in on me gonna find that road to set me free. And do all I can do to get to Havasu.
If you want to you can come along — we’d enjoy your company. We’ll probably head up to 75, and turn left at Nashville, Tennessee. Tyson is a darling — we’ll pick him up in Cherokee. Everybody else is flying in to Phoenix on the ten thirteen.
We’ll pretend that we’re the first to discover it and live there off the land. When General Sheridan comes to uncover it, we’ll drown him in the desert sand. The ancient voices are calling —I’m here at your command. Feels like a new day is dawning — we may never come back again.
Cheap One Star Hotel
I sit in silence in my hotel room thinking of the meaningless things I could do. Stare at the window and stare at the walls. Stare at nothing thinking of nothing at all. Oooh-ooooh, I chained and locked the deadbolt on the door. Ooooh- oooh, Now I can sleep as late as three or four.
The phone it doesn’t ring, the sun it doesn’t shine. In my cheap one star hotel room it is always night. It’s good to come here and be all alone. Finally I’m safe inside this room I call my home . Oooh – oooh, I cannot wait for the housemaid to come. Oooh – oooh, she’ll stick her head inside my door and run. I thank God for this green earth and you and my guitar. But also for this cheap hotel of only one bright star.
It’s good to come here and buy a little rest. Me and the neighbors share a common need for being guests. And if it weren’t for this cheap one star hotel don’t know where I’d be — sleeping in my car somewhere on Hwy 93. Oooh – ooh, I took a shower and a bubble bath. Oooh –ooh, it’s amazing how long that hot water lasts.
I thank God for this green earth and you and my guitar. But also for this cheap hotel of only one bright star. I thank god for this green earth and you and my guitar. But also for this cheap hotel ….of only one bright star.
Nothing More
You’re down in the desert mapping out mirages on the iridescent planes. I’m caught in the cascades, and I’m coming down like rain. Are you listening? I’m lost again.
Everybody thinks this is the end of the line. I’ve got witnesses — they’re coming over tonight to comfort me. Still I don’t feel like the genuine article. The imposter poster child, the invisible. Eternally turning the leaf. Eternally turning the leaf.
Bridges are burning — dissatisfaction guaranteed behind a smoking screen. I want to do what feels right — everybody’s so afraid — making mistakes — pick me up again.
Everybody’s trying to congratulate me. I’ve got confidence that they’ve all been faking — we’ll wait to see. It’s a game we play since before we could speak. Where we hide the meaning — and we continue to seek. Eternally turning the leaf. Eternally turning the leaf.
An empty bottle finally washed up on the shore. All sea and sand and nothing more.
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Homegrown