1. |
The Still Standing Blues
01:45
|
|||
The Still Standing Blues
(c) Shawn Chamberlin 2020
You can burn me down
Spread your smoke around
You can close the street at my door.
When the river floods
And we’re all under mud
I’m STILL STANDING with both feet on the floor
I’ve got the STILL STANDING Blues
Got wet feet, muddy shoes
Why does it have to be so tough to make ‘a Go’?
Like a dog with a bone
Although my savings are blown
I’m STILL STANDING with both feet on the floor
Close my street for repair
You can’t even walk there
Spread a virus that scares them all away
But when the crying’s done
And rebuilding’s begun
We’re STILL STANDING We’re not going away
I’ve got the STILL STANDING Blues
Mask and sanitizer too
I’m tenacious to a fault, too dumb to quit.
I’ll smile when you are here
Then cry in my beer
I’m STILL STANDING ‘cause there’s no time to sit.
I’m STILL STANDING ‘cause there’s no place to sit.
I’m STILL STANDING ‘ I’m the one who gives a sh.. CARE…
|
||||
2. |
Solitary Sunday
05:38
|
|||
Staring out on Sunday morning
Snow is falling without warning
Cold as Ice
Winter's fingers on my heart
Cold wind blowing us apart
I reach for you
Dreamed of you again last night
Dressed in satin in the light
Very Nice
Forgot and put two coffees on
Listening to our favorite song
Miss you so
Bridge
Sure as morning follows night;
After darkness comes a light
Spring will follow winter's dark.
With warm breath and meadow lark
On the breezes you’ll return.
Warm as sunshine fresh like fern
Touch my heart and drive the cold.
Eyes to ponder, hand to hold.
Thought I heard the car door slam
For the back door window ran
Just in my head
Woke from sleeping in my chair
Smell of perfume in your hair
Just a dream
Bridge
Sure as morning follows night;
After darkness comes a light
Spring will follow winters dark.
With warm breath and meadow lark
On the breezes you’ll return.
Warm as sunshine fresh like fern
Touch my heart and drive the cold.
Eyes to ponder, hand to hold.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder
Time heals all and makes us stronger
So they say
But never on a Sunday morning
Snow is falling without warning
Miss you so
|
||||
3. |
The Girl in the Attic
03:50
|
|||
She stands in the window
Curtain drawn across her face
As she stares across the river
Never moving in her place
There's a legend, there's a story
Of a broken, shattered heart
Two young happy star crossed lovers
Put together; torn apart
Chorus
See her standing see her whisper
See her silhouette alone
See her waiting see her watching
For the man she calls her own.
Some say she had history
Maybe she was damaged goods
Came a timber man to love her
Died so sudden in the wood
Tired with grief she could not bear it
Good love found and sudden lost
Took her last breath in the river
Lost love has the highest cost
Chorus
See her standing see her whisper
See her silhouette alone
See her waiting see her watching
For the man she calls her own.
Now she lives in the attic
In the old Dominion Hotel
And she shows herself to strangers
So that we her story tell
Now she stands there in the window
And she doesn't like locked doors
So her love will find her waiting
Love will be just as before
|
||||
4. |
A Hole in My Heart
03:11
|
|||
5. |
||||
“He waits for you”, They said. “At the end of the bar”.
Italian felt hat. Dark wavy hair. Pinstripe suit. Crisp clean shirt.
Shiny-toe shoes. Long stoic face.
I reached out my hand. His was cold. His eyes were stones.
He said “I’m Jaxy Hershel”.
“That’s a strange name”, I said to start conversation.
“Come with me”, He said.
We walked the street, he in front me in rear.
Jaxy crossed traffic without looking and stood on the curb behind a parked car.
“Why are we here?”, Said I.
Jaxy didn’t speak, only motioned to a red van coming toward us.
I’m sure I know this van. It passes every day. Same time, same place.
I follow his gaze to a beautiful young woman.
Long brown hair. Pretty face. Bright print dress.
Open toe high heels. Confident stride.
She steps from the curb without hesitation.
To cross the street in the path of the van.
Tragedy is imminent. Jaxy turns his head and catches his breath. He cannot watch.
I yell a warning but for nothing. It is too late.
Then all is gone and I have returned to my place at the end of the bar.
Jaxy Hershel calls again the next day, same time, same place.
Same suit, same shirt, same shoes, same words.
“Follow Me”.
We walk again along the street to stand motionless at the curb.
We wait silently for the red van which shows up on time, same time, same place.
The pretty young woman glides from the curb.
Jaxy draws a breath and turns his head,
I yell a warning but for nothing. Again, too late.
Then all is gone and I am returned to my place at the end of the bar.
The event repeats for days. Same time, same place.
After a fortnight in desperation I yell to him, “Jaxy! Go to her”.
He turns to me. Eyes cold and black, drops his head and breathes,
“I already have”.
|
||||
6. |
Decaf Dreams
02:40
|
|||
7. |
Demon Sleep
04:00
|
|||
Jesse sees dead people, demons in the dark
And other things that no one sees
Scary stories told with friends ‘round campfire
He knows those stores aren’t a tease.
Man eating ogres, trolls beneath the bridge
A headless woman walks at night
Don’t step on a crack you’ll break your mother’s back
Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.
Chorus
Oh No, you can’t do that
Don’t compromise the order of things
Oh No, you can’t say that
You’ll find out what a cursed life brings
Jesse’s Grandma Lola tells him not to fear
She says she sees the things he sees
He hasn’t got a worry Grandma’s there at hand
To peaceful sleep she has the key
Providence suspends one cold and rainy day
When Lola could protect no more
Grandma’s warfare ended with her final breath
Brought Jesse’s demons back in scores.
Chorus
Oh No, you can’t do that
Don’t compromise the order of things
Oh No, you can’t say that
You’ll find out what a cursed life brings
Now he’s traded ogres, trolls and demons in
For terrors of a grown up life
A mortgage, house, a car, a job a salary review
He yearns for Lola’s hand at night.
Chorus
Oh No, you can’t do that
Don’t compromise the order of things
Oh No, you can’t say that
You’ll find out what a cursed life brings
Bridge
Don’t you know that life
Sometimes has highs and lows
Big waves across life’s beach
And you learned from Lola
When they knock you down
You get back up
You shake it off
You start it up again
|
Shawn Chamberlin Minden, Ontario
Never one to be put into a 'box' musically, Shawn's love of music has no bounds. The same is true of his love for a really good story.
Streaming and Download help
If you like Shawn Chamberlin, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp