1. |
Maryann
04:23
|
|||
|
maryann walks in the cool morning fog
while sailors are lashing their ships to the dock
she watches and learns as they wrestle the cords
so brave and so brawny, they’ve done this before
talk ‘round the town says one ship’s short on men
so maryann’s making the circuit again,
petitions the captain to sail with his crew,
but he says, “with that body, what work could ye do?”
though spurned by the captain, she summons a force
sets out on her own to determine a course
she cares for the town that she’s always called home
but this bold young woman, she’s ready to roam
so make yourself heavy, you fine little lass
and pull up the anchor, with all that you have
you’re fit for the journey, you’re made for the sea
it’s time to set sail, time to set yourself free
deep in the harbor the vessel’s alone
she’s weary and ragged, her tired frame moans
she’s long been abandoned by men who would say,
“she creaks with the tide and we’ve numbered her days”
on closer inspection, this weathered façade
is housing a hull that is rugged and broad
her seaworthy name has been tainted by time
but with a scrub and a dusting, this cutter will shine
“i’ll be your captain!” our maryann cries
she hops on the deck with a fire in her eyes
so make yourself heavy, you fine little lass
and hoist up the mainsail, with all that you have
you’re fit for the journey, you’re made for the sea
it’s time to set sail, time to set yourself free
out in the darkness, forgiveness is rare
the ocean knows nothing of mercy or care
the saltwater’s sting and the wind’s whipping lash
is clouding her vision, obscuring her path
but bones carry memories etched when they’re young,
the paths they have traveled, the songs they have sung
a novice gets nervous, she’s strong but she’s new
a wise friend, though tired, can keep her course true
so make yourself heavy, you fine little lass
and lean on the tiller, with all that you have
you’re fit for the journey, you’re made for the sea
it’s time to set sail, time to set yourself free
oh, make yourself heavy, you fine little lass
and greet the horizon with all that you have
you’re fit for the journey, you’re made for the sea,
it’s time to set sail, time to set yourself free
|
||||
2. |
||||
3. |
Allegiance
03:37
|
|||
|
i was beach town boy, playing beside the water,
bombs went off and destroyed, a place i’d never heard of
you turned against me in your fear,
though i’d lived by you for years,
left the japanese in tears
you took my mother, my father, you took my home, america
we came from far away, a land of many sorrows,
we journeyed many days, harkening for tomorrow
you welcomed us with arms outspread,
our children grew above our heads,
we died with nothing left unsaid
you were our mother, our father, you were our home, america
engine of spark and time, keeper of all our stories
slaver and freedom’s shrine, song of despair and glory
forged in the courage of our start,
cut when we fail and fall apart,
still you remain the beating heart
you are our mother, our father, you are our home, america
if in a darkened hour, those who don’t comprehend you
come with divisive power, we will rise to defend you
to keep you pointed to the spacious skies
we’ll hold the line, we’ll hold the line,
we’ll hold the line. We’ll hold the line. We’ll hold the line
i pledge allegiance to the top of the sunlit mountain
to all the people who, come forward to be counted
who hold with honor, kindness, freedom’s ring
we stand with you, we stand with you
And always you, and always you, and always you
we’re reaching for america
we’re walking toward america
we’re bringing forth america
|
||||
4. |
Carry You
05:03
|
|||
|
i knew you first, you drew your breath from mine
i watched you move, i saw you come alive
i never knew my heart could crack and pour
and fill and be restored by holding you inside my arms
chorus:
i will carry you in my love
we belong, through the distance i can hear you calling
you can’t be too far for my heart
my love is strong, i’ll be here to help you find your way
i met you on the day we brought you home
i promised you would never be alone
your eyes are blue and mine are brown
but i will never let you down, i’ll stand by you forever more
chorus
the days are long, but the years will surely roll on by
we’ll carry on, and i’ll find a way to be by your side
it’s quiet out, everyone’s asleep
you stir, i hold you close, we both breathe deep
so tired, that i can barely see
but you are sleeping close to me, and soon we’ll start our lovely day
chorus
|
||||
5. |
Calm Waters
03:53
|
|||
|
that rock that hit the water must have fallen from the sky
we never saw it coming but the wave it made rolls high
and here it comes, here it comes
the wave is getting bigger, but still so hard to see
if we could only calm those waters there's so much for you to be
we see it clear, we see it clear
chorus
are we calming the waters? calming the waters?
for your boat, for your boat, for your boat
the wave's below the surface, it knocks you off your feet
sometimes the others see it when you wiggle in your seat
but they don't know
when you're stuck in one direction it's the wave that keeps you there
but a boat in troubled waters has paddles you can share
we'll be there too
chorus
we'll bring you to the harbor where you can finally float
your compass will stop spinning and you will right your boat
and off you'll go
our dreams for you seem selfish, you'll be what you will be
the only job we have is to love you without strings
without strings
chorus
the wave is getting bigger but still so hard to see
if we could only calm those waters there's so much for you to be
|
||||
6. |
Bells
04:15
|
|||
|
standing in a room, i have always known
memories i once shared, now i have alone
here is where i was a child, loved and scarred and reconciled
this house, so empty, it roars
i walk through the hall and walk into the past
we play hide and seek. you find me at last
now you’ve found a place so clever i can search but i will never
find where you have gone
i swear you are with me just before I sleep. talk to me, talk to me.
This is where my home was. This is where my home was.
i am adrift and alone upon a dark and boundless sea
there are no stars to guide me to the shore
remember that time when we walked along the fence out in the field
the sun hadn’t set and we followed it back home
those are the times you’ll remember the best. you fell asleep with your cheek on my chest
a rise and a fall - your breathing so gentle and near
there is a sound you may hear all the time, a faraway bell with a jubilant chime
you’re calling out, i’m answering back til you hear
this is the story a family tells, each of us one in the peal of the bells
now can you hear? hear as we ring out your name
there is a line of us solid and strong. we who have passed we will help you along
here is the flame, walk on and beat back the night
i know the ocean’s wide. we will be by your side
you are not ever all alone.
there will be peace for you. it will come strong and soon
we will be here, you will be fine, my love.
|
||||
7. |
||||
8. |
Skunk at Home
02:38
|
|||
|
one night last winter i woke from my bed, away away away
it smelled like a musk gland had broke o’er my head, away away away
the tracks left outside proved my fears were correct, away away away
a skunk had decided to live ‘neath our deck, away away away
chorus:
sing ho! sing ho for the skunk, that wide-body champion of smell
sing ho! sing ho for the skunk, his tail is a tale to tell - oh my
his tale is a tail to tell.
the next forty nights were a smelly affair, away away away
our clothes caught the odor and made strangers stare, away away away
we’d open our house though the furnace was on, away away away
which made no one happy except for exxon, away away away
chorus
the trap was a steel-wrought Have-a-Heart, ‘twas baited with PB&J
it took three nights for him to bite and bring himself to bay
with blanket in hand i walked up and there - he met me with buttocks exposed
oh skunk vs man, was never the plan, for a test of my testosterone
with one motion true i threw blanket in place, away away away
i picked up the cage with his butt near my face, away away away
i drove him to buckfield and let him go free, away away away
this summer i’m fencing my deck three feet deep, away away away
chorus
|
||||
9. |
Big Time in the Morning
03:18
|
|||
|
chorus:
sunlight, comes the morning, comes the trial to survive
big time, in the morning, give me strength to stay alive
give me strength to stay alive.
phone is rattling at my bedside, please no not another day
somewhere there’s a hell for the ne’er-do-well who made us live this way. ohhh
i rebel against the snooze sound, i say no to conscious thought
a little voice squeaks, mommy, wake up please, i think i just threw up
chorus
kid number one comes down the stairway, she’s got venom in her teeth
when she hunts for prey, you don’t look her way
lest you wake the beast beneath. ohhh
kid number two is feeling better, he’s singing livin’ on a prayer
he’s shouting out his song, but he won’t live long
it’s death by sister’s glare
chorus
coffee, oh how much i love you, for all ills you are the cure
pour you in my mug, my hands give you a hug, platonic (pretty sure). ohhh
breakfast popped onto the table, homework stuffed into the bag
a panic and a fuss as the yellow of the bus comes like a pirate’s flag
|
||||
10. |
Sun Call
02:41
|
|||
|
hey there - i can feel you, sun, i know you’re out there
hey there - i can see you, sun, so good you’re out there
you’re coming up again, the night is fading
you’re spreading light again, the dark is fading
hey there - i can feel you, sun, i know you’re out there
hey there - i can see you, sun, so good you’re out there
you’re coming up again, the night is fading
you’re spreading light again, the dark is fading
here it comes - your yellow light - i feel the warmth returning
hey there - i can see you, sun, so good you’re out there
hey there - i can feel you, sun, i know you’re out there
hey there - i can see you, sun, so good you’re out there
you’re coming up again, the night is fading
you’re spreading light again, the dark is fading
i’m running over the ground and i’m
shouting, and my legs are pounding and
i’m catching fire and flying and
i’m catching fire and flying and
hey there - i can see you, sun, so good you’re out there
|
||||
Bold Riley Bridgton, Maine
Bold Riley started as a simple music project among friends in a barn in Norway, Maine and quickly gained momentum thanks to the group’s unbridled enthusiasm and commitment to bringing joyful acoustic folk music to the greater community. All members take turns singing lead, and songs range from classic protest folk favorites to unlikely covers to rousing originals. ... more
If you like Bold Riley, you may also like:
Feel The Ground You Walk Upon
by Lewis McLaughlin
Old-fashioned fiddles harmonize with rippling synths on the Scottish singer-songwriter's latest collection of original folk songs.
go to album
Long Time To Be Gone
by Nora Brown
Nora Brown continues to bring nuance and resonance to her modern interpretation of Appalachian folk and bluegrass on her latest LP.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason Romero
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
go to album
From Cork, Ireland, Lewis Barfoot writes mystic, majestic songs derived from regional folk, with an ambient music aura.
go to album
The latest from the UK’s Chris Brain is a gorgeously wrought album of tender acoustic folk music.
go to album
Ruth's sophomore release explores sacred signs against a backdrop of folk melodies and acoustic guitar.
go to album
