Mary Chapin Carpenter Album

Deep in your blood or a voice in your head
On a dark lonesome highway
It finds you instead
So certain it knows you, you can't turn away
Something or someone has found you today

Genius or Jesus, maybe he's seen us
But who would believe us
I can't really say
Whatever the calling, the stumbling or falling
You follow it knowing
There's no other way, there's no other way

There are zealots and preachers
And readers of dreams
The righteous yell loudest
And the saved rise to sing
The lonely and lost are just waiting to hear
Any moment their purpose
Will be perfectly clear

And then life would mean more
Than their name on their door
And that far distant shore that's so near
They'd hear the calling
And stumbling and falling
They'd follow it knowing
There's nothing to fear
Nothing to fear

I don't remember a voice
On a dark, lonesome road
When I started this journey so long ago
I was only just trying to outrun the noise
There was never a question of having a choice

Jesus or genie, maybe they've seen me
But who would believe me
I can't really say
Whatever the calling, the stumbling and falling
I followed it knowing there's no other way

Jesus or genie, maybe he's seen me
But who would believe me
I can't really say
Whatever the calling, stumbling and falling
I got through it knowing there's no other way
There's no other way

Let's go down to the fields tonight
Where the grass grows round our knees
Lay down in the silver light
Dripping through the trees
Broken halo in my hands
And distance in your eyes
The past is gone, good luck, so long
Cross ourselves and hope to fly

No roadmaps, no signposts
No north star, no lifeboats
No cavalry coming in sight
But we're all right

Let's feel small in the world tonight
Beneath a giant sky
Forget for once who is wrong or right
Just let it all go by

Close our eyes when we grow tired
And dream of where we'll be
When night gives way to another day
Have we ever woken up this free

I never had a talisman, I never wore a charm
But it's not too late to believe that fate
Was always keeping us from harm

No roadmap, no signposts
No north star, no lifeboats
No miracles coming in sight
No voices to guide us, no angels beside us
No shaman, no mystical light
No omens, no compass, no seer, no prophet
No cavalry coming in sight
But we're all right
We're all right
We're all right
We're all right

The sun's going down past the pines
Shadows grow long down the hill
Follow the path known by heart
Down to the wide open fields

Now that it's twilight
Twilight
Now that it's twilight, twilight

The morning mist burned off by noon
The dogs never moved from the shade
The mountains were bluer than blue
But the best of the day has been saved

You and me, you and me, you and me
You and me, you and me, you and me ...

Now we'll be led by eventide's hand
'Til then we'll walk through the gloaming
Back on up the hill once again
Done with another day's roaming

Now that it's twilight, twilight
Magical twilight, twilight

Can't remember looking for something
So hard to find
I can't remember talking to myself
Just like I'd lost my mind
I can't remember rowing towards the moon
Upon a single beam
But it must have happened, yeah
It must have happened

Can't remember learning
How to laugh at catastrophe
I can't remember losing track
Of who I was supposed to be
I can't remember riding flying horses
Toward the golden ring
But it must have happened
Yes it must have happened

'Cause after all baby here I am
With a ring in my pocket
And the moon in my hand
After all baby here I am with you

Can't remember seeing all my hopes
Going up in flames
I can't remember reaching
For the closes thing to dull the pain
I can't remember feeling
I could be healed by a stranger's hand
But it must have happened
Yes it must have happened

'Cause after all baby
Here I am in a bed of roses
With a punch drunk grin
After all baby here I am with you

Can't remember looking for omens
Hoping there was going to be a sign
I can't remember figuring out
The secret was inside me all this time
I can't remember walking without fear
Towards the light you shined
But it must have happened
Yeah it must have happened
And I know it happened
Yes it must have happened
Darling look what happened

River starts with a drop of rain
Somewhere in this world
Light years shape this arc of sky
And sand a precious pearl
And yuou will light a stranger's life
By letting yours unfurl
And on and on it goes
Sparks upon the wind
Like a July 4th, a crown of stars
And a good time grin
On and on it flies, on a new bird's wing
In a beating heart, the moon that rose
And the gif of spring

You can say that you'll never matter
Lose or win
The world won't care and it's hard to bear
Such a lonely wind
But you can change a stranger's life
By letting yours begin
And on and on it goes
Chance is everywhere
Like the train you took
The rain that fell on the summer air
On and on it flies, like the time we've lost
It's either running out
Or covering all our dreams in trust

Every night the TV shows
One more bad day's news
A world away from what I know
And what I do
But I could save a stranger's life
If I had a clue
And on and on it goes
Attention must be paid
Before it seems we're one soul short
And a second late
On and on it flies across the stratosphere
At the speed of love, if you stop
And feel it you will hear
On and on it goes
Sparks upon the wind
Like a July 4th, a crown of stars
And a good time grin
And on and on it flies, on a new bird's wing
In a beating heart, the moon that rose
And the gift of spring

Maybe love is all anybody
Ever should believe in
Maybe life is just something
That employs us till we die
Maybe all we know
Is that the sun will come up every morning
Maybe time can choose
Whether to be earthbound or to fly
Everybody thinks they've got it down
I won't worry, the truth's always been found
In your life story

Maybe you're the one waiting
For the ship to find your harbor
Maybe you're the one looking
Past the forest to the trees
Maybe you still think
The older that you get
Life just gets harder
Maybe you would trade everything
For just one moment's peace
Everybody strains to hear the sound
Of their heart's calling
Now you can write yours down
It's your life story

Gather up your telegrams
Your faded pictures, best laid plans
Books and postcards, 45's
Every sunset in the sky

Carry with you maps and string, flashlights
Friends who make you sing
And stars to help you find your place
Music, hope and amazing grace

Maybe what we leave
Is nothing but a tangled little mystery
Maybe what we take
Is nothing that has ever had a name
Maybe love will fade
Like the parchment pages of our history
Maybe life is made of flickers
From some brilliant, burnished flame
Everbody's waiting for a sign
I won't worry, I think we'll be just fine
In your life story
It's your life story
And my life story
This is our life story
In your life story

Mama's got her babies
Sleeping in a grocery cart
Daddy's eyes are hazy
Wondering where they are
Waiting for the buses
Waiting on some Providence
Once we get to Houston
Maybe it will all make sense

Praying to the Father
And calling for the cavalry
Look at all this water
And somehow not a drop to drink
Now did you ever hear of nightmares
Coming in the light of day
Once we get to Houston
Maybe they'll just wash away
Roll on Mississippi, goodbye Crescent City
Les Bon Temps New Orleans
Never coming back to stay

Never been to Texas
Hope this bus is on a tear
Never seen the President
Maybe he will meet us there
Never knew a promise
That didn't break right in two
Once we get to Houston
Maybe one will come true
Roll on Mississippi, goodbye Crescent City
Les Bon Temps New Orleans
Never coming back to you

Last night I dreamed of rain
But golden light was all I saw
I heard my old dog barking
I went to see the Mardi Gras
I stood up on the banks
And looked out over Pontchartrain
I woke up here in Houston
Didn't even know my name
Roll on Mississippi, goodbye Crescent City
Les Bon Temps New Orleans
Never coming back again
Roll on Mississippi, Goodby Crescent City

And you see that you're leaving
And you that you're gone
And you see there's no saying goodbye
All the trees in mourning
The light is late from the sun
Casting shadow on shadow down from the sky

And it's hard not to want to turn around
And it's hard not to want to back on down
We're only as strong as our hearts within
Only as strong

And all you know of where the road goes
Is some place far and unknown
You would think
You would have gotten used to it all by now
But each day it just gets harder
Every journey alone
Never knowing if you'll make it
Back home somehow

And it's hard not to want to turn around
And it's hard not to want to back on down
We're only as brave as we think we are
Only as brave

And it's hard not to want to turn it down
For some guaranteed, soul crushing
Merry-go-round
It would have driven you
Straight into the ground
Driven your down

And the three greatest gifts of moving on
Are forgiveness, hope and the great beyond
After that perhaps peace can come
Peace will come

And you see that you're leaving ...
And you see that you're gone ...

This isn't for the ones who blindly follow
Jingoistic bumper stickers telling you
To love it or leave it, and you'd better love Jesus
And get out of the way of the red, white and blue

This isn't for the ones who buy their six packs
At the 7-Eleven where the clerk makes change
Whose accent makes clear he sure ain't from here
They call him a camel jockey instead of his name

No this is for the ones who stand their ground
When the lines in the sand get deeper
When the whole world seems to be upside down
And the shots being taken get cheaper

This isn't for the ones who would gladly swallow
Everything their leader would have them know
Bowing and kissing, while the truth goes missing
Bring it on the crows, putting on his big show

This isn't for the man who can't count the bodies
Can't comfort the families, can't say when he's wrong
Claiming I'm the decider, like some sort of messiah
While another day passes and a hundred souls gone

This is for the ones that I see above me
Three little stars in a great big sky
Light for the world and hope for the weary
They try

This isn't for the ones with their radio signal
Calling for bonfires and boycotts they rave
Exhorting their listeners to spit on the sinners
While counting the bucks of advertising they'll save

This isn't for you and you know who you are
So do what you want 'cuz I know that you can
But I've got to be true to myself and to you
So on with the song, I don't give a damn

Tell me the truth
Don't ask me to lie
These are the things we say
You don't need proof and I'm not going to try
But I think we have lost our way

You don't own the sun and I can't raise the moon
So now as the darkness falls
Love is so hard won then over too soon
And another cruel ending calls

All I can do is turn now to you
Holding my hand to my heart
All that I know is I'm watching us grow
Closer and closer apart

Now all the kings horses and all the kings men
Wait for their clarion call
Pride hears its voices, and fear wins again
And there's nothing to break our fall

Over and over and over again
The world only spins one way
The past is a distant flicker by now
And a lesson for another day

Now, my sad little boat floats on ou to sea
And you're almost out of sight
I'll remember you
Please don't forget me
I whisper with all my might

All I can do is turn now to you
Holding my hand to my heart
All that I know is I'm watching us grow ...
All I can do is turn back to you
And wave with one hand on my heart
All that I know is it's so hard to go ...

I've waited longer for lesser things
But here I am
Who really knows what tomorrow brings
But here I am
Just in case you were wondering
Just in case you lost again
Just in case you run out of friends, here I am

It's so easy to rip and to tear, se here I am
What you need the most
Disappears into thin air, so here I am
Maps and compasses may stay true
It doesn't really matter what you do
I have never forgotten you
Here I am

Some days our reach
Is bound to far exceed our grasp
I gave up hoping long ago
I could fix the past, here I am

Today I called you
For the very first time in a million years
You would never know if I told you so
About these million tears
Life doesn't wave as it's speeding by
Better grab on fast and hold on tight
And don't ever forget to fight this good fight
And here I am
Here I am
Here I am
Here I am

We believe in things that we cannot see
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Hands that heal can set a chained man free
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in peace within every heart
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Burning brightly, brightly in the dark
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

So come on darling feel your spirits rise
Come on children open up your eyes
God is all around
Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears your prayers
It's not too late

And we believe in things that will give us hope
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Let your voice be heard, celebrate your vote
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things that make us all the same
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Love belongs to all in deed and name
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

And we believe in things that can't be done
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we
Lift up your heart, put down your gun
Why shouldn't we, why shouldn't we

We believe in things
We're told that we cannot change
Why shouldn't we
We had heroes once, and we will again
Why shouldn't we

So come on darling
Come on children
God is all around, Buddha's at the gate
Allah hears our prayers
It's not too late

Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we
Why shouldn't we

Last night I dreamed my head was in a fever
Last night I dreamed it never was so far
To reach a shore of safety and redemption
And to gaze upon a bright morning star

I dreamed I was by friends all but abandoned
I dreamed I was alone but for my scars
And blinded by the tears that fell like water
No more to see my bright morning star

The streets of dreams never looked this lonely
The streets of dreams never felt this hard
I heard my voice barely of a whisper
As the clouds denied a bright morning star

Sometimes this life is no more than a moment
And sometimes the light is lost unto the dark
But courage hears the sound of dawn approaching
And each our own bright morning star

I woke to find every window open
I woke to find the heavy door ajar
And I walked outside and stood upon the hilltop
And gazed once more on a bright morning star

I walked outside and every bird was singing
As I found again my bright morning star