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Lamentary Trail

by Jim Stearns

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1.
Rolls Around Again 03:11
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Cant believe it’s late July Christmas tree still looks fine Cant be bothered, don't have the time. Gonna leave it up till Christmastime Rolls around again Rolls around again Almost getting on suppertime Every night, there’s a bottle of wine Cookin’ takes time, I know that wine’s gonna do me fine when Suppertime Rolls around again Rolls around again I’m too tired to get out of bed Too much to do it hurts my head I’ll just sit and do nothing instead Till the time is right, and I’m feelin’ fine, but I don't know when, that time is gonna Roll around again My old lady she comes and goes Where she goes, I don't really know
I checked every bar in this two bit town, every place we used to hang around So I’ll drink my wine, till she decides to Roll around again Rolls around again I’m too tired to get out of bed Too much to do it hurts my head I’ll just sit and do nothing instead But it’ll be all right, if the time is right, when she makes up her mind, and she decides Think I see her now, comin’ up the drive, looks like now’s the time, that girl and I, will Roll around again Roll around again
2.
Pretty Peggy 04:26
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She works in an office up on the 6th floor In a big brick building with chains on the doors Takes care of all kinds of important stuff After 30 years you'd think she'd had enough Pursues corporations that spoil our water Lives with some cats and her beautiful daughter Light on her feet, yeah, loves to dance Would marry Paul McCartney if she had the chance Pretty Peggy, saw you in a dream Darling Peggy, that’s how it seems to me Can’t you break those chains, come play with me Pretty Peggy, come away with me You’re standing on your principles, proud and strong But working ‘till you die, I’m pretty sure’s completely wrong Imagine all the pretty places you and I could see Do I have to paint a picture for you, how it’s gonna be? Do I have to paint a pretty picture, how it’s gonna be? Your long brown hair, your blue eyes aglow You pierced my heart, I guess you’ll never know You may not be persuaded by a simple refrain So ’til that day is here, I’ll just be singing to the rain Pretty Peggy, saw you in a dream Darling Peggy, that’s how it seems to me Can’t you break those chains, come play with me Pretty Peggy, come away with me Darlin’ Peggy, come away with me Pretty Peggy, come away with me
3.
Sweet Barista 03:47
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Short black hair with a purple streak Works at the coffee place down the street Has a little tattoo and five ear rings From my corner chair I hear her softly sing There’s a line of guys around the block I’m just waiting for a chance to talk to my Barista Every day she works the machine Making lattes and grinding beans Moves like silk hands seem to fly Pouring the milk with little heart designs The expresso’s good but that’s not why I’m back today for the fourteenth time to see Barista Sweet, sweet, sweet Barista Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet Barista Sweet Barista, don't you see me standing there I want to meet you but you don't seem to care Caught up in your mystery You know I cant resist you I may not ever reach you But you know at least I tried for you, Barista Barista You take each order with a little smile I’m up next I’ve practiced my lines How can I tell you my love is true I say something funny, you play it cool You pour my drink with a sultry dance My mouth goes dry hoping for a chance with Barista Sweet, sweet, sweet Barista Sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet Barista Sweet Barista Sweet Barista Sweet Barista
4.
Minimal Expectations 04:26
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She meets my minimal expectations She’s got almost everything I need Like her a lot but I’ve got reservations She’s mostly pretty much acceptable to me Lives in a house, the only thing domestic about her Dinner and a movie, we’re going out every night My money disappears like a cracker in a bowl of chowder The conversation drags and I think I might lose my mind But she’s wonderful, often wonderful, makes me want to sing and shout Almost sometimes as wonderful as you’d think a woman could be I’m happy, fairly happy, despite my nagging doubts I’m as happy as a man can reasonably expect to be She meets my minimal expectations She’s got almost everything I need Like her a lot but I’ve got reservations She’s mostly pretty much acceptable to me She’s got her ways, she tolerates me It’s her strongest selling point, you’d agree Big brown eyes looking up at me Hard to resist when she says please But still I’m thinking I could do better, if I tried just a little bit harder It’s pretty easy when she comes hanging ‘round Might love her better if I moved away a little bit farther. But for Two years now she’s the best thing I’ve found She’s wonderful, often wonderful, makes me want to sing and shout Almost sometimes as wonderful as you’d think a woman could be I’m happy, fairly happy, despite my nagging doubts I’m as happy as a man can reasonably expect to be She meets my minimal expectations She’s got almost everything I need Like her a lot but I’ve got reservations She’s mostly pretty much acceptable to me She meets my minimal expectations
5.
Caoilfhionn 03:26
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She calls me up at nine, “Let’s go out for a beer” I play hard to get, and tell her, “Yes, of course, my dear” I like hops, she likes red. One glass turns to three We sit and laugh at nothing and talk so easily Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn Love to say your name Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn I’d love to play your game She’s a hard working mother with two great kids. Got the ground beneath her feet Won’t suffer fools, don't know why she suffers me. The kind of girl I’d like to meet Just got single, same with me. Helped each other through a jam or two Tells me I should find a lover now. I know she’s looking too Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn Love to say your name Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn I’d love to play your game Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn Love to say your name Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn I’d love to play your game Friends like her are pretty hard to find Tho I can barely spell her name I don’t expect we’ll be lovers soon But I care about her just the same Care about her just the same Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn Love to say your name Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn I’d love to play your game Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn Love to say your name Caoilfhionn, Caoilfhionn I’d love to play your game
6.
Love Remains 04:45
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Look up at the sky you see their faces All the ones you ever loved You remember all the times and places Things you can’t explain the meaning of Where are they now? Do they think of you the same? After all the years It’s the love that remains Whispers on the wind, you hear their voices The ones who loved you so long ago Your heart takes refuge and rejoices Somehow they let you know they know Where are they now? Do they think of you the same? After all the years It’s the love that remains Ooo ooo ooo ooo oh yeah It’s the love that remains Ooo ooo ooo ooo oh yeah It’s the love that remains Long ago they left you here For silver plumes above Sweetest memories once so clear Drift away in clouds that feel like love Look up at the sky, you see the traces Of the ones who loved you first and last What you cant hold onto your mind erases The heart remembers moments passed Where are they now? Do they think of you the same? After all the years It’s the love that remains Ooo ooo ooo ooo oh yeah It’s the love that remains Ooo ooo ooo ooo oh yeah It’s the love that remains
7.
Cul de Sac 04:28
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I dreamed we were walking down the avenue Whiled away the afternoon hand in hand with you Hid away in a small cafe in a quiet neighborhood Talking ‘bout the plans we made. Yeah, life was good We talked of things that lovers can’t reveal It was just a dream, and we can make it real But the dream will never happen Cause we’ve got this little problem You live in a cul de sac No way through so I’m turning back Lights are out and the house is black You live in a cul de sac You live in a cul de sac In my dream we ambled on, down the cobblestone Past the shops to a quiet park, we found ourselves all alone Smiling, laughing, closer now, we talked of love and friends Sweetest conversation seemed to never end We’d do the things that lovers must conceal It was just a dream, we could see how it feels But our love will never blossom Cause we’ve got this little problem It’s an endless journey down a dead end street Drive in circles, then repeat and repeat I wish you’d move to a loft in town I’m tired of all this dreaming and the old run-around ‘Cause the dream will never happen And we’ve got this little problem You live in a cul de sac No way through so I’m turning back Lights are out and the house is black You’re livin’ in a cul de sac Think you’re livin' in a cul de sac Hit reverse and I won't look back Gotta get out of your cul de sac Leavin’ you and your cul de sac Your life is a cul de sac Your life is a cul de sac
8.
End of the Road 05:10
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I’m old and I’m dying I’m tired but I’m trying To hang on for five or ten more years Thought I was eternal Now I’m facing the inferno, but I don’t expect to shed any bitter tears Goin’ to the end of the road Hoping my story be told I know I’m walking alone Goin’ down to the end of the road I’m cold and I’m crumbling But the motor’s still rumbling I still got some flying to do The Devil don’t scare me and Maybe he’ll spare me, or Maybe he’ll have me frying soon Goin’ to the end of the road Hoping my story be told I know I’m walking alone Goin’ down to the end of the road Raise me up! To the rooftop garden Lift me up! All my friends are there Raise me up! I hear the party’s startin’ Don’t let the party start without me Got no chains to be breaking No peace that needs making I’m not waiting on the pie in the sky I’m fragile and failing But my mind’s still sailing Thinking bout the things I still gotta try Goin’ to the end of the road Hoping my story be told I know I’m walking alone Goin’ down to the end of the road Goin’ to the end of the road Getting old is getting old Memories are all I can hold Goin’ down to the end of the road
9.
Three at the Bar 04:31
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Sittin’ Sittin’ Sittin’ at the end of the bar Lookin’ for something to start Waitin’ Just waitin’ Waitin’ for my friends to roll in I’m just savin’ chairs for them all right In strolls Dottie, with her hair down to her knees Cut-offs and a halter top she’s worn since the 70s We lived together for a time back then She’s still good looking, and we’re still good friends Still think about those days from time to time She flashes her little smile; says “How you doing, Jim?” Drinkin’ Yeah, drinkin’ Workin’ on my third George Dickel Chattin’ up with Dottie, eatin’ pickled hard boiled eggs In rolls Patty, drifting in like a breeze She’s an old friend of Dottie’s, take a load off, won’t you join us, please? Looks a little ragged from bein’ on the road Left a man five years ago, still looking for a home A real sad story, but I say “I don’t care” She gives me a look, leans over, says “it’s all good. It’s all good, Jim” Thinkin’ Just thinkin’ Thinking that the stars are aligned Dottie buys another round, I don’t think I mind at all Patty looks at Dottie, and they both look back at me Don’t know if I know where this is going, but I’m game to see Dottie says “hey, why don’t we move this party?” Pattie says “hey, we can all ride on my Harley” Says her apartment’s not too far away So they pulled me up and walked me out. My old friend Dottie, and her friend Patty, and Jim Yeah, that’s me
10.
Kick it on Down 04:10
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Pony won’t go and you’re mired in the muck at the lodge Money’s running low, you’re sleeping in your ex-wife’s garage Dinner at the dumpster back of K-Mart in your camouflage Head’s hanging down and you wanna get the fuck outa dodge. Or you could just Kick it on down the road Kick it on down the road Kick it on down Kick it on down Kick it on down the road The psychopaths and sycophants are closing in on you Swimming in a glad bag, feeling like a clown at the zoo Could be paranoid, see your shadow chasing after you Might just pack it up for Ypsilanti or Kalamazoo. So why not just Kick it on down the road Kick it on down the road Kick it on down Kick it on down Kick it on down the road Save yourself, save yourself You know you got to save yourself Save yourself, save yourself You know you got to save yourself! Can’t save a buck, you’re mired in the muck, and you gotta get the fuck out of Dodge No place to go and every time you go you’re out of place Can’t face your friends, but every time you do you’re losing face Trying to find yourself, you find you’ve vanished without a trace You don’t appear to mind, you’re mind’s somewhere in outer space. You gotta Kick it on down the road Kick it on down the road Kick it on down Kick it on down Kick it on down the road Kick it on down the road Kick it on down the road Kick it on down Kick it on down Kick it on down the road

about

“First time contributor”. Thanks for checking out my songs. I have been called a space cadet at times, but I consider these songs to be pretty down to earth, as they are based on my own life experience and outlook - and maybe spiced with a touch of discord. Maybe they’re just waking dreams/random thought pictures. I admit it’s a bit odd to be considered a “singer-songwriter”, because the music and lyrics kinda seem to just come out of nowhere, often when you’re least expecting it. It is helpful to have a “songwriting focus” though, and guitar or voice recorder handy when a lyric or melody hits you, as a song idea can flit away in an instance.

Although I dabbled in guitar for years, I started playing guitar seriously again after retiring from my desk job about six years ago. I took lessons and was getting bored with scales when my teacher, Robb Boswell, said “Why don’t you try writing songs?” - to which I replied, “You can do that?” Working with Robb, this album is the result. It’s really gratifying to see one’s own effort and creative drive, such as it is, be rewarded with a tangible result like this web page.

I enjoy writing and playing my songs. I hope you will enjoy listening.

credits

released December 18, 2019

All songs composed and performed by Jim Stearns
Recorded, mixed and produced at Creative Guitar Coaching Studios by Robert James Boswell in Boulder, Colorado
Album Cover Art by Doug Lubotsky, Portland, Oregon

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Jim Stearns Boulder, Colorado

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, currently living in Boulder, CO.
I want to thank Doug Lubotsky again for the amazing cover art on my first CD, Lamentary Trail. Pretty good likeness, eh? I've known Doug since kindergarten.

I want to thank Bella Stearns for the original cover art on "Keep Calm, Stay Weird." Amelia Piggott's poetry for Steve Moores' retirement gala inspired "Get Up and Dance". ... more

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