jb/gd/u2

...30 day challenge, day 16: song that makes you cry (or nearly)

~Jackson Browne, "Never Stop", acoustic version...listen here...lyrics here

~Grateful Dead, "Box of Rain"...listen here....lyrics here

~U2, "In a Little While" (listen here)

In a little while
Surely you'll be mine
In a little while... I'll be there
In a little while
This hurt will hurt no more
I'll be home, love

When the night takes a deep breath
And the daylight has no air
If I crawl, if I come crawling home
Will you be there?

In a little while
I won't be blown by every breeze
Friday night running to Sunday on my knees
That girl, that girl she's mine
Well I've known her since,
Since she was

A little girl with Spanish eyes
When I saw her first in a pram they pushed her by
Oh my, my how you've grown
Well it's been, it's been... a little while

ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Slow down my beating heart
A man dreams one day to fly
A man takes a rocket ship into the skies
He lives on a star that's dying in the night
And follows in the trail, the scatter of light
Turn it on, turn it on, you turn me on

Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love
Slow down my beating heart
Slowly, slowly love

acoustically accurate...thanks jb

There are times, when I see you baby
lookin back the way we came
through some hard places, choices we made
you never held me to blame

You had some dreams when you were a girl
some ideas about the world
and you see how some things will never be the same
and how some things never change

And I remember, how you helped me, baby
and all the times you had my back
how you wrapped me in your sweetness and held my arms with your arms
when my train was off the track

Now I got some things that I wanna do
and I wanna do it with you
if you'll just stand by me and don't look back

And never stop comin up with all of that love from me
never stop comin with your faith in what a love can be
and never stop comin up with all of that love, keep on rising above
and never stop, comin up on the world love wants to see
the world love wants to see

And the world has been showing you how
it's no place for your tender heart now
In a world that keeps turning you down

only the heart knows where the strength can be found

and never stop comin up with all of that love from me
never stop comin with your faith in what a love can be
and never stop comin up with all of that love, keep on rising above
and never stop, comin up on the world love wants to see
the world love wants to see


Remember when you look into my eyes
I'm the one who took you by surprise
the time has come and gone and come back round again
and I'm still here to take you by surprise my friend

Show me your eyes, tell me again, where you want to go
now the night is blowing beneath your skin
and when you smile, I'm the richest man I know

(Jackson Browne)

the pretender

Walked in the door, singing a Beatles tune, into an ambush of seriousness and frustration.  My attention given to the speaker and my patience thinning, for a solid 15 minutes or more the statements ranted and the emotions steadily increased to a crescendo of demands.  Demands to pick up shoes and put away laundry and write chore lists and get organized...or what?  My voice is not invited to this diatribe.  My opinion matters none.  This is a venting of will and proof of self.  Words demand to be listened to so the mind can feel clearer.  I understand.  I empathise.  I walk this path with you...over and over and over.  My approach keeps the blood pressure lower and the peace within reach.  Hey, wait, can I tell you how I think this through?  Can I explain how this works for me?  Will you please take a breath and listen to someone other than yourself? 


This team has two people on it and no rule book to follow.  Like riding a rouge wave...you and the surfboard against the raging water and open sky.  Like jumping out of the airplane with the chute into the silence of the wind.  Take the path of least resistance, pray, enjoy the ride, savor every moment, and utilize the resources at hand...no matter how inconsequential you think I am.


Leaving was easy.  I performed my duties and refused myself the rest of the song.  I can't wait to get back in my car and hear that song again.  First grit your teeth, nod your head, and breathe.  Almost over, jeans on, beer downed, friend called, and out.  Away.  Refusal.  Not going there again. Not hitting my head against that brick wall anymore.  Better to keep singing.  You can stay and sulk.  You can stay and face your confrontation.  You can do it just the way you always said it should be done.  I choose not to stay for this act.  Elvis has left the building...


and we'll fill in the missing colors in our paint by number dreams...

Friends are reliable and safe.  Friends listen and steady and allow room.  Pretending and pushing away from the inevitable just for an evening...well deserved today, and unwelcome elsewhere.  Big sigh.


say a prayer for the pretender...who started out so young and strong, only to surrender...(jackson browne)