Music: Demos: Lost and Found Souls

All music, lyrics James Wolner

 

Lost Souls of Time Listen Listen: WindowsMedia Credits
2004

Black holes of time
memories of mine
whisky and bread
drunken cold bed

black stains of wine
cervesa and lime
water and gin
sunken old sin

the time has come the stars are in line
this time
its mine

Lost souls of time
get on the line
and
send out the word
by wind and by bird
tell
lost friends of mine
I'm leaving it behind
the bottles, the glass
the needles, the ash

the time has come the stars are in line
this time
its mine

lost soul of mine
you've done now your time
thanx for hanging on
thanx for being strong

lost love of mine
no need to rewind
the future is clear
will you meet me here

the time has come the stars are in line
this time
its mine
this time
life's mine

grange

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When My Whisky Whispers Listen Listen: WindowsMedia

When My Whiskey Whispers
Me in my Aluminum Chair
Sometimes I look on the horizen
And I wonder '"Whats over there?'


Dakota Dust (Acoustic) Listen Listen: WindowsMedia

A sunrise of sorrow greeted me again today
and it wont go away
This Dakota Dust follows us, its even in my
shoes I still use

But I know someday
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
will call on Ma 'come and play
in the rain!'

Kenny just can't be found I guess he's off
to town he's getting wild

Dad may put his foot down but we know he'd never
strike his child

Ma's in the kitchen there, girls got chores in
the rain. Its always the same

I know someday
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
will beckon to Ma 'come and play
in the rain!'

and I'm sure that way
we'll settle it all to rust
stubborn Dakota dust
we'll rinse it all away
from me and Mertle and Kay
with the rain

I know that way
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
and me and Mertle will play
in the rain

A sunrise of sorrow greeted me again today
but its going away
this Dakota dust, follows us
on souls of the hand-me-down shoes
I still use

Crazy Horse Followed a Dream Listen Listen

Crazy Horse Followed a Dream
Single Stone Behind his ear
I feel a ghost
See him so clearly
                  Lonely Feather
in his hair

 

Dont You Go Listen
April 2006

Don't you go away from me now
Don't you go away
I know you cannot
save me
but anyway, dont you go away

Don't you fly away from me now
D
on't you walk away from me now

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Make Believe Rainy Day Listen Listen
Nov 2005

I saw you sneak a look
From behind your lunchtime book
And our eyes they swam away
To a make believe rainy day

Where the phone was off the hook
And you held me like that book
And you leaned in close to say
‘I wish, somehow, someday’

 

The Receptionist Listen Listen
Nov 2005

when I arrived and I looked thru the door
I knew that I'd seen her wings before
it was in another time, or some other place
in some other life, I'd seen her face

She was answering a phone from behind her desk
she looked so alone but that was me I guess
and night after night as I walked out the door
I learned to know I couldnt take much more
of a city gone cold everyone in a rush
I walked alone with no money for the bus
and when I get home and I hang up my hat
I wonder where they found an angel like that
she'll answer your phone and clean up your mess
she looks so alone but thats just me I guess

My work is all done I wont be back anymore
just one time to pass thru her door
but when I must die, and hang up my hat
I know I'll be met by an angel like that
at heavens gate she'll open the door
and I'll bet I say 'Have I seen you before?
it was in another place full of earthly things
I've seen that face and I know these wings
you answered our phones and cleaned up our mess
you looked so alone but were an angel I guess'

at the end of your day when and you're free to go
when you pass her way and she's stuck on the phone
get your scarf and your coat from the rack
sneak another look she's got wings on her back
Angels are here if you look close enough
they always appear when things are getting rough
they'll unlock your gate, you are never alone
they show you the way and guide you back home

night after night as you walk out that door
if you feel like you can't take much more
of a city gone cold, of world in a rush
if you walk all alone, if you take the bus . . .

She answered your phones, she cleaned up your mess
She looked so alone but she's an angel I guess


Porchlight Dimension Listen Listen
Dec 2005

I
remember my home
and my soul’s address
was sent out to roam
to gather I guess
And the things I’ve seen
make it all worth while
A bent moonbeam
in a stranger’s smile
I compile these things
into a genetic track
I’ll pack em and bring em
When I have to fly back

and swim to the light
where our souls may rest
they burn it all night
it’s the angels I guess
It warms and glows
It burns so clean
like a soul I know
Like Kerosine
She can mesmerize
her smiles all rhyme
I’ve fallen thrice
but not this time.

Trips You Didn't Take listen Listen
Dec 2005

I don’t really know you But I wrote this part To say
I’m not really certain if he holds your heart Anyway

While mine’s behind shutters I’ve kept it safely Tucked away
But lately it flutters With your beauty and Your grace

And I know you’re bound to another
And this song is a big mistake
But I’d hate to someday discover this was
Another trip you didn’t take

Now you’ve helped yet another Friend to float away and Wed
You’d planned a trip together But she fell in Love Instead
Do you play badmitton To cover the thoughts in your Head?
Do you rely on your kittens Or your Lover to warm your bed?

And I know you’re bound to another
And yours is the next Wedding Day
But I’d hate to someday discover this was
Another trip you didn’t take

And I know you’ll be a great mother
Though mistakes you’re bound to make
Will you tell your child to cancel on
All the trips she wants to take?

And I know you’re bound to another
Just say and I’ll turn away
And go alone and discover all of
The trips we’ll never take

I don’t really know you But I wrote this part Anyway


 

EveryDay Angel Listen Listen
Nov 2005

My old life it seems unravelling at the seams,
and my old light has dimmed it seems like an old faded dream.

Have you seen the light she brings to a room?
Caroline
Have you seen the light she brings?
our angel Caroline

My old life it seems faded like a dream
My old light has dimmed it seems

Have you seen the light she brings to a room?
Caroline (she's got wings)
Have you seen the light she brings that girl
Caroline (angel/she's got wings)
Have you seen Caroline?

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Alexander Valley (Yet Another Version)
Oct 2005

Listen
Listen: WindowsMedia

You aint foolin nobody
least of all not me
your chains are still heavy
you got no idea how to get free

As a child you ran
to the cemetary
at night in Alexander Valley

Your home is neat and tidy
and your clothes clean and pressed
but you eyes are still hiding
and your soul repressed

As a child you ran
through the cemetary
at night in Alexander Valley
Did you feel so free
in your fright late at night
cuz it's clear to me
you've lost your flashlight.

You aint foolin nobody
least of all not me

angel

Open Doors Listen Listen
Sept 2005

Who do you think you are
telling me how to live?
just look at what you are
unable to forgive

You walk there in your steeple
finding fault in other people
you wouldn't see an open door
if you stumbled right thru.

This is you.

 

Mitochondrial Eve is the name given by researchers to the woman who is the most recent common matrilineal ancestor

of all living humans
.


She was a member of a population of humans living around 150,000 years ago in Africa. We know about Eve because of mitochondria organelles that are only passed from mother to offspring. Each mitochondrion contains Mitochondrial DNA, and the comparison of DNA sequences from Mt DNA reveals a phylogeny. Based on the molecular clock technique of correlating elapsed time with observed genetic drift, Eve is believed to have lived about 150,000 years ago.

Mitochondrian Mother Listen Listen
Sept 2005

Here I walk in my present-day
Thousands of years since the day
You walked the African soil
Human pain and toil

Would you know that we're
killing each other?
Would you guess that we
no longer seem to care?
That we all really sisters
and brothers
We all know that we now
really share

A mitochondrian mother
I feel her in my own vertebrae
See her in the face of all others
Hear her in my maternal DNA

My mitochrondrian mother
We are billions strong and we've gone
out to play
But hold us and keep us together
Wrap us in your string of DNA

Cuz I'm telling you we're killing each other
I'm telling you we no longer seem to care
That we all are really sisters and brothers
We know that we really share

A mitochondrian mother
I feel her in my own vertebrae
See her in the eyes of all others
Hear her in my maternal DNA

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Bigotry Listen Listen: WindowsMedia
2005

Where do you find all of your bigotry?
Do you dig down deep, was it ma or daddie?
oh set me free
oh spare me all your bigotry

I'm so tired of it now that I almost can't sleep
Even loved ones cradled bigotry
Where are my Angels? Please set me free
Spare me the hate of bigotry

Its not as easy as you'd like it to be
you say "its just the way it always will be"
b ut you're wrong
you're wrong
you're wrong

Why do you find it, all your bigotry?
Do you dig down deep? Was it ma or daddie?
Why must others bleed just cuz you aint happy
oh set me free/this is my poetry

Oh set me free
Spare me the hate of bigotry
Come my angel oh set me free/cut me free
I'm so tired now that I almost can't sleep

but they're wrong
they're wrong!

 

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dust

Dakota Dust Listen Listen: WindowsMedia

A sunrise of sorrow greeted me again today
and it wont go away
This Dakota Dust follows us, its even in my
shoes I still use

But I know someday
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
will call on Ma 'come and play
in the rain!'

Kenny just can't be found I guess he's off
to town he's getting wild

Dad may put his foot down but we know he'd never
strike his child

Ma's in the kitchen there, girls got chores in
the rain. Its always the same

I know someday
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
will beckon to Ma 'come and play
in the rain!'

and I'm surel that way
we'll settle it all to rust
stubborn Dakota dust
we'll rinse it all away
from me and Mertle and Kay
with the rain

I know that way
we'll make sense of it all
we'll find Ruthie's lost doll
and her and Verna and Kay
and me and Mertle will play
in the rain

A sunrise of sorrow greeted me again today
but its going away
this Dakota dust, follows us
on souls of the hand-me-down shoes
I still use

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Highway 128 Listen Listen: WindowsMedia Credits

Late night teenage car ride. Just me and my buddy and Neil Young
We always seemed to wind up, in the valley before we were done
It always seemed to me, as we drove on by it in the night
That it was not her house that dissapeared out of sight
but a piece of my lonely life
Lost down highway 128

Late night midlife sweet dreams,
I still got my buddy, but we aint young
I always seem to float down, through the valley before I'm done
Lost down highway 128

But now maybe its time for 'Letting Go's'
for everyone whos been down that road.
For fathers and thier overloaded ties
to daughters and everything denied
For sons and their silly stubborn scorn
for mothers' hidden photos burned and torn
For husbands and their half-hearted strive
to keep the sick and dying thing alive
For sisters and their condenscending ways
to compensate for pain they buried away
For women and their self-inflicted pain
and men and our feeble controlling game
For the cowardice and naivety
of the homophobic and hateful bigotry
For anyone who would ever intentionally,
deny another's soul to be free
Of all secrets and lies of yesterday
that someday have to surface anyway
Of the shield built from flimsy fallacy
that silence somehow makes a strong family
For me and my naive little hope,
that I can ever help untie those ropes
tied along Highway 128



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Alexander Valley (Remixed)

Listen
Listen: WindowsMedia Credits

You aint foolin nobody
least of all not me
your chains are still heavy
you got no idea how to get free

As a child you ran
to the cemetary
at night in Alexander Valley

Your home is neat and tidy
and your clothes clean and pressed
but you eyes are still hiding
and your soul repressed

As a child you ran
through the cemetary
at night in Alexander Valley
Did you feel so free
in your fright late at night
cuz it's clear to me
you've lost your flashlight.

I aint fooling nobody
Least of all not you
my chains are still heavy
I got no idea how to break free

As a child you ran
to the cemetary
at night in Alexander Valley

You aint foolin nobody
least of all not me



Grandma's Garden listen 
Listen: WindowsMedia Credits

They've seen my garden grow, my flowers in a row
but there's many sides of me, they will never know
there's a piece of my family tree, that gets no water from me
I'm taking it when I go, to set my daughters free
I've watched them grow and grow, got grandchildren in a row
and when they remember me, I can only hope they know
that all through-n-through, it was hard for me to do
so difficult for me, to say 'I love ...'
so difficult for me, to say 'I love ...'

I've seen my two girls grow, they've passed me now I know
I guess I've set them free, at a price they'll never know
but it was my only way, to keep those ghosts at bay
to give them all my love, though the words I couldnt say
but my flowers will not die, my garden it will thrive
cuz once I have to go, my daughter will keep it alive
she'll pull away the weeds, give it brand-new seeds
and now I've pruned it pure, she can nurse this family tree
She'll help its leaves be true, let the love grow through
hang up a tire-swing, so the children feel it too
and all through-n-through, it will be easier to do
not difficult for her, to say 'I love you!'
may it be easier for her, to say 'I love you!'

they've seen my garden grow, my flowers in a row
now the life inside of me, is growing old and slow
my heart is feeling cold, and thats not how I wanna go
so bring them to my bed, my family in a row
Theres something I need to say, I hope its not too late
cuz I know that my death will call on me today
and they are so overdue, these words I have for you
so with this final breath, let me say 'I love ....'

 

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Pomo Girl

Dont go driving late at night down
Geyserville way unless you wanna fight
and stay away once its gets late from highway 128
there's men down there who wont hesitate
to pull out a gun if you stop by their gate
all this traffic-n-noise polution got em lookin for a new solution

For generations we worked our land, to put wine in barrels
and money in our hands
this valley was pleasant and free from noise
for healthy american girls and boys
sure as shooting when the casino went up,
128 became a gaming shortcut
so don't go driving late at night
down our way unless you wanna fight

A pomo girl gathered acorn a long time ago b4 we were born
pomo girl came home after light
found everyone dead at the hands of the white
Pomo mamma was laying dead
her blood was turning Clear Lake red
Pomo girl had to run away,
lived in this valley until her final day

She found a new band to take her in
and she told em about the killing of her kin
They told some stories of the own,
how they were pushed and pulled outghta their homes
For generations we cared for this land,
it put food in our bellies and tools in our hands
This valley was peacful and free from noise
for healthy pomo girls and boys

Sure as smoking once they came,
the white man started the whisky game
they said here ya go friend, taste this stuff,
there's plenty more if that aint enough
just one drink stole our souls
and they turned a blind-eye in Sacramento
'if those pomo people had a spine
they could just say no to whisky and wine'

I went for a dream late at night
down Jimtown way and it gave me a fright.
Came around a bend and such a sight
a pomo girl in my front-fog lights
I slammed on my brakes as fast as I could
pomo-girl was standing by the hood
I said Pomo girl this aint my fight
I'm your friend even though I'm white.

Pomo girl said 'don't be afraid,
Im only a spirit and im here to trade"
"Pomo girl I got nothing to give
and I don't want nothing except to live."
"Is living enough when yer all shutdown?
I know whatcha doing dreaming bout this town
and I'll take you there where you belong,
if you send out a message in this song"

Im pomo-spirit and I'm here to say,
thanks for the whiskey and now we'll repay
Here ya go friend, try this stuff,
there's more out back if poker aint enough
just one game can take your soul,
and a spine aint enough to "just say no"
And if you won't play, l'll come to you,
in the noise of the traffic passing through

So lie awake in your bed
let pomo-spirit mess with your head
So toss and turn in your bed,
let pomo-spirit mess with your head
So lie awake in your bed,
let pomo-spirit mess with your head
Now fall asleep, now all's been said,
the pomo-spirit's been planted in your head


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Salvation Army

into the car, she said I wont tell you again
your Dad wants to be back before game begins
Its september soon and god only knows
you kids could use new clothes

so we're going for ride, gonna pick up some things
at that store down there off Lytton Springs
some pants for you, maybe dishes for me
from the Salvation Army

gymnasium, still lines on the floor
converted into a second-hand store
I touched the clothes and picked up the things
of the souls of those who had lost their wings

abandoned clothing and worn-out shoes
the surviving items of chemical abuse
they spoke to me then as they speak to me still
I'll share what they said if you will

they said
nobody, nobody, put their arms around me
why didnt somebody, somebody
put their arms around me
my dreams, went lost inside me
my things, to the salvation army

there you are have you been hiding from me?
I found you these jeans, we can patch the knee
your fathers pacing over there by the door
we had better not ask for more

her hands were full, her hair distraught
she was hanging on because its what she was taught
my sister was crying to her at her feet
she'd fallen and scraped her knee

she cried
oh mommy, oh mommy
wont you please carry me
oh mommy, oh mommy
I fell at the salvation army
my knees are burning
won't you please put your arms around me?

hurry back outside and into the car
I saw an old man who'd come from afar
to dry himself out and with one last plea
to save himself and join the army

he watched us there my family and me
outside the salvation army
he saw me staring he gave me wink
I knew what he meant, or at least I think

he meant
young boy, oh young boy
dont you go and be like me
dont let your dreams die inside you
nor your things at the salvation army
dont let your dreams die inside you
nor your things at the salvation army

its rude to stare, i wont tell you again
your fathers in a rush for his game to begin
its September soon and God only knows
you kids sure needed new clothes

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Sky May Fall WindowsMedia Credits

in my spirit dream by the prairie stream
the coyote called through my wigwam walls
'your love's gone pale and her bones grow frail
pack a pouch to bring:

gather your spears and your healing tears
get your bow and tobacco
some earthly sand from the spirit man
face south-west then go'

I found your face at white-man's place
you were bargaining for death with whisky-breath
and trading last hope for a piece of rope
and a final resting place

The sky may fall but afterall
it was already cracked by a heart attack
big light above has leaked out bloods' love
and drained on us all

So I carried you away before it was too late
shielded your breast with a love-bird's nest
I wrapped your feet in tobacco leaf
I stitched you a brand new dress

your pale-face bed I 'tomahawked' to shreds
now our souls bed down on common ground
and warmed by the flame of our bonded chest-pain
we slept finally so sound

desert morning wake, a new breath we take
some cactus tea for you and me
then hand in hand we searched this land
for a new claim to stake

Our sky may fall but afterall
it was already cracked by a heart attack
our light above has run out of blood
there's a fainting in our souls

now we will learn to cure this heart-burn
with the sun-dried shame of our hidden pain
we grind down our guilt on a buffalo quilt
with stone and faith in an urn

and with Hopi plants and Apache chants
to the sky above we boomarang our love
it returns as rain, cried out in the name
of love and its second chance

Now we'll raise high our mended sky
we'll water and weed our family tree
and live in it's shade in the tee-pee we've made
for all eternity.

The sky may fall but afterall
it was already cracked by a heart attack
the light above leaked out love
and drained on us all

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UP! Listen Listen: WindowsMedia Credits

A mother and a father
cooked up a perfect world
yet set no place for failure
for their little girl

with a shiny little lunch box
barets and little curls
and a menue set for life they
served her their world

where she loved to run
but never could hide
from the stomach pains
from the knots inside

now she looks for ways
to loosen em all up
to throw em all away
instead of all up

A mother and father
with a perfect little world
is a hard life to swallow for
a growing girl

if only they could hear now
what she confides in me
they'd excuse her from their table and
set her free

and put aside
stubborn ways
purge their pride
and controlling days

cuz its not too late
this pain can halt
just say 'We love you'
and 'It wasn't your fault'

A mother and father
they had a perfect little world
and good intentions for
their little girl

but hear my hollar
"This has all got to end"
she's still your daughter
but she's my best friend

so condemm me, I am willing
write me off as dead
if your pride needs a killing well
take me instead

cuz im already gone
at least it feels that way
whenever she's unhappy
well ... whats left to say?

your control can't save her
cuz it only kills
it consumes the braveness
it eats the will

You're a mother and father
but yer perfect little world
is not worth the life of your
grown up girl

there are no perfect mothers
and there are no perfect girls
there are no perfect fathers in
this great big world

so put away
and set aside
that stubborn gaze
give up your pride

give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

I wont give up
I wont give up
I wont give up
until you give it all up

she's my best friend
so I'm here to stay
until the end
I wont go away

cuz its not too late
this pain can halt
just say 'We love you'
and 'It wasnt' your fault'

then she'll find a way
to loosen it all up
to throw it all away
instead of all up

and like it or not
I'm staying by her side
she'll untie the knots
she carried inside

we'll loosen em up
we wont give up
were all grown up
and we wont give up

so give it up
loosen it up
she's all grown up
so give it up

give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up

I wont give up
I wont give up
I wont give up
until you give it all up

give it up
give it up
give it up
give it up


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Music Home

Demos: Lost Souls

 

- Whisky Whispers listen

- Dakota Dust (Acoustic)listen

- Crazy Horse ...listen

- Dont you go! listen

- Make Believe Rainy Daylisten

- Lost Soul of Time listen

- Porchlight Dimensionlisten

- Trips You Didn't Take
listen

- EveryDay Angellisten

- The Receptionistlisten

- Yet another Alexander Valley Version listen

- Open doors listen

- Mitochondrian Mother listen

- Bigotry listen

- Dakota Dust listen

- Highway 128 listen

- Alexander Valley listen

- Grandma's Garden

- Pomo girl

- Salvation Army

- Sky May Fall listen

- UP! listen