Claudia Gibson

LYRICS

LOUISIANA SKY

by Claudia Gibson

Sixty miles from nowhere

City lights left behind

Just me and the highway

And a Louisiana Sky

Heard the past come a-callin’

Like a voice from up high

Saying, “We all once lived here,

Under Louisiana skies”

Crossed a bridge over the bayou

Sugar cane grows tall and wide

Plantation cabins down an old gravel road

There’s ghost in the live oaks

Telling tales from old souls

Blue beads in their pockets

Keepin’ off the evil eye

Couldn’t lift them to freedom

Under Louisiana skies

And on their papers, first names only

Moses, Martha and a child

Life stories left here

In cypress and stone

Once flesh and blood

Now dust and bone

Clouds darkened and swirled down

Lightning crackled and cried

Tears of history were streaming

From the Louisiana sky

Cabins empty and dusty

Voices stilled by the time

Said my prayer to the nameless

And the Louisiana sky

Said, “You won’t be forgotten

Under Louisiana skies”

Dreamers by Claudia Gibson

She has walked through desert sands

Huddled down inside a truck

Clutching at her mama’s hand

Both praying for a little luck

Crawling underneath barbed wire

He was barely three years old

Daddy carried him for miles

Not a peep, just like he was told

Dreamers - they have lived here

All their lifetime

In this land they call home

All of their school days

And every friend’s face

All from this place

The only life they’ve known

Growing up between two worlds

Homework, friends and football games

Knowing just one traffic stop

Could leave her life forever changed

Go to college, find a job

Serve your country, make your way

Choices that he cannot make

When it’s a fight just to remain

Dreamers - they have lived here

All their lifetime

This country they call home

All of their school days

And every friend’s face

All from this place

The only lives they’ve known

Foreign to the land where they were born

Could it be the dreams they share

are big enough for us all?

For us all?

Dreamers - they have lived here

All their lifetime

This country is their home

All of their school days

Every friend’s face

All from this place

The only life they’ve known

STEP BY STEP

RIDING ‘ROUND IN YOUR OLD CAR
WISHING ON AN EVENING STAR
AS IF WISHING MADE THINGS TRUE
SO YOUNG, BUT WE WERE GAME
LEAP OF FAITH TO CHANGE MY NAME
ALL WE HAD WAS ME AND YOU

BUT STEP BY STEP, BRICK BY BRICK
LINE BY LINE, STICK BY STICK
DAY BY DAY, BABY YEAH WE BUILT IT UP AND MADE
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING
ONE BY ONE, TWO BY TWO
TRAVELING ALONE AND MAYBE WITH YOU
DAY AND NIGHT BABY, GONNA BUILD IT UP AND MAKE
A LIFETIME THAT IS SOMETHING, ME AND YOU,
BABY ME AND YOU, IT’S TRUE

GOT A JOB, YEAH WE BOTH DID
MADE A HOME AND RAISED OUR KIDS
EVERY PHASE WITHOUT A CLUE
AND EACH TIME WE NEARLY SPLIT
YOU ALWAYS RAISED YOUR GAME A BIT
FINDING WAYS TO MAKE IT NEW

STEP BY STEP, BRICK BY BRICK
LINE BY LINE, STICK BY STICK
DAY BY DAY, BABY YEAH WE BUILT IT UP AND MADE
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING
ONE BY ONE, TWO BY TWO
TRAVELING ALONE AND BABY WITH YOU
DAY AND NIGHT BABY, GONNA BUILD IT UP AND MAKE
A LIFETIME THAT IS SOMETHING, ME AND YOU
BABY ME AND YOU
ME AND YOU, IT’S TRUE

YOU SAID YOU’D MARRY ME SOMEDAY
AND NOW WE’RE LOOKING BACK
I GUESS YOU HAD YOUR WAY

STEP BY STEP, BRICK BY BRICK
LINE BY LINE, STICK BY STICK
DAY BY DAY, BABY YEAH WE BUILT IT UP AND MADE
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING
ONE BY ONE, TWO BY TWO
TRAVELING ALONE AND BABY WITH YOU
DAY AND NIGHT BABY, GONNA BUILD IT UP AND MAKE
A LIFETIME THAT IS SOMETHING, ME AND YOU
BABY ME AND YOU
ME AND YOU, IT’S TRUE

REAL LOVE

DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, WERE THE STARS ALIGNED
OR WAS IT JUST CHANCE AND FATE COMBINED
DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE
IF YOU TOOK ANY GIVEN WOMAN AND MAN
JOINED THEM TOGETHER FOR A WHOLE LIFE SPAN
WOULD THEY FIND REAL LOVE, WOULD THEY FIND REAL LOVE

CHORUS:
REAL LOVE -- THE LOVE FOR A LIFETIME
THAT BENDS AND TWISTS LIKE A VINE
GROWING STRONG AND ENTWINED
REAL LOVE -- THE KIND THAT CAN CARRY THE WEIGHT
TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEATHER THE FATES
A LOVE THAT SURVIVES

DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE AS THE STARS GAVE WAY
AND SEE IT SURVIVE INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY
DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE
WHEN THE CLOUDS TURN BLACK AND THE WINDS BLOW COLD
BUILDING A SHELTER - FOR TO HAVE AND HOLD
WILL THEY FIND REAL LOVE, WILL THEY FIND REAL LOVE

CHORUS

DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE
WHEN THEIR DAY WAS DONE
LENGTHENING SHADOWS IN THE SETTING SUN
DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE
WERE THE YEARS THEY SHARED AND THE LIFE THEY MADE
WORTHY OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY BOTH GAVE
DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE

CHORUS

DID THEY FIND REAL LOVE, WERE THE STARS ALIGNED
OR WAS IT JUST CHANCE AND FATE COMBINED....

CLEVELAND OHIO

CLEVELAND OHIO IT'S 10AM THURSDAY
CHECKED OUT OF MY MOTEL AND WENT FOR A WALK
THE LAKEFRONT IS QUIET EXCEPT FOR MEN FISHING
THEY STAND ON THE DOCKSIDE, CAST THEIR LINES OUT AND TALK

AND HOW AM I LIVING WITHOUT YOU
AND HOW CAN I BE IN THIS WORLD ON MY OWN
DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD DOUBT YOU
DID YOU REALLY LEAVE, DID YOU REALLY LEAVE ME ALONE

YOUNGSTOWN OHIO, THE STATE LINE BY LUNCHTIME
GRABBED A COFFEE AT THE QUICK MART, FOUND SOME TALK RADIO
THE CALLERS ARE ANGRY, THEY SAY THEY'RE FORGOTTEN
THOUGH MY REASONS ARE DIFFERENT, IT'S A FEELING I KNOW

AND HOW CAN I MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU
AND HOW CAN I LIVE IN THIS WORLD ON MY OWN
DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD DOUBT YOU
DID YOU REALLY LEAVE, DID YOU REALLY LEAVE ME ALONE

ROUTE 80 PA SEEMS TO STRETCH ON FOR DAYS
I COUNT OFF THE SMALL TOWNS AND MILES
WATER GAP INTO JERSEY AND THE SUBURBAN HAZE
BUT THE NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE IS A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES

HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ITS 6PM THURSDAY
PARKED THE CAR BY THE FERRY, AND I BOARDED THAT BOAT
HALFWAY ‘CROSS THE HUDSON, TOOK A BOX FROM MY BACKPACK
I SHOOK OUT YOUR ASHES, WATCHED YOU BLOW OFF AND FLOAT

SO HOW AM I LIVING WITHOUT YOU
AND WHY AM I HERE IN THIS WORLD ON MY OWN
NO CHOICE BUT TO GO ON WITHOUT YOU
BUT HOW COULD YOU LEAVE
HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME ALONE

END OF DAYS

HURRICANES, WILDFIRES
SEEMS LIKE MOTHER NATURE’S RUNNING WILD
IS THIS THE END OF DAYS?
FEELS LIKE THE END OF DAYS

RIVER FLOODS, HOUSE IS GONE
LEFT IN MUD JUST TO CARRY ON
IS THIS THE END OF DAYS?
FEELS LIKE THE END OF DAYS

PREACHER SAYS, BROTHER, YOU NEED RELIGION
GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND SEEK A VISION
WIND BLOWING IN LIKE IT’S JUDGEMENT DAY
MAYBE THIS WORLD’S GONNA WASH AWAY

TWO BY TWO WAS HIS PLAN
FORTY DAYS TIL THEY HIT THE LAND
WAS IT THE END OF DAYS?
SEEMED LIKE THE END OF DAYS

RAINBOW SKY, JOURNEY’S END
SEND ‘EM OUT JUST TO START AGAIN
WAS IT THE END OF DAYS?
SEEMED LIKE THE END OF DAYS

FORGET WAITING SISTER, FOR YOUR DELIVERANCE
JUST MAKING A MOVE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
NO USE WORRYING ‘BOUT THE JUDGEMENT DAY
ALL OF THOSE FEARS GONNA FADE AWAY

-BREAK-

I CAN’T WAIT BABY, ANOTHER MINUTE
GOT TO LIVE THIS LIFE AND ALL THAT’S IN IT
TIME KEEPS TICKING TO THE JUDGEMENT DAY
DON’T WANT THESE YEARS JUST TO WASTE AWAY

ARE WE LOST – ME AND YOU?
WHERE IS LOVE? CAN WE MAKE IT THROUGH?
IS THIS OUR END OF DAYS? IS THIS OUR END OF DAYS?
IS THIS OUR END OF DAYS? IS THIS OUR END OF DAYS?
IS THIS THE END OF DAYS? IS IT THE END OF DAYS?

Anthony’s Tune (Song for St. Michael)
Dedicated to the memory of Anthony Yannitelli, and his incandescent smile.

It is more than I can bear
To be standing at this grave
And staring at the ashes
Of a child I could not save
‘cause his hair was sand and sunlight
And his smile a river wide
And he lit up incandescent
Every room he stepped inside

Chorus:
I can’t tell you what to do
I can’t show you how to be
‘Cause every mother’s child
Walks their own road willingly
I won’t draw you any maps
But I’ve walked some crooked miles
keep a torchlight in your pocket
And St. Michael at your side

Another sad reunion
For a friend forever missed
How many more left dangling
In the depths of that abyss
And no words can I offer
To alleviate her pain
A child is brought into this world
And taken back again

Chorus 2
I can’t tell you what to do
I can’t show you how to be
‘Cause every mother’s child
Has their own path to be free
I won’t draw you any maps
If you walk that crooked mile
keep a torchlight in your pocket
And St. Michael at your side

Verse 3:
St. Michael, if you’re listening
My petition is this song
To cast out every devil
From each place they don’t belong
Relentless quests for pleasure
Deeper thrills and bigger highs
Let love and grace replace them
May this not be compromised

Chorus 3
I can’t tell you what to do
I can’t show you how to be
We walk into the fires
Of our demises willingly
I won’t draw you any maps
When you walk that crooked mile
keep a torchlight in your pocket
And St. Michael
keep a torchlight In your pocket
And St. Michael
keep a torchlight In your pocket
And St. Michael at your side

TROUBLE

WENT TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY
TO PUT MY SINS BEHIND ME
WHEN I WOKE UP ON MONDAY
THE DEVIL STILL DID FIND ME

CHORUS:
I SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS
SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS

TUESDAY BROUGHT ME TRUE LOVE
HE SWORE THERE WAS NO OTHER
WE MARRIED ON A WEDNESDAY
BUT HE WAS A FAITHLESS LOVER

CHORUS

THURSDAY NIGHT I HIT THE TOWN
THE WHISKEY IT WAS FLOWING
FRIDAY I WAS BUSTED FLAT
AND NO ONE SEEMED TO KNOW ME

SATURDAY BROUGHT HELL TO PAY
A HOLE TOO DARK TO MENTION
BY SUNDAY I WAS ON MY KNEES
I WAS BEGGING FOR REDEMPTION

I SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS
SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS
I SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS
SEEN TROUBLE, TROUBLE ALL MY DAYS

LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP

LOVE'S AN ENDLESS JOURNEY THAT WE NAVIGATE BY HEART
SOMETIMES OUR SENSES FAIL US
THEN WE GO BY FAITH THAT WE WONT FALL OR DROWN OR SPLIT APART
WE HOIST OUR TATTERED SAILS UP

I WOULD CIRCLE AROUND THIS EARTH
AND WRESTLE THE DEMONS OF THE DEEP
JUST TO LAY DOWN AT YOUR SIDE
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP

LIFE CAN BE A DISTANCE RACE THAT WE ARE RUNNING DEAF AND BLIND
WITHOUT MUCH SENSE OR REASON
FEELING OUT THE RUTS AND HOLES AND TRYING NOT TO LAG BEHIND
WE PUSH ON WITH THE SEASONS

I WOULD CRAWL DOWN THAT ENDLESS ROAD
ON BARE SCRAPED HANDS AND BLOODIED KNEES
JUST TO LAY DOWN AT YOUR SIDE
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP

I WOULD LIVE OUT MY LIFE ALONE
IF AT THE END OUR EYES COULD MEET
THEN YOU’D PULL ME CLOSE TO LIE
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP
IN LOVE’S SWEET AND SHELTERED SLEEP