Liner Notes -- Old Guitar & I Rise

Here are a couple of drafts that call to mind Maya Angelou's words, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Here's the best I can do for today. Made for a fun night on the deck!

I wrote I Rise last month after a lousy incident at an open mic that turned out to have inspired me in some ways. Old Guitar was drafted about a year and a half ago when our dear Odie was by my side, God rest his soul.

I Rise

On the downside of the hill I climbed so long

Kids almost grown. And I hear a song

Clouds that block the moon don’t steal her shine

Clear skies ain’t needed to perceive

Vision aligns

It’s not that I don’t suck, I already know

Voice gets lost and fingers move too slow

I care little for your judgment or praise

Opinions are cheap. Flattery breaks.

And I can’t wait

Chorus:

It’s nice to have the dark shadows outside me for a change

So inside, there’s space for light

You judge my bold insufficient whispered tries

Me too. Me too

Still I rise

Verse 2:

I blushed stradivarius-like charms

mirrored in eyes of a man who liked to lie

And I… love to believe

Now I trade forgiveness for goodbye

and I rise

This precious heart of mine opens wider than before

I see possibilities left crumbled on the floor

Grateful for my lollygagging growth

Friends and other kind souls

with gratitude

bridge:

test after test after test I give myself a solid C

last night a Judas kissed my cheek and I just smiled

Chorus:

It’s nice to have the dark shadows outside me for a change

So inside, there’s space for light

You judge my bold insufficient whispered tries

Me too. Me too

Still I rise

Verse 3:

Talent may come in time

but it’s naught without vision, grit and tryin’

My best power lies in my faith

that it’s worth the bother

and bravery

Chorus:

It’s nice to have the dark shadows outside me for a change

So inside, there’s space for light

You judge my bold insufficient whispered tries

Me too. Me too

Still I rise

Me too. Me too

Still I rise

Old Guitar

There’s an old dog guarding me

Babies grown up wonderfully

Got milk for my coffee

There ain’t nothin’ more I want

Had a man filled with spirit

Good friends that I can visit

Fine music when I hear it

There ain’t nothin’ more I want

Chorus 1

But I lie ‘cuz I still scheme

for a weeping willow tree

outside my window on a yard

with space to dream on stars

and strum my old guitar

Verse 2

Always manage to make the rent

and have most all my needs met

Most nights I sleep content

There ain’t nothin’ more I want

Made some peace with myself

Have plenty of years under my belt

Tellin’ the haters to go to hell

There ain’t nothin more I want

Chorus 2

But I lie ‘cuz I still dream

to have my mind more free

to see the world less hard

than the news I disregard

Just to strum my old guitar

Chorus 1

But I lie ‘cuz I still scheme

for a weeping willow tree

outside my window on the yard

with space to dream on stars

and strum my old guitar