1. |
We’ll Get Through This
02:44
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Times are so terrible
Almost unbearable
Who isn’t scare-able now?
This is the trend of things
Seems there’s no mend of things
Is this the end of things? Pow!
Dame Fortune may amaze us with each blow
But that shouldn’t faze us, for I know—
We’ll get through this
We will be okay
We’ll get through this
Tomorrow is another day
Things may be just as dark as they can be
But after night comes the morning light—just you wait and see!
We’ll get through this!
They say the darkest hour
Is just before the dawn
Watch the far horizon
For the lights to come on!
We’ll get through this!
We’ll get through this
And make it farther down the line
We’ll get through this
I know that things will turn out fine
This will not be, I swear, our final stand
Any day we’ll be up and away into that promised land—
We’ll get through this!
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2. |
Old Loves
04:29
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I could barely look at you, I wanted you so much
It’s a miracle my hands stayed by my side
And when your fingers strayed to mine and again I felt your touch
My joy was almost more than I could hide.
We talked but I cannot recall a single word we said
My thoughts were miles and miles and miles away
Another place, another time I’d given up for dead
That came alive like it was yesterday.
Old loves
In memory persist
Old loves
Are hopeless to resist
What’s done is done, what’s passed is past
And what was kissed was kissed
But old loves
In old hearts still are missed.
We parted with a quick embrace I wished would never end
I felt like I was filming movie takes
As Best Supporting Actor in the role of just a friend
Who loved you once, whose longing heart still aches.
Old loves
In memory persist
Old loves
Are hopeless to resist
What’s done is done, what’s passed is past
And what was kissed was kissed
But old loves
In old hearts still are missed.
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3. |
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I want to write a standard
One that all the cats will swing
I want to write a standard
Sung by Frank and Tony and Judy and Bing
A song that hits what a million songs have missed before
A song that’ll still be sung in a thousand years or more—
I want to write a standard
One that Ella would scat right through
I want to write a standard
One that Louis would play red, hot, and blue
A song that Jerry or Jule might wish he’d written
A song that would be to musicians like cream to a kitten—
I want to write a standard
Like Burke and van Heusen wrote
I want to write a standard
Like Berlin did—every word and note
A song whose tune was what you might call atmospheric
A song that even Mercer would say, “By golly, that’s got some lyric!”—
I want to write a standard
Like Hart and Rodgers did so well
I want to write a standard
One that’s got the Gershwins’ magic spell
A song to be sung in a smoky bar by Billie
Or covered by Bob, Paul, Linda, Lady Gaga, or Willie—
I want to write a standard
To make Astaire step up and dance
I want to write a standard
One that’s filled with stardust and romance
A song that Arlen might find at the end of the rainbow
A song that Shaw has to play every night and disdain so—
I want to write a standard
One that makes folks fall in love
I want to write a standard
More than anything I can think of
A song that, I hope, when St. Peter is admitting
Will rate me a chair at the table where
Dorothy,
and Irving,
and Larry,
and Richard,
and Johnny,
and Ira,
and Jimmy,
and Hoagy,
and Cole are all sitting—
I want to write a standard!
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4. |
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“A dream is a wish your heart makes”
So Cinderella sings
But lately only heartaches
Are all The Sandman brings—
I missed you in my dreams last night
I wish that you’d been there
We always had such happy times
In every dream we’d share
But now you are so far away
So out-of-reach, it seems
I’ll never have your love again
Not even in my dreams
I’ll never have your love again
Not even in my dreams.
There was a time not long ago
I’d dream of you each night
Of how you’d take me in your arms
And kiss and hold me tight
But now I wander all alone
Searching, love, for you
And wake, lamenting, with the dawn
My tears like morning dew.
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5. |
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I cannot believe we have the evening free
We can stay at home tonight and watch TV
Pour a drink or two and play Monopoly
Or maybe we should just make love.
This would be the perfect time to cook or bake
Rustle up a sandwich or a chocolate cake
Order in a pizza for convenience’s sake
Or maybe we should just make love.
Maybe we should smell the roses now and then
Tender sweet surrender when we feel the yen
Time’s a-passing, baby, maybe now is when
We should put the old libido back in charge again—
I don’t think we need a charm or voodoo hex
Seems to me, equipment-wise, we’re up to specs
When exactly was it that we last had sex?!
Maybe we should just make—
Hey, we’ll make the bed shake!
Maybe we should just make love!
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6. |
Used to Being Lonely
03:32
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I’m getting used to being lonely every day
I don’t mind the solitude that’s lately come my way
The empty rooms that echo with every word I say
I’m getting used to being lonely every day.
I’m getting used to being lonely every night
And no one here but me as I turn out the light
Time heals all wounds and I am sure that mine will be all right
I’m getting used to being lonely every night.
I like to hear my footsteps
One by one upon the stair
The sound of my own voice
And not an answer anywhere—
I’m getting used to being lonely all the time
The quiet’s such a comfort, the silence so sublime
As I deliver my soliloquies, sing my songs without a rhyme
I’m getting used to being lonely—
Just the one and only—
Getting used to being lonely all the time.
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7. |
It’s For You
03:51
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Good friends
Good cheer
Good food
Good beer
Don't say that call's for me
Don't say that call's for me
I hear the phone
Leave me alone
Don't say that call's for me.
Don't give
A damn
I'm on
The lam
Don't say that call's for me
Don't say that call's for me
I'm drinking beer
But I'm not here
Don't say that call's for me.
I'll have
One more
Then out
The door
Don't tell
A lie
Just say
Goodbye
Don't say that call's for me
Don't say that call's for me
I'm on my way
Call it a day
Don't say that call's for me.
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8. |
Nothing Fancy
04:24
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There’s a bar in northern Michigan
Where we summered in my youth
Drank our beer and smoked our cigarettes
At the back in a wooden booth
Ordered burgers from the kitchen
Pickled sausage from a jar
Served up by Mrs. Whatshername
Who worked behind the bar.
A lit-up jukebox in the corner
Played old rock and country songs
Just a nickel bought a heartbreak
From Hank Williams or Dion
Days off, we’d meet our girlfriends
And maybe shoot some pool
While the old guys traded stories
Each a king on a tall bar stool.
I remember lots of happy times
A few sad ones, I’ll admit
I’d give anything to go back again
Find that old booth and just sit
Right down and order up
An ice cold glass of beer
See my friends and sing our song
“We’re here because we’re here.”
It was a roadhouse, tavern, bar, saloon
Neon, plastic, wood, and chrome—
The sign outside said, “Dew Drop Inn”
And it always felt like home
It wasn’t cool, it wasn’t pretty
Did its job without a fuss
“Come in, sit down, have a beer”—
Nothing fancy, just like us.
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9. |
Pompeii, Pompeii
02:20
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We were safe in our beds
Now we’re over our heads
In a hot gushing flow from Vesuvius
We are drowning in molten effluvias
And our future looks more and more dubious
Insalubrious
That is why we invite you today
For hot real estate deals in Pompeii—
Pompeii, Pompeii
It’s a hell of a town
Visit today
Hot properties abound
Every house has central heating
There’s a fire sale everywhere
Hot cakes, hot sex, hot seating
You can toast a marshmallow anywhere.
Pompeii, Pompeii
There’s no such place as home
Vesuvius popped today
Now all roads lead to Rome
Each villa once had a mountain view
But the last time anyone looked
Pompeiians did as they had to do
And got the hell out before their goose was cooked.
Pompeii, Pompeii
Persona non grata
Vacation getaway
Now an igneous frittata
We’re all ash and pumice now
The countryside’s ignited
Lux in tenebris from us now
‘Cause our lava lamps all are lighted—
Yes, our lava lamps all are lighted.
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10. |
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The Christmas pudding’s soaking in the brandy
The smell of roasting turkey scents the air
The children dream of sugar plums and candy
The tree is trimmed with lights and angel hair
The wassail bowl is filled to overflowing
The guests are quaffing ale and wine and mead
The weather’s perfect—crisp and cold and snowing
But you are all the Christmas that I need.
The chestnuts hiss and sizzle on the fire
The table groans with Christmas goose and ham
The stereo plays carols by a choir
And Christmas cookies taste of spice and jam
The Santa Claus parade is drawing near now
Every house is mistletoed and treed
December 25th is almost here now
But you are all the Christmas that I need.
You’re all the joy this holiday was meant for
You’re all of Santa’s gifts rolled into one
There’s nothing that I could have bought or spent for
That I want as much this Christmas — and every Christmas yet to come—
We’ve bought gifts for the kids and Dad and Mother
A Christmas Carol’s here for us to read
We’ve even bought a gift for one another
But you are all the Christmas —
[SPOKEN:] “What’s today?” “Why, Christmas Day!”
You are all the Christmas that I need.
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11. |
We Never Talk Anymore
02:37
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We never talk anymore
I never get you on the telephone
How can I know the score
If we don’t have a few words alone?
I call and I call and you don’t pick up
But I won’t kick up a fuss
Maybe your mobile is out of juice
Some excuse! Can we discuss?
We never talk anymore
You never answer when you see it’s me
You’re the party I adore
And my line is open as it can be
It isn’t much I’m asking for
We never talk anymore.
When I call your number, it rings and rings
I hope everything’s okay
And I always wish when your line’s not free
It was you and me with lots to say
We never talk anymore
Maybe there’s nothing to talk about
But talk to me I implore
And there’s a chance we could work things out
I hope you’ll open up that door
We never talk anymore.
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12. |
Long, Long Tunnel
03:38
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There’s a light at the end of this long, long tunnel
That will shine for us someday.
Though the road is dark, soon the golden sun’ll
Shine its beams to light our way.
Sad and lonely now our weary footsteps
And we chafe at long delay
But I know at the end of this long, long tunnel
That the light will come to stay.
Though the road ahead seems to have no ending
And the days stretch on and on
We must keep our feet every turn or bending
Till will see a new day dawn.
We must marshal strength for the long, long journey
We must keep on keeping on
Though the road ahead seems to have no ending
Soon these bad times will be gone.
We have loved ones now in the path of danger
And our hearts are filled with care
We must trust in the kindness of friend and stranger
Whose companionship they share.
We will see the day when we’re all united
With good health and joy to spare
We have loved ones now in the path of danger
May they be victorious there.
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Shelley Posen Ottawa, Ontario
SHELLEY POSEN is a Canadian songwriter and performer of his own and traditional songs. He writes in many styles and on many subjects. His songs are widely recognized for their wit, craftsmanship, and the profound effect many seem to have on listeners.
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