COLLECTED SONGS

COLLECTED SONGS

MARTIN HOLSINGER

COMPOSER’S PREFACE

There are two parts to this work. The first is songs that I have completed as of March, 2011, and the second is fragments that are not yet finished songs. I am not the world’s most proficient musician by any means, and possibly someone who reads this may come up with a melody and set of chord changes to some of my lyrics that both of us like better than my own idea. If this happens to you, dear reader, please get in touch. I’m flexible!

All finished songs are “published by” Amoghasiddhi Music, BMI

You can hear these songs at the following online locations:

Dmusic–free downloads, plus free downloads of my covers of Grateful Dead, Kate Wolf, and Richard Thompson songs

Facebook–99 cent downloads, originals only

Reverbnation 99 cent downloads, originals only

Soundclick 99 cent downloads, originals only

Music Dealers for commercial licensing

Enjoy!

Martin Holsinger

Rabbit Hole Hollow

Tennessee

April 27, 201

Passage

Dream I’m running and laughing,

Long hair blowing free;

Wake feeling weak.

No-more than weak-

I try to move, I cannot

Catch my breath. I try to

Speak-I cannot catch my breath. So this is it? –

Maybe not, my Lover says, maybe only

Blood or water, at the

Hospital they can suck it out. –

No, don’t take me there. I’m home, I feel safe here.

Don’t move me.

And now the short winter

Day is ending, and it’s harder to

Breathe, even if I lie still and
Say nothing. -OK, maybe hospital

Will help, buy me time, completion

Of my sweet new house, a few more

Comforting nights With my lover, a few more

Good times with my family,

One more chance To heal old wounds.

To the hospital, to sweet, strong

Oxygen-that almost feels OK–That’s all you can give me?

Maybe I can pull out of this, Maybe go back home tomorrow.
So into the mouth of a fearsome

Machine, to tell what’s with my

Lungs. It blinks and hums

And I gasp for breath

Drowning on dry land

Then back to blessed oxygen

And feeling better, waiting

For results so I can go home again,

Happy to see my father here
With Carrie and Bill, now

Brother Abner arrives also.

We wait and hope.

The doctor comes in,

Small, neat, undynamic.

“It’s not blood or fluid. It’s tumor growth..”

I look at Carrie,

She looks at me.

So this is it, then-

Nothing we can do- this is it.

Now I am going to die-

Soon-but meanwhile,

Please massage my aching

Shoulders, get me

Something to drink,

Slip off the oxygen for

Precious seconds

For soda or a bite of sandwich.

Joke a little to ease tension.

And so a night and a day

And another night slip by,

Time stolen from approaching
Emptiness-time for distant

Family to arrive, time

For one last night feeling

My lover beside me-yes, Here in the ICU.

More and more I only want to rest, eyes

Closed. It’s so hard

To do anything else.

I hear they’re moving me

Soon. There’s nothin’ they can do In the ICU.
Maybe the oxygen is Insufficient because it’s

Really the IV cord?

Or vice-versa?

Why Is this mask on my face?

Carrie, you try it-here,

Take it!? I’m not confused,

You all are…moving

Now, to another room?

Faster, please, faster,

I’m drowning without

Oxygen-this little bottle Is no help at all…
Too exhausted to speak or move,

Even back on the mask that

Once nearly revived me.

Off with it, dammit, and

Let’s get it over with–

One last struggle, met

With calming hands and

Encouraging voices.

But the words lose meaning

As I listen

And I think I know whose face

I think I see a face

Eyes out there burning into mine,

Until I cannot think, but only

Ride my breath

It’s so hard

I wish I could stop

Or somehow get enough air

I can’t do either.

Pain and the warmth of hands

On my body both fade,

There is only ride

The breath,

Ride the breath

Till a gentle energy

Merges with my struggle

And leads me to calm

And now I can let go-

A long fall through emptiness

Into infinite light–

Free at last…

Flowers

The (E)flowers explode by my (A)altar

In (E)fireworks of purple and (B)red

I (A)know this slow-motion explo(G#m)sion

Is (B)bursting some(A)where in my (E)head

B/A/E

These flowers are cut off sex organs

DNA’s attempt to make more of itself

These flowers will not be successful

This DNA will become something else

Breeze or bees may move their pollen

Their nectar may feed a stray fly

But that is as far as it’s going

These flowers will wither and die

And you, you were just like these flowers

You bloomed, you were cut off, you fell

Leaving so little behind you

What did it mean? Who can tell?

Though your seed was more subtle than flowers

Still your seed grows love like a vine a

nd far stronger than memories of flowers

Your heart ever blooms in my mind

Yes far stronger than memories of flowers

Your heart ever blooms in my mind

ALMOST TALKED ABOUT IT

(Gm/Bb/C/F]

I brought you bags of groceries

On a (Em) winter afternoon

And though (F)I was in a hurry

And said [Dm]I’d be leaving soon

You [F]shared a cup of tea with me

And [C]asked me what was [F]new

[F/C/F]

We [F]talked about the weather

And the [Em]kids and ‘bout your ma

We [F]talked about the government

And [Dm]‘bout our gardens too

But [F]as I rose to leave you there

Deep[C] in my heart I knew

That [Bb]once again we [C]hadn’t talked

The [Bb]way we used to [F]do

Chor:

And I [Bb]almost talked about it

I [Am]almost talked about it

Almost [Gm]talked about the thing

That we don’t [F] talk about no more

But I didn’t [Bb]talk about it

No I didn’t[Am] talk about it

Just said [Gm]goodbye and kept my [Bb]smile on

As I [C]walked on out your [F]door

(Gm/Bb/C/F]

Now we don’t[F] get together

Quite the [Em]way we used to do

And [F]I’ve been there with someone else

Since [Dm] I was there with you

I’m [F]not the man you used to know

That[C] kind of makes me glad

But[Bb] something’s lost [C]between us

I [Bb]feel it, and feel [F]sad

Chor.

I [Bb]almost talked about it

Will I [Am]ever open up?

And [Gm]would you open if I did

Or [F]would you just stay [C]shut?

I’m [Bb]afraid to lose what’s left of us

If [Am]I speak from my heart

I’m [Gm]afraid you’ll smile at [Bb]me and say

“Let’s [C]make a brand-new [F]start.”

Chor.

Will I [Bb]ever talk about it?

Well you[Am] know I kind of doubt it

The feeling[Gm] fades a little further

Every [F]time that I say [C]“no”

Will I [Bb]ever talk about it?

Well you [Am]know I kind of doubt it

My heart just [Gm]grows a little colder

Every[C] time that I say [F]“no”

My heart just[Gm] grows a little [Bb]colder

Every [C]time that I say[F] “no”

…and then she slapped my face

(vamp on C7)

You got a right to feel so proud

You’re such a pretty cloud

Sailin’’ through the blue sky of my life

Although you seem a solid being

Your appearance is deceiving

You’re evaporating everywhere you go

I feel so glad to see you

and when I get close to you

Your most delightful scent pervades my mind

Your sweat’s evaporation

Sends out an invitation

Attracts me in a very basic way

Your chemical allure

Makes me want to explore

The myriad subtleties of your femininity

I’d love for you to have a few on me

I’d love for my caress to set you free

You electrical concrescense

I’d love to touch your essence

I’d love to mix my molecules with yours

Let’s take a long, slow

Afternoon world tour

(break)

But you remain evasive

How can I be persuasive?

Just thinking of you makes my pulse run higher

With the squirrelly thrill of unfulfilled desire

How can we get from frying pan to fire?

So I’m hoping this vibration

This musical sensation

Will realign your electricity

But I bet this little stunt

Is way, way, way too blunt

I’ll never taste your other word that rhymes with that

Come on baby, let me pet your cat

If you want me I will gladly wear a hat

(break)

even if I never drive your car

I still love you as you are

And I guess you’re just the one that got away

At least in this particular act of the play

The sight of you just brightens up my day

Although I know your body’s only mortal clay

And that is all that I have got to say

Bag of skin

(Bm)Had your voice in my (Am)head

Instead of (Bm)His

Filling me with your (Am)view

Of how it (Bm)is

Your view of the (C#m)facts

Your view of the (Dm)plan

Your view of (Em)me

As only half a (Bm)man

“You’re (Em)just a bag

of (Dm)skin” you sneered

“All (C#m)blood and pus and bone”

No (Dm)lovelight sparkled in your eyes

No (Em)spark of love at (Am)all

No (Em)spark of love at (Bm)all

I followed your foot(Am)steps

Instead of (Bm)Hers

down a lonely (Am)path

that only led from bad to(Bm) worse

you always wanted (C#m)more

Never satis(Dm)fied

Never cared at (Em)all

How much I (Bm)cried

Then (E)one crazy magic day

I (D)found a door in the wall

I (C#m)stepped outside

I (D)saw the sky

I (E)heard the sweet birds (A)call

I (E)heard the sweet birds (B)call

She (E)came to me

(D)so did He

And (C#m) they taught me

What I could (B)be

Still hear your (A)voice

Whispering in my (B)head

But I don’t (A)feel

That same old (B)dread

I know what you (C#m)are

I know your (D)place

In the balance I (E)keep

Behind my (B)face

I walk the walk with(A)Her

Talk the talk with (B)Him

’bout what it (A)means to be a bag of (B)skin

‘bout who to (C#m)be in this bag of (D)skin

about how it (E)feels to be a bag of (B)skin

about the spark of (E) love in this bag of (D)skin

about the spark of (C#m) love in this bag of (D)skin

about the spark of (A) love in this bag of (E)skin

about the spark of (B) love in this bag of (E6/9)skin(E)

(better than) the best you ever had

I remember (E)New Year’s Day

Nineteen(A)eighty(E)two

I was alone and far from home

And (B)cryin’ to be with you

“I (E)will be with you again”

I (A)heard the singer say

And (E)I meant every tear I cried

That (B)lonely New(A) Year’s (E)Day

Chor:

But deep (C#m)in my (G#m)heart

I could (C#m)feel something (B)missing

From the (C#m)light in my (G#m)eyes

From the (C#m)warmth of my (B)kissing

I was the (A)best you ever had,

You said, and (C#m)honey I believe that’s (B)true

But the (C#m)better man you (B)never had

Was hidden from (A)me as (F#m)well as (E)you

Sure we’d had a rough beginning

I’d almost been on my way

Until you told me about our child

And I swallowed my pride and stayed

So the years sailed by

And our family grew

And the work was pretty good

And the sound of happy laughter rang

In our cabin in the woods

We grew to adore each other

As lovers do adore

But I never had the nerve to tell you

Bout the times when I felt bored

Chor

Then times got hard and my luck ran out

I didn’t know what to do

Dropped one ball after another

I didn’t have a clue

You were overworked and angry

And me I hardly knew

That you were lookin’ to me to lead the way

While I was followin’ you

Chor.

We’d always been nice to each other

Never talked mean or been cruel

Until those days when the lightning flew

Up on our hill with its fool

And when all the smoke had cleared away

And fire no longer filled the air

I was sittin’ here all alone

And you were far away somewhere

(inst. Chor.)

I knew I never wanted

To hurt like that again

So I’ve done just like the old cliché

And got to be my own best friend

I’m learning how to speak my mind

How to laugh at myself

When a man’s got to be a man

And when to leave it on the shelf

Chor:

Now deep in my heart

There’s no longer something missing

I smile when I smile

I kiss when I’m kissin’

It may take another lifetime

To come around again with you

But there’s a better man waitin’ here for you now

Bettter than the best you ever had

BIG SKY COUNTRY

(Em)City dust blowin’ in my window

(Am)City air greasin’ up my skin

(Em)Where’s the trail

That’ll (Am)take me to the river

(Em)Where’s the earth

That (Bm)ain’t fenced (Em)in

(Em)City sounds eating up the silence

(Am)Freeway whinin’ all day and night

(Em)City minds fill me (Am)up with chatter

(Em)No way to stay here and (Bm)make it (Em)right

chor:

(Am)Take me back to big sky country

(Em)Where the air is cool and clean

(Am)Take me back to big sky country

(Em)I need the smell of the (Bm)falling (Em)rain

City lights glow all night around me

City rooms make it dark at noon

When’s a day in the great wide open

When’s a night by the light of the moon

Take me back to big sky country

Mountains glowing in the sundown light

Take me back to big sky country

Let the stars fill up my mind

Once I lived in big sky country

Watched the clouds roll across the sky

Once I walked the fields of heaven

Once I heard the angels cry

(Am)The city came to big sky country

(Em)The city sucked the country dry

(Am)The city sucked me

(Em)Into its belly

The city sucks! The (Bm)city (Em)sucks!

(Bm)I don’t care how good they treat me

(Am)I don’t care how much they pay

(Bm)I don’t care if the girls are pretty

(Am)I don’t care if I have a nice (Em)day

(Em)Gotta get back my big sky country

(Am)Warm wind blowin’ through the tall night trees

(Em)Gotta get back my (Am)big sky country

(Em)Back my liberty and (Bm)back my (Em)peace

BRIGHT EYES

(E)watching for your sails on the hori(A)zon

list(E)ening for a whisper on the (Bm)wind

look(E)ing for a sign from your direc(A)tion

wait(E)ing for my lone(A)liness to end

E/A/Bm/E

dreaming of a glance from your (A)bright eyes

re(E)membering the touch of your(Bm) hand

wish(E)ing you were here so i could (A)show you

all the (E)love(A) that I feel in my heart

E/A/Bm/E

bridge:

but you won’t (Em7)come back

and i’m (Am7)going crazy

though when you were (Em7)with me

you made me (Am7)mad as hell

you treat me (Em7)so mean

just ’cause you (Am7)know i love you

you clueless bitch i’d ought to spank you (Bm7)but…

i love you (E)too much

i could (A)never hurt you

just want to (E)hold you

and keep you (A)safe from harm

you’ve had a (E)hard life

girl i’m the (A)one can heal you

you can (E)trust me

i’ll be (A)there for you

so baby (E)come home

your (A)lover’s waiting

baby (E)come home

back in (A)to my arms

so baby (E)come home

your man (A)is waiting

baby (E)come home

back in(A)to my arms

E/A/Bm/E

BUNGEE JUMP

(vamp on C7)

I love to daily bungee jump

The blazing bath of otherworld

Plunge into reality

Through worlds where gods and demons play

Swing from my pineal gland

Into shining emptiness

OM AH HUNG, OM AH HUNG HRI

I love to sit and speak the words

That open up the magic door

To taste the sweetly cooking foods

That help me know what life is for

And then return into this world

Knowing in my heart there’s so much more

OM AH HUNG, OM AH HUNG HRI

I know someday the strap will break

And leave me plunging on and on

I’ll thrill to find what path I take

In life’s last great adventure gone

OM AH HUNG, OM AH HUNG HRI

BURNING WOMAN

[C]I love a woman she’s a [F]burning wo[C]man
I’m gonna love her just as [F]long as I [C]can
And she loves me, my [F]burning wo[C]man
She loves me, I’m her [F]burn[G]ing man

[C]I love her body though her [F]body’s burn[C]ing
I love her soul though it’s only [F]passin’ [C]through
I love her heart, love her [F]heart that holds [C] me
I love to hear her say “[F] I[G]love you”

[C]Some days the heat just [F]drive us cra[C]zy
Some days it’s a [F]white-hot [C]glow
We love to mingle in the [F]heat of the mo[C]ment
Catch a little fire and [F]let [G]it go

(break)

[C]Some days the heat just [F]drive us craz[C]y
Some day we gonna[F] lie so [C]cold
Dance in the fire, in the [F]embers in the ash[C]es
Dance the slowin’ rhythm of [F]grow[G]in’ old

[C]Bye, bye, bye, my [F]burnin’ wo[C]man
We’re here together and we’re [F]already [C]gone
Bless your, bless your, heart for [F]holdin’ [C]me
Bless the fire for [F]burn[G]in’ strong

Flesh gonna sag, gonna [F]fold, gonna [C]wrinkle
Flesh gonna melt in the [F]twinkle of an [C]eye
Bones gonna shatter, gonna [F]burn down to [C]ashes
Ashes gonna scatter in the [F]wind, in the [G]sky

CFC

(timed as in first two lines of verse)

CHEWING SANSKRIT BUBBLE GUM

C/Bb/F/C/Bb/F

Time was I could make no sense

(Bb)of the world around (F)me

Unexpected accidents

and (Bb)troubles would confound(F) me

til I (Bb)found a brighter (F)sun

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

C/Bb/F

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)helps me keep from (F)feeling glum

I’m (C)happy when the (F)time has come

to (Bb)chew my (F)Sanskrit Bubble Gum

’cause nothing’s better, no, (F)not none, than

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM(3X)

Time was I could never trust

my (Bb)lovers and (F)relations

They’d blow me off without a thought

to (Bb)chase some new sensa(F)tion

But I made all the (F)phonies run

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

C/Bb/F

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)chase my flakey (F)friends away

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)better people (F)come to stay

So I (C)do it ev(F)ery day–

(C)Chew my San(Bb)skrit (F)Bubble Gum (3X)

Old age, death and sickness

(Bb)had me in a (F)tizzy

Couldn’t just ignore them

Couldn’t (Bb) stay that (F)busy

But it all rolls into (F)one

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

C/Bb/F

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)ain’t no pana(F)cea

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)it’s still a good (F)idea

(C)life’s tough choices are (F)more fun

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM(3X)

Life still ain’t easy, that’s for sure

And (Bb)as for fair, for(F)get it

What must happen, surely will

what (Bb)can I do but (F)let it

(bridge)

(Ebm7)Don’t get me wrong

I feel the pain

I’ll do all I can

again and again

to stop this world’s slide into hell

but if it slides, i’ll sigh

and say,”oh well”

and, down there with the world,

in hell, I’ll sweat, and grin

and start right in and

(C)CHEW MY SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM (3X)

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)adds to life’s di(F)mensions

(C)Blowing Sanskrit bubbles al(F)ways

(Bb)eases all my (F)tensions

I (C)bow to the Mother-Father, (F)Daughter and Son and

(C)Chew my Sans(Bb)krit (F)Bubble Gum (3X)

The satisfactions of this world

are (Bb)always tempo(F)rary

Trying to hold on to them

(Bb)only makes life (F)scary

So, unplug your misplaced thumb

and (C)Chew some San(Bb)skrit (F)Bubble Gum

C/Bb/F

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)mind and mouth feel (F)fresh and sweet

(C)CHEWING SANSKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM

(Bb)flavor that cannot (F)be beat

(C)Melts my habits, not my (F) teeth

(C)CHEWING SAN(Bb)SKRIT (F)BUBBLE GUM (7X)

DOIN’ THE THING

E/A

Imagine (A)waking up and being Michael (D)Jackson

(A)Imagine waking up (E)him

Imagine (A)bein’ a lost little (D)rich boy

Who (E)don’t like the colour of his (A)skin

(A)imagine being some(D)body

Who got (A)treated like him as a (E)kid

I (A)shudder when I think a(D)bout it,

The (E)awful things that somebody (A)did to him

chor:

And now he’s (D)doin’ the thing that was (A)done to him

Not even (E)thinkin’ twice ’bout why it (A)come to him

He’s (D)passin’ his pain on (A)down through time

Like (E)you do yours and(A) I do mine

E/A

Imagine waking up and (A)being the former White House (D)resident

The (A)man who once was our (E)President

Your (A)coked-out brain makes it (D)hard to think

Of (E)anything except how bad you (A)want a drink

(A)You’re all bottled (D)up inside

From(A) all the years your parents (E)hurt your pride

But (A)still you stand tall you won’t ad(D)mit you lied

You don’t (E)care how many people (A)have to die

You think you’re (D)winnin’ the game but you don’t (A)understand

Why it (E)all turns to dust and slips (A)through your hands

You (D)think you gonna (A)get what you want

But you (E)ain’t gonna like what you (A)get

chor.

(A)You got your problems and (D)I got mine

But we (A)do alright, yeah (E)most of the time

And (A)here and there I’ve (D)taken a fall

But I (E)never drove the whole world (A)into a wall

I (A)done some things I wish I (D)never did

But (A)none of ‘em was messin’ with (E)little kids

And (A)I have been in (D)denial before

But (E)never bad enough to set the (A)world to war

And the only thing I can (D)think to do

Is, if we want (E)them to stop, we (A)all got to

stop (D)doin’ the things that was (A)done to us

Start (E)thinkin’ twice ’bout why it (A)come to us

Stop (D)passin’ our pain on (A)down through time

Yours, (E)Michael’s, Georgie’s, every(A)body’s, and mine (3X)

Stop (D)passin’ our pain on down through (A)time

DROUGHT SONG

C/FC/C/G/F/C

When the forest’s (C)gone, then the water goes

The willows die when the creek don’t flow

Thunder rolls, but the rain don’t fall

The country’s quiet, no birds call

Chor:

It’s gonna get (F)dry, dry, dry, (C)dry

It’s gonna get (G)dry, (F) dry,(C) dry

Flowers (C)bloom, but the bees don’t buzz

Why is this so? Because, because

This world’s been bent to the ways of men

Something’s gonna give, it ain’t if but when

Chor.

I can’t tell you just what’s gonna be(F)(Bb)(F)

But it’s (C) gonna get tougher, just (G)wait and (C) see

(F)(Bb)(F)

Or better (C) yet, don’t wait at all

Start listening for your inner call

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

And when you can, help out yourself

Chor.

Maybe this (C)earth will be green again

Maybe we’ll learn to live as friends

Maybe we’ll just hit the wall

I think it’s way too close to call

Whatever happens, let it feed your soul

Work on your part, remember the whole

Chor 2x

THE FIRE SERMON

(vamp on F7)

After the fire of youth,
The fire of age:
Flesh withers and sags,
Joint-grease melts away
Dark hair burns through grey
To white ash.

Still, a subtler fire shines in your eyes:
Alchemical, inviting:
Solve et coagulo;
Distill, if we dare, a gem
That will gleam undiminished
When time has had its way
With our transient bones.

II.
We meet
And however close we become, for however long
We’re going to be apart again so very soon, for so very long.
That’s why I’m learning to love the pain
Of letting you go

over and over and over again

III..

These bodies we think we are–
I can’t tell if they’re melting or burning
Or just drying up and blowing away.
And still–surprise and delight
To feel so healed
In the shelter of your crumbling arms

IV.
Making love
by the dying bonfire of our youth–
embers glowing, hot,
but not to be rekindled:
it’s all to ashes from here.

You stand before me
strong, naked and beautiful–
as I watch with loving lust
you fade from maiden
to crone, and I remember:
All too soon our eyes
will grow dull, our flesh
rot and sag from crumbling bones.

Let us drink deep from our pleasure
while we can, even as
every joy tastes of pain,
every gentle touch burns
and freezes, each
tender kiss, the kiss of death.

And when death does come
as my lover and yours, we shall
shrink the less from his embrace,
having yielded with such vision
and loving grace
to each other.

FREE FROM YOU

(Bm7)You won every argument You won every fight

Always had the last word In the middle of the night

You so sure of yourself You come on so strong

You always had an answer But your answers was wrong

You knew all the faults Of everything and everybody

Always had a good reason To put em all on the shelf

You knew what was wrong With everything and everybody

Everybody that is, Except yourself

Now I’m (E)free from you And I (B)don’t regret it

(E)Free from you And my (B)heart’s my own

(E)Free from you And the (B)fog has lifted

Gonna (F#)roll down the road Just to (E)see where it (B)goes

You said I’d be a (E)fool to leave you

never (B)find nobody That would (E)treat me like you(B)

Well baby, I’ve had (E)enough of your treatment

Some (F#)other kinda treatment’s Gonna (E)have to (B)do

Now I’m (E)free from you And I (B)don’t mind dyin’

(E)Free from you And I’m (B)glad to be alive

(E)Free from you And I (B)feel like dancing

(F#)Strike up the band boys I’m (E)ready to (B)fly

I know I’ll be missin Our (E)tender moments

But I’ve (B)had enough of (E)love in vain

Times we lay all night (E)enraptured together

But there (F#)wan’t enough love And there was (E)too much (B)pain

Now I’m(E)Free from you And I ain’t comin back again

(E)Free from you and I’m (B)on my way

(E)Free from you And the (B)sun is risin’

(F#)Glory hallelujah It’s a (E)brand new (B)day

Free from you And I (E)ain’t comin back again

(B)Free from you and I’m (E)on my way

(B)Free from you And the (E)sun is risin’

(F#)Glory hallelujah It’s a (E)brand new (B)day

(F#)Glory hallelujah

It’s a (E)brand new (B)day

GREAT OPENNESS

(co-written with Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal, who suggested that the Sanskrit word gate, usually translated as “gone,” should rather be understood as “open,” and uttered the words “open, completely open, not closing down,” which I heard second-hand and put to music, first in a symphonic arrangement, and then as a reggae song.)

[A]Inconceivable, inexpressible Great Openness

Unborn, unceasing, by nature like the sky

Experienced by self-reflexive awareness’ discerning, pristine cognition

Mother of the victorious ones of the three times

I pay homage to you

Bhagavati Prajnaparamita Hrirdaya

Chomden Dewa Sherab Chipa Roltu Chinpe Nyingpo

Homage to the Great Openness, Mother of us all

[A]Once I [E]came to a[A] mountain [D] top
With [A]you, our [D]Lord, and the [E]rest
and [A]while we [E] sat so [A]still with [D]him
in [A]bliss on that [D]high [E]crest
he [A]opened
he [E]opened
so [A]completely [D]opened
so [A]far beyond [D]closing [E]down
he [A]opened
he [D]opened
so [A]far beyond [D]open
he could [A]never close [D]down [A]again

and [A]I could [E]see
that [A]you could [D]see
just[A] what it [D]was he [E]saw
so [A]I begged [E]you
to [A]tell me [D]true
how [A]I could [D]see it [A]too

you [A]told me ”[E]form is [A]empti[D]ness
and [A]empti[D]ness is [E]form
they [A]are not se[E]parate [A]in any [D]way
their[A] union [D]is the [A]norm

All [A]feeling, [E]too is [A]empti[D]ness
and [A]empty [D]is per[E]ception
[A]men[E]tality is [A]empty, [D]too
and [A]empty is [D]conscious[A]ness

no [A]thing is [E]born
and [A]no thing [D]dies
no [A]purity, no [D]impuri[E]ty
[A]no thing [E]shrinks
and [A]no thing [D]grows
and [A]yet, things [D]seem to [A]be

there [A]are no [E]forms in [A]empti[D]ness,
no [A]feelings, per[D]ceptions, or [E]thoughts
no [A]conscious[E]ness, no [A]eye, no [D]ear
no[A] nose, no tongue, no [D]body, no [A]mind

no[A] appearance, no [E]sound, no [A]smell
no [A]taste, no [D]touch, no laws of [E]form

no [A] ignor[E]ance, no [A]end of [D]it
no [A]death, no [D]end of [E]death
there[A] is no [E]pain,

and [A] yet there’s [D]pain,

without [A]beginning, [D]without [A]end

there [A]is no [E]way a[A]way from [D]pain
nor [A]wisdom [D]to im[E]part
there’s [A]not a [E]thing that [A]we can [D]do
and [A]yet, we’ve [D]done it [A]all

since [A]there is no[E]thing [A]you can [D]do
be [A]open [D]to your [E]life
[A] Do not [E]cling to or fear what [A]comes to [D]you
be it [A]bliss or [D]be it [A]strife

and [A]that is [E]what our [A]Master’s [D]done
that’s [A]made him [D]Lord of [E]all
he’s [A]given [E]us a [A]simple [D]prayer
To [A]open[D] up our [E]hearts
it’s [A]always been [E]true
it’s [A]true right [D]now
it’ll [A]be true for[D]ever [A]more

“May I be [A]open so [E]open
so [A]completely [D]open
may I [A]never close [D]down a[E]gain
May I be [A]open
so [E]open
so [A]far beyond [D]open
May I [A]never close [D]down [A]again”

and [A]then our [E]Lord a[A]rose from [D]bliss
and [A]smiled at [D]one and [E]all
“good, [A]good,” he [E]said, “for [A]thus it [D]is
ex[A]actly [D]as you [E]spoke
o[A]pen your [E]heart to [A]all that [D]is
and the [A]whole world [D]will re[A]joice”

and [A]when he [E]smiled and [A]spoke to [D]us
it [A]made our [D]hearts so [E]glad
in[A]spired us [E]all to [A]open [D]up
and [A]give the [D]best we [A]had

May I be [A]open so [E]open
so [A]completely [D]open
may I [A]never close [D]down a[E]gain
May I be [A]open
so [E]open
so [A]far beyond [D]open
May I [A]never close [D]down [A]again
(repeat chorus 7x)

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS

(G7)Get up wash and feed my face