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1. All The Way There (never say
never)
Inspired by Al's and my first drive through the winding
S-Curves of
Western North Carolina. After the first few switchbacks,
I laughed out the first line of the chorus ~ partly from
ecstacy & partly for comedic relief, just
to ease our reeling tummies. (We don't have our 'mountain
legs' yet!) The
chorus stayed in my head for 7 years or more, until I was
inspired to write
the rest of the song for this recording. This is a love
song & anthem for hedonists ~ at least for those who
can bear to part with their beds.
Carpe diem! Carpe corpus! Montani Semper Liberi! (OK, I
don't recall much Latin but you get the general idea.)
Don't you turn over ~
There's time enough for sleeping ~
We can still dream on our way ~
Leave your pillow for the sunshine ~
And join me on this fine,f ine day ~
(chorus) Have you hugged your curves today ~
Have you felt the wind blowing in your hair ~
Hold your lover from behind ~
And ride... all the way there ~
What happened to recess ~
When will the bell ring ~
Theclock that we're punching, it feels no pain ~
What will we do with that golden watch when we'll never
have that time again ~
Joy is in the sharing~
Better to have loved and lost ~
A thousand mile journey ~
Hitch your wagonto a star ~
Hopes delayed hang the heart ~
If wishes were horses ~
Never say never ~
Never say never ~
A bird in the hand ~
Time flies ~
Don't put off until tomorrow ~
One today is worth two ~
While the sun shines ~
Don'thide your light ~
Never say never ~
Never say never ~
(chorus)
Amy: Guitar - Al: Mandolin, Vocals, Fretless Bass
Music & Lyrics by Amy White (BMI)
2. Summer Sang in Me
What lips my lips have kissed, and where and why I have
forgotten ~
And what arms have lain under my head till morning ~
But the rain is full of ghosts tonight that tap and sigh
upon the glass and listen for reply ~
And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain for unremembered
lads that not again will turn to me at midnight with a cry
~
Thus in the winter stands the lonely tree ~
Nor knows what birds have vanished, one by one ~
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before ~
I cannot say what loves have come and gone ~
I only know that summer sang in me a little while, that
in me sings no more ~
Amy: Rhythm Guitar - Al: Lead Guitar, Fretless Bass
Lyrics, the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay
Music by Amy White (BMI)
3. Golden Wing
How sweet I roam'd from field to field and tasted all the
summer's pride ~
Till I the Prince of Love beheld, who in the sunny beams
did glide ~
He show'd me lilies for my hair, and blushing roses for
my brow ~
He led me through his gardens fair where all his golden
pleasures grow ~ With sweet May dews my wings were wet,
and Phoebus fir'd my vocal rage ~
He caught me in his silken net, and shut me in his golden
cage. ~
He loves to sit and hear me sing, then, laughing, sports
and plays with me ~ Then stretches out my golden wing, and
mocks my loss of liberty ~
Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Bodhran, Fretless Bass
Lyrics , the poetry of William Blake
Music by Al Petteway (BMI)
4. Raglan Road
On Raglan Road of an autumn day I saw her first and knew
that her dark
hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue ~
I saw the danger and I passed along the enchanted way ~
and I said let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of
the day ~
On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the
ledge of a deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passions
pledge ~
The queen of hearts still making tarts and I not making
hay ~
Oh, I love too much and by such, by such is happiness thrown
away ~
I gave her gifts of the mind ~
I gave her the secret sign, known to the artists who have
known the true Gods of sound and stone ~
And words and tint I did not stint, I gave her poems to
say ~
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds
over the fields of May ~
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet, I see her walking
now ~
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow that I had
loved not as I should a creature made of clay ~
When the angel woos the clay he'll lose his wings at the
dawn of the day ~
Al: Guitar, Irish Bouzouki, Fretless Bass
Sally van Meter: Dobro - Zac Leger: Uilleann Pipes
Trad., Arr. by Al Petteway
5. The Blackest Crow
As time draws near my dearest dear when you and I must part
~
How little you know of the grief in my poor aching heart
~
Tis' but I suffer for your sake believe me dear it's true
~
I wish that you were staying here or I was going with you
~
I wish my breast were made of glass wherein you might behold
~
Upon my heart your name lies wrote in letters made of gold
~
In letters made of gold my love, believe me when I say ~
You are the one that I adore until my dying day ~
The blackest crow that ever flew would surely turn to white~
If ever I prove false to you bright day will turn to night
~
Bright day will turn to night my love, the elements will
mourn ~
If ever I prove false to you the seas will rage and burn
~
Amy: Rhythm Guitar - Al: Irish Bouzouki
Trad., Arr. by Amy White
6. Let the Wind Carry You
Although Al's and my repertoire has grown naturally to include
vocals,
instrumental music was our first love and is still our favorite
form of expression. We included two upbeat instrumentals
on this recording for a
number of reasons ~ mainly for fun, to affect the overall
cadence of this
musical journey (sometimes free-floating, sometimes a little
turbulent)
and to introduce our 'instrumental side' to those of you
who are new to our
music altogether. This song is inspired by a lovely line
from a Joni Mitchell song and by the sight of a hawk's flight,
which never ceases to thrill us.
Amy: Guitar, Shaker, Ashiko Drum
Al: Irish Bouzouki, Ashiko, Fretless Bass
Music by Amy White & Al Petteway(BMI)
7. The Snows They Melt the Soonest
The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to
sing ~
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are settling
in ~
And when a man tells me that my face he'll soon forget ~
Before we part I'll wage a crown he' s fain to follow it
yet ~
The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to
sing ~
And the bee that flew when summer shone in winter cannot
sting ~
And I've seen a man's anger melt betwixt the night and morn
~
So it's surely not a harder thing to melt a man's scorn
~
The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to
sing ~
And the swallow flies without a thought as long as it is
spring ~
But when spring goes and winter blows, my love, then you'll
be fain ~
For all your pride to follow me across the raging main ~
So don't you bid me farewell, no farewell I'll receive ~
For you will lie with me, my love, then kiss and take your
leave ~
And I'll wait here till the moorcock calls and the marten
takes the wing ~
For the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin
to sing ~
Al: Guitar ~ Zac Leger: Whistles
Trad., Arr by Dick Gaughn
8. If I Were a Blackbird
If I were a blackbird, I'd whistle and I'd sing ~
and I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in ~
And in the top rigging I'd there build my nest ~
and I'd flutter my wings o'er his lily-white breast ~
He promised to take me to Donnybrook fair, to buy me fine
ribbons to tie up my hair ~
He offered to marry and stay by my side but he said in the
morning, he'd sail with the tide ~
If I were a scholar and could handle a pen, one secret love
letter to
my love I'd send ~
I'd tell him my sorrow, my grief and my pain since he's
gone and left me in yon flowery glen ~
My parents they slighted me, and would not agree, saying
me and my true love married can't be ~
Ah but let them deprive me, Let them do what they will,
while there's breath in my body, he's the one I love still
~
I know not the reason why women love men~
And I know not the reason why men do love them ~
For a man's been my ruin, he's been my downfall and he's
caused me to sleep under these cold grey walls ~
Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Fretless Bass
Trad., Arr by Al, inspired by Bachue's arrangement
9. Home
Traveling at night, the headlights were bright and we'd
been up many an
hour ~
And all through my brain came the refrain of home and it's
warming fire~
(chorus) Home - sings me of sweet things ~
My life there has its own wings to fly over the mountain,
though I'm standing still ~
The people I've seen, they come in-between the cities of
tiring life ~
The trains come and go but inside you know, the struggle
will soon be a fight ~
Traveling at night, the headlights were bright but soon
the sun came through the trees ~
Around the next bend, the flowers will send the sweet scent
of home in the breeze ~
(chorus)
Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Fretless Bass, Percussion
Music & Lyrics by Karla Bonoff (Sky Harbor Music)
10. Hide and Go Seek
Childhood is often fraught with peril. Even the jump rope
rhymes we learned as children refer casually to these dangers.
(Cinderella dressed in yellow - went upstairs to kiss a
fellow - by mistake she kissed a snake -how many doctors
will it take?) Over the years, I've grown to hold the jaded
belief that abuse is a traditional rite of passage. I hope
that I am wrong. It is encouraging to see so many children
of this generation grow strong with confidence - confidence
that is robbed from so many, so early. This song is dedicated
to all of those who are struggling to find their strength
again, and is in honor of those whose life-work keeps our
children safe from harm.
Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy
~
All of thethings we used to sing to make it through the
night ~
I went upstairs to kiss a man and promised not to tell ~
How many doctors will it take to make me well ~
Kick the can far and wide ~
Hide inside the neighbor's yard ~
No, not that one, 'cause he might get you ~
No ~
Ladybug, fly away home ~
Your house is on fire and your children are all gone ~
Cinderella dressed in red, her gown is torn asunder ~
She's left her slippers far behind, her feet are running
bare ~
Olly-otts-in- free ~
You never knew me ~
Ready or not ~
Please come and find me
Amy: Guitar ~ Al: Fretless Bass
Music & Lyrics by Amy White (BMI)
11. Tabby Wings
This is a new recording of an old instrumental. "Tabby
in the Grass"
first appeared on my debut solo piano recording which is
now out of print. The playful melody was inspired by one
of my kitten's first backyard romps
after the butterflies. This tabby was aptly perhaps prophetically
named.
Phooka seemed to aspire to the mischievous reputation for
which this particular fairy is most famous. I miss him.
Al and I also greatly miss St. Clair,our sweet stray tabby
from the Swannanoa Mountains. This new recording was inspired
by Clair and her infectious, capricious spirit. May she
enjoy flying through kitty heaven with her fine tabby wings.
Amy: Mandolin ~ Al: Guitar, Bodhran, Fretless Bass
Olson the Kitten: Purr Machine
Music by Amy White (BMI)
12. Lagan Love
Where Lagan streams sing lullaby, there blows a lily fair
~
The twilight gleam is in her eyes, the night is on her hair
~
And like a lovesick Leanhaun Shee, she hath my heart in
thrall ~
No life have I, nor liberty, for Love is lord of all ~
And when the beetle's horn hath lulled the eye to sleep
~
I steal unto her shieling lorn and thro' the doorway creep
~
There on the cricket's singing stone, she stirs the bogwood
fire ~
And hums in sad, sweet undertone the song of heart's desire
~
Al: Guitar ~ Trad. Arr. by Al Petteway
13. Songbird
Songbird in a golden cage, she'd prefer the blue ~
How I crave the liquor of her song ~
Poor bird who has done no harm, what harm could she do ~
She shall be my prisoner her life long ~
My songbird wants her freedom ~
Now don't you think I know ~
But I can't find it in myself to let my songbird go ~
I just can't let her go ~
O Lord, when thy jeweler's eye peers into my soul, O Lord,
I am overcome with shame ~
Take me lord and purify me, heal me with a word ~
Lord, I beg a gift I dare not claim ~
My songbird wants her freedom ~
Now don't you think I know ~
But I can't find it in myself to let my songbird go ~
I just can't let her go ~
Al: Guitar, Fretless Bass ~ Sally van Meter: Dobro
Music & Lyrics by Jesse Winchester (WB Music Corp.)
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