August 2, 2020
the city’s gonna kill me
if I don’t let it go
time to find a valley
where the living is slow
maples in September
mountains in the snow
the bend in the river
where the cottonwoods grow
deliver me from humbug
the never-ending show
time for some authentic
dirt beneath my toes
maples in September
mountains in the snow
the bend in the river
where the cottonwoods grow
time to grab my spirit
and hop upon a crow
that’s the only tonic
for my weary old soul
maples in September
mountains in the snow
the bend in the river
where the cottonwoods grow
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: cottonwood trees, country music, Country Music Lyrics, Kathryn Meyer, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
July 18, 2020
thank you
for letting me
love you
I had a pocket
full of empty
when you picked me
and dreamt me
into another world
you’re a special
kind of girl
thank you
for letting me
love you
I was crying out
for cover
for a friend, a muse
a lover
you’re my salvador
you were everything
and more
thank you
for letting me
love you
there’s no way
to repay
and now you’ve
gone away
everything I ever do
only happens
cuz of you
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, love songs, lyrics
Posted in love songs | Leave a Comment »
July 11, 2020
I had no time to Hate—
Because The Grave would hinder Me—
And life was not so
Ample I
Could finish—Enmity
—Emily Dickinson
bullets bombs and mayhem
centuries of hate
liars on my tv
paid to complicate
swords into plowshares
anger into hope
we only got each other
and there’s nowhere else to go
the man behind the curtain
ain’t who we elect
greedy getting richer
so many lives are wrecked
swords into plowshares
anger into hope
we only got each other
and there’s nowhere else to go
always question Power
resist the exploitation
don’t listen when they tell you
to hate another nation
swords into plowshares
anger into hope
we only got each other
and there’s nowhere else to go
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, Emily Dickinson, hope, I Had No Time for Hate, Isaiah 2:4, Line Between Hope and Despair, lyrics, Stacy, swords into plowshares
Posted in Emily Dickinson, If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
June 27, 2020
have you ever noticed steamed carrots?
they almost stun you into another dimension
and they taste so good
and they come right out of the ground
I wonder if Father Hopkins
ever wrote about steamed carrots
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Gerard Manley Hopkins, Poetry
Posted in Poetry | Leave a Comment »
May 24, 2020
To tease em, and thrill em, to torture and kill em,
Is her delight, they say
—Hard Hearted Hannah. Lyrics by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, and Charles Bates
never said
i was nice
you got some sugar
with your spice
now it’s time
to run along
here’s a dime
to call your mom
never said
i was nice
love isn’t always
paradise
thank your stars
you got to be
with someone
as cool as me
never said
i was nice
please don’t make
me tell you twice
it shouldn’t be hard
to find the door
you don’t amuse
me anymore
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Bob Bigelo, Celine Artigua, Charles Bates, contry music lyrics, Hard Hearted Hannah, Heartbreaker, Jack Yellen, lyrics, sad songs
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics, sad songs | Leave a Comment »
May 5, 2020
rain outside your window
breath upon my arm
cruel & crazy universe
ain’t doing me no harm
deliver me from tempest
in a cozy little room
shelter me till morning
with your body’s silent tune
all is made to fade away
and every creature dies
people come and people go
and only love abides
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, love songs, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, love songs, Lyrics, sad songs | Leave a Comment »
April 12, 2020
The truth hurts
Lies kill
You told everyone to chill
Now the folks are getting ill
The truth hurts
Lies kill
Fake reporters on the shill
Saying shit is daffodils
The truth hurts
Lies kill
When they shut your local mill
Ain’t gonna fix it with a pill
The truth hurts
Lies kill
When our leaders rob the till
Everybody pays the bill
By Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, liars, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
March 31, 2020
The way you changed my life
No, no they can’t take that away from me
—Ira Gershwin
i could have
loved you better
in a million
different ways
you’ll be in
every moment
till the bygone
of my days
everything
that came before
was leading
up to you
everything
i’m feeling now
is from your
residue
i’m better
cuz of you
in a million
different ways
you’ll be in
every moment
till the bygone
of my days
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, Ira Gershwin, love songs, lyrics, sad songs, They Can't Take That Away From Me
Posted in If it sounds country, love songs, Lyrics, sad songs | Leave a Comment »
March 19, 2020
Parting is all we know of heaven
And all we need of hell
—Emily Dickinson, My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close
I always thought we’d have you
I always knew you cared
I always felt your presence
Your love was everywhere
Suddenly I feel it
Everything is wrong
Nothing’s where it should be
And half the sky is gone
The flowers on the hillside
The birds passing by
Sing to me of your love
In a cosmic lullaby
By Richard W. Bray
Tags: death, Emily Dickinson, love, My Life Closed Twice Before Its Close, Poetry
Posted in Emily Dickinson, Poetry | Leave a Comment »
March 8, 2020
You torture your kids
You terrorize your wife
But you’re a
Wonderful man
In your fantasy life
Life isn’t public relations
You can’t erase the hurt
With a well-written statement
Nobody believes
Your silly façade
Not your friends
Not your family
Not even your dog
Life isn’t public relations
Are you fake and insincere
From birth to cremation?
By Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, denial, losers, lyrics, public relations
Posted in denial, If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
