February 15, 2017
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.
—Thomas Hardy, The Darkling Thrush
Icy winds blast frigid cold
In this everywhere of snow
Little bird you are so strong
Light up the evening with a song
Is there no place you can go
To warm your fragile feathered soul?
How can you radiate delight
On this coldest winter’s night?
The greatest courage is to sing
In the face of shocks and stings
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Poetry, sad songs, The Darkling Thrush, Thomas Hardy, Whitney Houston
Posted in Poetry, Thomas Hardy | Leave a Comment »
February 13, 2017
Another crazy turbid day
What can I do?
What can I say?
Whenever life gets
Wayward and askew
I always listen to
The piece of me that’s you
Science teacher
Says it’s true
I’m never
Far away from you
Molecules
Way out in space
Connect right to
The human race
It’s nice to know
We’re part of every star
And the piece of you that’s me
Is never far
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, love songs, lyrics, space dust
Posted in If it sounds country, love songs, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
February 12, 2017
Johnny Backstab killed his brother
At the tender age of four
Shanked him with a butter knife
And left him on the floor
His mother asked, “Now Johnny,
Whatever did you do that for?”
Johnny said, “He took my donut.
He won’t do it anymore.”
Beware those empty eyes
In Johnny’s lying little head
If he can’t get you with his knife
He will use his words instead
There’s not an ounce of truth
In everything he ever said
A thousand trusting souls
Lay in Johnny’s trail of red
Johnny Backstab is your neighbor,
He’s your boss, or he’s your friend
He is pleasant in your presence
And he never will offend
He’s beguiling; he is charming
He knows how to pretend
But if you don’t watch your back
He will get you in the end
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, liars, lying liars, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
February 8, 2017
Since the Middle Ages at least, Western societies have established the confession as one of the main rituals we rely on for the production of truth
—Michel Foucault
The public has a right to know
Whatever’s hiding in your soul
Don’t cheat the mob; don’t hurt your health
And please don’t keep it to yourself
Admit it
You did it
For all those years
You hid it
You’re holding out
Just quit it
Tell a teacher, tell a priest
Tell a shrink or call police
Tell a doctor, tell a nun
Let everybody share the fun
Reduce your stress
And just confess
We need to blame
We need to bless
Don’t make us beg
Don’t make us guess
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, guilt, lyrics, Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics, Michel Foucault | Leave a Comment »
February 6, 2017
Why do they do that?
Is he ever gonna change?
Did he get it from his family?
They’re all pretty strange.
Why do they do that?
He knows I can’t stand it.
I’ve begged for him to stop.
Will he quit if I demand it?
Why do they do that?
Does he like to make me mad?
Does he think it’s all a game?
He reminds me of my dad.
Why do they do that?
Is it something in his brain?
Why can’t I figure him out?
He’s driving me insane.
Why am I like this?
Wondering things I’ll never know.
Should I stop wasting time?
Should I learn to let go?
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Poetry, The Woman in Love
Posted in Poetry | Leave a Comment »
February 4, 2017
Strength is all
They understand
Be undaunted
Be a man
Be resolute
And stay the course
With muscular vigor
And robust force
Stout resolve
And rugged might
Are all you need
When you are right
Be diligent
And brave and strong
Send more guns
And drop more bombs
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Poetry, War
Posted in Poetry | Leave a Comment »
February 2, 2017
I dreamed the world was ending
So I called you up to see
If you wanted to spend
Your final day with me
You checked all your appointments
Lucky you were free
You didn’t have another
Place to be
We agreed to get together
In a warm and cozy space
A quiet little room
With a big fireplace
We didn’t want distractions
From the human race
With an asteroid approaching
From outer space
You threw your arms around me
You asked me why
I had waited so long
To give us a try
I felt so stupid
I wanted to cry
Then my alarm went off
And I opened my eyes
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: country music, Country Music Lyrics, love songs, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, love songs, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
January 31, 2017
In this godforsaken bar
Where all the dregs and outcasts are
I see the saddest drunks
I archive every punk-ass punk
Who’s lowlier than me
Amongst my nightly company
Perching on a barstool
Providing my narration
I’m the champion of ridicule
Dispensing defamation
For a smattering of fools
Inside my favorite location
Laughing at these losers,
These sorry woeful boozers
Is my greatest joy in life–
Once I had the perfect wife
But since she let me be
The laughs are all on me
Perching on a barstool
Providing my narration
I’m the champion of ridicule
Dispensing defamation
For a smattering of fools
Inside my favorite location
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Alcoholism, country music, Country Music Lyrics, losers, lyrics
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics | Leave a Comment »
January 29, 2017
Walter thinks that someone
Is sleeping with his wife
If he knew it was me
It would mess up his life
I told him not to worry
To shelter him from strife
It’s considerate to lie
When you’re protecting a friend
Besides, everybody tells
A little fib now and then
My boss really likes me
And he’s such a great guy
He’s losing lots of money
But he doesn’t know why
If he knew I was embezzling
He would probably die
It’s considerate to lie
When you’re protecting a friend
Besides, everybody tells
A little fib now and then
I’ll never tell my wife
That I pawned her diamond ring
She got it from her grandma
And she really loves that thing
But cubic zirconia
Makes some pretty nice bling
It’s considerate to lie
When you’re protecting a friend
Besides, everybody tells
A little fib now and then
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Humor, humorous poetry, liars, losers, Poetry
Posted in Poetry | Leave a Comment »
January 26, 2017
And I wonder sometimes, what is it in me that hates me?
—Richard Wilbur, Complaint
He was the perfect man
Every woman wants to meet
Loving and honest
And friendly and sweet
I love him so much
I hurt him so bad
I beat up his sister
And slept with his dad
I love him so much
I hurt him so bad
I took all his money
And burned down his pad
I love him so much
I hurt him so bad
Left him demolished
And totally mad
I love him so much
I hurt him so bad
Something inside me
Just has to be sad
by Richard W. Bray
Tags: Complaint, country music, Country Music Lyrics, losers, lyrics, Richard Wilbur, sad songs
Posted in If it sounds country, Lyrics, Richard Wilbur, sad songs | Leave a Comment »
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