Category Archives: Acoustic Guitar

Shining Jewel

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. I was a lady once.
I was a lady once.
Marriage, child, all in order;
Duties, boundaries, rules and borders.
I was a lady once.

2. I was a servant, too.
I was a servant, too.
Cook and clean and keep the homefire;
Mother and ignore desire.
I was a servant, too.

3. I am a Spirit true!
I am a Spirit true!
Now I listen, all in order,
Breaking chains of rules and borders.
I am a Spirit true!

4. I am a shining jewel!
I am a shining jewel!
God that lights and lives creation
Is my every animation.
I am a shining jewel!

5. I am a lady still.
I am a lady still.
Changing life, unchanging Spirit;
Gentle voice inside, I hear it.
I am a lady still.

I am a lady still!

—
This was written for the last day of prompts for the Fifth Anniversary of
dVerse.

Gayle Walters Rose asked us to consider a belief we once held that has changed. She presented other questions and possibilities, all of which I found intriguing. Read the post! I chose to write about the roles we’re taught or expected to play; there’s an obvious gender stereotype in this song, and a more subtle question of personal identity. The idea broadens to our Universal Identity, spiritual make-up, Cosmic Essence. We are all a Shining Jewel, regardless of our changing roles on earth.

I started these lyrics 2 years ago. Thank you, Gayle, for a great opportunity to finish them and put them to music. They still read like a poem, so I hope my fellow dVerse Poets enjoy the song!

Common Threads (The Weaver’s Song)

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

O don’t expect our threads to look the same.

1. As cultures, families, and friends,
We have some common threads for sure.
They give us things to talk about and help our bonds to form.
But no matter what we think and say
Or do that looks the same,
Our common threads are different players in a special game.
So
Refrain:

2. Religions, hobbies, work, and life,
They give us common threads to hold,
Connecting us through chaos and confusion in the cold.
But no matter what we pick and choose
That looks the same to you,
We add a special touch to our corner of the truth.
So
Refrain:

3. There is one Spirit in us all.
It’s the common thread that’s real;
The God who weaves our tapestry and lets us live and feel.
And no matter what we find in life,
Our threads are in His hand.
The Spirit won’t unravel, and the work is always grand!
But
Refrain:

No, don’t expect our threads to look the same.

Refrain:
Don’t expect our threads to look the same
As they intertwine with others in play.
Like everyone in fact,
They travel on a path.
But we see and hear and touch and know within a narrow frame.
So don’t expect our threads to look the same.

Related

Lifeweaving

How to Weave a Tapestry

Shuttle: A Tool for Change

The Weaver’s Prayer

Beloved

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I am God’s Beloved!

A song for meditation and affirmation.

Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. Beloved,
Remember I know your heart.
I was yours before the start.
I love your tender heart.

2. Beloved,
Remember I fill your soul
With water that keeps you whole.
I love your thirsty soul.

You are the Light that shines within this world.
You are eternal Word.
You are my body made to do and feel.
You are my perfect work.

3. Beloved,
Remember I made your mind.
Seek me there, and you will find.
I love your brilliant mind.

You are the Light that shines within this world.
You are eternal Word.
You are my body made to do and feel.
You are my perfect work.

Repeat 1.

Beloved,
Beloved,
My Beloved.

Wake Up!

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. Drinkin’ coffee, eatin’ chocolate, turnin’ up sad songs;
Drinkin’ coffee, eatin’ chocolate, turnin’ up sad songs.
No wonder I can’t sleep! But how do I move on?

2. Feelin’ busy, thinkin’ too much, wantin’ outa here;
Feelin’ busy, thinkin’ way too much, wantin’ outa here.
And when the day is done, I still can’t find the cheer.

3. Wakin’ up all tense and restless, wond’rin’ what to do;
Wakin’ up all tense and restless, wond’rin’ what to do.
How long’s it gonna take to stop and get a clue!

4. Drinkin’ coffee, eatin’ chocolate, turnin’ up sad songs;
Drinkin’ coffee, eatin’ chocolate, turnin’ up sad songs.
They never wake me up, just keep me in the fog.

5. List’nin’ for a welcome word to wash away my fears;
List’nin’ for a welcome word to wash away my fears.
The Spirit calls my name and whispers, “I am here.”

6. I see the Daystar shine and shimmer, lightin’ up my way;
I see the Daystar shine and shimmer, lightin’ up my way;
I feel the dawn in me, it’s lifting me awake!

7. Let the inside and the outside show the Spirit’s love;
Let the inside and the outside show the Spirit’s love.
And let us keep on movin’ on, come on now, let’s wake up!

O let us keep on movin’ on, come on now, let’s wake up!

Related

Faith of Christ

God Bless this Human Mess

Songbird Sing

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar
(capo 4)

Soaring high above the clouds
Of chaos in my mind,
I know there is a song to sing
With words I cannot find.

I hunt and peck and try in vain
To force the music out
And feel the pangs of harsh regret
That feed the fire of doubt.

The time has come to let it go
And set the songbird free!
For only when the spirit soars
Can any songbird sing!

I learn to find the hidden nest
Of peace within my mind,
Where love consoles and lifts me over
All the thoughts that bind.

There are no words to look for here,
No melody to sing;
The music of this sacred place
The Spirit plays within.

So, take the time to let it go
And set the songbird free!
For only when the spirit soars
Can you, the songbird, sing!

Download Mp3

Right click this link and choose “Save target as…” or similar to download. Feel free to share for noncommercial purposes only, please.
Songbird Sing Mp3.

—
“Poetics – The Music in You” is today’s prompt over at
dVerse.

Basically the exercise, for poets, is to write a song lyric instead of a poem. Read the post–I totally agree with the part about poems beaing “heard” in a speaking voice, while lyrics are not!

Most of you know by now that I’m a songwriter. However, this one is a song written more like a poem! It has melody, harmony, rhythm, and honestly, I think it turned out well! But you’ll notice it does not have a refrain or chorus. And it’s written in quatrains, those stanzas/verses of 4 lines. They rhyme, as most (all?) of my songs do. But it can be either read alone, listened to as a song, or both.

I hope you enjoy this. I couldn’t resist writing to this prompt, but the result is not what I expected! No, it is much better!

Also published in
Vision through Words

Vessel of Christ

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

It’s the

Refrain:
Little things
That [They] shape a life,
And mold and color how we see it.
In time they grow
And come to light.
So let us be a vessel of the Christ.

1. ‘Cause we don’t get too many chances
To make a big decision count.
But every moment we have choices,
And all that counts is our decision now.
And these
Refrain:

2. And we can keep our broken pieces,
The shards of anger, pain, and fear.
Or we can give them as a sunbeam,
Shards of love to make a pathway clear.

And let us harbor thoughts of kindness
And the question of, “What if?”
Let us save a place for others,
As the gentle Jesus did.
‘Cause these
Refrain:

O Let us be a vessel of the Christ.

Related

Let the Mind Be in You

Faith of Christ

Light

Sound or Silence Choice

Let My People Go

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The story of Moses and its mystical connection to our own lives.
Instrument: Tempo – Seagull excursion folk acoustic guitar

(Capo 2)

1. The Lord said tell that Pharaoh man,
Let my people go!
So Moses with a staff in hand said,
Let my people go!
The Pharaoh wouldn’t listen, but the good Lord paid no mind.
He took down that Pharaoh in His will and time.
He drowned the ruling army in that Red Sea, you know,
‘Cause they would not take His order
To let my people go!
He said, let my people go!

2. God’s children came from Egypt land.
Let my people go!
But took the law into their hands.
Let my people go!
They built themselves an idol and prayed to it each day,
But God gave them commandments to live a better way.
They wandered through the desert a long long time, you know,
‘Cause they would not take His order
To let my people go!
He said, let my people go!

3. O we’re all children in God’s fold.
Let my people go!
Our bondage is a mind so cold.
Let my people go!
He frees us from the thoughts that keep our mind enslaved,
And up into the love and freedom that we crave.
We find that promised land where milk and honey flow
When we accept His order
To let my people go!
He said, let my people go!

Let my people go!

Where We Are

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. It seems like we’ve been here before.
There’s a name for that, deja vu.
We’ve come back around
To cover this ground,
Unearthing something that’s new!
Refrain:

2. We don’t want to take it again,
This roller-coaster of woe.
It tosses and turns
With lessons to learn.
Let’s get them this time, and go!
Refrain:

3. It seems like we’ve been here before,
But deeper now than it was.
With God as our Light,
We come through the night
And greet the dawn of His Love!
Refrain:

Refrain:
‘Cause we don’t always know what we want.
But admit it, we know how we are.
We take the same path
Of forward and back
Until we return to the start
And fin’lly appreciate where we are.

Related

With or Without
and more (see link).

(Get Back on That Pony and) Ride

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. Life is like a pony ride.
It’s calm and smooth at times.
But when it kicks you and throws you down,
It’s not so gentle and kind.
But
Refrain:

2. You trot through meadows with flow’rs in bloom,
And colors all ablaze.
Then slog through spongy, muddy ground
When life has turned to grey.
But
Refrain:

3. The rhythm of the clip and clop
And the beating of your heart,
They move together through this life
And up to greater parts.
So
Refrain: (Twice)

Refrain:
Get back on that pony and ride, my friend.
You won’t get where you’re goin’ unless you round the bend.
This journey has a purpose, and on that you can depend.
So get back on that pony and ride, ride, my friend.

Download Mp3

Right click this link and choose “Save Target As…” or similar to download and save.
(Get Back on That Pony and) Ride – Mp3.

With or Without

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Instrument: Tempo – Seagull Excursion Folk Acoustic Guitar

1. With or without
Time and money
With or without
Hugs and honey
With or without
Being funny
I am here right now.
Refrain:

2. With or without
Work and sharing
With or without
People caring
With or without
Ever daring
I am here right now.
Refrain:

The great ascent to eternal life.
The big event when we realize
That the Truth is always ours to hold,
And God is living in the soul, every soul!

3. With or without
Stress and worry
With or without
All the hurry
With or without
Feeling blurry
I am here right now.
Refrain:

Repeat 1.

You are here right now.
We are here right now.
With or without
Be here now!

Refrain:
And the key, the key
Is to take this gift,
The one we call the present
And to be, to be
Someone who uplifts
And makes the great ascent!

Related

Without the Within

What You Write in Your Song

Four Steps to “Be Here Now”

Can’t Take It with You when You Go