Got a futzy connection on an incoming phone call late this afternoon around dinnertime as I was exploring a little bit of the campus, eyeballing where my new classrooms were so that I wouldn't get lost on Monday when classes start. "Dr. Novak," the voice said, "This is Arthur Bainton." I explained that I was at that moment deep in the inside of a vault of a building and that the connection was bad, which he seemed to catch, asking if one of us, I wasn't sure which, wanted to call back later. I moved to a better part of the building and asked again who I was talking to, and the line went dead.
I got outside, saw all my signal bars come back on and called the number back. No answer. Again. No answer. "Who is Arthur Bainton?" I asked myself, not recollecting the name at all. "Arthur Bainton.... Arthur Bainton.... Ar... ... Archbishop Aymond?"
Yeah, I just hung up on the Archbishop of New Orleans. Oh, bloody hell.
*grins* Well, now you're sorted if you need an anecdote to begin an after-dinner speech in theological circles.
On an off-topic note, are the lyrics for Life and Other Impossibilities collected online anywhere? I downloaded the album a few weeks ago and have been thoroughly enjoying it (my favourites at the moment are Begin to Be and Tunisian Blue, but I'm still discovering the richness in all the songs). I'd love to have the lyrics as a set to help me appreciate them more slowly.
Yikes! Kat, I just tripped over your note here, and I'm having to face the fact that I was apparently such an ass (busy, maybe, but still an ass) as to not have responded to such a generous comment. My apologies, and thank you – at long last – for both daring to take a chance on the music and for the kind words.
As long-ago requested: lyrics.
Begin To Be
Carousels—we are turning all around where we’ve been See our spinning options now all that our lives can begin
Begin to be in time places beyond all word or rhyme where all days are long enough to be
Summertime’s fading fast now longer nights for me Drifting through your absence now looking for a place where I can be
Begin to be in time places beyond all word or rhyme where all days are long enough to be
You and me, all we’ve seen together wooden horses run away There you go, Heaven’s chosen daughter hear my voice when I say:
Begin to be in time places beyond all word or rhyme where all days are long enough to be
Springtime of Tomorrow
Dance with me, laugh with me Let these days flow past with me Let tomorrow worry about itself. Listen for the melody that runs away and hides from me Let’s find it and make it all our own.
For today is the springtime of tomorrow so let’s let life run its course. Let every shout rise like bread every hidden prayer left unsaid run laughing through our song.
The memories of yesterday are left behind; I run away I won’t let them keep a hold on me. There is no pain that we won’t forget and there’s so much living we haven’t lived yet We’re not bound by misery.
For today is shorter than tomorrow Tomorrow is the rest of history. I wanna feel it now—let’s live today Don’t let our fears get in the way Hoping is how we move along.
The ways of life are wild, you see Life runs away then comes back to me I just let go and all it does is grow. I’ll hold your hand if you’ll share the way So let’s let forever start today Just a smile and I’ll be ready to go.
My Mom
Quietly, patiently knotting my laces when I was three teaching the tricks of life: how to ride a bike how to choose a wife
The hottest day, her garden play things come to life when she turns their way Questions, table talk The smile on her face after a walk
She glides through my life a word, a glance, or sometimes silence What would be my life if she hadn’t shown the way?
Teaching me, teasing me always meaning more than I could see Library books piled high Fearsome temper if I told a lie
High school plays, college days She guides me through this maze Phone calls, holiday meals Listening Telling how she feels
She glides through my life a word, a glance, or sometimes silence What would be my life if she hadn’t shown the way?
Giving in to children’s whims stretching dollars ever so thin Video games and Bart the cat “We shall see” and “Let me think about that.”
It’s not to say that she’s perfect It’s not to say that life’s always been kind But to say that of all our Moms: she’s mine
Quietly, patiently knotting my laces when I was three...
Why does the world make me think of you? Oases cloaked in emerald hue and desert roads in their dusty coats distant mountains with their shadowed slopes and I see you in cafés trimmed in Tunisian Blue
I looked for you lost in Roman streets hotel lobbies where strangers meet the laughter painted on a child’s face pilgrims lining up in place and your eyes smiling at me in Tunisian Blue
And when the sights pile up like stones and I’m piling them all alone and your voice and face fade away ’til I’m sitting at the end of the day I’m glad for your glance and every single word —wherever I can find them
In souks where the merchants cry for your money as you try to sneak by In villas ruined in Carthage fields Punic secrets that the harbour yields the Mediterranean shines in Tunisian Blue
I saw you standing near Trevi Fount more coins and couples than I could count in the Forum talking and in Medina prayer heat so hot that it shook the air and sipping tea in cafés trimmed in Tunisian Blue
And when those sights pile up like stones and I’m piling them all alone and your voice and face fade away ’til I’m sitting at the end of the day I’m glad for your glance and every single word —wherever I can find them
Why does the world make me think of you?
Requiem
God:
In the shadow of trees pausing under harvest moon, my eyes reflecting, wond’ring if the darkness will bring you to me. Are you feeling your way tonight?
Hillside; fading breeze smothered under forest hush; starlight straining down; light-years ending on me. May I be a resting-place for all who roam.
Sing if you’re lost out there— lost in this moment of hopeless grace. Let every leaf whisper in muted voice that your part is to find a phrase of your own.
Soul:
I’m feeling the path tonight my feet know the way cautious steps, simple trust the pure task of listening senses beyond sight the silence calls me to You.
Crickets off in the distance a deer startled and running an owl glides by darkly And though I am a stranger this is the closest place I’ve ever known to home
Sing if you’re lost out there— lost in this moment of hopeless grace. Let every leaf whisper in muted voice that your part is to find a phrase of your own.
Transeamus
On My Way
The summer that my grandpa died I journeyed way out west A time to think, a time to mourn For seeing what was best. To see that my horizons had yet to be discerned To come to be comfortable that I’d so much yet to learn.
The land was broken. The land was fenced. Was it open or was it tamed? The long Wyoming highways are really a narrow range. But the sky was vast and conquering of every borderline: life and death, time and space and maybe yours and mine.
The old man at his rest now This young man on his way No set destination I’m just here today.
Grandpa was a character a stubborn, solid soul. Up was down, blue was red that’s the way our talks would go. The man could try the patience of a stone, that much is true, But he built a family, he built a home, hell, he even built a school.
The mountains stand together yet each peak is alone. I rode on with my brother and our thoughts were not our own: Highway conversations past and present scenes Hopes fears jokes regrets All that our lives might mean.
The old man at his rest now This young man on his way No set destination I’m just here today. I’m just here today.
I sought my own emptiness ’cause a friend said that’s what I fear. And the rhythms of the world, they brought that silence near And here on bus near journey’s end I grope for words to cast my feelings into sculpted thoughts to make some wisdom last
Oh grant that leaves may comfort me as I blow on my way Oh clear from me this summer’s haze let me see the depth of day And bring at last that pleasure’s smile that simple, subtle grace: of seeing in each moment my God face to face
The old man at his rest now This young man on his way No set destination I’m just here today. I’m just here today.
American girl in France walking vineyards, book in hand climbing up old castle heights pens her letters, words pressed tight Going home through sunflower fields blossoms black, life must yield
And run
Provence fades away A day in Paris, just a day He flew in to see the sights He was tired, his words weren’t right The bridge, the tower, the moments fly The train for Spain, she says good-bye
And runs
Back in the fields again wondering where to begin Letters fly from her to him His replies just draw her in Too young for what they have she opts for a different path
And writes:
“We’ve got all the time in the world.”
Simple Things
I walked home alone today down the same dusty road I walk everyday the simple sights and the simple sounds are the ones I expect to see the trees and the flowers and the plane that flies none are new to me
but I take delight in the simple things I see and the noises that surround I find comfort in the blowing breeze and the motion all around me
The crunch of the gravel and the bouncing stone are music as I move on The insects hum their back-up song and the songbirds sing along I’m walking home alone today but lonely I am not I can’t help feeling content and love for the company that I’ve got
and I take delight in the simple things I see and the noises that surround I find comfort in the blowing breeze and the motion all around me
[a middle bit of some repute]
A small cloud of dust follows after me but my shadow rambles on I’ll follow it down this road I’m led ‘till all this day is gone and I’ll keep on singing the part I have in the melody all around I can’t but sing it loud for all the joy that I’ve found
’cause I take delight in the simple things I see and the noises all around I find comfort in the blowing breeze and the motion that surrounds me.
too funny. Let us know what he wanted, when he gets back to you!
On an off-topic note, are the lyrics for Life and Other Impossibilities collected online anywhere? I downloaded the album a few weeks ago and have been thoroughly enjoying it (my favourites at the moment are Begin to Be and Tunisian Blue, but I'm still discovering the richness in all the songs). I'd love to have the lyrics as a set to help me appreciate them more slowly.
As long-ago requested: lyrics.
Begin To Be
Carousels—we are turning
all around where we’ve been
See our spinning options now
all that our lives can begin
Begin to be
in time
places beyond all word or rhyme
where all days are long enough
to be
Summertime’s fading fast now
longer nights for me
Drifting through your absence now
looking for a place where I can be
Begin to be
in time
places beyond all word or rhyme
where all days are long enough
to be
You and me, all we’ve seen together
wooden horses run away
There you go, Heaven’s chosen daughter
hear my voice when I say:
Begin to be
in time
places beyond all word or rhyme
where all days are long enough
to be
Springtime of Tomorrow
Dance with me, laugh with me
Let these days flow past with me
Let tomorrow worry about itself.
Listen for the melody
that runs away and hides from me
Let’s find it and make it all our own.
For today
is the springtime of tomorrow
so let’s let life run its course.
Let every shout rise like bread
every hidden prayer left unsaid
run laughing through our song.
The memories of yesterday
are left behind; I run away
I won’t let them keep a hold on me.
There is no pain that we won’t forget
and there’s so much living we haven’t lived yet
We’re not bound by misery.
For today
is shorter than tomorrow
Tomorrow is the rest of history.
I wanna feel it now—let’s live today
Don’t let our fears get in the way
Hoping is how we move along.
The ways of life are wild, you see
Life runs away then comes back to me
I just let go and all it does is grow.
I’ll hold your hand if you’ll share the way
So let’s let forever start today
Just a smile and I’ll be ready to go.
My Mom
Quietly, patiently
knotting my laces when I was three
teaching the tricks of life:
how to ride a bike
how to choose a wife
The hottest day, her garden play
things come to life when she turns their way
Questions, table talk
The smile on her face
after a walk
She glides through my life
a word, a glance,
or sometimes silence
What would be my life
if she hadn’t shown the way?
Teaching me, teasing me
always meaning more than I could see
Library books piled high
Fearsome temper
if I told a lie
High school plays, college days
She guides me through this maze
Phone calls, holiday meals
Listening
Telling how she feels
She glides through my life
a word, a glance,
or sometimes silence
What would be my life
if she hadn’t shown the way?
Giving in to children’s whims
stretching dollars ever so thin
Video games and Bart the cat
“We shall see” and
“Let me think about that.”
It’s not to say that she’s perfect
It’s not to say that life’s always been kind
But to say that of all our Moms: she’s mine
Quietly, patiently
knotting my laces when I was three...
;-)
Why does the world make me think of you?
Oases cloaked in emerald hue
and desert roads in their dusty coats
distant mountains with their shadowed slopes
and I see you in cafés trimmed in Tunisian Blue
I looked for you lost in Roman streets
hotel lobbies where strangers meet
the laughter painted on a child’s face
pilgrims lining up in place
and your eyes smiling at me in Tunisian Blue
And when the sights pile up like stones
and I’m piling them all alone
and your voice and face fade away
’til I’m sitting at the end of the day
I’m glad for your glance and every single word
—wherever I can find them
In souks where the merchants cry
for your money as you try to sneak by
In villas ruined in Carthage fields
Punic secrets that the harbour yields
the Mediterranean shines in Tunisian Blue
I saw you standing near Trevi Fount
more coins and couples than I could count
in the Forum talking and in Medina prayer
heat so hot that it shook the air
and sipping tea in cafés trimmed in Tunisian Blue
And when those sights pile up like stones
and I’m piling them all alone
and your voice and face fade away
’til I’m sitting at the end of the day
I’m glad for your glance and every single word
—wherever I can find them
Why does the world make me think of you?
Requiem
God:
In the shadow of trees
pausing under harvest moon,
my eyes reflecting,
wond’ring if the darkness
will bring you to me.
Are you feeling your way tonight?
Hillside; fading breeze
smothered under forest hush;
starlight straining down;
light-years ending on me.
May I be a resting-place
for all who roam.
Sing if you’re lost out there—
lost in this moment of hopeless grace.
Let every leaf whisper
in muted voice that
your part is to find
a phrase of your own.
Soul:
I’m feeling the path tonight
my feet know the way
cautious steps, simple trust
the pure task of listening
senses beyond sight
the silence calls me to You.
Crickets off in the distance
a deer startled and running
an owl glides by darkly
And though I am a stranger
this is the closest place
I’ve ever known to home
Sing if you’re lost out there—
lost in this moment of hopeless grace.
Let every leaf whisper
in muted voice that
your part is to find
a phrase of your own.
Transeamus
On My Way
The summer that my grandpa died
I journeyed way out west
A time to think, a time to mourn
For seeing what was best.
To see that my horizons
had yet to be discerned
To come to be comfortable
that I’d so much yet to learn.
The land was broken. The land was fenced.
Was it open or was it tamed?
The long Wyoming highways
are really a narrow range.
But the sky was vast and conquering
of every borderline:
life and death, time and space
and maybe yours and mine.
The old man at his rest now
This young man on his way
No set destination
I’m just here today.
Grandpa was a character
a stubborn, solid soul.
Up was down, blue was red
that’s the way our talks would go.
The man could try the patience
of a stone, that much is true,
But he built a family, he built a home,
hell, he even built a school.
The mountains stand together
yet each peak is alone.
I rode on with my brother
and our thoughts were not our own:
Highway conversations
past and present scenes
Hopes fears jokes regrets
All that our lives might mean.
The old man at his rest now
This young man on his way
No set destination
I’m just here today.
I’m just here today.
I sought my own emptiness
’cause a friend said that’s what I fear.
And the rhythms of the world,
they brought that silence near
And here on bus near journey’s end
I grope for words to cast
my feelings into sculpted thoughts
to make some wisdom last
Oh grant that leaves may comfort me
as I blow on my way
Oh clear from me this summer’s haze
let me see the depth of day
And bring at last that pleasure’s smile
that simple, subtle grace:
of seeing in each moment
my God face to face
The old man at his rest now
This young man on his way
No set destination
I’m just here today.
I’m just here today.
American girl in France
walking vineyards, book in hand
climbing up old castle heights
pens her letters, words pressed tight
Going home through sunflower fields
blossoms black, life must yield
And run
Provence fades away
A day in Paris, just a day
He flew in to see the sights
He was tired, his words weren’t right
The bridge, the tower, the moments fly
The train for Spain, she says good-bye
And runs
Back in the fields again
wondering where to begin
Letters fly from her to him
His replies just draw her in
Too young for what they have
she opts for a different path
And writes:
“We’ve got all the time in the world.”
Simple Things
I walked home alone today
down the same dusty road
I walk everyday
the simple sights and the simple sounds
are the ones I expect to see
the trees and the flowers and the plane that flies
none are new to me
but I take delight in the simple things I see
and the noises that surround
I find comfort in the blowing breeze
and the motion all around
me
The crunch of the gravel and the bouncing stone
are music as I move on
The insects hum their back-up song
and the songbirds sing along
I’m walking home alone today
but lonely I am not
I can’t help feeling content and love
for the company that I’ve got
and I take delight in the simple things I see
and the noises that surround
I find comfort in the blowing breeze
and the motion all around
me
[a middle bit of some repute]
A small cloud of dust follows after me
but my shadow rambles on
I’ll follow it down this road I’m led
‘till all this day is gone
and I’ll keep on singing the part I have
in the melody all around
I can’t but sing it loud for all
the joy that I’ve found
’cause I take delight in the simple things I see
and the noises all around
I find comfort in the blowing breeze
and the motion that surrounds
me.
Allison By Moonlight
Allison by moonlight
walking...
walking...
Allison by moonlight
she’s walking...
walking...