Horses of Chincotegue I was born in the grass at the sea's edge with my face to the wind as it blew and I nursed from my mother and I played with brother with the sand in our manes as we flew felt the strength in our bones as we grew Chorus: The horses are running on Chincoteague Isle and I, I shall run there soon my legs have grown strong as the seasons have passed I will run by the light of the moon I will run by the light of the moon The land and the sea are still mine with the open wet sand, I am free here across the deep ocean the lights are in motion and the buildings creep out to the sea it seems that they're reaching for me Chorus the land over here I don't understand too many people and I can't find the sand I was born in the grass at the sea's edge with my face to the wind as it blew and I may die there alone but on the island I'll roam right there on the Chincoteague Isle the last of us all to run wild Chorus c 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell written at the Folk Project Fall Festival |
Just One More Day I walk the road to the open sea. The wind whips by, and it bruises me. Upon the shore, two seagulls rest; I watch the sun set in the west. chorus: Just one more day,'till the Laura B. sails, One more day, she'll take me away. Just one more day, 'till the Laura B. sails, And she will take me away. I soon will travel upon the seas, This sturdy boat will carry me. But all my love will stay ashore, And come to rest upon your door. Chorus I beg you please to set me free, And let my heart heal inside of me. Please don't beg for one more round. Let me go, I'm homeward bound. Chorus c September, 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
On My Mind I was rising up Rising from my sleep I could hear your voice I was falling deep You were on my mind Walking in my dreams When I crossed that line Wonder what it means Like a bluebird song On that talking wire I could hear your voice Set my head on fire Like a stolen kiss With no alibi You were on my mind And I don't know why I could see the sun rising through the trees All the colors run I could feel the heat And it burns my eyes If I look too long You were on my mind Like some ancient song You were on my mind Like some ancient song c1997 William J Hall & Bonnie O'Donnell |
Why Can't Girls Marry Girls? The snow had stopped falling that night in December And the air had turned bitter cold We went to bed early, to the warmth of our blankets And the sounds of the plows in the snow I awoke hours later, heard my daughter talking Reviewing events of her day I was caught in the moment, and I listened in silence Hoping to catch what she'd say But unknown to me, my child had a question One she had struggled with awhile She climbed into my bed, she wanted an answer As we watched the moon rise in the sky "Why can't girls marry girls, and boys be with boys If that's the way they want to be? How come people say they are bad, or they're dirty Is that what God really believes?" I thought for a moment of ways I could answer I wondered why she chose then But I took a deep breath, tried to answer her question And still let her know where I stand And when I was finished with my careful attempt To explain where our history had led us There was a moment of silence as my daughter thought over All that I'd not said and said And then in her own way of stating the obvious She said as only five year olds can do "Mom, I don't understand, and I think we should let Everyone love who they want to" And as I put her to bed, the moment long passed I marveled at how five year olds see That the answer is clear, and it's a question of love Why can't we love whom we please? That the answer is clear, and it's a question of love Why can't we love whom we please? c December 1996 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Monhegan From here to the island I've lost my way Can't see out of these eyes I've been driving all day And I can't seem to find my way This same time last year I drove on my own Each route, each highway From there to our home But now, I can't do it alone Chorus: The days that you loved me Are on island time They're slow, summer drift In my mind But don't worry, I'm doing Just fine There's grass on the waters edge And the tide claims the boat The cliffs meet the sky On the wind, seagulls float This island has taken my soul I'll go to claim it Take back what I gave The ashes of lost love I will no longer save Let them drown, let them go On the waves Let them drown, let them go On the waves Chorus c 1996 Bonnie O'Donnell |
You Come Walking In Looked out today saw the sky cold and gray dirt in the snow piled in the driveway everything's washed out exposed in the cold no leaves on the trees nothing to hold but then, I feel the warmth in the wind and you come walking in Started at sunrise birds in the trees sounds of their voices carry the breeze opened the window just for awhile maybe I knew you would come all those miles and then I feel the warmth in the wind and you come walking in promise of spring dance on the wind, crawls under my skin, lets my world take a spin I'll turn to the sun I'll open the doors Fling wide the curtains I'll let you in more everything's shifted nothing's the same promise of spring here all since you came and then I feel the warmth in the wind and you come walking in robins have come they're in the birdbath washing the winter off of their backs face each new day as if it's their last I'll do the same spring's here at last so then I feel the warmth in the wind and you come walking in c 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Pretty Bird There's a bird in the meadow She calls to me And her voice carries out Over winds and sea She does call me away With a promise of love She will carry my heart, Pretty bird, pretty dove I will follow her call To a place far away Where the flowers will bloom In the snow every day And the blue of the sky will Match the eyes of my love I will drown in their beauty Pretty bird, pretty dove And my love, he will hold My heart in his hand He will offer the sky And the sea, and the sand He will fling wide his arms, He will give all his love He will carry me far Pretty bird, pretty dove There's a bird in the meadow She calls to me And her voice carries out Over winds and sea I will follow her song To the arms of my love She will give my heart wings Pretty bird, pretty dove c December 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Move My Heart Around In the city, in the middle of a heat wave Louis Armstrong sings on the radio My baby's dancing to the music, makes me crazy The sun is rising on his body, oh so slow Chorus: That man can move my heart around Sing my soul without a sound Keep me longing, for a cold, wet afternoon He glides right up to me and whispers lovins Says c'mon, don't go to work, stay home and play There won't be another chance like this I'm givin Let's you and me create some heat today Lord, I'm tempted, you don't know how much I want it To just give in, and never leave this room But something deep inside says, "girl, get movin That man's no good for you, he'll leave you soon." I'm damned if I do And I'm damned if I don't I'll pay if I will I'll be sorry if I won't And I swear, this heat is rising by the minute Chorus In the city, in the middle of a heat wave Louis Armstrong sings on the radio My baby's dancing to the music, makes me crazy The sun is rising on his body, oh so slow The sun is rising on his body, oh so slow The sun is rising on his body, oh so slow c 1996 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Hand on the Bottle Hand on the bottle, Shaking and cold. Brown of his skin, Now a purplish rose. Strength in his cheekbones, Black raven hair, Pride of his people, Now lost in thin air. Chorus: I see him crying, alone in his fears. Body all battered, and the wind holds his tears. Taken from family, At a young age, Apart from his people, Locked in a white cage. Raised in a city, Far from the land, He lets out his anger With bottle in hand. Bridge: I cannot save him. He just doesn't care. Lost in his private hell, I can't reach him there. I can't go there. Sits in the shadows, Just out of my sight. Drinks in the darkness, In the dead of the night. The call of the eagle Cannot stir his blood. He's lost in a blind rage. He's now given up. He's lost in a blind rage. He's now given up. Chorus c August 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Path to Heaven My dad works inside of the factory 'cross town His shift starts at dawn and ends at dusk With breaks and a lunch deep inside the factory Some days he has barely seen the sun I asked him one day if he likes what he does He smiled and said, "Some days I do. But it's all how you see things that gives a body hope And I see the beauty 'round me." And just as he spoke The clouds opened above And in a hushed voice my dad said to me "Come look at the sunset, I hope you'll understand. Perhaps you will see what I mean." chorus: "You can see the path to heaven in the sky tonight You can feel the breath of hope upon the wind If you turn and face the sunset, change your line of sight You can see the path to heaven in the sky tonight." Now I never worked in that factory 'cross town My dad made sure of that, you see No, I went to school, and I got my degree And I work where the windows set me free. But that's not to say that it's always ok Even windows have seemed to cage me But whenever I feel trapped, I hear my dad say, "I see the beauty 'round me." So I try then to stop, and remember what he said To the child I was then, long ago "Come, look at the sunset, I hope you'll understand." Oh now I do, Dad, yes I know. Chorus c 1996 Bonnie O'Donnell |
If I Were Your Lover If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, My love would come dancing on wings of the wind. I'd send it along with the song of the nightbird, To greet you each evening, I'd send it to thee. If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, I'd plant my love under the cool of the earth. And there it would nourish the seeds of the flowers, They'd bloom in your presence, I'd send them to thee. If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, I'd drop my love into the deep ocean blue The dolphins would carry it safe through the water, and there you could catch it, I'd send it to thee. If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, I'd weave my love into the words of a song. And then you could hear my love gently arriving, Unravel its message, I'd send it to thee. If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, I'd send you a rainbow to cover the sky The colors would fall to the ground by your window, Their light would reflect all my love there for thee. If I were your lover, I'd love like no other, You'd give me a place in your heart deep inside Wherever you'd go, I would always be with you, If I were your lover, I'd go there with thee. If I were your lover, I'd go there with thee. c June, 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Child of the Night I see her day or night. She's haunting all my dreams; restless eyes, with closed down mind. Her body holds the horrors her young age does disguise. She's looking for some subtle sign. She turns to me in sorrow. She offers up her shame; so young, to be so old. She's carrying the sins of the world. I try hard not to see her, look into those nightmare eyes. I try hard not to see her face. The tears she holds inside, so tight against the night, those demons keep her afraid. What happened to her childhood? Where did it all begin? So young, to be so old; she's carrying the sins of the world. This child of the night; she lives inside the dark. She feels her way in anger. She reaches in my heart. Her voice rings in my head as her body leans to me. She whispers in a secret tone. "Do you know why I'm here? I'll tell you if you want. My daddy can't leave me alone. But I have a brave new friend who lives inside my head. She will keep me safe from him." When heaven sounds its trumpets, and thunder splits the sky, this child will not cry. The walls of hurt around her, this weight upon her heart, will lift and open wide. And when God in all her glory claims this little girl, "My child, in whom I'm pleased; she's carried the sins of the world." c January 1997 Bonnie O'Donnell |
Clear Light of Heaven Wherever you are going Whenever you return May your tale grow in the telling With everything you learn Your footsteps like the twilight Fade into the blue... May the clear light of heaven Always be with you. May the road reach up to carry you Forever in her arms... Good faith and fortune Keep you safe from harm... After all is said and all is done Beginning to the end... May the clear light of heaven Always be your friend. c William J Hall 1996 |