Lyrics to ONLY ALONG FOR THE RIDE
Lyrics from the Album by Hugh Moffatt
www.hughmoffatt.com
Juniper Canyon
By Hugh Moffatt
Once I was in Juniper Canyon
Very early in the spring
Started out alone
Not to come back home
You can’t be lonely in a dream
Nights are cold in Juniper Canyon
The stars are so far away
The moon shines silver
On the river
Like a picture in a play
‘Round the campfire glow
The night creeps up and cold
Upon the canyon sits and shows
No mercy
And the wind blows
Oooo
How cold can heaven be?
Just as cold as a tree
I was alone in Juniper Canyon
I climbed her walls and bore her sun
I found the water
The golden daughter
Of the Earth
Caught her where she runs
When I go back to Juniper Canyon
I’ll climb right into the sun
When night comes I’ll go down
Build a fire upon the ground
Put out the stars one by one
‘Round the campfire glow
The night creeps up and cold
Upon the canyon sits and shows
No mercy
And the wind blows
Oooo
How cold can heaven be?
Just as cold as a stream
How cold can heaven be?
Just as cold as a tree
© 2013 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
Tiger’s
By Hugh Moffatt
C’mon all you boys when you’re out on the town
There’s a place you can go if you’re messin’ around
It’s just off of Broad in the bus station light
It’s a good time at Tiger’s on a Saturday night
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Bobby’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
There’s a band called The Hardtimers workin’ for tips
Passin’ the kitty and cussin’ the gyps
You can give ‘em a buck, not a five or a ten
If you gave ‘em a twenty you’d never see ‘em again
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Bobby’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
Tex just walked in in his pearl button shirt
He’s foolin’ with Tiger, she’ll put him to work
Drove his rig from the valley to get him some thrills
Till he runs out of money and little white pills
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Bobby’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
(turn)
There’s Julie and Jill at that table alone
They’re a rough lookin’ pair in here on their own
Takin’ a break from the streets and the lights
Hell, I’d buy ‘em a beer but I’m flat broke tonight
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Bobby’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
Dave’s getting’ up with his old beat up Strat
Slung down round his knees, yeah, he likes it like that
Lord knows he aint country, he’s pure rock n roll
A little hard on the ears, but it’s good for the soul
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Dave’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
(turn)
So the company aint polite the beer aint the best
But step right on inside, let your mind take a rest
You might end up fightin’, drunk, or in jail
But you might have a time worth the price of your bail
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
Bobby’s gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
Set ‘em up Tiger
Got a friend here who’ll pay
I’m gonna sing one
And the band’s gonna play
© 2013 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
I Knew Her When
By Hugh Moffatt
I dropped in on my daddy to pass the time of day
I know he's feeling lonesome since mama passed away
I found him working in the yard, he looked up and smiled
He said, "It's good to see you son, can you stay and talk awhile?"
He started telling stories, how it used to be
Laughter in his eyes---not the tears I thought I’d see
I said, "How do you do it, Dad? My heart's about to break."
He said, "Don't you understand, I've got something time can't take...
"I knew her when
She was a beauty she was a pearl
She was the rock I built my life on
All I needed in this world
Through life’s trials and troubles, doubts and dreams
She loved me to the end
I’m a lucky man
I knew her when"
All at once a feeling I never felt before
Opened up inside of me like opening a door
My heart was lifted up I felt the pain begin to fade
I looked at daddy smiling and again I heard him say
"I knew her when…
"I knew her when
She was a beauty she was a pearl
She was the rock I built my life on
All I needed in this world
Through life’s trials and troubles, doubts and dreams
She loved me to the end
I’m a lucky man
I knew her when"
Now I understand…
For all my trials and troubles doubts and dreams
She loved me to the end
And I’m a lucky man
Oh, I’m a lucky man
Yeah, I’m a lucky man
I knew her when
I knew her when
©2010 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
Remembering
By Hugh Moffatt and John Peppard
Came across a
Picture book
You know the one that the children loved best of all
And here I am
Remembering
Years ago when
Time was young
I guess I thought—no I never thought much at all
Now here I am
Remembering
Some of the crazy things we dared to do
Some of the troubles shared
Nothing ever dimmed my love for you
My soul was always bared
I’m still a little scared
Remembering
Some say that time will stop my missing you
That’s not the way it is
If you’re not here who am I talking to
You’ve found another way to give
I miss your touch but I can live
Remembering
Just a moment
Of my day
And no one notices if a tear or two fall
That’s how it is
That’s just the way it is
I miss your touch but I can live
Remembering
Remembering
©2011 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI and Rio Bravo Music Inc BMI/PRS
Cover Me
By Hugh Moffatt
Cover me with kindness, cover me with love
Things I just can’t get too much of
Treat me right; tell you what I’ll do
Cover me baby and I’ll cover you
Cover me, cover me, cover me
Cover me baby and I’ll cover you
Hold me close when the night turns cold
Won’t need a blanket with you to hold
Keep me warm the whole night through
Cover me baby and I’ll cover you
Cover me, cover me, cover me
Cover me baby and I’ll cover you
It’s a jungle out there trying to make my way
Will you watch my back each and every day
Be my bud and see me through
Take care of me and I’ll take care of you
Life’s a gamble seven days a week
Will you cover my marker on a losing streak
Cut me slack and I’ll come through
Cover me baby and I’ll cover you
(solo)
It’s a jungle out there trying to make my way
Will you watch my back each and every day
Be my bud, yeah, see me through
Take care of me and I’ll take care of you
Cover me, cover me, cover me
Cover me baby, and I’ll cover you
Cover me, cover me, cover me
Cover me baby, and I’ll cover you
Cover me baby, and I’ll cover you
Cover me baby, and I’ll cover you
© 2008 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
Light a Candle
By Hugh Moffatt and John Peppard
Somebody’s crying and no one hears
Scared of dying and no one’s near
Somebody’s losing hope
While the wheels of power keep turning
Light a candle in the darkness
Shine a light where evil lies
Be a voice for those in silence
Speak the truth – keep hope alive
Light a candle
Somebody’s trying to stop the tears
Not giving in to threats and fears
Somebody’s choosing hope
While the wheels of power keep turning
(solo)
Light a candle in the darkness
Shine a light where evil lies
Be a voice for those in silence
Speak the truth – keep hope alive
Light a candle
Light a candle in the darkness
Shine a light where evil lies
Be a voice for those in silence
Speak the truth – keep hope alive
Light a candle
©2004 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI and Star Street Music Ltd BMI/PRS
I Know
By Hugh Moffatt
(2nd verse with acknowledgement to Jorge Luis Borges)
Been a carpenter like Jesus
Been a preacher like Paul
Been a fisherman like Peter
Been a liar like Saul
Been all ‘round this ole world
Been uptown and down
I know where I’ve been, Lord
Don’t know where I’m bound
I know
Yes I know
I don’t know
They say life is a river
That’s carrying me home
Well, I am the river
So where can I go
Time is a fire
That’s burning me alive
I am the fire
Still unsatisfied
I know
Yes I know
I don’t know
I keep rolling along
And singing my song
Been a carpenter like Jesus
Been a preacher like Paul
Been a fisherman like Peter
Been a liar like Saul
Been all ‘round this ole world
Been uptown and down
I know where I’ve been, Lord
Don’t know where I’m bound
I know
Yes I know
I don’t know
(turn)
So if you want answers
You might as well move on
All I have are puzzles
I might have them wrong
I’ll take my puzzles
My questions and doubts
Answers just lock doors
I always want out
I know
Oh I know
I don’t know
Just rolling along
I keep singing my song
Been a carpenter like Jesus
Been a preacher like Paul
Been a fisherman like Peter
Been a liar like Saul
Been all ‘round this ole world
Been uptown and down
I know where I’ve been, Lord
Don’t know where I’m bound
I know
Yes I know
I know
Yes I know
I don’t know
©2011 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
Cloudy
By Hugh Moffatt
It’s cloudy
Looks like rain again
Ill winds are blowing strong
Things are going wrong again
There’s rain on the wind
It’s cloudy
Feel like turning in
What’s the use in trying
I’ll never win
No my skies are cloudy again
Up above the clouds the sun is shining
The air is always light and clear
Maybe there I’ll find that silver lining
That I’ve never found down here
It’s cloudy
Soon the rain will begin
Pouring out tomorrow
Washing all the sorrow away
Leaving a sunshiny day
And maybe
Even losers win
I’m gonna fly
High above the clouds, then
My skies won’t be cloudy again
They will never be cloudy again
No, my skies won’t be cloudy again
©1995 Universal Music – Careers (BMI)
Rock Bottom
By Hugh Moffatt
Johnnie made a deal with the devil one day
When she was feeling low
After she got up on her feet again
The devil came to take her soul
She said to him, “You didn’t do a damn thing
I believe you’re cheating me”
The devil said, “Now that it won’t do you no good
I’m gonna give you some advice for free”
Oh…
You can’t stand up on a slippery slope
Don’t set your feet in the sand
Every time you fall you got to pick yourself up
It’ll help if you understand
When you hit
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Solid ground
Solid ground
Johnnie slipped away to the heavenly gates
The devil hot on her trail
She cried, “St Peter won’t you save me now
I know that the Lord will prevail”
St Peter said, “Johnnie, aint you ever gonna learn?
You got everything that you need
You don’t need the devil and you don’t need me
On this Ol’ Scratch and I agree
Yeah…
You can’t stand up on a slippery slope
Don’t set your feet in the sand
Every time you fall you got to pick yourself up
It’ll help if you understand
When you hit
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Solid ground
The devil was breathing down Johnnie’s neck
She said, “I don’t really know what that means
But if this aint rock bottom then sure as hell
It’s as close as I want to be”
So she turned to the devil, set her feet on the ground
Said, “I aint going nowhere with you
You’re a liar and a cheat, we aint got no deal
And there aint a damn thing you can do”
As those long skinny arms came reaching for her
The devil vanished in a puff of smoke
Johnnie looked up at Peter, and they both started laughing
Just like it was some kind of joke
And they were saying…
You can’t stand up on a slippery slope
Don’t set your feet in the sand
Every time you fall you got to pick yourself up
It’ll help if you understand
When you hit
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on
Solid ground
When you hit
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on…
Rock bottom, you’re on
Solid ground
Standing on
Solid ground
©2010 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
Last Quarter Moon
(for Jaime)
By Hugh Moffatt
Last quarter moon shining low in the dark morning sky as she quietly waits for the dawn
Light that so stubbornly stays with the day still outlasting the stars for a while
Day by day it fades away
Nights she fights to find the light
Drifting, drifting towards the day
She no longer lies awake
Last autumn leaves barely seen by the light of the moon through the trees as I watch from her room
Leaves that so faithfully cling to a branch that is empty unable to give
Day by day they fall away
Nights she waits for day to break
Drifting, drifting towards the day
She no longer lies and waits
New moon tonight and the stars fill the sky giving light where it seemed there was no light at all
Night like a sea swallows all of her world bringing peace where there used to be pain
Day by day she fades away
Nights I fight to find her light
Drifting, drifting towards the day
Time has turned her light away
First quarter moon riding high in the bright evening sky as I finally rest from the day
Light that so youthfully glows in the twilight outshining the stars after dark
Waxing quickly day by day
Soon the night is all alight
Drifting, drifting towards the day
Time again, it dies away
©2013 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI
What I See
By Hugh Moffatt and John Peppard
Verse 1
All of us are blind in one way or another
Some can’t see to cross the street, some can’t help each other
When I look around, it’s not the trouble I see
I see hope and love and wonder, I don’t think that it’s just me
Chorus
What I see is all the beauty shining through
Look at me, tell me can’t you see it too
We can change the world; just believe in what I see
Verse 2
People hurting people, turning a blind eye to
Simple needs that wouldn’t take a lot to rectify. You
See it all the time, and sometimes it’s you and me
Still we get to choose the things we do, one day we all can be
Chorus
What I see, all the beauty shining through
Look at me, tell me you can see it too
We can change the world; just believe in what I see
(solo)
Bridge
I see things that people do each day to show their love
For others in their lives, never asking very much
Things they don’t think twice about, just doing what is right
There is so much more to see if you open up your eyes
Chorus
What I see is all the beauty shining through
Look at me, I know you can see it too
What I see, all the beauty shining through
Look at me, tell me can’t you see it too
We can change the world; just believe in what I see
What I see
©2012 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI and Rio Bravo Music Inc BMI/PRS
Only Along for the Ride
By Hugh Moffatt
Sometimes I take a line from my life
And stake everything that I have
Next moment I’d give the world and its gold
If I could have that moment back
Sometimes I live on the edge of a knife
No place to run rest or hide
And sometimes I feel like it’s not me at all
I’m only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Sometimes I feel like it’s not me at all
I’m only along for the ride
When I’m successful, ahead of the crowd
Having the time of my life
Carried away, I feel like a king
Above all the trouble and strife
I hear a small voice calling to me
Whispering down deep inside
“Enjoy it now as long as it lasts
You’re only along for the ride”
Only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Enjoy it now as long as it lasts
You’re only along for the ride
(solo)
I have a dream I’m driving at night
Something goes wrong with my lights
Rolling alone toward the bends and the curves
Can’t see to the left or the right
Suddenly I find that someone is there
I’m on the passenger side
A friend at the wheel who knows every turn
I’m only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
A friend at the wheel who knows every turn
I’m only along for the ride
Under the bridge and over the dam
The river runs by and rolls on
Bringing tomorrows for better or worse
Replacing the yesterdays gone
Till all of our days and all of our nights
Drift out to sea with the tide
We rise to the stars on invisible wings
We’re only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
We rise to the stars on invisible wings
We’re only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Only along for the ride
Sometimes I feel like it’s not me at all
I’m only along for the ride
©2013 Songs of Lankhmar (Admin. by Rio Bravo Music, Inc.) BMI