(Have Yourself) the Time of Your Life

The Time of Your Life
( F7 F7 aug. C C aug. G Am F C F7)
written from our first month trip to Californian 1975 when we stayed with Uncle Jack and Aunt Rose in Vallejo and he let us borrow his mint truck to go down the coast and he took us up to the mountain cabin in Lassen...there had been a recent
death- I read the obit and it got my 25 year old sense of mortality and priorities in focus...and a reminder borrowing Rose’s name/story...)


In just a few days your whole life is erased,
like a story that won’t be retold.
Some remember and cry,they recover and sigh-
and they sort out the salvaged from the sold.
So you pass like a shadow,
that never knew the light.
when this was your time,
and this was your life,
and this was the time of your life!


So Rosey old girl, take that trip ‘round the world ,
because you don’t know when it’s going to stop.
See the sights! Read the books! Take a great second look!
So you’ll know whether you’ve lived or not.
You can leave them a treasure -
the memory of a life that you loved-
this is your time,
this is your life.
Have yourself the time of your life!
Have yourself the time of your life!

....... and when dear Rose died in the summer of 2003 I wrote...
Dear Jack,Peg,Bobby,Everyone-
It was back in my songwriting days when we made our first wonderful visit together to Watson Lane,the Summer of 1975. We were so touched by Jack and Rose’s generosity (the loan of Jack’s mint truck) and hospitality in their lovely home and mountain cabin. Aunt Rose made her famous pesto pasta for us. Cyndy and I felt so absolutely welcomed and loved by our Californian Uncle, Aunt and Cousins! Bob and Lois had been our early mentors on marriage and parenting and now we had another shining example of loving devotion and life-long partnering: Jack and Rose. I borrowed “Rosey old girl” from Jack’s sweet reference to her, weaving a song souvenir of that special time and a reminder always t cherish the people ,places and experiences that are the true gifts of our lifetime. Our beloved Bob would so often say ,”Seize the day “ in every way...let’s have ourselves the “Time of our Lives” by sharing and loving . And so the song will always echo on- I have amended the lyrics in loving thanks and memory of our Aunt Rose....

“The Time of Her Life”

Rosey dear girl,

Took her trip through our world...

And she left us a treasure -
The sweet memory of the life she ,and we loved.

This was her time-
This was her life.
We shared the time of her life!
We shared the gift of her life!

The Old and New Nut Island Blues

The Nut Island Blues- 1976 revised for Sally Owens’ Environmental Treasures Tour
August 2003 (where I first learned to ride a bike
without training wheels, the big kids
said the grass was watered with pee,
and the barrel at the end of the jetty was
where the toys from the kids with polio were
kept and cliffside where Grandpa “taught” me
“do or die” style to drive standard shift...”throw out the clutch!..Throw out the clutch!” ??????as we
slid jerkily backwards the fence cliff and Bay
looming ever closer in the rear view mirror..... ah memories of the methane burn off flaming ball in the night, flounder fishing in the Bay...and finally a clean-up.



There’s a place on the Bay,the old fishermen say-
Where the fish go for their last goodbye.
‘Round that “ole glory hole” as they give up their soles-
You can hear them sing as they die!

Chorus

There’s a flame in the night,
Like a million gas lights-
And it lights up the bubblin’ brew!
There’s an ill wind that blows-
And every Houghs Necker knows-
They’re pumpin’ the Nut Island Blues~!

Well when I was a boy,it was my greatest joy,
To dip in the President’s Bay-
Then with water defiled that in-coming tide,
Made a sea-lovin’ salt turn away!

Chorus

There was a flame in the night ,
Like a million gas lights -
And it lit up the bubblin’ brew!
There was an ill wind that blew,
And every Houghs Necker knew-
They were pumpin’ the Nut Island Blues!................

...With our billions to pay,the MWRA-
They cleaned up those Nut Island Blues!...

Now with the green QEN,it won’t happen again!
There won’t be morte Nut Island Blues!
Preventing theNut Island Blues!
Remember those Nut Island Blues!
The Nut Island Blues!!!!!!!!!!

Starshine

Starshine
C7/G/Am/D7/G//G7 F/C/G G/C7
written one night after a run when I stopped at the beach and gazed at the Bay and the city before returning home on Kilby St. to Cyndy and Joe...Debbie sang this the memorial when little Jack died...


I raise my arms to the night sky,
and whisper to myself - I’m alive!
You can go so long and never say that -
so much unseen before your eyes....


Well some shine bright and some shine brighter,
some shine the brightest of them all!
We are points of light in this dark,dark night
and we must shine until we fall...

fall like our dreams in forgetfulness-
fail like our words in the wind...
Like they say, tomorrow’s another day,
and tonight is the time to begin-

So raise your arms to the night sky,
and whisper to yourself- I’m alive!

Fly Like an Eagle

Fly Like an Eagle G/C/ D
C/D/G/Em C/D/G and bass run
copyright @ 1977...inspired by a story about Lindberg’s flight ....
and the source for the band name SeaBright


Cut me loose from land at SeaBright
Slip away Atlantic shore-
I will chart a course by starlight.
Noone’s ever flown before!


Pass you down there ocean liner,
plow your way acrossthe sea-
I have wings you’ve never dreamed of-
from time and space I’ll set yopu free!

Chorus-

You can fly through the sunshine-
You can fly through the deepest dark
You can soar just like an eagle all alone-
Sing like a lark!
Sing like a lark!

Magic mist and shapeless shadows-
weary eyes can’t see to go!
Just before that blaze of glory,
sweet circling seabirds guide me home!

Chorus

Circle now great silver spaceship
Bid my island home goodbye-
Set me down my spirits soaring-
soon enough again I’ll fly!


Cut me loose from land forever-
Slip away Pacific shore-
I will chart a course by starlight -
Noone’s ever flown before!

Chorus

Mary Margaret - My Wonderful and Lovely Sister

“ Mary Margaret” a song for my wonderful sister Mary...from the first evening I saw
Mom holding her up in the St.Margaret’s Hospital window for us boys to see,through all those nights I did high school homework in her room and she’d ask me questions ’til she fell asleep &always

On the third day of July G-C-D-
I remember when I try-
Faces in the window high above.

One said he would rock her cradle
Two said they would fight her battles
I said she would always have my love1

Mary Margaret go to sleep
I have work that will not keep
You have dreams that you should dream so bright !
You will be a lovely lady
Crown your long blond hair with daisies
You will be a blue star in the night.

Sixteen summers now have passed
All the kids have grown so fast
Each has gone his way by plan or chance
Gone lady bugs and backyard flowers
gentlemen now take her hours
and I take delight to watch her dance!

Mary Margaret go to sleep ....
Mary- you will be a blue star in the night!