Songs From A Friend
From songwriter and new friend Mary Ann Daugherty, a few songs of suffering, healing and peace. Thank you Mary Ann. If anyone would like to contact Mary Ann about performing or recording these songs, please let me know.
Back in South Bend Lyric by: Mary Ann Daugherty
Verse In the land where lightning strikes up from the ground A private named Joey is the latest man down An unlucky step, a mine he didn’t see Cost him both legs below the knee
His brothers in arms rally after the blast They call in for help and they tie the wounds fast They're shouting his name but he needs more time To return from the hiding place deep in his mind
Chorus Where the sandbox is safe The soldiers are toys And tanks made of plastic Are all that’s destroyed Where the battles and bullets are all just pretend And he’s just a kid again Back in South Bend Back in South Bend
Verse In a hospital room the assessments are made There's talk that prosthetics have come a long way But the family knows not all the scars can be seen Because he still hasn't spoken and he's only nineteen
They’re taking their shifts so he’s never alone Holding his hand and speaking of home They're trying to reach him but he still needs more time To return from the hiding place deep in his mind
Chorus Where the sandbox is safe The soldiers are toys And tanks made of plastic Are all that’s destroyed Where the battles and bullets are all just pretend And he’s just a kid again Back in South Bend Back in South Bend
Bridge Feeling the sun on the back of his neck Smelling supper cooking from the grill on the deck Hearing mom calling again and again But for now, he still needs to stay with his men
Chorus Where the sandbox is safe The soldiers are toys And tanks made of plastic Are all that’s destroyed Where the battles and bullets are all just pretend And he’s just a kid again Back in South Bend (slower) He’s just a kid again Back in South Bend
The Sun is Shaded
There’s a cracked speckled egg on a city sidewalk Mother bird is wailing at the branch that gave way And all the straight-forward people go about their business But the sun is shaded from me today
There's a pregnant young woman with tracks on her arms Sifting through the trash near the corner cafe And all the straight-forward people go about their business But the sun is shaded from me today
When I see sorrow right in front of me I can’t look away Maybe tomorrow will be better but I’m dark blue today
There’s a man in pyjamas with a skinny dog Sleeping side by side on a subway grate And all the straight-forward people go about their business But the sun is shaded from me today The sun is shaded from me Today
Fighting
Every time there is an angry sea Or a heavy cloud is trailing me When my world is not how it should be You are the safe and warm That I keep fighting for
When it's hard to keep the wolves at bay And I'm feeling like there's hell to pay You are my promise of a better day You are the safe and warm That I keep fighting for
You are the center of my hurricane The only peace I've ever known You catch the lightning and you stop the rain So I can find my way back home
Some day I hope to hear tomorrow's call Then I'll no longer feel the past at all I know you'll catch me if I start to fall You are the safe and warm That I keep fighting for You are the safe and warm That I keep fighting for