Thursday, August 29, 2013

SAINT JOHN RIVER


When I decided to start this blog I knew that I wouldn’t be able to spend much time maintaining it and contributing to it. In fact I disabled the ability for readers to leave comments because that would be something I’d feel the need to check daily, and let’s face it, that’s simply not going to happen. Years ago I was a regular contributor to an internet message board connected with a television show and I communicated with some of the nicest, funniest, and smartest people one could ever wish to “meet” but eventually decided that while cyberspace has its advantages it really isn’t for me. And so, by the time social media caught on in a big way among my relatives and friends I was already beginning to drop out. Nowadays I use the computer at my office but do not have one at home. My cell phone is just a phone. I don’t ‘tweet’ or chat online; don’t belong to any ‘virtual’ world, and cannot be bothered to use ‘the google’ to find out what in the heck they mean by a ‘hashtag.’ I’m not opposed to technology and I know that all those zeros and ones have their place; it’s just that I’ve been moving in another direction.

From time to time I intend to write about matters of importance to me (Soteria, Part 2 is on the way), or else I might just reminisce about my hometown.  Mostly though, this blog is a way to share the songs I’ve written over the years. My intention is to record these songs so that readers can hear them (See? I’m not a total Luddite.), by clicking a link to 'the facetube'  . . . or whatever.   

In 1994/95 I composed an album of songs in honor of New Brunswick. It was called Land of the Lupin. A number of those lyrics have been posted here. I have decided to compile a new collection of original songs. I’m going to call it ‘Life by Rivers.’ The last two songs posted here (August 16 and 18) are going to be a part of it. Here’s another one.



SAINT JOHN RIVER

Old river keep on rolling
I’ve lived beside you each and every day
An ever changing permanent reminder
That the current carries everything away

I’ve always lived beside this ancient river
It’s where my father built our family home
It’s where I grew the memories of my childhood
With the river near I never feel alone

 Roll on, old river, keep on rolling
Roll on, Saint John River every day
An ever changing permanent reminder
That the current carries everything away

Our school house once sat next to the river
It’s gone now and replaced by something new
But I recall those days back in the Third Grade
That was the very first time I met you

Roll on, old river, keep on rolling
Roll on, Saint John River every day
An ever changing permanent reminder
That the current carries everything away

I love to watch the sunlight on the river
I love the way the rain looks on your skin
I love the way your eyes shine when you’re laughing
And how the water feels when we jump in

Roll on, old river, keep on rolling
Roll on, Saint John River every day
An ever changing permanent reminder
That the current carries everything away
 
© 2013 Dale Petley (Oklahoma City)

Sunday, August 18, 2013

THIS RIVER TOWN


Here's another new one.


THIS RIVER TOWN

There is something that I see in everybody from a distance
That reminds me just a little bit of you
It isn’t what they’re wearing or the stuff that they have with them
Or even in the things they say or do
It’s more of an impression, or perhaps it’s something deeper
Or it could just be you’re always on my mind
It’s true that I’ve been thinking of you every waking hour
Since the day you left this river town behind.

You were headed for New York as I recall or maybe Dallas
At the time it seemed your plans were rather vague
You said something about Europe and about the need to travel
It was right around the time I broke my leg
So I spent the winter drinking and re-reading all your postcards
And I knew that I had my own path to find
But there’s never been a day I didn’t wish that you were with me
Since the day you left this river town behind

Well I lived in a big city for a while and really liked it
But I always knew I’d head for home some day
I knew that I’d return to hear the music of the river
And let her rapids carry me away
And I hope that you know happiness wherever you are living
And found whatever you needed to find
Or maybe you’ve been moving on just like the running water
Since the day you left this river town behind


© 2013 Dale Petley (Oklahoma City)

Friday, August 16, 2013

MY MOTHER’S FIDDLE


Here's a new one.


MY MOTHER’S FIDDLE


I have lived my life by rivers and there’s one thing that I know
Nothing lasts forever; time like a river flows
There are things you keep beside you as gifts of love and grace
Like my Mother’s fiddle and its plain old wooden case

Chorus:

Nothing lasts forever but love will never die
Some things you keep beside you while the whole world passes by
The things that bring a smile to everybody’s face
Like my Mother’s fiddle and its plain old wooden case


My mother’s dear Aunt Ida left that fiddle with her love
And now she plays The St. Anne’s Reel in her home up above
She might play a waltz or two or else something upbeat
Ward Allen’s ‘Maple Sugar’ never sounded quite so sweet

Chorus:

I drove to Nova Scotia and saw a piper playing proud
Greeting all the tourists; a friendly, happy crowd
When folks come near to visit, you know what should appear
A fiddler at the border saying “you’re all welcome here.”

Chorus:


© 2013 Dale Petley (Oklahoma City)

Saturday, August 3, 2013

MOMMY MARRIED DADDY


I wrote these lyrics on the back of an envelope while on an airplane going to California to visit my Mother’s first cousin who is one of the most remarkable people I know.  It was during a one hour layover in Las Vegas that this song occurred to me.

(MOMMY MARRIED DADDY)

At Sunday school our preacher asked the children
“Do you know about the day your parents wed?”
A little hand went up, the preacher smiled
And we both said a prayer
As this is what our only child said

 (Chorus)

Mommy married Daddy in Las Vegas
In a chapel owned by someone called ‘The King’
To the sound of ‘Love Me Tender’
They stood up and said ‘I do’
Then they listened to that Elvis Preacher sing

Daddy first met Mommy in Las Vegas
He drove there for the weekend in his car
There was this little place where
He would have himself a drink
And watch Mommy as she danced up on the bar

(Chorus)

When Mommy first met Daddy in Las Vegas
Love made her just as bold as she could be
She walked up to his table
When her dancing act was done
And said: “Sailor would you like some company?”

When Daddy first met Mommy in Las Vegas
He was bashful in his younger days, I think
But Mommy broke the ice
When she little up a cigarette
And said: “Won’t you buy a working girl a drink?”

(Chorus)

When Daddy married Mommy in Las Vegas
They decided then and there to move away
They packed the car that night
And did not wait to say goodbye
And I was born just six months later to the day

Well, our preacher smiled, and you could hear a pin drop
He thanked our boy for telling what he knew
When our son said: “Wait, there’s more
I know other stories too
The preacher said: “No, little Elvis, that’ll do.”

(Chorus)

© 2000 Dale Petley (Los Angeles)