LIGHT & DARKNESS
VOL. 11
OVER THE PLAINS, INTO NEW LANDS
By Robert L. Shelby
Copyright 2013 Robert L. Shelby
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RELEASE ME
When it comes - my time of dying
I don’t want nobody to hold me
Hold me back, no, let me go on
go on to all the places beyond
beyond the streets on which I walk on
walk on far to where I’ve never been
Been waiting long, yes, let me go on
go on to the fields I’ve seen in my dreams
in my dreams I am flying again
again I turn into the child I was
I was waiting for my time of dying
I don’t want nobody to hold me
Hold me last, my darling and release me
release me from the warmth of your arms
of your arms, so loving and soft
soft like the earth in which I’ll rest
I’ll rest easy and I’ll rest free
free from all the shouting above me
above me I’ll hear the young men marching
marching on into war ... and here it comes
Here it comes - my time of dying
I don’t want nobody to hold me
Oh my darling, go and release me
Oh my darling, I hear them marching
Oh my darling, go and release me
Oh my darling, I hear them marching
Here it is - my time of dying
SNOW ON THE GROUND
At times I feel like the snow
that falls in time for spring
I landed softly on the ground
but happiness I didn’t bring
And even though I’m new here
I’ll be gone early tomorrow
I’m leaving in the morning
taking with me all the sorrow
But I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
said, I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
I’m not chained to the world
and I don’t have to pull
I came down here to Earth
because heaven is full
And all the rivers that ran
now lay silently frozen
no one around me is happy
with the life that I’ve chosen
But I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
said, I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
I’ll soon be forgotten
a snowflake from the sky
all the people stand laughing
and I’ll be wondering why
Of all the smiling faces
gathered in the crowd
is there anyone here
that I’ve ever made proud?
And I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
said, I don’t want to be just snow on the ground
FREEDOM
Run with the rebels
fight for the cause
fight for your freedom
and break all their laws
Eat with the wolves
howl for the moon
wait for the morning
the end will come soon
Sleep with the devil
talk to you brother
take care of this life
you don’t have another
Write with the poets
stay for the songs
stand up for freedom
and right all the wrongs
Ride the big waves
swim the wild seas
find all the secrets
that hide in the breeze
Build with your own hands
and learn how to lead
keep your friends close
don’t burn what you need
Love only one girl
give all you’ve got
enjoy your freedom
and never get caught
OLD ROADS, OLD MAN
I’m driving on the old roads
through towns that seem forgotten
I’m driving on the old roads
full of dents and holes
weary from the years
and the traffic it holds
And in my rearview mirror
I see the old man watching me
I pass people and places
that only live in my memory
I see houses and faces
and I read empty pages
from the story yet to happen
the boy is yet to be a man
Tomorrow means nothing at all
and looking back only shows
how deep I truly did fall
turning into the one
I never wanted to become
turning since my life began
Old man, I don’t want to welcome you
but I can’t keep you far away
I know one day I’ll meet you
and hear what you have to say
And I drive on the old roads
full of dents and holes
weary from the years
and the traffic it holds
And in my rearview mirror
I see the old man watching me
WAR
I was born out of pure love
between a man and a woman
from the opposite sides
in the war
I was four years of age
when I saw tanks and guns
parked and ready under bridges
for the war
I had family and stories
from both sides of the fence
of brother killing brother
in the war
Now two decades have gone by
but the streets are still a mess
houses burned or full of holes
from the war
Now the people have moved on
but the scars remain forever
and in memories bullets fly
still a war
And until we stand together as one
until we love more than we hate
I say - until we love more than we hate
everywhere is war
TAKE ME BACK
Take me back
to the days where all that mattered
was the stitching on your cap
Take me back
to the hills where we ran free
through the forests not yet on the map
Take me back
to the old ways of distant past
when I didn’t feel like crap
If we could just go back
if we could just go back
if we could just go back
Take me back
to all the wonders of the world
when we didn’t need electrical tricks
Take me back
to the simple times of life
when the girls would chase the boys with sticks
Take me back
to the bright side of the globe
when joy was so much more than a quick fix
If we could just go back
if we could just go back
if we could just go back
And I wonder and I worry
why we all live in such a hurry
if we could just go back
And I wonder and I worry
how my thoughts are
getting blurry
if we could just go back
if we could just go back
if we could just go back
BURNING UP
I once knew a great guy
at least I thought he was great
he came from a broken home
the folks still lived together
but everyone was on their own
his father didn’t beat him
but the hard mental abuse
was slowly taking its toll
The first time I met him
a young rebel full of heart and soul
and the last time I’ve seen him
an old man with a foot in the hole
I watched him crumble and fall
for a long time I tried to help
but I admit I’ve given up
Now I don’t know what to do
‘cause I’m mad with you (I’m burning up)
I don’t want drown you or shoot you
but I’m mad with you (I’m burning up)
If a man can’t make his own decisions
he ain’t a real man in my book
saying it’s just the way life turns
well my friend that ain’t a good look
Yeah, going with the flow is alright
but you have to choose your river first
don’t jump in the one people tell you to
it might be good for them, but not for you
And now I’m mad (I’m burning up)
I said I’m mad (I’m burning up)
I have to tell you I’m mad (I’m burning up)
I’m mad with you (I’m burning up)
I SEE YOU
I see you walking through the door
pretty on the outside, but you’re rotten deep within
I see you staring at the crowd
waiting for drinks from every guy around
I see the brightness in your eyes
from the lights that shine through your empty mind
I see your perfect long blonde hair
glued tightly to your thinned out scalp
I see you walk across the floor
passing everyone like you are so much more
like you are so much more
like you are so much more
And you see me at the bar
standing there alone in black and blue
and you see me look at you
thinking how I’m thinking you are oh-so-new
And you decide to walk on by
secretly wishing I’ll run up from behind
but nothing happens from my side
‘cause I’m just drinking through and through
And you creep right up to me
scratching your fake nails all over my lower back
all over my lower back
all over my lower back
Listen babe I’ll tell you straight
I hope one day you’ll turn into a nicer girl
‘cause the years are coming fast
and all your beauty - you know it cannot last
So why don’t you walk on by
and keep walking ‘til you reach your place
clean the makeup from your face
and read a book so you might have a thing to say
Stop acting like a Barbie girl
if you don’t change you’re gonna end up all alone
you’re gonna end up all alone
you’re gonna end up all alone
THE HOWLING
Hey you, the one who lives inside me
lead me on my way
lead me far away from the place I once called home
Lead me, oh
‘cause I’m howling
lead me, oh
I’m howling for freedom
Hey you, the world is waiting
open up your door
open up and wake the heart that slumbers deep within
Open up, oh
‘cause I’m howling
open up, oh
I’m howling for freedom
Hey you, rise from the darkness
take me to the light
take me to wherever bright flames burn the longest
Take me, oh
‘cause I’m howling
take me, oh
I’m howling for freedom
THIS SMALL HOUSE
A small house of wood
far away from the noise
is all I need to rest
this weary head of mine
I know that we could
go through this life
without feeling so stressed
and letting our love shine
In this small house of wood
far away from the noise
I’d say we were blessed
somewhere down the line
The river runs deep
but my heart it goes deeper
and no matter the rain
this love can’t ever sink
You soul I would keep
to walk next to mine
this love will remain
until the last time I blink
And the river runs deep
but my heart it goes deeper
I can’t read what you think
ALL THAT I KNOW
How much light can you take from the Sun
before it hides in the endless cloud
How much love can you take from a girl
before she gets lost in this crazy town
All that I know
you got to stop taking
you got to stop breaking
How many times can you steal from the poor
before they come knocking for your head
In how many ways can you cross your heart
before you realize that there is no god
All that I know
you got to stop taking
you got to stop breaking
How long does it take to open your eyes
and see the beauty of the other side
How long can the darkness hold your soul
before you decide to set it free
All that I know
you got to stop taking
you got to stop breaking
THE RABBIT
You wake up one morning and open your eyes
another day in grey, that's no surprise
and you hear the words you used to say
I am nothing today, but I’ll be someone tomorrow
And now the years have passed you by
you sit alone and wonder why
you ask around with no response
the bottle is quiet, never judges you
she just opens up and flows through you
and puts ideas in your head
maybe you’d be better off dead
And now you walk towards the rails
with no one around to heal you ails
only the bottle by your side, speaking softly
telling you to step right up
So you stand on the stage for your final act
you take a bow, the place is packed
with all the people you once knew
from all your friends to all your foes
one last glance and one last kiss
before you close your eyes ‘til the end of time
you now have ended the life you never chose
SUNSET OF THE FITTEST
From the cradle, your first cage
you escaped at an early age
started running around
going for the fire line
You always felt so alone
always rolling, rolling stone
no time for pretty women
they just curve your spine
And you may run for long
and you may stay strong
but there will come a time
when your time is done
If there’s no more
light to burn
ever so quick you make a turn
follow up on a new trail
to wherever it may lead
Forever on your feet
you never accept defeat
driven by fire
driven by endless greed
And you may run for long
and you may stay strong
but there will come a time
when your time is done
ESCAPE
I'm drawn in by your cancer now
a demolition from far within
trained in self-destruction
I follow the path right in
Standing cornered in your head
whose mind is now playing tricks
this game I’m always losing at
around me walls made of bricks
And I want to escape
But if you want me to stay
then lay next to me
or just call me closer
Stranded in a cave so dark
broken down like fallen water
shattered by the rocks below
every second getting hotter
And I want to escape
But if you want me to stay
then lay next to me
or just call me closer
I want to escape
so just call me closer
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AUTHOR’S NOTES
Aaaaannnnd it’s done! These are the last songs from my series; time to move on.
I’ve been keeping a list of songs that influenced my songs – some based on instrumentals, others on lyrics, and not long ago I decided to write a short companion to these volumes; a sort of in-depth look behind the scenes where I will tell you where the inspiration came from; which will allow you to say I’ve simply stolen parts of famous songs and incorporated them into my own.