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The Crosses and the Bone

by Jeff Waryan

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1.
This is a house on fire / where gems still glow With fools that would inspire the wise ones who don’t know Can you feel the moon lift the tide? Looking down from a Ferris wheel ride / I was by your side when you cried A seed, it will begin to grow a garden sown A war waged from within for sins you can atone Dear friends are gathering around / to watch the grave man digging up the ground / What was buried now has been found Turn around and she’s gone – turn around Beyond the field of grey / enshrouded by the night Through swampland and decay / you come out in the light In ten years the women and the men / will seek a shadowed face from way back when / And the howling wind will blow again Turn around and she’s gone – turn around / in the grey light of dawn – in the light / In the soft light of dawn – turn around Can you feel the moon lift the tide? Looking down from a Ferris wheel ride / I was by your side when you cried.
2.
As We Tumble 03:21
What d'you do to lead me so astray? / I don’t know if I should leave or stay Every day’s a circus of my fear / I shiver in my boots as you draw near Still I’m right behind you – I’m right behind you; like a shadow upon the ground / shadow upon the ground Bellflowers in the field along the track / I’ve come this far – I won’t be turning back I follow you as one you seldom see / I mourn for you the sweetest elegy And I’m right behind you – I’m right behind you; as you move on down the line / Move on down the line The innocence of summertime is gone / gently giving sway to autumn’s song There’s comfort in the softness of your hand / these things that only you might understand And I’m right behind you – I’m right behind you / as we tumble through the years / through the years - as we tumble through the years
3.
Linden Trees 05:11
It’s not that far away / you can get there in a day Keep to the linden trees / but beware of wayward thieves They’ll steal away your soul / and put you in a hole Entangled with your twin / who knows which one will win? Time’s a thieving crow / its hidden treasures grow Time’s a thieving crow — thieving crow. Each one looks the same / as the ravens caw my name They’re urging me to fly / and join them in sky But their wings are not for me / I can never be that free I’m destined for this earth / to harrow dirt for all it’s worth Time’s a thieving crow / its hidden treasures grow The further I go — the closer I am Lovers walk the lake / yet to know the give and take A wine aged for many years / with the taste of bitter tears Time’s a thieving crow / its hidden treasures grow It’s not that far away…
4.
In this magic hour, when all is revealed for you to see take my hand and give your warning There’s a scented flower, that perfumes your hair and we are free just to wile away the morning We’re free to feel what we feel / to seize the holy night We’re free to dream what we dream (what we dream) sweet dream What I mean to say, is let it find a way And it will calm your restless sigh It’s a game we play — coming through the rye The lover’s card is shown / colored flags are flown with a whisper I will come just to dream away — on a winter’s day, here with you A chill hangs in the air, and new fallen snow lay on the ground soft sounds echo off the hillside We could be anywhere / betrayed by the sunshine all around but down this icy path we still ride A path that’s not all it seems / A bridge where ghosts will cross A path into deeper dreams (deeper dreams) sweet dream [Chorus] The sky turned deepest red, before the dawn Just like the day we wed / it’s been so long now, the lines have been redrawn [Chorus]
5.
She walked me out in the old oak wood / something inside of her said that she should conjure up gifts all bundled in twine… I was once told that it might be divine She said it was just and old tattered shawl / as she covered her head I knew that wasn’t all / with colors rich and woven so fine… I was once told that it might be divine The fire burned low in the cool evening air / she looked at me as I touched her hair / she started to weep and I followed in kind… I was once told that it might be divine Winds of seven seas / move my frailties like trees Clay and fire – in his hands they were blessed / and soon there was drawn a sweet arabesque / with flowers and leaves and patterns of vine… I was once told that it might be divine How deep runs the spring, this no one can tell / how deep, how deep is the holy well? / the water was cool and tasted like wine… I was once told that it might be divine Oh, I’ll take you there / to breathe the autumn air / you won’t break, I swear Down to shore and down to the sea / and down to the depths of the troubled me / washed by the waves and baptized in brine… I was once told that it might be divine
6.
I’ve forsaken the lion / thrown my lot to the lamb It’s for no lack of trying that you're wondering who I am Golden rules and diamond rings – and secrets passed around I’m hanging on to precious things… but I’d sell them – sell them for a song Come down to the river to wash your tired eyes And let the water soothe a weary soul, and loose these binding ties It’s a cart-before-the-horse affair, where nothing moves ahead You see obstacles not really there, and they're filling you dread Something’s stirring in my breast – my pride is burning strong And though it never seems to rest, I’d sell that for a song Come down to the river and bless your tired eyes And set your boat upon the water and release its mooring ties I won’t bide by your philosophy – won’t drink from your silver cup They’ll be no coins a’changing hands until you’ve woken up Cover your tracks with myrtle leaves, and branches straight and long It’s a secret way that winds and weaves… It tricks and it deceives / there are no late reprieves / it never gives – only receives… For a song
7.
A halo of colored birds moved around his head Endlessly encircling words, in the rhymes he said And January wears the crown when the trees have shed And it’s all because of you now – look what we’ve done It’s a sailor’s plague to steal and beg for the things you lack My pocket change is rearranged / now I’m in the black Lilacs and hollyhocks have the sweetest attack And it’s all because of you now – look what we’ve done And it’s all because of you love, look.
8.
I Cast Upon 04:23
I cast upon a quiet, silver pool / it breaks the surface as a stone, but shimmers like a jewel I cast upon for things we strain to hear / the faintest word - a sign of life - your breath upon a mirror unstrung rosary - the last glass bead spills down fallen alchemy - when it lands it barely makes sound I cast upon this bleak and barren land / and stand before an open field, with a loy plow in my hand I cast upon a fine and fragile glass / and what I see in reverie - I know that it will pass unstrung rosary - the last glass bead spills down fallen alchemy - when it lands it barely makes sound Up to the tower room, to ring out the bell / see the wild flowers bloom, around the poison well. I cast upon a dark and clouded pool / it breaks the surface as a stone, but shimmers like a jewel (it shimmers like a jewel) Up to the tower room, to ring out the bell / see the wild flowers bloom, around the poison well.
9.
A long forgotten place / overgrown, in disrepair Though wild roses leave a trace of sweet fragrance in the air It’s been 5 and 20 years since a breathing soul has walked the halls In the quiet you may just glimpse a shade along the papered walls Among the cemetery stone, her broken heart will never mend She’s been in-between before; she’ll be in-between again Of lavender and thyme / and the slightest brush of lace In the midst of dust and grime / there’s a sad and veiled face At the altar standing there / a bride waiting all in white She didn’t falter in despair when she took up his knife that night Among the crosses and the bone / abandon heart and bitter end She walks the rooms alone / at Sorrow Hall beyond the bend She’s been in-between before; she’ll be in-between again Still tethered to her scorn / in mist and memory in the satin she had worn / an eternal bride-to-be She laid there in the cold in a belladonna haze And bartered breath and soul / in a thousand desperate ways Like the churchyard’s broken stone / her heart may never mend She walks the rooms alone / at Sorrow Hall beyond the bend She’s been in-between before; she’ll be in-between again
10.
I recall when you would hide / I never found you Down the hill, we two would glide / my arms around you I hope you’ll be here soon / dry your eyes, and these jealous clouds will lift / Catch a ride along on a Cheshire moon and bring to me your finest gift In these uncertain times / of folk and fable rhymes A fortune telling for a winter’s child – wondering when the act will start / when will curtains part? Unveiling secrets of a wistful heart I recall when you would hide / I never found you White sails will carry you across / close your eyes, and the bitter wind will shift / Hang on – the waves will turn and toss / and bring to me your finest gift / And bring to me your finest gift.
11.
Sign Over Me 06:29
I awoke with the warmth of your breath on the back of my neck Twilight words fell with the sky – then morning wondered why Days are keeping this love on the line – nights are searching for a sign from the ghosts that lie within – now how do I begin - How do I begin? This heart holds the lock and the key / make your sign over me Dark are the curtains of Solomon’s room – empty altar for a groom Can I really be certain of this, the blossom of your kiss? I’ll be with you my sister, my bride – lost on oceans wide When I feel the touch of your skin – how do I begin - how do I begin? This heart holds the lock and the key / make your sign over me We saw him returning, wings on his heals / on his head But I didn’t listen – I turned away instead How come we keep on closing our eyes – searching for a prize It’s like shooting tin birds at the arcade – these games that we have made The window sighs, the cool winds blow – with morning came the snow And soothed this feeling again – still how do we begin - how do we begin? This heart holds the lock and the key / make your sign over me

credits

released July 30, 2016

Jeff Waryan: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric & steel guitars, mandolin, bass, bells, whistles, and sundries
Jay Peck: drums & bells
Wendy Lewis: backing vocals
Pete Linman: acoustic guitar, backing vocals, bass
Gary Waryan: tablas
Dalyce Elliott: violin
Michelle Kinney: cello, accordion
Theresa Elliott: violin
Dave Lewis: drums
Dave King: piano

All songs copyright 2016 Jeff Waryan Music, ASCAP
Album mastered by Greg Reierson at Rare Form Mastering
Cover photo by Dawn Frary, copyright 2015.
Graphic design by Scott Waryan, Waryan Design

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Jeff Waryan Minneapolis, Minnesota

"...I'm destined for this earth, to harrow dirt for all it's worth..."

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