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Story Songs (2002)

by James Hersch

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washburj
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Jennifer Matysik
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James Hersch
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1.
Unit #3 03:54
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Unit #3 I went to sing for Woven Hearts, Unit #3
 Walkers and wheelchairs circle around me 
I sang 'em my songs, they sang me their songs
 We sang a little bit off key
 We had a time out in Unit #3 I found a hand clapper, I found a toe tapper too 
I found my real voice and I did the best that I could do
 Their minds were traveling, their eyes were flashing
 With a passion you could see 
We let 'er rip out in Unit #3 Stanley had a verse that he'd made up 
About his wife who had passed away last spring
 Softly Stanley starts to sing:
 You were my sunshine, my only sunshine 
You loved me even when skies were gray 
My world is dark now 'cause you're not with me 
Why did they take my sunshine away The sun was setting, there was orange light all around our feet
 And around that bare-souled man and his song so sweet
 I never felt more healed up, I never felt more human
 As when he sang his song for me 
I want to sing like that, I want to sing like that 
I want to sing for you like Unit #3
2.
Blue Eyed Hint 04:16
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There was a blue eyed hint of morning As I scraped the frost from my car And you were still inside fast asleep On the couch Same couch where we talked forever Fell asleep to that TV light Til I’d awake and stumble up to let Myself out And at the time I didn’t know it And if I had I still would not have shown it That was love mostly unexpressed And the best I could do Was hold you And as I drove away in that blue light I couldn’t keep a smile from my face In all that kept me coming back again To your house I guess your Mom and Dad could read it I can’t believe how they trusted me To just fall asleep with you in my arms On the couch And at the time I didn’t know it And if I had I still would not have shown it That was love mostly unexpressed And the best I could do Was hold you Now I have a daughter and so do you She’s sweet and smart and love is new And tonight I watched a boy hold her hand On the couch And I swear that I could feel your breath See your face in the TV light Remember what love cannot express When it’s young ‘Cause at the time I didn’t know it And if I had I still would not have shown it That was love mostly unexpressed And the best I could do Was hold you
3.
Pretty Little Indiana Farm 02:08
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Pretty Little Indiana Farm Chorus: Pretty little Indiana farm Working that field, doing no harm Many's the chore, many's the charm On a pretty little Indiana farm Cow in the pasture singing to me A finer song and we agree The sound is sweet and the stars are free On a pretty little Indiana farm Chicken in the field, move that pen Evening comes, better move it again Turn a little bitty chick into a big fat hen On a pretty little Indiana farm Chucking that manure between those rows Spring is here and the wind she blows Little too much for this old nose On a pretty little Indiana farm Middle of the night, a quarter past three Dogs are barking at a critter they see It's a late night barnyard symphony On a pretty little Indiana farm Farmer's daughter, sweet as can be Boyfriend smiles and winks at me Taking that walk to the old oak tree On a pretty little Indiana farm Sky is blue and the field is brown Clouds are pink when the sun goes down At the edge of the sky at the edge of the town By the pretty little Indiana farm
4.
If These Walls Could Talk 03:57
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There's a slope in the floor It's not level anymore Drop your pencil, it might roll right out the door But I kind of like it that way Go climb Up the stairs one more time Where so many little feet came to find Their path, their dream, their way The brick is old and it's brown It's not the fanciest part of town Go inside and you'll hear the sound Of something really good going on It's true What matters most is what's inside of you It's not about what's old or new It's about what we become If these wall could talk If these stairs could sing If these floors could tell their tale They'd say just one thing Our school is full As any heart could be With what the world needs most right now The best out of you and me So kick your shoes off and dance Celebrate this circumstance Be happy we had the chance to laugh To learn, to live Be proud Sing your song and sing it loud About a school that cares about the gift We have to give
5.
Benny At the Bluebird 04:15
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6.
Free Ride 05:24
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Old faces look at me Tell me how it used to be In some old memory that makes me sad Of a lover who died too young Or a song left unsung Tangled up and lost among The dreams you had I’ll sing for the old faces And bring them old places Unlock the amazing graces They won’t hide They run where their heart races And laugh in the dark places And live in the open spaces And it’s a free ride Young mother, where’s you smile Forget about your cares awhile Your spark in in your child you can be sure See the way she sings along Bet it hasn’t been that long Since you sang this very song so softly to her So lets sing to the small faces And bring them good places Unlock the amazing graces They won’t hide They run where their heart races And laugh in the dark places And live in the open spaces And it’s a free ride Now it’s a long, long road So easy to feel alone So many things I wished I’d known but I had to learn There’s a lot of ways to live your life But if you’ve got the best of you locked up tight inside Let it go, you will find it all returns And let’s sing for the old faces And bring them old places Unlock the amazing graces They won’t hide They run where their heart races And laugh in the dark places And live in the open spaces And it’s a free ride
7.
Waving at Strangers 02:54
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8.
Song For Buck 02:50
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9.
Teacher's Chair 04:07
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They have a brand new pair of shoes And clothes you wouldn't choose Sitting there they make you smile A clue is in their eye Did they laugh or did they cry When they said goodbye to mom this morning It's the first day od school Teacher's chair, they see you Chorus: A little life, a little chance A little wiggle in those new school pants A little laugh, a little hurt A little breakfast on that brand new shirt Life is what they're learning Teacher's chair keeps on turning They'll discover something new They'll learn a trick or two Do as well as they can manage Some will easily be taught Some will give up on the spot Teacher's chair is where they keep on trying They have dreams inside Higher than the playground slide And in the years that come and go So many things you'll never know As they race ahead to find their future Say goodbye, close the book Take one last lonely look But someday a moment will surprise you In some fine young face you'll see You are there, and you'll always be So here's to life, here's to chance All dressed up now in grown up pants With a laugh and the tears Discovered after all these years Life is for learning Teacher's chair is still returning
10.
Jesse 02:59
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11.
What Your Heart Loves Best 03:18
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Ralph Braun Was the principal in our town He kept an eye on the playground He kept an eye on me Runnin' down the back hall I pulled a fire alarm off the wall Mr. Brown's there to see it all And he says to me James Ain't it funny, ain't it strange How we live our lives How we make our mess Someday you're gonna change And the world wil re-arrange What matters most Is what your heart loves best Tom played The Fender bass in the 8th grade Man, I thought he had it made Money and great hair He turned his back on his Daddy's bread Took to farming and shaved his head Took a wife and had a kid And I saw him at the fair And he said... James Ain't it funny and strange How it all turns out Whoever would've guessed Someday you're gonna change And the world will re-arrange What matters most Is what your heart loves best So off I go Sing a song on the radio Sing a song I think I know And I know I love Life is good enough to sing about I'm glad I found that out Sing it loud and sing it out To Mr. Braun up above James All the lies and the games You've got to be yourself Nothing more, nothing less Someday you're gonna change And the world will re-arrange But what the world needs now Is what your heart loves best
12.
I Can Close My Eyes 03:04
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When I'm lonesome and I'm far from home And in the night some whistle cries I get real quiet and I think of you And I can close my eyes Out on some wind blown interstate Where the eighteen wheeler flies I think of you, I hear you laugh And I can close my eyes When the day is full of stranger's faces And angels in disguise It's then I know you would be proud of me And I can close my eyes I walk the streets, my shadow falls The sun sets low in the sky My rambling rolls me right back to you And I can close my eyes Sometimes my heart runs away from this life But your love knows where it hides Calls me back, holds me now So I can close my eyes I wake up scared, sometimes I do Feel the worries in me rise I hear the song that you sing to our children And I can close my eyes

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released June 30, 2003

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James Hersch Minneapolis, Minnesota

I live on this piece of prairie. I'm passionate and dedicated to writing songs in hopes of singing them for people. I don't think I could continue without both ends of that process. Create then hope. It's here I write songs, and here I wait to sing them for others. ... more

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