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1. |
Altar
03:58
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Altar
© 2005, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
I worship at your altar, love,
I kneel before your shrine.
Burn scented candles in your name,
And thank you every time.
I’m lost within your spirit, love,
I’m drowning in your touch.
Completely at your mercy, I’m,
Expecting far too much.
I’m trapped inside your labyrinth,
Bewildered and confused.
I wander up and down for days,
Emerging stunned and bruised.
I offer you my penance, love,
Lay visions at your door.
I tremble in your certainty,
Return for more and more.
[Break]
I bring you gifts of Frankincense,
Weave flowers through your hair.
I scatter petals at your feet,
Breath deeply of the air.
I revel in your company,
Delighting in your trust.
I freely give you all my love,
As only lovers must.
I worship at your altar, love,
I kneel before your shrine.
Burn scented candles in your name,
And thank you every time…
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2. |
Chaney's Farm
03:38
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Chaney’s Farm
© 2006, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Going down to Chaney’s Farm;
Chaney’s Farm, where I’ve heard told.
They got whiskey stills all over,
hollers filled with Yankee gold.
Yankee gold, and nice clear water;
The sweetest girl I ever saw.
I’ll go courting Chaney’s daughter;
Dance her out that cabin door.
Dance her out into the evening,
where the pine trees weep and moan,
Lay her on a bed of clover;
Pretty soon I’ll take her home.
Take her home if she is willing;
Stake my claim and walk her out.
It’s my dream that she keeps filling;
There cannot be any doubt.
Going down to Chaney’s Farm;
Chaney’s Farm by yonder mill.
I got my rifle on my shoulder;
Coon dogs running at my heel.
Chaney says that I will never,
take his daughter for my bride.
I’m too dumb and she’s so clever;
Old man, Chaney, better hide.
Her brother Clancy, stood there grinning,
said I was 'three kinds a fool',
Ol’ Ma Chaney sat there spinning;
she didn’t oughta be so cruel.
Said, Go home, back to the mountain;
back to the Ma they called, 'That whore',
I saw the blood spray like a fountain,
and danced right out that cabin door.
Chaney running hell for leather;
I felt the shot, but I ain’t done yet.
I left him floating on the river;
His daughter is my one regret.
Laid her on a bed of clover,
Down where the pine trees weep and moan.
Laid myself right there beside her,
I ain’t ever gonna go back home.
Going down to Chaney’s Farm;
Chaney’s Farm, where I’ve heard told.
They got whiskey stills all over,
Hollers filled with Yankee gold.
Yankee gold, and nice clear water;
The echo of our dying moans.
Come on Prince, and come on Rover;
Lord have mercy on our bones.
CODA:
Come on Prince, and come on Rover;
Lord have mercy on our bones.
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3. |
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Some Broken-Hearted Lover
© 2007, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Some broken-hearted lover is crying,
His cheating heart tore skin like a thorn.
She said, I’ve had enough of your lying,
Right now I wish you had never been born.
CHORUS
Some broken-hearted lover sings,
Now see what all your cheating brings,
You should have thought of all this before.
You could have chosen anyone,
But you chose me to have your fun,
Some broken-hearted lover – no more.
Some broken-hearted lover is leaving,
She packs her bags and walks to the door.
She has no time for games, and deceiving,
Though she might try and even the score.
CHORUS
Some broken-hearted lover is learning,
Some men are better left on their own.
She turns her back on love letters burning,
The flames rise up, and she walks on alone.
CHORUS x2
Coda
Some broken hearted lover – no more.
+ + +
Watch the original video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH8V8dkoDkE
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4. |
Miss Julie
03:38
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Miss Julie
© 2005, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Miss Julie, hear my confession,
Because I’ve been a very naughty boy.
I’m not joking; I’ve been poking
Things inside my body, and it gives me joy!
Miss Julie, I would be grateful,
If you would take me down and slap me up.
I need training; and restraining,
Do anything you want to – I’m your naughty pup.
CHORUS
Miss Julie, take my body,
Take my body to the highest heights.
Come on and strip it. Oh, baby, whip it.
You can cover me in purple bites!
Miss Julie, I bought a collar,
You know I like to wear it really tight.
Don’t let me waiver; I want to savour,
Each and everyone of your sweet delights.
CHORUS
Miss Julie, I think I love you.
Don't you think that is a little strange?
Though I cower, and you have the power,
I’ve got some body fluids that we might exchange!
CHORUS
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5. |
Love Like A Waterfall
03:17
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Love Like a Waterfall
© 2000, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
I stand before you a desperate soul,
I’m at your mercy, my life’s in a hole.
Show me the way to be, all I was meant to be,
This empty vessel is caught on a shoal.
CHORUS
Love like a waterfall, floods over me,
Washing my sins away, setting me free.
In my hour of darkness, you know where I am,
Your love like a waterfall, cleanses the lamb.
I know that you can see all of my pain,
All of my losses, and all of my gains.
All of my weaknesses, these be my witnesses,
Lighten my burden, unshackle these chains.
CHORUS
I’m at the crossroads, which way should I turn,
I need a guide, this is no time to spurn.
This is my destiny, right here in front of me,
Open my eyes, I am ready to learn.
CHORUS
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6. |
Lullaby
03:14
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Lullaby
© 1989, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Give me all your tears.
Give me all your tears.
I will take them all in my arms and run.
Turn them into Joy.
Turn them into Joy.
I will bring a smile to awake your heart.
Refrain
I will bring you Peace,
I will bring you Peace.
Give me all your dreams.
Give me all your dreams.
I will take them all in my arms and run.
Help them to come true.
Help them to come true.
I will set them free to become alive.
Refrain
Give me all your fears.
Give me all your fears.
I will take them all in my arms and run.
Turn them into dust.
Turn them into dust.
Let them blow away on the four strong winds.
Refrain
Give me all your love.
Give me all your love.
I will take it all my arms and run.
Fill your life with Joy.
Fill your life with Joy.
Together there is nothing that can’t be done.
Refrain
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7. |
Teach Only Love
03:09
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Teach Only Love
© 1989, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
This moment is the only one there is,
The past is gone, tomorrow never comes.
Your guilty feelings never set you free,
Release them now to the past where they belong.
Chorus:
Teach Only Love, for Love is what you are,
Teach only Peace, and Peace will set you free.
The Healing Spirit reaches from afar,
And teaches us Forgiveness is the key.
All that you give, is given to yourself,
The Joy you bring, will make your spirit sing.
And gentle loving thoughts will be your wealth,
So join together, give your body wings.
Chorus
Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness,
Open the door, and let the Healing in.
Open your heart, and free your bitterness,
Open your Mind to the Loving Thoughts within.
Chorus
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8. |
The Future Is Theirs
05:57
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The Future Is Theirs
© 1974 & 2005, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
In an age that is cursed by a system that’s burst,
and rotten through to the core.
That refuses to die and continues to try to govern,
rancid, and sore.
Expect nothing better than shackles and fetters
that hold you and keep you in check.
That seize and mistreat you, and thoroughly beat you,
a burden around your neck.
With a job to be done, find a man with a gun,
pay him well and he will do what he can.
Everywhere to be found, in the air, on the ground,
he can work very well to a plan.
With an army too quiet, prepare for a riot,
you’ve got to keep them amused.
Keep them happy today, and tomorrow they’ll play,
just hope they don't rape and abuse.
In so many nations, find death from starvation,
poverty is just for the poor.
Illiteracy rising, the masters despising,
afraid they may ask for more.
Through puppets and whores, wage colonial wars
in the interests of profit and greed.
Repressed by the gun, there is death for the one
who dares to demand to be freed.
When democracy fails, you will find them in jails
and camps, surrounded by seas.
Using terror and torture, repression and murder
to beat people onto their knees.
In a thousand more ways, they control everyday,
you cry - there is naught you can do.
So just close your door, like you have done before,
you know they won’t come for you.
They will plan the demands, and in place you will stand
every minute means more to be made.
Whether young man or girl, they will make your life hell,
and the younger - the less you are paid.
Exploitation and social discrimination
are common enough to be rules.
They can take you and make you,
or leave you and break you,
because you are nothing but tools.
To help win the plan, every woman and man
is allotted their place in the sun.
Everything will be fine, if you stay in the line,
the target is there to be won.
When racism rumbles, the rational crumbles
and ignorance comes to the fore.
By division and rule, the wise man and fool
is kept from the rich mans door.
So wallow in violence, crime, sex, and drugs,
drink a bottle or two.
Stand on the corner kicking your heels, well,
what else is there to do?
You were taught in the schools to obey all the rules,
there is trouble for those who don’t bend.
So do not criticise, just believe all the lies,
that this wonderful system won’t end.
While you live in a vacuum, and rot in the backroom,
others are fighting the strife,
From a world of disorder, they’ll build one of order,
peace, progress, and life.
Where the colour of skin is a beauty, not sin,
and language is there to be heard,
Where life is for living, and pleasure for giving,
and poverty only a word.
Where education and leisure, are worth more than treasure,
and work is not governed by cares,
Where all folk hand in hand, united will stand,
and know - the future is theirs.
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9. |
The Cedars
04:03
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The Cedars
Words: © 2005, Deirdre Mills & Jim Lesses.
All Rights Reserved.
Music: © 2005, Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
It was always a matter of honour,
To remember the eighteen who fell.
In that ‘War to end wars’, every battle,
Turned those beautiful fields into hell.
So when the men did not return,
The townsfolk planted a tree.
For each of the men, so they might live again,
In a cedar, strong and free.
Chorus:
And the country town that lost its sons,
Grieved and started anew.
When eighteen saplings on a dusty street,
Grew tall and straight and true.
For many, many years the cedars stood,
Keeping watch long after the war.
'Til disease achieved what a tempest could not,
And withered them all to the core.
So once again the townsfolk grieved,
Their wounds still fresh and raw.
For the fathers, husbands, the brothers and sons,
Who died in that terrible war.
Chorus
There came a man; in his roughened hands
The spirit of the Anzacs did lie.
And he carved the trees with a craftsman’s eye,
And he opened their hearts to the sky.
The cedars now belong to a past,
Still green in memory.
And in their place, eighteen young men,
Stand tall, and strong and free.
Chorus
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10. |
The Stars Are Singing
03:49
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The Stars Are Singing
© 2006. Words: Jim Lesses and Deidre Anna Mills.
All Rights Reserved.
© 2006. Music: Jim Lesses. All Rights Reserved.
Look up, see the sun is smiling,
Down upon those love birds flying,
High above the new day turning,
While below my heart is yearning,
For the love I know you’re bringing -
Can’t you hear the stars are singing?
CHORUS
Can’t you hear the stars are singing
For the love I know you’re bringing?
While the angels dance above you,
Every note cries out, I love you.
Listen to the night wind sighing,
‘Cos it knows my heart is crying,
For each kiss that leaves me breathless,
Waiting makes my body restless,
For the love I know you’re bringing -
Can’t you hear the stars are singing?
CHORUS
Darling, feel my poor heart breaking,
This time there is no mistaking,
Even that old moon is dreaming,
Sleeping through my senses screaming,
For the love I know you’re bringing -
Can’t you hear the stars are singing?
CHORUS
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Jim Lesses Adelaide, Australia
Late-bloomer, long-time lover of folk and rock music, singer, songwriter, composer, and world traveller. No longer performing, but still composing and creating. Favourite saying: Love The Life You Live - or Change It.
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