This song is written about the process of breaking up. It might be a love interest or a business partnership or any divide that separates people.

Lyrics:

Our love has been a load

From the beginning of the road

First it strengthened me

As you crawled inside, but

I can't carry you anymore

I can't carry you anymore.

As we moved along

I saw a change of pace

We're on a different track

And not on the same beat and

I can't carry you anymore

I can't carry you anymore.

Chorus

I look hard in the mirror

I see a different reflection

From what we had

From when we used to

Like the same old things

You choose to go north

While I'm looking south

The talk is heavy now

When we talk at all, I know

I can't carry you anymore

I can't carry you anymore

Now I'm getting older

it's more work than ever

You changed a lot and

I'm not the same, so

I can't carry you anymore

I can't carry you anymore

We used to laugh away

Any trouble of the day

It's just not fun like before,

It's even very hard to smile, yea

I can't carry you anymore

I can't carry you anymore

Bridge

It is about the daily living of someone in an assisted living facility. This is about my Mother's life and many others who live there but was really inspired by another man I met in another facililty.

Lyrics:

If I could only smile

could you just sit a while

and fill my empty heart

and find that puzzle part

if I could only smile

I sit alone and think / a lot of stuff

like when I used to / have enough

of friends and family / by my side

and grandkids who took me / for a ride

Now it's silence as / my company

My closest friend / is monotony.

My schedule today looks / mighty lean

no good reason to get / up and clean

Chorus

I watch the clock tick / on the wall

and check my phone / for just any call

I guess it's time for / coffee or tea

and have the newspaper / read to me

Instead, I pick up my / photo book

and give my pictures / another look.

I wish they weren't so / far away.

They may just visit on / another day.

Family pictures / make me smile

for just a / little while

it fills my /empty heart

just like a / puzzle part

if I could only smile

This episode, I Am A Performer, is all about the roles we play in our lives and the "masks" we wear in those roles.

Lyrics:

I'm going to tell you a story /about a mask/ that I've been wearing.

It's just one of many /that I've put on/ to get through this life.

It's always the face /of a role I'm in / at that time and place

and fits naturally / with what I'm doing / and who I'm with.

There is nothing bad / about the choices / of masks for a day.

I arise and look / at what needs to be done / and make my choice.

Chorus

My life has required many choices

of masks to wear for my roles

and in the bright sun everyday

I know ….I am a performer

So let me tell you / about some of the roles / I've played in my show.

It started with son / then brother and student / plus athlete.

A boy friend and husband / and then a father / quickly shaped my life and kept me on track / to act and grow / for many years.

I did what I could / to provide support / in many professions.

I've been a salesman / manager, consultant / speaker and writer

Chorus

Now I am getting closer / and able to see / what's likely the end

The roles I like now / are the ones I've had / for the shortest time

Now I'm called Grandpa / golfer, musician / and winter snowbird

I think of myself / as wiser, content / at my happiest

I am who I am / share my life and times / with ease and grace

Because the current mask / is the one I wear / with comfort each day

This is the song I co-wrote with Jan Slow at the 2022 Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association Songwriter conference. It is the most emotional song I've ever written.

Lyrics:

My heart breaks when I see you in despair

When a thousand thoughts trouble your mind

When sadness seems another tangle in your hair

And that hiding place is hard to find

I'll stay by your side this you should know

they say there's a long way to go

A heart that listens is what I offer you

I'll be here until this thing is through

Chorus

I know there's a long long way to go

you don't have to feel alone

I know there's a long long way to go.

Won't you take my heart along.

I Hope you'll take my heart along

Words won't stop your thoughts from going astray

There are some things you cannot wash away

And if I could sing just one song

"troubles leave this child, be gone"

From your smile we know this to be true

we see the other wondrous things you do

The world around you may never understand

The stand you need to take

This song was inspired by a workshop I did on Motivation in the Workplace. It is about moving from Hope to Trust.

Lyrics:

There is a line that I've been watching

to take me across to the other side.

It's the line that separates try and do

And requires commitment that's for sure

Chorus

For I want to learn the difference

How trust changes hope.

For I want to learn how to do it

To trust rather than hope

To trust rather than hope

Hope has a home to aspire for goals

To make you stretch to dare to grow

To give inspiration to all that you share

To build a foundation for dreams

I know hope is a wish and dream thing

Mostly about emotion and thoughts

While trust is an act of execution

Based on talents and grit.

When I do well what know I can do

It builds my trust and erases hope

For hope doesn't work well with those

Who want to see action and not just talk

I work everyday to grow my talent

Building up my toolbox of skills

I'm steady with doing and am trusted

That makes me stronger for me and you

Trust has its place with special people

It makes you the kind of person to love

It grows relationships based on knowing

you will always be there on the spot

Trust builds confidence before the work starts

And leads others to want you in the crowd

To do what you do with extra passion

And be a model for all

These songs are the first songs specifically written for and about two influences in my music develpment.

Lyrics:

I may spend some time in the north part of the country

Making my home in the fields called Dunn

I may practice my passion with the Maple Ridge

But, call me an Arizona girl

I can be found at Heritage, Grace or Dove

Singing with the Blue Sky Band

Playing Bluegrass at the Senior Center jam

But call me an Arizona girl.

Chorus

Just get me south as soon as you can

Don't let the cold freeze my bones

My friends are waiting to hear my singing voice

They call me an Arizona girl

I'd rather be playing those three chord country twangs

At the jams around the Junction everyday

Knock the dust off that fiddle for fast paced tunes

Call me an Arizona girl.

I'll sing solo when my turn comes around

or squeeze that old accordion

When the music starts I could have my Uke in hand

Call me an Arizona girl

Seek The Mountains

We noticed you always seek the mountains

Taking on the hardest trails.

It seems you find the satisfaction

You share with others this way.

You seek the mountains this way

You seek the mountains this way

It's not just the hiking—that's hard enough

It seems to be a life style choice

You've never been seen without a smile

No matter the how warm, wet or cold.

You seek the mountains this way.

You seek the mountains this way

Chorus

You seek the mountains with passion and

purpose and make it look like fun and games

And we guess it isn't but that doesn't matter

you want us to think that way.

You seek the mountains this way.

You seek the mountains this way.

I'm guessing this steels you for other adventures

As Mom, Grandma, worker and spouse.

To build the strength to answer the calling

No matter the need, wish or want

You seek the mountains this way.

You seek the mountains this way.

It's not uncommon for people like you

to underestimate all that they do

And tell everybody who asks the questions

…you can do all of it too.

You seek the mountains this way.

You seek the mountains this way

This song is another aspiratonal story to change how you approach life. It's really about creating relationships.

Lyrics

Life is a mosaic of tension and pressure

with deadlines to always behest.

It's a challenge to keep the proper perspective

and steer yourself focused and true.

Go gentler into life my friend

Go gentler into life my friend.

It's easy to catch yourself chasing the latest

and watching that shiny new toy

While letting the urgent capture your

energy and overlooking time to enjoy

Go gentler into life my friend.

Go gentler into life my friend.

Get out of the habit of physical possessions

it's the stuff that just gets used up.

And dig into relationships, intellect and talents

they get stronger and grow.

Go gentler into life my friend.

Go gentler into life my friend.

Gentler means to challenge your senses

and truly smell, see, hear and feel.

To let your emotions carry your intellect

where you've never been before.

Go gentler into life my friend.

Go gentler into life my friend.

You'll know you've gone gentler when

a bunch others / notice, comment and smile.

And then the people who are closest to you

tell you they'd like more of that style.

Stay gentler in the world my friend

Stay gentler in the world my friend

Stay gentler in the world my friend

This was an exercise to write a song from a list of synonyms. The word was happiness and the list had 74 suggestions. I used 47. I tell the story.

Lyrics:

Synonyms is such a big word

It gives you options some words to choose

So pay attention and listen close to me

Happiness seems so hard to find

Maybe your not looking in the right place

Here's a list of answers to start your trip.

Are you ready…..

Bliss, contentment, delight and joy.

Elation, enjoyment, euphoria and glee

Exhilaration, jubilation and cheer

Laughter, optimism and peace of mind

Pleasure, prosperity plus well being

Cheerfulness, delirium and mirth

Blessedness, beatitude and felicity

Ecstasy, enchantment, exuberance

Gaiety, good spirits and lightheartedness

There you go with some selections to make

You better do it for your own sake

If you missed them here's just a few more.

Are you ready…

Hilarity, hopefulness and merriment

Gladness, vitality, plus joviality

Paradise, playfulness, cheeriness

Rejoicing, good humor, vivacity

Eudemonia, ( U-da-monia) amusement and fun

Good liquor, now we're in seventh heaven!

Now don't you tell me you can't decide

If that's the case, you better run and hide

Cause happiness will chase you word by word.

My first choice is Eudaemonia

Let's end singing Eudemonia

Eudemonia, Eudemonia

This is the first blues song I wrote. It's a mostly true story with a few embellishments that my wife questioned.

Lyrics:

I'm sitting here watching / watching the temperature go down

I'm sitting here watching / watching the wind blow around

And, I'm too tired to go out into the cold

I got my blanket pulled up around my nose

I got my wool socks covering all of my toes

and I'm too tired to go out into the cold

I got my dog waiting sitting next to the door

I got my boots and my hat by him on the floor

And I'm too tired to go out into the cold

I filled my beverage and made it a double shot

Put a log on the fire to make sure it stays hot

And I'm too tired to go out into the cold.

It's time to go to bed and join my lady up there

The dog will join us and she won't notice or care

Cause I'm too tired to go out into the cold

This song is a request/plea to provide the powerful "why" as a reason to take action.

Lyrics:

Just give me a reason

to believe that it's true.

Tell me how that all works out.

Then give me a reason

to expect it again.

When it often turns out worse.

So give me a reason

a story to believe.

So hope can be my guide.

Where the best stuff comes freely

to those who have need.

To fill every wish and hope.

Chorus

Oh, yes, it's all we need.

Oh, yes, it's time.

To get a good reason

for things we see wrong.

then making them right again.

Just give me a reason

to give my support.

Show me how your fix will work.

Then give me a reason

to change how I live.

So others will be better off.

And give me a reason

that gives me a push.

To mentor others like me.

Cause the answers we need

come from working together.

And making change as a tribe.

Chorus

And give me a reason

that gives me a push.

To mentor others like me.

Cause the answers we need

come from working together.

And making change as a tribe