My Funeral
i want Townes Van Zandt
and Hank Williams Sr to sing
a couple songs at my funeral...
one by Woody Guthrie,
and maybe one by Billie Holiday...
just stepping through the veil.
a poem read aloud by Walt Whitman,
and one by Ranier Rilke...
then light the pyre,
and step back...
let the flames rise
to meet the wind.
do what you want with the ashes,
my heart will finally be free!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie,
where are you now?
with your dust covered boots,
and your old flop hat.
your rusted strings
ringing out freedom
for all to hear...
your words exposing fascists....
your heart free as the sky...
Woody Guthrie,
tell me which way to turn....
those dust covered roads
filled with the lost again...
aint no more trains to hop,
aint no work to find....
and the armed thugs are coming
to take us away...
Woody Guthrie,
tell me what to say...,
make me hard and soft,
make me know when to pray.
and if we be the children
of this land free and wide....
help me know how to tell them
all i'm feeling inside....
Woody Guthrie,
the fire's gone down low,
walk with me down this lonesome road!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Christmastime In Washington
It was christmastime in washington
The democrats rehearsed
Gettin into gear for four more years
Of things not gettin worse
The republicans drank whiskey neat
And they thanked their lucky stars
They said he can not seek another term
Theyll be no more f.d.r.s
I sat home in tennessee
Just starin at the screen
An uneasy feelin in my chest
Just wonderin what it means
So come back woody guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into jesus
Maybe he can help us out
Come back woody guthrie
To us now
I followed in your footsteps once
Back in my travelin days
Somewhere I failed to find your trail
Now Im stumblin through the haze
Theres killers on the highway now
And a man cant get around
So I just sold my soul for wheels that roll
Now Im stuck here in this town
So come back woody guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
If you run into jesus
Maybe he can help us out
Come back woody guthrie
To us now
See theres foxes in the henhouse
And theres cows out in the corn
The unions have been busted
And their proud red banners torn
But if you listen to the radio
Theyll tell you all is well
But you and me and cisco know
Its goin straight to hell
So come back emma goldman
Rise up old joe hill
The barricades are goin up
They cannot break our will
Come back to us malcolm x
And martin luther king
Were marchin into selma
While the bells of freedom ring
And come back woody guthrie
Come back to us now
Tear your eyes from paradise
And rise again somehow
song performed by by Indigo Girls
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A lot of Woody Guthrie's songs were taken from other songs. He would rework the melody and lyrics, and all of a sudden it was a Woody Guthrie song.
quote by John Mellencamp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and in your work.
quote by Woody Guthrie
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Im Gonna Sing
Recorded by hank williams, sr.
Words and music by hank williams, sr.
Chorus
When [g] I get to glory, Im gonna sing, sing, sing
Im gonna let the [a7] hallelujahs [d7] ring
[g] Im gonna praise my blessed saviours name
When I get to glory, Im [d7] gonna sing, sing, [g] sing.
[g] in this world of sorrow, Ive seen trouble and woe
When I get to glory [a7] Ill see no [d7] more
For [g] I know my prayers have not been in vain
When I get to glory, Im gonna [d7] sing, sing, [g] sing.
Sometimes I get so weary inside
Then I recall how my jesus died
Up there I know, therell be no pain
When I get to glory, Im gonna sing, sing, sing.
Chorus
Up there no tears will blind my eyes
And Ill walk along by my jesus side
Ill meet my loved ones all once again
When I get to glory, Im gonna sing, sing, sing.
Chorus
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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From The Ashes
My right hand holds matches,
My left holds my past,
I hope the wind catches,
And burns it down fast,
Im gonna step into the fire,
With my failures and my shame,
And wave good-bye to yesterday,
As I danced among the flames,
So dont try to save me now,
Let the walls of my world all burn down,
Just stand back and wait till the smoke finally passes,
And I will rise,
From the ashes,
From the ashes,
From the ashes,
For all that Im loosing, much more will I gain,
The hard part is choosing,
To change what needs changed,
And my stance will be much lighter,
With these demonds off my chest,
Im born with better spirit,
To lay the old to rest
So dont try to save me now,
Let the walls of my world all burn down,
Just stand back and wait till the smoke finally passes,
And I will rise
From the ashes,
From the ashes,
From the ashes,
And Ill walk away stonger,
I will be fyin,
Higher and truer
Then Ive flown before,
My right hand holds matches,
My left holds my past,
I hope the catches,
And burns it down
Fast.
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beginning My Studies
BEGINNING my studies, the first step pleas'd me so much,
The mere fact, consciousness--these forms--the power of motion,
The least insect or animal--the senses--eyesight--love;
The first step, I say, aw'd me and pleas'd me so much,
I have hardly gone, and hardly wish'd to go, any farther,
But stop and loiter all the time, to sing it in extatic songs.
poem by Walt Whitman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Tennessee Moon
Written by: neil diamond & dennis morgan
Hollywood dont do what it once could do
I used to wake up and write me a song before noon
So I packed my dusty bags one night
Grabbed an old guitar and I caught a red eye(? ) flight
In search of a dream underneath the tennessee moon
I fell in love with to old hank williams tune
Makes me wonder, is it the same moon hank played under
Touched down and she stole my heart right away
Began to think for the first time I might stay
And when I heard that lonesome whistle moan
Knew Id finally found my way back home
In search of a dream underneath the tennessee moon
I fell in love with to old hank williams tune
And I wonder, is it the same moon hank stood under
When he sang about jambalaya and being lonesome enough to cry
And I can hear the echos in the sounds of his guitar
And his words still paint a picture in my heart
Yeah, in search of a dream underneath the tennessee moon
I fell in love with to old hank williams tune
I was in search of a dream underneath the tennessee moon
Yes, I fell in love with to old hank williams tune
song performed by by Neil Diamond
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Freedom of the Flame
Standing before all of those that have done her wrong
she screams to the writhing throng
'to you that have not thought me strong'
She tears into her chest
pulling out her still beating heart
she shows it to the assembled guest
'This was to much trouble from the start'
Tossed upon the funeral pyre
her once beating heart slows and begins to smolder
and as the flames climb higher and higher
and she grows bolder
' Is this what you want, is this our desire'
tossed upon the funeral pyre
first goes one then the another
their bodies threaten to smother
with each body tossed her laughter comes
and as each succumbs
she feels her burden lift and she becomes
FREE
8/23/07
I don't think you can ever do your best. Doing your best is a process of trying to do your best.
quote by Townes Van Zandt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way ?
(waylon jennings)
Lord, its the same old tune
Fiddle and guitar
Where do you take it from here ?
Rhinestone suits, new shiny cars,
Its been the same way for years.
We need a change.
Somebody told me when I came to nashville,
son, you finally got it made!
Old hank made it here, we all should do it our way
I dont think hank done it this way,
No, I dont think hank done it this way.
Ten years on the road making one-night stands
Spitting my young life away.
Tell me one more time so Ill understand
Are you sure hank done it this way ?
Did old hank really did it this way ?
Lord, Ive seen the world with a five-piece band
Looking at the back side of me
Singing my songs one hears now and then
But I dont think hank done it this way,
No, I dont think hank done it this way.
song performed by by Kinky Friedman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Death
Come thou, thou last one, whom I recognize,
unbearable pain throughout this body's fabric:
as I in my spirit burned, see, I now burn in thee:
the wood that long resisted the advancing flames
which thou kept flaring, I now am nourishinig
and burn in thee.
My gentle and mild being through thy ruthless fury
has turned into a raging hell that is not from here.
Quite pure, quite free of future planning, I mounted
the tangled funeral pyre built for my suffering,
so sure of nothing more to buy for future needs,
while in my heart the stored reserves kept silent.
Is it still I, who there past all recognition burn?
Memories I do not seize and bring inside.
O life! O living! O to be outside!
And I in flames. And no one here who knows me.
poem by Rainer Maria Rilke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Message To My Mother
Recorded by hank williams, sr.
Words and music by hank williams, sr.
Ntro: [g7] [c] ...[c7] (notes to last line of first verse)
Chorus
[f] take this message to my [c] mother
It will fill her heart with [g7] joy
[c] tell her that Ive met my [g7] saviour
God has saved her wandring [c] boy.
[c] the tears and sorrow I have [g7] caused her
How I wish I could re-[c] pay
But tell her Ill be waiting [g7] for her
Well meet in heaven some glad [c] day. ... [c7]
How she cried when I left her
I know it filled her heart with pain
She said, son, please dont leave me
For we may never meet again.
Chorus
Years have passed since that parting
But I know she waits and prays
Soon Ill cross that dark river
Please let her know that I was saved.
Chorus
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Message To My Mother
Recorded by Hank Williams, Sr.
Words and music by Hank Williams, Sr.
NTRO: [G7] [C] ...[C7] (Notes to last line of first verse)
CHORUS
[F] Take this message to my [C] mother
It will fill her heart with [G7] joy
[C] Tell her that I've met my [G7] Saviour
God has saved her wand'ring [C] boy.
[C] The tears and sorrow I have [G7] caused her
How I wish I could re-[C] pay
But tell her I'll be waiting [G7] for her
We'll meet in heaven some glad [C] day. ... [C7]
How she cried when I left her
I know it filled her heart with pain
She said, ";Son, please don't leave me
For we may never meet again.";
CHORUS
Years have passed since that parting
But I know she waits and prays
Soon I'll cross that dark river
Please let her know that I was saved.
CHORUS
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When The Book Of Life Is Read
Recorded by hank williams, sr.
Words and music by hank williams, sr.
Capo: 4th fret/key: f#/play: d
[d] in lifes many battles that [g] you will have to [d] fight
Just stay close to jesus and [e7] journey in his [a7] light
Then [d] on that judgement morning [g] when all pain has [d] fled
Youll stand in gods kingdom, when the [a7] book of life is [d] read.
[g] when the seals are broken and [d] names are read aloud
Youll see many loved ones [e7] standin in the [a7] crowd
So [d] brother keep on prayin and [g] follow where youre [d] lead
Youll stand in gods kingdom, when the [a7] book of life is [d] read.
All your dreams of heaven will come true on that day
When the sky shall open and this earth melt away
Then all gods faithful children will raise up from the dead
United in gods kingdom, when the book of life is read.
What a happy feelin to know hell always care
And when our work is over heaven with him well share
Theres be no pain or sorrow, no tears will eer be shed
When we stand there in gods kingdom and the book of life is read.
Note. chords for 3rd and 4th verses same as 1st and 2nd
song performed by by Hank Williams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Everything But Me
Ashes falling on the ground
Winds that blow a hollow sound
Once standing taller still
Now falling by your will
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
Rain that falls upon my heart
Washes away the endings start
I try to sing aloud but
My voice is lost within the crowd
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
Every little thing is free
Every little moment sings
Every little ray of sunshine
Every little broken heart of mine
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
Blinded by the snow today
My true friend grey skies comes to play
Lost inside my forest desire
Feeling this wild funeral pyre
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
Every little thing is free
Every little moment sings
Every little ray of sunshine
Every little broken heart of mine
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
Every little thing is free
Every little moment sings
Every little ray of sunshine
Every little broken heart of mine
How many times the sun has shown
On everything but me
poem by Barbara Vanier
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Within The Shadowedges Of The Light
For those Who never sang a song.
For those no letter even read from alphabet.
For those who never moved some paint on Canvas,
a world was left eclosed in them,
a world from which we could enjoy,
did they not sing a song,
a silent song within the rain,
did they not offer tea in bed
at morning rise surprise us with some oranges
as if we were just born?
They don't have the courage from behind great names
nor need them to remind us.
Forth they live in every tiny branch
and all nature's silent gestures.
In Solomon's songs, but too in silence
they surely can be heard.
In a Rilke's commemoration Choir
or behind Hafiz' silky curtains,
or out of silenced hands from refugees
after the Burn they rise from circled ashes
in tender small curly rings, 'hear them sing! '
For those who never sang they could sing well.
I've never seen their faces but in the many lively traces
and windows on the way, I recognise their poems,
and forth I move with pride for them, for let us be true
-a moment silence- for the gems of mankind we suddenly find
within the shadowedges of the light.
poem by Madrason writer
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From Paumanok Starting
FROM Paumanock starting, I fly like a bird,
Around and around to soar, to sing the idea of all;
To the north betaking myself, to sing there arctic songs,
To Kanada, till I absorb Kanada in myself--to Michigan then,
To Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, to sing their songs, (they are
inimitable;)
Then to Ohio and Indiana to sing theirs--to Missouri and Kansas and
Arkansas, to sing theirs,
To Tennessee and Kentucky--to the Carolinas and Georgia, to sing
theirs,
To Texas, and so along up toward California, to roam accepted
everywhere;
To sing first, (to the tap of the war-drum, if need be,)
The idea of all--of the western world, one and inseparable. 10
And then the song of each member of These States.
poem by Walt Whitman
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hank And Lefty
Daddy had a 1949 ford
When I was just about ten years old
We would listen to Hank and Lefty on the radio
''Why Don't You Love Like You Used to Do?''
And ''Just Look What Thoughts Will Do.''
Old Hank and Lefty raised my country soul.
Chours:
Now I learned how to sing and shuffle my shoes
Listin to Hank sing the ''Lovesick Blues.''
We never met Ol' Hank but we was awful close
Cut my teeth on ''Always Late.''
And ''I Love You a Thousand Ways.''
Ol' Hank and Lefty raised my country soul.
--- Instrumental ---
Daddy said the hair on his neck would crawl
When old Hank sang about the light he saw
Hank sure put a whole lot of heart in the songs he wrote
Everytime daddy got a little bit tight
''Mom and Dad's Waltz'' would make him cry
Old Hank and Lefty raised my country soul.
Chours:
Now I learned how to sing and shuffle my shoes
Listin to Hank sing the ''Lovesick Blues.''
We never met Ol' Hank but we was awful close
Cut my teeth on ''Always Late.''
And ''I Love You a Thousand Ways.''
Ol' Hank and Lefty raised my country soul.
Old Hank and Lefty raised my country soul.
Old Hank and Lefty raised my country soul...
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Walter Whitman Where Are You
Walter whitman where are you
Among the stars or, in the earth beneath my shoe
Its just cause Im wondering
Could you walk with me awhile
And maybe heaven could spare you awhile
Walter whitman I confess
My faith is shaken
And my lifes a holy mess
Yes, I need deliverance
But Id settle for a smile
Now maybe heaven can spare you awhile
I thought I heard you yawpin from the yonder tree
I swore I heard you say
Dont worry boy, shut up, enjoy, be free
Walter whitman I declare
I could sing songs of joy
Through my darkness and despair
Its just Im hoping
You could shed some light
That is if heaven can spare you tonight
Dont worry boy, shut up, enjoy, be free
Walter whitman I declare
I could sing songs of joy
Through my darkness and despair
Its just Im hoping
Yoy could coax a problem child
Now maybe heaven could spare you a while
Walter whitman where are you?
song performed by by Gino Vanelli
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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