The Light Dies Down On Broadway
He follows a small path running along the top, and watches the tube bobbing up and down in the water as the fast current carries it away. however, as he walks around a corner rael sees a sky-lig
Ove him, apparently built into the bank. through it he can see the green grass of home, well not exactly; he can see broadway.
As he walks along the gorges edge,
He meets a sense of yesteryear.
A window in the bank above his head
Reveals his home amidst the streets.
Subway sounds, the sounds of complaint
The smell of acid on his gun of paint.
As it carves out anger in a blood-red band,
Destroyed tomorrow by an unknown hand;
- my home.
Is this the way out from the endless scene?
Or just an entrance to another dream?
And the light dies down on broadway.
His heart, now a little bristly, is shaken by a surge of joy and he starts to run, arms wide open, to the way out. at this precise point in time his ears pick up a voice screaming for help. some
S struggling in the rapids below. its john.
But as the skylight beckons him to leave,
He hears a scream from far below.
Within the raging water, writhes the form
Of brother john, he cries for help.
He pauses for a moment remembering how his brother had abandoned him. then the window begins to fade - its time for action.
The gate is fading now, but open wide.
But john is drowning, I must decide
Between the freedom I had in the rat-race,
Or to stay forever in this forsaken place;
Hey john!
He makes for the river and the gate is gone,
Back to the void where it came from.
And the light dies down on broadway.
song performed by by Genesis

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
In The Rapids
He dives down into the cold water. at first he is thrown onto the rocks, and pulled under the water by a fast moving channel, which takes him right past john, down river.
Moving down the water
John is drifting out of sight,
Its only at the turning point
That you find out how you fight.
In the cold, feel the cold
All around
And the rush of crashing water
Surrounds me with its sound.
Rael manages to grab a rock, pull himself to the surface and catch his breath. as john is carried past, rael throws himself in again and catches hold of his arm. he knocks john unconscious and t
Ocking themselves together, he rides the rapids into the slow running water, where he can swim to safety.
Striking out to reach you
I cant get through to the other side,
When youre racing in the rapids
Theres only one way, thats to ride.
Taken down, taken down
By the undertow
Im spiralled down the river bed,
My fire is burning low.
Catching hold of a rock thats firm,
Im waiting for john to be carried past.
We hold together, hold together and shoot the rapids fast.
But as he hauls his brothers limp body onto the bank he lies him out and looks hopefully into his eyes for a sign of life. he staggers back in recoil, for staring at him with eyes wide open is
Ohns face - but his own.
And when the waters slow down
The dark and the deep
Have no-one, no-one, no-one, no-one
No-one left to keep.
Hang on john! were out of this at last.
Somethings changed, thats not your face.
Its mine - its mine!
song performed by by Genesis

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Off Broadway
Hanging around Broadway, and I think I saw your face
Cars speeding by me, reminding me of us
Shuffle down to the watering hole
Getting tired and I want to go home
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
Used to be off Broadway
I miss your locket, and the way I felt inside
And I just cant stop it, hasn't killed me yet, but give it time
Shuffle down to the watering hole
Getting tired and I want to go home
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
I don't know where that is anymore
Used to be off Broadway
Used to be off Broadway
Used to be off Broadway
Used to be off Broadway
song performed by by Ryan Adams

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On Broadway
They say the neon lights are bright
On Broadway
They say there's always magic
In the air
But when you're walkin' down the street
And you ain't had enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off
And you're nowhere
They say the women treat you fine
On Broadway
But lookin' at them
Just gives me the blues
How ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime won't even
Shine your shoes
See [they say?] that I won't last too long
On Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home
They all say
But they're dead wrong
I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
On Broadway
On Broadway
Give me that crack
Give me some of that crack
Give me that crack
Ahhhhh
Broadway
song performed by by Neil Young

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A Warm And Welcoming Light
The light in your window
shines bright every night,
like a warm and welcoming
beacon light,
but I cannot see it.
I am too far away
locked in a prison
for the crimes that I have done.
One day when they release me
home, I am going to run,
to the warm and welcoming
beacon light in your window.
I promise when I get there
I will never leave again,
no more crimes will I commit.
Every bird builds a nest
as cosy and snug as can be.
So I built a home for us
where a fire burns
to make it
warm and welcoming
like a home should be.
I ask myself the question
how long will it be
before I can lay down
in the green grass of my home.
The answer comes back,
but not the one that I want to hear.
It will be many more years
before you can go home.
So I sit in my jail cell
waiting for that day,
when I can again breath
the clear free fresh air,
come running up the path
to see you at the door.
Come to my sweet home
and stay forever more.
22 April 2008
poem by David Harris

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Looking For Love On Broadway
Need a reason to be here
Hoping to find it tonight
Walking alone on broadway
Watching the people
Watching the town go down
Broadways a river to me
Fat fish in the big city sea
Taxi cabs, limousines, submarines
Got my mind on a sweet dream
Keeping an eye on this street scene
cause Im open for love
In the middle of town tonight
Had my fill of self-pity
I brought all my blues to the city
Guess Im pressing my lucky
In the middle of town tonight
See me waiting on you to smile back on me
Child
It looks like tomorrow
It seems like the end of a dream
Dawning on me on broadway
In the morning light its a dream
And Im just a fool
Looking for love on broadway
song performed by by James Taylor

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On Broadway
(barry mann/cynthia weil/mike stoller/jerry leiber)
They say the neon lights are bright
On broadway
They say theres always magic in the air
But when youre walkin down that street
And you aint got enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and youre nowhere
They say the chicks are somethin else
On broadway
But lookin at them just gives me the blues
cause how ya gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime wont even shine your shoes
They say that I wont last too long
On broadway
Ill catch a greyhound bus for home they all say
But theyre dead wrong, I know they are
cause I can play this here guitar
And I wont quit till Im a star
On broadway
But theyre dead wrong, I know they are
cause I can play this here guitar
And I wont quit till Im a star
On broadway
On broadway
Im gonna make it, yeah
On broadway
Ill be a big, big man
On broadway
Ill have my name in lights
On broadway
Everybody gonna know me
On broadway
All up and down broadway
On broadway
song performed by by Eric Carmen

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Dear John
(vocals by john prine)
When i woke up this morning
There was a note upon my door
Saying " don't make me no coffee, babe
Cause i won't be back no more"
And that's all she wrote
"dear john", i sent your saddle home"
Now jonah got along in the belly of a whale
Daniel in the lion's den
I know a guy that didn't try to get along
And he won't get a chance again
That's all she wrote
"dear john", i sent your saddle home"
She didn't forward no address
No she never said goodbye
All she said was "if you get blue
Just hang your little head and cry"
That's all she wrote
"dear john", i sent your saddle home"
Now my gal's short and stubby
She's mean as she can be
If that little old gal of mine
Ever gets a hold of me
That's all she wrote
"dear john", i fetched your saddle home"
Went down to the bank this morning
The cashier said with a grin
I'm sorry for you little john
But your wife has done been in
That's all she wrote
"dear john", i sent your saddle home"
That's all she wrote
"dear john", i sent your saddle home
song performed by by John Prine

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Little Green Men
Little Green Men
I lay in the sand gazing at the stars through glassy eyes
Sound has been taken, stolen away, pain is no more
As I start to fade into a sea of unknown darkness
My eyes finally close
I am moving, though I know not how, fear has overcome me
Eyes still shut I dare not open
This world I’m in makes no since for I am here
But have not taken a single breath
Peaceful melody the sun is shining
I hear two little boys one laughing one crying
Eyelids creep open, one than another
Two little boys surrounded by little green men
Some held pistols and others had rifles
I know these boys! The one laughing is me
My little green men were victorious that day
They fought the evil army of my brother John K.
He cries, I laugh and say
War is for the strong and keen of heart
You are dead, all of your men are Dead, Dead, Dead
I don’t want to die big brother why must I die
This game of War is not fair I don’t wanna Die.
Gasping and wheezing, blood in my eyes
I lay in the sand gazing at the sky
Pain has returned, and I hear every scream.
Off in the distance a voice i know well yells out
I don’t want to die big brother why must I die!
Why, Why, Why big brother, why must I die!
I brought him to war, a game all I thought
Little green men danced in my head
Fun and adventure was all that I sought
Now I lay here alone, my men their all dead
War is for the strong and keen of heart
I lay and laugh for what else to do
Cry then die, littlle brother ill see you soon
Little green men danced in my mind
I love you Little Brother, we both lost this time
poem by Brian Hayden

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No place for a courting-candle
A girl’s voice laughing softly
cuts through the night
and enters by the room’s window
and wide awake
I (six year old child) sneak out
to find the source of the excitement.
Gardiël studies with Martin
that boards with us
and both are matriculating
because he complains
that his eyes burn
from the old paraffin lamp
that gives light
at their farm house
where there’s no electricity.
A bright electric lamp
burns in the room
hanging ten centimetres
beneath the ceiling
and big moths
fly dark brown around it
caught in flight paths.
Another table lamp
throws a bright yellow glow
that brings heat in the chilly
highveld winter.
I see them through the window
drinking coffee and eating rusks,
before both of them
again turn pages in books
and crawl into the shelter of a bush
to stay hidden from them
and suddenly somebody moves
next to me
and I see her bend
to pickup small stones
that she throws lightly
against the room’s window.
The window opens wide
and I hear them talking softly
without hearing what they say
and the girl again laughs
before she walks to the front door
that opens noiselessly.
l’Envoi
It must have been only ten minutes
before uncle Hendrik (Gardiël’s dad)
comes running along,
open the garden gate with might
almost run the front door
out of its sockets
and with a walking stick in his hand
(that is stronger than a broom)
smashes out the light in the roof,
the table lamp
and the window
in Martin’s room
and I hear lashes
with thudding sounds
fall on both boys
and the girl
screaming hysterically
while she
also get lashed
and he shouts in anger
that this is no place
for a courting-candle.
[Reference: The word uncle used here out of respect and local custom and not to point out family relationship.]
poem by Gert Strydom

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Night On Broadway
Here we are
In a room full of strangers
Standing in the dark
Where your eyes couldn't see me
Well, I had to follow you
Though you did not want me to
But that won't stop my lovin' you
I can't stay away
Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway
Singin' them love songs
Singin' them "straight to the heart" songs
Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway
Singin' them sweet sounds
To that crazy, crazy town
Now, in my place
There are so many others
Standin' in the line
How long will they stand between us?
Well, I had to follow you
Though you did not want me to
But that won't stop my lovin' you
I can't stay away
Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them love songs
Singin' them "straight to the heart" songs
Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them sweet sounds
To that crazy, crazy town
I will wait ...
Even if it takes forever
I will wait ...
Even if it takes a lifetime
Somehow I feel inside
You never ever left my side
Make it like it was before
Even if it takes a lifetime, takes a lifetime
Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them love songs
Singin' them "straight to the heart" songs
Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them sweet sounds
To that crazy, crazy town
Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them sweet sounds
To that crazy, crazy town
I blame it all
On the nights on Broadway
Singin' them love songs
Singin' them "straight to the heart" songs
song performed by by Bee Gees

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Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home)
(vocals by john prine)
When I woke up this morning
There was a note upon my door
Saying " dont make me no coffee, babe
Cause I wont be back no more"
And thats all she wrote
"dear john", I sent your saddle home"
Now jonah got along in the belly of a whale
Daniel in the lions den
I know a guy that didnt try to get along
And he wont get a chance again
Thats all she wrote
"dear john", I sent your saddle home"
She didnt forward no address
No she never said goodbye
All she said was "if you get blue
Just hang your little head and cry"
Thats all she wrote
"dear john", I sent your saddle home"
Now my gals short and stubby
Shes mean as she can be
If that little old gal of mine
Ever gets a hold of me
Thats all she wrote
"dear john", I fetched your saddle home"
Went down to the bank this morning
The cashier said with a grin
Im sorry for you little john
But your wife has done been in
Thats all she wrote
"dear john", I sent your saddle home"
Thats all she wrote
"dear john", I sent your saddle home
song performed by by John Prine

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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Keep your fingers out of my eye.
While I write I like to glance at the butterflies in glass that are all around the walls. the people in memory are pinned to events I cant recall too well, but Im putting one down to watch him
K up, decompose and feed another sort of life. the one in question is all fully biodegradable material and categorised as rael. rael hates me, I like rael, - yes, even ostriches have feelings,
Our relationship is something both of us are learning to live with. rael likes a good time, I like a good rhyme, but you wont see me directly anymore - he hates my being around. so if his story
Nt stand, I might lend a hand, you understand? (ie. the rhyme is planned, dummies).
The flickering needle jumps into red. new york crawls out of its bed.
And the lamb lies down on broadway.
Early morning manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The weary guests are asked to leave the warmth of the all-night theater, having slept on pictures others only dream on.
Movie-palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their fun.
Sleeping cheaply on the midnight show,
Its the same old ending - time to go.
Get out!
It seems they cannot leave their dream.
The un-paid extras disturb the sleeping broadway. walk to the left dont walk to the right: on broadway, directions dont look so bright. autoghosts keep the pace for the cabmans early mobile r
Theres something moving in the sidewalk steam,
And the lamb lies down on broadway.
Nightimes flyers feel their pains.
Drugstore take down the chains.
Metal motion comes in bursts,
The gas station can quench that thirst.
Suspension cracked on unmade road
The truckers eyes read overload
Enough of this - our hero is moving up the subway stairs into day- light. beneath his leather jacket he holds a spray gun which has left the message r-a-e-l in big letters on the wall leading un
Ound. it may not mean much to you but to rael it is part of the process going towards making a name for yourself. when youre not even a pure-bred puerto rican the going gets tough and the tou
Ts going.
And out on the subway,
Rael imperial aerosol kid
Exits into daylight, spraygun hid,
And the lamb lies down on broadway.
With casual sideways glances along the wet street, he checks the motion in the steam to look for potential obstruction. seeing none, he strides along the sidewalk, past the drugstore with iron g
Being removed to reveal the smile of the toothpaste girl, past the nightladies and past patrolman frank leonowich (48, married, two kids) who stands in the doorway of the wig-store. patrolman le
Ch looks at rael in much the same way that other patrolmen look at him, and rael only just hides that he is hiding something. meanwhile from out of the steam a lamb lies down. this lamb has noth
Hatsoever to do with rael, or any other lamb - it just lies down on broadway.
The lamb seems right out of place,
Yet the broadway street scene finds a focus in its face.
Somehow its lying there,
Brings a stillness to the air.
Though man-made light, at night is very bright,
Theres no whitewash victim,
As the neons dim, to the coat of white.
Rael imperial aerosol kid
Wipes his gun - hes forgotten what he did,
And the lamb lies down on broadway.
Suzanne tired her work all done,
Thinks money - honey - be on - neon.
Cabmans velvet glove sounds the horn
And the sawdust king spits out his scorn.
Wonder women you can draw your blind!
Dont look at me! Im not your kind.
Im rael!
Something inside me has just begun,
Lord knows what I have done,
And the lamb lies down on broadway.
On broadway -
They say the lights are always bright on broadway.
They say theres always magic in the air.
song performed by by Genesis

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Broadway
(ian hunter)
Green lights on broadway
All the magic seems to say
Come and ride with me baby you know
Its got to be the greatest show on broadway
Out here on the streets they say
You can see your life in one day
I long I long I long I long I long to hear every single street singer
Oh what a mood that feeling brings
You can capture life in a jar
Chances are that youll find out on broadway
Who you really are
Sitting in a lonely room
Staring through the evening gloom
Shell never make the grade on broadway
Shell never spend exciting nights
Surrounded by a maze of lights
And stars that line the streets on broadway
Broadway
When the neon lights are shining bright
She knows shes going to make it someday
Broadway
You can hear the music of the night
She knows that she will
Broadway
When the neon lights are shining bright
Oh I know shes going to make it some day
Broadway
You can hear the music of the night
I know that she will
I said
Broadway
Oh how I love you how I love you
Broadway
How I love you how I love you
Broadway
Its your show I know I know
But chances are youll find out on broadway
Who you really are
song performed by by Ian Hunter

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The parrot
Cage in like in a prison
it walks up and down
and looks at itself in the mirror
and it gets food and water
and the days pass
and water and food it gets
and in its prison it has to stay
and it remembers the green woods
and the odours of bananas
and berries and nuts
and the blue sky
that is open and free
and streams
where the most delicious water flows.
It calls to its mate
and ask for salvation
and nobody and nothing comes
and out of the humdrum
it starts to imitate sounds
and its people
take it out of its cage
and scratches its head
and cuts its wings
and bring delicacies,
but back to its prison
it must go en its serve it sentence
until it dies.
poem by Gert Strydom

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Its About Time
This song appears on two albums, and was first released on the its about time album, and has also been released on the country classics album.
Theres a full moon over india and gandhi lives again
Whos to say you have to lose for someone else to win
In the eyes of all the people the look is much the same
For the first is just the last one when you play a deadly game
Its about time we realize it were all in this together
Its about time we find out its all of us or none
Its about time we recognize it these changes in the weather
Its about time, its about changes and its about time
Theres a light in the vatican window for all the world to see
And a voice cries in the wilderness and sometimes he speaks for me
I suppose I love him most of all when he kneels to kiss the land
With his lips upon our mothers breast he makes his strongest stand
Its about time we start to see it the earth is our only home
Its about time we start to face it we cant make it here all alone
Its about time we start to listen to the voices in the wind
Its about time, its about changes and its about time
Theres a man who is my brother, I just dont know his name
But I know his home and family because I know we feel the same
And it hurts me when hes hungry and when his children cry
I too am a father and that little one is mine
Its about time we begin to turn the world around
Its about time we start to make it the dream weve always known
Its about time we start to live the family of man
Its about time, its about changes and its about time
Its about peace and its about plenty and its about time
Its about you and me together and its about time
Words by john denver, music by john denver and glen d hardin
song performed by by John Denver

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Song-poem: You Are the One….
You are the one who made me, God;
You are the one who saves me, Lord;
You are the one who protects me;
You are the one who blesses me.
You are the one who knows me God;
You are the one who meets my wants;
You are the one who defends me;
You are the one who cares for me.
You are the one who loves me God;
You are the one who guides me Lord;
You are the one who rescues me;
You are the one who lifts me up.
You are the one who calls me, God;
You are the one who walks with me;
You are the one who talks to me;
You are the one who hears my pleas.
You are the one who warns me, God;
You are the one who knows my heart;
You are the one who sees me pray;
You are the one who shows the way;
You are the one who frees me, God;
You are the one who fights my wars;
You are the one who is my might;
You are the one who is my light.
You are the one who goads me, God;
You are the one who teaches me;
You are the one who watches me;
You are the one who reminds me.
You are the one who beckons me;
You are the one who hurts my foes;
You are the one who knows my woes;
You are the one who gives me joys.
You are the one who is my hope;
You are the one who consoles me;
You are the one who gives me peace;
You are the one who cures disease.
You are the one who died on Cross;
You are the one who gives me laws;
You are the one who shows my flaws;
You are the one who is my Boss.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-15-2008
poem by John Celes

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Get Up John
(bill monroe/marty stuart/jerry sullivan)
Well get up john go down to jordan
Get up john prepare the way
Man from galilee is waiting
You must meet him there today
Get up john go tell my people
This will be a holy day
Tell them of the jew thats waiting
That the saviors on the way
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john go tell jerusalem
Saviors waiting on the shore
Baptize him in the river jordan
Ill send a dove from heavens door
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john your work is finished
Daylight breaks the soldiers come
You will die for me tomorrow
Welcome home your race is run
John
Youve been chosen
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
song performed by by Emmylou Harris

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On Broadway
They say that
Neon lights are bright on broadway
They say theres always magic in the air
But when youre walking down the street
And you aint had enough to eat
The city all lights up and youre nowhere
They say
The girls are something else on broadway
Looking at them just gives me the blues
cause howre you gonna make some time
When all you got is one thin dime
And one thin dime wont even shine your shoes
They say that
Love wont last too long on broadway
Now catch a greyhound bus for home
They all say
I bet theyre wrong, I know they are
cause I can play this here guitar
And I wont quit till Im a star
On broadway
song performed by by Gary Numan

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Wild Montana Skies
This song appears on nine albums, and was first released on the its about time album, and has also been released on the greatest hits vol 3, changes, the very best of john denver (double cd),
Ry classics, the country roads collection and the rocky mountain collection albums. a live version also appears on the wildlife concert and the best of john denver live albums.
He was born in the bitterroot valley in the early morning rain
Wild geese over the water headin north and home again
Bringin a warm wind from the south
Bringin the first taste of the spring
His mother took him to her breast and softly she did sing
Oh montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild montana skies
His mother died that summer and he never learned to cry
He never knew his father and he never did ask why
He never knew the answers that would make an easy way
But he learned to know the wilderness and to be a man that way
His mothers brother took him in to family and his home
Gave him a hand that he could lean on and a strength to call his own
And he learned to be a farmer and he learned to love the land
And he learned to read the seasons and he learned to make a stand
Oh montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild montana skies
On the eve of his 21st birthday he set out on his own
He was 30 years and runnin when he found his way back home
Ridin a storm across the mountains and an aching in his heart
Said he came to turn the pages and to make a brand new start
Now he never told a story of the time that he was gone
Some say he was a lawyer, some say he was a john
There was somethin in the city that he said he couldnt breathe
And there was somethin in the country that he said he couldnt leave
Oh montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild montana skies
Now some say he was crazy and theyre glad that he is gone
But some of us miss him and well try to carry on
Giving a voice to the forest, giving a voice to the dawn
Giving a voice to the wilderness and the land that he lived on
Oh montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild montana skies
Oh montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman of his own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild montana skies
Words and music by john denver
song performed by by John Denver

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Brother John
My brother John has beds of down
And mansions of his own;
The humble bed where I rest my head
Is little less than stone;
But peace is there to soothe my care
While Brother John has pride;
So I pity John and all who bear
Great fortune's weight and care.
My brother John has fertile farms
Of cotton, and corn and maize;
While naught have I but earth and sky
To look on all my days;
Mine's not the lot to own the spot
Of humble cabin home;
And ne'er the wing of airy fame
Buzzes about my name.
My brother's hold is fixed on gold
And auto cars for tour,
That flash today in their gala way
With rush and dash by the poor;
When go I must, I tramp the dust
Whither my brother speeds,
Unawares to the common lot
Of peer, and sage, and sot.
Brother John has a splendid lawn,
Scythed and rolled and green,
A verdant spot where such a sot
As I am never seen.
To all that plod, 'Keep off the sod,'
Is John's command today;
And I pass on and muse why clay,
Like mine, not John's, is gay.
poem by Samuel Alfred Beadle

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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