FINNERAN LANE

GREEN WILLOW TREE

GREEN  WILLOW  TREE

I

I wish- oh I wish

Though I wish all in vain -

Wish I could be young

And in love once again-

 

But young, once again

I can never, ever be

Til the red roses bloom

On the green willow tree !

 

CHORUS

 

Willow tree weep for me-

Green willow tree !

An Old Fool in love

Is a sad sight to see:

Filled with bittersweet daydreams

That never can be-

Though the red roses cover

The green willow tree.

 

2

 

In the Springtime Love blossoms

And the bright Summer day

Fills us with so much beauty

That it steals breath away-

 

But in time sunshine fades

And we feel Winter's chill-

Though the roses of Springtime

Touch our aching hearts still.

GREENSLEEVES BLUES

 
Oh you said I was un-cultured

Uncouth and un-refined-

So I signed up fer night school

To improve my backwoods mind;

But,while I was vettin' Latin

And a- sweatin' my degree

In Medieval Classics

You was steppin' out on me !!

(Chorus)

Alas, my love, you do me wrong-

( I was fixin' to spend a little time with you )

For I have love-ed you so long-

You up an' left me - what am I gonna do ?

(two-three-four)

Greensleeves Greensleeves was  * my delight

But I couldn't keep her home at night -

Now I can quote from Shakespeare

(Or Chaucer if you choose)

But that don't seem to help none

With these Greensleeves Blues !

LOVEY DOVE

Lovey Dove settin'

In the paw-paw tree -

Callin' to her sweetheart

Pretty as can be -

Wish I had somebody

Talk that way to me :

Wish I had a

Lovey Dove !

(Chorus)

Lovey Dove , Lovey Dove

Coo-coo-coo

Lovey Dove singin'

I miss you -

Lovey Dove , Lovey Dove

Coo-coo-coo...

Lovey Dove I miss you !

II

I used to have a Lovey Dove

But she flew away -

She just up an' left me

All alone one day -

She's flyin' with the Angels

Up above - 

Lord, I miss my

Lovey Dove !

 

Song for Someone Special

AFTER ALL THIS TIME

After all this time
She should be nothing but a memory:

A smile – a passing pleasantry;

I ask myself : Shouldn't she ?

And isn't it a fact

The brightest memories grow frayed,

And fade, and fade, and fade to gray ?

That's what they say – anyway....

So why does my tired heart do cartwheels

When somebody mentions her name ?

Shouldn't I shrug,and walk away ?

Wouldn't she – probably- do the same ?

After all

After all this

After all this time.

 

TIME - TIME - TIME

 

TIME – TIME – TIME

(1)

Thunder rolling in the East

And thunder in the West -

The Riders of Apocalypse

Sit poised upon the crest.

Winds foul with the smell of death ,

And darkness at High Noon :

Signs and portents race like clouds

Across a spirit moon -

(Chorus)

And it's

Time-time-time

Yes, it's time-time-time :

Oh I think this time

It's very nearly time !

(2)

On roads of broken promises

And streets of shattered dreams

Our poor lie dead for lack of bread;

A cast off baby screams !

Behold ! The Ancient Serpent stirs:

Aroused by anguished cries -

Its tongue flicks out in search of prey:

Behold its dazzling eyes !

(Chorus)

" Guest Post" from Big Mitch

I'm going to step out of the way, and let Big Mitch do the talking.

Walk Into the Morning

WALK INTO THE MORNING

(Duet)

E.J. (Gene) Finneran

(Male solo)

Here we stand

On the threshold of tomorrow-

Take my hand

Take my hand,let me share a dream with you...

(Female solo)

By your side

In a world of joy and sorrow

I'll abide-

I'll abide,and we'll make the dream come true.

(Chorus – Both)

Come, walk into the morning with me

Walk into the sun,

And stay with me ,until at last

The fading light is done -

Come share with me the happiness

The wonderment; the pain-

Come walk with me in sunlight

And I'll walk with you

In the rain.

(Verse 2 -male solo)

With this ring

With this promise of forever

I thee wed

And I pledge my love and loyalty to you...

(Verse 2 – female solo)

With this ring

With this pledge of love eternal

I thee wed,

Walking hand-in-hand, we'll make the dream come true.

(Chorus)

Embers

1.

When the lovin' talk crackles, and sparks start to fly;

As you tenderly whisper my name-

It's so good to be here, and to feel the warm glow

When the embers of love turn to flame !

(Bridge)

We're alone now at last - all the children are gone

They're all grown up-we're finally free:

Free to kindle the blaze of those bright courtship days;

Free to be lovers-finally free !

(Chorus)

Love , kindled long ago

Tender kisses that warm us anew-

Come feel the afterglow

Come let me share it with you !

2.

Oh, there's snow on the roof, but the fire's not out:

We're not too old for a sweet lovers' game -

Not too old to embrace and to whisper soft words

As the embers of love turn to flame !

(Bridge and Chorus)

Dancin' in the Morning Rain

Lately I've been wandering

Golden fields of memory-

Where it's always a bright new morning

In a world made just for me:

The breath of Spring is on my cheek,

And there's no more tears or pain-

And  the Great Blue Herons dance for me

In the early morning rain.

(Chorus)

Father Time, don't hurry me !

Let me sip the wine of memory-

It's my time to go

Lord, I guess you know

I won't be comin ' back again !

I want to be where mountain eagles fly-

Want to soar with them so free and high-

Want to be again where the Great Blue Herons

Are dancin' in the morning rain !

(2)

I met her by the millpond

At the very break of day :

She had come to watch the Herons dance

But she stole my heart away !

Oh, she's gone for almost thirty years

But in happy dreams I see

How the morning sunlight touched her hair

And the way she smiled at me.

(Chorus)

Mountain Home

 

My heart is in the mountains

That I left so long ago

Where the Red Shoulder soars

On the breath of the gods

Over green fields far below.

I hear the pine trees whisper

And the North Wind calls my name

And I wish I could fly

Soaring free, soaring high

To my mountain home again !

(Chorus)

Mountain home – far away

How I miss my mountain home !

And I pray that I'll return some day

To my dear old mountain home !

2

I left the mountains in my youth

On a search for wealth and fame-

But the long,bitter years

Have brought little but tears

And discredit to my name.

And now I'm in State's Prison

With its walls so grim and gray-

But in dreams I am free

And my heart carries me

To my home so far away.

(Chorus)

Mountain home – far away

How I miss my mountain home !

And I pray that I'll return some day

To my dear old mountain home !

Eagle Song

The eagle calls !

Forsaking walls

My spirit leaps to join her

In the freedom of the skies.

Our golden eyes

Flash like summer lightning

As in mock attack we clash :

Talons locked, we pinwheel down -

How the air around us sings !

Until at last, our passions quenched

We spread our whistling wings

To soar, aloof

Above Man's lowly world of  things.

But then – below- I see myself

Still trapped in mortal chains :

Never to know the secrets of the wind -

Or to drink the wine of Freedom

From the chalice of the rains.

Sullivan Potter

Narration

To a place some call Manassas

And others call Bull Run

Marched two great armies – Blue and Gray

In the Spring of Sixty-One.

Two generals manuevered

And emplaced their heavy guns

Sullivan Potter's final thoughts

Were of Sarah and his sons.

(Music up)

I dreamed of you last night,dear wife-

Of our home so far away

Saw the dear children kneel by the fire so bright:

I could almost hear them pray.

But the grandfather's clock

That I bought for your birthday

It was silent: the hands stopped at Ten;

And I knew in my dream I had fallen in battle-

Ne'er would I see you again !

(Chorus)

Oh, if I should fall in battle, darling

Please promise not to cry:

The breath of Spring upon your cheek

Will tell you that I am still nigh:

Through blazing sun and through winter's cold

Till life itself is through-

When you reach the end of your long,long road

I'll be waiting, dear for you.

2

The bugles sound and the horses snort:

I must march with my brigade-

We must cross the bridge at Manassas Creek

Where the cruel games of war will be played.

I wish there were more time to tell you I love you

But I must go march with my men

I wish I could be home,my darling beside you

I just wish I could hold you again !

(Chorus)

Oh, if I should fall in battle, darling

Please promise not to cry:

The breath of Spring upon your cheek

Will tell you that I am still nigh:

Through blazing sun and through winter's cold

Till life itself is through-

When you reach the end of your long,long road

I'll be waiting, dear for you.

Narration

When the smoke of battle lifted

And everything was still.

Sullivan Potter and his dreams

Lay silent on that hill.

The centuries have come and gone

And there's no more Blue and Gray

But brave soldiers still write letters home

And brave families wait and pray.

(Chorus)

Oh, if I should fall in battle, darling

Please promise not to cry:

The breath of Spring upon your cheek

Will tell you that I am still nigh:

Through blazing sun and through winter's cold

Till life itself is through-

When you reach the end of your long,long road

I'll be waiting, dear for you.

For Ruth : I Miss You Love

(Tune : Londonderry Air / Danny Boy)

1.

I miss you , Love:

Sometimes in early morning

I stop and touch

Your empty rocking chair –

I know you’re gone

But sometimes I forget,dear,

And my heart aches

Because you are not there.

2.

Your shy sweet smile

Still calls me to your side, Love

As it once did

So many years ago –

And in my dreams

It sparkles like an ember

To warm me with

Its golden afterglow.

3.

I thank you, Lord

For all the years You gave us ;

She’s in Your hands :

I know it had to be –

Ease Thou my pain

And help me be deserving -

Until rejoined

We share eternity.

Chorus

So many years

We walked through life together:

The smiles, the tears,

The sunshine and the rain-

Had I but known

Someday you’d have to leave me

I tell you, Love :

I’d do it all again !

Hymn : The Old Soldier

As I walked,long ago

Through the Valley of Shadows -

So cold and alone in my fear,

Oh, I heard a voice call me

“Come walk in green pastures-

Be not afraid, I am here.”

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to me

Come and meet me half-way...

Fear not the terror that walks at night

Or the arrow that flieth by day.

2

In the air all around me

The bullets were howling -

All around me my brave comrades died;

But I reached out my hand

For the hand of my Shepherd

And we walked through that storm side by side.

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to me

Come and meet me half-way...

Fear not the terror that walks at night

Or the arrow that flieth by day.

3

Many years have gone by

Since I walked through that Valley-

I am old and my time's drawing near:

Soon my Shepherd will call me

To eternal green pastures,

And I'll run to His side without fear.

(Chorus)

Reach out your hand to me

Come and meet me half-way...

Fear not the terror that walks at night

Or the arrow that flieth by day.

Jersey Devil

Deep in the Jersey Barrens

Outside the town of Leeds

There lived a lonesome widder-

No man to tend her needs.

Then, one All Hallows' Evenin'

When the moon was pale an' white

She cried : “I'd let ol Satan hisself

Come share my love tonight.”

Chorus

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend

When the moon is pale an' white-

An' build up the fire at the ol' campsite:

The Devil walks tonight !!

2

Ol' Scratch he come a courtin'-

Kept her dancin' till the dawn:

One year later to the day

The Devil's child was born !

Oh, when she saw that baby

The widder give a wail:

He looked just like his Daddy-

Complete with horns an' tail !!

(Chorus)

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend

When the moon is pale an' white-

An' build up the fire at the ol' campsite:

The Devil walks tonight !!

3

The moral of this story

Is easy fer to see :

The Devil's always willin'

To furnish company !

So, gentlemen be on your toes:

Better treat them ladies right-

Or that ol' Jersey Devil

Might take yer place some night !!

(Chorus)

Keep to the middle of the trail,friend

When the moon is pale an' white-

An' build up the fire at the ol' campsite:

The Devil walks tonight !!

Stop That Jade !

She's a-runnin' through the Barrens

With a skillet in her hand:

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

An' things jest ain't a workin' out

The way the Deacon planned-

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

It's no use to call the Sheriff

Cause the rascal's outa town

An' the Deputy's in Chatsworth

Payin' court to Molly Brown-

So pass the jug around agin -

Mebbe then we'll run her down:

Deacon's yellin' “Go stop that jade !”

2

That jade she was indentured

To ol' skinflint Deacon Jones-

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

An' while his missus was in town

He tried to jump her bones

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

Oh, she waited till the Deacon

Had his britches round his knees,

Then she hit 'im with a skillet

Jest as nicely as you please:

Done left him with his wherewithal

A- coolin' in the breeze -

Deacon's yellin' “Go stop that jade !”

3

She's a- runnin' past the stillhouse

An' across the Treaty land

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

But I reckon we won't catch 'er

If we git too drunk to stand

Stop that jade ! Stop that jade !

It's no use to go a runnin'

When yer feet's all tangled up

She'll be halfway down to Quakertown

Before we sober up...

So pass the jug aroun' agin'

I'll try another cup !!

Deacon's yellin : “ Go stop that jade !”