Worrying Boy Album Lyrics

HE HEARS SINGING (©Chris Rosser, 2021) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCD capo V)

The boy woke up early with a new heart in his chest
His old one was gray and tired and limped along at best
They flew the new one over, frozen in its case
The surgeon spent twelve hours putting it in place

He started to hear singing, far off to the right
Echoing in reverb, morning and night
It takes a couple hazy days of looking around
To figure out that no one else is hearing that sweet sound

He hears singing in his head
A choir ringing around his bed
Maybe angels, maybe the meds
He hears singing
Singing in his head

Always the same melody playing on repeat
Complete with lyrics and a modern drum beat
His mom and dad told him to write down the words
He sang along into his phone to record what he heard

He hears singing in his head
A choir ringing around his bed
Maybe angels, maybe the meds
He hears singing
Singing in his head

Ghosts in the hallways, clear as a bell
Humming from the air vents and in the stairwells
A heavenly chorus helping him along
Telling him don’t worry, listen to this song…

He hears singing in his head
A choir ringing around his bed
Maybe angels, maybe the meds
He hears singing
Singing in his head
Singing in his head

ALL AROUND THE WORLD (©Chris Rosser, 2012) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCD capo V)

If I had a needle and thread
If I knew how to sew
I’d stitch fine wings on a feather bed
‘Round the world we’d go

If I had a time machine
I’d give the earth a spin
Make better days we’ve already seen
Start coming ‘round again

All around the world
Good light comes
Chase that sun
All around the world

If I had a magic lamp
With one wish left to make
I’d pray your fragile little heart
Would never have to break

If I found a wishing well
I’d throw a penny in the tank
And ask for many more days with you
Like money in the bank

All around the world
Good light comes
Chase that sun
All around the world

If I ruled over land and sea
From the sky above
I’d hang a spark of light each day
For the little ones to love

All around the world
Good light comes
Chase that sun
All around the world

MERCY (©Chris Rosser) PDF
(Gtr tuning standard capo III)

We sail across the water
Abandoning our homes
Carry on our backs all we can save
Our fathers and daughters
Our mothers and sons
Trusting all our fortunes to the waves

Oh, mercy
Decorates the strong and noble crown
Oh, mercy
Guides the hapless ship to sacred ground
Oh, mercy

You of earthly power
With the world at your command
Like monarchs in high towers far away
Enthrone the hearts of
The fortunate ones
So mercy rules above the sceptered sway

Oh, mercy
Decorates the strong and noble crown
Oh, mercy
Guides the hapless ship to sacred ground
Oh, mercy

Oh, mercy
Oh, mercy

William Shakespeare - The Merchant of Venice
“The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.”

FAITH IN WORDS (©Chris Rosser) PDF

Born from the water
Listen to the drumbeat
Swim to sunlight
Rise from the ocean

Pushed from darkness
Time and spirit meet
For the One who
Set you in motion

Echoes from a mountain top
Traces of a voice you heard
It’s hard to speak of mystery
Hard to find faith in words
Faith in words
Faith in words

Walk the beaches
Climb the highest peaks
Beyond the church yard
Beyond poetry and language

Close your eyes and
Every prophet speaks
From the stillness
Faint as a heartbeat

Echoes from a mountain top
Traces of a voice you heard
It’s hard to speak of mystery
Hard to find faith in words
Faith in words
Faith in words

BROKEN BROKEN BROKEN (©Chris Rosser, 2021) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCD)

Broken, broken, broken
Broken all around
Angels in the ashes
Wings on the ground
Lost among the wreckage
Scattered in the dust
Broken, broken, broken
All of us

Broken, broken, broken
Underneath it all
Cracks below the surface
Wounds big and small
Fragile bones and bruises
Scars that hurt to touch
Broken, broken, broken
All of us

We may walk through life carefully
So carefully
We may fear every step that we take
Afraid to fall and break

Broken, broken, broken
Perfectly in two
Flawed from every angle
Held with tape and glue
Beautifully shattered
Chipped and worn and rough
Broken, broken, broken
All of us
Broken, broken, broken

EXTRATERRESTRIAL (©Chris Rosser, 2021) PDF

The blue night light makes his pale skin look celestial
The red glow on the tip of his finger seems extraterrestrial
I look over from the hospital couch to see if he’s sleeping yet
Nobody knows much for sure about how bad it’s gonna get

Nights like these no one prepares you for
Especially when you’re not even grown
Go to sleep, go to sleep
My worrying boy

Machines are beeping, cold air from the vent is rattling
Out in the hallway, the night shift’s voices keep chattering
Big eyes on a skeleton frame, he stares at his cellphone
Trying to block out the world and find his way home

Nights like these no one prepares you for
Especially when you’re not even grown
Go to sleep, go to sleep
My worrying boy
Go to sleep, go to sleep
My worrying boy

LOKAH (Traditional, Music: ©Chris Rosser) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCE capo II)

DIM TANA DERENA
TANA DERENA
TANA DERENA
DIM TANA DERENA

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free
May all beings everywhere be happy and free

Allah - Allah’u’Abha
Allah - Allah - Allah’u’Abha

RETURNING (©Chris Rosser, 2021) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCD capo II)

Each year that passes
Each fallen step
Every birth and every death
Opening a space in my chest
A place for the soul to rest

The kind heart softens
The muscles expand and contract
Every exhale and every breath
Opening a space in my chest
A place for the soul to rest

Lonely, lonely
Only a body yearning, yearning
A spirit returning

Older and wiser
Love grows wider and wider
Lights a fire in its boney cage
Cracking open its earthly frame
Burning a space in my chest
A place for the soul to rest
Opening a space in my chest
A place for the soul to rest

Lonely, lonely
Only a body yearning, yearning
A spirit returning
A spirit returning

HARD TO DEFINE (©Chris Rosser, 2021) PDF
(Gtr tuning CGCGCD capo VII)

It's hard to define
And harder to say
The weight of the tongue
Tight throat in the way
Heavy words
Get stuck in the mouth
Heavy words
That want to come out

It's hard to write down
In language so small
It's never enough
To wash over the walls
Heavy floods
Fill up in the chest
Heavy floods
Burst over the edge

Water rolling down hotel windows
Thirty floors above the city streets
Half a world away from the ones I love
Finally far enough
To grieve over everything

It's hard to let go
Of life already lost
Gone before we know
We’re standing across
At the water’s edge looking back
Left with only love in our packs

Water rolling down hotel windows
Thirty floors above the city streets
Half a world away from the ones I love
Finally far enough
To grieve over everything

HOP HIGH MY LULU GAL (Traditional) PDF

Where did you get them high-topped shoes
And the dress that you wear so fine
Got my shoes from a railroadin' man
And the dress is from a driver in the mine

Oh hop high, hop high
Hop high you Lulu girl

Pawn you my watch and I'll pawn you my chain
I'll pawn you my gold wedding ring
To pay my little Lulu's fine
I'll pawn you my wagon and my team

Oh hop high, hop high
Hop high my Lulu girl

Where have you been, my pretty little girl
Where have you been so long?
I've been in the pen with them rough and rowdy men
And honey I'm goin' back again

Hop high, hop high
Hop high my Lulu girl
Hop high, hop high
Hop high my Lulu girl

When the tears have all run dry
And the hopeful words have all been said
I go down to the riverside
Close my eyes and bow my head

Bow my head, bow my head
Sink these worries to the riverbed
I surrender to the sea
Bow my head to the mystery

So many things that I can’t know
So many troubles lie ahead
Water like a kindness flows
When I close my eyes and bow my head

Bow my head, bow my head
Sink these worries to the riverbed
I surrender to the sea
Bow my head to the mystery

When my feet are far from any shore
And the trail becomes dusty and dead
I can flood my heart with the ocean’s roar
When I close my eyes and bow my head

Bow my head, bow my head
Sink these worries to the riverbed
I surrender to the sea
Bow my head to the mystery
Bow my head to the mystery