1. a ship may be safe
©2005 Steven B. Eulberg & Jeff Lilley
a ship may be safe in a harbor,
at anchor close to the shore
yeah, a ship may be safe in a harbor,
but that ain’t what ships were made for.
a child may be safe in a mother’s arms,
there may be safe from harm
a child may be safe at home
but that ain’t what a child was made for.
chorus:
ships were made for sailin’ across the high seas
more ships and sailors rot in the port,
than ever are drowned in the sea. (x2)
when you’re riding the anchor, and the shore is alee
and you smell a storm on the breeze,
call up the captain, shorten the sail,
seek safe harbor, or run to the sea. chorus
help your children to lay a strong keel,
teach them to loft a fair line
they’ll build their vessel with beauty and care,
and launch on the rising tide. chorus
a ship may be safe in a harbor,
at anchor close to the shore
yeah, a ship may be safe in a harbor,
but that ain’t what ships were made for.
That ain’t what a child was made for
That ain’t what you were made for.
2. i miss america
©2006 Steven B. Eulberg
There once was a land where a lady would stand
With her lamp raised at the golden door
Saying, “bring me your huddled masses, tired and poor”
Now that welcome don’t seem so welcome any more
O—I miss America.
There once was a place where the whole human race
Could yearn to breathe free—haven of liberty—
Land of the brave, home of the free
Today the fearful forfeit freedom for a lock and key
O—I miss America.
O say, can you see me, I’m your neighbor
Like you I struggle and labor
I pull my own weight and do my share
And believe, yes I dare
That though we may differ
Together we are stronger than apart
E pluribus unum
O—we are America.
There once was a time where speaking your mind
Was a sign that you stood up like a grown man
And the strong one protected the weak one
Now the self-righteous belittle the meek one
O—I miss America.
Oh what do you do when the red, white and blue
Become a cloak to hide dirty laundry
And a muffle to choke those who disagree
And the emblem no longer serves to set us free?
O—I miss America.
Have you ever heard of a high-flying bird
Who can soar the sky with one wing missing?
Today I stand in my native land
Turn off the TV and I step out my door
To neighbor and stranger I offer my hand
Saying, “this land it is your land…This land it is my land”
E pluribus unum
O—we are America.
O—we are America.
3. porch swingin’
Music ©1978 Steve Eulberg, from a poem by Felice Holman
The mail man has come and gone
Brought me a letter from my old Mom
Still singin the same ol’ song,
just like this porch swing,
swingin’ forward, swingin’ back
Just like this porch swing,
Her train never jumps the track.
So reliable, Undeniable, Certifiable
…..Porch swingin’
I sit here wonderin’ “why?”
I bother to reply
Can I take a chance,
and learn some brand new steps
in this old time dance—
Or am I just caught up in a trance? Chorus
My old dog’s sittin’ here
seems there’s nothing he do fear
Just stick his nose into the air
and take a whiff, of what’s over there
And then he lay back down Chorus
I wonder where it will end
Unwilling to break, too tired to bend
No more tears will I weep
Got my soul to keep
Rock myself to sleep Chorus
The mailman come and gone
Brought a letter from my old Mom.
4. war is sweet
©2002 Steve Eulberg, with thanks to Erasmus
Growing up in an uneasy time, with blue stars on the windows
Some sons had enlisted, others had to go
Some others said their conscience wouldn’t let them carry
Still others left for Canada and were soon forgotten
Looking for some guidance from the fathers of the town
The doctor said, “just bomb ’em to hell”, the preacher said, “let’s pray”
Another standing silently, torn by memory
shook his head and shuddered, mumbling he said,
These eyes of mine have seen
what these lips can never tell
the bloodrush of the battle
the agonies of hell–
War is sweet
to those who never taste it
Life is cheap
when it ain’t yours you’re wastin’.”
Everyday he threw the papers, read headlines in the rain
He opened up the magazines, saw photos of the slain
Each night the news at six-o’clock brought pictures of pain
The flag had been unfurled, but with wounded blood was stained
Images of shame, confusion and blame
Heroes fighting, heroes falling, heroes marching to bring
Hawks and doves in battle, wherever people meet
Ten thousand, thousand voices chanting in the streets:
5. i said nothing
©2001 Steve Eulberg, from a quote by Pr. Martin Niemöller
When they first came for the Communists
I said nothing….
When they came for the union workers
I said ….
Nothing, I said…..
Not a word did I speak
Nothing, I said…..
Not a word from me.
When they next came for the Gypsies,
I said….
When they came for all of the Jews,
I said…
When they came for the Catholics,
I said….
I was a Protestant, who did not protest,
I said nothing….
When at last they came for me,
There was no one, they said….
When at last they came for me,
There was no one, they said….
Nothing, they said….
There was no one left to speak
Nothing, they said….
There was no one left for me…
6. beauty in the world
©2002 Steve Eulberg
Rippling wave of a bounding squirrel
Jumping rope of a knee-socked, little girl
Waving bounce of an ebony curl
I’m grateful for beauty in the world,
I’m grateful for beauty in the world.
The wounded soul, now re-made whole
Tattered heart, no longer torn apart
The clasping hands of long-time enemies,
A healing sight for those with eyes to see.
Breath of lavender in the Spring
Honey-suckle whisper as the crickets sing
Scented touch that rose petals bring
I’m grateful for beauty in the world,
I’m grateful for beauty in the world.
The wounded soul….
Purple heather on the mountainside
Tender glance ‘tween an aged pair of eyes
Giggle of a growing infant child,
I’m grateful for beauty in the world
I’m grateful for beauty in the world
7. nothing like the sound of a woman
©1998 Steve Eulberg
There’s nothing like the sound of a woman
There’s nothing like the sound of a woman
There’s nothing like the sound of a woman in love
When she’s in love with you.
When she is searching for someone to blame;
When “Honey” falls from her lips
in the shape of your name.
When she finds no words, just breathes a sigh
When she bids you a tearful “goodbye.”
When she brings your children into the world,
When she asks you to do once more,
what you didn’t do before.
When her eyes are ablaze in passion’s fire
When she purrs, content in her desire.
8. who am i?
Music ©1978 Steve Eulberg, from a poem by Felice Holman
The trees ask me,
And the sky,
And the sea asks me
Who am I?
The grass asks me,
And the sand,
the rocks ask me
Who I am?
The wind tells me
At nightfall,
And the rain tells me
Someone small.
Someone small
Someone small
But a piece of it all.
9. rock on rock
©1990 Steve Eulberg
Rock on Rock, We build up the ancient rubble
Block on Block, We shall restore the former ruins.
Stone on Stone, We reconstruct the broken walls
Brick on Brick, We resurrect abandoned homes.
We shall repair the ruined cities
The devastation Of many generations.
So let the famine come
The floodwaters flow
The earthquake roar its mighty roar
The rumble and grumble and tumble of war
Crackle of fire, munch of the termite
The tinkle of shattering glass;
the wheeze of the plague’s last gasp…
10. didn’t know i was lost
©2003 Steve Eulberg
At the age of two, he didn’t know the word “escape”
But when he found the playpen had a missing slat
He calmly climbed outside and ambled down the street
’Til his frightened mama pulled him to her side:
He didn’t know he was lost until she found him
Didn’t know how far away he strayed
Didn’t know he was lost
Didn’t know he was lost
He didn’t know he was lost until she found him
Coming back home from a camping trip
He was glad the town survived
The big storm, the fire, the flood last night
Searching for his dad he was startled to be
Wrapped up in his sobbing father’s arms
He didn’t know he was lost until he found him…
Her blue-eyed smile and tender, thoughtful ways
Led him down a long-forgotten trail
He was surprised by the tears in his eyes
When he saw her behind the wedding veil,
He whispered,
I didn’t know I was lost until you found me
Didn’t know how far away I strayed
Didn’t know I was lost
Didn’t know I was lost
I didn’t know I was lost until you found me
Until you found me.
11. sad
©1983 Steve Eulberg
You and I agree
We should live apart
But the miles that lay between us now
Are tearing up my heart
So as I “now I lay me down”
And pray your soul to keep
Don’t think I can take the ache within
So I begin to weep
I feel sad, so sad
To be here without you
I feel sad, so sad
To see that I’m alone
Though I look at you
And I’m glad
That you like to live your living
Still I feel so sad
When I cannot come along
And the miles may be blessings
Wrapped up in newsprint grey
The whole thing looks exciting
In the light of day
But now, the daylight sun is stepping out
And the darkness elbows in
And I feel sad
I like to be my own man
And you desire your freedom
So far I see it working out
For the best for you and me
But what can I do with my heart
So full of confusing feelings?
My guitar’s sitting here with me
We sing this memory: BREAK
And the miles…
12. careless love
Traditional
Love, O Love, o careless love! (3x)
O look what love has done to me!
Once I wore my apron low (3x)
You’d follow me thru wind and snow
Now my apron strings won’t tie (3x)
You pass my cabin door right by.
You pass my door, you pass my gate (3x)
But you won’t get by my “38”
What o what will Mama say (3x)
When I come home the family way?
She’ll tear her hair, she’ll bide her tongue (3x)
Shee did the same when she was young
What o what will Papa say? (3x)
He ain’t my real pa anyway.
13. set your back (to the setting sun)
©1998 Steve Eulberg with thanks to Jeff Lilley
Set your back to the setting sun
Leave behind you what’s left undone.
Lay your head down, your rest is won
Set your face to the place
where you’ll see tomorrow come
Set your back to the setting sun.
When your day ends dark & stormy
And a hole’s worn through your soul
Turn loose your hold on the burdens that you carry
& Fix your sight back on your journey’s goal.
When you’re weary from pulling in the harness
You’re shoulders chafed & sore
Tend to your wounds and soothe your aching muscles
& heed the words of one who’s gone before: