This recording is a song cycle which is a group of melodies that
are linked together with some sort of logic in mind. In this case, these
songs represent important stages in my life and in the lives of those I
love.
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The recording ends and begins
again with Alliby,
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You are the light of my life,
You are the light of my life,
So perfect, So right,
I could hold you all night,
You are the light of my life.
2. You are my sleepy eyed child...
3. You are the child of my heart....
4. You are the love of my life....
Alliby was written after the birth of our
first daughter, Allison(Alliby=Allison’s lullaby). Fortunately, she
cried enough during her first year that
I got plenty of practice singing it.
Bill, Allison and Kate Milford-vocals
Jimbo says "honey" and Jeannie says "dear",
Michelle had a baby and Paul had a beer,
Din bought a condo; Barb's got a new car this year,
Something's going on here, Something I fear,
They're growing up.
Went back to school and what did I get?
Another year older and knee deep in debt,
Now I'm married to my honey,
And that's the best news yet,
When she calls me "darlin'" I just seem to forget,
I'm growing up, growing up,
I moved in and out the fast lane & I've learned a lot,
Like when you "just say no" you never know,
Quite where is your spot,
Now this jelly on my belly's the only "pot" that I got,
I found it's easier getting going than it is just to stop
Growing up, growing up, growing up.
Sometimes life seem like a game,
That I'm always rehearsing,
Sometimes life seems like a game,
In which I try to succeed,
Now I know that there are no happy endings,
Just happy persons,
And I forget how blessed I am just to be me....
I thank my family and I thank my friends,
I thank the source of inner peace,
Whose love never ends,
I thank each and every stranger,
Who’s been kind to this man,
It gives me the faith of a child,
Who feels loved and begins,
Growing up, growing up, growing up,
I can't get enough of that growing up stuff…
A few observations about the subtle and not so subtle changes that clued me into growing up.
Bill Milford-Vocals, guitars, keyboards
Barb Siftar-Vocals
Sonny Dunaway-Bass
Perry Nelson-Drums
In fifty-nine I was a sparkle in the eye,
Was I born to live or was I born to die?
By 68' I was wondering why, Wondering why.
Family love and good friends to hug,
I was saving the heart for someone to come,
And looking at wonder at a war nobody won,
A war that still isn't done.
Sometimes I have to wonder "why",
If I'm just passing time till I die,
Not enough done to feel like I'm one,
Born to live while I'm alive,
Punished in school for breaking the rules
Do they want me to think?
Or do they think I'm just a fool,
I got eyes to see that everybody's got a tool,
Or somebody 's somebody mule.
The President can lie, The soldiers can die,
"Peace with honor" was a mask that cried,
With power and money anybody gets by,
Anybody gets by.
(CHORUS)
Who's in charge here, Does anybody really know?
Seems we're always stopping each other,
From getting where we want to go,
I'm going live by a law of love,
And try to keep my conscience clear,
I'm going to struggle just as long as I can,
And try to lend a helping hand,
There's got be a point where everybody will stop,
And talk so we can understand.
Sometimes I have to wonder "why",
If I'm just passing time till I die,
Not enough done to feel like I'm one,
Born to live while I'm alive,
Sometimes I have to wonder "why",
If I'm just passing time till I die,
I don't want the blame so I'll work to make a change,
Cause I'm born to live while I'm alive!
All about coming to consciousness as a teen…
Bill Milford-Vocals, bass, guitar, lead guitar
Blue and Lonesome Mark Patton-Guitar, vocals
Mark Leadon-Banjo
Dave Leporati-Mandolin
Perry Nelson-Drums
Mark Demont-Background vocals
It was a night for the impossible,
It was a night for the unsure,
And the more I thought,
The more I really wondered,
Do dreams really come true anymore?
Why does the moon seem to follow me,
Why do the stars shine up above?
The answer seems to be, If taken logically,
They're shining for the one I love,
How do the birds singing in the trees,
Know that their song is sweet enough?
The only simple reason is romance is back in season,
They're singing for the one I love.
I've had some moments to remember you by,
The sweet moments just stay on my mind,
I just want one chance to build some romance,
And leave all my worries behind.
Why does my heart seem to skip a beat,
Whenever you are near enough?
The doc says it’s fibrillation but I've a speculation,
It's beating for the one I love.
Why does my heart seem to skip a beat,
Whenever you are near enough?
The doc says is tachycardia but I think it's just part of,
Being round the one I love,
Just being round the one I love.
For my lovely wife, Joann.
Bill Milford-Guitar, Bass
Dennis Vail-Piano
Perry Nelson-Drums
Sometimes in wonder, A heart full of thunder,
Roars in discovery of life brave and new,
In prayerful season, Fear moves to reason,
And a heart full for one makes a home there for two.
But I though my searching was only my call,
To search for a home I'd not found,
But once inside your heart, I journeyed the last part,
Through you I have higher ground.
In playful relations, Life's revelations,
Are of hope, help and humor and grace that is true,
And of father and mother and sister and brother,
And of faith and of friends who were bridges to you.
I thought my searching was only my call,
To search for a home I'd not found,
But once inside your eyes, I found to my surprise,
In you I've found higher ground.
Life is so curious and death has such sting,
And too few are the moments to say,
That I celebrate life and the love in my heart,
And the faith that has swept me away!
In my darker hours, I'll look to the power,
Of these precious moments so strong in mind,
And the memories and faces,
And the Spirit that graces,
With assurance of love so gentle and kind
I thought my searching was only my call,
To search for a home I'd not found,
But in solemn union and faithful communion,
We're taken to higher ground.
With you I've found higher ground.
In you I have higher ground.
Written for Paul and Lisa Richards’ wedding and as an affirmation for my own.
Bill Milford-Guitar, Piano, Background Vocals
Barb Siftar-Background Vocals
Sonny Dunaway-Bass
Perry Nelson-Drums
Richie Summa-Lead Guitar
In the house of my father, All day long,
There are tools that pry,
And a table vice, To fix what had gone wrong.
Then late at night there's a single light,
Shining through a piano song,
In the house of my father, All day long.
In the house of my mother, All through the day,
Creation shines through the gifts sublime,
That grace each table space.
Small bouquets that gently say,
That life is good and fine this way.
In the house of my mother, All through the day.
The small and fragile pieces,
That make up my memory,
Fade as each day ceases,
While I try quietly,
To understand the kind of plan,
I have set in front of me.
Trying to find my way home.
In the house of my children,
Scattered on the floor,
Are papers and toys,
And things that make noise,
And pictures I adore.
In a big wooden chest,
We throw all this mess,
Till they can make some more,
In the house of my children,
Scattered on the floor.
In the house of my lover,
As I look everywhere,
Are symbols and signs and momentos of times,
Of our struggles, love and care,
Built upon one another,
Forging times to share,
In the house with my lover,
As I look everywhere.
I wrote this at my parents home after a
few attentive moments of noticing what made their house their home,
Then it got me thinking…
Bill Milford-Vocal, Guitar
Barb Siftar-Vocal
Lindy Hearne-Vocal, Guitar
There is a silence so still and deep,
Peaceful as within a dream but I'm not asleep,
There's no single memory that comes to mind at all,
Except the sight of angels in shadows on the wall.
Each soul seeks communion,
Strength in heart when weak,
Balancing the need to join while making life unique,
And there within the darkness, a single candle flame,
Casts the light of union as each one looks the same,
And as timeless as the people who proceed,
And as timeless as the bread and wine that feeds,
And as timeless as the love that will succeed, Us all,
My hope is with the angels, The shadows on the wall.
In my mind I've struggled, so long with many doubts
Trying hard to understand what faith is all about,
Seeking to make sense of what is felt,
And what is known,
Craving to find balance in holding on and letting go.
To my surprise I've found a place,
Made of wood and dust,
Rafters filled with memories, Moments built of trust
As sacred as the earth below,
And stars that fall above,
And everything that's in between,
That touches me in love.
CHORUS:
Voices in the night, A sound, a song, a chant,
Motion cuts right through the light,
A step, a breath, a dance,
A movement all together, But each in it's own time,
Hand in hand and tethered, A heart with many minds.
Within my meditation, I think of absent friends,
I think about the journeys,
The beginnings and the ends,
Across the circle, faceless figures help me to recall,
That someday I will join them.
As a shadow on the wall.
Trygnala Rumjana (Traditional Rumanian Folk Melody)
Every summer since I was 12, I have attended
an intergenerational family camp in New Hampshire. Each
evening of folk dancing ends with a dance
(Trygnala Rumjana) around a single candle that casts shadows
throughout the barn we dance in. While
friends have come and gone, their shadows remain…
Bill Milford-Vocals, piano, guitar, bass, organ
Barb Siftar-Vocals
We live in two cities now,
And though you are far away,
There is hardly a time, You don't cross my mind
Sometime during my day.
And I remember how slow and so easy,
It was for us to be in touch.
But we live in two cities now
And I miss you very much.
Looking back on how we planned and schemed,
It’s a wonder how we stayed so strong,
Creating illusions and following hopes,
And practicing each other's songs.
In the place where I am,
Most folks don't give a damn,
And this city can be so cold and hard.
But we live in two cities now.
Though I wish you weren't so far... away.
As we live with our lovers, Or look from afar.
A lesson of life becomes clear.
Without a lover around, The pain is profound,
Without friends though it's twice as severe.
So we hope for the best, And we endure the rest,
And try to keep our feet on the ground.
But we live in two cities now,
Though I wish you were around.
I’ve got some of the best friends anybody
could have and I keep moving away from them. Sometimes it feels
good to sit down, think about them and
howl out a few "ooooo"s. I wrote this after moving from Boston to
NYC.
Bill Milford-Vocals, guitars, piano, organ,
bass
Barb Siftar, Jodi Drew, Sonny Dunaway, -Vocals
Richie Summa- Lead Guitar
Here's the story of man, Who really loved his mother,
He loved his wife, cheese and lots and lots of butter,
He said if a little is good, Then alot must be better,
Until he heard a sound, From underneath his sweater, Going...
Chorus:
Boom, boom, bop, bop,
Boom, boom, bop, bop
Boom, boom, bop, bop! (bop)
That was the bop that made his heart go flip flop,
He was the kind of a man,
Who could just eat up his stress
As long as he had his cup of coffee,
And a pack of cigarettes,
He had his daily routine,
He didn't need to take a rest
Until he heard the drumming.
Coming underneath his chest!
He lived a life of perspiration,
With just a dash of recreation,
Till in a fit of desperation,
His heart cried out for some respiration
The doctors came in,
And with judge-like chagrin,
Began to detail the sentence,
That the man would have to begin,
They said "Your crime’s a terrible tort,"
"Your sentence isn't short,"
"Cause you have been found guilty,
In cholesterol court,"
*"So if its dairy
Be wary,
To the salt
Call a halt
Beat a retreat,
From the sweets
Make pleasant thoughts,
Your Gestalt,
Hold the mayo and red meat,
Take your Shredded Wheat neat,
Forget the car you lazy bum,
Go out and use your feet!"
So take the advice of a man who's known defeat
Cut the smoke, Cut the fat.
Baby, cut out the sweets
Cut your stress
And always exercise those "healthy heart" drills,
And learn to love life and Metamucil!
And your heart will go boom, boom, bop, bop,
Your heart will go boom, boom, bop, bop,
Your heart will go boom, boom, bop, bop!_
Big Daddy, Live long, And love every day you got…,
(That is the story from your third boy…)
This song honors my Dad and every person
who has made a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. *The
physician’s advice was written by my friend
Pat Ryan.
Bill Milford–Vocals, guitar, bass
Dennis Vail – Piano
Perry Nelson-Drums
Consulting Physicians: Dr. Jeanne Mockard,
Dr. Jeff Jones, Dr. Mark Demont, Jodi Drew, Mark Demont, Sonny Dunaway-Vocals
When I am angry let love be my guide,
When I am angry keep peace in my mind,
When I am angry let me know my part,
When I am angry, Show me my heart.
When I am lonely.....
When I am fearful......
When I am thankful.....
This is my prayerful reminder.
Bill Milford-Vocals, guitars, bass, percussion
Stay by my side, Deep in to night,
I have the battle,You have the fight,
Lose all your worry, Find patient delight,
In being my constant companion.
Keep to your faith, Rest when you can,
Be kind to the child in me, Who seems to demand,
As I'm losing me, You know all that I am,
Please be my constant companion,
I've lived a dream, A tale of romance,
With you Queen of Hearts, And I, Lord of the Dance,
Together we fashioned, A life full of chance,
And touched many lives on the way.
Be long to sunrise, Don't hurry to sight,
For I'm not alone, In the dark of this night,
A gentler hand, Guides us both in the light,
With you as my constant companion,
Forever my constant companion.
Always my constant companion.
For Bob and Dotti Siftar and honoring the love and commitment of caretakers everywhere.
Bill Milford-Guitars, bass, piano
May the light that shines within us,
Lead us safely through this day,
Till we meet again,
I wish for you my friend,
Love to light your way.
Bill Milford- Vocal, guitars, bass, piano, organ
Barb Siftar- Vocals
Rick Robbins, Mark Demont, Sonny Dunaway, Jodi Drew-Vocals
ALLIBY (Reprise)
You are the child of my heart,
You are the child of my heart,
So perfect, so right,
I'll hold you all of your life,
You are the child of my heart....
Bill Milford-Guitar
My special thanks go to :
My Family: My lovely wife Joann, Allison, and Kate; Mom, Dad;
Robert , Margaret; Steve, Alex, Cissi, Andreas, Emalee,
Chris, Patty , Emma, Pam, Tom, Maggie, AJ, Susan, Bruce, Curt, Kathy,
Tom, Grace and last and least, the late great,
Spencer.
My Musical Mentors and Teachers: Most especially Dotti Siftar
who continues to teach me about joy and music, Robert
Read, Lillian Longbotham, Helen Roy, Ed Flower,
My Musical Soulmates: Barb Siftar, Lindy Hearne
My Faithful Friends of Support: Jeanne Mockard Jim and Jean
Peters, Jeff Jones, Din Stevens, Kim Moehring, Bari
Modestow, Diane Smith, Sue Ditucci, Pat Ryan, Jerry Christman, Leslie
Ganley, Tod McMahon, Donna and David
Archambault, Jon Arnold, Rich Koh, Dawn and Dave Kimble, Terry and
Neil Abell, Karin and Joel Hemphill, Deb
McPhee,
The Caring Communities of: WINNI (NNSRE), Northfield, St.
Clements Episcopal Church (NYC), United Church in
Tallahassee, TCRS and the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline, Prestige Cleaners
The Patient Engineers Who Recorded This Album: Doug Long of
SUN01 Studios, Perry Nelson of CGC and Craig Bishop
of Sleepy Hollow Studios.
The Mix-Master General-Craig Bishop, who mixed the entire project.
Craig Bishop and Pete Winter (Winterstone Productions) who mastered the project.
The talented musicians listed above who gave freely of their
time and talent to help me finish this recording.
