Jim Heald

Somewhere in the forest another tree comes down;
ripped up from the soil, we pretend not to hear the sound.
The monkeys shriek in the shadows, the birds of paradise sing;
chainsaws chew through the darkness, blind to the changes they bring.

The rivers for miles and miles are clogged with trees and mud
standing here at sunset it seems like bodies washed away with blood.
The fish have fled to the spirit world, can we be far behind?
Is this the best that we can do with the powers of our mind?

CHORUS: The animals have lost their teeth and the jaguar has no claws.
The defenders of the forest, they aim their poison darts
but the trees come down.

Weaving in the moonlight to the sound of some ancient tune,
he draws his bow and sends his nightmare's demons to the moon.
But the tide just keeps on coming up the dusty, red dirt trails
and the defenders of the forest, they seem so small and frail.

CHORUS

The hunter kneels in the clearing and picks up a handful of dust;
he spits in a hand-drawn circle and curses our greed and lust.
This is not just some disturbing dream, not some parallel universe;
this is the white man's vision and progress' bloody curse.

CHORUS

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.
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STANDING ON THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

I'm standing on the Great Wall of China
looking out into the blue
standing on the Great Wall of China
and all I can think of is you.

I trudged across miles of desert
searching lost cities for gold
but the fragments of truth fell apart in my hands
and the secrets would never unfold.

So I sailed beyond the horizon
chasing a sweet mystery.
Clutching the moon's reflections
and drowning in love's stormy seas.

Countless the stars that I've counted
countless the times I've been lost
countless the times I denied you
without ever counting the cost.

CHORUS:But you came along and tossed me a line
unlocked the treasures, explained the design.
You came along with a song in your heart.
The ground opened up and the sky flew apart.

The sages said love was for losers,
the sages said love was untrue,
the sages have said that love is a dream
but the sages have never kissed you.

'Cause love is the light in a dark empty world
love is the shelter I've earned
I crisscrossed the globe without you
and love was the lesson I learned.

So I'm standing on the Great Wall of China
looking out into the blue;
standing on the Great Wall of China
and I've got my arms around you.

'Cause love is the light in a dark empty world
love is the shelter I've earned
I crisscrossed the globe without you
and love was the lesson I learned.

© 1988 Jim Heald. All Rights reserved.

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YOUR LOVE POURS DOWN

Walking by the river as the evening sun plays shadow games with me
your face appears and disappears in the branches of the trees.
My prayers float upward on the breeze like runaway kites;
filling up cathedrals of silence like candles in the night.

The river of life flows on and on within me and without
we're all woven from the same loom, of that I have no doubt.
The sun comes up and the moon goes round and round
and we're all waiting here on earth for fragments of the heavenly sound.

CHORUS: Like a crust of bread to a hungry man
or a drop of water in a thirsty land;
your love pours down from a jet black sky
and sweeps away that other world - - the one that went awry.

My aching fingers pluck the strings but the sounds do not agree
and the words keep choking in my throat, they're dying to be free.
I know there's still some music left in these weary bones
even if it's just a distant wailing chorus from the saxophones.

CHORUS

Walking by the river as the evening sun plays shadow games with me
and shapes appear and disappear in the branches of the trees.
Our prayers float upward on the breeze like runaway kites;
filling cathedrals of silence like candles in the night.

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.

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MIGUEL'S SONG

I could dance in the meadow to the song of a lark
sweet smell of grass rising into the sky.
If I were a cool breeze, I'd chase a butterfly
but I'm burying memories and breaking my back.
The people stand silent; the ground's neatly trimmed;
handkerchiefs ready to catch a stray tear,
so I put my dark glasses on
and lower another man into the grave.

CHORUS: How do they see me, eyes filled with tears?
How can I touch them, they're so choked with fears?
What will they think of my truce with death
as I pick up a shovel and take a loved one away?

After the people go, I dream of Mexico
mangoes, manure, soil of my youth.
Pick up my old guitar, play a soft lullaby,
sweeten the burden of all the goodbyes.
If it's not what I dreamed, I'll take it my friend;
it's only a moment and then there's an end.

CHORUS (Instrumental)

Icy wind, freezing rain slitting my wrists;
the ground's like a stone but the job never quits.
Holding a child, a casket's so light
there's nowhere to hide and it doesn't seem right
so I put my dark glasses on
and lower another man into the grave.

CHORUS

CODA: And it's not what I dreamed, but I'll take it my friend.
Life's a short moment and then there's an end.

© 1988 Jim Heald. All Rights reserved.

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THE ANGELS HOVER ROUND YOU

The Angels hover round you and watch you in your bed;
they give you dreams and visions and the joy that fills your head.
When you awaken in the morning you will not be the same;
the darkness will have lifted as the sun bursts out in flame.

Though you hesitate and wonder; you have learned your lessons well.
But the time has come for you to fly and break out of your shell.
Your world is getting better; you feel it as you go
and your mission becomes clearer and supports you as you grow.

CHORUS: You are the right hand, she the left;
be kind and loving as you grow.
You were meant to work together;
feel all the joy there is to know.

Know you are supported in the things you need to do.
Turn away from the illusions and your faith will see you through.
All your questions will be answered so enjoy the days ahead;
spread love and joy to all you meet upon the path you tread.

CHORUS

You have always known the answer; it was always in your heart.
But it takes time to awaken and time to learn your part.
It will all be crystal clear when you join the eternal dance.
Life is full of joy and purpose; it is not a game of chance.

CHORUS

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.

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I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER

I don't know the answer, I don't have the cure.
I can't raise the dead, I can't feed the poor.
There's a tear in your eye, and a cry on the wind.
I don't know where we're going, I don't know where to begin.

CHORUS: And I don't know the answer
and I don't have the cure.
I see your lips in the mirror, they're looking luscious and pure.

I'm here at the crossroads, the sun's going down.
I'm crying deep in my heart, but I can't make a sound.
My knuckles are bleeding, the air's getting thin.
I see so much to lose, I don't see nothing to win.

I've been asleep for a lifetime, can't seem to open my eyes.
Listening for truth, and drowning in lies.
Outside of my window, the sky's bleeding red
and the thought of your love, just goes straight to my head.

It's coming together, then it all falls apart.
Searching and searching to cure the ache in my heart.

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.
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CHAINS OF LOVE

When I'm alone the sun it does not shine
When I'm alone the sun it does not shine
And when I look into the darkness where the jaguars sleep
I feel like I'm underneath the waves getting pulled down through the deep.

Another evening slips into night
it gets so dark outside and I'm just aching for the light
I dream about you, but you're just laughing on the beach
dancing through the waves you're always out of my reach

Your face is bright and clear like the morning sun
I say your face is bright and clear like the morning sun
and when you open up your eyes and look at me
they cut right through these chains of love and set me free.

I'm standing on the corner watching the cars go by
like the elephant's graveyard they've all come here to die
and the smoke and the flames are the only consolation that I've got
I hope that things are getting better, but maybe they're not.

Your face is bright and clear like the morning sun
I say your face is bright and clear like the morning sun
and when you open up your eyes and shine them at me
they cut right through these chains of love and set me free.

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.

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TEAR DOWN THE WALLS

Staring into emptiness a fertile vision grows
on the edges of the darkness that the light within us throws.
We aren't ready for the music but we can't resist the sound;
calling forth the changes as it rumbles through the ground.

The sun will shine so brightly and it's rays will keep us warm.
The moon will guide our journey as we sail beyond the storm.
And our dreams will be so vivid our minds will start to spin
as we struggle with the wisdom that the kingdom lies within.

Tear Down the Walls, Tear Down the Walls, Tear Down the Walls
and the walls come tumbling down.

The beauty of the flowers, it will smash through dull concrete
and rich men will stare dumbly as they stagger to their feet.
Some will cry in anguish at the beatific sounds;
we'll make love amidst the ruin as the walls come tumbling down.

CHORUS

We have lived too long in terror at the strangeness of the self
and our dreams they rot and fester as they lie upon the shelf
and we hurt the ones that love us, never giving it a thought
til we crumble 'neath the weight of all the things that we've been taught.

CHORUS

Repeat verse 1 and Chorus

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved

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LONG DISTANCE (IS THE WRONG DISTANCE FOR LOVE)

The snow's piled high outside my front door;
I'm empty and tired, I can't take any more.
I want to reach out and touch you and hold you so tight;
run my fingers through your hair in the still of the night.

CHORUS: But long distance love is the game that we play;
living on dreams while we're wasting away.
I gaze into the shadows, curse the heavens up above;
'cause long distance is the wrong distance for love.

Your voice flickers and fades on the telephone line;
you say that you love me but I don't feel that your mine.
We were walking down the beach with the moonlight in your hair
I'd give everything I own if we could still be there.

CHORUS

Those hot summer nights , you were wrapped in my arms.
Now I'm burning up inside and I just can't stay warm.
I pick up the phone and dream of your smile;
dial the number and it rings for a while.

The miles and miles of telephone wire
have wrapped up our hearts and choked our desire.
The words and the years drift away in the snow
and the storms around my heart have left me nowhere to go.

CHORUS

© 1996. Jim Heald. All Rights Reserved.

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COME BACK DARLIN'

Days like molasses the sun's shining bright
I dream about you every night
I dream about you every night

The cottonwoods swing and they sway in the breeze
magnolia blossoms and the buzzing of the bees oh
those sweet sweet honey bees

CHORUS

Come back darlin come back to me
you're all that I want you're all that I need
so come back baby and set me free

Swinging on the porch in the afternoon sun
kissing and hugging would be so much fun
kissing and hugging would be so much fun

CHORUS

Days like molasses the sun's shining bright
I dream about you every night
I dream about you every night

CHORUS (twice)

© 1996. Jim Heald. All rights reserved.
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