I'll take you to the mountaintop, we'll sit awhile

I'll tell you about them who've- crossed over the shore

Of graves and railways beneath this ancient floor

He's lived there--all of his life

 

Momma and Daddy, he's laid to rest

And all the old folks abandoned in death

Who will squeeze his hand when he sings his last breath?

All of the younguns done gone away and left

He's lived there--all of his life

(Chorus)

 

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THE PRETTIEST BIRD

The reddest rose will wither and die

The prettiest bird away shall fly

The whitest cloud passes on by

And so my love shall you and I

 

The sun lifts up so full and ripe

Purple orange streaks on the sky

Soaring so high with an eagle’s pride

No time to stop and wonder why

 

Each is born a labor of love

Fire water sweat and blood

It clings to its nest like a turtle dove

until it enters in the flood

 

(Bridge)

Bound to fly away, bound to fly

Bound to fly away, bound to fly

Bound to fly away, bound—to fly

 

Oceans rise and mountains fall

Across the pines a hoot owl calls

A baby’s born and an old woman falls

We pray and pine for time to stall

 

A golden globe on a sea of blue

drops and paints a wondrous hue

These bookends that bind us, me and you

We live each day so false and true

 

The reddest rose will wither and die

The prettiest bird away shall fly

The whitest cloud passes on by

And so my love shall you and I

And so my love we’re bound to fly

 

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THE SOLDIER AND THE LADY (TRAD.)

One morning one morning, one morning in May

I spied a fair couple a-wonderin’ on their way

One was a lady so pretty so fair

And the other was a soldier, he was a brave volunteer

 

They stood there a-waiting for a moment or two

When out of his knapsack, a fiddle he drew

And when he played a song, it made the valley ring

And we’ll see the water bodies, hear the nightingales sing

 

Pretty lady, pretty lady it is time for you to give o’er

Oh no my pretty soldier please play me one tune more

I’d rather hear the fiddle the touch of one string

Then to see the waters bodies, hear the nightingales sing

 

I’m going back to London, gonna stay there one year

I’ll think about you often my little dear

And when I return it will be in the Spring

 

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PRISONER OF MY SONG

Will the postman bring me a letter

when my heart won’t pitter patter?

And will the telephone ever ring

without a burning in my brain, oh?

 

(Refrain)

When will you ever give up?

When will you ever give up?

When will you ever give up?

 

Will I ever rest in my bed

when I won’t touch your soft face?

And will a love song ever play

when I won’t hear your deep voice, oh?

 

(Refrain)

Will a golden moon rise

when I won’t see the glow in your eyes?

And will my lips meet against another’s

when I won’t swallow your name, oh?

 

(Refrain)

Now I reveal to you one last secret my darling

you are prisoner of my song

Fly now into the darkened sky

and show me starlight at dawn, no.

I shall never give up

I shall never give up

I shall never give up.

And we’ll see the waters bodies, hear the nightingales sing

 

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SWEET AIR

Snow gleams over mountain streams

I breathe deep and I know peace in the wood

 

(Refrain)

I breathe deep

I breathe deep

I sing—sweet air

That renews you and me

 

You walk in the garden lane

Ripe rose hips light the way

Humming bird suckles the breeze

You sip nectar from the trees

 

You breathe deep…etc.

 

We plunge into rippling waters           

They carress and flood our skin

We’re consumed by this overwhelming gem

 

We breathe deep…etc.

 

Let it be that the generations will see

The cleansing power of the land

And the sun and the moon

Which grip us by both hands

 

We breathe deep…etc.

 

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OH LORD, WHAT A MORNING (TRAD.)

Oh Lord, what a morning x 2

When the stars begin to fall

Oh sisters what will you do x 2

When the stars begin to fall?

 

I’ll bid farewell to this old world x 2

When the stars begin to fall

 

Oh brothers what will you do x 2

When the stars begin to fall?

 

I’m going home to the Gloryland x 2

When the stars begin to fall

 

Oh sinners, what will we do x 2

When the stars begin to fall

 

We will cry for the rocks and the mountains x 2

To hide our face from the Lord

 

Oh Lord, what a morning x 2

When the stars begin to fall

 

 

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SCREEN

We had it made, you hung the laundry on my line

The hours came alive winding round that crooked path

Turning over every stone to see what we could get

After the sun went down, we’d play in the dark

Didn’t need distractions to keep us from our hearts

I knew our old ways could ever stand these times

 

(Chorus)

Now he’s in love with his screen, holds all of his dreams

He’s in love with his screen and he’s gonna lose me

 

Then she come along with her slick looks and quick wit

Everytime I speak he’s gotta look up from that queen

So hard to pull away from that intoxicating thing

Everything is flashing like I’m stuck in a tv

Let go of that machine or it’ll multiply by three

Show me our old ways can ever stand these times

(Chorus)

 

I am a lover of the things of the Earth

I may be out of date and not the new, hottest model

But honey I’ve got legs and can pull on a throttle

Now it’s her or me, and I’m not gonna compete

Darling you can’t love two and still be true to me

How could our old ways ever stand these times?

(Chorus)

 

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GET A TRANSFER (TRAD. AND ADDITIONAL LYRICS BY S. PEPPER)

If you’re on the gloomy line, get a transfer                                                           

If you’re inclined to fret and pine get a transfer

Get off the track of doubt and gloom,

On the sunshine track there’s room

Get a transfer, get a transfer

 

(Chorus)

Get a transfer, woo

Get a transfer

Get a transfer

Get a transfer

 

If you’re on the worry train, get a transfer                                               

You must not stay there and complain get a transfer

The cheerful cars are passing through and there is lots of room for you

Get a transfer, get a transfer

 

(Bridge)

There’s no time to cast blame

There’s no time to disdain

But there’s still time,

yea it’s always time

To get on board

 

If you’re on the grouchy track, get a transfer

Just take a happy special back get a transfer

Hope on the train and pull the rope,

That lands you at the station hope

Get a transfer, get a transfer

(Chorus & Repeat Chorus)

                               

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WANNA BABY BLUES

I just wanna a baby child

Even if it’s cryin, my baby

My bright eyed baby child

Soon as I find a good lovin man

Soon as I find a good lovin man

 

Been seventeen years I was still a single girl

Been seventeen years still a single girl

Been seventeen years still a single girl

Wonderin where to roam in this wild world

Wonderin where to roam in this wild world

 

Moved into town looking for a partner

Moved into town looking for a partner

Moved into town looking for a partner

Five years later, still a single girl

Five years later, still a single girl

 

I’ve got some time I’ve got some money…

Could spend them both on a brand new baby

Spend them both on a brand new baby

 

I eat I eat no other soul to feed

Eat and eat no other soul to feed…

Dreamin of a family table…

 

I just want a baby child

Even if it’s crying my baby

My bright eyed baby child

soon as I find a good lovin man

soon as I find a good lovin man

 

---

SHENANDOAH

Standing on Shenandoah rocky top, I realized

I’m so lucky it’s absurd

Cause I’m as wild as a deer, free as a bird

Wild as a deer free as a bird

 

Bow  your head unto the earth

you are connected

reach your hand into the sky

you are connected

There’s no worry there’s no hurry

you are connected

Everybody everything is waiting for you

are connected

 

Hold your hand unto your heart

It is beating

The pulse of life a flowing river

You are connected

 

There’s no worry there’s no hurry

You are connected

Everybody everything is waiting for you

Are connected

 

Standing on Shenandoah rocky top, I realized

I’m so lucky it’s absurd

Cause I’m as wild as a deer, free as a bird

Wild as a deer free as a bird

 

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LOOKING UP

I’m looking up not just ahead

I’m looking up not just around

I’m looking up at the stars above

I’m looking up at a mountaintop

 

I’m looking up stuck on the ground

I’m looking up no way around

I’m looking up but I’m dreaming still

I’m looking up at a rocky hill  (don’t rush)

 

(Chorus)

Those mountaintops are calling me

Out of my mind, out of my head

Those mountaintops are calling me

To know my heart and follow its lead

 

I’m looking up at a ridgeline choir

I’m looking up at this holy hour

I’m looking up where angels sing

I’m looking up where heavens ring

 

(Chorus)

Those mountain tops are calling me

Out of my mind, out of my head

Those mountain tops are calling me

To know my heart and follow its lead

 

I’m looking up not just ahead

I’m looking not just around

I’m looking up at the stars above

I’m looking up at a mountaintop

 

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SWEET AIR (REPRISE)

We breathe deep, we breathe deep

We sing, sweet air

That renews you and me