Red Breath

(Richard Rodgers and Lorentz Hart)

The pitchers and the catchers

went south a week ago

and spring is going to come again

forget about the snow

the first pitch will be thrown out

the game will get in gear

this could be the year

All the true believers

have waited for so long

they've managed to stay faithful

as hopes have come and gone

they hang on to a vision

the dream is ever clear

this could be the year

     Winners and losers

     overs and friends

     there's a brand new beginning

     if you stay past the end

There's better teams on paper

but that's not where it's played

and anything can happen

once a new start has been made

every record's even

and the moment's finally here

this could be the year

The odds might be against us

we've tried and failed before

we've come as close as you can come

and still been shown the door

when you've been just a strike away

there's nothing left to fear

this could be the year

Although this refers specifically to being a Red Sox fan, it's designed to evoke other connections to hope and loss in our lives. The plunger sounded particularly good in my basement while I was recording this.

Who is waiting, just for me to come along?

Who is listening, just to hear my distant song?

Who is patient, who is true?

Who could it be - could it be you?

Who is watching, just to see me glance her way?

Who is hoping that her life might change today?

Who is out there, alone in the blue?

Who could it be - could it be you?

     For every legend a hero

     for every lock a key

     could your partner for this dance by chance be me?

Who is ready to drop those chains around her heart?

Who is willing to let me be her counterpart?

Who is able to start anew?

Who could it be - could it be you?

(Vernon Duke and John LaTouche)

(Duke Ellington/Bob Russell)

I went around with the same little crowd

the usual laughs, not often, but loud

and in the world that I knew

I didn't know about you

Chasing after the ring on a merry go round

just taking my fun where it could be found

but then what else could I do?

I didn't know about you

     Darling, now I know

     I had the loneliest yesterdays, every day

     in your arms I find for once in my life

     I'm living

Had a good time every time I went out

romance was a thing that I kidded about

what could I know about love,

when I didn't know about you?

What could I know about love,

when I didn't know about you

Facing the winter alone

I have to wonder how I'll feel

when February wheels its way around

I'm better off on my own

and if you hadn't left that day

I would have dropped you anyway

at least that's what I'll say from now on

     I could call that other girl

     she's got that face, and grace, and style

     how glad she'd be to hear from me

     guess I'd better put her off for a while

I'll spend my evenings at home

I'll sit out on the patio

and watch the yard fill up with snow

there's nothing left to do since you're gone

     I could call that other girl

     she's got that face, and grace, and style

     how glad she'd be to hear from me

     guess I'd better put her off for a while

I'll spend my evenings at home

I'll sit out on the patio

and watch the yard fill up with snow

there's no one else like you

that's all I want to know

there's nothing left to do since you're gone

In the night, lovers touch

lovers cling, lovers clutch

lovers need much too much,

and love moves on

In their dreams, lovers care

love is sure, love is fair

then they wake, it's not there

and love moves on

     You get tired of tough breaks

     you get sick of the same mistakes

     you get used by fools and fakes

     you get cruel and cold   

     Start to think you're a hot shot

     only want the ones you haven't got

     make believe it's real when it's not

     you get old

          But love isn't listening to what you say

          it lasts for a life, or a year, or a day

          you don't get to tell love what to do

          it tells you

All their lives, lovers wait

trust to luck, trust to fate

then love comes, but too late

and love moves on

Heart and soul, lovers try

watch love grow, see it die

don't ask them where their love has gone

nobody knows why love moves on

Nobody knows why love moves on

nobody, nobody knows why love moves on

nobody, nobody, nobody... nobody...

I used to wallow in despair - it never got me anywhere

but it seemed like the thing to do

I would meander through the day, my mood would fade from black to grey

while I thought of all I went through

     Maybe it was me, maybe it was you

     maybe it was just that the time was right -

     but whatever were the reasons, my seasons turned overnight

No more sad songs, I've put them away

those "I've been had" songs can wait for a rainy day

those tunes that moon and groan, I've thrown them out the door

I'm singing sad songs no more

No more blue days. they're all in the past

I'm in a new phase, and I'm gonna make it last

those tunes that moan and whine, I find are not for me

no more sad songs you see

     What's the use of anticipating, waiting for things to go wrong?

     Life's tough enough as it is - why let it ruin your song?

That frustration, it's all in the past

I'm on vacation, and I'm gonna make it last

not gonna make the same mistake I made before

I'm singing sad songs no more

I'm singing sad songs,

those things-are-bound-to-go-bad songs

I'm singing sad songs no more

(Al Basile)

(Al Basile)

(Vernon Duke and John LaTouche)