1. |
The Street
01:47
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The Street
I
In our lives of
I7
Having much
IV
We very often
I
Just lose touch
I
While we sit
I7
With lots to eat
I7 IV
We give no thought
IV I
Upon the street
I V
We give no thought
V I
Upon the street
V
We have plenty
IV
Why not share
I
No One should be
V
Be homeless anywhere (Repeat)
My house is nice
Safe and warm
There are those
With clothes all torn
We have nice shoes
with soft warm socks
They try to stay
Warm in their box
They try to stay
Warm in their box
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2. |
Knight of the Road
02:27
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Em
Six days from home.
No place to take a break.
Load at dawn in Calgary,
For Kamloops by eight
Nothing on the passes
But rigs and bears
Tried to stop for food and fuel
Nobody there.
G D Em
Sure feel like a Knight of the Road
G D Em
When a shift becomes a Quest
A
Bringing food to those in need
G A
a cog in a countrywide supply-side chain of wheels .
Em
Six days from home.
No place to take a break.
Load at dawn in Calgary,
For Kamloops by eight
Nothing on the passes
But rigs and bears
Tried to stop for food and fuel
Nobody there.
G D Em
Sure feel like a Knight of the Road
G D Em
When a shift becomes a Quest
A
Bringing food to those in need
G A
a cog in a countrywide supply-side chain of wheels .
Eyes peeled wide
Aimed at the ground
Logs won’t be checked
At the compound
Hope to squeeze in
Some sleep and a shower
Back on the highway
In the pre dawn hours.
Bridge
D
On the wings of Mercury
Em
Home on my mind
D
Worry in the shotgun seat
Em
Family left behind.
Instrumental
Chorus
Instrumental
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3. |
Uncertainty Machine
01:45
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The Uncertainty Engine
Music Dragondreams
Lyrics + Vocal Melody S. McGaughey
Intro (8 Bars)
V1 (16 Bars)
He lives in an a tower
That shares his name
Toys with the poor
Never feels shame.
V2 (16 Bars)
He'll say that he speaks
for the common man
Sows hatred for others
from far away lands
Chorus ( 16 Bars)
He's a sower of lies,
Sells a false dream
Quick to lay blame
Cause you to scream
Always deny
On every screen
uncertainty
machine
V3 (16 Bars)
Instrumental Interlude--- Let 'er rip DD
V4 (16 Bars)
In lands round the world
It's always the same
We're on to their tricks
We know them by name
Chorus2 (16 Bars)
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4. |
Behind Panes of Glass
01:32
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We tapped upon your window, stood out on the drive
The dog barking happily on the other side
I wanted to embrace but these groceries have to do
I hope behind the glass you heard us say we love You
V2
The neighbour left a box of eggs on the stair.
More than enough for myself and folks to share
My dad came to the hall, but I could not come near
We had to keep our distance, faces streaked with tears
Chorus
I want to wrap you in a warm embrace
Watching your eyes light up, your smiling face
Keeping our distance, This too shall pass.
Longing to hug from behind panes of glass.
Bridge- Outro Whisper
Though we can’t touch, I look into your eyes.
Respectful of distance, we improvise.
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5. |
Year with No Spring
03:19
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© Sean McGaughey July 27, 2020
V1
It has been the strangest of winters
A season of identical days
Invisible storms surrounding the globe
While the people shelter in place
V2
New wisdom can be seen shining brightly in the heavens
But little can be found on the ground.
Some say nature began to return
To the near empty streets in the towns.
Chorus
This will be known as the year with no spring
As frost transmuted into fire
The rich squeeze profit from the hardship of the poor.
While the poor unite in their ire
V3
The silent winter gave way to fire in the streets
As centuries injustice came to head
And the hoi polloi refuse to believe
Turning their backs upon the dead
Bridge
There’s a time to stay sheltered, and a time to stand
Though they are called heroes, they’re exploited
Slaves in their own land.
Chorus
V4
We hope the world can be brought together.
While all nations press pause
But the storm still rages, winter continues
It never ended just thawed
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6. |
Is It Finished?
00:32
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Is it Finished? © Aug 2-6, S. McGaughey and M. Greenberg
Intro
Fx2, Gx2, Fx2, Dx2
V1
Em
Woke up this morning,
A7
Not knowing what’s to come
Em
Like my dreams have merged with day to day
A7
And plans have come undone
Em
Is it a worry?
A7
Or maybe a solution?
G
If tomorrow’s unknown
A
And today is still in play. (Is this..)
Chorus
D
Is this the beginning of the end,
C
Or the end of the beginning?
D
Seems like forever--
C
Was it just yesterday?
D
Call it the new normal
C
but it’s anything but.
F
Have we even begun?
G
Or is it finished?
F
Have we even begun?
D
Or is it finished?
V2
Em
You turn vague feelings
A7
Into opinions
Em
Opinions always
A7
Trump the facts.
Em
You make an enemy
A7
Out of science
G
You think disease
A
Is just an act (Is this..)
Instrumental
[Emx2, A7 x2] repeat 3
Bridgelike 2 lines to final chorusx2.
Gx2
Can I still believe in hope
Ax2
..at all… (Is this..)
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7. |
Living Wage
01:47
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Lyrics by Stephen Wort. https://stephenwordsmith.bandcamp.com/
Sean McGaughey: Vocals, Composition, and BIAB programming.
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8. |
Falling
01:51
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Curious and Curiouser
gently falling
downward unceasing
can't see the bottom
or remember what's up top
Can't Stop
Can't Slow Down
Until We Hit the Ground
falling slowly
falling dreaming
I Wonder if we'll Land
or forever drop
Can't Stop
Can't Slow Down
Until We Hit the Ground
there's that rabbit once more
he's going to be late
hurry don't be left behind
we cannot hesitate
one sip makes you smaller
a rag doll on the floor
head out to a garden
waiting past the door
Can't Stop
Can't Slow Down
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9. |
Hold the Line
03:01
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Hold the line
Sean McGaughey © February 19, 2020
Recording capo3 Key of Eb
C
We did not draw this line
G
But we will walk this line
F
We will hold the line together
C-F G
We. Will. Not. Cross.
C
We Stand in Line
G
We can redraw the line.
F
Unity is strength
C-G C
we can stand up to the Boss
1)
C
Every decade or so, another con regime
F C G
concocts a crisis in public education
C
They hobble and cut until a shell remains
F G- G7
A fire-sale for their cronies has always been the scheme.
Chorus
2)
But parents and teachers can dance their dance again
With all its familiar steps and turns.
They use slander and half-truths to advance their plans
We have won before, we will fight them and win.
Chorus
Bridge
Am Em
A frog in a cauldron doesn’t really notice
Am Em
When the comfortable water becomes dangerously hot
Am Em
So when left to simmer in a pressure cooker
Dm Dm/C G G7
It could be boiled alive or it could jump out of the pot
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10. |
Wasn't it Good
03:02
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Lyrics:
C G C /
The teddies came down from the windowsill
C F C /
The teddies came down from the ledge
C G F /
No longer a sight for the sorest eyes
C G C C
A beacon brought down from a hedge
C G C /
Fuzzy Theo observed the commotion
C F C /
Neptune in this ocean of Ted,
C G F /
With a grin on his face stitched so firmly in place
C G C C
As he looked o'er his shoulder and said:
F / C /
Hey, wasn't it good for a while, eh lads?
F / G /
Wasn't it fun for a while?
F / C Am
We had our day in the sun, eh lads?
C G C /
And brought all the children a smile
C G C /
And brought all the children a smile
C G C /
The teddies came down from the windowsill
C F C /
The teddies went into the box
C G F /
The boxes went into the workshop, then
C G C
The workshop went under the locks
C G C /
The people came out of the houses
C F C /
Stepped blinking out into the calm
C G F /
And Theo the fuzzy was beaming because he
C G C /
Could shout to his brothers in arms:
G / / /
We brightened the days at their darkest
F F C /
And had us an absolute riot
G / / /
Yeah, wasn't it good for a while, eh lads?'
F F G G7
But all of the lads had gone quiet...
The teddies had gone from the windowsills
The bears had all vanished from sight
The lockdown was lifted, our thoughts had now shifted
To setting a country to rights
And Theo the fuzzy still lingered
With a grin as if he had a choice
He turned round to cry with a twitch in his eye
And a catch in his cottony voice
Hey, wasn't it good for a while, eh lads?
Wasn't it fun for a while?
We sure had our day in the sun, eh lads?
And brought all the children a smile
Hey, wasn't it grand while it lasted?
He would cry to whoever was there
Turn and smile with great charm to his comrades-in-arms...
But everything round him was bare
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11. |
Harvest
04:10
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Verse progression D A C G
V1
We survey the garden at sunset
At a bounty exceeding all expectations
A season of labour is nearing an end
It is time for rest and celebrations
V2
We tilled and planted, watered and weeded
Prayed for rain, watched the sky
Kept on praying, at the end of a shovel
Confident in the reply
Chorus Progression D C Gx2
And the rains came, And the sun shone down
And the garden flourished
The harvest is greater than we hoped
We have plenty and more.
Who knows what next year has in store.
V3
Lay it all in for the winter
We can weather the longest storms
Save some seed to plant in the springtime
Share what we have with the poor.
Chorus
Bridge A G D
For soil, sun, wind, and rain we give thanks
We sing our song of thanksgiving
In all things and always we give thanks
For another season worth living.
Chorus
Extro D C G (Repeat alot)
We sing our song of thanksgiving
For another season worth living.
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12. |
The Caller
02:39
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The Caller
Sean McGaughey © August 12, 2019 ¾ country waltz in C
C C/B Am Am/G
He packs up the pickup with boxes of records,
F G
a pair of turntables, and a PA
C C/B Am Am/G
He sets out early across the prairies
F F G G7
To a Village Hall dance at the end of the day.
Chorus:
F C
Bow to your partner, Bow to your corner
F C
Allemande left, circle right.
F C C/B Am
Dosado, with your partner
G G C
and promenade on home.
He rides the foothills six legged,
Connected as brothers, horse and man
If a square can be made among the riders
He calls a horseback dance, out on the land.
Chorus
Bridge
G
When the high school boys
Am
were playing Be-bop-a-lua
G Am
He was down in the basement, honing his craft.
G Am Am/G
For fifty years, he’s travelled the highways
F G G7
Ready when anybody wants to dance.
Chorus
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13. |
Let Down Your Hair
02:55
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Let Down Your Hair
Lyrics Jane Eggers, Feb 2020
Music Sean McGaughey
6/8
VERSE:
G x 2
Draw the curtain
Em X2
Fix your mask
C x2
Straighten your story
D Dsus-D
In case they ask
VERSE:
Gx2
It’s all theatre
Em x2
They want a show
Cx2
Let down your hair
D Dsus-D
And off you go
CHORUS:
Em
Star goes shooting
G
Across the sky
Em
Find your power
D Dsus-D
Let it magnify
G
Clock ticks
Em
Comet flares
C
Time to see the world
D Dsus D
And let down your hair.
VERSE:
Been learning from books
In that ivory tower
Now it’s time to shine
Find your superpower.
VERSE:
May feel alien
But this is your day
So let down your hair
And get on your way.
CHORUS:
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14. |
All the More
03:25
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Yeah I'm a sneaky one
That's what you say about me
But when it comes to it
You've never had to doubt me
I'm just that sort of person
Who's there through good and bad
I'm just that sort of person
Who'll be there when you're sad
You know you can count on me
You know you always have
You know you can count on me
I'll be your heart's great salve
You know you can always count on me
Yeah I'm a tricky one
That's what you say about me
But when it comes to it
You just can't live without me
I'm just that sort of person
Who you just can't resist
I'm just that sort of person
Who just wants to be kissed (by you)
You know you can count on me
You know you always have
You know you can count on me
I'll be your heart's great salve
You know you can always count on me
Let the storms rage around us
Let the winds howl and roar
Let the rains pour down on us
I'm covered by your love all the more
You know you can count on me
You know you always have
You know you can count on me
I'll be your heart's great salve
You know you can always count on me
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15. |
Sam Beckett's Blues
03:25
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Traveller (Sam Beckett's Blues)
(c) Feb 5, 2020 Sean McGaughey FAWM 3
Intro D F#m G A
V1 Bar 5-12
D F#m
I always wanted to be a time traveller,
G A
Visit seven wonders, ancient Rome
D F#m
I'm a tourist trapped in the 20th century
G Gm7
Swallowed in crowds, always alone
Chorus (esque) 13-17
A Bm
I take other people's problems and make them my own.
A Em- Em7
Wishing the answers I find for them will lead me back home.
V2
D F#m
Each week I leap to another time, another body
G A
Al and Ziggy help me try to set things right
D F#m
What I dreamt would be the dawn of a new age
G Gm7
Turned out for me to be an endless night
Chorus
Bridge
C D Dsus D
I'm tired of the leaping.
C D Dsus D
Tired of receiving other lives for safekeeping.
C D Dsus D
Tired of wondering if this leap will be my last
A Em7 A
Too tired to inhabit a stranger's past
Extro
D Bm
I want to get off this endless highway,
D Bm
Will the next exit finally go my way
D Bm
Or am I destined forever to roam,
G D
never finding my way home
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16. |
Wasn't it Fun Part II
01:54
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Aug 14, Lockdown Verse Wasn't it Fun: Part II
Intro
C G C /
C G C /
The teddies came back to the windowsill
C F C /
Their soft arms stretched wide as their grin
C G F /
How swiftly we'd acted, but while we're distracted
C G C C
Our old friend '19 slipped back in
C G C /
C G C /
Papa David looked fondly upon them
C F C /
As he brought his work laptop inside
C G F /
And the quarantine sun lit the face of each one
C G C C
He then paused for a moment and sighed
C G C /
F / C /
Hey, wasn't it fun for a while, eh lads?
F / G /
Wasn't it fun for a while?
F / C Am
We had our season of freedom, lads
C G C /
Went crazy, but did it in style
F / C /
Yeah, wasn't it great to be out there?
F / C /
Not much, but it sure was enough'
F / C Am
With his spirits still high he searched for a reply
C G C /
But everyone round him was stuffed
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Sean McGaughey Ontario
I am a folk singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and children's entertainer in Simcoe County Ontario. By day, I am a
mild-mannered Elementary School teacher-librarian.
Since 2013, I have been participating the the February Album Writing Month Challenge at fawm.org to write 14 songs in February.
This year I challenged myself to up my musicianship and production values. This is the result.
... more
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