Irene

Where the Braid Hills they watch over me

St Mary's Place runs to the sea

Irene will you look out for me

Down the road we knew

With the girls in the afternoon

The hand of friendship broken too soon

But they all knew when you left the room

That your heart was free

In your heart was Ireland's fields

On your lips was Athenrye

In the warmth of a long afternoon

The summer of hope and your last goodbye

Light the rain on Causewayside

Sweet the breeze on an Edinburgh sky

If I'd only known when you walked by

That your time was near

In hopes we shared our dreams

Small moments, no great schemes

For all the small things we need and feel

Are tied up here in our field of dreams

Light moves across this world of change

Like glass in a crystal glaze

We come together to find our way

Through the warmth of friendship in our lasting days

My Back Pages

Bob Dylan

Crimson flames tied through my ears, rollin' high and mighty traps

Pounced with fire on flaming roads using ideas as my maps

"We'll meet on edges, soon, " said I, proud 'neath heated brow

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth, "rip down all hate, " I screamed

Lies that life is black and white spoke from my skull, I dreamed

Romantic facts of musketeers foundationed deep, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

Girls' faces formed the forward path from phony jealousy

To memorizing politics of ancient history

Flung down by corpse evangelists, unthought of, though somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now

A self-ordained professor's tongue too serious to fool

Spouted out that liberty is just equality in school

"Equality, " I spoke the word as if a wedding vow

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach

Fearing not that I'd become my enemy in the instant that I preach

My existence led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats too noble to neglect

Deceived me into thinking I had something to protect

Good and bad, I define these terms quite clear, no doubt, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then I'm younger than that now

Walk On By

M. Merritt

Will you walk with me

Let love be your guide,

be your heart's eyes

See what shadows hide.

We do not hear,

we don't hear the cry of need

And with closed minds,

we just receive.

Will you walk on by?

Will you walk on by?

Will you walk on by?

Along the wrong side of the street.

It could be me,

it could be you my friend

Yes so easily

the strongest tree can bend.

But you are warm,

warmed by loving arms.

Your mind's not torn

by thorns of harm.

Oh sweet success,

see how your money's grown.

And your fine address,

this is no cardboard home.

But do you spare a thought

or do you ever reflect

on how it's bought?

We forget who we reject.