Life and Death
*All songs written, performed and produced October through December 2021 by Mark Griffith
- Long Time Suffering Fools (Brief Acoustic)
- So Wise
- Two Boats (Indecision Blues)
- Eventually All of Our Heroes
- Life and Death
- Home
- *1977
- Long time Suffering Fools
Long Time Suffering Fools (Brief Acoustic)
This is a brief acoustic version. The complete song is on this page. If this were an album, these two cuts would book end the songs.
There’s no one left around here ‘cept for me
And these other long time suffering fools
The last ride out of town left at noon
There’s no other train expected here soon
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more misery
Every brother and sister has boarded
That train to Calvary
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring
And these other long time suffering fools
The last ride out of town left at noon
There’s no other train expected here soon
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more misery
Every brother and sister has boarded
That train to Calvary
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring
So Wise 12/28/2021
The lyric uses Tarot Card imagery to tell the same old lesson, "Open your heart." Along with the 12-string rhythm guitar, there's mandolin, a few other guitars. and some instrumentation to build up the chorus.
The fortune teller, she said to me
The World is a thief
Biding its' time
Scheming to rob you blind
Only the thief will set you free
Show you truth from dishonesty
There’s a change ahead
That only you can turn the card to find
Where the Magician meets the Fool
Transformation is the rule
The Hanged Man next to the Wheel
Means that things are about to get real
I said lay down your next card
I need to know what happens after
When I asked her what the Two Lovers meant
I can still hear her laughter
Pick yourself up off the floor
It's not like you’re bleeding
There’s always a cost
This is the hurt before the healing
The fool is cutting ties
Living will be his demise
Ask yourself, how did you get so wise
...
The fortune teller said to me
The High Priestess rules our destiny
There’s a voice deep inside
Follow where she guides
In a moonlit room, the knight of cups
To the queen of Wands confides
To reveal in the dark of night
What in the daylight hides
She said open your heart
Show the courage to face your sorrow
You know more than you think
Now, let’s sleep on it untill tomorrow
I said lay down your next card
I need to know what happens after
When I asked her what the Two Lovers meant
I can still hear her laughter
Pick yourself up off the floor
It's not like you’re bleeding
There’s always a cost
This is the hurt before the healing
The fool is cutting ties
Living will be his demise
Ask yourself, how did you get so wise
The World is a thief
Biding its' time
Scheming to rob you blind
Only the thief will set you free
Show you truth from dishonesty
There’s a change ahead
That only you can turn the card to find
Where the Magician meets the Fool
Transformation is the rule
The Hanged Man next to the Wheel
Means that things are about to get real
I said lay down your next card
I need to know what happens after
When I asked her what the Two Lovers meant
I can still hear her laughter
Pick yourself up off the floor
It's not like you’re bleeding
There’s always a cost
This is the hurt before the healing
The fool is cutting ties
Living will be his demise
Ask yourself, how did you get so wise
...
The fortune teller said to me
The High Priestess rules our destiny
There’s a voice deep inside
Follow where she guides
In a moonlit room, the knight of cups
To the queen of Wands confides
To reveal in the dark of night
What in the daylight hides
She said open your heart
Show the courage to face your sorrow
You know more than you think
Now, let’s sleep on it untill tomorrow
I said lay down your next card
I need to know what happens after
When I asked her what the Two Lovers meant
I can still hear her laughter
Pick yourself up off the floor
It's not like you’re bleeding
There’s always a cost
This is the hurt before the healing
The fool is cutting ties
Living will be his demise
Ask yourself, how did you get so wise
Two Boats (Indecision Blues) 12/24/2021
Finished a song that I had been carrying for many years. I think it is now much closer to what I had in mind for it.
Here I am standing with my feet in two boats
One of faith and one of doubt
And the water is rising
Soon I’ll be soaked, soaked to the skin
Both boats are calling
They're calling me in
And I’m out here trying to decide
Which one I should ride
I've known rough waters before
I've been broke up and torn down
I’m really not sure
That you're promising me anything more
Here I am standing with my feet in two boats
One of faith and one of doubt
And the hide tide is coming in
It’s all down to me now to pick one to get in
To drown or decide
To choose or fall in
And I’m out here and the tide it is rising
Soon the choice to be made won't be mine any more
I've lived long enough I've seen rough waters before
I've been torn up and broke down
And I’m really not sure
That you're promising me anything more
(I've got them old indecision blues)
And I don't even know what I want and what I don’t want
I only know I don’t want to decide
I know what I know
But it's what I don't know that is maybe gonna keep me alive
And If I had more time I could to sort it all through
Now I just can't seem to choose
Here I am standing like a fool with my feet in two boats
With these indecion blues
Here I am standing like a fool with my feet in two boats
With these indecion blues
One of faith and one of doubt
And the water is rising
Soon I’ll be soaked, soaked to the skin
Both boats are calling
They're calling me in
And I’m out here trying to decide
Which one I should ride
I've known rough waters before
I've been broke up and torn down
I’m really not sure
That you're promising me anything more
Here I am standing with my feet in two boats
One of faith and one of doubt
And the hide tide is coming in
It’s all down to me now to pick one to get in
To drown or decide
To choose or fall in
And I’m out here and the tide it is rising
Soon the choice to be made won't be mine any more
I've lived long enough I've seen rough waters before
I've been torn up and broke down
And I’m really not sure
That you're promising me anything more
(I've got them old indecision blues)
And I don't even know what I want and what I don’t want
I only know I don’t want to decide
I know what I know
But it's what I don't know that is maybe gonna keep me alive
And If I had more time I could to sort it all through
Now I just can't seem to choose
Here I am standing like a fool with my feet in two boats
With these indecion blues
Here I am standing like a fool with my feet in two boats
With these indecion blues
Eventually All of Our Heroes 12/12/2021
I like this one unreservedly.
I've been seeking validation
Giving away my power
As if I had no say in
The worth of my own creation
I've put too much trust in
The need for consultation
I’ve been too accepting
Of other’s evaluation
If I put you above me
How could you possibly love me
If I put you below me
How could I expect you to know me
We're all of us only human
With built in limitations
Come here beside me
Take off that crown
We're all of us only human
I understand your hesitation
Eventually all of our heroes
Will let us down
I've been seeking the approval of strangers
Instead of trusting in my own vision
As if my dreams required revision
Now it's live and let live
I've been looking to authority
To grant me some kind of permission
Now I'm out on my own volition
To see what life can give
If I put you ahead of me
How could I choose you instead of me
If I put you behind me
How could I expect you to find me
We're all of us only human
Doing the best we can
Come here beside me
Take my hand
We're all of us only human
We live and we understand
Eventually all of heroes
Let us stand
I'm not looking back at the past
Or at all the shadows I’ve cast
I'm standing out here in the sunshine
Eventually all of our heroes will resign
I’ve waited my whole life long
I just wrote my new favorite song
Don't need nobody to tell me I'm wrong
Eventually all of our heroes will be gone
Eventually all of our heroes
Look to us to be strong
Eventually all of our heroes let us down
Giving away my power
As if I had no say in
The worth of my own creation
I've put too much trust in
The need for consultation
I’ve been too accepting
Of other’s evaluation
If I put you above me
How could you possibly love me
If I put you below me
How could I expect you to know me
We're all of us only human
With built in limitations
Come here beside me
Take off that crown
We're all of us only human
I understand your hesitation
Eventually all of our heroes
Will let us down
I've been seeking the approval of strangers
Instead of trusting in my own vision
As if my dreams required revision
Now it's live and let live
I've been looking to authority
To grant me some kind of permission
Now I'm out on my own volition
To see what life can give
If I put you ahead of me
How could I choose you instead of me
If I put you behind me
How could I expect you to find me
We're all of us only human
Doing the best we can
Come here beside me
Take my hand
We're all of us only human
We live and we understand
Eventually all of heroes
Let us stand
I'm not looking back at the past
Or at all the shadows I’ve cast
I'm standing out here in the sunshine
Eventually all of our heroes will resign
I’ve waited my whole life long
I just wrote my new favorite song
Don't need nobody to tell me I'm wrong
Eventually all of our heroes will be gone
Eventually all of our heroes
Look to us to be strong
Eventually all of our heroes let us down
Life and Death 1o/23/2021
I'll let this one stand without explanation.
I worked that land called Loneliness
Where nothing can survive
Loneliness is just a long slow death
For anything alive
I dug in a mine called Hopelessness
Where there’s no gold to be found
Hopelessness is just a long slow slide
To six feet underground
I lived in a town called Helplessness
There was no place there to hide
Helplessness is just a long slow sleep
From which many souls have died
I rode on a mule called Stubbornness
As if my life was all arranged
Stubbornness is just a long slow way
To avoid what’s bound to change
I boarded that train called Faithlessness
As if that would improve my station
Faithlessness is just a long slow ride
With no destination
I lived in a country called Restlessness
There was nothing there to see
Restlessness is just a long slow trip
To wearing out eventually
I found a book called Happiness
It was under lock and seal
It opened when I realized
What was and was not real
I travel this road called Life and Death
The seasons keep on turning
Life and death are just long slow lessons
To teach us what what we need to be learning
Where nothing can survive
Loneliness is just a long slow death
For anything alive
I dug in a mine called Hopelessness
Where there’s no gold to be found
Hopelessness is just a long slow slide
To six feet underground
I lived in a town called Helplessness
There was no place there to hide
Helplessness is just a long slow sleep
From which many souls have died
I rode on a mule called Stubbornness
As if my life was all arranged
Stubbornness is just a long slow way
To avoid what’s bound to change
I boarded that train called Faithlessness
As if that would improve my station
Faithlessness is just a long slow ride
With no destination
I lived in a country called Restlessness
There was nothing there to see
Restlessness is just a long slow trip
To wearing out eventually
I found a book called Happiness
It was under lock and seal
It opened when I realized
What was and was not real
I travel this road called Life and Death
The seasons keep on turning
Life and death are just long slow lessons
To teach us what what we need to be learning
Home (Started 2004, finished November, 2021)
Been carrying around this lyric for a while, I originally recorded it in 2004 in a collector of a few songs. I recorded it here as a blues with a 2 & 4 "church" clap feel, featuring a mandolin riff.
If home is a place we're returning
And life is road that we travel
While all our sorrows are burning behind us
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
Through the tough times
We'll leave 'em behind
We’ll find our way home together
If love is a new day dawning
And hope is a lady with light in her eyes
How can we sleep through the morning
While she sings her song calling
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll know sad days
They won’t last always
We’ll find our way home together
If desire is a burden we carry
We’ll let of all expectations
We'll say farewell to old friends
And so long to relations
Goodbyes are for now, not forever
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll see better days
May they last always
We’ll find our way home together
And life is road that we travel
While all our sorrows are burning behind us
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
Through the tough times
We'll leave 'em behind
We’ll find our way home together
If love is a new day dawning
And hope is a lady with light in her eyes
How can we sleep through the morning
While she sings her song calling
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll know sad days
They won’t last always
We’ll find our way home together
If desire is a burden we carry
We’ll let of all expectations
We'll say farewell to old friends
And so long to relations
Goodbyes are for now, not forever
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll find our way home together
We’ll see better days
May they last always
We’ll find our way home together
1977 11/12/2021
I took some liberty with the dates while writing this lyric. Coincidentally, I saw an article that "Stairway" was fifty years old to the day that I finished the song lyrics.
*This recording features DJB on bass guitar.
*This recording features DJB on bass guitar.
Talking about way back when...
“School Days”, 1977
FM radio, still playing “Stairway to Heaven"
Up all night learned to play it just right
Next day, trying to stay awake through period seven
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Keeping it real, 1987
FM radio, “Joshua Tree”
Working man, weekends with the band
Searching for some truth, looking for a plan
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Barely holding on, 1997
FM radio, songs I don’t understand
Learning some new rhythms, putting on some Dylan
Family man, ready and willin’
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
The whole world's dazed and confused, 2007
FM radio is now the morning talk show
Kids nearly grown, soon be out on their own
Me, writing my songs, completely unknown
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Some kid’s streaming a song from fifty years ago
He says, “Hey that band, they really had soul”
He stays up all night learns to play it just right
What’d that singer say? “To be a rock and not to roll”
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somehow everything
“School Days”, 1977
FM radio, still playing “Stairway to Heaven"
Up all night learned to play it just right
Next day, trying to stay awake through period seven
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Keeping it real, 1987
FM radio, “Joshua Tree”
Working man, weekends with the band
Searching for some truth, looking for a plan
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Barely holding on, 1997
FM radio, songs I don’t understand
Learning some new rhythms, putting on some Dylan
Family man, ready and willin’
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
The whole world's dazed and confused, 2007
FM radio is now the morning talk show
Kids nearly grown, soon be out on their own
Me, writing my songs, completely unknown
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somedays everything, somedays nothing at all
Some kid’s streaming a song from fifty years ago
He says, “Hey that band, they really had soul”
He stays up all night learns to play it just right
What’d that singer say? “To be a rock and not to roll”
What’s that kid got to do with me now
Somehow everything
Long-time Suffering Fools 11/24/2021
This one came out of nowhere..was not expecting it. I recorded it the same day.
There’s no one left around here ‘cept for me
And these other long time suffering fools
The last ride out of town left at noon
There’s no other train expected here soon
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more misery
Every brother and sister has boarded
That train to Calvary
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring
Those long time suffering fools
Hold doors open while crowds push their way through
Our patiently waiting angels
Remind us there's nothing to do
While money and goods trade places and...
all that brings
These suffering fools hold your places
Pleasure and pain exchange faces
Let choirs sing
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring
And these other long time suffering fools
The last ride out of town left at noon
There’s no other train expected here soon
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more misery
Every brother and sister has boarded
That train to Calvary
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring
Those long time suffering fools
Hold doors open while crowds push their way through
Our patiently waiting angels
Remind us there's nothing to do
While money and goods trade places and...
all that brings
These suffering fools hold your places
Pleasure and pain exchange faces
Let choirs sing
Yeah we’re alright with taken on
A little more suffering
Every brother and sister has boarded that train
Hear freedom ring