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Leap Songs, Part 4

by James Tristan Redding

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1.
240201: Must Not Be 03:13
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Last night a city crash landed at my door In a thousand pieces badly burned All of its people were shaken to the core No one knew which way to turn What can you do when a city calls on you To overcome the very worst I am no doctor but I got nothing to lose So I thought out loud what I'd do first Well I'd start out with a deep breath Get some oxygen inside Might stumble through a prayer maybe two That I made it out alive Listen close to the silence in the air Grab the phone and call a friend In the end everything will be alright And if it's not alright by now Then it must be not the end Last night my city toppled upside down Crashed into a stranger's door Flames were flying ship had run aground And I was shaken to the core So I turned to ask my neighbor With desperation on my face Is there a secret he's saving For getting through this kind of day
2.
240202: Because Of Who I Am 03:42
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We've had our problems Maybe more than our fair share Not for lack of trying Or because I didn't care Tonight your teardrops Fall on yesterday's romance Small wonder how it happened Because of who I am Well if you're really leaving Finally giving up I know got your reasons Enough can be enough Still think you should stay Give it one more chance But I know either way It's because of who I am All of the good times Live in both our memory We gave it all we had For God and everyone to see These broken pieces Surround us where we stand I'll take all the blame Because of who I am
3.
240203: Now I've Heard Everything 02:11
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Thought I'd heard all before From driving rain to falling tears Heard you say you just don't care anymore Last thing I thought I'd ever hear I heard the sound of one hand clapping And the smack of one door closing Heard myself ask what just happened The sound of footsteps Know right where they're going I've heard a newborn baby cry And I've heard a Godly woman sigh Heard a sheriff cuss me out and take a swing I heard you say I did you wrong And I have done all along Tonight you're really running off with him Now I've heard everything Well I heard the power of forty horses It was a mighty mighty sound Heard a tree falling in the forest And I was the only one around I've heard a convict get forgiven And a kid learn long division Heard an alcoholic turning down a drink I've heard an honest politician And a sinner find religion Heard the reason why the caged bird really sings Well I heard the hymn the voices carry In the holy monastery And the monk he told me what he really thinks
4.
240204: Hard To Believe 03:46
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If you made the mountains you planted the trees And painted the colors on all the leaves Forgive me for saying it’s hard to believe After everything else you think about me If you built the heavens the earth and the sea Every dimension of what’s in between It’s hard to imagine with all that you see You still find a reason to care about me Hard to get that far outside myself If I ever have I can’t even tell Hard accepting the help that I need The way you love me it's hard to believe I know what I’ve done I know where I've been My soul was dirty and you washed it clean When I don’t deserve it you still set me free Swear that I’m grateful but it’s hard to believe Hard to keep getting down on my knees And hard to know why you keep saving me Hard accepting the help I still need The way you love me it's hard to believe
5.
240205: Lend That Man A Beer 03:20
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There's a tavern nearby With a jukebox inside And a river of cowboy tears There's a man waiting there On an unanswered prayer Someone lend that man a beer When he woke up today Everything seemed okay Until his good luck disappeared Now he don't feel like talking About life at rock bottom Someone lend that man a beer Might pay it back maybe not It takes time climbin' back on top We've all be there before Gone for broke and can't afford To pay the price to face our fears Someone lend that man a beer No I don't know his name But it sure feels the same As the first night I walked in here With my heart in my hands One more empty man I couldn't help but overhear Someone else at the bar With a half lit cigar Dangling loosely off of his beard Take a moment to say As he gestured my way Someone lend that man a beer
6.
240206: Younger 03:32
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There is a kind of hunger Deeper than the skin And shapes the way we feel about These bodies that we're in It's easy not to notice When the side effects begin The room starts to spin Oh I can't win There is a kind of grocery list You can't buy at the store It doesn't taste of anything Because that's not what it's for It gives a body feelings Like you never felt before I tried it Lord Oh I want more Fill me up this empty cup Quench my thirst and feed my hunger Let me taste the kind of faith That makes this aching body younger Oh I feel younger There is a kind of sleeping In which we stay awake Our bodies keep on moving While our spirit takes a break Both our eyes are open As we slowly drift away How long can we stay It's hard to say
7.
240207: Would If I Could 03:31
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She said I'll never forgive you I told her I understood She asked if it's in the rearview I said I would if I could She let me in on a secret It didn't do me no good She made me promise to keep it I said I would if I could I know what I did And I'd do it again Yeah everything changes But I don't know when We both know I won't And I probably should Whatever it's worth I would if I could She got me missing those old days It didn't take but one look She told me give your old ways I said I would if I could There's wrong and there's right There's day and there's up all night There's hers and there's his And then whatever this is
8.
240208: Harder When You're Sick 04:05
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It hurts to talk hurts to sing Hurts to do most anything I got these chills down my spine And I'm tired all the time Whatever jerk invented viruses I got a bone to pick The days keep marching forward Just harder when you're sick Stocking cap beneath my hood Thermometer don't look too good Canceled plans so I can sleep Eat chicken soup and vitamin C I try to be a badass My ass is truly kicked Big world keeps on turning Just harder when you're sick Some future day I will die Leave behind these bones of mine And even then six underground No guarantee I'll stay down I'm either living or I'm dying On the bench or in the mix And I plan to carpe every diem Just harder when you're sick
9.
240209: Break Me 03:08
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Break me Why you wanna' break me Make me Shatter if you can Take me For all that you can take me Maybe I got other plans Bend just like the branches Of a willow tree Bend just like a dancer Tension and release Bend just like a feather Floating on the breeze Bend because you'll never Never break me So you're in it now A world of pain Wanna' make me drown In a hard rain Your flood begins Oh but it's no use The skin I'm in Well it's waterproof
10.
240210: Every Road We Walk 03:11
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I've seen this road before The same old houses up the street Shoes I wear are getting worn Know all the cracks in the concrete Feels like nothing ever changes Like a song playing on repeat See the same old names and faces Anywhere I go they follow me Just want to see the world To find someplace I've never been But I keep walking circles Wind up right back here again However far I wander Shangri-La to Timbuk Three For every road we walk There's two more we never see And the night is like a highway That can take me far away I'm right back in the driveway Come the light of day For all the destinations Anywhere but here By the end of every pavement They all but disappear
11.
240211: Nobody Does 03:31
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Something in the moonlight Beaming from above I don't know how it happens Maybe nobody does No I cannot explain it The feeling when we touch I don't understand But I guess nobody does I don't want to lose you Watch you slip away Let go of a moment That's passing anyway Grasping at the air Holding tight because I don't like goodbye Maybe nobody does Thousand things to tell you And still it's not enough Can't seem to find the words I guess nobody does The silence in between us Hits me like a drug And I don't want to lose it I bet nobody does
12.
240212: Green 03:08
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When I was a child filled up with dreams Heart got so big it burst at the seams I had a glow like you've never seen But like any child I was green When I got some time under my belt Every night I dreamt of great wealth Silver and gold all for myself I was still green but I couldn't tell As green as a pasture green like the pines Green ever after sweet and sublime Emeralds and clovers valleys and streams Make this old soul the same shade of green When this old body has run out of steam And I close my eyes to all that I've seen They'll dig a hole for all but my dreams I'll make the grass grow bright and green
13.
240213: Say Captain 03:09
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Say Captain do you hear The sound beyond this door Thunder from the depths of hell Foretells a mighty storm Say Captain do you know The crew is all afraid We shiver while we're waiting for The words you bravely say Let the wind rise up around us Let the rain keep falling down We'll be safe until the morning We need not make a sound Say Captain do you fear The lightning just offshore That casts upon its denizens A spell we can't ignore Say Captain do you mourn The ship long since condemned We feel its loss in silence Until you say again Say Captain do you feel That God has cursed our hands And we will spend eternity Drowning on dry land Say Captain do you wish The sea had claimed our lives Have you grace or penitence We'll make it through the night
14.
240214: Her Name Is Hope 03:30
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Her name is Hope ain't seen her in a while I guess she just been busy But we go way back to when I was a child Name is Hope and she sure is pretty The day we met I just heard the news Doctor said it's cancer Heavy questions for a kid without a clue Name is Hope she got all the answers Her name is Hope and she's the one I swear I trust to kingdom come Keeps my soul from coming undone Her name is Hope she's the one Called me up when mom and daddy split To check on how I'm feeling Said she believed that I could handle it Her name is Hope she's one in a million Her name is Hope she's all I really need Reason I keep going Times are tough but she makes me believe Name is Hope she remains unbroken
15.
240215: Someone Else's Valentine 04:07
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Taking chances stolen glances Rush of something new I'm not proud to say it Don't make it any less true Hotel key in my pocket And your kisses on my mind Making memories With someone else's Valentine Dozen roses silly notions Nights that never end Counting down the hours Until we meet again My hand in your hand And your hand in mine I am falling fast For someone else's Valentine Sweet excuses maybe foolish And a fool I have always been Hard to keep on loving you Out here on the fence Between trying to forget you Or lay it all on the line For one more moment With someone else's Valentine
16.
240216: Runner's High 02:22
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Heart pounds legs cramp Runner’s high Mouth dry cold hands Runner’s high Feet swell ears ring Runner’s high Shirt drenched eyes sting Runner’s high Runner’s high what it’s all about Runner’s high never coming down Runner’s high can’t get enough Runner’s high so why does it suck so much Breath short knees weak Runner’s high Can’t think can’t speak Runner’s high
17.
240217: The Star You're Wishing On 02:21
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A midnight canvas painted on the sky Darkness broken by a million little lights Up there to remind you you’re right where you belong You and the star you’re wishing on Any dreamer waking from a dream Knows the answers rising in the steam To the questions that have been there all along Between you and the star you’re wishing on Star above you is a bright one You alone can pick the right one To light the truth and fill those holes Inside of you with a song Keep wishing on the star you're wishing on Candle burning for the laughter and the tears World keeps turning ‘til the days stretch into years Moment passes it's here until it’s gone All but you and the star you’re wishing on
18.
240218: Mark 01:52
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My name is Mark and I'm a billionaire I'm hated 'round the world and I don't care 'Cause I got all your information Down there locked up in the basement I dare you comment like and share Name is Mark and I dropped out of school To drink near beer and make my own damn rules And now I'm getting my revenge On all those old fair weather friends Finally rich enough someone thinks I'm cool Name is Mark and my haircut really sucks My life is one part skill three parts luck I stalk your photos while you're sleeping Saved your password for safe keeping You don't like it I don't give a Zuck
19.
240219: Show Me Where It Hurts 03:56
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In your eyes there's a rainbow One part cloud one part halo Shine them colors for everyone to see But baby please just for me Show me where it hurts I can take it Let me in your heart I won't break it Where you been before You're not there anymore I've seen you at your worst And I know what you're worth Show me where it hurts I hear pain through the pleasure Deep inside like buried treasure Broken smile that twinkle in your eye Come on honey if you don't mind You got this sweetness Don't see it as a weakness You're stronger than you know Like tempered steel Except you're strong enough to feel Both high and low and let it show
20.
240220: The Prison Shuffle 03:00
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Matching outfits on the dance floor One more secret whispered slow Sharing appetizers Trading deep desires No more midnights all alone Orange stripes across the mess hall Danger's coming rumors fly Steal my cold spaghetti And tell me something heavy Nothing quite like serving time Prison shuffle let's all Do the prison shuffle Sleeping late on lazy Sundays Bright and early Monday morn Tell me what you think Of my brand new ink It's like I've been reborn Oh the days all blend together Except when they raid your cell Did my own tattoo There's nothing left to lose But the bible on my shelf
21.
240221: What If I Love You 03:12
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I know it's getting late Almost time to walk away You probably shouldn't ask me to stay I know that you've been hurt Heart's been dragged through the dirt Last thing you wanted those 3 little words But what if I love you What if it's real And what if you're feeling Everything that I feel What if we're living An ever after kind of love You and me forever Could that be enough Can't believe it all began With two old friends just holding hands I'd forgive you if you leave me where I stand
22.
240222: Roses Are Red 03:19
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Roses are red the rest is all blue Are you leaving me or am I leaving you Just 'cause you say it don't make it true Roses are red except when they're not Sometimes a memory is all that I got Bright golden daydreams can't make them stop If you put the color into my world What can I do when it all starts to blur The paint is all bleeding thorns hit a nerve Roses are red especially yours Roses are red not black or white Love may be blind but what's right is right The heart doesn't lie or change overnight
23.
240223: String Around Your Finger 02:18
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Tie a string around your finger Hook it up to my heart Think of it just like a trigger You can blow me apart Whenever you want whatever you think You make me move with a smile and a wink I will do anything I will do anything Pull on that string Strap your dreams to the starlight Rig them up like a kite Hand the string to me darling And let it fly every night Whenever you want whatever you think You make me move with a smile and a wink I will do anything I will do anything Pull on that string Tie a string around your finger Hook it up to my heart Think of it just like a trigger You can blow me apart
24.
240224: How I Remember You 03:16
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Mama thinks you had a temper Little sister says it's true Of all the things that I remember It's not how I remember you Teacher says you never met her With all the parents after school I'm not saying I know better Just not how I remember you Before the sun came out this morning I tried on your favorite shoes Sat reflecting while the world was waking up That's how I remember you The office looks just how you left it Neat and tidy through and through Course the family felt neglected But that's not how I remember you Before the moon went down this morning I pulled out those leather shoes Sat in silence as the birds began to sing That's how I remember you Held the phone the way you held it Smelled one of your cigars And felt the wool against my elbows In that big old coat of yours
25.
240225: Dead End Town 02:35
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I was born inside this house Lived here all my life And I never gave much thought To what's outside Until the bottle took my father And the rifle took his wife Filled the tank of their old wagon Time to take a ride Only one road in And the same road out Someone save my soul From this dead end town Every place may have its problems Its share of broken people This one's better in my rearview Along with all its secrets No I don't have a map I don't think I'll need one Just get me far away From the sight of all my demons
26.
240226: Wild About You 02:55
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I saw you holding hands You're a good looking man And I don't blame her for moving on That look in her eye I used to see it all the time Like you're the only one she ever wants She told she loved me then broke my heart Promised forever and then tore me apart If that's how she treated A man that she didn't want to lose Well if she really loved me She must be wild about you I heard you're making plans For that last first dance Have her daddy walk her down the aisle Now when she tells you forever I just hope you'll remember How forever feels after a while
27.
240227: Old King Kong 03:20
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Near misses and also-rans Ricochets and best laid plans All feels like a game of chance Praying for a change High hopes for a harvest moon Bright and early and gone too soon Dressed up like a church in June Standing in the rain Hours dancing like ink on skin One day ends and the next begins Sweating bullets and drinking gin Wrong side of the tracks Velvet halos and shattered glass Questions that I never asked Painted memories of lovers past Never going back Leather couches to canvas shoes Paper tigers to concrete blues Roll the dice but I always lose You should know by now Fire engines and old king kong Sirens singing the same old song And I'd go back where I belong If only I knew how
28.
240228: Normal 02:57
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I am what I am there's no doubt about it And I've spoken my truth don't care how it sounded Each day that I live I give all I've got Won't catch me pretending to be something I'm not Except for normal I've pretened to be normal When I'm on the sidewalk can't step on the cracks And I speak in falsetto to the dog and the cat When I heat up my dinner I stop the microwave At one second flat does anybody else do that I play with my earlobe when I talk on phone Cross all my fingers when I'm the only one home I have drawn the same doodle on every sheet of paper That I have ever owned surely I'm not alone When I wash my hands gotta' wash 'em three times And keep the TV volume on a multiple of five I fold the toilet paper along that dotted line Not some kinda' crime it's probably fine I will not betray my personal morals However I will act like I'm normal My ethics are sound not to sound too formal But I do pretend to be normal
29.
240229: Heroes Bleed 03:20
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Angels fly devils fall The choir sings through it all Sinners sin saints believe Preachers preach but heroes bleed Fighters fight runners run Like a bullet from a gun The lawyers lie the leaders lead Statues shine but heroes bleed King and country tired and hungry Freedom don't come cheap Blood and money milk and honey Win or lose we play for keeps About the only guarantee Heroes bleed Givers give takers take Keep on bending 'til we break Lovers love leavers leave Saviors save but heroes bleed

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released March 1, 2024

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James Tristan Redding image

James Tristan Redding Nashville, Tennessee

British-American songwriter, singer, audiobook narrator, studio player, Godin Guitars official artist.

Founded global collective www.SongAWeek.org, performance art experience The Under Over: tinyurl.com/uoxuo (song circle underneath a highway) and writing retreat www.TheNashville24.com (annual challenge: write 24 songs in 24 hours).

Cuts by Sarah Harralson, Eli Alger, Emma Gale, David Easterling ... more

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