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Leap Songs, Part 2

by James Tristan Redding

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1.
231201: Blessed Mess 03:43
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Fly so high you won't come down Burn your shadow to the ground Spread you wings Let the wind carry you home Skin and bone Start again Like you did so long ago So alone And it's a blessed mess Yeah it's a blessed mess Go so far you can't come back Paint your insides charcoal black Make sure not one thing will change And let your lover take the blame
2.
231202: Wait Forever 03:11
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Hands in my pockets Cheeks turning red Heart beating faster With each word that I've said Asked you a question Ten seconds ago Coming to realize I don't wanna' know Do me a kindness And don't answer yet Keep smiling at me Until I forget Talk about the weather About the falling leaves But baby wait forever To answer me please Well I'm making small talk That's a nice dress How's your Thanksgiving Thankful I guess Got any plans For the rest of your life On second thought Don't tell me tonight
3.
231203: Looking For Love From A Ghost 05:02
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I have a dream every morn' You're by my side by the dawn Chasing illusions of you Never mind that they never come true Well you wrap your arms around me And a phantom love surrounds me If your shadow was a drug Then I would overdose All I touch is the cold winter air When you seemed so close So it's one more night Looking for love from a ghost Fanciful eyes of my heart Show me your face in the dark Oh and lies I can believe Haunted by what I can almost see When the sky fills with the sun Me and your spirit we come undone Days are long try to rest these eyes And wait for your echo tonight
4.
231204: Minor Celebrity 02:48
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I want to be a minor celebrity Wanna' get stopped on the street But only once in a while I want a name that's never in a hall of fame But it might be one of the answers On trivia night Make me one of the extras On your favorite show A one hit wonder On the radio I'll be the guy that dates the girl Who just had 15 minutes of fame There's three Reddit threads about me But no Wikipedia page I could go on YouTube With a cat that can sing Get a full body tattoo Of the Lord Of The Rings I could host a podcast All about sourdough Early in the pandemic It was Tom Hanks' favorite show
5.
231205: Die Today 03:41
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If I was to die today where would I go Up into the clouds above or down below Would I face the fire like the books all say What would become of me if I was to die today If I was to die today would I be ready Walk away from worldy things every penny Let that gentle river wash my worries away Carry this old body if I was to die today This morning when I woke up from a dream All I knew was life's not what it seems When it's time to leave here well I can't say But I'd be ready if it was today If I was to die today what would I wear Something not too formal but still shows that I care Brand new pair of boxers my best shirt just in case I'd look like this forever if I was to die today If I was to die today what could I bring Just this old guitar fresh pack of strings Picking with the angels Jimi Jerry Stevie Ray Bet I'd learn a thing or two if I was to die today
6.
231206: A Man Named Tom 03:36
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A man named Tom was kind to me one day Said some words I needed someone to say If you haven't yet I hope there comes a day You meet a man named Tom Well I read the bible first word to the last I see a pattern to the future and the past Got some questions don't know who to ask Might ask a man named Tom Now I've never been to Bethlehem And I cannot quote the Psalms For all the searching ain't met Jesus yet But I met a man named Tom Vote for this one the other one's the worst Take his picture but crucify him first World today is a blessing and a curse Thank God for a man named Tom A man named Tom was kind to me one day Said some words I needed someone to say If you haven't yet I hope there comes a day
7.
231207: Brain For Sale 03:07
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Brain for sale like new condition No hard miles no long division Mostly used for hunting and fishing Plus occasional hoping and wishing Brain for sale all organic Free range if a little bit manic Mostly lays there in its brain hammock Could use a tune up from a brain mechanic Brain for sale and that's just the start Act today we'll throw in a heart Ziploc bag of extra parts Consider trading for the right guitar Brain for sale priced to sell fast Preference given to those paying cash MSRP cut that in half IQ score depends who you ask
8.
231208: One Less Light 03:38
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An hour passes since I heard the news Birds on telephone wires haven't moved They weren't ready for losing you Empty glasses in the sink They got no idea what to think You left a hole I can't fill with a drink One less light in the city tonight The wind's a little bit colder Miss your hand on my shoulder These tears are getting old One more broken piece inside One less light Slow and heavy hands on the clock Close my eyes and maybe time will stop Just keep breathing almost forgot
9.
231209: Draw The Line 03:36
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Thou shalt not lie but to spare my feelings Bear not inequity except for those glass ceilings Take not the name in vain unless no one heard it Nor speak with hatred except when they deserve it Do as I say not as I do Right or wrong it's nothing new You serve your master I'll keep serving mine Story all depends On where we draw the line Send the lawyers the guns and money Just jumped the shark from fun to ugly Cast not your stones but kill the enemy You disagree you're no friend to me Thou shalt not steal except for Native land Nor kill your brother except the colored man Cheating's wrong unless they did it too Draw that line before the line draws you
10.
231210: Paying For It Now 04:57
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He didn't mean to hurt her snuck out without a sound Made it back by morning he's paying for it now Like a ship out on the water a man can run aground Trying to keep a secret he's paying for it now He told a little white lie didn't break his vows She knows something's changing he's paying for it now She sheds a single tear as the sun is creeping down Heart is slowly breaking he's paying it for now Paying for the distance paying for the time Paying up for puttin' her lovin' on the line Paying 'cause he loves her simple and profound He hasn't said a word he's paying for it now Tonight she's gonna' follow him if she can figure how She's sick of all the silence he's paying for it now She'll tail him to a pawn shop out on the edge of town A wristwatch and a guitar he's paying for it now Couples fall on hard times some live hand to mouth He wants to give her better and he's paying for it now Her smile's as big as Texas think she plans to stick around She loves the life he gave her he's paying for it now
11.
231211: Gone By Midnight 04:22
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We lose someone every evening And welcome someone else by dawn If you're the one who's leaving What would I do before you're gone I'd write you a letter I'd sing you a song And we'd swap funny stories we'd go on and on Turns out anyone could leave us any day Starting now I'll say the things I need to say I could be gone by midnight so could you Write me a letter sing me a tune If we are waves crashing on the shore Before returning to the ocean Then it all means that much more Speaking what we've spoken Don't know why I fight my brother Weighing down his heavy heart Better we treat one another Like brilliant shooting stars
12.
231212: If It Kills Me 03:37
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It's too easy to plan on leaving Anytime I'm feeling rough I been hoping my faith is growing When the going gets tough Escape is an illusion And I pray my actions prove it Well I'm gonna' live if it kills me Gonna' grab onto what thrills me I'm gonna' chase down what fulfills me Anything pure and true I'm gonna' break the chains that bind me Make peace with what's behind me Whatever it takes to remind me If it's the last thing I do Gonna' break down and rebuild me I'm gonna' live if it kills me When it's stormy without warning Day breaks and light comes pouring in Count my blessings or doubt the message Give it up or try again Staring at the void I forget that it's a choice
13.
231213: Stranger Than A Stranger 03:39
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Stranger than a stranger distant as the moon Eyes that look right through me like I'm not in the room Fainter than whisper stars hidden by the sun Stranger than a stranger that's all that I've become Tender as a newborn closer than your skin Once upon a lifetime we shared everything Gone like Sunday morning in a cloud of smoke A dream that I was chasing the moment I awoke Like a vessel on the sea out there past the breakers Only tattered sails to steer away from danger No passengers no treasure its one and only sailor A man without a home stranger than a stranger Shining like two diamonds in the pawn shop after dark Given by two lovers for two different hearts Fading like a picture the better part of me Stranger than a stranger long lost memory
14.
231214: Redneck Girl 03:12
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I fell in love with a redneck girl From a small town but she's my world She loves Dolly and she loves Merle I fell in love with a redneck girl Feels better in plaid than she does in pearls She'll pick jeans instead of a skirt But she sure does rock them beauty shop curls I fell in love with a redneck girl Redneck girl you stole my heart In your Timerblands and Carhartt Redneck girl you're the one for me Get me outta' this city won't you please One of ten kids by Marge and Earl It's God then her mama then I take third Punches my arm when she wants to flirt I fell in love with a redneck girl Taught me a whole mess of brand new words Quit conjugating them fancy verbs Sweetest little accent you ever done heard I fell in love with a redneck girl I was tryin' to work up the nerve To ask her out but she asked me first She's so pretty it almost hurts I fell in love with a redneck girl
15.
231215: The Giver & The Taker 02:52
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The giver and the taker clocking out of work Headed to the cafe at end of the earth Talking shop swapping thoughts sipping something cold Asking about the market price of the human soul Giver mostly listens demeanor cool and flat Orders up another round saying put it on my tab Taker laughs knocks it back says hell yeah bottoms up One thing about a taker they can never get enough Taker's seeing double more than drank his fill Stumbles to the washroom while the giver foots the bill Reaches for the keys gently speaks I'm fine to drive Taker takes the giver's gift makes it home alive Giver gets the work on time taker at the crack of noon Boss knows last night the taker's howling at the moon Can a taker change and learn to give well maybe Takers they may get the most but givers sleep like babies
16.
231216: Weightless 04:34
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Plenty times my back gets tired Carrying all these memories Raise this voice up with a prayer Lift these heavy things from me Won’t you make me weightless Light as a feather Won’t you gimme' faith And a love that lasts forever Gimme' just a taste of heaven And I’ll be patient Waiting for that day Waiting for that day when You make me weightless Noone told me it would be easy To walk the earth as flesh and bone All they promised was it's worth it When your maker calls you home Clear and present pure and true When you see me look right through No more body not one ounce It's all spirit where I'm bound
17.
231217: Mood Ring 04:05
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Got me a mood ring What was I thinking It don't know the first thing About my heart Turns gray when you come home Gold when you leave me all alone And when you say you love me It gets dark Got me a mood ring but it seems confused Need it tell me how not to lose you Can't this thing rewind the cold hands of time To when I was yours and when you were mine Don't know who made it It came highly rated But it's looking faded As faded as me Forget that we're crying Ignore all the fighting We have to keep trying Because we're meant to be
18.
231218: Inner Child 03:07
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My inner child is an alcoholic He's a politician a stand up comic Little baby gambler charismatic and chaotic There's always something up his sleeve or in his pocket My inner child's got his finger up his nose Still better there than down his pants I suppose Not quite a criminal but he's getting kinda' close Soon as they outlaw all those tantrums that he throws Take a deep breath breathe in breathe out Center myself ain't it profound Dig down deep and find that inner child If yours is a creep introduce him to mine My inner child is a public nuisance Bound to wind up in a mental institution He makes it tough to believe in evolution And through it all he still thinks he's superhuman My inner child racked up 50k in debt Playing the numbers placing really stupid bets Magic marker on his hands spells no regrets He's giving dirty looks behind a candy cigarette
19.
231219: Springtime 03:13
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In the springtime in the new day When the sun shines above I will be there like a blue jay In the springtime of our love There is snowfall on the prairie In the cold winter months But we'll unveil what was buried In the springtime when it comes There is darkness all around us And the days are so short Light will pour down will like a fountain In the springtime bright and warm There is stillness like a grave stone On a dead winter night We'll be dancing like a rainbow In the springtime full of life There is wonder in the waiting There is hope for better days In a dream it's what we're chasing In the springtime when we wake
20.
231220: Sleeping Dogs 03:55
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Am I supposed to let sleeping dogs lie In the middle of a cold black night Do they bite worse than they bark The sleeping dogs in my heart What if the sleeping dog is a man and What if he just don't give a damn If a lie feels like a scar The sleeping dogs in my heart Lie to keep me sleeping Lie I'll believe it Lie and say you done me like you should I can't understand it Why my fellow man is Trying like hell to make bad sound good Damn sleeping dogs Are we the last two dogs on earth Are you waiting 'til I say it first That you're a dog from the dog pound That I really oughtta' put you down Before you
21.
231221: Unpickle A Pickle 03:02
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A working man With his working hands Knows what can and can’t Be done He’ll tell you straight Won’t hesitate Some mistakes You only make once You can’t unpickle a pickle Can’t unring a bell You can’t untoss a nickel To the bottom of a wishing well Sometimes the truth hurts Other times it tickles And you can’t unpickle a pickle Some folks say Every day There’s a way If we’re smart Is moving slow And letting go Deep down we know In our hearts
22.
231222: Move Over Moses 04:21
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I'll always remember the night I was saved Ten minutes to midnight one winter day I trusted the gospel forgive my mistake To think love would save me come judgment day Move over Moses Jesus take heed It must be Christmas 'cuz here's Uncle Steve Our personal savior with his old time religion We'd be lost without him it's a family tradition He'll strip all the heathens of our heathen ways Get us all praying the way Uncle Steve prays Breath reeks of whiskey his shit smells like roses Take a load off Jesus move over Moses Steve in your mercy Steve glory be Ignore that he's passed out under the tree He's the real gift here forget all the rest Ditch those disciples Uncle Steven knows best
23.
231223: My Half 04:58
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I need to take a piece of paper I need to fold it in two halves Write what I know on the front page And what God knows on the back The front is where I’ll keep a record Of my responsibilities And the back is anything the many things My creator does for me There are days I do what I’m supposed to I let God do what he does But there are others I’m running kinda’ low On patience peace and trust When I really turn it over My troubles never last I just need to keep my focus To what’s written on my half One day I woke up in this body In this earthly atmosphere Never got an invitation To any other place than here Well I have my limitations I’m only human that’s the truth But God won’t just do everything Some things only I can do
24.
231224: Mary Joseph & The Funk 02:32
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There was a jam in Bethlehem In days of old or so I’m told Our tale begun by three in one Mary Joseph and The Funk A world in need to be set free Out from the cage of our old ways Salvation come through a little spunk Mary Joseph and The Funk Joseph was the real deal a downright groovy dude Mary she was righteous a bad mamajama too Out there in the stable a manger for a bunk Ain’t no hanky panky son Straight down from heaven came The Funk Ask the teachers street corner preachers Ask Little Richard you’ll get the picture Ask anyone from Bootsy to Daft Punk About Mary Joseph and The Funk
25.
231225: Christmas Tonight 04:34
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There's no peace in the middle east Every sign of more troubled times Half the world is hungry because of guns and money But it's Christmas tonight They built a wall to divide us all Wrote more lies so we all take sides Rich make millions screw the orphan children But it's Christmas tonight Dear God come and help me please Let go of all these things I've seen To forgive my brother my sister and myself Find the courage to believe God I need you to remind me Anywhere I am you'll always find me That your son is why we ring these bells Why it's Christmas tonight I made a mess of what once was blessed Sometimes I wonder why I even tried Lord she left me and everything feels heavy But it's Christmas tonight So I'm on empty ain't got a penny And all that pride sank with the tide No more distractions if it's ever gonna' happen It's Christmas tonight
26.
231226: Say We Did 03:41
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We could hope for the best We could try to forgive Let's not and say we did We could act like it's fine We could jump back in bed Let's not and say we did We could start a new fight We could make it real big Let's not and say we did We could air it all out We could stuff it back in Let's not and say we did Say we look back through the years To how it started Say we try it all again Then say that we're both still So lost and broken hearted I say we don't Let's not and say we did We could take a long drive Bring the pets bring the kids Couple times I think we did We could dig up some names You're a boar I'm a pig Just one of our greatest hits We could call it like we see it We don't know when to quit I'd like to say we did
27.
231227: TV Shows 02:29
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My friends are all TV shows And I am too I can't wait for each next episode When it comes on the tube Put on my actual reality headset Step into the multiverse Listen to it all good bad indifferent The best and the worst Here comes Rob with his grandkids for the week There goes George catchin' fish down at the creek John and Tim gettin' beers down at the bar While Doctor Paula heals a stranger's broken heart Some friends are more like mysteries Riddles on the screen And some are more like history Maybe you know what I mean Got a couple real live horror films I just can't look away Course we're all in one big comedy At the end of the day Seems like Tony might win that competition I know we all miss Jeremiah down at the mission He might not see himself as rich and famous But with a name like Cadillac you know he'll entertain us My friends are all TV shows And I am too I can't wait for each next episode When it comes on the tube
28.
231228: Fisheye Lens 05:28
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I see life through a fisheye lens Edges warp straight lines bend Way things look through my fisheye lens They don't add up no they don't make sense Maybe you have a fisheye too Look at life like a big cartoon Can I ever trust myself To walk a straight line I can't tell Better ask what all my friends See in their fisheye lens My vision's messy and it changes the facts I'm walking forward but I'm looking back No way of knowing all the things that I can't see I need the help of someone else now and then Break the illusion of my fisheye lens From their perspective got to see it to believe You see me and I see you Fisheye lens we're looking through You tell me what you see Fisheye lens a waking dream
29.
231229: What Love Does 03:41
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Spiritual beings Having a human experience On the night when I met you Living and breathing With our limbs and minds all bent I swear this much is true When the days are short and the nights are long When you lose all sense of where you belong When the best you've got don't feel good enough I'll be by your side keep you safe and sound I'll be close behind walk without a doubt I'll be up above like a goddamn dove Because that's what love does If pain is a question Pleasure is just a guess About as graceful as a gun If there's a heaven We'll finally get some rest But until that time shall come
30.
231230: House Always Wins 04:50
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He's been known to play some cards To take a risk and let it ride But she's not worried about his heart Always makes it home at night Here and there a couple hundred Cross his fingers and roll the dice Won a few and lost some others Still he wakes up by her side In this house love's what really matters And in this house every prayer gets answered Sometimes he's gone so long And she don't know where he's been But he always makes it home The house always wins Well she had dreams of making movies Seein' her face on a silver screen He don't try to cage her beauty Nothin' wrong with havin' dreams One time she left him for the summer Needed time to sort things out She bet it all and they discovered That the odds are on this house Sometimes she's gone so long And he don't know where she's been But she always makes it home The house always wins Yeah they always make it home He loves her and she loves him The house always wins
31.
231231: One More Twenty Four 03:04
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Another year is closing like curtains on a stage Actors leave the building the props get wheeled away Anything unfinished have to wait another day After all we been through the changes in the weather All the months we waited some seemed to take forever As the moment passes why's it feel like now or never Some will celebrate when midnight rolls around Others may self medicate like strangers in the crowd Build it up as though it's something sacred and profound Easy does it like so many days before Remember it's just one more twenty four A morning ain't a morning without getting on my knees And a prayer ain't a prayer without a thank you and a please Anybody help me see the forest through the trees A little at a time I watch the world as it transforms Anything from yesterday can't hurt me anymore And January first well that's just one more twenty four

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released January 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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