Author: Joe Eddie

The Earring Song

Twists and turns, acidic burns
In the dark will we find the spark for home

No signs to be seen, just lost in a dream
By 9 Train, I return with the ring

Erin calls for Oisin’s footfalls
Where three hundred years have gone past

Quoth the frog, from a hollow log
Brekekex, brekekex, coax

High upon the sea, and who shall I see?
Craxy Chester and Sweet Ann Marie

Catfish Stew, Catfish Mermaid too
The faces and places I’ve found

‘Round the Horn, where New Hope is borne
Together we weather the storm

Old Coulston’s wall, the fish hook and all
The memory of a lifetime ago

Earring hangs, as Lady Foot dangles
The joy that innocently surrounds

Crashing rocks, we rush for the docks
We find that it’s now stranger than known

Through the light, a new blinding sight
Too radiant, too shining to know

Changes Upon Changes

As the days grow long and hotter, and the summer sun grows old
And the mourning doves are calling through the shadows that are stretching on the riverbank
The muddy banks, o’er which the water once flowed, but now has run below
Leaving only driftwood behind like memories to dry

As the wind blows dry and higher, and the fires rage uncontrolled
And the sky is filled with dark clouds, and the feeling of trouble ’round every corner just waiting for you
Trouble, oh trouble, won’t leave well enough alone, like the coming of the cold
And the promise of death, dormancy and winter
As the wind blows dry and higher, and the fires rage uncontrolled

As seasons change, as rivers freeze and summer ends
As what remains, as winter dies and spring begins
After changes upon changes we are closer to the same
And changes upon changes, and more changes again

As a man forgets his blessings, takes for granted, throws a curse
As his lashing out his anger, his thoughtlessness and selfishness, in the others that he hurts
Those he hurts, though he would not have hurt them if he had not been hurt first
Though he loves them, he forgets and throws his curse
And what was bad, had only just been gotten that much worse

As the years are passing by, ever picking up speed
We are older than we once were, and younger than we’ll be, it is explained
No it isn’t strange, after changes upon changes we are more or less the same
After changes we are still just the same
After changes we are closer to the same

As seasons change, as rivers freeze and summer ends
As what remains, as winter dies and spring begins
After changes upon changes we are closer to the same
And changes upon changes, and more changes again

And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free
And the lady foot dangle, and the spitting in the mud, and you will see again
To sea again, as a sailor sets his ship upon the wind
You will know the truth and see again
And with the raising of the dead have you not seen again?

In the early mists of morning, as the fisher plies his trade
And the thoughts fade slowly ‘cross his brow and he calls out for another net to catch him
And his actions, his muscles and his hands, they are my hands
He knows he cannot be elsewhere, but where he firmly stands
And all that’s ending, and all that’s beginning for him once again

As seasons change, as rivers freeze and summer ends
As what remains, as winter dies and spring begins
After changes upon changes we are closer to the same
And changes upon changes, and more changes again

Happier And Richer (Catchin’ Fish)
Once upon a time, had no reason, had no rhyme
All I knew was to beg, steal and borrow
And if I ever had one last wish, I would ask for just one more fish
But then I’d just wake up hungry again tomorrow

Learning to fish, with a hook and line
Learning to catch the fishes that are mine
With a reel and rod, the catfish and the cod
I’ve grown happier and richer all my life

With empty guts inside, I’d already swallowed my pride
Only thing left for me to chew on was my sorrow
And if I ever had one more wish, I would ask for one last fish
But then I’d just wake up hungry again tomorrow

Learning to fish, learning to eat
Separating bones and fat from the meat
With a reel and rod, and gifts given by god
I’ve grown happier and richer all my days

When I was a child, I thought and understood as a child
Now I am a man, I put a fishing rod in my hand

I was crying all night long, ’til you sang to me your song
Taught me how to fish, set me on my way
When you came along, you righted all my wrongs
Now I’ve grown happier and richer all my days

Learning to laugh, learning to live
Learning to love, learning to give
With a reel and rod, and but for the grace of god
I’ve grown happier and richer all my life

Now I won’t mention his name, but they say he stole a flame
Of eternal fire, and bestowed it to mankind
So they tied him to a rock, set an eagle on his liver
And he suffered that way until the end of time

Learning the sea, learning the sky
Learning to feel, learning to fly
With a reel and rod, and a tricking of the gods
I’ve grown happier and richer all my days

When I was newborn, I couldn’t have no concern
Now that I’ve grown old, I carry my fishin’ pole

Tell you what you do, take this line and loop it through
And you bait the hook with color all in a tangle
Dress it with a spoon to make them old men catfish swoon
As the water floats that lady foot dangle

Learning to fish, learning to fight
Learning by day, learning by night
With a reel and rod, and a challenge to the gods
I’m grown happier and richer all my days

Well I’m catchin’ fish all day long, just as easy as a song
And I’m grown happier and richer all my days

Well I’m catchin’ fish all day long, Lord nobody can do me wrong
And I’m grown happier and richer all my days

And I’m grown happier and richer all my days

I Am A River

I am a river, so deep and wide
And all across me, is the other side
The sun shines on me, the darkness hides
I am a river, so deep and wide

I am a river, so deep and wide
A floating surface, o’er what’s inside
Blue sky above me, black earth below
I am a river, oh river roll

I am a river, running wild and free
Flowing with power, and mystery
I made the riverbanks, that carry me
I am a river, wild and free

I carved the valleys, I made the land
You cannot dam me, lest ye be damned
I am a river, I own this town
Don’t underestimate me, I’ll take you down

I’ve wandered through darkness, when no light has shown
Plunged the depths of suffering, I’ve felt the walls alone
I’ve fallen and stumbled, Lord knows I’ve cried
Through peaks and valleys, I’ve nearly run dry

And I carry countless sinners and thieves
And I carry the righteous as much as these
And I’ll feed the hungry, and I’ll give drink to the thirsty
I’ll harbour the harbourless, I will bury the dead

I am a river, life flows through me
It’s hard to trace, from whence I come
Somewhere up yonder, I come a-rolling
Just like the morning and the rising sun

Bolt of sunshine on the mountain
Eagle screaming on the fly
Moon hangs brightly, reflecting fountain
I am a river in late July

I am a river, my waters flow
I am a spirit, for you to hold
I am a fountain, t’was not made by hand
The jewel in the lotus, the word in the man

I go on living, while I am dying
I am immortal, I am everlasting
My hook is reeling, I am recasting
I am nirvana, I am samsara

I am a river, I keep rollin’ on
I’m like that 9 train, that’s come and gone
That number 9 train, she’s fit to roam
And like that 9 train, I’ll carry you home

I am a river, I am a poem
I am the highway, I am the home
Through all the struggle, through all the strife
I am a river, a source of life

I am a river, I am a stone
I am the lifeblood, I am the bone
I am the darkness, I am the light
I am the daytime, I am the night

I am the ocean, I am the lake
I am the rainbow, I am the snake
I am a rich man, I am a rake
I am the real thing, I am not a fake

I am a father, I am a son
I am a mother, and we are one
I am a woman, I am a man
I am a woman, I am a man

I am a mountain, I am the sea
I am a river, the river is me

Roaring thunder, ringing bell
Stairway to Heaven, highway to Hell
A man’s a stranger, you know him well
A roaring thunder, a ringing bell

I am a river, so deep and wide
And you must cross me, to reach the other side
The sun shines on me, the darkness hides
I am a river, so deep and wide

I am a river, wild and free
Ain’t no man can ever change me
The sky above me, the earth below
I am a river, oh river roll
I am a river, oh river roll

I am a river, oh river roll