Voila!
Entitled "Erato" (after the Muse of love/erotic lyrical poetry whom I encountered during my time in Spain)
The cover is an appropriately constructed heart composed of a particular species of butterfly. I chose the butterfly for the idea of the ever-changing transformation of love that is experienced in life which I tried to incorporate from the beginning (with Riverflow being the infinite cycle of the love for a newborn as the child who ends up the parent) to the end (with Keep Those Keys being love that will last long in memories after we leave).
In retrospect, it feels like a lot like all the emotional lyricism is finally out of my system after finishing this. Not to say I won't approach this subject of feelings for others and love and such again but I'm ready to tackle other ridiculous/important ideas to write about that came flooding at me the moment I finished. It was refreshing, really.
I hope you enjoy. I had a great deal of fun writing them over the last six months.
I woke to see you there
Holding me tightly, holding me close
Only moments I've been here
But with you, it already feels like home
You brought me bliss
So passionate
It flows like rivers
Kind and vigorous
As years pass, it's now clear
What it all meant, I've felt it grow
Treated me with such care
I may not show it but I hope you know
You brought me bliss
So passionate
It flows like rivers
Kind and vigorous
Anticipation swallows me
Waiting for my own to bring home
Suddenly, I see you wake
And I melt and it all just flows
You brought me bliss
So passionate
It flows like rivers
Kind and vigorous
You wake to see me there
Holding you tight, holding you close
Only moments you've been here
But someday you'll know, someday you'll know
There's an angel I've seen
Covered in a veil I can't describe
Riding on chariots
Right up to gates of heaven's eyes
The gate opens wide on this night
And I see you waiting there inside
How in the blink of an eye
Can I suddenly find
You helping me fight all these demons?
How in the blink of an eye
Can I suddenly find
You forming a peace that I've needed?
I've lived fantasies
Where I suddenly wake up in fright
Walking this treacherous hall
Where nightmares take my fears and thrive
Then you grab my hand and whisper
Soothing me while shadows wither
How in the blink of an eye
Did you settle me down?
Calming squalls of rage with soothing seas
How in the blink of an eye
Did you make me feel
Like a star is forming and is shining on me?
This little boy holds out hope
Playing with his toys at home
On school nights, thinks of her though
Not knowing she'd like to know, no
This little boy keeps inside
Dreams of holding her hand so tight
He'll protect her when evil strikes
But he hasn't told her, no
He's trying to tell her
But a thousand words aren't there
But he's raising his heart
Up so high so it's made clear
He's trying to show her
What these twisting, teasing feelings mean
Through the eyes of a child screaming
"Be mine, please"
This little girl still doesn't get
Messing around with make-up sets
Just to get him to notice yet
He already did but she don't know, no
This little girl talks to all her friends
Dreams of wearing a big ol' dress
As he stands tall and gives her a kiss
But she hasn't told him, no
She's trying to tell him
But a thousand words aren't there
But she's raising her heart
Up so high so it's made clear
She's trying to show him
What these twisting, teasing feelings mean
Through the eyes of a child screaming
"Be mine, please"
Remember days like these
When we felt weak knees
Like we couldn't breathe
We were barely thirteen
It might not have made sense
But it sure felt intense
Decades later, we're still kids
Knees get weak and we're a mess
Trying to tell each other
But a thousand words aren't there
And raising that heart
Up so high so it's made clear
Trying to show each other
What these twisting, teasing feelings mean
Through the eyes of a child screaming
"Be mine, please"
Through the eyes of a child screaming
"Be mine, please"
Lived my life inside windowpanes
Locked up in this fortress, keeps me safe
Afraid to walk out on my own
History hasn't been kind, quite cold
But I've seen you across the way
Seeming vulnerable and unafraid
All I thought was if you'd be okay
'Cause I don't have what it takes
The truth is I can't bring down these walls
And as many have tried, they just grow more tall
But there's something about you
Something about you
Woke up to daylight peeking inside
As if to whisper 'Take a look outside'
I heard screaming, couldn't imagine
I was expecting to see all sorts of damage
But there you were, across the way
Shouting in delight, "What a day!"
All I thought was how you were okay
And if maybe I have what it takes
The truth is I can't bring down these walls
And as many have tried, they just grow more tall
But there's something about you
Something about you
The truth is I have just been so afraid
This fortress I've built was meant to keep me safe
But there's something you've shown me
Something you've shown me
Maybe it's time I leave
With arrows falling from the sky
Aimed at my heart, ready to strike
As they come, I want to think twice
But I'll stand here, ready to survive
The truth is I have just been so afraid
This fortress I've built was meant to keep me safe
But there's something you've shown me
Something you've shown me
It's time to open every single gate
Let these insecurities try and shake my faith
Amazing one could feel this strong
Amazing it took me so long
But there was something about you
Something about you
It seems I've discovered something
Each time you're wrapped in my arms
It feels just like Christmas morning
More surprises for my heart
But I haven't shown it yet
So watch me shout it out instead
Like a fool who wants this now
If that's not enough, then come out
And
Dance with me
Out on these streets
See what I mean
I dare you to want to walk
Dance with me
Just move your feet
Out on these streets
Where we'll waltz until we fall
See you twirling and twisting
Your dress flows with such delight
With spotlights overhead bringing
Clarity on us tonight
Maybe you don't think you're cut out
But I'll melt away those doubts
'Cause this fool wants you right now
If that's not enough, then come now
And
Dance with me
Out on these streets
See what I mean
I dare you to want to walk
It's so far past midnight
Fatigue's nowhere to be found
Floating on such a high
Suspended up above the ground
Trading stares and glances
No words are needed right now
So we'll just keep on dancing
And we'll waltz until we fall
So we'll just keep on dancing
And we'll waltz until we fall
Dance with me
Out on these streets
See what I mean
I dare you to want to walk
Dance with me
Just move your feet
Out on these streets
Where we'll waltz until we fall
Shut my eyes to hear your voice
There has never really been a choice
I must focus or we'll stray
We've been patient for other ways
And we've been happy for so long
But we've grown tired of this con
I want to listen for one day
But what's the price we'd pay?
'Cause if a man came with a remedy
Said he could ease these doubts we keep
Said I could hear things only heard in dreams
Said it could ease the tension when we speak
But said something would change
Your voice wouldn't sound the same
I want to listen for one day
But is that the price we'd pay?
That voice of yours that puts me to ease
Tucks away the tension, lulls to me to sleep
Is it shallow to think "I liked it better before"
For wanting to hear your voice in its true form?
Without eyes, you try and see my face
You envision me inside each day
You must focus just to feel me through
In your darkness, it's not easy to
And we've been happy for so long
But we've grown tired of this con
You want to see me for one day
But what's the price we'd pay?
'Cause if a man came with a remedy
Said he could ease the doubts we keep
Said you could see things only seen in dreams
Nothing to hold you from running free
But said that things would change
My face wouldn't look the same
You want to see me for just one day
But what's the price we'd pay?
That face of mine that you envisioned
Turned out be wrong, misprecision
Is it shallow to think "I liked it better before"
For wanting to see my face in its true form?
'Cause if a man came with a remedy
What's the price we'd pay?
Living inside the con, we've been happy
But we want to be normal for one day
'Cause if a man came with a remedy
I don't know what I'd say
'Cause if a man came with a remedy
Would we keep it all the same?
As I bathe myself in twilight
I rest against these sinking grains
Your words cycle through my mind
Sounds of abuse, I don't know what to do
So I'm hoping
The sun can dry those tears
And I'm hoping
The ocean air can lift my fears
So I take a single breath to get up and stand again
But my body's never felt this cold
As I stand and walk this fine line
That divides the choices that I made
I want to travel back through time
But it's no use, there are things you can't undo
So I'm hoping
That time can heal these wounds
And I'm hoping
The comfort of home might do
So I take a single breath and take a step on street cement
But my feet have never felt this cold
So I'm hoping
One day we'll make amends
And I'm hoping
My words can bring an end
So I take a single breath, pick up the phone and listen in
But your silence never felt this cold
So I take a single breath, speak my piece towards heart's content
Hoping your warmth returns and ends this cold
You wanted this with gentle colors
A soothing surrounding for lovers
Set to a morning breeze
With a marvelous scene
In my mind, was a portrait of our fate
But as time had passed, the texture fades
And as lights dimmed, you had walked away
Tossing me old trinkets of lover's faith
I envisioned leaps and bounds ahead
Before remembering to take one step
And as lights dimmed, you turned your face
So I grab your arm to hear me say
Let me paint this with gentle colors
A soothing beginning for lovers
Set to a morning breeze, bring some cover
'Cause we're gathering under this
Strawberry sunrise
No more sunsets, only this
Strawberry sunrise
I recognize that we've had better days
As the friction in the air brings rain
Such waterfalls acting like brushstrokes
Trying to drown us, strip us whole
But I pictured us with acrylic paint
So the love we made won't wash away
Sure enough, the storm's now passed
The stage is set for desires we've had
So let's paint this with gentle colors
A soothing surrounding for lovers
Set to a morning breeze, bring some cover
'Cause we're gathering under this
Strawberry sunrise
No more rainstorms, only this
Strawberry sunrise
Huddled up in warmth under blanket sheets
We're protected from this morning breeze
Mumbling sweet nothings on a mild pace
Sometimes it's wise to relax, love is not a race
So let's gather under this
Strawberry sunrise
No more sunsets, only this
Strawberry sunrise
No more rainstorms, only this
Strawberry sunrise
Such a marvelous scene under this
Strawberry sunrise
Hand in hand, walking on soft terrain
Sinking in the joy of everything we've faced
Evidence of past battles need not survive
We ready our future, leave the rest behind
'Cause with these rose-filled memories
Filling up our lungs with peace
It's so easy to breathe
It's so easy to see
It's so easy to see
Hand in hand, riding the wind tonight
Out of control like paper planes in flight
But it's this comfort when we're side by side
I embrace our future, leave the rest behind
'Cause with these rose-filled memories
Filling up our lungs with peace
It's so easy to breathe
It's so easy to see
That as long as we're not far apart
We'll march forward, just hold my arm
And we'll live happily
Yeah, we'll live happily
Hand in hand, we are charging through
We've endured enough of what we need to
We're focused and ready, we've arrived
Right at our future, left the rest behind
'Cause with these rose-filled memories
Filling up our lungs with peace
It's so easy to breathe
It's so easy to see
That as long as we're not far apart
We'll march forward, just hold my arm
And we'll live happily
Yeah, we'll live happily
'Cause with these rose-filled memories
Calming all our fears with ease
It's easy to see
We'll live happily
These thin strips of memories roll right through my hands
Each moment's like a grain trapped in an hourglass
Trespassing through these rusted locks
I find myself in a treasury of memories
Wondering to myself how it is we got
To where we are, what a wild journey
So we take one
Just to keep close when it gets tough
Take another
To remind me of all the love
These thin strips of memories roll right through my hands
Each moment's like a grain trapped in an hourglass
And with every passing frame, I understand
We can't take it for granted, better make this last
So we'll trespass through each country
Let's fill that treasury until it falls
With monuments and cities, such history
Makes me want to record it all
So we take one
Raising my hands in victory
Take another
To remind me this is all we need
These thin strips of memories roll right through my hands
Each moment's like a grain trapped in an hourglass
And with every passing frame, I embrace what's passed
We can only embrace now as long as we can
So we keep on
Raising my hands in victory
Hourglass be damned
We'll go as long as we can breathe
So we keep on
Filling up that treasury
Until we can't stand
And collapse with a sense of peace
Dear ol' Peter
I'm not who I was years ago
Just a shell of who I was
But they haven't learned to let that go
Not much that I can say
To keep them from hurting nights
Give me the proper way
To tell them that I'll be all right
'Cause I'm not afraid to stay asleep
When angels come to watch us dream
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
I know that I've made my peace
Let angels gather strength from me
To spread among those in need
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
To open up when I'm asleep
Dear ol' friends
I'm not where you'd like me, no
So don't think of regrets
But what we did when we weren't old
There's not much I can ask
But don't shed tears on my behalf
Give me a proper end
Do what we always did and laugh
'Cause I'm not afraid to stay asleep
When angels come to watch us dream
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
I know that I've made my peace
Let angels gather strength from me
To spread among those in need
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
To open up when I'm asleep
Laughter acts like a tranquilizer
Soothes all doubts and lifts me higher
The truth is, though, that I feel tired
It's time to rest, time to retire
But pictures drawn before my sleep
I'd like shared with you, keep these
Portraits of my love to ease
The struggle when you think of me
'Cause I'm not afraid to stay asleep
When angels come to watch us dream
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
I know that I've made my peace
Let angels gather strength from me
To spread among those in need
Dear ol' Peter, keep those keys
It's time to open up for me
