Intuit words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman Flash flood warning where the bastard stars occur Loose your bearings if you trust the chart That came over on the Mayflower Hide your shadow from the hungry midday sun Queen Mab never did me favors But this hybrid breed has got me on the run Chorus: Name the nameless numbers, Dance the stepless dance, Plot the storm a new trajectory. Question without answer, Songbird without song; Which way does the current run When the river's gone? The weaver of the sky could see right through it But I will work this puzzle out When I learn to intuit. Tiny shuttered room exchanging black for white Full moon burning on a hilltop, doesn't Take a match to set that light. Strange new history the tire's nerve endings say Blue and silver were the paving stones But the weaver of the sky stole them away CHORUS Angels dancing on a printed circuit board Wizards conjure up the demon and a Tangled web is their reward Cool white logick but the weaver wants me more See her laughing in the magick perched upon the bust above my chamber door CHORUS I will solve this paradox once I get into it.

Blue Knight words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman I've got me a blue, blue knight He keeps-a me wonderin' night and day; I've got me a blue, blue knight, He keeps-a me wonderin' night and day. Well with all my tender lovin' What's he want with those damsels anyway? Won't you couch your lance, Sir Lancelot, I've got a sack of gold for you now; Won't you couch your lance, Sir Lancelot, I've got a treasure trove for you now. Why don't you show me a little chivalry honey, 'Cause I sure to get shivery by you now. Some lady dragons like 'em scaley, stupid, green, and tough; But all those stuffed iguanas do is puff, puff, puff, puff. Now I can take it easy if you can take the heat; Come on up to my cave, I just love tinned meat! Come on, you very perfect knight, Give your dragon lady a call; So come on, you very perfect knight, Give your dragon lady a call. But you leave those chains at home, 'Cause I don't swing that way at all. Some lady dragons like 'em scaley, stupid, green, and tough; But all those stuffed iguanas do is puff, puff, puff, puff. Now I can take it easy -- you can take the heat; Come on up to my cave... I've got me a blue, blue knight He keeps-a me wonderin' night and day; I've got me a blue, blue knight, He keeps-a me wonderin' night and day. With all my tender lovin' What's he want with those damsels anyway?

January words & music (c)1995 by Nancy Louise Freeman Hey January, Mister January, Hey there -- Hey Mister January Just passing through from Faerie Buddy, can you spare the time? Some kind of emissary Might look so flash, so very fine. Hey January, where do you draw the line? Hey Mister January Don't look confused and wary Let's talk the way we used to do. Sit back and take the weight off You had to make the tradeoff; Nobody puts the blame on you. That glamour hasn't faded Look like you really made it And yeah, I guess I did okay Life couldn't keep us under But still I have to wonder What brought you down my street today? Remember Shoney dancing The Faerie moonlight lancing Through wings that were and weren't there; Though you've the wings to wear now You haven't time to care now - No, I'm not trying to be unfair. Those heavy dreams that slow you They didn't used to know you And have you figured out their source? Along the streets that fade back Into a tune that's laid back They echo with a dying force. Where all the bulbs are freezing And the radiators sneezing Behind the neon pink and lime You struggled with the Fates there Did you know she still waits there For that February sign? Hey Mister January Just passing through from Faerie Buddy, can you spare the time? Some kind of emissary Might look so flash, so very fine. Hey January, Mister January, Hey January, where will you draw the line?

Chloe and the Prospector words & music (c)1995 by Nancy Louise Freeman Old Joseph was a prospector His love was all for gold He searched throughout the desert through the heat and through the cold But up on Superstition Mount his water all ran dry When a shining spring appeared before his weary eye. And fast beside that fountain in the moonlight's fading glow Stood a wise and ancient jackalope whose coat was white as snow; And underneath the palm trees, her face as black as night Was Chloe, sitting, singing in the morning light: Come tumblin' down Come tumblin' down Not until the walls come tumblin' down Step up to the fountain's brink From its waters you may drink But you cannot bear them with you till the walls come tumblin' down. Now Chloe shook her timbrel And she stilled the old man's fears: "You may drink and cast aside "Your burden of the years; "For this is Hope Eternal "And the Fountain of Rebirth, "And this the shining Jackalope "Who walks the earth. "For from that ruined city "In the valley far below "Like Phoenix from the ashes rose, "A greater one shall grow; "And as these waters flow, "So spring the hopes of mortal men, "So we shall guard them till the "Phoenix burns again." Come tumblin' down Come tumblin' down Not until the walls come tumblin' down Step up to the fountain's brink From its waters you may drink But you cannot bear them with you till the walls come tumblin' down. Joseph's head was heavy, But his heart was like a rock; He said, "This foolish prophecy "Is silly woman's talk. "This fountain's magic waters "Are for any man to take; "I'll sell it as elixir "And my fortune make." Chloe heard him speaking, And she started up to grieve: "The city cannot know us; "That is why you cannot leave." But Joseph filled his canteens And he shouldered up his load And no hand was raised against him As he hit that road. Come tumblin' down Come tumblin' down Not until the walls come tumblin' down Step up to the fountain's brink From its waters you may drink But you cannot bear them with you till the walls come tumblin' down. Young Joseph left the fountain; Toward home he wandered on And he's been out there wandering A century and gone At dawn you'll hear him singing A mournful lonely sound; For Joseph cannot come home Till the walls come tumblin' down. Come tumblin' down Come tumblin' down Not until the walls come tumblin' down Step up to the fountain's brink From its waters you may drink But you cannot bear them with you till the walls come tumblin' down.

Rapunzel words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman Moonlight drove the shadows from our footprints side by side; April's early incense told us true love would abide. Only yesterday we laughed and said how high the rose had grown; And now I'm wand'ring all around this wall of thorns alone. Your door is locked and barricaded, ogres bar the way; They say that you don't love me now, and I should go away. They tell me I'm a tramp, and that these hard words come from you; Rapunzel, Rapunzel, I can't believe that's true. Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair; I'd scale this tower wall myself if you'd send up a flare. Our love was fine and shining, like the early morning star, But I won't come to your rescue if you're happy where you are. Where you are Do you rage against your chains? I'm sending up this message, and cranking up the gain. But from my own cruel memories I find there's no escape, And every unkind word plays back like chrome high-bias tape And scars the happy scenes these doubt-born spirits haunt; Rapunzel, Rapunzel, could this be what you want? Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair; I'd scale this tower wall myself if you'd send up a flare. Our love was fine and shining, like the early morning star, But I won't come to your rescue if you're happy where you are. Because I can't be a savior if there's nothing left to save, And I'm not Old Dog Tray to wait beside my master's grave. If you don't send an answer soon, I guess I'll have to go; Rapunzel, Rapunzel, just tell me yes or no! Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair; I'd scale this tower wall myself, but I'm not sure you're there. Your silence and my doubts have left me face down on the bar; I won't come to your rescue if you're happy where you are. Where you are. . . Where you are. . . Where you are. . .

Oh, I went down South to see my Sal Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day My Sally is a funky gal Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Fare thee well, fare thee well Fare thee well my faerie Fay For I'm goin' to Louisiana for to see my Suzie Anna Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Grasshopper sittin on a railroad track Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Pickin its teeth with a carpet tack Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Fare thee well, fare thee well Fare thee well my faerie Fay For I'm goin' to Louisiana for to see my Suzie Anna Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Behind the barn down on my knees Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day I thought I heard a chicken sneeze Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Fare thee well, fare thee well Fare thee well my faerie Fay For I'm goin' to Louisiana for to see my Suzie Anna Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day It sneezed so hard with a whoopin cough Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day It sneezed its head and tail right off Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day Fare thee well, fare thee well Fare thee well my faerie Fay For I'm goin' to Louisiana for to see my Suzie Anna Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day

Where Did Those Blue Skies Go? words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman I used to drive my limo down the Milky Way; Life's a dance, and I had tickets to the Grand Ballet; Full lights and orchestration, Fair winds and easy sailing - Where did those blue skies go? Luck was my next door neighbor; winning was my game. Now Lady Fortune says she never heard my name. The moon has slipped its tether, There's been a change of weather - Where did those blue skies go? Oh so many times I hear those happy people say: "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Everyway I look now, seems the only thing I see is grey; It makes me stop and wonder What lucky star I'm under? Mister Bluebird of Happiness, he's spread his wings and gone; As he packed his bags I heard him whistle out this song: "You'd better run for cover; "I hear the sound of thunder." Where did those blue skies go?

Logickal Blues words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman Hot moon electric snow Her voice come slippin through the whispers on the late night radio Sayin, "If you could help me out I'd surely be your friend, yeah "I've been ridin these empty desert airwaves since I don't know when "And all this fadin in fadin out like the shadow of a doubt I feel I'm "near the end, yes I feel I'm near the end.." And I said: Break time, there's no need to dodge it Takes a little bit of magick and a little bit of logick So take mine to build up your song with, So long as what you're singin's something I can sing along with Shake it down, she's talkin knda tragick Like, "Whatcha gonna do with logick "When you can't control your magick?" Well break it down, 'tseasy enough for you to say But that's not how I felt when the logick went away yeah And she said, "So what's your story, girl?" Well, I come from a country white and black They put sixteen candles in my pocket And said, "Don't you come back." While I was Taken in stakin out my high ground Well somethin snuck up from behind yeah (Occupied my mind) But now break it down Iterate Resolve Debate Formulate and back it with a beat And I'll prove it with my body and I'll prove it with my feet yeah Break time, there's no need to dodge it Takes a little bit of magick and a little bit of logick So take mine to build up your song with, So long as what you're singin's something I can sing along with Shake it down, she's talkin knda tragick Like, "Whatcha gonna do with logick "When you can't control your magick?" Well break it down, 'tseasy enough for you to say But that's not how I felt when the logick went away yeah Shake it out The stars are runnin naked But no matter how they scatter, girl, you Leave it as you take it so Take mine to build up your song with So long as what you're singin's something I can sing along with Break it up Don't give me all your static; The thought is where your heart is and the Change is automatic So make it up 'Seasy enough for you to say, But that's not how I felt the day the Logick went away

Anna Belle Lee words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman I have to fit these pieces back together I have to trace this thread back to its start My brother-love, you are so very clever At stitching up what Daddy tears apart She said I want to come back as a dancer I said why don't you be a dancer now? And the silence that she gave me was no answer I have to fit these pieces back together somehow Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee As if I leaned into some ancient mirror Covered with the grime of centuries The images are closer but no clearer And I can't feel the typhoon for the breeze She said I want to come back as a dancer I said why don't you be a dancer now? And the lovers and the drugs are not the answer I have to fit these pieces back together somehow Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee She said I want to come back as a dancer I say how can you be a dancer now? And the silence doesn't give me any answer I'll have to fit these pieces back together on my own somehow Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee Keelie Anna, Anna Belle, Anna Belle Lee Keelie

Gilgamesh words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman Who's that walkin down the shore With the wild eyes of a beast? He looks like he's carryin the weight of the world And half the sky at least You've got sorrow's toothmarks on your nose And a sharp rock in your shoe And if you break down this tavern door I'll set my dog on you. Well I'm lookin at a man with a perfect tan And the means to fill his lust He's got wealth and power and a family He left back in the dust Now your best friend took a fall for you And now you're cryin in my beer If you weren't King of Uruk, boy, I'd throw you out of here There's just one thing in this whole wide world I'm tellin you is true: If you don't hold with the ones you love, They won't be long by you Take it from Siduri You listen what I say: Hey Gilgamesh, you've gotta grab that snake Before it steals your joy away. Grab that snake and shake it, Nab that crazy demon by the tail and make it Drop that pretty little hope it stole -- Don't tell me that your life's too short When you waste your life on cryin Eat up, drink up, cheer up, dry out; If you ain't happy then you're not tryin There's just one thing in this whole wide world I'm tellin you is true: If you don't hold with the ones you love, They won't be long by you Take it from Siduri You listen what I say: Hey Gilgamesh, you've gotta grab that snake Before it steals your joy away.

The Overland Stage words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman My grandpa learned the trade far from the scorching desert sun Up and down the Mississippi like his father's mother's son But the paddlewheels were fading, so he turned another page And came out to Arizona on the overland stage. He started with a suitcase and a wife named Abigail; Within a year their show was famous up and down the Trail. When they pulled into some hay camp they would empty the saloon; Four bits for a silver bottle and a wish upon the moon. Chorus: Wickenburg to Tombstone, roll up, join the gathering crowd: Horatio's Travelling Snake Oil Show and Magic Marionettes; The organ pipes bleed starlight while the bellows-pumper sweats, And above the glowing fantasy, his hand upon the threads Is the man who made his granddaughter proud. But I cannot pull the curtain, or conjure up the age; His words have gone the way of the overland stage. When sundown drew the curtain, Grandpa gave all he could give; In the moonlight and the gaslight, you would swear those puppets lived. In the dark the hardened cowhands shed their tears without control, For every tale he played there was a mirror of the soul. Grandma filled the bottles, working late into the night; Sweet liqueur distilled from moonbeams and the breeze of fancy's flight. Mother watched the kettle where the dying embers burned And I sat on Grandpa's knee as we watched the star wheel turn. CHORUS When I was only ten, I learned how simple spells were made, But even then the kinescope was drawing off our trade. We bought our first Victrola when the organ died of age, And rode on iron horses, not the overland stage. Grandpa passed away of Sunday, after eighty years of toil; I laid his puppets with him when we gave him to the soil. I've packed up all my moonbeams in a suitcase and a dream. They say time is a river; San Fernando lies downstream. CHORUS I will not pull the curtain or conjure up the age; His words have gone the way of the overland stage.

The Broken Goddess words & music (c)1995 by Nancy Louise Freeman My iron shoes have worn their soles right through So if you have to be a frog, I'll be a frog with you. You analyze the magic beans For what they might conceal; But do you think these fairy tales are real? This broken goddess, formally displayed, Lay sleeping in the earth until she Met up with the spade. Her injuries by other hands were laid, But by your clever lamplight and cruel eyes betrayed; CHORUS So out the door and cross the plain A lion wild and free You know what you have to hold To find and follow me So long as you dissect the text You'll never find it, brekekekex; There is no logic to reality. Well, brekekekex koax koax, A broken goddess holds the box Of all the things that we refuse to see; So brekekekex, come turn the lock. The lioness has run from many men Who put her on a pedastel to knock her off again I've come to see no robber bridegroom Hides inside of you, But will you give the ferryman his due? The distance between you and I is vast As any plain of Africa or Any tower of glass So follow where the lion's paws have Pressed into the grass She'll push you to the future by way of the hidden past CHORUS And bring my present wandering to end; We've called each other lover, now Let me call you friend By Venus and by Vulcan, By the beautiful and the lame, The lioness waits outside the gate. You've only to call my name! CHORUS

The Seed, the Flower, the Fruit, the Rot words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman They come here as aliens to a new land To open these furrows with hard, bitter hands For the hands still recall what the heart has forgot: The seed to the flower to the fruit to the rot. Bright colors erupt all around the new corn Music and laughter and hopes brightly worn A dazzling display and a shy, secret need: The flower to the fruit to the rot to the seed. The towers spring skyward; the staircases wind The thunder is harnessed, not looking behind But strains in its traces and grows in its power: The fruit to the rot to the seed to the flower. The center is loosened; the roof fallen in Wild wind and wand'rers where dancers had been The stones in decay and the dreams in pursuit: The rot to the seed to the flower to the fruit.

Geckos words & music (c)1996 by Nancy Louise Freeman Cattails in the culverts where I pulled my limping car to stop Redwings skim the alfalfa fields yes some transplanted crops grow well As I laid the star wrench down something silver caught my eye Fluttering tangled in the branches of tumbleweed just going dry (And the thunder moon rolls on and on (I lost my roses in last summer's heat) And the geckos bring me presents in the morning Earrings stolen from my dresser, screwdrivers I've lost And the mockingbird he sings his song Of every pretty bird that's come and gone You can only dance that tune so long Before you pay the cost Oh, I've surely paid the cost. I found the burrow's mouth among The bush's roots, and all around A hundred fairy footprints ran amazing that they'd lasted this long The thorns released her ruined wings, Torn and bent by the wind; I cradled her in both my hands, Those moonstone eye gone suntroke mad (And the thunder moon rolls on and on (I knew that I would have to put her down)  And the geckos bring me presents in the morning Pebbles stolen from my garden, phone calls that I've lost And the mockingbird he sings his song Of every pretty bird that's come and gone You can only dance that tune so long Before you pay the cost Oh, I've surely paid the cost. I left her world so long ago I thought that I had no regrets Learn to love the midnight stars Or build your armor 'gainst the sky The road goes on; I drove by stores, Apartment blocks, construction sites; Beyond the cemetery walls The patient lines of flowers wait (And the thunder moon rolls on and on; (You can only pass those walls so many times.) But the geckos bring me presents in the morning Postcards stolen from my dreamtime, innocence I've lost And the mockingbird he sings his song Of every pretty bird that's come and gone You can only dance that tune so long Before you pay the cost Oh, I've surely paid the cost. By now, I've surely paid the cost.