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FACT AND FICTION

by Mike Birch

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1.
Gypsy Wind 04:11
Gypsy Wind She glides around the campfire Guitar plays soft and slow Flames reach ever higher Gypsy dancer’s face is aglow Her voice calls out a shimmering note Begging stars and moon to listen It’s as if time has slowed She is one with the gypsy wind She moves with the gypsy wind She sings with the gypsy wind Helplessly falling Victim drawn to her calling Hypnotized by her form Blown away by the gypsy storm Dark hair flows, streams of night Siren song takes control Her eyes flash to his inner fire Summoning to her gypsy soul She moves with the gypsy wind She sings with the gypsy wind She moves with the gypsy wind She is one with the gypsy wind Helplessly falling Victim drawn to her calling Hypnotized by her form Blown away by the gypsy storm She is one with the gypsy wind
2.
Look Down the Road The grass here sure is brown Bound to be greener over there Maybe there won’t be anyone Ragging on my long hair I’m getting kind of tired Of all the crap in this old town Sorry I have to tell you I won’t be sticking around I’m not one to waste time looking back Doesn’t matter what happened before, what I never had I must be moving before I’m too damn old Wonder where I’m heading? Just look down the road Wasn’t too long, plans were made Soon the deed of leaving was done On the road with a couple of friends In an old car that barely runs Along the way we argue But we have plenty of fun Searching for that greener grass Speeding down old route 101 I’m not one to waste time looking back Doesn’t matter what happened before, what I never had I must be moving before I’m too damn old Wonder where I’m heading? Just look down the road Never wanted to hurt your feelings It was nothing you did or said I knew I’d be leaving Staying long’s not in my head West coast ain’t much different ‘Cept that the grass’s always brown Parted ways with my old friends Got a job when the car broke down Heard you called, looking for me But your memory hurts down to my soul Thinking about heading out one more time Wondering where my wandering will lead … as I look down the road I’m not one to waste time looking back Doesn’t matter what happened before, what I never had I must be moving before I’m too damn old Wonder where I am tonight? Look down the road
3.
Open All Night Mr and Mrs Brown, wearing frowns, fried eggs for dinner Reverend Jones, always alone, knows he’s really a sinner The waitress talks to them and smiles, and for a little while They feel like winners Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Saturday night all the lonely people come Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Where do all the people come from? Carol Ann with a fake tan drinking with her mom at the bar She’s just 31, having no fun, asks why meeting men is so hard The bartender pours another round and smiles, and for a little while She forgets the invisible scars Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Saturday night all the lonely people come Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Where do all the people come from? Sign of our times, sad people everywhere Wrapped up in their own misery, no one cares In a corner I sit, spotlight lit, playing my guitar I’m just like them, looking for friends, waiting for tips in a jar The people listen clap and smile, and for a little while Our home is this bar Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Saturday night all the lonely people come Open All Night bar and grill pancake emporium Where do all the people come from?
4.
Ashes and Trees Promise of endless summer, fireworks and bonfires Like children filled with wonder, passionate hearts of desire The fire burns bright, smoke drifts away on the breeze Last hope smolders amid the ashes and the trees Sparks kindle flames, heat almost too much to bear Two souls melt together, hot life to share The fire burns bright, smoke drifts away on the breeze Last hope smolders amid the ashes and the trees All flames finally fade Embers change to gray Summer heat becomes winter cold And love can lose its hold The fire burns out, smoke drifts away on the breeze Last hope smolders, amid the ashes and the trees
5.
Mr Limo Driver Watching in the mirror Adjusting your makeup and your hair Sipping champagne Talking on the phone to people who only care That you’re the reason They live as high as they do And when the day is over Do any of them really care for you? Then I hear “Mr. Limo Driver, won’t you take me away?” But it’s only your order to drive you home, it’s the end of another day Mr. Limo Driver, never rides in the back Mr. Limo Driver, white shire, jacket of black Stoically silent, a master of tact Mr. Limo Driver – I never ride in the back Star of screen and stage So why do you look so sad? Fortune and fame Must be more good than bad Hard for me to fathom What’s going on inside your mind The obviously forced smile Can’t hide all the pain behind Then I hear “Mr. Limo Driver, won’t you take me away?” But it’s only your order to drive you home, it’s the end of another day Mr. Limo Driver, never rides in the back Mr. Limo Driver, white shire, jacket of black Stoically silent, a master of tact Mr. Limo Driver – never rides in the back At a red light my imagination drifts To things that will never be Then I catch your face in the mirror Your eyes looking back at me Then I hear “Mr. Limo Driver, won’t you take me away?” But it’s only my imagination, it’s the end of another day Mr. Limo Driver, never rides in the back Mr. Limo Driver, white shire, jacket of black Stoically silent, a master of tact Mr. Limo Driver – never rides in the back Mr. Limo Driver – I never ride in the back
6.
Thirty Miles To Richmond Papa shook my hand as we waited for the bus Mama was crying, making her usual fuss My sisters were smiling, their eyes glistening with tears I climbed aboard the bus, then watched Richmond disappear Camp was tough as everyone had warned You have to work hard to earn a uniform Sarge built a team from a bunch of innocent kids Taught us to stay alive no matter what we did Thirty miles to Richmond This journey will finally end Thirty miles to Richmond I’ll soon be home again Soon we were sent off to an unknown land To fight in a war we didn’t understand Surrounded by my friends, it was the usual tale We were from the land of freedom, we could never fail Tommy was my buddy He was like a brother to me Could do the work of ten Thought we’d make history But a bullet cut him down No mercy from the enemy As I wept over him They did the same to me Thirty miles to Richmond This journey will finally end Thirty miles to Richmond I’ll soon be home again
7.
Miss Mexico 04:24
Miss Mexico Sweetness and innocence Even more behind a pretty face Hidden intelligence Kept quietly in its place Admiral ambitions Become so much more Forget inhibitions And walk through that open door Do you miss your family? Do you miss a life care –free? Miss Mexico Do you feel alone? Miss Mexico Do you miss your home? Do you, do you, Miss Mexico? I tried to warn you That you were a little naïve You would not listen 'Til the night he made you leave Do you miss your family? Do you miss a life care –free? Miss Mexico Do you feel alone? Miss Mexico Do you miss your home? Do you, do you, Miss Mexico? Hard to hide behind a mask When your life has crashed I’ve been trying to help you But you won’t let me through Do you miss your family? Do you miss a life care –free? Miss Mexico Do you feel alone? Miss Mexico Do you miss your home? Do you, do you, Miss Mexico?
8.
Desert Snow 04:51
Desert Snow Feelings of sadness under empty skies Traveling miles just to say goodbye No one says it, but everyone knows it's true Everything changes and memories fade, too. Then a sign, a message from above Sent to remind us of all the love No matter what, there's always hope From something unexpected, like desert snow. All of a sudden dark day turns bright Crystalline beauty, blanket of white Grief is muffled, like footsteps in snow A gift to a stranger, to let them grow. Remember when things get too tough We've got within us the power of love No matter how bad, there's always hope Some kind of miracle, like desert snow. No matter how it seems, you're never alone You can find new dreams, your destiny unknown Feel it, feel it in your soul Like desert snow A new sunrise, a brand new start Feel it inside, feel it in your heart They're always with us, sweet memories Bringing a smile, like a cool desert breeze. Remember when things get too tough We've got within us the power of love No matter how bad, there's always hope Some kind of miracle, like desert snow. Like desert snow, like desert snow
9.
The Good From The Bad She always told her best friends Her nose was her best feature Wrinkled it up so cute When she was kissing up to a teacher It seems so long ago She doesn’t know where time went Doesn’t want to think How that nose got all bent He promised her diamonds Instead she got fists of rock But she thinks that she deserved Everything she got Can’t tell the good from the bad It’s the only love she’s ever had Put up with the abuse Always an excuse Can’t tell the good from the bad Another night in the ER This time a broken arm Questions get no answers But she’s sure he didn’t mean any harm Get away her friends all say But it’s not something she will do All the tears, shame and pain She still thinks love will see them through He promised her the world Instead all she got was dirt She still believes That it’s all she is worth Can’t tell the good from the bad It’s the only love she’s ever had Put up with the abuse Always an excuse Can’t tell the good from the bad Opposites why do they attract? It’s a hard fact Good is drawn to bad Pleasure and pain, quite insane Good and bad together again Can’t tell the good from the bad It’s the only love she’s ever had Put up with the abuse Always an excuse Can’t tell the good from the bad
10.
Sandcastles 02:50
Sandcastles Up with the sun Never real fun Show the kids love every day Wipe a nose Watch the bus go Help her husband on his way Shower and dress Kitchen’s a mess It’ll have to wait until later Workday calls Mothers shift at the mall Another day of meaningless labor Late at night, when things go quiet She closes her eyes, and smiles She’s building sandcastles in her dreams Waves won’t wash them away A place where she can be a queen Until the break of day … takes it away Make dinner and clean Husband watches TV Help the kids do homework When did life change Sun turned to rain Is this all she really deserves? But late at night, when things go quiet She closes her eyes, and smiles She’s building sandcastles in her dreams Waves won’t wash them away A place where she can be a queen Until the break of day … takes it away
11.
The Traveler 03:07
The Traveler There at the beginning, there at the end Looks so familiar like a long lost friend So elusive, a shadow amongst men Seeming to help, then gone again No time paradox, no reason for prayer Appearing where needed, everywhere here and there He’s the Traveler through space and time His wisdom and patience are touching all lives Ending war and famine, committing no crime He’s the Traveler, making sure we survive Looks too young, feels too old Burning with fever, but touch is ice cold Shining so bright dark as a black hole That looks right through into your soul No time paradox, no reason for prayer Appearing where needed, everywhere here and there He’s the Traveler through space and time His wisdom and patience are touching all lives Ending war and famine, committing no crime He’s the Traveler, making sure we survive Round and round No way to get down Round and round A whisper of sound Round and round And round and round again
12.
Kiss Or Kill 03:50
Kiss or Kill Daddy’s little princess Mommy’s little girl Childhood of innocence Protected from the world One day things are different Daddy’s never home Mommy's past caring where he went And the princess is alone No blaming destiny, or the lack of will It's all or nothing, kiss or kill Teen years are tough Sometimes so unfair Saying ‘no’ is not enough No one seems to care Mind and feelings go numb It’s easier to pretend Than trying to pick up and run From a world you can’t comprehend No blaming destiny, or the lack of will It's all or nothing, kiss or kill Caught in a freezing whirlpool Ice grips the soul Emotions are torn to dust In a suffocating black hole Nothing really matters anymore Each day takes its toll Feeling ripped from thought The heart grows cold Escape from reality It’s so easy to do Don’t care about eternity So there’s nothing left to lose Love is hell, hell is love Nothing is for sure When facts aren’t enough No reasoning any more No blaming destiny, courage from a pill It's all or nothing, kiss or kill It's all or nothing, kiss or kill It's all or nothing, kiss or kill
13.
Chasing The Sunlight Season’s changing, feel it in my bones Time for rearranging, flying on home Another year’s passed, it doesn’t seem fair I thought it would last but I’m alone in the air I’m still chasing the sunlight Trying to get things to feel alright Adding some color to all the grey It would be a much brighter day … if you were still here Remember the sun, our very first spring Nestling the young under spread wings Fierce winds came, I couldn’t protect you too Watched you swept away, nothing I could do I’m still chasing the sunlight Trying to get things to feel alright Adding some color to all the grey It would be a much brighter day … if you were still here Shadows can be hard to escape Descending darkness from a simple mistake Brightness can seem within easy grasp But then can slip away too fast I’m still chasing the sunlight Trying to get things to feel alright Adding some color to all the grey It would be a much brighter day … if you were still here
14.
Scarlet and Sable Miss Scarlet wore sable boots to stomp on men's hearts But the blame wasn't all on her, the men did their part She had turquoise on her fingers, silver on her toes The men would follow her wherever she goes Scarlet and sable Myth and fable Turquoise and silver All the joys delivered Blood is black under moonlight Silvery runes glowing in the night Miss Scarlet had golden keys to open all the doors That hid the secrets never known before Immortality, wisdom, infinite wealth Cures for all illness, of unending health Scarlet and sable Myth and fable Turquoise and silver All the joys delivered Blood is black under moonlight Silvery runes glowing in the night Scarlet and sable, myth and fable…. Miss Scarlet had the power to make the heavens open up In a deluge of rain, then quickly turn to sun A magic unknown in man's modern times Where reality and fantasy are intertwined Scarlet and sable Myth and fable Turquoise and silver All the joys delivered Blood is black under moonlight Silvery runes glowing in the night Scarlet and sable, myth and fable ...
15.
The Winds of Change Feeling hovers, dark Wants to stop my heart Silent whispers lead to the grave Rising panic builds Unexplained guilt There’s nothing left to save Squeeze eyes shut Can’t keep it out A vision of what shouldn’t be Makes little sense I must confess I’m frightened by what I see The air grows cold Time twists then takes hold Something sure feels strange Wait for it … the winds of change Fireball expands All part of the plan Can’t halt it once it begins Nuclear strike God-awful night Destroy a multitude of sins The air grows cold Time twists then takes hold Something sure feels strange Wait for it … the winds of change Must go back Into the past Change a fact Make it fast Fix neglect Now is changed Butterfly effect Time rearranged The air grows cold Time twists then takes hold Something sure feels strange Wait for it … the winds of change

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released December 10, 2016

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Mike Birch Methuen, Massachusetts

For Mike, it all started on a Sunday night in 1964 ... February 9 ... the Beatles took the stage on the Ed Sullivan show and while the girls in the audience screamed, his parents and grandparents exclaimed about the "long hairs", a 7-year-old boy thought, 'I'm going to learn to play the guitar one day!' ... more

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