© 2016 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
New worlds can be discovered, when you imagine.
New dreams will be unveiled, when you imagine.
You’ll travel high up to the stars
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed when you imagine.
VERSE 2
Ideals can breathe new life when you imagine.
Your soul will reach new heights when you imagine.
You’ll travel far beyond the stars
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed when you imagine.
CHORUS
Imagine, Imagine
A world as you want it to be.
Imagine. Imagine.
Seeing, believing are first steps of bringing it to be.
BRIDGE
Imagination gives wings to your heart, to your dreams.
Buried treasures, only you have the key.
Imagination can see through, within, and beyond.
On life’s journey, it will help you find a way.
VERSE 3
Enchanted doors will open wide when you imagine.
Doubt and fear melt away when you imagine.
You’ll travel far beyond the stars;
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed, when you imagine.
REPEAT BRIDGE
Imagination gives wings to your heart, to your dreams.
Buried treasures, only you have the key.
Imagination can see through, within and beyond.
On life’s journey it will help you find a way.
FINAL CHORUS
Imagine, Imagine
A world as you most want it to be.
Imagine. Imagine.
Seeing, believing are first steps of bringing it to be.
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2014 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
When unseen bugs run amuck and your fever goes up,
Mom puts you to bed, keeps you warm and well fed.
First you’re cold; then you’re hot; you don’t know what you’ve got.
One thing is sure, we must quick find a cure.
INTERLUDE 1:
Because—when you’re feeling sick….
CHORUS 1
It takes the wind out of your sail, the air out of your balloon.
It takes the mile out of your smile, the toon out of your cartoon.
It takes the…
lift from your kite, float from your boat,
bright from your light, bridge from your moat .
The shrill from your howl, frown from your scowl,
sneak from your prowl, The fierce from your growl.
INTERLUDE 2:
And then, something wonderful happens—
VERSE 2
The Doctor comes hither and soon you feel better.
The potion you swallowed smashed bugs till they’re hollow.
The sun is now out. Your friends holler and shout,
“Whoopeeee! What a great day!” You yell, “Yea! Let’s go play!!!”
INTERLUDE 3:
Because…..when you’re feeling swell…..
CHORUS 2
It puts the wind back in your sail, the air back in your balloon.
It puts the mile back in your smile, the toon back in your cartoon.
It puts….
The lift in your kite, float in your boat.
bright in your light, bridge to your moat
The shrill in your howl, frown in your scowl
sneak in your prowl, the fierce in your growl.
ENDING
We all prefer feeling better to feeling under the weather
Let’s sing to bring cheer to all everywhere.
Lyric sheet-First written 2010/11.
© 2016 words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Pulsating beams of light rain down from on high
Igniting a ballet of curtains in light
They shimmer and glow in a theatre of night
Releasing a wellspring of wonder and awe.
VERSE 2
Rays of our Sun’s warm light bend in the rain
Painting a canvas of sky on the day
Though fleeting the image imprints on our brain
A vision, frozen in time and in space.
CHORUS
Auroras and Rainbows turn us to the sky
Inviting us into a realm of the light
Life giving forces from our special star
Are the music of Auroras and Rainbows.
BRIDGE
For all who bear witness the light enters in
Transforming our view of the world like a dream
For a moment we’re raised above division and strife
And are one with the Sun, a source of all life.
VERSE 3
If I were a ray of light speeding to Earth
I’d shine through the raindrops that give Rainbows birth.
I’d shower my sun flare on a stage of the night and
Open to a Rainbow to bridge all divides.
REPEAT CHORUS
last edited 8/2017
© 2014 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford, All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Matilda, the cat, needed a home.
Her Mom and Dad decided to roam.
Vickie and Bob agreed to take her in.
Matilda was bewildered, determined to win.
BRIDGE 1
She bided her time, waiting for her chance.
When the door opened she was ready to pounce.
They were off on the chase till she was out of sight.
Matilda later returned with a mysterious bite.
CHORUS
Matilda, Matilda,
You turned our whole world upside down,
made us act like circus clowns.
Still we love you, Matilda.
Your feline beauty warms our hearts,
Makes us feel like proud peacocks.
VERSE 2
Relieved and worried, they took her to the vet.
He patched her up, sent her home to rest.
Only Matilda knew her collar was loose.
She bided her time, left Bob holding the leash.
BRIDGE 2
She dashed across the highway, took one look back,
Flashed a Cheshire grin, did a disappearing act.
Bob searched and scoured every inch of the ‘hood’,
But Matilda was nowhere near where he stood.
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE 3
They waited and prayed for Matilda’s return.
How would they explain, she had run again?
Soon they knew they had to tell the truth;
Their daughter said, “Take a dish out and rattle her food”.
MATILDA THE CAT (continued)
BRIDGE 3
Bob was off again on a ‘wild cat’ chase;
He rattled her food but to no avail.
They were losing hope; twelve days had passed,
When they got the call, “I’ve got your cat”.
CHORUS
Matilda, Matilda.
You turned our whole world upside down,
made us act like circus clowns.
Still we love you Matilda.
Your feline beauty warms our hearts,
Makes us feel like proud peacocks.
VERSE 4
Vickie cried 2 hours; Bob breathed a sigh of relief.
They brought Matilda home; here’s what happened next.
She climbed to the ceiling, crouched near the wall.
Vickie covered her up to break the spell.
BRIDGE 4
Pretty soon Matilda came out of hiding to peak,
Found Vickie’s lap ‘n purred, finally at peace.
If the point of the story isn’t clear to you,
You’ve never loved a cat as Bob and Vickie do.
REPEAT CHORUS
a true story for Vickie and Bob Johnson, August, 2009
(last edited 8/2017-form only)
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
Dedicated to Browzer, my beloved Schnauzer and muse
INTRO-4 bars
VERSE 1
You were born in a trailer on the blue grass trail.
Your Ma crossed over; your Aunt took you in.
You see almost nothing; your heart murmurs too.
You’re my best friend and I Love You.
VERSE 2
I went South for a visit. My folks took me out.
We listened to the music, tapped our feet, swung about.
In-between the blue grass strains we went for a stroll.
You plucked my heart string and we came home.
CHORUS
The best friend a girl could ever have,
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue, you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give and
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin,you wiggle and my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend,
Your life is brief, you’ll bring me grief; our bond‘ll never end.
INSTRUMENTAL 4 bars
VERSE 3
Now part of the story is yet to be heard.
My husband didn’t want you; he thought it was absurd.
A lovely fam-ly angel was with me that day
She gave me the money and I had my way.
VERSE 4
The long ride home was silent. Browzer was a gem.
Bob was mad as a hatter because of what I did.
We kept our distance and went to training school.
You won him over, now Bob loves you too.
GIRL’S BEST FRIEND…
CHORUS (2)
The best friend a girl could ever have.
When strangers knock, you come un-glued.
You howl and bark ‘til you’re wooed.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin, you wiggle ‘n my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend.
Your life is brief. You’ll bring me grief. Our bond ’ll never end.
FINAL CHORUS 1
The best friend a girl could ever have.
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
ENDING
And sometimes you show me how to live.
(Spoken Word) “I love you Browzer”
Last updated 10/20/2016
©2018Music and lyrics by Marilyn O. Sifford, All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Exploring one day in my neighborhood,
I discovered a tree house where a great oak once stood.
I saw eyes peeking out from the windows and eves.
A sign welcomed Hobbits and Birds and Fairies.
VERSE 2
The Oak Tree once raised its arms to the sky.
It’s tap root reached deep to a spring underground.
Like magic it grew fast and wide all around,
A magnificent trunk, enchanting and grand.
CHORUS
I love the whimsical tree house; I pretend it’s all mine.
Home for Hobbits, Fairies and Birds of all kind.
With wonder, I watch them from a rabbit bench nearby.
They’re friendly and curious; they don’t seem to mind.
When I grow up, I hope the kid in me thrives.
I want to feel all the joy of just being alive,
To bask in the magic that happens my way,
Keep exploring, and learn something new every day!
VERSE 3
I brought Mom and Dad to see the tree house with me.
I wanted to share the excitement I feel.
When they saw it they said, “Wow! That’s really cool!”
But the hobbits and fairies to them, were invisible!
BRIDGE
The Hobbits and Fairies come out just for me.
It’s too bad the grown-ups can’t see what I see.
I learned a big secret I’m now passing on….
‘Kids have special powers, many grown-ups have lost.’
REPEAT CHORUS
ENDING
Keep exploring and learn something new everyday.
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
Verse 1
Salute the Elephants, majestic and strong.
Salute matriarchs, their families and bonds.
Salute their memories, complex and long.
Salute their senses, their voices, their heart.
Bridge 1
Cry for the Elephants who mean harm to none.
Cry for families mowed down by guns.
Cry for humanity and the harm we have done
Cry for souls who take the money and run.
Chorus 1
Stand up for Elephants who can’t fight the guns.
Stand up for grieving of those left to mourn.
Stand up for futures of the unborn, the young.
Stand up for Elephants and their home in the sun.
INSTRUMENTAL (16 bars)
Verse 2
Salute the Elephants, peaceful giants of Earth.
Salute their intelligence, their courage, their mirth.
Salute their tenderness caring for the young.
Salute their empathy. Rejoice in their fun.
Bridge 2
Cry for the Elephants in shackles and chains.
Cry for the torture, abuse, and the pain.
Cry for the captors, the poachers, their shame.
Cry for blood shed for profit and gain.
Chorus 2
Stand up for Elephants; hear their screams; lift your voice.
Stand up to torture, shun all who exploit.
Stand up to blood-shed for ivory as “art”.
Stand up for Elephants, save lives be their voice.
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford, All Rights Reserved
Call To Action: Exercise your right to vote!!
VERSE 1
One by one, we’ll send a message.
One by one we’ll win the fight.
One by one we’ll work for justice.
One by one we’ll show our might.
One by one we’ll lift our voices.
One by one we’ll cast our votes.
One by one we’ll keep on pressing
to restore faith and hope.
BRIDGE
We’ve come too far to turn back now.
The struggle goes on. The stakes are high.
It’s our turn now to go the next mile.
Together we can make things right.
CHORUS
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters that you vote. It matters who.)
So get ready: Make a plan. Take a friend.
Make a choice. Raise your voice.
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters who we send to Washington.)
A small step for each of us creates a wave for mankind!
VERSE 2
One by one we’ll win the future.
One by one we’ll turn the tide.
One by one we’ll overcome
Secret money and lies.
One by one our lives will matter.
One by one we will be heard.
One by one we’ll honor those
Who paved the way with their blood.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
©2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
When you go to the country, I have memories you’ll relate to
Of daily life on the farm when I was young, going barefoot.
For some, it’s where we’re from; it’s still home for a lucky few.
Some things change, some remain the same. Daily life on the farm still reigns.
CHORUS 1
Feed the chickens, get the eggs, milk the cows, make the butter.
Sow crops, weed the fields, water, pull the suckers.
Watch‘em grow, when they’re ripe, pick beans and the tomatoes.
Dig beets, potatoes too. Save enough for all year through.
VERSE 2
When you go to the market you may wonder where things come from.
The shelves are filled with food, every color of the rainbow.
Behind each one are many stories, of the land from which they grew.
You’d be surprised how many folks work every day to bring food to you.
CHORUS 2
Pick the corn, bale the hay, feed the pigs and the horses.
Milk goats, make cheese, pick the grapes, go to market.
Don’t forget about the figs; pick melons and the berries.
Dig carrots, onions too. Save enough for all year through.
VERSE 3
When you go to the table to have your favorite food and drink,
Imagine all the steps it takes to bring each serving to you.
When Mom says “Clean your plate. Drink your juice, grow big and strong.”,
She’s wise–from the earth comes nutrition to live life long.
CHORUS 3
Wash the fruits and veggies, peel and chop them if you want to.
Use your favorite recipes to make a tasty menu.
Join friends, family too, as you gather with quiet zeal.
Give thanks for the bounty. Celebrate and enjoy your meal.
Edited 8/2017
by Marilyn Sifford
VERSE 1
Butterfly, Butterfly, Hear my song and Flutter by
Come my way. Make my day.
Fill my dreams without delay.
I’ll smile in my sleep.
My world will be at peace.
Butterfly, Butterfly, Please flutter by.
VERSE 2
Butterfly, Butterfly, floating low, then flying high.
Sharing flowers with the bees,
Rising up into the trees.
Ride the wind. Sail the breeze.
With your presence bring us peace.
Butterfly Butterfly, please flutter by.
VERSE 3
In my dreams with you I’ll fly, soaring high above the clouds
In between the Earth and Sky
Love will stream through you and I.
Earth will heal as we dream,
When we wake we’ll be at peace.
Butterfly, Butterfly, please flutter by.
TAG
You and I, Butterfly, please flutter by.
written 2018/19, recorded 5/17/19.
©2015 Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford
VERSE 1
Blink once, blink twice, blink three times
Your love will find you and fly
You’ll make babies now
They’ll feed in the ground and
When their wings grow they will fly.
VERSE 2
Blink once, blink twice, blink three times.
You thrill the night with your light.
Your life is too brief
Only two or three weeks
But OH! While you’re here what a sight!
BRIDGE
Fascination, Inspiration, fill my heart to the brim.
Enchantment and wonder, they make my head spin.
I anticipate, I can hardly wait for the sun to say goodnight.
The magic comes rising up in flight. I’m surrounded by light.
I’m grateful to fireflies coming in to my world.
They bring smiles to our faces, touch my heart in new places.
It’s not fantasy, it’s not 3-D. The magic they bring is real
One of many wondrous stories of how nature makes me feel.
INTERLUDE
We all have light within us
If we let it grow
It will touch the world around us
We can set the world aglow.
BRIDGE (1/2)
Fascination, Inspiration, fill my heart to the brim.
Enchantment and wonder–they make my head spin.
I anticipate, I can hardly wait for the sun to say goodnight.
The magic comes rising up in flight. I’m surrounded by light.
REPEAT INTERLUDE
We all have light within us
If we let it grow
It will touch the world around us
We can set the world aglow.
ENDING: When fireflies rise up and shine their light
The world is transformed–so am I.
Song Lyrics by Marilyn Sifford
VERSE 1
You’re present, you’re real.
Spirit or flesh, the power we feel.
You lift spirits when we’re down.
We feel at peace when you’re around.
In sunshine and rain,
You share our joy, witness our pain,
Bring comfort, ease despair,
When we need healing, Angels are there.
CHORUS
Angels watch over us. Angels believe in us.
Angels inspire us. Angels make our dreams possible.
Angels help us through each day. Angels guide us on our way.
Angels shi-i-ine their light. Angels make our dreams possible.
VERSE 2
Angels are there in an hour of need,
Embody hope, Inspire dreams.
In darkness, when we’re afraid
Your guiding light is there to lead.
You help us grow and weather each storm,
Let us know we’re not alone.
Your kindness and your love
Strengthen our will to carry on.
REPEAT CHORUS
INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE WITH ANGEL CHOIR
VERSE 3
Someone I knew came in a dream
to say goodby, I believe.
A warm loving embrace,
transcended time and space.
Connected to loved ones now gone,
From their spirits I feel their love.
Who am I to say they’re not real?
Perhaps the future will reveal.
FINAL CHORUS and ending
edited 6/10/2019
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Candles glow a little brighter
People hug a little tighter
Children smile a little wider
Burdens seem a little lighter.
Church bells ring a little clearer
Friendships seem a little dearer
Families travel to be nearer
It’s the Christmastime of year.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
VERSE 2
Christmas Eve we found some boxes
Wrote our name on every side.
While we slept we knew that Santa
Would leave gifts and treats nearby.
Christmas morning was magic,
Up before dawn, starry eyed.
Home was filled with joy and laughter
And the warmth of Christmastime.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years.
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
©2018Words and Music by Marilyn O. Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Did you ever wonder
How the end might come,
How many breaths you have left,
What might be left undone?
Did you ever wonder
How you’d say good by?
If you had the chance,
Who would you want to have nearby?
CHORUS
The soul inside us wants to live.
The love inside us wants to give.
The need inside us hungers till
The soul inside us finds its fill.
VERSE 2
Did you ever wonder
If you could carry on,
How you would face the dawn,
From where your strength would come?
Did you ever wonder
If time would ease the pain,
If broken hearts can truly mend,
If there is light around the bend?
BRIDGE
It seemed the rain would never end.
It seemed the sun would never shine and then
The light of love came streaming in and
Hearts gained strength to beat again.
CHORUS
The soul inside us wants to live.
The love inside us wants to give.
The need inside us hungers till
The soul inside us finds its fill.
Edited 8/2017, 3/2018
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Life has darkness; life has light.
Life has its depths; life has its heights.
Life has moments of despair;
Life has thrills beyond compare.
We see beauty; our hearts soar.
We see evil; our hearts roar.
As we walk the path of life,
We see darkness; we see light.
VERSE 2
Life has struggles; life has bumps.
We hail our triumphs; we take our lumps.
When life’s curves knock us down
We must get up and turn around.
Life has endings; our hearts break;
We feel empty; our souls ache.
Then beginnings re-ignite
The fire of life, the will to fight.
CHORUS
Walk in the sun; let it light your way.
Let it warm your heart; let it in to stay.
Let it still your mind; let it flood your soul.
Let it heal your hurts; let it make you whole.
BRIDGE
Life is a river of many streams
Moving in tandem, unfolding themes.
Even when you’re unaware
Life has meaning. If you dare-
Let your soul voice be your guide-
Paths will open, await your tide.
You’ll ride out on golden dreams.
Life is a river of many streams.
VERSE 3
Life has yang and life has yin.
2
Sometimes we lose; sometimes we win.
Life gives us love; it helps us grow.
It shows us hate; we feel its woe.
We see war, we feel torn.
We see peace for which we long.
We see joy, we see strife.
We walk through darkness into light.
REPEAT BRIDGE
FINAL CHORUS
Walk in the sun, let it light your way.
Let it warm your heart, let it in to stay.
Let it still your mind , let it flood your soul.
Let it heal your hurts, let it make you whole.
last edited 3/2/2017
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
There’s a still small voice within us, longing to be heard.
The home of hope and wisdom; a sage who won’t be fooled.
If you find a quiet haven and keep an open mind,
It will guide you through the hardest times and help your spirit climb.
VERSE 2
There’s a still small voice within us, your best friend on the earth.
It knows your heartaches, hopes and fears, & knows your special worth.
When you’re feeling lost or lonely and darkness has no end,
Find seeds of new beginnings when you listen to your friend.
BRIDGE
The still small voice inside us speaks in many ways.
It resonates within your heart through confusion, noise and pain.
It may come to you by friend or foe, by dream, by word, by song.
When it finds a welcome place to grow, it will make your spirit strong.
CHORUS
Your spirit flies, let it soar.
See your life in a different way than you ever have before.
Your spirit flies, let it soar.
Aim your heart at what matters most.
Walk on through that open door.
INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE (4 bars)
VERSE 3
There’s a still small voice within us, constant like the tide.
It sees all things day and night; some believe it’s divine.
It takes courage to find your pathway and resolve to heed your call.
The peace and joy you’ll feel inside will illuminate your soul.
Repeat BRIDGE
Repeat CHORUS
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in the air.
Spring has sprung.
I hear songbirds everywhere.
Winter’s darkness yields to light.
Sleeping buds unfold new life.
Something deep inside me sighs
Now that spring has come.
VERSE 2
Spring has sprung
Birds on wing are all a round.
Building homes, mating in their chosen pairs.
Never mind the winter chill,
The struggle to survive, the will.
Life is drawn to sun’s warm light
And Spring gives birth again.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows.
With faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
VERSE 3
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in my heart Since we met everything is new again.
Winter’s landscape’s gray and snow white.
My heart’s full of love’s warm light.
Being with you brings pure joy
And Winters chill is gone.
BRIDGE
Can we share the love we feel,
Create a wave of love that heals,
Build a world where love prevails
And Spring lives in our hearts.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows. With
faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
REPEAT CHORUS AND ENDING
Song Lyrics by Marilyn Sifford
VERSE 1
You’re present, you’re real.
Spirit or flesh, the power we feel.
You lift spirits when we’re down.
We feel at peace when you’re around.
In sunshine and rain,
You share our joy, witness our pain,
Bring comfort, ease despair,
When we need healing, Angels are there.
CHORUS
Angels watch over us. Angels believe in us.
Angels inspire us. Angels make our dreams possible.
Angels help us through each day. Angels guide us on our way.
Angels shi-i-ine their light. Angels make our dreams possible.
VERSE 2
Angels are there in an hour of need,
Embody hope, Inspire dreams.
In darkness, when we’re afraid
Your guiding light is there to lead.
You help us grow and weather each storm,
Let us know we’re not alone.
Your kindness and your love
Strengthen our will to carry on.
REPEAT CHORUS
INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE WITH ANGEL CHOIR
VERSE 3
Someone I knew came in a dream
to say goodby, I believe.
A warm loving embrace,
transcended time and space.
Connected to loved ones now gone,
From their spirits I feel their love.
Who am I to say they’re not real?
Perhaps the future will reveal.
FINAL CHORUS and ending
edited 6/10/2019
©2018Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
Theme A
It’s morning.
How can I face today?
My world is shattered.
There’s only darkness in its wake.
It’s morning
O GOD! Please let this be a dream.
Or let me sleep
So that I never feel again.
Or give me strength,
To move beyond the pain.
Theme B
It’s morning. Today’s a new day.
I have a new chance to find a new way.
It’s morning. New doors will open.
The path I follow will be my own.
It’s morning. I hear birds singing.
The sun is rising, the fog is lifting.
It’s morning. The world is open.
I’ll cross the bridge to places unknown.
It’s morning. I’ve come a long way.
Tomorrow’s uncertain. Each day’s a new day.
It’s morning. My heart is open.
With grace and love I’ll embrace the unknown.
Ending
I’ll cross the bridge, embrace the unknown.
(written 2010-2014, edited 8/7/2017, 3/2018)
©2018 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford, All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Make me your vessel; send your light through me.
Instill in my heart kindness and love.
Give me compassion. Reveal my purpose.
Let your grace guide me through fear and doubt.
BRIDGE
I’ll follow you through pain and sorrow.
I’ll follow you through joy and bliss.
I’ll follow you when I have questions.
I’ll follow you; I’ll do my best.
CHORUS
Show me the way; show me the way.
Keep my heart near you; lead my steps to you.
Show me the way; show me the way.
And when I stray, show me the way.
VERSE 2
Please stay beside me, if I deny thee,
When life I do not understand.
Help my heart open, receive your healing,
Let your light guide me through shifting sands.
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
TAG
And when I stray show me the way.
(written March/April 2010, 3/16/2018)
Words and music by Marilyn Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford -All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
When the sun rises I think of you.
When the moon rises I think of you.
When I feel joy I want to share.
When I need someone to care.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
BRIDGE
Your smile is warm, your voice is clear,
Ever constant through the years.
In dreams I feel your warm embrace
So real I know you’re with me still.
Simple ordinary things bring you to me on angels’s wings.
My life is full. My skies are blue–and still I think of you.
CHORUS
Love lives on in treasured mem-ries.
Love lives on beyond the beat of our hearts.
Love lives on in every footprint it leaves behind.
In a spirit that won’t die, love lives on.
VERSE 2
And when I gaze at clouds, I think of you.
When I feel a breeze, I think of you.
When I see loved ones embrace
I close my eyes, I see your face.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
©2018Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford-All Rights Reserved
VERSE ONE
Open your eyes; see God’s beauty.
Open your ears; heed His call.
Raise your voice; sing His praise.
Open your heart; receive His Love.
CHORUS
Receive His love, receive His love.
Let light and strength and grace be yours.
Receive His love, receive His grace.
Let joy and peace be yours.
VERSE TWO
Open your eyes; see God’s bounty.
From those in need, hear his voice.
Show compassion; share your love.
Open your heart; receive His love.
REPEAT CHORUS
INTERLUDE
VERSE THREE
Open your eyes; see God’s children.
Open your arms; keep them safe.
Raise your voice, with faith, in prayer.
Open your heart; receive His Love.
FINAL CHORUS
Receive His love; receive His love.
Let light and strength and grace be yours.
Receive His love; receive His grace.
Let joy and peace be yours.
TAG
Let joy and peace be yours. Amen.
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
We live in troubled times, shifting sands everywhere.
Souls are the wake of hatred and greed,
Power gone mad, feeding the beast.
News is more heat than light feeding hope.
Gridlock obstructs the will of people who vote.
Prejudice feeds ‘us versus them’.
Where is light? Where is Love?
BRIDGE
What would it take to heal the hurt behind hate,
To pierce the armor of fear?
To sate the hunger of greed,
To replace it with generous deeds?
What would it take; what would it take
To quench a thirst for power and blood,
To raise voices of hope, to ignite the fire of love?
CHORUS
Send us a song with enough love to change the world,
A song that will echo deep in our souls.
Send us a song to ignite a divine spark of
Goodness and goodwill in all mankind.
Open our hearts, open our minds.
Give us a bridge across chasms and time.
Heal all the places from where troubles come.
Send us a song!
VERSE 2
Lift us up to see our world from afar,
The oneness we share.
How futile is hate, destruction and greed on our
Tiny world in the vastness of space.
Lift us up to see the beauty in all,
A world full of hope.
Help us nurture life and goodwill,
Feel the power of love to heal.
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
(9/16/2016)
© Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Someone near has a dream that wants to be pursued.
Someone you know has a wish that’s longing to come true.
Around the corner someone’s hurting, someone’s lonely, someone’s blue.
Here and now all around us, there’s much that we can do.
CHORUS 1
Here and now is our moment. Take a small step, don’t delay.
Here and now is our time to make a difference every day.
Here and now plant the seeds of dreams to be renewed.
If not us here, if not us now; who, where and when will they come true?
VERSE 2
In the world, near and far, souls are fighting for their lives.
In the world a planet warms, our home the Earth tries to survive.
In the world are forces primed with greed, too blind to see.
Here and now, more than ever, our world needs all of you and me.
BRIDGE
The world’s face may be a child, a bird, a mammal, or a cause.
The world’s face may be a friend, a neighbor, family, or the law.
The world’s face may be an ocean or a dream of peace for all.
Make no mistake the need is great. The call rings out to one and all.
INSTRUMENTAL
CHORUS 1
Here and now is our moment. Take a small step, don’t delay.
Here and now is our time to make a difference every day.
Here and now plant the seeds of dreams to be renewed.
If not us here, if not us now; who, where and when will they come true?
FINAL CHORUS/ENDING
The time and place is here and now, wherever you may be.
Shine your light in the world on any darkness you may see.
Wait not one moment, don’t delay. The need is urgent, time is key.
If not here-where? If not now-when? If not us-who will make our dreams come true?
(Edited 1/2/2017)
© 2016 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
In quiet moments when noise and chatter fade away.
My heart speaks through a still small voice to show the way.
It takes me to an open place where all can be
When I hold all my dreams, when I believe in me.
VERSE 2
In quiet moments thoughts come floating out of the blue,
Forgotten truths, insights, dreams, memories too.
Alone or in a crowd it’s all the same.
I find myself floating in another plane.
CHORUS
Sometimes ordinary moments
Become extraordinary moments
Defying life and death, time and space, conscious will, and doubt and faith.
These moments are timeless golden moments.
BRIDGE
I feel part of something greater, one with nature.
Angst and worry seem to ease to a place of inner peace
Reminding me, we share Earth’s gifts and fate.
The soul is clear, discerning truth, surmounting fear
Seeing shades of gray in black and white
How context colors wrong and right.
Could it be that life is simple when we see?
Do we make it more complex than needs to be?
VERSE 3
In quiet moments I reflect on days gone by.
You come to me like an angel from the sky.
Sometimes your presence is so real with joy I cry
I feel your love and know you’re with me all the time.
CHORUS/ENDING
Sometimes ordinary moments
Become extraordinary moments,
Defying life and death, time and space, conscious will and doubt and faith.
These moments are timeless golden moments.
(last edited 2/24/2016) written 2012
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
If not to love one another, why are we here?
If not to learn and discover, why are we here?
If not to reach for the stars, find out who we are
And care for Earth as our home, why are we here?
VERSE 2
If not to laugh and be joyous, why are we here?
If not to share others sorrows, why are we here?
If not to nurture the fragile, attend to the frail;
and help those who need it, why are we here?
CHORUS
Why are we here? Why are we here?
We’re not alone. Why are they here?
Why are we here? Why are they here?
Will it ever be clear, why we’re all here?
We’re part of a web of air, land and sea,
A web of life that helps us to be,
We’re part of a web that’s evolved and endured,
Part of a web we can sustain or destroy.
VERSE 3
If not to witness life’s stories, why are we here?
If not to seek truth and justice, why are we here?
If not to follow our star, give our best, do our part
To make the world better why are we here?
BRIDGE
Grant us wisdom to understand; we’re part of a ‘web of life’ on this land.
Grant us courage to overcome all that blinds us to being ONE.
Grant us knowledge, love and the will to protect rather than kill.
The web of life sustains us all, without which we fall.
CHORUS B2 followed by B1
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2015 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Memories and dreams
Are born on todays.
The future’s uncertain,
The past has gone its way.
Savor each moment,
Live every day
For memories and dreams are born
Of choices made today.
BRIDGE
Sometimes life chooses for us
Some things we can’t control.
Choosing life and light in dark times
Brings renewal to the soul.
There’s a river flowing through us
Of resilience, strength, and love.
It will carry us the distance
It’s the promise of a dove.
INSTRUMENTAL
VERSE 2
Memories and dreams
Reflections of our hearts.
The joys and the sorrows
Are part of who we are.
Savor this moment
Follow your star.
For memories and dreams all hold
The secrets of the heart.
REPEAT BRIDGE
VERSE 3/ENDING
Memories and dreams
Are born on todays.
The future’s uncertain,
The past has gone its way.
Savor this moment,
Follow your star.
For memories and dreams all hold
The secrets of the heart.
edited 10/2015
©2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
There’s a farm in Carolina, I take with me far and near,
The home of generations of family I hold dear.
Dad was one of 14. Mom was one of ten.
I’m one of seven; the cousins never end.
BRIDGE 1
The Farm has witnessed all our stories, no matter where we roam.
Like a book without an ending, it’ll always feel like home.
CHORUS
The farm I see inside my mind.
It takes me back through space and time.
The roots are deep, the love is wide.
All around me, Angels fly.
VERSE 2
When it’s time for us to gather and share stories from this year,
We’ll board the wagon for a hayride through the farm of yesteryear.
We’ll give thanks for the bounty on a table shared by all,
Hear the reading of the minutes recording milestones since last fall.
BRIDGE 2
We’ll share good times and sad times, laughter and some tears.
We’ll celebrate new generations, and remember those not here.
VERSE 3
Family farms are disappearing, a life of days gone by,
When every member of the family did their part to help it thrive.
We’re grateful for traditions and lessons we learned,
To pass down to generations so they know from where they’ve come.
BRIDGE 3
I can close my eyes and be there, by the fields, the stream, the pond,
With memories of many lifetimes of those here and those beyond.
CHORUS
The farm I see inside my mind
It takes me back through space and time.
The roots are deep; the love is wide.
All around me, angels fly.
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1-A
Was a sunny day in the middle of May
When Mom would say, “It’s on the way”.
She left the tobacco field for home,
A midwife came and I was born.
VERSE 1-B
When Dad arrived to his surprise,
Mama said, “She has blue eyes”.
Dad replied, “Two boys, three girls,
We’re the luckiest people in the world.”
VERSE 1-C
A few years later came two more boys;
Then there were seven to do the chores.
Older ones helped watch over the young,
We took care of each other, had lots of fun.
CHORUS
Always be ‘one of seven’, no matter what we do or where.
Part of who we are to the very core,
We carry each one in our hearts.
Always be ‘one of seven’, near or far away.
The early years and the life we shared
Made us who we are today.
VERSE 2-A
Got our first TV in those early years,
Walter Chronkite, Superman, Mouseketeers,
Bandstand, Gene Autrey, Capt’n Kangaroo,
Were part of our psyche through and through.
VERSE 2-B
When work was done we found time to play-
Mother May I, Red Rover, jumping in the hay.
Older siblings were stars on high school teams.
We gathered round the piano with family to sing.
VERSE 2-C
On the family farm we learned everything,
To work, to play, to pray, to sing.
We were taught to distinguish right from wrong,
How to work as a team, when to stand alone.
CHORUS
Always be ‘one of seven’, no matter what we do or where.
Part of who we are to the very core,
We carry each one in our hearts.
Always be ‘one of seven’, near or far away.
The early years and the life we shared
Made us who we are today.
VERSE 3-A
In 1959 and 1968
Mom and Dad were working late
When they got the calls, “Your son’s been killed”.
“Your daughter has just a few hours to live.”
VERSE 3-B
For the first time we saw Daddy cry.
Mama’s tears were never dry.
The world stopped turning, time stood still.
A bubble of grief encased our will.
VERSE 3-C
When your heart is torn with grief and loss,
It tests your faith and family bonds.
Your view of the world will never be the same.
What you took for granted’s forever changed.
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE 4-A
Then you reach inside, help each other through,
Find strength in faith and memories too,
Know life is precious-not sure to last,
Learn to live in the present while you honor the past.
VERSE 4-B
If you ask me now, from those early years,
What I loved most, it’s pretty clear.
The happiest times were when we were nine.
In my memory now—it seems sublime.
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
When you go to the country, I have memories you’ll relate to
Of daily life on the farm when I was young, going barefoot.
For some, it’s where we’re from; it’s still home for a lucky few.
Some things change, some remain the same. Daily life on the farm still reigns.
CHORUS 1
Feed the chickens, get the eggs, milk the cows, make the butter.
Sow crops, weed the fields, water, pull the suckers.
Watch‘em grow, when they’re ripe, pick beans and the tomatoes.
Dig beets, potatoes too. Save enough for all year through.
VERSE 2
When you go to the market you may wonder where things come from.
The shelves are filled with food, every color of the rainbow.
Behind each one are many stories, of the land from which they grew.
You’d be surprised how many folks work every day to bring food to you.
CHORUS 2
Pick the corn, bale the hay, feed the pigs and the horses.
Milk goats, make cheese, pick the grapes, go to market.
Don’t forget about the figs; pick melons and the berries.
Dig carrots, onions too. Save enough for all year through.
VERSE 3
When you go to the table to have your favorite food and drink,
Think about all the steps it takes to bring each serving to you.
When Mom says “Clean your plate. Drink your juice, grow big and strong.”,
She’s wise–from the earth comes nutrition to live life long.
CHORUS 3
Wash the fruits and veggies, peel and chop them if you want to.
Use your favorite recipes to make a tasty menu.
Join friends, family too, as you gather with quiet zeal.
Give thanks for the bounty. Celebrate and enjoy your meal.
© Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Today’s our wedding day, my dream come true,
I’m so in love with you.
Today we’ll say “I do”.
I dreamed of you long before we met.
BRIDGE 1
We have a life time to share,
a lifetime to care, to hope, to dream;
to laugh, to cry, to sing.
VERSE 2
Today we begin our life as man and wife
In this hour we’ll pledge our faith.
Today I’ll wear your ring,
a symbol of love and undying faith.
BRIDGE 1
We have a lifetime to share
a lifetime to care, to hope, to dream;
to laugh to cry to sing.
CHORUS
We have a lifetime to share.
We have a lifetime to care.
We’ll hope and dream, dance and sing, laugh and cry, live and die.
God will bless forever the love we pledge today.
VERSE 3
When, as the years go by, we recall this day,
though the love we share is strong;
We’ll know it’s a seed of love
that will grow and grow through eternity.
BRIDGE 2
We have a lifetime to share,
a lifetime to help, to have, to hold,
until we both grow old.
REPEAT CHORUS
We have a lifetime to share.
We have a lifetime to care.
We’ll hope and dream, dance and sing, laugh and cry, live and die
God will bless forever the love we pledge today.
TAG
And we will share forever the love he’ll bless today.
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
We’ve all said things we might regret.
We’ve all done things we would change and yet,
It’s one thing to forgive and forget
What matters most is what we do next.
BRIDGE
Life is precious. There’s no time to waste.
Don’t sweat small stuff; give each other some space.
When hard times come….they always do,
We’ll grow stronger, we’ll get through.
CHORUS
I want to bring out the best in you,
Want you to bring out the best in me.
Don’t want to fight with you,
Don’t want to lie awake with hurt and anguish in my heart.
Want to hold you close, want to comfort you,
Want a shoulder I can cry on too.
Want to hold your hand side by side with you,
Let me hear your dreams. Will you hear mine too.
VERSE 2
When times are tough, I’ll stand by you.
When trouble comes, I need you with me too.
When passions clash, inevitably,
Want us to disagree….respectfully.
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All rights reserved.
VERSE 1
To tell the truth’s not always the most convenient route.
To use a little varnish sometimes seems so harmless.
A lie can get you through a hot spot, calm ruffled feathers down.
The truth is always lurking; truth stands its own ground.
CHORUS 1
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to remember a lie.
When you go down that crooked road,
Every little episode,
Digs a hole deeper to climb.
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to live with a lie.
When your heart knows the truth,
It hurts those you’re lying to,
You pay, just a matter of time.
VERSE 2
To tell the truth’s not always the first thing on your mind.
You can use a lie to lead folks down pathways lined with primrose.
Willing folks will follow lies that promise gold.
The truth is always patient; truth has its own soul.
CHORUS 2
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to remember a lie.
When you go down that crooked road,
Every little episode,
Digs a hole deeper to climb
You can fool yourself some of the time. Excuses make it seem right.
Your conscience can’t be at rest,
You can’t be at your best
You no longer own your own mind.
VERSE 3
The end of life‘s a given; what you leave behind you choose.
Secrets that survive you reveal truths inside you.
When you face yourself on this side, there’s time to make amends.
The truth is always waiting; truth can be your friend.
REPEAT CHORUS 1
ENDING
When you’re hiding behind a lie
With secrets you can’t justify
The truth will be revealed in your eyes. AMEN
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
Dedicated to Browzer, my beloved Schnauzer and muse
INTRO-4 bars
VERSE 1
You were born in a trailer on the blue grass trail.
Your Ma crossed over; your Aunt took you in.
You see almost nothing; your heart murmurs too.
You’re my best friend and I Love You.
VERSE 2
I went South for a visit. My folks took me out.
We listened to the music, tapped our feet, swung about.
In-between the blue grass strains we went for a stroll.
You plucked my heart string and we came home.
CHORUS
The best friend a girl could ever have,
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue, you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give and
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin,you wiggle and my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend,
Your life is brief, you’ll bring me grief; our bond‘ll never end.
INSTRUMENTAL 4 bars
VERSE 3
Now part of the story is yet to be heard.
My husband didn’t want you; he thought it was absurd.
A lovely fam-ly angel was with me that day
She gave me the money and I had my way.
VERSE 4
The long ride home was silent. Browzer was a gem.
Bob was mad as a hatter because of what I did.
We kept our distance and went to training school.
You won him over, now Bob loves you too.
GIRL’S BEST FRIEND…
CHORUS (2)
The best friend a girl could ever have.
When strangers knock, you come un-glued.
You howl and bark ‘til you’re wooed.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin, you wiggle ‘n my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend.
Your life is brief. You’ll bring me grief. Our bond ’ll never end.
FINAL CHORUS 1
The best friend a girl could ever have.
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
ENDING
And sometimes you show me how to live.
(Spoken Word) “I love you Browzer”
Last updated 10/20/2016
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn O. Sifford
VERSE 1
The alarm goes off we’re up and
On our way to another frenzied day.
Work is never done, there’s always more but
We don’t complain; we see the glass half full.
Every day I see so many less fortunate than me.
Still I’m feeling stuck, I’m in a rut, and now I need relief.
VERSE 2
Don’t get me wrong, I love my family.
They mean the world to me.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful
For the blessings we receive.
Every day I see so many less fortunate than me.
Still I’m feeling stuck, in a rut, and now I need relief.
CHORUS
Let’s take a road trip,
Turn our favorite music on,
Leave our cares and have some fun,
Play like children in the sun.
On our road trip, Down the highway of delight
We’ll go where we’ve never been,
See things we’ve never seen,
Try things we’ve never done.
We won’t fret and we won’t fight,
We’ll see ourselves in a brand new light,
Enjoy the ride, revive the child inside on our road trip.
No ifs and buts, no shoulds and oughts on our road trip.
BRIDGE
Every now and then we need to shed responsibility.
Get away from our routines, unleash our possibilities.
We’ve tried everything we know
To lighten up and smell the roses.
No apologies have we.
We’ve waited long enough you see.
VERSE 3
Everybody has their problems
Sometimes troubles just pile on.
It’s hard to see our loved ones struggle,
We want to fix it and be done.
Want to go where no one knows us,
Renew our hopes, rebuild our dreams.
It’s time to take care of ourselves
And preserve our sanity.
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
For Bob Butera on our 15th wedding anniversary, May 29th 2009
VERSE 1
We found each other in the worst of times.
Now through the years together, we’ve created the best of times.
We found light in each others eyes
We helped each other heal and rise.
We turned tears of grief and sadness into tears of joy and gladness.
VERSE 2
On our first date we toured gardens; we made movies for your mom.
On our second date you made a picnic; we sat by a waterfall.
We told our stories and shared our dreams.
Somehow we knew we were meant to be.
Our love grew and on New Year’s Eve, you proposed & I “said yes”!
CHORUS
In a special garden we said our vows with love and family all around.
Even though it sounds cliché, it seems like only yesterday.
We’ve now built gardens of our own on the land of your family home.
And it’s oh so clear to me that our love was meant to be.
VERSE 3
We found each other in the worst of times.
Now 15 years later we’ve created the best of times.
We found love in each others’ hearts.
We’ve shared life’s joys; we’ve shared life’s hurts.
Our love has grown; we made a home, and we welcome all who come.
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford, All Rights Reserved
CHORUS
Time to be thankful, time to be grateful
For all the bounty of Heaven and Earth.
To help feed the hungry, attend to the needy,
To live in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
VERSE 1
Let’s pause and reflect in our own special way
On things we take for granted each day.
It requires no presents, balloons or lights;
We join family and friends, count our blessings.
BRIDGE 1
We give thanks for beauty to nourish the soul.
Thanks for joy and laughter that never grow old.
Thanks for compassion when we stumble or fail.
For all helping others, we give thanks.
CHORUS
Time to be thankful, time to be grateful
For all the bounty of Heaven and Earth.
To help feed the hungry, attend to the needy,
To live in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
VERSE 3
For rivers and oceans, all life underneath,
For beasts of the field, for birds and the bees.
Large and small, wild and tame, fast and slow, strong and lame,
All creatures that share life on Earth.
BRIDGE 3
We give thanks for the sun, drawing all to its light.
Thanks for rain, elixir of life.
Thanks for stars and mysteries beyond,
For life giving music we give thanks.
INSTRUMENTAL
BRIDGE 4
Most of all we give thanks for family and friends,
feasts on tables all over the lands,
2
resilience and youth, tomorrows promise and hope,
For kindness and love we give thanks.
FINAL CHORUS
Time to be thankful, time to be grateful
For all the bounty of Heaven and Earth.
To help feed the hungry, attend those in need.
To live everyday in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Candles glow a little brighter
People hug a little tighter
Children smile a little wider
Burdens seem a little lighter.
Church bells ring a little clearer
Friendships seem a little dearer
Families travel to be nearer
It’s the Christmastime of year.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
VERSE 2
Christmas Eve we found some boxes
Wrote our name on every side.
While we slept we knew that Santa
Would leave gifts and treats nearby.
Christmas morning was magic,
Up before dawn, starry eyed.
Home was filled with joy and laughter
And the warmth of Christmastime.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years.
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
©2015Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
for Donald and Andrea Oakley; June 2009
VERSE 1
On the East wall’s a story of his Mom and Dad
From a book called, “A Love Of The Land”.
On the South wall’s a story of an uncle who died
Defending freedom in northern France.
All around are artifacts of farming lives
That span a hundred years or more.
In between are his tales of family, work, and bliss,
And the circle of life still unfolds.
REFRAIN
It’s all there in the memory barn,
A portal into time,
Like a hall of mirrors, reflecting back to you
Scenes from movies of our lives.
When you walk into the memory barn
There’s magic in the air.
Spirits from the walls and in our hearts and minds
Come alive to tell their tales.
Somewhere we all have a memory barn
That holds the stories of our lives.
We’re so much more than who and where we’re from;
We share one world, one moon, one sun.
VERSE 2
He built a barn some said he didn’t need,
Then filled it with ‘stuff’ of their lives.
It became a magnet for family and friends,
Drawn to the special warmth inside.
Now it’s the place of choice to celebrate
milestones of our lives.
It seems that maybe he needed it after all.
That we needed it was a surprise.
REPEAT REFRAIN
Words and music by Marilyn Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford -All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
When the sun rises I think of you.
When the moon rises I think of you.
When I feel joy I want to share.
When I need someone to care.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
BRIDGE
Your smile is warm, your voice is clear,
Ever constant through the years.
In dreams I feel your warm embrace
So real I know you’re with me still.
Simple ordinary things bring you to me on angels’s wings.
My life is full. My skies are blue–and still I think of you.
CHORUS
Love lives on in treasured mem-ries.
Love lives on beyond the beat of our hearts.
Love lives on in every footprint it leaves behind.
In a spirit that won’t die, love lives on.
VERSE 2
And when I gaze at clouds, I think of you.
When I feel a breeze, I think of you.
When I see loved ones embrace
I close my eyes, I see your face.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2016 words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Don’t give up and don’t give in
The fight for freedom never ends
Stand up, say no to ‘US and THEM’
Say yes, together, we can win.
Don't give up and don’t give in.
Prepare yourself to fight again.
Become a force for love and change.
The time is now. Get In The Way.
VERSE 2
Don’t give up and don’t give in.
Together WE will win again.
The road ahead will twist and turn
But freedoms light will brightly burn.
So buckle up. All hands on deck!
Unite as one for freedom’s sake.
The time has come and gone to pray.
Sometimes we must ‘Get In The Way’.
BRIDGE
When the devil wins a round
It sets us back, then makes us strong.
Our planets climate cannot wait.
Our nations future is at stake.
Say no to lies, yes to truth.
No to hatred, yes to love.
Stand together, right the wrongs;
The road to freedom is hard and long.
CHORUS
Get in the way of more breaks for the wealthy, at the expense of the 90%.
Get in the way of threats to our planet, clean water, clean air, and clean energy.
Get in the way of any injustice to our fellow man, woman or child.
Get in the way of Democracy’s gridlock, One person, one vote, WE THE PEOPLE will rise!
VERSE 3
Say no to bigotry and hate.
Misogyny has no place.
Leave divisions at the gate.\;
All our futures are at stake.
We’ll stand with targets of their hate.
We won’t rest and we won’t wait.
We will do whatever it takes.
The time has come to Get In The Way!
REPEAT CHORUS
ENDING (Spoken) “GET IN THE WAY”!
(written 11/12/2016, edited 11/30/2016)
©Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Someone near has a dream that wants to be pursued.
Someone you know has a wish that’s longing to come true.
Around the corner someone’s hurting, someone’s lonely, someone’s blue.
Here and now all around us, there’s much that we can do.
CHORUS 1
Here and now is our moment. Take a small step, don’t delay.
Here and now is our time to make a difference every day.
Here and now plant the seeds of dreams to be renewed.
If not us here, if not us now; who, where and when will they come true?
VERSE 2
In the world, near and far, souls are fighting for their lives.
In the world a planet warms, our home the Earth tries to survive.
In the world are forces primed with greed, too blind to see.
Here and now, more than ever, our world needs all of you and me.
BRIDGE
The world’s face may be a child, a bird, a mammal, or a cause.
The world’s face may be a friend, a neighbor, family, or the law.
The world’s face may be an ocean or a dream of peace for all.
Make no mistake the need is great. The call rings out to one and all.
INSTRUMENTAL
CHORUS 1
Here and now is our moment. Take a small step, don’t delay.
Here and now is our time to make a difference every day.
Here and now plant the seeds of dreams to be renewed.
If not us here, if not us now; who, where and when will they come true?
FINAL CHORUS/ENDING
The time and place is here and now, wherever you may be.
Shine your light in the world on any darkness you may see.
Wait not one moment, don’t delay. The need is urgent, time is key.
If not here-where? If not now-when? If not us-who will make our dreams come true?
(Edited 1/2/2017)
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
Verse 1
Salute the Elephants, majestic and strong.
Salute matriarchs, their families and bonds.
Salute their memories, complex and long.
Salute their senses, their voices, their heart.
Bridge 1
Cry for the Elephants who mean harm to none.
Cry for families mowed down by guns.
Cry for humanity and the harm we have done
Cry for souls who take the money and run.
Chorus 1
Stand up for Elephants who can’t fight the guns.
Stand up for grieving of those left to mourn.
Stand up for futures of the unborn, the young.
Stand up for Elephants and their home in the sun.
INSTRUMENTAL (16 bars)
Verse 2
Salute the Elephants, peaceful giants of Earth.
Salute their intelligence, their courage, their mirth.
Salute their tenderness caring for the young.
Salute their empathy. Rejoice in their fun.
Bridge 2
Cry for the Elephants in shackles and chains.
Cry for the torture, abuse, and the pain.
Cry for the captors, the poachers, their shame.
Cry for blood shed for profit and gain.
Chorus 2
Stand up for Elephants; hear their screams; lift your voice.
Stand up to torture, shun all who exploit.
Stand up to blood-shed for ivory as “art”.
Stand up for Elephants, save lives be their voice.
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
If not to love one another, why are we here?
If not to learn and discover, why are we here?
If not to reach for the stars, find out who we are
And care for Earth as our home, why are we here?
VERSE 2
If not to laugh and be joyous, why are we here?
If not to share others sorrows, why are we here?
If not to nurture the fragile, attend to the frail;
and help those who need it, why are we here?
CHORUS
Why are we here? Why are we here?
We’re not alone. Why are they here?
Why are we here? Why are they here?
Will it ever be clear, why we’re all here?
We’re part of a web of air, land and sea,
A web of life that helps us to be,
We’re part of a web that’s evolved and endured,
Part of a web we can sustain or destroy.
VERSE 3
If not to witness life’s stories, why are we here?
If not to seek truth and justice, why are we here?
If not to follow our star, give our best, do our part
To make the world better why are we here?
BRIDGE
Grant us wisdom to understand; we’re part of a ‘web of life’ on this land.
Grant us courage to overcome all that blinds us to being ONE.
Grant us knowledge, love and the will to protect rather than kill.
The web of life sustains us all, without which we fall.
CHORUS B2 followed by B1
©2015 Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford
VERSE 1
Blink once, blink twice, blink three times
Your love will find you and fly
You’ll make babies now
They’ll feed in the ground and
When their wings grow they will fly.
VERSE 2
Blink once, blink twice, blink three times.
You thrill the night with your light.
Your life is too brief
Only two or three weeks
But OH! While you’re here what a sight!
BRIDGE
Fascination, Inspiration, fill my heart to the brim.
Enchantment and wonder, they make my head spin.
I anticipate, I can hardly wait for the sun to say goodnight.
The magic comes rising up in flight. I’m surrounded by light.
I’m grateful to fireflies coming in to my world.
They bring smiles to our faces, touch my heart in new places.
It’s not fantasy, it’s not 3-D. The magic they bring is real
One of many wondrous stories of how nature makes me feel.
INTERLUDE
We all have light within us
If we let it grow
It will touch the world around us
We can set the world aglow.
BRIDGE (1/2)
Fascination, Inspiration, fill my heart to the brim.
Enchantment and wonder–they make my head spin.
I anticipate, I can hardly wait for the sun to say goodnight.
The magic comes rising up in flight. I’m surrounded by light.
REPEAT INTERLUDE
We all have light within us
If we let it grow
It will touch the world around us
We can set the world aglow.
ENDING: When fireflies rise up and shine their light
The world is transformed–so am I.
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
We live in troubled times, shifting sands everywhere.
Souls are the wake of hatred and greed,
Power gone mad, feeding the beast.
News is more heat than light feeding hope.
Gridlock obstructs the will of people who vote.
Prejudice feeds ‘us versus them’.
Where is light? Where is Love?
BRIDGE
What would it take to heal the hurt behind hate,
To pierce the armor of fear?
To sate the hunger of greed,
To replace it with generous deeds?
What would it take; what would it take
To quench a thirst for power and blood,
To raise voices of hope, to ignite the fire of love?
CHORUS
Send us a song with enough love to change the world,
A song that will echo deep in our souls.
Send us a song to ignite a divine spark of
Goodness and goodwill in all mankind.
Open our hearts, open our minds.
Give us a bridge across chasms and time.
Heal all the places from where troubles come.
Send us a song!
VERSE 2
Lift us up to see our world from afar,
The oneness we share.
How futile is hate, destruction and greed on our
Tiny world in the vastness of space.
Lift us up to see the beauty in all,
A world full of hope.
Help us nurture life and goodwill,
Feel the power of love to heal.
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
(9/16/2016)
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford, All Rights Reserved
Call To Action: Exercise your right to vote!!
VERSE 1
One by one, we’ll send a message.
One by one we’ll win the fight.
One by one we’ll work for justice.
One by one we’ll show our might.
One by one we’ll lift our voices.
One by one we’ll cast our votes.
One by one we’ll keep on pressing
to restore faith and hope.
BRIDGE
We’ve come too far to turn back now.
The struggle goes on. The stakes are high.
It’s our turn now to go the next mile.
Together we can make things right.
CHORUS
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters that you vote. It matters who.)
So get ready: Make a plan. Take a friend.
Make a choice. Raise your voice.
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters who we send to Washington.)
A small step for each of us creates a wave for mankind!
VERSE 2
One by one we’ll win the future.
One by one we’ll turn the tide.
One by one we’ll overcome
Secret money and lies.
One by one our lives will matter.
One by one we will be heard.
One by one we’ll honor those
Who paved the way with their blood.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2015 Words and music by Marilyn O. Sifford, All Rights Reserved
Call To Action: Exercise your right to vote!!
VERSE 1
One by one, we’ll send a message.
One by one we’ll win the fight.
One by one we’ll work for justice.
One by one we’ll show our might.
One by one we’ll lift our voices.
One by one we’ll cast our votes.
One by one we’ll keep on pressing
to restore faith and hope.
BRIDGE
We’ve come too far to turn back now.
The struggle goes on. The stakes are high.
It’s our turn now to go the next mile.
Together we can make things right.
CHORUS
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters that you vote. It matters who.)
So get ready: Make a plan. Take a friend.
Make a choice. Raise your voice.
The power of ONE times millions can change the world!
(It matters who we send to Washington.)
A small step for each of us creates a wave for mankind!
VERSE 2
One by one we’ll win the future.
One by one we’ll turn the tide.
One by one we’ll overcome
Secret money and lies.
One by one our lives will matter.
One by one we will be heard.
One by one we’ll honor those
Who paved the way with their blood.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Candles glow a little brighter
People hug a little tighter
Children smile a little wider
Burdens seem a little lighter.
Church bells ring a little clearer
Friendships seem a little dearer
Families travel to be nearer
It’s the Christmastime of year.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
VERSE 2
Christmas Eve we found some boxes
Wrote our name on every side.
While we slept we knew that Santa
Would leave gifts and treats nearby.
Christmas morning was magic,
Up before dawn, starry eyed.
Home was filled with joy and laughter
And the warmth of Christmastime.
CHORUS
Christmastime is filled with wonder
Christmastime is filled with cheer
Christmastime is filled with memories
Of milestones through the years.
Twinkling lights and twinkling eyes rival stars in Christmas skies.
Being together Christmas Eve is all the magic I need.
VERSE 1
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in the air.
Spring has sprung.
I hear songbirds everywhere.
Winter’s darkness yields to light.
Sleeping buds unfold new life.
Something deep inside me sighs
Now that spring has come.
VERSE 2
Spring has sprung
Birds on wing are all a round.
Building homes, mating in their chosen pairs.
Never mind the winter chill,
The struggle to survive, the will.
Life is drawn to sun’s warm light
And Spring gives birth again.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows.
With faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
VERSE 3
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in my heart Since we met everything is new again.
Winter’s landscape’s gray and snow white.
My heart’s full of love’s warm light.
Being with you brings pure joy
And Winters chill is gone.
BRIDGE
Can we share the love we feel,
Create a wave of love that heals,
Build a world where love prevails
And Spring lives in our hearts.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows. With
faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
REPEAT CHORUS AND ENDING
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
There’s a still small voice within us, longing to be heard.
The home of hope and wisdom; a sage who won’t be fooled.
If you find a quiet haven and keep an open mind,
It will guide you through the hardest times and help your spirit climb.
VERSE 2
There’s a still small voice within us, your best friend on the earth.
It knows your heartaches, hopes and fears, & knows your special worth.
When you’re feeling lost or lonely and darkness has no end,
Find seeds of new beginnings when you listen to your friend.
BRIDGE
The still small voice inside us speaks in many ways.
It resonates within your heart through confusion, noise and pain.
It may come to you by friend or foe, by dream, by word, by song.
When it finds a welcome place to grow, it will make your spirit strong.
CHORUS
Your spirit flies, let it soar.
See your life in a different way than you ever have before.
Your spirit flies, let it soar.
Aim your heart at what matters most.
Walk on through that open door.
INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE (4 bars)
VERSE 3
There’s a still small voice within us, constant like the tide.
It sees all things day and night; some believe it’s divine.
It takes courage to find your pathway and resolve to heed your call.
The peace and joy you’ll feel inside will illuminate your soul.
Repeat BRIDGE
Repeat CHORUS
© 2016 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
New worlds can be discovered, when you imagine.
New dreams will be unveiled, when you imagine.
You’ll travel high up to the stars
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed when you imagine.
VERSE 2
Ideals can breathe new life when you imagine.
Your soul will reach new heights when you imagine.
You’ll travel far beyond the stars
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed when you imagine.
CHORUS
Imagine, Imagine
A world as you want it to be.
Imagine. Imagine.
Seeing, believing are first steps of bringing it to be.
BRIDGE
Imagination gives wings to your heart, to your dreams.
Buried treasures, only you have the key.
Imagination can see through, within, and beyond.
On life’s journey, it will help you find a way.
VERSE 3
Enchanted doors will open wide when you imagine.
Doubt and fear melt away when you imagine.
You’ll travel far beyond the stars;
You’ll journey deep within your heart.
What’s real will finally be revealed, when you imagine.
REPEAT BRIDGE
Imagination gives wings to your heart, to your dreams.
Buried treasures, only you have the key.
Imagination can see through, within and beyond.
On life’s journey it will help you find a way.
FINAL CHORUS
Imagine, Imagine
A world as you most want it to be.
Imagine. Imagine.
Seeing, believing are first steps of bringing it to be.
Words and music by Marilyn Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford -All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
When the sun rises I think of you.
When the moon rises I think of you.
When I feel joy I want to share.
When I need someone to care.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
BRIDGE
Your smile is warm, your voice is clear,
Ever constant through the years.
In dreams I feel your warm embrace
So real I know you’re with me still.
Simple ordinary things bring you to me on angels’s wings.
My life is full. My skies are blue–and still I think of you.
CHORUS
Love lives on in treasured mem-ries.
Love lives on beyond the beat of our hearts.
Love lives on in every footprint it leaves behind.
In a spirit that won’t die, love lives on.
VERSE 2
And when I gaze at clouds, I think of you.
When I feel a breeze, I think of you.
When I see loved ones embrace
I close my eyes, I see your face.
When I want someone to believe in me, I think of you.
REPEAT BRIDGE
REPEAT CHORUS
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2016 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
Verse 1
Salute the Elephants, majestic and strong.
Salute matriarchs, their families and bonds.
Salute their memories, complex and long.
Salute their senses, their voices, their heart.
Bridge 1
Cry for the Elephants who mean harm to none.
Cry for families mowed down by guns.
Cry for humanity and the harm we have done
Cry for souls who take the money and run.
Chorus 1
Stand up for Elephants who can’t fight the guns.
Stand up for grieving of those left to mourn.
Stand up for futures of the unborn, the young.
Stand up for Elephants and their home in the sun.
INSTRUMENTAL (16 bars)
Verse 2
Salute the Elephants, peaceful giants of Earth.
Salute their intelligence, their courage, their mirth.
Salute their tenderness caring for the young.
Salute their empathy. Rejoice in their fun.
Bridge 2
Cry for the Elephants in shackles and chains.
Cry for the torture, abuse, and the pain.
Cry for the captors, the poachers, their shame.
Cry for blood shed for profit and gain.
Chorus 2
Stand up for Elephants; hear their screams; lift your voice.
Stand up to torture, shun all who exploit.
Stand up to blood-shed for ivory as “art”.
Stand up for Elephants, save lives be their voice.
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
Dedicated to Browzer, my beloved Schnauzer and muse
INTRO-4 bars
VERSE 1
You were born in a trailer on the blue grass trail.
Your Ma crossed over; your Aunt took you in.
You see almost nothing; your heart murmurs too.
You’re my best friend and I Love You.
VERSE 2
I went South for a visit. My folks took me out.
We listened to the music, tapped our feet, swung about.
In-between the blue grass strains we went for a stroll.
You plucked my heart string and we came home.
CHORUS
The best friend a girl could ever have,
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue, you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give and
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin,you wiggle and my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend,
Your life is brief, you’ll bring me grief; our bond‘ll never end.
INSTRUMENTAL 4 bars
VERSE 3
Now part of the story is yet to be heard.
My husband didn’t want you; he thought it was absurd.
A lovely fam-ly angel was with me that day
She gave me the money and I had my way.
VERSE 4
The long ride home was silent. Browzer was a gem.
Bob was mad as a hatter because of what I did.
We kept our distance and went to training school.
You won him over, now Bob loves you too.
GIRL’S BEST FRIEND…
CHORUS (2)
The best friend a girl could ever have.
When strangers knock, you come un-glued.
You howl and bark ‘til you’re wooed.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
BRIDGE
You live in the moment. Your love has no strings.
When I come in you smile and grin, you wiggle ‘n my heart sings.
My pal, my buddy, my shadow, my friend.
Your life is brief. You’ll bring me grief. Our bond ’ll never end.
FINAL CHORUS 1
The best friend a girl could ever have.
You lift me up; you make me laugh.
When I’m blue you’re blue too.
You greet me daily with all you have to give ‘n
Sometimes you show me how to live.
ENDING
And sometimes you show me how to live.
(Spoken Word) “I love you Browzer”
Last updated 10/20/2016
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn O. Sifford
VERSE 1
The alarm goes off we’re up and
On our way to another frenzied day.
Work is never done, there’s always more but
We don’t complain; we see the glass half full.
Every day I see so many
Less fortunate than me.
Still I’m feeling stuck, I’m in a rut, and
Now I need relief.
VERSE 2
Don’t get me wrong, I love my family.
They mean the world to me.
I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for the
Blessings we receive.
Every day I see so many
Less fortunate than me.
Still I’m feeling stuck, I’m in a rut, and
Now I need relief.
CHORUS
Let’s take a road trip
Turn our favorite music on,
Leave our cares and have some fun
Play like children in the sun.
On our road trip,
Down the highway of delight
We’ll go where we’ve never been,
See things we’ve never seen
Try things we’ve never done.
We won’t fret and we won’t fight,
We’ll see ourselves in a brand new light,
Enjoy the ride, revive the child inside
On our road trip.
No ifs and buts, no shoulds and oughts
on our road trip.
BRIDGE
Every now and then
We need to shed responsibility.
Get away from our routines
Unleash our possibilities.
We’ve tried everything we know
To lighten up and smell the roses.
No apologies have we.
We’ve waited long enough you see.
GUITAR SOLO
VERSE 3
Everybody has their problems
Sometimes troubles just pile on.
It’s hard to see our loved ones struggle,
We want to fix it and be done.
Want to go where no one knows us,
Renew our hopes, rebuild our dreams.
It’s time to take care of ourselves
And preserve our sanity.
REPEAT CHORUS
CHORUS REPRISE
(Last Edited 1/28/2016)
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2015 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
We’ve all said things we might regret.
We’ve all done things we would change and yet,
It’s one thing to forgive and forget
What matters most is what we do next.
BRIDGE
Life is precious. There’s no time to waste.
Don’t sweat small stuff; give each other some space.
When hard times come….they always do,
We’ll grow stronger, we’ll get through.
CHORUS
I want to bring out the best in you,
Want you to bring out the best in me.
Don’t want to fight with you,
Don’t want to lie awake with hurt and anguish in my heart.
Want to hold you close, want to comfort you,
Want a shoulder I can cry on too.
Want to hold your hand side by side with you,
Let me hear your dreams. Will you hear mine too.
INTERLUDE-Instrumental (8 bars)
VERSE 2
When times are tough, I’ll stand by you.
When trouble comes, I need you with me too.
When passions clash, inevitably
Want us to disagree….respectfully.
BRIDGE
Life is precious. There’s no time to waste.
Don’t sweat small stuff; give each other some space.
When hard times come….they always do,
We’ll grow stronger, we’ll get through.
REPEAT CHORUS
FINAL CHORUS–fading out
I want to bring out the best in you,
Want you to bring out the best in me.
Don’t want to fight with you,
Don’t want to lie awake with hurt and anguish in my heart.
Want to hold you close, want to comfort you,
Want a shoulder I can cry on too,
Want to hold your hand, side by side with you,
Let me hear your dreams. Will you hear mine too.
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2015 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All rights reserved.
VERSE 1
To tell the truth’s not always the most convenient route.
To use a little varnish, sometimes seems so harmless.
A lie can get you through a hot spot, calm ruffled feathers down.
The truth is always lurking; truth stands its own ground.
CHORUS 1
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to remember a lie.
When you go down that crooked road,
Every little episode,
Digs a hole deeper to climb.
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to live with a lie.
When your heart knows the truth,
It hurts those you’re lying to,
You pay, just a matter of time.
VERSE 2
To tell the truth’s not always the first thing on your mind.
You can use a lie to lead folks down pathways lined with primrose.
Willing folks will follow lies that promise gold.
The truth is always patient; truth has its own soul.
CHORUS 2
It’s easy to tell the truth, so much harder to remember a lie.
When you go down that crooked road,
Every little episode,
Digs a hole deeper to climb
You can fool yourself some of the time. Excuses make it seem right,
Your conscience can’t be at rest,
You can’t be at your best ‘n
No longer own your own mind.
VERSE 3
The end of life‘s a given; what you leave behind you choose.
Secrets that survive you reveal truths inside you.
When you face yourself on this side, there’s time to make amends.
The truth is always waiting; truth can be your friend.
REPEAT CHORUS 1
ENDING
When you’re hiding behind a lie
With secrets you can’t justify
Truth will be revealed in your eyes. AMEN
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All rights reserved.
VERSE 1
On the East wall’s a story of his Mom and Dad
From a book called, “A Love Of The Land”.
On the South wall’s a story of an uncle who died
Defending freedom in northern France.
All around are artifacts of farming lives
That span a hundred years or more.
In between are his tales of family, work, and bliss,
And the circle of life still unfolds.
REFRAIN
It’s all there in the memory barn,
A portal into time,
Like a hall of mirrors, reflecting back to you
Scenes from movies of our lives.
When you walk into the memory barn
There’s magic in the air.
Spirits from the walls and in our hearts and minds
Come alive to tell their tales.
Somewhere we all have a memory barn
That holds the stories of our lives.
We’re so much more than who and where we’re from;
We share one world, one moon, one sun.
VERSE 2
He built a barn some said he didn’t need,
Then filled it with ‘stuff’ of their lives.
It became a magnet for family and friends,
Drawn to the special warmth inside.
Now it’s the place of choice to celebrate
milestones of our lives.
It seems that maybe he needed it after all.
That we needed it was a surprise.
REPEAT REFRAIN
Dedicated to Donald and Andrea Oakley
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE
There’s nothing like Spring
To make a heart want to sing
To lift your spirits and bring
Thoughts of romance and love.
There’s nothing like Spring
When the first songbirds sing.
To see the young find their wings,
For beginnings,
There’s nothing like Spring.
BRIDGE
It’s raining apple blossoms
It’s raining cherry blossoms
It’s raining dogwood blossoms
Spring fragrance permeates the air.
It’s raining Maple blossoms
It’s raining Red Bud blossoms
It’s raining Magnolia blossoms
We breathe it in and sigh it out.
CHORUS
There’s nothing like Spring
To heal a heart on the mend,
Renew ties with old friends,
For beginnings,
There’s nothing like Spring.
INSTRUMENTAL
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
ENDING
To heal a heart on the mend,
For beginnings,
There’s nothing, nothing like Spring.
©2016words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Pulsating beams of light rain down from on high
Igniting a ballet of curtains in light
They shimmer and glow in a theatre of night
Releasing a wellspring of wonder and awe.
VERSE 2
Rays of our Sun’s warm light bend in the rain
Painting a canvas of sky on the day
Though fleeting the image imprints on our brain
A vision, frozen in time and in space.
CHORUS
Auroras and Rainbows turn us to the sky
Inviting us into a realm of the light
Life giving forces from our special star
Are the music of Auroras and Rainbows.
BRIDGE
For all who bear witness the light enters in
Transforming our view of the world like a dream
For a moment we’re raised above division and strife
And are one with the Sun, a source of all life.
VERSE 3
If I were a ray of light speeding to Earth
I’d shine through the raindrops that give Rainbows birth.
I’d shower my sun flare on a stage of the night and
Open to a Rainbow to bridge all divides.
REPEAT CHORUS
last edited 8/2017
Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
© 2015 Marilyn Oakley Sifford – All Rights Reserved
VERSE 1
Memories and dreams
Are born on todays.
The future’s uncertain,
The past has gone its way.
Savor each moment,
Live every day
For memories and dreams are born
Of choices made today.
BRIDGE
Sometimes life chooses for us
Some things we can’t control.
Choosing life and light in dark times
Brings renewal to the soul.
There’s a river flowing through us
Of resilience, strength, and love.
It will carry us the distance
It’s the promise of a dove.
INSTRUMENTAL
VERSE 2
Memories and dreams
Reflections of our hearts.
The joys and the sorrows
Are part of who we are.
Savor this moment
Follow your star.
For memories and dreams all hold
The secrets of the heart.
REPEAT BRIDGE
VERSE 3/ENDING
Memories and dreams
Are born on todays.
The future’s uncertain,
The past has gone its way.
Savor this moment,
Follow your star.
For memories and dreams all hold
The secrets of the heart.
written 2009, last edited 3/7/2015
© 2016 Words and music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
In quiet moments when noise and chatter fade away.
My heart speaks through a still small voice to show the way.
It takes me to an open place where all can be
When I hold all my dreams, when I believe in me.
VERSE 2
In quiet moments thoughts come floating out of the blue,
Forgotten truths, insights, dreams, memories too.
Alone or in a crowd it’s all the same.
I find myself floating in another plane.
CHORUS
Sometimes ordinary moments
Become extraordinary moments
Defying life and death, time and space, conscious will, and doubt and faith.
These moments are timeless golden moments.
BRIDGE
I feel part of something greater, one with nature.
Angst and worry seem to ease to a place of inner peace
Reminding me, we share Earth’s gifts and fate.
The soul is clear, discerning truth, surmounting fear
Seeing shades of gray in black and white
How context colors wrong and right.
Could it be that life is simple when we see?
Do we make it more complex than needs to be?
VERSE 3
In quiet moments I reflect on days gone by.
You come to me like an angel from the sky.
Sometimes your presence is so real with joy I cry
I feel your love and know you’re with me all the time.
CHORUS/ENDING
Sometimes ordinary moments
Become extraordinary moments,
Defying life and death, time and space, conscious will and doubt and faith.
These moments are timeless golden moments.
(last edited 2/24/2016) written 2012
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
We live in troubled times, shifting sands everywhere.
Souls are the wake of hatred and greed,
Power gone mad, feeding the beast.
News is more heat than light feeding hope.
Gridlock obstructs the will of people who vote.
Prejudice feeds ‘us versus them’.
Where is light? Where is Love?
BRIDGE
What would it take to heal the hurt behind hate,
To pierce the armor of fear?
To sate the hunger of greed,
To replace it with generous deeds?
What would it take; what would it take
To quench a thirst for power and blood,
To raise voices of hope, to ignite the fire of love?
CHORUS
Send us a song with enough love to change the world,
A song that will echo deep in our souls.
Send us a song to ignite a divine spark of
Goodness and goodwill in all mankind.
Open our hearts, open our minds.
Give us a bridge across chasms and time.
Heal all the places from where troubles come.
Send us a song!
VERSE 2
Lift us up to see our world from afar,
The oneness we share.
How futile is hate, destruction and greed on our
Tiny world in the vastness of space.
Lift us up to see the beauty in all,
A world full of hope.
Help us nurture life and goodwill,
Feel the power of love to heal.
REPEAT BRIDGE AND CHORUS
(9/16/2016)
© 2016 Words and Music by Marilyn Oakley Sifford
VERSE 1
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in the air.
Spring has sprung.
I hear songbirds everywhere.
Winter’s darkness yields to light.
Sleeping buds unfold new life.
Something deep inside me sighs
Now that spring has come.
VERSE 2
Spring has sprung
Birds on wing are all a round.
Building homes, mating in their chosen pairs.
Never mind the winter chill,
The struggle to survive, the will.
Life is drawn to sun’s warm light
And Spring gives birth again.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows.
With faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
VERSE 3
Spring has sprung.
I can feel it in my heart Since we met everything is new again.
Winter’s landscape’s gray and snow white.
My heart’s full of love’s warm light.
Being with you brings pure joy
And Winters chill is gone.
BRIDGE
Can we share the love we feel,
Create a wave of love that heals,
Build a world where love prevails
And Spring lives in our hearts.
CHORUS
Seasons come and seasons go
Through it all our love still grows. With
faith and hope, your hand in mine.
It’s Springtime in my heart.
REPEAT CHORUS AND ENDING