February 1st, 2014
2003 Speer Specker Henrie Circle D
In 2003 Speer-Specker-Henrie with Danny, Dee Specker, & Bobby & Doug Henrie recorded an album at the Specker studio as an acoustic quartet that combined the jazz flavor of the Curve with bluegrass & country leanings. They called it Circle D, releasing it on the I-Town label. I-Town sampler #3 contains the song Storm By Storm from the album. “Working through the winter storm by storm”, says the chorus, as Danny had just survived a construction accident that broke his right arm & hip when he wrote the song earlier in the decade.
Turning The Page Of Love
They sure don’t make ’em like they used to. Love used to last a lot longer than it does these days. Love affairs go so fast now, they’re over ‘fore you turn the page. Turning the page we see our lives together building tomorrow from yesterday. The book of love told our story. We can be held accountable for crimes of the heart. Truth is stranger than fiction & life will imitate art. Turning the page of love, open the cover up & see how we started on fire. Turning the page of love, now water is rising up & clouds form tears in our eyes. They sure don’t make ’em like they used to. It used to last a lot longer when they’d say “I do.” If you love happy endings, be careful who you say that to. Turning the page of love, we are the story of love on every horizon.
Fountain Of Youth
I had a dream the other night in my bed. Somebody near me jumped right into my head. Gladly under a spell & I said: “Oo I feel like a kid.” Fantastic party on a lost lagoon. We floated by for bottles of the moon. As the band began a most familiar tune, water whistle & kissin’ sweet tooth got us in to the fountain of youth. You & your companion stepping out on the run—Well you look so good to me when you’re having fun. Having fun everyone into the fountain of youth. So many different versions of the truth. Singing Hallayloo & I’m in love again. Hallayloo with my best friend. Don’t slow you know this movin’ fast is a blast. Don’t let this feeling slip on into the past. How you do to me what you do, I don’t know, but it’s moving me so. Whatever else that you’ve been dreaming of, one thing you know: you were born to love. The way you sparkle, I’ll tell you the truth, must be the fountain of youth.
Everybody & His Brother
The falling snow flies apart in my path avoiding contact by jet stream and cowl. A cheating heart beats in your photograph. Even by dome light I see it all now. A million miles on this one old Kenworth across a landscape with ever more wires. What draws me home to my own salted earth? Those telltale faces in a town full of liars. No one would tell me what everybody knew—everybody & his brother. You had to quit me cause I was too long gone. The beauty parlor knew ages ago. A classic comic on the tears of a clown. Another Dear Johnny rodeo. I’m driving out to the end of the earth. It might be Texas, the radio’s on. There’s no more phone poles, there’s no more white lines. There’s only this highway I’m on. No one would tell me what everybody knew. Everybody knew you would not be true. No one would tell me what everybody knew —everybody & his brother.
Storm By Storm
Take all these feed bags down to the miller. The shepherd says he’ll trade you lambs for corn. Load up these field crops in barns & silos, we’ll work thru winter storm by storm. Storm by storm —workin’ thru the winter storm by storm. Beans & potatoes from the family garden, jams & jellies that the orchards provide, bobwhites & turkeys, a dog & a goat. Here comes old winter, better mend my coat storm by storm—workin’ thru the winter storm by storm. I got a neighbor, he’s a mountain man. If I help him chop some wood he’ll plow me out of this snow jam. Do unto others you know is the rule. Work together & we’ll see this thru storm by storm, workin’ thru the winter storm by storm.
Floor Drops Away
You say you love the way the light plays on her face. You think she’s calling you across that space, but when you get there she’s a photo in a frame—no one remembers her name. She had you draw your gun that day in the grove —someone pursuing her whose treasure she stole. She’d hang anyone who threatened her shade as the floor drops away. As the floor drops away. You’ll give the crowd a wave. They all came out to see you today as the floor drops away. That Rin-Tin-Tin star there who’s holding the key… he knows a lot more than he’d have them believe. Check in his saddle bags her work will be found…too bad you won’t be around. You killed someone because she cried out your name. The oldest tricks sometimes can still win the game. Dream of that one perfect roll in the hay as the floor drops away. & (cho)> They had you slapped in irons without much of a chase. The wheels of justice turned real fast in your case. You saw her riding on a stagecoach out of town as Johnny Law took you down. That stage got held up & the passengers were killed. That lady must have double-crossed herself as well. Saw her in heaven now you’ll see her in hell as the floor drops away. & (cho)
Explaining Metaphor
Explaining metaphor pays for itself. Ironic miracles fly off the shelf. Unfulfilled promises become something else. Couldn’t believe it till I saw it myself. Her eyes obsidian lapis & pearl—arms alabaster beckon the world. Rainbow oblivion, death by hyperbole — couldn’t believe it till it happened to me. Nothing means anything comes & it goes all around everything ebbs & it flows. How has it come to pass that we must part? Mock-ups on storyboards never mentioned this part.
Happy Landing
Happy landing Baby. I see you’re looking for someone to help you get your feet back on the ground. Someone to guide you, someone to hide beside you & always be around. Taking you in with your two-faced behavior & your fits of temper & your lovers on the side. She’ll be just like you & when you’re together, you’ll have each other’s futures to decide. Happy landing Baby. Happy landing Child. Happy landing Baby, you’re gonna drive them wild. When you touch down on the runway they’ll be screaming your name & dancing in the aisles, trying to surround you. breathe the air around you & hound you for the rest of your life. You said goodbye, you said goodbye, you said goodbye, you’re the goodbye guy. You said goodbye to that one-horse town. You said goodbye to the merry-go-round. Happy landing Baby.
Blue Glasses
He gave me blue glasses & I put them on when he made love to you. I couldn’t see my hand holding the gun, what did I do? When he was my lover in many bright hues I could see colors now I see blue & I can’t get thru. He gave me blue glasses to wear day & night knowing that he would never be true. He put me on ultra-violet ice locked inside me so blue. Blue blue glasses—he gave me blue glasses gun-metal blue, layers of sad that I can’t see thru & now that he’s left me smoke from the gun curls round my hand what have I done?
No-Count-Good-For-Nothing-Used-To-Be
He did me wrong & I let him a number of times. I was always one to let him slide by now it makes me sorry—a no-count-good-for-nothing-used-to-be still got a hold on me. He didn’t stand on ceremony he just walked all over my life. And to think I might have ended up his wife now it makes me sorry. A no-count-good-for-nothing-used-to-be still got a hold on me. Sometimes it hurts when you’re not one, two or three in someone’s eyes that you love excessively. Everybody knows he’s not the one for me, but I was a girl overboard, the very last one to see. I call him up in my memory it stays on my mind how he let me go & ran to her side now it makes me sorry—a no-count-good-for-nothing-used-to-be still got a hold on me.
Body Language
Should have learned my lesson, but I forget —that certain magic always gets me yet. Even– time I see that eyebrow line —some body language drives me out of my mind. An absolute angel with a smile like the sun—don’t see devil until later A good good neighbor, compassionate one do me a favor now & watch me run I love your body language—talkin’ about you love your body language—talking taboo. Body language—talking about body language blues. I got your letter from across the room & it’s never too soon for Valentine perfume. But cool & cruel tho so divine—somebody else was really on your mind. Get complicated so subtly fine in the loneliness of the changing times. Running & running—can’t get there from here moving confusing but very dear I love your body language.
Passengers To Heaven
We would be passengers to Heaven — if only that railroad still ran thru here. Valhalla Shangri-La Utopia & Eden — Conductor used to let you get off there. There was a magical precision. A driving wheel to keep you right on time. The Engineer looked back, he’d wave goodbye & whistle. We knew someday we all would take that ride. But now we can’t find the station & I don’t mean just the train. I hear the whistle in the distance very far away. We would be passengers to Heaven—a paradise across all culture lines. We’d like to find the ones we used to know & let it flow with all who ever drew the breath of Humankind. We’ll ride the rails to the beginning, traverse the tunnel looming dark ahead. Beyond the telltale in the heart of Magic Mountain we hope to hop a Flyer home again. But now we can’t find the station, & I don’t mean just the train. I hear the whistle in the distance very far away.