greg champion SHADY TREE lyrics

All songs written by Greg Champion (Warner Chappell)

      Produced by Rod McCormack

 

Guest vocalists:

Jane Saunders (track 3, Further Up The Mountain)

Beccy Cole (track 10, Sleep On Stony Ground)

Gina Jeffreys (track 11, Love In The Heart)  

 

 

Track 1   SHADY TREE

Chorus

Shady tree, shelter me

Oh I'm going to find my shady tree

1.

Shady tree, I believe you have something for me

You're the gift given forth form the Earth

And the Mother it's told in the stories of old

Leant against this tree to give birth

2.

And it's here in this place that the Wandering One was faced

With the truth that he sought in the end

And it's said on the day that he was to pass away

That this tree was his witness and friend

3.

Shady tree, I believe you have something for me

You're the gift given forth form the Earth

'Neath this tree in this field all has been here revealed

and illusion for what it is worth


Track 2   I'VE NEVER BEEN

 

There's  a trail to a path that's leading back in the hills

To the garden of mystery

And they say there is somethin' in there that must be seen

I'd like to go there 'cos I've never been

 

There's a door to a time there's a voice calls us on

As we sail over seven great seas

To the world which will waken us out of our dreams

I'd like to go there 'cos I've never been

 

Over canyons of snow and rivers of gold

Away in the shadowy blue

There's a valley they say of most radiant green

I'd like to go there 'cos I've never been

 

Thee is someone who waits standing there at the gate

I'd like to go there 'cos I've never been


Track 3   FURTHER UP THE MOUNTAIN

                                                                                                                                               

I'm climbin' further up the mountain

There's a lovely moon up there

'Though I travel in the darkness

somethin's callin' sweet and clear

 

Tonight the smell of blossom lingers

in the crystal mountain air

got your picture in my heart here

love surrounds me everywhere

 

Further higher up the mountain

Every step brings me more near

To that somebody who loves me

To the light which shall appear

 

Down beside the raging water

Just above the churning tide

Somebody has left a boat there

To help us to the other side

 

I'm climbin' further up the mountain

Where the wild woods bend and sway

To the shelter of my loved one

Who will guide me on my way


Track 4   MIGHT BE JESUS KNOCKIN'

                                                                                                                                            

Thought I heard someone at the door

someone at the door, someone at the door

Thought I heard someone at the door

Better go let 'em in

CH:

Well it might be Jesus knockin'

Well it might be Jesus knockin'

Well it might be Jesus knockin'

Better go let 'em in

2.

Well it's late at night, and the streets are dark

streets are dark, streets are dark

heard somebody cryin' out

better go lend a hand

CH:

Well it might be Jesus callin'

Well it might be Jesus callin'

Well it might be Jesus callin'

Better go lend a hand

3.

Stranger walkin' along this road

along this road, along this road

walkin' t'wards me, along this road

better greet him like a friend

CH:

Well it might be Jesus walkin'

Well it might be Jesus walkin'

Well it might be Jesus,

Better greet him like a friend

4.

Child is weepin' all night long

All night long all night long

Weepin' gently all night long

Better go lend a hand

Chorus:

Well it might be Jesus cryin'

Well it might be Jesus cryin'

Well it might be Jesus cryin'

Better go lend a hand

 

Track 5   RISE UP

                                                                                               

                                                                  Nothin' but nothin' been goin' my way

Obstacles arise before me every day

I can ride it out and chase those blues away

You know you have to go down, to rise up

2

People out there all doin' it tough

Doin' their best and it's not enough

Well, 'though the way is rocky and the journey is rough

They say you have to go down, to rise up

Chorus:

Rise up, call on all of your pride

Rise up, find the faith inside

'Though the way is rocky and the journey is rough

You know you have to go down, to rise up

3

Tryin' to find the way to get satisfied

Nothin' much left that I haven't tried

Nothin' much to lose, nothin' left to hide

But then you have to go down, to rise up

4

Struggle I see about me everywhere

Everybody got their own cross to bear

This business of livin's such a strange affair

But then you have to go down, to rise up

Chorus:

Rise up, call on all of your pride

Rise up, find the faith inside

'Though the way is rocky and the journey is rough

You know you have to go down, to rise up

5

Nothin' but nothin' been goin' my way

Obstacles appear before me every day

How'm I gonna chase my demons away

Oh well, you have to go down, to rise up

 


Track 6   THE SINGING BIRD

 

There's only one song and we're all singing it

All singing it, all singing it

There's only one song and we're all singing it

All singing one song

Chorus.

Keep a green bough in your heart

Keep a green bough in your heart

Keep a green bough in your heart

And the singing bird will come

2

There's only one sun and everyone can see it

Everyone can see it everyone can see it

There's only one sun and everyone can see it

Everyone can see it shine

3

We're all standing at the doorway

At the doorway at the doorway

We're all standing at the doorway

Wondering if we're gonna get in

4

Sleep well now my little one

My little one, my little one

Sleep well now my little one

The children are waiting to play

 


Track 7   THIS BODY'S GONNA WEAR OUT

Chorus:

This body's gonna wear out

This body's gonna wear out

This body's gonna wear out

But the soul moves on

 

But the soul moves on

But the soul moves on

This body's gonna wear out

But the soul moves on

1

Now first your shoes and then your toes

And next thing you know your balance goes

Your body sags your skin gets thin

Before you know it, your knees cave in

Your ears your nose your eyes your heart

One by one they all fall apart, and

 

This body's gonna wear out

This body's gonna wear out

This body's gonna wear out

It's already begun

 

It's already begun

It's already begun

This body's gonna wear out

But the soul moves on

2

Oh death oh death hear my request

I'm not that sick I just need a rest

I'll admit that I'm just tryin'

To stretch it out for a little more time

Grant this favour as a friend

And I'll come quietly in the end, and

3

This body and I have been around

But we kept our two feet on the ground

We stuck together faithfully

She's been a loyal body to me

She's done the miles she got me by

But she's goin' to that Wreckin' Yard in the sky, and


Track 8   ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH

                                                                                                                               

Met a strange man

On an ancient road

Could not tell if he

Was young or old

He said "what I tell you

You'll already know"

And he said "from the answer the question grows"

Chorus.

And there's a new road through the woods

And I got only one pair of shoes

What's that they say about

The rough with the smooth

2

I was wanderin'

One Summer's day

Through a forest

When I lost my way

There I chanced to hear

A maiden sing

And she mourned for the passing of the Spring

3

Nothin' comes easy

Or it doesn't come at all

Nothin' much good gets done

Without a back to the wall

Oh but happiness

 I'm never gonna find

Until first I get peace in my mind

 

Chorus.2

And there's a little too much to lose

maybe neither will I choose

Gotta keep in mind about

The rough with the smooth

 


Track 9   SLOW & MOURNFUL

 

I'm gonna die slow and mournful when I die

It's gonna be sad and tragic that's for sure

I'm gonna say somethin' thoughtful, roll my eyes to the skies

And then I won't be hangin' 'round any more

 

 

All my friends will gather around

As they lower me into the ground

They'll say "goodbye Joe, and you won't be back"

And then they'll all turn around and go home


Track 10   SLEEP ON THE STONY GROUND

 

I may live in a palace of stone

I may have fine things all of my own

Blessed with the finest shoes on my feet

And on my table good things to eat

Out in the woods the wild dogs howl

And you may hear the call of the owl

Calling you out to sleep on the stony ground

Chorus.

Sleep on the stony ground

Lay myself gladly down

Pray God I'm ready, if I should have to

Sleep on the stony ground

Sleep on the stony ground

My time will come around

When I will have to sleep on the stony ground

2

Down in the back streets under the stairs

The ones with the shadowy eyes live there

And I know my time is gonna come when

I'll have to take my place among them

Out in the woods the wild dogs howl

And you may hear the call of the owl

Calling you out to sleep on the stony ground

 


Track 11   LOVE IN THE HEART

 

Things have brought us together as one

Things have also forced us apart

'Though our shadows, be many or none

May we step forth with Love In The Heart

 

2.

We have wandered too far from the home

Found ourselves with no compass or chart

Into wild lands, unguarded we roam

May we walk on With Love In The Heart

3.

In my dealings with one and with all

Each encounter, 'though so high the wall

May I manage to nurture the art

Of living with Love In The Heart

BR.

'Though I fall short in so many ways

'Though I knowingly, take the wrong way

If I lose sight of how to return

With Love In The Heart may I learn

4.

I have wounded, with words been too free

Faced with anger, I spoke carelessly

Troubled words too, have come back to me

May we move on with Love In The Heart

 

    Track 12   WALK ACROSS THAT LINE

 

When I get to doubtin' that I'm doin' what I should

I'm spendin' more time thinkin' what I would do if I could

When I finally realize, when I know it's time

I hope I have the courage to walk across that line

2

There's a time for sittin' ion the sun and a time for pushin' on

And there's no second chances, looking from beyond

I think I see it comin' and there's no place I can hide

I'm gonna have to stand up and walk across that line

Chorus.

Across that line

With my head held high

There's a time for talkin'

and a time to walk across that line

3

Time has not stood still for me but that's as it should be

Whatever time I have I need to use it carefully

I'll be on the lookout I'll be waiting for a sign

Someone will be callin' me to walk across that line


Track 13   WHEN I KICK THE BUCKET

                                                                                                              

Oh I am gonna smile and wave as I am lowered in my grave

Oh yes I will, when I  kick the bucket

Oh I've always kinda wondered what it feels like six foot under

And I'll find out, when I kick the bucket

I'm attracted to the lifestyle so stress-free and lazy

A-layin' back all day just a-pushin' up the daisies

Oh I've heard a lotta stories 'bout what glories there will be

And when I kick the bucket, I'll see

2.

They'll all be standin' 'round my bed and there'll be me there lyin' dead

Oh yes I will, when I kick the bucket

Oh it's not so very often friends can see you in a coffin

But they will, when I kick the bucket

'Cos everybody's wonderin' 'bout where it is you go

but until you kick the bucket I guess you'll never know

Oh I've heard a lotta stories 'bout what glories there will be

And when I kick the bucket, I'll see

3.

Oh you can divvy up the loot as soon as I hang up the boots

Oh yes you can, when I kick the bucket

Oh the minute I pop off you'd better hop in for your chop

Oh yes you should, when I kick the bucket

'Cos you cannot take it with you when you depart this joint

And those who try to do so have probably missed the point

Oh I've heard a lotta stories 'bout what glories there will be

And when I kick the bucket, I'll see

 

4.

Oh I will check out paradise and I suspect it will be nice

Oh yes I will, when I kick the bucket

I will lodge an application for a smooth re-incarnation

Yes I will, when I kick the bucket

'Cos what happens in the afterlife nobody really knows

And you'll never ever know if you never ever go

Oh I've heard a lotta stories 'bout what glories there will be

and when I kick the bucket, I'll see


© Copyright 2007, Greg Champion