Good Night, Moon (Lullaby for June) (softly, slowly, freely). (SAMPLE this song!)

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June

C ............................. G ................................
Good night, moon. I see your shining face.
C ............................. G ..........................
Good night, moon. I have to go to bed.
C ............................ G .............................................
Good night, moon. Welcome me into the evening.
............................................. C ......
Time for me to gently go to sleep.

 

C ...............................G ......................................
Good night, moon. I know you're in your place.
...........................................
Far up in the starry sky as
C ........................................................
Through the graceful clouds you fly.
C ............................. G ....................................................
Good night, moon. I see you moving through the night,
...............................................................................................
Sometimes dim and sometimes bright. . . . Always friendly.

C ........................... G..................
Good night, moon. Welcome me into the evening.
............................................. C
Time for me to gently go to sleep.

 

C ............................. G ..............................
Good night, moon. I see your silver face.
C .................................. G ...................................................................
Good night, moon. You keep me warm when cool winds softly blow.
C ................................................... G ......
Good night, moon. I have to go to sleep.
............................................................................................................
Welcome to the quiet evening, safe from harm and with my family.

C ........................... G .............................................
Good night, moon. Welcome me into the evening.
............................................. C .......
Time for me to gently go to sleep.

copyright (c) 2008 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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(I'm Leavin' you) One Town at a Time (country 4/4) (written with Elise P. Reid) (SAMPLE this song!)

G
I came home too soon one day and
C
You were not alone.
.........G
That day my wife and my best friend
.......D
Destroyed our Austin home.
.......G
You told me that you wanted someone
C
Better than I am,
.........G
Who don't drink much or gamble such,
........D ............................G
And that's my ex-friend Sam.

You kicked me out and took my pay,
Down to my last dime.
You said to go far, far away and
Not to take my time.
I said that was fine with me;
I left you flat that day.
I hit the road and soon would be
A thousand miles away. (So)

(Chorus -- words vary):

C
Out the door I went that day,
G ........................Em
Down to my last dime.
.......G
My mind's made up; I'm leaving you
D ....................G
One town at a time.

Drove thirteen miles to Round Rock;
That's where my truck broke down.
It took six weeks to make the cash
To fix it and leave town. (But)

Rest assured, I'm out the door, though
Down to my last dime.
My mind's made up I'm leavin' you
One town at a time.

That old truck lasted ten more miles;
Spent a month in a Walburg bar,
Caught a Greyhound Bus with my last eight bucks.
It didn't get me far. (But)

Count on this: I've left you, though I'm
Down to my last dime.
My mind's made up; I'm leaving you,
One town at a time.

They threw me off in Belton, and
Stopped my eight-buck ride. (I)
Ate Spam for days and thought of you (when)
It got cold outside. (But)

Say it over to yourself: "He's left me," though
Down to my last dime.
My mind's made up; I'm leavin' you,
One town at a time.

Last week I got to Waco, found a
Poker game that day. But the
Cards were cold and I'm stuck on hold (just)
Fifty miles away (from you), but

You can cry it in your sleep: "He's left me," though I'm
Down to my last dime.
I'm putting hundreds and hundreds of miles between us,
One town at a time.

You can take it to the bank: I've left you, though you
Stole my last thin dime.
My mind's made up; I'm leavin' you,
One town at a time.

(spoken) Just a few more miles . . .

(spoken) Is this damn truck stallin' again? . . .

Don't you dare forget: I'm headed for Newark, though
Down to my last dime.
My mind's made up; I'm leavin' you
One town . . . one town . . . one town . . . at a time.

(spoken) I think the truck just threw a rod . . . .

copyright (c) 2000 by Elise P. Reid & William H. Reid (BMI)

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Christmas Song (3/4) (SAMPLE this song!)

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.......................C / / ................../ / / ..D7 / / .. / / /
(This is your) Christmas Song
.........G
(For) all the soft green springtimes with
C ..................................................G
Water runnin' down from melting snow, (and)
G .....................................C
Early April babies in the herds of deer and cattle that
C ...................D7 ....................G
Mingle in the meadow up the mountain.

(This is your) Christmas Song
For all the warm brown hillsides
Up east of Sacramento
Dried out by the summer sun that won't let any rain
Come in from the drizzly western coast.

(This is your) Christmas Song
For all the colored autumns
That I saw with warmer eyes and fewer sorrows.
For a soft smoke in the valley from a fire in someone's cabin
That makes me feel he's warm and dry and living.

(Bridge, instrumental)

(This is your) Christmas song
For the soft new snow that cushions all my footsteps,
And covers up the old mistakes of summer, but
C .............................................Am7 ..............................G
Lets the good that will return again because it's only sleeping
..................G...............................Em
'Neath the covered boughs and branches, and
G....................Em
On and in the earth, just as it's
C ........................D7 ......................G
There inside the souls of you and me.

copyright (c) 1975 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Talkin' Junebug Blues (spoken, briskly) (SAMPLE this song!)

I / IV /
Junebug sittin' on the side of the road
V / / /
Just lookin' up at a great big toad. (The)
I / IV /
Toad saw Junebug leanin' on his knee and said,
V / / / / / / /
"Who's that Junebug botherin' me?"

I / / / / / / /
"It is I, June Elizabeth Peterson,
IV / / / / / / /
Of Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
V / / / / / / / ........................... I / / / / / / /
Where I live with my parents."

"I don't understand," said the great big toad, "(That's an)
Awful long name, an awful big load for a
Tiny little girl so small, I see, who can
Rest her-self by leanin' on my knee.

"Like a bug.
And cute as a bug's ear.
But oddly small, nonetheless."

"I believe, kind toad, you misperceive the situation. (My)
Size is part of my imagination. I can
Make you big or I can make me small, just to
Try things out and experience it all.

"To see, the view from your knee,
And enhance the creativi-tee,
Of the various perspectives one may assume."

June stayed there beside the toady knee,
Perusin' toady feet and examinin' a flea. (She)
Really didn't like it when he opened up his mouth, (and)
When he licked his eyeballs, it surely grossed her out.

It was unexpected.
It was completely foreign to her.
So she picked him up and put him in a jar
For show-and-tell.

copyright (c) 2008 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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(We Say) Grace Before Breakfast (brightly, syncopated) (SAMPLE this song!)

G / / /
Early every morning when the
C / Am7 /
Sun begins to shine,
G / C / Am7 / D7 /
Little Gracie opens up her eyes. (She)
G / / /
Knows that Mom-my's coming in to
C / Am7 /
Tell her that it's time (to)
G / D7 / G / / /
Wake her up and gently help her rise.

Gracie sometimes dawdles when she
Has a lot to do, (like)
Find her shoes as soon as she is able. So
Mom or Daddy has to say,
"Grace it's time for you (to)
Come downstairs and sit down at the table." (We say)

Chorus:

G / / /
Grace come down to breakfast; your
C / Am7 /
Eggs are getting cold. Your
G / C G
Brother's eating all your bacon; the
C / G /
Baby wants your milk; and
C / / / D / / / D7 / / /
When you're late it makes me feel I'm old . . .
D7 / / / G / / / / / / /
. . . Before my time!

Then you know it's time for school, the
Bus is almost here.
Mom or Dad is saying "Grace" once more:
"Grace the bus will be here soon;
Don't forget your mittens," and
As we leave, "Please don't slam the door."

Chorus

Once at school the teacher says,
"Children settle down,
And open up your books to chapter three." (But)
Grace may get distracted, by
Something very int'resting, and
Teacher sometimes has to voice a plea: ("GRACE!")

Chorus

Later, after supper, when we're
Saying "Grace" again:
"Gra-cie, it's time for bed and sleep." (She's)
Disappeared and can't be found; she'd
Rather stay up late.
She hides and no one even hears a peep. (We say)

Chorus

(Bridge)

After Gracie goes to bed,
Mom relives the day, of
Saying "Grace" so many times in vain. (But)
She and Daddy think together,
How they love her so, and
How tomorrow they'll say "Grace" again. (They'll say)

Chorus (twice to end)

copyright (c) 2008 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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The Pirate and the Swan (brisk, driving) (SAMPLE this song!)

C .......F .............G ..........F
Sun a-risin' and Glory's horizon the
C .........F ...............G
Site of breakin' of dawn
C ....................F .................G ..................F
Explodes with thunder and people down under have
C .............F ............G
Got to be carry-in' on.

(Chorus)

Am ..............................Em
Weep you now, young ladies, and
Am ..................Em
Stay you fast asleep. Don't
Am ......................Em
Wake for fear of findin' the
Am ...Dm(7)..G
Devil in your keep.

On the water, nature's own daughter
Glides along on her way.
Silently swimming, her eyes softly brimming as
Night's memories fade into day.

(Chorus)

Innocence lost to some words lightly tossed by the
Pirates who came to her nest,
Gathered her things, and then fled on the wings of new
Sunlight that fell on her breast.

Thoughts she denied of the devils inside; it's
Better to leave them unsaid. The
Shadowy foe is a far lesser evil than
Feeling one's innocence dead.

(Chorus)

(softer)

Sun a-risin' and glory's horizon, the
Sight of breakin' of dawn
Enlarges to pale the soft-spoken tale of the
Pirate and the swan. . . . (slower, to fade)

copyright (c) 1979 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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She Always Had a Place Inside My Heart (Moderato but sadly, 4/4) (SAMPLE this song!)

...................C /.................. D / ........................
(She came) runnin' out to meet me (with her)
G / .............Em7 / ...........
Pony tail a'flyin'. I could
C / ........................... Am / ...........
See that she'd been cryin' all the
A7 / ...................D / .............
Way across the yard. (Her)
C / ......................... D /
Little face seemed frightened; her
G / ............................Em / ..................
Eyes welled up with sadness. I could
C / ...........................D7 / ....................
Tell something had hurt her, she was
D7 / ........... G /
Takin' it so hard.

(So I) dropped what I was carrying and
Opened up my arms. And she
Ran to me and held on, as she
Had so many times. (I)
Said "What happened, Darlin'? What's
Causin' all those tears?" She cried
"Mommy says you're leaving, and I
Don't want you to go."

(Chorus)

.................C / ................D / .....................G / / /
(And she) always had a place inside my heart, that
C / ............... Am .................. A7 ................................D7 / / / / / /
Little girl we waited for and watched right from the start.
C / ................... D7 / ......... G / ....................... C / ...........................
Every time she ran to me, I'd kneel down to catch her, and she'd
C / ................. Am7 / ............. C / ................. D7 / .......... G / / /
Put her arms around me, and let me have a little of her love.

(So I) told her just as gently as I
Could and keep from crying, that
Grandpas have to go sometimes, and
My time would be soon.
"But God will keep his eye on you, where-
Ever life may take you, and
I'll be up there lookin' down,
Watchin' for your smile.

(Chorus)

The weeks passed by and in a while
Time finally took its toll.
Leavin' her was harder than I
Ever thought it'd be.
And harder still for her, I know, but
Time heals lots of things
With Mom and Dad to help her
As she grew up day by day.

I hope she knows I see her, and
Thinks about me kindly, and
Feels a litle love from Grandpa
When she needs it most. And
Knows about the good things
That life still has in store, 'cause
I'm up here in heaven,
Watchin' for her smile.

(Chorus) 

(Bridge)

........ C .................... Am7
(and) I'll be up here watchin'
D7 .................. C
Just to see her smile.

copyright (c) 2008 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Blimey, Guv'nor, Will Has an Accent! (4/4, jauntily) (SAMPLE this song!)

.........C .........................................F ............................C
On a nice day in October, in the year two-thousand-five,
....C .............................................G(7)
A son was born in Denver, Colorado.
...............C .........................F ........................C
That's a patriotic city in a fine, upstanding state,
............................G ....................................................................C
( spoken): So we naturally figured he'd be an All-American Boy.

Named for a Texas uncle; Grandpa was a soldier.
Family full of capitalists (and Republicans).
They draped the stars and stripes right over young Will's crib
( spoken): So we naturally figured he'd be an All-American Boy.

We anxiously awaited the youngster's early words,
Expecting maybe "Ma-Ma" or "Hi, Da-Da."
After all, he came from solid roots, deep in the U.S.A.
( spoken): We naturally figured he'd sound like an All-American Boy.

 IV BRIDGE F///–C///-////-G///-C///-F///-C/Am/-C/G/-C///-////

One day a few weeks later he seemed about to speak.
He looked at everyone, and rolled his eyes.
........C ............................................F ....................Fm
And uttered those first words, so clearly and so loud:
(Pause, spoken): "I say, Mummy, I fancy a spot of bangers and mash."

(Pause, spoken, called out): HUH?

IV BRIDGE with vocal:

...........F ............................................C
Well, imagine our surprise and our utter chagrin
......................C ..............................................G
When young William finally let us hear him call,
.................F ...........................................C ..................Am
"Pip, pip, Mummy." "I say." "Sticky wicket," and then
....C ........................G ..................C
A parting shot of "Cheerio, you all!"

Slower, quietly:

The room got very quiet, you could've heard a pin
Drop as we went a-running down the hall,
To see if we'd misheard him, but he said it once again:
"Pip, pip," and "sticky wicket," and "Cheerio, you all!"

a tempo IV BRIDGE with vocal, as above:

Well imagine our surprise and our utter chagrin
When young William finally let us hear him call,
"Pip, pip, Mummy, I say. Sticky wicket," and then
A parting shot of "Cheerio, you all!"

We all love William dearly, he's a multi-country scholar.
A brother, and we'll never let him fall.
But it feels a little strange, to our ears to hear him holler,
( spoken): "Pip, pip," and "sticky wicket," and "Cheerio, you all."

IV BRIDGE with vocal, new words:

And we kinda have to reckon if his relatives had been
British ladies, Surrey siblings, English men,
That we wouldn't raise an eyebrow when we heard him quaintly call,
( spoken): "Pip, pip," and "sticky wicket,"
.......................................G .........F ...C ..G .....C
( sung, big finish): and "CHEE-RI–O, YOU-ALL!"

( spoken, called out): THAT'S OUR WILL!

copyright (c) 2008 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Autumn (softly, sung freely) (SAMPLE this song!)

.......C .......Em7 ...Am7 .............G
We walk along a country road and
F ........................G
Think about the memories
C .........Em7 ..Am7 ..G
Building up inside us with the
F ................................G
Days and weeks and summer.
C .......... ....Em7 .........Am7 .......G
The softness of your voice and hand that
F ................................G
Beckons through the stillness,
C .........Em7 ..Am7 ......G
Feigning an awareness of the
F ...............................G
Love, and hope, and sorrow.
..............C
And the leaves turn.
..............F
And the nights are cool.
..............C
And the leaves fall.
..............F ........................G
And the glossy sheets of frost
............C ..............Em7 ......Am7 .........G
Paint a glistening, somber landscape that
F ............................G
Summons back an echo of the
C ....Em7 ..Am7 ..G .....F ...........G
Days, and weeks, and summer
..................C
Spent with you.

copyright (c) 1969 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Image (She Comes into the Room) (as performed in open C tuning)

.......C
She comes into the room
F ................................ .C
And the room's a little brighter
F ......................................... C
Because she came into the room.

She begins to speak
And my heart's a little lighter
Because she began to speak.

F ..................................... C
And I knew she'd be this way.
F .................................. C
Every time it's just the same.
F .............................................. C
Every time she comes into the room.

C
Later on she smiles
............F .................................................C
As she opens up her eyes and finds me there.
................C
Then she reaches out to touch me
............F ........................................................C
With a hand that's warm and fingers that remember
F ...............................C
Everywhere they've gone.

And I knew she'd be this way.
Every time it's just the same.
Every time she comes into the room.

.......F ...............................................C
And if the bed were straw or fallen leaves,
.......F .............................................C
The pillow just the bending of my arm,
.......F
My heart would still be lighter
.............................................C
Because she came into the room.
.............................................G(7) .............C
And for her, there'll always be a room in me.

And I knew she'd be this way.
Every time it's just the same.
Every time she comes into the room.

.............C .........................../ G(7) .............C
And for her, there'll always be a room in me.

copyright (c) 1972 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Drivin' Home (country 4/4; 2009 recorded version) (SAMPLE this song!)

............G
It's the bein' here without you that
C
Makes me want to call you up and
G
Start the wheels a-turnin' that'll
D(7)
Bring me to your side. (And it's)

Good to know that you're still there,
Existing in a world of sunshine
Past the door that led me to the
Pleasures of your life.

............G
Drivin' Home.  

It's night and pretty cold outside; (the
Headlights kinda blind me as I
Think about the feelin's that I
Had when I was there. (And it's)

Mornin' with an overcoat of
Fog and cattle wakin' up to
Hear my 18-wheeler makin'
Noise outside their fence.

Drivin' Home.

(Short Bridge)

Took seven tons of flatbed steel from
Boston to Atlanta, then I
Had to deadhead empty for a
Load in Tennessee.

They filled me up with finished goods,
Just outside of Knoxville, and I
Headed south to New Orleans, just
One more run to go.

Drivin' Home.

(Bridge)

It's I-10 into Houston with a
Trailer full of brand new tires, then
Bobtail up to Conroe, getting'
Closer all the time. On a

C ...................D(7) ..............G ............................Em
Pretty Texas evenin'; for a change I'm comin' home to someone.
C ..................D7 ...................C ...............Am7 ....D
Thinkin' as I leave the city, smilin' as I see the turnoff,
C .......................D .......................G ......................C .................D7
Watchin' as the cab door opens, seein' our door open up the same. (And)
G .................................................................C
Then your voice, and then your hand, and all the other reasons for the
G ......................................................D ............................D7
Warm and tender feelings that are comin' back again.
............G
Drivin' Home.

copyright (c) 1974 by William H. Reid (BMI). Additional lyrics (c) 2008 by William H. Reid

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Central Louisiana Daydream (Bus From Alexandria) (country 4/4)

Comin' on the bus from Alexandria
Made the connection from New Orleans.
Left the town at two AM and
Rode the Trailways bus all night
Just to bring a little light and
Smile and settle in my arms again.

I expect that you'll be tired when you get here,
'Specially if the baby comes along.
But you can sleep here in my bed, and
I'll just mess around the house
Thinkin' that it's nice to have you
Back and see your smilin' face, and
Feel you settle in my arms again.

I'll watch the hair spread on the pillow 'round your face, and
Hope that when you wake up you'll be happy. And
Like some of the things I did the
Night before you got here, like the
Lotion and the cold cream that I bought for you to use; the
Color of the brand new sheets, and
Steaks to cook out on the grill, and
Wine to have while dinner's on, and,

Oh yes, the thoughts inside this song.

copyright (c) 1972 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Merryville Highway Song (SAMPLE this song!)

Walkin' down the side of the road,
Wond'rin' where I'm goin'.
Walkin' down the side of the road.
Nobody's knowin'
The things I've felt. The things I've known.

There goes another bus
Roarin' down the highway.
Spewin' smoke and kickin' up the dust, (and I'm)
Wishin' that I hadn't done things my way,
And left my home. And hit the road.

(Bridge)

The days are fine; the summer wine is good.
The weather's warm, it's nice to walk.
It's nice to stop, and talk awhile.

That's when the people on the side of the road
Share a little time with me,
And let me know that I'm welcome in their country.
Like as not they'll offer me a beer.
And I accept, and let them talk.

And let them say how pleasant it must be
To walk along the side of the road,
And go wherever I decide to go
And stay wherever I decide to stay.
And for awhile I'll be content.

(Bridge)

But evenin' comes again before too long
And knowin' that's the hardest time,
I look for light and any voices.

But when they come I know it's not the same.
The night is only just outside the door,
And with it all the memories of the past
I want to see, I have to see
the people and the places I'm lookin' for
and can never find again.

Walking down the side of the road,
Wond'rin' where I'm goin'.
Walkin' down the side of the road,
Nobody's knowin'
The things I've felt, the things I've known,
And can never find again.

copyright (c) 1972 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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Relationship (slowly but rhythmically, as performed)

If I say I love you, does it mean that I'm committed?
Because I've been committed once before.
And I found it didn't work out right. Perhaps it was the two of us,
(But I) don't feel ready yet to start things over.

If I feel you needing me, do I have to answer?
Do I have to be there when you call?
Or can we say that it's still two of us. We haven't become one just yet.
We don't need each others' arms each time we fall.

And if we speak of love, does it mean that we're exclusive?
Does it tie us to each other, and make us have to choose
Between the poles of no one else and Saturday night romance.
Or is there someplace in between, where love can be a feeling,
Deep and rich and happy, but not the place I've just now left.
Because I've been commited once before.

But I'm lonely for the love I feel from you.

copyright (c) 1974 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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If You Were My Lady (slowly but rhythmically, as performed)

If you were my lady,
If you were my lady,
If you were my lady,
I'd think so much of you.

If you were my lady,
If you were my lady,
I'd lie down beside you,
And move my hands over your skin.

If you were my lady,
If you were my lady,
If you were my lady,
I'd think so much of you.

I want you to be my lady.

copyright (c) 1974 by William H. Reid (BMI)

 

Anesthetic ([With] Half a Bottle Left Inside) (spoken slowly)

(Ride a slightly dissonant tonic chord throughout)

With half a bottle left inside, I go on home
And close the door on thoughts that used to make me sad.
I don't have to think now.
Just let the sun, or rain, or whatever else wants to
Fall down on my head.

copyright (c) 1971 by William H. Reid (BMI)

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