Lyric Chord sheets for Catching Angels MP3 Album by David
Hakan
Catching Angels
Fmaj7 - C - G -C - G Fmaj7 - C - G -C - G
Catching angels in a mayonnaise jar at dusk.
Now she’s shining her lantern of halo dust.
Don’t try to stop her. Don’t give her hand a slap.
She doesn’t know she’s not supposed to do that.
Em
Don’t be telling her to let her angels go.
Em
Why do you think the rain loves to sway to and fro?
Em
She will lend you power when yours is spent.
Em
Her soul was born before the seas were bent.
Waltzing tiptoe on the shoes of a thunderbolt.
Round the clouds they prance like a filly and a colt.
Don’t get jealous, man. You can’t compete with that.
She doesn’t know she’s not supposed to do that.
Can you guess her sacred charge just because you love her?
We search for ours within a darkened room.
She will take the ribbons scissored from your heart
for only she can braid the tether to the moon.
verse one
Now she’s catching
angels in a jar.
Now she’s catching
angels in a jar.
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 5-29-93
DOGS ON THE RUN
Em C D Em
Dogs on the run, a light from their eyes.
Clatter on cobblestone, westward they fly.
Their voices all carry. My heart feels the chill.
Do they cry like the hunted, or close for the kill?
Uncle Stephen remembers when he was just ten.
His dog would chase rabbits throughout East Berlin.
Till one day he wondered too close to the Wall.
A shot echoed out, a warning that's all.
We wait at the border, the rumors are wild.
Some talk of Hungary, some genocide.
They can't hold us back and the orders arrive.
Some spill into freedom, some return and choose to hide.
Am Em
Up ahead the golden light of freedom.
Am Em - G
The past still glows like moonlight on a gun.
Am Em
Swept up in this angry crowd of changes,
G B7 Em
bewildered like dogs on the run.
Uncle Stephen ran with us all the way to the West.
But his sister stayed fenced in, said the time wasn't yet.
The tears of the war torn, it's hard to let go,
to lose them forever for a fight fifty years old.
Wearing our fredom like the beards on our chins,
Uncle Stephen then made us fly to West Berlin.
A street party danced past. We followed them all.
In the shadow of barbed wire, saw the breach of the Wall.
refrain
Uncle Stephen broke from us and fought to the gate,
where Easterners streamed in to play for the day.
He spotted his sister, but the crowd was so slow.
Then he held her forever afraid to let go.
C G
Men run from the Party Headquarters.
Eastward to Russia they fly.
Dragging their guard dogs behind them.
Am
Backyard dogs along the way
G
sound off the alarm
Am G B7
to match the siren's cry.
verse one
On the run, on the run, oh, on the run.
On the run, on the run, oh, on the run.
On the run, on the run, oh, on the run. words and music by
David B. Hakan 11-10-91
Witching Town
C
There’s no more gold in Witwatersrand.
Can’t feed a diamond to a starving man.
I cast my vote for the ANC
but superstition’s got the best of me.
If you make good choices and borrow modern ways
they swear it’s magic. It’s too late to pray.
Those accused of witchcraft come here to settle down.
And they call it the Witching Town.
F
If I had a single spell to cast to get my way.
F
If only it were true that I had powers
I’d fly away. I’d fly away. I’d fly away from this Witching
Town.
We wait at the bus stop. When we take a seat.
Everyone stops talking. Our eyes don’t meet.
I can smell their fear like prey that moves too late.
But it’s the ignorance I really hate.
They burned Makita while her children cried.
My friend Joseph was never tried.
I was a lucky one. I got out of town
after seeing my home burn to the the ground.
refrain
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 4-20-95
The Postman
refrain
D
I deliver all my letters to a writer who opens jails.
D
In our little fishing village no one else gets any mail.
He’s a poet from Chili. Pablo is his name.
He longs for his homeland, but loves our Island just the same.
I love the barkeep’s daughter, but she does not know it yet.
So I’ll read her his love poems till all men she forgets.
refrain
I’m so in love with Beatrice, I made a metaphor.
I didn’t quite believe it, but Pablo, he was sure.
A comrade in the Party. The workers love him best.
He searched all day for one word, so I gave him my sad nets.
refrain
bridge
A
With fishing boats for shoes, we walk upon the water.
A
The rocks here turn their faces to the sun just because it’s hotter.
A
The dress that she wears is alive just like you and me.
G
Sometimes I want to toss this love I’ve caught back into the sea.
Beatrice and I had our wedding and Pablo gave a toast
to the bride and his friend and poet, “Calm seas along our coast.”
I delivered all my letters to a great man on the hill.
In our little fishing village we speak about him still.
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 10-18-95
THE CHIEF
Em
In prison and just past forty, no hope for death’s release.
In his native tongue he curses the white nation’s police.
Their leader dared not kill him, so he threw away the keys.
C
They drown him in stone silence. He starts to write out his next speech.
Like a spear raised in the air, is emptiness all his words will reach?
D
When the chief returns.
Em
The fire will burn.
This land was ours
beneath lost stars.
G
Great rivers born
D
of pride and scorn
Am
with fingers strong
E
will wash over the wrongs.
The young ones claim they’re building boycotts and embargoes.
That all around the world now there are more of them who follow.
But the news he trusts is bitter, the spirit robed in sorrow.
Children shot down in the back. Proud hunters now all dig in mines.
Soon there will be none left. A ghost dance people, out of time.
refrain
Set loose to rule at seventy, he hears a great crowd gather.
Like tribes from Tucson to Sueto wherever courage matters.
Now the chant rings in his ears, “Mandela, Mandela.
Our chief is free. Raise your spears. Raise your fists. Raise the cry.
Raise your voice in our victory song, apartheid must die.
refrain (The chief returns.This land is ours.)
words and music by David B. Hakan 2-5-93
Shouting For More
G D
I’ve got Sondheim in the shower.
G D
I’ve got film history.
G D
I’ve got strawberry blond hair next to me.
I’ve got a constant admirer with eyes of green
and romance in style till my very last scene.
When the fish pond freezes and the north wind moans,
I’ve got her meat and potatoes around my bones.
When my hands are blistered from the wheel of life,
I’ve got her skin of velvet, cool and light.
Em
I know that my sad face must be quite a bore.
D
It hurts every time she slams that door.
Em
But her laughter and corny jokes heal to the core.
G
And I find myself on my feet shouting for more.
Shouting for more.
Shouting for more.
I’ve got fourth position on tiny feet.
I’ve got prattle cattletapping on my deck for free.
I’ve got quotes from Shakespeare and Hollywood.
I didn’t know the stage could feel so good.
When the stage fright grabs me until I’m dry,
I drink in her gestures that mystify.
When the road's too dusty and baked in sun,
I’ve got her cool harmony till our teardrops come.
refrain
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 10-17-96
Living on Half of a Street
C
It’s late here in the mountains,
Am
woods get deeper still.
G
There’s flooding in the valley,
F G
‘quakes along the coast.Did I tell ya, I found a place to sleep?
It’s not any body’s home.
In a rocky part of town on
25th and one half street.
C Em
I’m living on half of a street,
Am G
walking one step at a time,
C Em
believing only half what I hear,
Am G C
but hurting with all of my heart.
We had temper over taxes,
questions late at night,
silence over coffee,
open windows in the rain.
I called her on the phone last week,
still lays me out cold.
Afraid to stand, afraid to fall
for ten and one half years.
refrain
F C
I hear you found someone to sing harmony.
F C G
You know I love to hear you sing them tunes.
F C Em Am
Have I done something wrong? You wrote so long long ago.
G G7
Could you just spare a note?
You know how when you step out from the theater into
the light,
Part of you stil locked in time, part blinking in the sun.
Had a friend who died too soon. People talking very next day.
I could hear my own words. I must have spoken back.
Words and Music by David B. Hakan 10-1-1981
Idaho
D G A
I’ve got a girl up north where the Salmon River’s born.
Bm Em A
Her smile just creeps up onto you like a smoky Sunday morn.
D Fm G
She’s leaving for the city. She’s taking the microwave.
D G A D
She left her pans and a real good man. No leftover love to save.
refrain
D G A D
Idaho, Idaho, won’t you tell me why,
D G A
Idaho, Idaho, there’s heartburn in good-bye?
Idaho, Idaho, won’t you tell me why,
D G A D
Idaho, Idaho, peeling potatoes made her cry?
We got every kind of potato known to Julia, child.
Hash browns, curly fries, pancake rounds, they all drive me wild.
I made her fix them day and night. Lord, could it be
that the Idaho potato made a spud of me?
refrain
I tossed that peeler & masher out made a brown rice, soybean stew.
I troubadoured right to her door, said, “Honey Bun, I love you.”
Come home. There’s not an eye in sight. You’ve got my oven warm.
Jelly rolls and sweet cherry pie, we can cook up quite a storm.
refrain
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 3-15-93
IMMIGRATION BLUES
E/A (rocking)
I’ve got the Immigration Blues and I’m landing at JFK.
I’ve got the Immigration Blues and I’m landing at JFK.
B A E
I’ve got money and my drugs are legal so I can stay.
Civil war and land mines that’s what I left behind.
Civil war and land mines that’s what I left behind.
But these New York City pot holes are ‘bout to shake me blind.
A E
Got the Immigration, Immigration, Immigration Blues.
A Bm7,r3,sus4
Got the Ellis Island, Port of Entry, Immigration Blues.
They chased us to the border. We barely made that train.
They chased us to the border. We barely made that train.
I’m a certified brain surgeon. You ask can I retrain?
First night in your country I fell in love with this land.
First night in your country I fell in love with this land.
Your jails are like our best hotels and safer than Iran.
refrain
Donut holes and chili dogs, funnel cakes and Bar B Que.
Donut holes and chili dogs, funnel cakes and Bar B Que.
In America it’s all right to play with your food.
Jazz and Funk and Country Pop and Rap and Swing and New Age Soul.
Jazz and Funk and Country Pop and Rap and Swing and New Age Soul.
You can’t escape it when it comes out of every hole.
There are thousands more just like us left out in the cold.
There are thousands more just like us left out in the cold.
Your quotas are like tickets. Now there’s freedom to be bought and sold.
refrain
words and music by David B. Hakan 11-9-92
Kentucky Runaways
C F C
I left Kansas City in the winter of ‘78
F G C
Thumbing on I-70 alone.
F G C Am
Homemade Bread in my knapsack. Colorado bound
F G
if the northern wind didn’t turn me into stone.
An old car wobbled toward me with Kentucky plates,
bald tires and a rag top shot with holes.
No mom or pop was driving, just two youngsters in the front.
And when that blizzard hit they didn’t even seem to know.(C) F C
They played tic-tac-toe on the inside of that frosted windshield glass.
G C C7
Those Kentucky Runaways kept me alive,
F C
for a blizzard and that highway were no match for those kids. They had
G C
moonshine in their bottle and love in their eyes.
They had moonshine in their bottle. They had love in their eyes.
They had moonshine in their bottle. They had love in their eyes.
Well, the gas gauge dropped to empty. Next exit, 15 miles.
The heater died as we pulled off and my heart sank.
Then he opened up that trunk and said, “Jesus, what a waste.”
And poured a gallon of white lightning in the tank.
Well, it could of left us stranded or blown us clean to bits
but that old car roared to life just like a dream.
We cruised on through the snow drifts, climbed the next hill,
found the prettiest truck stop I have ever seen.
refrain
F C G C C7
They had moonshine in their bottle. They had love in their eyes.
They had moonshine in their bottle. They had love in their eyes.
refrain
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 8-26-94
The Midnight Hour
Am C G Am
We were down at the coffeehouse for our heavenly brew.
It started out as a normal night, with the usual crew.
Mary and Lucy were checking out Carie's new tinted contact eyes.
Neal had traded his Martin for a Taylor to every one's surprise.
Am up6
As the crowd and the conversation died down
E Am - Em - Am
we approached the midnight hour.
Jack was tending the coffee bar. Man, he really looked down.
He put the closed sign on the door, and told us we could stick around.
We charged behind the counter and made him a smoothie on ice,
with everything in it we could find. He said it tasted real nice.
People looked through the windows and shook the door
right up to the midnight hour.
Mary said we should buy our own place and have music every night.
Gordon said he'd do the books, but bills could be a fight.
Neal spread out the classifieds with the businesses for sale.
There on the top was a coffeehouse. It started feeling like a fairy tale.
Mary called the number and talked to the seller
right into the midnight hour.
We started writing in the margins and found we could raise the cash
if all 6 of us were partners. but it might sell pretty fast.
Six months later we were painting trim and washing all the floors.
It was time to advertise and pick a date to open the doors.
We all had put in so much time we didn't
notice it was past the midnight hour.
Then Mary said it was her idea so we should call it Maria's Mud.
Gordon said it was a stupid name and it should be the Caffeine Flood.
Java Gaia, Bean There Drunk That, well we argued half the night.
Our dream had never had a name. We were headed for a terrible fight.
Then our friend, Jack, came in and saved us saying,
"When are you going to open the Midnight Hour?"
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 11/16/2000
Copyright 2000 David B. Hakan All rights reserved.
The Midnight Hour
Am C G Am
We were down at the coffeehouse for our heavenly brew.
It started out as a normal night, with the usual crew.
Mary and Lucy were checking out Carie's new tinted contact eyes.
Neal had traded his Martin for a Taylor to every one's surprise.
Am up6
As the crowd and the conversation died down
E Am - Em - Am
we approached the midnight hour.
Jack was tending the coffee bar. Man, he really looked down.
He put the closed sign on the door, and told us we could stick around.
We charged behind the counter and made him a smoothie on ice,
with everything in it we could find. He said it tasted real nice.
People looked through the windows and shook the door
right up to the midnight hour.
Mary said we should buy our own place and have music every night.
Gordon said he'd do the books, but bills could be a fight.
Neal spread out the classifieds with the businesses for sale.
There on the top was a coffeehouse. It started feeling like a fairy tale.
Mary called the number and talked to the seller
right into the midnight hour.
We started writing in the margins and found we could raise the cash
if all 6 of us were partners. but it might sell pretty fast.
Six months later we were painting trim and washing all the floors.
It was time to advertise and pick a date to open the doors.
We all had put in so much time we didn't
notice it was past the midnight hour.
Then Mary said it was her idea so we should call it Maria's Mud.
Gordon said it was a stupid name and it should be the Caffeine Flood.
Java Gaia, Bean There Drunk That, well we argued half the night.
Our dream had never had a name. We were headed for a terrible fight.
Then our friend, Jack, came in and saved us saying,
"When are you going to open the Midnight Hour?"
Words And Music By David B. Hakan 11/16/2000
Copyright 2000 David B. Hakan All rights reserved.
Prisoner Of Her Eyes
A7sus4 D Em-Em7 A
It’s time to go and we both know it. Why do I say “Hello”?
A7sus4 D Em-Em7 A
Perfect innocence is our singing, for we only touch our voice.
A7sus4 D Em-Em7 A - A7
But I have walls of stone to break before I go, (‘cause )
refrain
G D G D
I’m a prisoner of her eyes. I cannot steal away. It’s either
G D G D
love her or break her. I have to go or stay.
G D G D
Should I take what I can give her? You know I am an honest man.
G D A - A7 D
But now I’ve got this jailbird feeling and not, Lord, a single plan.
You can say that I’ll hurt her, that I’ve not a thing to lose.
But the trees all shake for nothing ‘till their loss is on the wing.
She says she needs something solid, yet she holds my shadow close.
There are chains on my good-byes and bars at every turn ‘cause
refrain
There are convicts of the freeways, chain gangs in the factories.
But the hermit’s cell is nature’s beauty. Thru the city gates
he cannot pass.
The sailor loves the wind that guards him. The poet drinks to the midnight
hour.
And so I toast this song around us, handcuffed in harmony, ‘cause
refrain
Words and music by David B. Hakan 12-16-81
Catching Angels Album