Just in time for the new year and beyond! Jon Gailmor's new CD: "Checking In", with 13 brand-new, original songs in the Jon Gailmor tradition.
Check out 'Checking In', lyrics and sound snippets, right here. Buy the new 'Checking In' CD at
The Gailmor Music Store.
"
TERRIERISM (The slightly-embellished story of the four-legged star of Vermont's Circus Smirkus) Lola was the runt of the litter Rejected by her family and friends Too small to be a fighter No bite inside her Left on the Windy City streets to fend Living off leftover garbage Can leave a mean hunger inside A bitter wind was blowing, ribs raw and showing Enough to kill a Pit Bull's pride L: Lover, licker, leaper O: One-in-a-million keeper L: Loyal as friend can be A: Acrobat, naturally Sniffing at the promise of springtime Just searching for tidbit or two The puppy's ears perked up Lola got worked up The voice that beckoned seemed so friendly and new Never had this pooch been petted Or scratched on her belly and ears Her hind leg got to moving, head-to-tail grooving Good riddance hunger and fears Took that doggie home to the North Side The treats and loving won her trust They marveled at her hustle Heart, brain and muscle Soon she got to work and left her past in the dust Training was no trouble for Lola The signals and commands were a breeze She learned her tricks in no time. Showed up for show time All decked out and raring to please Look who's Number One on the Big Top She lights up every face in the crowd Hopping, bopping, crawling That dog's enthralling Never seen a city girl seeming so proud So, don't you dare miss out on the circus It's worth a trip of many a mile To catch that awesome creature, brightening up the bleachers Watch her now-she'll give you that smile A TOWN MEETING TUNE We are hereby warned: Got to show up in the morn First Tuesday, Town Hall, 10 or so Winter's on the wane. We've all gone insane Let's while away the weather, kids in tow Greet the old town folks. Hear the gossip and the jokes Dip a doughnut in a good, strong cup of joe Find your favorite chair and plant your buttocks there We're getting down to business, don't you know Down from the mountains, up from the dales In from the woodlands, chock full of tales Check out the neighbors. Find out the news We've all got the floor, today-our time to choose Gavel's on the wood and we're starting like we should Read one-through-seventeen and what's in store Elections, if you please, not a single sign of sleaze We leave our blankin' rancor at the door Salaries and funds give some citizens the runs But we come to our senses in the end Fire volunteers saving lives for all these years We support our heroes to the end Seniors and the poor, families, critters and lots more We'd better help them out, this Meeting Day We'll share a bit of wealth with the Earth and mental health While passing generosity their way Keeping schools afloat lights a fire 'neath the vote It's kindled by the cash flow of the town Concern is in the cries, talk is mostly civilized More lively conversation can't be found Stomachs start to growl and before the moods turn foul We nourish our opinions over lunch Between the goulash bites we discuss the wrongs and rights With gossip, grapes and rumors by the bunch Back to wrap it up, over one more steaming cup More transactions, further business, final votes There's a motion to adjourn. Here's hoping we'll return With vigor, passion and those anecdotes CHECKING IN (For Cathy) Years ago we took our chances In a field among the branches Summer was alive Soon you would become a mother The first child became a brother Now we're feeding five By the time they're all dreaming, we're fading There's so much I've meant to tell you That's why I'm checking in Toddlerhood to adolescence Moodiness and effervescence Nothing in between Through it all you've been a boulder Solid hands and crying shoulder Best I've ever seen Sailboats passing and waving on the water Time to come about and come aboard And so I'm checking in My hair is gray and in new places Our children have maturing faces Watch them-there they go I'm feeling blessed to have you 'round me You give me chills and still astound me Just to let you know I want to tell you that I love you in a song I've been loving you all along. What a good time for checking in SAY IT NOW My dad departed early And Mom checked out in haste A thousand things we left un-said just weigh me down (they weigh me down) Children are my teachers Much wiser than their years Thanks to them, I'm learning how to say it now The playground is a jungle where we can all be wild Beware of bullies lurking on the prowl I bottled up my anger. My fear I pushed way down There's no more room inside. Better say it now! Say it now, say it now, anytime, anyhow Grab the moment, while you got it. Let them hear it. Say it now! How you're feeling-just set it free. Don't wait till it's a eulogy Right now, say it now, say it now! Got people in my back and forth who've been there every time They made the difference-helped me through, somehow If I don't up and tell them, then how are they to know? Can't wait another day. Got to say it now! The leaders make my blood boil. Injustice rules the day My sentiments are soil beneath their plow But, what I think does matter. I'll whip my seeds around They'll grow to mighty heights if I say it now! So tell folks when we love them and when they make us mad And to our fellow-mammals make this vow: We won't procrastinate, no longer hesitate We'll just communicate and say it now! YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN (Micaela's Song) You came a-crawling when we needed you most You must have known A gift greater than grandiose A ribbon 'round our home You're the one-made us complete Electric eyes and wings on your feet Born to be in our family You must have known We were the chosen ones, lucky for us After three long years Spread the welcome mat and made a fuss You melted all our fears Now we've got you-watch you soar! Can't wait to see what's in store Sing your tune-the world's in bloom You must have known Designer genes and chromosomes Don't hold a candle to hearts and homes Always a part of us, never alone Where it counts, you're one of our own We didn't know you when you first came along Six months went by But then we heard your voice and knew you belonged We were all sky-high So glad you found us and planted your roots We're forever in cahoots Tame or wild, you're our child You must have known Your sister and your brother love you to bits Quite the trio, indeed You laugh and play and give each other fits It's in the sibling creed We love you madly-it's yours to keep Wide as the ocean and twice as deep Adopting you was the thing to do You must have known You came a'crawling when we needed you most You must have known A gift greater than grandiose A ribbon 'round our home You're the one-made us complete Electric eyes and wings on your feet Born to be in our family You must have known MA I miss you most on Sundays Our weekly, little chats The way you called me "darling" No one else did that Your voice was all I needed Just knowing you were there To make you laugh until you cried Was heaven, Ma I got here six weeks early You'd lost the one before The pokes and tests were endless They were making sure I could've told the doctors That everything was fine And there was nothing like the warmth Against you, Ma We drove to school together Each day for seven years Companions in that Rambler Elvis in our ears I never saw you happier Than in those simple days When working made you feel worthwhile I felt it, Ma Like every other family We had our ups and downs When life collapsed around me You were solid ground The lessons that you taught me Were right there in your ways But best of all, through all my days You loved me, Ma From lonely depths of darkness To towering joie de vivre You wore all your emotions I'm smiling as I grieve With chutzpah in your bloodstream That twinkled in your eyes I only wish we had more time Together, Ma Your gifts are here within me I'll try to pass them on The passion of your music Shapes my every song You gave me life and laughter And even when I fell You let me know that you were proud I miss you, Ma THE SCAT O' THE MOOSE In the grand, green scheme of things, I'm glad I'm a moose Bobbin' in the swamps, where the plants are profuse Humongous size belies my demeanor I've got the moves to dodge the snow machiner Please don't shoot me. 'twould devastate my bride Besides, sportsmen would scoff at your kill I'll pose for your photos and show my best side Download my face and let me graze at will Oh, I'm a gentle beast with many buds deceased Wide-angle photo-op That makes the traffic stop Lift a glass to me That I'm forever free To wander clumsily Tree to tasty tree I'm a proud, brown herbivore. My rack is ornate A-rutting and a-roaming, with a gangly gait I'd like to think I'm elegant, though I look a fool My self-esteem is fine-Mom thinks I rule! Drive with caution and keep me in your sights In bus and pick-up, car and RV My head's way up above your dims and your brights Maples that are moving might have eyes like me Like your basic human types, I crave my personal space You'll want to keep your distance from me, just in case I may seem to dream, but if I deem you a threat I'll probably charge you with a dearth of regret Give me compassion and my due respect Now, I'm out of here and bid you adieu We're all just earthlings, a world to protect Got to keep it wild for all us moose and you TAKE ME THERE Deep breaths, long thoughts Down time, swimming holes Campfires, tall tales Warm laps for sitting on Daydreams, Playgrounds Porches, creaky floors Double-headers Letters you wrote by hand Take me there To the simple times I could do with a moment Alone with my thoughts Please take me there To the simple days When it all was rock 'n roll P.F. Flyers New sleds-wooden ones Listening, reading Fireflies and shooting stars Thinking, pondering Wondering, innocence Tasting raindrops Smelling the thunderstorm Snow forts, snow cones Friendships, fun and games Young folks, old folks Laughing, remembering Backyards, neighbors Picking strawberries Fearing no one Knowing the mailman COUNTRY WHINE I've got an earwig in my coffee The size of Maine Its cousins linger in the laundry And call my name They're all around me, like a curse Wherever I go, they were there first But like the earwigs, who've chosen my place I like it here Five seasons and growing's not one Pests on parade-their noses they thumb Demeanors decaying. I'm praying for sun So wring me out and hang me up, 'till I'm done. The mice are dining within my sheetrock From stud to stud Mosquitoes and black flies take no prisoners They go for blood Coyotes and fishers consume my cats It's downright treacherous, this habitat Despite the dangers, the pains and pitfalls I like it here Well, it's been raining since I got here Or so it seems The multi-colored, designer mildew Adorns my jeans Chalk up the Sunblock to history Let's hang the weatherman in effigy My brain is waterlogged, but in the long run I like it here Just when you think it's safe to frolic The mud arrives The ruts and washboards upon the back roads Make quite a ride One day you'll wake up-your rig is gone Only to turn up millennia later, like mastodons It's unforgiving. I'm verging on loopy But I like it here Put me away I'm verging on loopy, like a groveling groupie I like it here SEEDS OF HOME Colonel Samuel was a farmer With his family he did toil They sold it all to feed the troops As the Revolution boiled When the fighting finally ended And the fertile ground was gone The government gave the clan some land To plant themselves upon Elmore Town Now the soldier had four children Molly, Jesse, Martin, Sam In the fall of 1791 They came to claim their land 'twas a cold and damp November With the winter at their heels All the others headed back down south But Martin liked the feel Of Elmore Town With the temperature tumbling downward And the fleeing "V's" of geese He befriended neighbor Indian Joe They smoked the pipe of peace Through the frigid months they hunted For the warmth of spring they yearned Then the families with their horses, cattle Seeds and trees returned To Elmore Town Bitter cold claimed early orchards But resilient seedlings grew And the fledgling town began to flower In 1792 With the farms and mills and iron wills And livelihoods begun A slew of settlers soon would follow I like to think I'm one In Elmore Town Though I've traveled far and wandered wide Seen wondrous sights from side to side With lands and seas that called to me I was bound to roam Well, I've lived among the worldly gifts I had it all, but felt adrift One day I found this little town. Now I'm home. WILD RIDE (Composed for the Peoples Academy High School Middle Level Last Chapel in 2003, and to honor Middle School and Junior High School children everywhere) Part of me is fearless, the other's scared to death It's time to try deodorant and something for my breath These legs are someone else's-I feel like I have three My body's got its own agenda, weirding out on me Waking up's not easy, especially for school I'm trying on my attitude and seeing if it's cool My mouth is worth a fortune. Why pay for all this pain? I look like some young alien with oatmeal for a brain I'm a shining star with a silver smile Built for discomfort, polishing my style Singing sweet harmony in the middle of the sea It's a wild ride, being.... Talking's an adventure. My singing is a joke I yodel every syllable. On good days I can croak That growth plate is a nuisance. I'm cramping up in style My outside's growing up so fast, but inside I'm a child Homework is a killer. It takes a deadly toll I'm sentenced to portfolios with no chance of parole My recess and my gossip-they save my life, for sure A good, old-fashioned food fight might just be the only cure Romance makes me nauseous, a useless pile of mush But then at times it feels so strange. It could be just a crush It's totally confusing, these waves that come and go Would someone kindly tell me everything there is to know? Welcome to my mood swings, a medley of extremes Emotions make me crazy. Have a look inside my dreams I'm holding on to "blankie" and I can't wait to drive Please leave me alone and help me out-I'm trying to survive WHEN I WAS OLD When I was old, my world was gray I groused and moaned and lost my way Complained and longed for yesterday When I was old I lost my teeth and missed my youth When grownups always told the truth I hid my heart and stayed aloof When I was old So call me a fool and the "king of denial" But I'm more at home today as a child My laughter comes easy, along with the tears And time is right here for the taking When I was old, I lay awake From all the risks I didn't take So fearful of the next mistake When I was old My mirror showed the aging signs The wrinkled brow, the laughter lines To smooth them out was my design When I was old When I was old and scared to die My courage was in short supply I filled with rage and wondered why When I was old I was so wise and knew it all From politics to protocol I felt alone, as I recall When I was old When I was old, my world was gray I groused and moaned and lost my way Complained and longed for yesterday When I was old IN YOUR HANDS Smell that surf off the coast of creation Pounding percussion of the Motherlands Wondrous, tumbling, rumbling creatures Depend upon a pristine sea Catch a wave, hitch a ride Care about the rarities inside Lying there, on the sands Know that it's in your hands It flows and falls, rolls and rushes Brings life to the living with groans and gushes May it toss and wind or be calm and kind Time after time, cherish the water Hear that brook about to burst through the bedding Bantering and bubbling, as it flies Soothing sounds and the rhythm of a river Carry you to springtime dreams Watch it run, listen hard Remembering the beauty in your backyard Celebrate-you know you can Clear water's in your hands See right down to a pond's soft bottom Gaze through the window of a country lake Perch and sunnies and bass get to splashing Join them for a cool, clean dive Have a look, have a race Check that reflection: a familiar face Take a dip, take a stand Got a lake's life in your hands Taste ice water on a hot, summer Sunday All the way down to your thirsty toes A liquid blanket for your innards in winter Water keeps you kicking and alive Fill your glass Sip it slow Can't survive without H2O Keep it clean-make demands It's all there, in your hands
