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John Walter

from Still a Real World by Joanne Rand

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written about my maternal Grandfather (1890-1985)

lyrics

JOHN WALTER by Joanne Rand, Oct. 24, 2013

Standing in front of that Cross beamed Porch
Looking like a prize
Holding his WWI hat
By his side
I know he was a good man
By the prayer he left behind
“May the world thrive.”

Could have been his consequences,
Could have been his cane
Always placing judgement
And he never took the blame
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who’s the most self-righteous man of all
But I know he was a good man
Just the same

JOHN WALTER, …CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS OUT
I AM STANDING IN A WORLD UNLIKE THE ONE YOU KNEW
JOHN WALTER, I'M STILL HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO

I was 12 years old when JOHN bought me
My first guitar
Must have noticed I had stars
In my eyes
That old Gibson, she wound up
Smashed to smithereens
‘Cause my first man, was pretty
Who could be ...pretty mean.

John used to quote a poem to me
About a sailor in the dark
“I am the master of my fate,” quoth he
“I am captain of my ark”
Do you think it's true? Are we each alone
with a rudder and a sail?
Master of our destiny
and a wind that dare not fail

JOHN WALTER, …CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS OUT
I AM STANDING IN A WORLD UNLIKE THE ONE YOU KNEW
JOHN WALTER, I'M STILL HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO

John used to quote a poem to me
About a sailor in the dark
“I am the master of my fate,”
“I am captain of my ark”
Do you think it's true? Are we each alone
with a rudder and a sail?
Master of our destiny
and a wind that dare not fail
Am I the captain of my fate?
Is it too late?

JOHN WALTER, …CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS OUT
I AM STANDING IN A WORLD UNLIKE THE ONE YOU KNEW
JOHN WALTER, I'M STILL HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO
HEY GRANDPA, CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS
I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD NEW
I'M TRYING TO STEER THIS OLD SHIP
REACH DOWN AND TOUCH ME WON'T YOU?

CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS OUT?
CAN YOU HELP ME SORT THINGS OUT?

credits

from Still a Real World, released July 13, 2014
written and arranged by Joanne Rand
JOANNE RAND- PIANO, VOCALS, GUITAR, PERCUSSION, HARMONIUM
JENNY SCHEINMAN- VIOLIN
TIM GRAY- DRUMS & PERCUSSION
TIM RANDLES- BASS

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Joanne Rand Arcata

“A fixture of the Northern California folk scene, Rand’s life, activism & art are woven seamlessly together. A celebrated musician, composer & teacher. From stripped-down folk songs to lush, textured rock arrangements, she makes consistently engaging, perceptive, universal music.”-SFStation.com 2012. Touring nationally for 30 years, Rand is currently releasing 15th CD of original songs. ... more

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