Green Leaves & Yellow Flowers

Song by Eric Chaet

Green leaves & yellow flowers
    pave my way thru the Milky Way.
Green leaves & yellow flowers
    pave my way.

Grey stones & foaming beaches
    soothe my soul as I go wandering.
Grey stones & foaming beaches
    soothe my soul.

Some days I'm always moving,
    some days I just lie around—
Some days I'm so cold & lonely,
    as I roam around.

Some days peace fills my bloodstream,
    some days I am all confusion—
Some days life is one profusion—
    bursting all around.

Call comes from a secret ally:
    "There's some work now that you can do—
Work that's good for those who are suffering,
    Work that's good for me & you."

Clouds that fly & suns that pierce them
    Fill my soul with satisfaction.
Clouds that fly & suns that pierce them
    Fill my soul.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

Women & Money & Justice & Time

Song by Eric Chaet

Women & money & justice & time—
I wake up at night from a river of rhyme—
my life just goes on & I say to the night—
"Women & money & justice & time!"

Tomorrow is closing in—I need my rest.
Is this all there is, or is life just a test?
Which of the females should I take to heart?
I wonder if my car tomorrow will start?

Women & money & justice & time—
I wake up at night from a river of rhyme—
my life just goes on & I say to the night—
"Women & money & justice & time!"

When I was a younger man, my path seemed so clear—
successes so distant seemed so very near—
I acted so boldly until from the rear
entered Woulda & Coulda & Shoulda & Fear.

Women & money & justice & time—
I wake up at night from a river of rhyme—
my life just goes on & I say to the night—
"Women & money & justice & time!"

Some days I laugh at the hurdles to come—
some days I laugh, but I tremble on some.
If I could afford it, I'd pause to re-group—
but I can't afford it, so, Alley-oop!

Women & money & justice & time—
I wake up at night from a river of rhyme—
my life just goes on & I say to the night—
"Women & money & justice & time!"

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

Old Grey Hat

Song by Eric Chaet

I found this battered old grey hat
on a street in Wichita—
picked it up & put it on my head.
It was the middle of the winter,
middle of the night—
I had a bad case of loneliness,
frostbite, & that kind of fright
you get when you drift into another strange city
on a highway you've been hitching on too long.

I don't know how a thing like this
can cheer a battered old grey soul,
but it picked my spirit right up off the sidewalk.
It was the middle of the winter,
middle of the night—
I had a bad case of neither young or old,
no one to get angry at, & no one to hold—
like you get when you refuse to be
lost & worthless as people take you to be,
because they can't see what they're meant to be,
& you won't be any less than.

I found this battered old grey hat
on a street in Wichita—
I picked it up & put it on my head.
It was the middle of the winter,
middle of the night—
I was accusing me of loneliness,
afraid that they were right—
but now I wear this old grey hat
to light the way I've just begun to get sight of.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

From the Deep

Song by Eric Chaet

In the city of millions
    a few aren't asleep.
Some study papers
    while some pray & weep.
Some walk the pavement
    tho the danger's well known,
like a dog in the alley
    obsessed by a bone.

In the morning the coffee
    smells too good to skip.
They flirt with the want-ads
    & chew on their lips—
the last deal is over
    & they're once again free
to find a new vessel
    or sink in the sea.

The same drab apartments,
    the same glistening dreams,
the same pushy madmen,
    the same babies' screams.
In the city of millions
    a few aren't asleep:
once more to the surface
    from the deep.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

Wheel Turning

Song by Eric Chaet

You think you know what everything means
& you think you're stealing the color red from me—
but while you were being honored by your crystal family,
I was out walking in the galaxy.

  There's a wheel turning, you know nothing about—
  round & round it's turning, west, north, east, & south—
  & just when you think you've won, for sure, without any doubt,
  hey! it's passing you by like a hawk in the sky
  & bringing the color red home to me.

You're calling it victory cause you're surrounded by moons,
but you paid them a piece of your mind for which there is no
   substitute.
Okay, now you're wealthy, what a lot you have to hold—
how many units? what weight? what shape? hot? shared? or cold?

  There's a wheel turning, you know nothing about—
  round & round it's turning, west, north, east, & south—
  & just when you think you've won, for sure, without any doubt,
  hey! it's passing you by like a hawk in the sky
  & bringing the color red home to me.

You're so glad the great are down—it's what you always hoped.
They made you uncomfortable—you prayed that they would choke.
Now you phone the office, to see who's called for you—
but you get a recording you don't understand,
concerning a matter you thought well in hand.

  There's a wheel turning, you know nothing about—
  round & round it's turning, west, north, east, & south—
  & just when you think you've won, for sure, without any doubt,
  hey! it's passing you by like a hawk in the sky
  & bringing the color red home to me.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

Nobody Ever Listens to Me!

Song by Eric Chaet

I had a dream after working all night—
my songs were on the radio, I was doing all right!
They put me in the spotlight, they said, "Play, but don't speak!"
Aw, nobody ever listens to me!

They say that I'm good-looking, even tho I WON'T smile—
they say I play my guitar with a certain kind of style—
but when I say what I believe in, they say, "Oops! Philosophy!"
Nobody ever listens to me!

They say that I look great on videotape,
& that I'm certainly more clever than your AVERAGE ape—
but I'm alone with my ideas, amazingly free—
cause nobody ever listens to me!

Man from the paper says, "How you like fame?"
I say, "It's influence, sir, that's always been my aim."
He says, "How you like them parties with them broads from TV?"
Aw, nobody ever listens to me.

I got nominated, won a little gold god—
when I got indignant, they said, "Isn't he odd?"
The hostess kissed & hugged me, whispered, "Room 303, darling!"
Aw, nobody ever listens to me!

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

It's Not Right!

Song by Eric Chaet

The way things are & the way they ought to be—
they don't add up—it's like two & two are three!
It's not right!

Girls growing up, they're selfish & mad—
boys growing up, they just want to be BAD!
It's not right, not right!

Many places in this world, you do what you're told.
In the USA, you're free—to hurry after gold!
It's not right! not right!

Are you good at what you do?—who CARES?
Make a lot of loot, you get to put on airs—
it's not right, not right!

I tell my friends, "Friends, I want to change the rules!"
They laugh & say, "Eric Chaet, there's all kinds of fools!"
But it's not right, friends! It's not right!

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

The Bravest of Men

Song by Eric Chaet

The bravest of men are not honored or praised.
Their actions please neither the masters nor slaves.
Young people eager for short-cuts to take
Steer clear of the brave ones, & follow the fakes.

The bravest of men are brave cause they're wise.
Their thoughts may be lonely, but they see thru the lies.
Everyone looks at them, then, quick! looks away—
& pretends they saw nothing much special today.

  Still, mountains are mighty & friends of the brave—
  while others are blinded, they see thru the haze—
  while others pretend to be happy & free,
  the brave love the brave & have reason to be.

The bravest of men are a trial to their friends—
even their families may hide in the end.
They look on from childhood while liars gain power
& no one believes what they yell from their towers.

Sometimes a crisis comes—they're called on to lead.
As soon as it's over, they're exiled with speed.
Or they may live their lives thru, with zero respect—
while everything decent gets wasted & wrecked.

  & while people who ACT brave get worshipped & paid,
  the brave men are busy, they're using their days.
  While others achieve some near-sighted "success,"
  the brave create that which has real effect.

The bravest of men are brave cause they're wise.
Their thoughts may be lonely, but they see thru the lies.
Everyone looks at them, then, quick! looks away—
& pretends they saw nothing much special today.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003

Love in My Heart

Song by Eric Chaet

I've got love in my heart, & it's reaching out for you—
but if you don't know how to take it, someone else will do;
& if that someone else won't take it, that's all right, too—
cause this love that is in my heart will carry me on thru.

Many times I've found a taker, many times I've cried alone;
many times I've found sweet loving, many times I've moaned.
Many times I've eaten steak, & I've often gnawed on bones—
this love that is in my heart will carry me on home.

Sometimes I'm so certain in my love for whom I'm with
that they flee away in terror, cause they do not catch my drift.
Other times when I'm not looking, someone gives me a free ride.
This love that is in my heart will be my faithful guide.

Slowly, I am learning, I'm so certain I cause fear.
Slowly, I am learning, love has a bad name here.
Sometimes I'm called evil, other times they call me good.
This love that is in my heart will take me where it should.

I am on a journey going thru the galaxy.
Would you like to travel on, for a while with me?
If you do, or if you don't, I'm going just the same.
This love that is in my heart will aim me on my way.

Copyright © Eric Chaet 2003