Get all 16 Heather Pierson releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Deep Beginning - songs by Jan Roundy, Heart Songs & Circle Songs - Open Channel, We Sing For These Times, Wishes of Lovingkindness, All The While, Beside The Firelight, Be Here Now, The Toilet Paper Song, and 8 more.
1. |
Singin'
03:43
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SINGIN’
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
Too many things have tried to stand in my way
And too many times I’ve had to push them away
And there’s too many voices asking me, ‘Why do I even try
To reach for the golden ring
To reach out to strangers and sing?’
Well singin’ ain’t just somethin’ that I do
Singin’ is the thing that sees me through
I’m gonna sing my song out loud and proud
I’m gonna raise my voice above the crowd
‘Cause singin’ is the thing that sees me through
Some people say that dreams are best unchased
And others like me instead would say, ‘What a waste!’
Well, I don’t know what lies ahead but I know I’ve got to try
To reach for the golden ring
To find the courage to sing
‘Cause singin’ ain’t just somethin’ that I do
Singin’ is the thing that sees me through
I’m gonna sing my song out loud and proud
I’m gonna raise my voice above the crowd
‘Cause singin’ is the thing that sees me through
Every day
And every song is a candle that lights along my way
Don’t ever let anybody hold you down
And don’t ever let your fears push you around
‘Cause you have a voice inside of you
So raise it to the sky and you can reach for anything
Just let your heart song ring
Well singin’ ain’t just somethin’ that I do
Singin’ is the thing that sees me through
If it’s a crowd of a thousand or a party of one
I’m gonna keep on singin’ till my days are done
‘Cause singin’ is the thing that sees me through
Singin’ is the thing that sees me through
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2. |
The Get Up and Go
05:13
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THE GET UP AND GO
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
My father left us on a Monday
On Tuesday the telephone rang
On Wednesday night he came back
And all day Thursday how my mother sang
But Friday night was coming
And Daddy was the prowling kind
The whole damn weekend came and went
But Daddy never paid us no mind
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of his time and money so foolishly spent
Always hoping that the horses and the cards would make the rent
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
Mama cried all day that Monday
And on Tuesday she answered the phone
She let that mean old daddy come back
‘Cause she didn’t like sleeping alone
But the bed was cold by Friday
And all the bills were comin’ up due
I watched her hang her head and cry
As if there weren’t a damned thing she could do
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of Mama’s time and lovin’ so foolishly spent
Always hoping that Daddy would come home from wherever he went
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
Line up the ponies at the starting gate and fire that starting gun
Daddy came home on a Sunday
And he took us to the church in town
He even put on his suit and tie
And he promised that he’d stick around
But no fear of god almighty
Or any warning ‘bout a lake of fire
Was enough to keep Daddy at home
‘Cause he was a liar
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
All of his time and money so foolishly spent
Always hoping that the horses and the cards would make the rent
He had the get up and go so he got up and went
He had the get up and go
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3. |
Dark As A Dungeon
03:43
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4. |
Righteous Song
03:42
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RIGHTEOUS SONG
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
Why don’t the girls ever turn your head?
Why do you look the other way instead?
How many times have I told you? I’ll tell you again:
You better keep well away from the devil’s den
‘Cause I know I raised you better than that
Didn’t I raise you better than that?
The book that I keep on the nightstand, well it can’t be wrong
‘Cause the lord is good and he fills my heart with righteous song
So wash your face, boy, and comb your hair
We’re late for meetin’, they’re expecting us there
The preacher man said he’s gonna pray it away
‘Cause don’t you wanna meet the lord someday?
How could I raise you any better than that?
How could I raise you better than that?
The book that I keep on the nightstand, well it can’t be wrong
‘Cause the lord is good and he fills my heart with righteous son
Someday, son, you’ll take a wife
Who will lead you away from the sinful life
And if she bears you a son, I pray
That his little soul won’t be led astray
But I know you’ll raise him better than that
I know you’ll raise him better than that
The book that I keep on the nightstand, well it can’t be wrong
‘Cause the lord is good and he fills my heart with righteous song
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6. |
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SOMETIMES I CAN’T BELIEVE MY LUCK
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
Sometimes when I am traveling across the land to play and sing
I have to stay in cheap hotels with all their charms and all their smells
But other times I get to stay in places I don’t have to pay
Where friendly strangers from the start open their doors and cupboards and hearts
I’m so grateful
Sometimes I can’t believe my luck
There was a night I played a show and at the end I had to go
And stay at the venue owner’s home to try and rest my weary bones
And when I woke up to go pee it was so dark I couldn’t see
I didn’t know her house that well and so then down the stairs I fell
I’m so grateful
Sometimes I can’t believe my luck
Soon everyone was out of bed to find me lying with my head
And back and hip and elbows, too, all scraped up and black and blue
And I was rushed to the ER which, thankfully, wasn’t that far
I’d rarely felt so all alone, I was so scared and far from home
I’m so grateful
Sometimes I can’t believe my luck
X-rays and scans and meds for pain and then the doctor made it plain
That I was lucky nothing broke and self-care is not a joke
My loving host did stay with me until the nurses set me free
With orders to go home and take an unscheduled unpaid break
I’m so grateful
Sometimes I can’t believe my luck
At home I spent three days in bed with icepacks on my back and head
And I watched way too much TV, but hey, at least I can still see
So overall I wasn’t harmed except for this scar here on my arm
I know it could have been much worse, I could have left there in a hearse
I’m so grateful
Sometimes I can’t believe my luck
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7. |
Give Give Give
04:27
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GIVE GIVE GIVE
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
You treat me so harsh, you treat me so mean
I think you’re ‘bout the worst man this girl’s ever seen
Oh baby, this ain’t no way to live
All you ever do is take
And all I do is give give give
I told you not to fuss, I told you not to fight
But then you made me cry and kept me up all night
Oh baby, this ain’t no way to live
All you ever do is take
And all I do is give give give
I used to be young, I used to be nice
But then I met you and now I’m payin’ the price
Oh baby, this ain’t no way to live
All you ever do is take
And all I do is give give give
I’ll never know why you do this to me
But even if I leave you I will never be free
Oh baby, this ain’t no way to live
All you ever do is take
And all I do is give give give
All you ever do is take
And all I do is give give give
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8. |
I'm So Fearful
04:05
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I’M SO FEARFUL
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
What will it take to make you smile again?
What will it take to make you smile at me again?
I’m so fearful of being judged
And my intuitions will not budge
And I’m convinced that the world is holding up a mirror
And my view of everything never gets any clearer
What will it take to make you smile again?
What will it take to make you smile at me again?
I’m so fearful of what you’ll see
If I let my guard down and just be me
And I’m convinced that the world doesn’t really care to know me
And if you think I’m wrong, then why won’t you show me?
What will it take to make you smile again?
What will it take to make you smile at me again?
‘Cause if I knew I would bottle it up
And every round from now on would be on me
But I’m so fearful of being judged
And my stubborn nature will not budge
And I’m convinced that the world is only full of strangers
And I have had more than my share of danger
What will it take to make you smile again?
What will it take to make you smile at me again?
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9. |
Thunderous Voices
03:16
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THUNDEROUS VOICES
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
Those howling rails keep me up at night
And though I curse them with all my might
A day will come when I long to hear
Those whistles blowing in my lonesome ear
But I’ve got to leave those thunderous voices behind
With so much force and so much power
Ten thousand horses in the midnight hour
And all the while my poor head is spinning
With all the races I should be winning
But I’ve got to leave those thunderous voices behind
Will I be rewarded for my steam someday?
Or will I just work and toil and worry my whole life away?
When sleep at last finds my weary bones
And I succumb to dreams of going home
I’m sure I’ll still hear those whistles blowing
And I will wonder just where they’re going
But I’ve got to leave those thunderous voices behind
Will I be rewarded for my steam someday?
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10. |
Don't Be Surprised
03:04
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DON’T BE SURPRISED
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
In the days of young lust and roses
I warned you that I’d lost my mind
You weren’t even fazed and I was amazed
That someone could be so kind
Darlin’ I know that I’ve done you wrong
And I’ve seen the joy fall from your eyes
I hope and I pray to make it right someday
But if I fail, then don’t be surprised
You gave me a charm for my pocket
And a new song so sweet and so clear
But the trinket is gone and I’m stuck with a song
With a melody that I can’t quite hear
Darlin’ I know that I’ve done you wrong
And I’ve seen the stars fall from your skies
I hope and I pray to make it right someday
But if I fail, then don’t be surprised
I used to pick flowers for Mama
And place them in water in a jar
It never made her smile so I stopped after a while
Who knew that love was so hard?
Darlin’ I know that I’ve done you wrong
And I’ve seen the joy fall from your eyes
I hope and I pray to make it right someday
But if I fail, then don’t be surprised
Yes, I hope and I pray to make it right someday
But if I fail, then don’t be surprised
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11. |
Wild Child
03:49
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WILD CHILD
© 2010 by Heather Pierson
There must be a fire somewhere, just look how fast his tires roll
He’s driving like his house burned down but it’s just the fire in his soul
And he’s riding away from all the downtown troubles and small-town fears
As he switches gears, he checks his mirrors and lets the engine take its toll
His mother tried to stop him, his father just sat there and studied his shoes
And she said, “Boy, I was young once too, but is this how you had to choose?”
And he said, “I’ll be damned if I’ll spend my youth in this dead-end dive
‘cause I’m so alive and I intend to show the world what this boy can do”
Oh, wild child, like a river that’s bent on finding the sea
Wild child, wild child
He went over to see Lucy, the love of his life since the second grade
And he took her by the hand and he gave her his love out there in the shade
And then he told her his plan about going out to California
“where the wine grapes grow and streets of gold, and the silver screen
And everybody out there’s got it made”
Oh, wild child, like a river that’s hell-bent on finding the sea
Wild child, wild child
And she said, “I’ll follow you anywhere, just tell me what it is that you need”
And he said, “When it comes to freedom I guess I’m guilty of a little greed”
And then he packed his bags and she had no choice but to watch him go
It just goes to show that you can’t keep a flower when it’s all gone to seed
Oh, wild child, like a river that’s long and old and deep
Wild child, like a promise of love that’s so hard to keep
Wild child, wild child
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12. |
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TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND SMILE
© 2017 by Heather Pierson
Why don’t you sit right down and take a load off your mind
It’s such a beautiful night, so leave your troubles behind
‘Cause they’ll be waiting for you, so here’s what you do:
Just take a deep breath and smile
You’ve been working so hard and now it’s time to unwind
And did you think I’d forget that it’s my job to remind you
To take some time out for you
And take a deep breath and smile
I know that times get hard
And all you wanna do is cry
Don’t let this mean old world break your heart
Don’t just lie down and die
You’ve got some living to do and I’ll be here by your side
Through all the good and the bad, I’ll be along for the ride
But remember what I told you:
Take a deep breath and smile
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