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Love, Grace & Gratitude

by John Bowman

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Johnny Maudlin
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1.
Blink of an Eye 03:52
lyrics
Blink of an Eye There were days I thought would never end As I sat in that classroom, playing with my pen Then summer came, stretched out like a highway Couldn’t see the end ‘til it was behind me I worked in a factory, worked behind a desk Worked into the night without any rest Memos and briefs, full of victims and thieves Too busy to figure out what it all means In the blink of an eye When I listen I can almost hear the sound, of time passing by They were babies, then little boys, then young men All grown up before I hardly knew them I see little glimpses in what they say and do Like looking in a mirror when I was twenty-two (chorus) Time that’s so precious is wasted, holding on to what we’ve accumulated Putting things ahead of feelings, losing friends cause we don’t see them We’re aware of the shadows, they interfere with our light We move a little slower, feel our way through the night We make all these plans we can look forward to More miles on these highways we’ve travelled through In the blink of an eye...
2.
That's a Story for Another Time 04:02
lyrics
That’s a Story for Another Time Bowman/Boudreau Found trouble in my younger years Lived up to all my mother’s fears Grew up like a song that wouldn’t rhyme Got expelled before I could graduate I was restless and I tempted fate That’s a story for another time I’m a dollar late and a few quarters short I’m still here, that’s my reward Nothing I touched, I ever got to hold No silver, no diamonds or gold I’ve seen many women come and go Can’t keep the ones I’ve come to know I’d start out well, then cross too many lines Thought I’d found the woman of my dreams Turned out she wasn’t all she seemed That’s a story for another time (Chorus) I drove a truck up and down the coast Went in the ditch, trucks don’t float When I woke up, the cops weren’t very kind You might wonder why I fell asleep Or how the water got so deep That’s a story for another time (chorus)
3.
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained 03:29
lyrics
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained Ivan Boudreau/John Bowman The hours ran away today Work to do but time is passing Need to find a better way The only thing I’m asking Second guessing holds me back Looking in that rear view mirror Cut myself a little slack Hope the way gets clear Where there’s a shadow, there’s a light Like the brightest star in the darkest night These dreams I hold won’t fade away (extended pause here) Nothing ventured, nothing gained I can’t ever walk the line Back and forth, from fame to shame I climb the walls or I’m feeling fine Like a snakes and ladders game (chorus) I live my life in fits and starts Two steps forward, three steps back I’ll work around the tricky parts Avoiding a disaster (repeat chorus)
4.
I'll Be an Old Man Some Day 05:04
lyrics
I’ll Be an Old Man Some Day When I was a boy, I’d hear the old codgers So stubborn and stuck in their ways Swapping old stories from deep in the past Complaining about what has changed I’ll be an old man some day Far off in the future, in a time far away I’ll tell you about all the dues I have paid When I am an old man some day My father would tell me he had a hard life He suggested I had it too easy He might have been wrong, he might have been right The world he grew up in made no sense to me I’ll be an old man some day … When I grew up I couldn’t google anything We’d go down to the library to find the book we need When we played out in the woods no one could find me We didn’t carry cell phones, my mother’s yell would call me home As the decades flash by, I try to resist Repeating the words of my parents But changes keep coming hit me like a fist As traditions that comfort me are gone I’ll be an old man some day …
5.
Love, Grace and Gratitude 03:22
lyrics
Love, Grace & Gratitude Ivan Boudreau/John Bowman - Young man sitting on a bench in the rain Hat’s on the ground, waits for spare change Ask him how he’s doing, look him in the eye Everybody needs a little love in their life Live with love, love with grace Put a smile on a stranger’s face Little things that you say and do With love, grace, and gratitude Tells me he’s hopin’ every nickel and dime Will help buy blankets ‘cause it’s cold outside Not enough beds to keep his friends warm A little bit of kindness never does any harm (chorus) Share some love along the way It will come back to you some day We yearn for things we haven’t got We live too fast, race the clock For all the joy that we’ve been through Ain’t nothing wrong with gratitude (chorus)
6.
Moving Day 04:42
lyrics
Moving Day Scrounging boxes, from the liquor store We’ve got lots, but we could use some more Items sorted in piles on the floor Some to pack, and some for the thrift store Plants we watered are left behind Walls we painted, they still look fine The carpet’s marked, where I dropped my pen Thought I’d be here until the end It’s moving day A part of me would like to stay It was just a stop along the way ‘Til another moving day I remember when I moved from home To an old house, free and on my own The sounds of mice, running inside the walls Cold creeps in as the daylight falls We moved again to a bigger place Our family settled into their own space Those walls were struck by balls and pucks We left behind those traces It’s moving day… Now there’s too many rooms for the two of us We no longer need these boxes of stuff All the bargains we couldn’t pass up Barely used, collecting dust Now we’re packing up to move once more To a small apartment on the second floor We’ve been through this so many times before Not any easier, it’s still a chore It’s moving day ….
7.
Let it Come, Let it Go 03:22
lyrics
Let it Come, Let it Go My life’s like a car that’s racing, too fast almost lost control I need to take a break, relax and rest my soul These trials and tribulations, piled up it takes a toll Sometimes I let it come, sometimes I let it go I’ve made a lot of choices; some right, some were wrong Try not to second guess, can’t wave a magic wand The past can weigh me down, caught up in tales of woe Sometimes I let it come, sometimes I let it go A grudge can be set aside, friends can be welcomed back The walls we created can be broken down Find our way around Life is too short for anger, too short for bitterness Look around this place I live, feel that I’ve been blessed I might lack confidence, unsure of what I know Sometimes I let it come, sometimes I let it go
8.
Love is a Flower 03:00
lyrics
Love is a Flower Bowman/Boudreau I once thought love was a thing you find Like a flawless gem in a diamond mine Connection made, look her in the eye Now I know, love’s a test of time No passing fancy, no picture show Love is a flower, gotta let it grow I once thought love was a thing you shape A perfect lover was something you could make Love would sweep away trouble from the past Now I know, love doesn’t work like that A love that’s perfect you will never know Love is a flower, gotta let it grow So when you’re looking for a hand to hold An arm around your shoulder when the nights are cold Someone you can talk to when you’re lost and alone There for each other, that’s how love is grown I once thought love was a thing you made All fire and passion that would never fade Love goes deep, underneath the skin Forever changing once it begins No burning flame, no fiery glow Love is a flower, gotta let it grow
9.
Those Younger Days 03:51
lyrics
Those Younger Days Easton/McIvor/Urbani/Stephenson/Bowman Standing on the ledge, with the water far below All my childhood friends are egging me to go With one double-dog dare, I’ll leap into the air Crash into the great unknown Everything you know, you learned along the way You aren’t getting old, you’re getting wiser Life is just a game, all you gotta’ do is play Like in those younger days Hey. Don’t. Ever let your fears get in the way Hey. Don’t. Put that curiosity away Life’s a game all you gotta’ do is play Like in those younger days I’m rollin’ down the hill, two wheels on the ground I’m picking up speed, there ain’t no slowing down When I let go of the handlebars, arms flying free I love that younger me The fire’s burning out, the party’s almost done I’m tired of being tired, not having any fun Think back to the ledge, those two wheels on the ground, and never slow it down
10.
If You Don't Hurt Sometimes 03:58
lyrics
If You Don’t Hurt Sometimes There are times when I walk, I feel a pain in my knee From those home plate dislocations My shoulder aches when my bed is hard From broken bones and a separation My back hurts when I sit too long From moving rocks, looking for treasure But I wouldn’t trade the years I’ve had A little pain, was worth the pleasure If you don’t hurt sometimes, you have never lived What it takes to be here you can’t easily give You wear those scars and pay a price with pain If you don’t hurt sometimes… you have never lived You can love someone ‘til you feel it slip away ‘Til all that’s left are pictures of what used to be You can hope our friends and family will always stay But you learn before too long, grief won’t run away (chorus) Could sit at home and watch TV Live in fear worrying about what might be Could never take those chances that make you feel free Might be the safest choice, but it wouldn’t be me (chorus)
11.
Open Book 04:33
lyrics
Open Book Are you listening to what I’m saying? Can you look me in the eye? Can you raise your head up from that screen? There’s no better offer I can provide Can I trust in your discretion? This is something I need to put you through Are you ready to talk to me seriously? Face to face, like friends used to do I am not an open book I’m choosy about who can take a look I have no desire to blurt out my innermost thoughts I don’t shout “look at me” Don’t crave attention or sympathy Won’t confide in imaginary friends, over the internet I’m starting to feel like a visitor here More and more that I don’t understand How can people all live so close to each other, Yet many are solitary grains in the sand There are so many ways to communicate now You’d think we’d understand each other better But farther away, we grow from each other Maybe I should’ve just wrote you a letter I am not an open book … If you’re troubled, you can call me I’ll come to wherever you are I’ll listen to all you have to say It’s better that way… better that way I am not an open book…
12.
Someday Soon, But not Today 03:25
lyrics
Someday Soon, But not Today There’s a pile of paper on the shelf beside my bed Most likely unimportant, they’ve been stashed and left for dead I should try to sort them out, throw some away I’ll do that someday soon, but not today There’s a closet full of clothes I never wear Can’t remember most of the items hanging there I should fold them up and send them on their way I’ll do that someday soon, but not today Someday soon, but not today This old guitar is asking to be played Someday soon, but not today There’s a case of beer that’s calling out my name There’s a blue bin full of cables long and short I don’t know what they do, or what they’re for I should straighten out this tangled disarray I’ll do that someday soon, but not today When I’m old and gray there’ll be clutter on my floor My living room’s a trashy dollar store Should I get up and clean this sad display I’ll do that someday soon …… but not today
13.
Red Line of Tail Lights 03:27
lyrics
Red Line of Taillights Josh Lichti/John Bowman There’s a tower out my window, blocks out the sun Dogs bark on the sidewalk, like they’ve always done Car alarms sing their chorus, a demented sound People yelling at their phones, like they’re the only ones around I’m following the red line of taillights How long will it be, ‘til I see the stars? Following the red line of taillights When can I escape, the inside of this car? The white noise of the river, rambles on nearby A pack of wild coyotes, are laughing at the sky I hear the dry leaves rustle, there’s a bear outside my tent Crickets have gone silent, I wonder where they went I’m following the red line …. The sounds of the trees are very different From the artificial noise where most of my time’s spent The frogs are harmonizing, they’re all in perfect time I’m happy softly singing with them in my mind I’m following the red line ….
14.
Village Where my Brother Lives 05:25
lyrics
The Village Where My Brother Lives Every couple of weeks I call him. He’s almost always home I can hear the TV voices, make him feel he’s not alone Ask him for the latest news, though there isn’t much to tell The village where my brother lives, still as water in a well The village where my brother lives is from a different time Before we moved to cities, left the simpler life behind The modern age has passed my brother’s village by My brother and his neighbours, they don’t mind There’s a church hall in the middle, where they host the roast beef dinner The volunteers all cook and serve, feed all the saints and sinners On Friday nights there’s music, with coffee and home baking All proceeds going to the church, she’s old and needs maintaining The village where my brother lives…. After many hours on a plane, I’ll come by for a visit I wonder if anything has changed, I’ll soon find out it didn’t We’ll sit out on my brother’s deck, and stare at rocks and ocean The village where my brother lives, lots of time but little motion (chorus)

credits

released June 16, 2019

Recorded at Saga Recording, Vancouver, BC
Produced and Engineered by Michael Nowak
Mastered by Craig Waddell

Musicians:
John Bowman – Acoustic Guitar and lead vocals
Lindsay Garnett – Harmony vocals
Ivan Boudreau – Electric Bass
Michael Nowak – Electric Guitar
Ken Cade – Violin
Paul Rushka – Stand-up bass
Mike Sanyshyn – mandolin
Tom Keenlyside – saxophone
Phil Robertson – percussion

I appreciate the help of everyone who made this album possible. It was a pleasure recording this at Saga Recording and I appreciate all the hard work Michael put into making these songs sound wonderful. We had a great group of musicians helping out with this project who all did a very professional job in the studio. Thanks to my wife Diane for all her support throughout this venture and for taking the photos used in the album art. Thanks to my son Mitch for doing the design and layout of the CD. Also thanks to all who support me by coming out to my live shows and purchasing this album. Without you, none of this would be
worth doing.

All songs written by John Bowman, SOCAN except tracks 2,3,5 and 8 by John Bowman and Ivan Boudreau, SOCAN, track 13 by John Bowman and Josh Lichti and track 9 by John Bowman, North Easton, Roxanne Urbani, Sandra McIvor and Charlie Stephenson.

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John Bowman Vancouver, British Columbia

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