To Life, by Daniel Portis-Cathers

To Life

by Daniel Portis-Cathers

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1.	Hazel 02:40	lyrics	buy track
I found a girl in a filbert tree She said the craziest things to me We laughed all day but she never came down I love a girl with emerald eyes She's a wonder but I'm not surprised Born mid-winter in the brightest sun Listen little girl, don't you feel alone Mama's gonna getcha when the cows come home Laugh when you can, cry when you fall But always come a-runnin' when your daddy calls Hey diddle-diddle no there ain't no doubt You're gonna feel better when the sun comes out Play every day, sleep at night Do it all again in the mornin' light I love a girl with emerald eyes She's a wonder but I'm not surprised Born mid-winter in the brightest sun
2.	Be Happy 03:12	lyrics	buy track
Eighty years are all you get give or take a few You can choose the ones you're with or maybe they'll choose you There'll be loved ones to enjoy, In-laws you want to destroy You may raise a mamma's boy or Children of the Corn Life can spin a fairy tale or ride you like a storm So be happy smilin' at a sunrise - Be Happy Be happy cryin' when your dog dies - Be Happy Win or lose, you can choose Whether your life will be up or be down Sunny or blue, smile or frown So Be Happy You could land the perfect job to make your family rich But if your boss is just a snob life could be a bit…of trouble I prefer a bottled water with my son-in-law and daughter To fancy food without a lot of happiness to share Life’s a joke, so let’s all soak in tenderness and care Be happy livin' in a mansion - Be Happy Be happy shivering' in a cabin - Be Happy Win or lose, you can choose Whether your life will be up or be down Sunny or blue, smile or frown So Be Happy Hold that grin above your chin when you wake up in the mornin' There's no time to whimper and whine Just you spend it laughin' and a-lovin' Be happy drivin' in rush hour - Be Happy Be happy soakin' in a hot tub - Be Happy Be happy cleanin' up the kitchen - Be Happy Be happy being with each other Be Happy
3.	Born Left-Handed 03:04	lyrics	buy track
When God made man, it was with his right hand Some say ‘twas with his left, but they don’t understand That if the Bible’s true and scripture was inspired Then calling God a lefty would be calling him a liar In Matthew twenty-five my point is justified The goats were on his left but on the other side We find the righteous lambs whose sins were all forgiven Well the goats got damned but the sheep got into heaven Lord, how can I be your little child? Since I was born left handed can I still be reconciled To your right hand where Jesus sits in glory Or will I be left stranded somewhere in purgatory? In my religious search I tried to join the Church But I never shook right handed, so they left me in the lurch When they said, “Son, you must be liberal, if you’re not, you must be deaf 'Cause the truth is always right; after that there’s nothin’ left!” Lord, please help me make it into heaven I said I’d follow you when I was only six or seven My parents are American and both of them are white Now that surely counts for something… or so they told me every night Will I be in heaven or am I lost Should I keep my left hand or cut it off? Now the right hand’s an image, just an anthropomorphism That Jesus used to get through to Judaism But he’s set you free from your cultural jail So be careful to remember everything that entails Or the next thing you’ll be sayin’ is that God is male
4.	Child of Mine 03:12	lyrics	buy track
Child of Mine June 2005 When you were just three you varnished the dog Jumped off the fridge and drew on the wall You loaded a sandwich in my VCR And hid your burrito in the back of our car You wiggled in church with a cute little dance Till we figured out you were filling your pants You screamed for a bottle and drank till it hurt Then emptied your dinner on the back of my shirt But I’m not worried Child of Mine I can see you’re gonna shine Even when I’m gone Cause boy you’ve got so much to give It’s everything you need to live on and on and on No I’m not worried you’ll be fine Child of Mine You totaled my truck when you were sixteen How you stayed alive is hard to explain You’d wrestle with friends like you’re fighting a war Come home with a smile and sleep on the floor But I’m not worried Child of Mine I can see you’re gonna shine Even when I’m gone Cause boy you’ve got so much to give It’s everything you need to live on and on and on You’re like a pine tree on a cliff Hanging out there in the mist That’s a given and a gift So I’m not worried Child of Mine I can see you’re gonna shine Even when I’m gone Cause boy you’ve got so much to give It’s everything you need to live on and on and on Don't you worry you’ll be fine Child of MIne
5.	Frodo's Dream 04:11	lyrics	buy track
Late one winter night I got a vision in the firelight Of a stallion neath a rider in a cloak of grey and white I saw him ride up to my door and tell me, "You're the one we're lookin' for To free us from our captors, to lead us from this land." "So if you'll sail across the sea, you can find a way to set us free Over hills and across the plains, come free us from our chains" Then he had me close my eyes and when I awoke, to my surprise, I was dressed and setting sail like a hero in a fairytale My vessel sailed the tide o'er a water deep and wide And after many suns uncounted it reached the other side I was greeted at the door by a band of warriors set for war They said 'twas prophesied I would lead their final ride "Now we believe if you lead our band we can fight with each other and save our land Kill the evil and win the war or fall forever more" So they set me on my steed and in one accord we all agreed Whether lose or win we'd have to battle to the bitter end Together we did ride to a lonely mountainside Where the heart of evil lived in a giant dragon's hide I took an arrow by the shaft and started up that mountain path To seal him in his tomb or leave the land in gloom But when he saw us beside his door the mighty dragon began to roar And as I let my arrow fly I knew that we would die But when it landed in his heart that mighty fortress split apart And the men began to shout and sing and crown me as their king "So now you've sailed across the sea to fight a battle and set us free Over hills and across the plains to free us from our chains" Then they had me close my eyes and when I awoke to my surprise It was still that winter night and I was sittin' by the firelight
6.	To Life 03:48	lyrics	buy track
Many a word has been spoken And many a poet believes And though it's a vanishing notion Often a dreamer can see There is a river I'm told Flowing through fields of hay Down to where moments are golden Far, far away Often alone I envision the day meeting the wind and the sky Reaching the water and drifting away To Life Many a hero may gather Still there's room for one lowly as I For there only freedom will matter Far from the warrior's cry And here though I may be forsaken Spending tonight in the cold Some day I hope to awaken Warm in the fold Often alone I envision the day meeting the wind and the sky Reaching the water and drifting away To Life, To Life, To Life We love, we grow We come, we go...
7.	Diamond Bay 02:05	lyrics	buy track
Find the bridge on 101 Past the old house Stop to watch the setting sun Watch it close out I'll be drifting in a boat All alone across the way That's where I love to go Diamond Bay And if you think of me Just say a prayer Wherever you are And let it float away It will find me On Diamond Bay
8.	Another Day 01:45	lyrics	buy track
Another day is done Another sun goes down I hear a breath of wind She says goodnight around the town And every bird and every boy Will find a place to lay their head Another shooting star Above an ocean floor I see a burning light Is fading in the night once more So many ships upon the sea Are sailing home to find their beds

about

I recently decided to revisit my first recorded album by taking some reel-to-reel tapes in for transfer to digital. While they transferred remarkably well, I had to cringe at some of the production, performances and actual writing. But they are still important to me as an archive and as a memory for friends and family who knew my music so long ago. I have taken two of those tunes (Frodo's Dream and To Life) and re-recorded them - especially for my niece, Irene. "To Life" was originally named "Poet's Elysian". The cover art is from the original album...except that I'm now much older (found the same old ratty shirt/jacket too!).

Time permitting, I will redo more of the original tunes and add them here. I've also included several other songs I've written since, that feel like they fit with this collection. Please download all of these for free. If you're reading this, you probably heard some of the originals. I'd love for you to enjoy these new versions whenever you like. Be sure to click on the song titles to view lyrics and read other interesting notes.

credits

released March 6, 2019

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about

Deep_Sea_Music Portland, Oregon

Composer/producer Daniel Portis-Cathers draws from world class talent to produce music for film, television and the web. He has operated Deep Sea Music, Inc. since 1984.