LYRICS | The Taproots

LYRICS

with songwriter notes

CALIFORNIA LIFE

A wink at the myth and mystique of California and an homage to my relatives who grew up in Los Angeles.

My grandpa grew up near Wilshire and Vine

City of Angels, back in the time

He got around on that red car line

He really loved that California life

My daddy stayed and he worked off his tail

Come Friday he’s ready to sail
Out of San Pedro into the night

He just loved that California life

Well I like the Midwest but they’re kind of straight

I did the East Coast I couldn’t relate

People out there seemed a little uptight

They don’t get this California life

Oh yeah...Oh yeah

We’ve got the sunshine we’ve got the sea

We’re making movies and we like to be

Setting the trends, changing the times

Have a sip of this California wine

They say we’re shallow, they say we’re slack

But when they come here they never move back

What does that say? It ain’t no lie

They just love this California life

Oh yeah...Oh yeah

My grandpa grew up near Wilshire and Vine

City of Angels, back in the time

He got around on that red car line

He just loved that California life

They all love this California life

We all love that California life

BIG FAT LOVE

Having one's world radically shifted by a new love.

I had my feet in the clouds, head in the sand

With flailing arms and jittery hands

I was losin’ faith, a bitter man

Sometimes life can do that to you

I admit I was a cynical one

I’d see two lovers and I’d think “that’s so dumb”

It won’t be long and he’ll have wished he had run

But you. made me want to believe

Believe in love

The kind I’ve never felt before

You’re cracking these walls, bustin’ down doors

With your big fat love.

Well it’s so easy to dodge and hide

Don’t take a look at what’s shaking inside

I closed my eyes, went along for the ride

I’m sure you understand that

I’m beginning to see the forest from the trees

But I’m still stumped by the mystery

How you could change this heart so damn easily

Ah you make me want to believe

Believe in love

The kind I’ve never felt before

You’re cracking these walls, bustin’ down doors

With your big fat love.

Ah it just keeps growin and growin

And I still don’t know how you do it

Got my feet on the ground, I'm smiling again

But there’s still some things I don’t understand

How you came along and changed all my plans

You made me want to believe

You make me want to believe

HAARLEM

A transatlantic love song inspired by a stay in the charming Dutch city of Haarlem.

The leaves of Autumn are falling

As I sit here alone

Is it raining in Haarlem?

Glazing up those cobblestones…in Haarlem

Too much time in my car here

In the madness of L.A.

You ride your bike there in Haarlem

Bouncing down those alleyways…Oh Alleyways

Yeah I still wonder what you dream of

Underneath those

Sheets and covers we once shared

Were you that unhappy or were you just scared?

And I still wonder why you flew

Don’t understand

When true love is so hard to find

Somehow I believe that you could change your mind

Night has fallen on Haarlem

Here it’s 4am

Thought of callin’ it’s hard when

I’m unsure of where we stand…where we stand

Yeah I still wonder what you dream of

Underneath those

Sheets and covers we once shared

Were you that unhappy or were you just scared?

And I still wonder why you flew

Don’t understand

When true love is so hard to find

Somehow I believe that you could change your mind

The leaves of Autumn are falling

As I wait here alone

Is it raining in Haarlem?

And are you ever comin’ home?

Comin’ home?

Come on home!

WILD LIKE A RIVER

A song about working one's way back to simplicity, inspired by the beauty of Kauai and written on cheap ukulele.

Once in awhile in your life, well there comes a surprise
Is it the crack in the armor that opens the your eyes?
Pulling that rug out to see where you stand
Dancing along on a song ‘til the music just stopped
Thought I was over it all then the other shoe dropped
I lost my bearings but now I'm finding my way

Finding my heart again
That tender one that I knew as a child
Treasuring little things
Imagination running, running, running wild
Wild like a river after the rains
Washing me, wash me clean again

There's a little cafe off of 2nd Street
Been waitressing every day since she was seventeen
Said feeds me her stories, her half swallowed dreams

All of these plans that I had, well you know how plans go
I had a child with this boy, where dad is no one knows
And it left me so bitter, now I'm tired of the cold

Finding my heart again
That tender one that I knew as a child
Treasuring little things
Imagination running, running, running wild
Wild like a river after the rains
Washing me, wash me clean gain

Sittin' on top of the world or we thought that he was
With all of his money and houses, it was never enough
At the end of the journey well I guess he woke up. He said

Go find your heart again
That tender one that you knew as a child

Treasuring little things
Imagination running, running, running wild
Wild like the river after the rains
Washing you, wash you clean gain

COMPASS

Wisdom from an elderly woman 30,000 feet above Colorado.

Seated there by the window

For the view

We were flying above the Rockies

Sky so blue

She said she was not long

For this fleeting world

Reflected upon her marriage

Here life as a little girl

But soon the wisdom flowed

Don’t let the sun go down on the dreams that you hold

Cherish the ones you love, when you can let them know

Let your heart be your compass, it’s there to guide you

When you’re not sure which way to go

Back at the five and dime

Where it all began

I spotted him through the window

He was such a handsome man

Fifty years together

And no regrets

We accepted the roses with those thorns

Hard times with the best

But ahh, you’re still young

Don’t let the sun go down on the dreams that you hold

Cherish the ones you love, when you can let them know

Let your heart be your compass, it’s there to guide you

When you’re not sure which way to go

ONTARIO

A Canadian in a US airport longing to get back to a metaphorical home beyond the mailase and

anger he sees in modern America.

Stick and stones

Flyin’ across the screen tonight

Angry tones

Waitin’ for this red eye flight

The politics of blood and bones

I just want to get back home

Ontario

Fighter planes

Soar above the football field

Patriot games

We all love the way that it feels

History knows where this all goes

Is it time to get back home?

Ontario

Silver waters shining

Reflecting the moon

Ontario, Ontario, Ontario

Kids seems bored

Spaced out, just hangin’ around

The same twelve stores

In the malls of every town

Small guy he ain’t got a prayer

But no one really seems to care

Hey let it go

Silver waters shining

Reflecting the moon

Ontario, Ontario, Ontario

The buzz of drones

Overhead, filming it all

The glow of phones

Heads locked in a permanent bow

To some Mecca, I don’t know

How we gonna get back home? Ontario

Oh Say Can You See?

BELIEF

Wisdom is where you find it, in this case a bumper sticker on an old Toyota. Don’t believe everything you think.

Within the family, all through school

In politics, religion too

There’s plenty of kool-aid to be sold

Don’t believe everything you’re told

Well I doubt I’ll make it very far

I’m too fat and I’m not smart

I’m getting older, too hard to change

Don’t believe everything you think

It cuts right to the bone

Nothin’s ever set in stone

Out of the papers the stories flow

These tales of war just never get old

They were liberated now they’re free

Don’t believe every thing you read

Black and white, right and wrong

Chaos and color, where do they belong?

We know deep down there’s a missing link

Don’t believe everything you think

It cuts right to the bone

Nothing’s ever set in stone

Made my way to a mountain top

This wise man laughed and he wouldn’t stop

He raised a flower then he gave a wink

Don’t believe everything you think

BETTER MAN

We've all known people with poor “pickers”.

When I met your Jason he seemed kinda cool

But living with his mom you know that’s just one of my rules

This momma’s boy thing can get out of hand

Don’t you think that you could find a better man

The there was Nathan so shy and cute

Didn’t say much, you know that guy from the art institute

Seemed awfully moody I don’t understand

Why you just can’t seem to find a better man

A better man come on and raise that bar

Or maybe go and find out just who you really are

‘Cause the choices you’re making

Well they’re kind of bizarre

Yes they are

Now they all loved josh, so handsome and wild

I know he said he loved you and god that smile

But he’ll run away when he finds a new toy

Don’t you think that you could find a different boy?

Then there was Kyle, it went on for a while

But he couldn’t commit, ‘cause he’s still a child

The decisions you make I don’t understand

You could use a better man

A better man come on and raise that bar

Or maybe go and find out just who you really are

Cause thee choices your making

They’re kind of bizarre...Girl yes they are

Remember Dave with his big man cave?

So alpha and strong, you know he could never be wrong

I’m just relieved you never gave him your hand

Honey you deserve to find a better man

A better man come on and raise that bar

Or maybe go and find out just who you really are

Cause the choices your making

They’re kind of bizarre

Yes they are

Better man....better man....better man

INVISIBLE FRIENDS

Seeing farmworkers in the fields during a massive California wildfire inspired this tribute to frontline workers and immigrants who keep the wheels turning for everyone.

He’s waking, she’s walking,

Long before the sun reveals its rays

It’s an army, these bodies

Propping up the world again day

Heading out onto the 405

Everybody’s gotta live their lives

It’s a great day at the Holiday Inn

It’s another day for the invisible friends

He’s kneeling, she’s bending,

Baking in the hot Salinas sun

These berries are ready

Truck is filled, here comes another one

Rolling down off of the 101

Eight more hours and I think we’re done

It’s a fine meal at the Holiday Inn

It’s another day for the invisible friends

I’m hearing, I’m praying

These sounds are only in my head

The ICE men are coming

It’s a moment everybody dreads

Hear the mothers and the children cry

But you can bet no one will see their eyes

It’s a quiet night at the Holiday Inn

It’s another day for the invisible friends

He’s waking, she’s walking

Long before the sun begins to shine

He’s cooking, she’s cleaning,

Picking up the mess we leave behind

Heading out onto the 405

Everybody’s gotta live their lives

It’s a great day at the Holiday Inn

It’s another day for the invisible friends

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

A reflective song about about change and impermanence, one of my favorite themes.

My father was a good man…best as I recall
Memories of playin’ catch, that picture on the wall
But he left one morning… guess there was some fight
I couldn't understand it…I was only five
Where are you now? Where are you now?

I had just turned nine, it was a windy afternoon
The cold December rain, seem to fit the mood
They said that my sweet grandma was in a better place
So why are you all cryin'?...They couldn’t really say
Where are you now? Where are you now?

The years fly like geese
Across a western sky
These patterns of great beauty
And they don't even try
May we find that grace
Those winds that lift us high…Oooohhh

At twenty years of age I fell deep in love
There were no shades of grey, I couldn’t get enough
Somehow along the way I must have made her cry \cry
She said it wasn't me, before she said goodbye

Where are you now? Where are you now?

Now friends have come and gone, some remained the same
The rest became chameleons, adapting to the game
Robert left for stardom, Jack become a cop
Claire went off to feed her head, I guess she couldn't stop
Where are you now? Where are you now?

The years fly like geese Across a western sky

These patterns of great beauty

And they don't even try

May we find that grace

Those winds that lift us high

WOLF IN THE WOODLAND

A song about someone with a narcissistic personality. The listener can connect the dots,

You’ve got this grin that runs ear to ear

Yeah you’re the reason that everyone’s here

Hanging on to every word that you say

It all just makes me want to get away

You’ve got tastes but they’re not refined

An adult body with a little boy’s mind

And far more money than I’ll ever see

But I don’t think I want you next to me

Is that ice running through your veins?

Is your life now just one charade?

Taking what you can

While you’re acting like the wise man

Leaving all the others in the dust

Hiding from yourself like a wolf in the woodland

Oh you lie like a Turkish rug

You’ve got the mind of some Russian thug

With true believers standing there by your side

And all the rich climbing on for the ride

Now you’re in charge and it’s giving us chills

I heard some doctor says you’re really not well

It’s a ruse, yeah the ultimate con

But the clown show’s here and it keep rolling on

And on and on and on and on and on and on

Is that ice running through your veins?

Is your life now just one charade?

Taking what you can

While you’re acting like the wise man

Leaving all the others in the dust

Hiding from yourself like a wolf in the woodland

COMFORT ZONE

I streamed a podcast titled, “Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone" at 3 am and couldn't get it out of my head.

Creeping down that road up in Morgan Hill

Traffic was stalled I had some time to kill

Stumbled upon some local pub

Thought I’d grab a beer, maybe some grub

This wannabe cowboy saddles up next to me

A couple of drinks we were just talkin’ free

I told him I was struggling with my divorce

He said I did too, why of course
Don’t be afraid that you’re all alone

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

A few months later I was on this date

I met her online she said it was fate

“Come home with me” I said, “Isn’t that a little fast?”

Ah she just laughed. “Have another glass”

Well I learned a few things I just didn’t know

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

Further down the road things were going south

I had to go find a shrink just to open my mouth

Then it finally sank in I was clinging to fear

He said our time is done now, get on out of here

Well thank you Doc, any advice for the road?

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

Somehow I ended up at this house of retreat

No distractions allowed, didn’t speak for a week

Staring at the wall I could see my own mind

It was a little disturbing but sweetly sublime

Opening up to the great unknown

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

MY SUNLIGHT

A love that's meant to be?

Roses in winter

Stars in the day

Filling my head with wonder

How you pulled me away

I don’t have an answer

But this I can say

You’re my sunlight

I stare out this window

And I can’t deny

You’re bringing more light to my life

Than this Manhattan Sky

I couldn’t be down now

Baby if I tried

You’re my moonlight

Where this love is taking me

It’s making me see things I couldn’t see

Don’t you think my love

Do you think my love

It’s meant to be?

So what is the difference

Between now and then

Is it just the drug of love

Are you my deepest friend?

It’s hard to describe it

But honey in the end

You’re my sunshine

Where this love is taking me

It’s making me see things I couldn’t see

Don’t you think my love

Do you think my love

It’s meant to be?

Don’t you think my love

It’s meant to be?

FATE OF FIRE

A song of recklesss love, and its emotional residue.

It started as a flame, turned into a fire

Nothing to blame but pure desire

Smoke was getting worse hour by hour

Was it some curse or some higher power?

We climbed that fence, car was hot wired

Drove to the end then we blew out the tires

Left out on that road naked to the world

Nowhere to go, nowhere to turn

Standing in the ashes

Waiting for the rain

These embers of desire

Burning in the recall

Kissing you again

In that field of barbed wire

Smoldering inside me still

That’s the fate of fire

Where’s my money, where is my respect?

I can still taste the side of your neck

Looking for direction out of this trance

I found that arson it was that first glance

Standing in the ashes

Waiting for the rain

These embers of desire

Burning in the recall

Kissing you again

In that field of barbed wire

Smoldering inside me still

That’s the fate of fire

It started as a flame, turned into a fire

Nothing to blame but pure desire

Smoke was getting worse hour by hour

Was it some curse or some higher power?

Standing in the ashes

Waiting for the rain

These embers of desire

Burning in the recall

Kissing you again

In that field of barbed wire

Smoldering inside me still

That’s the fate of fire

Fate of fire...fate of fire