If you haven’t visited sixstr stories in a while, this is what’s been going on.

(If you have, you can skip this and scroll straight to the songs on Side 8.)

There Are (These Songs, Too) is a collection of 45 songs.

Covering the years 1976 – 2026, I wrote these songs before, during and after putting together my three “officially” released albums: There Are (Songs To Be Sung), Anytime and Five Songs.

These acoustic-guitar-and-vocals (with the occasional harmonica) performances were captured in my home studio, direct-to-two-track, with no overdubs, splicing, editing or other electronic shenanigans.

I’ve chosen to present this collection in nine, five song “Sides.” (I guess you could call this my “box set.”) The song sequence is chronological, by year of initial composition. Any songs that were subject to a re-write and/or re-recorded at a later date are so noted.

Several of these recordings, it will also be noted, have been previously released here on sixstr stories.

Most are available here for the first time.

So, here we go…

Track 36: “Every Single Day” – I really was just as the lyrics say, when this song first emerged.

Every Single Day

Here I sit
In this darkened room
Wondering if I may as well
Be howling at the moon.
But I’ve been sifting through
This vast array
Of the little bits left behind
Every single day.

So many turns
You never took
So many times, you did not
Have to make me look,
I still don’t know how
It turned out this way
Wish I could say I did my best
Every single day.

Whatever lies 
On the road ahead
There are things that will not again
Be left unsaid.
I may not always know
How to best explain
But there’ll be no room for doubt
Not a single day.

Yes, it all comes down
To one simple phrase
And the love that fills this father’s heart
Every single day.


2005

Track 37: “The Embrace of Love” – Written for and performed at my daughter’s wedding.

The Embrace of Love

You’re not a child anymore
You’re a woman, out in the world
But there’s a place inside of me
Where you’re still my little girl
And from the first time that I held you
With every step of the way
All my hopes and my prayers for you
Have remained the same.

May your days be graced 
With moments of joy,
May you always hear the music 
In the midst of all the noise,
May you know you’ve made a difference
When you working day is done
May your heart be held
In the embrace of love,
May your heart be held
In the embrace of love.

So, now, here you stand,
This fine young man at your side
Well, you’ll never see a more delighted
Father of the bride.
So, I offer this song to both of you
As you start your married life
As you venture forth together now
As husband and wife.

May your days be graced 
With moments of joy,
May you always hear the music 
In the midst of all the noise,
May you know you’ve made a difference
When you working days are done
May your hearts be held
In the embrace of love,
May your hearts be held
In the embrace of love.


2012

“The Embrace of Love” was first released here on sixstr stories on October 8, 2012, in the post: “The Embrace of Love.”

Track 38: “Best Walked (Life’s A Road)”

I started writing this song in early August, 2013, a few days before my birthday. I worked on it again in June, 2015. I “finished” the lyrics and recorded it in August 2015. I performed that version in 2018. In August 2022, I updated the second chorus, further refining the lyrics twice in 2024. This 2025 recording is of the final (really) lyrics and arrangement. Songwriting is a road, too.

Best Walked (Life’s A Road)

Birthdays come, ready or not
Something ‘bout the number, though,
That this one’s got.
Sticking to the plan, it’s worked so far
Welcome every candle with wide open arms.

Life’s not meant to be lived
Like you’re racing towards the edge of a cliff
It’s not some tunnel with a distant light
Life’s a road best walked, taking in the sights.
Life’s a road best walked.

Most days, my heart sings
Got enough reasons, can’t keep from singing,
Now and then, my head just shakes
Thinking ‘bout all of the bad turns
My luck didn’t take.

Life’s not supposed to be spent
Always feeling like you’re taking a test
It’s not some answer that you better get right
Life’s a road best walked, just the way you like
Life’s a road best walked.

Life’s a highway, winding through
Time and tradition, plans and routines,
Patience and passion, prayers and beliefs.

Life’s not meant to be lived
Like you’re racing towards the edge of a cliff
It’s not some tunnel with a distant light
Life’s a road best walked, taking in the sights.
Life’s a road best walked, just the way you like
Life’s a highway, winding,
Oh, life’s a road best walked.


2013-2024

“Best Walked (Life’s A Road)” – in its earlier version – was first released here on sixstr stories on August 14, 2015, in the post: “Songs.”

Track 39: “These Wide Waters”

This song traveled a road almost as long and convoluted as the one that “Best Walked (Life’s A Road)” traveled. The seven pages in my song writing journal (Vol. 3) devoted to this song are dated as starting in July, 2015 and marked as “Final” in August, 2024. The arrangement went through multiple variants as well, some without harmonica. I especially enjoy the harmonica in this final rendition.

These Wide Waters

We are crossing these wide waters
Sailing daily, arm in arm
Unexpected tempests teach us
Bless the waters when they’re calm.

Every morning, stop and listen
Catch the song the new day sings,
Come the evening, voices lifted
Here’s to what we hope tomorrow brings.

We are crossing these wide waters
Easing onward, side by side
Every breathless sunset reminds us
Stay the course and enjoy the ride.

After all this time and travel,
All the songs these days have sung
Love continues, kind and gentle
Still the stuff, in some small part,
That stays forever young.

We are crossing these wide waters
Sailing daily, arm in arm
Unexpected tempests teach us
Bless the waters when they’re calm.

Ah, we are crossing these wide waters
Easing onward, side by side
Every breathless sunset reminds us
Stay the course and enjoy the ride.
Yeah, don’t forget to enjoy the ride.


2015

“These Wide Waters” was first released here on sixstr stories on November 23, 2015, in the post: “These Wide Waters.”

Track 40: “He’s On The Move” – written for my especially active grandson.

He’s On The Move

Woke up this morning, feet on the floor
All done with breakfast and ready to explore

He’s on the move
He’s on the move
So much to do, got people to see
Places to go and songs to sing,
He’s on the move.

Gonna take his dog for a nice long walk
Back home for lunch then over to the park.

He’s on the move…

Dinner time, bath time, all around the clock
Even when he’s sleeping, he just don’t stop

He’s on the move…


2017

Hope you enjoyed those songs! Stay tuned for more sides of There Are (These Songs, Too).