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. (Also available here on sixstr stories! Just scroll down… way down!)

These acoustic-guitar-and-vocals (with the occasional harmonica) performances were captured in my home studio (with two exceptions), 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.

Are you ready?

Here we go…

Track 1: “Things Come Easy”

In the Fall of 1975, I moved into my first apartment. It was in downtown Exeter, NH, on the second floor of a two-story building on the corner of Water Street and the String Bridge. My living room was in the attic of the building. There was a window in the back gable, along with a windowed door that opened out onto a small deck. This song first emerged while I was sitting just inside that door.

This recording is the first of the “two exceptions” mentioned above. It was recorded live and in-concert on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Things Come Easy

It’s one o’clock in the morning
I’m in no mood for sleeping
Though my eyes are pulling at me pretty hard
I’ve got this aching feeling
Something’s due, or something’s stealing
And it’s gonna open wide before too long.

Well, they say that things get easier
Once you’re past the need for reasons
The chance gets even slimmer when you’re old
But the way that I have found it seems
The harder that you hound your dreams
The sooner they can turn completely cold.

Ah, you know, things come easy, girl
Easier than they’ve ever come before
Even though, I know you’re leaving me
Soon as you can find the open door.

Well, the rain sweeps down the highway
Driving cold and gray and empty
Leaving places for the morning to reflect
And though the day is only one
Among the scores and scores have come
There’s something here that we should not neglect

Ah, you know, things come easy, girl
Easier than they’ve ever come before
Even though, I know you’re leaving me
Soon as you can find the open door.


1976

Track 2: “Carry Me Away”

Down Water Street from that apartment was a restaurant called “The Loaf & Ladle.” I had a weekly gig there for several years; Saturday nights, and then Friday nights. I literally sang for my supper. This song was a popular one back then at the Loaf and to this day, every time I hear it, I smell soup.

Carry Me Away

Hello, starlight
Well, it’s so fine to be 
Back here in your arms
Doesn’t seem like that last time
Was really all that long ago
Oh, oh, lady, either way
I can still remember
All the magic of those days
I’m praying you’ll take me back
That way again

Oh, won’t you carry me away,
Carry me, carry me away
Carry me, carry me away
Oh, carry me away, carry me 
Carry me away
Carry me away.

Hey there, songline
You’re coming on like
You never left my side
Lighting up just
As bright as I’ve ever seen you shine
Oh, lady, let me say
I want you to know right now
There is simply just no way
I’m ever letting you go
That way again

Oh, won’t you carry me away,
Carry me, carry me away
Carry me, carry me away
Oh, carry me away, carry me 
Carry me away
Carry me away.

Ah, lady, let me say
Want you to know right now
There is simply just no way
I’m ever letting you go
That way again

Oh, won’t you carry me away,
Carry me, carry me away
Carry me, carry me away
Oh, carry me away, carry me 
Carry me away
Carry me, carry me away
Oh, carry me away,
Carry me, carry me away
Woah, carry me away, 
Carry me 
Carry me
Carry me away.


1976

Track 3: “Through The Rest”

Distance may or may not make the heart grow fonder, but it certainly is inspirational, especially in the early days of a romance.

Through The Rest

Last night was a lonely one
With its slow-drawn farewell scene
I saw you try to force your feet to run
As you bit down hard on that scream
Well, you know what I wanted to do right then
But I could only let you go
We’ve felt both too well all the pain that can come
When you’re not really sure what you know
And this time there’s just no question

So, hey there, lover, the first day’s down
And you might not believe it
But it’s brought another song for me to
Play to you, 
When I see you again
When we’ve finally made it 
Through the rest.

Yesterday went in all the ways
I’d rather not go through
I understand there’s a price to pay
But it doesn’t always do much good
So, when I first heard that old refrain
Coming at me, straight from you
I just had to let you know I was bleeding
And give you the chance to prove
That you really are my savior

Well, hey there, lover, now this makes two
And if you hold it up right
We’re over half way through
‘Till it hits the light, 
And you see what’s left
We’ve come much too far not to make it 
Through the rest

Morning light at my window
Shadow round the room
Waking up to an empty space
That should be holding you
When in a sudden flash, it all came back
Like a soap box dance review
Well, I remember what it’s like to chase the day
Without a trace of you
And I don’t need any visions

So, hang on, lover, I do mean tight
The sun’s getting up from the very last night
I’m gonna spend without you
At least for awhile
‘Till I think I hear it, 
Start to really feel it
Until it’s back, 
And I’ve got to sing this song
One more time.


1976

Track 4: “When You Look In My Eyes”

Holding my newborn child was truly a life-changing experience; especially the first time.

When You Look In My Eyes

When you look in my eyes
Something inside of me starts to sing
It wakens my heart
Together they start up in harmony
I didn’t know it would be like this
But no one could ever describe
The feeling that fills
Every inch of me still
When you look in my eyes

When you look in my eyes
Something inside of me overflows
It sweeps me away
Wrapped in a wave from my head to toe
Well, I didn’t know it would be so strong
That love could become so alive
Now everything’s changed
It’s all rearranged 
When you look in my eyes

When you look in my eyes, girl
I fall a little more
Thinking maybe forever
Has come a knocking at my door

When you look in my eyes
Something inside of me starts to sing
It wakens my heart
Together they start up in harmony
Well, I never dreamed it would be so strong
That love could become so alive
Now everything’s changed
It’s all rearranged 
When you look in my eyes

When you look in my eyes


1983

Track 5: “The Way You Had In Mind”

And some people figure out a way to take what comes and make it work, no matter what.

The Way You Had In Mind

Don't ask, just let her talk
She really doesn't know 
If there was an easy answer 
She'd have found it a long time ago 

Some people don't need very much 
Some people can't get enough 
Some people don't know what they want 
Some people do, 
Ah, but sometimes they find that
Some things don't turn out 
The way you had in mind.

Don't try, just let her go
She's got plenty of reasons 
If she really didn't care at all
She'd be going out for more than the evening 

Some people...

So many changes and expectations 
Is it any wonder?
Disappointment and desperation 
Now and then, she's got to run for cover

Some people...

The way you had in mind.


1984

There you have it, the first quintet of songs. I hope you enjoyed them and that you get a chance to check out the songs on the other sides, too!