Once in Time

A road that goes and doesn't come back
a train that travels a one-way track
life seems long and hard sometimes
but then, a new day breaks
and all seems fine,
for we travel this way but once in time.

Now and again we need our friends
some folks to lean on when times are tough
people who are made of real strong stuff,
those to guide us and point the way
when we get lost and don't know what to say
friends who will follow after us
to show us that all can be fine
for we pass this way just once in time.

It takes a village to raise a child
cause life's not always acting so mild,
things are dealt us along the way
that makes this life seem not so gay,
but there's no need to get distressed
for there is a way to deal with this mess.
All we need is to try and be kind
for all of us pass this way but once in time.

God has given us strength for the day
and we all know that He has the final say.
Life is fickle we are told
and we should face our problems and try to be bold,
just strive, and seek, and hope to find,
for all of us pass this way but once in time.

I Know Where I'm Goin'

If I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
those are the lessons of my life -
times I've seen, me and my wife,
down that road together
no matter what the weather
many a day, some filled with strife -
but still I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
For three score and 10 plus a few more thrown in
that's all I been doin'
just keep'n on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
yes sir, that's been my life.
I've seen good days and bad
some that truly were sad
but through it all
I kept on movin'
cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
There's been days of tears
and some smiles too
it's easier to smile
and causes less wrinkles too
I look at the good side
'cause life has a flip one
and there's nothing to see
on the dark side,
but an unhappy me.
So why should I choose to be sad in life
when I got a smilin', good natured wife.
The roads not all rocky
the paths not all rough
all you got to do
is hang mean and tough.
That's why I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
that's been my life.
It's not so hard to be happy
no, not when you're me,
just keep on smilin'
as I keep on movin'
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'
and that's been my life.
Some folks ask me
how long my life will be
tell 'em I have no idea
'cause that's for God to see,
all I do
is keep on movin'..
'cause when I'm movin'
I know where I'm goin'....
...and that's been my life.

Lost and Found

Gave my heart
It was crushed and lost
Lived for another day.

Pain and Love

Pain is suddenly being left alone
its when you lose someone who was everything
pain is when you don't know what to do
when all seems to be falling in on you
pain is when you have no one to dry your tears
or hold you in the night
when everything seems a fright
pain is just hurting because you feel all alone
and don't have anyone to hear you call out in the night
its when you walk and walk and walk, and have no where to go
pain is all these things and more;
but somewhere - sometime - a gentle soul enters your life
and gives you a smile,
dries your tears, and lets you know that you're not alone.
you find that pain is no longer controlling your life
when this gentle soul shows you the way
its when you can tell them:
when I lost my smile,
you gave me yours;
when I needed a friend,
you were there;
when I didn't know what to do,
you showed me;
for all that you have been, and all that you are -
I will love you.


Dedicated to my wife, Janet - for all that you have been and are.

Stop - Look - and Listen

A fish and a turtle were out at sea
the fish darted by and said 'look at me'
I can swim fast and scoot,
can even swim faster than you, too boot.
The turtle plodded along
and said to the fish...'this is where I belong'
I may be slow and not very fast
but I can get where I want to go, and won't finish last.
The fish ran along, swift as could be
and taunted the turtle to get out of his sea.
The turtle said the sea belongs to us all
it was meant to be free.
The fish swam by and said watch,
I can catch that fish...its smaller than me.
But the turtle warned there are troubles sometimes in the sea.
The fish only laughed and grabbed the small fish
when suddenly a line went tight and a hook was set....
and he couldn't get free.

Heaven's Gate

There is a place far from here
yet not so far, but really near
a place whose door is open wide
a place where everyone is welcomed inside.
Heaven's Gate is its name
it's a place where all who enter are treated the same.
It is the door to a place of rest
for all who enter are treated with the best
a place where calm and peace prevail
where beauty and love are not for sale
all are given free and clear
a home for all with nothing but cheer.
It was bought with the life of the man inside
given to us as a sign of his love
and marked on the door is a descending dove.
It is a place where there is no envy or hate,
and all who come are welcome to enter Heaven's Gate.

Rat A - Tat- Tat

Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
the drums did roll and beat
the men in their uniforms how they stood
so tall and trim and neat,
by ranks and files and squads they stood
with weapons, packs and flags
the flower of our nation's youth
did march to the drummers' beat.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
off to the wars they marched
with waves goodbye, and speeches of pride
they marched away while their loved ones cried.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
While one could question the wisdom of war
no one could doubt the soldier's scars,
war after war they were sent...
and bravely wherever sent - they went.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
The drums did roll and beat
the men in their uniforms how they stood
so tall and trim and neat,
and off to the wars they marched
to the sound of the drummers' beat.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
In battles they won to keep us free
but not without a price for victory.
They returned from places with names so strange
but some returned to a different beat,
with a slow roll, slow march - mournful and sad
they brought our loved ones home again.
To a grateful nation they gave their all
without a whimper or complaint they saw it all
and returned from places far away
battered and scarred - but free.
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat
Soon the sound of drums were heard
and leaders did call again...
with struts and speeches that sounded so grand
off our youth were sent with a band
Rat a - Tat - Tat; Rat a - Tat- Tat.


Dedicated in loving memory to all who served.