Mother Mary Rose

Mother Mary Rose
drinking from a fountain I feel the rain
coming down like life
or the remnants of a hurricane
will you break me up?
will you hold me down?

Mother Mary Rose
well he shook his head and I wanted
to tell him it was alright
but we were on the ocean
it was breathing like a child
I held him in my arms
he was alone and so was I.

Why do shadows fall so slowly
hovering o’er this field of all who pass–

Mother Mary Rose
my sisters and I spent out summers this way
hardly noticed
slipping over the many mountains
slipping over the lush down of scooter
slipping, slipping away.

Vocal, Fluid Guitar Siersema  Synthesizers Jay Hovnanian  Brush Marcelo Woloski

 Talon of the Blackwater and Graces

Somebody pulled the hair right out of my head
something so small
’bout a quarter-size
not me that’s pointing a knife
admit that you’re wrong not to matter–

Don’t you remember anything
denting the car, the machete
stealing bread and meat under your jacket–
get afraid and lie
get afraid and twist things up
your riddle
underneath I go–
scraping up the sides
and dropping down–
talon of the blackwater and graces.

Hurling shotgun shells at a wedding party
brother half-cocked at the pulpit
nausea always skimming just beneath
what’s cheated you
it’s all coming up–
keep it down, keep it quiet
it’s a tailspin
let’s just get away–
scraping up the sides
and dropping down–
talon of the blackwater and graces.

So put me in your dress and step on my shoes
tell me how much you like them
take my picture, press it all over the house
tear this roof off my head
this throbbing in my heart–
keep it down, keep it quiet
it’s a tailspin
let’s just get away–
scraping up the sides
and dropping down–
talon of the blackwater and graces.

keep it down, keep it quiet
it’s a tailspin
let’s just get away–

Vocals, Fluid Guitar Siersema  Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson  Synthesizer
T Lavitz  Lead Guitar Nate Comp  Frame Drums Nick Falk  Congas Marcelo Woloski

Go Children Slow

Go children slow
walk on the water what you become
those suits and guns they bring the massacre
down the tracks you ride
raising your hopes
under the gathering tree
under the gathering tree–

All the wooden horses, all that’s sleeping in the yard
listen, can you hear me?
there’s gonna be a big trial, gonna saw the people up singing,
all your questions
like heads are gonna fall–you’re swimming now
as you lie awake at night
lie awake at night–

Fix upon the bell you took,
instrument you wore–

Go children slow
walk on the water what you become
those suits and guns they bring the massacre
down the tracks you ride
raising your hopes
under the gathering tree
under the gathering tree–

Vocal, Piano Siersema Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson Synthesizers T Lavitz & Jay Hovnanian Percussion Nick Falk

Wade in the Water (traditional with new verse lyrics by Siersema)

Wade in the water
wade in the water children
wade in the water
God’s a gonna trouble the water

Jordan’s river is chilly and cold
saw the bullet holes around you
chills the body but lifts the soul
there are no questions

Wade in the water
wade in the water children
wade in the water
God’s a gonna trouble the water

If you get there before I do
wants to save Tibet but he would run you over
tell my sisters
that I hear them calling

Wade in the water
wade in the water children
wade in the water
God’s a gonna trouble the water

Vocal, Electric Piano Siersema Keyboard & Bass Programming Jay Hovnanian Drums Bruce J. LeBlanc Organ T Lavitz Guitar Nate Comp Congas, Shakers, Tambourine Marcelo Woloski

I Was Once a Sailor

I was once a sailor
and I walked on water too.

Driving through this underground tunnel
got a nun on my back trying to give me strength and comfort
can’t see anything but the blue tiles
just can’t catch my breath
too many motors running here
this is my sorrow–

Blasted down by the hip in her pocket
like I was and you were too
leaving her skin some kind of orange glow
whatcha got on that smells so good,
hop in the van,
wanna go where it smells like sea–

I was once a sailor
and I walked on water too.

Parched in the sunshine
and dozing on the water
drifting through the afternoon
inside this heartache
I had a vision too–

I was once a sailor
and I walked on water too.
Vocals, Piano Siersema Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson Drums Bruce J. LeBlanc Guitars Nate Comp Congas Marcelo Woloski

This Train (traditional)

Vocal, Piano Siersema Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson Electric Piano T Lavitz
Hi-Hat Nick Falk Shakers Marcelo Woloski

Jumping Off the Big Board

I am one of many thousand faces at the doorway
you are too related to the climb
if you put your hand in mine
we’re jumping off the big board–

Never mind what others may have
told you ’bout the distance
they were just too busy
driving their cars into the ground
if they stop to look around
they might just see what it’s been costing them–

I am one I am one.

Looking for life, she thought she found her answer
dozing in the back seat
curls on his collar
arm hanging limp out the Cadillac
something held her back
“Why don’t ya come on over this way?”
she said, “I like it better my way.”

I am one I am one.

I am just beginning to know that I can sing
that I have power
over the voices telling me
“Why don’t ya do this, why don’t ya do that?”
Nothing wrong with me,
I just like it better my way
I like it better my way.

I am one I am one.

I am one of many thousand faces at the doorway
you are too related to the climb
if you put your hand in mine
we’re jumping off the big board
jumping off the big board.

Vocal, Piano, Keyboard Marimba Siersema Synthesizers Jay Hovnanian

My Eye This Flower in Julep Runs

My eye this flower in julep runs
over salty seas I met my love,
he belonged to me–
what finer shores and better mornings
quicken on the breeze–
with parcels fine and critical
I’ll tell you what I know
all I’ve carried washes down
water into stone–
once ankled in the spring of loons
your arms just cannot hold
a child of sorrow falling free–
My eye this flower in julep runs–

Vocal Siersema Synthesizer Siersema & Jay Hovnanian

Who Will Pass This On

You and I are not unscathed
we seek the bones of our own making
whisper in the smell of autumn
who will pass this on–

We are one from the beginning
deeper than the oceans sworn to me
softer than a song–
I had always dreamed you’d be coming–
sweet as the morning–

I have seen the whole world
touched tomorrow in each September
listen to the voices rejoicing
there you’ll find love–
I had always dreamed you’d be coming–
sweet as the morning air–
suspended like heaven
treasure always for me–

We are one from the beginning
deeper than the oceans sworn to me
softer than a song–
I had always dreamed you’d be coming–
sweet as the morning
crisp as the leaves falling down–

Vocal Siersema Piano T Lavitz Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson Drums Nick Falk Shakers Marcelo Woloski

All My Trials (traditional)

Vocal, Piano Siersema Fretless Bass Michael Farquharson Drums Nick Falk
Organ T Lavitz Shakers Marcelo Woloski

Along the Fenway

Noisy boys in their uniforms
pushing through the turnstile
down under Comm Avenue
I saw the future in somebody’s hand
they’re gonna steal a wallet–
what does it matter when you’re in-between
the black sheep and the chosen one?
the choirs all sing for you–
along the Fenway–

Beautiful my fellow, tart queen of the back bay
shaved his head looking for what he lost
there goes the preacher thinks Jesus told him
something I don’t know–
listen the voices crying, saying mass
awaiting my conversion
I’ll cross the sound for you–
along the Fenway–

Grabbed his daughter by the wrist and pulled her up the stairs
spit on the platform, kissed her face
who is the father descending as I pray
to look the other way–
all around the furrowed brows
on the outskirts of this famine
seek an answer
gotta tell all the children too–
along the Fenway–

Vocal, Piano Siersema Cello Eugene Friesen Additional Vocal Alastair Moock

c 2008 Laura Siersema

“Laura Siersema’s neo-classical piece ‘Along the Fenway’ is storytelling bliss…”

Graphic Design Chris Needham