NOTES:
This is the first of two albums recorded in New
England. This was a very experimental time for me
as an artist. I also shared writing talents with
Dan Cunningham, a friend and excellent pianist
from California who also moved to Massachusetts,
and Dan Russell, a native New Englander and
Christian music entrepreneur in the northeast.
Both Dan's helped stretch me both musically and
lyrically. I can still smell the aroma of the
wood stove in Blue Jay studios, Carlisle,
Massachusetts, where we recorded in the fall of
1984, and the invigoration of walking out into
the frosty night air. If a lot of these songs
seem to deal with waking up and taking charge of
one's life, its because that's what God was
asking me to do in this season of my life. |
Rejoice!
Words and Music by John Fischer
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
In between what was an what will be
He has entered history
Down the corridor of time
Across the theater of mime
I have seen the Son of Man
In the human caravan
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Can you see the maker of thunder
Walking under cloudy skies
He who makes the eagle soar
Seeks the shade of the sycamore
See Him laugh
See Him need
Slit His side
See Him bleed
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
In between the now and the never
He has filled in every line
All that we will ever face
He'd redeeming by His grace
So push the bars
Free the gate
Open up
Celebrate
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Lord of the
Dance
Words by Sydney Carter
Music from the Shaker folk song "Simple Gifts"
(I've been singing this song since I first heard it in
1970. I finally got around to recording it when I
realized no one had yet.)
I danced in the morning when the world was begun
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth
Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee
But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen for James and John
They came with me and the dance went on
Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high
They left me there on a cross to die
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance and I still go on
Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He
They cut me down but I leapt up high
I am the life that will never never die
I'll live in you if you live in me
I am the Lord of the dance said He
Dance dance wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the dance said He
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He
Move On It
Words by John Fischer
Music by John Fischer and Dan Russell
Move
Move
Move on it
Don't be afraid of losing it
You won't have it till you're using it
Move on it
Move on it
Move
Move
Move on it
Hear it and then be believing it
Use it and we'll be receiving it
Move on it
Move on it
We can wait for all the information
There is always cause for hesitation
But while we're searching for
Writing in the sky
Life will pass us by
Move
Move
Move on it
Don't be afraid of losing it
You won't have it till you're using it
Move on it
Move on it
Move
Move
Move on it
Hear it and then be believing it
Use it and we'll be receiving it
Move on it
Move on it
We present ourselves for our inspection
Looking long into our own reflection
But then we turn around
And we walk away
Does the memory stay
Move
Move
Move on it
Don't be afraid of losing it
You won't have it till you're using it
Move on it
Move on it
Move
Move
Move on it
Hear it and then be believing it
Use it and we'll be receiving it
Move on it
Move on it
Heartbeat
Words by John Fischer and Dan Cunningham
Music by John Fischer, Dan Cunningham and Dan Russell
I woke up one sunny day
Someone took the pain away
And I was in the age of space
With lots to see and do
Getting just enough to feel
What's on the screen is next to real
Just enough of what you want
There's always something new
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
Can you find a heartbeat heartbeat
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
Can you find a heartbeat heartbeat
Watch the image on the phone
No one has to be alone
Beam a message to the stars
And wait for a reply
Lovers in the age of space
Portraits of a dying race
Eyes that stare into the stars
And never wonder why
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
Can you find a heartbeat heartbeat
Heartbeat
Heartbeat
Can you find a heartbeat heartbeat
It's Still Life
Words and Music by John Fischer
(I wrote this exactly ten years after the album
"Still Life" came out. This is what I mean
about a wake-up call.)
Zappa's doing classical in Paris
Jackson Browne is rowing in his car
And nobody knows if Dylan got new clothes
But Norman still can't hear enough guitar
Some are on their way to crossing over
Others have been over all along
Me I'm in between
Sips of black caffeine
Trying hard to write another song
It's still life
But not as still as it once seemed
It's still life
And I never would have dreamed
That the answer
Would have so many questions
He's the same
And it's still life
I used to dump the puzzle on a table
And put it back together in a day
But now it sits undone
The table's overrun
With pieces no one showed me how to play
In one hand I've collected all the answers
With the other I'm just trying to survive
Living on the ledge
Hanging on the edge
Is keeping every ounce of faith alive
It's still life
But not as still as it once seemed
It's still life
And I never would have dreamed
That the answer
Would have so many questions
He's the same
And it's still life
Between the
Answers
Words and Music by John Fischer and Dan Cunningham
(A celebration of the ordinary.)
It's Saturday night and the time is right for going out
The kids are off our hands and all our careful plans are
working out
But after watching the show and being caught in the flow
of the dancers
We've still got a whole night to spend
Between the answers
We could put a light on in the driveway and a kettle on
the stove
And if it's not too cold we'll bundle up and walk along
the cove
We'll talk till there's nothing left to talk about
And then we'll love by the fire till the fire goes out
Am I really strong enough to care for you
Do you care for me enough to see it through
If I slip will I lose all of my chances
We could wait forever
Between the answers
Or we could put a light on in the driveway and a kettle
on the stove
And if it's not too cold we'll bundle up and walk along
the cove
We'll talk till there's nothing left to talk about
And then we'll love by the fire till the fire goes out
Wake up honey it's Sunday and we'll be late
Where are the kids
We can't miss our sacred date
Stand and sing the words about his majesty
They're all found on page four hundred fifty-three
We could sing them to the walls in holy trances
We could touch the Lord of all
Between the answers
And we could put a light on in the driveway and a kettle
on the stove
And if it's not too cold we'll bundle up and walk along
the cove
We'll talk till there's nothing left to talk about
And then we'll love by the fire till the fire goes out
Every Tear
Words by John Fischer
Music by Dan Russell
Saddened eyes
Framed by a window
Streaked with rain
Like tears on her face
One simple choice
One painless operation
One mistake
She's longing to erase
Sterile walls
Crowding in around her
Fluorescent lights
Blinding her eyes
But all the pain
And indecision leave her
When her newborn baby cries
He feels every fear
And through every year
He holds every tear
Tired eyes
Watch from a window,
The carefree play
Of one little boy
Working nights
It's been hard to raise him
But through the pain
She finds a deeper joy
He feels every fear
And through every year
He holds every tear
My son don't be ashamed to question why
Don't chase the water from your eyes
God know knows every time you cry
He'll be there to love you
(He loves you)
Years go by
He stands at her grave side
A trophy of
Her courage and her choice
He says a prayer
A song of expectation
Then walks ahead
An echo of her voice
He feels every fear
And through every year
He holds every tear
(He loves you)
Long Way Back
Words by John Fischer
Music by John Fischer and Dan Russell
There was a day when a cigar band w
Was enough for her hand
And life was built on dreams together
Love was forever
Now she's wearing diamonds
And the band's on his cigar
May have made it big
But he may have gone too far
They say he goes away for months now
Nobody knows how
She's got to work so she can be sure
Her life is so insecure
She looks at her hand
And wishes for the old band
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
She packs her bags with clothes he bought her
She'll be taking their daughter
He'll call her once or twice this weekend
No on will be in
He'll recite excuses
As the phone recites the ring
Got her what she wanted
Gave her everything
Now he's turning the corporate big wheel
Landed a big deal
He's passing out the best Havanas
And somewhere over Montana
He looks at the band
And remembers her hand
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
You've come a long way
It's a long way back
All We Need
Words and Music by John Fischer
Love is all we have
All we need to take us through the years ahead
Love is all we need
God is all of love
And He is ours through Jesus Christ our savior
He is all we need
And when the storms blow hard against our hearts
Nothing can separate us from His love
When this life is through
We will see our Lord was only leading us
To another land
Where the love we knew
Grew into a perfect love for God Himself
And we will understand
And when the storms blow hard against our hearts
Nothing can separate us from His love
Love is all we have
All we need to take us through the years ahead
Love is all we need
God is all of love
And He is ours through Jesus Christ our savior
He is all we need
He is all we need
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