Stubborn Encounter of an Otter Kind


How hard can it be to feed an otter?
Pass that bucket over here, and I'll give it a try.
Hey there, Mr. Otter, what do you think of this fish?
Hey there, Mr. Otter, don't it look delish-
us?

AmC AmC F G - :|| (4x)
C - /

Why won't that otter eat this fish?
Hey, Miss Zookeeper, I've only got one wish:
show me how to get that otter to eat my fish.

F C G C :|| (3x)

Little Miss Zookeeper offered no advice,
so I took that fish in my teeth and dove right in.
And like a momma bird feeding her baby I tried to pass it on,
but of that fish stubborn otter refused to con-
sume.

I climb on out. I'm dripping wet. Miss Zookeeper just laughs,
like Little Miss Know-it-all in her fancy cap.
Once she's able to catch her breath she says to me,
The reason that otter won't eat your fish is he's a capy-
bara.

And capybaras are herbivores.
You've got the wrong bucket; he's not who that's meant for.
Getting that otter to eat that fish would be quite a chore
'cause that otter's a capy-
bara.”

F C G C :|| (3x)
F - G - / C - /

Walking Back to Georgia



That night in Chattanooga,
I remember it clear as ice.
She'd never been to Georgia.
Why not walk to Georgia?
And so we walked to Georgia.

Dm Am / F Am :||
F G Am - /

It seemed such a sweet slice of madness.
It pushed me over the edge.
Not that I had far to fall,
I was already on the brink.
But I went all in when she said, “Let's walk to Georgia.”

The Chattanooga aquarium lights
reflecting off the river.
I was singing “The 59th Street Bridge”,
yeah, I was feeling groovy.
Just kicking down the cobblestones to Georgia.

A light rain drizzled down.
The car headlights splashed by.
We ran out of sidewalk.
I felt a little out of my mind.
Happily delirious and headed south to Georgia.

I was beginning to worry we should turn back,
that we were running out of time.
The others would be waiting for us,
but there was no changing her mind.
We were bound to make it to Georgia.

Up ahead along the highway,
just a few more steps to go.
I really love your peaches
on the sign to let us know
that we were welcome in Georgia.

As we started walking back
the others called to track us down.
They were not thrilled to learn
that they'd have to drive on down
to pick us up from Georgia.

A night in Chattanooga,
the city lights reflect and shine.
I close my eyes and go back there;
I go back there all the time.
And I'm walking back to Georgia.

The Chattanooga aquarium lights
reflecting off the river.
She'd never been to Georgia.
Why not walk to Georgia?
I'm often walking back to Georgia.

Zero Gravity Waltz



They would spend all their spare change on paperback novels.
People always said that they were strange, a weird and unusual          couple.
He liked the mysteries, and she liked science fiction; they           breathed those stories in like air,
and the ones that they liked the best, they would exchange and        share.

G Bm C G :|| (4x)

They lived in their own little world,
a secret life of infinite depth,
fantasies and dreams,
just exploring the great mystery of it all.

D C / Am G / D C / Am F G - /

Every morning he'd wake up early and wait for her to arise.
She always knew just what to expect; it was never a surprise.
He would kneel down beside the bed, and he would propose,
Will you love and live with me another day? I could use another      dose.”

They lived in their own little world,
a private life of tender care,
fantasies and dreams,
caught up in the great mystery of it all.

From afternoons over coffee, reviewing evidence of this or that       case;
to late night pillow ponderings of life's possibilities.
No matter how much they learned, they always found more to    explore,
taking a closer look into what was and what could be.

They lived in their own little world,
an unfathomable life of feelings and thoughts,
cold hard facts and visions,
diving deeper into the great mystery of it all.

They went on this way up until one morning she declined
the “living with” stipulation of his proposal.
She headed west, and he headed east to make a brand new start;
and though you might not believe it, neither left with a broken        heart.

It was straight out of science fiction,
an impossible case to crack.
They each left with love, only love,
freefalling into the great mystery of it all.

The bankers they just scratched their heads when they came for        the house,
with everything still in its place, the bookshelf, bed and couch.
The neighbors they weren't sure just what to think.
They said things like, “We always knew they were off,” but they        seemed to say it with a wink.

A wink that seemed to say,
There's more to love than we'll ever know.
We're groundless and floating
through the great mystery of it all.”

Freely Given Album



Click here for alternate download option

Chickadee

 
Chickadee, chickadee,
I will sing for you,
chickadee.

Capo IV
C - / F G C - / Repeat 2nd to end of stanza /

Chickadee, chickadee,
won't you sing for me?
It would be so sweet,
but only if you please,
chickadee.

Chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee
Chickadee-dee-dee-dee (2x)

F - / C - / F - / G -:||

Chickadee, chickadee,
won't you sing with me?
We could be
thick as thieves,
chickadee.

Chickadee, chickadee,
I love you so,
but if you must go...
...Go.
Chickadee.

Chickadee, chickadee,
thanks for singing with me,
chickadee.

Dark Green Overnight Train



Dark green overnight train, carry me away.
I'll be over the mountain by the dawn of the next day.
Hope to feel the sunshine falling warm across my face.
Dark green overnight train, carry me away.

Capo II
C G F C / C Dm F C :||

No friend to pass the bottle; no pal to share the news.
Just me and this old, creaky mind moaning out the blues.
The past rolls out behind me, all those precious yesterdays.
Dark green overnight train, carry me away.

All those moments we shared together, I loved them in their time.
I'd like to stay forever, but I'd surely lose my mind.
So now has come the part where I mist say, “Goodbye.”
Dark green overnight train, get her off of my mind.

Making It Little



Some people want to make it real big,
make lots of money, get really rich.
Some people want to be a big shot,
drive fancy sports cars, own a yacht.
Well, that's not for me, that's not what I'm about.
I like living simple, there's not any doubt.

Banjo - Capo IV
D G / A G :|| (3x)

Making it little, keeping it small
Doing alright all in all
Making it little, keeping it small
Doing pretty good all in all

A G D G :|| (4x)

Some people want to be well known,
they want to have the biggest tombstone.
They want to be remembered long after they're gone.
They futilely fight against time moving on.
But me, I'd rather just be here now,
won't remember I'm forgotten when I'm under the ground.

Some people want to get as big as they can get
Branch out and franchise and corner markets.
They think that they are too big to fail,
above the law, too big to jail.
But they could not be as big as they think,
and, like the titanic, they just might sink.

Some people will do whatever it takes;
if they could turn a dime, they'd drain the Great Lakes.
They take out whole mountains, and poison the streams.
I'd call these nightmares; they call them dreams.
There's an energy crisis; yeah, things are a mess,
but they're not trying to solve it while they can profit.

As far as it goes, I've got all I could ask,
a tiny little house with a garden out back.
I've got me a bicycle, gets me around,
catching the breeze with no top to put down.
So stop on over, and if you do,
I'll crack you open an ice cold brew.

Where to Look



She said, “I wanted to hear a happy song, 
oh my darling little boy.
I know that in this world there is plenty that is wrong,
but if you know where to look there's also lots of joy.

Capo II
D Bm D A :|| (4x)

Just a happy song, is that too much to ask?
Just one happy song today.
Just a happy song, before this life is past,
let's have some happy songs along the way.

G D G D / G A D - :||

I'm so damn tired of crying all these tears,
tired of hearing nothing but bitching all these years.
I keep trying to look up, but I feel so damn weighed down.
I'm trying to swim, please don't let me drown.”

Well, you know, I think you're right.
I think it's high time I tried,
got to not keep all my joy locked in a jar.
So here goes...
You know that every time I see your face
it brings me joy down in my heart.
You know that every time we say goodbye
I wish we never had to part.
I do love you.
Well, maybe that still sounds a little bit sad,
maybe a little bittersweet in part,
but I guess that for now it's the best that I had;
and maybe a little bit of sweet's a good place to start,
not all bitter.

D A / D G / D A D - / G A D - :|| (3x)

Just a happy song, that's not too much to ask...

Freely Given


Gather ye honey, while ye may.
Enjoy those flowers for today.
Take a deep breath of that fresh air.
Don't take it for granted while it's there.

Capo V
Bm Am / Bm C :||

Oh what a beautiful life!
Oh what a perfect day!
Oh what a beautiful life,
Don't let it drift away.

G Am / Bm C / G Am / C G /

Greet her each morning with a kiss.
Let her know you'll always lover her like this.
All of her love, she freely gives.
Don't leave life waiting with puckered lips.

She calls out to you with open arms,
offering you all of her charms.
When life reaches out, reach back the same way.
Don't be a fool and turn away.

Asking Nothing Back



Oh what a sweet voice you've got there!
Oh what a lovely melody!
I could listen to that voice you've got there
for all eternity.
Please keep on singing.
Please don't ever stop.
It's such a relief to be lost in your voice
instead of the troubles that I've got.

Capo IV
D C / D G - :|| (4x)

Hey there, sweet little songbird,
I'm so glad that you perched in that tree!
My cold heart feels so much warmer
with you next to me.

Bm C / Bm Am - / Bm C / Am G - /

It's been such a long, cold winter
with ice and snow all around.
Everything's been so still,
seemed to be nothing moving about.
Everything's been so quiet,
no companions to be found.
So oh what a joy to have that cold silence
pierced through by such a beautiful sound!

I can think of no greater gift
than the solace that your voice brings,
and oh what grace to ask nothing back
for all those songs you sing!
So I just want to tell you
thanks for stopping by;
the memory of your voice will linger on
and give comfort to my mind.

Time Enough



You gave me more than I could ask.
You stayed until the very last.
You showed me love I'd never known.
It seeped right down into my bones.

Capo II
D - / A - / D - / G - /

And I've got time enough,
time enough to get along.
I've got time enough,
time enough to live.

D - / A - / D - / G D - /

Right back where I started from,
just a little less def, blind and dumb.
Still fumbling my way through this life,
just shy of crazy by the edge of a knife

Maybe I'll find someone else;
maybe not, might be just as well.
I'm still living with your memory,
a big heart to fill from what I can see.

Don't worry about me, I'm moving on,
trying to find a place where I belong.
I know you think you got away,
but you're still with me every day.

Maybe This Afternoon



Intro/interlude: C F G C / C F G C / C - - - /

Looking out the window,
watching all them birds.
Looking out the window,
caught up in all these words.
Looking out the window,
waiting for the sun.
Been dark and cloudy oh so long,
you know it's gonna come.

G C / / / F C :||

Sun gonna come out sooner or later,
sun gonna come out soon.
Sun gonna come out sooner or later,
maybe this afternoon.

C G / C F / C G / F C /

Them birds don't have a worry.
Them birds don't have a care.
They fly around wherever they please,
a-flittin' everywhere.
They don't care if it's cloudy.
They don't care if it's cold.
They're just happy to be alive
and have a little food.

Well, all those people
running them governments
got things into quite a state,
an awful ugly mess.
But I won't give 'em dominion
over this mind of mine.
They might blow everything to bits,
but they'll get no more of my time.

"Happy" Song



Wanted to sing a happy song today,
wanted to feel just as free as the birds.
Wanted to sing a happy song today,
but I just can't seem to remember the words.

D C Bm C / D C F C :||

Tired of the heavy, tired of the sad,
tired of feeling so damn bad.
Tired of this, tired of that,
just seem to be stuck in the same old track.

Who Wouldn't Like That?



I would like to work in a job where
I felt like I was makin' a diff'r'nce.
I would like to work in that job.
Wouldn't you like that, too?

C - G C / - - F C / - - G C / F G C - - - /

I would like to live in a world where
I felt like people cared about each other.
I would like to live in that world.
Wouldn't you like that, too?

I'd like it if people stopped killin' each other
over a bunch of dumb bullshit.
I'd like it if people stopped killin' each other.
Wouldn't you like that, too?

I'd like it if every little girl could have a pony,
the one she'd always wanted from the pet store.
I'd like it if every little girl could have a pony.
Wouldn't you like that, too?

I'd like it if you liked my singin',
if it made you happy and got you grinnin'.
I'd like it if you liked my singin'.
Wouldn't you like that, too?

I'd like it if I had a million dollars,
I'd never have to stop writing verses to this song.
I'd like it if I had a million dollars.
Aren't you glad I don't?

Where It Goes



Flowers bloom and flowers grow.
The sun shines down, hey, don't you know?
Flowers bloom and flowers grow.
Flowers get covered up with snow.

C G / F C :||

Birds they sing, and birds they fly.
They whistle out their lullabies.
Birds they sing, and birds they fly.
Don't ask me, I don't know why.

The ocean roars, the ocean moans.
The ocean will rage, oh yes it will!
The ocean roars, the ocean moans.
When the storm passes it will be still.

The wind it howls, the wind it blows.
The wind knows not where it goes.
The wind it howls, the wind it blows.
You're gone with the wind, and I'm alone.
The wind it howls, the wind it blows.
What comes next, I don't care to know.

Love comes along, and then it dies.
It brings sparkles and tears to your eyes.
Love comes along, and then it dies.
Don't ask me, I don't know why.

Flowers get covered up with snow.
Flowers bloom and flowers grow.

Always There



How can I tell you I love you?
How can I show you I care?
How can I tell you I love you,
when I'm hardly ever there?

Capo IV
G C A / / / Bm C A G /

Oh my sweet little child,
you're such a bright ray of light!
You gave me hope when I needed
faith restored in this life.
You needed someone to be there.
I needed someone to love.
I think I learned more than I taught you.
Found a love as deep as it comes.

G C A :|| (8x)

I wish that I could still be there.
I wish I did not have to go.
Maybe “had to”'s a strong way to put it,
but where your heart leads you must go.
As you grow older you'll find out
this life's not as clear as you'd like;
sometimes your heart can get broken
just from trying to do what feels right.

I think about you quite often,
of all of those times that we shared;
though there's a great distance between us,
part of you is with me everywhere.
I think of your laugh, and I smile.
I smile, and then I cry.
You're one of this world's greatest treasures;
I'm so glad that you're part of my life.

So I just want to tell you I love you.
I just want to tell you I care.
Though there's a great distance between us,
in my heart you're always there.

Lavender



There's a certain fragrance I have found
of which I just cannot get enough,
so sometimes just to remind myself
of all the things in this life that I love.
I reach into a vase of dried flowers
and break out a sprig of lavender.
I pluck the dried flowers right off
one by one.
I crush the flowers 'tween my fingers
one by one,
and really breathe it in!

Capo II
C A G - / C G C G :|| (5x)
C - D - G - /

I wanna breathe in this life like lavender,
just seems a shame not to breathe it in.
I wanna breathe in this life like lavender,
really breathe it in!

G C A - / G C D - - - / G C D - / - C G - /

Sometimes I get to feeling lonely,
feeling sorry for myself.
I wish I could take that self-pity
and crash it down, right off the shelf.
Sometimes it just can take someone
to reach in and break me out of this hell.
She bonked me on the head with a bunch of lavender,
with a smile so sweet and light as a breath.
She had no way of knowing I love lavender,
barefoot down the alley in her bridesmaid dress,
and I breathed it in like lavender!

She anointed my head with a bunch of lavender,
barefoot down the alley in her bridesmaid dress,
and I breathed it in like lavender!

Out of the Darkness



It starts with a whisper, like the rustling wind.
It starts with a whisper, like a smoldering cinder.
It starts to heat up, until it alights.
It warms up your heart, won't be kept out of sight.
It starts with a whisper, like the rustling wind.
It'll cure what ales you, if you only let it in,
but it starts with a whisper, like a smoldering cinder;
it starts with a whisper, like the rustling wind.

Percussion on guitar below strings to get the tone from chords:
C - - - - - G - - - - - :|| (8x)