"Washed to the Sea"

I knew a man who thanked God for the good things
His mind made clear by his terminal disease
And he wept for those who did not understand him
But his tears will be washed to the sea

There is a woman lives in midtown Manhattan
And the lines in her face seem to speak
She forgives all the loved ones who put them there
And her tears will be washed to the sea

I'm not a man you might call optimistic
Sometimes it pains me to see what I see
But truth is a river that is sober and slow
And tears will be washed to the sea
And tears will be washed to the sea

Written by Mark Heard © 1984 Kenwood Music

~ ~ ~

"Mark's Song" (by Randy Stonehill)

Note: Written in 1992 and dedicated to the memory of Mark Heard. Recorded by Randy Stonehill in 1997 and included on Demonstrations of Love - a compilation by various artists (Prism/ESA Records 1997)

~ ~ ~

"I Know What It's Like To Be Loved"

They say that the body is not of a durable kind
Just cosmic pedestrians destined as bones in the ground
While we and our fortunes are gathering dust
We yearn for a hope that would lay those assumptions to rest
I know where that hope lives
And I know what it's like to be loved
Hate is a swindler and often we know we've been had
We do unto others, then run with a leisurely laugh
And when we've had all our barbarian fun
We yearn for hearts that would soften like wax in the sun
I know about forgiveness
And I know what it's like to be loved

Oh shall we lie dormant with no everlasting exchange?
With no fascination beyond the terrestrial range?
As our inheritance seems swept out to sea
We ache with a knowledge that that's not the way it should be
I know that's not the way it is
And I know what it's like to be loved
I know that's not the way it is
And I know what it's like to be loved

Written by Mark Heard © 1984 Kenwood Music

~ ~ ~

"Everything Is Alright"

Just when I can see light
At the end of my pipe dreams
Something's not the way it seems
It can pull me under overnight
And all the dreamers in this town
Wake up to lay their sweet dreams down

Everything is alright
That's the way it goes babe
Everything is alright
We'll cope and keep close babe
Everything is alright

Just when I can touch clouds
There is rain on my fingertips
A personal apocalypse
In a land where such is not allowed
Do all the riders in these ruts
Break down and give the good things up

Everything is alright
What will be will be babe
Everything is alright
When it's only you and me babe

Imagination and the name of the game
Everything is changing but the sound of your name

And all the dreamers in this town
Wake up to lay their sweet dreams down

Everything is alright
That's the way it goes babe
Everything is alright
We'll cope and keep close babe
Everything is alright
What will be will be babe
Everything is alright
When it's only you and me babe

Written by Mark Heard © 1990 Ideola Music

~ ~ ~

Untitled Poem by Mark Heard

~ ~ ~

"You Where There"

Well it might have been a vision
Or it might have been a dream
Like a photograph of Eden
It was like no place I'd ever seen

And you were there waiting for me
You shined the light when I couldn't see
I stood at the gate like a stranger
And you where there waiting for me

In the middle of the city
In the middle of the night
I woke up in total darkness
I'd been dreaming about the light

And I dreamed that we were laughing
And I dreamed that we were free
And I dreamed we were becoming
Who we were meant to be

And you were there waiting for me
You shined the light until I could see
I stood at the gate like a stranger
And you were there waiting for me

© 1987 Bibo Music Publishers/N.Y.M.

Words by Tonio K. [a.k.a. Steve Krikorian] and music by John Keller. Recorded by Tonio K. on the album Notes from the lost civilization (What? Records/A&M 1988)

~ ~ ~

A letter by Mark Heard

~ ~ ~

"I Always Do"

I take the chance
I catch your sudden eyes
One glance
I realize I have no words
But if you'd listen to me
If you'd listen
You would hear me
Fencing with the windmills
Of my deepest fears
Jousting with this armor
That I've riveted on
And if I'd listen to You
If I'd listen to You
If I'd listen
I'd be a bit softer than stone

I never mean to mention things like that
But I always do
It's not like me to tip my hand
But I always do
I never mean to face this looking-glass
But I always do
When I face You - I always do

I hit the floor
Suggest we move our feet
Good mood is painted
On our fleeting best
But if you'd listen to me
If you'd listen to me
If you'd listen
You might hear me
Blowing on a flute
Carved of hollow bone
Some somber tune that
Seems to suit my taste
And if I'd listen to You
If I'd listen to You
If I'd listen
I'd have a fewer lines on my face

I never mean to mention things like that
But I always do
It's not like me to tip my hand
But I always do
I never mean to face this looking-glass
But I always do
When I face You - I always do

But I always do
I always do
I always do
When I face You

Written by Mark Heard
© 1988 Ideola Music ASCAP

Written by Mark and recorded by Phil Keaggy on the album Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child (Myrrh 1988)

~ ~ ~

"Farther along" (trad.)

~ ~ ~

Confessional by Mark Heard

~ ~ ~

"Treasures of the broken land"

I see you now and then in dreams
Your voice sounds just like it used to
I know you better than I knew you then
All I can say is I love you

I thought our days were commonplace
Thought they would number in millions
Now there's only the aftertaste
Of circumstance that can't pass this way again

Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth, give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones

I saw the city at its tortured worst
And you were outside the walls there
You were relieved of a lifelong thirst
I was dry at the fountain

I knew that you could see my shame
But you were eyeless and sparing
I awoke when you called my name
I felt the curtain tearing

Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones

I can melt the clock hands down
But only in my memory
Nobody gets the second chance to be the friend they meant to be

I see you now and then in dreams
Your voice sounds just like it used to
I believe I will hear it again
God how I love you

Treasure of the broken land
Parched earth give up your captive ones
Waiting wind of Gabriel
Blow soon upon the hollow bones

Written by Mark Heard © 1992 Ideola Music/ASCAP

Note: This song was one of several listed in an article called Songs of Solace, that was included in a special issue of Entertainment Weekly published after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

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