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To the Four Directions

To the Four Directions is a compilation of 12 expertly crafted songs dealing with the joys and struggles along the journey of life.

Free MP3s! I Like The Way It Feels & That's My Dad . (Right-click to download, left-click to play.)

1 - Down A Gravel Road

2 - I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS

3 - DRIVIN’ INTO THE MOON

4 - Long Rain

5 - Clear, Blue Sky

6 - PEDAL TO THE METAL

7 - That’s My Dad

8 - MAKING HER MOVE

9 - God Knows Why

10 - WHAT IS

11 - It's Not About Words

12 - All For You

Down A Gravel Road

Last night I went walking down a gravel road
In the Cherokee nation of Oklahome
Smelled the prairie flowers, heard the meadowlark sing
Yeah the land was full and the sky was big
So I bowed my head to the four directions
To mother below and to father in heaven
Last night my altar was a gravel road
In the Cherokee nation of Oklahome

Well, I grew up where the corn was king
And the family farm was a sacred thing
Work in the fields and sweat in the sun
Jump in the creek when the day was done
Then we’d bow our heads and say our grace
Give thanks to the Lord for the gifts He gave
Yeah, I grew up where the corn was king
And gratitude was a sacred thing

Yea, I’m so thankful for the chance to breathe
For the chance to feel the earth beneath my feet
For the chance to laugh, and for the chance to cry
Yeah, gratitude is a friend of mine

So tonight I’m playing this old guitar
Singing my song from my heart
And there ain’t no place that I’d rather be
Than sharing the gifts that were given to me
Share my loss and share my gain
Share my joy and share my pain
Yea,h. tonight I’m playing this old guitar
Singing my song from my heart

Yea, I’m so thankful for the chance to breathe
For the chance to feel the earth beneath my knees
For the chance to laugh, and for the chance to cry
Yeah, gratitude is a friend of mine

Last night I went walking down a gravel road
In the Cherokee nation of Oklahome

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I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS

IT’S JANUARY, AND COLD AS HELL
THE NIGHT IS MOONLESS, CLEAR AS A BELL
SOME SAY I’M CRAZY TO WANT TO LIVE UP HERE
BUT WHO’S LISTENING, I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS

CHORUS
I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS
WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S RIGHT
WHEN THE CHOICE YOU MADE RINGS TRUE
FROM DEEP INSIDE
I TRUST THIS HEART OF MINE
TO TELL ME WHAT IS REAL
THAT’S WHY I’M LISTENING TO THE WAY IT FEELS

HER HAIR IS DARK AND HER EYES ARE BROWN
BUT SHE’S NOT FROM MY SIDE OF TOWN
SOME SAY BE CAREFUL, YOU COULD HURT YOURSELF
BUT WHO’S LISTENING, I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS

CHORUS

I LIKE PRAYING, UP ON THE RIDGE TOP
OR DOWN AT THE INTERSTATE ALL NIGHT TRUCK STOP
SOME SAY THE DEVIL IS NIPPING AT MY HEELS
BUT WHO’S LISTENING, I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS
WHO’S LISTENING, I LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS

CHORUS

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DRIVIN’ INTO THE MOON

TONIGHT I’M DRIVIN’ LIKE A WILD EYED PONY
THINKIN’ MAYBE I COULD OUTRUN THIS LONELY
THE SKY IS CLEAR, STARS ARE OUT
I’M MILES FROM ANY TOWN
HEADIN’ EAST THROUGH THESE HILLS
NOT A LIVING SOUL AROUND
THEN SLOW BUT SURE, STRAIGHT AHEAD
RISIN’ UP COMES MY OLD FRIEND

CHORUS
TONIGHT I’M DRIVIN’ INTO THE MOON
WHEN I SEE IT’S FACE ALL I SEE IS YOU
BURNING BRIGHT AT THE END OF THIS ROAD
MAKIN’ ME WISH I WAS HEADIN’ HOME
I WONDER DO YOU MISS ME TOO
TONIGHT I’M DRIVIN’ INTO THE MOON

AND AS IT SHINES DOWN ON THIS HEART OF MINE
MAKING MY EMOTIONS LARGER THAN LIFE
THE PAIN I FEEL, THE TEARS I CRY
ALL FROM MISSING YOU
THERE’S NO WAY AROUND IT
SO I GUESS I’M DRIVING THROUGH
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS NIGHT
BEYOND THE HURT I FEEL INSIDE

BRIDGE
MOVES THE HEART LIKE THE TIDE
I HOPE IT PULLS YOURS CLOSER TO MINE

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Long Rain

AIR GETS THICK IN THIS TOWN SOMETIMES
HEAT BUILDS UP, YOU CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT
JUST BEFORE THE DAWN TURNS GRAY
CLOUDS ROLL IN AND YOU FEEL A CHANGE
AND TIME SLOWS DOWN AND IT STARTS TO RAIN
YOU GET THIS FEELING IT’S GOING TO LAST ALL DAY

CHORUS
AND IT’S A LONG RAIN FROM DAWN ‘TIL DUSK
TOP TO BOTTOM, CLOUDS TO DUST
TAKE THIS HURT AND WASH IT AWAY
WITH A GOOD, LONG, STEADY RAIN
A GOOD, LONG, STEADY RAIN

I’VE BEEN STUMBLING DOWN THESE STREETS
WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU AND ME
FEELING LIKE SOME THUNDERHEAD
ABOUT TO BURST FROM THE TEARS I’VE KEPT
DOWN INSIDE, NOW I FEEL IT’S TIME
TO OPEN US AND HAVE A GOOD HARD CRY

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE
IT’S NOT A MATTER OF GOOD OR BAD
THE SUN AND RAIN GO HAND IN HAND
IT’S NOT A MATTER OF RIGHT OR WRONG
YOU DON’T TELL THE RAIN HOW LONG

INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS

REPEAT 1ST VERSE

REPEAT CHORUS

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Clear, Blue Sky

I know what trouble is, I know what the rain feels like
Been down a dead end road, in a world I painted black and white
Now here I stand, so different than, before you came my way
Just like that, you changed my life, oh baby, here’s what I’m trying to say

Chorus
Your love is like a clear, blue sky, like a breath of wind
Not a cloud in sight, forever is all there is
It’s like a sunny day, after a stormy night
Your love is like a clear, blue sky

You don’t mind that I showed up late, you don’t push me when I’m slow
Though you forget my worst mistakes, you’re not afraid to tell me no
There’s a side of me that you understand, I don’t need to say a word
You take me just the way I am, now, I want to tell the world

Chorus

Darlin’ let there be no doubt about it, nothing but the honest truth
I’m going to stand up on some mountain top and shout it, just like I’m telling you

Your love is like a clear, blue sky, like a breath of wind
Not a cloud in sight, forever is all there is
It’s like a sunny day, after a stormy night
When the storm has passed away, standing in the morning light
It’s like I’m coming home again after such a long, long time
Your love is like a clear, blue sky
Oh your love is like a clear, blue sky
Clear, blue sky . . . Clear, blue sky

[Back to songlist]

PEDAL TO THE METAL

I GOTTA TELL YOU FROM THE START
I GOTTA TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT
THIS STORY IS THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHIN’ BUT
IT REALLY HAPPENED TO ME
ON A SUMMER DAY LAST JUNE
I WAS OUT ON A DRIVE WITH MY MOTHER
ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON
IF HAD BEEN RAININ’ ALL MORNIN’
THE SKY HAD TURNED TO GREEN
WHEN HER EYES GLAZED OVER AND I HEARD HER SCREAM
SHE SAID

JESUS, OH JESUS, JOHNNY MY SON
THERE’S A TORNADO IN THAT CORNFIELD
AND HERE IT COMES SHOULDN’T WE DO SOMETHING
MAYBE JUMP IN THE DITCH
WELL MY EYES GLAZED OVER I JUST TIGHTENED MY GRIP
I WAS A MAN POSSESSED BY A VOICE IN MY HEAD
THAT SAID PUT THE PETAL TO THE METAL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD

THERE WE WERE FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH
A SPIRAL UP TO HEAVEN I SAID GOD I’M NOT READY YET
DUST ‘N WEEDS AND CORNSTALKS SWIRLING ALL AROUND
COTTON WOOD BRANCHES CIRCLED TWENTY FEET ABOVE THE GROUND
THEN JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES WHEN I THOUGHT THAT WE WERE SAFE
THE DEMON OF A TWISTER CHANGED IT’S MIND AND TURNED OUR WAY
AND I SAID

CHORUS

JESUS, OH JESUS, MOTHER I CRIED
GET YOU FINGER NAILS OUT OF MY FOREARMS
CAN’T YOU SEE I’M TRYING TO DRIVE
ME AND THIS TOYOTA ARE DOING OUR BEST
WHY DON’T YOU SQUEEZE YOUR ROSARY TIGHTER
PRAY US OUT OF THIS MESS
I JUST TIGHTENED MY GRIP
I WAS A MAN POSSESSED BY A VOICE IN MY HEAD THAT SAID
PUT THE PETAL TO THE METAL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD

IT DANCED ACROSS THAT CORNFIELD LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE TRAIN
ROARIN’ LIKE SOME LION WHO’S JUST BEEN LET OUT OF HIS CAGE
AND LIKE THE HAND OF GOD IT PUSHED US CLEAN ACROSS THE ROAD
I FELT LIKE DOROTHY IN THE WIZARD WOULD I EVER SEE MY HOME
I WAS A MAN POSSESSED BY A VOICE IN MY HEAD
SAID, "PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD."

NOW THE FACT THAT I’M SINGIN’ THIS SONG TO YOU TONIGHT
IS PROOF ENOUGH IN MIRACLES
I SWEAR I TESTIFY THAT TWISTER SLIPPED BEHIND US
AND HEADED DUE NORTHEAST, MAN.
I GAVE HIGH FIVES AND WERE SILLY WITH RELIEF
SO IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN TROUBLE ON LIFE’S HIGHWAY DON’T FORGET
TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD

[Back to songlist]

That’s My Dad

Partial capo fourth fret with simple two finger bar chords

C                                      G
That's my dad    in the photograph
               Am                    F
Sittin in a boat     with his fishin hat
              C                        G
Smilin at me         smilin at life
                          F            G                     C
with a pole in his hand      just waitin for a bite

repeat same chords for second verse

C                                   G
I remember, me and my brother
                 Am                          F
Getting up early, before all of the others
                      C                            G
We were goin fishin’, just dad and us
                            F     G                            C
Down below the dam, before the sun came up

Chorus
F                                     C
Now my dad    he smiles at me
                           G                                  Am
from above the clouds    where the angels sing
                  F                               C Am
Sometime I feel a little tug on the line
                 F    G                 C
That’s my dad on the other side.

                               C                         G
Well my dad built pistons down at the factory
                            Am                                  F
He worked like a dog with twelve mouths to feed
                            C                                            G
But I bet he got a metal when he crossed the pearly gates
                                         F        G                             C
And I’m sure he’s up there fishin with saint Peter everyday

Repeat chours

Bridge
Am
Now I’m all grown up
                           G
I got kids of my own
                           F
Sometimes I’m a busy guy
                                     C
Always going down the road
                                  Am                        G
But I learned from my dad, to save a little time
                          F       G                      C
For the ones you love, before it all slips by

Instrumental over verse chords
Repeat chorus repeat first verse softly
Tag line, that’s my dad
On the other side

[Back to songlist]

MAKING HER MOVE

SHE’S PACKIN’ HIS THINGS
HER MIND IS MADE UP, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
NOW SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE NEEDS
STILL IT SCARES HER TO DEATH
TO RAISE A KID ALL ALONE
BUT HOW COULD SHE STAY, WHEN THE FACTS WERE ALL WEIGHED
AND THE SCALE FINALLY BROKE

CHORUS
SHE’S MAKIN’ HER MOVE
MAKIN’ NEW PLANS
TO STAND ON HER FEET, TAKE HER LIFE BACK INTO HER OWN TWO HANDS
SHE’S MAKIN’ HER MOVE
ONE DAY AT A TIME
STEP BY STEP, PRAYER BY PRAYER EVERY NIGHT
SHE’S FOUND THE COURAGE TO CHOOSE
NOW SHE’S MAKIN’ HER MOVE

SHE’S ALWAYS HELD IT INSIDE
UNTIL SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD BLOW
LIKE A BOMB WITH A CLOCK TICKING DOWN ‘TIL IT STOPS
AFRAID SHE’D LOSE ALL SHE KNOWS
BUT AFTER THE BLAST
SHE’S STILL HOLDING HER GROUND
SHE’S GONNA RAISE UP ABOVE, ALL THE RUBBLE AND DUST
SHE’S GONNA MAKE IT SOMEHOW

CHORUS

BRIDGE
MOVIN’ ON, MOVIN’ ON THROUGH
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF BLUE
SHE’S GONNA DO
WHAT SHE’S GOTTA DO

[Back to songlist]

God Knows Why

When Columbus sailed the sea
It was because to him it seemed
That the world was more than meets the eye
More than he could see
So he called upon his faith
And he raised his sails up high
And headed out across the great unknown
Thinking he would find, the other side
God knows why

Chorus
God knows why this little blue earth
Spins across this grand universe
Even when we think we're standing still
We're always moving, on the most beautiful ride
To God knows where, and God knows why

Now who would have believed
That a man would walk the moon
But when Armstrong took that one small step
It changed our point of view
It looked a million miles away
Still it seemed like we were there
Looking back upon our home we felt
We could go anywhere, if we just dare
We can make it there

Chorus

Why do we dream
What makes us reach for the stars
What is it inside us
That says follow your heart

Chorus
God knows why, God knows why

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WHAT IS

SURROUNDED BY MARBLE, AND THE SMELL OF FRESH CUT GRASS
THE PREACHERS TALKIN’ ‘BOUT GOOD DEEDS FROM THE PAST
RAIN IS FALLING ON OUR FACES, FALLING WITH OUR TEARS
LOSING THIS FRIEND HAS MADE ME LOOK BACK ON THE YEARS
I WALKED BACK TO MY CAR
BUT I COULDN’T TURN THE KEY
I JUST SAT ALONE THERE THINKING
THERE’S A LESSON HERE FOR ME

CHORUS
I CAN’T CHANGE WHAT WAS
AND WHAT COULD BE IS JUST BEYOND MY TOUCH
I’M GONNA TAKE MY TIME AND SPEND A LITTLE LESS
ON WHAT WAS OR WHAT COULD BE
AND A WHOLE LOT MORE ON WHAT IS

I SAT THERE IN THE SILENCE ‘TIL THE DARKNESS FILLED THE SKY
TAKING INVENTORY OF ALL I’VE DONE WITH MY LIFE
I FINISHED SCHOOL, TOOK A JOB, BOUGHT A HOUSE AND SETTLED DOWN
NOW I RARELY EVER TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY THIS LIFE I’VE FOUND
I’VE WASTED COUNTLESS HOURS
WITH ALL MY LOOKING BACK
AND WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GUESS WHAT’S UP AHEAD
I’VE BEEN MISSING ALL I HAVE

CHORUS
I CAN’T CHANGE WHAT WAS
AND WHAT COULD BE IS JUST BEYOND MY TOUCH
I’M GONNA TAKE MY TIME AND SPEND A LITTLE LESS
ON WHAT WAS OR WHAT COULD BE
AND A WHOLE LOT MORE ON WHAT IS

BRIDGE
MORE OF STANDING STILL
FEEL THE WARM SUN ON MY SKIN
MORE SOAKING UP EACH MOMENT
THAT’S HOW I WANNA LIVE

INSTRUMENTAL

I’M GONNA TAKE MY TIME AND SPEND A LITTLE LESS
ON WHAT WAS OR WHAT COULD BE
AND A WHOLE LOT MORE ON WHAT IS

[Back to songlist]

It's Not About Words

POETS’ PENCILS RACE ACROSS THE PAGES
ALL SO THOUGHTFUL, TURNING THEIR PHRASES
BUT TRY AS THEY MAY, WHAT THEY TRY TO SAY
CAN FALL SHORT OF THE MARK
SOMETIMES MISSING THE HEART

CAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT WORDS
IT’S JUST ABOUT US
THE WAY WE KISS, THE WAY WE TOUCH
YOU CAN’T DEFINE IT OR UNDERMINE IT
SEARCH THE WHOLE LIBRARY BUT YOU’LL NEVER FIND IT
SEEMS WITH YOU AND ME, IT COMES SO NATURALLY
WE DON’T NEED TO SPEAK TO BE HEARD
CAUSE IT’S NOT ABOUT WORDS

CHILDREN GET IT THEY CAN BE SO TRUSTING
SO LITTLE BAGGAGE, LIKE WHEN WE’RE TOUCHING
I FEEL THIS CHILD WITHIN, AND HE’S REACHING OUT AGAIN
RESTING HIS HEAD ON YOUR HEART
CRADLED IN YOUR HEART

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE:
LOVE, DOESN’T NEED TO SAY MUCH
IT’S UNDERSTOOD, IT’S SIMPLE ENOUGH

INSTRUMENTAL

REPEAT CHORUS

[Back to songlist]

All For You

THE SKIES OF BLUE
THE FIELDS OF GREEN
ALL FOR YOU
THE SILVER MOON, THE SHINING SEA
ALL FOR YOU
CHORUS
FOR YOU THE WIND BLOWS
FOR YOU THE RIVER FLOWS
THE EARTH SPINS ‘ROUND AND ‘ROUND
STARS SHOW UP WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
AND EVERYTHING YOU DREAM ABOUT
EVEN THE LOVE YOU DREAM OF, TOO
IS ALL FOR YOU
THESE ARMS, THESE EYES
THESE HANDS, THESE LIPS
ARE ALL FOR YOU
THIS HEART, THIS KISS
THIS SONG, THIS IS
ALL FOR YOU
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
EVERYTHING IS HERE FOR YOU
YOURS TO SHARE, YOURS TO USE
JUST REACH OUT WHEN YOU’RE BLUE
I’M HERE FOR YOU, TOO
TAG
THE SKIES OF BLUE,
THE FIELDS OF GREEN
ARE ALL FOR YOU

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CD Quotes

"With all the good records emerging on the pop side of folk, it's refreshing to hear one that's more unabashedly on the folk side."
to read the rest of this review of To The Four Directions, go to www.PureMusic.com

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To the Four Directions

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