Dozen Roses
You know that old rose bush
we left tattered and torn?
We were careless with it baby
‘till all was left was the thorns.
And I would have said
there was nothing good left to keep
But that old rose bush was strong
and the roots they were deep.
So walk with me baby Out past the garden row
There are two new branches Where a dozen roses grow,
I nearly missed it but I think you’d want you to know,
there are two new branches where a dozen roses grow.
It was a long, cold winter
filled with darkness and doubt.
We took the love the good Lord gave us
and turned it inside out.
And I would have said
that we’d a seen our best days,
but little by little baby
and come what may.
So walk with me baby, out past the garden row.
There are two new branches where a dozen roses grow,
I nearly missed it but I think you’d want you to know,
there are two new branches where a dozen roses grow.
Now the whole world is blooming
just like it does every spring
Let’s plant us some seeds and seed what it brings.
So walk with me baby…
In My Care
Baby it was two parts me and two parts you.
We sure did wind it up but couldn’t follow through.
We should have taken their advice
but we cut, cut, cut, cut first, we should have measured twice.
And when it all went bad, it made me sad,
‘cause your heart was in my care
yes, I’m aware, your heart was in my care…
We never had any doubts.
We thought we were going north but we were headed south.
And when it all went bad, it made me sad
‘cause your heart was in my care
yes, I’m aware, your heart was in my care…
Now I just trusted myself,
that was my first mistake.
I should have asked for help
but that’s not something I could take.
Yes, I’m aware, your heart was in my care…
Couch Detective
Thought I was in the clear,
thought I was all set up
but baby you can’t drink
from an empty cup
We sat around, and watched it all go down
like a plane crash in slow mo.
Hell yeah, we fell but from what I can tell
we never hit the ground.
Yeah, I got a new perspective.
I’m a couch detective.
Floating in the air, clues everywhere now
I just don’t care.. anymore.
We didn’t head for the hills
didn’t go on the run.
No we stood our ground and did
what needed to be done.
We stood around, and watched it all go down
like a plane crash in slow mo.
Hell yeah, we fell but from what I can tell
we never hit the ground.
Yeah, I got a new perspective.
I’m a couch detective.
Floating in the air, clues everywhere now
I just don’t care.. anymore.
Hey baby let’s party down,
let’s join the crowd
I think we’re out of danger
let’s kiss a stranger
Yeah, I got a new perspective.
I’m a couch detective.
Floating in the air, clues everywhere now
I just don’t care.. anymore.
My Heroes Are Much Different
As I stand before you today
with a story to tell and a debt to pay
to everyone with that thirst
to put their own selves last
and other folks first
my heroes are much different today
my heroes they’re not same
they stand up when you’re down
they get it done somehow
now I remember being 15
living in a rock and roll dream
my heroes tacked up on the wall
long hair and leather, man they had it all
I read every shred I could find
fanzines and records filled my mind
I dreamed of that glorious day when
I would play my song for them
now my heroes are much different today
my heroes, they’re not the same
they stand up when you’re down
they get it done somehow
Now do you remember back in ‘010
when the river rose
and topped the levee again
something changed,
would never be the same
everything we built swept away in the rain
but then a truck rolled up, and then another
with water and food and blankets and lumber
strangers pitched in, like we knew each other
like we were kin, like we were sisters and brothers
my heroes are much different today
my heroes they’re not same
they stand up when you’re down
they get it done somehow
New Promised Land
We are brothers and sisters
we all come from God’s hand
we share every breath we’re taking
every woman and every man
Let’s get together, side by side
sharing our treasure, arms open wide
let’s get together hand in hand
building a new promised land
We can love each other
the invitation extended to all
we will hear freedom ringing
when everyone finds a place to belong
Let’s get together, side by side
sharing our treasure, arms open wide
let’s get together hand in hand
building a new promised land
Now we have seen days of sorrow
we know we’ll see them again
but I have faith in tomorrow
you and me we are one
Let’s get together, side by side
sharing our treasure, arms open wide
let’s get together hand in hand
building a new promised land
The Flesh is Weak
I do my laundry Friday afternoons
Sometimes Janey’s there,
me and her are cool.
She’s loves dogs and kids,
volunteers at the homeless hall
yeah, Janey’s heart is big
but her underwear sure is small
so meet me on the mercy seat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
the cycle is stuck on repeat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
The wash spins round and round
and the dryer dries
her dotwork tattoo
sits pretty on her thigh
I ask her how her parents have been
she’s says it’s kind of me to pay that notice
Lord, you know that I care
but it really ain’t my focus
So meet me on the mercy seat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
the cycle is stuck on repeat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
Lord, I know it’s Your cosmic joke
You made me this way
and that’s the way it goes
I bet you smile and give the angles a wink
when you look down to take a peak
‘cause the spirit is willing..
but the flesh is weak
So when it’s all said and done
the spirit may be willing
but I like my fun
and I know it’s not news to you
it ain’t particularly profound
but that’s the way it’s been
since we been walking around
so meet me on the mercy seat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
the cycle is stuck on repeat
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
Soccer Mom
She caught my eye at the end of the isle
She said, “Hon, I like your smile.”
And that’s the way things go,
down at Trader Joes
Come on, come on, come on
Pretty soccer mom
She slipped me her number in the frozen section
I guess I made a pretty good impression
that’s the way things go,
when things begin to flow
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
take a vacation in my arms
pretty soccer mom
Week nights was homework
with their kids
church on Sunday and soccer,
that’s what her family did
but every Wednesday afternoon
couldn’t get here too soon
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
take a vacation in my arms
pretty soccer mom
She didn’t have to explain it
and you know she never would
She just said, ”Hon….
you make me feel so good.”
Pretty soccer mom….
Now I was out of town when it all went down
and from time to time, I still see her around
but she just crosses the street,
so distant and discreet
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on, come on
take a vacation in my arms
pretty soccer mom
I Wish You Luck (Finding a Better Man)
Wasn’t I home every night for dinner
with you and the kids?
and there wasn’t a single soccer game
or school show that I ever missed
and I loved you so much baby
but I guess you had other plans
I wish you luck finding a better man
Didn’t we have most everything
we said we ever wanted
we had a home and family
way up from where we started
and I loved you so much baby
but I guess you didn’t give a damn
I wish you luck finding a better man
now I still don’t know how I let you down
but your leaving me, it left me on the ground
but today I’m feeling someday
I’ll find someone some way
who will love me for who I am
I wish you luck finding a better man
I wish you luck, finding a better man
Until the Day that I Walked Through
On a tree-lined street, in a two-story home
a young boy was running up and down the stairs alone
more lonesome than most, I suppose
empty hallways and doors that were always closed.
Jesus, I guess I opened the door
maybe You opened it too
all I know is I never did see much light
until the day that I walked through
On the TV I saw a boy and his father
he was showing his son how to cast his line farther
together down at their secret fishing hole
showing him how to hold his very first fishing pole
Jesus, I guess I opened the door
maybe You opened it too
all I know is I never did see much light
until the day that I walked through
Now I’m thankful for tender mercies of course
with all that was absent and all that was lost
puzzle pieces you never know that you miss
tonight I tuck my son in with a good night kiss
Jesus, I guess I opened the door
Or maybe You opened it too
all I know is I never did see much light
until the day that I walked through.
All songs Copyright David Brauner