Singing My Song For You - Pat Buckna Let’s all sing some Dylan or a little John Prine We’ll remember the words most of the time We'll try to sing onkey and we’ll have a good time Singing these songs for you Maybe sing some Townes or a little Guy Clark Writers like that they tear a hole in your heart There's so many tunes and not enough time You end up singing your life away There's a time and place for each and every song A time and a place where they all belong There's reallynothing you can do to get it wrong So let's all sing our songs today I spend a lot of time singing other people's tunes And that's just fine, I sing my own songs too Doesn't really matter, it's my favourite thing to do Singing these songs for you I woke up this morning with this tune in my head It bugged me and bugged me till I got out of bed I hummed it and strummed it till my fingers bled Played the whole day away How did it find me, I cannot say Where had it come from in its own special way It's a mystery for sure and I'm thankful today To be singing this song for you Some songs are gifts dropped in our hands Others are struggles come with big demands But they're all are worth hearing, all should be sung Each and every one There's lots of tunes I could have chosen to do But this is the one that I chose for you I'll try my hardest even though it's quite new This is my song for you Let's all sing some Dylan and a little John Prine We'll remember the words some of the time Try to sing on key but have a good time Let's all sing our songs today

Johnny Was a Chevy Man - Pat Buckna Johnny was a Chevy man Man he loved his cars You can’t beat a Chevy, he’d say with pride Ford’s will two-bit you, they’re a terrible ride But my brand new Impala’s got a powerglide Man he loved his cars Johnny was a Chevy man He took good care of his cars Off each week to the Rocket Car Wash A wax and a polish with a super soft cloth Johnny was a Chevy Man He took good care of his cars Johnny was a working man He laboured his whole life Had no use for those bosses in the office Didn’t give a damn about profits or losses Johnny was a working man Who laboured his whole life Johnny was a quiet man Never had much to say Lost his first family in an ugly divorce Abandoned by the church, filled with remorse Johnny was a broken man Who kept things to himself In the years that mattered what I wanted most Was something he couldn’t [give An encouraging voice, an outstretched hand Something other than a reprimand Something to help me understand I mattered as much as those cars Dad was a Chevy man Man he loved his cars Those cars meant more than I ever did If he cared at all he sure kept it hid Dad was a Chevy man Man he loved his cars Today I drive a Chevy But it’s just a car Gets me to places where I need to go It’s old and rusted, and I don’t really know How much longer it can stay on the road It’s just a car Dad was a Chevy man Boy he loved his cars

Choices - Pat Buckna You say I should forgive you Forget the things you’ve done You’ve changed, you’ve grown, you’re not the same I’m still your only one You may be right, it’s hard to say But you made a choice along the way Did you forget? You went away Now you have to live with that I thought that I could fix you That you’d tire of this game But you’re not broken, you just don’t care That I’m a moth to your flame I may be right, it’s hard to say But we all make choices along the way You made a choice not to stay You have to live with that You say I should know better You say I need to grow You say Ill regret you More than I’ll ever know You may be right, it’s hard to say But we all make choices along the way I didn’t leave, you didn’t stay We have to live with that I believed you when you told me That we’d never part But then you left without a word My world fell apart Next time was no different You begged me to return I took you back to my bed But not without concern But now I do know better I know you’ll never change You still think that I’m fool That I’ve stayed the same But listen close now when I say I made my choice, now go away And don’t come back another day You’ll have to live with that I’ll have to live with that We’ll have to live with that

It's Too Quiet Here Today - Pat Buckna It’s too quiet here today I can hear my days ticking ]away Now that you’ve [gone, I wish you’d stayed It’s far too quiet here today It’s too cold outside Convinced myself I really tried A chilly wind blew our love aside Now It’s far too cold outside Never worried about the bridges I crossed Everything I set aside, all the friends I lost But now it seems I’ve lost my way It’s far too quiet here today Something bitter fills the air Wonder how much I really cared Could’ve tried harder, laid myself bare Something so bitter in the air It’s too dark everywhere I turn Wonder how much I really learned Could have done better, shown more concern It’s far too dark everywhere I turn Never worried about the bridges I crossed Everything I set aside, all the friends I lost But now it seems I’ve lost my way It’s far too quiet here today No regrets that’s what they say But it’s far too quiet here today Too bitter and too cold, too dark too alone It’s far too quiet here today

Lost in Conversation - Pat Buckna Each day when I board the bus I see her sitting there Gazing out the window Hands waving in the air Sometimes she laughs, sometimes she shouts Sometimes just stares Lost in conversation A woman sitting there Perhaps she’s reliving What happened long ago What went wrong, what could have been A secret no one knows And I can only wonder Why she chooses to be here Lost in a conversation That no one’s meant to hear Is she talking to a loved one Someone she wants to see again? Or a person that she once loved And wants to make amends I wonder where she’s headed Where she comes from and why She’s lost in conversation With no-one by her side Is she lost or seeking comfort On this seat in this bus? Cruising down familiar streets Along with all of us She doesn’t have a cell phone I know she doesn’t care She’s lost in conversation With someone who’s not there Each day when I board the bus I see her sitting there Lost in conversation A woman sitting there

A Salesman Who Never Quit - Pat Buckna One day before my shift at the fertilizer plant I looked at my wife and I said “I hate this job, I hate the commute It’s the worst job I ever had” She looked at me without blinking an eye Said “You know what I think” If you hate it that much, probably best if you quit.” So I called up my boss on the telephone I said, “I won’t be in today Not tomorrow or next week. or any other day. I hate the drive, I hate the work I’m sick of you telling me what to do I want you to know I’m finished - I quit.” I put down the phone and I looked at my wife “Ok, now what do we do?” “Let’s sell the house and head to the coast Where we can start anew I’ll play music or get a better job Everything will be okay.” And that’s just what we did, we were on our way I got a job selling fibreglass for a man with a shady past Every day he had a brand new scheme I knew it couldn’t last I applied for a job, took an aptitude test And got called for an interview “Over 700 applied,” said the man “And I’m choosing you.” I got hired that day, got a company car And a big expense account Had to wear a tie and go out and buy a polyester leisure suit My trunk was filled with product brochures And samples to give away A list of clients and an order book I was on my way They sent me an a course so I could learn About what I was supposed to sell Pesticides, insecticides, fungicides as well Tried to convince me they did no harm But I knew that wasn’t true Selling poisons was something I couldn’t do I drove around from town to town In my leisure suit and my tie Visiting clients, but not taking orders Said they’d be rolling in soon This went on for nearly a year Until one day I got a call The regional manager was here and wanted to meet “Make sure you bring your order book Make it snappy and don’t be late.” I knew he’d want an explanation I had to think of something to say I drove to the meeting in my company car Didn’t bother with my suit or tie I knew my time was up but I didn’t care “Tell me why there are no orders?” I tried to explain How a crisis of conscience prevented me From making any sales “Then why the hell didn’t you just quit?” I knew he wouldn’t understand I handed him the keys to the company car I never told him how much I liked the car The wages and the expense account How I despised that leisure suit And the poisons he wanted me to sell Figure I’d done a mighty fine job Until the day I got caught A pesticide salesman who didn’t quit and didn’t sell

Just Chillin' - Pat Buckna Across the street at the Dairy Queen All us cool cats making the scene Cutting classes and and it feels just fine Stepping out across the line He looked out the window, glanced at his watch She ain’t coming, she ain’t coming She ain’t coming Don’t worry I said she’ll be here She’s coming she’s coming We cleaned out our lockers, wandered the halls Dreaming about summer and the end of it all Glad to be done with this boring high school These no-nothing teachers and their idiot rules Principal Bryan he’s such a schmuck Nasty Old Jagoe, she really sucks The only one who isn’t a pest Is ourEnglish teacher ]Gloria, she’s the best Stopped by her class just to say goodbye She waved us in as we were passing by What’s happening boys she said with a grin Not much Gloria, barely hanging in Listen Gloria, I’ve got an idea, you’ll like it, you’ll like it We’re heading over to the Dairy Queen Come with us, come with us Gloria sighed her voice filled with fear If they catch me it’ll end my career You won’t get caught, whadd’ya say? Come onGloria, come out and play We’ll be there at a quarter to three Come join us, come join us It’ll be a blast, we’ll save you a seat C’mon Gloria, come join us So we ducked out of school, snuck out the back Ran across the road, didn’t look back ] Chose a table with our backs to wall Where we could lean back, keep watch on it all He looked out the window, glanced at his watch She ain’t coming, he ain’t coming She ain’t coming,I told you Don’t worry I said she’ll be here She’ll make it There’s a teacher at the door, I heard someone cry There’s no way to get out, no place to hide Then Gloria walked in, waved to the crowd Walked up to us and then she sat down She let out a laugh then she lit up a smoke I [told you she’d make it, I told you. So here we all are at the end of the year Cutting classes, sitting right here Coffee, cigarettes and frozen treats Everyone’s chillin’ across the street At the Dairy Queen, Just chillin’ With Gloria,good old Gloria

Many years ago, I hopped into my van Toured all over that north coast land Sang in the schools, slept in the halls Dreamt about the summer but I'm living in the fall In the pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain Booked a one-way ticket on a train to the sea heading to the Charlottes and that golden spruce tree BC ferry lurched across the strait Crossing was rough, got there late In the pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain I saw a picture in a book when I was just a child Of a golden spruce, so mighty and wild I asked the man, can you show me that tree Of course, he said, take a walk with me In this pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain So we hiked through the forest in the drizzling rain To my colour blind eyes, the trees look the same Where is it? I asked, well he said, it's right there But I couldn't see it, it didn't seem fair In the pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain But as I stood in that spot, staring at the trees In the midst of the downpour, I thought I heard the sound Of a heartbeat for a moment, soft touch there on my shoulder The whisper of someone so special, so kind, so much in my mind Someone so close, too little time Someone I needed to hold that night, someone I wanted so much Many years later I heard the tale How another man walked down the same forest trail, Stood where I'd stood stared up at that tree Had something to do that would set him free In the pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain Well he swam that river with a chainsaw in hand Walked up to that spruce so golden and grand Felled that tree and then he disappeared Was it madness made him do it, was it fear, Or was it Just the pouring, pouring North Coast rain When it was time to leave, now I had to take a plane So I waited out All day in the pouring rain Sat there drenched by the steady downpour Fog was a-swirling, I was soaked to the core In the pouring, pouring, pouring North Coast rain I heard the drone of an engine and the clouds began to break Tiny plane landed on the surface of the lake The sun was shining once we rose in the air It felt so good to be out of there And all that pouring, pouring North Coast rain But as I sat in that plane I kept looking at the seat Empty beside me, thought I heard the sound of a heartbeat For a moment, soft touch there on my shoulder A whisper of someone so gentle, so kind so much in my mind Someone so close and too little time Someone I wanted to hold that night, someone I wanted so much Ah Shirl I want you standing here beside me in this corner of the world Yes Shirl, I want you here tonight seeing these sights Holding me tight in the shimmering light Of the moon tonight, and these northern lights Dancing, yes they're dancing in a cloudless sky In the years that followed life changed in many ways I gave up my music and my love moved away A new love found me now it's been thirty years City almost killed us so we moved up here Now we make our home the best that we can We live a fine life in this North Coast land Music all summer, all winter and fall We love sunny weather we never notice at all Any pouring, pouring North Coast rain

Pale Lights - Pat Buckna And do you ever wonder where those good times go Have you worried that you'll never know Do you ever want to just let it all go And must it hide inside you Like pale moonlight, northern nights that guide you All the towns, all the rounds behind you Are you still looking for a place your size Did you see it in another's eyes Did all your promises turn to lies Were you left to believe in Pale moonlight, northern lights to guide you All the towns, all the rounds behind you Do you ever think of what could have been Does it ever feel like it's closing in Do you long to be on the move again Is your time for seeking That pale moonlight, northern lights that guide you All the towns, all the rounds behind you Now do you ever worry this may never end Do you long to see your family and friends Case counts are rising again We need something to believe in And do you ever wonder where those good times go Have you worried that you'll never know Do you ever want to just let it all go And must it hide inside you Like pale moonlight, northern nights that guide you All the towns, all the rounds behind you

Leaving No Life Behind - Pat Buckna This kind of life ain’t no life at all You feel it all slippin’ away One piece at a time, another song, another rhyme Soon you’re left with nothing to say One day I woke up to an empty house And a note pinned on thefridge My wife and her boyfriend had taken a trip They’d [left with all the kids She didn’t know how long they’d be gone Or even if they’d be back But I better not forget to feed the dog The rabbits or the cats That was the day I decided to go Escape from the mess I was in An unfaithful wife, unsatisfied life Battles I could no longer win How bad could it be, it can’t be worse Than what I’d already been through Left the family behind, out of sight, out of mind Time to start anew So I jumped in my truck and I drove away I left as fast as I could For an uncertain future and a better life Traded my home for the road I quickly found comfort in a new woman’s arms Enraptured by her charms I thought I was free to finally be me And she'd keep me safe from harm Every night was a joy each day a surprise \Much better than it’d been back home Without any care I was floating on air Until one morning I woke up alone My new lover dissapeared without warning No reason, no hint, no clue She could be trouble all I knew was she’s gone There was nothing I could do Life on the road ain’t no life at all You feel it all slippin’ away One piece at a time, anothers ong another rhyme Soon you’re left with nothing to say Later she called, said she was sorry Asked if I’d take her back She’d needed a break, but now it was time For us to get back on-track So we drove off together like nothing had happened Headed for a brand new new day I had my doubts, but set them aside Certain it would be okay Next time she left she took all my money Stole my truck and drove away Pawned my guitar, left me high and dry Disappeared into the states Then when she called, like I knew she would I pleaded with her to return I wanted my truck but I still couldn’t quit her, Still had more lessons to learn How many times must this happen, How often will I fall For a bat of an eye, a wink and lie A promise that means nothing at all This kind of life really ain’t no life No matter how much you pretend You can fool me once, fool me twice But you won’t fool me again After too many nights of dealing with crazy I knew what I had to do Quit the road, get a job Find a place to start anew Then wait for the day, when she’d have to leave Even offer to help her go Drive her to the plane and head back home Then disconnect the phone Cause this kind of life was no life at all I felt it all slippin’ away One piece at a time, another song another rhyme Soon I was left with nothing to say Stuck in a rut, I knew in my gut We're going nowhere jus wasting time Running a race I could never win A mountain I could never climb But I couldn’t ever win ‘till I jumped off that train And left it all behind

The Dancing Lesson - Pat Buckna You got me on the dance floor and took my hand Said, here's a little lesson I know you'll understand Just push like this and pull where you want, Then before you know it you'll be Sliding and a'gliding moving at a trot, Dancin' and a glancin', and then you know what Every step you take I'll be moving with you it's really that simple, really kinda easy, Really nothing to it, That's all you've got to do We got together now lickety-split Never had a chance to examine it A night became a week and a week became more Then before you know it we were Sliding and a'gliding moving at a trot, Dancing and a glancing, and then you know what Every step you take I'll be moving with you it's really that simple, really kinda easy, Really nothing to it, that's all you've got to do I hope that this dance could last forever I don't want these old songs to end I never thought that you'd get me dancing But I guess sometimes you just have to let Someone bring you out a bit Guess sometimes you have to push on through And let someone get close to you Well, there ain't no reason to question now You find out all the answers anyhow #ach of us gets just what we deserve Then before you know it you'll be Sliding and a'gliding moving at a trot, Sancin' and a glancin', and then you know what Every step you take I'll be moving with you it's really that simple, really kinda easy, Really nothing to it, That's all you've got to do

Anti-Social Media Blues - Pat Buckna Everyone I meet’s been acting strange Everywhere I go it’s all the same Cold wind blowing’, mighty chill in the air No one seems to notice, nobody seems to care No one’s talking, no one speaking up Staring at their phones, can’t seem to get enough Texting and tweeting and reading fake news It’s enough to give you the anti-social media blues There was clown in the big house, riots on the hill We’re all sitting ducks, ripe for a kill Don’t look now, you’re the next in line Don't need to see the movie to know it won't work out fine This ain’t no place we ever wanted to be Said we’re making progress, but we never get free Every path we take leads to another locked door You know full well we all been here before We’ve fallen back to the bad old days Same old mistakes in brand new ways Making poor choices, just look around Water’s is rising, time to seek higher ground No one is listening, no one’s getting up Staring at their tablets, or at their coffee cups Skyping and a’hyping and believing fake news It’s enough to give you the anti-social media blues Everyday something else seems gets worse System’s breaking down, we’re under a curse Like BB says Baby, “The thrill is gone.” Time to make some changes, time to be moving on ‘Cause our freedom is eroding, times are getting tough Ain’t no denying we should have had enough Don’t take a genius to see what’s going on Any fool can tell ya what’s happening is wrong Yet no-one’s complainin’, no one speaking up Too busy taking selfies, too distracted to look up Texting and tweeting and spreading fake news It’s enough to give you the anti-social media blues