Shawnee Kilgore

Come to Bed

 

there’s a robin singing at your window

telling you the day is good

she says we got a good thing going

if I could sing a robin’s song I would

 

it was morning when I read your letter

it was evening when I read your face

well I guess I made a good impression

and I know I found a real good place

 

so go ahead and shine your brightest

go ahead until it’s true

come to bed when you’re ready

and sleep well when you do

 

there are parts of me that I don’t know yet

there’s a candle I have yet to burn

I don’t sleep and I am always hungry

I don’t know and yet I always learn

 

there’s a song for every savored moment

there’s a penny for our every thought

when I asked for what would keep me happy

honey you were what I got

 

now I don’t have a ring to give you

and I don’t have a lot to say

but maybe you can help me learn the banjo

and I can help you learn to play

yeah I can help you learn to play

 

so go ahead and shine your brightest

go ahead until it’s true

come to bed when you’re ready

and sleep well when you do 

 

go ahead and shine your brightest

go ahead because it’s true

come to bed when you’re ready

and sleep well when you do

 

sleep well when you do

Is This the Way You Feel

 

everything you live for 

is in this room

everything you die for 

let it pass you by for 

is gone too soon

 

is this the way you feel

breath upon the windows

fearing things you don't know

and loving anyway

trust the way you feel

the shadows in the moonlight

the promises you hold tight

'til the light of day

is this the way you feel

 

fading in the background 

we're coming clean

silent as the sun goes 

gentle as the grass grows

beneath our knees

 

is this the way you feel

how do you walk away from 

a lover when the day's done

just because it's time

trust the way you feel

how do we understand it

the pieces here that won't fit

a straight and narrow line

is this the way you feel

 

walk beside the ocean 

and never fear

take a look around you 

the universe has found you

your world is here

 

is this the way you feel 

flowers on the sidewalk

the beauty that you can't stop

the life you can't deny

trust the way you feel

to wonder how a heart breaks

with all the warmth the spark makes

it's tearing up the sky

 

is this the way you feel

would you hold me 'til the sunrise

find yourself in my eyes

knowing I will have to go

trust the way you feel

the rain against the pavement

we follow where the day went

it's all we ever know

is this the way you feel

I Made You a Promise

 

Well I was the one with that look on my face

as if every last breath was a prayer I could trace

you know I’m just a poet and I’ll be all right

‘cause it’s three in the morning and I saw you tonight

 

it’s three in the morning as it always is

when all the best hearts are home feeling like this

and I’ll make up my bed with the warmth of your smile

and I know that it’s late but I’ll play for a while

 

‘cause I made you a promise that you never heard

I don’t know what it meant but I meant every word

I just know how it happened, not how it should be

and I’ll wake to the sun and thank god

 

you were the one with that look in your eye

as if every last breath was a reason to fly

I gave you my blessing, you gave me your name

spelled just like the Spanish and mine like the plains

 

and I took one more drink and you played one more song

and a jar full of moonshine well it ain’t full for long

and the warm air is laughing, I wish that I knew

how it felt to be there in the space next to you

 

‘cause I made you a promise that only you heard

and I wrote you the song but you know every word

I just know how it happened, that’s all we can see

and I’ll wake to the sun and thank god 

you saw me

 

so I might come to find you with a song on my lips

and truth on my tongue when it finally slips

I guess I’m just a poet and I’ll be all right

‘cause it’s three in the morning and I saw you tonight

My Devil Says to Me

 

when you gonna be a folk star

my devil says to me

‘cause you can do it all for freedom

but you can’t do it all for free

you got nothing in your pockets

but a winded minor key

when you gonna be a folk star

 

when you gonna be a big girl

my devil says to me

‘cause you’re old enough to know

it’s your responsibility

but you’re shy about the telephone

you’re shy about your dream

when you gonna be a big girl 

 

when you gonna be remembered

my devil says to me

‘cause you’re singing them your songs

and then they’re floating out to sea

are you holding something back

or have you let them go to seed

when you gonna be remembered

 

why are you so happy 

my devil says to me

I hurt you but you wouldn’t ever 

dare to set me free

I do my best to keep you from 

the lap of luxury

so why are you so happy

 

I’m happy that I’m grateful

and I’m grateful that I’m kind

you’ve got your own free will my devil

just as sure as I’ve got mine

and you can live the life you want

if you can love the life you find

I’m happy that I’m grateful 

you can live the live you want

if you can love the life you find

I’m happy and I’m grateful

 

yeah but when you gonna be a folk star

my devil says to me

when you gonna be a folk star

Screen Door

 

I could tell you had a secret

I could tell you had a song

I could tell you wouldn’t keep it

through the night

until the dawn

 

oh and you don’t stop a’rockin 

come come a’knockin 

on the screen door after sundown

there’s an old moon rising

stars in her eyes 

and she can laugh ‘til the work 

is done now

 

could it be that I was restless

could it be I wasn’t well

I’ll be dancing in my best dress

and I will give the angels hell

 

oh and you don’t stop a’rockin 

come come a’knockin 

on the screen door after sundown

there’s an old moon rising

stars in her eyes 

and she can laugh ‘til the work 

is done now

 

‘cause something happens in the moonlight

something happens in the dark

there never was a way to swoon right

it just depends upon the spark

 

oh and you don’t stop a’rockin 

come come a’knockin 

on the screen door after sundown

there’s an old moon rising

stars in her eyes 

and she can laugh ‘til the work 

is done now

Ships Are Meant to Sail

 

ships are meant to sail boy

and yours will have its day

I’m coming here to tell you 

I’ve got some things to say

oh I’ve got some things to say

 

it’s always good to see you

I love to watch you shine

and I love to be the quiet 

I know you need sometimes

oh I know you need some time

 

but some other day

some other life

we’ll take all these chances 

and make them all right

when love is a language 

I can’t figure out

could you be with the one

that you can’t be without

 

ships are meant to sail boy

you’ll make it from these shores

home is just an island

and I’m wishing I was yours

oh I’m wishing I was yours

 

I take you as you are

you’re always on your own

I hold you when you let me

and leave the rest alone

oh leave well enough alone

 

but some other day

some other life

we’ll take all these chances

and make them all right

when love is a language

I can’t figure out

could you be with the one

that you can’t be without

 

you will find my heart 

in a boat beside the bay

but I’ve lingered long enough

and now I best be on my way

oh I’ve lingered long enough

and now I best be on my way

Big Damn Hurry

 

 

dust on the grey cars

there’s more of it on ours

we don’t have to know flowers

by name

 

growing carrots and swiss chard

and chicks in the backyard

we play and we play hard 

 

‘cause everybody’s in a big damn hurry

everybody’s in a big damn hurry

everybody’s in a big damn hurry

 

stand in the tall grass

it grows and it grows fast

summer will not last

the fall

 

so take off my silk dress

in the heat it’s a hot mess

it seems like we’re scared less 

 

but everybody’s in a big damn hurry

everybody’s in a big damn hurry

everybody’s in a big damn hurry

 

growing carrots and swiss chard

our chicks in the backyard

we play and we play hard

Dragon Slayer

 

catch my feathers as they fall

they’re bound to reach you after all

you heed the wind 

I heed the call

 

call me patient 

call me brave

come seek the treasures in my cave

I’m learning how to misbehave

 

tell me something if you would

the tales a feather catcher could

it’s where I’ve loved 

it’s where I’ve stood

it’s where I wait

 

leave your patience 

leave your gold

leave your secrets safe untold

oh come with me the time has slowed

 

leave my petals ‘round your door

and leave my scratches on your floor

I know you better than before

 

tell me something if you would

the tales a secret keeper could

it’s where I’ve loved

it’s where I’ve stood

it’s where I wait

 

backyard beauty six string player

late night duty dragon slayer

moving slowly takes a little time

counting streetlights guarding towers

bending breaking endless hours

just to know the only thing that's mine

 

backyard beauty six string player

late night duty dragon slayer

touch the flame the night delivers

breathing fire seething rivers

avalanches wind and weather

if we go we go together

second chances home fires burning

midnight harvest light returning

 

backyard beauty moonlit glances

fascinations circumstances

back to sleep and back to dreaming

back to songs instead of screaming

counting streetlights guarding towers

bending breaking endless hours 

just to know the only thing that’s mine

 

tell me something

if you would

the tales a dragon slayer could

it’s where I’ve loved

it’s where I’ve stood

it’s where I wait

Broken Anymore

 

I will find the words one day

and they’ll be simple

and I smile when you say

well now isn’t that from Kerouac

I said I’m happy that you know that

I said I’m happy

 

it’s time to live the life I’m given

time to give what I’ve been asking for

if I pretend that I’m not breaking

honey maybe I’m not breaking anymore

maybe I’m not broken anymore

 

once upon a time I sought light

in the darkness

I’d forgotten mine

I’d forgotten how to trust

that I’m in tune and I’m on time

and I’m happy

 

it’s time to live the life I’m given

time to give what I’ve been asking for

if I pretend that I’m not breaking

honey maybe I’m not breaking anymore

maybe I’m not broken anymore

 

I will find the words one day

Concordia, KS

 

I never really thought that much of kansas

until I stopped for coffee in concordia that day

I was thinking life is only what it hands us

and I forget about the things 

that happen when we look away

 

I’m leaving you the miles 

and the time

and I’m leaving you for now 

but I’m not leaving you behind

 

I know a straight road back to kansas

I know a straight road back to knowing

just enough to get me by

I know a straight road back to kansas

back to kindness in a small town 

and a twinkle in my eye

 

I never really asked about your family

and I never really told you 

why the sleep just wouldn’t come

I wondered if your heart 

would understand me

how I knew I’d have to go 

before the gravity was done

 

I’m leaving you the miles 

and the time

and I’m leaving you for now 

but I’m not leaving you behind

 

I know a straight road back to kansas

I know a straight road back to knowing

just enough to get me high

I know a straight road back to kansas

back to kindness in a small town 

and a twinkle in my eye

 

back to kindness in a small town 

in the sky

 

I’m leaving you the miles and the time

I’m leaving you the blessings 

of the fading highway signs

I’m leaving you the color of your wine

I’m leaving I’m not leaving you

I’m leaving I’m not leaving you 

behind

 

I know a straight road back to kansas

I know a straight road back to knowing 

I will find you if i try

I know a straight road back to kansas

back to kindness in a small town

and a twinkle in my eye

 

I know a straight road back to kansas

I know a straight road back to knowing

that goodbye is just goodbye

I know a straight road back to kansas

back to kindness in a small town

a twinkle in my eye

 

back to kindness in a small town 

in the sky

 

I never really thought that much of kansas

until I stopped for coffee in concordia