GETTIN' OUTTA TOWN - Michael B. Crittenden
©2015 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Gettin’ out of town Drivin’ in your car
Pullin’ off the road Stoppin’ at a bar
Yeah, we’re heading out tonight
The mirror compass reads “N”
Feels so free to be this direction again
Feel the pavement turn to dirt
And the deer go on alert
On the road we’re coming down
When we’re gettin' outta town
Ahhh - and it feels so good
'Cuz when everything seems wrong
The best medicine I’ve found
is gettin' outta town
Heading to the place
that’s always on our minds
Nothing we gotta do
and we're wondering what we’ll find
Now the hammock rests
When the book falls to your chest
Aren't you feeling better?
Feel the pavement turn to dirt
A shot of whiskey for desert
It takes a while to settle down
When we’re getting’ out of town
Ahhh - and it feels so good
'Cuz when everything seems wrong
The best medicine I’ve found
is gettin' outta town
Now we’re heading back to town
The weekend was the best
But if you want to feel the magic
You've got to leave a while, I guess
But we’ll be coming back
Cuz we just can’t settle down
No way, baby
We love gettin’ out of town
GOT THE RADIO ON - Michael B. Crittenden
©2018 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
I'm sittin in a rowboat
I'm 8 years old
On a mission with a bobber
and my Zebco fishing pole
Gonna sit here all day
Ain't never comin' in
'til my Mom rings the dinner bell
Then I'm right back out again
Got my transistor radio - playin my favorite song
And there's a red winged blackbird
He's singing along
I got braces on my legs
Crutches in the bottom of the boat
They say I'll never play football
That's what the doctors wrote
When I'm down at the schoolhouse
some kids, they like to stare
Can't do much with gym class but I don't really care
Cuz I got my piano and I got my Elton John
And every waking hour I got the radio on
I love Peter Frampton
And now I hate him too
cuz he stole my girlfriend's heart
nothin' I could do
Her Mom took her to his concert
Mine wouldn't let me go
But I'm gonna keep practicing
Gonna be her show
Me and my big brother
We work for our Pop
Every day after school
down at his flower shop
we're watering the plants
cleaning the johns
but we don't mind it
we got the radio on
When I'm down at the schoolhouse
Some kids like to stare
Can't do much with gym class
But I don't really care
Cuz I got my piano
And I got my Elton John
And every waking hour
Got the radio on
THE BALLOON - Michael B. Crittenden
©1993 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Before the fire where's my invitation
to find you
What do you see Is it different from me?
Why can't we keep this thing in focus?
Differences keeping us at bay
we were picking through the building blocks
Looking for some close to crumbling
Finding out soon
Blowing up the balloon
How much can we take?
It's an apathetic kiss
It's keeps coming back to this
After the fire
what's my obligation to need you
What will I see
Will I be free from
the boundaries of our being
And the limits of our loving
And the bitters of our breaking
And the loneliness of myself
will the shaking stop
Turn around, send me on my way?
Finding out soon
Blowing up the balloon
How much can we take?
It's an apathetic kiss
It's keeps coming back to this
Gonna face the day It's alright
RAVEN’S GAME - Michael B. Crittenden
©2016 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
I’m a big black bird
Sittin’ on your fence
Outside your window
Staring at your nest
You’ve got what I want
and you don’t even know
I’ve got you in my sights
You’re part of my show
I’ll start with your eggs
I’ve got an appetite
and I won’t quit cuz I’m
never satisfied
And I don’t even know your name
But I’ve got your number, it’s all the same
it’s a Raven’s Game
You and I We may never meet
I might pass you by
hoppin down your street
just remember
when you swipe your card
if I’m next in line
It won’t be very hard
And I won’t get caught
I do this all the time
Buy whatever I want
cuz your name is mine
And I don’t even know that name
But I’ve got your number,
it’s all the same. it’s a Raven’s Game
And I’m going to hell
for what I’ve done
but I don’t care
cuz it was kinda fun
Cuz I’m a big black bird
Sittin’ on your fence
Outside your window
Staring at your nest
FIND SOMETHING GOOD
Michael B.. Crittenden
c2023 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Not gonna worry
Don’t even bother
No self torture
Not gonna suffer
Seems like a struggle
Looking up a ladder
But when things are horizontal
They just don’t seem to matter much
Enjoy the moment
Find something good in each day
Not gonna worry
Don’t even bother
We’re gonna wake up
And start all over
Laugh like the children (the bairns)
Live with the reason
Adjust the attitude
Change with the season
Enjoy the moment
Find something good in each day
Not gonna worry
Don’t even bother
We can always wake up
And start all over
Another sunrise
Presents it’s vision
How will we spend it?
It’s our decision
Enjoy the moment
Find something good in each day
THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME - Michael B, Crittenden
©2020 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
I like sitting on the couch
Winter blanket on my lap
Coffee and a cat
And I like playing my guitar
With the TV volume down
Such a lovely morning sound
But all I really want is to wake up feeling happy
Just to spend the day with you is all I need
There are so many things that I dig about living
But the most of all I like the way you look at me
And I like sleeping in a tent
With the spring rain sprinkling down
Such a lovely morning sound
I like drivin' 2-track roads
Through a thick patch of trees
a cold beer between my knees
But all I really want is to wake up feeling happy
Just to spend the day with you is all I need
There are so many things that I dig about living
But the most of all I like the way you look at me
When you look in to my eyes
It pierces deep into my soul
Finally feel like someone understands me
Finally feel what it's like to be whole
I like paddling around
On a little lake in my canoe
such a lovely morning view
And I like later in the day
With all our friends gathered 'round
The golden sun it's going down
But all I really want is to wake up feeling happy
Just to spend the day with you is all I need
There are so many things that I dig about living
But the most of all I like the way you look at me
CANYON OF MY SOUL
Michael B. Crittenden/Phil Biggs
©2022 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Standing at the canyon's edge
Long shadows cast all around
Contemplate the journey left ahead
How much time we have
before the sun goes down
Now that we are on the descent
Working to enjoy every mile
Wading through the good times we have spent
We're just trying to go out in style
Deep waters flow across this river I must go
This valley is so vast and in control
I’ll dry these tears that I’ve wept
And I’ll take another step
And course across the canyon of my soul
As I try to become friends with my fear
This high desert wind blows cold
New trails will take me far from here
But there’s fire in the canyon of my soul
Deep waters flow across this river I must go
This valley is so vast and in control
I’ll dry these tears that I’ve wept
And I’ll take another step
And course across the canyon of my soul
Now we’re staring up the other side
Can we make it? Quite a climb
It’s easy when you do the math
Cuz we’re well into the second half
Deep waters flow across this river I must go
This valley is so vast and in control
I’ll dry these tears that I’ve wept
And I’ll take another step
And course across the canyon of my soul
FENCES - Michael B. Crittenden
©2023 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
It's taken a while for it to turn gray
Used to be bright now showing it's age
there's a couple boards missing
where the kids can sneak through
when they run from the cops
for doing stuff that kids do
There's a red ratchet strap
and a bunch of clothesline
that holds it together Fixed so many times
And the posts are no longer
attached to the ground
They're rotted right through
they're campfire bound
Keep the animals in Or keep the animals out
Hide away from our fear Is that what it's about?
Yes, that is your yard and yes, this is mine
but fences will fall down just a matter of time
I've got a new neighbor With a legal green card
I should walk over But it's kind of hard
Guess I'm narrow-minded
Just the way I was raised
But we noticed their children
were so well-behaved
Then our son met their daughter
and there was some big concern
But they threw in a fence post, watching it burn
"Don't talk to those people", was my father's advice
But they seemed kinda like us
once we cut threw the ice
We invited them over and we shared a beer
The fence fire warming us, melting our fear
They asked lot's of questions without judging us
Aren't we all just people?
What's all the fuss?
Keep the animals in Or keep the animals out
Hide away from our fear Is that what it's about?
Yes, that is your yard and yes, this is mine
but fences will fall down
just a matter of time
STARBUCK'S - Michael B. Crittenden
©2012 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Sitting in the Starbuck's
Waiting on a friend
I used to think I loved her
Now I'm thinking it again
There's an older couple
at the table next to me
a glimpse into my future
as they sit there silently
Then the door flew open
In came my old friend
My stomach did a somersault
Just seeing her again
I said "you look amazing"
She said "So do you"
I know I truly meant it
and I believe that she did too
i asked about her family
I haven't seen them all in years
She talked about her husband
But that part I didn't hear
She asked "Are you and Kate still married?"
I said "we're still doing fine"
Most days everything is perfect
But we both knew it was a lie
So much I like to tell her
Finally get it off my chest
But keeping it inside me
Would probably be the best
But will I ever rest?
And just when I was thinking
I might say what's on my mind
She said she should be going
So outside the Starbuck's
I say goodbye to my old friend
I used to think I loved her
And now I'm thinking it again
PORCUPINE - Michael B. Crittenden
c 2003 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
People come and people go
When they find they've got a hole in the soul….and
we can bat or blink an eye
we can start to sympathize
and we can drink a thousand drinks
and we can bathe in the sink
then the pain always seems to die
I'm just getting started
With the possibilities
Gonna lose the anchor now, gonna do just what I please
we're brokenhearted
For no good reason
And the porcupine in my life
is always trying to get inside but not this time
cuz I'm sitting on the bench watchin all the ladies
and the black & tans are good and tan
Living in the Yucatan
And every day is good
I'm just getting started
With the possibilities
Gonna lose the anchor now, gonna do just what I please
we're brokenhearted
For no good reason
Yeah, it's summertime
and we wave sparklers around our happy heads
But when the glitter quickly dies we sleep in separate beds
But we can leave the porcupine
We can sit, enjoy the time
cuz every day is good
I'm just getting started
With the possibilities
Gonna lose the anchor now, gonna do just what I please
And I’m just getting started
For all the right reasons
WORTH THE WAIT - Michael B Crittenden
©2017 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
I remember going out on the town
Just hoping that she’d come around
I’d meet a nice girl now and then
End up home, home alone again
When will I wake up to find
Someone who’s honestly mine?
And in a northern twist of fate
A friend set us up on a blind date
It turned into 3 wonderful years
And I’ve learned to forget my fears
Now I am waking to find
That you were there all the time
Ten years of questioning fate
But you were so worth the wait
We’re not searching anymore
Just enjoying the ride
Just happy to be here with you by my side
Now we are waking to find
That we’ll share the rest of our lives
There’s no more questioning fate
Cuz you were so worth the wait
Yes you were so worth the wait
GOT THE HOTS - Michael B. Crittenden
©2018 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Turned the thermostat down
but it’s still a hundred degrees
I got a fever and if ya don’t believe me take your hand and feel my head
I’m uncompleted, engine overheated
My skin is turnin’ red
I got the hots
I got the hots for you
Do you think I’m cool, bay-by
Do ya dig me too?
Is it hot in here or is it just me?
'cuz I’m losing my balance
and I can’t see
Don’t make me take a shower
in the cold water
Before we go to bed
Cuz you’re the only woman
with the power
to fix my crazy head
I got the hots
I got the hots for you
Do you think I’m cool, bay-by
Do ya dig me too?
I never did believe in magic
til the day that I saw you
But now I know
Now I know just what to do
I got the hots
I got the hots for you
I think it’s cool, bay-by
That ya dig me too
Hot potata, you’re a sweet tomata, you’re a love tornada
Why don’t you blow me away
FOREVER FAMILY - Michael B. Crittenden
©2023 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
They named me Rufus
and I'm six months old
Chihuahua mixed with beagle
at least that's what I'm told
From a single-wide trailer
with 13 other pups
Now I'm at the shelter
and my listing just went up
I'm kind of shy and I don't do well with men
Wherever I end up
I hope I don't go through that again
But I show potential
and I promise to be good
I'll be a nice addition to your neighborhood
Someday soon - I need to find
That I'm leaving my past life behind
Someday soon - I hope that I will be
With my forever family
My name is Zazu
and I was born 4 months ago
I'm healing from a broken leg and yes, it pains me so
I'm a tabby & a tiger and I'm cute as I can be
Now I sit hear in the shelter waiting patiently
Someday soon - I need to find
That I'm Leaving my past life behind
Someday soon - I hope that I will be
With my forever family
Well Rufus became Ollie,
he got lucky one fine day
And Zazu became Zuzu
now together they do play
Her little leggie it is healing
and Ollie's not so shy
The storm has now blown over
now it's only blue sky
And nowadays - they both find
That they're leaving their past lives behind
and everyone is happy as can be
They found their forever family
PETEY'S SPOT - Michael B. Crittenden
2019 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
For our brother Peter Martin Weiblen
06/26/63-12/3/18.
Gone but never forgotten.
We love you always, Otis!
Walkin down to the river
I can feel your presence
but yet you're not here
bottle of red stuffed inside my waders
and a little flask of bourbon
to sip on while it breathes
As I step into the water
I can see your special spot
just a hundred feet upstream
And now I'm sittin’ on your log
Listening to the frogs on the shoreline
Sing our favorite song cuz here I'm with you
Sittin on your log
8 months since you left us
And I know you didn't want to go,
but you had no choice
Sometimes it seems like
your just on vacation
And you’re saying you’ll be back
I can hear your voice
And when you return
The home fire will still be burning
And we’ll be sittin’ on your log
Listening to the frogs on the shoreline
Sing our favorite song cuz here I'm with you
Sittin on your log
It’s after dark, guess I should be going
The moon shines on the current
As I’m wading back downstream
How I’ve enjoyed our time together
It nice to know where I can go
And always find you here
Goodnight my old friend
Until we meet again
We’ll be still sittin’ on your log
Listening to the frogs on the shoreline
Sing our favorite song cuz here I'm with you
Sittin on your log
PORCH - Michael B. Crittenden
©2010 Mackinaw Harvest Music (BMI)
The sky is getting light and my boots are wet from walking through the grass
A wake from a mallard, but otherwise the water is glass
For a moment, habit makes me wonder what time it is
But steam from the coffee cup is fogging up the lens of my watch
There’s a job back home, today we won’t be there
‘Cuz we’re here right now without a single care
Just a morning on a porch on the edge of a lake
Lined with pines
The sun is getting high, and I’m wading in the lake up to my knees
Late summer sound of cicadas buzzing in the trees
You’re flipping through a magazine on the dock, it’s Friday afternoon
And all our friends from back home are on their way
They’ll be pulling in soon
We were so impressed they found the driveway in
And we will raise a glass and let the laughs begin
There’s a party on a porch on the edge of a lake
Lined with pines
Though we are tomorrow’s past
Let’s do our best to make this last...gonna make it last
Now it’s time to start thinking ‘bout downsizing this life of ours
Give most of it away, pack the rest in the back of the car
And when we pull back in our life will all be here
And we will raise a glass to our remaining years
There’s a pair of rockers on a porch on the edge of a lake
Lined with pines
Just another chapter of a porch on the edge of a lake
Lined with pines