Shay Gestal
Violinist, singer-songwriter
Louisian
I left my hat on some old park bench
In broad daylight in Birmingham
I left my boots on the porch at Sam's ranch
And I left my heart in Louisian
I left my dog back home in Houston
Left my card with a music man
I left my truck door wide open
And I left my heart in Louisian
Yeah I left my heart where the fiddles roar
And the cajun beat rattles old dance floors
Where the one I love takes me by the hand
Yeah I left my heart in Louisian
I left my pride in Oklahoma
When I learned that I wasn't all that grand
I left my wallet - dangit - in North Dakota
And I left my heart in Louisian
Well you know that I have lost most things
A time or two but my wedding band
'Cause when you're far away I have those rings
Lord take me back to Louisian
Sinkhole Waltz
The snow melts away like a glacial parade
And the wool on your bed peels open the day
And the eyes of the dove they watch as you play
With the mud and the dirt and the frogs in the clay
You sense the rain from miles away
And you still hear the crickets' low hum the next day
And you know there is toil that gallops your way
In the knock of your heart and the grass as it sways
Oh what is lonely and where is this land
Of sinkholes and stallions, stirrups and sand?
Oh what is grey and where is this land
Of sinkholes and stallions, stirrups and sand?
Oh of stirrups and sand
The sad dove he cries, then flaps into dust
For Samantha he's bound, to win back her trust
And doesn't he know she's burning with lust
As he's carried away to her with a gust
And you look at your knees all muddy with earth
Poets speak plainly about their own worth
And infants cry to mourn their own birth
And crickets call out their thirst
The Co-Pilot Song
Well I left my home for Tennessee
Got stuck somewhere near Abilene
And watched the geese running from July
Then I hopped a train for Santa Fe
They kicked me out in Chateguay
And every night I watched it rolling by
And the sun shines high over clear and cloudy sky
And it warms everybody's porch at just the right time
And I guess that it don't matter much where you go
As long as you've got four wheels and a good companion to get you down the road
Well you took my hand and said to me
C'mon let's see where this leads
And we got lost every time
But we felt the wind every day
And helped a young girl find her way
You told her she was loved and it would be just fine
And from the tent next to me
You talk about the lives we lead
And grace that captured your whole heart
And it dawns on me that it may be
That train, that truck and everything
It knew I needed you right from the start
The Miles Between Us
When you see a fiery bed of leaves
Do you wonder why they fell?
If that was you would you leave the tree too
Or stay lonely for the view?
And when you touch the coals and they turn to dust
Do you want to cry?
'Cause they blow alone to no particular home
And flicker 'til they die
So hold on dear
Hold on my dear
Hold on until you hear
The miles between us disappear
Does a bite of blueberry pie
Make you turn your head?
And does it taste the same sweet way
As it would if it were shared with a friend?
Carve
You said the wood holds the art
You said it's good for the heart
You said that it's all in the blade
And you said the grain will show you the way
So I carve and whittle smooth
The bark on my heart from losing you
And the knots are tough and it takes time, so much time
But your knife's sharp
Oh and now it's mine
You said it's a scoop, not a chop
You said it's a glide off the top
You said some things that I didn't hear
Like the woods are alive and know no fear
Birds Still Fly
It's a rainy month in old Colorado
Folks grumble with the sky
Uncle Jim wears it on his skin
And sighs
It's a rainy month on this side of the porch
My flowers died
And these songs won't pay the bills but I
Can make 'em cry
My hat's wet but my eyes are dry
As light flashes 'cross that bruised and endless sky
The grass is green and the birds still fly
The birds still fly
It's a rainy month and you're still on my mind
Like cherry wine
You drizzle cold and soft and low like what
I left behind
It's a rainy month in old Colorado
But the birds still fly
It's a rainy month in old Colorado
But the birds still fly
The birds still fly
The Prayer
One lost canoe, one broken oar
By grace and dumb luck makes it to shore
'Cause Mama Ship is searching out there
I am that baby boat, you are the prayer
One ugly gash riddles its shell
But the helpless seed finds roots somehow
'Cause somebody's sweetheart needed it there
I am that broken seed, you are the prayer
I am the step into the sea
You are the lighthouse that makes me believe
I am the kite, you are the air
I am the wandering soul, you are the prayer
I am the sheep born to roam
You're Teresa, Pio and Joe
You are the hand when nobody cares
I am that wide-eyed lamb, you are the prayer
Paint Your Toes
You're outta here
That New England winter's bitter and it's tougher than you are
This time of year
You trade two weeks notice for a one-way ticket to the clear
So paint your toes, get cozy in that crowded window seat
Remember everything you didn't pack
And as you take off, look down and you'll see me
Loving you until you get back
I hope you find
Greater joy than you'd dared to hope for
In your mind
Well-deserved by somebody so beautiful and kind
And as you fly to that sunny, sunny sky
Remember there's not a thing you lack
Yes as you fly to that sunny, sunny sky
Know there's nothing that you lack
The Limp
He bustles in as fast as his bad leg allows
Struggles through the door and he turns himself around
I watch him as he fills two Dixie cups with water
That spill as he makes his way back out to that cold, cold winter
To that cold, to that cold
And in that red leather seat with my favorite cup of tea
The barista smiles 'cause he knows how happy it makes me
And the fire warms my soul with each fragrant sip
And my heart, oh my heart, oh my heart aches for that limp
Nobody reaches out as he stumbles on by
I look around, sad that they don't help, but neither do I
'Cause nobody wants to look into the face of the homeless
And nobody wants to be the one to mop up the mess
To mop the mess, to mop the mess
His face is blank and calloused as he soaks the heavy door
He's used to awkward glances, he just doesn't care anymore
Helplessly paralyzed I watch him leave
With no idea how lonely helplessness can be
Lullaby
Done is the day
Lay down your sweet head
Feel your troubles melt away
Come rest in your bed
You are cherished always
Held in love and grace
And I know you feel afraid
But you've never been more safe
Beans 'N' Blues
Flowers and piles of dirt
Mud on your face, grass on my skirt
You'd strum that old guitar all day
You weren't that good anyway
Remember when the briers crept in
We banded together to win
United, but what can I say?
It wasn't that great anyway
When you left my heart fell right out of my lonely chest
Somehow it must be for the best
So I'll start anew, with my pride and a bruise
So much for Beans 'n' Blues
I feel your touch in morning dew
When crabapples bloom, I picture you
Making that ridiculous face
You drove me mad anyways
You left your words on my brain
And old barn boots out in the rain
I'll shake you off someday
You're kind of a jerk anyway
On
All your friends and family gather 'round to see
In a room so full of love I've never felt so lonely
And as the music starts to play and the lights slowly fade
It's the perfect ending to your perfect day
And she sure is beautiful in that white dress in your arms
I'm caught up in your smile and you're caught up in her charms
It's a fairytale come true and I'm so happy for you
I just pray someday I'll move on
I wish that we could all go back in time
But I know that nothing I could change would ever make you mine
And by the look on your face you've got the right girl in lace
And I'm clinging to what's left of second place
So raise a toast to the bride and groom
And a love so strong and true
My heart hurts but I can't help feeling
Happy for you
Disconnect
You're late again like I have come to expect
You care for me when it's convenient
When push came to shove I was all alone
'Cause your heart and your timeframe are all your own
Oh, yes they're all your own so
Be still my heart, don't you know
No good can come
And your good sense
Won't save you now
One thing I've learned in this uphill fight
Excuses are pointless when it's just not right
'Cause how many times have I put my hope
In a disappointment, oh but I should have known
Oh, yes I should have known so
And I don't mean to come off harsh, I've just gotta convince myself
That disconnect is ultimately better for my health
It's sad to have to lower expectations for you, oh
But it's what I have to do
Violet
You make me write songs about your beauty
You make me dance unashamedly
You make me high, oh high on smiles and sunshine
You make me want to live my life big and free
I tend to walk into my future blindly
I seem to blend accidentally
But we burn so bright and you just feel so right
That it would be too easy not to leave
And here's to hoping that I don't find love here
Oh Violet you're so far away from everything I know
Oh Violet you're so far away from home
Why'd you have to go and turn my heart
To the hills that never lose their grace
You're the sun-filled sky and the twinkle in my eye
I'd drive forever just to see your face
I think they're right that we belong together
But knowing how that'll look is tough
'Cause I think you're best as a tattoo on my chest
But here's to hoping that'll be enough
Baby Blue Room
Baby blue room with a bright green floor
And Natey is pulling my hair
I run inside and I slam the door
To wait with baited breath there
Oh Tom's in the kitchen with Mom making chicken
While Lily plays outside
Running for cover as clouds roll in
She shows up happy and tired
And the rain sounded like home
As it pattered the window panes
Of my baby blue room
He kissed me goodnight for the very first time
And I floated on up to my bed
Thought to myself as I closed my eyes
How can life be this good?
And the rain sounded like joy
As it pattered the window panes
Of my baby blue room
Boxes and bags and dishes in stacks
Pictures I drew on a shelf
Years have gone by since I've been here, now
Packing up for someone else
Oh I grab my last pair of boots with a sigh
And realize this must be the end
The sky starts to cry for an age gone by
And for things that'll never be said
And the rain sang to my soul
In memories pure and sweet
Of my baby blue room
My heart and my home, it's time to go
One last time
From my baby blue room
Painted
Banging on the door to find it's painted on the wall
Silence can be deafening when you know you gave your all
Plans fail, seasons change, dreams get brushed away
Leave you empty handed with nothing left to say
But if you knew (if you knew)
What's ahead of you (what's ahead of you)
You would see the purpose of what you're going through
Just cling to the things that you know are true
'Cause just out of sight, up ahead the sky's
A brilliant blue
Sometimes the joy's in the journey after all
even in all uncertainty
Sometimes the hardest fought battles of your life
Form only poet's tragedy
Not right now, not today
But maybe tomorrow holds something great
Just hold on, hold on
And keep the faith
November Sunburn
Like a November sunburn
You crawl right back under my unguarded skin
And like a November sunburn
I can't help but savor, savor the sting
Let me tell you my fool-proof plan
I vow to myself every time
I'll forget the way you make me feel
And without you I'll be just fine
'Cause I am one tough gal
I make up my mind and I stick to my ways
But my hardest thought up, it'll-work-this-time plan
Melts at a glimpse of your face
And I struggle and try and I fight for my life
For some way to lift this curse
But like shaking my fist at the sun pouring down
God I'm only making it worse
Runnin'
I like to run in circles, I run in the street
I run in the dead of night, I run in bare feet
I run in the blazing heat and in the pouring rain
I'm pretty sure dripping sweat flushes all the pain
They say when I run away
I miss the beauty of the day
Isn't that cliche?
And so I'll smile and I'll wave as I'm
Running to the beat of my foot-pounding drum
And when my feet begin to bleed I'll run until they're numb
I'm running everywhere I go, running in my mind
'Cause running is the best way to spend your precious time
With You
She broke your heart on your birthday
Like a cruel joke or a tragic kind of play
And it doesn't make sense but you want her back the same
And you can't think of anyone but yourself to blame
Well life is tough and love is mean
And it hurts like hell when your high hopes don't turn out like they seem
And there's nothing I can say to change the way this is
But I'm glad that I get to walk with you through it
Oh I'm glad to walk, I'll always walk with you through it
Smack dab in that awkward in-between phase
Your self-esteem took a hit, now you can't quite replace
And no one understands the pain you're going through
The mask you wear to keep from tears is taking a toll on you
And now you're in the middle of the scene you always prayed would never
Happen to you
The pain is just too real and only time can heal the sting but until then I'm by your side
And 'til the night is through
The Co-Pilot Song
Well I left my home for Tennessee
Got stuck somewhere near Abilene
Shay Gestal © 2013 | Privacy Policy