I'm Gonna Hire Michael

Happy Birthday to Padre

Love your son, John

(Sung to the tune of I’m Going To Hire A Wino)

I’m gonna hire Michael to decorate our home

So you’ll feel more at ease here and you won’t need to roam

With bluegrass, country, folk and blues - all the music you can stand

Maybe you’ll take out that ‘ol banjo and join up with the band

There’ll be hookups for the power washer in every single room

So when it’s time to clean things you won’t need no broom

And dear ‘ol Mr Radio will sing his l’il heart out

As you do your yard work, plant the garden,

Clean the boat and walk about

Doorways will be customized like your flashy, fancy cars

Just one push on a button and they’ll open near and far

The Jag, the Porsche, the Viper and now the Lexus, too

It might not fit in your garage, but a Hummer’s next for you

The air you breathe into your nose will be carefully controlled

With just the right humidity, so there won’t be no mold

The days and nights of suffering from allergies and snot

Are forever washed away with a of snort from neti pot

Once a week they’ll send a van to fill the licorice stash

And on the way back out, they’ll take out all yer trash

The freezer will be fitted with the answer to your dreams

Unlimited production of OBMB ice cream

Your bedspread will be replaced by a windsurfer sail

And when you go to walk around, you’ll leave a water trail

In the closet you may find that your double-breasted’s gone

So stretch it out, zip it up, and put your wetsuit on

The basement walls will be torn down, put a big screen in its place

So you see all the action of explosions in outer space

You’ll see all your favorite actors as they shoot the bad guys down

‘Cos you’ve got the largest movie theater anywhere in town

And of all the alterations that anyone might perform

I think you will agree from in your house so warm

That the greatest decorations and architectural touch

Are just your friends and family who love you oh so much.

Slow Down

Slow Down (c)2013 John Meisel, Parking lot, Sterling, VA

CHORUS:

G C G F C G

people won't you slow down, slow down and smell the flowers

people won't you slow down, and take a look at what's around

Have you ever sat and watched the sky/On a slow and lazy afternoon

Sat and watched the soft, white clouds above?

Feel the sun against your skin and on your face

Let its warmth penetrate your shell/And open up to the joy it freely offers

Lay down flat against the ground/press your back into the fragrant Earth

Rest your head in a pile of leaves/dried golden in the daylight

Roll around and somersault, or turn a couple of cartwheels

And let the sounds of quiet sing you to sleep

CHORUS

G C G F C

remember back when you were young, doing what you wanted to do

G C D

spent your time with friends and by yourself

when did we lose that happiness and why did we choose to give it up

when we could keep the magic in our lives

well there's no need to worry friend/you know your days of love don't have to end

throw off your clothes and put on a smile/let's dance and sing for a little while

laugh in the nighttime, laugh all day/raise your voices and let me hear you say

CHORUS ...people won't you slow down

Paper Napkin

PAPER NAPKIN  (c)2013 John Meisel with Andrew and Brian Germain

Delaware Water Gap

(G)Look how far we've (D)gone today (C)walking hand in (G)hand

(G)Aye and our (D)footprints in the (C)sand so (D)swiftly (C)blow (G)away

CHORUS:

(G)Stare through the (D)window back to the (F)days gone (C)by

Paper napkin wipes a teardrop from my eye

Through my life I've seen, so many wonderous things

(G)Memories that (D)soothe my soul and (Bb)memo(C)ries that...

D A G D

(D)Walking by the (A)ocean, waves (G)splashing at my (D)feet

(D)The feel of (A)sun-warmed pebbles (G)swishing with the (A)water's (D)beat

(G)Sailed across an (D)ocean that (C)sparkled in the (G)sun

(G)Bathed me in a (D)brilliant gold when (C)every (D)day was (G)done

CHORUS

Descended a dark cavern to find what's under me

Looking for some answers, and what I found was deep

I found love and hate and happiness, some sadness and some doubt

More goodness than the badness, are a few that I found out

Climbed atop a mountain and surveyed the vast expanse

Seen the people running 'round, a great colony of ants

As distant noises carry on rushing in their frantic pace

I sit relaxed upon a rock just makin' notes about the race

About Having a Wife

About Having A Wife (c)2013 John Meisel, Grand Cayman Islands

(E)The sun goes (D)down and (A)rests in western (E)chair

Your soft hair in waves of brown smells of ocean air

When your body touches down, every curve is there

When your breath comes out, there's music in the air

E C#m D A

I have seen you dance, drawing curves of sound

The light of your smile, casts a shine all around

I never will forget, what a treasure I have found

You've never heard a voice so fair, though it's never loud

CHORUS (E)So this is what (Bm)life is like

(A)When you have a (E)wife

Think I'm going to like this life

Love it day and night

It's hard to think about the years before we met

And I wonder how much better marriage gets

I'm thankful for the love that binds us with its threads

You are on my mind from daybreak until bed

It's in the smallest things you do, thoughtful and such

A dinner planned for two, we sit out on the porch

Beauty in my day reminds me of you so much

There's never been a feeling like your loving touch

CHORUS

Mother's Day 2013, Four Generations

For Nana., On Mother's Day 2013.  (c)2013 John Meisel

We know you're not feeling as spry

Yet always you try.

You inspire and delight and gleam

And bearing like a queen.

The girls hardly know how blessed they are

To have such a Nana not far.

Plus Gramp's such a fortunate fellow

To have the flower you are, sunny yellow.

Laura and I are so lucky

To have such a Nana so plucky.

We're so happy to have you around

And grateful for whom Gramp had found.

Thanks for being a wonderful chatter

No matter the topic or matter.

Thanks for making your wonderful daughter

And letting three year olds swim Evergreen's water.

Happy Mother's Day!

…

For Laura, Mother's Day 2013. .

First one, then two, now three mermaids live by the sea.

You are our mama

We wish sometimes that there were more of you to go around

But that's only 'cause we love you so.

In time, we'll know there always was plenty.

As Lilah, I'm aware now that you are a separate being,

And am more relaxed with knowing you're still here.

Crying just lets you know how it feels to learn this, though we are all still One.

Thank you so for wanting me here, to bring alive a family of five, with my happiness and curiosity, and joy.

As Sasha, I'm the girl between, and only need to have my special time, and patience,

And before long, I'll have outgrown these instants of simply wanting to be the only at times.

I just need that extra moment to recombobulate, this I get from you, who needs it, too ...then it's all smiling eyes and outpouring love and laughter, impish.

As Aviva, thank you for letting me be the helpful big sister and mother's helper, yet always with special times to just be the ray of light that I am.

I am able to love, draw, sing, dance, story, and live up to name as songbird of spring because our home has been warm and rich, and loving like earth and sun, and sky.

Our Papa picked a keeper.

Happy mother's from your loving daughters.  .

…

For Madre, Sung to "my Bonnie lies over the ocean".

(Boggie being Grandma's nickname that has gained family notoriety)

My boggie lives by the ocean,

my boggie lived by a lake,

My boggie's retiring slowly,

A fun retirement to make.

You can teach grandchildren some stories,

And plenty a craft to create,

Glue buttons on fancy paper,

With personal themes that are great.

Your kayaks are ready for launching

The roads for taking long walks,

The beach's all full golden cringles,

And fireside singing and talks.

So get yourselves settled in one home

To have extra time for your kin

The seven grandkids will enjoy

Having it so, it's "win-win".

They want to learn songs from pushcart

Or how to paddle around the sea,

Read Harry the dirty dog

With our boggie by the sea.

Happy Mother's Day!

Love, the cast and crew.

Paddlin' Song

Paddling Song (c)2013 John Meisel

Isle of Iguana, Middle Caicos, (while lost for 5 hours)

Audience repeat phrases. To the steady rhythm of a kayak being paddled for hours.

Played slowly, soulful or reggae

(G)So may the waves (may the waves) keep rockin' (D)me (rocking’ me)

and may the (G)winds blow behind (D)me

and may the (G)ocean always be (D)green

so they will (G)all together (D)bring me where I want to (C)be

may the sun/rest his eye

and may the clouds/overhead fly

and may the rains/keep me dry

so they will all together bring me home by and by

may my eyes/clearly see

and may my hands/always be free

may my back/always be strong

so they will all together bring me home where I belong

where I belong…repeat and fade

Going Home (from New Zealand)

Going Home (from New Zealand) (c)2013 John Meisel, Rotorua, NZ

D C G D

Been five months and almost six/our time is winding down

D C G D

Can’t believe it’s half a year since we pulled into this town

Dmaj7 D7 G A

Seems that only yesterday excitement was all new

D C G D

But I sure am glad to be here and enjoy this time with you

We learned to drive with comfort on the left side of the road.

Say "good on you" and "hey you going"- once were new, now old

Our bodies’ rhythm so confused by seasons that are switched

That craving, yearning travel scratch has certainly been itched

Bm C G

CHORUS: We’re going home, familiar faces and sights

Bm C G

Going home, with a new lease on life

Bm A F C G

Eyes open round, might even see something new in our hometown

F C G F

Creating our own sacred place, know the world is a brighter place C D D C G D

Saw the Southern Cross one night while sailing Taupo Lake

That starry constellation showed us courses we should take

Lost our way in bay of islands sailing through the isles

Finally found our harbor, set our anchors for a while

In Rotorua feel the spirit, jambalaya in the street

Wander down Tutanakai, looking for a treat

I’m grateful for the company of all our new found mates

Invited us to dinner and told of trips that we should take

CHORUS: Going home…

Saw my wife, lovely Laura, come into her own

Jewelry in a gallery, and weaving here at home

People calling left and right to feel her healing touch

She makes our house a home and how I love her oh so much.

CHORUS