Nolan McKelvey

Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Easy Feeling

We're deeper in debt as we American dream
In this culture of surface that we esteem
When you're sitting on top of the world it's a long way down
But we've always kept our feet on the ground

A simple life and a simple home
Living off the yearnings of ardent souls
Take what we need nothing more-or-less
We've got big hearts and no one to impress

Chorus:
You and me we never had money
We found a way to laugh even when it wasn't funny
I've got an easy feeling hard times are coming now 

I can't claim victim but I can say I was fey
History was calling nobody heard it say
This is the why the where and the how
I've got an easy feeling hard times are coming now, coming now

Chorus
Chorus

Vital Signs

Last night while you were sleeping I felt you breathing my head upon your breast
Last night while you were dreaming your heart was beating it echoes in my head
If we time it right, if we time it right, if we time it right we can make a new life
If it's in your eyes, if it's in your eyes I know I'll recognize these vital signs

Last night while you were pleading I know you were bleeding another month passed us by
Last night while you weeping I rocked you to sleep in my arms held tight
If we time it right, if we time it right, if we time it right we can make a new life
If it's in your eyes, If it's in your eyes, I know I'll recognize these vital signs

The look on your face, leaving no trace of our heart's desire
My heart is racing anticipating tonight is the night
The rhythm of the waves setting the stage in the moonlight
As we embrace we know we are slaves to the tide

If we time it right, if we time it right, if the timing's right we can make a new life
If it's in your eyes, if it's in your eyes, I know I'll recognize these vital signs

Last night while you were sleeping I felt you breathing my head upon your breast

Sign of the Times

Standing in the remnants of Andy Womack's Pink Flamingo Motel
The dust has hardly settled at my feet and they're already starting to build
Another big-box store so we can be just like every other town
The same colors the same shapes the same names and the same sounds
We're in Babylon

Chorus

We've got everything in excess we've got white lines and dollar signs
and it's all under the banner of progress it's the sign of the times

They got rid of McGaw's newsstand Gopher Sounds and the local news
Now all the information is filtered through the hands of the few who get to choose
Guided by the eye in the sky they focus in on the fear
Telling us exactly what we'll be and what we want to hear
We're in Babylon 

Chorus

These unique boutique mom and pop's are getting harder to find
All the Interstate Highways are showing the driver's what they hang on the exit sign
No local architect no local art no local radio
From the left coast to the right it's the same wherever you go
We're in Babylon

Chorus

Chorus

REGARDING PROPOSITION (H)8 –

This ship is sailing on a sea of change
If we choose to embrace instead of estrange
If you’re not on board you’re already late
It’s just a matter of time before love conquers hate

They say love your neighbor and turn the other cheek
That the earth will be inherited by the meek
Let’s take this country forward have a look at your faith
It’s just a matter of time before love conquers hate 

It’s just a matter of time (3x) before love conquers hate

Just as single drops of rain flow into a stream
The stream into a river the river to the sea
Our tide is rising don’t be left in the wake
It’s just a matter of time before love conquers hate 

It’s just a matter of time (3x) before love conquers hate

And there’s no such thing as separate but equal
They’re quoting chapter and verse while we’re writing the sequel
It’s simply equal rights there can be no debate
Just image the world that we could create

It’s just a matter of time (3x)before love conquers hate

This ship is sailing on a sea of change
In another twenty years we’ll look back on this with shame
If two people love each other we should celebrate
It’s just a matter of time before love conquers hate (repeat)

The Best is Yet to Come

We're coming on, five years strong and we've had our ups-and-downs
But I'd never doubt what we were about we'll make the best of what we've got
I still believe, with you and me, the best is yet to come
And I thank the stars above that the one that I love is lying here in my arms

Tradition holds, that it's wood I'm told, to celebrate five years
If it's wood and it's wire and it's my hearts' desire, I know I've got nothing to fear
Because I still believe, with you and me, our song has only begun
With this melody and sweet harmony, as three is from two, we are one

And I can barely believe, it feels like yesterday
Down along the creek, beneath the cottonwood shade
We could barely speak, over cicada's serenading
Tears rolled down my cheek, and we were celebrating 

I still believe, with you and me, the best is yet to come

Fireflies

Tonight the sky is dry lightning and lord knows we need the rain
The stars and shadows and spotlights are water color grays
Trees breathing with the wind in unison they sway
The path of our persistance has taken my breath away

Chorus

But these fireflies Shining bright
Remind my weary soul
Of Summer nights and starry-skies
Far-far away, far away from home

Last call as water falls and you're deep in the fields of my mind
Tonight I'm writing tonight I'm pining my heart's lost in these lines
Nobody knows me like you know me and I can almost taste the rain
As the water starts falling I can here you calling me calling me back home again

Chorus

Chorus

I've been driving from town-to-town up and down this coast
With double-yellow lines on these winding highways from the peaks to the valley below
When the pavement ends and the gravel begins I can see your fireplace smoke
With the porch light shining I'm finally finding my way, finding my way back home

Entwined

On this day each year we pilgrimage here with Spring's scent in the air
The flowers fall down like snow on the ground and her memory is everywhere
We were young and free when we planted these seeds and they arose side-by-side
Just like you and me they blended their leaves until we couldn't each be recognized

Chorus
No one ever knew the fruit that grew wild from our vines
Shaded from the sun and rain until our roots became entwined
Entwined

In Spring the blossoms bloomed again, lured birds from near and far
On Summer nights by the firelight as the larks serenaded the stars
Autumn's wonder showed our true colors and the leaves peaked before they died
In winter we found our empty boughs kept reaching up for the sky

Chorus

I return alone to the place that we'd know, where I laid her in the ground
And stand beneath the cross of the one that I lost and the rain came pouring down
I know that someday this is where I'll lay in Spring as the blossoms bloom
It's the most serene that I've ever been and I hope I can join her soon

Chorus

Grave Digging

Chorus:
Digging our own grave, six feet under ground
Bed's already made, but I ain't gonna lay down
Flood and drought, hurricanes spinning round
We're digging our own grave, six feet under ground

Two feet in the rubble and we're just breaking earth
We got a whole lot of trouble hands are covered in blood
I'm leaning on my shovel because it's hard-hard work
But if it don't bend you double it ain't got much worth

Chorus

Next two feet and we're further in the spoils
We sow and we reap as we sweat and we toil
We're in knee deep and you can feel it starting to boil
And we're only getting deeper into this mortal coil

Chorus

Last two feet and the tempature won't drop
Nobody's planting seeds, nobody's harvesting crops
Will there be anyone left to make this mercury stop?
Will there be anyone left to throw the dirt on top? 

Chorus
Chorus

Diamond Mine

There's a light in your eyes, behind the darkness it looms
A smile so bright, it flashes it's white, filling up our empty room
Moves west with the ringing of the bells, the warm glow of the sound
The touch of your hand and our names in the sand, spiraling round-and-round

Chorus:
And it shines in the dead of the night
When the moon dances in the pools of your eyes
We swim in the darkness down toward the light
Deeper-and-deeper we dive until the diamond in your heart is mine

We laughed as the letters, were swept away with the tide
Your almond eyes dark, reflecting the spark, from somewhere deep inside

Chorus

Even just before the dawn, as the waves serenade the stars
You pull me into your arms, you can't hide who you are

Chorus
Chorus

There's a light in your eyes, behing the darkness it looms

Song of Hope, Song of Joy

You focus your lense, try to capture the scene
But there's more that makes sense, in the spaces in-between
No border no frame, could keep us from the dream
That the order can change, if we'll just believe

So you're standing at the river, at their imaginary line
And the lights begin to glimmer, over on the other side
When you are delivered, bright lights shining in your eyes
There's a difference to consider, between what's shiny and what shines

Chorus: 

And we're praying that you're gonna make it
To the land of hope the land of joy
And the spririts inside us saying
It's time for singing with one voice

So you take that first step, with St. Christopher to guide you
But don't you ever forget, it's not where you are it's what's inside you

Chorus
Chorus

All We Ever Needed

Looking at the towers on the mountain high above this town
Wondering who they’re talking to and if they can hear the sound
Of the demolition as the walls come tumbling down
Until all that’s left is the foundation and we start breaking ground

It used to be the only thing to fear was fear itself
Somehow in seventy years we’ve learned to fear everybody else
So many threats to address our security and our wealth
It’s time we face our faith and redeem ourselves

Chorus

Because even if all the institutions fall We’ve still got something to believe in
Looking back as far as I recall each other is all we ever needed

Looking up at old glory searching for a sign
Of the collective theme we seem to have lost overnight
A little bit of humanity that we could stand behind
But even in our darkest hour I can see her stars shine 

Chorus

So many years since we filled the lawn of the monument
Since Dr. King dreamed and we dared to share the sentiment
We’ve been waiting for somebody to lead us to an end
If I know my history the people begin the movement 

Chorus
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