Heads You Win/Tails I Lose
Lyrics by Ralph Sherven
Music by Terry Sherven
2016
Heads you win and tails I loose
In love I’ve never won
I drown my sorrows, cry the blues
Both tears and beers roll down
Heads you win and tails I loose
My winning days are done
What more can I loose, I’ll wallow in booze
I’ll swim in gin by-gum
Just before the bottle woman
I was straight and kind and true
Just before the bottle someone
Drove me to drink and it was you
Heads you win and tails I loose
I’m sorry I met you
So give me the rye, here’s mud in your eye
I’m bidding you adeau
Verse:
My little brown jug is getting low
And I am getting high
With each chug-a-lug, I get more smug
And here’s the reason why
Love loaded wth dice, and stacked the cards
To this I could have sworn
I’ve said my good-bys, lo love and her lies
Hello, John Barley Corn
Shine It On Down the Road
Lyrics by Terry Sherven
Music by Terry Sherven
1971
There’s so many places I’ve called home
From time to time
Buses, plastic houses, cardboard boxes
It’s the same old mime
Endlessly I drag my feet
Ragin’ with the chance I’d meet you someday
Brother music just won’t let me go
And I gotta, you know I gotta shine it on down the road.
The first triad is born
But not in harmony
Struggling with the searching
For the space to set one free
Here comes Mr. Heartbeat man
Catch the wagon while you can
Once again it’s that lonely tine to go
Cuz I’ve gotta, you know I gotta
Shine it on down the road
Hey mama pull your car in here
I’ve got somethin’ for you
Not just getting your windshield, tires
but your bread bag too
Honey, before you get away
I’ve got somethin’ special to say
to help you on your lonely way home
And I gotta, you know I gotta shine it on down the road
Yellow castle glowing with the sunshine in the north country
Dancin’ to the magic of the four legged motion of poetry
All my dreams were there
Locked up under such good care
Mama, mama, hold me tight, it scares me so…
Cuz I’ve gotta, you know I’ve gotta
Shine it on down the road
Sweet Kentucky Home
Lyrics by Ralph Sherven
Music by Ralph Sherven
1978
Sweet kentucky home, tonight I’m so alone
Feelin’ blue, miles from you, in San Antone.
At the club Lone Star, I’m at the piano bar,
Voices ring, as we sing, Kentucky Home.
As we harmonize, the tears bedim my eyes.
Why did I say goodbye to those I’ve known?
Sweet kentucky home, I’m leavin’ San Antone,
There’s no doubt, the next train out
Will take me home.
Thoughts of bluegrass
Have given me the blues, I’m so blue.
Fields of cotton, my memories renew.
I’m so homesick, I don’t know what to do.
Tear drops fall, as I recall, in review,
My sweet Kentucky home, and all of you.
Sweet kentucky home, tonight I’m so alone
Feelin’ blue, miles from you, in San Antone.
At the club Lone Star, I’m at the piano bar,
Voices ring, as we sing, Kentucky Home.
As we harmonize, the tears bedim my eyes.
Why did I say goodbye to those I’ve known?
Sweet kentucky home, I’m leavin’ San Antone,
There’s no doubt, the next train out
Will take me home.
Windy City
Lyrics by Ralph Sherven
Music by Ralph Sherven
1957
In Windy City In Chicago town
I do recall In the loop I found
The maids so pretty Lovely as could be
I loved them all Yes, and they loved me
But, oh the pity Wish we’d never met
There’s one so fair Can’t forget her yet
In windy city In Chicago town
Who does not care She turned me down
*Chorus:
I’d beg and borrow, her love to share
But to my sorrow, she will never care
Each new tomorrow brings only pain
In windy city, I loved in vain
In windy city In Chicago town
When love birds sing Lovely is their song
The budding lily Blooming everywhere
Tells me it’s spring Love perfumes the air
My love and fancy All for love I sold
No more take part Love has made me cold
In windy city I’ve no love to give
She broke my heart Don’t want to live
Chorus
In windy city In Chicago town
I loved and lost All my dreams are gone
No one to love me I’m so all alone
No one to trust Why did I leave home
This maid so pretty Angel from above
Turned my love down Now I’d die for love
In windy city Place the lily brave
Chicago town Upon my grave
Chorus
Sweet Dreams
Lyrics by Terry Sherven
Music by Terry Sherven
2010
You bring me sweet dreams in the midst of despair
You bring me sweet dreams just knowing that you’re there
The grey of winter brings me down
I remember spring but I can’t see it now
What’s my life worth, does it matter anyhow?
But you bring me sweet dreams
You bring me sweet dreams when I’m holding on tight
You bring me sweet dreams even though day looks just like night
The world is crazy, is there any hope?
My sighs grow heavy, I can barely cope
The truth is out there and towards it I grope
But you bring me sweet dreams
Life’s so hard I want to run away...
In deep confusion I can only pray
Disappointment married to futility amidst my plea...
You bring me sweet dreams as time disappears
You bring me sweet dreams in spite of these tears
All my emotion is emptied out
Youthful ambitions consumed by drought
I need redemption, is there any doubt?
But you bring me sweet dreams
Ocean Behind Your Eyes
Lyrics by Josh Sherven
Music by Josh Sherven
2005
I set sail today on the ocean behind your eyes
Spilt second eternity took me by surprise
So unprepared to be so lost at sea
Feeling so small did you even see me?
Will I drown in the expanse, remain in this trance ,
or find you here with me?
I follow the sun but know not where it’s leading me
The horizon is one destination I know I’ll never reach
Must I remain here so lost at sea?
Wondering if your thoughts are ever of me.
My sail is torn paper, I don’t have an anchor
Are either out one of them out here for me?
May the sun never set on the ocean behind your eyes
I sail by it’s guidance despite these darkening skies
Hope not to always be so lost at sea
One day I’ll know I’m exactely where I’m supposed to be
I’ll battle the waves of time, with you never far from mind
Hoping one day you’re with me
Lovelier Than Roses
Lyrics by Ralph Sherven
Music by Ralph Sherven
1939
Lovelier than roses
Sweeter than blossoms in June
In my heart reposes
The bud of first love in full bloom
Now my heart discloses
Forever I’ll love you sweetheart
Lovelier than roses
Is the love that blooms in my heart
Lovely the rose in it’s glory
The fragrance the beauty there of
Now for the rose I feel sorry
More precious more lovely is love
Lovelier than roses
Sweeter than blossoms in June
In my heart reposes
The bud of first love in full bloom
Now my heart discloses
Forever I’ll love you sweetheart
Lovelier than roses
Is the love that blooms in my heart
Lovelier than roses
Is my flower my sweetheart
Love Letters
Lyrics by Ralph Sherven and Terry Sherven
Music by Ralph Sherven
1948/2015
*Chorus:
Love letters now are ashes
I burned them one by one
The tear drops fell, how could I tell
That someone I was wrong
Although I tried, it hurt my pride, no
pardon could I ask
I can’t atone, I’ll live alone
And dream about the past.
It happened in an instant
She stood across the room
Her eyes met mine, there wasn’t time
To save me from this doom
I can’t recall how quickly
She was standing by my side
My heart beat with desire
She pur her hand in mine
She said let’s take a walk outside
I followed blindly open-eyed
The air was sweet, the moon was high
There was no place to hide
I know a place, not far from here
Where we can be alone
If only for a moment
We’ll make this time our own
* Chorus
She drove us to a private place
I’m sure she knew it well
I knew that there’d been others
But she would never tell
And as we went inside I died
A thousand deaths right there
She lit a candle, poured some wine
And then let down her hair
Our bodies came together
Clothes were thrown aside
We danced to primal rhythms
We lay there side by side
But when I started coming to
My guilt took me by storm
I thought about the one I love
My heart was crushed and torn
Walking out the door I saw
My love in great dismay
She caught my eyes, I froze inside
And then she walked away
* Chorus
Love letters now are ashes..... And ashes now to dust....
Love letters now are ashes, and now I know I must
Forever pay until that day I join love letters in the dust
The Highest and the Best
Lyrics by Josh Sherven
Music by Terry Sherven
2012
Rain clouds building in a desert sky
First bloom since the rivers all ran dry
A show of hope for seeds sown long ago
A work of art revealed as if to show
*Chorus:
Forgiveness is the highest and the best
(repeat 2x)
First steps of a prodigal journey home
Through heavy fog a lighthouse appears on the shore
Yet empty hands carry a heavy load
An old scar, like a necklace that’s worn without it’s stone
Chorus:
( 3x)
Footprints, in fresh grass from a long awaited spring
Parched lips feel a quenching drop of rain
From rainclouds breaking in a dawning sky
A day break that redeems you and I
Chorus:
(3x)