LYRICS
WIN OR LOSE
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
I'm singin', singin' the blues
I can't seem to win or lose
There's a hill I'm gonna climb
So join me or leave me _ you choose
I'm tellin' you it ain't been no fun
There are no fish in the river left to run
You were always sayin' something better would come
But it's just weeds growin' in the sun
I'm singin', singin' the blues
I can't seem to win or lose
There's a hill I'm gonna climb
So join me or leave me _ you choose
Can't do much about the painful memories
Collect my sorrows to smolder like burnin' leaves
Grief, it would steal and it would bleed
I'm just tryin' to save the rest of my dreams
I'm singin', singin' the blues
I can't seem to win or lose
There's a hill I'm gonna climb
So join me or leave me _ you choose
We've been pushed 'round way too many years
Buried our faith along with so many tears
So, I'm packin' up, takin' all I need to own
And I'll kick up the dust behind me when I go
I'm singin', singin' the blues
I can't seem to win or lose
There's a hill I'm gonna climb
So join me or leave me _ you choose
MY HEART IS SINKING
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
My heart is sinking
It's drowning in tears
My mind can't hold
What's too hard to hear
There are hands of the brave
And eyes full of hope
While so many dreams
Will never unfold.
When hatred consumes
And blinds us to peace
Past lines that are drawn
Throughout history
When all that we see
In a land that lies scorched
Where milk and honey once ran
Is lost at what cost?
My heart is sinking
It's drowning in tears
My mind can't hold
What's too hard to hear
There are hands of the brave
And eyes full of hope
While so many dreams
Will never unfold.
DON'T LET IT RAIN
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
Tonight I'll close
My weary eyes
Lay my head
Where I can cry
There are no heroes
And this pain that I've known
Is just too heavy
For my soul.
Don't let it rain
Not when you're comin' home
Let nothin'
Get in the way
It's been too long a time
'Neath that open
That open stretch of sky.
Where you've been
My precious child
All my memories
Molded like clay
Recounting the days
We caught raindrops from the sky
My broken heart
Can testify.
Don't let it rain
Not when you're comin' home
Let nothin'
Get in the way
It's been too long a time
'Neath that open
That open stretch of sky.
We spend the years
Like tumbleweeds
Wild as the wind
And harsh as the dust
But times, they change
And somehow so do we
We'll let it go
We'll let it go.
Don't let it rain
Not when you're comin' home
Let nothin'
Get in the way
It's been too long a time
'Neath that open
That open stretch of sky.
SHAKE IT LOOSE TODAY
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
You gotta lick your wounds
'fore you can dry your eyes
You gotta get down to the bottom
Have yourself a good, long cry
You gotta learn how to fall
'fore you can learn to rise.
Push through the fog
When your chips are down
Move your woes
To the far side of town
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
You gotta meet your demons
And look ‘em square in the eye
Shake ‘em onto the floor
Then kick ‘em down curbside
You gotta let ‘em go
If you’re gonna rise.
Push through the fog
When your chips are down
Move your woes
To the far side of town
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
You gotta choose your tune
You gotta shuffle your time
Get down to a new groove
You gotta lasso your mind
You gotta flip your beat
If you wanna rise.
Push through the fog
When your chips are down
Move your woes
To the far side of town
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
Get on your feet
Step outta your way
Make some noise
Shake it loose today
A POWER YOU'LL NEVER KNOW
Lyrics & Music by Linda Sussman © 2022
Keep your laws off my body
I’m not your church, I’m not yours to own
What stirs inside me
Is a power you’ll never know
There’s a storm movin’ sideways
‘Bout to unravel your throne
Things might not have been perfect
But they were workin’ pretty fine
At least there were options
You had yours, I had mine
Till the gavel came down
Dropped like a sinker and broke the line
We’ll find the answers we need
Won’t let the wind slow us down
We all know there’s an off-ramp
For the girls on the other side of town
We’ll find our way ‘round the mine fields
As we shout, “Foul, Foul, Foul”
In every story you hear
Told straight up with no gin
Not drunk with illusion
When it’s just her against him
Who’s left to hold the weight
Kept down with no way to win
Now, what I find sinful
Is how you pound your chest
A thin veneer of pretense
As if you gave a rat’s ass
And you use your religion
To strong-arm all the rest
Keep your laws off my body
I’m not your church, I’m not yours to own
What stirs inside me
Is a power you’ll never know
There’s a storm movin’ sideways
‘Bout to unravel your throne
CHAIN OF HOPE
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
The world is watching
In disbelief
And the tears are flowing
In an ocean of grief
We raise our voices
And stand with those
Who provide for the refugee
Mama, I'm so tired
And I don't understand
Why the bombs are fallin'
Across our beautiful land
Will we find shelter
Against the wind and snow
Please don't let go of my hand
Freedom is fragile
On any shore
The march for peace is long
The brutal orders
Of an unprovoked war
Truth lives at history's core
There's a chain of hope
Ready to meet the pain
Lines of heroic souls
Helping to sustain
So many splintered lives
Seeking safety from harm
Openly weeping in foreign lands
The world is watching
In disbelief
And the tears are flowing
In an ocean of grief
We raise our voices
Give thanks to those
Who provide for the refugee
WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
Will you hold my hand
When the running gets tough
And the rain is heavy
And the road is rough
Will you bring me daisies
From where we used to live
Will you hold my hand
When I haven't much more to give.
Will you sing me songs
And sweet lullabys
When the fear comes callin'
In the dark of night
Will you be my guide
My brightest star
There to remind me
Of who we are.
The arc of life
Bends like a brook
Over polished stone
And jagged lives
Seasons change
At the edge of the banks
Each graceful turn
As time unwinds.
And will you tell me stories
Of how we met
From our first sunrise
To no regrets
Will you hold a flame
Large enough for two
A million memories
To walk with you.
MY BABY
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
My baby's all wound up
Got a notion that's run amok
Somethin' to do with flowers and shoes
I'm just sittin' here singin' the blues
Oh, my baby __ Oh, my baby
My baby left me cold
It shot a mighty chill through my bones
What I found on the kitchen floor
Were the roses that I brought from the store
Oh, my baby
My baby's such a jealous fool
Can't get the hang of playin' it cool
Got a mind like a runaway train
But it's still the one that drives me insane
Oh, my baby
But I know my baby's comin' back
My baby never once crossed those tracks
So I'll just keep on movin' along
I'll put on the kettle and I'll forget this whole song
Oh, my baby
JOIN HANDS
Lyrics & Music © Linda Sussman
Running rampant through our nation
Forging clear across this land
Is hatred born of ignorance
Stoked by leaders standing grand
Fear rises out of bigotry
That’s been invited to the stage
And money writes the history
Centuries of shame
[CHORUS]
Join hands
With your sisters and your brothers
Join hands
Make a statement for those who can’t
Take a knee
To stand up and be free
Join hands
All across this land
Call attention to those silenced
Well before their time
At the hands of those in power
Feeding us some line
One lie after another lie
Keeps the status quo alive
They’ve had us all in corners
To conquer and divide
[CHORUS]
Shine a light on respect
Speak up for equality
It’s time for understanding
Years and years of misery
The color that you walk in
Should not put you in jeopardy
We’re cryin’ out for justice
And full-on liberty
[CHORUS]