"SET YOURSELF FREE"

"Set Yourself Free"

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Verse 1
I like the country; she likes the city life
I wish she told me this before she became my wife
She likes to wander those canyons made of steel
I like to analyze the way those breezes feel
Chorus
And I'm not feelin' so good
And I don't get the peace I should
And my heart keeps on tellin' me,
"Set yourself free"
Instrumental
Verse 2
She likes the big house, pool out in the yard
I'm not the kind of guy who likes to work that hard
She likes to socialize just about every night
I like to sit at home by that firelight
Chorus
Instrumental
Verse 3
She likes those fancy drinks; I like those homemade wines
She worries 'bout most things when I think things are fine
I guess it's time for me to move on down the line
Yes, it's time to let my heart rule my mind
Chorus Twice
Instrumental

©1993 Frank Meyer

 

"SHAKE THE DUST OFF YOUR SANDALS"

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Verse 1

When I was a young man just out of school
I was cautious and careful, and followed the rules
Searched for a good job, looked for a wife
Wanted a family, the so-called "good life"
But as I went down each one of these roads
For me, these things became too heavy a load
And the doubts that developed way deep down in me
Soon ended when a good friend said, "Set yourself free!"

Chorus
Shake the dust off your sandals when you start every day
Don't worry about scandals that may come your way
Shake the dust off your sandals, just continue the grind
And fend off the vandals who play with your mind

Verse 2
So I travelled through my life with this advice
Some days were awful, and some, they were nice
Sometimes I lost, and sometimes I won
Some days were work while others were fun
Some folks were mean; some, they were kind
Some, they had vision while the others were blind
Some were imprisoned; some, they were free
The free ones had listened to what my good friend told me

Chorus
Instrumental Break

Verse 3
Now, as an old man, nearly eighty or so
I've started to place all my ducks in a row
Reflection has shown me that through the years
I've enjoyed some smiles, and I've coped with some tears
And I'm thankful that through life I took a stand
My soul did not submit to those in command
And I'm grateful for the guidance that my good friend gave me
I've listened to my heart, and it's kept me free

Chorus (Two Times)
https://open.spotify.com/track/0lX6u52HKxZF2mhnZmx3N7?si=f878643d7bcc455a

©1998 Frank Meyer 

"SATURDAY MORNING"

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LYRICS

Verse 1

Saturday morning out on our deck
Warmth of the sun hits the back of our necks
Shades of green make a living room floor
Who could ask for more
A gentle breeze ripples leaves on the trees
Birds and bees hum their sweet melodies
Smell of coffee drifts through the back door
Who could ask for more

Chorus
It’s Saturday morning
A time so easy and free
It’s Saturday morning
A time just for me to be me

Verse 2
We sip some coffee, start to reflect
Let out our troubles, and then reconnect
Refine the dreams we’ve talked of before
Who could ask for more
Cross the country in a little van
Spread our music throughout this land
Share our lives with the rich and the poor
Who could ask for more

Chorus
Instrumental Break

Verse 3
The morning fades and we must go
Time for us to get on with the show
But now our spirits have been restored
Who could ask for more
Here is something I’d like you to do
Set some moments aside just for you
Life will be much less of a chore
You won’t ask for more

Chorus (2 times)

https://open.spotify.com/track/1Jaj0U5NtT5wSHcg1JWd4R?si=ed6833d197914955

  

WHEN YOU WERE CUTE AND I HAD ALL MY HAIR

Verse 1:

We met many years ago and life was simple then
The protest of the sixties had all come to an end
Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger had faded from our view
John Prine and Jimmy Buffett carved a life for me and you
We bought ourselves a little house with a few trees in the yard
There were cookouts on the back deck, evenings playing cards
Sitting around a campfire, singing old folk songs
We thought life couldn’t get better; then our children came along
We started out with twin boys, and oh they were a pair
They were followed by a sister with long blonde curly hair
Thought we’d try for one more girl to even up the score
But when the stork arrived, a little boy was at our door

Chorus:
You know I like to sit here with you on these cold and wintery nights
Talk about the old times as the fire burns so bright
I like to sit and stare at you in your long underwear
And talk about when you were cute, and I had all my hair

Verse 2:
The kids grew up so quickly; the years just disappeared
Through the good times and bad times, we smiled through our tears
We did the best we could to show them what was right and wrong
And when you can, we stressed to them; it’s best to get along
We listened to their music, watched them play their sports
We spent evenings and weekends on many fields and courts
Through all the wins and losses, we savored every game
We were destined to be in the Parents Hall of Fame
We went camping and skiing in places near and far
As we rolled along the highway, we sang songs in the car
And when the day was over at the setting of the sun
We’d sit around a table and relive all our fun

Chorus

Instrumental Break

Verse 3:
Now it’s just the two of us in this empty nest
The kids are out there working trying to do their best
They stop by with the grandkids every now and then
To talk about the old times and what lies ‘round the bend
We’ve been through some changes; we’ve put on a few pounds
We’ve learned to roll much better with all the ups and downs
Your hair has turned from auburn to a silvery gray
I think mine might have too if it hadn’t gone away
And even with these changes, some things still remain
When I look deep into your eyes, it still drives me insane
And one thing that has always been and always will be true
The best day of my life is still the day that I found you

Chorus X 2

https://youtu.be/1cZc2wi5xf4

  

YOUR LOCAL STARR

by Meyer and McGuire

LYRICS

Chorus
I go out on the weekends to play my guitar
You see I’m driven to play all these small country bars
And I know that you know that I won’t go far
‘Cause I’m so content to be your local star

Verse 1
Well, it brings me great pleasure when I hear you sing
It confirms a truth, hey, money don’t mean a thing
And when this bar fills up with your harmony
We all become one with my melody

Chorus

Verse 2
The smiles on your faces, well, it makes it so clear
Why the old boy up there he done sent me down here
He said, “Hey, buddy, for you I got one simple goal
Go out there on the weekends and ignite their souls.”

Chorus
Instrumental Break

Verse 3
The handshakes and the kisses and the hugs mean so much
Ain’t it funny how our stress disappears when we touch
And of all the things in life that I’ve learned to do
The best one of all is to share songs with you

Chorus
Chorus
Repeat Last Line

https://youtu.be/JmoIPGQsm7I

  

LEAVIN' ALL OUR TROUBLES FAR BEHIND

Verse 1

It's August and the summer's nearly over
Here we are on Highway 81
The Blue Ridge, the Smokies, and you right by my side
It's time to take a break and have some fun
As we roll along and sip our cups of coffee
The sun is rising in the eastern sky
The leaves upon the trees blow so gently from the breeze
The truckers nod and wave as they go by

Chorus
And here we are without a past or future
Suspended once again in space and time
Enjoying each and every precious moment
Leavin' all our troubles far behind

Verse 2
Way back up in those woods outside of Asheville
Off the beaten path, out of the way
All alone sits a little home from where no one would want to roam
A place where time just seems to fade away
It's here we sit and play our good time music
Bluegrass, country, folk, and rock-n-roll
And as we sing, the hills soon ring, and suddenly everything
Harmonizes to become one soul

Chorus

Verse 3
And sometimes on those Carolina mornings
The fog is like a lazy hazy dream
So we reflect, select, reject, and finally connect
With that sun that carves a bright and vivid scene
And often on those Carolina evenings
The thunder rolls and rumbles through the hills
We watch each flash, feel each crash, listen to that water splash
'Til the moon returns serene and still.

Chorus
Instrumental Break

Repeat first half of Verse 1

Chorus Twice

https://youtu.be/jvMmUbPQBgU

  

"BOOGIE WOOGIE THERAPY"

“Boogie Woogie Therapy” by Meyer and McGuire

Verse 1
Well, I got something you can do
When you’re feeling sad and blue
It’s so simple, it’s nothing new
Well, get up and boogie woogie, it’ll get you through

Chorus
Boogie woogie,
...Boogie woogie,
Get up and dance around
...Get up and dance around
Boogie woogie,
...Boogie woogie,
You just can’t stay down
...You just can’t stay down
Boogie woogie,
...Boogie woogie,
It’ll free your mind
...It’ll free your mind
Well, it’s the best damn therapy you’ll ever find

Verse 2
When you’re feeling sad and low
And you’ve got no place to go
And time seems to move so slow
Well, get up and boogie woogie, and just let it flow

Chorus
Instrumental

Verse 3
Now, when your heart’s about to break
And there’s no more you can take
Here’s a move that you can make
Well, get up and boogie woogie, it’ll ease the ache

Chorus

Verse 4
Now, when the world has you on trial
And you feel you’ve lost your style
And each step feels like a mile
Well, get up and boogie woogie, it’ll make you smile

Chorus
Instrumental

Verse 5
When you meet folks who are blue
And they don’t know what to do
Tell them just what works for you
That Boogie Woogie Therapy’ll get them through

Chorus

https://youtu.be/4nonYzAdW9g