Lawrence J. Clark

selected song lyrics

New Horizon

It was another, rainy, freezing night in Portland
packed my bags, filled up the gas
in my old Chevrolet--
I didn’t have a clue where I was goin’
I only knew I couldn’t take that cold another day.

headed down I-95 to Boston
and saw where all those Pilgrims came ashore
they left their homes to escape from persecution
they were hoping they would hear of it no more

They came here to create their own society
a place where they could worship God
and live just as they pleased
but when some among them tried to disagree
they jailed them and they killed them
man, they did the same damn thing.

But I’m lookin’ for a new horizon
hopin’ that some day this world might change
I wanna see that mornin’ sun arisin’
on a world without anger or pain.

I kept on drivin’ till I came to Gettysburg
I saw where all those soldier’s bodies lay
I thought about the pain that’s spawned by hatred
and I prayed that it would someday go away.

Then I went on down to Carolina
past fields of tobacco, of cotton, and of grain
I thought about the sweat of millions of people
who lived their lives in bondage
till their dyin’ days.
I’m lookin’ for a new horizon . . .

Then I went on down to Jasper, Texas
evil men committed there
a senseless act of shame •they dragged my brother down along the avenue
they didn’t stop till it was too late.

I’m lookin’ for a new horizon . . .

I Just Wanna Fly

Back in the summer of 65
me and my buddies were singin’ rhymes
livin’ on central standard time
dreamin’ our lives away.
We didn’t know and we didn’t care
what was goin’ on way over there
all we knew was that here at home
everything seemed ok.

Well, my Daddy, he took me by the hand
He said, “Son, take a look across this land--
someday when you grow and you’re a man
you and me will work it hand in hand.”

But I said, “Daddy, I just wanna fly to the sky
and leave this crazy world behind.”

Back in the summer of ‘71
I became a man when they gave me a gun
They sent us all way overseas
to shoot that enemy down.
We didn’t know and we didn’t care
what we were doin’ way over there
all we knew is that the government said
shoot that enemy down.

Well, the captain, he gave us a command.
He said, “Boys, take a look across this land--
Back home you’ve all got friends and family
and we gotta fight to keep them brave and free.

But I said, “Captain, I just wanna fly to the sky
and leave this crazy world behind.”

Back in the summer of ‘72
I was getting’ high, now how ‘bout you?
Me and the boys let our hair grow down
trippin’ our lives away.
We listened to the Beratles and the Rollin’ Stones
and Jimmie and Janis on the way back home

we did everything we knew how to forget those horrible days.

Well, a pretty lady took me by the hand.

She said, “Hey now, ya know I want you for my man.
You and me, we can raise a family
teach ‘em how to live in peace and harmony.”

But I said, “Honey, I just wanna fly to the sky
and leave this crazy world behind.”

Now after all this time’s gone by
I’m so surprised that I’m still alive
standin’ here up on this stage
singin’ my songs for you.
I’ll bet you don’t know and I’ll bert you don’t care
what we were doin’ way over there •all yo0u know is that here at home everything seems ok.

Well, come on people, take me by the hand
and take a look across our beautiful land.
People are livin’ with crime and poverty--
hey, whatever happened to peace and harmony?

Someday we’re all just gonna fly to the sky
and leave this crazy world behind.

Seventeen Again

Wasn’t all that long ago
we were drivin’ down Blue Mountain Road
singin’ along with the radio
we had no particular place to go.
Wendy Sue was sittin’ next to me--
man, she looked fine in her old blue jeans.
Bobbie Jo was in the back with you
nothin’ could ever come between you two.

Then graduation came along
remember we all sang that song
all for one and friends forever more.

Then we went our separate ways
look at all of us today
we never knew what our future had in store.

I thought that we would always be together
the four of us together till the end
but now that all seems so far away
Now it seems so long ago
we were drivin’ down that mountain road
singin’ along with the radio
a bunch of crazy kids with no place else to go.
Wendy Sue broke up with me
she married that guy from Tennessee
Bobbie Jo she stayed with you
but after three years you two were through

Now graduation’s come and gone
and we can all still sing that song
dreamin’ ‘bout the way things might have been.
But come now let us celebrate
the things we are, the things we ain’t
and all that we still hope our lives can be.
Still I thought that we would always be together . .