One day, Jabo and I were lying on the ground, contemplating life when we began to imagine how things would look and feel from the perspective of insects.  It was not a pretty picture.

I don’t want to die from a sky full of gas
Or be squshed or be mushed by people walking past
Or be stuck on a pin and be put under glass
But it happens to bugs every day.

I don’t want to die on the front of a car
Or be caught by a child and be put in a jar
And I don’t want to fry on an electric wire
But it happens to bugs every day.

Bugs are our friends
They have feelings too
Just be nice to them
And they’ll be nice to you
Don’t use them or abuse them
Or call them dirty names
Bugs may be tiny
But they’re critters just the same.

[Kazoo break]

I don’t want to die with my feet stuck in glue
In a cardboard motel or be squished with a shoe
Or be spotted and swatted and turned into goo
But it happens to bugs every day.

Remember, bugs are our friends
They have feelings too
Just be nice to them
And they’ll be nice to you
Don’t use them or abuse them
Or call them dirty names
Bugs may be tiny
But they’re critters just the same

Yes, bugs may be tiny
But they’re critters just the same

(Written Date Unknown)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

Jabo and I became friends with a street person named Barefoot Bobby.  He was a funny, creative man who enjoyed our music and taught us a lot.  It was Bobby who prompted us to change the second line in the second verse of this song.  It originally read, “It’s better than sleeping on dirt”. Bobby explained with the authority of personal experience that one does not sleep on dirt.  One sleeps in dirt.  We changed the line immediately.

But you know it can be tough living out on the street
It’s cold and there’s a hole in my shoe
I tried to sell my blood to get something to eat
But the guy said my blood wouldn’t do

My head hurts, I’m dirty, I’m feeling like shit
And I wish I was out on some beach
I’d like a hot cup of coffee and a warm place to sit
But MacDonald’s is out of my reach.

But my life’s not really all that bad
I have more than most people got
I’ve got freedom to do whatever I please
And every once in awhile I get some really good pot.

I don’t like sleeping in doorways
But it’s better than sleeping in dirt
And I’m only asking for a little spare change
Not so much that it’d hurt

But if you don’t want to give me your money
Maybe you could spare me a smile
I don’t get many of them pointed my way
And we’d both feel good for awhile

But you walk right by and ignore me
I’m something you’d rather not see
Maybe ‘cause I’m asking for money
Or maybe ‘cause you’d like to be free – like me!

Yeah, my life’s not really all that bad
I probably have more than you’ve got
I’ve got the freedom to do whatever I please
And, brother, that’s a hell of a lot.

(Written October 1981)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

You coulda told me it was coming down to this
You coulda told me you were looking for some other lips to kiss
I couldn’t see it coming; I can only watch you go
You coulda told me it was coming down to this.

I stopped by to see you in the middle of the day
Just to hold you in my arms and see you smile
But you were with another; you were walking hand-in-hand
And I never saw it coming all the while.

You coulda told me you were coming on to her
You coulda told me you were leaving; you coulda told me where you were
You say you never left me, but I’m lying here alone
You coulda told me you were coming on to her.

I know you need your freedom, just like I need mine
And I never meant to keep you tied to me
But I thought I was enough for you to keep you satisfied
You coulda told me what I was too proud to see.

[Kazoo break]

It wasn’t that you left me. I knew someday you would
I knew I’d have to share you by and by
But you know I hate surprises, or by now I guess you should
So don’t be surprised if you should see me cry.

You coulda told me it was coming down to this
You coulda told me you were looking for some other lips to kiss
I couldn’t see it coming; I can only watch you go
You coulda told me it was coming down to this.

(Written Nov. 24, 1983)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

Why do you love him?  How can you stay?
I asked her when we were alone
She smiled at me sadly but all she could say was
“Because he knows the way home.”

Where is the lover when love is long gone?
Where is the child when the woman is grown?
And where does the singer go after the song?
It’s a long way home.

Home is where the heart resides
Home is where the truth presides
Home is where the love abides
It’s a long way home.

So will you come walking or sing me a song
To delight me, or write me a poem
Or tell me a story of loving and light
And when night comes, come follow me home.

Home is where my heart resides
Home is where the truth presides
Home is where my love abides
And besides, I know my way home.
Beside you I’ll find my way home.

(Written May 27, 1984)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

This was the first song of the “Heartbreak Quatrain”.  It came after one of those phone calls where you’re trying to make things better, but you end up saying too much and making them worse.

Late last night I called you; I was feeling sad and blue
I meant to sound so happy; I meant to keep my cool
I meant to say I love you, but I said that you were cruel
Now I’m staring at the telephone, feeling like a fool.

I thought if I could tell you just one more time again
Just how much you’d hurt me and just how sad I’ve been
You’d say you’re mine forever but you just said you’re my friend
Now I’m staring at the phone and feeling foolish once again.

Honesty is best, I’ve heard them say
And I have told you all the truth all along the way
I’ve told you what was in my heart and what was in my head
But I guess some things are better left unsaid.

Now it’s early in the morn; my tears have faded with the dawn
It helped to cry my heart out; it helped to write this song
I thought that it would help to tell you everything that’s wrong…

Honesty is best, I’ve heard them say
And I have told you all the truth all along the way
I told you what was in my heart and what was in my head
But I guess some things are better left unsaid.

Yes, honesty is best; I’ve heard them say
And I have told you all the truth all along the way
I’ve told you what was in my heart and what was in my head
But I guess some things are better left unsaid
Yeah, I guess some things are better left unsaid
Oh, I guess some things are better left…

(Written Nov. 18, 1983)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

You don’t like me; you think I’m nuts
I don’t like you; I hate your guts
The world’s too small for two like us
But what are we going to do?
You’ll have to admit that we’ll learn quite a bit.

It’s hard to believe I love you on the other side when I hate you so much right here
I know we must have planned this on the other side and we haven’t a thing to fear
But when you start your bitchin’ and your blah, blah, blah
I wanna throw you out the window, but I don’t, because
I know I really love you on the other side
But I hate you so much right here.

They say we all are brothers and sisters and I believe that’s true
We’re in this thing together and that means me and you
So I guess we must have business and I don’t want to quit
But let me tell you in the meantime that I think you’re full of…

…It’s hard to believe I love you on the other side when I hate you so much right here
I know we must have planned this on the other side and we haven’t a thing to fear
But when you start your bitchin’ and your blah, blah, blah
I wanna throw you out the window, but I don’t, because
I know I really love you on the other side
But I hate you so much right here.

It’s hard to believe I love you on the other side when I hate you, I hate you, I hate you so much right here
I know we must have planned this on the other side and we haven’t a thing to fear – except fear
But when you start your bitchin’ and your blah, blah, blah
I wanna pick you up and throw you out the window, but I don’t, because
I know you really love me on the other side
But I hate you so much – I hate your guts! – I hate you so much right here!

(Written Sept. 6, 1982)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

I don’t want to be the last one to know
Why won’t you tell me if you’re going to go?
Keeping a secret is not very nice
So if you love another please tell me; don’t leave me in a fool’s paradise.

You know I’ve been faithful and I’ll always be true
You know everything, dear, that I think, say, and do
But if there’s another, please take my advice
Tell me the truth and don’t leave me to live in a fool’s paradise.

A fool’s paradise may seem cozy and warm
And I’m in paradise when I’m here in your arms
The truth it might hurt me, but I’ll pay the price
Dear, if you love me don’t leave me to live in a fool’s paradise.

I know you’re a free man that no woman can hold
But if you love another I ought to be told
To love you is heaven and I won’t ask you twice
Don’t let my heaven turn out to be nothing but a fool’s paradise.

A fool’s paradise may seem cozy and warm
And I’m in paradise when I’m here in your arms
The truth it might hurt me, but I’ll pay that price
Dear, if you love me don’t leave me to live in a fool’s paradise
Yes, dear, if you love me don’t leave me to live in a fool’s paradise.

(Written Jan. 18, 1985)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

This song was written at about the same time Jabo and I met Ken Vasquez.  Ken was a wonderful young man – an athlete – who was stricken with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).  We were privileged to join a group of Ken’s family and friends in caring for him during his last days.   We spent many hours joking and laughing with Ken, and talking with him about his impending death.  He was just an average guy who demonstrated amazing courage and incredible humor in the face of his own mortality.  We told Ken we had dedicated this song to him and that whenever we performed it, we would talk about him.  That way, he would live on.  He liked that.

Love is a river and it runs so high
It can flood your heart when it’s parched and dry
It’ll save your soul when you want to die
And it keeps on flowing onward.

Truth is a river and its course is straight
It can wash away the fear and the hurt and the hate
It’s always patient but it will not wait
And the truth keeps flowing onward.

Flowing onward
The river flows to the sea
Going onward
Going with the flow and knowing how to be.

Jealousy’s a river and it runs so deep
There are fears to cross and tears to weep
To have and to hold but not to keep
And it keeps on flowing onward

Time is a river that we all swim through
Everything’s old and everything is new
It all depends on your point of view
And it keeps on flowing onward.

Flowing onward
The river flows to the sea
Going onward
Going with the flow and knowing how to be.

Life is a river and on it goes
You can dive in deep or just wet your toes
It’s filled with secrets that everyone knows
And it keeps on flowing onward.

Peace is river and it runs so clear
It will heal our world of its pain and fear
It’ll come when we realize each one is dear
And it keeps on flowing onward.

Flowing onward
The river flows to the sea
Going onward
Going with the flow and knowing how to be.

Flowing onward
The river flows to the sea
Going onward
Going with the flow and knowing how to be.

Flowing onward
The river flows to the sea
Going onward
Going with the flow and knowing how to be
Just be
Just be.

(Written May 18, 1984)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

Probably my favorite song.  Jabo and I were in a band called “Judy Judy Judy” with our musical sister, K.D. Novak.  Together with other friends, we were putting on a Fantasy Prom – to make up for the traumatic prom experiences most of us had had in our youths.  Four days before the prom, as we drove to rehearse with our other band, “The Cooties”, we crossed a railroad track.  We started talking about how ironic it would be if Judy Judy Judy were killed in the classic teen song tragedy.  I called dibs on writing the song.  But, as with all of our collaborations, it was a co-creation.  The real tragedy is that this song cannot be performed without all three of us.  And with K.D. now living in Oregon, it is rarely heard.  But I do believe it was inspired by the heavenly host of prom angels – and by Elvis.

Here we are together on the night of the prom
Now gather ‘round and listen and we’ll sing you a song
It’s a song about three friends who will never come back
It’s about rock ‘n’ roll…
And a railroad track.

It was just four days before that special night
Their hearts were happy and their hopes were bright
On their way to choir (Cootie) practice, or so they had planned
But they ended up singing in the angel band.

Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Won’t you sing with us tonight?
Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Even though you’re out of sight.

One was a king and one was a queen
And one was the girl who had the prom dream
Their names were all Judy, but no one knows why
Oh, Judy, Judy, Judy, can angels really fly?

Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Won’t you sing with us tonight?
Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
In your wings so pure and white.

Some say they were reckless, some say they were high
Some say they were crazy, but that’s a big fat lie!
The truth is they were singing a rock ‘n’ roll refrain
With their voices raised together, they just didn’t hear the train.

Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Won’t you sing with us tonight?
Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Do your halos fit all right?

So now you know the story about our three friends
Of how they sang together and how they met their ends
And this story has no moral; the evidence is plain
It wasn’t rock ‘n’ roll that killed them
It was a big old train!

Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
We’d love to sing with you!
Prom Angels, Prom Angels, Prom Angels
Is Elvis up there, too?

Love me tender
Love me sweet
Never let me go.

(Written May 19, 1982)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998

Fly, little redbird, fly away fast!
Fly, little redbird, and be free at last
From the hunters who’re trying to clip your wings
And they can’t even hear how the redbird sings.

Sail up above the world so high
Stretch your red wings and touch the sky
The earth turns beneath you as you look down
And you wear the sun as your golden crown

Don’t cry, little redbird, if you fly alone
Be true to your course; keep heading for home
For the winds keep on changing and one day they’ll bring
Someone who hears all the songs that you sing.

And the time is not wasted that you sail along
Stretching your wings and learning your song
And whenever you’re tired, come rest in my tree
And sing all your sweet redbird songs to me.

Don’t cry, little redbird, if you fly alone
Be true to your course; keep heading for home
For the winds keep on changing and one day they’ll bring
Someone who knows all the songs that you sing.

(Written October 1981)
© Pat and Jerry Grigadean, 1998