Ivory Owl Stories

There’s a shackle on the ground

That use to be around my leg

Cold like winter and heavy like a fallen dream

I use to say when I get out I’ll be a new man

And the skin around my eyes will say I’ve lived

A life that should have been never did begin

I use to talk about my lovers

Blonde’s curls and blues for miles

Now all have gone and married never will I see this side of love

When I was young I was a strong man

But the crime stripped muscle from my bones

Thirty years have past grey hair crooked back heart like a stone

There’s a shackle on the ground

That use to be around my leg

and now I’m left here wondering do I want to start again

It’s dark in this shell as I circle the earth for another year

Hair has grown out down past my brow and into these eyes

You would love this view but alone its bittersweet

Floating up here always tired but never sleep

I wait for the hour where I can see the coast of California

The closest I will get to you

And those warm nights in your summer dress it’s the little things that I miss

All the years I spent away from you

Grey he hit the alarm and before you could blink everyone was gone

And the lone star just assumed that everyone died the mission was through

This damn suite is suppose to keep me alive

But it’s stolen my soul and will to survive

I wait for the day where I go to sleep and never wake

Oh God take me home with you

My windows getting foggier and my fingernails start to curl

And I can’t get the hair out of my eyes

I’m a satellite a piece of debris in your starry sky

I pray for gravity dropping me on to our doorstep and in reach

Oh the sun has become my biggest enemy

Keeping you living and making me see

I am so close to God, but so far away and

And I bet you have all forgotten me

I wait for the hour where I can see the coast of California

The closest I will get to you

I’ll fly away oh lord

I’ll fly away

Soon I will be at your side I’ll fly away

An empty chair is rocking next to me

Gently mocking with its sorrowful squeaks

House chores to be done and I can’t do a single one

My lover’s a long, long way from me

Before they brought that telegram I knew

Never wanted you to go, you did what you had to do

Far too young to look so old, a stranger’s face same band of gold

But I can’t stop waiting up for you

I’m alone in California

Stare out at these stars

Wonder where you are

This old house you built for me

It’s now falling apart

It’s lost all its heart

I walk these halls of silent memories

Photos of our honeymoon and sunburns at the beach

Where do I go from here?

Not a single man in all these years has torn my heart from your reach

I’m alone in California

Pining for this

The warmth of your kiss

Time passes too slow for me

If heavens your home

I pray I could go

I’ll fly away oh lord, I’ll fly away

Soon I’ll be at your side, I’ll fly away

I don’t want you to drive mad like this out on the icy road

Your not thinking straight you’ve had too much to drink

Just settle down your pulling over and getting out

A shot rang out echoed down the canyon so loud

And I wait and I wait out in the dark

Thirst and cold and you give me no warmth anymore

I had I had a busy night I stayed up late

Keeping your body safe from harm

A loaded gun lay out next to your arm

It made you cold a bullet made its home in you

Oh please come back

I will always be here for you

I hate how you are just lying there

I kiss your face your gone but I don’t know where

I’ve held my own you would be so proud if you could see me now

You taught me well I can live this wild life I can live this wild life

I was born into a living hell

Where mother placed the blame on everybody but her self

She’s full of fire sparked like a lighter around gasoline

Every night before she went to sleep she would sharpen her tongue on her pointed teeth

She could spit daggers into the heart of any man

But up in this tree on loose boards for miles I could see

The sun softly set behind the trailer park oh why does the sky go dark

My old man didn’t pay much attention to me

He spent his nights in front of the TV cheering on his favorite sons

And cursing the referee

He didn’t drink but sometimes I wish that he did

Cause for then I’d have a chance evading his fists

He was a fighter his jaw clenched tighter as he ran after me

But up in this tree on loose boards he will never catch me

Its fickle and it breaks but its mine and mine to keep

it keeps me safe from the war below

it  keeps me safe Ill just call this home

Home…

(Don’t you fret don’t you fear I will be always here my son oh my son

Come rest your tired bones on me just enjoy the scenery my son oh my son)

Up, up in the air is where my body longs to be

I live for a sunny day with the wind pressed on my face

I’m never coming down no ohh

You cant keep me on the ground ohh no

My structure safe and sound ooh ooh

Just be gentle with me

Don’t let go let the line out slow I was made for all to see

Spool and thread keeps me in your hands and away from the great big sea

I’m never coming down no ohh

You cant keep me on the ground ohh no

My structure safe and sound ooh ooh

Just be gentle with me

You let me go and I drifted into custody

Of the mission bell the steeple put a hole in me

So ripped and torn my tattered shreds for all to see

Oh your carelessness has clipped my wings

I’m never coming down no oh

Ill never be found oh no

Sound the alarm and wake the hounds oh oh

Won’t you miss me?

This is where I will stay for good

Keeping watch on this town below

Darkness falls I get up its time to go

Stretch my bones don’t know what to do but I know where to go

I make my way just in time to see you close your eyes

You will never know how I need you how I love you so

And while you rest in slumber I am watching through your window

It’s a beautiful, beautiful sight

As the night gets longer I sit in this tree and wonder

will you ever let me through your door

When we were young we were so inseparable

Your parents said you better watch out or he will bite your hand

You let me go drove to the forest and just opened your door

I watched you drive off this dirt road and out of my life

You looked out the window I did my best to try to follow

You lost somewhere out on ocean avenue

Then one night I found you now I sit in this tree and wonder

Will you ever let me through your door

Going home have my mind like I always do

I cross the road paid no attention to the big white lights

I would have never known that tonight would be my last goodbye

You kept me safe and warm had me eating from the palm of your hands

While you rest and slumber I am breathing my last breath

My body lay out all over the road

As the night gets longer this coat wont keep my body warm

but the thought of you gives comfort and joy

I lived a great life

Housed in the trees and the stars have been my canopy

I lived a great life

Held by the most beautiful beautiful being I’ve ever seen

One last request before I fall

Don’t put the blinder on I want to see it all

I won’t put up a fight there is none left in me

Into the darkness you’re the last light I want to see

I found peace here in your eyes

Darling it hurts to see you cry

The warmth that we shared could never divide

Ill meet you again in the by and by

My dear you’ve been so good to me

I’m just going to turn away I don’t want to see

Helpless I stand to bid you farwell

I’ll meet you on the other side heaven or hell

I found peace here in your eyes

Darling it hurts to see you cry

The warmth that we shared could never divide

Ill meet you again in the by and by

No I don’t want to leave no I don’t want to go

And now a noose around my neck is sending me home

I finally found a love that I knew I could make last

He pulled the lever through the trapdoor it happened so fast

I found peace here in your eyes

Darling it hurts to see you cry

The warmth that we shared could never divide

Ill meet you again in the by and by

Oh I’ll meet you again (heaven or hell)

I rode my way out of this town

To find steady work in cannon falls

I promised to send when I’m ready

Just a few more days till I bring you home

I waited for you but you never came

Wasting my youth on a dream

A suitor found his way into my heart

It took awhile but he finally won me

With a grin on my face I’m off to sweep you away

And make you my bride at last

And the children we will raise and with your voice you will serenade

We will never grow tired of this love

Out on your porch the lights flicker

My heart can’t keep up with my feet

I saw your face through the window

You’re dancing with someone and no its not me

His hand on your waist he put a smile on your face

As you twist and you sway to his song

How I wish I could sing sweep you away with a melody

But I guess that those days are long gone

Goodbye redwing I’m leaving

You now hold two pieces of me

One more thing then I’m gone

To take back what you took from me

I let myself in the front door

With a fire raging in me

These hands that now strangle your lover

Worked so hard to build you your dreams

Came in this morning cash in hand

With a proposition a well thought out plan

All I need to do is look the other way

Into the vault you go and I receive my pay

You are a crooked man with a silver shield

I was down and out so to your plan I yield

No other choice our son he lay in the hospital

Either way I choose I still play the fool

This is the plan

This morning was rough I had a sleepless night

Kids got there breakfast kissed my wife good bye

Hands clenched on the wheel my knuckles all turned white

Riches or prison this could be my brand new life

This is the plan

All of this happened oh so quick

You were set up on the day that you arrived

So You flashed your badge cuffed my wrists

So it’s good bye my love, good bye my love, good bye

You were in pursuit I hid the case

You can never pry the location from my mouth

You will never see your twisted destiny

the prize is mine only 5 years till I’m out

Woke up this morning found a letter on the floor

It read

Get in the car and drive, make sure you lock the door

Drive to the west find the place where we fell in love

Under the tree where we carved our names is the reward

This is the plan

It’s dark down here, love

And I’m afraid of the cold in this (your) heart

All started the day you left You got on that train and never looked behind

(you left me long ago)

I could never be a part of you

Gave you my heart, love  (I was so afraid love)

You traded me in for the fix (You were both the sweetest things)

please change your ways (no I cannot escape the feeling in my veins)

So it’s goodbye, my lover

I could never be a part of you

All I have I’ve given up for you

You just bring me hurt and pain

It’s dark down here, love

And I’m afraid of the cold in this (your) heart

(Scarecrow)

Go on black bird go on fly I’m not hearing your alibi

You already picked my harvest clean

So go just go get out of here

(Scarecrow)

Listen you deceiver I’m not scared

It took me awhile to know what’s going on here

Now on your shoulder I will take my throne

As I look out on this farm and call it my own

(Both)

And I hope this wind will take you away for I am not leaving here today

(Scarecrow)

If these arms could move I would strike you down

There would be feathers and blood all on the ground

You see I once stood so tall and fierce

As you laugh your laugh you continue to appear

(Blackbird)

You continued to fool me for many days

But the hunger it drove me to my ways

With a belly full and a wings that will not fly

I’ll burrow in your chest and give you a heart

(Both)

And I hope this wind will take you away for I am not leaving here today

(Both)

Then came the fire late one night

(Scarecrow)

I was doing my jobI never close my eyes

(Blackbird)

I was asleep in the nest for I had become your soul

(Scarecrow)

When the fire took me

(Both)

it took us both

I hope this wind will take you away for I am not leaving here today

and this flame it burns but I’m so satisfied knowing that beside me  you will die