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Light (2019)

by James Dean Cotton

/
1.
She had a cactus garden Hidden on her city balcony Beautiful and warm, a shelter from the storm Looking out upon on traffic and the trees.... its what I see.... She had a pair of toucans They were lounging quiet there upon the floor As still as they could be, not listening to me, and I Wonder, do they go there anymore? She had a cactus garden In the corner, far from prying eyes I have fallen in her cactus garden Wishing I could stay forever high Looking at a blue and silver sky We went to Ubatuba And we went to Natal too We were looking for the trees, They were burning in the breeze Now don’t know what I’m gonna do... She had a cactus garden In the corner, far from prying eyes I have fallen in her cactus garden Wishing I could stay forever high All the lovely people, On the street far down below Now I’m looking for that upper floor Where did that garden go? She had a cactus garden In the corner, far from prying eyes I have fallen in her cactus garden Wishing I could stay forever Just a photograph or letter Wishing I could stay forever high Looking at a blue and silver sky
2.
Light 03:57
From the day that I crawled out of the sea I was only looking for the light I let the waves have their gentle way with me Covered up in water, green and white Came the day that I finally took a breath Cold air salt upon my tongue Turned my back upon the fading water’s edge Set a course for the rising sun Nothing’s changed in a billion years I still hold this holy instrument between my ears Till there’s nothing but the call and the echo to hear Listen for cannons and the fight Nothing left but looking for the light On the day I fell out of control And into the arms of those I loved Swimming under water, all the breath that I could hold was Finally released to everyone Nothing’s changed in a billion years I still hold this holy instrument between my ears Till there’s nothing but the call and the echo to hear Listen for cannons and the fight Nothing left but looking for the light Nothing but the call and the echo to hear Listen for cannons and the fight Nothing left but looking for the light
3.
Drone 05:35
I’m flying out over the water, I’m flying out over the sea I’m looking out over the top of the trees, But nobody’s looking at me Nobody’s looking at me I’m coming in hard like an eagle, I’m coming in angry like a bee I’m coming in fast like my hand’s on the controls, but Who is controlling me? Oh, who is controlling me? Cause I’m a Drone... I’m a Drone... oh, I’m Drone... Somebody’s taking me home I do the work of the lonely widow I do the work of a hundred men I beat upon these wings, till the frozen air will sing, but Who is gonna love me now and then? Who is gonna love me now and then? Cause I’m a Drone... I’m a Drone... oh, I’m Drone... Somebody’s taking me home Somebody’s making me, Faithfully forsaking me, but still Somebody’s taking me home. Somebody’s wrecking me Hard accelerating me, but still Somebody’s taking me home Now, I’ve got a little camera And she has only got her one good eye, but Big Brother’s got a son and he’s carrying a gun, and Looking for a better man to fly Looking for a better man to fly Cause I’m a Drone... I’m a Drone... oh, I’m Drone... Somebody’s taking me home
4.
It’s raining like a big dog. Won’t somebody get my coat? It’s raining like a big dog. Everybody bound to get soaked. And I’m ‘bout to trade my car in, for some big-ass boat. It was raining in the morning, Raining hard at supper time. It was raining in the morning, Rainin’ all along the line. And this ol’ liquid sunshine, ‘Bout to make me lose my mind. It rained while I was working, Rained while I was flat on my back. It rained while I was working, Rained down on the railroad track. So I’m going down to California And sure 'nough, I sure 'nough, ain’t coming back. It’s raining like a big dog. Won’t somebody get my coat? It’s raining like a big dog. Everybody bound to get soaked. And I’m ‘bout to trade my car in, for some big-ass boat.
5.
Gorilla 04:09
I fell hard like anyone would Doctor said the pain would be good And meanwhile, there’s somebody you ought to know But it’s so hard to get through the night, It’s so dark with only one light, like a Monkey on my back, holding like he’ll never let go Everything changed in the blink of an eye I draw the curtain so nobody sees I ain’t hurting nobody but me Every minute’s like a day when there ain’t nobody around I keep busy, keeping that gorilla down I been aching, and I’m not alone In the church of oxycodone, and I’m ashamed to say what I’d do for another lite Wear a smile, while faking a cough, now Doctor says, “I’m cutting you off.” But All I need is what I need to survive Everything changed in the blink of an eye I draw the curtain so nobody sees I ain’t hurting nobody but me Every minute’s like a day, when there ain’t nobody around I keep busy, keeping that gorilla down No better, no worse, nobody’s above (no better, no worse, no better, no worse) No better, no worse, like stuck in the mud, Swimming around in the dopamine flood…(hold) I draw the curtain so nobody sees I ain’t hurting nobody but me but I’m down on the ground, like a dog, just digging around.... I been busy, keeping that gorilla down I keep busy
6.
Open wide, Take a bite, Don’t it make you feel good? Feel that light, Feed that fight, Like the medicine should Synchronizing All the trying Holding hard and fast to it for years Still be coming All this running Nothing left inside of you to fear. Cause we’re still here… With healing hands… With healing hands… With healing hands… Fingertips Tell these lips, Everything that you’ll do Stay a while See that smile, Don’t it make me feel good? I’m on your side On this divide We’re glowing bright and ever more alive You’ll be alright We’ll take this flight Looking hard for where the stars collide, While we’re still here… With healing hands… With healing hands… With healing hands… With healing hands… With healing hands… With healing hands…

about

"Light" examines our evolution forward as humans, and our ties to the past and one another.

credits

released June 29, 2019

Thanks to Carmen A Zullo for his advice and encouragement in the writing of these songs, and thanks to Songwriters in Seattle for the inspiration and venues to develop my writing skills.
See individual tracks for instrument credits.

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Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.

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about

James Dean Cotton Seattle, Washington

James Dean Cotton hails from the Missouri Ozarks where bluegrass and Americana infused an easy, 70's acoustic style. He writes and performs solo and with the acoustic duo, American Sons, in the Seattle area.

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