Poetry

To me, poetry is the natural precursor to songwriting... and songwriting is the natural progression of poetry... here, I will post poems in various stages of their progression to becoming songs...  

Hope

Hope... springs eternal...
e'en unto the edge...
of the infernal...
Kind and cruel...
to the wise...
and the fool...

Love... is a many splendored thing...
inspiring many poets...
to write and sing...
Cruel and kind...
to the knave...
and the king...

Fear... is the cruelest master...
enslaving all unto disaster...
Cruel and kind...
to the seeing...
and the blind...

But hope... springs eternal...
e'en unto the edge...
of the infernal...
Kind and cruel...
to the wise...
and the fool...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Pinholes in Carbon Paper

Well, I believe the stars in the nightsky...
are only pinholes in carbon paper...
and no one here can prove me wrong...
because no one here really knows...
how can they really know?...

And I believe that God is like a beautiful diamond...
with infinite glistening sides...
and when we gaze into a facet of it...
we see a reflection of ourselves...
and though it's only US we see...
it's really God we're looking at...

And I believe that this is not reality...
but only a small part of a greater reality...
that's only a part of an even greater reality...
like a house burning in a forest...
burning in the sun...
we are nothing...
we are nothing...
we are nothing...
but yet we are everything...

For though we are the smallest of realities...
we are in no wise the least...
for we are the truths testing ground...
and all the other realities watch US intently...
for they also wrestle with these mysteries...
relying on US to do the right thing...
they are hoping...
they are hoping...
they are hoping...
that we will do the right thing...

What is good and evil?...
what is it, when there is more than one?...
how shall they prosper?...
how shall they fall?...
shall the powerful oppress the weak?...
or shall they care for them?...
this is the essence of good and evil...

In the beginning, one searches for knowledge...
then, when they find that that is not enough...
they search for wisdom to USe that knowledge...
then, when they find that that is not enough...
they search for higher knowledge and wisdom...
then, when they reach the point that there are no answers...
they reach the point attained by few...
but from which all start from...
and blessed are those who can know...
without having to know how and why...

This higher knowledge of this higher wisdom...
is the only way that we can see...
beyond all this... our smallest of realities...
and glimpse the greater realities...
that lie beyond that incomprehesible carbon paper...
where is the source of all the light...
that shines so brightly through those pinholes...
and illuminates our dark night...
the light that is God and the kingdom...

And I believe that that stars in the nightsky...
are only pinholes in carbon paper...
and no one here can prove me wrong...
because no one here really knows...
how can they really know?...

And I believe that God is like a beautiful diamond...
with infinite glistening sides...
and when we gaze into a facet of it...
we see a reflection of ourselves...
and though it's only US we see...
it's really God we're looking at.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Self Sacrifice

There is no pleasure in self sacrifice...
so don't do it thinking that someday...
you will gain reprise...

There is no reward for true love...
for anything given with thoughts of reward...
is not true love...

For true love is truly self sacrifice...
it is giving, without asking...
there is no compromise...

Well, I've listened to many a Christian...
and a lot of them talk of rewards...
that they've been given...

And though I believe that it might be so...
they are wrong to believe that they have earned them...
this I know...

For the Lord God is the master of love...
and he gives all things knowing that there may...
be no return of...

So if you love, then give it freely...
and if you are loved, then you will be given to...
ungrudgingly...

And if you give with thoughts of return...
then my friend, you've got a hard lesson...
that you will learn...

That true love is truely self sacrifice...
it is giving, without asking...
there is no compromise.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Sweet Reason

Before you...
I never really tried...
I might as well have died...
my life had no meaning...
you're like the dawn...
and so I sing...

(Chorus)
Colors coming in bright and clear...
I know that you are here...
as is the morning sun...
you are my reason...
my sweet reason...

Now...
as I walk the aisle with you...
I can feel the sun coming through...
yea, the morning's on it's way...
the end of my night...
the beginning of our day...

(Chorus)
Colors coming in bright and clear...
I know that you are here...
as is the morning sun...
you are my reason...
my sweet reason...

In the future...
when we have gone through life's trials...
when we've shared a lot of miles...
when our bodies grow old and grey...
I'll still look in your eyes...
and I'll say...

(Chorus)
Colors coming in bright and clear...
I know that you are here...
as is the morning sun...
you are my reason...
my sweet reason...

When I pass on...
into the valley of death...
as I draw my last breath...
your name will be on my lips...
then we'll meet on the other side in bliss...

(Chorus)
Colors coming in bright and clear...
I know that you are here...
as is the morning sun...
you are my reason...
my sweet reason.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Yet Again

My beloved...
thou art fair to look upon...
mine eyes hath told my heart...
mine ears hath heard thy voice...
and I didst love thee from the start...
mine tongue hath tasted thee...
and found thee sweet and tart...
and when I touch thee...
if the flesh could be one with the heart...
it is then...
yet again... and yet again...

My beloved...
thou hast rekindled the flame...
though the cinders dark and cold...
thou hast stirred the embers of my soul...
I am consumed and the flame burns bold...
come to me and I will warm thee...
fear not to burn, for I am before thee...
burnt to the core...
and still, I yet burn for thee once more...
now as then...
yet again... and yet again...

My beloved...
the vision of thee is fuel...
for the flame to start...
and it is the least...
of thy mind, soul and heart...
love me, my love...
for I am given to thee...
to burn for you...
incessantly...
when and then...
yet again... and yet again.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

The Greatest Lover in the world

Walkin' down that busy street...
smilin' at all the people you meet...
and all of them say "Hello"...
but there ain't none of them know...

Standin' in that crowded room...
sometimes every eye's on you...
watchin' everything you do...
and some of them suspect it's true...

Well, we went out to the restaurant...
and it just amazes me...
out of sight, but plain to see...
and nobody knows but me...

Chorus
That you're the greatest lover in the world...
the greatest lover in the world...
the greatest lover in the world...
and no body knows but me...

Ya got up on the floor to dance...
they checked ya out with a casual glance...
now don't let their condescendence get to you...
cause they don't know what we do...

Chorus

Now, I've seen many a hard sell...
and I've found, ya never can tell...
most are overrated at best...
and that's why you're above the rest...

Chorus

Standin' in that crowded room...
didn't it just amaze you...
all those people lookin' for love...
and none of them knew...

Chorus

Now, don't you get upset...
no, don't you worry at all...
your secret is safe with me...
and I won't mention any name at all...
when I sing...

Chorus Twice

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Leaves in the Steam

My love, sometimes it feels like we're only leaves in the stream...
And sometimes I'm a little more scared than I seem...
Out of control as the river bobs and weaves...
Through this dream...

There's no going back, for the current is too strong...
The future is uncertain, and the past is gone...
My love, sometimes it feels like we're only...
Leaves in the stream...

My love, I will cling to you round every bend...
And together we shall go unto the rivers end...
Through calm pasture and over rapid waterfall...
I will strive to be with you through it all...

Into the ocean, and the cycle begins anew...
As we return to the tree from whence we grew...
Nourishing its life in the form of rainfall...
And morning dew...

My love, sometimes it feels like we're only...
Leaves in the stream...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

The Irony Before Me

Well, I awoke last night...
And a rude awakening it was...
My eyes were opened and I could see...
And one of the first things I saw...
Was how very wrong that I was...
And that I had been gone for quite awhile...
I was too gone for too long...
And too blind to know I was going...
And I jUSt felt too right...
When I was so very wrong...

(Chorus)
And so I write this song...
About the irony before me...
That I could believe it was the brightest day...
When it was really the darkest night of all...

And it's strange what we see with closed eyes...
In the shadowy place that is the human heart...
Self-jUStified... a portrait painted on a canvas of lies...
And blaming each other is jUSt too easy...
And responsibility is jUSt too hard...
And sometimes the truth lies beneath a lie...
But none of these things tell me...
What I really need to know...
How I could think I was so right...
When I was so very wrong...

(Chorus)
And so I sing this song...
About the irony before me...
That I could believe it was the brightest day...
When it was really the darkest night of all...

And how can I tell you how sorry I am...
Or how I regret not listening to you...
I can see how I carelessly hurt you...
When you were already so down...
And now, all I can do is apologize...
But I can't seem to look into your eyes...
For I am less the hero...
I am more the clown...
But though I were less than a zero...
I never meant to let you down...

(Chorus)
And so I sing this song...
About the irony before me...
That I could believe it was the brightest day...
When it was really the darkest night of all...

And it's strange what we see with closed eyes...
In the shadowy place that is the human heart...
Self-jUStified... a portrait painted on a canvas of lies...
And blaming each other is jUSt too easy...
And responsibility is jUSt too hard...
And ohh, when we find that our truths are only lies...
And did it feel like you couldn't breath...
Did you feel that threat to your ego...
Did it feel like you might die...
If you didn't jUSt let it go...

(Chorus)
And so we sing this song...
About the irony before US...
That we could believe it was the brightest day...
When it was really the darkest night of all...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Prayer of the unworthy servant

Dear God... creator of all... king of all... and in control of all...
I humble myself before you... who are as big as the universe...
And I realize my place...
I kneel before you... my God...

Dear God... king of kings... and of all things...
Please lord... hear the prayer of your unworthy servant...

Judge me in thy mercy and grace...
Not in thy wrath... lest I cease...
Strengthen me where I need strength...
And humble me where I need humbled...
Bridle my pride... lest I should boast...
And be humbled dramatically...
Know my needs lord... and provide me according to thy will...
Give me wisdom above all... and set my mind in your path...
Do to my enemies as you see fit...
And make me remember that vengeance is yours...
Fill my heart with love, lord... that there be no room for hate...
Please lord, watch over me... that I not stray too far...
Nor be tempted too much...
Let me know thy will... and do it...

Lord, above all... know that I love you...
And that I seek after your love...
That I might know your love...
and mercy... and grace...
This is the prayer of your unworthy servant...
Amen.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Children of the Damned

You keep on sayin' all the good things you'll do for US...
If we jUSt do things your way...
You say "we're gonna fight for the free"...
Half a world away...
Killing them if they don't do things your way...

(Chorus)
And all the children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

You keep sayin' "the Last Generation"...
"Nineteen hundred and forty eight"...
I say, "what about the children"...
You say, "God is great"...
And then you say that the Prince of Peace...
has told you to kill them all...

(Chorus)
And all the children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

You say that your "Armageddon"...
Is "God's will"...
I say that for blasphemy...
We burn in hell...
Sacrificing the blood of our children...
Taking the future from them...
For the black tar from the bowels of the earth...
That you serve...

(Chorus)
And all the children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

Well, maybe the "Last Generation"...
Is true for you...
Let me tell you what is true for me...
God in heaven never intended...
His beloved creation to butcher itself...
And I'm a part of those who will go on...
After your "Last Generation" passes away...
The blessed "First Generation"...
The beloved children of God...

(Chorus)
And all the children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

And all the dead children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

And all the living children sing...
OOoow Ooow Oooowh...
O OOoow Ooow Oooowh...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

The Silver Whale

Aye lad... sit down... let me tell ye a tale...
The yarn of the great ship... they sired the Silver Whale...

Well, she were a fine sight... on 'er christenin' date...
The people said, "God couldn't sink her"...
Aye... but the devil could wait...

It were a cool day... late autumn twenty nine...
She were the queen's pride... floatin' so high and so fine...
Her captain were a well weathered old salt... went by Capt'n Pete...
His command were a strong one... known throughout the fleet...

Her crew were a new one...
Nigh o'er half seasoned enough to set sail...
All good hearted young sailors...
Destined to fail...

Well, the boats'n whistled "All Aboard"...
And the passengers waved their good-byes...
The band played... and the ribbons flew...
And the Silver Whale steamed on blue waters...
Under blue skies...

Well, she made 'er way quick to the Nor-Western sea...
Crusin' twenty four knots... though twere well known she'd do thirty three...
Aye, but avast... who could've known...
Eighty mile west... a storm were brewin'...

A star was fallin'... some say it was God's callin'...
It were a great meteor... comin' in at an untold speed...
It hit the sea with the fury of angels...
Judgement had come... ole reaper must feed...

Aye, the wave it made were a tremendous one...
Some say it stood a full three mile league...
What e'er it were... the damage were done...

Well, word came from aloft...
That they'd better'd make their peace...
God, er the devil twere about to end their lease...

"Ho! belay that dismal speech"...
"Ye flea-bitten excuse fer a blood suckin' leach"...
"We ride the Silver Whale"...
"No matter what this storm be"...
"We shall prevail"...

Aye Capt'n Pete took command... order'd her turned about...
Flank speed... and batten down the hatches...
Aye... but all the time knowin' that if it capped...
It'd bust em to matches...

Well, the horizon 'ad began it's rise...
It blotted the moon... darkenin' their death cries...
Aye, they'd seen it... and known their fate...
But drownin' couldn't be much worse...
Than that terrible wait...

Well, the capt'n being the man he were...
Stood his post firmly... ne'er said a word...
Of the rest... some prayed and some cried...
Most drank the best ail they could steal...

Aye, where they went be a mystery...
Davy Jones locker... Heaven... or Hades...
Tis a sad thing to die at sea...
Be it men... boys... or ladies...

Heed the warnin' of the God of land and sea...
Strike no challenges... for ye can ne'er tell...
Where 'is deadly trident staff might be.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Yesterday is Gone

Yesterday is gone... good-bye... so long...

It was good, to know you... you're a very special memory for me...

But yesterday is gone...

Too many todays... spent with you... is somehow very wrong...

Doubtless, a few tomorrow's ... I'll return to you...

When the end of my todays, comes along... I'll return to you...

(Open verses for leads)

Yesterday is gone... good-bye... so long...

And this... my farewell song... for I must return to where I belong...

My today is for the morrow... so I part in sweet sorrow...

Because, my dear old friend... yesterday, is gone.

Words by
Charlie Ray Fetty III 
Inspired by Music of David Leon
"Enter the Dreamtime"
(I'm on the piano:~)

What it is to cry

Now, I know what it is to cry...
Till the tears don't come anymore...

With the tearsalt caked on my face...
in streams to my chest...
and through my body, shivers raced...
as mine soul was put to the test...

Now, I know what it is to cry...

When the shell that covered me...
was cracked and shattered away...
and I stood cold and naked...
and saw myself for the first time...

Now, I know what it is to cry...

When the shell that covered me...
was cracked and shattered away...
and I stood in the pile of rubble...
and beheld the child within...

Now, I know what it is to cry...

When the shell that covered me...
was cracked and shattered away...
and I stood in the light of a new day...
reborn... reborn... reborn...

Now, I know what it is to cry...

When the shell that covered me...
was cracked and shattered away...
and I stood in the pile of rubble...
and beheld the child I am...

Now, I know what it is to cry...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

I remember and I miss you Rob. 

Wounded Bird

My love lies like a wounded bird...
singing sadder songs than you've ever heard...
but it remembers, yeah, it remembers...
flying so high, without cares or fears...
and taking the dives, waterlogged with tears...

My love lies like a wounded bird...
afraid to fly, afraid of the word...
but it watches, yeah, and it waits...
as other birds fly and sing...
and fall with wounded wing...

My love lies like a wounded bird...
and it looks at you with eyes blurred...
as it flaps its wings, and proudly sings...
won't you come fly with me...
won't you come fly with me...

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Cheryl

I was twenty... and lonely...
when she first touched my life...
And her name Cheryl...
for whom I write this carol...
still wondering why...
I lost her last summer...
She took me freely...
and showed me how to love...

She was my first love...
in ways not talked of...
she was my first woman...
and I swear I'll never forget her...
her honesty is so hard to find...
and I lost her last summer...
and I wonder if I'll blunder...
into another such as her...

She was older and so much bolder...
but somehow, she was the same as me...
and I know she needed...
as bad as I did...
it was so beautiful...
and I lost her last summer...
ohh Cheryl, do you remember the moon...
and our reflections on it...

This may sound sad...
but I'll always be glad...
for our short time together...
ohh Cheryl, you are a highlight...
in my very confused life...
and someday, we may meet again...
but until then, it'll be a memory and a hope...
and a dream for me...

This is an ode to the first woman who made love with me.

Charlie Ray Fetty III

Who is the Enemy?
Quadralay 1

They say that battle lines are being drawn…
and that the threat is imminent…
and I’m asking, “which side am I on?”…
someone tell me who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

And that man over there is crying “Civil War!”…
and he’s saying it’s an enemy we can’t ignore…
and we’re all looking but we can’t see…
someone tell US now  who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

I see brothers and sisters all around me…
downtrodden in luxury and in misery…
and in their eyes I can see…
they too are asking who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

And over here a couple beat each other down…
their battering words have a hateful sound…
and then they say how much they love each other…
and then they ponder who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

(ChorUS:~)
Who is it that’s tearing US down?…
and where are the lines drawn?…
is it over there?…
or is it here within you and me?…
someone tell US now who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…


Who is the enemy?
Quadralay 2

And those children over there…
the ones with so much pain and fear in their eyes…
their home, it's a torture chamber…
and the scars they receive there  will haunt them the rest of their lives…
and those silent scars may offer the wrong answer…
later when they need to know who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And that bastard over there raped that child so fair…
his guilt and the kid’s pain  are the dark secret that they share…
and lying and denying only make it worse…
but they jUSt can't bear to face who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And that woman over there, she’s using make-up…
trying to cover the bruises that he gave her…
when asked by friends who care,  she says she fell down the stair…
but it’s clear to every eye, that she’s not as clumsy as that lie…
and that all the thick lies and make-up…
never ask or answer or cover up who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And those people over there… well, they’re stoned again…
their drug of choice has become their best friend…
and in their empty gaze… smiling pleasantly…
it's clear to see they have no idea who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

(ChorUS:~)
Who is it that’s tearing US down?…
and where are the lines drawn?…
is it over there?…
or is it here within you and me?…
someone tell US now who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…


Who is the enemy?
Quadralay 3

And that guy over there, he wants more and more…
and he’d steal from his own brother in his dog eat dog world…
his heart is blinded by greed…
and he cannot see who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And that group over there blame it on the powers that be…
thereby excUSing themselves from responsibility…
and their empty reply, “there’s nothing we can do”…
doesn’t explain why they don’t even try to…
left nor right nor high nor low...
they jUSt don’t know who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And that man over there with a gun to his head…
it’s sad to think that he believes he’s better off dead…
overcome by hopelessness he can’t ignore…
he’s just another casualty of the war…
wasting and wasted away…
I wonder if he could've said who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

And those people, they hate others only for their color…
their hatred and spite are impossible to ignore…
have some beers… and tell some jokes…
and burn some crosses… and paint some synagogues…
and beat up some whitey…
how is it they can’t see who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?…

Who is it that’s tearing US down?…
and where are the lines drawn?…
is it over there?…
or is it here within you and me?…
someone tell US now who is the enemy?…

Who it the enemy?…


Who is the enemy?
Quadralay 4

And if we could gather them from all around…
and with our swords, we cut them to the ground…
tell me, would that change anything…
or remove the sting...  who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

Is it true that before the nations can change…
the hearts of the people mUSt change first…
and I mUSt ask, can the sword do any good?…
or does it always jUSt make it worse?… who is the enemy?...

Who is the Enemy…

And over there in prison... those lawbreakers…
no one can count their cost to society…
it mUSt be nearly as much as the lawmakers…
and you know, more and more laws don’t change a thing…
and that for every crime there is a penalty…
tell me who is guilty... tell me who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

And now, I’m over here crying “Civil War!”…
and I’m saying that the battle rages in US all…
and it’s in our own hearts the battle lines are drawn…
and it’s there that we’ll find who is the enemy…

Who is the enemy?...

(ChorUS:~)
Who is it that’s tearing US down?…
and where are the lines drawn?…
is it over there?…
or is it here within you and me?…
someone tell US now who is the enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

They say that battle lines are being drawn…
and that the threat is imminent…
and we're asking “which side are we on?”…
someone tell US who is our enemy?…

Who is the enemy?…

Charlie Ray Fetty III 
(with a lot of help from my friends:~)

lay me down

Lay me down...
in the cold dark night...
and I will sleep...
until the light...

Ask me how...
I can sleep so well...
while the whole damn world...
is going to hell...

Let me tell you...
what I must do...
to ease mine soul...
to blissful sleep...

I repent before God...
my soul to keep...
for mineself...
and mine kind...

Lord, we have used...
your blessed name...
to steal and lie...
and kill and maim...

Blasphemy...
to justify...
breaking all your commandments...
all the time...

So, lay me down...
in the cold dark night...
and I will sleep...
until the light.

Charlie Ray Fetty III
:~)

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