MISSING PERSON

(Written by Michael McMillan, copyright 2018)

A BETTER PLACE

WE SHARED A GREYHOUND FROM MEMPHIS DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS
HIS DOG HIS ONLY COMPANION FADED LIKE HIS OLD JEANS
HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS MOTHER SPOKE ABOUT HIS LIFE,
HOW HE STILL MISSED HIS CHILDREN,
HOW HE STILL MISSED HIS WIFE.

AND HOW HE TELLS HIMSELF EACH DAY THAT THEY’RE IN A BETTER PLACE
THEY’LL SOON FORGET HIS FACE AND THEY’LL MOVE ON
BUT AS TEARS FILL HIS EYES HE LOOKS OUT BEYOND THE SKY
AND HE PRAYS HE’LL FIND A PLACE WHERE HE BELONGS

SMALL TOWN LIFE AINT EASY KID DEALING WITH THE PAIN,
WHEN THEY TELL YOU YOU’RE SPECIAL,
BUT THEY CAN’T HIDE THEIR SHAME,
UNCLE SAM CAME A CALLING, SAID HE KNEW HIS NAME,
TOO MANY YEARS IN A FOREIGN LAND HE WAS NEVER THE SAME

BUT HE TELLS HIMSELF EACH DAY THAT THEY’RE IN A BETTER PLACE
THEY’LL SOON FORGET HIS FACE AND THEY’LL MOVE ON
BUT AS TEARS FILL HIS EYES HE LOOKS OUT BEYOND THE SKY
AND HE PRAYS HE’LL FIND A PLACE WHERE HE BELONGS

WE SHARED A GREYHOUND FROM MEMPHIS, DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS
HIS DOG HIS ONLY COMPANION FADED LIKE HIS OLD JEANS.

COMING HOME

MY SWEET LOVE HOW I MISS YOU, I’VE BEEN GONE FOR FAR TOO LONG
I JUST CALLED TO SAY ITS ALL OVER NOW AND THIS MAN IS COMING HOME

HOME TO WHERE MY LOVE IS WAITING, WHERE MY FAMILY CAN LIVE FREE
HOME TO WHERE THIS WAR IS FADING, WHERE MY HEART HAS LONGED TO BE
MY DARLING KISS MY CHILDREN, TELL THEM DADDY LOVES THEM SO
I WILL HOLD THEM IN THE MORNING, I SWEAR I’LL NEVER LET THEM GO

HOME TO WHERE MY LOVE IS WAITING, WHERE MY CHILDREN CAN LIVE FREE
HOME TO WHERE THIS WAR IS FADING, WHERE THIS MAN IS MEANT TO BE

THIS CRAZY WAR DID SOME CRAZY THINGS TO ME,
I’VE SEEN SO MANY THINGS A MAN SHOULD NEVER SEE

THEN I LOOK AT YOUR PICTURE AND I CATCH MY BREATH
AND I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I’VE BEEN THERE, NOW I’M COMING HOME
AND I SEE THAT SMILE THAT I KNOW SO WELL,
AND I MARCHED RIGHT UP TO THE GATES OF HELL,
YES I’VE BEEN THERE, NOW I’M COMING HOME

YES I LOOK AT YOUR PICTURE AND I CATCH MY BREATH
AND I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I’VE BEEN THERE, NOW I’M COMING HOME
AND I SEE THAT SMILE THAT I KNOW SO WELL,
AND I MARCHED RIGHT UP TO THE GATES OF HELL,
YES I’VE BEEN THERE, NOW I’M COMING HOME

I MOVED ON

I NEVER THOUGH I’D SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN,
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SEE THAT SMILE
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D HEAR YOU LAUGHING,
I HAVEN’T LAUGHED IN QUITE A WHILE

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL ME,
WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO SAY
YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SAY I’M SORRY,
BUT YOU LET ME WALK AWAY

BUT YOU WERE IN THE HEART OF ME,
IN EVERY PART OF ME, IN MY SOUL
AND IT’S TRUE YOU TOOK THE BEST OF ME,
BEFORE YOU TOOK THE REST OF ME I MOVED ON
I CANT BELIEVE WHAT YOU JUST TOLD ME,
THAT THEY DON’T MEAN THAT MUCH TO YOU
WHEN I FELT MY HEART START SINKING MY HEAD KNEW JUST WHAT I SHOULD DO.
I THOUGHT BY NOW YOU’D CHANGE YOUR STORY,
THAT YOU’D COME UP WITH SOMETHING NEW,
THE ONLY THING WE HAD IN COMMON,
WE WERE BOTH IN LOVE WITH YOU.

BUT YOU WERE IN THE HEART OF ME, IN EVERY PART OF ME,
IN MY SOUL AND IT’S TRUE YOU TOOK THE BEST OF ME,
BEFORE YOU TOOK THE REST OF ME I MOVED ON

ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER BROKEN HEART,
YOU LEAVE THEM EVERYWHERE YOU GO
YOU THINK YOU’RE CLOSE, BUT WE’RE SO FAR APART,
BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW.

THAT YOU WERE IN THE HEART OF ME, IN EVERY PART OF ME, IN MY SOUL,
AND ITS TRUE YOU TOOK THE BEST OF ME,
BEFORE YOU TOOK THE REST OF ME, I MOVED ON

YES YOU WERE IN THE HEART OF ME IN EVERY PART OF ME, IN MY SOUL,
AND ITS TRUE YOU TOOK THE BEST OF ME,
BEFORE YOU TOOK THE REST OF ME, I MOVED ON

NO PLACE TO GO

AS I WALK AROUND THESE CITY STREETS,
AND I WONDER WHERE MY LIFE HAS GONE
EMPTY SPACES, PLACES WHERE WE USED TO MEET AND I WONDER WHERE DO I BELONG

THERE’S A CRAZY MAN I USED TO RUN FROM,
NOW HE’S CATCHING UP WITH ME I USED TO WONDER WHERE HE CAME FROM,
BUT THAT CRAZY MAN IS ME

JUST A SURPLUS CLOWN IN A CIRCUS TOWN,
THEY PULLED THE BIG TOP DOWN, BEFORE MY FINAL SHOW
I WAS A RISING SUN NOW I’M A SETTING SON,
I WAS SOMEONE’S SON NOW I HAVE NO PLACE TO GO

THERE’S A CRAZY MAN I USED TO RUN FROM NOW HE’S OVERTAKEN ME
I USED TO ASK HIM WHERE HE CAME FROM,
BUT THAT CRAZY MAN IS ME

A PAINTED SMILE BUT TEARS THAT GLISTEN,
THE CROWD JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
NOW NO-ONE LAUGHS AND NO-ONE LISTENS ITS JUST A FACE I’M GOING THROUGH

I WAS A RISING SUN NOW I’M A SETTING SUN, I WAS SOMEONE’S SON
NOW I HAVE NO PLACE TO GO.

SO MANY THORNS

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHAT DO I SEE,
I SEE THE FACE OF A STRANGER STARING BACK AT ME,
OUR LIFE IS JUST A CANVAS OF THAT THERE IS NO DOUBT,
A LONG FORGOTTEN DRAWING WITHOUT THE RUBBING OUT

BUT THERE AINT NO PLACE IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD THAT I WOULD RATHER BE
THAN TO STAND RIGHT HERE AND FEEL YOU STANDING NEXT TO ME
WE’VE BEEN DOWN SO MANY HIGHWAYS YOU WENT YOURS AND I WENT MY WAY
BUT WITH THE GOOD LORD THERE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE STORMS
WE DIDN’T WANT A BED OF ROSES LIKE SO MANY WHO HAVE KNOWN US
BUT WE HADN’T ASKED FOR QUITE SO MANY THORNS

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHAT DO I SEE, I SEE THE FACE OF A GOOD MAN
A MAN I USED TO BE,
ANOTHER TOWN ANOTHER CITY, THERE’S JUST NOWHERE I BELONG
AND KNOWING WHERE I CAME FROM, KEEPS ME MOVING ON

BUT THERE AINT NO PLACE IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD THAT
I WOULD RATHER BE THAN TO STAND RIGHT HERE AND FEEL YOU STANDING NEXT TO ME
WE’VE BEEN DOWN SO MANY HIGHWAYS YOU WENT YOURS AND I WENT MY WAY
BUT WITH THE GOOD LORD THERE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE STORMS
WE DIDN’T WANT A BED OF ROSES LIKE SO MANY WHO HAVE KNOWN US
BUT WE HADN’T ASKED FOR QUITE SO MANY THORNS

IN MY DREAMS I MADE APPOINTMENTS, THAT IN LIFE I COULDN’T KEEP
BUT I HAD TO BE A DREAMER BECAUSE AT NIGHT I CANNOT SLEEP.

BUT THERE AINT NO PLACE IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD THAT I WOULD RATHER BE
THAN TO STAND RIGHT HERE AND FEEL YOU STANDING NEXT TO ME
WE’VE BEEN DOWN SO MANY HIGHWAYS YOU WENT YOURS AND I WENT MY WAY
BUT WITH THE GOOD LORD THERE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE STORMS
WE DIDN’T WANT A BED OF ROSES LIKE SO MANY WHO HAVE KNOWN US
BUT WE HADN’T ASKED FOR QUITE SO MANY THORNS

TELL ME

I COULD NEVER WRITE A LOVE SONG
THAT WOULD SHOW YOU HOW I FEEL
FOR HOW COULD I WRITE PASSION AND MAKE IT WARM AND REAL
I SING YOU SONGS OF OTHERS WHEN I FEEL THE NEED TO TRY
BUT IF I COULD WRITE A LOVE SONG IT WOULD ONLY MAKE YOU CRY

SO TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING SHOW ME HOW YOU CARE
TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING NOW I’M NOT THERE

I NEVER SAW IT COMING YOU TOOK ME BY SURPRISE
I WAS CAPTURED BY YOUR BEAUTY AND THE SADNESS IN YOUR EYES
YOU THOUGHT I HAD ALL THE ANSWERS YOU THOUGHT I’D PLAYED EACH PART
THEN YOU TORE MY WORLD WIDE OPEN AND EXPLODED IN MY HEART

SO TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING TELL ME THAT I’M WRONG
TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING NOW I’M GONE

I WISH THAT I COULD TELL YOU WITH THE WORDS YOU WANT TO HEAR
I KNOW IT’S SO IMPORTANT AND IT WOULD TAKE AWAY YOUR FEAR
BUT I COULD NEVER WRITE IT, A SONG GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU
BUT CAN’T YOU SEE IT POURING FROM THE THINGS I SAY AND DO

SO TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING, TELL ME THAT I’M WRONG
TELL ME HOW YOU’RE FEELING NOW I’M GONE.

THE ONLY WORD

I HIT THE ROAD WHEN I WAS SEVENTEEN,
IT DIDN’T MATTER WHAT THEY SAID
I’D FIND SOMEONE WHO JUST BELIEVED IN ME,
WE’D LIVE THE DREAMS INSIDE MY HEAD
BUT I SOON FOUND THAT THE WORLD WAS COLD,
THAT THE RAINBOWS END WAS THE RICH MANS GOLD

AND I THOUGHT LOVE WAS THE ONY WORD
BUT I FOUND LOVE TO BE A LONELY WORD
YES I THOUGHT LOVE WAS THE ONLY WORD,
BUT I FOUND LOVE TO BE A LONELY WORD

I TRIED TO BE THE MAN THEY ASKED OF ME,
THE ONE MY MOTHER THINKS I AM
I WANTED PRIDE I WANTED DIGNITY,
I NEED TO BE A NEEDED MAN
BUT I SOON FOUND THOUGH I WAS RUNNING FREE
THAT I KEPT RUNNING, RUNNING,
RUNNING JUST TO GET AWAY FROM ME

AND I THOUGHT LOVE WAS THE ONY WORD
BUT I FOUND LOVE TO BE A LONELY WORD
YES I THOUGHT LOVE WAS THE ONLY WORD,
BUT I FOUND LOVE TO BE A LONELY WORD

TO MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED HAVE NOT BEEN KIND,
SO MANY LINES UPON MY FACE
I WALKED THE WALK AND I TALKED THE TALK FOR THEM,
BUT I WAS NEVER IN THEIR RACE
I WAS ON THAT LEDGE THINKING WHAT WILL BE WILL BE
THEN I FELT YOUR HAND REACHING OUT TO ME

AND I THOUGHT LOVE WAS A LONELY WORD
YOU SHOWED ME LOVE TO BE THE ONLY WORD
YES I THOUGHT LOVE WAS A LONELY WORD,
YOU SHOWED ME LOVE TO BE THE ONLY WORD

TICK THE BOX

I LOOK AT THE WORLD AND WHAT DO I SEE,
I SEE A WHOLE LOAD OF PEOPLE SHOUTING VOTE FOR ME,
THEY ONCE SANG A SONG WITH A HIGH SCHOOL BAND
NOW THEIR RICH UNCLE CHARLIE’S GOING TO MAKE THEM A BRAND

WITH THEIR
TICK THE BOX HUSBANDS, TICK THE BOX WIVES,
TICK THE BOX LOVERS,TICK THE BOX LIVES
TICK THE BOX HOUSES AND TICK THE BOX CARS
AND CHILDREN WHO WANT TO BE TICK THE BOX STARS

ITS AN ENTITLED GENERATION,
WHO WANT TO BE AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION
BUT THEY CAN’T SING OR WRITE OR PLAY GUITAR
BUT MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR
MR MONEY MAKES SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR

THEY GET A ROLLS ROYCE CAR
AND THEY LEARN TO SKI,
A BABY GRAND PIANO IN A HOUSE BY THE SEA
THE FACT THEY CANNOT PLAY IT DOESNT MEAN A THING
THEY’RE GOING TO BE A FAMOUS SINGER WHO DOES NOT SING

WITH THEIR
TICK THE BOX HUSBANDS, TICK THE BOX WIVES,
TICK THE BOX LOVERS,TICK THE BOX LIVES
TICK THE BOX HOUSES AND TICK THE BOX CARS
AND CHILDREN WHO WANT TO BE TICK THE BOX STARS

ITS AN ENTITLED GENERATION,
WHO WANT TO BE AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION
BUT THEY CAN’T SING OR WRITE OR PLAY GUITAR
BUT MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR
MR MONEY MAKES SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR

YOU NEED TO GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY,
BUT I CANT TELL YOU WHAT I’M GOING TO DO
ONE DAY YOU’LL BE A BIG STAR ON FACEBOOK HONEY
AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS CAN FOLLOW YOU

ANOTHER ENTITLED GENERATION
WHO WANT TO BE AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION
BUT THEY CAN’T WRITE OR SING OR PLAY GUITAR
BUT MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR

MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE THEM A STAR
MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE YOU A STAR
MR MONEY MAKER SAYS HE’LL MAKE YOU A STAR

WE DON’T LISTEN

AINT IT FUNNY HOW THINGS TURN OUT
WE SCREAM AND SHOUT BUT WE DONT LISTEN
THERE’S NO KEY FOR A BROKEN LOCK IF WE TALK AND TALK
BUT WE DON’T LISTEN

THROUGH THE YEARS AND YEARS OF TALKING JUST IMAGINE IF YOU CAN,
THAT THE SON OF THE GREAT SPIRIT REAPPEARED AGAIN TO MAN
AND HE TRIED SO HARD TO SHOW US HOW TO FILL OUR HEART WITH LOVE
BUT AS THE WISE AND FOOLISH TALKED AND TALKED,
HE COULD NOT BE HEARD ABOVE

AINT IT FUNNY WE BEGIN TO FEAR WHEN WE DON’T HEAR,
BUT WE STILL DON’T LISTEN
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO’S RIGHT OR WRONG,
WE CAN’T GO ON IF WE DON’T LISTEN

AND THE RIGHTEOUS WELL THEY MIGHT JUST START TO LISTEN TO THE CHOICES,
BUT IF SOMEONE TELLS A DIFFERENT TALE THEY JUST WOULD NOT HEAR THOSE VOICES,
AND THEY ASK US HOW WE’RE DOING WITH A COLD AND VACANT STARE,
BECAUSE IT’S EASIER THAN TELLING US HOW LITTLE THEY COULD CARE

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE MORE IS SAID THAN DONE
WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE MORE IS SAID THAN DONE

IN THE HEAT OF THOUGHTLESS ANGER WE DONT SEE WHAT RISKS WE’RE TAKING,
IN OUR STRUGGLE FOR THE LAST WORD WE DON’T CARE WHO’S HEARTS WE’RE BREAKING,
SAYING AFTER EVERY BATTLE THAT THE LAST ONE WAS THE LAST
BUT IF HISTORY SHOWS US ONE THING, THERE’S NO FUTURE IN THE PAST

AINT IT FUNNY HOW THINGS TURN OUT WE SCREAM AND SHOUT BUT WE DON’T LISTEN
WHEN LOVE WHISPERS IN YOUR EAR YOU WON’T HEAR IF YOU STILL WONT LISTEN.

WHO CARES

THEY HELD EACH OTHER NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY,
STARING AT THE LETTER THEIR BOY HAS RUN AWAY
HOW COULD HE DO THIS TO US, WHERE’S OUR BABY GONE
AFTER ALL WE’VE DONE FOR HIM, WHERE DID HE GO WRONG

YOU GAVE HIM ALL YOU SAID HE NEEDED,
IT CUT JUST LIKE A KNIFE BUT EVERYTIME INSTEAD HE PLEADED,
THAT YOU WOULD SHARE HIS LIFE

SHE NEVER TOLD US WHAT WAS GOING ON
AFTER ALL WE GAVE HER HOW COULD ANYTHING BE WRONG
OUR PRINCESS IN A CASTLE WITH SERVANTS NIGHT AND DAY
HOW COULD SHE BE SO SELFISH HOW COULD SHE RUN AWAY

YOU GAVE HER ALL YOU SAID SHE NEEDED,
IT CUT JUST LIKE A KNIFE
BUT EVERYTIME INSTEAD SHE PLEADED,
THAT YOU WOULD SHARE HER LIFE

THEY HOLD EACH OTHER 500 MILES AWAY STARING AT THE STARS ABOVE THEY’VE NEVER FELT THIS WAY
THIS WAS ALL THEY NEEDED, TWO HANDS FIT LIKE A GLOVE,
ALL THEY EVER WANTED SOMEONE’S TIME AND SOMEONE’S LOVE

THEY DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW,
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE,
WERE YOU EVER THERE TO SEE THEM GROW,
NOW THERE’S A STRANGER STANDING THERE.

YOU GAVE THEM ALL YOU SAID THEY NEEDED,
IT CUT JUST LIKE A KNIFE
BUT EVERY TIME INSTEAD THEY PLEADED,
THAT YOU WOULD SHARE THEIR LIFE
YOU GAVE THEM ALL YOU SAID THEY NEEDED,
IT CUT JUST LIKE A KNIFE
BUT EVERY TIME INSTEAD THEY PLEADED,
THAT YOU WOULD SHARE THEIR LIFE

YOU ARE

YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL,
YOU ARE A LOVE SO FINE A LOVE DEVINE

YOU ARE MY DAILY SUNLIGHT YOU ARE MY ONLY MOONLIGHT
YOU SMILE MY DARKNESS INTO LIGHT YOUR LAUGHTER BRIGHTENS UP MY DAY

YOU ARE A SPECIAL PLACE A PRECIOUS FAITH,
NEARER CLEARER YOU TOUCH MY HAND YOU UNDERSTAND

YOU ARE THE STARS IN MY SKY YOU ARE MY STRENGTH WHEN I CRY
YOU LIFT ME HIGH ABOVE THE CLOUDS I WANT TO SHOUT YOUR NAME OUT LOUD.

MY LOVE I’M AT PEACE WHEN YOU’RE WITH ME
AND MY HEART GOES WHEREVER YOU GO
I FEEL JUST LIKE A KING WHEN YOU KISS ME
SO MY LOVE I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW

YOU ARE SO MAGICAL, WONDERFUL
SWEET FACE SWEET GRACE
I WATCH YOU SLEEP IN LOVE SO DEEP

AND EACH MORNING WHEN YOU RISE THE SKY TAKES BLUE FROM YOUR EYES
THE FLOWERS CALL YOUR NAME OUT LOUD YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO VERY PROUD

WAIT FOR ME

IF I SHOULD LEAVE THIS WORLD BEFORE YOU PROMISE ME WE WILL NEVER PART
FOR ALL THE TIMES I HELD YOU AND ALL THE LOVE YOU BROUGHT TO MY HEART

THE LIGHT ABOVE THE CRYSTAL WATER THE BRIGHT REFLECTION OF YOUR SMILE
UPON OUR SECRET ISLAND STANDING SIDE BY SIDE FOR A WHILE
THE LOVE WE HAVE WE TAKE FOR GRANTED UNTIL THE ONE WE LOVE HAS GONE
THOUGH OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY SOMEHOW WE FIND THE STRENGTH TO GO ON
WHEN YOU CALL AND NO ONE ANSWERS WHEN THE SILENCE MAKES YOU CRY
TOO LATE TO SAY I’M SORRY FAR TOO LATE TO SAY GOODBYE
LIKE A SHIP OUT ON THE WATER, AT THE MERCY OF THE SEA
LIKE A LAMB LEAD TO THE SLAUGHTER, I JUST WANDER AIMLESSLY
THROUGH THE DAYS I HEAR YOUR LAUGHTER STOP IT’S AT NIGHT I GO INSANE
NO MORE HAPPY EVER AFTERS, UNTIL I’M HOLDING YOU AGAIN
BENEATH THE PENSACOLA SUNSET
BLOOD RED SUN CRIES ON THE SEA
THERE I’LL CALL YOUR NAME OUT
AND I WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH ME
BUT IF YOU LEAVE THIS WORLD BEFORE ME
KNOW THAT I WILL NEVER REST
UNTIL IT’S TIME FOR ME AND I CAN FEEL YOUR HEAD ON MY CHEST
UNTIL IT’S TIME FOR ME AND I CAN FEEL YOUR HEAD ON MY CHEST