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Closer to the Sun

by Scott McKinstry

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1.
Summer Sun 02:44
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It's June, school's over the lilacs have passed. The pollen's gone from our windshield spring blitzed by fast. The sprinkler sprouted cobwebs I'm clearing them away. I'm ready for the summer sun today. O, Summer Sun! C'mon, begin! Bleach my hair! Brown my skin! O, Summer Sun, winter was so gray -- I'm ready for your warm embrace today. Picnic at the ocean dig a pit into the sand. Roast a pack of hotdogs scrape the marshmallow from my hands. I'm sweating like a can of beer pulled from the cooler's ice. But don't you hide behind the clouds I'll gladly pay your price O, Summer Sun! C'mon, begin! Bleach my hair! Brown my skin! O, Summer Sun, winter was so gray -- I'm ready for your warm embrace today. Fall is cozy when leaves turn gold and wood-smoke perfumes the air. But I'm not done with your marathon days and the canopy of green full-leaf trees. O, Summer Sun! C'mon, begin! Bleach my hair! Brown my skin! O, Summer Sun, winter was so gray -- I'm ready for your warm embrace, come on down and kiss my face, brighten up this somber place, yeah I'm ready for your warm embrace today.
2.
Ocean Dreams, Backyard Plans 04:02
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Look at the boy in the northwest corner of this fair land we love. Fast by the islands and whales walking the tree-lined trails. He looks to the sky and he picks a star to steer himself by. Someday I'm gonna stretch my legs, I'm gonna gallop all of this earth. Now look at the girl from the southern plains and the valley of horses. In the shadow of the great big mountain she has lived her whole life. But she's got a plan one step at a time and she will make her way out. Every season will have its time she's got her feet on the ground. But his ocean dreams and her backyard plans they jostle and join together like the joining of hands. He travels south and she makes her way northward, arriving at the city of the sparkling spire that points the way to the future. She likes the laugh that curls from the corner of his mouth and lands on hers. He likes the shining level water resting in her eyes. But his ocean dreams and her backyard plans they jostle and join together like the joining of hands. She wants to patch the missing pieces in the tottering fences. He wants to catch a crop of stars falling in an open field. He is on fire when a phrase leaps out from a new book he's reading. She gets a smile when she coaxes growth from a stubborn seedling. But his ocean dreams and her backyard plans they jostle and join together like the joining of hands. How far will they go? Well no one knows, no one knows. But look at them go again. He flies too close to the sun sometimes and he gets a little burned. She keeps her nose to the grindstone and sometimes her eyes get blurred. He catches sight of a passing train that carries all their tomorrows. She catches light in a vase she picked out for the mantel this fall. But his ocean dreams and her backyard plans they jostle and join together like the joining of hands.
3.
As the Wind Begins to Blow 03:11
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When I get to the Dakotas I will claim a spot our own I will cut the sod and stack it up into a little home I will wait for you my dear, on the wagon road As the wind begins to blow I will wake at dawn and hitch the horse to my brother's iron plow I will cast the corn into the trench behind the oaken boughs I will chase the birds away, and pray the rain will show As the wind begins to blow I will buy us books in winter time and read by candle light Daniel Webster and Mark Twain to learn our children right I will keep the fire high, when the shadows grow As the wind begins to blow Then grasshoppers grew and chewed our profits down to bits The price of grain sagged in the east, my back sagged in the west With your hand in mine you pressed me, how much further can we go? As the wind begins to blow. I will pack your china plate with straw in a fresh-cut cedar box We will ride the train rails running west till we spy the golden docks We will wait for our ship there, the edge of Francisco As the wind begins to blow
4.
Closer to the Sun 03:36
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My father's father's tongue was sharp a twisted barb of rusted iron. He tore my father's tender flesh and laughed to watch him squirm. My father smote that wicked blade into a flat and shining rod. He swung that rod when he feared my ways would lead to harm. The apple falls close to the tree the tragic pull of gravity but I know it can grow a branch reaching closer to the sun. Closer to the sun closer to the sun I wrapped that rod in a woolen weave to spare my son's soft scalp. But he still feels the sting of rage when the iron presses out. And if my son should have a son I hope he leaves that rod behind. And only speak soft words of love to a new and innocent child. The apple falls close to the tree the tragic pull of gravity but I know it can grow a branch reaching closer to the sun. Closer to the sun closer to the sun We all wanna grow closer to the sun we want our kids to grow closer to the sun we all wanna grow closer to the sun we want our kids to grow Closer to the sun closer to the sun closer to the sun we all wanna grow we all wanna grow we want our kids to grow closer to the sun
5.
Cry, Sky, Cry 01:57
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Sun slaps Sky turns a bright red deepens into purple now that Sun has fled. Sky can't bare to be all alone creaking and leaking a whistling moan. Cry, Sky, cry cry, Sky, cry when I see the sunset I know I'm gonna die I know I'm gonna die Moon climbs up sees Sky's frown 'Why, I don't see a single silver cloud around.' But Sky don't hear or he wants to ignore hissing while missing that shining shore. Cry, Sky, cry cry, Sky, cry when I see the sunset I know I'm gonna die I know I'm gonna die Moon goes to bed Stars turn on winking and blinking their billion-year-old song. But Sky don't see the flickering lights cursing the long and pitiless night. Cry, Sky, cry cry, Sky, cry when I see the sunset I know I'm gonna die I know I'm gonna die Stars wink away roosters crow calling forth a new dawn's rosy glow. Sun smiles wide to Sky's delight bathing all the earth in a golden light. Cry, Sky, cry cry, Sky, cry when I see the sunrise I know that I'm alive I know that I'm alive
6.
Guru 05:35
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I know why you're unhappy know why you're so upset. I know why you keep rehearsing all you wish you could forget. I can show you why you suffer I can draw your map of pain. I will trace you the solution how to exit from the game. I'm your guru I am the answer you've been looking for. I'm your guru I am the key that opens every door. You can try to go without me but you know exactly where that leads; I'm your guru -- I'm the only one you need. Don't listen to the haters they've got poison on the brain. They fester with their worries and want you to do the same. They only know how to demolish but what I've built is gonna last. You just have to learn to follow turn your back on your past. I'm your guru I am the answer you've been looking for. I'm your guru I am the key that opens every door. You can try to go without me but you know exactly where that leads; I'm your guru -- I'm the only one you need. The time for scrutiny is over lay all your doubts aside. Only the faithful can follow to refuse is stubborn suicide. I'm your guru I am the answer you've been looking for. I'm your guru I am the key that opens every door. You can try to go without me but you know exactly where that leads; I'm your guru -- I'm the only one you need.
7.
Starter Wife 03:11
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Every man should get himself a starter wife to keep the home fires burning as he starts in life. And when he gets that brass ring shining on his hand it's time to cut a check and plant his flag on greener land. If you're not trading up you're just going down. You can be the king Or you're gonna be the clown. I ain't nobody's fool I can call 'em as they come I don't need your Golden Rule on this earth my will be done. I'm loving how I'm living my best life-- And all because I started strong with a starter wife. Ever since I was a boy I was taught life is a test to see which one comes out on top and looks down on the rest. That's why I keep one eye out for the next best thing as soon as I am satisfied I'm on to my next fling If you're not trading up you're just going down. You can be the king Or you're gonna be the clown. I ain't nobody's fool I can call 'em as they come I don't need your Golden Rule on this earth my will be done. I'm loving how I'm living my best life-- And all because I started strong with a starter wife. You may call me selfish I call that sour grapes You would do the same as me if you had what it takes. And I got what it takes. I don't need your Golden Rule I don't need your Golden Rule I don't need your Golden Rule I'm loving how I'm living my best life-- And all because I started strong with a starter wife. I set myself up for success when I got a starter wife. And you keep your eye on the road ahead when you start with a starter wife. So I hardly ever think of her my discarded starter wife.
8.
True Blue 03:58
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You said I'd never be facing these demons alone so why am I here on my only a beauty can break through defenses hard won, and hold you back up to the Someday I'll grow up and learn happy endings don't come just 'cause you've got nothing to losing you won't make me better, 'cause here I am waiting on miracles, won't someone give me some True blue true blue My therapist's grinning, 'cause he thinks I'm winning the war against these illusions that living inside my head won't bring me back the dead I'm still stuck here to face each new Daylight we can't find and anguish we don't mind will fall thick as wet snow in early December remember I'm falling and calling you don't care that I'm full of the last words you poured on me so I need True blue true blue After the rain falls after the ash lands I won't be seen for days I hope you can understand I lack for nothing, my crayon box is stuffed to the gills I'm rolling in riches is this how the story ends, with us remaining friends I can't bear to watch that kind of Show me a way to be sorry I gave you my heart as little as it turned out to because I'll take lonely if that is the only way I can keep memories of when we knew love close to True blue true blue true blue
9.
Every Season Pays a Price 03:26
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He was roaring like a rocket giddy, heaven-bound when the first frost of failure sent him crashing to the ground. Now he paces in the courtyard staring at the sky watching all the young birds fly by. Spring blooms into summer heat summer fades to ice winter melts and the rivers flood every season pays a price. He shouldered many burdens worked his fingers raw he labored in the winter to be ready for the thaw. Now he reaps his harvest brews beer from the grain but he leaves the feasting early to wander in the rain. Spring blooms into summer heat summer fades to ice winter melts and the rivers flood every season pays a price. He was such a bright boy but he dimmed along the way but now he finds as the night falls the stars come out to play His hair turned white as cotton he lost his iron grip so he traded in his plow-horse for passage on a ship. Now he learns to read the water how to smell a storm he takes his meals in the open a little sunburn keeps him warm. Spring blooms into summer heat summer fades to ice winter melts and the rivers flood every season pays a price.
10.
Someday 04:09
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Someday when I am old when my back is bent and I'm always cold I will reach for you, my dear. Someday when the nights are long when my sleep is short and the ache is strong I will reach for you, my dear. But you won't be here. Someday when the kids are grown when they've paired off to make their homes I will reach for you, my dear. Someday when cherubs flie when I lift them up and I see your eyes I will reach for you, my dear. But you won't be here. Was it really only seven years that I had you next to me? It seemed like one eternal day And so it would always be. Someday when it's my time when they gather close to repeat my rhymes I will reach for you, my dear. Someday when my thoughts slow when the world fades and I let go I will reach for you, my dear. and I will feel you near. I will feel you near.

about

These songs were written between February 2021 and January 2022. I wrote lots of songs in between, but I chose these ten for my first album.

I tried to reflect songs that showed a range of the kind of songs I've been writing lately. Some are cerebral; one's satirical; several are love songs; and most are sprinkled with varying amounts of melancholy.

You can listen to all my songs on my website at scottstoriesandsongs.com/category/songs/

credits

released March 14, 2022

words, music, guitar by Scott McKinstry
c. 2022 copyright control

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Scott McKinstry Edmonds, Washington

Scott McKinstry is a singer-songwriter living in the Pacific Northwest.

Sign up to his twice-monthly newsletter at scottstoriesandsongs.com/get-the-latest/

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