Neal Gladstone Memorial Site

Blog

  • River Man

    ©2003 Neal Gladstone

    You were standing by the river
    With the sunlight on your face
    You were casting you were dancing
    To the music of this place
    You were watching you were listening
    Tell me river what you know
    River find me river guide me
    Show me how to let you go
    It was autumn seasons turning
    Something stirring wild and deep
    River calling river twisting
    Then insisting come with me
    River surging river crashing
    River merging with your soul
    River find me river guide me
    Show me how to let you go
    You were one of Gaia’s angels
    Answering her clear and urgent call
    Now you leave us with so many questions
    When we need your strength and spirit most of all
    I can see you in the sunrise
    Casting diamonds from your line
    I can hear you gently laughing
    With the river in your eyes
    You are watching you are listening
    Tell me river what you know
    River find me river guide me
    Show me how to let you go

  • Red Beans

    ©2008 Neal Gladstone

    Mama’s makin supper in the kitchen
    Daddy’s out curryin the mare
    Sissy’s still talkin on the telephone
    She’s goin for a record I swear
    Me and Davey settin up the table
    Mama starts to hum a little song
    Me and Davey heard that tune before
    Pretty soon we’re singin along
    Chorus: It’s a song about beans, red beans
    With corn bread and greens
    If you really wanna know what life means
    You better start eating red beans
    Everybody gathers round the table
    Sissy is the last one there
    She stomps out madder than a hornet
    What the heck she do to her hair
    Davey squeeks out a little giggle
    Mama shoots him down with a look
    Everybody sits down easy
    Daddy reads a blessing from a book
    Chorus: Now it’s time for some beans
    With corn bread and greens
    If you really wanna know what life means
    You better start eating red beans
    Beans with bacon beans with cheese
    Beans with chili gonna make you sneeze
    You got frogs in the river and bugs on the screens
    And a kettle full of steamin red beans
    Mama sits with Daddy by the fire
    He puts a little kiss on her cheek
    Sissy locks herself in the bathroom
    She could be in there for a week
    Me and Davey play some checkers
    Pretty soon it’s time for bed
    The sheets are cool and silky
    But there’s just one thing in my head
    Chorus

  • Reaper

    © 1984 Neal
    Gladstone

    Come on, people, there’s hell to pay
    We’ve got demons on the hill
    If we keep turning our backs this way
    The Reaper’s knocking
    If we don’t stop him, no one ever will
    And there ain’t no doubt about it
    Time to stand up and shout about it
    If you’ve got spirit, let that spirit show
    It’s time to say NO NO NO
    Come on, people, there’s work to do
    This madness can’t go on
    If you think someone’s gonna fight for you
    You must be dreamin’, your mind needs cleanin’
    You’ve been asleep too long
    And there ain’t no doubt about it
    Time to stand up and shout about it
    There’s just one planet, nowhere else to go
    It’s time to say NO NO NO
    Come on, people, stand up and fight
    Your back’s against the wall
    This ain’t no time to be polite
    While we been sleeping
    The poison’s leaking
    The Reaper’s come to call
    And there ain’t no doubt about it
    Time to stand up and shout about it
    If we don’t stop it the whole damn thing could blow
    It’s time to say NO NO NO

  • Raise Up the Dead

    © 1983 Neal
    Gladstone

    Raise up the dead for your money
    Ask them for their sacrifice
    And raise up the dead for weapons
    I want nothing to do with your lies
    Tell them you speak for the children
    Argue an eye for an eye
    And raise up the dead for your weapons
    I want nothing to do with your lies
    You speak of freedom
    And you speak of peace
    While you keep shortening the fuse
    On those dark weapons
    That you built to defend us
    That we must never use
    And what will you do with the billions
    How many lives will it buy?
    And raise up the dead for your weapons
    I want nothing to do with your lies
    I’ve heard your promises for so long now
    But I’m still as hungry as I was
    For all those benefits that came to you
    That never came to us
    And when the last city is burning
    How many tears will you cry?
    I said raise up the dead for your weapons
    I want nothing to do with your lies

  • Pain Pain Pain

    © 1982 Neal
    Gladstone

    You’re a practical man with your feet firmly on the earth
    You’re the kind of man who says that love’s more trouble
    than it’s worth
    Then one day you meet a sweet young thing,
    a little kiss and a walk in the rain…
    You can go or stay, but either way, there’s gonna be
    some pain
    CHORUS
    Pain, pain, pain, everybody knows it by name
    It’s the final verse, the ancient curse,
    the weight at the end of the chain
    Pain, pain, pain, it’s enough to drive a body insane
    But it’s the price of life, so why should I complain?
    You’re a hard-working man, then a rich uncle passes away
    Now you don’t want to blow your new-found dough so you
    hire a CPA
    You were poor before, but at least you could sleep
    Now you worry about that capital gain
    The market falls, your broker calls
    You’re gonna have some pain
    CHORUS
    Bridge:
    Sticks and stones can break your bones
    And nasty words can hurt you
    And no used part can mend your heart
    When one you love deserts you
    And ad campaigns and fast food chains
    Are always there to con you
    While various bacteria feed on you
    You’re a family man, just trying to do what’s right
    But you lose your job, get a little drunk, and stay out
    late one night
    Your wife decides to leave you, and your son joins the
    army in Spain
    It’s not your day, what can I say, you’re gonna have
    some pain
    Pain pain pain everybody knows it by name
    It’s the final verse, the ancient curse, the kidney stone,
    the broken bone
    The market crash, the stolen cash, the dentist drill,
    the doctor bill
    The night in jail, the bathroom scale, the losing horse,
    the third divorce,
    CHORUS

  • Ordinary Life

    © 1986 Neal
    Gladstone
    and Bob Behling
    I’m and ordinary person
    Drifting through this universe
    Where I come from where I go
    How I got here I don’t know
    I don’t have much but I’ve go plenty
    Lots of people don’t have any
    I share a house with wife and cat
    Now who could ask for more than that
    Chorus
    Ordinary life I don’t mind it
    Ordinary life’s alright with me
    Ordinary life is where you find it
    I don’t mind the ordinary life
    Sometimes I get out of touch
    Sometimes I have drink too much
    Me and the wife we have a fight
    But we make up and it’s alright
    Smiling preacher on TV
    Tells me what I should believe
    For salvation when I die
    If I am not satisfied
    Life for some is not so sweet
    They don’t have enough to eat
    We ask you to lend a hand
    But what you do is what you can

  • Officer Bradford

    © 1988 Neal
    Gladstone

    I was driving home late from a party
    I was having a wonderful time
    With the radio up, the windows rolled down
    And romance on my mind
    When I saw something flash in the mirror
    I looked back and what did I see
    It was a big, black, shiny patrol car
    Doing a light show for me
    I pulled over on to the shoulder
    An officer walked to my car
    How handsome he looked, as he opened his book
    In his boots and his shiny gold star
    The traffic around us was stopping
    To watch us as they went by
    With his big, black, shiny patrol car
    Flashing like the 4th of July
    His arms were so strong and his eyes were so blue
    He said “Where’s that big fire
    that your goin to?”
    Hold me for questioning I won’t resist
    I want to be on your most wanted list
    Officer Bradford is hot on my trail
    Cuff me and take me to jail
    I had surrendered and was ready to go
    When a voice crackled over his radio
    Someone was robbing a grocery store
    He jumped in his squad car and slammed the big door
    His powerful engine came on with a roar
    With his sirens screaming and his foot to the floor
    He went racing off to the scene of the crime
    Leaving hot rubber behind
    Officer Bradford oh where have you been
    I dream every night that you’ll stop me again
    I thought of a way I could find you
    And I have a very good plan
    Now when I go past, where you stopped me last
    I always drive as fast as I can
    I know that some day you will catch me
    And ask me to go for a ride
    In your BBSPC
    With all that equipment inside
    Officer Bradford put me up on your screen
    If you take me in don’t you know I’ll come clean
    Officer B. we could have so much fun
    Blowing your siren and shooting your gun
    Officer Bradford is hot on my tail
    Cuff me and take me to jail

  • Oatmeal

    © 1996 Neal
    Gladstone

    It’s dawn you wake you feel the ache
    A need you can’t conceal
    You leave your bed thoughts fill your head
    With Oooooatmeal
    It’s warm, it’s gray it starts your day
    It’s dense it’s cheap it’s real
    No salt no fat, and less than that
    It’s Ooooooooooat meal
    Turgid slurry, pale and thick
    Lays in your stomach, like a brick
    That’s what life is all about
    Fills you up and cleans you out
    Each glob you scrape across your plate
    Exqui- sitely congealed
    Exquisitely deliciosly a marvel of viscosity
    Enfolds your spoon in/with a glue cucoon
    It’s Ooooooooot meal
    Build a castle on a hill
    Fill a moat with cream
    Raisin soldiers line the bridge
    Here comes the queen
    Oh sacred grain I can’t explain
    The strength of your appeal
    Until I die I will rely
    On Oooooooooooooooatmeal

  • Oasis

    © 1979 Neal
    Gladstone

    There’s a place our leaders know
    Its code name is Oasis
    It’s 2000 feet below
    The White House of all places
    A magic palace underground
    Where all the comforts can be found
    In case the Russians get around
    To trying to erase us
    Self contained in every way
    And totally protected
    That’s why our leaders get so brave
    Once they have been elected
    Gourmet food and vintage wines
    Astrograss and plastic pines
    Movies, golf and concubines
    Should they become dejected
    Oh Oasis it’s a comfort knowing
    When the earth is barren, burnt
    And glowing
    Our great leaders will survive
    To keep our way of life alive
    Satisfied that we made
    A good showing
    So let’s all live in constant fear
    That someone will attack us
    And build a million bombs a year
    Lest our defense relaxes
    And if at last we go to war
    Well that’s what our defense is for
    And that should prove forever more
    They didn’t waste our taxes

  • My Beautiful Friend

    © 1993 Neal
    Gladstone

    I was walking down a crowded street one summer afternoon
    When I heard somebody laughing the way you used to do
    I tried to keep from staring and I pulled my eyes away
    But I could feel you there beside me like it was yesterday
    And it would be so good to see you again
    To look into your eyes my beautiful friend
    To hear the sound of your voice and feel the touch of
    your hand
    It would be so good to see you again
    In the early years we lived our dreams in restless poetry
    The future shined with our design as far as we could
    see
    We spent those days so carelessly but then I never knew
    That time would come to take me so far away from you
    Life goes on and the years roll by
    What I would not give to see you one more time
    When I look back upon my life and who I’ve come to be
    I find that there’s a part of you in every part of me
    I miss you in so many ways and yet when I recall
    The echo of your laughter I miss you most of all