Lyrics

Everything Changes

These songs reflect the changes that come with launching kids out into the world: letting go, rolling with reality, learning not to take trouble personally and resting in the rhythm of perseverance. Authentic and organic, this collection is an essential companion for those beginning to suspect that, in this grand adventure, everything changes.

This House is the Place To Be
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Just past town, out Highway seventy
Is a split level brick under two elm trees
It’s the one on the left at the dead end street
This house is the place to be

It’s easy to find, there’s a big front stoop
A tree house fort and a basketball hoop
There’s plenty of noise but I’ll guarantee
This house is the place to be

It’s pancakes in the mornings and smoothie afternoons
One piano three guitars, harmony and blues
There are gardens and a doghouse, two hammocks and a swing
A weight bench and a tool shed where Daddy fixes things
This house is the place to be

Chances are that I’ll be there
With a song in my head and the kids in my hair
There’s no doubt in my mind and it’s easy to see
This house is the place to be

‘Cause it’s songs on Summer evenings, homework in the Fall
Fires in the Winter, most times a free for all
And dinners can get crazy when everybody’s home
But this place is never boring and you’ll never be alone
This house is the place to be

When you’re off at work, or fighting overseas
Don’t ever forget to remember me
On the glider, on the front stoop with my tension tamer tea
This house is the place to be
This house is the place, this house is the place
This house is the place to be

Everything Changes
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Whenever I think that I know what I’m doing,
Everything changes
It must be true that you learn something new every day
Still all of these lessons are keeping me guessing
Everything changes, everything changes

I used to do everything that I could to keep them from danger
Car seats and helmets and passwords and don’t speak to a stranger
Now they go hunting and use power tools
One’s in the army so what can I do?
It’s out of control, just let it go

I used to get so annoyed when the kids just couldn’t leave me alone
They’d say Mommy I need, whenever they’d see I had to be on the phone
Now no one else gets to me by half
How they make me think and they make me laugh
Now I’m never so free as when they are with me
And everything changes

Whenever I think that I know what I’m doing, everything changes
It must be true that you learn something new every day
This world keeps turning, just like it should
I don’t know what’s coming, but I know that it‘s good
Your rhythm and rhyme has its own perfect time
And everything changes

I used to worry what people would think, I took it so personally
Till I figured out that they don’t think at all, and no one was looking at me
I used to get so tied up in knots
That I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t talk
Now I’m speaking my mind and feeling just fine

I found myself the day I lost my looks, it was a pretty good trade
It’s really true that you just can’t be you until you can give it away
Now I don’t hold on and I don’t keep track
I try not to worry and I don’t look back
The fun doesn’t start till you give up your heart
Then everything changes,

Everything, everything, everything changes, everything changes, everything, everything, everything changes
You’ve got your reasons for making the seasons
Everything changes, everything, everything changes
OOH

It’s Nothing Personal
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

The microwave says quarter ‘til eleven
The car keys on the counter say you’re home
And I am sitting stony in my prison
All alone
And I’m trying to let it go
But I want you to know…it’s nothing personal

I sort through the years for explanations
For why you do the things that you do
Eyes flash in familiar confrontation
You’re just being you
So I’m gonna let it go
By now I think I know…it’s nothing personal

You were born a beautiful baby
Heaven has It’s eye on you
But somewhere down the line, things got crazy
And I was sent to get to you
You don’t even know how you hurt me
But I am bound to tell you the truth
There is a world that a man will never understand
And ooh, it’s nothing personal

I can smell the coffee in the kitchen
I can hear the cornflakes fill the bowl
Another way of saying: “Please forgive me,”
“Come on down, your eggs are getting cold”
So I’m gonna let it go
Lord knows we don’t mean to hurt each other so
No, It’s nothing personal
No, no, it’s nothing personal
No, no, it’s nothing personal

The Good, the Beautiful and the True
©2011 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Oh, What a day, what a day this has been!
After nine long months my wait is at an end
And oh, what a face, what a silly little chin
And those dingle dangle legs stretching out and folding in
God has sent you to me and I know what I must do
Give you what is good; show you what is beautiful; teach you what is true

Oh what a time, what a time we will have
Adventurous and daring in the palm of His hand
There are stories to tell and songs to sing
Mountains, valleys, oceans, wrinkled smiles and sacred things
God is love and mercy; Can you see Him shining through?
Look for what is good, rest in what is beautiful; reach for what is true

Oh there will be dangers here for you
Wickedness and snares you must see through
But there are angels dancing in the water, smiling in warm breezes
Watching over sons and daughters, over me and you

Oh when our time, when our time is through
I will close my eyes and say good- bye to you
Gently I will place you in His Sacred heart
And wait for you in Heaven, but you must do you part
No matter where you go, no matter what you do
Give them what is good, show them what is beautiful, teach them what is true
No matter where you go, no matter what you do
Give them what is good, show them what is beautiful, teach them what is true

How Do I Look To You?
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

I gotta get this place in order
I gotta turn it all around
Make a list and make it happen
Get my feet back on the ground
There’s not a single pen or pencil
That works in this whole drawer
So the list will have to wait
And there’s someone at the door
I’m not qualified for my own life
Does anybody get this right?
Loose ends get tangled in my head

How do I look to you, How do I look to you
How do I look to you, How do I look to you
In the middle of the day
When there’s nothing left to say
How do I look to you?

It seems I’ve lost my focus
And I don’t do what I should
I guess I’m not that bad
But I’m really not that good
Still the emails hang in limbo
Flagged and overdue
Like that faded windshield sticker
From the Jiffy Lube
I’m not qualified for my own life
Much less a mother and a wife
They all need more than I can give

How do I look to you, How do I look to you
How do I look to you, How do I look to you
In the middle of the day
When there’s nothing left to say
How do I look to you?

Look on me with love
So I can look right back at you
Obvious and empty
Wondering what to do
Cause nothing ever changes
I’ve been doing this for years
Say my prayers and grit my teeth
Forgetting you are near

Why don’t I look to you
How do I look to you? How do I look to you?
How do I look to you? How do I look to you?

Invisible and Out of Time
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Lately I find I’m a bit past my prime
At least in the eyes of men
I didn’t know it would bother me so
I knew it would happen but I didn’t know when
And now I’m invisible

I used to dream that I’d do something
And the world would know my name
Now a voice in my mind says “You’re out of time”
And oh, it’s such a shame
To be invisible

“Invisible and out of time
Come closer darling daughter
Come and put your hand in mine
Fear not the troubled waters”

What does it mean to travel unseen
Unnoticed and unrecognized?
It opens the door to things hidden before
And I can’t believe my eyes
There’s so much invisible

“Invisible and out of time
I wait here darling Daughter
Come and put your hand in mine
Come taste the living waters”

La la la….

Lately I findI’m a bit past my prime
At least in the eyes of men
But Eternity’s gaze sees through every age
And breathes life new again
There’s so much invisible!

“Invisible and out of time
I wait here darling Daughter
Come and put your hand in mine
Come taste the living waters, taste the living waters”

Quietly
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Quietly she slipped over the edge
They couldn’t hear the noise in her head
They were on the phone, they were driving their cars
When the usual just got too hard

She looked the same as she went through her day
But everyone seemed far away
Like she was living in a foreign land
That she just could not understand

Everybody wants and everybody tries and
Everybody hopes to see the magic in another’s eyes

Who can tell, who can count the cost?
Of the might have beens from the love that is lost
Cause it’s buried down deep inside
For fear it can’t be satisfied

Everybody wants and everybody tries and
Everybody hopes to see the magic in another’s eyes

Why so dark, why so deep?
The storm rages, why do You sleep?
We all could use a little company

Quietly she came back again
She’d seen Him cry for Jerusalem
How His heart embraced their shallow eyes
And loneliness was sanctified

Everybody wants and everybody tries and
Everybody hopes to see the magic in another’s eyes
Yes, everybody wants and everybody tries and
Everybody hopes to see the magic in another’s eyes

Stony Lonesome
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Round about this time he’d be wrestling with his brothers
Snapping towels at each other
On a front porch Friday night
He can almost hear them singing as they do the dishes
Making plans and making wishes
That he’ll get home all right
And he’d do anything to be there
To feel the laughter and smell the night air

Another world away he stands strong at Stony Lonesome
To be sure the boy has grown some
Since he left Tennessee
A little harder in the jaw, a little broader in the shoulder
Now he looks just like a soldier
Being all that he can be
It’s all for one and one for all
He’s on the line when duty calls

Stony Lonesome, he can see their faces in the night
Too tired to make the move to go upstairs
Solving the world’s problems by the kitchen table light
But he is Stony Lonesome dreaming of the night

What happens to a man when he steps out in that field
And life gets really real
And he’s got to make the grade?
What happens to a heart, must it turn to stone
Will he always feel alone
Familiar faces far away?
Or will he see his brother in
Every man who stands with him?

Stony Lonesome he will be there late into the night
Swapping stories, telling jokes, a secret prayer
Solving the worlds problems by a soldier’s lantern light
Stony Lonesome dreaming of the night

Stony Lonesome, sleep tight
Wake to fight the good fight
With brothers to your left and right
Who could be Stony Lonesome?

Stony Lonesome, she will be there late into the night
Rocking her sweet baby in her prayers
Solving the world’s problems by a vigil candle light
Stony Lonesome dreaming of the night

Stony Lonesome, sleep tight
Somewhere ‘neath the stars tonight
Till God brings you home all right
We are all Stony Lonesome
We are all Stony Lonesome

Light in the Darkness
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Order out of chaos, something out of nothing
Don’t let the crazies get you down
Keep your hands on the wheel, keep it right, keep it real
And don’t you dare turn around

There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Keep on driving towards the light
There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Just enough to get you through this night

There are bills on the counter and a frost in the voice
Gimme, gimme, gimme, tick tock
Say your prayers, do your best, don’t worry bout the rest
You’ve just got to go with what you’ve got

There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Keep on driving towards the light
There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Just enough to get you through this night

And the darkness will not prevail
Don’t let your courage fail
Don’t let your love grow stale
Keep it shining and bright
There are things you cannot know
Like who and why and when and so
Steer clear of the undertow
Keep on driving to the light

Order out of chaos, something out of nothing
Peace in the middle of the night
Say your prayers, do your best
Be a friend and don’t forget
You just might be the light

There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Keep on driving towards the light
There’s a light in the darkness
A light in the darkness
Just enough to get you through this night

Nothing to Say
©2010 Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music

Nothing to say since you went away
I sweep the floor, stare out that door
This house, it seems peaceful and clean
The laundry’s done but where the fun?

I always knew there would come a day
The world would come calling for you
I’d have to stand there and smile and wave
While my heart was just breaking in two

Friends come around I can’t be found
I stay in bed, over my head
I thought I knew ‘bout loving you
I didn’t know ‘bout letting go

Lizards and laughter and fishing poles
Prayers before bed every night
Coaches and corsages, time to go
Do your best now and hold your head high

So much to remember but now I guess I’ve got
Nothing to say, nothing to say,
Since you went away
But you were smiling ear to ear
In the rear view mirror
So hey what more can I say?

Nothing to say, nothing to say
Except for maybe stay
Won’t you stay a while?
Stay

Where do they go when people stare
Out into space, unaware
Of life that’s waiting to be shared?
Where do they go, please, don’t go there

Don’t let the water pull you down
Fighting mad and spinning round
Clawing for the higher ground
Don’t let the water pull you down

Don’t go there, stay right here
You don’t need another beer
Another life, another lover
There’s so much here to discover
Don’t go there, stay right here
Don’t flip to another year
Another hour day or minute
Love is now and you are in it

Why must you be so dramatic?
You fill your head with so much static
Clinging to the mildly tragic
Isn’t real life good enough?
Ordinary people stuff
Common but miraculous

So brush you teeth and comb your hair
Go find something clean to wear
Anger, self pity, and despair
Sounds like fun, but don’t go there

Don’t go there, stay right here
It’s all right now, have no fear
Live in every passing minute
Love is now and you are in it
Don’t go there, stay right here
Don’t go there, stay right here

Where do they go when people stare
Out into space, unaware
Of life that’s waiting to be shared?
Where do they go, please, don’t go there

I don’t know where I’m going, I’ve got to do my best
To keep this ship from going under, to keep them warm and fed and dressed

When did it get this crazy? It’s hard to concentrate
Another after dinner meeting, it’s important, I am late

I forgot to take your hand and I forgot to see your face
Knowing you would understand I rushed on along my way
Tomorrow is another day

And somewhere in imagination
We spend hours in conversation
Late night kitchen revelations

I don’t know why my heart aches when I walk by your room
If work is love made visible, It’s plain to see that I love you

How I want to take your hand, how I want to see your face
But I have come to understand love is patient and it waits
And tomorrow is another day

I don’t know where the time went, you’re grown and on your way
I watched you crawl I watched you stumble, now I watch you walk away

Won’t you please take my hand, won’t you please look in my face
Yes I know, I understand, you must rush along the way
And tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow is another day.

Father please forgive us, we know not who we are
We analyze our relatives and dream of nicer cars
We’ll do anything to feel eighteen, I guess we just forgot
That God is God and we are not
And oh, what a sad, sad sight to see
We are so much less than we were meant to be
Father please forgive us, we know not who we are

Father please forgive us, we were trying to be nice
We invented love without sacrifice
The only trouble is that it doesn’t pass the test
Cause we’re killing half the helpless and we’re drugging half the rest
And oh, what a sad, sad, sight to see
A mass of medicated mediocrity
Father please forgive us, we were trying to be nice

The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few
Send more workers to the field, we know not what we do

Forgive us our sniveling sins of omission
Place in each heart one good act of contrition
And oh, what a wondrous sight ‘twould be
A jaded generation down on bended knee
Father please forgive us, we know not what we do
Father please forgive us, we know not what we do

Ten to midnight Christmas eve
Trying to get back home
The red eye’s finally boarding
And we fumble for our phones
Packages and duffles
The way has been so long
Leave no baggage unattended
Pick it up and carry on

So many wrinkled travelers
The stories they could tell
Of lessons learned and pages turned
But oh, they wear it well
Prodigals and drummer boys
Hum a hopeful song
And the light there in the darkness
Bids them carry on

Carry on through the night
Wise men seek a perfect light
The road is long but that’s all right
Carry on, carry on, carry on

Hark the herald angels sing
Of all our wrongs made right
This one almost lost his family
But he’s headed home tonight
A priest, an unwed mother,
Broken hearted fools
Carry life to others
In a world that can be cruel

Carry on through the night
Wise men seek a perfect light
The road is long but that’s all right
Carry on, carry on, carry on

Mother of Mercy who carried the child
Through scandal and danger and lonely exile
Pray for us now as we stumble along
Send us the graces to Carry On

So many silent soldiers,
Glorious and scarred
They come to make the best of it
It makes them who they are
Cradling faith, hope and love,
Though dreams have come and gone,
They don’t look down and they don’t look back
They just carry on
They don’t look down and they don’t look back
They just carry on

Lyrics

Everything Changes

A New Springtime