Strawberry Moon Lyrics

Follow This Highway (Hanson)

I’m leaving.
Gonna pack my car.
Gonna drive real far
down the blacktop tar.

I’m travelin’.
Gonna see the sights.
Gonna drive all night.
Keep the headlights bright.

Gonna make some real plans.
Gonna see some new lands.
Take a steady hand
home.

Chorus:
Follow this highway
through the canyon where the red rocks glow.
Wind through the forest.
Trace the rim edge where the pine trees grow.
And, this is what I know
gonna make this my home.

I’m watchin’
the eagles fly,
the clouds drift by.
Gonna be a blue sky.

Still drivin’.
Gonna be there soon.
Gonna beat the moon.
We’ll have the afternoon.

Gonna make some real plans.
Gonna see some new lands.
Take a steady hand
home.

Chorus:
Follow this highway
through the canyon where the red rocks glow.
Wind through the forest.
Trace the rim edge where the pine trees grow.
And, this is what I know.
This is what I know.
This is what I know
gonna make this my home.
Gonna make this my home.

Strawberry Moon (Hanson and *)

Boarded an eastbound train
in South Bend, Indiana,
near the golden dome of Notre Dame.
We passed the southern beaches
of Lake Michigan in June
carved from glaciers long ago.
There were sleeping children
near the Mohawk River
and stars above the great canal.
I’ve hauled some barges in my day.
Know every inch along the way.
There was nothing you could say.

New York’s narrow lakes
look like fingers on a hand.
When the ice retreated, there were deep scars
upon the land.
Took a deep breath when we crossed the state line.
The night porter left a bottle of wine.
Waved from my window to the pines.
We road through the Berkshires in the
early hours.
And, if I were a painter, I would paint those flowers
in Cadmium Yellow and Phthalo Blue.
But, colors run and flowers fade.
And, clouds roll in and cast a shade.
Best call it an even trade.

The wise Algonquin nation
kept track of the seasons.
They gave each moon a name.
Inching towards the railway station,
minutes from our destination,
seven hundred miles from where we came.
Time moves not by months but moons.
Strawberry is the one for June.
Hidden treasures tangled in the ground.
Harvest in the silver light.
We made our journey through the night.
Rocking on the rails so safe and sound.

Chorus:
So, rock-a-bye now don’t you cry.
I’m gonna sing you a lullaby.
*The Dream Man’s coming in his train of cars
with moonbeam windows and with wheels of stars.
So, hush you little ones and have no fear.
The man-in-the-moon is the engineer.
The railroad track is a moonbeam bright
that leads right up into the starry night.
Rock-a-bye now don’t you cry.
I’m gonna sing you a lullaby.
Rock-a-bye now don’t you cry.
I’m gonna sing you a lullaby.
Rock-a-bye now don’t you cry.
I’m gonna sing you a lullaby.

*(Nursery rhyme by R. P. Weston, F. J. Barnes, and Maurice Scott, 1913 - “Hush, Here Comes the Dream Man”)

Lighthouse Keeper (Hanson)

I will never leave the sea.
She’s been good to me.
I’ve made a life here on this ledge
in a lighthouse on the edge.

Toss my net out on a wave.
Reel in what Neptune gave.
Light a fire on the rocks.
Gather driftwood for the box.

Chorus:
I am a lighthouse keeper,
and I live alone.
I will walk these steps
and work these hands to the bone
polishing the glass,
polishing the glass.

Keep the brass bells shining bright.
Trim the wicks and oil the lights.
Warn the tall ships to steer clear
if the storm clouds should appear.

Chorus:
I am a lighthouse keeper,
and I live alone.
I will walk these steps
and work these hands to the bone
polishing the glass,
polishing the glass.

I am rising with the tide.
I am going with the flow.
I am turning like a gear.
I could scream, but no one would hear me.

Chorus:
I am a lighthouse keeper,
and I live alone.
I will walk these steps
and work these hands to the bone
polishing the glass,
polishing the glass.

Full-Moon Night (Hanson)

Chorus:
Uncover me.
Discover me.
It’s a full-moon night.
I’m a heavy stone.
(And), I’m here alone
Shining in the light.

Glaciers carved the canyon floor.
Rivers cut the valleys.
And, I once lay beneath an ancient sea.
Uncover me.
Discover me.

Rock me gently in your cradle.
Sift the gravel from the gold.
I may be old, but I’m timeless, you’ll see.
You’ll see the beauty in me.

Chorus:
Uncover me.
Discover me.
It’s a full-moon night.
I’m a heavy stone.
(And), I’m here alone
Shining in the light.

Turn me over in your hand.
I am a gift from this land.
Oh, and, though you may melt me down and wear me like a band,
You’ll never really change what I am.

Chorus:
Uncover me.
Discover me.
It’s a full-moon night.
I’m a heavy stone.
(And), I’m here alone
Shining in the light.
Shining in the light.

Five-Point Star (Hanson)

We’ll stand in the grove—No shoes on our feet
And, those who have come—Will fasten a ribbon
Of silk or of linen
And, bind—your hand to mine

We’ll dance to a tune—Of pipes and of strings
We’ll join our right hands—Then circle around
One foot on the ground
It’s corners right and back to the bar

Chorus:
Pass ’round the ale—cakes and sweet things
Here in this field—We’ll put on the rings
The wheel of the year—is turning again
The leaves are all orange and gold

Dancers join hands and weave in and out
Spinning around and turning about

*That Love is all there is, Is all we know of Love.
And a heart without love—cannot live and grow
Smolder and glow
Catch fire and spread through the soul

Chorus:
Pass ’round the ale—cakes and sweet things
Here in this field—We’ll put on the rings
The wheel of the year—is turning again
The leaves are all orange and gold
The leaves are all orange and gold

* (From “That Love is all there is” by Emily Dickinson)

Sparks (Hanson)

There’s something like thunder rolling over these hills.
It’s feeding the hunger—chasing the chills.
It’s driving out—any last bit of doubt.
It’s charging the air—and changing despair.

Chorus:
Now I can see you standing there.
My heart’s in need of some repair.
But, with a little bit of tender care,
We could spark this love affair.

There’s a strong wind blowing down this way.
It’s clearing the clouds and freeing the day.
Ignites the ember—fans the flame,
I’m warmed by the glow. Do you feel the same?

Chorus:
Now I can see you standing there.
My heart’s in need of some repair.
But, with a little bit of tender care,
We could spark this love affair.

Ocean-Born Mary (Hanson)

Mary is rocking in her favorite chair.
She is thinking of another.
While the flames flicker on her long, red hair—
She reflects upon a treasure.

Mary was widowed at an early age.
She had four sons and one daughter.
They moved in with another, and she earned her wage—
From the Captain who had named her.

Chorus:
It was your destiny to be
Born upon the sea
Named by a man with a cutlass sword
Once your mother gave her word.

Mary was married in a green, silk gown.
There were flowers on the fabric.
Embroidered by a woman in a far-off town
With fine hands so sure and quick.

The cloth was a gift on the day she was born
when her vessel, fair, was boarded.
Her mother made a promise and an oath was sworn—
The name, Mary, was recorded.

Chorus:
It was your destiny to be
Born upon the sea
Named by a man with a cutlass sword
Once your mother gave her word.

There is a story of a windy night—
Shovels digging in the earth.
A chest was carried and bolted tight—
Could be something of great worth.

One night, Mary came home to find
The house was dark and silent.
She ran to the orchard in the field behind.
Lord, his end had been violent.

Chorus:
It was your destiny to be
Born upon the sea
Named by a man with a cutlass sword
Once your mother gave her word.
Once your mother gave her word.

Roll with the Tumbleweeds (Hanson)

Chorus:
I’m gonna roll with the tumbleweeds across this prairie,
Rock in the saddle ’neath a hazy, harvest moon,
Reel in a dust storm with a cloth pulled ’cross my face,
Rest with the horses beside a rushing stream.

Come and sit by the fire and warm your dusty hands.
Where ya from? Oh, just north of here in the Badlands.
There are slopes there so rugged and so tall,
And, the sagebrush flowers in the early fall.

Sometimes, the northern lights set the evening sky ablaze.
Have you ever seen those brilliant blue-green rays?
When they flicker like a flame. Never look the same.
Never to be claimed.

Once, I let a lasso capture my wild, wild heart.
Then, I traded it in for a chestnut mare and a wooden cart.
Left my love for the open range. Finally, made a change.
Isn’t love strange?

When the Moon Shines on the Chrome (Hanson)

Well, it’s another sleepless night.
Gotta make it there by dawn.
Left my heart back there in Abilene.
So many miles already gone.

It’s another night alone.
The one I love is on the road.
Far and distant as a memory.
Haulin’ ’round some kind of load.

Chorus:
And, on a clear night such as this.
When the moon shines on the chrome.
My mind wanders to the things I miss.
And, all my thoughts are thoughts of home.

Eighteen wheels spinning ’round and ’round.
Going past the county line.
The days are long, but with every mile,
I’ve always got you on my mind.

Chorus:
And, on a clear night such as this.
When the moon shines on the chrome.
My mind wanders to the things I miss.
And, all my thoughts are thoughts of home.

Wish I could close the space between us.
Hear your footsteps at the door.
Find a way to bring you home to me.
See you walk across the floor.

Chorus:
And, on a clear night such as this.
When the moon shines on the chrome.
My mind wanders to the things I miss.
And, all my thoughts are thoughts of home.
All my thoughts are thoughts of home.

The Charm (Hanson)

Just off the coast of this rocky shore.
Deep down under these crashing waves.
Buried beneath this soft, white sand.
Lies a locket from a pocket—
A story steeped in lore.

There was a girl. There was a boy.
There was a full, round moon.
There was a ship. There was a trip.
He would come home soon.
A parting kiss. A long embrace.
And, just in case. A good luck charm.
Arm in arm. And then apart.
She gave him—her heart.

Chorus:
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

There was a storm. The masts were torn.
The ship was lost—one afternoon.
At this she wept. But he was swept—
Gently to a small lagoon.
A cast away. A distant land.
And in his hand. A good luck charm.
Safe from harm. He watched alone.
For a ship to bring him home.

Chorus:
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

There was a man—too old to stand.
There was a waning moon.
There came a ship. Another trip.
He would be home soon.
He saw her face. A state of grace.
And in this very space.
Arm in arm. They gave the charm—
A final resting place.

Chorus:
Once there were pirates on the rolling sea.
Thunder and lightning were a mystery.
Fleets of trade ships sailed into history.
Can you sift through the wreckage
to find treasure in me?

Diamond Pond (Hayes)

We took historic route 3 up to 26
where the sledders from the small town
were up to their old tricks.
Along the icy road were signs of yesterday
for the snow again had fallen in its old familiar way.

We melted snow for water when supplies ran low that day,
and the frosty wind upon our cheeks could not prevent our stay.
Millie runs the yarn shop. Hamp maintains the plow.
And, when heavy snow keeps you there, he’ll tow you out somehow.

Chorus:
Up here, the air is clean,
and the black of night and its chilly bite give way to days unseen.
With the bluest skies and trees of white,
the hush of Diamond Pond leaves us breathless with delight.

The fire in the woodstove turned the chimney to a glow
while the temperature outside fell to twelve below.
The trails were neatly groomed from Whipple Ridge to Sugar Hill,
and the sledders from the small town fought back against the chill.

Stonewalls & Fences (Hanson)

This farm is bordered by stonewalls and fences.
Cows roam the great, green fields
Contemplating future meals.

(And) this land is guarded by cold, rushing water,
A river, deep and wide,
Waves, too fast to catch and ride.

And, in the early Spring
When maples swell with sap,
(We’ll) light the fire, form a ring,
Heat the stones, and drop them in.
Close your eyes, and make a wish
In the sweet, sweet water.

This life is lived behind tall trees and
Mountainsides,
A forest, thick with pine,
Rocks, too steep and slick to climb.

Let’s gather together,
And watch the sunset bloom.
Hang our clothes from the branches,
And dive, dive under the moon. Oh,
Oh, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm …

This farm is bordered by stonewalls and fences.
Let’s roam the great, green fields
And let our senses reel,
Feel our senses heal.
Oh, woh, oh, oh, oh …