LYRICS    Higher Ground
ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY ANDY RAU
PURPLE RAVEN MUSIC BMI
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED USED BY PERMISSION

HIGHER GROUND
if the hurricanes were blowing
if the gray sky was falling down
if the river's overflowing
wouldn't you move to higher ground

that's you to me
you're my higher ground
that's you you see
you're my higher ground
that's you to me
let my old life drown

if the oceans were raging
if the meteors were falling all around
and the lowland was fading
wouldn't you move to higher ground

that's you to me
you're my higher ground
that's you you see
you're my higher ground
that's you to me
let my old life drown

i won't be leaving much behind
there's not much i own
but i'll bring this heart and it will treat you kind
and we'll never be never be alone

if the temperature keeps rising
if the ice shelf should lose it's crown
if all the world was running frightened
wouldn't you move to higher ground

that's you to me
you're my higher ground
that's you you see
you're my higher ground
that's you to me
let my old life drown

TIME KEEPS TICKING
we'd hit the wedge where the big waves were breaking
we'd grab our boards and ride
responsibility and cares forsaken
the days were on our side

surfer girls would hangout on the shore
at night we'd steal away and hide
but they don't come 'round any more
the days were on our side

time keeps ticking
the second hand beats rhythm toward our fate
sand keeps slipping
time keeps ticking away

we'd follow PCH on down to TJ
or up to Santa Cruz we'd glide
out of cash back home to LA
the days were on our side

time keeps ticking
the second hand beats rhythm toward our fate
sand keeps slipping
time keeps ticking away

my father warned me "life goes by quick"
enjoy your youth while it is near
now i catch myself preaching to MY kids
the same old words i used to hear
life goes by quick

music on the pier we'd play our guitars
and sing for the people passing by
cases full of tips fueled dreams of going far
the days were on our side

time keeps ticking
the second hand beats rhythm toward our fate
sand keeps slipping
time keeps ticking away


 

LET ANGELS ROCK MY SOUL
the night is dark the moon sits low
i feel my heart ticking slow
where do i come from where will i go
and will angels rock my soul

angel angels
will they easy this
angels angels
let angels rock my soul

far from my youth
far from those goals
far from the seeds i meant to sow
far From a love i'll never know
let angels rock my soul

angel angels
will they easy this
angels angels
let angels rock my soul

as these days ahead unfold
i am afraid to be alone
stretch out my hand
someone take hold
let angels rock my soul

angel angels
will they easy this
angels angels
let angels rock my soul


 

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY
i try my best to be a tigers fan
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy
winning the series isn't in their plan
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy

but nothing affects me like you do
no no one rejects me quite like you

when I get into a traffic jam
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy
people slow to watch a burning van
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy

but nothing affects me like you do
no no one rejects me quite like you
'cause you don't get close
and i don't understand
why you won't let go
and let me be your man
you drive me crazy
when you say maybe
are you just lazy
why can't you save me 

politicians on the campaign trail
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy
no straight answers when a vote's for sale
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy

but nothing affects me like you do
no no one rejects me quite like you

filthy oil fuels our economy
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy
and fills the pockets of our enemies
it drives me crazy they drive me crazy

but nothing affects me like you do
no no one rejects me quite like you
'cause you don't get close
and i don't understand
why you won't let go
and let me be your man
you drive me crazy
when you say maybe
are you just lazy
why can't you save me 

AS LONG AS YOU'RE BESIDE ME
i don't care if the sun don't shine
i don't care if the words don’t rhyme
i don't care if the market climbs
as long as you're beside me

i don't care if the car won't run
i don't care if the Lakers won
i don't care who owns a gun
as long as you're beside me

in your arms I'm so content
i feel the time was well spent
waiting for the key to turn
the lock upon your door

and I don't notice very much
besides your eyes besides your touch
you're in focus not the rest
you're all i'm looking for 

i don't care what they charge for rent
i don't care if the fortune’s spent
i don't care who is president
as long as you're beside me

in your arms i'm so content
i feel the time was well spent
waiting for the key to turn
the lock upon my door

and i don't notice very much
besides your eyes besides your touch
you're in focus not the rest
you're all I’m looking for

i don't care about my past
i don't care if I’m first or last
i don'' care if they pick up the trash
as long as you're beside me
as long a you're beside me


 

THE BEST I'VE FOUND
the hand that life dealt me didn't seem quite fair
other hearts were healthy mine was in despair
but when you walked up beside me my life turned around
'cause darling your love is the best i've found

i was like an old ship adrift on the sea
lost in the mist I could not find me
but you shown through the darkness and led me to dry ground
'cause darling your love is the best i've found

there you go smiling at me
warming me so setting me free
when it came to being lonely
i wore the crown
but darling your love is the best i've found

winter may come cold winds may blow
and block out the sun with clouds full of snow
but with you beside me nothing brings me down
'cause darling your love is the best i've found

each time you hold me
my heart begins to pound
'cause darling your love is the best i've found


 

LOST IN THE YEARS
a child of the 1960's
growing up with captain kangaroo
track homes and veterans with their families
california sunshine was all we knew

lost in the years
lost in the years
I fight with the hands of time
i'm lost in the tears
lost in my fears
lost in the years gone by 

our Ford Ranchero was our chariot
two-tone blue and white with fold down seats
to the mountains to the beaches it would carry us
and to the drive-in movies down the street

lost in the years
lost in the years
I fight with the hands of time
i'm lost in the tears
lost in my fears
lost in the years gone by 

assassinations civil rights and Vietnam
the Mick retires and Shepard took his ride
living color pizza man and protest songs
backyard shelters in case the Russians lied

our parents would save us from life’s sorrows
i prayed they'd live forever and a day
but dad went first and mom was soon to follow
a puff of smoke our innocence decayed

lost in the years
lost in the years
I fight with the hands of time
i'm lost in the tears
lost in my fears
lost in the years gone by

 

IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME   
well i knocked on her door this morning
i rang that doorbell too
but she was too busy to answer
slipping out the window with somebody new

it did not surprise me
it didn't surprise me a bit
no she did not surprise me
i'm used to being treated like this

i sat there with her roommate
and we talked about lenny bruce
we talked about how he died so young
just like my lovers always do

it did not surprise me
it didn't surprise me a bit
no she did not surprise me
i'm used to being treated like this

every time i walk in these shoes
i feel like i was born to lose
every time i open my heart
someone reaches in and tears it apart

i returned to my address
and grabbed a favorite book
catcher in the rye dries my eyes
whenever i'm throwing a fit like this

it did not surprise me
it didn't surprise me a bit
no she did not surprise me
i'm used to being treated like this

well i went back to her roommate
we talked about lenny and then
i held her and she held me
is said it's starting all over again my friend

it did not surprise me
it didn't surprise me a bit
no she did not surprise me
i'm used to being treated like this

 

SWEET MARIA
hold me lead me
out where i belong
it's cold here free me
from this life gone wrong

sweet maria my valentine
sweet sweet maria won't you be mine

days were lonely
'til i saw your eyes
nights were only
a place for me to hide

sweet maria my valentine
sweet sweet maria won't you be mine

holding on to you is all i ever want to do
holding on... that's all i need from you
holding on... i want a love that's true
holding on... i need you to pull me through

as we journey
through this life so fine
i'll never fear the
love i left behind

sweet maria my valentine
sweet sweet maria won't you be mine

SUZIE
well suzie took her clothes off again
suzie took her clothes off again
in the middle of the street
to the music of the band
well suzie took her clothes off again

she's a wild one but I love her
she's a live wire like no other
as the time's gone by I've discovered
she's just what I need
but suzie why do you bleed

well suzie started drinking again
suzie started drinking again
in and out of rehab in and out of friends
suzie started drinking again

she's a wild one but I love her
she's a live wire like no other
as the time's gone by I've discovered
she's just what I need
but suzie why do you bleed

everybody thinks that she's crazy
the doctor says she’s troubled by the rain
but I really think that maybe|
suzie's the one who is actually sane

well suzie tried to end it again
suzie tried to end it again
she says that this big world's too rigid to bend
suzie tried to end it again

she's a wild one but I love her
she's a live wire like no other
as the time's gone by I've discovered
she's just what I need
but suzie why do you bleed
suzie why do you bleed
suzie why did you leave

 

UP HERE ON MARS
i landed about a week ago
it was quite a crash it was quite a show
i hear you saw it on the TV screen
too bad about the gasoline

i like it up here on mars
i think the weather is fine
i like it up here up here on mars
i'm really having quite a time

i know there is no way to rescue me
no one said that I signed on for free
the only one to die away from earth
it's a hell of a way to finish first

i like it up here on mars
i think the weather is fine
i like it up here up here on mars
i'm really having quite a time

i'll have fun with the time that’s left
looking back at earth enjoying every breath
think I'll take myself one long last walk
throw myself some Martian rocks

i like it up here on mars
i think the weather is fine
i like it up here up here on mars
i'm really having quite a time

 

'TIL I FOUND YOU
i was like a leaf
at the mercy of the wind
until I found you 'til I found you
the deluge would not cease
with more clouds rolling in
until I found you 'til I found you

oh what a mess I was living in
i never knew exactly what was waiting 'round the bend
until you walked in

i was like a ship
drifting out to sea
until I found you 'til I found you
i lost all sight of land
and it lost all sight of me
until I found you 'til I found you

i never knew that love would feel like this
i guess those other few were just illusions that their best
until you walked in

i was like a leaf
at the mercy of the wind
until I found you 'til I found you
the deluge would not cease
with more clouds rolling in
until I found you 'til I found you

i was like a ship
drifting out to sea
until I found you 'til I found you
i lost all sight of land
and it lost all sight of me
until I found you 'til I found you

Watching from the stands while other got to play
I had other plans but I let them slip away
Until you walked in

i was like a leaf
at the mercy of the wind
until I found you 'til I found you
the deluge would not cease
with more clouds rolling in
until I found you 'til I found you

 

PROMISES AND LIES
when the morning comes
at the sun’s release
she'll be on the run
i'll be on my knees

in a world of promises and lies
words are spoken but few of them survive
the poet laughs and the joker cries
i send my prayer but they twist and die
if someone's there would you please reply

when the daylight fades
at the suns retreat
she'll be miles away
i'll be on my knees

in a world of promises and lies
words are spoken but few of them survive
the poet laughs and the joker cries
i send my prayer but they twist and die
if someone's there would you please reply

so many hours rush by
so many years have gone
still i sit and cry
over things undone

in a world of promises and lies
words are spoken but few of them survive
the poet laughs and the joker cries
i send my prayer but they twist and die
if someone's there would you please reply

 

YOUR HEART IS MADE OF STONE
the darkness fills my weary soul
though the sun it shines
the darkness takes its heavy load
on this life of mine

how could you leave me here to cry
on this rocky road
your kiss deceived you eyes they lied
and your heart is made of stone

you whispered softly in my ear
that you would always stay
right here beside me through the years
'til our dying day

how could you leave me here to cry
on this rocky road
your kiss deceived you eyes they lied
and your heart is made of stone

you rescued me from my past
you pulled me from the floor
my life had hope and plans at last
but now you're gone once more

how could you leave me here to cry
on this rocky road
your kiss deceived you eyes they lied
and your heart is made of stone