Lyrics
Snowflake Circus
Vocal Melody and Lyrics written and sung by Richard Dry
Guitar chords and picking written and played by Richard Dry
Back up vocals and harmony written and sung by Dakota Dry
Percussion written and played by Richard Dry
Mixing by Richard Dry
Richard Dry: "Quiet desperation" comes from a line in Thoreau's Walden, in which he says, "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation." He is then often misquoted as adding to that, "and go to the grave with their song still in them," which I love! That second part is most likely taken from "The Voiceless," by Oliver Wndell Holmes: "Alas for those that never sing,/But die with all their music in them!" I made this the title song because I feel like it's the underlying theme of many of my songs, living our music until we die: We climb in the ring and do our thing and then disappear as we hit the ground.
Verse
Would you trade this quiet life for a dying revelation
Reading books and savoring looks of quiet desperation
Does it heal your aching soul to take the load from someone's shoulders
Do you drink and think that time will make you anything but older
Verse
Have you ever walked along a single line of railroad track
The molten lava, Cliffs of Hell, solo balancing act
You've forgotten where you're going, you've forgotten where you're at
And the cheering trees take root cause you've been there
Chorus:
Well this is the original
Amazing, but terrible
Traveling, Snowflake circus
Climb in the Ring and do your thing
The spotlight moves around
Paint on a smile
Walk the line for a while
disappear as you hit the ground
disappear as you hit the ground
Verse
A wise man once said that you're born then you're dead
A wise woman once said love your brother
A wise man once said that you must get ahead
While those couple of wise ones made love to each other
Verse
Have you ever walked barefoot over rocks that were sharp
You cry and you holler, you scream and you bark
You land on the beach in the cooling white sand
then you smile and you head for the rocks...once again
Chorus
This is the original
Amazing but terrible
Traveling, Snowflake Circus
Climb in the ring and do your thing
The spotlight moves around
Paint on a smile and relax for a while
Cause’ tomorrow we're shutting down
Yah Tomorrow we're shutting down
Oh tomorrow we're all shutting down
Oh tomorrow
Butterfly
DAKOTA DRY: I wrote this song when I was dealing with the difficult decision of what middle school to go to. I talk about how huge an affect each decision can have on your life.
The melody in voice, lyrics, piano chords, and ukulele picking patterns were written and played by Dakota Dry. Percussion was written and played Richard Dry. Harmonies for voice were written by Dakota Dry and sung by Richard and Dakota Dry.
Pacific Coast Highway
by Richard Dry
Traveling down the pacific coast highway
One man his van, dogs and his gear
There’s something about the way the cliffs curve right here
Makes think about a boy in the waves
Remember, my mother watching me from the palisades
That woman I loved the most, she lived down the coast
She’s gone now so I drive
Just to think of her
I’ve been driving these beaches for years and know
Just which way the tide
Will take me
I’m going to let go of all of my fears
Shift with the changing gears
Ride these waves of tears and find my way
Down the Pacific Coast Highway
The hum of the road lets my thoughts unload
About the last time she walked outside
She’d been walking those beaches for years and knew
Just which way the tide would take her
So I guess it lives on inside
The people and the sun in the sky
She dreamed of one more ride
Down the pacific coast highway
When the moon rises
There’s a different kind of light
I’m tired but it feels cool to be tired
There’s a breeze through my window
So I stick out my hand
The resistance consistent with who I am
I’ve been riding these beaches for years and knew
Just which way the tide would take her
Well I guess she lives on inside
In the ocean and the sand and the sky
I dream we’re taking a ride
Down the Pacific Coast Highway
Little Girl
RICHARD DRY: I wrote this song when Dakota was about 3 years old. I talk about the year I had Dakota and my mom died, and the struggle of balancing the strong amount of sadness and happiness, and beginnings and endings.
The melody in voice, lyrics, guitar chords, guitar soloing, and percussion were played and written by Richard Dry. The backup vocals was written and played by Dakota Dry. Base was written and played by David Brooks.
You came into my life like a butterfly
So fragile sitting in my hands
Not long after that my mother died
If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t know who I am
I know that I’m not the perfect man
But I swear I’m doing all I can
And if you’d give me just a little more time
I hope to show you that I can be fine
And that I
Can be happy
How will you remember me little girl
Stayin’ up late and sleepin’ ‘til ten
How will I remember you little girl
The perfect moments slippin’ through my hands
I know that I’m not the perfect man
But I swear I’m doing all I can
And if you’d give me just a little more time
I hope to show you that I can be fine
And that I
Can be happy
Sittin’ on the road bidding my time
the events of my life are the cars drivin’ by
I turn for a moment and the moment’s past
Hold on to these moments like they’re your last
It’s starting to happen for me little girl
Playing ducks and frogs in the bath
In our garden golden poppies unfurl
You do a dance and it makes me laugh
I know that I’m not the perfect man
But I swear I’m doing all I can
And if you’d give me just a little more time
I hope to show you that I can be fine
And that I
Am happy
All Too Much
Vocal Melody and Lyrics written and sung by Richard Dry
Guitar chords and picking written and played by Richard Dry
Back up vocals and harmony written and sung by Dakota Dry
Ukulele picking written and played by Dakota Dry
Percussion written and played by Richard Dry
Mixing by Richard Dry
Verse
Susanna why'd you have to fly
Susanna why'd you have to fly
I think I see the reason in your eyes
I think I see it in the people passing by
Chorus: It's all too much (x4)
Verse
Susanna lying on the floor
You know she couldn't be more than four
Listenin to her mother's songs
You know she always sang along
I think I see it in the reason in your eyes
I think I know that reason in your eyes
Chorus: It’s all too much (x4)
Verse
Susanna up there on the stage
Singing by the Rivers in March
Did you reach the end of the road
Why didn't you know which way to go
I think I see that reason in your eyes
I think I see it in the mirror passing by
Chorus: It’s all too much (x7)