Lyrics: Lighten Up | Marie Bellet

Lighten Up
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 2002

Well I don’t know who started this, and I don’t even care
But the pressure’s getting to me and I think I need some air
Cause the emails and alpha males are making my head spin
And the world, the flesh, the devil, and I can’t seem to win

So I sat down and made a list of everything that’s wrong
What’s wrong with you, what’s wrong with me and how that list went on!
Do you think you could forgive me for trying to be so right?
Cause hearts were made for better things,
They were made to catchthe light!

So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la

The sins of all those fathers, how they take their toll
Generations bumble on, searching for their souls
But oh, the sweet salvation, from just one loving cup
Yes, hearts were made for better things, they were made to lighten up

So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la

Cause mothers dance while folding clothes
Babies throw their Cheerios
Kids lie awake nights just to suppose
There are signs and wonders everywhere
Joys and sorrows enough to spare
And glorious mysteries in the air

So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la
So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la

So the sun’s bright lights are blinding and you’d rather stay inside
Brooding in the darkness, scheming and preoccupied
Well have a laugh and keep the faith
And check that baggage at the gate
Hearts were made to love and lighten up!

So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la
So Lighten up, lighten up, lighten up!
La, la, la, la la la la

Mother You are Worried About Many, Many Things
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2002

Old McDonald had a farm but we just have this house
We sit and watch the videos while Mama runs about
She likes to keep us busy but we’d rather just have fun
And every now and then we must remind her how it’s done
We say…

Mother, you are worried about many, many things
We want you to come play with us and push us on the swings
We don’t want to take ballet, play soccer or guitar
We hate wasting half the day just driving in the car
Oh Mother, you are worried about way too many things

Mother, you are worried about many, many things
Why you have hardly noticed that it’s starting to be Spring
Put away that cookbook, now we don’t mean to be rude
But don’t you know that macaroni is our favorite food?
Oh, Mother you are worried about way too many things

Cause we don’t want a perfect house or all those fancy clothes
We just want to play a while before we get too old

Mother, you are worried about many, many things
We want you to lay down with us and rub our backs and sing
Or you could tell a story, no we don’t like counting sheep
You can make your phone calls after we are all asleep
Oh, Mother you are worried about way too many things
Yes, Mother you are worried about way too many things

Ay Yi Yi
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music 2002

I gotta run, I gotta go, I gotta catch you later
I gotta big old list on the ‘frigerator
There are places to drive, I’ve got things to do
So sorry, I’ll just have to get back to you

I’ve got the kids to raise, I’ve got a husband to feed
I’ve got a million different people who keep hassling me
And I’m so stressed out that I just can’t deal
So I spend all day worried ‘bout the way I feel and it’s

All work, no play, Ay yi yi yi yi yi yi
I work all day, Ai yi yi yi yi yi,
But do I love?, Ay yi yi yi yi , but do I love?

Imaginary mirrors are everywhere
I wonder if they noticed that I changed my hair?
Lately I just can’t stop saying I, I, I
Can you save me from myself, Oh, me oh my! Cause it’s…

I said , I thought, Ay yi yi yi yi yi yi
I gave, I bought, Ay yi yi yi yi
But do I love? Ay yi yi yi yi, I know that…

This is not about me
But I can’t seem to break free
Cause there’s too much coffee and too much rush
Too much talking and too much fuss
And even I can plainly see
In the middle of it all is too much me!

And what I want , I need, Ay yi yi y yi yi yi
I hurt, I bleed, Ay yi, yi, yi ,yi ,
But do I love? Ay yi, yi, yi yi, but do I love?

I Have Watched You
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2001

I have watched you standing there
Acting like you just don’t care
While others laugh and point and stare
And oh, how I love you

I have watched your hopeful grin
Get back up and try again
Right back in the lion’s den
And oh, how I love you

I have watched you from afar
Can it be that you don’t know how beautiful you are?

I have watched you and I see
All you suffer patiently
And the wonder of a heart that’s free
And oh, how I love you

I have watched you from afar
Can it be that you don’t know how beautiful you are?

Gentle child, now, don’t despair
For I have counted every hair
If you could know what I’ve prepared
And oh, How I love you
Oh, how I love you

He is a Daddy
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2001

Who is that man sitting there at my table?
He’s a vision of ready and willing and able
The subject of many a legend and fable
He is a Daddy

He can be crazy or he can be quiet
He gets a look in his eye that says “Don’t even try it”
He is the calm in the midst of the riot
He is a Daddy

There’s nobody stronger and nobody tougher
Than the man who holds court every night here at supper
Cause everyday he pays the ultimate price
He’s a soldier for love, he’s a lover for life
Yes he is a Daddy

I knew him back when his manners were mild
When his car was still clean and his clothes were in style
Before he lost all shame for the sake of that child
Before he was a Daddy

He’ll ask you what’s wrong and he’ll show you what’s right
He’ll force you to stand and he’ll teach you to fight
Then he’ll hold you close all through the dark stormy night
Cause he is a Daddy
He is a Daddy, Daddy
He is a Daddy

Let’s Just Play It By Ear
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2002

Let’s just play it by ear
And see where it goes from here
Let’s just see how it falls
You know we can’t know it all
Well hey now, winin’ and cheesin’
You know it can get pretty pleasin’
But let’s just play it by ear
And see where it goes from here

All the girls I work with at the office downtown
Just don’t understand about this dream that I’ve found
They plan and scheme and wonder when they’ll get that promotion
But Darlin’ I’m day dreamin’ ‘bout a life of devotion
But let’s just play it by ear
And see where it goes from here

I see some front porch swinging
I hear some afternoon singing
How ‘bout a wife and a husband?
A few kids, or maybe a dozen
Lets just play it by ear and see where it goes from here

Let’s get one thing straight and then I think we’ll be fine
This lovin’ has no limits, has no reason or rhyme
Tell me that in you’re in for good, for better or worse
I’ll give you the tune if you can give me the verse
And well just play it by ear and see where it goes from here

Pitter patter beating hearts
Who can know what we might start?
One good woman, one good man
Giving it the best they can
Pitter patter little feet
A laughing house with kisses sweet
Think of all the combinations
Rippling down the generations… but

Let’s just play it by ear
And see where it goes from here
Let’s just see how it falls
You know we can’t know it all
But let’s just play it by ear
And see where it goes from here
Let’s just see how it falls
You know we can’t know it all

One More Soul
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2002

Once upon a time there lived a happy bride and groom
They got married in a church, they found a house with lots of room
They said “Father won’t you bless us with a future full of joy
We would be so happy with a little girl or boy
Won’t you send us…

One more soul, one more voice for the heavenly choir
One more soul, that is all our hearts desire
Custom made, by love designed
A new creation for all time
One more soul

The years went by, it came to pass that all their dreams came true
First a boy with a belly laugh, then a girl with eyes of blue
They said “Father you have made our lives rich beyond compare
Tell us what You’d have us give, we have so much to share?”
And He asked them for…

One more soul, one more voice for the heavenly choir
One more soul, that is all our hearts desire
Custom made, by love designed
A new creation for all time
One more soul

The bride and groom, they turned away
His answer made them sad
The truth is they were too afraid
To change the life they had
So they filled up their days with one thing or another
And their hearts grew cold, and they each blamed the other
Till one dark night their loving Father took them by the hand
In an overflow of Grace He sent them one more soul unplanned

One more soul, one more voice for the heavenly choir
One more soul, that is all our hearts desire
Custom made, by love designed
A new creation for all time
One more soul
One more soul
One more soul

Daddy’s Song
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2000

Oh Daddy, when I look at you
I always feel a child
So safe, but so excited too
About the world so wide
The late night books
The talks, the dreams
The searching for the truth
Oh yes, I’ll always feel a child
When I look at you

The world won’t get the best of you
Though its empty sabers rattle
Each day the Body breaks anew
The Blood, it flows on through
But if your heart should ever turn
To a counting of the battle
Don’t forget these soldiers small
The ones who look like you

So tell us there’s a light there in the darkness
Show us the way to carry on
Steady now, steady, strong and silent
A Father’s love leads us home

Oh Daddy, when it comes, it comes
And I hope your time is happy
The angels they will grab your hands
You’ll laugh, you’ll smile and then
Your deep and gentle chocolate eyes
Will melt in Love so true
Oh yes, He’ll surely see a child
When He looks at you

So tell us there’s a light there in the darkness
Show us the way to carry on
Steady now, steady, strong and silent
A Father’s love leads us home

Your deep and gentle chocolate eyes
Will melt in Love so true
Oh yes, He’ll surely see a child, when He looks at you
Of yes, He’ll surely see a child, when He looks at you

Lay It On Down
© Marie Bellet, Ordinary Time Music, 2001

Lay it on down and let it go
Your Father above already knows
So there’s no need for keeping score
Just lay it on down and shut the door

Lay it on down and let it go
Your Father above still loves you so
So there’s no need for alibis
Just lay it on down and close your eyes
Lay it on down, lay it on down

He said, she said swirls in my head
Oh it’s paralyzing, endlessly analyzing
But I am here and it is now
And there’s got to be some way
To lay it on down

Lay it on down and let it go
Let it roll out with the undertow
Cause you can’t change it anyway
And there’s really nothing left to say
Lay it on down, lay it on down

I’m gonna pour it in the water, pour the water in the wine
And let that Precious Blood of mercy wash me clean and change my mind
Cause I am here and it is now
Heaven help me, I’ve got to lay it on down
Lay it on down and let it go
Lay it on down and let it go
Lay it on down
Lay it on down

She’s got her head in the clouds
He’s got his feet on the ground
She likes to wonder out loud
He works without making a sound
Round and round they go

Love took them both by surprise
Years ago back at the start
When his future, it shone in her eyes
And his children, they danced in her heart
Round and round they’d go

So God sent them babies of all combinations
To teach them to love and to light up the nations

He says “You used to ask about work”
She says “You used to write me sweet songs”
They both know better, but still they get hurt
And year after year it goes on
Round and round they go

Round and round and round they will go
Where they’ll stop, nobody knows
It’s a don’t look down, and hold on tight!
Wondrously woven with darkness and light

They say “God, if we may be so bold
Why must our hearts suffer so?”
He says “On a need to know basis, all will unfold
But my darlings, you don’t need to know”
So round and round they go

Round and round and round they will go
It’s a dance of a lifetime, a learn as you go
It’s a don’t look down, and hold on tight!
Wondrously woven with darkness and light

Now he peaks his head through the clouds
And she tends their garden below
Keeping their hands to the plough
The seed falls and dies, grows and grows
Round and round
Up and down
Round and round they go

“How did this happen to me?
I worked hard at school, and I got my degree
I make a pretty decent living and I keep nice and fit
Still I look across this lonely life and I don’t understand it
Can you tell me, am I asking for too much?
I take care of myself, I don’t use people as a crutch
And I don’t let them use me either, no, I know that song and dance
But something tells me, something’s missing, can you give an answer?”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you that we were made to need each other?
Didn’t anyone ever tell you that it’s no use to run for cover?
That love requires sacrifice, and everybody pays a price
Didn’t anyone ever tell you?

Didn’t anyone ever tell you, you don’t have to be so smart?
You don’t need calculation in matters of the heart
That angels fly to light your way and saints pray for you everyday
Didn’t anyone ever tell you?

Well if nobody ever told you, then I’m here to tell you now
There’s a God in His Heaven and He wants your heart somehow
Bruised and broken it must be, nothing’s wasted, don’t you see
Didn’t anyone ever tell you?
Didn’t anyone ever tell you?
Didn’t anyone ever tell you?

Sitting at the traffic light
Looking to the left and right
At a sea of souls just percolating
Wondering where could love be waiting

Sunday at the outlet mall
Fat and skinny, short and tall
Tired feet and tired faces
Broken hearts spill wasted graces

But it was His delight to walk among men
Heaven lend me light to see what He sees in them
It was His delight to walk among men

I finally had to face the facts
In a dressing room at TJ Maxx
That the world had loved and left me there
Just another panicked stare

One more mediocre sinner
Wondering what to fix for dinner
I’ll never know what’s all the fuss
What does He see in all of us?

But it was His delight to walk among men
Heaven lend me light to see what He sees in them
It was His delight to walk among men

I don’t know, but I’ve been told
He finds us irresistible

But it was His delight to walk among men
Heaven lend me light to see what He sees in them
It was His delight to walk among men

He said, “I thirst”
I said, “Me first”
He said, “Come follow”
I said, “Tomorrow”
He said, “As you wish”

I said, “I’ve fallen”
He said, “I love you”
I said, “Forgive me”
He said, “I love you”
I said, “As you wish… and

I will be a fool for you
Terribly un-cool for you
And I ‘ll believe outrageous things
‘Bout a God made man
And angels singing
All I ask you in return
Is put in me a heart that burns
A heart that will not count the cost
That will not mourn for vices lost

From the fear of seeming odd, deliver me
From the fear of losing all, deliver me
From the fear of all things painful, deliver me
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me

I said, “I’ve fallen”
He said, “I love you”
I said, “Forgive me”
He said, “I love you”
I said, “As you wish”
I said, “As you wish”
I said, “As you wish”

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