Dreaming Beyond Aboriginal Art...

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 Only six months after his LOCAL FOLK  cd,  Gordon released DREAMING BEYOND ABORIGINAL ART... and answered the request for many of his songs heard at his live performances. Up close and personal... he deals with universal themes that extend beyond these island shores. For example, SAD MARY is a beautiful song that addresses domestic violence... while SAY GOODBYE TO SAILOR MAN has become a popular song to play at Navy retirement ceremonies around the world. Check out the song he wrote for the USS Arizona Memorial... It's a Home Grown winner !

In a Star Bulletin review, John Berger said,  "...Peaceful Arizona is the best Pearl Harbor song to date..." That review also stated what most of us already know... his "debut album,'Local Folk' was brilliant. His newest one, 'DREAMING BEYOND ABORIGINAL ART...' equals it." Check out the pictures formed by these lyrics. Read a wonderful letter from a fifth grade school teacher describing their Peaceful Arizona Experience. You can visit his tribute site and link to some wonderful sites that keep the historical record of Pearl Harbor straight and true. In 1999 this album earned him another Hawai'I Music Award and recognition as Hawaii's Country Artist of the Year for the second year in a row.

 "I draw the themes for my songs from things I see or read about everyday. It could be something I hear on the news or even a bumper sticker or something somebody said that gets stuck in my head. I am mostly proud of the versatility these songs have… they can be performed soft or hard without losing their message or the story in the lyrics. They are not contrived and reliant on a hook-line repeated 50 times in 3 minutes... they are all original and a reflection of the world as I see it. I guess I could have painted all these things on a canvas, but it sure is a lot more fun getting out there and singing them ! Mahalo plenty and thanks to all of you around our planet for the support that frees me from the usual white pants and kukui nut luau gig and allows me to keep dreaming beyond aboriginal art...     Drop a line and say aloha!"

All songs copyrighted ©1998  and written by Gordon Manuel Freitas (BMI) & published by Blue Tarpolin Music (BMI),   
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

DREAMING BEYOND ABORIGINAL ART... 

I met a little big man way down under
 Painting the dreams from days of his youth
 Pictures depicting his walk about life
 A dream time born from perceptions of truth

 Walk about life with the people down under
 Walk about life on the face of this earth
 Color the space and describe an adventure
 Painting a dream for all truth is worth

 Experience truth and paint what you feel
 Visions of truth living deep in your heart
 The picture depicts what a man knows is real
 Im dreaming beyond aboriginal art

 Dreaming beyond aboriginal art
 Dreaming beyond aboriginal art

 Go tell the children for all that it’s worth
 Don’t drag on the stick that scars up the earth
 Don’t shuffle your feet and scuff up the sand
 Walk light on the wind as a child of the land

 Experience truth and paint what you feel
 Visions of truth living deep in your heart
 The picture depicts what a man knows is real
 Im dreaming beyond aboriginal art

 Dreaming beyond aboriginal art
 Dreaming beyond aboriginal art...

 

BROWN SHOES 

 Brown shoes, brown shoes, Brown shoes, brown shoes
 Brown shoes, brown shoes, In a black shoe world

 Heres a tale about a scape goat who used to be the man
 A lion in a khaki suit who did not give a damn
 'Bout the politics and hypocrites that persecuted him
 And cast him adrift on the sea

 So proud he was of fouled anchors pinned on his lapels
 Stood up for what was right but thats the way he finally fell
 Hes rocking on blue water stuck upon an ocean swell
 Cryin’ blue sky remember me (chorus)

 He said black shoes were worn by sailors setting sail with pride
 And the brown shoes would identify at once that he could fly
 But on the land, sea or sky, you don’t ask no questions why
 You carry out the plan of the day

 He was so dedicated but nobody could say why
 Somebody killed his character and stood behind the lie
 Made him sign his page thirteen, then banned him from the sky
 But they could not take his birthday away (chorus)

 In the fall of eighty-seven that old lion came around
 Hung an anchor on my neck, said he found a new home town
 Where after sundown everything takes on a shade of brown
 Now I know how much that anchor weighs (chorus)

 

LIL ANIMALZ 

Lil animalz, runnin’ through my house
 Smaller than a lion, bigger than a mouse
 Lil animalz, runnin through my door
 Whoopin’ and a hollerin’, trackin’ up the floor
 Lil animalz footin’ trails of mud
 Echoes in the hall way, laughter in the tub

 Talking bout doggies in the window howling to be free
 Then somebody bought him and chained him to a tree
 Beat him with a paper, forgot to fill his bowl
 Poor little animal... dog rest his little ol’ soul

 Little animalz, sandman coming soon
 So hear my tale about a little dish that ran off with a spoon
 Little animalz rest your weary head
 Dream of peace and love tonight, it’s time to go to bed

 Doggy in the window howling to be free...

 

LONG FINGERS 

He’s a boy with long fingers that dance upon the wire
 And he plays his guitar over craters of fire
 As he walks heel to toe on a tight-rope high above
 Does he fear he may slip, will he fall into love

 The song that he plays comes from deep in his soul
 And the silence is questioned by strings made of gold
 Is the heart of a man truly all he is worth ?
 And is heaven a dream that you find here on earth ?

 Long fingers, folk singers
 Stroking box guitars in them old smoky bars
 Folk singers lift your spirits high
 As their long fingers dance upon the wire

 As the boy with long fingers that dance upon the wire
 Played his flat top guitar over craters of fire
 Each note rang out loud as his flesh bit the steel
 And the gathering crowd heard a sound they could feel (chorus)

 Long fingers dancing on the wire...


 

SAD MARY 

There’s a girl trying hard to be a part
 Of the music in her soul but it’s raining in her heart
 Worn out and abused by a twisted troubled man
 He could not hear her crying; he did not understand

 Sad Mary, play your soft guitar
 And tell me how the dark blue side of life can hit you hard
 When you give yourself to someone who denies you simple dreams
 Sad Mary, sing your song to me

 Were you always sad and lonely since you were a little girl
 Did you dream of singing songs you wrote to the children of the world
 Well, I got a listening ear and a sympathetic heart
 Can I lend a helping hand, help you get a brand new start
 (chorus)

 I guess you could not see the man you chose was full of rage
 He would rather see you sad than in the bright lights of a stage

 Sad Mary, play your soft guitar
 And when you toss away them blues be sure to throw them hard and far
 Don’t you give yourself to someone who denies you simple dreams
 Sad Mary, sing your song to me
 Sad Mary, sing your song to me

 

DREAMS I KEEP CHASIN’ 

Rock me like a baby in a cradle of clouds
 Cover my eyes from the burning sun
 Big brother says I’m talking too loud
 Dreams I keep chasin’ are still on the run
 Dreams I keep chasin’ are still on the run

 How can this country make a solid stand
 If we lose control and sell the land
 To the visions and dreams of a foreign man

 Where would all hope for the future lie
 If the stars we wish upon fall from the sky
 Would their promise of dreams pass us by
 (chorus)
 What would the great blue ocean be
 Without foamy white caps on a churning sea
 Just a still blue water hole cold and deep

 What would it be like to forever sleep
 Would it be like dying, would a loved one weep
 Would you pray to God for your soul to keep
 (chorus)
 Dreams I keep chasin’ are still on the run ...

 

SAY GOODBYE TO SAILOR MAN 

Anchors aweigh to sweet liberty
 Pack in a chest full of proud memories
 Twenty years passed and this party must end
 Say goodbye to sailor man

 Wish him fair winds and following seas
 Strike up the band and let the flags fly free
 Pipe him ashore and salute an old friend
 Say goodbye to sailor man

 He joined the Navy to see the big world
 In every port he left a heart broke girl
 Setting sail with the tide and chasin’ the sun
 Been over and under the seven seas
 His mission in life to keep the sea lanes free
 There was a job to do so he got it done
 So say goodbye to sailor man
 Say goodbye to sailor man

 Will there be regrets, will he feel the pain
 Of losing it all, starting over again
 Will he cling to the rock when it’s time to run
 He played the game and he found the part
 Where the glory road ends and the living’ starts
 Now this is a day he thought would never come
 So say goodbye to sailor man
 Say goodbye to sailor man

 Stand tall in ranks as we bid him farewell
 Blow that shiny whistle and bang that old bell
 Hand the man a flag and take his picture too
 Place his medals and ribbons in a shadow box
 Mount them on velvet right next to a clock
 Save a little space for the red white and blue
 Then say goodbye to sailor man
 Say goodbye to sailor man
 Say goodbye to sailor man

 

WILD PIG HUNTER

Up in the hills where a pig hunter goes
 The wild bush covers up the lava flow
 In a deep dark valley it's a rough terrain
 Where the forest comes alive in the jungle rain

 Pack up your horses and get your best dogs
 This ain't no hunt for a regular hog
 There's a black mountain spirit in the big island hills
 And he blends into a shadow when he's standin' still

 Get out a gun, bring a bow or a knife
 It's a fifty-fifty chance you'll be riskin' your life
 That rushin' black boar is sure to put up a fight
 And you'll be huntin' for a shadow_ on a pitch black night

 Razor sharp tusks, red eyes agleam
 A black locomotive with a full head of steam
 Thundering hooves beatin' down the over turned trail__
 Raise up the hair on your neck And make your skin turn pale

 The legend goes a great boar came over
 And dug in his snout like a big bulldozer
 He tossed up his head in a shoveling motion
 And pushed up the islands from the bottom of the ocean

 He fell for a hot lava queen
 But she put him off, she was down right mean
 So he slung a lot 'a mud on his heart's desire
 Glowin' embers of love replaced her raging fire

 You know the wild pig hunter will always come back
 To challenge that spirit and run with the pack
 They live for the hunt whatever the cost
 And many a pig huntin' dog’s been lost
 Survivin' the game is a dangerous scene
 When your trackin' down the prince of the lava queen
 And when a challenge is made, the stakes are high__
 Its the law of the jungle where the strong survive

 Up in the hills where a pig hunter goes
 The wild bush covers up the lava flow
 In the valley of the shadow it's a rough terrain
 Where the black mountain spirit of the jungle... still reigns
 Wild pig hunter, wild pig man...

 

DEM AFRICAN BLUES 

Quiet in the bush
 As the moonlight falls on this African plain
 Listen to the sound as a nocturnal hunter brings down her prey
 The stars fade away, now the moon is the sun
 An illusion it seems
 Now the shade is your friend and no longer a shadow
 That lurks in your dreams

 Black son crying, white sun too
 Hot sun frying both of you
 Crops are dying, little children too
 Can you hear the wailing mother’s cry
 Singing dem African Blues
 Singing dem African Blues

 Cracks in the ground
 Where the rivers of life used to flow through her veins
 Dry are the eyes that search for the tears of the African rain
 The heartland is burning, the roots of existence are twisted and dry
 Can they see a solution, will the lion survive if the buffalo die
 (chorus)

 Down at the water hole all of God’s creatures at truce without words
 It’s a hot situation and the lion must drink with a buffalo herd
 Down at the water hole put down that selfish pride that’s all it costs
 Learn or you burn, in the hot pits of prejudice all can be lost
 (chorus)

 

THREE BLIND MEN 

Three blind men in a great big city
 I think it’s a pity to see them as witty
 Proclaiming their blindness with both hands over their eyes
 I looked at the news at a man who could see
 But appeared to be totally blind

 Wide open eyes see a prominent banker
 With a known reputation for selling his soul
 To the beautiful people with pockets lined in gold
 How blind can he be to the folk in the ghetto
 Who desperately need his O.K. on a loan
 To feed the children and save their run down homes

 Many have climbed the cold chain of rejection
 To be lost on a list in a dark black hole
 Searching and hoping for someone's approval
 When the odds are in favor of a filtered down NO
 From one of the blind at he top of the line
 He lives in the dark and it shows

 Wide open eyes see a gifted young lawyer
 With a talent for quoting the big legal books
 And a full guarantee he can get you off the hook
 Hey,the pride of the bar drives a fancy new car
 From uptown down to the courthouse today
 Where any man on the stand can win if he can pay

 Twisting the truth to prosecute,turning the words to defend
 For the man with a dollar he can tap dance and holler
 Til the judge sets him free in the end
 Now why can’t he see the reality, a killer is free once again

 Three blind men tappin’ canes on our sidewalk
 Three blind men settin’ criminals free
 Three blind men keepin’ food from the children
 I cover my eyes ‘cause I don’t want to see
 Three blind men standing next to me

 My wide open eyes see a paid politician
 Who shouts from the hill to the rest of the world
 He says lay down your arms and let the flags of peace unfurl
 So he granted a wish to some folks in the lobby
 Who bought the votes to make a fantasy real
 Do you think he remembers how doing the right thing feels

 He’s lying awake with the world on his shoulder
 The riddle for peace is playing taps on his brain
 Lost in a dream where he pushes the button
 But he hasn’t a clue to stop the burning rain
 Where is the time to find hope for the future
 His own life is filled with such pain
 (chorus)

 I’ve prayed more than once and I’ll say it again
 May God grant sight to all the blind men
 And open their hearts up so they may see
 The Light of the World that shines for me
 The Light of the World that shines for me

 Three blind men tappin’ canes on our sidewalk
 Three blind men settin’ criminals free
 Three blind men keepin’ food from the children
 I cover my eyes ‘cause I don’t want to see
 Three blind men standing next to me

 

BEYOND THE RUNWAY REEF 

It’s an early morning preflight
 For a bird out on the ramp
 Smell the new coffee brew see the ready one crew
 Rally ‘round the smoking lamp
 When the phone tree rang this morning
 From the top down through it’s roots
 They all slipped outta bed into zip-um-up suits
 Stood up tall in their boots

 Not until they reached the hangar
 Did they finally find their heads
 But their faces wore expressions
 That were better left in bed

 Their waking eyes like saucers
 Still locked in disbelief
 In an hours time they’ll be off and flying
 Beyond the runway reef

 Lookin’ for a deep sea monster
 Listenin’ to the whispering sea
 It can turn from a job to a full blown circus
 Keepin’ the sea lanes free

 No pint-size baby boomers
 No red Octobers here
 They’ll be huntin’ for the neon rainbow
 Named after every month of the year

 So when the Januaryfebruarymarchapril
 -mayjunejuly
 -augustseptemberoctobernovember
 -december cruises by
 She’s bigger than a sailor can imagine
 She’s a sight beyond belief
 Gonna ping her down in the water world
 Beyond the runway reef

 It’s a ping-pong game in the water world..
 beyond the runway reef

 

PEACEFUL ARIZONA 

There's a land mark on the water
 Perched above a ship below
 It's a long white peaceful hall
 With the names up on the wall
 Of brave men who stood here long ago

 The sun was shining Sunday morning
 On a harbor decked in gray
 Who could have known what lay ahead
 Love was lost and tears were shed
 And a memory was born that day

 Peaceful Arizona lies beneath the harbor calm
 Under water colored rainbows, by a bank of swaying palms

 When the full moon trembles on the water
 And the stars shine from down below
 I see monuments of times when our heroes in their prime
 Heard the call and chose to go

 Peaceful Arizona lies beneath the harbor calm
 Under water colored rainbows, by a bank of swaying palms
 Just a deep and still reminder of a past that's come and gone
 And the prideful men who gave their lives for peace
 Back in 1941
 Peaceful Arizona, where did all the brave men go
 Peaceful Arizona, in the silence down below

 All songs copyrighted ©1998  and written by Gordon Manuel Freitas (BMI) & published by Blue Tarpolin Music (BMI),    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.