I am Canadian

I am Canadian
you ask me to explain
i reply
what's in a name

I am an Indian of long ago
I am an Inuit living in snow
I am a sailor who landed here
I am their courage and their fear

I am a Metis fighting for my land
I am a Quebecois but no one understands
I am an immigrant with so much to do
I am the division between old and new

I am the Rockies, the Yukon and the prairie fields
I am the mines, the coasts and the Canadian shield
I am the forests, valleys and the crests
I am mother nature at her best

I am spring showers
I am May flowers
I am autumn leaves
I am winter's breeze

I am the old city hall don't tear me down
I am a fishing village, a northern town
I am a busy city and parliament on the hill
I am all this and more of it still

I am Lucy Maude Montgomery's home on the isle
I am a ferry boat, my captain wears a smile
I am the MacDonald Cartier freeway
I am the past to this day

I am an European sports car to an Italian place to dine
I am the Swedish pastry, the French wine
I am Irish whiskey with Chinese tea
I am united from sea to sea

I am Canadian, you ask me to explain
I reply, what's in a name

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Playing solitaire

I see couples everywhere
I'm alone - not part of a pair
look at them, they're two of a kind
they walk together, hands entwined
two kids, a cat and even a mouse
they've got their full house

Bridge:
They met their match
they caught their catch

Chorus:
And I'm playing solitaire

Everyone's doubling down
hand their night on the town
tables for two are all taken
sleeping beauties all awakened
they're dancing waltzes, singing duets
even the birds are doing it

And I'm playing solitaire

no tall dark handsome stranger in my cards
no shining knight, not even a security guard
no diamond ring on my left hand
dinners for one, no wedding band
cupid has left the room
a bride is without a groom

And I'm playing solitaire

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

sometimes you've got to be blue

sometimes you feel like your world is caving in
there's so much happening your head spins
you feel like giving in and getting out
you've just got so many doubts
there's so many emotions that you feel
all these changes make you reel

sometimes you've got to be blue
not navy or aquamarine
not robin's egg or cerulean

sometimes you've got to let the sadness flow
before you can ever let it all go
sometimes that'll make you see
that underneath it all you can be happy
make you appreciate what you've got
all the things in anguish you forgot

sometimes you've got to be blue
not navy or aquamarine
not robin's egg or cerulean

to find out who you are and why
its reassuring to know you can still cry
heave a dramatic and heavy sigh
and see the world through watery eyes
hiccup and sniffle then pull yourself together
a case of the blues doesn't last forever

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

broken heart

I feel so sad
I just want to cry
someone broke my heart
I don't know why

filled my ears
with so many lies
I never even get
a good bye

I have things
that I regret
Others that
I'll never forget

Wishes I know
I'll never get
From a destiny
already set

but I'm not ready to die yet

Maybe I'm like
a dog with a bone
worrying I'll be left
all alone
wasted too much time
by the phone
you can't ring feelings
from a stone
relying on love
that was just on loan

I'm not sure what
it all means
I just know
there's nowhere I can lean
there doesn't seem
to be an in-between
I don't know where I am
just where I've been

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

heartless

don't fall in love with me
i can't love you in return
it can never be
once burnt I learn

my heart is not mine to give
I already gave it away
I'm amazed I still live
from day to day

that is to say I breath
I can still see my reflection
so i must believe
I exist even with my heart's defection

my thoughts belong elsewhere
my actions automatic gestures
my emotions are all despair
my hope and dreams have no future

now I know the walking dead
for I am one
he haunts me in my head
there's no where to run

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

The magician

If I was a magician
I'd make pain disappear
If I was a magician
I'd take away all fear

If I was a magician
I'd bring loved ones near
If I was a magician
You'd suddenly appear

don't you realize
magic wears a disguise
it can be right before your eyes
think of all the implies

think of the possibilities
of all you can really be
magic dust and potions
facing your emotions

reaching for your dreams
thinking of new schemes
do what's in your heart
thats where you start

cause we are all magicians
the power is in our hands
we are all magicians
everyone needs to understand
we are all magicians
with the magic to make it so
we are all magicians
in our hearts we know

(c) 2017 Catherine Elder

Too many

Too many late nights and tequila sunrises
waking up with too many surprises
too many hangovers and regrets
too many things I'm trying to forget

too many tears and so many aches
who would've thought my heart would break
too many mistakes we both made
who would've thought love would fade

You and I were going to always be together
It was going to be you and me forever
we were going to settle down
in a little place outside of town

we were going to live the good life
live it as husband and wife
then you just went away
seems like yesterday

I'm going to stop drinking
going to start thinking
I've made enough mistakes for two lifetimes
I'll let my head lead, my heart can tow the line


(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Earthquake

Was that an earthquake?
no just a heart break

at first I thought it a game
I didn't know its name
I didn't know the rules
so I was the fool

then I was just ignored
I thought I had bored
I felt invisible and shy
without knowing why

then it came to me
the part I was assigned to be
just another one of his toys
not even his pride & joy

was that a hurricane?
or my tears falling like rain

the list was long
I didn't know what I did wrong
but I was last on the pile
the toy for once in a while

the toy broke, can't be repaired
cause I can't make him care
can't make him love me, be my friend
he's always late, you can never depend

my heart shattered shards cut deep
I cry myself to sleep
I wanted him, there's my mistake
it's my fault, I let my heart break

was that a thunderstorm?
or cynicism being born

(c) 2017 Catherine Elder

Time

Time flies
it drags
it stops
it dies

we waste it
spend it
lose it
lend it

Or do we?
There is no time
like the present
a gift
if we live it.

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

I'll take love

I'll take love
any way its served
I'll take love
something we all deserve

I'll take love
an order to go
I'll take love
you just never know

I'll take love
I'll pay the cost
I'll take love
I'd rather loved and lost

I'll take love
you've got to give to receive
I'll take love
cause in it I believe

I'll take love
keep some with me
I'll take love
unconditionally

I'll take love
I could use a sip or two
I'll take love
I'll take it with you

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Almost

We almost touched
almost had so much
we almost kissed
never know what we missed
we almost had it all
then another wall

we almost learned
all there is to know
I looked around
there's no where to go

We almost had romance
we almost took that chance
almost put it on the line
love was almost mine

Bridge:but almost isn't good enoughwhen you're talking love

We almost fell
only time could tell
but time flew
with all we didn't do
the time is spent
and almost went

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Where have you been baby

Chorus:Where have you been babyI sure did miss you last night...ya rightwhere have you been babyI don't remember having a fight... not yet
Where have you been babyyou sure haven't been aroundwhere have you been babyis there someone else you've found

Well I sure did miss you baby
I've been so lonely without you
Ya I sure did miss you baby
There's been nothing to do

So I went down to Winchesters, 66 too
Well you know I didn't find you

I met a guy named John
he didn't know what was going on
met a guy named Jim
he said you knew him

I met a guy named Jack
he wanted to scratch my back
met a guy named Harry
hanging with Tom & Dick
I could have my pick

Chorus

I met a guy named Pete
he was drinking them neat
I met a guy named Lou
he said he knew you

I met a guy named Ken
wanted to be my best friend
I met a guy named Chuck
he wanted to press his luck

Chorus

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

I've got your number

Don't throw that line
I'm not biting that hook
if I wanted a tale
I'd just read a book

Don't bother with that cliche
you're too slick, too sublime
we don't see things the same way
you're off beat and out of time

that lie has already been told
the sentiment's moldy, the story old
you've stretched the truth so much
now both ends touch

I've got your number
I know your type
You've got no substance
You're all hype

You want to know my sign
I tell you its Dead End
You say its all right
we can be just friends

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Love from afar

Don't throw me crumbs
when I've dreamed of the feast
don't raise my hopes
when I expect the least

I've given up on love
given up on romance
just too scared
to take a chance

well I can love you
just the way you are
and I can love you
fine from afar

no need for you
to ever know
of a love as deep
as deep can go

you can't lose
what you never got
you can stay free
if you're never caught

if you never risk
you can never lose
if there's no choice
then you can't choose

my love is true
and unconditional
of he unrequited
but traditional

I wish for all
your dreams to come true
though you'll never know
that I love you

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Would you tell

Girlfriends
tell girlfriends
tell his friends
tell their friends
and wait for it to come back again

Chorus:
If I could make a wish
If I could cast a spell
would you tell
oh would you tell

If I could make him fall
the way that I fell
would you tell
oh would you tell

But he
doesn't even notice me
ah he can't see
how happy we could be
heeee
doesn't know I'm there
how much I care
all I'm willing to share

Chorus

I say hi
and he walks on by
almost makes me want to cry
I hesitate
we don't communicate
maybe its fate
and I'm already too late

Chorus

She said
that he said
that he said
he likes you
how can you tell if its true

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

she's to blame

She worries about him
he's not always wise
he says he'll do something
but she knows he lies

she reminds him with care
of the plans they made
he promises to be there
his promises fade

he makes commitments
spreads himself too thin
she tries to tell him
but she just can't win

he tells her she's nagging
a word she despises
the she feels guilty
and she apologizes

then he will forget
an important date
doesn't seem to regret
when he's always late

she should've told him
she should remind
she tries to tell him
he's not always kind

he tells her she's bitching
she's harping, she's a shrew
she doesn't understand him
what's she suppose to do

he's irresponsible
you know she's to blame
he has an excuse
and its always lame

he makes a mistake
its always her fault
she doesn't understand
she's the only adult

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

Inside every woman

He walked into the bar and started to tell his tale
how his wife didn't understand him, she let their marriage fail

I said stop right there
where do you come into this
I don't think you're being fair
I think there's something you missed

Have you ever tried
to understand your wife
do you know how often she's cried
trying to come to terms with her life
you know she'd be at home
waiting for you to call
she was afraid of being alone
but you never bothered at all

inside of every woman
is a girl who wants to lay
but she's always been told
ladies don't act that way

as a daughter she learnt to obey
all her father did say
so as a wife she'd do
all she was expected to

and in motherhood
she tried to be so good
always put the kids first
but the loneliness just got worse

as a girl, she learnt to suppress
she learnt how to hesitate
as a woman, she was often depressed
as she spent her time in wait

he looked me in the eye
for the very first time
said he never realized, and in surprise
almost didn't recognize
my how you've changed

I said no not at all
I just stopped waiting for you to call
I listened to that girl inside
telling me I don't have to hide
I listened to that girl say
come on and play
cause ladies do act that way

(c)2017 Catherine Elder

I don't know

I don't know
I don't know anything

I thought I knew once but I know nothing at all
I thought I loved once but I can't recall
I thought I had all the time in the world
I looked around, I'm no longer a little girl

I had dreams that I believed could come true
I got disillusioned, I don't know what to do
I used to have causes worthy of a fight
Now I think twice, and don't know what's right

I'm not sure anymore which direction to take
I' so tired of making so many mistakes
Now I question all of my values
And I think before I choose

I worry about what I might regret
and what I have learned I soon forget
is it all about what anyone knows
for whatever comes, surely goes

(c)2017 Catherine Elder