Be Careful What You Ask For

vs1

I remember my paw tellin me

Hold on to what you got

Fame and money won’t set you free

Hear it’s lonely at the top

He said, son, you never know for shure

What awaits behind the next door

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

Refrain

Be careful what you ask for

Sometimes when dreams come true

Behind that door you discover more

Heartache awaiting you

Be careful what you ask for

You may get what you wish

and discover fate has in store

an unexpected twist

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

vs2

Folk say one sure way to give God a chuckle

is to sit down and start making plans

Hold onto your hat coz here comes trouble

Solid ground can become shifting sands

In the never ending search for more

Certainty can slip out the door 

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

Refrain

Be careful what you ask for

Sometimes when dreams come true

Behind that door you discover more

Heartache awaiting you

Be careful what you ask for

You may get what you wish

and discover fate has in store

an unexpected twist

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

So be careful, real careful, be careful what you ask for 

Mt. Zion Memorial musings

No Headstone to Remember Me 

inspired by the life and music of 
bluesman Belton Sutherland

Got no place to call my own

An unmarked grave my eternal home

My farewell bouquet a spray of unkempt weeds

And no headstone to remember me 

 'I Got Trouble' told the story of where I'd been 

and what I'd seen in my hardscrabble life

Yet it couldn't tell you all the stuff held in - 

the hopes and dreams that never saw light

But on those hot and sweltry Delta summer nights

you could pull up a porch chair. shut your eyes, listen close

You'd hear us sing the blues, so real, so right

from hearts that had loved and lost more than most

And now I've....

Got no place to call my own

An unmarked grave my eternal home

My farewell bouquet a spray of unkempt weeds

And no headstone to remember me 

bjw

april 2017

Can You Hear the Children Crying

Vs1
An explosion rocked the mighty rig that tragic April night
Condolences and apologies would never make it right
Eleven lives sacrificed amid the smoke and flames
For their friends and families life would never be the same

Refrain
Can you hear the children crying?
Grieving for all that they have lost
Can you hear the children crying?
Calling us to join their cause

Vs2
The shrimpers and the fishermen watched the tideswept spill
Wondering how they'd feed their families, who would pay their bills
The wetlands and the wildlife that grace the gulf coast shores
Victims of neglect and greed, now stained forever more

Refrain
Can you hear the children crying?
Grieving for all that they have lost
Can you hear the children crying?
Calling us to join their cause

Bridge
Hear their prayer for us to join the fight
Show we care as a nation we unite

Refrain
Can you hear the children crying?
Grieving for all that they have lost
Can you hear the children crying?
Calling us to join their cause

Tag
An explosion rocked the mighty rig that tragic April night……

©bobby watts/steven clawson 2010

Your Special Touch

our home—safe, secure
an encouraging word
a favorite meal
a clean room
taking time to listen
clear expectations
family celebrations
promises kept
tears wept
helping hands
a heart that understands
a well-timed hug
unconditional love
You’ve given your children so very much
And I thank God always for blessing us
With your special touch

bobby
Mother’s Day 2016

Can You Hear The Children Crying

the political version written to express my feelings re the politics of fear, hate and division

Can You Hear The Children Crying

Across this land our children hear people talking hate and fear

They say we’ve lost our country, you’d think the end was near

Hard to find in these tough times anyone to lift a voice

Set petty politics aside and make the harder choice

Refrain

Can you hear the children crying?

Fearing that hate will win the day

Can you hear the children crying?

Calling us to choose a better way

They call our leader hateful names, claim he’s not one of us

Treat the poor among us with disdain, talk of burning holy books

Wrap themselves in the flag, say they do it in God’s name

As they trash the dream we had of bringing hope and change

Repeat refrain

The uninsured, the unemployed the homeless on the streets

Wonder how they’ll pay their bills, feed their families

The answer isn’t saying no, time has come for us to show

We can put aside our differences and choose the higher road

Repeat refrain

Bridge

Hear their prayer for us to join the fight

Show we care as a people we unite

Repeat refrain

Tag

Across this land our children hear people talking hate and fear

I Really Love The View From Here

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Vs1

We started out with our dreams and plans

Had our tickets stamped for life’s big dance

Our road’s had plenty of twists and turns

Seen mistakes made, shared lessons learned

But when I look at you I see what I hold  dear

And I’ve gotta tell you I really love the view from here

Refrain

Well they can have their big houses and their fancy cars

Drink their chablis, smoke their fine cigars

When they look at me sadly all that they see

Is a simple man they just can't understand

Sittin’ in my rocker on my back porch with you near

Gotta tell you, honey, I really love the view from here

Vs2

You won't see no tuxedos, no elegant gowns

Not much use for all that in our little town

But we look after each other

Neighbors, sisters and brothers

Friends and family that’s what we hold dear

Just gotta say we really love the view from here

Repeat refrain

Bridge

As I look around seems all I see

Is  people chasing luxury

Long as I have you and my loved ones near

I’ll just keep enjoying the view from here

Last refrain

bjw 2009

©bobby watts 2009

It’s All About Giving

Crowded stores and busy highways

Last minute shopping and long work days

Easy to lose track of the reason

We celebrate this special season

It’s the chill in the air

Festive music everywhere

Holiday cheer

Friends and family near

The joy of finding that special gift

And the pleasure of watching them open it

It’s all about caring

And heartfelt sharing

In the moment living

It’s all about giving

Our time and talent

Lovingly spent

Yes, it’s all about giving

bjw

Christmas 2015

Sharing A Home But Not Our Hearts

Verse 1

We’ve put up this wall between us
A silence that I can’t break through
I don’t know how it started
How we got so hard-hearted
All I know is how much I miss you

Refrain

I miss the laughter and the tears
The friendship shared so many years
Our quiet times…your hand in mine
The joy I felt when you were near
I just can’t tell you, girl, how much
I miss your smile your gentle touch
I can’t go on… living apart
Sharing a home but not our hearts

Verse 2

Can we tear down this wall between us
Please tell me what I need to do
Can't you see the tears falling
Can't you hear my heart calling
Can't you see I'm still in love with you

2nd Refrain

And I long for the laughter and the tears
The friendship shared so many years
Our quiet times…your hand in mine
The joy I felt when you were near
I just can’t tell you, girl, how much
I miss your smile your gentle touch
I can’t go on… living apart
Sharing a home but not our hearts

Bridge

I've learned that love untended fades away
But I never thought I’d live to see this day
How could we let it come to this
Never thought I could feel such emptiness

Repeat chorus w/ key change

©bobby watts 2008

I’m Choosin’ Us

Vs1

A friendship born on a grade school play yard

And soon a young romance sparked

His friends didn’t care for her, she wasn’t cool or popular

They couldn’t see the hold she had on his heart

Then one day in a high school hall cool moved into cruel

Told him he needed to ditch her , “she’s not good enough for you”

He took her hand as he told them clear, “you’ve got a lot to learn about love”

Kissed her and whispered in her ear, “I’m choosin” us”

Refrain

I’m choosin’ us

And in my heart I know I’m right

There’s no way I’m givin’ up

The best thing in my life

And you can trust

That in the good times and the worst

I’ll put our love first

I’m choosin’ us

Vs2

She understood his parents looked down

On the folks from her part of town

And in her heart she’d always known

She was never really welcome in their home

Listenin’ as he shared with them the decision he had made

She sadly thought of the price they’d have to pay

He told them the choice was clear, regret or happiness

Kissed her and whispered in her ear, “I’m choosin” us”

Repeat refrain

Vs3

Her family gathered round her bed as the doctor shared the news

We didn’t catch this quick enough and there’s little we can do

And we recommend that you leave her here

Where she’ll have her nurse and all she needs near

She turned to him and said “hon, please just take me home “

The children protested, “Dad, you can’t do this on your own”

And again for him the choice was clear, regret or happiness

Kissed her and whispered in her ear, “I’m choosin” us”

Last refrain

bjw 2009

Christmas In Our Hearts

Christmas In Our Hearts

Vs1

We await in anticipation

The coming Yuletide celebration

Counting the days till that joyous season starts

And it defies explanation

Why we don’t use our imagination

And live each day with Christmas in our hearts

Refrain

The spirit of the season and all that it imparts

Is ours when we choose to live with Christmas in our hearts

The gift that keeps on giving

It’s magic never far

Each day that we spend living

With Christmas in our hearts

Vs2

It’s the Christmas choirs singing

The silver bells ringing

And the tale of a wondrous star

Leaves me believing

The reason for the season

Is to plant the seed of Christmas in our hearts

Repeat refrain

Bridge

So no matter what season of the year

We can find the Christmas spirit near

And it can play a special part

Brighten every day we start

When we keep Christmas in our hearts

Refrain

The spirit of the season and all that it imparts

Is ours when we choose to live with Christmas in our hearts

The gift that keeps on giving

It’s magic never far

Each day that we spend living

With Christmas in our hearts

bjw 2009

Christmas Musings

A child was born

And through His life

He showed us the way to the Kingdom

If we will but trust Him

And claim His promise of love

We too, at our birth, carry the seed of God’s hope

For love, peace and life lived in a new way

But often the important people in our lives

Do not affirm the unselfish love and simple trust

Of the little child

And so we hide away this special part of us

Oft forgotten, sometimes lost

Jesus calls us to breathe new life

Into our inner child

To know that we are loved just as we are

To live fully in the moment

To reach for our dreams

And love ourselves and others

As He loves us

bjw

12/09

Work This Thing Out

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Vs1

Remember when each day we’d spend

Enjoying each other

Sharin’ our hopes and our dreams

But we lost our way and there came a day

We sadly discovered

The heartache that love’s absence can bring

1^st Refrain

All this cussin’, and fussin’ and heavy discussin’

Can’t be what love’s all about

Let’s do some touchin’ and sharin’ and a whole lotta carin’

And see if we can’t work this thing out

Vs2 (key change—slight step up)

What happened to the joy we knew

When we were first lovers

Tell me how did we reach this lonely place

Where all we share is a quiet despair

Strangers to each other

An ending that I just can’t face

2^nd Refrain

So let’s start over, get back to, takin’ care of each other

Rediscover what love’s all about

Let’s do some touchin’ and sharin’ and a whole lotta carin’

And see if we can’t work this thing out

Bridge

Last night we sat down and shared

Broke it down and stripped it bare

Gave me the hope that now

We can still work this thing out

Last refrain (key change—melody higher)

So let’s start over, get back to, takin’ care of each other

Rediscover what love’s all about

Let’s do some touchin’ and sharin’ and a whole lotta carin’

And see if we can’t work this thing out

I still love you, let’s work this thing out

I really love you, let’s work this thing out (spoken)

bjw 2009