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Amy Helm
This Too Shall Light

[Album Lyrics]

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Released: September 21, 2018 on Yep Roc Records


This Too Shall Light 

Written by: MC Taylor, Josh Kaufman

Baby be better
it’s a long road to the center
Honey you’re lonely
don’t let the darkness own you
Standing, great day
long summer fields in the lonely country

Everything will be everything,
If we make it that far, babe that’s something

This too shall light
Every moment to the letter
This too shall light

Poor heart, go farther,
So you whip the horses harder
Amen we can say it
Depends on how we’re praying
Bad hand you can lay it
There’s no game without that

Everything will be everything
If we make it that far, babe that’s something

This too shall light
Every moment to the letter
This too shall light
This too shall light
Every moment to the letter
This too shall light
It’s a long road to the center


Odetta

Written by: Joe Henry

Whose chickens are those in my yard?
They pick at every shiny thing
Stitching down this earth
So cold and hard
Low and tight across my wings

And when they’re calling over me
Their unholy, fitful song
Odetta, Odetta
Please carry me along

My bones they rumble
And time will shift
On every plan I have laid
Clouds will crack and spill
Decent and lift
Sharpen this light into a blade

And split the limb beneath me
That holds me off the ground
Odetta, Odetta
Please come and take me down

Nothing is now as it appears
And there is no law speaks to that
Just an ocean’s roar
Between my ears
And down here deep inside my hat

Where broken ships
Still drift and pine
For some new world reverie
Odetta, Odetta
Please come discover me


Michigan

Written by: Kenneth Pattengale, Joseph Edward Ryan

The clouds move over Pontiac skies
Their silent thunder matches mine
I know this feeling from long ago
I wondered was it gone, but now I know

So when she calls don’t send her my way
When it hurts you’ll know it’s the right thing

Michigan’s in the rear view now
Keep your hands where I can see ‘em
You took the words right out my mouth
When you knew that I would need ‘em
What am I supposed to do now, without you

It’s unannounced like you’d expect it
Among brokedown breaklines
And Motown records
And all that’s left is a blind reflection
But you know what’s coming and you regret it

So when she calls don’t send her my way
When it hurts, most, it’s the right thing

Michigan’s in the rear view now
Keep your hands where I can see ‘em
You took the words right out my mouth
When you knew that I would need ‘em
What am I supposed to do now, without you


Freedom for the Stallion

Written by: Allen Toussaint

Freedom for the stallion
Freedom for the mare and her colt
Freedom for the baby child
Who has not grown old enough to vote.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are praying to you?
They got men making laws that destroy other men,
They've made money "God"
It's a doggone sin,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.

Big ship's a-sailing, slaves all chained and bound,
Heading for a brand new land that some cat said he upped and found.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are praying to you?
They got men making laws that destroy other men,
They've made money "God"
It's a doggone sin.
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.

Some sing a sad song
Some got to moan the blues
Trying to make the best of a home
That the man didn't even get to choose
Lord, have mercy, how you gonna be with people like John and me
They've got men building fences to keep other men out
Ignore him if he whispers and kill him if he shouts
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way
Oh, Lord, you got to help them find the way
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.


Mandolin Wind

Written by: Rod Stewart

When the rain came I thought you'd leave
'Cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay
and keep me warm
through the darkest nights I've ever known
If the mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
then I know I love ya

Oh the snow fell without a break
Buffalo died in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter in almost fourteen years
I couldn't believe you kept a smile
Now I can rest assured knowing that we've seen the worst
And I know I love ya

Oh I never was good with romantic words
So the next few lines come really hard
Don't have much but what I've got is yours
Except of course my steel guitar
Ha, 'cause I know you don't play
But I'll teach you one day
Because I love ya


I recall the night we knelt and prayed
Noticing your face was thin and pale
I found it hard to hide my tears
I felt ashamed I felt I'd let you down
No mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
Couldn't change a thing no, no

The coldest winter in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind

And I love ya
Yes indeed and I love ya
And I love ya
Lord I love ya


Long Daddy Green

Written by: Blossom Dearie, David L Frishberg

Long daddy green is an old, old friend
he hangs around the rainbow's end
dealing out dreams from a pot full of fortune and fame,
fanning the flame
hear him calling your name.

Long daddy green is a fly by night
you turn around he's out of sight
Seems he's your fair weather friend
and your foul weather foe;
the wind starts to blow
daddy green starts to go;

The lies he tells aren't new to you
you're not naive
you know he won't be true to you,
Still you believe,
You believe.

Long daddy green chops you down to size
with slow hellos and fast goodbyes
He comes around when you feel about ten feet tall
To make you feel small,
just like nothing at all

Long daddy green is a heartless host,
ignores you when you need him most,
likes to pretend he's a hard to get next to guy
He'll give you the eye
While he's waving goodbye


The Stones I Throw

Written by: Jaime Robbie Robertson

When obstruction blocks my way
I walk down that narrow way
till I can see the light of day
shining at the world
and I realize that something here sure is wrong

The stones I throw will free all men
Make him walk proud through this righteous land
He will know which way to go
I will show him by the stones that I throw

Don't build walls and barricades
So a man can't have his say
And barking dogs can't block my way
From taking my brothers hand
and something makes me want to stand up and do what's right

The stones I throw will free all men
Make him walk proud through this righteous land
He will know which way to go
I will show him by the stones that I throw

The stones I throw will free all men
Make him walk proud through this righteous land
He will know which way to go
I will show him by the stones that I throw


Heaven’s Holding Me

Written by: Amy Helm, Paul Olsen, Theodor Pecchio, Joe Henry

Hey Love, I hear you calling me
Your song brings life’s mysteries
Asleep in your arms
floating like a dove
Heavens holding me

Your words are all that speak to me
The sweetest poem words could ever bring
Out of Winter’s cold
comes the spring
Heaven’s Holding me

Love, are we ready for this day
Should it come and find us
Asking that we say farewell
Are you leaving now my dear
Even as I leave you
Taking my heart, and it’s song now
As you do


River of Love

Written by: Joseph Henry Burnett III

There's a river of love that runs through all time
But there's a river of grief that floods through our lives
It starts when a heart is broken in two
By the thief of belief in anything that's true
But there's a river of love that runs through all time

There's a river of love that runs through all time
But there's a river of tears that flows through our eyes
We fight through the night for freedom as it fades
Into a jail where we fail every time we make a break
But there's a river of love that runs through all time

I had to run before I knew how to crawl
The first step was hard
But I have had trouble with them all
But now the night grows darker
And the day grows dim
Cause I know I never will see you again
And I almost made you happy

There's a river of love that runs through all time
But there's a river of fire that burns with no light
The flame is the pain of dreams gone up in smoke
From the lies we deny and breathe until we choke
There's a river of love that runs through all time


Gloryland

Traditional (arr. by Levon Helm, Amy Helm)

If you have friends in Gloryland
Who’ve left because of pain
Thank God up there
They’ll die no more
They’ll suffer not again

So weep not friends
I’m going home
Up there we’ll die no more
No coffins will be made up there
No graves on that bright shore

The doctors will
Not have to call
The undertaker knows
There’ll be no pain, up there to bear
Just walk the Streets of gold

So weep not friends
I’m going home
Up there we’ll die no more
No coffins will be made up there
No graves on that bright shore