SONG LYRICS
Lately
Lately I want to go
Somewhere safe, somewhere warm
Maybe I’ll find a place
Far away from the storm
Where I’ll lift my head and see
A home for you and for me
Fire’s burning, won’t you come on inside
Baby just stay by my side
Lately I’m so afraid
There’s a knock at my door
Maybe they’ll go away
But I’m not really sure
Huddled in the dark
Lost my voice, where is my mark?
Where’s my script? How do I play this part?
Baby, please tell me where I should start
When I wake up from this dream
Everything won’t be as it seems
Baby will we ever get home?
Baby will we ever get home?
Lately what can I say
That’s not been said before
Had a glimpse of paradise
Now I just gaze at the floor
Lift my head up to the stars
Place my hand across my heart
Then I pledge my allegiance to you
Baby I’m counting on you
Baby I’m counting on you
Baby I’m counting on you
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Back to Blue
We walked on Sunday morning
Through a quiet part of town
She slipped her soft hand in mine
Our lips never made a sound
Church bells were a whisper
The angels prayed for two
If only they were answered
She’d be with me now, not back to blue.
She’s sitting in a cafe
At a table just for two
She pours some tea, breathes rising steam
Her future comes into view
We suffer through the silence
The hour seems so cruel
She gazes down, a pensive frown
And I fall back, back to blue
If I could only paint a picture
Of our days that were too few
I’d put aside all the colors
Except the one that is true.
Back to blue.
Silent drape of snowflakes
Fall on Arthur Avenue
Cafes, bars, and broke down cars
Sparkle like brand new.
Footsteps lead to her door
But I’m just passing through
I don’t mind the sadness
That’s when memories find you
When shadows fall and evening calls
That’s when I get back, back to blue.
Back to blue.
© 2019 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Skin in the Game
Turned the porch light on
Sister’s coming home late
Yellin’ stopped hours ago
Momma tried settin’ her straight
Mother’s heart may be broken
No, she won’t be the same
But she gets a hold of herself
She’s got skin in the game
A ring on her finger
Took his last name
Doubts seem to linger
She feels so ashamed
The cry of her baby
Tears her apart
But she won’t walk away
She’s got skin in the game
Poppa and me
Didn’t see eye to eye
He said “Son I’m no savior.”
But that was a lie
Then he made his last wager
Lost all of his pride
He was never the same
He had skin in the game
First light of dawn
Sister climbs up the stairs
Face was all drawn
No words to say
Didn’t think she’d come home
No reason to stay
But she can’t walk away
She’s got skin in the game
No, you don’t walk away
When you got skin in the game
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Best Life
Are you hungry?
Place a napkin on your lap
Pull your chair up
It’s a banquet not a trap
Are you thirsty?
Are you thirsty for some more
Grab the bottle
Time to take another pour
Have you tried to live your best life?
You won’t know until you try
Have you tried to live your best life?
You won’t know until you try
Open wide
See the stars
And touch the sky
Keep on climbing
‘Til you reach the top
When you get there
Will you know it’s time to stop?
Will you reach down to pull me up?
Are you listening?
To the child inside your heart
She’s the answer
Now it’s time to do your part.
Now it’s time to live your best life
You can do it if you try
Now it’s time to live your best life
You can do it if you try
You can make it
If you try.
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Night Wrestling
(Savage Angels)
3:15 songs burn in my mind
World outside is turning
Feel the race, the race against time
Do I wake up now or rest my weary bones?
Night wrestling, toss and I turn
Restless angels make a slow burn
4:19 music won’t stop
See parades of angels
White coats and horses dancing to the beat
Toss off these blankets I’m burning in the heat
Night wrestling, brings me to my feet
Savage angels, they’re dancing in the street
One day
Tells its story to another
One night
Whispers little histories
Moonlight
Comes leaking through the shutters
When will I get my relief?
The sun will rise
And I’ll be there to greet it
Took another punch
Saw a glimpse of hell
But don’t count me out
I won’t be defeated
I’ll always answer the bell.
5:15 I’ve admitted defeat
No rest for the weary
No comfort, no comfort for the weak
Close my eyes, pray for the glory
One day
Tells its story to another
One night
Full of hope and mystery
Daylight
Comes leaking through my shutters
When will I get my relief?
Night wrestling
One more take down
Restless angel out for the count
Night wrestling
Savage angels dancing in the streets.
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Red Brick Road
Peter’s outside got his fishing pole
Joey’s in the Jeep and we’re ready to roll
Sun’s comin’ up and the fishin’s just fine
Two boys & their hero in the shade of a pine
But Joey’s pretty sick he’s just bidin’ his time
Bleedin’ won’t stop and the fever still climbs
Just 18 he’s scared, but he’s brave
But damn if he didn’t make an early grave
Oh so young to carry
Such a heavy load
Like losing your best friend
Growin’ up on the Red Brick Road
Daddy got angry didn’t need no drink
A fire raged in his head never stopped to think
Pedal to the metal he was out of his mind
Left fear in his wake and our family behind
Momma put on a pretty good face
Picture of beauty, a picture of grace
She did a good job held ‘em under her spell
Never shared a glimpse of her personal hell
Way too young to carry
Such a heavy load
Not too late to tell our story
Growin’ up on the Red Brick Road
They say it’s better to have loved and lost
Than never loved at all
But it hurts so much to say goodbye
All I want to do is cry
Alice & Annie, Sammy, Peter & Sal
We were the best of friends we were the best of pals
Playin’ in the streets ‘til the sun faded out
Kings of kickball there was never a doubt
Nights on the streets just hanging around
Nicky’s Corvette made such a beautiful sound
Every word that was spoken is etched in my brain
Those were nights to remember and forget all the pain
We were oh so young to carry
Such a heavy load
Not too late to tell our story
Growin’ up on the Red Brick Road
© 2017 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Mercy & Love
Dark night has fallen / Came without warning
Fear, misery and pain / Sing a slow sad refrain
But there’s a light in the darkness / What was lost can be found
Where the hungry, sick and helpless / Dress in silk robes and a crown
Mercy and Love / Like heaven above
Now’s the time for us to give / Mercy and love
So much for meritocracy / Sick of hypocrisy
Wisdom comes served / In a slice of humble pie
But there’s heroes at the gate / They can’t be ignored
We got truth on our side / We got strength in our swords
Mercy and Love / Like heaven above
Now’s the time for us to give / Mercy & Love
Mercy and Love / Gift from above
Now’s the time for us to give / Mercy & Love
Well who are the heroes? / They seek not fortune nor fame
They’re right here among us / We can change the rules of the game
For the sake of our children / Let’s make a change
We all search for meaning / In a world full of madness
Can’t hold all the sadness / Our hearts ripped apart
Mercy and love / Like heaven above
Now’s the time for us to give / mercy and love
Mercy & love / Can’t get enough of
Now’s the time for us to give / mercy and love
Mercy and Love / A gift from above
Now the time for us to give / Mercy & Love
Now’s the time for us to give
Mercy and love.
It’s the time for us to give
Mercy and love.
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Never the Same
She only says
What she wants you to know
You’ve got a secret
You want to let go
Let it go.
Let It go.
Where have you come from
What do you know?
Where are the scars
You won’t ever show?
Never show.
Never show.
One thing’s for certain
We all make mistakes
It’s how you recover
Bounce back from bad breaks
I’ll be your witness
Won’t tell any lies
Sat through the preview
Wasn’t much of a show
Here comes the feature
Now it’s time to let go.
I’ll be your witness
You be my spy
I’ll tell my secrets
You’ll ask me why.
Ask me why.
Ask me why.
We all make mistakes
That’s just part of the game
It’s how you recover
Emerge from the flames
One thing’s for certain
You’re never the same.
Never the same
Never the same
Never the same
You’re never the same
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
New Moon
Tide is rising again
No question of if, only when
Flooding water
Knows no end
Tide is rising again
Ocean swells in my heart
New moon rise, seas may part
Harbor bells
Hear them ring
Ocean swells, hear it sing
Moon rise, High tides
Rushing water swept away
Cleansing waters come again
Rising water knows no end
Tide is rising again
No question of if only when
Flooding water
Knows no end
Tide is rising again
Midnight, Moonlight
Ghosts in your eyes
Tides will wash them away
Cleansing waters come again
Flooding water knows no end
No question of if, only when.
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito
Stars in Your Eyes
Shaved down the pencil
Pressed lead to the page
Useless words written
Never see light of day
I’ve got stars in my eyes
I’ve got stars in my eyes
Sleight of the hand
Flick of the wrist
You suspend disbelief
It’s not much of a trick
You’ve got stars in your eyes
You’ve got stars in your eyes
Just for a moment
Let me take my place among the stars
Just for tonight
Right where we are
Glare of the footlight
Cue from the wings
She steps up to the mic
She cries as she sings
She’s got stars in her eyes
She’s got stars in her eyes
We’ve got stars in our eyes
© 2018 Mark Daniel Ippolito