COUNTIN’ CLOUDS
words & music by Beth Williams

I thought I’d be further than this by now
What good is growing older when you’re feelin’ like a child?
Was that a ship blowin outta here, & where is that damn train?
Seems I’ve waited all my life for a ride & when it finally came
I was countin clouds & lookin up ahead for rain…
countin clouds & lookin up ahead for rain.

CHORUS
I miss that train…I miss than train…I miss that train….when it came
I was Countin Clouds & lookin up ahead for rain
Countin Clouds & lookin up ahead for rain

My friend John said he never had a dream come true
He hasn’t even seen a train passing through
He’s given up on ever getting up to where the eagles live & die
Me, I’m on the track, arms wide open, like a bird I’m ready to fly
No more countin clouds & lookin up ahead for rain
Countin clouds & lookin up ahead for rain

LITTLE THINGS YOU DO
words & music by Beth Williams

I‘m gonna be a famous boxer, little Bobby said to his teacher
I’m gonna fight in a ring, be like a king on TV
They’ll put my picture in the paper, wearing a shiny medal
I’ll be somebody special, just you wait & see

The teacher said “Lil’ things you do…will bring peace of mind to you…. the lil things you do”

Now Bobby’s all grown up, working at a homeless shelter
He spends most his time, giving his time away
Bobby doesn’t realize now he’s a boxer
In the ring, fighting poverty everyday

Lil’ things you do…will bring peace of mind to you..the lil’ things you do

Becky said when I grow up..I’m gonna be a singer
I’ll make people smile, while I play guitar
I’ll be rich & I’ll be famous, people will know my name
I’ll have everything I want, someday I’m gonna be a star

The teacher said “Lil’ things you do..will bring peace of mind to you..the lil’ things you do”

Now Becky’s thirty five, she works at a retirement center
after she hands out juice, she pulls out her guitar
With the old folks clapping their hands & singing with her
Becky doesn’t know, she’s shining like a star

Lil’ things you do..will bring peace of mind to you..the lil’ things you do

BRIDGE
Becky & Bobby have a little girl, she turned seven yesterday
At her birthday party they overheard “I’ll be a famous actress someday”…

I heard somebody say…”Lil’ things you do will bring peace of mind to you..the lil things you do

 

QUITAQUE   
words & music by Beth Williams & Laird Palmer

(D) She’s servin’ up ribs on a (G) Saturday night
A (A) baby on the way, no re- (D) lief in sight
People (G) pullin off hot rolls as she walks around with a (A) pan
(D) Three drunk vaquero in the (G) back of the room
singing (A) nothing for the poor man, (D) it’s a full moon
(G) feeling forsaken, left facing life with no (A) plan

(G) Quitaque, I (A) heard her say, (D) gotta find a way to (G) get away
from(D) Roys Cafe in (A) Quitaque
(G) Quitaque, I (A) heard her say, (D) gotta find a way to (G) get away
from (D) Roys Cafe (A)  in Quati- (D) que  (G)  (D)

(D) Standing room only at (G) quarter till eight
there’s (A) truckers, a church group, and (D) couples on dates
she’s(G) keeping an eye on them, and one on the (A) door
(D)Picking up beer cans, (G) hiding a frown
her (A) back is aching, she (D) wants to sit down
the (G) cook hollers “order!”, she picks up fajitas for (A) four

CHORUS
(D) Somebody asks what’s the (G) damage tonight
She says (A)“Tell the cashier what you (D) had and she’ll write
you a (G) ticket.. go through the kitchen, she’s right over (A) there”
(D) A one armed man (G) leaves her a ten
Roy’s (A) waving & saying come (D) see us again
(G) She’s looking round at the cigarette smoke in the (A)air

BRIDGE
But (Bm) tonight just might (C) be the night
the (D) tips will be (G) enough to get her (A) out of here
 (Bm) Tonight the South Plains (C) just might smell
(D)  burning rubber, (G) heartache leaving (A) doubt & fear

 

HE KISSED HER PICTURE
words & music by Beth Williams

Ronnie is fifty, or maybe he’s five depends on who you’re talking to
Lives in a home on the outskirts of town
where dreamers believe dreams come true
He strums his guitar so sweetly, and though the strings were not in tune
He was playing for the love of his life….the girl who hung the moon

CHORUS
Then he kissed her picture…said “my mother – I miss her”
Then he kissed her picture….said “someday I be with her”
Soft as angels whisper…he kissed her picture

Ronnie has good friends he’s made through the years
In that special home on the hill
As children they play at being grown up all day
though they never hide how they feel
At night come the quiet shadows down the hall looking in each room
And there by his bed in a frame – the girl who hung the moon chorus

CHORUS
Then he kissed her picture… said “my mother – I miss her”
Then he kissed her picture…. said “someday I be with her”
Soft as angels whisper… he kissed her picture

Ronnie is fifty, or maybe he’s five ….he might be a hundred & two
A vision of wisdom, the face of a fool  depends on who you’re talking to

He believes love is forever & nothings gonna change his mind (change his mind) 
he thinks the girl in the frame isn’t gone…..he’s just a step behind

 

BEFORE THE FIRST RING
Songwriter-  Beth Williams

Don’t you feel her dialing your number?
Can’t you hear her calling your name?
Don’t you feel her dialing your number
and hanging up before the first ring …before the first ring

You always knew what she was thinking love can be that strong
A golden ship forever sinking beneath waves of song
You always knew what she was feeling behind shaded eyes
Until a shaman gave you healing along with wings to fly

Don’t you feel her dialing your number?
Can’t you hear her calling your name?
Don’t you feel her dialing your number
and hanging up before the first ring …before the first ring

There was a time you stood waiting right outside her door
High winds saw your footsteps fade into a shell on shore
There was a time you swore wild horses would not have a say
Funny then how quiet voices carried you away bridge

Time won’t give back what it takes.  Oh what can she do?
But shadow dance with memories of madness, wine & you

 

I SIT & RIDE
words & music by Beth Williams

I have a dream, where I’m riding on a fast train all night
looking out the window at the bright lights passing by
Sometimes I’m alone, and sometimes there’s someone beside me
Maybe a spirit there to guide me, I don’t know

CHORUS
I just sit & ride.. all night  I just sit & ride.. all night… I just sit & ride

And on that train, there is no final destination
no fear or hesitation within my heart
The wheels go round & round, with a fiery determination
past houses, hills & shadows in the dark

CHORUS
I just sit & ride.. all night  I just sit & ride.. all night… I just sit & ride

BRIDGE
Sometimes I wake up & find I’m bound to this bed
I wonder what I’m doing here,
I’d rather be back on that train instead
be back on that train instead

CHORUS
I just sit & ride.. all night  I just sit & ride.. all night… I just sit & ride

 

SAM WILL BE HERE SOON
words & music by Beth Williams

She looks from her watch to the loud ticking clock
then at the pink stick em note on the calendar in her hand
Retama park it says, in big bold black letters
six P.M, May ten, and it’s signed sam
Though it’s barely two , she says ” I can’t leave this room.
There’s so much to do & Sam, Sam will be here soon

In a pastel of colors, hair neatly brushed
ready & waiting, cool breeze on the dust
She moves from the window, to the open door
then back to the same stare in the same spot once more
Not glancing at the row on strangers hanging in her room
moves back to the door cause Sam, Sam will be here soon
(Sam will be here, Sam will be here, Sam will be here soon)

CHORUS
She doesn’t know what year it is
Where that woman in the mirror lives
She only knows Sam will be here soon
(Sam. will be here, Sam. will be here, Sam. will be here soon)

In a garden of flowers, beyond the windowsill
honeybees suckle until they get their fill
A thousand times over, the window to the door
she glides like a skater, cross the hardwood floor
No one passing by can tell you why she stays in her room
singing oh so softly “Sam….Sam will be here soon”
(Sam. will be here, Sam. will be here, Sam. will be here soon

MY BABY DON’T DANCE
words & music by Beth Williams

He don’t go to church and he don’t dance
He don’t much like to socialize
Rather swing in the hammock on the porch at the ranch
While the moons climbing in my eyes

CHORUS
My baby don’t dance . . . oooh
My baby don’t dance. . . oooh
My baby don’t dance. . .
He loves me but my baby don’t dance

He’s a little like leather, he’s a little bit tough
He’s a whole lot like John Wayne
Show him a saddle, he’ll show you his stuff
Doing the cowboy rock with those reins

CHORUS
My baby don’t dance . . . oooh
My baby don’t dance. . . oooh
My baby don’t dance. . .
He loves me but my baby don’t dance

BRIDGE
All this talk about men who do and don’t like to dance and dance and dance
I got one who don’t but sure do have rhythm when it comes to romance

 

SEND THE RAIN – A Prayer
words & music by Beth Williams

The crops are in the field Lord, under your Son
In the stillness I have labored, to get my work done

Oooooh….Send the rain….ooooh…Send the rain

I pull my hat down to shade my eyes, I watch & wait
for the burning air to disappear, and the sky to break

Oooooh….Send the rain….ooooh…Send the rain

Bridge

Oh this drought makes me weary, time leaves me less wise
Oh this drought makes me weary, look down you’ll still see my eyes

Though the night falls, no relief at all, my hope remains
In the shadow of the hand that holds cool, cool rain

Oooooh….Send the rain….ooooh…Send the rain

GET UP & MOVE AROUND    Click here for CHORDS
words & music by Beth Williams

Sometimes you gotta put one foot in front of the other
and take one step right after another
When it’s all you can do to just count one & two
ya gotta put one foot in front of the other

CHORUS
Don’t just sit there, get up & move around
Don’t just sit there, get up & go downtown
Don’t just sit there, don’t sit there, you just sit there
Get up & move around

All alone in your sorrow, every night & day
with no hope for tomorrow, and no prayer left to pray
Yeah, I know there’s a heart achin’, breakin’ right in two
But there’s only so much healing time can do
the rest is a test, – its up to you

CHORUS
Don’t just sit there, get up & move around
Don’t just sit there, get up & go downtown
Don’t just sit there, don’t sit there, you just sit there
Get up & move around

That dark cloud of loneliness won’t up & disappear
with you in front of that TV, heels dug into fear
Those four walls are closing in on your worried mind
watch out they’ll leave you – deaf, dumb & blind
I’m beggin you beggin you, while there’s still time

ONE EMPTY CHAIR –   
words & music by Beth Williams

I’m gonna sing on the Opry before my life is through
It’s something me & momma dreamed I would do
The house will be packed, but for one empty chair
It really won’t be empty, momma said she’d be there

CHORUS
They’ll be one empty chair on the front row that night
reserved seating & a single red rose
They’ll be one empty chair on the front row that night
reserved seating for Heaven’s most beautiful rose

They’ll be laughing & singing, fiddles & guitar
Daddy will be smiling at the big country stars
As I walk on the stage, tears will fall from his eyes
for the wife of 40 years isn’t there by his side

CHORUS
They’ll be one empty chair on the front row that night
reserved seating & a single red rose
They’ll be one empty chair on the front row that night
reserved seating for Heaven’s most beautiful rose

BRIDGE
Oh she’ll be happy in Heaven that night,
and telling everybody she meets
How she saw me on the Opry & with love shining bright
from the front row, she held a rose out to me