One Empty Chair

Written By: Beth Williams Music

In 1997, Williams self-produced & released One Empty Chair, which was recorded at Willie Nelsons ARLYN studios.  Beth’s second all original CD charted in Gavin & European charts, solidifying Beth’s place in the Texas music scene. Having been taking her music ministry, “Songs for Seniors – Keeping Time with Beth” to nursing homes and hospitals since 1990, many of the songs from One Empty Chair were written out of her experiences in these facilities.

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

A word from Beth about Countin’ Clouds: Countin’ clouds and looking up ahead for rain” is about having unrealistic expectations of ourselves, missed opportunities, and finally resolving to be positive and fly. The “clouds” are all the things that MIGHT go wrong, and “looking for rain” has to do with believing it DEFINITELY will rain on the parade. The “train” is missed opportunities because we were too busy looking for and thinking about all the bad things that were going to happen.  Sometimes we deliberately manufacture misery in our lives because we don’t think we deserve good things.  God says we do. I know there are times when I’ve sabotaged the good God has planned for me by my negative attitudes & actions?  Have you ever done that?  Today, I try to do my best to get out of the drivers seat & trust that God has a plan for my life. Remember, if you’re countin’ clouds and looking up ahead for rain, you might not see that train of opportunity coming by. Gotta stay on track….don’t miss that train…“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7a

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Lil’ 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

CHORUS: 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    Chorus

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  Chorus

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  Chorus

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

A word from Beth about Little Things You DoAfter years of working in nursing homes & hospitals, seeing the kindness of Activity Directors, Staff & Volunteers, I realized the little things we do for others and the love & kindness we give matters the most in this life.  I sometimes forget and get caught back up in “Me, Me, Me”,  so each time I sing this song, I’m reminded that it’s not about me.  Incidentally, when I wrote this song, the “Teacher” I was singing about is Jesus.  A new commandment I give you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  John 13:34

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QUITAQUE          
words & music by Beth Williams & Laird Palmer 

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

Quitaque, I heard her say, gotta find a way to get away
from Roys Cafe in Quitaque
Quitaque, I heard her say, gotta find a way to get away
from Roys Cafe in Quatique

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

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

A word from Beth about Quitique, “Quitaque (kit-ta-kway) is one of the most mispronounced cities in the USA” : Just a fun, two step tune I co-wrote with my husband describing what happened when we had dinner at a small town restaurant in North Texas.   Quitaque, Texas, Pop.  432!!This song is the theme song for the Quitaque, Texas Chamber of Commerce!! 

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GET UP & MOVE AROUND
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 damn 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

 

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BEFORE THE FIRST RING
words & music by 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