produced by mark dann and rod macdonald at www.markdannrecording.com
rod macdonald/guitar, vocal, harmonica
mark dann/bass, electric guitar
bill meredith/drums, percussion
george goehring/piano on “true to the blues”
piano recorded by bernie shanahan
ella and alena macdonald/vocals on “bellybutton song”
nicole macdonald/love and inspiration 

photos ©2011 rod macdonald
all words and music by rod macdonald, ©2011 blue flute music/ascap
except “true to the blues” by george goehring, jerry grant, and rod macdonald
©2011 blue flute music/ascap
and “bellybutton song” by rod macdonald, alena macdonald, and ella macdonald
©2011 blue flute music/ascap






song lyrics        



springtime in america
 

after a long hard winter
when every woman, child and man
seemed caught up in a darkness
no child should have to understand
we set out on the highway
where we’d never gone before
everybody was welcome
everyone was hoping for

springtime in america
something new under the sun
a moment to remember
in the hearts of everyone

you know the journey won’t be easy
nothing good can come too fast
there’ll be those who stand against us
they’re clinging on to the past
they’re afraid they’ll lose their privilege
they’ll be praying that we fall
ah, but if we only stand together
you know they just can’t stop us all

see the seasons turning
see the harvest grow so tall
may nobody have to go without
when the leaves begin to fall

we’re going to sing a song for freedom
one for equality
one for abraham and john and bobby
and all those who died so others could be free
we’ll sing one for dr king
what if he’d only lived to see
the far side of the mountain
where he always longed to be

springtime in america
something new under the sun
tell your children you were there then
in the hearts of everyone
when you were two

who can remember the very first time

you crawled on the carpet or hummed a line
back when you were one year old
who can remember their own first birthday
waiting all year for your second birthday
back when you were two years old

hey look at you, you’re already three
you’re growing up faster than me
oh, that’s the story i’ve been told
with everything you know how to do
i wonder if even you
can remember when you were two years old

what’s the first memory
your mind’s eye can see
a windy day a winding street
you step in from the cold
was it a word was it a kiss
or just someone you miss
or that you had a sister to hold

hey look at you already three
i wonder what your memories
will be when you’re as old as me
i can’t remember for myself it’s true
but i won’t forget knowing you
back when you were two years old

hey look at you already three
in a world only you can see
with lions and tigers and bears with eyes of gold
with everything you know how to do
i wonder if even you
can remember when you were two years old
google me baby

google me baby
google me all night long
i want you to google me baby
til my back aint got no bone

i could change the world
i got to do my laundry first
'fore i can change the world
you know i got to change my shirt

i got a bird that can whistle
i got a bird that can sing (2x)
if you won’t google me baby
it don’t mean a thing
one good song

if I could I’d like to write one good song for you
one good song for you to sing whenever you feel blue
when the world lets you down or tries to blow itself up
if I could write that song, that would be enough

if i could i’d like to sing a word to you so kind
a word so kind it would always bring you peace of mind
a light out in the world, some peace instead of war
that’s the kind of song you’d be looking for

i’d say love is the answer
love is the power
here is the place
now is the hour
let love be here with us all

if I could I’d like to sing one good song for you
one good song for you to sing whenever you feel blue
then if you ever need me, I’ll be there for you
what i’d give if I could sing one good song for you
big money

i asked a friend of mine about this year’s election
“who you gonna vote for, who’s gonna win?”
he said “let me ask you a question: are you a gambling man?
before you lay your cards down, you want to have the winning hand
vote for big money
since you got your choice of guys
why not for the very best that
big money can buy, vote for
big money
you know he’ll keep us strong
at least until the next time bigger money comes along”

i said to my friend “don’t you think it’s sad?
that’s the choice you’re making out of all the ones you had”
he said “you poor idiot, let me tell you what I’ll do
when big money wins the election there’ll be one per cent for you”

i said to my friend “now don’t you even care
who’s got the bigger tax cut or the nicer wife out there?”
he said “let ‘em sell their souls, for the future votes they owe
i just want to see who’s really rakin’ in the dough”

I love the great conventions with all the candidates
and all the private functions at 100 grand a plate
and when they get up to the great debates I love to hear them say
“this is the greatest country ever, let’s keep it that way
vote for big money”

moron radio


now there’s a brand new boss
and all the gloves are off
the attack dogs are let out of their cage
the rich want to be sure
the fearful and the poor
stay forever locked up in their rage

and all this talk of change
makes the other guys deranged
it’s amazing how they love that status quo
that’s why they all maintain
the new boss is an alien
then sit back and rake in all the dough

on moron radio
tell the people what you know
we’re countin’ on you to save our liberty
and if your facts are wrong
just make it up as you go along
and you might get promoted to moron tv

it’s a dangerous world out there
everybody has to do his share
don’t let anybody take you for a fool
little johnny 8 years young
really ought to have a gun
in case some 9 year old shoots up his school

now hitler had two legs
the new guy has two legs
do you see where i’m going with this, my friend?
hitler’s number two was joe
the new number two’s a joe
oh my god the nazis are taking over again
freedom of religion

the constitution says freedom of religion
well that’s what some think
no really it’s freedom
from religion from religion
to take you where you want to go
call it who and what you please
rain down your love on everyone
bring me to my knees

the freedom of religion

to give you something great to live for
something to believe in
something more than what you’re seeing
call it what you want
go where you want to go
shout it from the rooftops
let everybody know

freedom from religion
now there’s a different side
the freedom to believe in nothing
that it’s a non-existent ride
going nowhere, nothing in there
no real mystery goin’ on
make no excuses for it
and still be left alone

from the freedom of religion
that would require you to be
everything they believe in
instead of being free
from the freedom of religion
to tell your kids the dinosaurs
really lived 5000 years ago
‘cause that’s when the Bible says it was

the freedom of religion
to embrace the love divine
turn your attention deep inside
and let your love light shine
is the freedom of religion
the original guarantee
you can believe in a different secret
and still be free
why it’s so

the soldiers took 800 men to the edge of town
executed them on the spot, threw them in the ground
somebody video taped it all and asked the people what they thought
they didn’t believe it, said the video was fake without a doubt

‘cause no on wants to believe the people they believe in
would ever really do the things they do
their eyes, their ears, their noses, tell them they don’t want to know
and if it’s true there must be good reason why it’s so

the soldiers piled the prisoners in a human pyramid
put electrodes and a hood on, stripped them to their skins
when people saw the photographs they cried who made this hell
and made the man who legalized it all attorney general

there were two men awaiting trial for killing their wives
one was a celebrity, one was just a guy
they caught the famous actor with a towel full of blood
and a witness who said he offered him 10 grand to shut her up
they didn’t have much evidence on the regular guy
all they ever proved was he had a girlfriend on the side
everytime they asked him he denied the killing spree
they convicted him of murder, set the celebrity free

open up your world
©1982, 2011 blue flute music/ascap

you don’t have to make conversation
i know you’re here
and here is where I hope you want to be
in the cool of the evening when you
open up your world to me

you’re not gonna need a reservation
you can’t buy a ticket
to security
don’t leave me standing in the station
come on, open up your world to me
i feel like i know you
someplace i can’t describe
and i want to show you
everything i feel inside
i’m right here for you
it’s something i can’t hide
i’m so in love with you
can’t you see that i’m

confessing that you are my inspiration
i’m searching for you
in every face i see
it’s gonna be a celebration when you
open up your world to me
election night at wal-mart

it was election night at wal-mart
there was a party goin’ on
the stockboys were dancing in the aisles
singing their favority songs
over at the the checkout counter
the girls were wearing smiles
the party was just getting started
might go on a little while

all the big boys on the radio
were crying the finance blues
the economy spiraling downward
everybody had to pay his dues
but you’d never know it from the sound
of dancing high heel shoes
as i heard two young girls talking
over in aisle two

they said “for the first time in my life”
i feel like an american
not some stranger here by birth
i feel like i belong
i never thought this day would happen
i can’t believe this time would come”
it was election night at wal-mart
there was a party going on

the girls came around the corner
they saw me standing there
they both stopped talking immediately
ran a nervous hand through their hair
they didn’t know if i was listening
they didn’t know if i was one
who thought with this election
the end of the world had come

i said “girls, i heard you talking
and i believe what you say is true
you would never believe how many there are
feel just the way you do
i fell like i’ve been waiting all my life
to believe in the times to come
so come on i want to hear you celebrate
let’s get this party going”

the girls gave me a high five
they walked off with a smile
i heard them gigglin’ together as they
went on down the aisle
wiggling their hips for the stockboys
just to show ‘em a little style
the party was just getting started
might go on a little while
yeah, it was election night at wal-mart
might go on a little while
john king

my name it is john king, from liverpool i came
down to london in the spring for to make my name
for i had learned to work the silver, how to bend the blade
and i was carrying a sample of the finest i had made

i went into a shop filled with fine cutlery
and showed the man my handiwork, he just stared at me
and called for a policeman to whom he then did say
“this man’s a thief, he stole this knife, please take him away”

the judge said “son you stole that knife right up off the shelf”
says i to the judge “sir, i made that blade myself”
but i having no money, he a man of worth
he sent me to van deeman’s land, the bottom of the earth

we sailed out on the foamy sea, never to return home
with naught to do but sit below, chained, to weep and mourn
and sit in our own foulness, starving to our deaths
til we arrived in hobart town, eleven of us left

seven years was i a slave, then one day set free
and followed by a policeman who soon arrested me
from high upon his bench the judge said “you’ll be leavin’ soon”
and sent me to port arthur, that very afternoon

so choose your weapon wisely, boys
i’ll make for you a knife
you’re here in port arthur
for the rest of your natural life

port arthur prison is a place not fit for man nor beast
there’s no escape by land, by sea a man will freeze
it’s here the prisoners build the ships of his majesty’s line
to keep the king in empire, the governor in fine wine

there’s been a killing, no one knows whose hand took a life
we’re short a man to build the ships, a new prisoner arrives
here at the bottom of the world, is what my life is worth
it’s i who make the iron bars enslavin’ all the earth

so choose your weapon wisely, boys
i’ll make for you a knife
i’m here in port arthur
for the rest of my natural life
bellybutton song
©2011 rod macdonald, ella macdonald, alena macdonald
blue flute music/ascap

i’ve got a secret i can tell
i know something new
i’ve got a secret i can tell
i’m gonna tell it to you

you’ve got a bellybutton,
he’s got a bellybutton
she’s got a bellybutton too
i’ve got a bellybutton
everybody’s gotta have one
no one’s better than you

it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white
or yellow or red or blue
it doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short
or a little bitty baby in a shoe

it doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl
or a mommy or a daddy too
you can be the king of the world
or have something better to do

cinderella has a bellybutton
snow white has a bellybutton
santa has a bellybutton too
peter pan has a bellybutton
spiderman a bellybutton
no one’s better than you

dalai lama has a bellybutton
buddha had a bellybutton
jesus had a bellybutton
muhammed had a bellybutton
gandhi had a bellybutton
no one’s better than you
watching the birds

we sit together,
watching the birds
the herons, ducks, ibises, and pelicans.
yesterday we had a blue jay
and today an anhinga
dries its long black wings
in the dying afternoon

the window panes of houses across the lake
reflect a sky turning pink below the blue
and there are no stars yet,
as the sun sinks behind us
where we sit together
watching the birds

the birds of our childhoods
drift by on the breeze,
the robins, cardinals, the red-winged blackbirds
chase across forgotten fields
of soft brown cat-tails,
their shoulders hunched,
their feathers ruffling,
face first into the wind

“hey son, did i ever tell you
i was a catcher when i was sixteen
they asked me to come to Montreal
for the national bank baseball team
i thought about it all winter
finally i turned it down
i came to America
met your mother
and never did go back home”

A cooing dove interrupts the past
stepping into the silence
we hadn’t even noticed
the absence of jet aircraft
cars, trucks, and televisions,
sirens and motorcycles
and then we are back
here and now
where we sit together,
watching the birds


true to the blues
george goehring, jerry grant, rod macdonald
© 2011 blue flute music /ascap

i can’t forget the day
my baby went away
no matter how i try i seem to lose
i’m aching from the memory
faithful to my destiny
a guy who’s always true to the blues

all the world seems out of tune
my heart’s an empty room
when love is gone you sure do pay your dues
i’m tossing in my sleep at night
nothing that i do is right
the symptoms are all true to the blues

this time i thought i had found her
the only one designed to be my mate
now tonight there are other arms around her
i guess i’ve got to be resigned to my fate

now the song of love we made
is a lonesome serenade
that follows me on down the avenue
i wallk along and, pity me,
i’m happy in my misery
a guy who’s always true to the blues
just because

just because you’ve got a few stockholders holding out their hands
you think you have a right to do anything you want to public land
and you’ve lined up all the politicos, dotted all the i’s and crossed the t’s
you’ve thought of everything but one thing you must’ve overlooked is me

‘cause this is my land i own it just as much as you
and if i say we’re gonna keep it green
that’s just what we’re gonna do

just because the world is over-wired with every gadget you could buy
you think the power that we use gives you the right to rule the sky
and your smoke is drifting out over the forests just as far as you can see
you’ve got it all together but one thing you must’ve overlooked is me

‘cause this is my sky i own it just as much as you
and if i say we’re gonna keep it blue
that’s just what we’re gonna do

just because there’s oil ‘neath the waters and profits in the air
you look out on the clear blue sea, you want to drill most anywhere
and you’re fouling up the beaches and killing off a million birds and trees
you say nothing can be done but you’re never ever going to convince me

‘cause this is my sea i own it just as much as you
and if i say we’re gonna keep it clear
that’s just what we’re gonna do

just because it’s expensive to change the way you do the things you do
you want to ignore everything the things you do have brought the climate to
and it’s getting warmer everyday and still you pretend that you don’t see
you can go on like you’re doing but you’re gonna have to do it without me

‘cause this is my world i own it just as much as you
and if i say we’re gonna keep it cool
that’s just what we’re gonna do
learning to crawl

whoever thought it could be so hard
learning to crawl
specially if whenever
you try it you fall
and you only just learned
to roll over and all
whoever thought it could be so hard
learning to crawl
then you pull yourself up
and you learn to sit tall
next thing you know you’re
learning to crawl

whoever thought it could be so hard
learning to walk
you need something to hold onto
something for luck
a table, a hand,
a pink plastic truck
whoever thought it could be so hard
learning to walk
then you land on both feet
and you learn to stand up
next thing you know you’re
learning to walk

whoever thinks about
learning to talk
trying to get across your
very first thoughts
then you learn a few words
a few building blocks
next thing you know
you just can’t stop

whoever thought it could be so hard
learning to love
a baby cries ‘cause she
can’t get enough
you’d think it gets easier
it can’t be so tough
but who can you trust when
push comes to shove
and everything starts looking
like a sign from above
next thing you know you’re
learning to love

and the bigger you love
the harder you fall
next thing you know you’re
learning to crawl