Don't Screw it Up

Chorus

Don't screw it up, again

You have the right plan 

just take her by the hand

And don't screw it up again

That night at the bar

I knew you were a star

From the way you walked in 

to the dimple on your chin

My heart did flutter

To find words that mattered

Chorus

We ain't 21 anymore

You're looking good at 34

We are both on our second try, 

No need to ask why

Let's make our own lovers tale 

I'll get you another pale ale

Chorus

Those nights you need a friend

Just to make the silence end

I'm a little bruised and dent

From the years I've spent

But let me open the door

There's so much life in store

by Dave Schipper (c) 2017 Rose Riversongs

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Simple Roots rethought.

Rethought to an Irish beat

Am                        G
She drew back her bow, and called out the key
F                   G       Am
A melody true and a tune in G,
Am            G
One by one, they each had a say
F         g      Am
Great start …..to the day.
F              g      Am
Great start …..to the day.
  Dm                       Am
With Pete taking pics of this motely crew
  G                  F       G    Am 
A cast of friends shared a fine brew
             F       G    Am
 they shared a fine brew

chorus
Dm                                G         
Here's to the roots and simple they be
F                  G         Am
Here's to the folks, who gather to see.
Dm                                  G          
Here's to the time, we share as friends† 
  Dm           G           Am
Noon time Sunday morning
   Dm              G      Am      F G Am
Noon time Sunday morning

Am                   G
There in the crowd, beside beer and crepes
F                   G       Am
Sat a young soul, his heart to take
Am                              G
She drew back her bow, and just let it ring
F           g      Am
She played  ..   his heartstrings
F               g      Am
She played  ..   his heartstrings
  Dm                       Am
After the show, he bought her a beer
  G                                        F     G  Am 
Told some stories and he laughed with her
            F    G     Am
he laughed with her

Chorus instrumental Chorus and OUT... And here is what it sounds like:

Simple Roots

She drew back her bow, and called out the key

A melody true and they joined slowly

One by one, they each had a say

Just a waltz in G, a great start to the day.

Here’s to the roots and simple they be

Here’s the folks, who gather to see.

Here’s the time, hope it never ends.

Here’s to love, we share as friends 

With Pete on the pics and joy in the air

A cast of friends searched for a chair

Students huddled doing homework

To live music is oh such a perk

There in the crowd, beside beer and crepes

Sat a young soul, his heart for the take

She drew back her bow, and just let it ring

Not knowing she played his heartstrings

After the show, he hung around

Nursing an ale, a downtown brown

He shook Tom's hand, and got to meet her

They talked for an hour; left strangers no more.

Dave Schipper (c) 2017 Rose Riversongs

Tell me a story

It was a moment in time to share

A couple of good friends and some ale

To be sure an innocuous affair

But Friday’s child is an old wives tale

There was nothing rehearsed in that moment

Just a relaxed conversation flowing

One memory linked to the last word spoken

A few laughs and they kept going.

Out of the blue

Tell me a story

And hook me in

One tried and true

You’d never bore me

Just tell me again

She looked over her glasses with a smile

The green devilness shown through

Ok a "Did you know" moment old style

My mind blown with that voodoo

Out of the blue

She told a story

And hooked me in

Not tried and true

No way bored me

Just tell me again

A pause and an awkward silence

The proverbial fork in the road again

The right words chosen for balance

And the story was taken to the end.

-->

By Dave Schipper © 2017 Rose Riversongs

In my own skin

in my own skin

i wonder in no more

i take what’s in store

and greet them at the door.

in my own skin

My world is at peace

I love you just the least

The past has been released

yes I’ve taken back 

the room we’ve shared for years

the picture we bought 

is back to bring me cheer

All memories put to bed

Just a layer that I shed

Now it can be said

I’ve got it right in my head.

in my own skin

I can look in the mirror

And not cringe in terror

My perspective is much clearer

In my own skin

I see my future place

In my little child’s face

As they are set for the race

yes I’ve taken back 

the space that brought me down

it’s mine now for good 

Filled with friend all around

All memories put to bed

Just a layer that I shed

Now it can be said

I’ve got it right in my head.

in my own skin

i wonder in no more

i take what’s in store

and greet them at the door.

(c) 2017 Dave Schipper Rose Riversongs

If you would like to hear the melody that this was written to originally, CLICK Here.

the gig

She joined the clutter of stage

Confident, curious, charming

Peering around the crowd to gauge

If anyone would be too alarming

Just a safe crowd

Not proud or loud

There in the quarter inch cords & plugs

Last night’s lost picks and busted strings

Then surprise a too quick friend hug

Focus again and sound guy is just a ding

Just a ding ling

A ling a ling

Some people came for the music

Some just to have a few new beers 

Others smell of too much prozac

A few shots and they dance and cheer

Let’s get it on

And on and on.

So breaks comes around, sigh and smile

Sweaty and tired with adrenaline rush

Grab a beer, hide for just awhile

Then he comes up with a cutest blush

Just a kid yep

Too flip but hip

Stammers out a hello to her

Figuring that she’d be gone in a flash

He says there’s no hyperbole

"I like you and I'm not white trash"

What a new line

A sign or shine

He said you are cute, potty break

Off she ran pondering him in the noise

Wandered back for goodness sake

Instrument in hand finding my voice

Looked up no boy

No corduroy joy

The night closes like normally does

Teardown, friends, a beer relaxer

The quiet in the car rare because

He weaves into the song mixer

The solo crowd

Not proud or loud

by Dave Schipper (c) 2017 Rose Riversongs 
dedicated to Jessie, Natalie, Jillian, & Sara

St Augustine New Year's Eve

This city fits me right
Spirits alive in the night

It’s a muse by my side

In one I can confide.

How precious is a chance meeting with beauty?

Like at dusk walking the busy street 

You stopped me at your cafe with your eyes

Offered a smile and then rewarded me 

Full meal of warmth worthy of Greece

How ethereal was the view of the harbor sunset?

As photographers positioned for the right angle

Each vying for the award winning shot

I so wanted to say the Athena beauty awaits

Just down main street if you have the time.

How romantic the strokes she was drawn?

Michael and Inessa have brushed beauty

Then framed the impression of thought

A thousand fold reason I left them behind
But pondered the chance encounter that eve.

How fitting the stories weaved in history?

To partake on a traditional carriage ride

Is an event to be repeated each journey.

Your host spins stories of engagement

Love, ghost, history, evil, and laughter.

This city fits me right

Spirits alive in the night

It’s a muse by my side

In one I can confide.

by Dave Schipper (c) 2016 Rose Riversongs.

Thanks to the wonderful New Year's Eve night with my lovely wife, a host of characters, M&I Garmish paintings, and Czech beauty at a Greek restaurant.  The photos are linked to where I borrowed them from the internet.  St. Augustine's until we meet again, thank you for being a muse to me.

Letting Go

Letting go is hard, so I refuse

Instead I hold on, and choose

To keep in a pocket all day

The chance I’ll have time to replay

A memory that is so near

That sharing it I would fear

To upset the people around

And others it would astound.

So I will not let go for a while

The memory picture of your smile

The sound of your voice

Yes it’s a personal choice.

By Dave Schipper © 2014 Rose Riversongs

Just another...

He’s sitting alone in the coffee shop

            Laptop open blank stare on his face

Waitin’ for the night’s entrée

            Fall salad with a slice of disgrace

He hadn’t fallen, he never got on top

She hadn’t stolen, the heart she dropped

Just another case of love at the coffee shop

She sighs a smile as they make up their mind

            Her thoughts a mere table away

Silently he sits staring into space

            His midnight eyes never stray

She hasn’t fallen, she rarely gets up

He hasn’t broken, the fumbled cup

Just another case of love at the coffee shop

The door opens in this crowded café

            Both look up from their spots

Another story line enters the room

            Bringing answers, or maybe not.

They haven’t fallen, just playing their parts.

No love stolen, and no broken hearts

Just a lost case of love at the coffee shop

By Dave Schipper © 2014 Rose Riversongs

Angel of David

The Angel of David does just exists in his mind.
She takes many forms but always easily kind

She wraps him in tinder silently waits for the spark

Her long hair flowing and eyes so mysteriously dark

She looks so entitled, but it does not relate to her past.

She scorns all the trends and stick with style that lasts.

So remarkably holy yet she never attempts to deploy.

Her soul touch your eyes and you’re just left to comply

The Angel of David is not given to fly

Nor is she is seen from on high

Oh my this Angel whispers light

Her hair disappearing in the night

The Angel of David sings her psalm

A heart’s lament bringing calm

She comes to visit and talk you down from dreaded sorrow

With words that simmer inside and warm you thru tomorrow

An angel of mercy, grace and passion, please hear her sing

Be with her now in silence, and love long until the morning.

By Dave Schipper © 2014 Rose Riversongs

Black eyes

When you come to me with those black eyes

You hide the meaning with your sweet smile.

You talk of the future with the green fields

But I sit pummeled by the power that you yield.

Twisted branches trees entwined

Never meant to be side by side

Sprouts of life choked with a vine

Awaits the gardener to divide.

Words are math to the market fool

You slip and slide between obscure and real

Then a reset for a calculated change

So I step into a world pre-arranged.

Twisted branches trees entwined

Never meant to be side by side

Sprouts injected with seeds of life

Awaits the gardener to make thrive.

The blackest of night falls on this eve

The smile is hidden from all to see

No talk of the future or green fields to be

Yes, the north wind chills the leaves of green.

Twisted branches trees entwined

Never meant to be side by side

Sprouts of life choked with a vine

Awaits the gardener to divide.

©  2014 Rose Riversongs  by Dave Schipper

A poet's encounter

It was fate that we chance to meet

A poet in a business suit

A young reporter on her beat

The story was told before

Though each year it’s played fresh

A new face to find out what’s in store

You came in with a flash of a smile

And quickly I could tell you were in charge

Angles, storylines, characters in your style

To look at her was like a gene pool mirror

Stature, dark hair and Lady Mary eyes

I didn’t mind the hard task of standing nearer.

So refreshing with someone young and smart

To find have some nerdy connections

And the conversations were so easy to start.

Time always needs to end and to be honest,

Never usually to be seen again.

This time, an offer of a “follow” promised.

And there it was.

Thanks

By  Dave Schipper

© 2014 Rose Riversongs.

Lady Rose, an English flower

From the start the dainty brown eye’d belle

Swayed her blonde mane with confidence

Alerting the room, and casting her spell

She hid no pretense of her Mum’s ire

The floor was her stage to fill with love

She surveyed the room to focus her desire

This Lady Rose is our English flower

This Lady Rose can sweeten any sour

This Lady Rose is bud to hold

But if you can, it would be passion untold.

With luck, twas I who drew her peer

She approached with a bounce of delight

As I quickly melted when she drew near

This Lady Rose was fine with no façade

Each breath and word spoken honest

That moment, felt as if it was an act of God.

This Lady Rose is our English flower

This Lady Rose can sweeten any sour

This Lady Rose is bud to hold

But if you can, it would be passion untold.

As a petal flutters in the wind, Rose left

There was no display, no reason given

Her life was too large for any bereft

She came into my heart and pumped life

And that spirit did not leave with her

Real compassion in each day now is rife.

This Lady Rose is our English flower

This Lady Rose can sweeten any sour

This Lady Rose was tender to hold

And I did it with passion untold.

© 2014 Rose Riversongs  by Dave Schipper

Photo credits A & B

This is the first melody for Lady Rose.