Some come...

Some come to hear a certain voice
Some spouse had no choice
Others come because of the time before
And only imagine what’s in store

Sit back have a listen
And leave knowing a new friend
With maybe a story to tell
To someone who says,
What the hell?

Yep a house concert!

by Dave Schipper
(c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Life's layers

Today I pulled back one of life’s layers

Painfully pulled the crosshairs of my pride

Whispers of an unanswered prayer

Guilty pleasure left inside


I pause and thank God for Grace

And find myself being humble

With a sense of peace at this place

Until the next time I stumble

By Dave Schipper © 2018 Rose Riversongs

Image Source: 

Good Morning

Good morning coffee 

Hello news 

What do you have to offer

That won’t make me blue?

Good morning Facebook 

Hello timeline

I’ll take a quick look

To see if you’re fine

Good morning commute

Hello white lines

Alone and mute 

To which is perfectly fine

Good morning thoughts

Hello prayers 

To all things sought

In life’s layers

Good morning cold

Hello drizzly rain

Yes I’m feeling old

But free of pain

Good morning Mr. Officer

So what did I do?

I didn’t think I was faster

Than any average Joe

Good morning train

Hello Mankato

You’re such a royal pain

I have places to go

Good morning 

To all.

By Dave Schipper © 2018 Rose Riversongs

Sconnie Girl

You are one smart woman

You wear freckles as your tan

Like stone beads over pearls

You are my Sconnie girl

When it comes to cheese

You say a little extra please

You won’t wear it as a bra or hat

But see nothing wrong with that

You never worry about the cold

Cause you have a new hat to show

When the last blizzard came

You said "rather snow than hurricane."

Spring means biking again

A brisk shot of cold wind

You live here for a reason

Just love the change of seasons

You prefer Brown to an IPA

Goes down easy on a summers day

Just sit back and watch the river go bye

And listen to some good music live

You know fall will bring football

Badgers and Packers and all

Still you will find time to ride

50 and sunny no time to hide inside

You are one smart woman

You wear freckles as your tan

Like stone beads over pearls

You are my Sconnie girl

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

Lowlands

Going past the lines of trees in the low lands

Single thought comes across my mind

It was the day we gently held hands 

With no word or meaning to find

The crunch of snow in blue sky morning

We laughed at whatever each said

Then by noon with each of us leaving

A farewell kiss put this love to bed

A woodland dream

A lake of steam

The silent answer

A field of corn

A love forlorn

The hidden cancer

And in the end

You were my friend

The pretty dancer

In the long lines of trees in the low lands

My soul refreshed with memories

It was as if I could feel your hands 

I never thanked you for the stories.

by Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs.

Silenced voice

The voices have not been silenced

Words written down, composed to song

Now they talk to me 41 years later

Strum your guitar, tell your story.

There is only one choice.

Harry, rest in peace. 

Thank you again.

by Dave Schipper

(c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

The Question

Who is the answer when there is no question?

Is there a climax when no leading action?

I am grateful for genetic science

And I marvel at Christ presence

I don’t dig deep into the theology

I don’t really care for biology

Wrapped in the warmth of friends

We nurture our children to new ends

Can we help our best traits linger on

In every daughter and son?

Together we must open our eyes

And see that the poison of lies

Step by step, let’s follow a path

To model love rather than attack

Yes love your neighbor as yourself

The answer to the question is good health.

Dave Schipper (c) 2018 Rose Riversongs

In the winter's cold

In the winter cold darkness fill the air

No stories told just wishing you were there

I close my eyes, and see who’s to blame

I close my eyes, and shout out my name

How stupid can I… possibly be

Strung out and high, and sitting next to me

I close my eyes, and try to a different way

I close my eyes and regret it to this day

The warmth of wool

A lesson from school

A beer to share

A voice who cared

Just lost for what

Just lost……. for what.

in the winter cold darkness fill the air

no stories told just wishing you were there

I close my eyes, and see who’s to blame

I close my eyes, and shout out my name

by Dave Schipper (c) 2017 Rose Riversongs

Angel in Disguise

We all encounter angels young and old who we need to watch over; while they grace us with their presence. This song was on my mind recently, here is the instrumental track... my voice will never do the song or the angels justice so we'll leave it hear. You’re an angel in disguise

With unusual brown eyes

You’re a child not in the fold

But a piece of heaven to hold

Your many faces change and shine

With a gentleness so kind

When passing by please hear a prayer

Let me stand and protect her

Take a stand and clear a space

Where it’s safe for her to grow

Stand in back and let her know

True love is hard too show.

You’re an angel in disguise

Beauty masking any whys

My hope to you is that a smile

Light your life’s many miles 

And if chance just stop to pray

You’re a gift from God today

If you take your wings to flight

He’ll show you brilliant in the night.

Take a stand and clear a space

Where it’s safe for her to grow

Stand in back and let her know

True love is hard too show.


 by Dave Schipper © 2005 Rose Riversongs

Graceful & Grand Mary

Here's a piece written over 5 years ago for Lady Mary and many other fair skin dark eye angels that easily cast a spell on me.  I was reminded of it as I was pitching Barry to learn the melody on his full size Irish Harp.


Graceful and grand is your beauty
Tender and soft is your white skin
I gaze into your deep dark eyes
To lose myself once again.

There but a moment when we met
You fashioned my heart
In your alchemy

Casted a spell to tear me apart.
You fashioned my heart
In your alchemy

Graceful and grand is your beauty
Tender and soft is your white skin
I gaze into your deep dark eyes
To lose myself once again.

A season must pass until we meet
You stay in my mind
Each night and day

To renew a love more replete
You stay in my mind
Each night and day

Graceful and grand is your beauty
Tender and soft is your white skin
I gaze into your deep dark eyes
To lose myself once again.

By Dave Schipper © 2012 Rose Riversongs

Lucky dog

I am a copy of my old man

One that flirts with every pretty miss

You can trust me I’m no Peter Pan

I’ll sometimes hug, but never do I kiss

Why don’t we spend some time? 

Crying about a show.

Why don’t we talk a while? 

About your favorite Bordeaux

That dress that Margret wore 

Or what veggie you will grow.

Girl you got a friend

And I really want to know.

I am lucky dog, a trait I hold dear

Just lead me for a walk, throw me a smile.

I’ll sing you up a song, not loud but clear

Maybe a Dylan tune, but always worthwhile.

So you’re in Paradise

Hallelujah my friend

So when Johnny died

Did you Cry Cry Cry

Or sat alone in blue

Just tangled up again

Which tune you’d like to hear.

Knock twice for a Dylan.

I am a copy of my old man

One that flirts with every pretty miss

You can trust me, I’m no Peter Pan

I’ll sometimes hug, but rarely do I kiss

by Dave Schipper © 2016 Rose Riversongs

I decided to make this a spoken word piece on Bones  CD by Lucky Dog.


Here was it sounded like as a song.

Come check my heart

Photo Credit
Ok.. here you can listen to the demo with you are reading:
Click here for the most recent demo.

Come check my heart, my lights are flashing,

Come check my heart, you need no warning 

Come check my heart, it's beating faster 

Come check my heart, here in the morning

Cat’s on the pillow case, and dust on my shoes,

You’re sleeping in lace, so hard to refuse,

His is lost is my gain, I’m grateful too,

I can sense your pain, I’m the one for you,

Chorus

Your cross is scarred; you take all dares,

You hold every card, in this new love affair

So hold me close, and trust in me, 

I am no ghost, in that you’ll see.

Chorus

The coffee poured, the rain begins

No points were scored, and no talk of sin

You pet the cat, and purr yourself

I’m thinking that my heart’s been dealt.

Chorus

by Dave Schipper (c) 2017 Rose Riversongs

Notes: Here's another one inspired by Dylan (think Forgetful Heart) but started in the dumbest way.  I was driving to work and heard a commercial for an auto parts and going there if your check engine light is on.  I was reaching over to turn it off for silence in the car and that message resonated.  Truly this is my alter ego and I'll have fun singing it someday with a gravely 70's edition Bob voice.  Also I thought I'd share I write safely in the car today with technology, although my voice translation is pretty hilarious.  I thought I'd share it with you.

Keep living deep in love

It’s priceless to hold your hand.
You are a precious gift of life.
You are the smile on my face.

It’s senseless to live without you.
Time or distance tries to separate,
Rhyme and sentences bring you back.

So I sit with words in black and white
Left to flesh the feelings out
Then I sit with adjectives abound
Silently I sit wanting to shout.
But I write you these dear words,
“Keep living deep in Love”

by Dave Schipper © 2010 Rose Riversongs

photo credit

Note: Thanks for making this my most viewed post, only confirms that love still runs deep.

Under her skin

My hero never let's a song sit idle... and I thought the version I was listening to, just had too many words, and the song lacked feeling.  Slowed it down, and tweaked the key and melody I have demo of the second take of the song here:  CLICK HERE to Hear. The demo is played in these chords but capo 2.

Here's the rewrite:

E           F#m              G#m                      E

One by one the cars gathered ‘round the house 

E       F#m       G#m           E

Each leaving a space to get out

A            B                  C#m

A final  hug for each pair

      B                  A              E

That day she had friends to spare 

       B                    C#m

And no one would dare 

B   |   |             A

Bring him up again 

pause  A         B    E

And get under her skin 

Go goodbye is no love affair
Yet friends can have fill the air 

She'll be off to Nashville
Her daughter at Vanderbilt
Now how to pay the bill
She’ll trust in
What's under her skin 

As the last hug went goodbye
She looked at her phone and said why 

Just silence on his end
No good luck or opinion
Will she see him again?
She let him in
Right under her skin 

She lit the candle one last time
And sat down with a glass of wine

 A toast to independence
To taking on the next dance
With a prayer and a chance
And all the talent
Right under your skin 

She goes to the Bluebird tonight 

Waits until the moment is right
She’ld play them under the table 

When she's willing and able 

She’ll be on the playbill 

Very confident in 

What's under her skin 

Some say the most dangerous play

 Is to sit tight and play it safe
She flashed her famous smile
Loving her new lifestyle 

His 1st text in a while 

Yep she’s cookin’ 

Just under her skin. 

By Dave Schipper © 2017 Rose Riversongs 

The version on bandcamp link below:

One by one the cars gathered ‘round the house

Each leaving a space for them to get out

Handshakes and hugs were shared

That day she had friends to spare

And no one would dare

Bring him up again

And get under her skin

Saying goodbye is not a happy affair

But friends always have laughter in the air

She'll be off to Nashville

Her daughter at Vanderbilt

Now how to pay the bill

She'll trust in

What's under her skin

As the last one left with a hug goodbye

She looked at her phone and wondered why

There was silence on his end

No good luck or opinion

Will she’ll see him again

She let him in

Right under her skin

She lit the candle one last time

And snuggle in the chair with a glass of wine

A toast to independence

To taking on the next dance

With a prayer and a chance

And all the talent

Right under your skin

She walks down to the Bluebird tonight

Waits until the moment is right

She could play them under the table

When she's willing and able

She'll be on the playbill

Not confident in

What's under her skin

Some people say the most dangerous play

Is to sit tight and play it safe

She flashed her famous smile

Loving her new lifestyle

His 1^st text in a while

Yep she’s cookin’

Just under her skin.

-->

By Dave Schipper © 2017 Rose Riversongs

note... being a big Dylan fan, this was written in the style where that last line of each verse is the refrain like "Black Diamond Bay", "Tangled up in Blue", or "Desolation Row" to mention just a couple of them.  Plus the fourth verse has a playful nod to Bob's "She lit the burner on the stove"

Now you can listen to it, or take it for a free download.