Lyrics

The first track “Little Things” looks at the quiet side of marriage, “Fiona” illustrates the magic of children and “Atticus’ Prayer” is a song about the famous book, “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. The tune “Glorious Day” honors the wisdom of an elder and “Fireproof” is a fun bluegrass tune about an insightful grandmother. “Mothballs and Voodoo” tells a story about growing up in the 60’s, playing outside and a huge squirt gun battle, while “Friends like You” reaffirms the treasure of friendship.

“Watching the Green Grass Grow” is a co-write with Tag Vennard and is a about the birth of a romance in the Spring. “Namaste Beautiful River” highlights the beauty of our natural world through the ways of a river. “Shine On” is a song about a world without hate, a fantasy or maybe something to strive for? “Love in Disguise” deals with the gentle guidance of a Mother’s love and “Smiling Irish Eyes” honors the love of a father who has passed on. “Lilac” ties everything up with a focus on the simple delights found in a fragrant blossom of flowers.

I hope you enjoy this CD, thanks for taking the time to read and listen, Namaste, Betsi Mandrioli.

Little Things 7/08/07

Driving home in summertime from vacation, you and me
It’s a quiet ride, no need to talk, we’re navigating perfectly

I pass to you a dollar bill for the toll on I 90
While you’re scouting for a rest stop since I had that ice coffee

Oh they’re just little things, but that’s the way we care
Keeping good company, connections that we share
Just between you and me, real understanding
The many little things, that make our love so big

Well I can finish all you sentences like you forecast my next thought
And I’m reaching for the Advil before your headache makes you stop

Old secrets cannot find a place to hide comfortably
And a promise is a promise that we intend to keep

Baba dada…

Yea there’ve been many crazy dances in the living room for fun
And we never go to be mad, been a rule since day one

Oh they’re just…

So the breezeway light is always on when I come home late at night
And I empty the kitchen trash the chore that you don’t like
Well it’s not as big as birthdays or anniversaries
But if we forget that morning kiss the day feels incomplete

Oh they’re just ….

Ba ba dada.. .

Fiona 9/26/06

Fiona smiled while curling round her mother’s knee
She’d peek-a-boo and hide
Then wonder why we cried
And how she easily captured our attention
Climbing on laps she knew
Her aunts and uncles too

Blow us a kiss, sweet little Miss, Fiona, Fiona
You’re Granddaddy’s’ girl, now that he’s left our world
He lives on in Fiona

Her love so innocent it warmed up the atmosphere,
A solid family love
The kind of love you hug
And though she knew no sorrow at her young age
Her gentle presence there
A legacy to share

Blow us a kiss, sweet little Miss, Fiona, Fiona
You’re Granddaddy’s’ girl, now that he’s left our world
He lives on in Fiona

Now as proud of her first steps as her Mom and Dad
We watched with grateful eyes
Their tears begin to dry
And through two viewings this little angel brightly shinned
Like a rainbow finish to
A stormy afternoon

Blow us a kiss…

Well there will always be dying to understand
And with some time they say
We all will find a way
But I will never forget that cloudy day in June
When the universe revealed
How the love of children heals
When the universe revealed how the love of children heals

Atticus’ Prayer 2/5/08

Give us his song, sweet timbre and all
Aint nothin’ wrong, with the mockingbird’s call
I’m one who believes, there’re many like me
Who quietly grieve, the songs that should be

Oh he flies in fear, from the ugliness here,
But his beautiful song, means nobody harm
And he’s meant to sing, sing through everything
As a mockingbird lives, let the mockingbird sing

How can I change, those dangerous ways?
Oh his different voice, has suffered these days
Can I give him wings, take him higher still?
Till our darkest sky rings and he sings his fill

Oh he flies in fear, from the ugliness here,
But his beautiful song, means nobody harm
And he’s meant to sing, sing through everything
As a mockingbird lives, let the mockingbird sing

Give us his song, sweet timbre and all
Aint nothin’ wrong, with the mockingbird’s call
I’m one who believes, there’re many like me
Who quietly grieve, the songs that should be

Rosemary’s Glorious Day 4/20/01

It’s a glorious day, Rosemary would say
And pushed through the earth, the first, most witnessed flowers of spring
A grand happening, a seasonal thing
This weather is watched it’s talked, most welcomed coming of spring

Now a musical morn, as birds sing along
And feed on the greening, growing, budding branches in spring
Together they sing and daylight they bring
Their music is cooed and cawed, most welcomed coming of spring

So glorious, Rosemary’s day, her memories, her world are always this way
So glorious, Rosemary’s day, I’m lucky to be with her and see her glorious day

As we sip our tea, she entertains me
And talks me through families, farms and oceans in her country
Good conversation and history lesson
Her glorious, knowing, showing and welcome coming of spring

So glorious, Rosemary’s day, her memories, her world are always this way
So glorious Rosemary’s day, I’m lucky to be with her and see her glorious day
I’m lucky to be with her and see her glorious day

Fireproof 5/31/09

To my surprise, I was chasing lies
Could my lover be untrue?
I was looking twice, alone most nights
And feeling miserable

Like a roll of dice, things could be nice
But then we’d disagree
Couldn’t compromise so I sought advice
From my Grandma Valerie

She said, when a fire burns
And a lover turns
Smoke gets in your eyes
And it will surely hurt
But to stay is worse
Stings until you die,
Stings until you die

Wish I listened good, as a grandchild should
But I tried to make him mine
Knew domestic bliss, shouldn’t feel like this
Found an appetite for wine

Couldn’t drink enough, to find his love
Better than unkind
Just as Grandma thought, I stayed….he walked
And left me dead inside
Chorus
Happy as a clam, without that man
No reason to feel blue
Smokey cheating airs, all his pretend cares
Belong to someone new

And if I get a chance, at a new romance
Before I make a move
I’ll bring him to meet, Grandma Valerie
And I pray he’s fireproof

Mothballs and Voodoo 4/20/09

It was twilight on a school night
With Fort Apache poised to fight
Against the Sisters of the Moon
We worried that our mothers knew

Two young braves, the best of friends
Blood brothers now, we made-pretend
An arsenal of squirt guns filled
The extra stash of water spilled

Chorus
Remember mothballs and Voodoo?
The secret password coined by you?
Apache braves, invincible!
Invincible, wish that were true

Advantage to the boys in trees
We soaked them girls with seasoned ease
Their white flag meant no casualties
We celebrated victory!

Chorus

We fought together years ago
Time’s gone the way of the buffalo
The Sisters of the Moon left town
And squirt guns can’t keep trouble down

But I’ve got mothballs and Voodoo
My password to that braver world
And my blood brother memories
Still make me smile in times like these

Chorus

Friends like You 8/6/08

There’s a room in my heart for you,
Pull up a chair, get comfortable.
Kick off your shoes, or sing the blues
Cause that’s what friends do, with friends like you

Through the years of birthday cards,
Our long e-mails, your high regards
How I count on you, to tell the truth.
That’s what friends do, with friends like you

You’ve got a place to throw your baggage, a safe for privacy
With a special combination, like the friends we’ve grown to be
Oh your room can get much bigger; give you all the space you need
Cause there’s no way I could measure, all the friendship you give me

Kick off your shoes, or sing the blues
Cause that’s what friends do, with friends like you

And I think you’ll always know, I’ll keep your room, available
To say what you will, laugh till tears spill
That’s what friends do, with friends like you

And if there’s a vacancy In all the rooms you oversee
You know I’ll take two, to keep your heart full
That’s what friends do, with friends like you

And there’s a place to throw your baggage, a safe for privacy
With a special combination, like the friends we’ve grown to be
Oh this room can get much bigger; give you all the space you need
Cause there’s no way I could measure, all the friendship you give me

Watching the green grass grow
By Tag & Betsi

It’s dungaree jacket weather, the hardwoods are leafing out
Loves got this moment, I’m thinking of romance
Watching the green grass grow

Days that we spend together, we’re saplings beginning to sprout
Once safe under leaves, like tiny oak trees
Thriving on winter’s last snow

I don’t need promises sweetheart
Let love blossom full and true
Spring’s the season new things start
And I found the reason in you
I found the reason in you
Instrumental

I don’t need promises sweetheart
Let love blossom full and true
Spring’s the season new things start
And I found the reason in you
I found the reason in you

There’s sneaker and sandal mornings, feeling the warmth of the sun
Just hanging around, exploring new ground
Taking it easy and slow

Or shuffling through the fall leaves, building a snowman for fun
The future’s wide open, but now I’m enjoyin’
Watching the green grass grow

I don’t need promises sweetheart
Let love blossom full and true
Spring’s the season new things start
And I found the reason in you
I found the reason in you

It’s dungaree jacket weather….

Namaste Beautiful River 9/18/06

Beautiful river, beautiful river
Oh river you billow and swirl and ferry my thoughts
High on this old bridge
We are connected
As the stone meets your banks and I stand on top
Now a circle has been formed
And our energies are joined
Spirits are touching
Namaste, namaste
Beautiful river

I got to your river, beautiful river
To be present and one with your gentle fluid world
As you journey towards the sea
Past the many lives you feed
Are their spirits listening?
Namaste, namaste
Beautiful river

Wish I was a river, a beautiful river
With water whose ripples and waves bring comfort to all
The world needs more rivers, beautiful rivers
Rivers to nourish our souls when we’re feeling small

As I pray for days of peace,
Your reflect the sky to me
Then comb your water weeds
Carry away some leaves
Or host a swarm of fleas

Do you know a river? A beautiful river?
A river that gives and is and just moves along?
Watch the river on it’s path
Fill the crack along earth’s back
It’s soothing water runs
The same for everyone
Namaste, namaste
Beautiful river

Shine On 8/28/03

If questions answered, create a clam
And problems solved, issues resolved heal like a charm
Then let the sun’s light, bring on the same
Melt away our fears, dry up our tears and anger tame

Oh oh oh oh
Shine on, shine on
Oh oh oh oh
Shine on, shine on
Let the light of the sun shine every way
Oh oh oh oh
Shine on shine on
Oh oh oh oh
Shine on, shine on
Yea, the light of the sun shines every day

If angry faces, can make a smile
And the forgive, live and let live love like a child
Then let the sun’s light, burn hate away
And the believe, there can be peace in the world some day

Now every morning, at start of day
I see the sun, has always come to light my way
A gift of the beauty, that God has made
Shines everyone with a light that’s strong as darkness fades

Oh…

Love in Disguise 8/22/07

Her Mom said that Bea could pick everything
And everything was hard to believe
Now her room was changing, her Mom orchestrating,
The makeover of her dreams

Bea insisted on white French furniture,
Provincial and very mature
Legs trimmed in gold, graceful and scrolled
For the little girl so insecure

If she only knew then
What her Mom never said
That a fresh coat of paint
And her pretty new bed
Were just love in disguise
For her little girl eyes
To keep a teenage heart
From drifting too far
Chorus
But this time Bea had to stumble
Be distant and hard to believe
The color of paint, bedspread and drapes
Could not make this young girl feel big

Chorus

It’s been years since Bea chose the colors
Of lavender and olive green
There’s no chance to change, the trouble she made
For her mother when she was thirteen

And there’s an angel now with her own room
Still young in Bea’s memory
But her eyes follow Bea and I think she can see
All that love in Bea’s melodies

Chorus

Smiling Irish Eyes

Those smiling Irish eyes, the blue I didn’t get.
Like what was good for me, does every child forget?

Strong oak protecting me, a love forever wise.
Root of our family tree, with smiling Irish eyes.

The world turns upside down
Can’t stall the wings of time
Sing with me Daddy now
So everything is fine

I do not sing alone
Your heart loves on in mine
And it will bring me home
To smiling Irish eyes

I’ll keep your memory true; you’ll know I got it right.
All that I learned from you, the prayers I say at night.

I hear you everyday, your kind and measured words.
Seem to be what I say, when I want to be heard.

The world turns upside down
Can’t stall the wings of time
Sing with me Daddy now
So everything is fine

I do not sing alone
Your heart loves on in mine
And it will bring me home
To smiling Irish eyes

So from the sky above, where music sooths your soul.
The place that’s filled with love and smiling eyes are whole.

Keep watching over me, I’ll try to love like you.
A proud branch of our tree, eyes smiling Irish too.

Lilac 5/26/06

Oh my lilac bush
Now decorated in spring
Wears dark purple beads of intention
Her promise of blossom
So exciting to see
She deserves undivided attention

And for a few weeks I will love her
Notice everything about her
Wonder how long I can have her
Till her flowers fly to seed

Soon lavender funnels
Will open to four petals
Fanning around a sweet center
Their tiny stems will stand
To support her master plan
Topping greens with puffed pyramids of color

And for a few weeks I will love her
Notice everything about her
Wonder how long I can have her
Till her flowers fly to seed

I find sense in Lilac’s flowers
And the short time they are ours
Like a new love that is bold and awesome
If her dormant months have reason
Could it mean that winter’s freezing
Is a courtship to the growing season?

So now I look to new love’s blossom
Knowing that at first it’s awesome
But soon flies to seed and winters
To grow beautiful again

Oh my lilac bush
Now decorated in spring wears dark purple beads of intention