When you look back over your life At some of the things you’ve done Do you wish you could turn back time To see where it would run Jump right in if you’re human The river runs so fast You can sink or swim Jump right in You may have some memories That you just can’t forget If there’s a lesson here for you Have you learned it yet Jump right in if you’re human The river runs so fast You can sink or swim Jump right in When I look back over my life At some of the things I’ve done You get to chose however you want To walk the path you’re on Jump right in if you’re human The river runs so fast You can sink or swim Jump right in Sink or swim Jump right in Sink or swim And jump right in David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2000

We don’t have lots of money to buy a lot of things but we have each other to keep it happening I thank my lucky star for bringing me to you and I know you feel the same way too You can’t take it to the bank but we got love I’m strumming my six string at the end of the day You give me that look to come upstairs and play I know that dreams come true I see it in your eyes Man I’m such a lucky guy You can’t take it to the bank But we got love Some folks never find happiness They somehow lose their way You and I get by on love Living from pay to pay I wake up in the morning I see your smiling face I know within my heart there is no better place When the day is done The kids are all tucked in You’re back in my arms again You can’t take it to the bank But we got love We don’t have lots of money to buy a lot of things but we have big dreams to keep it happening I thank my lucky star for bringing me to you and I know you feel the same way too you can’t take it to the bank but we got love David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2001

I was born the middle of three boys Trouble on the run always making noise Oh to be young tonight I dream To play once again with my brothers I would scream My younger brother now he’s one fine drummer But he makes his way working with wood I guess that’s just like Jesus But he’s no angel he’s my younger brother A carpenter for good My older brother’s gone to be a gypsy Travelling the world searching for a home He calls now and again but not too often I wish he’d call tonight I’m feeling alone Oh to be young and to play once again With my brothers like we used to do Oh to be young and to fight once again With my brothers like we used to do Here I sit and play for you my song It came to me one night after praying hard and long I was born the middle of three sons I’ve never known the joy Of a sister and her fun David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1995

It’s a tough tough road to go it alone I know you need somebody you can call your own You can’t go on living by yourself Look at you now you never want to come out Back off love I don’t need you now I always end up hurting and I lose somehow Don’t sweep down with that power of yours You know I won’t be answering my front door That sure don’t sound like the girl I used to know She’d cradle love in her heart until it would glow She looked at life with such high regard you know Love has a laugh and says you have no choice If I pick you you’re gonna hear my voice You can’t live your life hiding from me I don’t have all the answers but I’ll set you free Who are you to laugh I’ve heard you before I’ve seen freedom I don’t want it anymore You can call on me but I will not come back I’m just not ready and I like it like that That sure don’t sound like the girl I used to know She’d cradle love in her heart until it would glow She looked at life with such high regard you know It’s a tough tough road to go it alone I know you need somebody you can call your own You can’t live your life hiding from me I don’t have all the answers but I’ll set you free David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2002

Ain’t it funny how things go Reasons come sometimes too slow They ask of you let go And grow as you will Forcing your will Seems to work for you until You find a heart too big to fill With the little love you have Is it wrong when times are hard You get dealt another card High or low you play to show That’s the chance you take You stand to lose your shirt Or you sit on top unhurt If you’re scrapping by what’s another try Is the going always tough The fool in me cries out and says Do you know beyond a doubt it works like that Or does it always change And leave you full of pain (I) And leave you in need again (II) And leave you confused again (III) Ain’t it funny how things go Reasons come sometimes too slow They beg of you let go And grow as you will Forcing your will Seems to work for you until You find a heart too big to fill With the little love you have

I was just sixteen when I left my momma’s home With my daddy’s blessing I set out on the road Headed west on old seventeen The ocean in my ears and freedom all I see Driving through the night on the flat prairie While everyone sleeps I’m wide-eyed at the wheel Up ahead an eighteen wheeler roadside The driver waving frantic as if to stop the night I had a dream I saw horses running free Horses running free Diesel and blood fog and steam Tangled in the wheels of that truck lay a broken dream I jerk away Screaming why oh why when I see a shooting star blaze across the sky David McLachlan © SOCAN 2001

The pigeons are cooing Picking and chewing The old men sit silent and still A slate grey monument Gives them stability For lost fertility of dreams You can’t look down upon another Who has lost his way somehow He doesn’t need those kind of looks He could probably use some help A newspaper drifts by Blowing and scattered An old one it’s yellow and brown Yesterday’s bread crumbs Lay few on the ground now An affordable luxury they found A bag lady known as Katie Belches with laughter Her print dress is soiled but proud Her afternoon visits Break up the boredom Of old age time and a crowd The pigeons are cooing Picking and chewing The old men have all gone now A slate grey monument That gives them stability Tomorrow will host another round You can’t look down upon another Who has lost his way somehow And as you pass linger to laugh Find a smile not a frown David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2001

Massey Hall stands so proud May be on hallowed ground I’d love to play there But I haven’t heard when Outside the hall A poster up on the wall Lets people know a legend Will play here next week I’ve been waiting anticipating Will I get a chance to play Massey Hall You may say I’ve been dreaming my life away What’s wrong with that If it gets you through day to day Down on Victoria Street They say that you can meet People you know Lined up to be entertained In from the night You’ll find lovers of music Coming to grace a seat In that old hall Don’t tear Massey Hall down It may be on hallowed ground I’d love to play there But I haven’t heard when David McLachlan © Handy Publishing 2001

Just yesterday I stood in the check-out line Lost in thought waiting for my turn In front of me an older woman stood She seemed confused in the light of day I could not help overhear her say She was not quite herself today What I heard set me on my ear She said she felt herself a perfect fool You’re one day closer to infinity The moment the day becomes the night You’re one day closer to infinity The moment you give up the fight She turned to me toothless grin and all Apologized for holding up the line Now I could see her sad and tired eyes Lost somewhere in another world With wrinkled hands she took her parcels up Gave a nod and made to leave the store Few steps gone by she turned around and screamed Don’t you go and be a perfect fool David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1999

ou say you’re having trouble And all you do is struggle You want that easy road It may not exist (i) Does it exist (iii) I hate to burst your bubble But the thing that you call trouble Can straighten out And then again just twist You can’t close a blind eye To what you know is true You don’t want to see What’s happening to you You get in deep and it gets rough You get brave and you strut your stuff You try to break free But you don’t know what it takes You say you’re bound to feel this way That’s all I ever hear you say You’re not bound to any old circumstance You’re only free if you want to be Stay a slave if it’s easy that way You always end up running Every time you get another chance David McLachlan © Handy Publishing 1995

I just returned from the leather shop I left my boots for repair They weathered time over the miles And I thought it only fair Thought it only fair Thought it only fair Dusty boots your skin has changed From young to that of old But you wear it with a dignity That was not there when you were sold Not there when you were sold Not there when you were sold Dusty boots you’ve carried me So far along the road You’ve carried me through danger You’ll carry me through stories yet untold Stay true my dusty boots Stay true my dusty boots Dusty boots you never know How far you have to run Remember then to just enjoy When you walk in to the sun Walk in to the sun Walk in to the sun Dusty boots carry me Once more along the road Carry me through danger Carry me through stories yet untold Stay true my dusty boots Stay true my dusty boots I just returned from the leather shop I got my boots from repair When I pulled them on They seemed to say the open road’s out there The open road’s out there The open road’s out there David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2002

I’m not down on my luck I said to my good friend I just don’t show my happiness like you Some people laugh out loud I keep some inside That’s good for them It works for me And you know deep inside The happiness runs free It’s always there It’s just for you to catch And she said look inside And get some out for me I’m happy now And I want you to come along Was a sad sad face I saw Lost deep in need of love But she never even Turned my way I could have given What I had if it would help Seize the moment Before it slips sway David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1999