Here are the songs from our new CD ‘Little Child Big World’
Marching
Sue Peters © 2008
Full-time dreamer, part-time schemer, wishing on her star tonight
Complicated, simple life; sister, daughter, friend or wife
Chorus:
Marching to her own percussion she sometimes misses a step
In her journey thru this life and it hasn’t stopped her yet
In her dreamworld, life is perfect; no one hurts and no one cries
Everyone is who they seem; no deception, games or lies
Childlike wonder, heart of gold; as years go by she won’t seem old
Optimistic, joyful life; sister, daughter, friend or wife
It hasn’t stopped her yet
One Song
Sue Peters © 2007
Chorus:
One song can’t change the world
Two songs can’t change the world
Even three songs can’t change the world
But maybe the singers can
Songs about freedom and songs about truth
Songs with a message to share
Songs that will teach you awaken your passion
Songs that remind you, you care…but
Where Have All The Flowers Gone, Give Peace A Chance
Imagine, If I Had A Hammer
These songs were written by dreamers who knew
Thru voices their words live forever…but
This little song, it won’t change the world
But what if we all sing along
Our voices will carry a message of hope
To those who can’t always be strong…cause
Happy Little Children
Sue Peters © 2007
Remember we were happy little children
Loved and cared for happy little children
The world was bright for happy little children
All was right back then
Then we learned not all little children
Were loved and cared for happy little children
The world is tough for some little children
Where did it go wrong
Chorus:
All the world in all its glory
Hear the message, tell the story
Wish upon a star tonight
Maybe everything will be all right
Wish we all were happy little children
Loved and cared for happy little children
Imagine a world of happy little children
What a place it would be
Lucky Me
Sue Peters © 2007
Lucky me, I got more than I need
Almost seems like greed, when half the world is hungry
I know I’m blessed so then, why aren’t the rest
Why aren’t they lucky just like me
Chorus:
The world is one, we share the same sun
Sleep under the same stars every night
We all have dreams of better lives
And for some they may come true
Mercy me, I don’t like what I see
Violence and greed, and inhumanity
Lucky me I got more than I need
Why aren’t they lucky just like me
Mercury Rising
Kim Cole & Sue Peters © 2008
Ancient ice caps melting
A prophecy of what’s in store
Silent victims of a warming planet
Obligations we ignore
Majestic Kilimanjaro
Staircase to heaven’s door
What’s to become of those who live in your shadow
When the waters flow no more, when the waters flow no more
Chorus:
Rising, mercury rising, tempers and temperatures flare as the
mercury’s rising
The western thirst for profit
Drives the fumes that fill the air
Choke the grazing plains of Tanzania
A people headed for despair, a people headed for despair
Chorus 2:
Rising, mercury rising, tempers and temperatures flare as the
mercury’s rising, hopelessness rising, no homes for refugees lost to the
mercury rising
Ancient ice caps melting
A prophecy of what’s in store
A raging battle we are surely losing
Who are soldiers in this war
See The Little Baby
Dwight Peters © 2007
Chorus:
See the Little baby, walking by the highway,
Looking for its momma, passed on Friday,
Livin’ with its grandma, her only family,
How was your day?
Wake up in the morning, there’s no bed
Sleeping in the floor, no pillow at your head
Nearest water’s, 2 miles a way
Put the bucket on your head, no school today
Feeling hungry, there’s no store
Go to the garden try dig for more
Plant the seed, pray for rain
Your breakfast is just supper again
Feeling sick, a cough and sneeze
Could be Malaria or HIV
No thinking freedom, at fifty five
When you’re just trying to stay alive
Gulu
Dwight Peters © 2007
Eternal land of Kica, Labongo’s great domain
Nomads of savanna, await the healing rains
Chorus:
North beyond the river, upon Acholi ground
Lies our destination, all aboard for Gulu town
Damn the rebel army who kill with no remorse
Damn the mighty soldiers as they withhold their force
Millions lost within the camps, far as the eye can see
Shame on every one of us who chose to let it be
Pray for night commuters who sleep so far from home
Pray for frightened parents who must make their children roam
Last Chorus:
North beyond the river, upon Acholi ground
Peace for north Uganda, peace for Gulu town
Little Child Big World
Sue Peters © 2007
Little girl standing there, watching every move I make
Fanny, do you know I care
Wish I could take you away from there
Chorus:
Little child, big world, can you see beyond your borders
Do you know what’s there? Little child, big world
Write your name in the sand
With a stone and steady hand
Do you know what I see
Beautiful Tikambenji
Biggers has a big wide smile
His mother loves him more than anything
Will you be my friend?
And when will I see you again?
Almost Missed The Beauty
Sue Peters © 2007
Careful look both ways, Careful what they may say
Careful don’t talk to loud, There might be a crowd out there
Don’t do this and don’t do that, Do I look short, do I look fat
Quit your job might think you’re lazy, Work too hard, they call you
crazy so…
Chorus:
I almost missed the sunset as it slipped into the gorge
I was trying to get my footing like so many times before
It happened in an instant, A blink of an eye
I almost missed the beauty unfolding in the sky
Careful don’t talk to strangers, Careful so many dangers
Careful lock the door, Don’t know what’s in store for you
All our fears take precious time, Build up walls and cloud our mind
Waste the time that we’ve been given, Holding back instead of
living now
It happens in an instant, A blink of an eye
Don’t ever miss the beauty unfolding in the sky
Ain’t No Passenger On This Train
Dwight Peters © 2007
Chorus:
Ain’t no passenger on this train
Ain’t no passenger on this train
Stop the suffering, heal the pain
Ain’t no passenger on this train
Whoa now children, get on board
This train of life and hear it roar
No time for sittin’ on your hands
If we’re to reach the promised land
Whoa now children, talkin’ to you
There’s just so much, work to do
Train’s a rollin’, hear its cry
You can’t let it, pass you by
Glory, glory, hallelieu
There’s no telling, what we might do
Get together, take a stand
Buy your ticket, lend a hand
Diamonds On Velvet
Sue Peters © 2007
I looked up to the sky and imagine my surprise when I saw diamonds there
diamonds on velvet
City lights shine so bright, I never realized there were diamonds there
diamonds on velvet
Chorus:
Traveling thru this world so fast, if I could make one moment last
I’d choose this one, or this one, (pause) or maybe this one
No time for regrets, one chance is all we get
So I’ll take this one
I looked into your eyes and imagine my surprise when I saw diamonds there
diamonds on velvet
Little windows to the soul, I confess I didn’t know there were diamonds there
Diamonds on velvet
No time for regrets, one chance is all we get
So I’ll take this one, and this one, and I’ll take this one too
And I’ll take it with you
Who
Sue Peters © 2007
Memories I’d put away
Came flooding back to me today
They tell me who I was, who I am
And who I will become someday
Photographs on display
Take me back to another day
They show me who I was, who I am
And who I will become someday
In one life we’re always changing
Growing up and rearranging
Make mistakes, then realize
And see the world thru different eyes
Letters from long ago
People I used to know
They remind me who I was, who I am
And who I will become someday
Who was I, who am I
And who will I become someday
Prairie Girl
Sue Peters © 2008
The prairie wind was blowin, it swept me far away from home
In the arms of a prairie boy and gave us feet that had to roam
It swept us halfway across the country, it took us clear across the world
And opened up the mind and heart of a little prairie girl
Chorus:
When I close my eyes I see, fields of golden wheat
On the ground beneath my feet
On its gust of cool clean air, I can travel anywhere
And the whole world becomes my home
My prairie wind’s still blowin, I wonder what it has in store
Will it send us far away to a distant foreign shore
Or will it spin us round in circles, right back where we started from
Riding on my prairie wind there are adventures still to come
It swept us halfway across the country, it took us clear across the world
And opened up the mind and heart of a little prairie girl
Of a little prairie girl, ooooooooooooooooooh
Here are the songs from our first CD ‘Darlings Of The Open Stage’
Time With You
Dwight Peters © 2005
You wake up, raise your head
Throw back the covers on the bed
Whisper goodbye, in my ear
I’m still asleep but I can hear
Chorus:
Don’t want to sail the ocean blue
Climb the highest mountain at Katmandu
I’m going to hold you the whole night through
I just want to spend all my time with you
You come home, at the end of day
Sing out my name in your way
Take my hand, hold me tight
We’ll be together through the night
I just want to spend all my time with you
Last Village Waltz
Dwight Peters © 2005
It’s another hotel in another small town
Mainstreet is empty, not a soul around
Where the café once stood tumble weeds move along
At the old hall the old sign creaks out one last song
And in this old town another oldtimer says
You should have seen this place back in the days
When the railway ran through like blood through the veins
And grain wagons stretched out ‘cross the plains
Chorus:
So we’ll have another and another again
We’ll drink to the memory of all our old friends
Now this town’s a dyin’, we won’t let it tonight
There’s not much left and not much goin’ right
He tells of the time when he took his chance
Proposed to his girl at the Old Barn Dance
Puts the withered old photo back into his shirt
The town like his wife‘s headed back to the earth
All across this great prairie the small town stood proud
Grain elevators rose touching the clouds
For those who have passed and for those who remain
For just one more night we’ll live it a gain
There’s not much left and there’s not much goin’ right
So Beautiful
Dwight Peters © 2005
Got a message, one we can’t ignore
Got a feeling, we’ve heard it before, before
Now open up the door
Chorus:
So Beautiful can’t let it slip away
So Beautiful can’t let it slip away
We got problems, just won’t go away
Things aren’t working out no matter what they say, they say
We’ll find a better way
Little children, sing away their fright
Hear the footsteps, walking in the night
The time has surely come, for the meek to inherit the earth
Give us the hope of a brand new world
Free the people, give peace a chance a again
No more injustice, no more us and them, us and them
It’s got to end
Lazy Prairie Moon
Dwight Peters © 2005
That old lazy prairie moon wandering across the sky
Like a little lost doggie on its way back home
That old lazy prairie moon, shining out so bright & high
Dancing to the sound of its own tune
Hold on tight as we drive through the night
Got to get to the dance before they play our favorite song
That old lazy prairie moon wandering across the sky
Dancing to the sound of its own tune
Hold on tight as we dance through the night
Arm in arm we float across the wooden floor
That old lazy prairie moon wandering across the sky
Dancing to the sound of a lover’s tune
Good Times
Dwight Peters © 2006
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose
Most times you aren’t even in the game
So many hard years, so many oceans of tears
Makes you wonder if things are ever going to change
But the grass looks much greener this morning
And the sun’s shining bright on the grain
Chorus:
I got a feeling the good times will come again
Good times will come again
You work and you toil, bring life to the soil
Jus a pawn in the season’s guessing game
Yet another crop lost, no longer tallyin’ the cost
Makes you wonder if things are ever going to change
But the wind smells much sweeter this morning
And the blue sky feels good for the pain
Papineau Station
Dwight Peters © 1984
A rainy night in the city without sleeping
Tears wash away what was and leave anew
Another day sinks slowly into darkness
And you see the lady standing with a broken heart adieu
Chorus:
If you’re going to Papineau Station
See all the people and the things that they may sell
If you’re going to Papineau Station
Say hello to the lady with the sadness in her eyes
Can you see her standing in the shadow
A voice cries out from memories deep inside
She packs her bag and wanders thru the darkness
Swiftly moving past the memories that are leaving her behind
Turn back the times at hand
Revolution takes a stand, silently running deep
While at Notre Dame, the candle burns out in the night
Another night in the city without sleeping
Tears wash away what was and leave anew
Another day sinks slowly into darkness
And you see the lady standing with a broken heart adieu
Last Chorus:
If you’re going to Papineau Station
See all the people and the things that they may sell
Millions of people with their hands across the nation
Say hello to the lady with the sadness in her eyes
Red River
Dwight Peters © 1995
All join hands follow me, to a place where, waters meet
Now the future’s here at last, like a current? Has it passed?
Where would we be now if Louis Riel refused to pay for postage stamp?
How would we feel if the General Strike didn’t give the CCF its might?
When the sun goes down on this prairie town
Put out the fire and go home
You can see it fade something’s slipping away at Red River
As sons & daughters move away, their family’s sacrifice they betray
Survive the winter turn the soil, fill the sandbag, a river’s foil
Where would we be now if Louis Riel refused to pay
for postage stamp?
If Duff Roblin hadn’t built his ditch how many people would have gotten damp?
When the sun goes down on this prairie town
Put out the fire and go home
Heard the wind cryin’ that something’s dyin’ at Red River
You can stay at home sit and read a book
Through the pages of time take a second look
All that’s gone is not lost, can you just stand there?
Where the waters meet you can feel the rage
From another time it will set the stage
Let the spirit rise and not damn you
Join the circle save a tree, a sea of white, fills the street
A second chance for a boy of gold, a river’s courage a city’s soul
Where would we be now if Louis Riel refused to pay for postage stamp?
Bill Mosienko would have dropped the ball had he not tried to light the lamp
When the sun comes up on this prairie town
People rise up to the dawn
There’s a will to survive that always keeps its alive at Red River
Ochre River
Dwight Peters © 2003
Chorus:
Ochre River, can you hear me?
I’ve lost the one I love and I’m quickly sliding out of reach
Ochre River, have you seen her?
She’s the one you brought my way when we found each other
on your beach
I still remember when I first saw her
Dancing on your shore, playing with the ice while she would sing
Well we were young and oh so foolish
We leapt among the flows as the winter melted into spring
Came the summer, we’d sit for hours
Watch you quickly flow, down from Riding Mountain in the south
And as the night’d fall, we’d hear the wolf’s call
We’d hold on so tight, while you ran off in the night
Then the leaves changed, things got rearranged
Cold was in the air, bringing in a frost over her heart
Then came the day that she would say
She had found another and it was time for us to part
Ochre River, don’t take her away
New Day
Dwight Peters © 2002
The sun is rising open up your eyes, it’s a new day
Sooner than later you’ll realize
All the things you thought would be true
Will someday come back to you
And all the love that you gave away
Will come back to you to stay
Chorus:
What you give is what you get
And you ain’t seen the half of it yet
A world of happiness awaits you
The dawn is breaking wipe away your tears, it’s a new day
It’s your time now so take a look in the mirror
All the things that were said aren’t true
No one can hold a candle to you
And the smile that was yours each day
Will come back to you to stay
All the things that were said aren’t true
No one can hold a candle to you
And the smile that was yours each day
Will come back to you to stay
It’s a new day
The sun is rising open up your eyes, it’s a new day
Walkers Line
Dwight Peters © 2004
“Drink up,” said the waitress, “it’s past closing time”
I gotta clear the tables and be back in by 9
Think I’ll take the backroad, said ol’ Jake with a sigh
That’ll get me to the highway, just past Walker’s Line
Get back to my family, make sure my baby’s fine
Yes I do believe I’ll take the backroad to Walker’s Line
Stand back said Leo, I saw some headlights shine
We can flag down the driver, now smile and just look fine
The dogs’ll soon be closing in, I’m through doin’ time
Need to get ‘round the roadblock down at Walker’s Line
I ain’t goin’ back to prison, if it means somebody dyin’
Yes I do believe we’ll jump the roadblock at Walker’s Line
You folks from around here? asked ‘ol Jake with a sigh
You don’t look familiar but I’m a mighty high
Leo slowly aimed his gun, Jake came into line
They could hear the shots way down at Walker’s Line
Didn’t think you looked familiar, but I’m a mighty high
Yes I just want to see my baby, past Walker’s Line
Order up said the waitress, and don’t ya waste my time
Didn’t get much sleep last night, had something on my mind
And when ol’ Jake wandered in, she almost felt like cryin’
Didn’t know she followed him up to Walker’s Line
Had a real strange dream last night, see I was a little high
Something ‘bout a roadblock down at Walker’s Line
Who told the policeman? At Walker’s Line
Darlings of the Open Stage
Dwight Peters © 2004
Out of the dark they wander in, it’s another Friday night
Take the chair that’s now a friend, get the name in line
Found the last words to a song, a puzzle now complete
Take a drink for courage, set back in your seat
Chorus
Darlings of the open stage, sing your song tonight
Take us to another place where everything seems right
Now you’ve only got 10 minutes, so give it all your might
Darlings of the open stage, sing your song tonight
Someone sings a cowboy song, another one plucks the bass
But it always starts with a spoken word when you’re in this place
A poem about an eagle’s soar that takes us on a flight
Rolls away the loneliness, makes the hurtin’ right
Soldiers of musical fortune, prisoners of life’s defeat
There ain’t a place in the whole wide world that we would rather be
The room is an oasis, the desert beats at the door
We head out to its fury, can’t wait to come back for more
#1 on the hit parade, You will be all the rage
Darlings of the open stage, sing your song tonight
Anson Northrup
Dwight Peters © 2005
In eighteen hundred and fifty-nine, out on the great west plain
The Prairie Schooner & ox cart, ruled the golden waves
In old St. Paul a bounty was set, by the shaking of the traders’ hands
To bring the mighty steamships to La Verendrye’s lands
Down on the Mississippi, Anson Northrup was heard to say
“That eight thousand dollar bounty’s mine and my riverboat’s the way”
We’ll launch at Crow Wing River and then go up the Red
But first we’ll have to strip her down and take it north by sled
Chorus:
The little girl playing on Fort Garry’s wall cried, “Sounds like someone blowing in a bottle”
The great bells chimed at St. Boniface, as the Captain leaned on the throttle
The children screamed, farmers ran to town, Metis feared the waking of the dead
Their muskets roared and William Ross implored
There’s a steamboat comin’, there’s a steamboat coming,
The Anson Northrup’s comin’, comin’ ‘round the bend
The ragged ship set its compass north, followed the old Red River Trail
And only 3 dared to get on board, so sure that it would fail
As sparks roared from the smokestacks, rainin’ down on the dry cargo bins
The furnace drew such a colossal draft, might take the fireman right in
The trip up the windy Red River was to take just four days
But the bison still ruled the prairie and their crossing caused great delays
“Well I bet my last bottle of whiskey, that boat must surely run aground”
Said the rector at Fort Pembina as he heard its disappearing sound
Riverboats on the prairie, strange as it now seems
Ruled the Red and Assiniboine, these vessels run on steam
A four days west to Grantown, just 2 as a crow might fly
Would burn a chord of wood an hour, and blacken out the sky
The riverboats hauled the cargo, the traders got their reward
The ox-carts creeked out one last song, to a chorus of ‘all on board’
And a way of life kept changing, for some said to be doomed
Each time the steamboat sailed the Red, each time its whistle boomed
Captain Northrup got his bounty, left his boat to a watery grave
A Horse of Iron replaced the steamers, men of white sealed the bison’s fate
Though the Metis never perished, their lives would never be the same
You still can hear their muskets roar at the sound of Anson Northrup’s name