CROSSING OVER THE RIO GRANDE

Walk to the edge, step down inside

Move your legs, throw your hips wide

Feel with your feet, aim by the stars

Once you're across, son, you'll go far

People helping you, help them in return

This is how it works, this is how you learn.

Tom Youngjohn, 2011

May I be safe, may I be happy, may I be healthy, [&] with ease.
May all be safe, may all be happy, may all be healthy, [&] with ease.

==================================================================================

As I washed the feet of my firstborn child
I told her something from my heart
I told her yes, it’s true, I love the Buddha so
But I can’t decide for you.

I know someone who goes to church
And who loves the Dharma true,
So if you wish, you can love Jesus,
And love the Dharma too.
 

Tom Youngjohn, circa 2002, 2003? (a hell of a long time ago, whenever it was.)

Here swims my family painted bright by the moon,
And we've been suffering since the life begun.
Tho' I may swim across many a sea,
My buoy will always be the dhamma to me.

Singing dhamma by the moon, recorded for me by my admirable friend,
All my days I will sing in praise of the sangha, the dhamma, and this gentleman.

Four Noble truths wrote this enlightened guy
But Eightfold Path aids us, you know monks don’t lie,
Being lamps to ourselves in this Milky Way,
Not gods, not divine, without self they say.

Singing dhamma by the moon, recorded for me by my admirable friend
All my days I will sing in praise of the sangha, the dhamma, and this gentleman.
 

==========================================================

Here am I confessing that I am salad dressing.
Buddha dhamma is my lama in pink pajamas.
 

Not long after I came up with this music, Just a few weeks, I learned from my mom the facts that turned this music, (plus afterthought harmony which is too loud), into the song "White Sand" aka "WHEN UNCLE SAM ASKS YOU TO MOVE".

I prefer this version, musically speaking. It gets me in the chest. (I think the harmony is too loud in the later version.)

Back in 2003, I wouldn't have know one end of a guitar from the other. My first, more or less, paralegal added guitar for me, Mr. Anthony Almaraz, back in 2003.

Lyrics to THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NOW
(Alternative title ‘BY THE OLD DEAD SEA’ sung to hmm hmn 107)

The kingdom of heaven is at hand
The kingdom of heaven is at hand

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
For you and me,
By divine decree.

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
No more ennui,
Said he.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand
The kingdom of heaven is at hand

“The kingdom of heaven is now,”
In Galilee,
And we’re carefree.

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
Drink some Chablis,
Said he.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand
The kingdom of heaven is at hand

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
Shall we sight see,
See ‘em screaming whoopee.

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
Let’s go look-see,
Shall we?

The kingdom of heaven is at hand
The kingdom of heaven is at hand

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
Throw a jamboree,
Bring your Sadducee.

“The kingdom of heaven is now”
Throw a big party,
Said he.

Copyright 2002 howlingwolf [pre-Christian Tom Youngjohn] (but free)
 

A little girl's tears crying for daddy,

a bag of white sand by the sand box.

Soil conservation was what her dad did

working for someone named 'Uncle Sam'.

The man named Sam had asked them to move,

the little girl had had to change schools.

Her dad brought home bags of white sand,

New Mexio, 1943.

"Leukemia" was what they were saying,

her dad lived for just one more year.

A little girl's heart crying for daddy,

a bag of white sand and a whole lot of tears.

Tom Youngjohn, with facts from mom, 1/9/11

recorded live (accept for harmony) 5/1/11

DREAM ACT SASHAY

Tryin’ to get a green card,
JJ studied so hard.
He was gettin’ all straight As.
He really made the grade.

But the Congress got sidetracked,
Wouldn’t pass that dang Dream Act,
And JJ got real sad,
And just a little mad.

See his dad had come EWI,
In the Rio Grande he’d peed,
Waded right across,
Made Uncle Sam his boss.

Now JJ’s stopped his school,
Cleans out some rich man’s pool,
And dreams about someday
Writing Ivy League essays,
One day.

Tom Youngjohn
1-4-2011
 

ZOMBIES COMING

Zombies coming, aim for the head,
Zombies coming, from under the bed,

Jesus saves from the grave,
Jesus saves so we must pray.

Pray
Pray

Zombies coming, aim for the head.
Zombies coming, and we’re left for dead.

Jesus saves from the grave,
Jesus saves so we must pray.

Crossing the line,
Over the edge,
No jurisdiction,
Aim for the head.

Beyond the border,
Beyond the pale,
Outside the margins,
Hear me wail.

Wail
Wail

Zombies coming, aim for the head,
Zombies coming, the undead.

Jesus saves from the grave,
Jesus saves so we must pray.

Pray
Pray

By Tom Youngjohn, July 9/10 2011
 

If you look carefully at the upper right hand corner, you'll see the price tag from the IU Bloomington Bookstore where I bought this book about close to 25 years ago. I'm finally reading it.