The first time that I saw your face, I remember very well The very thoughts I had about you, you tripped and fell and taught me How to pick myself up off the ground -- your inelegance coincides with perseverance To make something new. You, you, you I hoped you'd notice me. I tried and tried And fried my circuits - every one! - to watch you run through life Like you knew everyone was watching you exert your presence -- And your power like a cloud surrounding those you were around. A month later I had found we shared a class together! -- seven-thirty in morning. Oh, what a time to start your day with locker rooms and playing dodge-ball Dodging deep into philosophy and politics that I knew not much about You had so much in your head that you just needed to let out I could go on and on and on and on and on about how much I admire you And your tenacity and the way life moves through your eyes -- Yet it's no surprise to anyone that you're sometimes hard to be with With your ego and how self-assured you are, it's no myth - You've got the biggest head I've ever seen, in that tracksuit so resplendent The way you proudly bear your country's colors so no one could forget how You lay it all out on the table -- and at the end of the day -- When you've nothing left to give, you give a little more anyway And sure, some might classify your heady passion as hard-headedness And competitiveness, you don't settle for less than perfection. Always striving, always rising, never give yourself a break Until you break down and take down the walls that you have made But that's okay, because who's perfect? -- we're all in this together, Pressed together like your hands around your half of the burger that we shared That night at the grill, unruly hair foolishly sticking out from everywhere Upon your head, and then you said - you said - you said Nothing if not more of the same. Philosophy and politics That -- who'd've thought? -- I was growing to meet you in! But we grew at different rates, your echo room was greater by far than mine And it was hard to find a way to make you happy all the time. But I wasn't much concerned with that, back then. I'm still growing and learning how not to pretend that I care - 'cause I do! - But that's so hard to show when the way that my everyday feelings bestow themselves winds up as smiles and laughter and nods. I just need to get all of my thoughts out abroad to the world and communicate better and send out some hugs. What I'm trying to say is I love you

When life gives you lemons, the lemons keep comin' It doesn't let up, and the storm rumbles louder A landslide of citrus to tow you down under You plug up your ears, but can't drown out the thunder Maybe this time the sting won't be so bad Maybe the lemonade will taste that much sweeter Maybe, you think, the torrent will subside Or maybe you'll just be pulled out with the tide An ocean of lemon juice, from here to horizon Adrift, and half sinking, you cling to the notion That sooner or later (but not too soon, I'll bet) You'll synthesize sugar. There's time for that yet.

It's brand new every time What if I don't want to let it go? I meet you in my mind And every time it throws me It feels like you're the only one I know And so it goes

I hate how much I miss the way The smile would creep across your face The months roll by, I've cried my tears But forgiveness wipes away the fears The choices made were yours alone I cannot blame you when I've made my own Mercy granted for my actions Is love extended for the satisfaction Of those who I hold dear Love replaces fear Any loss that cuts your heart Means that from the very start The love you gave is enough to show You loved enough to let it go And when there's so much left behind It isn't hard to see the signs Take a break from what once has been And look around at the place you're in So don't hold on to spiteful things the Notes of compassion more clearer ring To another, or to yourself Forgiveness keeps you in good health And those that you hold dear Love replaces fear

Where does love begin? And where does love end? Does life overlap itself? Is God distinct from men? Extremes and absolutes I will, I won't, I can, I can't Wherein lies the middle ground And how far does it extend? Life is to grow and love I've been at both ends of the scale It isn't always to find A solution that doesn't fail

I don't like sayin' sorry But here I am anyway Because there's just no movin' forward, We'll take this to the grave And "should" is a dangerous game to play With apology, especially when So much was left unsaid. So I'll say it now I'm sorry we weren't as close as we could have been I'm fixin' it for them, 'cause I can't fix it up for you If only I knew how much I put you through (Oh, but when the wind blows) I'm fixin' it for me (revealing rainbows) to set you free And to be loved is to be changed I change myself every day When I'm faithful to my multitudes I'm new in every way Now I know I must move forward And leave behind the grave To stay would be to die I stay, and so I fly There's others left to save I'm fixin' it for them, and I'm fixin' it for you I'm coming to learn of all the good you do (Oh, but when the wind blows) I'm fixin' it for me (Revealing rainbows) to set you free

It's been more than a year already How the time flies by I up and settled down, got married You weren't by my side I've looked for you on marching bands The callouses upon my hands Looking high, and looking low Until there was no place left to go Time has the awful habit of standing tall and still Like a deer in headlights while a car comes down the hill But when I need time most, that fickle friend will fly It's exactly where I don't wish it to be - but somehow, I get by. I still wake up with things to tell you Thoughts tumbling 'round my brain The funniest thing about it all, is I love you just the same

I'll write you a song, I'll write it in C 'Cause all that I wish to convey is how much you mean to me You left me with everything that you ever were A sweater or two, some songs that you knew at my disposal And yet, but a blur that when called into view remind me of you Wherever I go I've pieces of your soul In my mind all the time with no reason or rhyme You're a part of who I am My friend

In every heart there is a light And it burns strong through the night A star shining bright, hold onto it tight One day we'll all be gone But out lights will burn on In the hearts of those who remember So cherish those memories They live in you and me A hundred million lights are burning on in the sky Burning bright, we remember

Clouds roll in from the south and roll on Tired skies and mouth open wide to yawn No birds singing, wet tires squealing One more step down the tired road stretches on Walking up, step to the bus stop Rain is falling down on my head top There's an old woman with gray hair Locked eyes stare, it looks like She's looking right through my soul She takes my hand "Young man," She tells me, "you can't get from here to there "Without a little bit of hurting. "Oh, baby, I know all too well the road is dark, "The road is rainy. "But sometimes you find "That in time the sun will come out of shine." The bus arrives and the clouds, they part I ask if I can become a student of her art Once more she takes my hand "Young man, "I can guide you to the truth "But the wisdom comes from your heart." The bus doors shut, leaving my heart touched Now the woman's gone, and our time together is up Her words have rocked me to my core Left me wanting more I see her in my dreams Almost out of reach, keeps me on my feet I'm lifted up, it seems Then one night as I'm brushing my teeth I look in the mirror and see The woman is looking back at me (Showers pass us by) (On a rainy day) (Look up to the sky) (Sun shine clouds away) (Lift feet from the land) ('Til you walk once more) (Take the world in hand) (Through an open door)

A voice was heard from up above Filling up the boy with love "My old friend, what have you learned?" He sat a while, lost in thought Of what the recent months had brought Of what he'd lost, and what he'd earned The tempest of his thoughts subside Leaving him with only light He smiles wide and starts to say; "What I've learned, I won't forget "I give my love to those I'm with "And every moment lasts the whole day through "And you," he says, with a tear running down his face "Will always be someone that I cannot replace "But at the end of the day, when it's all been said and done "You taught me how to love, so I can love everyone." The boy can feel the voice depart Though it lingers in his heart He's loved it long enough to feel okay