ANNE FRANK'S EYES
SONNENFELD - 2005
I gaze into your dark eyes
in a faded photograph,
a picture of a young girl
who's forgotten how to laugh,
taken right before the night fell,
and the boots marched by your door,
taken right before the blood ran
and they still demanded more
how confused were you when old friends
turned against you with their lies,
and how I wish I could have saved
just a single tear
from Anne Frank's eyes.
you hid up in the secret rooms
above your father's shop,
and tried to keep believing
the insanity would stop
well, how'd you stay so quiet
with the hellhounds on your trail,
and how'd you stay so hopeful
that you'd live to tell the tale,
'though you wanted to let out a scream
it would have been unwise
how I wish I could have saved
just a single tear
from Anne Frank's eyes.
after two long years of loneliness
in your cold attic cell
the boots came crashing through the walls
and they sent you all to hell
where you lived in quiet defiance
but just briefly while you could
'til your life gave out beneath the
weight of a ravaged childhood.
now, can you forgive us fools who dwell
under somber skies.
oh, how I wish I could have saved
just a single tear
from Anne Frank's eyes.
Back to Top
ROPE OF SAND
SONNENFELD - 2005
I'm writing you this letter
on a dusty, moonlit trail,
and hope that you will help me understand
how the bond that was between us once
has now become so frail,
and the only tie that binds
is a rope of sand.
Once I held you in my arms,
it wasn't long ago,
but then I let you slip right through my hands,
your brother came between us
and tonight I just don't know,
if we'll ever have more
than a rope of sand.
A rope of sand between us
can it ever be the same,
a rope of sand between us,
is it all that will remain.
It's true, I tracked your brother down,
did what I had to do,
he was the leader of an outlaw band,
and as the marshall of the town
I hired out a crew,
and he surrendered when
he saw he was outmanned.
When I brought him to the courthouse
with those chains upon his feet
the sight for you was too much to withstand,
you told me I betrayed you,
that my love was just deceit,
now the only tie that binds
is a rope of sand.
A rope of sand between us
can it ever be the same,
a rope of sand between us,
is it all that will remain.
I protested my innocence,
your brother did the same,
but the judge said that
his crimes, they all were planned,
for the killing of a bank clerk
he alone received the blame
and the hangman's rope,
it wasn't made of sand.
Now I sit along the canyon edge
and watch the clouds roll by,
their movement is beyond my own command,
I think about you often
and I always wonder why
the only tie that binds
is a rope of sand.
A rope of sand between us
can it ever be the same,
a rope of sand between us,
is it all that will remain.
Back to Top
SWEET LIZA JANE
SONNENFELD 2005
Sweet Liza Jane,
you keep me laughin' in the rain,
Sweet Liza Jane,
you keep me laughin' in the rain,
whenever I feel blue
I think of all the things you do,
Sweet Liza Jane.
Sweet Liza Lane,
your kisses taste like sugar cane,
Sweet Liza Jane,
your kisses taste like sugar cane,
when I get home i swear
I'm gonna hug you like a bear,
Sweet Liza Jane.
Sweet Liza Jane,
this world could drive a man insane,
Sweet Liza Jane,
this world could drive a man insane,
but I've got your precious love
and the yellow moon above,
Sweet Liza Jane.
Sweet Liza Jane,
you know I never would complain,
Sweet Liza Jane,
you know I never would complain,
if you always stand by me
I'll give you anything you see
Sweet Liza Jane.
Sweet Liza Jane,
our love's not easy to explain,
Sweet Liza Jane,
our love's not easy to explain,
but don't you ever doubt
I could never do without
Sweet Liza Jane.
Sweet Liza Jane,
you keep me laughin' in the rain,
Sweet Liza Jane,
you keep me laughin' in the rain,
whenever I feel blue
I think of all the things you do,
Sweet Liza Jane.
Back to Top
TEN STEPS TO CLIMB
- SONNENFELD 2005
I never meant to run,
I never meant to hide,
I never meant to unleash the darkness here inside,
but it took me by the hand,
and it took me by surprise,
and it took me to a wasteland
where even angels cry,
now I wait to hear the footsteps
of a dozen prison guards
who will lead me to the gallows
but release me from these bars.
It's just ten steps to climb
and a long way to fall,
I can see a dark star shine
so high above this old gray prison wall.
I didn't mean to kill him,
I'm not that kind of man,
I'm not like these hard cases
who just don't give a damn,
but my six-gun spoke like thunder
with a mind all of it's own
when I found you lying with him
my head just turned to stone,
and I didn't blame the soldiers
who they sent to hunt me down,
'though I fought hard for the union
now their shackles keep me bound.
It's just ten steps to climb
and a long way to fall,
I can see a white star shine
so high above this old gray prison wall.
I'm weary of the battle
every day just to survive,
I'm longing for the morning
of the next world to arrive.
So, farewell to you, my love,
we were just not meant to be,
farewell to you, my preacher,
your words did comfort me,
put a white rose on my headstone,
think about me when you can,
I hope that you remember,
I was once a decent man,
now I go to meet my savior,
but I don't know what to say,
I'm hoping he'll just greet me
and wash my sins away.
It's just ten steps to climb
and a long way to fall,
I can see a white star shine
so high above this old gray prison wall.
Back to Top
THE LIGHTHOUSE
SONNENFELD - 2005
She climbs the wooden, winding stair,
a red string ties her auburn hair,
she keeps the lighthouse burning bright,
a beacon for lost ships at night.
Our wedding was a humble one,
they played the fife and beat the drum,
before too long I took my leave,
a sailor's wife , she'd learn to grieve.
She begged me not to sail so soon,
but I was young and heard the tune
of southern winds and ancient ruins,
of whaling ships and gold doubloons.
I told her not to fear for me,
the lighthouse safeguards men at sea,
she lit the oil lamp and then
I promised I'd return again.
A storm arose out on the sea
I took my shelter in the lee,
but mountainous waves our ship o'erwhelmed,
and tore it from it's stern to helm.
She begged me not to sail so soon,
but I was young and heard the tune
of southern winds and ancient ruins,
of whaling ships and gold doubloons.
It's fifteen years I did sail,
but she won't don the widow's veil,
Her lamp ignites a savage sky,
while one lone egret hears her cry.
She climbs the wooden, winding stair,
a red string ties her greying hair,
She keeps the lighthouse burning bright,
a beacon for lost ships at night.
She begged me not to sail so soon,
but I was young and heard the tune
of southern winds and ancient ruins,
of whaling ships and gold doubloons.
Back to Top
THE VERY LAST TIME THAT WE KISSED
- SONNENFELD - 2005
The fog rolls in,
the tide rolls out,
the starlight floats upon the sea,
my hopes ride on thin wings of doubt,
their journey ends right here with me
A stranger waits under the pier,
she wears a shroud that's made of dust,
and I don't want to look away
but her voice keeps telling me I must.
I didn't understand your words,
the sound was muted in the mist,
I think you said it was absurd,
the very last time that we kissed.
There's no one here but you and I
and even that might not be true,
I'm not that sure about myself,
and even less sure about you.
I didn't see how you could know my name,
but it was carved into your wrist,
I only know that i could feel the flame
the very last time that we kissed.
The fog rolls in,
the tide rolls out,
nothing seems to be in place,
she says she's always known me but
I still have never seen her face.
The moon is down,
the pier's gone dark,
no one's standing on the beach,
and I still want to touch you but
you always seem so out of reach.
You were someone I could have done without,
but it just hit me like a fist,
this is the first time that I've thought about
the very last time that we kissed.
Back to Top
