Written by Alexandra Costello © 2011
A favorite of ours, about time management, written the day before Alex had to participate in a song circle, which she had signed up for several months previous, but waited until the last minute to write a song to present!
Time is a tricky thing
It can slip away like sand
Runnin’
through a sifter
A pendulum won’t stop swinin’
For a
moment
Be careful with this thing you’ve been given
Or
your greatest gift
Will become you greatest curse
Use it well;
use it wisely
For the Kingdom; for His glory
Chorus:
And time is
flowing from the hourglass
And you can’t turn it around
Life
is short; the sand runs fast
And you can’t turn it upside
down
Life goes as fast as it comes
And you can’t
reverse
The hands on a clock
Even though you might have
The
greatest intentions
If you want to fly
You have to
get off the ground
Instead of sitting back
Staring longingly
at the sky
God will give you wings but you must
Use them; and
soar
Chorus
My Hope and Treasure
Words based on the poem by Anne Bradstreet, c. 1612 – 1672 "Upon the Burning of our House"
Music and adaptation by Cheryl Costello © 2011
This is a lovely poem, written after Anne Bradstreet lost her house to a fire. The message of the poem was so heartfelt and humbling that Cheryl desired to write a song to reflect the message. When words failed her, she simply adapted aspects of this poem to music, in hopes that Bradstreet would approve.
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust
Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.
Chorus
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram’d by that mighty Architect
A price so vast as is unknown,
Yet by his gift is made thine own,
There’s wealth enough; I need no more.
Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.
The world no longer let me love;
My hope and Treasure lies above.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should repine,
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Refrain:
Raise up thy thoughts
Above the sky
And to thy God
Let thy heart cry
Have You Ever Wondered
Written by Alexandra Costello © 2011
Composed for the same song circle as "Hourglass" this one proves once and for all that Alex can write some very good songs when under pressure. This was completed only hours before she had to perform it in front of a room full of people! Alex says this was a very difficult song to write for some reason, which is fitting, because the song is about the complexities of God's creation.
Have you ever seen a willow cry?
Heard
the wind whisper as it passes by?
Seen the mountains reach for the
clouds above
Heard the gentle cooing of a morning dove
Walking
out at dark on a star flecked night
As they shine down from
the heavens bright
From the snow to the rain to the wind in the
trees
Have you ever wondered at these mysteries?
Chorus:
The Lord of Creation and mystery
Great are the works to those who delight
Splendor of all in Your sight
Have you seen how water can gleam like glass
Have you ever felt the smooth green grass
A waterfall cloaked in simple beauty
A spiderweb's great complexity
Chorus
The smell that comes after heavy rainfall
A wolf howling out it's lonely call
A flower soaks in the golden sunlight
The full moon sets the world alight
Chorus
Suburban Home
Written by Cheryl Costello © 2012
This song was written for Katie to sing, inspired from her preteen years when she would spend hours dreaming of riding a horse, wild and free, while living in the suburbs. If you ask really nicely, and find just the right song, sometimes you can even get that banjar player to sing for you! Katie takes the lead on this one.
In a hospital in the city
To this noisy world I was born
With the bright lights flashing in the eyes
And the honking of a horn
My childhood was a fenced in yard
The grass four inches high
And houses that surrounded me
Were so close they blocked the sky
Chorus
My heart longs to be on the plains
The wind flowing through my hair
And one hand holding tight to reins
Of a lovely dappled mare
But I sit here in my suburban home
With just paintings on the wall
Waiting for the day when I can roam
To fulfill this yearning call
Perhaps I am unthankful
And let worldly things entice
But I think there is a part of us
That longs for paradise
‘Cause there can come a time
When the monoliths of man
Can dull your sense and distract the mind
From the way this world began
Chorus
I look upon the paintings
Let my imagination stray
There’s a whole world reaching out there
That I’ll make it to someday
Perhaps I will remain here
Until the day I die
But I’ll hope in what I cannot see
What money cannot buy
Chorus
Rest
Written by Cheryl Costello © 2012
This song was added last minute to the song list by Cheryl, after considering parts of Psalm 103, and the trials of 2011, as the family sold their home and prepared for Michael to leave his job. It is performed with a simple, raw guitar in the background.
The road is so long, the path is steep.
As my strength fades I pray O Lord, my faith to keep.
Through stormy winds, a steadfast trust
Lord please remember, a man is mere dust.
Father compassion You show,
To those who fear Your name.
From everlasting my soul is blessed,
Your steadfast love my heart can rest.
Like a ship on the water, tossed by the sea
I can walk upon the waves if by your command you'll agree.
On eagle's wings with Your Spirit I soar.
Redeemed through
Your sacrifice my burdens You bore.
Father compassion You show,
To those who fear Your name.
From everlasting my soul is blessed,
Your steadfast love my heart can rest.
Published by Chrysalis One Music, LLC, WB Music Corp OBO Jesse Belle Denver, BMG Ruby Songs
Used by Permission*
This is often a finale at many of our shows, where we bring Mary up for one more song!
Clinch Mountain Medly
"Clinch Mountain Backstep" by Carter Stanley, Ruby Rakes
Published by Fort Knox Music, Inc. and Trio Music Company, Inc.
"My Clinch Mountain Home" by S. Carter, A.P. Carter, M. Carter
Published by Peer International Corporation
Both used by Permission*
Bouncing back and forth between an old Carter tune with all musical breaks based on an instrumental from the Stanley Brothers, this is more of a "mix-up" than a "medley", we create a "medly" - an older word from the 1913 Webster Dictionary that means to mix-up and mingle!
Red Painted Barn
Written by Alexandra Costello © 2011
This is definitely Papa's favorite and one you almost must get up and dance to when you hear it! Alex wrote this one when she was 16, and it was the first song selected for this CD, long before we started thinking about putting it together.
A few miles away on an old couple’s farm,
There’s a small but nice, red-painted barn
The couple would host dances through the summer
And that was the place Grandmother met Grandfather
Chorus
He said “Hey, young miss, my sweet
young Lady,
I’m from a place just east the Mississippi,
I
very much enjoyed the dance this afternoon
Grace me with another
one sometime soon.”
They got married in 1945
The dances
kept on going throughout the summertime
Mother would go on
Wednesdays every other
And that was the place where she met my
father
Chorus
And now I go with my sister and my
brother
‘Most every night throughout the summer
I‘ll stay
there late, and dance ‘till I’m red
And just the other night
someone said
Forever Home - A Prayer for Adoption
Written by Cheryl Costello © 2011
Cheryl wrote this specifically for Mary to
sing, inspired by friends who had recently adopted children, both out of
foster care and overseas. It is a song of a little girl crying out in
prayer on behalf of other children in search of a "Forever Home", and
reminds us of James 1:27, where we are reminded of the responsibility
the Christian has towards widows and orphans.
Morning is breaking, a new day’s begun
A little girl watches the rising sun,
What will the day bring? What is in store?
Where will she be when the day is o’re?
Chorus:
God up in Heaven, please hear her cry,
Send down your angels to be by her side.
Comfort your child so she’s not a-lone,
Please won’t you find her a fore-ver home?
As the day passes her heart finds no rest,
Never belonging, only a guest.
Something she’s heard of, never has known,
A place of belonging, a home of her own.
Chorus
Evening’s upon her, darkness is nigh,
She turns her gaze to the evening sky.
Speaks a soft prayer she’s spoken before,
And longs for a day when she’s lonely no more.
Chorus
Narrow Minded - Matt 7:13-27
Written by Cheryl Costello ©
2011
In a world where it is popular to have an "open
mind", and one where many claim even children should not be influenced
in any one way of thinking, Cheryl confesses this song was written to be
rather ornery. Having it sung by the feisty young Sean was simply a
bonus. Quibble if you like, but the inspiration for this song comes
directly from the words of Jesus Himself!
Jesus told the people to watch and be aware
For wolves will wear sheep clothing and the truth their claws
Some days it's not so easy to decipher what is true
But with the Holy Spirit the Bible gives a clue
Chorus
'Cause I'm narrow minded
I'm walking the narrow road
I'm narrow minded
Through the narrow gate I'll go
Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and it's not a gate for me
But narrow is the one that leads to life is where I want to be.
By fruits I will know them, keep watch for a healthy tree
The bad fruit from diseased trees, cut down it will be.
Not everyone who calls His name will enter the narrow gate,
Workers of iniquity head towards a different fate.
Chorus
I'll not be like the foolish man who builds a house on sand
I want to build my life on the rock that's sure to stand
Some day when my life's over and my final breath is done
I want to hear Him tell me, good job my faithful one
'Be narrow minded
Start walking the narrow road
Be narrow minded
Through the narrow gate you'll go
Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and it's not a gate for you
But narrow is the one that leads to life and it's the only one that's true
Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and it's not a gate for me
But narrow is the one that leads to life and it's where I want to be!
Bird Song
Traditional Folk Song
Public Domain
Found through the homeschooling web site, AmblesideOnline, Cheryl and the twins learned this years ago while studying some old folk songs. It stuck with Alex as a favorite, and turned into an audience favorite as well when we created our own arrangement.
Hi! says the blackbird, sitting on a chair,
Once I courted a lady fair;
She proved fickle and turned her back,
And ever since then I'm dressed in black.
Hi! says the blue-jay as she flew,
If I was a young man I'd have two;
If one proved fickle and chanced for to go,
I'd have a new string to my bow.
Hi! says the little mourning dove,
I'll tell you how to gain her love;
Court her night and court her day,
Never give her time to say "0 nay."
Hi! said the woodpecker sitting on a fence,
Once I courted a handsome wench;
She proved fickle and from me fled,
And ever since then my head's been red.
Hi! says the swallow, sitting in a barn,
Courting, I think, is no harm.
I pick my wings and sit up straight
And hope every young man will choose him a mate.
Hi! says the robin, with a little squirm,
I wish I had a great, big worm;
I would fly away into my nest;
I have a wife I think is the best.
Operator
By W. SPIVERY, published by CONRAD
MUSIC
Used by Permission*
This is what you get when you take a vocal jazz piece, made famous by the Manhattan Transfer, but specifically arranged here for the vocal make-up of the Costello family, put it through the bluegrass grinder, and see what comes out the other end!
*Lyrics to cover songs not listed here due to copyright agreements. Words can be found in other locations through internet searches.
Lyrics for Amber Waves Band's first CD coming soon!
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