James May Music

Music

A Thousand Shining Pieces

1.	Truth Garden	Play	Truth Garden © 2009 James May I'm planting the seeds of intention Watering with desire Fertile with hope as the sun feeds us all with its fire The soil is alive with familiar Remnants of previous lives This field I have known, it's calling me home I'm going back to the truth garden I'm finding the roots of affection Connected and holding fast Feeling the ground as I follow them down From the past I'm holding the heart of forgiveness Knowing the ways we need Daring to say that I will find my way I'm setting out for the truth garden You're a flower refined to the point of transparency I'm a leaf that's collecting all the rain You're a color of light that my eyes have not ever seen I'm a man tasting the spring I'm moving along the inflection Bending with relative ease I'm clearing a path Through the bramble that's hiding the stream Honing the sense I was given Yet muddling through the maze Taking my space at the watering place I'm coming up in the truth garden You're a flower refined to the point of transparency I'm a leaf that's collecting all the rain You're a color of light that my eyes have not ever seen I'm a man tasting the spring Lyrics	Truth Garden Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitars, kalimba samples Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris drums and percussion John R. Burr piano Shelley Phillips pennywhistle Bruce Wandmayer pedal steel guitar Keith Greeninger vocal harmony Lori Rivera vocal harmony Tim Prince glockenspiel ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
2.	Coming Home	Play	Coming Home © 2009 James May To myself, I can be truly a friend indeed Someone to listen when the heart is in need When I'm down and feeling bluish, I'll make some tea And take some time to sit and let it be For myself, I can bear witness to what's at hand To who is buried in this shifting sand I'll stick around there I'll take what's down there And find a song that I can sing That brings me home to my sweet love I'm coming home to my sweet love By myself, I can get lonely, I'll make some soup You bring the bread and maybe chocolate too! Since you're here, let's drink a toast to the one we see The self that's mirrored in our company In ourselves, we can be holy, we can be free We can find meaning in the ordinary Let's stick around there Let's take what's down there And find a song that we can sing That brings us home to our sweet love We're coming home to our sweet love When I'm out and feeling groovy, I won't lose sight I'll keep on asking ‘til this heart feels right I'll stick around there I'll take what's down there And find a song that I can sing That brings me home to my sweet love I'm coming home to my sweet Home to my sweet I'm coming home to my sweet love Lyrics	Coming Home Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitar Paul Olguin electric bass Jim Norris drums, tambourine John R. Burr electric piano Keith Greeninger electric guitar ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
3.	Falling Into	Play	Falling Into © 2009 James May Falling into a place where I can see A thousand shining faces of my own I long to reveal them all I don't want to conceal at all At all, I don't want to at all For I no longer am the man I used to be Far, far away, there's a star where I was born It's a place that knows a thousand ways to be I belong to that place which is free Can you be in that space with me? Can you be in that space with me? We'll know every secret passage to the sea Singing a song that reminds us who we are It can cut the fog and guide us to the shore Come along, sing your song, oh please Send it out to the stars and me To the stars, send it out, for me So I can hear the voice of love resound in thee Falling into a place where I can free A thousand shining pieces of my heart Though I ache and I'm torn apart I'm awake, I'm reborn, I am free For the man, the star, the heart, the song to be For the man, the star, the heart, the song to be Lyrics	Falling Into Credits James May vocal, nylon string guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris congas, brushes, triangle John R. Burr electric piano Paul Contos saxophone ♯ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3
4.	Five Years On	Play	Five Years On © 2009 James May It's five years on, and the fire is in embers She's come and gone right before my very eyes Now time is busted, I don't believe it anymore Where once I trusted I can never now be sure It's five years on, but this painting has no ending The master's drawn me half in shadow, half in light Chiaroscuro grips my soul The ancient sorrow burns my face I feel her holding me in a kind and loving grace Carry on, make love strong, this is what I hear her say Nothing's wrong I belong to the one who calls us on Like a song I am in your heart to stay I'm with you all the way It's five years on, in a dream, on an empty street I walk the foggy night Through a pink and orange haze The veil is lifted I catch a glimpse as she goes through The world is shifted and the light is turned to blue It's five years on, now my flask is near empty I purse my trembling lips And throw some comfort back But it's not like in those early days where I wept a long time on the ground Now I'm mostly up, I can feel my heart's rebound Carry on, make love strong, this is what I hear her say Nothing's wrong You belong to the one who calls us on Like a song I am in your heart to stay I'm with you all the way I'm with you all the way Lyrics	Five Years On Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Paul Olguin electric bass Jim Norris drums John R. Burr piano Shelley Phillips Irish flute Kathy Chastain vocal harmony yard birds vocals ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
5.	The Seventh Wave	Play	The Seventh Wave © 2009 James May Ocean wind blowing cold Whispering the tides of old Ghostly waves crash and swell Crested messengers with tales to tell Deep and low, a distant roar Like an echo of what's come before With lion's heart, Orion's eye Salty sails were set to boundless sky Out of the north, fierce and strong Onward toward the edge, their hope ran long But came the storm with no relent Bruised and battered down below they went Because the seventh wave knows no law But its own It has a way of breaking all you've known Just when you thought you had it made Beware the seventh wave, oh-oh, oh-oh Like your birth, washed right out From mother's arms and milk to life without Cast away like a stone In this world of chill you're all alone Chart a course, set it straight Keep your bearing fixed, don't deviate Find the ropes, tie things down, Set your compass on the silver crown Count your deeds, count your stuff Count the feeling that it's not enough ‘Til one fine day, in heartless guise All are swept away before your eyes Because the seventh wave shows no grace But its own It pulls you under to the great unknown Just when you thought you would be saved There comes a seventh, oh no You see the seventh wave knows no bounds Breaks those battens down It leaves you sparkling on some holy ground When all is lost, but all is found You'll thank the seventh wave, oh-oh, oh-oh Lyrics	The Seventh Wave Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris drums John R. Burr piano Joel Behrman flugelhorn, trumpet ♭ ♭ ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
6.	On The Line	Play	On The Line © 2009 James May It's the season, the train pulls in the stop Conductor smiles and says "you can call me pop" "Climb aboard now, it's warm inside" And all he asks of you is "please don't hide" Where you're going, he is not about to say But there's a knowing look upon his weathered face From the north a cold wind howls down the track But all it says to you is "don't turn back" With whose eyes do we see? With what heart can we find peace? With whose smile do we shine? Will our passion be confined? On the earthbound line Fast as light, the train has long since disappeared You swim with demons in that soup of human fear Then something drops It's like you're rolling down a hill And all you've asked is do you like the way it feels In a heartbeat the whole scape can change Take you far away from your home back on the range Raven comes, there's a knock at your door But all he says to you is "never more" With whose arms do we hold? With what grace can we grow old? With whose life do we entwine? How much golden can we mine? On this earthbound line How much sweetness do we? How much laughter can we? How much heaven will we find? On the earthbound line Lyrics	On The Line Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Paul Olguin electric bass Jim Norris drums Barry Phillips cellos Kimball Hurd mandolins Keith Greeninger vocal harmony Benjamin Schley-May raven's knock ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3
7.	Loving Arms	Play	Loving Arms © 2009 James May Tasting my tears Wanting you here Missing you with all that I am Crying aloud Where have you gone? Why did you leave me? Are you still the one that I knew? The one that I grew? Needing you not knowing where to find you Looking for your face in every crowd Feeling only pain, I long to have you Rest here in my loving arms again It's been so long How long has it been? Feels just like an hour ago I had to let go The last thing you said to me was "I love you daddy" And the last thing that I uttered to you was "I love you" Surely this can't be the end of our love I knew your spirit long before your birth Then I saw your face that newborn day Rest here in my loving arms again For you I wanted all that life could ever have to give It's true But you were taken all too soon Wishing for a chance to do it over Looking back on all those happy days Wondering if there'll come a time when you will Rest here in my loving arms again Lyrics	Loving Arms Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Barry Phillips string arrangement, cello Chad Kaltinger viola Priscilla Fisher violin Jim Norris snare drum ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3
8.	Strength Beyond	Play	Strength Beyond © 2009 James May I'm just now catching up Finally to myself I'd left some parts behind I didn't even know for the longest time I thought that I was just my kind I held on way too tight I'm letting go for love Relaxing all my grips I'm melting down in love And sinking in the snow and I'm finding things Like little seeds the birds have sown I'm fine here on my own Lying back and listening to the wind Blowing free with strength beyond Feeling touched and seeing how love's been Holding me with strength beyond I can't tell you what is real I only know for me These currents that I feel are full of hope I see that the brightest smiles Come from those who've stood their trials We never are alone Lying back and whispering in your ear Loving you with strength beyond Holding on and listening to your fears Seeing you with strength beyond I'm tuning up the strings tugging on my heart There's rosin on my bow And I am playing part of a symphony I don't decide the time or key And that's just fine with me Standing still and waiting for the signs Holding up with strength beyond Finding you and looking in your eyes Filling up with strength beyond Filling up with strength beyond Filling up with strength beyond Lyrics	Strength Beyond Credits James May vocal, nylon string guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris congas, maracas John R. Burr piano Joel Behrman trumpet, trombone Lori Rivera vocal harmony ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
9.	Warm Love	Play	Warm Love © 2009 James May Warm love, stay with me Wrap me in your arms and rock me evenly Squeeze me ‘til I cry ‘Til I'm all wrung out then hang me up to dry Whisper in my ear Tell me all the ways I hesitate in fear Then crack me with a joke ‘Til my heavy self gets laughed right up in smoke Don't give up, there is a way right through These hearts know everything we need Let it go, that pain's been held way too long Now it's calling for release Warm love, I'm your man I will give myself please take me as I am Embrace me at your door As I head out on this path of love once more In every play there is a part that's true A role with every scene we need Let it flow, that part's been calling you and me To let love supersede Push me hard on that swing Take me up and up, much higher than I've been But seek me if I hide Chase me ‘round the yard then draw me to your side Hold me close so you can feel my heart Feel the life that's beating free You and I, we won't be far apart Warm love is taking hold of me Lyrics	Warm Love Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris percussion Kimball Hurd mandolas Barry Phillips cello ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
10.	Hey There	Play	Hey There © 2009 James May Hey there, how are you? Are you still okay? You've been gone a long, long time I'm missing you today Hey there, where are you? Are you far away? Can you show your lovely face And hear me as I pray? Can I ask which way to turn? I do not clearly see From your view with divining light Can you signal me? Will you hold me, across time and space As I struggle through the fray? Be my guide to this mystery place And help me on my way Hey, help me on my way Hey there, I'm with you following your lead Taking time to tend the vines Planting all the seeds Hey there, I see you just beyond the bend Dancing in a golden light Calling me again Can I ask which way to turn As I struggle through the fray Be my guide to this mystery play And help me on my way Hey, help me on my way Hey there, how are you? Are you still okay? You've been gone a long, long time I'm missing you today Hey there, I see you just beyond the bend Dancing in a golden light Calling me again You say Hey there, ooh-ooh-ooh Hey there, ooh-ooh-ooh . . . Lyrics	Hey There Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitars, electric guitar Paul Olguin electric bass Jim Norris drums Keith Greeninger vocal harmony, electric guitar John R. Burr Hammond organ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3
11.	If You Say	Play	If You Say © 2009 James May If you say goodbye And you walk away You won't hear me crying You won't see the dark clouds on my face If you say you care But you can't be here I won't try to hold you I won't burn my wishes in your ear But I still want you Baby more than those ways I used to ‘Cause I still long to taste All of the fruits of the love we'd make If you say you'll try But you are not sure You won't catch me vying I will cast my hope in a light that's pure Can I still kiss you? There's so many ways I need to Feel you close, squeeze you tight Baby all through the day and into the night If you say hello And you come my way You might see my crying But you'll see the joy that's on my face Lyrics	If You Say Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris drums, tambourine Dayan Kai accordion, clarinets ♯ ♯ ♯ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3
12.	Eliza Jane	Play	Eliza Jane © 2009 James May Eliza Jane, never twice the same Do you have time to take some tea with me? Eliza Jane, I'm feeling strange Can we lie down beside the fiery hearth? And with the rain outside Sounding questions on the roof Can we go looking for that buried truth? And with these clouds of tears inside Raining puddles on the floor May we find peace and comfort more I'm not so afraid to sink down this way The frozen ground has been a friend to me I'll walk straight in to that howling wind And lie right down inside my fiery heart And I will call your name Find me here, Eliza Jane Can we go dancing to this storm's refrain? And as the lonely ache subsides There's a lightness in your eyes Cause we've been moving with these holy ghosts So with a warm embrace And a nuzzle at the door May we keep showing up May we keep coming through May we keep reaching out for more Lyrics	Eliza Jane Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Keith Greeninger vocal harmony, acoustic guitar Paul Olguin electric bass Jim Norris drums Kimball Hurd mandolins Bruce Wandmayer pedal steel guitar John R. Burr Hammond organ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ ♯ Info	Buy MP3
13.	When I Dance	Play	When I Dance © 2009 James May I'm so alive, when I dance with you Graceful and playful, the heart comes through From your eyes shining back through mine The sacred light of our design The wild and the shy, and the ones in bloom Perfectly tuned to the waves moving through Our footsteps tracing circles in the sand Our lives flowing hand to hand Oh where, where can we go from here? Oh what, what can we see? I just wanna know Where can we go from here? And how How good might this be? The call of the muse to this dance of fire To the soul in these bones, with the strength of desire A leap, a lifting of my heart Terpsichore spinning me apart I'm held to the pain, in a spell for awhile But then I move and I thaw and I grin at your smile Let's drink some water from this well so sweet Let's dance complete Oh where, where can we go from here? Oh what, what can we see? I just wanna know Where can we go from here? And how How good might this be? I'm so in love when I dance with you Lyrics	When I Dance Credits James May vocal, acoustic guitar Bill Douglass acoustic bass Jim Norris drums, percussion John R. Burr electric piano Paul Contos flutes ♯ ♯ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ ♭ Info	Buy MP3

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This recording features 13 original songs in a warm, contemporary folk style. Heart centered, heliotropic, and organic. Sometimes Beatlesque and in spots Paul Simonish, with an occasional jazz tilt or Latin rhythm, it features catchy melodies with heartfelt lyrics that speak of loss, longing, rebirth, reunion, lightness.

NOTE: The MP3 files offered for sale here are in super high quality 256kbps format, encoded directly from the high resolution masters.