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America, Dreaming

by Noah Derksen

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1.
Hoping You Would Stay 03:42
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counting seconds after midnight here my breath is the only thing there’s a sweetness still that lingers as though I never watched you leave should I write a requiem or will I get to tell you that I was holding back waiting for the words to say that I’ve been broken down but I’m ready to be whole again and I was hoping hoping that you would stay from this second story window I see your face in passersby and were it not for lack of courage you would be here by my side should I write a requiem or will I get to tell you that (ch) I was holding back trying to find the words to say that I’ve been broken down but I’m ready to be whole again and I was hoping hoping that you would stay I’ve been tongue-tied shackled up, too scared to try but I don’t want to let you pass me by I was holding back I’ve been broken down I was holding back trying to find the words to say that I’ve been broken down but I’m ready to be whole again and I was hoping hoping that you would stay
2.
Tennessee Lines 04:16
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throw it in the bag I’m heading down south gonna see what freedom is all about I’ve been thinking to myself out loud I gotta get out of this cage somehow I’m coming on up to Tennessee lines where the air is thick with hope and rhyme see the devil on the side of that road I close my eyes and keep going they say hard living makes you stronger but I wonder could they be wrong they say how you get to where you’re going is just by going, so I keep going on until the hard living is gone talking with a trucker up from New Orleans hauling 40 nights and for 40 days hasn’t seen his wife and kids in that long but you do what you gotta do to get on said he was coming on up to Tennessee lines rolling over hills with the sun in eyes saw the devil on the side of that road he hit the gas and kept going they say hard living makes you stronger but I wonder could they be wrong they say how you get to where you’re going is just by going, so I keep going on until the hard living is gone no matter how far you crawl this pavement stays the same no matter how far you crawl nobody knows your name nobody knows your name they say hard living makes you stronger but I wonder could they be wrong they say how you get to where you’re going is just by going, so I keep going on until the hard living is gone
3.
Coffee Grew Cold 03:14
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here, it’s the scratch on the hardwood the holes in the drywall it’s here, I am reminded of failure and losing the ones I held dear, I have loved you and raised you the best I was able to dear, it was you I put first I let go of my own self worth and you’re growing up so fast the sand is ticking in the hour glass another day goes by another day goes by lover don’t you come up to me that way with a smile on your face as though you’re winning some kind of race there ain’t no finish line there’s just dishes to wash and that goddamn floor the stack of letters on the coffee table is getting higher but I don’t have the time and lately I’ve been tired another day goes by another day goes by another day goes by and the coffee it grew cold some time ago talk about free falling I’m lying in the bathtub just stalling another day goes by another day goes by another day goes by and the coffee it grew cold some time ago and the coffee it grew cold some time ago
4.
Wondering if I'm Gonna Last 03:15
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I’ve been thinking about overdrafts what’s going to happen when the due dates pass will someone come knocking at my door or will they break through the basement floor I’m not sure I’m trying hard not to dwell on it this sinking feeling that I’ve somehow missed one of those lines that I should have signed trying to pay my taxes on time everybody wants something to lose but you’ve gotta get it first before you lose it everybody wants to run so fast but you gotta find your legs before you stand and I’m wondering if I’m gonna last I’ve been thinking that I’m working hard and I’ve been counting pennies in the dark every single night it doesn’t add up when will I know when enough is enough oh no am i broken or just worn down at the edges I can’t tell if I’m still standing everybody wants something to lose but you’ve gotta get it first before you lose it everybody wants to run so fast but you gotta find your legs before you stand feels like I’m burning out in a field of grass holding on but I’m fading fast everybody wants something to lose but you’ve gotta get it first before you lose it everybody wants to run so fast but you gotta find your legs before you stand I’ve been looking for something to lose and I thought I was close, but I was confused I’ve been trying to run oh so fast but I trip and I fall and I can’t seem to stand and I’m wondering if I’m gonna last
5.
Land of the Free 03:26
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land of the free land of the free fallen land of the free falling onto its knees our fathers who stood before us on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan throwing rocks at the drowning men to see if they would sink, or if they’d swim do you feel the freedom now can you taste it well then sing it out loud land of the free land of the free fallen land of the free falling onto its knees there you sit with your ball and chain I hear you cursing out the Lord’s name ain’t it always the same just quit your bitching and moaning Sandy Hook was one of a kind, just like Vietnam and whatever happened in 1945 land of the free land of the free fallen land of the free falling onto its knees but baby, if we were born to run then why do we need a starting gun in the land of the free land of the free fallen land of the free falling onto its, falling onto its land of the free land of the free fallen land of the free falling onto its, falling onto its knees
6.
Lonely in America 03:54
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I took a trip down to New York City to find me a girl who’s looking oh so pretty but instead I was blinded by neon signs and buildings interrupting the sky so there I sat on a subway train it took me there, I thought it’d take me back again I see a man looking oh so blue I said “hey man, what’s the matter with you” it’s lonely in America that’s what he said to me I’ve been looking for salvation, but that ain’t free it’s lonely in America and that’s the way it’s always been sometimes the lonely gets to me I listened him for twenty minutes I couldn’t help thinking of rags and riches but then came time for the end of the line as he went left I went right I walked across a parking lot it’s a shortcut to save me a couple of blocks there was a woman sitting down with her head in her hands I asked to make me understand how it’s lonely in America that’s what she said to me I’ve been looking for salvation but that ain’t free its lonely in America and that’s the way it’s always been sometimes the lonely gets to me I’m boarding a flight, this one’s northern bound it flew me south and now it’s turned back around and I’m grateful for where I’m from now send me on home with the setting sun it’s lonely in America that’s what I’ve come to see if you’re looking for salvation, man, that ain’t free god it’s lonely in America and that’s the way it’ll always be and now the lonely’s got to me and now the lonely’s got to me
7.
Nothing 04:07
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pull me closer just to warm you it’s never felt so good being used and here I am, just hoping that nothing fills the silence of this room oh I guess that I should warn you that there’s another point of view so fix your face towards mine I’ll show you how the world looks back at you it’s true there’s nothing more I want than wanting you there’s nothing more to see than seeing you there’s nothing else that I would rather do than lying here in nothingness with you drive your car up to the country say you need some time alone I’ll be waiting, wanting for you to let me come and take you home there’s nothing more I want than wanting you there’s nothing more to see than seeing you there’s nothing else that I would rather do than lying here in nothingness with you the candle’s burned out in the hallway has the smoke yet cleared your eyes was it you who said there’s nothing so divine there’s nothing more I want than wanting you there’s nothing more to see than seeing you there’s nothing more I want than wanting you there’s nothing more to see than seeing you there’s nothing else that I would rather do than lying here in nothingness with you
8.
Wilderness of Oregon 03:41
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I’m lost so come and find me with the cedars these broken branches need some healing as I can’t forget the past how loud the silent screams of inhibition watch your confidence grow distant as you settle on the floor wilderness of Oregon come take me home I have no requisitions I just long to roam so to Oregon I’ll go high cost to walk the garden with the roses one more look and you’ll be frozen a scaffold to the sky so cover me with your hurricane-like presence until I learn how to listen and the world falls at my feet wilderness of Oregon come take me home I have no requisitions I just long to roam so to Oregon I’ll go I’m lost so come and find me with the cedars wilderness of Oregon come take me home I have no requisitions I just long to roam oh wilderness, oh wilderness I long to go
9.
Love, Come Easy 03:44
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young man sitting on his porch at night he’s sitting there watching with eyes open wide thinking love might just walk on by but it don’t come now and it didn’t come then sometimes you just can’t know when even when you feel it coming around the corner he’s thinking, love, come easy love, come easy now switch the scene to a café shop a woman walks in from the parking lot she’s covered in rain and filled with thoughts of loneliness she takes her coffee black as she wonders where the hell she’s out how love could escape her grasp once again she’s thinking, love, come easy love, come easy love, come easy love, come easy if the two of them should meet somewhere there out on the street is it love that might set them free but they just keep their heads down praying what’s been lost will become found and love will come easy but love don’t come easy love, come easy love, come easy love, come easy
10.
Weighing Like a City Gate 02:51
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who comes to the bar on this fine evening it’s Johnny, well he owns the place in truth he has not looked that great of late it’s a quiet night and I’m singing the church bells have long stopped ringing and I’m still holding hope that some will come how it’s lonely when the second-hand does run hey, don’t you look at me that way I’m trying to express the pain that gift and opportunity have laid laid, laid, laid on me I’ll never be a doctor I’ll never cut the cord I’ll just keep on bringing life to these old words maybe there’s an architect than I can lay my head down next until then I guess I’m strumming this guitar how it’s lonely when you’re looking out so far hey, don’t you look at me that way I’m trying to express the pain that gift and opportunity have laid laid, laid, laid on me hey, don’t you look at me that way as if to say I’m second rate for trying to express my pain how gift and opportunity are weighing like a city gate that I don’t have the patience to figure out the open clue hey, don’t you look at me that way I’m trying to escape
11.
What Kind of Love is That 03:19
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all my friends are skipping town while I’m stuck in the here and now losing all the right words to say holding on to hopelessness still hoping that that hold might stick what’s a little wool to keep my eyes closed what kind of love is that display to you your weakness what kind of love is that to make you weep what kind of love is that it opens up then closes holding up your brokenness intact see that love won’t last dancing in this rented room okay I forgot my dancing shoes but what is it to you if I can’t the birds they sing inside my head but I cannot put their tune to pen I’m making noise, I must be making something what kind of love is that display to you your weakness what kind of love is that to make you weep what kind of love is that it opens up then closes holding up your brokenness intact see that love won’t last

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released October 4, 2019

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Noah Derksen Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canadian Folk Music’s 2021 Emerging Artist of the Year, Noah Derksen is quickly becoming known as a songwriter’s songwriter. Hailing from the heart of the Canadian Prairies, Noah has spent years honing his craft across North America. With a rich and soulful voice, Noah weaves poetry that sounds instantly familiar on first listen. He lives in Winnipeg, Canada. ... more

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