My parents settled in a college town by the sea First came oldest, than the middle one, then me We’d go to the beach and watch the waves break But the ocean is no better than the lake I loved that boardwalk town, it’s my childhood Then we grew up as we three knew we would Where it seemed like burgers more than steak But the ocean is no better than the lake Cause as I lived through those years And I worked through my fears Of being liked, of being loved Of all the horses and steers I met new kids, made long lasting friends We get together every now and then And we remember the good times The crazy days and nights Over bourbon, cokes, wine coolers or beer And it’s all so clear, No matter where we live, We’ve learned to give and take And the ocean is no better than the lake The ocean is no better than the lake Now I head out with my boat outside of town Whether I’m a happy camper or feeling down I swear by the local diner’s apple pie and cake But the ocean is no better than the lake And as I live through these years And I work through my remaining fears Of being tossed, of being thrown By the old horses and steers I now have kids, have new friends We get together every now and then We make memories, have good times The crazy days and nights Over sweet tea, cokes, spritzers or lite beer And it’s all so clear, No matter where we live, It’s all about that give and take And the ocean is no better than the lake That ocean I miss is no better than the lake That ocean I miss is no better than the lake May 13, 2022
Category Archives: Inspired by Outdoors
Santa Cruz Young
Dedicated to my brothers, Russell Gray & Jeff Gray
Just to ride down that trail again
To see the whole Monterey Bay
And to feel that strong breeze
Against my golden brown face
Just to walk in that neighborhood
To Westlake with my schoolmates
And not have too worry about
What was on our dinner plates
When we were Santa Cruz young
We didn’t think too much about
Things our parents were doing
Like who they were countersuing
Or who had extra special clout
We only cared about each other
Fitting in and good sportsmanship
Riding our bikes around UCSC
We were wild and oh so crazy
As we’d go to the beach for a dip
I remember playing capture the flag
I remember how it all was and felt
And I remember my first crushes
How I thought my heart would melt
I remember my first childhood kiss
With a girl from down the block
And how my Daddy worked so hard
While Mom stayed in and was his rock
Just to be in my old room again
Just to listen to that old record play
And to be around my older brothers
So the mem’ries wouldn’t fade
If I could go back in to Calvin Place
Or hike to the bottom of the hill
I’d want to also go and visit
Ron, Shirley, Christine & Bill
When we were Santa Cruz young
We didn’t think too much about
Things our parents were doing
Like who they were countersuing
Or who had extra special clout
We only cared about each other
Baseball cards and Harvey West
Fitting in and real good manners
Visiting with the Catletts & Danners
And making sure we did our best
Just to ride down that trail again
To see the whole Monterey Bay
And to feel that strong breeze
Against my golden brown face
And to feel that strong breeze
Against my golden brown face
When we were Santa Cruz young
Oh, when we were Santa Cruz young.
Country Girls in a Wagoneer
Packed it up for the three day weekend
The 4 of them are on a quest for fun
Headin’ up to the cabin for a good time
For some drinkin’, grillin’ & sun
Takes all day just to get there
But they’ve got their music up loud
Their hair’s dancin’ ‘n they’re singin’
Like they’re on stage in front of a crowd
They’re livin’ large
and they’ve got no fear
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
They’re wavin’ to the cars as the pass by
Got a big truck driver to honk his horn
And they’re lovin’ the scenic route
Filled with miles of stalks of corn
They’ve got a cooler of some sweet tea
Sweeter than what you’ll get at a store
They can’t wait to get to that mining town
They’ll get crazy on that biker bar floor
Just livin’ large,
Thirsty for men & beer
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
Labor Day Weekend has started
They’ve done this every year
Since they got out of High School
And it’s become so crystal clear
They won’t be doin’ it much longer
They’ve gotta make this one the best
Raise some Hell there with the locals, then
Sleep in, so they’ll get their beauty rest
Just livin’ large,
Thirsty for sun, men & chilly beer
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
Oh, they’re
Buck wild country girls in a Wagoneer
October 15, 2020
At The Lake House
It’s warm in this place when it’s cold outside
I’m still here at the lake house where we met
We were just kids but it seems like yesterday
It was a moment frozen in time I won’t forget
You had a bright big smile and laughed at me
I was quiet and shy but not with you back then
We’d watch the geese before they flew away
And you came back to see me again and again
At the lake house
It was just you and me
At the lake house
We were so happy and free
Fishin’ in a rowboat
Wishin’ on falling stars
Not old enough to go to bars
And we weren’t fully grown
Out at the lake house
Where I now live alone
I’m out here while you’re in another’s arms
Thinkin’ ‘bout all those afternoons with you
We’d go on walks until we had to run back
I crushed on you and you already knew
At the lake house
It was just you and me
At the lake house
We were so happy and free
Sharin’ my poems with you
Hopin’ we’d share a kiss
Not knowin’ it’s you I’d miss
And weep at your gravestone
Out at the lake house
Where I now live all alone
Out at the lake house
Where I now live alone
February 2, 2021
Working From Boat
I’d go out at sea with my Dad
He taught me everything he knew
Like how to prevent getting sick
And if I got stranded, what to do
He said he couldn’t live on land
Even if his love wanted him to
This boat was part of the deal
The women in his life knew
When I graduated from school
I knew I’d be his right hand man
Mom didn’t want me to join him
And neither did the band
I played guitar and sang lead
And I wrote most of the songs
But that wasn’t gonna keep me
From righting all my wrongs
If I had a job inside an office
I’d probably go a little insane
The ocean breeze in my face
Is a lot better for my brain
This life ain’t for everyone
Wearin’ a Captain’s hat & coat
But it’s the greatest time I know
Workin’ from boat
Yeah, I’m workin’ from boat
Getting through nasty fog
Weatherin’ every storm
Keepin’ cool in the heat
When it’s freezing, stayin’ warm
Avoidin’ all those crazy pirates
And never gettin’ too drunk
Cause you never think straight
If your little ship has sunk
This is all I ever want to do
To follow in the footsteps of Dad
He’s the best & only role model
I wanted to be like him so bad
So I studied his every move
And those hard choices he’d make
His mind was always on his job
Yet it seemed like he was on break
If I had a job inside an office
I’d probably go a little insane
The ocean breeze in my face
Is a lot better for my brain
This life ain’t for everyone
Wearin’ a Captain’s hat & coat
But it’s the greatest life I know
Workin’ from boat
Yeah, it’s the sweetest life I’ll know
Workin’ from boat
Workin’ from boat
Workin’ from boat
August 14, 2020
Sand In Our Cracks
Sand in our cracks
Breathing the ocean breeze
As we’re makin’
sweet memories
With Hawaiian Tropic oil
on our sun kissed backs
and warm white sand in our cracks
Tired of bein’ at home
Tired of stayin’ inside
Wanna get outta this place
Where the water is wide
Where the fun never stops
As we wear our flip flops
And the sand is so hot
Where we do shot after shot
(Where we get)
Sand in our cracks
Breathin’ the ocean breeze
As we’re makin’
sweet memories
With Hawaiian Tropic oil
on our sun kissed backs
And warm white sand in our cracks
More than ready to go
I’m already there in my mind
Where the good vibes flow
And we’ve left our work behind
We spend our refund checks
Nah, we don’t dare save
It’s more fun to soak up rays,
Get loose and misbehave
In a Southern Coastal state
Where we’ve gone for years
Where we stay up late
Where we let go of our fears
Where we can be ourselves
And let go of our past
Spend that time with each other
Before we get older too fast
Too fast
(So we get)
Sand in our cracks
Breathe in the
ocean breeze
As we’re makin’
sweet memories
With Hawaiian Tropic oil
on our sun kissed backs
The ladies have no tan lines
With warm white sand in their cracks
Where us men have our swim trunks on
and the warm white sand in our cracks
Our Moonlight Swim
We met out at the lake with towels
covering our lifeguard swimsuits
It was us, the mountain air, pines
and water we loved so much
And we ran toward our unknown
future without fear or worries
It was during the same summer
When I blew out your VW’s clutch
Our close friends knew
but our clueless parents didn’t
They were too caught up
In their own Adulting stuff
It was before we all split apart
To go on our own adventures
It was before those twenties
that were too difficult and rough
You would look at me
while making funny faces
And I’d mirror you with
some of mine too
We’d hold hands as we
walked in quiet places
With a love that should
have ended up to be true
And I wonder where you
are now as I ponder
About that summer
and that moonlight swim
And I think about what
we might have been –
If I hadn’t chosen her
and you ended up with him
The year before I dated a little
Other girls didn’t see what you saw
I was too nerdy and awkward
And they’d point out every flaw
You didn’t care if I had headgear
Your older brother had braces too
You didn’t mind that I was sensitive
I was weird, it didn’t matter to you
You would see me around
And start making funny faces
And I’d mirror you with
some of my silly faces too
We’d hold hands as we
walked in quiet places
With a love that should
have ended up to be true
And I wonder where you
are now as I ponder
About that summer
and that moonlight swim
And I think about what
we might have been –
If I hadn’t chosen her
and you ended up with him
I’m living in a University town now
Far away from that lake and camp
Last I heard about you and him
He left you for some sleazy tramp
I may be happily married and a father
And I’m not that teenager you knew
But I still regret how we broke up
I wish there was something I could do
You would see me around
And start making funny faces
And I’d mirror you with
some of my silly faces too
We’d hold hands as we
walked in quiet places
With a love that should
have ended up to be true
I wonder where you are
are now as I ponder
our doomed romance
And that moonlight swim
And I think about what
we might have been –
If I hadn’t chosen her
and you ended up with him
If I hadn’t chosen her
and you ended up with him
April 3, 2020
Lake In Our Hair
Can’t wait to pack up all our stuff
For our trip of the summer with friends
Our boat’s cleaned up and rarin’ to go
Our brains need a natural cleanse
Chorus:
Up where the air is crisp & clean
It’s so gorgeous and relieving there
We’re so ready for that forest wind
and all that lake in our hair
Gonna have camp coffee & pancakes &
Bake some catfish on the campfire
Put on our best vacation attire &
Live without one bit of care
With all that lake in our hair
With all that lake in our hair
First thing when we get to the campsite
We like crackin’ open cans of craft beer
And set up our campers pretty quickly
Then we unpack all our outdoors gear
We also put all our comfy camp chairs
and get a fire goin’ for our next meal
Drink liquid gold from that little crick
It’s so much better than bottled I feel
Chorus:
Up where the air is crisp & clean
It’s so gorgeous and breathtaking there
How she and I love that forest wind
and all that lake in our hair
Baked beans & buttered sweet corn
Hickory flavored trout on the campfire
Wearin’ some cozy outdoors attire
Livin’ without one bit of care
With all that lake in our hair
With all that lake in our hair
From jumpin’ in the water & splashin’ around
Sunkissed skin, feelin’ so alive & carefree
Knowin’ everything I’ve worked for tirelessly
Is nothin’ compared to my sweetie bein’ with me
Up where the air is crisp & clean
It’s so gorgeous and relieving there
How she and I love that forest wind
and all that lake in our hair
We’ll be cuddlin’ in our camper, my girl & me
After ghost stories told by the bonfire
It’s worth more than anything we’ll acquire
As we’re snoozin’ in our long underwear
With all that lake in our hair
With all that lake in our hair
July 3, 2019
Lyric Notes: I had written this a while back, and it went through a few changes so in honor of Fourth of July, 2019 – here is the edited version. I’m thinkin’ Zac Brown Band here… Here’s hopin’ you get a little lake in your hair this Holiday Weekend!