gary ruschman | lynlake

LynLake

Released January 31, 2022
Featuring Lauren Asheim, trumpet
John Cleve Richardson, vocals
Tommy Doggett, saxophone
Linh Kauffman, vocals
Cara Wilson, fiddle

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Holy City

Be sure and do your duty
and don’t you shirk your part
Don’t look for a holy city
Make your own inside your heart
The peace you seek is in you
It’s not something apart
Don’t think it comes from outside
Look inside your heart


We sometimes take on problems
Based on other people’s fears
We sometimes find bad answers
Inside each others’ tears
Ain’t a dog-eat-dog existence
Unless we make it so
We all lose out when one is lost
And folks refuse to grow


The things that separate us
(Or make us think they do)
Are often just a fallacy
And aren’t near ever true
Ask yourself: “Who stands to gain?”
or “Who paid for that time?”,
That corporate sponsorship of junk
To occupy your mind.


No one wants to think it's them
That causes others’ pain
But you’d better take a closer look
In the mirror once again:


'Cause Life is pain and sorrow
Life is joy and smiles
Life is being close at times
Life is distant miles, miles, miles, miles, miles


The same moon shines upon us all
No matter where you’re from
It looks down on executives
And beams down onto bums


Every person is a person
it’s always been the same
Don’t teach your children differently
That’d be a shame


Be sure and do your duty
and don’t you shirk your part
Don’t look for a holy city
Make your own inside your heart
The peace you seek is in you
It’s not something apart
Don’t think it comes from outside
Look inside your heart


©2022 Gary Ruschman (ASCAP)

Mad April

Mad April is coming
To give you a shot in the arm
Some bad times are in the oven
They won't be short on charm.

Mad April isn't paying attention
To how you're lighting your fire
And she sure don't want your dissertation
'Bout how you stoke your desire

Mad April

We tell ourselves so many fables
'Bout how we bootstrap our life
But we're long, long overdue to turn the tables
On all that manufactured strife

Wish we'd remember the things that we cherished
When we were three feet high
Go down the path of most obstruction
And kiss all of that goodbye

Mad April

Listen up, we've all got aspirations
Might not know where to start
It's time to drop your selfish desperation
It's time to do your part

We must remember to look at the stars
They might just cheer us on
We all take off on the same road together
Cruising out till dawn

Mad April is coming to get us
Strange times pull up the rear
I pray we can all hold out till summer
'Cause Mad April's here!

©2022 Gary Ruschman (ASCAP)

Only One Life

Only one life
One life you receive
Only one life
To fill a pail of water

Drink from the well of sisterhood
Share with all the children
Wash in the well of brotherhood
Share with all every pilgrim

Welcome all the refugees
Fleeing from catastrophe
Take them in with open arms
For we are all one family

Looking for a truth divine
Searching for an answer
It takes our living hands and minds
to keep away disaster

A rising tide will lift no boat
If the boat’s in disrepair
Remember each of us must do
Our part to bring each other care

Only one life—
One life you receive
One life
To fill a pail of water

Put up all your vanity
Give up on insanity
Remember all humanity

©2022 Gary Ruschman (ASCAP)

The Barefoot, No-Shoes Blues

I got no shoes on my feet
Lord, Lord, I’m beat
Got no shoes on my feet
Oh Lord, I’m beat
Don’t know how I’ll make the journey
To get back to you, my sweet.


Long time I’ve been yearning
Just to see you again
Long time I’ve been yearning
Just to see you again
When I woke up this morning
I saw no reason to pretend


I know I’ve got to hurry
If I’mma see you today
I know better hurry
If I’m gonna see you today
Better staple together some sandals
Start my travelin’ right away!

©2021 Gary Ruschman (ASCAP)

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