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Seven Billion

by Meramec Valley Girl

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1.
Late night at the diner dragging white toast through my yolk Got ten bucks and the punch line of a dirty little joke Watching as an old man begs for cash across the street Notice that the guy behind the counter’s packing heat We’re all scared of each other Won’t help one another Don’t want to be bothered That’s what we got here Gunfire in the alley echoes off the old brick walls Patron orders bacon; lost a front tooth in a brawl Beaten by teenagers and profiled by the cops Bullied since first grade, yea, sometimes it never stops We’re all scared of each other Won’t help one another Don’t want to be bothered That’s what we got here I didn’t want to go home but I didn’t want to stay I sipped my cup of coffee as the clock ticked towards the day I looked up and a guy was sliding right into my booth He stared into my eyes and said believe me, it’s the truth: We’re all living in God’s dream We all play for the home team We all want the same thing. That’s what we got here. Just dare to be tender And try to remember The thing to surrender Is living in fear And just like that he slipped away; I sat there rather stunned A prophet or a guru or a crackhead with a gun I thought I’d best be leaving; put my feet down on the floor That homeless man was shuffling in; I reached and held the door Decided to risk it I bought him a biscuit He smiled and he kissed it That’s what we got here I woke up the next morning and saw things so differently Like it was Thanksgiving with one great big family I find myself now using kinder words than I once did Hell, yesterday I went up to a stranger and I said: We’re all living in God’s dream We all play for the home team We all want the same thing. That’s what we got here. Just dare to be tender And try to remember The thing to surrender Is living in fear Shout it out; get it out; that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout here Dig deep; dig it out; we gottta learn to live without fear
2.
I'm gonna sit around in my pajamas Sip some coffee, get caught up on the news. Step outside and take a breath, this is my day of rest I've got some work to do but I refuse. I'm gonna sit around in my pajamas Play some music, ooo...that sounds nice I'm not planning anything, I'll just see what this day brings But so far it's been the best day of my life. I'm gonna sit around in my pajamas Feels so good that I might just get up and dance So baby, take my hand, I know you understand That soon I'll have to go put on some pants. I'm gonna sit around in my pajamas Play some music, ooo...that sounds nice I'm not planning anything, I'll just see what this day brings But so far it's been the best day of my life.
3.
White crosses and flowers out by the fence Another random act of violence Mothers cry for their daughters, cry for their sons While others cry from the top of their lungs: Don’t take our guns, ‘cause we’re the ones Saving our own soil from a war We’ve got the right to stand up and fight If trouble comes a knockin’ at our door. Leery of each other now on the job Even a picture show can become a problem And school days end with sighs of relief We’ve dodged another day of grief...But Don’t take our guns, ‘cause we’re the ones Saving our own soil from a war We’ve got the right to stand up and fight If trouble comes a knockin’ at our door. But trouble don’t knock, no trouble don’t knock It doesn’t even give you time to cock your gun and the damage is done. White candles and flowers out on the lawn A child of the Universe is gone, gone, gone And the hearts that are broken by the dreadful fall Cannot be heard over the call: Don’t take our guns, ‘cause we’re the ones Saving our own soil from a war We’ve got the right to stand up and fight If trouble comes a knockin’ at our door. But trouble don’t knock, no trouble don’t knock It doesn’t even give you time to cock your gun and the damage is done. Sweet tear-stained notes pinned on the fence We scratch our heads and try to make sense Of too many guns – too few controls We’ve dug ourselves into a hole. With too many guns – no self control We’ve dug ourselves into a hole... But don’t take our guns, ‘cause we’re the ones Saving our own soil from a war We’ve got the right to stand up and fight If trouble comes a knockin’ at our door. But trouble don’t knock, no trouble don’t knock It doesn’t even give you time to cock your gun and the damage is done.
4.
It started as a sunny day then the clouds rolled in and turned to gray And the wind picked up, the trees bent low and I saw some shingles start to go The heavens burst with a thunder clap and I heard the power lines pop and snap The yard was nothing if not mud when a neighbor yelled we’ve got a flood! Grab the pictures, grab the dog, everything is waterlogged. Grab the pretzels; say your prayers, run yourself right up the stairs The flood was seeping through the door so we grabbed some towels then grabbed some more But it kept on rising floor by floor ‘til we pulled the chain on that attic door. Grab the cat. Leave the fish. Make your way to that satellite dish. Grab the cooler; grab the flares, run yourself right up the stairs Next thing you know we’re on the roof, like castaways with no canoe We wave our arms, shout over here! Pass the pretzels, pop a beer. Sweet Jesus send a boat along; ‘cause we’ve got nothing but this song: Grab the pictures, grab the dog, everything is waterlogged. Grab the pretzels; say your prayers, it seems that we’ve run out of stairs Grab the cat, but leave the fish. Grab onto that satellite dish. Grab the cooler, shoot the flares, oh Sweet Jesus, hear our prayers!
5.
We’re brown and white and black and tan and woman, girl and boy and man; and we’re all looking out for #1. We’re so entwined, and yet we’re blind, we wonder ‘bout this Grand Design; we seek but we don’t find the smoking gun. We’re 7 billion circling the sun. We’re 7 billion circling the shining sun. We’re hiding, fighting, up all night with fears that keep our stomachs tied in knots and there is no safe place to run. We sip our latte, dip biscotti, hop into a Maserati; take the kids on 6 week vacations. We’re 7 billion circling the sun. We’re 7 billion circling the shining sun. Whoa….. We drive and flip our middle finger, go home turn on Jerry Springer, eat burgers on sesame seed buns. We live in shadows of the trash; send 4 year olds to beg for cash and that is just as easily said as done. We’re 7 billion circling the sun. We’re 7 billion circling the shining sun. We pile the kids in minivans to practice soccer, Irish dance, and in the glove box we conceal a gun. We’re refugees huddled in tents just waiting while the governments tighten laws on immigration. We’re 7 billion circling the sun. We’re 7 billion circling the shining sun. Whoa…. We bleed our savings, volunteer to make a difference, engineer a place that’s clean and safe for everyone. Yea, something in my DNA says I can’t throw this world away; each day I pray that we’ll say love has won. Love has won. We’re 7 billion circling the sun. We’re 7 billion circling the shining sun. Shining sun. Love has won.
6.
I’m a coalminer here in Harlan, Kentucky is my home And I’m gonna die here my darlin, ‘cause it’s all I’ve ever known. I’m the 11th generation of diggin underground There’s no other invitation; it’s the only gig in town Now my daddy can’t smoke cigars ‘cause his lungs are hard as coal And I weep for his poor body and I pray for his poor soul. I married a girl named Audrey; I’ve known her all my life I get a kiss each day when I come home, yea she makes a damn good wife We got young’ns of our own now; they’re full of dirt and grime But they’re just like all the other kids, yea I can’t tell yours from mine ‘Cause the coal dust blankets our town; nothin’s crisp and white And we kick that dust up when we dance and play each Saturday night And I don’t miss church on Sunday; I get there right at nine ‘Cause tomorrow just might be the day that I die in that coal mine And I’m not afraid of dyin; I’m afraid of growin old When I rise I’ll shine just like the sun, at least that’s what I’m told I’m a coalminer here in Harlan, Kentucky is my home And I’m gonna die here my darlin’, ‘cause it’s all …. I’ve ever known.
7.
Brothers 03:21
We come from Sedalia no fancy regalia just brothers who live in between the south and the north as the war bubbled for to determine if slaves would be free. I chose to go blue, but oh no, not you, you took sides with the grey. We kissed our dear ma and shook hands with our pa and set off on our separate ways. Canons exploded, morale soon eroded among the boys from the south So much blood spilled, they were easy to kill with the rations so far from their mouths. Then I had a thought that you might just rot and I would return home alone. And without God’s grace I could not bear to face a mother’s cry for her son. So I’ll carry you home, I’ll carry you home, if you’re alive or you’re dead I’ll carry you home, I’ll carry you home, not foes but brothers instead One night in a storm I changed uniforms with a soldier dead on the ground and snuck off to look for you as I shook for the battle raged all around. I found you, it’s true, you were battered and blue; you were bloodied and had broken bones but you’re pretty tough so I just scooped you up and carried you back to our home I’ll carry you home, I’ll carry you home, if you’re dead or alive Is that a fair reason to charge me with treason for helping my brother survive? So many lives lost, a great human cost, was war our only play And is it so wise when you can’t compromise to kill until you get your way? I’ll carry you home, I’ll carry you home, if you’re alive or you’re dead I’ll carry you home, I’ll carry you home, not foes but brothers instead Ill carry you home, I’ll carry you home, home, home, home, oh.
8.
Tumbleweeds; girls with needs Drinking Shiner Bock at 2: 00 We all convene at the Dairy Queen A fresh tattoo is all that’s new so I go Smoking in the shadow of the silo; shooting Lone Star bottles off the ledge Dropping bricks and yelling look out below, yeah I’m just living on the edge of nowhere I’m just living on the edge Silver spurs; racial slurs Dust blowing thick on Route 66 Stockyard stench; mend a fence Make 40 bucks then floor my truck to go Smoking in the shadow of the silo; shooting Lone Star bottles off the ledge Dropping bricks and yelling look out below, yeah I’m just living on the edge of nowhere I’m just living on the edge Enchilada, I forgot About the day I used to say This town’s a drag, gonna pack my bag And hit the road but that rooster crowed and I’m still Smoking in the shadow of the silo; shooting Lone Star bottles off the ledge Dropping bricks and yelling look out below, yeah I’m just living on the edge of nowhere I’m just living on the edge
9.
I thought that I had finally found the one I thought you were the best thing under the sun As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong I thought you’d love me for the rest of your life I thought you’d love me and leave your wife As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong. You said you want to wake up beside me every day I wanted it to be true Then it crossed my mind if you’re lying all the time To her, then you likely lie to me, too I thought that you’d never cheated before I thought I was special, worth fighting for As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong. You said you want to wake up beside me every day I wanted it to be true Then it crossed my mind if you’re lying all the time To her, then you likely lie to me, too I took the bait -thought I was a catch I thought we were such a perfect match As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong. As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong for so very long… As it turns out, oh baby, I thought wrong.
10.
Somewhere is a field beyond what’s wrong and right, Beyond what’s black and white….I’ll meet you there. Somewhere is a mountain, where every single time we help each other climb…I’ll meet you there. Oh why wouldn’t you go? Why drink all the hate on the radio and stir it up with your friends? Just slip on my shoes and we’ll make another kind of news, the kind that makes the fear and trouble end. Somewhere is an ocean of generosity, where everyone can see themselves in you and me….I’ll meet you there. La da da da da Da da da da …..I’ll meet you there. La da da da da La da da da da …..I’ll meet you there. Oh why wouldn’t you go? Why drink all the hate on the radio and stir it up with your friends? Just slip on my shoes and we’ll make another kind of news, the kind that makes the fear and trouble end. Somewhere is an ocean of generosity, where everyone can see themselves in you and me, we’ll feel alive and free And I’ll meet you there…….I will meet you there.
11.
Would you come with me on a warm October weekend with a full moon rising and a soft breeze tickling our faces? Would you laugh with me as we jump across the boulders in the creek and maybe, just maybe, you might take my hand? On a long trail that winds through the pines. Would you come with me to the old silver mines? Would you rest with me in a hammock that is tied beneath an orange and yellow ceiling; rustling, rocking while we whisper? Would you love your dinner that I cooked upon the fire and then play your guitar with the owls and probably coyotes? And the crackling of the kindling from the pines. Would you come with me to the old silver mines? Is this fantasy or folly; am I floating on cloud nine? Am I asking too much; am I way, way out of line? Or would you sing by my pillow that song that I love until I’m wondering if I’m awake or dreaming; I must be dreaming? Would I find you in the morning in plaid and the smell of sizzling bacon, with your boots on and a warm smile and a big pot of hot coffee? Amber light just shines through the pines… Would you come with me to the old silver mines? Would you come with me to the old silver mines?
12.
These clouds are crushing my soul Like vultures circling low This gasket’s about to blow, let’s get away. We’ll say your grandmother died Then we’ll run like Bonnie and Clyde We’ll find a place we can hide, let’s get away. The sun will soothe my spirit. The waves whisper “relax”. The wind in my palm, I can hear it. I may never ever come back. ‘Cause these short days are way too long. My week didn’t finish so strong. I know just where I belong. Let’s get away. One day spills right into the next I know just what to expect Oh, Baby, please don’t object. Let’s get away. No, no, don’t check the balance. For once just cut and run. All I can see is responsibility. Time to be bohemian. ‘Cause these clouds are crushing my soul Like vultures circling low This gasket’s about to blow, let’s get away. We’ll say your grandmother died Then we’ll run like Bonnie and Clyde We’ll find a place we can hide, let’s get away. Let’s get away… Let’s get away… Let’s get away.
13.
I know that sticks and stones will break my bones but words will kill me I know that I shouldn’t show how bad it hurts, but that’s not easy All I want is to be treated kindly, be smiled at, or maybe left alone Oh, sticks and stones. I hear the incessant jeers of all of you; heckling, hating I hear as you commandeer the conversation, it’s so degrading You’ll become a prisoner of your poison, tortured, tortured by your tone. Oh, sticks and stones. It almost makes me laugh but I can’t stop my cryin’ Your beauty disappears and that is all that you rely on I read all your rants, indeed, and try to focus on something lovely I read as you plant the seeds of hate and anger; a terrorist, you wear a vest of verbal explosives that shred you, shred me to the bone. Oh, sticks and stones. It almost leaves me sad, but I have stopped my cryin’ You must be so unhappy to be such a shameless tyrant I know that sticks and stones will break my bones but words won’t kill me I know that I should show compassion for you, but that’s not easy I’ll continue to take the high road, the high road, the road you’ve never known Oh, sticks and stones. Oh, sticks and stones.
14.
C’ mon baby won’t you wrap me in your arms tonight C’mon baby won’t you keep me safe from harm tonight Oh, I swear I’m travelin’ light I put all my baggage on a southbound train tonight C’mon baby won’t you whisper in my ear tonight C’mon baby tell me what I need to hear tonight Oh, I swear I’m travelin’ light I put all my baggage on a southbound train tonight My kids went to see their daddy just east of Baton Rouge Mama’s gone to Key West for sunsets and new tattoos Grandma gone to see her sister’s grave in San Antone And I’m sitting here nursing a beer wondering how to be alone. C’mon baby won’t you help me count my sheep tonight C’mon baby conversation won't get deep tonight Oh, I swear I’m travelin’ light I put all my baggage on a southbound train tonight My kids went to see their daddy just east of Baton Rouge Mama’s gone to Key West for sunsets and new tattoos Grandma gone to see her sister’s grave in San Antone And I’m sitting here nursing a beer wondering how to be alone. C’mon baby won’t you help me count my sheep tonight C’mon baby won’t you kiss me while I sleep tonight Oh, I swear I’m travelin’ light I put all my baggage on a southbound train tonight So hold me tight and whisper everything’s gonna be alright. Oh, I swear I’m travelin’ light I put all my baggage on a southbound train tonight
15.
Turn and Run 02:30
That girl’s unstable, that girl’s a nut Just say bye bye no if, and or but Things won’t get better, I don’t think they can Just turn and run like a gingerbread man That girl’s attractive, I’ll give you that But she’ll attack you like a feral cat Don’t ring the finger on her left hand Just turn and run like a gingerbread man Baby, whatcha doin? Baby, where you at? Why don’t you say something? What do you mean by that? Tell me that you love me. Get out of my sight. Come and cuddle with me. Oh, baby, not tonight. That girl’s a handful. That girl’s a nut. She’ll make you crazy no matter what There’s only one thing to understand Just turn and run like a gingerbread man Baby, whatcha doin? Baby, where you at? Why don’t you say something? What do you mean by that? Tell me that you love me. Get out of my sight. Come and cuddle with me. Oh, baby, not tonight. That girl’s peculiar. That girl's a nut. She’ll make you crazy no matter what There’s only one thing to understand Just turn and run like a gingerbread man; Just turn and run like a gingerbread man; Just turn and run run run run run… … like a gingerbread man

about

This is my second album, with a new artist name, Meramec Valley Girl, but it's still me. All music and lyrics are written by Susan Marting. I play guitar, banjo, mandolin and train whistle.

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released December 12, 2018

Paul Niehaus IV plays bass, harmonica, resonator guitar, a little lead guitar on track # 10, and snare drum.
Recorded at Paul's Blue Lotus Recording Studio in St. Louis, MO.2018

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Susan Marting Saint Louis, Missouri

Born, raised, and roams St Louis.

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