EMILY HURD

Winter Moon

Gentle on your kin.  It's time to begin, and it's never too soon.

Gentle on yourself.  You're lovely and well on this winter moon.

Easy on your friends.  Their season depends on the things that you do.

Easy on your mind.  You're doing just fine on this winter moon.

The moon is the sun, reflecting the wonders up there in the sky.

Your face is your soul, reflecting the cold or the warmth that you shine.

Let up on the past.  There's little to ask of the time that flew.

Let up on today.  The carols will play on this winter moon.

The moon is the sun, reflecting the wonders up there in the sky.

Your face is your soul, reflecting the cold or the warmth that you shine.

Gentle on your kin.  It's time to begin, and it's never to soon.

Gentle on yourself.  You're lovely and well on this winter moon.

Gentle on your friends.  Their season depends on the things that you do.

Easy on your mind.  You're doing just fine on this winter moon.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

Must Have Been A Mighty Day

Women on the rooftop, men turn to look.

All the sheep are in the fields with the shepherd with their crooks.

And the nights are getting colder, and the snakes are placing bets.

There's some dye on the tunics that still has to set.

And it must have been a mighty mighty day to be born,

When nobody was looking, and nobody was warned.

And nobody was ready for what was in store.

It must have been a mighty mighty day to be born.

There's some bread in the barrel that we have to eat today

Because it's dry in the desert, and the barrel's made of clay.

There is a donkey in the pasture looking for a better job,

And there's a harvest from the last year looking like a sorry crop.

And it must have been a mighty mighty day to be born,

When nobody was looking, and nobody was warned.

And nobody was ready for what was in store.

It must have been a mighty mighty day to be born.

It's just business as usual down by the sea,

With some headdresses and sandals and some bodies in between.

And the Pilate and the King would like to ease all of the pain

Of the Romans and the Jews, and it's so hard to change.

And it must have been a mighty mighty day to be born,

When nobody was looking, and nobody was warned.

And nobody was ready for what was in store.

It must have been a mighty mighty day to be born.

It must have been a mighty mighty day to be born,

When nobody was looking, and nobody was warned.

And nobody was ready for what was in store.

It must have been a mighty mighty day to be born.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright, 2008

The Red In The Bow

Songs will be sung, and bells will be rung.  They'll just be sounds that I know.

Gifts will be sold, and tales will be told, but none of the meaning will show.

Trees will be felled, and lights will be held as people go out in the snow.

And I'll deck the halls, but I know they all will feel empty without you to hold.

Red's just a color, green's just a dollar, and gold's just the pennies I throw.

Come back to me, baby I didn't see that you put the red in the bow.

Boots will be worn, and houses adorned, and I'll wear a smile, I suppose.

Fires will be made and candles displayed, but nothing will have the same glow.

Smiles appearing, and couples, endearing, as people rejoice high and low.

And I'll be as happy as any fool can be who had love and then let it go.

Red's just a color, green's just a dollar, and gold's just the pennies I throw.

Come back to me, baby I didn't see that you put the red in the bow.

Drinks will be had, and folks will be glad, and I'll think of you, every toast.

The love will there, but mine will be where my love is, until he comes home.

Red's just a color, green's just a dollar, and gold's just the pennies I throw.

Come back to me, baby I didn't see that you put the red in the bow.

Come back to me, baby I didn't see that you put the red in the bow.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

New Year's Eve

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

Wintertime is setting in, so heat your buildings well.

Where's the fun in building fires to get warm by yourself?

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

Fine champagne is being poured in taverns by the tons.

Where's the fun in dining if your table is for one?

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

All the birds are flying south down to their winter homes.

Well, even they know there's no need to fly down south alone.

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

Don't you need somebody to spend a New Year's Even with you?

I believe we could be happy in the new year, too.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

Glad Tidings

You breathed upon my window pane.  

It froze, and there the mark remains.

It makes me want to love again.

Glad tidings.

You made the child inside me smile.

That hasn't happened for awhile.

A mark of joy can last for miles.

Glad tidings.

I am as new as anyone.  I am as ancient as the sun.

Mark my words: time can be undone with glad tidings.

You came to visit in the snow. 

Your footprints stay after you go.

A mark that winter lets me know.

Glad tidings.

I've hurt you so much over time,

A mark of pain that haunts my mind.

You tell me you forgive the crime.

Glad tidings.

I am as new as anyone.  I am as ancient as the sun.

Mark my words: time can be undone with glad tidings.

They put some nails inside some hands

Before the folks could understand.

A mark of sorrow filled the land.

Sad timing.

There are some answers up above.

Of what I know, this is enough:

I am the mark of someone's love.

Glad tidings.

I am as new as anyone.  I am as ancient as the sun.

Mark my words: time can be undone with glad tidings.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

Softly, Softly

Rock your babies very well.  Rock 'em so they live to tell 

All the world that's yet to come that you gave love, and they have some.

Rock your angry fears in kind.  Rock 'em til they're pacified

Til there's nothing left but you, and you are left to finally move

Softly, softly, soft as winter snow.

Softly, softly, softly as you go.

Rest your cares in someone's hands.  Rest assured: they'll understand.

You'll feel better, as will they.  We all take turns to feel that way.

Rest you worried mind the same, rest it til there's no more pain,

Til there's room to fill your cup, and you are ready to be loved

Softly, softly, soft as winter snow.

Softly, softly, softly as you go.

Peace be on your house and home, peace of mind when you're alone.

Piece by piece, until it's good, and we are living as we should:

Softly, softly, soft as winter snow.

Softly, softly, softly as you go.

Rock your babies very well.

-Written By Emily Hurd

Take A Holiday

Black and white photographs.  Seasonal phonographs.  Red and green lithographs hang in the hall.

Some people decorate, and that's how they celebrate.  Well, some just commemorate what they can recall.

I'll take a holiday.  You take a holiday.  Let's take a holiday, and give it a name.

Chocolate florentine.  Tea, flavored wintergreen.  Dresses of velveteen.  "Dinner's at five."

Some people orchestrate, and that's how the celebrate.  Some just participate in being alive. 

I'll take a holiday.  You take a holiday.  Let's take a holiday, and give it a name.

Hymnals and candlesticks.  Old and new testaments.  In condos and tenements, the mission is born.

Some people consecrate, and that's how they celebrate.  Some just appreciate they saw one year more.

I'll take a holiday.  You take a holiday.  Let's take a holiday, and give it a name.

Silence and thoughtfulness.  Smiling and wishfulness.  The feelings of joyfulness spread face to face.

Some people contemplate, and that's how they celebrate.  Some just congratulate the world for today.

I'll take a holiday.  You take a holiday.  Let's take a holiday, and give it a name.

I'll take a holiday.  You take a holiday.  Let's take a holiday, and give it a name.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

Nutmeg, Ginger, Cloves

For me, it's nutmeg.  For her, it's ginger.  For him, it's cloves.

So what's your story?  I want to hear it.  How does it go?

I missed the last bus to get home, so I started walking as my fingers froze.

My mama opened the door and wrapped me in a blanket and rubbed on my toes.

She fixed a hot mug of chocolate and topped it with nutmeg, and the smell filled my nose.

And every year in December, her warmth, I remember whenever it snows.

For me, it's nutmeg.  For her, it's ginger.  For him, it's cloves.

So what's your story?  I want to hear it.  How does it go?

She'd only tasted the white bread; it was the cheapest.  She turned it to toast.

She ate it while she was drawing pictures of presents that she's never know.

One day she entered a contest to make decorations, and her pictures, they chose.

She won a gingerbread house that she thinks about now when winter gets close.

For me, it's nutmeg.  For her, it's ginger.  For him, it's cloves.

So what's your story?  I want to hear it.  How does it go?

He used to visit the small room she lived in her old to bring her a rose.

She liked to play the victrola.  They sang til she'd tire, and often, she'd doze.

She always let the cloves steep in the tea while she'd sleep.  The smell seeped in her clothes.

And every year round this time, it's the spice that reminds him of who he loved most.

For me, it's nutmeg.  For her, it's ginger.  For him, it's cloves.

So what's your story?  I want to hear it.  How does it go?

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008

Exchanging Gifts

You got the light.  I got the smoke.  You got the line.  I got the joke.

It's easy, exchanging gifts.

You got the view.  I got the glasses.  You got the news, but I got the facts.

It's just easy, easy exchanging gifts.

I got pistachios.  But I can't open those.  It takes your fingers to dine.

You got the friend we'll meet.  But you don't know his street.  It takes my memory to find.

I got the drinks.  You got the meal.  I got the car, but you've got the wheel.

It's easy, exchanging gifts.

I got the words.  You got the tune.  I got the voice, but you've got the croon.

It's easy, exchanging gifts.

I got the mistletoe, but I can't kiss alone.  You're the whole reason I came.

You got the Polaroid, but what can be enjoyed without us both in the frame?

I got the keys.  You got the door.  Your heart is mine, and mine is yours.

It's easy, exchanging gifts.

-Written By Emily Hurd, Copyright 2008 

What I'm Asking For

Listen to the sound of snow.  Silence is a noise I know.

Quiet, til I hear the door, and all that I've been asking for.

And all that I've been asking for.

I wrapped your gift in brilliant green.  I put it where it won't be seen.

I wait awhile and pace the floor, for all that I've been asking for.

For all that I've been asking for.

Tis the time for sentiment, but it don't come in peppermint.

It can't be bought in any store. It's in what I've been asking for.

It's in what I've been asking for.

Why is this the night to want all that I have wished upon?

I guess I'm reminded by the lore of all that I've been asking for,

Of all that I've been asking for.

So here I am with candles lit.  I saved a place for you to sit,

And a decent bottle to be poured, for all that I've been asking for.

For all that I've been asking for.

Show your face, and you will find that we'll be giving gifts in kind.

Show me what the season's for.  It's all that I've been asking for.

You're all that I've been asking for.

I used to think that I'd be free if some gold would come to me.

But I don't need it anymore. I know what I'm asking for.

I know what I'm asking for.