IF I EVER GROW OLD

From where my world began throughout my travels to different lands,

The history of my life up until this point has been written and put in a box.

I’m still young, but what is young, a number attached to the years lived here,

It’s a feeling inside, energy that you put out and the wanting of life keeps you young.

If I ever grow old then I’ll have been the lucky one, given a gift of more time to dream,

My book of life will be full of pages that describe who I am and then one day was.

There will be many thoughts and memories of a mans life, pictures of my existence,

Will I be forever remembered or perhaps thought of by those still living.

Will only the name of me, that which was given be all that rests of my life,

If I ever grow old will I be of good health and mind to sit back in a rocking chair

So that my children or Grandchildren may listen to me as I share my thoughts.

If I ever grow old then to the lord I’ll thank for this book of life full of stories told.

Keith Garrett

IF I DON’T LAUGH

I’LL SURELY CRY

Looking all around, seeing what’s happening with our own eyes,

On our land much anger and violent protests that get us nowhere.

Police are on the march, military putting their boots everywhere,

What are people really angry about as they scream and shout,

Signs are raised in the air all over the planet, do they protest life.?

If I don’t laugh about the horrible, ridiculous, and senseless games

Then it shall be that I’ll surely cry every night before I drift off to sleep.

Chaos is an epidemic roaming out of control with no end to be found,

Why can no one find a way to get along in this god given world.

Hostile faces live in all races because of mistrust and violation,

If I don’t laugh I’ll surely cry with the fear of bombs in many hands.

I pray that man changes but I fear that time will never come.

Keith Garrett

IF I COULD MAKE IT ALRIGHT

My eyes I would give you and be blind so you could see,

So that you could hear the sounds of the world, deaf I would be.

I would give up my voice that you may sing out your song,

Hold onto your hand when the pain of life becomes too strong.

If I could make it alright, any sickness for you would be my fight,

If I could make it alright, my sleep I would lose so you may rest through the night.

My heart is mine just as your heart belongs to you,

If I could make it alright then know that my heart I would give to you.

The ultimate gift would be to give so that another could live,

If your heart did cease to beat then my life I would give to you.

Keith Garrett

IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN

Never thinking about it as a child, growing as a teen not yet,

Is our path chosen, a small part but it is our choices that conquer.

Where we go or end up later in life is a decision from within us,

Hopefully we get the chance to do what it is we love and are happy.

Oh! if I could do it again i would change many things about myself,

If I could go back in time I would wonder more about the future.

A better attitude could have changed some of my grief, only some,

I may have been in a different place emotionally and the world.

Tried much harder to keep my friends no matter where I went,

Being better to myself would not have changed who I am but saved me.

We can’t go back and do it again, a reason for this, something to learn,

If I could do it again, some things left alone, things are supposed to be as they are.

Keith Garrett

“I”

I whom you don’t understand,

Once was small, use to sit in the sand.

Sometimes so hard in my heart it seems,

To show what is I, the reality not the dreams.

At a distance you are kept from what is me,

One whom likes music and writes words for thee.

Yes! I am afraid to show,

A much easier portrait for those to know.

I wear a mask for most to see,

Few only know that it is me.

This is a person you’ve just met,

Don’t know why but it is I.

Keith Garrett

I WILL FIND YOU

It was a warm Summers night when last you were seen,

Disappeared did you into the quiet darkness, but where.?

No understanding to my mind as why this could be,

Was there something wrong, what bothered your heart.?

I will find you, walk the open roads to anywhere,

Climb up high into the hills beyond the height of the trees.

Into the dark forest, fear will not weaken me,

Town after town I will search forever for thee.

Across lakes of many I will travel, I will find you,

Know that from dawn till dusk focus is in me.

Your trail is followed, the reasons for your departure are such a mystery,

I will find you, the truth shall be known.

Whether it be of force or a thought of your own.

I am known to you as you are to me,

I will find you, this will be.

Keith Garrett

I WENT TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT

Lay there do I watching, this screen of moving pictures with sound,

Slowly as I am thinking, closing my eyes and just listening to words.

That which I was listening too becomes a mixture of now forming visions,

I went to sleep last night and disappeared into a world of imagination.

I could fly, jump into the air and stay there, no day or night in sight,

Unusual adventures were before my mind, no sense of any kind.

Why am I afraid of what appears in the night, made up pictures tonight,

I went to sleep last night and found myself walking through fields of delight.

We walk into a dream to escape our daily scenes, things become confusing,

Fore where does the dream begin and the nightmare end.

Keith Garrett

I WASN’T SUPPOSE TO COME HOME

Went away that day, awhile ago as I’m not sure in time,

Was I lost or did I just seem lost inside, hiding from what?

At this point not sure of what I’m trying to say, my thoughts,

I was sent here to join in on something that should not be real.

It takes a part of you away, destroys deep inside, that’s where I hide,

I wasn’t suppose to come home, I feel guilty and all alone.

Why was I sent away, they did not come back with me that terrible day,

I should be with them by their sides, I can cry but why am I here alive?

I wasn’t suppose to come home, I am alive! they all died.

Keith Garrett

I WALK THE MILES

I travel my days throughout the land,

Each step that i take stronger i am.

My path is planned as i walk the streets,

Known am i for the journey I keep.

My pace is fast, my eyes always see,

What’s around can not touch me.

My head held high with somewhere to be,

The faces I see always see me.

My legs take me far and where I need to be,

I keep them moving so nobody will catch me.

I walk the miles, they never stop,

So many miles I’ve walked in my time.

Keith Garrett

“I REMEMBER YOU”

In places I once knew, i remember, remember all of you,

From places I lived once as a child, a place in the snow for a while.

Travels that took me to all of you, childhood friends oh! how i miss you,

Where are you now, scattered with time all over this always mysterious world.

Places of memories, Yorba Linda was very special to me as a boy, full of friends,

I remember all of you from each school, each day we gathered, where are you now.?

Hanging out at Winchell’s, in the park up the road, on a friday night a trip to Naugles,

Skate factory, skateway, girls and boys met for the night, now are men and women.

To Thrifty’s for an Ice cream cone, a triple scoop for fifteen cents, what’s your favorite flavor,

A pinball machine was a favorite of mine, a quarter gave a gift of three games.

Walking to school, basketball at Bernardo Yorba on a Saturday afternoon, remember,?

The friends, the things we did, places to go, I remember you and pinball Wizard too,

So many streets, friends in houses no longer seen, I remember you from a lifetime ago.

Placentia Is a place of many memories for me as I had just moved from Yorba, a goodbye,

Nineteen seventy seven, Summer had just begun, A new place, friends to meet here.

Parties, skating, warm nights sitting outside laughing with new friends on the block,

Tri-city park walking a path around the lake, Yum, Yum donuts where everyone would meet.

Camelot where all people would go, friends and fun many years ago, where did you go,?

Bus rides and car drives off to the beach, In the waves we swam, laying out in the sand,

I saw you all as teens in what seems like a dream, we’re older now, I remember you always.

Keith Garrett