LYRICS TO THE ALBUM "LITTLE STEPS"
All songs written by Merrie Amsterburg
Copyright 1983 - 1999 Superhero Tanlines ASCAP
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Little Steps
Design
My Romeo
Radio
Heart of My Head
E x E
Undertow
State Highway 16
Different Today
Atmosphere
Opal Moon
Sheltering

 

Little Steps
I'm taking small steps to your temple door
I'm waking slowly amidst this dull roar
I am facing the future and all that it holds
I am waiting for you, now my love

One star above me and two stars ahead
One moon to guide me, alone I am led
Like a child of a fire who will walk on the coals
I am waiting for you, now my love
I am waiting for you, now my love

Little steps, darling
Little steps now my love

I'm taking small steps to your temple door
I'm waking slowly amidst this dull roar
I am facing the future and all that it holds
I am waiting for you, now my love

Little steps, darling
Little steps now my love

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Design
You stand like a starter and then
walk away from it all, I know
Your hands feel like a martyr's and so
you give up the ghost once more

You say you know what you want it to be...
Well, what do you want it to be?
What were you thinking?
I know it will never be what you need
It will never be what you see
It's never enough to be --
when this is your own design

This land, long discovered ago
has been stolen and given away
I can't try to find you a home
when I know that you know the way

You say you know what you want it to be...
Well, what do you want it to be?
What were you thinking?
I know it will never be what you need
It will never be what you see
It's never enough to be --
when this is your own design
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My Romeo
When I saw you standing there
with a broken halo in your hair
outside in the winter window
I wanted to kiss your hand...
Then the ice screamed and the sidewalk
leaned in the snow
when I touched your face
Right then and there I swear
that time was frozen sand

No, no, I won't let go of my romeo

So the arrow joined our hearts
and our souls will never part
like a wild spring in a white life
that was oh so cold
Race and run past the lemon sun
past the moon and her huntress tune
We fly until we cry that none
were born so bold

No, no, I won't let go of my romeo

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Radio
Radio, radio, why do you play
Do you think that he's thinking of me to this day
I wonder how the weight of the world
can crush the poor heart of a boy and a girl

Riding around in my old car
I hear a song and I remember...
How did I grow so far
away from a heart so young and tender?

Radio, radio, why do you play
Do you think that he's thinking of me to this day
I wonder how the weight of the world
can crush the poor heart of a boy and a girl

Driving around by your old house
where you used to live with your college friends
Your bedroom window looked out on a park
where the sound of children came singing in

Radio, radio, why do you play
Do you think that he's thinking of me to this day
I wonder how the weight of the world
can crush the poor heart of a boy and a girl

Here I am -- such a long fight to get here
Here I am -- with such a long, long way to go

So here I sit on the edge of the moon
on the side that's white with a beautiful view
But nothing is pretty if you can't share
the reception is weak --I can hardly hear

Radio, radio, why do you play
Do you think that he's thinking of me to this day
I wonder how the weight of the world
can crush the poor heart of a boy and a girl
I wonder how the weight of the world
can crush my heart...

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Heart of My Head
Time again I would try to tell you
but I'm ashamed and shy
So I spend the whole night avoiding
not even knowing why

Heart of my head is always listening
Heart of my heart is racing blind
Heart of my head keeps on insisting
Heart of my heart is not that kind
I'm not that kind

I am weak and I can't believe it --
I used to be so strong...
There's a word but you won't receive it
knowing this all along

Heart of my head is always listening
Heart of my heart is racing blind
Heart of my head keeps on insisting
Heart of my heart is not that kind

It's not that kind, you understand
It's nothing, everything
It's not what you're supposed to do
It's all that's in between
When you're through recovering
you're still you...

Between the two, I won't say I'm sorry
Make the bed and you lie
In fields of green or in fields so stony
sleep will not reach your eyes

Heart of my head is always listening
Heart of my heart is racing blind
Heart of my head keeps on insisting
Heart of my heart is not that kind
I'm not that kind

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E x E
I sat through the sunrise
like I sat through last night
Me, of little faith
Me, of little trust
in the first grey light rising

East by east, west by west
Little one
East by east, west by west
Little one

Where is this miracle that they promised me?
You have been away
You have been away and I'm in need, watching

East by east, west by west
Little one
East by east, west by west
Little one

Holding onto you isn't everything
but it's all that I can do
Reaching out not through
to this tarnished ring
but it's all that I can do
It's a tarnished ring,
but it's all that I can do

Hay in the fields and it smells like rain
If I'm living in a circle
you'll come home again, riding

East by east, west by west
Little one
East by east, west by west
Little one
So young...

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Undertow
The water's deep and the waves are high
It will wash the moon from the china sky
and the blue from your eyes

We sit alone while the day stands still
on the edge of your windowsill
Forget yourself...

But then it's pulling me down
It's pulling me down, down
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow
I will sink if I don't swim
and all the time you always win
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow

If there was a better place to be
than be loved by the silver sea
I'll be all right if you let me...

But then it's pulling me down
It's pulling me down, down
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow
I will sink if I don't swim
and all the time you always win
Don't you let me go -- I'm caught in the undertow
Don't you let me go

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State Highway 16
State Highway 16 at midnight
still looks the same from the road
but now I drive into the night
with a heavier load

You and I younger were travelers
You as my sister, my guide
But you as the eldest
are stumbling now at my side

I feel like the earth is unraveling
alone, as it spins into time
and you're high in space
holding on to the end of the line

I'm sorry you're stubborn and stupid
I'm sorry your mind's not the same
I'm sorry I'm losing my best friend
to things I can't change

And me, I'm no wiser for all of it
I only know what to expect
Looking back now on this road map
and trying to forget

I feel like the earth is unraveling
alone, as it spins into time
and you're high in space
holding on
High in space
barely holding on
to the end of the line

State Highway 16 at midnight
still looks the same from the road
but now I drive into the night
alone...

 

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Different Today
The summer wind has carried you away
and here am I pretending I'm O.K.
Time gives perspective but I cannot see a thing
How did I ever lose my way?
Everything looks different today

You took off on a bright, fantastic ride
and now there's nothing left up in the sky
How can I tell you that I cannot feel a thing?
How did I ever lose my way?
Everything looks different today

Oh, in my imagining
I hold you even closer to my side
Oh, in my imagining
I kiss the wish and miracle good-bye
Well, everybody wants

I'm watching as your memory fades away
and disappears beyond the milky way
Time gives perspective
but what is it that that brings?
I know I've only lost my way
Everything looks different today

Oh, in my imagining
I hold you even closer to my side
Oh, in my imagining
I kiss the wish and miracle good-bye
Well, everybody wants
Everything looks different today

 

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Atmosphere
Mine was the heart that you never meant to break
You were the one who couldn't stand to be broken
I was the one, blind to all at stake
You had the last word, although it was unspoken

If you call to me, it's a memory that I hear
If it's absolute, then why do you feel so near?
You are the atmosphere coloring up my sun
No matter what the age
when you're taken it's still too young

This is the gift that I never asked you for
This is the depth that I'd rather not have been given
You are the one who'll be waiting past the door
Just like the boy who said he was all salvation

If you call to me, it's a memory that I hear
If it's absolute, then why do you feel so near?
You are the atmosphere coloring up my sun
No matter what the age
when you're taken it's still too young
No matter what the age...

 

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Opal Moon
If there's a higher life, let it shine on me
Let it shine on me through the trees
If there's a higher light, let it shine for me
Let it shine for me
Because I know this sea wants to carry me
it's a sweet, sweet sound she sings
for my release...

Under the opal moon the world looks right to me
Under the opal moon the world seems fine to me
and all that I can say I feel is peace
The lonely dark night wind is calling out to me

If there's a higher love, let it shine for me
Let it shine for me -- if it please
If there's a higher light, let it shine on me
Let it shine on me
Because I know this sea wants to carry me
in a sweet, sweet sound she sings
for my release...

Under the opal moon the world looks right to me
Under the opal moon the world seems fine to me
and all that I can say I feel is peace
The lonely dark night wind is calling after me

 

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Sheltering
Once more the storm is wailing
outside the night half-spent
Your tiny fingers hold my thumb
your breathing soft at rest

The land of sleep for babes is wide,
great, grey, and warm
as angel wings
unfold about this humble house
a storm of sheltering

Whatever wisdom fills your head
to make a sleep so sound
carry on into this world
to keep the peace you've found

A map of sorrow, love and light
is laid before you child
Oh, angel wings
unfold about this little soul
a storm of sheltering

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