MARK SHELDAN
singer/songwriter
Lyrics
It's Warm In Your Arms Tonight
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Looking at the sight of a cold frosty evening
The brown, naked trees and the gray winter sky
Listen to the sound of the snowflakes falling
Laying a blanket on this sleepy old town
Hallelujah Hallelujah
It’s warm in your arms tonight
Yes it’s warm in your arms tonight
The angels are smiling when you hold me tight
It’s warm in your arms tonight
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Christmas is just another loving memory
A brand new year has come to spend some time
Don’t you want to go and blow that crazy trumpet?
Make a snow angel with the ones that you love
Hallelujah Hallelujah
It’s warm in your arms tonight
Yes it’s warm in your arms tonight
The angels are smiling when you hold me tight
It’s warm in your arms tonight
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Oh it’s warm in your arms tonight
Yes it’s warm in your arms tonight
The angels are smiling when you hold me tight
Yes it’s warm in your arms tonight
​
Written by Mark Sheldan
copyright Socan 2020
The Way Of The World
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The politicians lie, the preachers only sigh.
The banker fills his pockets with your soul
The doctor sits and shrugs, he stuffs you full of drugs
While big pharma takes your diamonds and your gold
There’s suicide attackers and information hackers
Who twist the truth to justify their ways
They lure your sons and daughters to shark infested waters
Where identities are stolen every day
That’s the way of the world as the devil’s wings unfurl
And spread across this God-forsaken land
That’s the way it goes as the winds of changes blow
Fake news no one understands
The lawyers and the judges bickering with grudges
While basic rights of freedom are a sin are a sin
There’s bigots out to kill randomly at will
If they don’t like of the colour of your skin
Drug lords and the banks shake hands behind the tanks
Billionaires living on a lie
The lowly worker toils, the fear and anger boils
When he hears his hungry children cry children cry
Thirteen years of school will graduate a fool
Who spends a lifetime reaching for success
But money, fame and greed are the troughs where people feed
And the riches go to those who cheat the best
Parents must pretend to be their children’s friend
They cannot guide them down the righteous trail righteous trail
If there’s discipline and tact, social services attack
And lock them up like convicts in a jail
That’s the way of the world as the devil’s wings unfurl
And spread across this God-forsaken land
That’s the way it goes as the winds of changes blow
Fake news no one understands
Farmers have to bend under government demands
Dusting crops with steroids and disease
Consumers have to pay to get poisoned every day
At the deadly cost of killing all the bees all the bees
Religion’s take a stand with holy books in hand
As they murder those who live another way
Where’s that mission bell to avoid the gates of hell?
Maybe we’ve forgotten how to pray
That’s the way of the world as the devil’s wings unfurl
And spread across this God-forsaken land
That’s the way it goes as the winds of changes blow
Fake news no one understands
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This old world is hard to understand
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Written by Mark Sheldan
copyright Socan 2020
Gifts
There’s a curtain of hearts strung in the hallway
Where hopes lurk like ghosts of our trust
The years have gone by as though time has faded
Scars of our memories are flaking like rust
I laugh and I cry whenever I’m thinking
Of all the sweet kisses you’ve given to me
The love in your smile and the sound of your heartbeat
The things that I cherish, the gifts that I need
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It’s a world full of trouble and a life full of worry
The injustice can drive you insane
The old folks are going but the babies keep coming
To share all the dreams, the joy and the pain
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I laugh and I cry whenever I’m thinking
Of all the sweet kisses you’ve given to me
The love in your smile and the sound of your heartbeat
The things that I cherish, the gifts that I need
I love the warmth that swims in your laughter
You light up the sun in my skies
I’m aching and tired but I’m still going after
The magic of love and the song in your eyes
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I laugh and I cry whenever I’m thinking
Of all the sweet kisses you’ve given to me
The love in your smile and the sound of your heartbeat
The things that I cherish, the gifts that I need
The things that I cherish, the gifts that I need
​
Written by Mark Sheldan
copyright Socan 2020
Twenty Bucks
I walked into a cabaret nine o’clock at night
Every chair was occupied except for one by the window at my right
A fellow sat with his lady friend they were sharing a pitcher of beer
I said Is it ok with both of you if I settle myself down here
The lady looked me up and down and smiled so tenderly
The fellow shrugged his shoulders then and said it’s ok with me
I dropped twenty bucks on the table
I said I would buy the next round
She touched my hand and said what a nice man
He never made a sound
Oh Lord forgive me, I’ve sinned
She told me a bunch of little things about her busy life
How she’d been married twice before but now she was no man’s wife
The band was singing harmony to a nice old country tune
While deep in the heart of her big blue eyes tears outshone the moon
She said her name was Pamela but everyone called her Pam
The fella introduced himself right then so I shook his hand
Then she dropped twenty bucks on the table
She said she would buy the next round
Then she leaned in my direction so I could look into her gown
Oh Lord forgive me, I’ve sinned
After a couple of hours went by nature paid me a call
She was talking about some lingerie she tried on at the mall
I got up and excused myself
I went to show the little man the big world
As I leaned on the porcelain tank I thought
Oh, what a beautiful girl
When I came back I heard the band playing baby, please don’t go
Now I ain’t young and I ain’t old but there’s plenty that I don’t know
He dropped twenty bucks on the table
Said he would buy the next round
She touched my leg with her fingers
I never made a sound
Oh Lord forgive me, I’ve sinned
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written by Mark Sheldan
copyright 1972 Socan
Santa Claus Blues
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I’m Santa Claus, baby: I love your Christmas Tree
I’m Santa Claus, baby, I love your Christmas Tree
When I slide down your chimney; sure feels good to me
You’ve been so good, honey, you know I can tell
You’ve been so good, baby, Santa Claus can tell
Snuggle up to me darling, I’ll let you jingle my bell
Awoo baby, baby don’t be blue
Awoo baby, baby don’t be blue
Squeeze my bag…I got a big surprise for you
You can take this teddy bear or have that choo choo train
You can take this teddy bear or have that choo choo train
But best of all I’m gonna give you my candy cane.
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written by Mark Shedan
copyright 1988 Socan
Baby Sings The Blues
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Walking down a lonesome, twisted highway
Clouds of all my dreams lie at my feet
Looks like there’s some rain on the horizon
Steam is a-rising from the street
Momma’s got herself another headache
She’s looking weary by the window sill
Daddy’s on his way down to the drug store
He’s gonna buy another batch of pills
Listen to baby sing the blues
Listen to baby sing the blues
Listen to baby sing the blues
Listen to baby sing the blues
Howie made a bargain with the devil
He traded off his grandma for a truck
And now he’s driving south to California
He sure is happy with his change of luck
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Listen to baby sing the blues 4X
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Mary went to school in Transylvania
She was almost driven crazy by the heat
But she got out with a real nice diploma
Just look at all the blood stains on her teeth
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Listen to baby sing the blues 8X
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written by Mark Sheldan
copyright 1993 Socan
A Lonely Caballero by Mark Sheldan
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A lonely caballero drank on a warm Spanish night
Watching a senorita dance in the pale moonlight
She sang with the voice of an angel
As she beckoned him into her arms
He was caught in the spell of her beauty
But too shy to respond to her charms
So fare thee well to the passing
Of the moments that never return
Hey, barkeep please fill up our glasses
It’s none of this gringo’s concern
The lonely caballero longed to hold her hand
But the pretty senorita was dancing on the sand
She gave him a sign of welcome
He gave her a look of fear
As she twisted in beautiful circles
He ordered a pitcher of beer
The lonely caballero sat while the night drifted by
Till he saw a giant mosquito land on the young woman’s thigh
He hauled off and gave her a wallop
She tripped and fell to the ground
Stunned by his error in judgement
He left without making a sound
Fare thee well to the passing
Of the moments that never return
Hey, barkeep please fill up our glasses
It’s none of this gringo’s concern