Montgomery County  
©2017 J Kirby Heard

Mama’s biscuits, and coming when you’re called  
That’s what life was like, it was simpler and all  
Beans a-simmer, roasting chicken smells good, too  
Butter churning, and a wood fire up the flue  

Living in Montgomery County,  
Life was peaceful there & then  
Our doors unlocked, keys left in cars  
And knowing home’s around the bend  
I visit often in my mind’s eye  
I’m rich with mem’ries of the days gone by  

Granddad let me cross the road to find the hum  
Of that John Deere tractor plowing in the sun  
Neighbor busy, stops to wave and wipe his brow  
No time for resting, but here we say “hey” anyhow  

Living in Montgomery County,  
Life was peaceful there & then  
Our doors unlocked, keys left in cars  
And knowing home’s around the bend  
I visit often in my mind’s eye  
I’m rich with mem’ries of the days gone by  

Sheets a-flappin’’ in everyone’s back yard  
Families gather, giving thanks for what comes hard  
Nothin’ fancy; we get by with what we have  
And mama’s spirit still overlooks our humble land  
Living in Montgomery County,  
Life was peaceful there & then  
Our doors unlocked, keys left in cars  
And knowing home’s around the bend  
I visit often in my mind’s eye  
I’m rich with mem’ries of the days gone by  
Precious mem’ries of the days gone by  

Meet Me at the Gate  
©2017 J Kirby Heard

Will you meet me at the gate when I arrive?  
I’m sure I’ll recognize your smiling eyes  
I guess you’ve seen me all along, and how I’ve struggled to write a song  
That says I miss you & wish that you were still alive  

So is there a heaven and what’s it like? Do you think they’ll let me in?  
Is honesty still a virtue? ‘Cause I haven’t kept track of my sins  
There are no reservations for a Heavenly destination  
And my rusty halo needs some polishin’  

You bought the boat before you learned how to sail  
That was your style, and of course you did prevail  
Became the Skipper of the Fleet; missin’ church was kinda neat  
I was your First Mate every Sunday without fail  

But I’d sure like to see your mustache smile  
Share jokes I didn’t ‘get’ as a child  
Will you tell me once out loud that I sure have made you proud?  
More than forty years gone by to reconcile  

You danced at the wedding I never had  
Gave me away (in my mind) like any Dad  
I’m older now than you were then; what will it be like, seeing you again?  
Will our reunion be happy or sad?  

Are you in the Angel Choir still singing bass?  
You served the City & the Scouts, & men in space  
I know that I was only seventeen, but to me you were just like a King  
Taught by example your humility and grace  

So is there a heaven and what’s it like? Do you think they’ll let me in?  
Is honesty still a virtue? ‘Cause I haven’t kept track of my sins  
There are no reservations for a Heavenly destination  
And my rusty halo needs some polishin’  
My rusty halo may need a bit of polishin’  

With You There
©2018 J Kirby Heard 

It makes me sad to see you cry - your quivering lips, your red eyes  
Wish I were there in the same town to take away what makes you frown  
But I’m too far and you’re alone; can’t hold you closer than my phone  
Nor wish the miles away, instead I’ll hold you in my dreams ahead  

Close your eyes, I’m with you there  
You must know how much I care  
Kiss your brow, stroke your cheek  
I’ll hold you close while you’re asleep  

I hate to see him break your heart; he has no clue how far apart  
He’s driven you, though close you were - but not so now; that seems a blur  
Longing to restore your smile I’ll hold you in my mind awhile  
Your light I wish to reignite and see your beacon in the night 

Close your eyes, I’m with you there  
You must know how much I care  
Kiss your brow, stroke your cheek  
I’ll hold you close while you’re asleep  
I’m in your dreams while you’re asleep  

Slingshot
©2017 J Kirby Heard  

Albea get your slingshot & sit here quietly  
We’re gonna get a rabbit for supper, you and me  

Pop expected all of us to help to run the home  
We took to squirrel huntin’, a skill that we could hone  
“Go find us a rock or two,” my brother always said  
He helped me make my slingshot so we could all be fed  

Albea get your slingshot & sit here quietly  
We’re gonna get a rabbit for supper, you and me  

Woodrow showed me one day just how to sit and wait  
A rabbit or a squirrel soon would meet its fate  
I’m not doin’ “nothin’” a-leanin’ on this tree  
I’m huntin’ food for supper, my big brother & me  

Albea get your slingshot & sit here quietly  
We’re gonna get a rabbit for supper, you and me  

Pinch that rock real tight and stretch the rubber band  
You gotta be real patient and hold a steady hand  
Wait real nice and quiet like a statue stone  
Pop’ll be so proud of us when we bring supper home  

Albea get your slingshot & sit here quietly  
We’re gonna get a rabbit for supper, you and me  

Can’t Find the Words 
©2016 J Kirby Heard 

Well, the songs have all been written, the words already spoke  
The pictures all been painted, the memories have been evoked  
You know they say there’s nothing new now, that it’s all been done before  
No more music, art or poems; not much for this troubadour  

I just want to write a love song to let the world know how I feel  
Can’t find the words to say what my heart is telling me  

I’d hang the moon & the stars for you, dear, if they weren’t already there  
You loved me from the very start and then you won my heart so fair  
The way your eyes light up around me makes the diamonds lose their shine  
Like they’re jealous of your glow the heart you’re holding there is mine  

I just want to write a love song to let the world know how I feel  
Can’t find the words to say what my heart is telling me  
Yes, I just want to write a love song that I can sing for you  
It may not be the first one, but to me it’s all brand new  
It may not be the first one, but from my heart it’s true  

Missin’ You Sunday Blues 
©2017 J Kirby Heard 

Sittin’ on the sofa, got the missin’ you Sunday blues  
Another week is gone and I’m missing you bad, it’s true  
There ain’t a thing I can do, I got the missin’ you Sunday blues  

I saw you there on Monday, and then day after that  
Then once again on Wednesday when you wore that gangster hat  
Then Thursday, Friday, Saturday we jammed out with the guys  
But now the music is over, the weekend is gone  
And I can’t tell any lies, and I’m…  

Sittin’ on the sofa, got the missin’ you Sunday blues  
Another week is gone and I’m missing you bad, it’s true  
There ain’t a thing I can do, I got the missin’ you Sunday blues  

Well, we drove on down to Doodad to see that awesome band  
They threw down with the best of them, and then you took my hand  
We danced the night away like there was no one else around  
But then the sun came up, my bubble burst  
And now I’m feeling down, so I’m…  

Sittin’ on the sofa, got the missin’ you Sunday blues  
Another week is gone and I’m missing you bad, it’s true  
There ain’t a thing I can do, I got the missin’ you Sunday blues  

You took me to the festival, it really was divine  
Like summer camp for grown-ups; we had a real good time  
The pickin’ & the friends we made, not to mention the homemade brew  
But now it’s time to go home and then back to work  
Something I don’t wanna do! And I’m…  

Sittin’ on the sofa, got the missin’ you Sunday blues  
Another week is gone and I’m missing you bad, it’s true  
There ain’t a thing I can do, I got the missin’ you Sunday blues  
There ain’t a thing I can do, I got the missin’ you Sunday blues  

Mama’s Attic 
©2017 J Kirby Heard 

I found some things in Mama’s attic, their stories I had not been told  
The ancient, silent family photos keep secrets valued more than gold  
I see connections in their faces, familiar hairline, smile or brow  
If only they could speak and tell me just where they lived, & when, & how  

Way up in Mama’s attic, safely put away up there  
Are mem’ries of her younger days too dear to throw away or share  

Her baubles, jewelry and keepsakes meant so much to her, it seems  
I wish I knew more of the history; there’s more to her than I have seen  
Did she love nights of ballroom dancing? I guess that I will never know  
Collecting treasures through the decades seemed the substance of her soul  

Way up in Mama’s attic, safely put away up there  
Are mem’ries of her younger days too dear to throw away or share  

A wedge of forty years between us she didn’t want to be alone  
Yet she became less of a mother, merely a voice on the phone  

She knew I’d researched on the family; now I’ve found things they left behind  
I wonder why she never told me… I’m left to conjure in my mind  
I learned so many things from mama; at least what she chose to impart  
We share values but I’m wishing I knew her better from the heart  

Way up in Mama’s attic, safely put away up there  
Are mem’ries of her younger days too dear to throw away or share  
Way up in Mama’s attic, safely put away up there  
Are mem’ries of her younger days I dearly wish she would have shared  

Day Is Done 
©2018 J Kirby Heard 

I’m here in the middle, between the mountains and the sea  
The hills have been my home, now the tide is calling me  
There’s the glory in the highlands where Eagles soar above  
And the salty, sandy water beckons as a hopeless love  

If I drop it all and move away, I’ll wind up all alone  
So the answer lies within me — where I’m found when day is done  

Peaks above the tree line reach up to touch the sky  
The gurgle of headwaters has been my lullaby  
The motion of the ocean ebbs and flows with energy  
Desires I’ve never known before are awakening in me  

I can’t be in two places, I’ll remain here like a dove  
I’ll know the mountains as my homeland and the sea, my far-off love  

So I gaze into the night sky, for I know they share this space  
I can’t move the mountains to the sea still I seek my happy place  
The stars shall navigate for me as the sailors in the past  
And gently guide my troubled heart to find my peace at last  

If I drop it all and move away, I’ll wind up all alone  
So the answer lies within me — where I’m found when day is done  
If I drop it all and move away, I’ll wind up all alone  
So the answer lies within me — where I’m found when day is done  

Get (The Hell) Off My Farm 
©2020 J Kirby Heard 

I see you stalking around me; I know that you want to do harm  
My infrared shows me the places you go - why don’t you get off of my farm  
I see you there on my camera, the close-up lens shows me your face  
Just what do you need? Is it meanness or greed? Why don’t you get out of my place!  

I see you creeping ‘round my porch at night  
My business is mine and it just isn’t right  
What do you want from me?  
Please let me be and get the hell off of my farm  

I see you’re there ‘round my buildings - I have them to hide all my stuff  
Your snooping ways leaving me feeling betrayed, and it really is making me huff  
Why don’t you mind your own business? You know that we used to be friends  
You’re pushing me close to use razor wire and electrify my metal fence  

I see you creeping ‘round my porch at night  
My business is mine and it just isn’t right  
What do you want from me?  
Please let me be and get the hell off of my farm  
Just get the hell off of my farm!  

Caroline 
©2017 J Kirby Heard 

My home was in the Midwest flatlands; left it there, myself to find.  
Headed east and somewhat southward, found rolling hills in Caroline  
A cowgirl roped my lonely heart there and took me to her farm  
I never knew sweet love could find me. We fell forever arm in arm  

Caroline, sweet brown eyes. Caroline, deep blue skies  
Caroline, you stole my heart. Caroline, we’ll never part  
We explored this land together; ‘cross the countryside we roamed  
Found there was no greater beauty than our Carolina home  
Many years we’ve shared together. Loving friends have come & gone  
Sweet Caroline has made our family. A truer love, there could be none  

Caroline, sweet brown eyes. Caroline, deep blue skies  
Caroline, you stole my heart. Caroline, we’ll never part  

Sandy beaches, Blue Ridge mountains, city lights and family farms  
Shades of life more than Giverny, caring souls with loving arms  
Though we’re older now, and golden, and we’re rooted to this land  
I have become a misplaced Yankee, sweet Caroline, my heart & hand  

Caroline, sweet brown eyes. Caroline, deep blue skies  
Caroline, you stole my heart. Caroline, we’ll never part  
Caroline, you stole my heart. Caroline, we’ll never part  

Reflections
©2018 J Kirby Heard  

Who do I see in my mirror? Is she the same as me?  
Grey with wrinkled outlines; my colors do I see?  
Is it there, my endless quest for truth, sprinkled with light-hearted wit?  
Is my heart of gold pinned on my sleeve? Do I show my grit?  

I’m polishing my reflection; no reason to make believe  
Embrace the face in my mirror, finally reveal the true me  

I’ve been bruised & beaten; and loved incredibly  
Victories over struggles, they’ve written the story of me  
It seems I’ve created a cover, a kind of a social mask  
I fool some folks I know — they never even ask  

No self-denial, I know I’m true, no one else I’m trying to be  
Are you seeing me in the mirror? I’m not hiding my identity  

Swimming against the mainstream, do I act as someone I’m not?  
Where’s the woman I’ve met before? Does she fear getting caught?  
I’m bound to admire who I am, with no uncertainty  
So I’ll see the face in my mirror as she is meant to be  

I’m polishing my reflection; no reason to make believe  
Embrace the face in my mirror, finally, finally reveal the true me  

You Don’t Have to Know Jesus 
©2017 J Kirby Heard 

My mama taught me lessons about love and peace and life  
She taught me through her living in good times and in strife  
Now the Pope says it’s okay if I don’t believe in God  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song  

Pope Francis said some things that give my soul a rest  
Being spiritual doesn’t mean I need religion as a nest  
It’s okay my church is nature and not just brick and stone  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song  

It’s all about brotherhood, kindness, truth and love  
The sort we find inside ourselves and not just from above  
The light of the spirit is deep inside each one  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song  

Mother Teresa showed me how to live this way  
My Presbyterian rearing didn’t hurt in any way  
I learned to love & honor others, all along  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song  

It’s all about sisterhood, kindness, truth and love  
The sort we find inside ourselves and not just from above  
The light of the spirit is deep inside each one  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song  
I guess you don’t have to know Jesus to write a gospel song