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Fathers and Sons

by John Lester

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1.
Pink for girls or blue for boys Fairy dust or fighting toys A child must choose when they’re still young Between a magic wand or a plastic gun But there’s this kid who doesn’t care What his classmates say or which daddy’s stare His hair’s pulled back in a ponytail He wears a purple dress and he’s got painted nails And he says why does everybody tell me what I can’t do And then he just sighs and says I guess I’ll be The beautiful princess of never come true Some people try to put him down But his heads held high and he stands his ground He’s strong, he’s wise, and he’s pretty too And he’s got a lesson for me and you ‘Cause he likes both Lego planes and lady bugs His dolls ride trains and he gives big bear hugs Boy things, girl things, all he sees Are people things, not he’s or she’s And he says why should anybody tell me what I can’t do And he can’t deny that he’ll always be The beautiful princess of never come true Of never come true He’s beautiful princess Of never come true When are we the parents finally gonna stop our pretending That we don’t look down in judgement Can’t we see the message we’re sending ‘Cause if a boy wants to fly on butterfly wings Or dress himself up in the prettiest things Then why should he have to fight a very old point of view And be the beautiful princess of never come true I hope this child will always see Exactly who he wants to be And he won’t grow up to be afraid To stand behind the choice he’s made For perhaps the writers got it wrong With their fairy tales where he can’t belong From his innocence, from this child at play I hope they learn that’s alright to say You can fly in any way that you imagine to do So please don’t deny that you can also be a beautiful princess Just reach for the sky and all the heavens will be open to you Now let’s say goodbye and thanks to The beautiful princess of never come true ©John Lester
2.
With my words I’m gonna bring you flowers Gifts to you I will sing I’ll fill the air with a sweet sweet sound That you can breathe in every little thing I’ll play this poem I now offer No need to read between the lines I’m telling everybody here yes I’m gonna make it very clear That this song is yours and mine ‘Cause I’m talking ‘bout a Real Real A Real Real Love A Real Real A Real Real Love I’ll get people on their feet up and dancing To this happiness that I feel I’m laying down a groove that I know is gonna make you move Because it’s way too big to conceal And in the bright stage lights I’m gonna show your So everybody else here can see A picture of my life that’s finally going right Because it’s all about you and me ‘Cause I’m talking ‘bout a Real Real A Real Real Love A Real Real A Real Real Love Now when I look around I hardly believe it So many years have rolled on by What began as just us two Multiplied as our love grew And now the little ones walk by our side When I think back on all my expectations Of everything I thought this would be I realize that we’ve surpassed All I dreamed of in my past Now when I’m singin’ ‘bout our family, I’m singin’ ’bout a I’m singin’ ‘bout a Real Real A Real Real Love A Real Real A Real Real Love ©John Lester
3.
The center of a sunset or the city from a rooftop view The stars on a cold clear winter’s night All the sights I’ve seen that I’d like to share with you If they weren’t so far from your sight If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes Just one moment’s all I’d need through your eyes Then I could final realize All it is you that you sacrifice If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes Take my hand when the shadows start to fall Or the path gets rocky up ahead I know the others well they don’t understand at all But it’s by your strengths they’ve been misled If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes Just one moment’s all I’d need through your eyes Then I could final realize All it is you that you sacrifice If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes To look beyond the rainbow into a world without any lines You set your own horizon that no one else can define When I’m seeking guidance from a different point of view I always know I can find it if I only turn to you Please forgive me if sometimes I forget That you just can’t see things the way I do But I never doubt you and there’s nothing I regret For I know you’ll reach all you pursue But if I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes Just one moment’s all I’d need through your eyes Then I could final realize All it is you that you sacrifice If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes If I had one wish I’d like to see through your eyes ©John Lester
4.
How could a man rise and fall so far From the once admired great captain of the sea To one who resigned to just define ally or enemy In search of your final foe you set your sights on me And so I made my way to the high road I left my anger and my pride along the way Though we no longer saw eye to eye I thought we could still walk side by side But taking the high road Is not the choice you made When did your need for praise and admiration Turn you towards deception and deceit And though I wasn’t wrong to hold so long to the respect I kept for you In the end you only used it to bring me to my knees But still I made my way to the high road I left my anger and my pride along the way Though we no longer saw eye to eye I thought we could still walk side by side But taking the high road Is not the choice you made Where did he go The father I looked up to, the man my sons would never know I am all that I am Thanks to the lessons he once taught me so now I’m reaching out my hand But all that’s left is your legacy For which you used your final words to make you winner of your game But I will still pass on your lifelong lessons to your progeny Though all you left them was a folded flag and the family name And how I hoped you’d make your way to the high road And leave your anger and your pride along the way Though we no longer saw eye to eye I thought we could still walk side by side But taking the high road is not the choice you made No taking the high road is not the choice you made ©John Lester
5.
Hey Shiela, I remember the day I met ya It was a welcome to the world to the prettiest thing I’d seen I knew from the moment I heard your first born cries I’d love you for forever, you’re the apple of my eye And that day you inspired this little melody Hey Shiela, how you made me love being a daddy We’d play peek-a-boo games while I bounced you on my knee I’d read you Little Orphan Annie and you’d give me a snuggle When we put you to bed if you gave us any trouble I’d simply sing your little melody Hey, I was so sorry when I had to leave you Things just didn’t work out like we planned with your mom and me You were only two and the best thing I could do Was that I keep a little distance though it gave me the blues I thought about you every time I played your melody But hey Shiela, I always watched you from the distance And what a beautiful young woman you grew up and came to be I heard about your wedding day from your brother in the crowd I never got to tell ya but you made me so proud That that day my heart sang out your little melody Hey Shiela, who’s that playin’ my ukulele The one I bought back in 1933 I see a very close resemblence, guess it’s meant to be My little uke would reconnect the family tree Now let’s see if your boy can play your little melody Hey Shiela, could I have the next dance in heaven Ain’t nobody gonna make a big fuss you’ll see ‘Cause here it’s all about the love not about the sorrow We all dance throughout the night because there’s never a tomorrow And all the angels love your little melody ©John Lester
6.
I’m looking at my country from the outside-in again And I see a demagogue get ushered He reached down from the one percent And shook the hands of all our angry men He doled out empty promises And bathed his facts in spin He told us that our greatness was just a memory from the past He pointed fingers and blamed make him win He said he’d a wall And put “the foreigners” at fault But no barrier protects us From the enemy within But like an American train song Or some 1950’s jazz We’re all living in a stream of moments Between our future and the past If everything we are tomorrow Comes from our actions of today Then let’s not build a wall ‘round freedom Or our freedom is gonna fade away With the news as propaganda And the media for sale He hid the truth behind a very thin white veil He cherry picked his facts And offered nothing but attacks So from his Bully Puppet’s podium Our values were assailed He divided up the nation With no a Mason-Dixon line Told rural counties that he’s was one of their own kind Though they could clearly see his face They looked beyond all his disgrace To hear his populist promises That take us back in time But like an American train song Or some 1950’s jazz We’re all living in a stream of moments Between our future and the past If everything we are tomorrow Comes from our actions of today Then let’s not build a wall ‘round freedom Or our freedom is gonna to fade away What will we say to our founding fathers On the day we return as the prodigal son If we let misogyny and hate Create a fascist state Then the liberties we’ve long fought for Will all become undone But like an American train song Or some 1950’s jazz We’re all living in a stream of moments Between our future and the past If everything we are tomorrow Come from our actions of today Let’s not build a wall ‘round freedom So our freedom will never fade away Freedom forged our sovereign nation Then we gave freedom through emancipation We gave it to the suffragettes The gays and lesbians need it yet We gave for our women’s choices We gave it for our colored voices If we don’t stop this hate and bigotry Then we’ll all be freedom’s refugees Don’t let it fade way Don’t let it fade away Don’t let it fade away ©John Lester
7.
67 Minutes 05:31
67 minutes Is not that much time To put an ending on a lifetime To say a last goodbye A secret operation An international flight We simply went ‘round those who wronged us To set things right I still see your face as I surprised you All the life left in your eyes Now each time I think about you The memory of you lies In 67 minutes Of joy not tears Now I’ll remember every second For the rest of my years Our oldest dancing all around you Our babies silent gaze The infants and their elder Before we parted our ways I know no one lives forever But through their children carry on So we were there for you and listening To everything you’d pass along In 67 minutes And then our 67 minutes Finally came to a close So I lingered by your doorway And heard each word you chose How you told me not to worry You last advice to your son And then you praised the girl I married And the new lives we’d begun Then I walked into the afternoon And left our last goodbye behind Now that’s how I now remember you Running like a movie in my mind For 67 minutes ©John Lester
8.
Love Attack 02:28
I see you running from across the playground I better brace myself or I’m gonna go down You’re arms are raised, there’s a big smile on your face I’m getting ready for the impact of your embrace Love attack Ohhh, love attack I better watch my back When you hit me with your love attack You’re staring at me when I wake in the morning My eyes just open but you give me no warning I just can’t do this without my cup of coffee But to get it gotta first get you off of me Love attack Ohhh it’s a love attack I can’t even get out of the sack Before you hit me with a love attack I always thought of love was warm and gentle Now I know it can also be mental A kiddy cuddle would be so sweet and so nice All you parents better listen to my advice Get ready for the love attack Ohhhh love attack Your little darlings are all maniacs They’re gonna get ya with a love attack You ain’t lyin’ when you call me your old man I try and stay in shape but what chance do I stand ‘gainst 50 pounds of pure grit and muscle Just tryin’ to prove himself and get in a tussle Love attack Ohhh it’s a love attack Did I hear somethin’ crack When you hit me with your love attack Aaaaay love attack I’m still reeling from a love attack And now you’re comin’ back For another love attack ©John Lester
9.
There's a tired young man who’s walking to the window I've seen his kind a hundred times before Since I've been working serving coffee down at this hospital weekdays See I've got a little cart that's just outside it's door This fella smiled and said his wife just had a daughter And he’d come to buy her a little treat Well I said, " Well Pop this one's on me" and I just let it be That he's one of very many brand new daddy's that that I meet ‘cause life passes by my window And it tells me all I need to know It says some things never change While others just won't stay the same And people they come and they go They come and they go 'Round 'bout noon arives this lovely older lady But she wears her sorrow like a mournful mask Usually I'd say "Hey there how's it going?" But this time I decided not to ask She said she'd lost her lover of forty-seven years He was her world he was her everything And she thanked me for my warmth and understanding But when she left I realized that I hadn't said a thing And life passes by my window And it tells me all I need to know It says some things never change While others just won't stay the same And people they come and they go They come and they go Now a brand new baby cries While our elder man just up and died I hope his lifelong wisdom Can open up her brand new eyes For if our souls don't grow Then we won't have very much to show Because people We come and we go We come and we go Now there's a family gathering outside on the patio For only one of two reasons that I know They wait for the new arriving or pray for the just surviving Well this time it turns out that it was both Now who'd have thought that there could be such complications With modern methods there's no need to worry But now a husband’s happiest day might be his saddest in the same And there's a brand new baby boy with a mom he may not meet And life passes by my window And it tells me so much more than I really didn't care to know It says some things never change While others just won't stay the same And people they come and they go They come and they go I’m gonna make the most of every single moment that I own Because people we come and we go ©John Lester
10.
Hush little darlin’ Don’t you cry Daddy’s gonna sing you A little lullaby There’s no need to worry So tuck your cares away The lullaby will tell you It’s just the end of today Every night we will meet like before There’ll always be tomorrows that’s what good nights are for Well take the days adventures and store ‘em in a chest Get ready for tomorrow and dream about what’s best In the morning the sun is gonna rise We’ll wake up and we’ll wipe all the sleep out of our eyes Daddy makes his coffee and you’ve had your morning snack We’ll walk out into tomorrow and then there ain’t no looking back Hush little darlin’ Don’t you cry Daddy’s gonna sing you A little lullaby There’s no need to worry So tuck your cares away The lullaby will tell you It’s just the end of today ©John Lester

about

John Lester’s new album, Fathers and Sons, is a collection of his most personal and powerful work yet. Inspired by the often unspoken family relationships between men, each song messages the love, pain, tension, struggle, and questions that arise and confound these ties and bonds. From the full acceptance and embrace of a young boy’s gender fluidity in “The Beautiful Princess of Never Come True”, to the merciful attempts at reconciliation with an estranged father during his final days in “The High Road”, to the feeling of forever growing family love in “Real, Real Love”, John’s life experience as a father, husband, son, teacher, and songwriter is felt throughout each song as well.

John has collaborated with incredibly talented musicians from around the globe and from many phases of his career for this recording. With John on vocals, acoustic basses, guitars, and his 1930 era Martin ukulele, the core band is rounded out by his long-time European touring partner Paul Tiernan on acoustic guitars and background vocals, and New York drummer Tim Bulkley. Grammy-nominated songwriter Gretchen Peters (background vocals) and Nashville pianist Barry Walsh guest on the opening track. Other guests include Bay Area drummer Michael Urbano, Baxter Roberston on Hammond organ, six string bassist Steve Lawson, and Grammy-award winning fretless bassist Michael Manring. John’s two sons, ages eleven and nine, make their debut appearances on vocals.

Fathers and Sons was recorded in the San Francisco Bay Area at 25th Street Recording by Grammy-award winning engineer Michael Rosen (Rob Wasserman, Santana, Country Joe McDonald). It was mastered at New York’s Sterling Sound (John Mayer, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon) by Randy Merrill, who won this year’s mastering Grammy for his work on Adele’s album ‘25’.

credits

released June 18, 2017

John Lester ~ vocals, bass, guitar, and ukulele
Paul Tiernan ~ background vocals and guitars
Gretchen Peters ~ guest background vocals
Kai and Aaron Lester ~ guest vocals
Barry Walsh ~ piano and accordion
Baxter Robertson ~ Hammond organ
Tim Bulkley ~ drums
Michael Urbano ~ additional drums and percussion
Michael Manring ~ fretless bass
Steve Lawson ~ soundscapes

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John Lester San Francisco, California

Award-winning singer-songwriter, bassist and multi-instrumentalist.

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