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THE GIFT OF THE MAGI - & other seasonal stories (2002)

by Darryl Purpose

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1.
May It Be 02:45
May it (D) be an evening (G)star Shines (D)down upon (A7)you May it (Bm)be when darkness (G)falls Your (D)heart will be (A7)true You (G)walk a lonely (D)road Oh! How (Em7)far you (D/F#)are from (A7sus A7)home (D)Morni(Bm)e u(G)tuli(A7)e (Darkness has come) Be(D)lieve and (Bm)you will (G)find your (A7sus A7)way (D)Morn(Bm)ie a(G)lanti(A7sus A7)e (Darkness has fallen) A (Bm)promise (G)lives with(A7)in you (D)now May it (D)be the shadow's (G)call Will (D)fly a(A7)way May it (Bm) be your journey (G)on To (D)light the (A7)day When the (G)night is over(D)come You may (Em7)rise to (D/F#) find the (A7sus A7)sun (D)Morni(Bm)e u(G)tuli(A7)e (Darkness has come) Be(D)lieve and (Bm) you will (G)find your (A7sus A7)way (D)Morni(Bm)e a(G)lanti(A7sus A7)e (Darkness has fallen) A (Bm)promise (G)lives with(A7)in you (D)now A (Bm)promise (G)lives with(A7)in you (D)now
2.
AMERICAN NOEL dave carter Three wise men Riding hard through the cold Lost on some big city street With no place warm to go They are looking for a manger Or a sign in the lights But they're a long way from Bethlehem tonight But they heard about a savior And a preacher in the park Who will camp with the homeless Where they shiver in the dark And deliver salvation To the weary and the cold And he'll bring joy joy joy to the wandering soul The cleaning lady sighs As she closes up the gate 'Cause this job don't quite pay the bills And she's always working late But all in a moment Comes a light from above It's an angel speaking words of joy and love And he tells her of a savior And a preacher in the park Who will camp with the homeless Under bridges in the dark He'll deliver salvation To the weary and the cold And he'll bring joy joy joy to the wandering soul Four in the mornin' At theTradewinds Motel The register reads "all full up" And the clerk thinks just as well But out in the tool shed 'Round an old Coleman lamp A little family makes its meager camp INSTRUMENTAL VERSE The Wise Men bring presents And the angels gather 'round The cleaning lady slips in through the door without a sound And an old black dog Looks on with the rest At the little babe up on his mother's breast And there comes a savior And a preacher in the park And he camps with the homeless Where they shiver in the dark He delivers salvation To the weary and the cold And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul
3.
Holy Now 04:13
Holy Now by Peter Mayer When I was a boy, each week On Sunday, we would go to church And pay attention to the priest He would read the holy word And consecrate the holy bread And everyone would kneel and bow Today the only difference is Everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now When I was in Sunday school We would learn about the time Moses split the sea in two Jesus made the water wine And I remember feeling sad That miracles don’t happen still But now I can’t keep track ‘Cause everything’s a miracle Everything, Everything Everything’s a miracle Wine from water is not so small But an even better magic trick Is that anything is here at all So the challenging thing becomes Not to look for miracles But finding where there isn’t one When holy water was rare at best It barely wet my fingertips But now I have to hold my breath Like I’m swimming in a sea of it It used to be a world half there Heaven’s second rate hand-me-down But I walk it with a reverent air ‘Cause everything is holy now Everything, everything Everything is holy now Read a questioning child’s face And say it’s not a testament That’d be very hard to say See another new morning come And say it’s not a sacrament I tell you that it can’t be done This morning, outside I stood And saw a little red-winged bird Shining like a burning bush Singing like a scripture verse It made me want to bow my head I remember when church let out How things have changed since then Everything is holy now It used to be a world half-there Heaven’s second rate hand-me-down But I walk it with a reverent air ‘Cause everything is holy now
4.
5.
The Gift of the Magi ©2000 purpose/twohy Verse 1 Della saved her pennies carefully all year For her Jim a gift to match the highest star But expenses were much more than she'd expected These days, they always are And the next day would be christmas Verse 2 It was a rare and fine and sterling watch chain she saw 'Twould go with the gold watch his father gave And as her hair fell past her knees, a waterfall round her She knew, she must be brave For the next day would be Christmas CHORUS: And the gifts of Christmas run deeper than this It's in the lay of the land, in a sweet lovers kiss And it's not what you give it's not what you take It's knowing they even exist Verse 3 So on went her old jacket her old brown hat A whirl of skirts and still a sparkle in her eye She fluttered down the street, to where the sign said Hair Goods, of all kinds Because the next day would be Christmas CHORUS: And the gifts of Christmas run deeper than this It's in the lay of the land, in a sweet lovers kiss And it's not what you give it's not what you take It's knowing they even exist Verse 4 Jim saw the sterling watch-chain from the doorway He held jeweled combs to please his Della fair But he'd sold the watch to buy the perfect match for her beautiful, vanished, hair And the next day would be christmas Bridge: Everywhere, they are the wisest Traveled far, the length of their hearts Those who sacrifice the greatest treasures of their hearts
6.
You come to me in anger, your weapon is your tongue You don't see the danger in this stranger you've become You're justified with reasons, all on prides behalf Your heart shook the hand of treason and signed a solemn pact CHORUS: With a stone for a stone, and an eye for an eye That's a rocky road to travel down so blind Why not make a point no armor can defend At a time like this, forgiveness is, the perfect revenge Don't deny this rage, that won't help get rid of it AIm and fire away, I can take that hit But don't hold forgiveness hostage Release that prisoner and you'll find Best to free someone who's crossed you than ransom your peace of mind CHORUS: With a stone for a stone, and an eye for an eye That's a rocky road to travel down so blind Why not make a point no armor can defend At a time like this, forgiveness is, the perfect revenge BRIDGE: The path of least resistance starts outside your door If you unlock what's innocent, if you're willing to see more CHORUS: With a stone for a stone, and an eye for an eye That's a rocky road to travel down so blind Why not make a point no armor can defend At a time like this, forgiveness is, the perfect revenge
7.
Christmas In The Trenches by John McCutcheon My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool, Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school. To Belgium and to Flanders to Germany to here I fought for King and country I love dear. 'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung, The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung, Our families back in England were toasting us that day, Their brave and glorious lads so far away. I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear As one young German voice sang out so clear. "He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more As Christmas brought us respite from the war. As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent The next they sang was "Stille Nacht," "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I And in two tongues one song filled up that sky. "There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright As he bravely strode unarmed into the night. Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's land With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell. We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home These sons and fathers far away from families of their own Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin This curious and unlikely band of men. Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night "Whose family have I fixed within my sights?" 'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war Had been crumbled and were gone for evermore. My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell Each Christmas come since World War I I've learned its lessons well That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame And on each end of the rifle we're the same.
8.
Mary and Joe 04:22
Mary and Joe by Christopher Smith Mary and Joe, they lived together They didn’t live as man and wife They didn’t care what people said, no, Just tried to quietly live their life When Joe would try to hog the covers Mary did not scream or shout She simply nudged him with her elbow Joe it’s your turn to let the donkey out Joe it’s your turn to let the donkey out These two people loved each other such a long, long time ago And yet I yearn to hear the story of old friends, Mary and Joe Those two old friends, Mary and Joe One morning Mary came to Joseph Said, “I’m gonna be a mom, There’s just one thing… about the father Heaven knows where he came from” So Mary had her little baby Mary had her little lamb He didn’t look a bit like Joseph But Joe was happy as a clam Yeah Joe was happy as a clam ‘Cause when two people love each other They’re gonna reap just what they sow And when they sow the seeds of friendship they’ll live like Mary and Joe They’ll live just like Mary and Joe When Joseph held that little baby He dearly loved it as his own And Mary owed no explanations And Joseph threw no stones But when Joe’s heart would start to darken He laid his feelings on the line He sat and worked it out with Mary They took it one day at a time They took it one day at a time ‘Cause when two people love each other There’s still a long tough row to hoe Before they learn to raise a garden Like our friends - Mary and Joe Those two old friends - Mary and Joe As luck would have it the boy grew famous You know he turned out rather nice They wrote a lot of books about him Chock full of worldly advice But nowadays I pause to wonder ‘bout the stuff I need to know I need a little less sweet Jesus A little more - Mary and Joe Cause all this waiting on some savior To come on back and run the show Well you can keep your son in heaven lord Send back - Mary and Joe Just send on back - Mary and Joe
9.
The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams Amber called her uncle, said ’we’re up here for the holiday, Jane and I were having solstice, now we need a place to stay.’ And her christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang mary on a tree, He watched his song hang candy canes all made with red dye number three. He told his niece, ’its christmas eve, I know our life is not your style,’ She said, ’christmas is like solstice, and we miss you and it’s been awhile,’ So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said, Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses. The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch, Till timmy turned to amber and said, ’is it try that you’re a wtich? ’ His mom jumped up and said, ’the pies are burning,’ and she hit the kitchen, And it was jane who spoke, she said, ’its true, your cousins not a christian,’ ’but we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share, And you find magic from your god, and we find magic everywhere,’ So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, And where does magic come from? I think magics in the learning, Cause now when christians sit with pagans only pumpkin pies are burning. When amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, ’really, no, don’t bother.’ Ambers uncle saw how amber looked like tim and like her father. He thought about his brother, how they hadnt spoken in a year, He thought hed call him up and say, ’its christmas and your daughters here.’ He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, so his own son tug his sleeve, saying, ’can I be a pagan? ’ dad said, ’well discuss it when they leave.’ So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.
10.
Granted 02:24
Look what I found growing in the garden down on the ground, topsoil partin' here comes a sprout, innocent and slender here comes a cloud, raindrops so tender Saving my seeds for the next harvest pulling up weeds, like I'm an artist God's grand design, now I understand it and I'm resigned to how he planned it BRIDGE: Roots strong grow long fingertips to the sun sing a sweet song The fruits of our labor are won The fruits of our labor are one INSTRUMENTAL VERSE Righting all wrongs, can you feel the power? Fill up my lungs with fragrant flower it seems like years since it was planted now it appears my wish is granted
11.
You Must Go Home For Christmas purpose/fisher (E) By the (C)time that I'd hit Barstow, I quit (E)drinking (C)The silent night was cold, the lights were (E)blinking I (C#m)slept under a (A)public Christmas (E)tree (A)Woke up feeling stiff, saw (B)my life was a gift (A)Given ex(B)clusively to (E)me I'm (A)going home for (E)Christmas, (A)thinking that I (E)should (A)Go and see the (C#m)family, and (F#7)hope it's under(B)stood That (A)when you wander (E)far away, from (A)your old neighbor(C#m)hood You (A)must go home for (E)Christmas, You (A) must go home for (E)Christmas (A)You must go (B)home, for (E)good Well I met three men about half a mile from Vegas Said this town was no place to spend Christmas They offered me a ride in their old car Said the answer that you seek, lies somewhere in the east So I followed that rising morning star I'm going home for Christmas, thinking that I should Go and see the family, and hope it's understood That when you wander far away, from your old neighborhood You must go home for Christmas, You must go home for Christmas You must go home, for good By the time I made Missouri I'd decided To reunite the family I'd divided Try to find some peace here on this earth Return to the city, of my nativity Foster some good will for what it's worth INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS In Bethlehem P.A. I shaved and showered Called to say I'd be home in three hours It sounded like the phone line had gone dead But before I hung up, the other end spoke up And tearfully I listened as she said Please come home for Christmas, please come home for good Come and see the family, cause now it's understood That when you wander far away, from your old neighborhood You must go home for Christmas, You must go home for Christmas You must go home, for good when you wander far away, from your own neighborhood You must go home fro Christmas, You must go home for Christmas You must go home, for good
12.
Turn! Turn! Turn! by Pete Seeger To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to laugh, a time to weep. To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to build up, a time to break down. A time to dance, a time to mourn. A time to cast away stones. A time to gather stones together. To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time of love, a time of hate. A time of war, a time of peace. A time you may embrace. A time to refrain from embracing. To everything, turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to gain, a time to lose. A time to rend, a time to sew. A time for love, a time for hate. A time for peace, I swear it's not too late.

about

liner notes from the CD:
Until recently my holiday albums consisted of two vinyl LP's inherited from my parents. When I heard that Darryl was planning a holiday CD, I had a hard time envisioning his usual cast of wayward wanderers, guns and gamblers dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh. About thirty seconds into hearing the studio rough cuts I understood that, as usual, Darryl's musical instincts were several steps ahead of conventional wisdom and more importantly, my own - something we can all be thankful for.

Ranging from heartrendingly poignant to wryly humorous, this amazing collection of songs is more about the attitudes and feelings we try to embrace for a couple weeks every year, than about the holidays themselves. In keeping with Darryl's peace activist roots, each carries a message of tolerance, understanding, or hope for the future that rings true regardless of the season. Should you catch yourself being a little more accepting of others during the other fifty weeks of the year and decide to blame it on having listened to this CD one too many times, somehow I don't think he'll mind.

Rod Waller - Brockton, Massachusetts
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Here's what I like about Darryl Purpose's GIFT OF THE MAGI: it's a Holiday record for grown-ups of all ages. It's not a stupid kids' record with dumb songs about inanimate objects coming to life. It's not a treacly Christmas record of smug sanctimony. Instead, it's a cycle of songs with a theme of spirituality, caring -and, dare I say it- humanity. A smart six year old is going to enjoy this. Fans of contemporary folk are going to enjoy this. Wizened grown ups of advanced years are going to enjoy this. If you're going to indulge in any Holiday cds, this is the one that gets my vote.
~Charlie Hunter

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credits

released December 25, 2002

Recorded & Produced by Ed Tree, featuring Julie Beaver & Daryl S, this CD was recorded 'Brown Album' style. Darryl gets down to what he does best - vocal/guitar tracks (with a little fiddle and a little harmony) that make you think you're listening to a roomful of musicians. You'll be playing this one year round.


Track List with notes from Darryl:

May It Be 2:45 (enya)
Gary Thompson's idea. On the very last day of recording and we went to Ed Tree's neighbor's house to watch the Lord of the Rings DVD, to hear this song for the first time. 2 hours later, it was arranged, recorded, and we liked it so much we put it first on the CD!

American Noel 3:48 (dave carter)
I knew very soon after meeting Dave that I'd be spreading the word about his songs for a long time. Here's another from my favorite songwriter.

Holy Now 4:13 (peter mayer)
I heard Peter play this song for the first time at the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. Later, at the South Florida Folk Festival, I sang it back to him, remembering it from that one listen five months earlier. It's an impact song, especially for current or recovering Catholics. I like what Julie Beaver added to this one.

Steel String Surprise 2:17 (ken bonfield)
My very first Folk Alliance conference - I saw/heard Ken playing this song across the hotel lobby. I was drawn to him and introduced myself. We traded CD's and I have been entertaining myself playing this wonderful piece since then.

Gift of the Magi 4:33 (dp & mary sue twohy)
Mary Sue and I had the chorus and I played it for Ellis Paul who said , "That's the chorus for the 'Gift of the Magi.' " I walked to Harvard square and bought a collection of O'Henry stories - we fit the words in like an audio jigsaw puzzle.

The Perfect Revenge 3:08 (kevin faherty)
Kevin has a whole collection of great songs beyond Singer/Songwriter Heaven. This is just one of them. Forgiveness is...

Christmas in the Trenches 4:54 (john mccutcheon)
Based on a true story from WWI.

Mary & Joe 4:22 (christopher smith)
Chistopher is a wonderful guy from Marin county whose songwriting has totally charmed me. He does his own version on his CD - "Sweet River Grace". If you ever see him, ask him to play "Dead Horse Trampoline"

The Christians and the Pagans 4:23 (dar williams)
What a great song.

Granted 2:24 (dp & robert morgan fisher)
Written for Robert's first son, Grant.

You Must Go Home For Christmas 4:12 (dp & robert morgan fisher)
I've always thought this was one of mine and Robert's best efforts, right up there with Mr Schwinn and Ring On My Hand. Julie Beaver added a nice harmony to go with Daryl S's violin.

Turn, Turn, Turn! 2:47 (pete seeger)
Hero is a word that can be overused, but Pete is at the top of my list. The memory of trading songs around the fireplace in the house he built by hand and then sleeping in the barn with Collective Vision is a great highlight for me.

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Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.

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about

Darryl Purpose Portland, Oregon

Darryl went to Las Vegas at 19 and became a professional blackjack player, which he still calls the 'only real job I've ever had'. He is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Since 1996, he has toured extensively and released 8 albums of original music.
Darryl's last two albums spent weeks at #1 on the RMR radio charts. Next Time Around and Still The Birds
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