"No Mo Mono (Tribute to the Mono Lake Committee)"  

Copyright Charles Broten  2009

Seagulls soar across Sierra Peaks from Ocean to their ageless home,
The banks and islands of Mono Lake, where the Coyotes once could roam,
When the water was low, when the water was low.

The seagulls used to raise their families, before transcontinental treks.
But the coyotes could cross the land bridge and break little seagull necks,
When the water was low, when the water was low.

Three-quarters of the Earth is covered with water, but there never seemed to be enough for Southern California,
they tried to take, Mono Lake and flush it down their toilet tanks-
What a way to die for this prehistoric sea, this sea

Who says you can't get nothin' done when you form a committee
David Gaines and other pioneers, we're thankful they could see
That the water that we waste and drink, brother its not free
And without a halt to diversions, there may one day be

No Mo' Mono, No Mo Mono, No Mo Mono sea.....

Now on ev'ry Continent, in ev'ry Ocean on this Earth,
forests, rivers, species, soil, Nature's gifts of priceless worth
Are already gone, or they're threatnin' to go

Only humans at their best can change the course we're on.
Release the force of kindred souls to save our earthly home
Before its gone, and its threatnin' to go

There could'a been No Mo Mono, No Mo Mono....
But the Mono Lake Committee, saved Mono Lake,
They saved Mono Lake. I saw it on the back or your car.
Sometimes visions can come true


(We're all headed for the) "Nursing Home"

Copyright 2009 Charles Broten

We're all headed for the Nursing Home. All together, all alone.
Most would rather stay in place if they had help to keep them safe
Better be or not to be, 'fore you pass through that door.

We have a social safety net, provided by the Government.
MediCare and MediCaid, well thats the way the bill gets paid.
But they're cuttin' back from State to State, lots a people have to wait
(Yet) To prematurely institutionalize, is systematically incentivized
We send big bills to Uncle Sam for homeless Vets from Vietnam
And Grandmas who outlive their cash and victims of the market crash
If we're going to have to pay, we should have a choice of where to stay

How we treat the least of thee, is how we judge society

A Nursing Home can be just fine, if you're at the right place and time
If we can find the Common Ground, there'll be enough to go around.

We need to move more care to communities and support caregiving families
Get those redundant State Bureacracies to integrate their dynasties
If the people want more choice they have to speak with a stronger voice
We need more options

We're all headed for the Nursing Home? All together all alone.
People poking things at you, got no idea why or who
Better be or not to be, 'fore you pass through that door.

In the human care continuum is dignity a zero sum?
How we treat the least of thee, is how we judge society
We're all headed for the home. Are you headed for the Nursing Home?


Oh Sweet Life

Words and Music by Charles Broten
Copyright 2009

Oh Sweet Life, how swiftly you fly away
Oh Sweet Life, how swiftly you fly away

They say, that there's a world beyond
They say, that you're just going home
I say, that you are really gone
But I see, your spirit lingers on

Oh Sweet Life, how swiftly you fly away
Oh Sweet Life, I've seen you over stay

I know, that there are seeds you sow
I know, the best of them will grow, but
I know, that I don't really know
But I see, your spirit lingers on

I hope that mine does too
I hope that yours does too
Is it the best we can do?
Spirit shining through

Oh Sweet Life, how swiftly you fly away
Oh Sweet Life, I've seen you over stay
Oh Sweet Life, your spirit is here today


Inspiration Notes- I knew a man who delivered home delivered meals to the elderly. One day he pulled onto the Highway into the path of a 14-wheeler and died instantly. This song came to me during the one hour drive to his funeral.


Who? Everybody

Copyright Charles Broten 2009

Who needs to be touched today,
in that warm and tender way
that can take the doubt away?
Don't Evrybody need to feel that way?

A little baby in his Mother's arms
crying out to be free from harm.
A little girl on her Grandpa's knee,
all of them and you and me.

CHORUS

Who needs to be touched today-Evrybody
In that warm and tender way-Evrybody
That can take the doubt away-Evrybody
Don't Evrybody need to feel that way

BRIDGE

It's so easy if you care
Loving kindness was made to share
Its so easy, do it today
If you can touch that fear
You can make it stay away

I met a woman on her dyin' bed
reaching out for the touch of a hand.
I put my arm around her slow
Her tears moved my soul and they made me know

REPEAT CHORUS

I know that you need somebody
Everybody needs somebody 
Who can care for you
you need somebody
you need to know that there's somebody out there

Inspiration Notes-I had just moved to a small town, was staying with a friend who received 3 or 4 random phone calls from an older woman asking for help. We figured out who she was, visited and the encounter summarized in the last verse inspired the song. CB