DOWN AT CHOCOLATE HOLE
(JFS 2.20.02)
Verse 1 No man is an island, But I've seen a few women who are. flocking From the country's mainland truck, plane, boat, and car. Piercing up through the waters—periwinkle, turquoise, and blue. Takes me up to see the sisters; on these sunny days are too few.
Chorus Oh, those Caribbean celebrators Couldn't get here on an elevator. Take me to this place of recalibrators To set my mind free
Verse 2 In swirling light water through coral home. Fish a-swimming around reminds me of iridescent chrome. Never have I ever touched the ground. Lizard iguana gecko scurry running like chickens through traffic. Can't understand just what's their hurry. They should settle down and feel the magic. Settle down and feel the magic.
Chorus Caribbean celebrators, couldn't get it on an elevator. Take me to this place of recalibrators to set my mind free.
Verse 3 Craggy rocks pushing through shifting sands. Skeleton shells and hermit crabs. Drawn to the light of my bony hands, Like the tourist to the taxi cabs. Only thing that could be better than this Is to be strumming my string guitar, Exchanging glances with the friends I miss And walking with my doggy afar.
Chorus / Outro Oh, all those Caribbean celebrators. Couldn't get it on an elevator. Take me to this place of recalibrators. Set my mind free. Oh, those Caribbean celebrators. Couldn't get it on an elevator. Take me to this place of recalibrators to set my mind free.
FORTY SEVEN HOURS
(JFS 1.8.03)
Verse 1 47 hours till my plane come in. I've been wondering where my baby's been. Got a hole within me deep as deep. Can't eat my bread, can't take my sleep.
Chorus I got to know: Can you see the light streaming through my new eyes? And can you feel the light bouncing off the moonrise? Can you see the sun running through the blue ice? Can you feel the sun the luminescent uprise? Can you see the light illuminate the blue skies? Can you see the light pealing to the sunrise?
Verse 2 Icicles forming on the silver wing. Frostbitten blue and shivering. Been snowbound in this wintry freeze. Warm fires might put my mind at ease.
Verse 3 Chilly wind, melancholy day by day. Hoping that my baby comes my way. Got a heaviness sinking down on my heart. Been too long since we been apart.
Chorus / Outro I got to know: Can you see the light streaming through my new eyes? Can you feel the light bouncing off the moonrise? Can you see the sun running through the blue ice? Can you feel the sun? Can you see the light illuminate the blue skies? Can you see the light pealing to the sunrise?
Sunrise... sunrise... sunrise... (Repeated to fade)
FIREFLY
(JFS '02)
Verse 1 I don't know where I'm going and I don't know where I've been. Something tells me sometime I'll be back this way again. I don't know where it's flowing and I don't know where I when. I'll be looking out for you all down the road, my friend. On down the road, my friend.
Verse 2 I've been up here playing on this rock and roll guitar. I don't know where it takes me; seems I'll never get that far. I'm trying to keep the rhythm, catch a firefly in a jar. I don't know where it comes from; I just wishing on a star. Wishing on a star... swinging from a star.
Verse 3 You seem like you feel it, captivated by the sound. Don't know when your feet will find their way back to the ground. You keep changing places, never knowing where you're bound. I don't know when your change will come to show you what you found.
Bridge Many times I've ventured out and many times I've stayed. The journey's only deep inside my brain. Many times I've wondered if this search is all in vain. Many times I pondered, have I lost or have I gained?
Verse 4 We keep dancing through the haze, a tentative embrace. I don't know why we want to live in any other space. We keep wondering should we try to lighten up the pace. Don't know if this light inside could ever be replaced.
Outro We don't know where we're going and we don't know where we've been. Something tells me sometime we'll be back this way again. Don't know where it's flowing and we don't know where or when. We'll be looking out for you on down the road, my friend.
JASMINE'S TREE
(JFS 12.28.02)
Verse 1 All around the globe on the edge of nowhere, Surrounded by deserts of liquid sun, There resides a man underneath his brown hair Following his muse till the day is done.
Chorus High moon glow in the archipelago. Octopi turtle’s eye is where I'm going to go. Starlight show in the archipelago. A capella, acapella, archipela-go.
Verse 2 Humongous labyrinth of coral caves. Cataclysmic unions of life and stone. Mushroom rock islands and the crystal waves Of baby newt's synergystic sonic tone.
Chorus High moon glow in the archipelago. Octopi turtle’s eye is where I'm going to go. Starlight show in the archipelago. A capella, acapella, archipela-go.
Verse 3 Algae farm jellyfish, anemone smiles. Finger-licking ramjet, panape style. Mangrove tangles, saltwater crocodiles. Serengeti seas round the Tropicana.
Bridge Vernacular tradition increasing my ambition. Calling premonition from a faraway position. Changes in position to the water with the fishing. Walk towards a vision with the water with the fission. Walk towards a vision with the water with the fission. Walk towards a vision with the water with the FISH IN.
Chorus High moon glow in the archipelago. Octopi turtle’s eye is where I'm going to go. Starlight show in the archipelago. A capella, acapella, archipela-go.
SCORPION IN THE BONNET
(JFS 2.29.02)
Verse 1 Jolly Roger got the breeze above the mainsail. Barebones got the spindle shanks are so trail. Jawbone broken now he's got to jump bail. Skeletons running from a cold jail.
Chorus All them bones are rolling; where they fall, it is not known. Them bones cross over on the skull and the crossbone. Them bones toss down, send a shiver to my ankle bone. Bones passed round, hit me right on the funny bone.
Verse 2 Crossbones, black flag got my attention. Old Salt got a bone of contention. Bone to pick sends wave of a dissention. Skin and bone sends wave of apprehension.
Verse 3 Wishbone broke, they say that's good luck for us. Backbone breaking’s got him delirious. Walk the plank, it's not so serious.
I AM OPEN
(JFS March 2026)
D
"Alright alright, time to be open today
Gonna swallow it down in the easiest way
Gonna nod and I’ll smile and agree with it all
G
Every silly thought, I’ll take it in the balls
D
Gonna be happy and grateful, just like I should
Gonna follow along, no questions for good…
…nah!"
VERSE 1
D C G
I’m open like a 24-hour laundromat
D C G
watching your dirty laundry do a cartwheel spat
D C G
I’ll take the signal, yeah, I’ll take the noise
G D
just a boy playing with his existential toys
D C G
you’re selling me a bridge made of static and lime
G D
I’ll buy a square inch if you give me the time
D C G
I am open!
D C G
but I’m not blind
D C G
I am open!
G D
go on, change my mind
VERSE 2
D C G
I’m open to the logic of a three-legged dog
D C G
navigating through your technicolor fog
D C G
you say it’s a diamond, I say it’s a pearl
G D
either way, I’m digging the geometrical whirl
D C G
is it information or just a rhythmic itch?
G D
a glitch in the binary, a twitch in the pitch
BRIDGE
D. C
it came in sideways, dressed as a saint
G D
smelling like ego and fresh-pressed paint D
D
I let it sit on the velvet chair
G D
while I braided the smoke in the heavy air
D C
you call it “trust,” I call it “gravity”
G D
a beautiful, hollowed-out cavity
D. C
SURPRISE RE-ENTRY
D C G D. C. G
I’m open — but not like that
D C G. D C G
I’m open — I can see the trap
D. C G
I am open!
D. C G
yeah I’m hearing every version you’re spinning
D C G
treating openness like some kind of blank permission
D C G
rearranging the facts every time they come in
G D
polishing the story till it shines like religion
(chord jump to F – C – Em – D)
D C G
but the edges still don’t line up
G
when you check them twice
D C. G
I notice every contradiction
G D
every sleight of hand
D
I see the game you’re playin
D
I see the moves you make
D TURNAROUND
G D G C D
D C G
EYES OPEN …
I am open to the possibility
I’M OPEN …
I’m open to impossibility
EYES OPEN …
open to possibility
I’M OPEN …
open to impossibility
I AM OPEN …
my eyes open to impossibility
EYES OPEN …
my eyes are open
I’M OPEN …
my eyes are open
EYES OPEN …
my eyes are open
I AM OPEN …
I am open!!!!!
End on D (or let it dissolve into feedback and delay).
WRIGHT AWEIGH
(JFS October 2001)
CHORUS
Don't pluck 'em right away boys, don't pluck 'em right away
Don't pluck 'em right away boys, don't pluck 'em right away
You really really want to get laid boys, wait for another day
Don't pluck 'em right away boys, don't pluck 'em right away
As I was walkin' on down the street, a pretty girl did I see
I asked her yes come on to my house, have a grilled turkey burger with me
She said yes yes I'll have a grilled turkey burger, wash it down with a bottle of wine
Next thing ya know we were halfway naked, playin' show down with yours show you mine...
(CHORUS)
We were halfway naked, playin' show me yours show you mine...
Couple years later parked in a car underneath a big ol' apple tree
I look too long my new companion rockin', slidin' 'cross the seat towards me
We were upstairs spring squeaks wall shake headboards bangin', bustin' through the windows and doors.
(CHORUS)
BREAK
Well there never was a time you could pluck 'em right away
With the spit and the scratches on your back right away
With her high beams on and her belly tightly drawn
And her fingers resting well below your crack
Then she's kneelin' gently down, pulls your britches to the ground
And says baby just settle on back
And I says I E I E I E I OOOOOOOOOOO
(KENTUCKY JAM)
(CHORUS)
