Charlie's Lullaby

words and music by Larry Nicholson


recorded live at The Great Hall - First Nations House of Learning (University of British Columbia)

violin: Jessica Deutsch
hand drum, backing vocal: Kristi Haavisto
guitar, vocal: Larry


As well as being Cree, my daughters, Storm and Grace are Ojibway/Anishnabe through their mother and her people. There is so much that is beautiful about the Ojibway and the way they understand the universe and their place in it. There is the Ojibway philosophy that it is our children who determine who their parents will be. The eternal spirit may wait many, many lifetimes until precisely the right mother and father are found. They choose us - it is out of our hands. The weight carried by this idea and all its implications is so immense that it leaves you grateful and of the mind to say thank-you to your children for including you, for coming all this way...just for you

do you see why good ideas and words and music ARE medicine?...

- - -

welcome to the world dear
it's warm beside you dear
with mama in the sky dear
and heaven down here on earth dear

you called out my name love
in my sleep where you came love
the wild and the tame love
i look and they're one and the same love

you brought rain to the sky dear
i'm happy to cry dear
i'll never know why dear
that you came all this way just for me dear

you're free like the bird child
you are the prayer that was heard child
i know not the word child
for the light that you brought to the world child

you called out my name love
in my sleep where you came love
the wild and the tame love
i look and they're one and the same love...


© 2009, 2012 Champsteen Publishing

Dark Horse (song)

words and music: larry nicholson


how is it you recognized me?…called to me in my sleep
cradled me in your in loving arms…gave me your word to keep
you’re a dark horse mystery…a way of looking i’ve never seen
you to me are undiscovered country…somewhere i’ve never been

before you a battle outside ragin’
inside each day a little death
you comfort me with the fresh wind of your voice
i’ll comfort you with the last wind in my breath

you brushed back for me all my defenses…came to me where i live
made real to me the dream i had…when i had nothing to give
this music plays in the deepest way…i’m learning to find the key
seeing things i never could before…walk through what could never be

i’ll come for you when you get so lonely
when the fire’s gone we will find the spark
you will be my sacred one and only
standing in the caverns of the dark

what was it that sent you to me?…some creation must have made this place
dance upon this grand design…reach for you in moments of grace
drink from this loving cup…the taste of you on my tongue
i may always be just a little fragile…you’ll always be the one

can i hold you under these stars so plenty
when cold winds runs through you like a knife
i love you like a night with no ending
you are the first and last thing in my life

now i’ve been a lesson in hard living
i’ve been a cautionary tale
but if you still got a little left for giving
we’ll get on board and find wind for these sails…


© 2010 Champsteen Publishing

Ballad Of A Brown Town Crier (song)

words and music: larry nicholson


looking back on warmer sunny days
i can’t go back there anyways
we were young and wild, we had it all
did you ever think you might fall?
in the heat of the night vows were made
but as time goes by promises fade

the only thing I know
it’s time for letting go…
cause time won’t wait for me

your spirit stays with me everywhere
ten years from now will we still care?
will you ever turn and think of me?
wonderin’ where i might be…
in city rain i think i hear you laugh
as you come across an old photograph

there's no sense hangin’ on
when love goes it’s gone…
and no one is to blame

some people think they’ll stop the rain
hate the whole world when they fall again (and again and again)…
keeping track of all our mistakes
they only know how a heart breaks
gettin’ old before their time
carry it with them on down the line

it’s getting late September
there so much to remember…
and so much to let go

i love her still like i love the stars
i keep her close no matter how far (away she is)
its good to hope its good to need
but i’ll keep it there i won’t bleed
if she ever finds herself this way
i won’t think twice `bout what’ll say

she’s somewhere out there tonight
i’ll send her a little light...
i’ll sing for her this song



© 2010 Champsteen Publishing