This music video uses my original song “England” and the pictures I took while visiting and living in the UK in the 1980s and early 1990’s ~ enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark
Category Archives: Ii – “Follow the Light” – Collected Works Volume IX
Original Song – “England”
Earlier, I introduced you to the first verse and chorus of a song of mine titled, England, written while returning from my flight training at Cannon AFB, NM, where I learned to fly the F-111G ‘Aardvark.’ In the fall of 1991, after the first leg of my return flight took me to Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, and while waiting for my overseas connecting flight to London, England – I began jotting down a few lyrics that came to me in the airport so I could later finish the song. On my flight to London I asked the flight attendant for some paper and a pen which she graciously brought to me, and I continued working on the song’s lyrics. At the time I was longing to return home to England and see my family again after being away for over three months at Cannon AFB, NM, in the southwest of the United States. I couldn’t wait to see something green again, and return to the Old World – where most everything was quaint and picturesque – with stone walls, thatched roof cottages and church spires that had withstood the test of time.
So without further ado, here’s my original song, England. The nature of this song is slow, with feeling and reverence. If you were to conceptually film a video of the song, the singer(s) would walk through a historic market square – while black and white transparent images of people in period costumes from hundreds of years of English history would be passing by and greeting them in the streets.
This song is dedicated to all the wonderful folks of the United Kingdom who have been so hospitable to me during my: solo bicycle adventure in 1979, while on Temporary Duty with the U.S. Air Force, while visiting on vacation, and while permanently stationed in the UK with the U.S. Air Force for almost eight years. You have given me so much more than I could ever give back to you in return! This song is a small token of my appreciation for your care and concern for me as my hosts during my delightful stay in your very pleasant and green land! I’ve released my personal Copyright rights to this song as a way of saying ‘Thank You’ for the memories and for the wonderful hospitality you’ve shown me and my family!
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I wrote the lyrics for my original song named “England” in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, airport, as well as, on my return flight to London, England, in the fall of 1991 – following almost 4 months of flight training at Cannon AFB, NM, in the F-111G. My wife and son were waiting for my return in our rental home in Bloxham, England, at the time, and I was longing to return home to them, and to this very pleasant and green land called England! Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark
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England
“Follow the Light” – Collected Works Volume IX, Copyright 1991, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Released
Verse One:
C D
Stone walls casting shadows
C D
For hundreds of years
C D
Green fields and forests
C D
Echoes ring clear
A G
From church bells above me
A G
Through all of the years
A G
This land called England
D
Draws me near
A G
This land called England
D
I’ll always hold dear
Chorus:
D A G
Castles stand silent in the mist
D A G
Cathedral spires I have missed
D A G
As I journey from afar
D A G
Returning home to that land
D C G
That island in the sea
D C G
I hear her callin’ to me
D C G
This land called England
D
Is calling to me
G
Is calling to me
D
Is calling to me
G D
Is calling to me (Callin’ to me)
Verse Two:
C D
Narrow winding streets
C D
That all seem to meet
C D
In the market square
C D
From most everywhere
A G
As I walk through the streets
A G
All the people that I meet
A G D
In this land called England I call home
A G D
This land called England I call home
Verse Three:
C D
A land of history
C D
Surrounding me
C D
Echoes from the past
C D
Footsteps on the path
A G
Out in front of me
A G
As I walk through history
A G D
This land called England calls me home
A G D
This land called England calls me home
Verse Four:
C D
Another time and place
C D
Silent footsteps that I trace
C D
Down the cobblestones
C D
As I wander all alone
A G
Through the doors of history
A G
That surround me
A G D
This land called England that I love
A G D
This land called England that I love
Original Song – “Show The World”
Show The World is a slow, tender and heartfelt song that speaks to sharing ourselves with the world around us through loving and caring for one another. After all, what else is there in this temporal existence called life that could possibly matter more? The song asks us to step out of ourselves and make a difference in the lives of others through love, “Show the world that you love them, Show the world that you care, You can make a difference, To people everywhere…”
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I recorded my original song “Show The World” on Set Two in 1996, and it completes the song posts from this set. This song is the 75th original song and 100th song track I’ve posted on SoundCloud to date, and there are many more to share in the future. “Show The World” reminds us all to, “Show the world that you love them, Show the world that you care, You can make a difference, To people everywhere…”
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(Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)
Show The World
“Follow The Light”, Collected Works Volume IX, Copyright 1991, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved
Verse One:
D G
Show the world that you love them
D C
Show the world that you care
D G
You can make a difference
D A
To people everywhere (Alternate Ending)
A D G A
Let your light shine all around
A D G A
Let your love flow all around
A D G A
Every day in every way
A D
Show the world that you care
D G
Show the world that you care
G A
Show the world that you care
A D
Show the world that you care (End)
Verse Two:
D G
Life’s to short to never
D C
Take the time to love
D G
The people all around you
D A
Take the time to care
A D G A
Let your love flow all around
A D G A
Give your love to everyone around
A D G A
If you do you will have found
A D
Your love can go everywhere
D G
Your love can go everywhere
G A
Your love can go everywhere
A D
Your love can go everywhere
Verse Three:
D G
You can make a difference
D C
You have love to share
D G
With the world around you
D A
Show the world you care
A D G A
Give your love to everyone around
A D G A
Spread your love all around
A D G A
The world needs your love
A D
Show the world you care
D G
Show the world you care
G A
Show the world you care
A D
Show the world you care
Original Song – “Story Of My Life”
Story Of My Life looks at life as an open book, a work in progress over the course of our lives. The stories at the beginning of our lives are filled-in with text and pictures, while the remaining portion consists of blank pages still waiting to be written. The song asks us to look at where our lives have taken us so far in our journey, and ask ourselves where our lives will go from here. “Life is an open book, Spend a moment and take a look, At where your life is taking you, Where do you go from here…”
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I recorded my original song “Story Of My Life” as a demo on Set 11 in 1997, and it speaks to our journey through life and where we will go from this point forward, “I was lookin’ at a book, It was the story of my life, As I turned the pages, It all came to life…” Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark
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(Note: Esus4* refers to a simpler version of the chord than the traditional guitar finger placement. Also, emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)
Story Of My Life
“Follow The Light”, Collected Works Volume IX, Copyright 1991, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved
Verse One:
E F#m
I was lookin’ at a book
D E
It was the story of my life
E F#m
As I turned the pages
D E
It all came to life
E F#m
All the twists and turns
D E
And changes of fate
E F#m
Were there in front of me
D E
But now it was too late
C G Esus4*
To change anything from before
Chorus:
D E
Life is an open book
D E
Spend a moment and take a look
A E
At where your life is taking you
F#m D E
Where do you go from here
F#m D E
Where do you go from here
F#m D Esus4* (E)
Where do you go from here (End)
Verse Two:
E F#m
As I came to the end
D E
All the pages were white
E F#m
As empty as could be
D E
They reflected a life
E F#m
That was still ahead of me
D E
A life I couldn’t see
E F#m
Where will I go
D E
In the life ahead of me
C G Esus4*
In the life ahead of me
Verse Three:
E F#m
In the pages of your life
D E
In the back of your book
E F#m
You’ve got a chance
D E
To take a look
E F#m
At where your life
D E
Is going to go
E F#m
It’s your life
D E
Where will it go
C G Esus4*
Where will it go
Original Song – “Simple Man”
Simple Man is a slow, heartfelt and sentimental song – and the second song of that title I’ve written. I posted the first version of “Simple Man” in, “Turn Up The Volume” – “Collected Works Volume V”:
https://livelovethinkexist.com/2012/07/20/original-song-simple-man/
In a way, by writing two songs of the same title, I’m focusing on the very essence of my personality – trying to explain that in being simple, I’m also free to be who I really am and was always meant to be. Simple essentially means straightforward, direct, transparent and logical – and all of these traits apply to me – but there’s more. Simplicity also speaks of efficiency, directness and even boldness in approaches to issues and situations that go straight to the heart of a problem for unique solutions. In being simple, I’m open, honest and to the point – what you see is what you get. With that having been said, “You asked me who I am, I said a simple man, I told you that I am, Your biggest fan, And I hope that you can see, That our love will be, Forever free, Just you and me…”
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I recorded my original song “Simple Man” in two takes as demos on Set 5 in 1996, and I think this is my last original song post. I’ve posted 282 total song tracks and playlists, and 182 original songs of the 212 I think I’ve written ~ and at the end of the day I’m just a simple man, “Take me as I am, Just a simple man, Love me as I am, I do the best I can…” Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark
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(Note: Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)
Simple Man
“Follow The Light”, Collected Works Volume IX, Copyright 1991, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved
Verse One:
Dsus4 D
Take me as I am
C G
Just a simple man
Dsus4 D
Love me as I am
C G
I do the best I can
Dsus4 D
And I will promise you
C G
In all I do
C G
I will love you
C G
I will love you
Dsus4 D
I promise you
C G
I promise you
Chorus:
F D
I’m in love with you
F G
There’s nothing I’d rather do
F D
Than live my life with you
C G
I love you
C G
I love you
C D
I love you
Verse Two:
Dsus4 D
I’m just a man
C G
Just a simple man
Dsus4 D
I hope you understand
C G
I try the best I can
Dsus4 D
And you will always be
C G
The best part of me
C G
I love you
C G
I love you
Dsus4 D
In all I do
C G
I will always love you
Verse Three:
Dsus4 D
You asked me who I am
C G
I said a simple man
Dsus4 D
I told you that I am
C G
Your biggest fan
Dsus4 D
And I hope that you can see
C G
That our love will be
C G
Forever free
C G
Just you and me
Dsus4 D
And we will be
C G
Forever free (To Chorus, Verse One and finish with the Chorus)
Life, Love and the Human Condition 