High Shelter people,
Here’s something new I’m working on.
Wishing you all new rivers, and loving arms around you.
Yours,
JR
—
Coffee from a Saucer
by J. Ross / April 4,2024
I have sung
To the darkness
early
Over and over
I can imagine
a new river
and loving arms
around me
I buried my uniforms
when I could not
recognize myself
any longer
Tomorrow jumped out
from the sunlight
Now it’s my job to keep
things moving along
I drink my coffee
from a saucer
I’ve learned to savor
brighter, smaller things
Haven’t I changed?
Haven’t I changed before?
It feels like all I ever do.
I recognized that I was numb
and raised to be embarrassed
When I was younger I was dumb
I was too careful to let love in
The wind is still carrying a sermon
that is asking for everything
in return
But I all I hear
are the shoreless sweet songs
Carrying our souls across the water
I drink my coffee
from a saucer
I’ve learned to savor
smaller, brighter things
Haven’t I changed?
Haven’t I changed before?
Feels like all I ever do
I was asleep
but did not know it
I had grown into the pose
in the lost country
of youth and yesterday
You always ask
me your questions
at the perfect time
about what it means to be alive
Never twice the same river
You smile, as the answer shivers
Never twice the same river
You smile, as the answer shivers
You are destroying me
but it’s good for me
I’m changing again
I lived in Ocala FL in 1995 when 7M3 hit big, starting in Orlando. I saw them live new years eve 1995 at The Edge in Orlando. Definitely a great show. They played the entire debut album plus a couple of covers, ending with Fortunate Son. I still play American Standard regularly, and also own Rock Crown, and Orange Ave. I'm glad I stumbled onto this site.
30 years ago (14 at the time) my best friend and I sprinted through the SummerFest grounds to get a front bench seat at the 7M3 show. We sang along with the lyrics to waters edge, we found an inner anger inside as we belted out devil boy and we danced up and down the aisle with the older girls next to us as margaret was played. We lived that night without a care in the world - I remember it as it was yesterday (even if it feels like 4 lifetimes ago).
Fast forward the clock over the coming years. We repeated this cycle - over and over - as the band played in Wisconsin and Illinois. New songs were added: player piano, lucky, each little mystery, southwestern state and wait. The lyrics were new; the passion the same.
One week ago, my friend and I hung out around the campfire. As we stared at the burning flames, we turned on High Shelter and listened to singles, samples and demos. We contemplated lyrics -
I drink my coffee
From a saucer
I’ve learned to savor
Smaller, brighter things
We sipped on bourbon. We reminisced moments of a lifetime. We laughed about the emotion we conjured up singing devil boy. We smiled about the girls we danced with in the aisle at our first show.
Thanks for the lifetime of memories, the common experiences shared, and the lyrics we continue to sing.