The Laughing Universe: Released 1997

Jill Cohn : The Laughing Universe

Produced and recorded by David Eaton

Recorded live at the First Methodist Church - Seattle
Cover photo by Naomi Kaneda

The Musicians:
Piano and Vocals - Jill Cohn

All songs written and arranged by Jill Cohn

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UNTITLED

Funny how friends can get so intense,
like the clouds moving in on a sunny Autumn day
We walk around the lake, talk about the obvious,
knowing it'll change, even if we want it to stay the same
Fear enters into our Eden
like a sin that we try to hide from the universe
but we see it all, and we feel it all the time
Well I guess it's a good thing, but right now it feels like a curse
I know you've got your dreams, I've got mine too,
but they don't keep me warm like you do
I think the universe is laughing again
'cause I was a fool to believe we could be more than friends
The orange rind is bitter, but the middle's so sweet,
don't you see that this love gives us back our own feet?
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


TRUE LOVE

She decided to let go of the soloist,
allow her spirit to fly
Getting sick of the loneliness,
trust the universe has given her true love
True love, dance to the beat of the same drum,
my true love
Well I guess I never should have introduced you two,
you can't always tell where fate hides
Who am I to stop you from waltzing in your own shoes
The light in your face when two worlds collide in true love
Well I guess I'm going to have to let you go,
yes I'm going to have to let it go,
but my hands are always clenched so tightly,
you know I'm never giving up without a fight
So I guess I'll have to get used to it,
and trust there's a better road
The seasons are frozen inside,
have faith that I will find my true love
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


EASTER

He left on a fishing boat, and he never came back home
He promised his old lady, but she disconnected the phone
I wasn't waiting for anyone, I was waiting here for Myself
then he came to me, I ignored the ring, I'm sorry sister, I was lonely
I'm craving the comfort of the Father's arms
as we reach into our flesh to find comfort
but we bury it, 'cause it's too big for us
They said they'd be here when the world came down,
and the cross would rise, we'd leave the ground, 
so where's the day?
We're waiting patiently in our pain
Demons growing inside of her like a cancer,
and she drinks at the bar where I work, every night
I used to see the world from a spoiled girl point of view, I didn't like it
I want purity, give me serenity, oh empathy is killing me
I'm craving the comfort of the Father's arms
as we reach into our flesh to find comfort
but we bury it, 'cause it's too big for us
They said they'd be here when the world came down,
and the cross would rise, we'd leave the ground, 
so where's the day?
We're waiting patiently in our pain
He drowned in a river bed while my mama watched
Made me mad that I'm never gonna hear him sing,
I cried a bunch of tears, didn't make anyone feel better, least of all not me -
God knows that he better save me, 'cause I need
I'm craving the comfort of the Father's arms
as we reach into our flesh to find comfort
but we bury it, 'cause it's too big for us
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


ANYMORE

The school bell is ringing, or maybe it was my ears
that woke me up this morning, I never get a peaceful sleep around here, 
this town is just too rough
But I think about the endless night, only one hour of sleep
felt like the best rest I ever had
How I long to be in your arms again,
and never again do I want to feel this bad
I do not want to want, but I just can't stand still
I'd love to love what I got, but it just don't fulfill me anymore
A spiritual heart with an empty mind, like the Buddha and the tree of life,
well, I don't long to be that peaceful, I gotta be by myself
I do not want to want, but I just can't stand still
I'd love to love what I got, but it just don't fulfill me -
I long to hear my breathing and feel my feet
I do not want to want anymore
You gave me a reason to make something out of my little life,
and you gave me a reason to want and take my freedom,
but I don't want to be set free in a place as cold as this one
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


HEAVY FOOTED GIRL

She's still that heavy footed girl
who tries to be silent and tip-toe, 
but everyone knows she's there,
funny how interruption makes them care
Oh how I long to be with them,
they're laughing, they're drinking, they're smoking, they're having a ball
Oh how I long to be all grown up
so I won't have to sleep when I'm awake,
so I won't have to smile when I'm alone,
so I won't have to be all my mistakes
She's still that heavy footed girl
who smiles when you ask her to dance,
but grace never was her name
and you know that I'll step on your toes
Oh how I long to be graceful,
but I'm tripping, I'm bumping into the wall
She's still that heavy footed girl
but grace never was her name,
and you know that she'll step on your toes
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


PROMISING RAINBOWS

I keep on talking but you're not listening,
it seems there's no convincing you
I keep on walking away like you always did,
but you're not following
I'd give you my world,
promising rainbows at the end of our story
I'd give you my world,
if you just come back now
So I leave my friends and familiar places
hoping to give you the space you need
Two years go by, and I'm still holding on here,
I don't think this globe is big enough for both of us
I'd give you my world,
promising rainbows at the end of our story
I'd give you my world,
if you just come back now
Changes go by and I'm here still waiting
Changes go by, well fates falling through our fingers
Changes go by, while the phone bill's getting larger,
you know it'll stay the same boy, if you don't let it go
I'd give you my world,
promising rainbows at the end of our story
I'd give you my world,
if you just come back now
I keep on talking but you're not listening,
it seems there's no convincing you
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


WE KNOW

In a matter of time
You could be set free
We could enjoy the love
inside of Thee
Reach for a touch
we've all craved
I could hide in the light
where I feel safe
I hope
ooh the magical moment
I believe in the promise
I raise a candle, and I face the wind
Always been with me
and I wish you had come
to see the sands
I'd hear my sister's voice
caress the land
I often wonder if you're still near
you could show me your presence,
and I'd know you care
I hope, and we hope
ooh the magical moment
I believe in the promise
I take your hand and I face the wind
raise a candle and I face the wind
Always been with me
If I reached into my heart again,
would I find you there?
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.

 


PINK SHEETS

Sing me the song of the butterfly,
it moves me in a secret place
where time and space collide
I can't hear, can't think, can't even sleep with your
beauty, your voice, your spirit,
I feel mine leave
I can't embrace it
I'm so far gone hearing your beautiful song
Travelling on horses never dreamt before
Walking through wilderness of distant moors
Flying through windows and squeezing ourselves behind the barn doors
I'm finding myself at peace on your pink sheets
I can't even breathe, but we're talking
I'm telling you things I never wanted anyone to hear
My mind selling out to the dirty thoughts,
and my stupid plans, my silly head, then I see your hands
Walking through wilderness of distant moors
Flying through windows and squeezing ourselves behind the barn doors
I'm finding myself at peace on your pink sheets
Being at ease eludes me,
it intrudes on me like a like a diesel going by my car when I'm trying to sleep
I'm so far gone from society
I fell through the cracks long ago, I don't fit anywhere with anyone
could you come back now - yes,
I feel safe
I'm melting into your easy chair
I'm reaching my mouth, I'm coming up for air
I'm finding the key to go anywhere,
walking through dreams never dreamt before
I feel safe here on your pink sheets
Sing me the song of the butterfly
©1995-1997 Box O' Beanies Music BMI. Reproduced By Permission.