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Verses

by Johnny Z

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    Album purchases include the booklet, Versus by Mother, that I worked from when writing the music to the 18 poems. This item was put together by Emily's daughter-in-law, the wife of her only child, Stafford. The manuscript consisted of typewritten and handwritten pages.
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1.
Tam Lad 07:26
TAM LAD words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Don't you remember the farm, Tam Lad With its acres so broad and so fine And the grand old trees that shaded the house And the porch with the honeysuckle vine? And don't you remember the barn, Tam Lad Where you and I loved to play, Chasing the chickens all about And climbing up on the hay? Scrambling around to fi n d some eggs Then lying down for a rest, Watching the rafters, and turret so high Where the starlings were building a nest Then crossing the fields to the brook, Tam Lad Jumping in for a swim Dashing and splashing all around, Careless of life and limb And don't you remember the crops, Tam Lad How we helped to gather them in And the races we had, you and I, Tam Lad You were always sure to win? And what a good dog to round up the cows, And bring them home on a run, And chase the horses all over the fields, Oh, it was lots of fun And when loading up the new mown hay How hot it was in the sun And how jealous you were of the other dogs And so timid and shy of a gun And later on in the blackberry time When the corn was standing high And the trees in the orchards were laden with fruit And the Autumn was drawing nigh When I gathered the hazel and hickory nuts That the squirrels would hide by and by And the rabbits so game, altho sometimes quite tame Yet they always escaped you and I And don't you remember the winters, Tam Lad, When the ground was covered with snow, And the icicles hung, (where the birds had sung) Bending the branches low? It was then we had fun, Tam Lad With my hands and my face all aglow, As we climbed up the hill and down on the sledge And laughed with delight as we go Hunger and cold we never did mind Everything pleasure and fun I went as fast as ever I could And you always kept close on a run Such was the farm in those dear old days I wonder if we could, - now don't fret, You prick up your ears and keep wagging your tail I see you can never forget Ard now Iam Lad, I ma sure you will feel glad So will I when I think it o'er, That we hope some day, to travel that way And see the old farm once more © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
2.
Topsy 02:07
TOPSY words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Little kitten now at play Growing larger every day Full of mischief, full of fun Sometimes quiet, then you run Chasing shadows on the floor Escaping through the open door Where frightened by a great big cat Return and sleep ni someone's hat We find you here, we find you there In fact we think you everywhere And then it seems when all is done You gladly creep to where the sun Shines on your mat, so bright and warm Until you think there's no more harm When suddenly you climb os high Suppose you fall, and then you die Whatever, kittie, would we do Without a little puss like you © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
3.
Sequel 01:35
Sequel words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Our little kitty is gone astray We know not where, but only say We miss her more than words can tell She was so bright, and then so well Would always meat us at the doors Seems strange we'll never see her more © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
4.
Cotarita 04:18
COTARITA words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Dearest, sweetest little bird Why did you leave us, so sad and so lonely How we miss you darling, you will never know The time hangs heavy, and the days are slow For the joy and pleasure, that love brings only Your dear little presence, so sweet and so kind Returning love, as we showered it on you And bright and clever your little ways Your Master's caress, was the brightest rays In your little life, you depend on it How wonderful when you called him to you And spoke words of love, so kindly and true You never mistook his step, or his voice it made your dear little heart rejoice It was what a clever bird like you could do Ou, Cotarita your poor old cage is empty and bare But just as you left it (your little house, we used to call it) We keep i the same as if you were here Always ready, and always dear And your beautiful song, how we'd love to recall it Farewell sweet bird, farewell forever Deep in our hearts, in our love you shall live Life has its care, its trouble and sorrow The present is ours, we know naught of to-morrow But love covers all we hope on and we give © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
5.
SNOW STORM ON THE FARM words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki The logs burn brightly in the fireplace Throwing shadows far and near As the wind sweeps down the chimney For a heavy snow storm is here In the long low room of the farm house I quietly watch and wait Listening intently and hoping That the storm will soon abate The dogs stretched out on the hearthstone Pay no heed to the rising wind I long for their unconscious contentment Still have no fear with friends so kind The storm gaining faster and faster Seems to howl 'round the house with delight Rattling the windows and shutters, And shaking the door with its might And I think of all the poor travellers In such terrible snow storms have died Without friends, suffering and helpless Like a whirlwind, the door opens wide In an instant the dogs are awake, Up and out in the darkness and snow, Barking and strugglirg through snow drifts, And I follow with fear as they go I try to peer out in the awful night But no one seems to be there Only the element in its wildness And the flying flakes in the air Hark, do I hear sleigh-bells ringing Yes, there are the horses floundering past And surely it sounds like voices Thank God, they are home at last © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
6.
A SUMMER'S NIGHT ON THE FARM words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki The darkness gathers in the west The birds are flying to their nests And night winds softly blow The bats are hovering nearby The stars are twinkling in the sky And shadows come and go The moon is coming into sight Will soon be full and clear and bright Making all the world look fair The whip-poor-will in yonder tree Answers the owl that cannot see And the katydids are singing everywhere In the pastures sweet and green Are the cows though dimlyseen But the cow bells tell that they are there Back some distance mountains rise Almost seem to reach the skies To meet the clouds suspended in the air See the silent stately trees Swaying gently in the breeze Like great sentinels watching as they stand For foes that prowl at night That dare not face the light But in the dark they travel o'er the land The night has nearly flown Another day soon grown, And so the world keeps moving moving on If we follow natures plan We will do the best we can It is really the wisest way to get along © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
7.
Wing Wing 01:44
WING WING words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki They lived and reigned together Each in their different state Wing Wing the simple chicken Victoria the monarch great One ruled a country barnyard And her power was great and strong As she who ruled the countries That the sun n'er set on But now their days are over, They have left this world of care And others have taken their places But none that is half so fair As dear old Wing wing With her loving little ways And her fondness for those who loved her With whom she ended her days And so it is with Victoria There is someone to take her But with those who really loved her None other can ever replace They never will be forgotten Although the difference was great One only a simple chicken The other a monarch of state © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
8.
PART OF SEQUEL TO TAM LAD words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki The cows you bring home as of old, Tam Lad But with steadier step and slow The horses are there in the fields, Tam Lad You would rather let them go The beautiful sun is setting Tam Lad And the heat of the day is o'er The gentle breeze from the valley, Tam Lad Is the same as in times before So the sun of our lives will set, Tam Lad For the years go swiftly bye Sunsets and farm will remain, Tam Lad Without welcome from you or I Perhaps in that wonderful country In that land beyond the skies Where parting and sorrow is ended A more glorious sun will arise Over fairer fields and valleys Over joys that are here unknown May peace and love be our portion Until we reach the heavenly home © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
9.
MOTHER OF LOVE words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Oh, Mother of love From thy bright throne above Look down with compassion, I pray And when sorrow o'ertake us Ah, do not forsake us But watch us and guard us each day We are weak, we are weary And life is so dreary And Heaven seems far, far away But thou will be near us To steady and cheer us And lead us along the rough way So, with huope we draw near thee For no one can fear thee Thou art Mother of all, we must say And with hearts raised on high We pray and we sigh That thou help us from going astray © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
10.
Month of May 03:59
MONTH OF MAY words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Oh Mary, dearest Mother We honor thee this day Thy children gather around Thee In thine own sweet Month of May The birds are singing joyously On the trees with blossoms gay All nature is decked in its fairest To welcome the Month of May The fields never looked more lovely Or the flowers in finer array The stars in the heavens n'er more brilliant In this beautiful Month of May The brooks run gaily through the woodlands While the waterfalls leap and play Amid the grasses, ferns and mosses For it is the wonderful Month of May The sun shines brightly in the valleys Chasing all shadows far away And the mountains rise in their grandeur In the glorious Month of May Then Mary, dearest Mother With hearts of love we pray Thou art Queen of the heavenly country Deign to be Queen of the Month of May © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
11.
AMERICA WE COME AT THY CALL words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki America America, we come at thy call Your people are ready, it is a home for all, Altho some of us are lonely for our own native land Still we love this dear country and by her we shall stand Where is the country that is like unto thee Welcoming millions from over the sea Treating them fairly with justice and right Leading them kindly from darkness to light Then up every man the bugle sounds clear Waiting is over time for action is here For the land of adoption has our first claim America we follow in liberty's name Let not traitor be with us, we must all act the man Getting others to follow, whenever we can And do our part well whatever it may be Helping our country the land of the free © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
12.
The Primrose 00:54
THE PRIMROSE words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki I love the poppy and the rose, lily and violet too The holly-hock and daisy, and forget-me-not so biue The mignonette pansy, cowslip and all the rest But of all the flowers the primrose is the flower that I love best © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
13.
A TRAMP THROUGH THE WOODS words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki A tramp through the woods in the Autumn When the air is just touched with the frost And the leaves from the trees are falling Is a pleasure I seldom have lost To-day I just feel in that spirit And as there is nothing else to be done I call the dogs all around me For they want to be off on a run So down the hillsides through the orchards Together we enter the woods And the noise of the leaves rustling under our feet Seem to break that vast solitude The crows overhead begin cawing And we startle a bird here and there The dogs are yelping and barking They have trapped a beast in his lair Now, Curly is chasing a rabbit, Chibbie, a squirrel has treed And "Tam" faithful "Tam" never leaves me But is always ready to please So down to the brook we all wander And cross to the opposite side Where the trees grow thicker and denser And the dogs have to act as a guide Then onward we tramp, till the day is spent And we see the setting sun And the house and barn on the hilltop So our tramp for the day is done © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
14.
Gretchen 03:27
GRETCHEN words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki Gretchen with the sweet shy eyes And coat of silken brown With ways so loving and so bright No pen can write them down; We still can hear your anxious whine And bark so sharp and clear Announcing to your Mistress That danger might be near Your little cushion soft and warm And blanket trim and neat, With all the rolls and dainties That made you happy when you e a t , And how joyous and how glad it was Your welcome at the door But all is past and gone Gretchen We will never see you more How lonely and how sad it is To see your lonely chair And know that dearest Gretchen Is no longer sleeping there; Our hearts are full of love and sorrow, For we never can forget, Our bright and clever Gretchen Our darling little pet © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
15.
Stafford 01:14
STAFFORD words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki May all the joys of life be thine, my dearest one May success and love surround you And when the happiness of life is o'er The bliss of heaven for evermore © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
16.
GOING TO THE FAIR words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki We will all get up in the morning We will all drive off to the fair We will pack our luncheon in boxes And the horses will drive us there We will all get out and get candy And Stafford will buy a whip He thinks it will come in handy To make the horses hurry up and skip So we will all get up in the morning We will all drive of to the fair And we will pack our luncheon in boxes And the horses will drive us there © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
17.
AN OLD MAN STOOD words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki An old man stood where two roads met He was weary and tired with travel and yet - His eyes were bright & clear & keen For coming across the mountain range He spied a young man fair and strange Joyful and happy as ever he seen As the young man came he shouted out, "Father pray tell me what I am about I want to take the safest way That leads from here to the great highway" © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI
18.
TAM LAD COLLIE DOG words by Emily Wilhelmina Jersey and music by Johnny Stephen Zawacki In the lonely woods where the wild flowers grow And the brook flows gently through; Where the summer sun and the winter snow.. Have now the care of you The Farm lies just beyond Tam Lad With the cattle grazing near And the house and barns on the sloping hills The same as when you were here Yet there seems a change over all Tam Lad So sad and lonely for you No joyous bark to greet us now No dog so faithful and true No dog to roam the fields and woods Nor the pleasure of blackberry time All is over, we had to part Tam Lad But oh, the sorrow is mine Now I will have to say farewell Farewell for evermore For never again will you and I Rest in peace at the farm house door Or ever again watch the golden sun With its wonders sinking to rest What has happened will happen again Tam Lad What is done is all for the best Farewell Dear Tam © 2024 Piano Street Music, BMI Drowned August 30, 1921 in the pond on the Farm and buried in the woods nearby

about

18 songs written by Johnny Stephen Zawacki, based on the verses of Emily Wilhelmina Jersey, and unpublished poet born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1861.

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released April 19, 2024

All vocals, instruments (acoustic nylon and 6 & 12 steel string guitars, bass, percussion and electronic drums), arrangements, recording, engineering, mixing and mastering by Johnny Zawacki

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Johnny Z Owosso, Michigan

Spotlight Recordings is an independent company, based in Owosso, Michigan, originally conceived to release the recordings of Johnny Z. It has since grown to include other independent artists.

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