You can know all I am
Share my life, take my giving
I can't change how I'm living
But you can know all I am

You can know all I am
Watch me grow, know my sorrow
I can't lend and I can't borrow
But you can know all I am

This could be a love in passing
Simple and lonely
Mysterious woman, elegant stranger
Where it's safe and dark inside
But it's much harder to love you
To say, "Love me"
With all my right and wrong
I've been longing to say it all along

You can know all I am
Take my love, I am willing
I can't change how I'm living
But you can know all I am

Oh, won't you harbor me

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

Imagine my surprise! I love that I have found you
But I ache all over wanting to know your every dream
Imagine my surprise! To find that I love you
Feeling warm all over knowing that you've been alive

Pirates off an Eastern Coast
Women you lived in danger
But I hear your laughter free of petticoats
No need for foolish chivalry
Though you're living in the eighteenth century
You make love to each other on your boats out on the sea

Lady poet of great acclaim
I have been misreading you
I never knew your poems were meant for me
You lived alone in a quiet den
Pouring passion through your pen
And weeping for your lady lovers
As they safely married men

Rugged women gone before me
Paving paths like pioneers so often all alone
I dreamed of queens and cinderellas
Facing disappointment when I was grown
Facing disappointment when I was grown

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

You dressed in gym socks and tennis shoes
So you could ride your bike to school
Your starched white shirt tucked in a skirt revealed defiance
While matching sweaters were the rule
And while the other girls dressed up and went to dances
You played mazurkas at home
Your flaming spirit burned its passion on those ivory keys
Storm but yet a breeze
You were an artist . . . precious artist

Now you're put away
Locked up in a prison
Now you're put away
In a safely padded room
Now you're put away
They say that you went crazy
But we're coming, coming for you

You had your sights on the Olympics
You looked to women who were strong
Amidst the multitudes of fads and teenage idols
You felt the pressure to belong
But in the summer time, you joined the boys in baseball
Girls were playing games that weren't your own
With nimble grace how you would fly the field with mighty speed
Always in the lead
You were an athlete . . . graceful athlete

You always passed me in silence
I never reached for your hand
Though someone told me that you liked to hear my music
I never joined with you to stand
Stand up and fight the myth condemning you with rumors
Well, I never thought those things of you
But now with time as my heart grows in love and gratitude
I hope that the rumors were true
Oh dear sweet woman . . . loving women

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

Oh Nina, where does your heart take you today
To play with Negra and Rose and Maria
I sadly recall the friends of my childhood
You, my love, bear the fruit of my pain

Do you ride wild horses in Amazon battles
I rode like a lady – except when alone
I wept for dead soldiers then burned all my journals

Your muscles are shining as you dance with each other
I wore shiny stockings, I was led to the floor
I learned how to follow but never got married

Nina, my daughter, sometimes I resent you
Your laughter, your lovers, your courage to feel
I was never allowed to love Eloisa
Yet you sleep so warm in the arms of your friends
But as I lie awake and hear your soft pleasure
My resentment fades, and I shelter your love
For the outside world makes you cry all too often
And because of you, I too hold a woman tonight

Oh Nina, where does your heart take you today
To play with Negra and Rose and Maria
You will sadly recall the pages of childhood
Women unborn will bear the fruit of your pain

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

I have dreamed on this mountain
Since first I was my mother's daughter
And you can't just take my dreams away ¬– not with me watching
You may drive a big machine
But I was born a great big woman
And you can't just take my dreams away ¬– not with me fighting

This old mountain raised my many daughters
Some died young – some are still living
But if you come here to take our mountain
Well we ain't come here to give it

I have dreamed on this mountain
Since first I was my mother's daughter
And you can't just take my dreams away, not with me watching
No you can't just take my dreams away, without me fighting
No you can't just take my dreams away

Kentucky woman, Appalachian dream
I hear your voice in the morning
As you stand so strong and shining before the mighty man
As he tries to being you down with his money

Born a miner's daughter, you have seen the night
The darkness of survival in the broad daylight
Your sister went to Detroit and your brother went to war
You stayed home to battle with strip mining

Machines you use are noisy, the air you breathe is dust
You hate the thought of striking but you know you must
The hours that you're working are much higher than your pay
While the factory owner plays in Puerto Rico

I have dreamed on this mountain
Since first I was my mother's daughter
And you can't just take my dreams away, not with me watching
You may drive a big machine
But I was born a great big woman
No you can't just take my dreams away, without me fighting
No you can't just take my dreams away

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

If I only had a dollar I'd spend it with the women
Who sing to me sweet melodies of women loving
Songs with room for growing that show us where we're going
So caringly, that dare me to grow up fighting strong

You bet I sing love songs
Songs that carry me along
Through fearful times and tender times
Songs of mother love
Songs of my lover's love
Singing the songs of loving myself

If I only had an hour, I'd spend it with the women
Who live the lives, the fighting lives
Lives that inspire the songs of women working
Fighting for our senses courageously
Preparing me for battles that are yet to be won

Linger on the details
The part that reflects the change
There lies revolution
Our everyday lives, the changes inside
Become our political songs

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

Won't you write a melody for me, pretty woman
I need a little song in the middle of the day
Won't you write a melody
Just a simple melody
To rock me in your arms so far away

Rock me in your arms so far away
Rock me in your arms so far away
I send you the words I send you the dreams
But one thing missing to me it seems
So won't you please find a melody
To rock me in your arms so far away

Won't you write a melody for me, pretty woman
I need a little song in the middle of the day
Won't you write a melody
One that brings you close to me
To rock me in your arms so far away

From Imagine My Surprise (1978)

One woman weaves a message
Singing the sounds of silence
Another wheels her chair to the center of the stage
Changing minds and attitudes
With eyes that hear and hands that see
These women working, living independently

I look to you, I look to you for courage in my life
And I promise it's not just foolish idolatry
That makes me gaze at you in wonder

Some drink and call it celebration
For some it is pain and sorrow
She says "Well maybe just this once would be OK"
But the voice of millions strong
Surviving guiding light
A circle holds her tightly and she throws the drink away

So big and beautiful, she sets my heart on fire
Like a raging river in the moonlight of the dawn
She's the mother of my youth
She's the daughter of my age
This woman now and always . . .
Survival is her name, healer of my pain, quiet in her fame
Goddess keep me sane

From Fire in the Rain (1981)

I don't want to fight with you anymore
My time has come for resting
in the love that brought us through that door
There's no loss of pride
I don't want to hide
I fear I strike out at the closest thing to me
And it's not always the best thing for me
You are not, you are not my enemy

Going down the list of times that you hurt me so
Telling friends who I know will run to tell you
So you'll know
And you keep doing the same
We're bringing each other pain

Try to find a place for me in your heart
Where we can be together when our paths cross
And still have room to stay apart
Our battles may remain
I know our differences are still the same

From Fire in the Rain (1981)

Such a rush is going through my body
And you are so far across the room
Tender words caress my weary mind
I will move closer to you soon
It's hard for me to ponder long
On what is wrong or right
Oh how can I touch you the way I want to touch you
When I intend to go home with my friend and my lover
After we say goodnight

My heart has stopped, I can't get air
Your face is so close to mine
We share a passion and pain, my friend
You too are walking a foreign line
Is it hard for you to ponder long
On what is wrong or right
Oh how can you touch me the way you want to touch me
When you intend to go home with your friend and your lover
After we say goodnight

A woman's love is like a golden thread
It can weave in and out so magically
I know this is true
My lover has woven such a life with me
And I do love her so

But such a rush is going through her body
My lover sees a woman across the room
Tender words caress her weary mind
She will move closer to her soon
Is it hard for her to ponder long
On what is wrong or right
Oh how can she touch her
The way she wants to touch her
When she intends to come home with her friend and her lover
After they say goodnight

But you can't possess a woman, no
You can't possess a woman
If you love her so
You've got to let her go
And she's got to let you let her go

Run, run, running free
Fly, run, creatively
She's flying next to me
Oh jealousy, let go of me, so I can truly love her
She's family – flying free!

From Fire in the Rain (1981)

Fire in the rain, fire in the rain
You're like a fire in the rain
So unexpected, I came upon your love

You came into my life
And I had my eyes wide open
Unintending to burn, you offered your light
You offered the warmth of love
And I had to learn how to feel the heat
And not get burned

I got too close one night
With no plans for heart left open
Unintending to change, I had nothing to fear
But the music she let me hear
Like an ancient fife, it had a haunting tune
It changed my life

I want you
Sometimes I stare for hours
Like the last to leave the fire on a winter night
Sometimes I dance before you
Like a firefly who is caught in your light

Unintending to burn, you offered your light
You offered the warmth of love
And I had to learn how to feel the heat
And not get burned

I remember you
Stronger than the wind
Brighter than the moon
Faster than the night

From Demo Session (1982)

Where will you go when we leave this place tonight
How will you feel in the morning
Will you tell a friend, will you tell a stranger in your day
Or will you slowly let this feeling drift away

Is this a night of resolution in our hearts
Or is tonight just entertainment
And in the morning when the sun is rising will you rise and say
Oh let this feeling follow me throughout the day

Take it with you wherever you go
And let the world know we won't go easy
Take it with, take it with you wherever you go
Take it with, take it with you wherever you go

How can we harbor all the light that comes with love
Let's not be robbed of life's perfections
Can we remember to care in a world where madness fills the air
And will we take the music, it's here to share

It is like we're being held by a thousand loving arms
With the tenderness of my mother's kiss and the passion of a lover
Don't let tomorrow's plans for you fade this special moment
Won't you try to pass it on to me
Help a wondering heart discover

From Lifeline (1983)

A woman is dressed in style tonight
A three piece suit and a tie tonight
There's a polished glow on her face in spite
Of her look of amusement
And she will dine with her true love
Take in a bar or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The gal is dressed for work tonight
She's got dusty jeans and boots tonight
There's a lovers look on her face in spite
Of her farming intention
And she will plant with her true love
Take a break in the barn, maybe two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The jock is dressed in wool tonight
Softball glove and a cap tonight
There's a competitive look in her eye in spite
Of her generous heart
And she'll play ball with her true love
Take in a home run or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

All the rules have been broken
They're not talking about the weather
A gentleman asks "Are you ladies alone?"
They smile and say, "No, we're together!"

A woman is dressed in silk tonight
A glittering gown and a stole tonight
There's sequin on her cheek in spite
Of her sparkling eyes
And she will dance with her true love
Take in a show or two
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

From Watch Out! (1984)

She danced across the mountain – she thought no one could see
And every move she made across the land taught her to be free
She swept across the valley, her body so defined
And wet with the sweat of seventeen, she found another mountain to be climbed

She soared across the desert – the moon was all aglow
She stumbled once in the freezing sand but no one would ever know
She swam across the river, her muscles straining strong
And she knew as she crossed, the water pulled her deeper into places she belonged

She came to another mountain and found that all could see
Every move was proudly made with love and dignity
For she is Freedom's daughter and Mother Nature's child
As she raced across the finish line her beauty drove the watchful people wild

She paused to feel the power of people singing songs
That celebrated living, a feeling that she longed for
But slicing through the laughter came an anguished country's cries
And she saw a gun blow up the song and stole away the future from her eyes

A child was standing near her and caught the runner's fire
She kissed her mouth with passion and filled her with desire
And when her feet were on the ground she faced the burning sky
And with a cry that filled the air with rain
She cooled the skin of those who would not die

The killer saw her power, the tyrant saw her skill
The women saw themselves in her and the people saw her will
Divided by their colors, betrayed by fear's decree
But no matter how the future goes, She has been and She will always be

She will dance across the mountain
She will dance across the mountain
I have dreamed on this mountain

From Singing With You (1984)

Life is full
Of tides that pull
Oceans and hearts to shore
And I found it's like
The heat of dancing feet
Keeping a body warm
I like the melodies
In evergreens, roaming winds
And rocky mountains
Summer storms and hawks that warn
Innocent lands
Working hands
And the miraculous birth of a child
Who demands attention
I have been such a child

Life's a gift of arms that
Lift baskets of fruit to share
And I find it's like a night
Of northern lights
Startling me, unaware

I like the whales at sea
The mysteries
Irish cliffs and desert flatlands
Weathered barns and farmers' yarns
Arrows unfound, quiet towns and
Incredible death oh, we know
It is bound to happen

Singing with you
Is the best thing that could happen
To me my friend
You throw me back a voice
That is a mighty bit more than
Making a dream come true
And when life is a burden
And every heart we know is
A hurting heart
The world is on trial
We're walking a mile
And singing with you is a start

A start for me
For my heart

Oh, life is full
Of tides that pull
Oceans and hearts to shore
And I find it's like
The heat of dancing feet
Keeping a body warm
I like the melodies
In evergreens, roaming winds
And rocky mountains
Summer storms and hawks that warn
Innocent lands
Working hands
And the miraculous birth of a child
Who demands attention

From Singing With You (1984)

Why does my love make you shift restless in your chair
And leave you in despair
It's simply love – my love for a woman

It's a simple hand on a warm face to say
A glance to see if love is still ok
A glow at dawn when love is still there
Tears and strong arms at the end of the day
And simply love – my love for a woman

It's the laughter as the kids clown
And tease our weary thoughts away
It's looking 'round the table
And knowing hard work fed us one more day
And simply love – my love for a woman

Why does my love make you shift in your chair
It's the bombs across the border
That should make you tear your hair
And yet it's my love leaves you screaming out your nightmare

Perhaps you know there's something you should fear
If my love makes me strong and makes you disappear
It's simply love – my love for a woman

From Singing With You (1984)

Wouldn't you rather love a great big woman
Than ask your lover to starve herself to death
Wouldn't you rather love a great big woman
Than ask your lover to starve herself to death

Would you have her go play out in the traffic
Or drink a drop of cyanide
Would you want her to go and join the army
Or lay out in the desert and die, die

Wouldn't you rather love a great big woman
Than ask your lover to starve herself to death
Wouldn't you rather love a great big woman
Than ask your lover to starve herself to death

From Singer In the Storm (1990)

A dove flies free from the prison bars
And lights the candles with the stars
And carries news home from afar
She's a singer in the storm, she's a singer in the storm

She does not fear the pouring rains that drench her to the bone
She only fears the consequence of living all alone
She does not mourn the lessons learned
While falling from the sky
She only mourns for those who turn away as they pass by

He who joins with people's voices
He who honors women's choices
He who dares to cry, rejoices
With the singer in the storm

She does not fear the raging wind that calls her into a song
She only fears the consequence of a forest dead and gone
She celebrates her lover's touch, it caught her by surprise
Still she mourns for the narrow minds who stare as they pass by

Late in the night she hears the painter scream
But tonight she knows it is not a dream
Again and again recurring themes call for the singer
To come and heal a wounded heart
Confront an ancient lie
To cross a fragile bridge
And offer hope to those to dare to try

She who walks the unpaved road
She who picks up half the load
She who knows that the dove is code
For the singer in the storm

The dove flies free from the prison bars
And lights the candles with the stars
And carries news home from afar
Are you the singer in the storm
Let the dove fly free
The dove is in me and she lights my way
So I may be the singer in the storm

From Spring 2000 Studio Sessions (2000)

Sixteen year old virgin
Springtime takes her to the park
Where the moon shines down like the future
Calling her out of the dark
But her nightmare finds her freedom
And leaves her lying wounded, worn from invasion

Light as a feather floating by
Landing then covered with soot
Waiting now, watching now for rain
To wash clean her pain

Can we be like drops of water falling on the stone
Splashing, breaking, dispersing in air
Weaker than the stone by far but be aware
That as time goes by the rock will wear away
And the water comes again

Thirty year old mother
Autumn finds her pregnant once more
And the leaves, like gold and copper
Reminding her that she is poor
And her children often are hungry
She hungers too
For knowledge, time and choices

Eighty year old poet
Winter keeps her home and alone
Where she freezes, and darkness keeps her
From writing her final wisdom
But she lights her last red candle
And as it is melting
Tilting it, writing now

From Spring 2000 Studio Sessions (2000)

Michelle Peña Herrera
Nalvia Rosa Mena Alvarado
Cecilia Castro Salvadores
Ida Amelia Almarza

Clara Elena Cantero
Elisa Del Carmen Escobar
Eliana Maria Espinosa
Rosa Elena Morales

Hay una mujer desaparecida
Hay una mujer desaparecida
En Chile En Chile En Chile

And the junta, and the junta knows
And the junta knows where she is
And the junta knows where they are hiding her, she's dying
Hay una mujer desaparecida
Hay una mujer desaparecida
En Chile En Chile En Chile

Missing in Brazil
Missing in Uruguay
Missing, Guatemala
Missing, El Salvador
Hay un hombre, hay una niña
Oh los niños

But a spirit lives in Chile
New lives
New songs are rising up