music from the threshold
Evocative, comforting, intimate... Music for the heart and soul...
Supportive during difficult times, welcoming during joyful times-
The songs contained in this recording are woven from my experiences at the threshold of life, a shoreline where souls unwrap into the unknown, subtle awareness is born, and feelings of loss can lead to a desolation of the heart or,
on occasion, a quiet blessing and awakening of spirit.
It is also a place for healing, where loved ones meet in gratitude, and where the ability to express one's love for another becomes of paramount importance.
Rocked in the Cradle is a musical resource for those in grief and spiritual anxiety, and for caregivers and those who work with people in transition.
Santa Barbara Sessions:
(on all songs except: Angel Eyes, Forbidden City of the Heart, If I Open Up My Heart,
and Living Inside Your Love, arranged & produced by Gary Malkin)
Arranged & Produced by Michael Stillwater
Engineered & co-produced by Dave Sommers
Assistant Engineers: Russ Castillo, Tona Marquez
Recorded & mixed at Master Tracks, Santa Barbara, CA
Mastered by Grant Lyman at Encore Recording
Manufactured by Denon Digital
Photo by Charles Korns
Graphics/design by Stillwater Arts
Classical & acoustic guitars, vocals: Michael Stillwater
Electric & acoustic bass: Randy Tico
Grand piano/keyboards: George Friedenthal
Drums & percussion: Jesse Siebenberg
Electric & acoustic guitars: Randy Cobb
Grand piano: Jim Calire
Percussion: Lenny Castro
Background vocals: Rosemary Butler, Roy Galloway,
Eje Lynn-Jacobs, Michelle Urqhart, Michael Stillwater
Duet on Rocked in the Cradle: Roy Galloway
Accordion: Brian Mann
Trumpet: Tom Cunningham
Harmonica: Mitch Kashmar
Bay Area Sessions:
Arranged & Produced by Gary Malkin
Engineer: Dale Everingham
Production Assistant: Craig Schneider
Recorded and mixed at Spark Studio, Emeryville, CA
Guitar & vocals: Michael Stillwater
Drums & percussion: Brad Kaiser
Bass: Benny Rietveld
Grand piano & keyboard synthesizers: Gary Malkin
Synthesizer & midi software: Danny Alvarez
Classical Guitar: Steve Erquiaga
Soprano Saxaphone: Norbert Statchell
Ethnic Flute: Gary Schwantes
Duet on Living Inside Your Love: Pollyanna Bush
Background voices: Annie Stocking, Melisa Kary, Sandy Griffith
All Songs written by Michael Stillwater
©1998 Inner Harmony Music (BMI) Reflecting Pond from a theme by J.S. Bach
Singer/songwriter Michael Stillwater is a recording artist who focuses on healing, meeting the listener in their heart, evoking a remembrance of their connection to spirit, life and each other. His work in medical, hospice and therapeutic communities in America and Europe has given him a wide arena for demonstrating the dimensions of healing music. His insight is now available through the latest CD, JourneySongs.
Titles are (click for lyrics):
Angel Eyes
Forbidden City of the Heart
If I Open Up My Heart
Living Inside Your Love
Heaven Help A Heart
You Were the One
Just A Matter of Time
Turn to Me
Into Your Hands
He Waits for You
Rocked in the Cradle
(for Angela)
When there are no words to say
That's the time I simply pray
Help me find the way for moving on
First step's all I need to know
Next one follows in the flow
ItÕs a kind of dance where you and I belong
Soon the sky will open as if magic's in the air
Not a word is spoken, I feel a Presence everywhere
Angel eyes see you
Angel eyes they are looking through
Angel eyes you knew, youÕre just seeing again
Angel eyes see you
Angel eyes they are looking through
Angel eyes shine true like your very best friend
Who you're seeing again
When there are no words to say
That's the time we simply pray
Help us find the way to move along
First step's all we need to know
Next one follows in the flow
A kind of dance that keeps love growing strong
Soon the sky will open as if magic's in the air
Not a word is spoken, we feel the Presence everywhere
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
Rocked in the Cradle (for Philomena)
Held by the hand, rocked in the cradle (repeat)
Held by the hand of life
Rocked in the cradle
Touched by an angel and I
Know it'll be alright
Somehow the sun always rises out of the night
Held by the hand, rocked in the cradle (repeat)
Bridges of soul delight
Shot through with diamonds
Shining in silence
Who knows where we alight
All we know is we fly into a Mystery
That's where we get to see
Life in the balance, living by the way
Life in the balance
No more words could ever say
Held by the hand, rocked in the cradle (repeat)
Held by the hand of light
Rocked in the cradle
Touched by an angel and I
Know it'll be alright
Somehow the sun always rises out of the night
Into a Mystery, here's where we get to see
(to chorus)
Held by the hand, rocked in the cradle
Held by the hand, touched by an angel
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
(for Bill)
A Great Wall of China surrounded you from the very start
What memories entwined and so confounded you
That you made a Forbidden City of your heart
Born outside of Peking three score and thirteen years ago
All your life were seeking something more than even you seemed to know
I wanted to know you as a little boy
When dragons flew patterns through your skies
Bright colored paper lanterns lit you up with joy
And firecrackers danced before your eyes
A Great Wall of China surrounded you from the very start
What secrets unwind as I find a clue
to the jade-gated forbidden city of your heart
How could I even know you, though at times I tried
To breach the wall that hid your heart from view
A barricade of twisted dreams had wrapped you deep inside
Did you ever hear the call to tunnel through?
It's hard to say what makes us exactly what we turn out to be
One thing is certain- I know you wished that I would one day be free
To climb without a care above these red ramparts
And fly beyond this dynasty of feeling apart as we are in the
Forbidden city of the heart, forbidden city of the heart
Pack your bags, we're leaving this place tonight
Hitch up the horses, gonna make it to the mountains by moonlight
We are leaving now this forbidden city of the heart
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
Note: This song was written as a memorial song for my father, who was born in Peking in 1920, son of a missionary doctor. I believe the key words of the song are the last ones 'we are leaving now this forbidden city'.
A lifetime walking on this mountain
Seen every kind of weather too
Now my tracks have doubled-back
And worn a circle
Leading me to where
I must admit whatÕs true
There's no going any further
The way is blocked, I can't get through
Here I stand, no plan but a willingness
To listen to what I now need to do
Into Your Hands I now deliver my life
What else can I do, it all belongs to You
I deliver my life into Your Hands
So I live out this my lifetime
Take the path You'd have me go
And if I keep listening to Your whisper
I will find the only trail I need to know
Into Your Hands I now deliver my life
What else can I do, it all belongs to You
I deliver my life into, I deliver my life to You
I deliver my life into Your Hands
I deliver my life into, I deliver my life to You
I deliver my life into Your Hands
Into Your Hands
Into Your Hands
Into Your Hands
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
He waits for you, He waits for you
In the wings He waits for you
until the time is right and true
He waits for you.
He waits, He waits for you
For the time when waiting's through
Whenever you are ready to
Behold what lies within you.
He waits for you though it takes a year
Or maybe takes a lifetime,
Ten thousand tears
All the time you need, you'll find
He waits for you.
He waits for you, He waits for you
And no time at all stands in the way
As close this moment as yesterday
Beneath your hopes and plans
You always knew
Your heart alone it understands
He waits for you
Your heart of hearts it understands
He waits for you.
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI)
to top of page
Who awaits at the end of the trail? And could it be that the waiter is even now with us? Depending on your point of view, this song could also be written as She Waits for You, and was originally written as It Waits for You, speaking of the hidden memories which await their own time for revealing and healing. I find the simplicity of it comforting. -MS
Clock keeps on ticking away,
Night turns to day, still it can seem so long
If you forget (and I do)
What's really true, just pray to carry on
It's just a matter of time
'Til day breaks into these skies
I see the light in your eyes
You look with sweet love right into mine
It's just a matter of time
You can be perfectly sure
What will endure in the end comforts you
'Til then with all of our heart
We'll play out our part,
Making this dream come true
It's just a matter of time
Til all these tangles unwind
Love heals your heart and mine
No doubt about it, no reason or rhyme
It's just a matter of time
It's just a matter, it's just a matter of time
It's just a matter of time
No one can say when the hour will be
All we can do is trust love holds the key
It's just a matter of time
Til all this hurting is gone
War is over, mercy lives on
Blues turn to gold, water to wine
It's just a matter of time
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI)
When deep within your slumbering
You start to feel afraid
Dragons chase you down the mountainside
When everything's confusing
And your hope begins to fade
Look and see the night is over, I'm holding you
Turn to me, turn to me
Though it seems that I am gone
I am living in your heart
Like the memory of this song
When even in your waking dreams
The shadows start to fall
Everywhere you look there's something wrong
I told you once before
That all you have to do is call
And I'll be waiting in your heart
Like the memory of this song (chorus)
I will comfort you in the night
Fly to me when you're afraid, it'll be alright
If ever there's a need you have
This world cannot provide
A feeling all is emptiness in you
Just close your eyes a moment
And remember me inside
For I'm closer than your breathing
And my love will guide you through
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI)
If I open up my heart will I still be true
To the dream that lives inside me,
Or will I be lost from view
And awake to find my anchor sunk
So deep inside your sea
If I open up this heart, if I open up this heart
If I open up this heart in me?
If I open up my heart will I still be free
To remember why I came here,
Or will I abandon me
To be cast adrift on endless waves
That crash upon your shore
If I open up my heart, if I open up my heart
If I open up my heart once more?
It could change my life forever,
Re-arrange all that I knew,
Turn the tables on tomorrow
Leaving me without a clue
If I open up my heart will I still be here
Will the fear of up and losing my world
Turnabout and disappear
Like an ocean changing into rain
That melts away to dew
If I open up my heart, if I open up my heart
If I open up my heart to you?
If I open up my heart again,
If I open up my heart again
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
Day is done and over, night covers the skies
One by one the stars come out in your eyes
And I'm right here beside you
Nowhere to run, no comforting lies
See my heart all pulled apart, big surprise
I can hardly stand it, all choked up inside
This feeling I really need you can't be denied
You're woven so fine, crossing every line of my life
I breathe in your love
In your love, in your love, I receive your love
Wherever I go I always know
I'm living inside your love
Took your love for granted, holding back on mine
Just so glad we found it while there is time
To let you know I love you, still I keep asking why
You took care to come and grace my life
(chorus)
So glad that we are here together
That I shared my life with you (to chorus)
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
Hearts were created by one who knows
The mystery weaving our lives
So what's it gonna take to break this spell,
To heal the hurt inside?
Hearts were created by one so sure
Everyone's safe, all accounted for
So why am I feeling you missing
If you're really not gone from me?
Hearts were made to be open, open
Even if it takes being broken
To be open like the skies above
Heaven help a heart hit by the lightning of love
Hearts were created by one who hears
The secret sigh, the tiny tears
While whispers of wanting inside of me
Keep calling out your name
Hearts were created by one who knew
How totally I'd fall in love with you
Never imagined what losing, losing you would do
(chorus)
You awakened all of me, then you flew away
Here I stand,heart in hand
Asking why you couldn't stay (to chorus)
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
You were the one who stayed to listen
When nobody else was there
You were the one found what was missing
When I couldn't find a prayer
You offered your hand, opened your heart,
Whispered your wisdom to me
Now I would ask you do your part
In letting yourself receive
You were the one, you were the one
Just take a look and see what your love has done
I knew I'd see an angel before my time had come
And wouldn't you know, you were the one
You were the one who shared your shoulder
When I couldn't cry anymore
You were the one as my life grew colder
To warm me up down at my core
You offered your hand, opened your heart,
Whispered your wisdom to me
Now I would ask you do your part
In letting yourself receive
You were the one, you were the one
Just take a look and see what your love has done
I knew I'd see an angel before my time had come
And wouldn't you know, you were the one
words & music by Michael Stillwater
copyright 1998, Inner Harmony Music (BMI) to top of page
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Inner Harmony/Medicine Music
PO Box 2528
Novato, CA 94948
(415) 897-3801 fax: (415) 897-1432
email: music@innerharmony.com
website: www.innerharmony.com
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