When The Darkness Comes
Lyrics

^{All lyrics by Chris Mitguard
except "Chicken" written by Mississippi John Hurt
and "Come Home" by Chris Mitguard and Debbie Mitguard}

^{Copyright 2025 Snakes Alive Publishing (BMI)}

Keep Ridin'

By Chris Mitguard

You might wake up one morning

Your story’s all told

Nothin’ but a blanket to keep you from the cold

You can hear the wind a blowin’

Outside your door

And in your dreams, you’re out there ridin’

I used to wander through the forrest

On my grandma’s ranch

There were horses to ride and fish to catch

Me and my cousin, we caught brook trout

With our bare hands

But mostly, we just went ridin’
 

Chorus: You might miss some folks you never thought you’d miss

You might remember your first love and your first kiss

But those memories can wear you down

If you let them get their way

It’s best (I guess) to just keep ridin’

Some folk you forgive, though the wounds may never heal

I don’t know how to explain it; it’s just the way that you feel

Maybe we’ll meet again someday

A little further down the road

Till then, my friend, just keep ridin’

‘Cause you might wake up one morning

Your story’s all told 

Nothing but a blanket to keep you from the cold

You can hear the wind a blowin’

Outside the door

But in my dream, I just keep riding

In my dream, I’m out there ridin’

In my dream…

April

by Chris Mitguard

You were born in April

April was your name

You set my world on fire, set my world a’ flame

You said you were a gypsy girl

But your parents lived in town

I guess it didn’t really matter ‘cause you weren’t hanging around

Chorus: I’d a robbed a bank if you had asked me to

Would have jumped off a cliff just to impress you

I’d a swallowed a sword and set myself on fire

If I said I never loved you, well I was just a liar

You ran away when you were seventeen

Put a big hole in my heart

I know I never owned you - but it tore my world apart

You improvised most everything

Did you ever have a plan?

It’s said you’ve had many a lover, and many a famous man

Chorus

Well, the years went by, and I’ve grown old

Hell, I can hardly see

I don’t know if you’re still around - or if you’d even remember me

But in my dreams I find you

We’re walking hand in hand

Along a beach in California, barefoot in the sand

Chorus

Come Home

By Chris and Deb Mitguard

Come home, come home

Where the mountains touch the sky

I miss you so much darlin’, I could cry

I’ll make a plate of cookies; I’ll bake you an apple pie

That ol’ rivers movin’ slow

Like it’s got nowhere to go

I feel like that river, I’m movin’ slow

Wherever you are, I hope you know

Chorus: The cottonwoods and the magpies

The aspens and the blue skies

Even the bullfrogs on the river are calling you home

Sweet darlin’, I wish you well

Wherever you might be

Whether in a deep dark jungle or by a raging sea

Hope you’re far from the troubles that so worry me

Chorus

Come home, come home

Even if you’re just passing by

You made your poor mother, made your poor mother cry

Your mother who raised you so you could fly

Your mother who raised you so you could fly

Chicken Man
By Chris Mitguard

Look-ee there, here comes the chicken man

Look-ee there, here comes the chicken man

He feeds everybody that he can

He feeds all the children, and feeds the old folks too

He feeds all the children and he feeds the old folds too

He feeds everybody; that’s just what the chicken man do

Biscuits, beans and he’s got coleslaw, too

Biscuits, beans and he’s got coleslaw, too

Fried chicken, sometimes barbecue

Chorus: Here comes the chicken man

Here comes the chicken man

He feeds everybody that he can

No matter who you are, he’ll treat you well

No matter what your name is, or where you come from - he’ll treat you well

With food for the soul, and a place to rest a spell

Chorus (X2)

Dark Cloud
By Chris Mitguard
 

I put away my sorrows

Buried them deep

Close my eyes, but I still can’t sleep

I laid to rest my worries like you said I should

But they still haunt me, and that ain’t good

Chorus: So I polish my silver, straighten up my room

I wash all the windows I look through

But I still can see a dark cloud on a sunny day

No matter how much I wish it, I can’t wish it away

I have this friend, he’s feelin’ down and low

He doesn’t know what to think or which way to go

He must be desperate to ask me for advice

So I gave it to him; I bet he thought twice

Chorus: I said: polish your silver, straighten up your room

Wash all the windows you look through

But if you still see that dark cloud on a sunny day

Maybe it’s supposed to be there; that’s what I say

But it ain’t all bad, ‘cause I have you

A cat that purrs on my lap and music too

And friends that love me, almost makes me cry

More luck than I deserve; I don’t know why

Chorus: So, I polish my silver, straighten up my room

Wash all the windows I look through

And if that dark cloud is gonna to hang around

I’ll just keep my feet here on the ground

Driftin' On Your Memory
By Chris Mitguard

I’ve been driftin’

On your memory

Watchin’ the leaves as they fall

Just waiting for your call

It just don’t seem right

Sittin’ here tonight

Sippin’ champagne all alone

Honey, won’t you please come home

Chorus: You drive me crazy

You drive me ‘round the bend

Come back and drive me

Over that cliff again

Why should I beg you?

Tell me, why should I cry?

Why should I love you

'Till the day that I die?

Chorus

It just don’t seem right

Sittin’ here tonight

Sippin’ champagne all alone

Honey, won’t you please come home

Won’t you please come back home

Honey, won’t you please come back home

I'll Come Around

By Chris Mitguard

I’m moving slow, what can I say

I made it through another cloudy day

You say you can't stay here anymore

That I don't treat you like I did before

I know things have changed - I don't know why

But I ain't ready to say good-bye

Chorus: I'll come around

I'll come around

Give me one more chance - I'll come around

I didn't mean to leat you down

I'll come around

You ask, how long has it been since we could talk

Or go out for an early evening walk

I know sometimes I come home and I drink too much

And I go into my gloom and I brood and I think too much

Chorus

You say the time has come and gone

You're all packed up and movin' on

You don't have time to save a drowning man

You've done everything you know how to do - everything you can

Chorus (X2)

In The Blink Of An Eye
By Chris Mitguard

I’m moving slow, what can I say

I made it through another cloudy day

I’m bein’ fussed at by an old black crow

Tellin’ me somethin’ I should already know

But we’ve made it through another winter

Walked through the desert sun

We’ve been a lot of places,

When all is said and done

I’ve seen children - growin’ up fast

Old men and women stuck in the past

Mostly good folks just tryin’ to get by

Tryin’ in their own way to touch the sky

They’ve seen their share of troubles

Shed their weight in tears

The strongest ones among them

Are the ones who face their fears

Time moves slowly; time moves fast

You won’t be the first and you won’t be the last

Mountains will crumble and wash to the sea

Your sweet smile still makes a fool out of me

We’ve shared our tears and laughter

Love is all we’re really after

One sweet night ‘neath the moon in June

In the blink of an eye it’s gone too soon

Woke up this morning wonderin’ what the day would bring

I could hear the meadowlark sing

His yellow breast shining in the sun

He’s been singing that song since time begun

He’s not greedy, he’s not rich

Knows who he is and which way is which

I felt something deep in my soul

Just for a moment my heart was full

I’m movin’ slow, what can I say

I made it through another cloudy day

I’m bein’ fussed at by an old black crow

Tellin’ me somethin’ I should already know

We’ve shared our tears and laughter

Love is all we’re really after

One sweet night ‘neath the moon

Chicken
By Mississippi John Hurt

Chicken, chicken, roostin’ high up in that tree

Chicken, chicken, you can’t roost too high for me

Chicken, chicken, chicken, come on out of that tree

C - is the way to begin

H - the next letter in

I - am the third

C - for season the bird

K - for to fill it in

E - I’m near the N

C-H-I-C-K-E-N

That’s the way you spell chicken

When The Darkness Comes
By Chris Mitguard

Take your chances

Go with the wind

Follow the river to its end

Chorus: And when the darkness comes

Let the stars be your guide

Keep love in your heart

Goodwill on your side

Mmmmm Mmmmm

Be kind to your neighbor

And the stranger as well

Give them bread if they’re hungry

Let them rest for a spell

Chorus

Mmmmm Mmmmm

Have mercy and compassion

For every creature you meet

The fox hiding in the bushes

The beggar on the street

Chorus X2

Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmm

Chorus

To Hold On To Love
By Chris Mitguard

Don’t fail me now

Keep movin’ along

Humming that tune; singin’ that song

Walk through the rain, feet in the mud

Heart keep pumpin’, pumpin’ that blood

Moon keep shinin’, shinin’ in the night

I need a little hope, need a little light

To hold on to love

Someday I’ll forgive you most of your sins

Down the road, my brother, we’re gonna meet again

I was watchin’ a ship sinkin’ in the sea

I knew it was a dream but it was about you and me

Moon keep shinin’, shinin’ in the night

I need a little hope, need a little light

To hold on to love

Chorus: Love of a brother, love of a friend

Love of each other, love of all men

Hold on to love

I’ve followed in the footsteps of many great men

But I come to a place where the trail seems to end

I don’t know which way I’m supposed to go

But I know that it’s somewhere deep in my soul

Moon keep shinin’, shinin’ in the night

I need a little hope, need a little light

To hold on – hold on

To hold on to love