Robert George's Page

Robert George bio

I was born in Staten Island NY in May 1965. My father moved us around a lot but we lived in the San Francisco Bay area from ‘74 to ‘81. I read comic books as a kid and was very interested in drawing and painting. That ended when an older friend played me Sgt. Pepper when I was around 12 or 13. I pestered my dad to buy me a record player and he bought me a little suitcase phonograph. I bought five Beatles 45s and Pepper that same day. For three years I listened to Beatles LPs non-stop.
I used to cut school and hang out at a nearby mall. I’d go to a piano store and try to learn Beatles tunes. It was very hard for me to play because I injured my right hand when I was ten and had little dexterity. I tried for at least six months. I slowly began switching my attention to lyrics. I studied the back of the Pepper LP as well as the blue and red Beatles 62-66, 67-70 albums which had their lyrics. It took me ten to twelve years before I felt I was getting anywhere. In that time I’ve also been strongly influenced by The Band, Townes Van Zandt, and Bob Dylan, early American folk, blues and rock and roll. I’ve had several poems published in Arizona and even won a little money.
My wife and I bought a computer in early 99 and she suggested I post some pieces on internet lyric sites. From that I signed quite a few one-song contracts and began making contacts here and there. A song co-written by Tom Bohn, Goodwill Coat, was a top-15 finalist in the ’05 CMT/NSAI contest.

Robert George 9/7/08



Goodwill Coat

There were clothes and pans and paintings, all with yellow tags
And I found an old Navy peacoat on the clearance rack
The collar it was threadbare and it's seems were coming apart
But deep in it's pocket, I found an old purple heart

I paid my four dollars, then I asked the clerk
Who donated that weathered coat, if he knew where they were
He handed me an address, said I might find someone there
Just touching that sacred medal, I knew I wasn't fit to wear

(chorus)
That Goodwill coat made of time and wool
faded midnight blue, missing a button or two
Still inside, the courage and a soul
Like it was sewn in to the lining of that Goodwill coat

Well I finally found that sailor at the Desert-view nursing home
Trapped inside a wheelchair there was Corpsman William Jones
He was staring in the distance in a room with empty walls
But his blue eyes started smiling when he looked up and saw

That Goodwill coat made of time and wool
faded midnight blue, missing a button or two
Still inside, the courage and a soul
Like it was sewn in to the lining of that Goodwill coat

(bridge)
He took that coat and then the medal and felt them with his hands
And (he) began to tell me stories of war on distant sands

I went back to that thrift store and paid two dollars more
For a large oil painting of a western shore
I hung it on the wall beside that old sailor's bed
So he could sit there watching that ocean view sunset

That Goodwill coat made of time and wool
faded midnight blue, missing a button or two
Still inside, the courage and a soul
Like it was sewn in to the lining of that Goodwill coat

(tag)
There were clothes and pans and paintings all with yellow tags
And I found an old Navy peacoat on the clearance rack

George/ Bohn c 2005

Just Enough Light to See the Day

Started my day listening to some morning talk show
Announcer said “breaking news” but news was broken long ago
Raging wars and rising prices
It’s just crisis after crisis
Then they told a story bout a man saved by his grandson
He collapsed and that three year old dialed 911
And I saw a silver lining
Through the clouds the sun was shining

(and it was ) Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

Left a drive-thru…caught a red light downtown
Time was crawlin’ so I cranked some tunes and looked around
Saw the homeless and the needy
Missing posters…gang graffiti
Then a man walked up, and said that for a buck he’d clean my windshield
I reached and handed him that sack with my Egg McMuffin meal
I felt blessed to make a living
Hoped I helped that man by giving

Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

All any soul requires
Is hope in something higher

And Just enough light to see the day
Just enough faith to show the way
Just Something in the dark, a flash or spark
To make the shadows go away
Ohhh sometimes all we need is Just enough light to see the day

©2009 Robert George, Penny Campbell-Loewen

Lead Me When I’m Lost

When my will is broke and worry fills my brow
Burdens weigh me down and I can’t bear the cost
Tell me that you hear me now
And lead me when I’m lost

When I’m wand’ring in an unfamiliar land
Life’s a mountaintop I lack the strength to cross
Tell me that you’ll take my hand
And lead me when I’m lost

Lead me when I’m lost
Lead me when I’m lost
In a midnight meadow
Shield me from all shadow
Lead me when I’m lost

When my soul’s a ship that seeks a friendly port
Both the wind and waves have left me torn and tossed
Tell me that you hear me, Lord
And lead me when I’m lost

Lead me when I’m lost
Lead me when I’m lost
If my faults should blind me
Let your blessings find me
Lead me when I’m lost

May your goodness guide me
Let your will be mine tonight
May you walk beside me
Let your mercy shine tonight

And lead me when I’m lost
Lead me when I’m lost
In a midnight meadow
Shield me from all shadow
Lead me when I’m lost

Lead me when I’m lost
Lead me when I’m lost…

©2008 Al Carmichael/Robert George