Lyrics from Heart of a Prairie Girl by Cathy Graham

Love Like Their Love

A song to honor my parents. Sixty-two years of marriage. They have eight children, numerous grand and great grandchildren. I love them very much and am thankful for all the support I have received over the years.

The picture on the mantelpiece they were just eighteen
The day that they exchanged their vows, gave each other wedding rings
Two lonely people finding love like they had never known
Promised each other they’d stay together, good or bad they’d never be alone

Chorus
Let me have a love like their love I’ve watched it change, seen it grow
From youthful passion into middle age, raising a family on their own
The nest has long been empty their hair now turned to silver gray
Still they lean on one another finding strength to face another day

Years flew by, their children came, they watched them grow
Life was good though times were hard they gave those kids a happy home
When I look back now can’t help but feel a sense of pride
The vows once taken they both have honored, all these years they’re standing side by side

Chorus

Bridge

Love is ever changing, it is forgiving, love must be kind
It’s something in this world every person searches for and hopes that they will find

Chorus

Big Manitou

Saskatchewan has more than one Manitou Lake. I was raised on land that overlooks the bigger of these lakes. Truly, when I crest the last hill, just before my parents’ farm, I see the lake before me and I know that I am home.

Big Manitou, I crest the hill I see your beauty there below
Your wide expanse of aqua water and white beaches from which salty crystals blow
With poplar trees in shades of green to gold mirrored by the sun
Nestled in among the rolling hills I see you and I know that I am home

Chorus
Manitou I hear the echoes of the past
Your image in my memory is held forever fast
While I may roam this country’s borders sea to sea
The times that I am far away you’re still a part of me

Big Manitou your spirit name came from the natives long ago
As they roamed along your rugged shores in their quest of deer and shaggy buffalo
They worshipped you and also held great fear of your awesome power
Over rains that quenched the prairie earth and rays of sun that burst the budding flowers

Big Manitou they say your brackish, sapphire waters hold no life
To me it is so different, in my heart your spirit seems to be alive
Waters that heal, long ago revered by both the young and old
They not only mend my wounded flesh but also soothe my weary, troubled soul

Chorus

Waltz Across the Prairies

Waltz Across The Prairies

The first song I ever put to paper. I am an incurable romantic who loves the prairies where she was born.

Waltz me across the prairies tonight
Hold me ever close in the harvest moonlight
Tell me you’ll love me be always by my side
Then the starlight from the heavens becomes the starlight in my eyes

Chorus
Waltz with me, talk with me, hold me
Let your loving arms enfold me
Waltz with me, talk with me, hold me
And your only love I’ll always be

Let’s keep on waltzing until the dawn
Watch in wonderment as a new day is born
You’ll hold me tight, whisper sweet things in my ear
Like how much you truly love me and how you want me ever near

As the sun peaks we rock to and fro
Like the swaying wheat in it’s radiant glow
Winds blow so gently the leaves dance on the trees
The scents of autumn’s harvest drift sweetly in the balmy breeze

Piano Break

The sun is setting you won’t let me go
Passion swells my heart for the one I love so
Daylight is ending beyond the prairie knolls
I can see the moon is rising, it is another golden globe

We’ll waltz together our whole life through
Now that you have asked me to say I do
Never so happy, I’ve never felt so loved
You are all that I have dreamed of and must be sent from heav’n above

Chorus

To Hold Your Hand

As a nurse I have been at the bedside at moments of death. It is always my prayer that someone will be holding the hand of their loved one at this time. This is one of two gospel songs I have included on the CD. I want to honor the Lord. I feel that He has always been with me and, with this CD, is now giving me the desires of my heart.

We’ve spent many happy years together
Raised a family now they’ve children of their own
Passed through most of what they call our twilight years
Now they tell me you’ll soon be going home

Chorus
Home to be with Jesus to stand there by His side
To walk those golden streets with Him in His glory there abide
Until then dear one that I love so all I want to do is this
Is just to hold your hand until you are holding His

My heart it aches to know that you will be leaving
Can’t imagine life on earth here all alone
But there’s joy in knowing we will meet again
The day my heavenly Father calls me home

Chorus

Added joy comes when once more together
We’ll see faces of the loved ones gone before
And the souls that we’ve prayed for these many years
Standing circled around the Fathers throne

When we are

Chorus

There now I can let you go – your hand is holding His

'Til I Get Home

‘Til I Get Home

A dedication to all of the men and women who serve and have served in the armed forces. It amazes me that another human being is willing to give their life to assure that I live in a country of freedom. Thank you.

Across the miles I feel the love you send my way
It helps me through this tour of duty in a land so strange to me
Across the ocean a nation prays for my safe return each day
And when I talk to God my prayer’s the same – send me safely home to family

Pre Chorus
Understand I believe in freedom, in equality for all
I believe that my children should grow in a peaceful land
For this reason I answered the call
I don’t know if I am ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice
But for all that I believe in if I need to I’ll lay down my life

Chorus
So raise my flag from some place high and watch it billow in the breeze
As you watch it wave be proud of where you were born
As for me I will not rest ‘til my country’s coastline I see
Keep those home fires burning bright ‘til I get home

There was a war to end all wars yet I’m still here
Amid the greed, the thirst for power and man’s inhumanity
I’ll keep on praying for peace to come ‘til the guns no longer sound
‘Til the fighting stops, ‘til peace is real, for country I will gladly stand my ground

Chorus

Strike Two

I have known friends and relatives who have gotten into bad relationships. I believe that a couple should try all means to save a marriage but if there is no hope….I pray you are able to leave before strike two.

The day we met I thought I’d found a good one
Someone special who would share his life with me
The I do’s said I barely recognized you
From good to bad you changed so drastically

Chorus
I’ll come looking for you when I miss you
But don’t be thinking I’ll walk through the door
Don’t be waiting for the phone to ring this time I’ve gone for good
Come looking for you, never, I just won’t miss you

Bridge
Strike one you were unfaithful yet I stayed true to you
The mark you left upon my cheek well that was your strike two
Momma taught me patience that’s all gone it’s plain to see
Gotta leave, get on with my life, I won’t let you have strike three

Revenge it would be sweet but it’s not worth it
That would only drag me down to where you are
The good days waiting for me start tomorrow
I will forget you, will not dwell on things that were

Chorus

If I Close My Eyes

After the passing of my friend’s husband I asked her if she ever felt that he still was near. The discussion started and so came the song.

If I close my eyes it’s like you’re standing here beside me once again
If I close my eyes I can almost feel the touch of your warm hands
Those hands that held my own to tell me everything’s alright
Those hands whose fingers gently trailed across my skin most every night
I know reality keeps telling me that you are gone
But I am holding your strong hands if I close my eyes

If I close my eyes I hear whispered words of love you spoke into my ears
If I close my eyes those words still can chase away my worst of fears
You talked of loving me, you spoke in such a gentle way
And reassured me that you wanted to be near me every day
I call your name but only empty echoes fill this big old room
But I can hear those words of love if I close my eyes

Chorus
Close my eyes you are with me, close my eyes I feel less pain
Give me time I know I can make it on my own
I’ll grow stronger with each passing day as memories slowly fade
But for now I need to be alone – so I can close my eyes

If I close my eyes the present seems to fade, I’m drawn into the past
If I close my eyes I’m surrounded, I’m pressed close against your chest
By arms that held me tight to share my joy, my ecstasy
By arms that made me feel I was part of you, you a part of me
I know I’ll never find another who will love me like you did
Still I am wrapped in loving arms when I close my eyes

Chorus

Close my eyes you are with me, close my eyes I feel less pain
Give me time I know I can make it on my own
I’ll grow stronger with each passing day as memories slowly fade
But for now I need to be alone, forgive me I am going home, so I can close my eyes

Until You Meet Again

While attending a funeral I thought of the first line of this song. The grief in the building was overwhelming but, with my Christian beliefs, I just knew there was celebration in heaven and thought of what the angels might be saying to each other.

If you could feel it there’s excitement up in heaven
So much different than the sorrow you feel there below
Anticipation of the angels and the ones who have gone before
Have you heard the news? Our sister is coming home

Chorus
She’s coming home her time on earth has ended
She’s coming home no more suffering, no sorrow, no more pain
She’s torn for she would like to stay with those she holds so dear
Today she says goodbye just until you meet again

If you could hear her singing praises to the Father
Seeing wonders, the glorious light of this heavenly place
She’ll often gaze toward those gates of pearl, a sense of longing we all can see
She will wait for you ‘til once more you see her face

Chorus

I Call It Home

A song that tells of the province and the people that I hold dear to my heart. Living in Saskatchewan there is much to be thankful for.

The beauty that my granddad saw it still remains
From northern forests, lakes and streams down to the rolling plains
Land etched by rivers that flow gently past wheat fields standing tall
A canvas rich with color changes with seasons from winter to fall

Chorus
Saskatchewan land of endless prairie skies so blue
Your sunrise takes away my breath just as your sunsets do
Born here I choose to stay you’ll never find me far away
Here’s where I feel free wide open spaces beckon me Saskatchewan

The spirit of the pioneer it lives to this day
An honest handshake the hard work’s done that’s just the prairie way
When times get tough they pull together to see you through
That’s what this province is known for, it’s what they gladly do

Chorus

Bridge

Friendly faces, country I love to roam
You say you’d call it a dream..I call it home

Chorus

Phoenix From The Ashes

At the age of six I was sexually abused by an uncle. I became a tough little girl not wanting anyone to see that I could easily be hurt. I did go through a large portion of my life trying to smile on the outside..trying never to show a tear. Over time I found that forgiveness of my abuser freed my soul. For myself I feel that healing from abuse is a lifelong process. It has taken a very long time but I have achieved one of my childhood dreams and so can you. Go for it!

Her uncle said he loved her
Took her hand, whispered to her you’re my little girl
But then he crossed that line, he always knew he would
Nothing, no one mattered ‘til he was satisfied

Chorus
He left an empty shell yet she smiles, tells you she’s happy
She only cries at night, you’ll never see a teardrop in the day
Should she curse, forgive the man who stole her childhood
So much confusion for it is that pain that made her who she is today

The child becomes a woman
Scars remain, with mercy and time memories have faded
She still guards a gentle heart, shelters it from pain
Still believes there’s true love, the kind that’s meant to be

Chorus

Bridge

Today she’s a survivor, phoenix from the ashes, feels reborn
She’s finally found her wings, sees an open sky, now watch her soar
She’s finally found her wings, sees an open sky, now watch her soar

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