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Gift To Be Alive

by Jefferson Jay

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1.
Good Graces 02:13
Good Graces Am C G Am I can see all these smiling faces And I believe in God’s good graces And I can find in a moment in my mind The peace divine that is with me all the time Good Graces x4 And I had a dream that we all walked as one To the moon and the stars and through the setting sun In my mind all the time was the source of all this fun I believe in this dream and that we will live as one Good Graces x4
2.
Gift to be Alive (in 3) G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive C9 Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive D9 E9 C9 Now, we have the time of our lives D9 E9 C9 Now, we’re still here in minds D9 D9 E9 C9 Now, we’re collecting our tides, sides, rides C9 C9/B C9/A Now, it is the time of our lives G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive C9 Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive D9 E9 C9 Now, we have the time of our lives D9 E9 C9 Now, we’re still here in minds D9 D9 E9 C9 Now, we’re collecting our tides, sides, rides C9 C9/B C9/A Now, it is the time of our lives G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive C9 Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride Swift will be the stride G Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive Gift to be Alive
3.
Believe It 02:41
Believe It C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason G G/F# There comes a time G G/F# When the answers come together in your mind C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason D D D D C It’s all found life I know C C C C G G/F# But it’s my life to shine sign G G/F# You feel it when it happens in your mind C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason G G/F# Love is the sky G G/F# We never get as daring or as high C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason D D D D C It’s all found life I know C C C C G G/F# But it’s my life to shine sign G G/F# Whatever you find clever in your mind C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Now to fly to become and to be it C Believe it C/B Retrieve it C C/B It’s there for you, you merely have to seize it G G/F# Love’s gloves G G/F# You can wear ‘em and be daring with the doves. C Believe it C/B And be it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason C Believe it C/B I see it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason C Decree it C/B And be it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason C Believe it C/B And be it C C/B Everything it happens for a reason
4.
Strive and Thrive (or Don’t and Die) G Em Bm Em D C Bm G Em D - G Em Bm Em D C Bm G Em D G Em Bm D The truth will make you flourish G Em Bm D The truth will make things right G Em Bm D The truth brings us together C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Keeping us alive C D G Saving human life C D G Making humans high C D G Em Taking care to remember that the reason we’re all here’s C D G Em C To work together here to keep us all alive and thrive until the end of time D G Em C and thrive until the end of time and thrive until the end of time D G and thrive until the end of time Redo Intro G Em Bm D We try to avoid disaster G Em Bm D Survival is on the line G Em Bm D Defining what we’re after C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Em The power in the truth in us together is the hope we have for C D G Keeping us alive C D G Saving human life C D G Making humans high C D G Em Taking care to remember that the reason we’re all here’s C D G Em C To work together here to keep us all alive and thrive until the end of time D G Em C and thrive until the end of time and thrive until the end of time D G and thrive until the end of time
5.
Great Shine 03:31
Great Shine Em G When I try to rationalize Am Or reason why D Em The things that go astray G Am Go the way they climb and start to shine D The time has come to make great G D Times and reasons why G D Times and reasons why G Am We start a sane escape G Am Time’s a lot to take G Am Em D We’ve got to stay awake and make a great shine Em G Am When I live above the dream and start to scream D Em And see things unfolding in my dreams G Am D We share these memories, these breaths, we share atomic structures, sunlight is G D Shine and save today G D Shine and save this place G Am Shine and make today G Am Em D A safe tomorrow in a world you want to G D Shine and stay awake G D You make these moments that you store away G Am Time’s a lot to take G Am Em But when we take these steps we make a great, D We make a great shine -SOLO- G D Shine and save today G D Shine and save this place G Am Shine and make today G Am Em D A safe tomorrow in a world you want to G D Shine and stay awake G D You make these moments that you store away G Am Time’s a lot to take G Am Em But when we take these steps we make a great, D We make a great shine G Shine
6.
Times Divine 03:34
Time’s Divine D G A D D G A D D G A D There are reasons why we do so many things G A D And I don’t care what harm my candor brings D G A D It’s time to give a ride to the fear in my soul G A D It’s time to finally take control G A D I’ve got the dice and I’m gonna roll G A D I’ve got the dice and I’m gonna roll D G A D I thought about moving to Los Angeles G A D I thought I’d take my guitar and I’d run D G A D I didn’t know if I had all it’d command for this G A D I wondered if it would be fun G A D For love and the setting sun G A D For love and the setting sun G A Bm For love and the setting sun G A D For love and the setting sun SOLO – D G A D G A D G A Bm G A D D/C# Bm G A There are no accidents Bm G A We leave nothing behind Bm G A There’s no romance for this Bm G A One day we all are dyin’ G A D So it’s now that the time’s divine G A D So it’s now that the time’s divine G A Bm So it’s now that the time’s divine G A D So it’s now that the time’s divine G A D
7.
Finding Your Dreams (capo 2) A E A I fly like eagle pie E A On those mountains high E E A A above our minds A E A I sky with my hawk-like eyes E A As I improvise E E A A A way of life A Bb/A E F Finding my dreams G Not what it seems C When you’re relaxing A Bb/A E F Finding your dreams G Not what it seems C C Today A E A I run with a heart-stocked tongue E A As now I’ve begun E E A A To make my name A E A I ‘m here with my well-fed beard E A Sirens disappear E E A A I start today A Bb/A E F Finding my dreams G Not what it seems C It defies planning A Bb/A E F Finding your dreams G It’s in the seams C Of yesterday C C/B Am Am G G / C C C C F F G G / C C C C Am Am G G / C C C C F F G G / C C C C A Bb/A E F Finding my dreams G Not what it seems C When you’re collapsing A Bb/A E F Finding your dreams G Not what it seems C C Today A Bb/A E F Finding my dreams G Not what it seems C F It defies everything that could ever seem sane G It’s in the seams Am Of yesterday F Finding your dreams G It is exactly C C What you say F Finding your dreams G It is exactly C/G What you say
8.
The New Dawn 04:48
The New Dawn Bm7 E7 Am7 D7 I know how to move on And get along and sing with my brothers I know how to write songs Share these skills and work well with others I know that it won’t be long ‘Til we celebrate in the arms of each other We finally exist where we’ve gone Now we’ve got the chance to dance on our Mother Earth Gm7 You can feel the funky rhythms Come on let’s funk all night You can feel these funky rhythms now So come on let’s funk all night D B7 G F#7 We’re taking our stride Now it’s our time It’s a gift to be alive It’s our time, our time, our time, it’s yours and mine F#m7 F#m7 D7 C#7 Truth’s what you find When you’re inclined To find the fate of things And make it fine E7 D#7 G7 F#7 C7 B7 Bm7 E7 Am7 D7 Been waiting for this all life long This window we have to connect with each other No one can tell me it’s wrong To believe that we grow when we work close together I know that it’s time we get strong The strength that we have we enrich in each other I’m looking at the new dawn It awaits the awakening of sisters and brothers Gm7 You can feel the changes coming You can feel its changes time I can feel this change is coming now Come on let’s change this right D B7 G F#7 We’re taking our stride Now it’s our time It’s a gift to be alive It’s our time, our time, our time, it’s yours and mine F#m7 F#m7 D7 C#7 Truth’s what you find When you’re inclined To find the fate of things And make it fine E7 D#7 G7 F#7 C7 B7
9.
Love of My Life A C Hi Little Tiger A C You care to decipher A C A The game that we're going to play A C I crawl up beside her A C And there's a reminder A C A I don't know what I'm going to say Em G You so alluring Em G Our pathways maturing Em G Em Into one fat thick beam of light A C You slide into my heart A C I throw such a blind dart A C A What will the future incite? B C You don't know what you're going to feel B A G Let love reveal Em G Em G Em G Em (12th fret harmonic) A C Get high Little Tiger A C It's there as a reminder A C A Of the way that our tendencies change A C As you wind into my heart A C I fight with the fine art A C A Of restraint versus wanting to say, I… I… I… Em G One eager traveler Em G And one lost hitchhiker Em G Em Cross paths in the thick of a life A C "Hey, where you heading" A C She said He relented A C A "With you for the rest of my life" B C But was telling her the truth right? E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G Whether or not it feels right E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I won't think twice E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G That light is shining brightly E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I’ll never fear light D7 D#7 A C A C A C A A C A C A C A Em G Em G Em G Em A C A C A C A E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G Whether or not it feels right E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I won't think twice E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G That light is shining brightly E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I’ll never fear light D7 D#7 E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G Whether or not it feels right E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I won't think twice E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G That light is shining brightly E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I’ll never fear light E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G Whether or not it feels right E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I won't think twice E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A G That light is shining brightly E E D D B You are the love of my life G A B A I’ll never fear light E E D D You are the love of my… E E D D You are the love of my… E E D D E You are the love of my life
10.
A Call to Action Bm A Are you guys in a band? Bm A Not in a musical way Bm A F#m E More like a Band-Aid on the Earth today Bm A The homeless guy asked us Bm A He’d biked from somewhere in Virginia Bm A Over 3000 miles F#m E On Christmas Day delivered G Call the people G A Bb Make a stand G Our next move G A Bb Will soon be planned G We’ll rise together G A Bb Hands held high G Freedom People G A Bb C Touch the sky Bm A We come together like a band Bm A And sing our songs throughout the land Bm A We grow and reach for sun and sky F#m E We grow each day together high Bm A Every day our numbers grow Bm A We feel as others join our flow Bm A And when we reach the mass extreme F#m E The chance arrives; fulfill our dream Bm A We lift each other to the sky Bm A With open arms, we float up; fly Bm A We reach the light and merge as one F#m E Forever grace the heavens; sun G Call the papers G A Bb Flood the ‘net G The revolution’s G A Bb being set G We’ll rise together G A Bb Hands held high G Freedom People G A Bb C Touch the sky F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects E The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects B The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects E The sky reflects Bm The ocean reflects A The sky reflects Bm The ocean reflects A The sky reflects Bm The ocean reflects A The sky reflects F#m The ocean reflects E
11.
Us Against the World Verse: C G Am Chorus: F G C So they built this place in 1909 All things considered now, it’s lookin’ pretty fine Within every oyster, you’ll always find a pearl But until you find it, it’s us against the world So we’re sittin’ here in a room of old friends And newer ones sure to meet again For every special boy, there’s a very special girl But until we make ‘em meet it’s just us against the world Whoa, us, us against the world Yes, it’s us, us against the world We’re gonna give this tiny town a shiny pearl But for now, it’s us, it’s us against the world The chance is here, that we all clearly see What happens here is up to you and me, and you and you and she And if we raise it right, like our very own baby boy or girl, girl, girl It won’t be us, us against the world It’ll never be us, us against the world It won’t need to be us, us against the world Like our very own place that we share in this world It’ll never be us, us against the world
12.
That Morning 04:27
That Morning G Am D7 G The sun rose in the morning and went down all day G Am D7 G The hurricane came without a warning and tore the town to waste G Am D7 G I can’t remember Christmas before 1984 G Am D7 G And I feel like I am falling in love with a world without war G Am D7 G And I can keep on giving all my love away G Am D7 G Yes in hope of finding my heaven here someday G Am D7 G Now as I start believing the time is prime to shine G Am D7 G I am finally seeing all this love fall into line G Am D7 G It was that fateful morning, the morning when I cried G Am D7 G Yeah, it came without a warning, the day Don Truesdail died
13.
Making Time 03:13
Making Time F Love for the ones you love F/G Believing in who you believe F/A F/G Grieve F Playing chess F/G Listening to music F/A As the snow sets in the sun F/G The open door enraptures Drifting visits on the run C Dm Heavenly flows fountain bathing birthing waters run Running water cuddling but her, death must be more fun Running water, sprinting past, do you believe in God? Tumbling water, bumbling clutter, dizzying collage Repeat Verse 1 Fm7 (w/riff) 8x I know I cannot escape my time Therefore I know I need to make it mine F Love for the ones you love F/G Believing in who you believe F/A Oh - Believe F/G Believe! F Believe!

about

"Gift To Be Alive" is an uplifting adventure culled from the challenges life has to offer.

credits

released March 27, 2012

Produced by Jefferson Jay
Mixed by Jefferson Jay and Jim Tuggey
Production Support – Paul Ruiz

Recorded at The Pink House, Escondido, CA, Jeff Miller; Can O’ Pork Studio, San Diego, CA, Jim Tuggey; The Studios in San Diego, San Diego, CA, Jefferson Jay.

Mastered by Dustin Nix, San Diego, CA

Cover Art by John Warner, JdubAllStars.com

Cover Image photographed by Vladi Sytnik, Californiaimage.com

Music performed by
Jefferson Jay – Guitar, Vocals on Tracks 1-13, Keyboards and Percussion on Track 13
Paul Lopez – Drums, Congas, Bongos
Richard Romero – Bass, Backup Vocals
Junior “The Soul Man” Fos – Guiro
“Blowski” Michael Blow – Keyboards
Paul Ruiz – Trumpet
Jack Davidson – Lead Guitar

Special Guests
Joe Khoroosi – Violin on Tracks 1, 11, and 12
Maciej Swiatcz – Flute on Tracks 2, 3, and 4
Jim Tuggey – Bass and Drums on Track 13

Thanks to Leanne Pearl, Angel, Nigel, Don & Nancy Truesdail, Jim Tuggey, Kip Forde, Dustin Nix, Rayleen Pearl, Sean Power, Jeff Dewine, James Deans, Dylan Avery, John Warner, Tim Clark, Maddie Moon, Jeff Miller, Robin Lee, Clifford M. Jomuad, Dan & Janet Truesdail, Barbara & Bobby Brown, Jim & Karen Gottlieb, Will Edwards, Barbara Tolbert, Charlotte James, Justin Mills, Maria Blow, Joan Seifried, Rahmeen Shary, Jason Nascimento, Mariposa Ice Cream & all the wonderful musicians who lent their talents to this cause.

All songs written by Jefferson Jay

Gift To Be Alive is dedicated Don Truesdail

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Jefferson Jay San Diego, California

Jefferson Jay works to improve the world through art and love. A community-oriented original, Jay's "24 Hours of Free Music" and his two Operation 365 video projects - three videos and blog each day for a year! - are testaments to art, individuality, inclusion, and experience. ... more

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