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Johnny's Cafe

by John Fischer

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1.
Go spend the day down at Johnny’s Cafe All kinds of people there with plenty to say If you’ve got nothing to say to folks at Johnny’s Cafe You’ve got nothing to say at all Walk in any day and you find a slice of life at your table One man leaving his wife another wishing he was able An old man trying to forget a young one looking for a label And the stories they tell you can’t tell if they’re true or they’re fable And the lady pouring coffee she knows the regulars by name And if she doesn’t know you she calls you Honey just the same And we all love to hear it Even if she has to fake it ‘Cause it’s nice to think that someone really cares Someone cares Go spend the day down at Johnny’s Cafe All kinds of people there with plenty to say If you’ve got nothing to say to folks at Johnny’s Cafe You’ve got nothing to say at all Half a mile down the road you’ll find a church with a steeple And on Sundays the pews are full of well-pressed beautiful people There’s a leading politician whose wife is a musician in the choir And a corporation head who is trying to get a little bit higher And the preacher pouring sermons he knows the regulars by name And if he doesn’t know you he’ll shake your hand just the same And we all love to hear it Even if we have to fake it But it would be nice if someone really cared Someone care Go spend the day down at Johnny’s Cafe All kinds of people there with plenty to say Now if Jesus were here I think we’d find Him today Down at Johnny’s Cafe
2.
It’s a narrow way this one lane road to life It’s not a super highway but they say that the traffic’s light Well I never did like crowds anyway And the company sure is nice Walking with you on a one lane road to life Well there’s another way but I chose to stay Instead of going by the broader one Over there are many voices Here there’s only one And the one I hear ringing in my ear Is the gentle voice of truth And it keeps on getting clearer ‘Cause I’ve hear it since my youth It’s a narrow way this one lane road to life It’s not a super highway but they say that the traffic’s light Well I never did like crowds anyway And the company sure is nice Walking with you on a one lane road to life Well I’d like to say it’s an easy way But if I did I’d tell a lie For the road is quite demanding And the personal price is high But the love you gain is worth all the pain And all along you glimpse the prize When you’re looking at your neighbor And you see the Savior’s eyes It’s a narrow way this one lane road to life It’s not a super highway but they say that the traffic’s light Well I never did like crowds anyway And the company sure is nice Walking with you on a one lane road to life Plenty of room on a one lane road to life
3.
There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather do than to live this moment And to live it and to know it with an open heart to you There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather sing than the song that He sent And to keep it singin’ even when I wonder what I’m goin’ through It’s easy to think it would be better if I just knew this or that But the moment I think it is a moment gone and I can never get it back There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather do than to live this moment And to live it and to know it with an open heart to you There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather sing than the song that He sent And to keep it singin’ even when I wonder what I’m goin’ through How often we hope for a new tomorrow and throw today away When there really aren’t any new tomorrows there’s just another today There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather do than to live this moment And to live it and to know it with an open heart to you There ain’t nothin’ in this world I’d rather sing than the song that He sent And to keep it singin’ even when I wonder what I’m goin’ through
4.
A deathly debut This child I never knew The blow was dealt and so deeply felt by my wife But we’re learning what it means This gift we’ve never seen For the place of death can again have the breath of life And now there’s one in heaven And another one waiting in the miracle of the womb So You’ve given and so You’ve taken It all belongs to You All Your gifts we try possessing But it never seems to do So send them round on the circle of blessing They all go back to you The hard rain it falls The same on us all And how you do depends on your point of view One man will curse, While another says It could be worse ‘Cause he lifts his cup whether full or empty to You And he knows there’s one in heaven And another one waiting in the miracle of the womb So You’ve given and so You’ve taken It all belongs to You All Your gifts we try possessing But it never seems to do So send them round on the circle of blessing They all go back to you Yes send them round on the circle of blessing They all go back to you
5.
I know an old man He sits here every day You don’t know what he holds inside But if you did you’d hear him say I fought my way through World War I And stayed for World War II I know it’s all meaningless history to you But in all my seventy-eight long years I still haven’t found the truth I am the old man There’s also a lady She pours coffee every day She likes to keep them happy here But there’s so much she needs to say My husband left two weeks ago And I don’t know what to do I know I’m not the only one And I don’t mean to bother you But after twenty years of marriage I’ve got no one to see me through I am the lady Then there’s the young man Stops in once a week He’s got all kinds of fears inside But he’s too shy to speak I just got busted by the law And I’ll have to go to jail I know you don’t really care But my old man won’t pay the bail He’s bound to disown me When he finds out I have failed I am the young man Talking faces in common places Talking faces in common places Talking faces in common places Talking faces
6.
Two hundred years ago When our nation was starting to grow Life, liberty and happiness Were the things we wanted to know But happiness became the king And took over everything And in pursuing happiness We lost the very thing that would make us blessed We lost the Lord No wonder we’re so bored We’re just a pawn in the game The West is not to be In the book of prophecy We sold our crown to the pleasure clown For an inexpensive fee And it isn’t very far From a plastic credit card To a number on your head before you can be fed a loaf of bread Keep looking to the east And watching for the beast We’re just a pawn in the game (What a shame) Many years from now I can hear them saying how America came and America went Turned under by the plow While other nations stand With orders in their hands To turn the course of time under the force of the evil one’s command We gave away the right To be a nation of the light Now we’re a pawn in the game (What a shame) Keep looking to the east And watching for the beast We’re just a pawn in the game (What a shame) And nobody can afford To not be reaching for the Lord We’re just a pawn in the game We’re just a pawn in the game (Pawn in the game what a shame) (Pawn in the game what a shame) (Pawn in the game what a shame)
7.
Well the light in the world may be dim But the light of Christ has always been He will shine Right on time And just when you think your hope is gone And you’re feeling like you can’t go on He will shine Right on time Well you can read your morning paper Catch the latest depressing news While commentators on the radio Give their own confusing views Well the light in the world may be dim But the light of Christ has always been He will shine Right on time And just when you think your hope is gone And you’re feeling like you can’t go on He will shine Right on time You can try to guess when He’s coming Check the latest prophetic whim Or simply follow that light each day That will lead you home to Him Well the light in the world may be dim But the light of Christ has always been He will shine Right on time And just when you think your hope is gone And you’re feeling like you can’t go on He will shine Right on time He will shine Right on time
8.
Hard Line 03:56
When I first started to follow you I thought it would be easy to do All the songs that I sang along gave me a rosy hue But I’m finding life a lot different Than all the sweet songs that we sing ‘Cause I learn that at every turn Your road’s the hardest thing You drive a hard, hard line Thought I’d have an easier time Oh you drive a hard line Guess I gotta change my mind I find myself loving people Who in turn are loving to me But what you ask is a greater task To love my enemy Like the one who has hurt me And cut me down to the shreds That’s the guy I’m supposed to try To love instead You drive a hard, hard line Thought I’d have an easier time Oh you drive a hard line Guess I gotta change my mind When I examine my actions My life seems decent to me But one look of lust And you say I’m thrust into adultery And if I’m hating my brother And putting him down in my head The angry thought is like a rifle shot He’s as good as dead You drive a hard hard line Thought I’d have an easier time Oh you drive a hard line Guess I gotta change my mind
9.
You ask a lot But what I quite forgot Is that You always ask for more than I can give So I’ll come back Knowing what I lack To receive the very life I need to live Blessed is the man who knows his need Blessed is the man who knows how to plead ‘Cause in the pleading he will find His pride had made him blind For by seeking the soul is satisfied And by knocking the door is opened wide You ask me more Than I’m ready for But then I’m never quite prepared to follow You So I’ll show up If you fill my cup With the very strength I need to follow through Blessed is the man who knows his need Blessed is the man who knows how to plead ‘Cause in the pleading he will find His pride had made him blind For by seeking the soul is satisfied And by knocking the door is opened wide
10.
Midnight on Main Street The shades are all drawn tight And tranquilized the daylight eyes Try to sleep away the night While out on Main Street The midnight matinee Slips into open air in the light of neon day But the Broadway pleasure seekers And the Madison Avenue sleepers All find themselves at midnight Crying out for love ‘Cause here on Main Street Everyone’s the same Midnight on Main Street Four a.m. on Main Street And the only sound Is the street cleaner coming ‘round To sweep yesterday down And I’m left standing Staring at an empty stage Wondering what lies ahead When the daylight turns the page And the players resume their places While the drama goes through a thousand paces Will I take my part or will I walk away? Morning on Main Street Who will care? Morning on Main Street

about

John’s 1979 album, “Johnny’s Cafe,” is undoubtedly his most ambitious. Light records pulled out all the stops and Clark Gassman got creative, melding complex arrangements (John’s only album with a horn section) and a variety of styles that provides lasting listening pleasure. The impeccable engineering of Jack Joseph Puig is obvious on every cut, and this version has been remastered with love by the original producer, Dan Collins.

Musically, there are flashes of Billy Joel, Steely Dan, and Stephen Bishop, but throughout, John’s lyrical balance of truth and real life provides the integrity. From the title cut, “Johnny’s Cafe,” to the “Talking Faces” inside, to “Midnight on Mainstreet” when the city shuts down, it’s a lyrical walk through the life of one man as he pulls back the curtain on life at Johnny’s and beyond. We are thrilled to be able to reintroduce you to “Johnny’s Cafe;” it’s a gem.

credits

released October 29, 2015

Produced by Dan Collins
Arranged by Clark Gassman
Engineered by Jack Joseph Puig
Drums by David Kemper
Saxophones by Don Menza
Additional guitars by Rick Vito
© 1978 by Lexicon Music, Inc.

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John Fischer Laguna Beach, California

Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist Summary
Recorded 12 albums of original music with the album, Cold Cathedral, considered to be the first Nationally released contemporary Christian recording of the decade.

Many of John’s songs are published in hymnbooks, church and camp songbooks and performed by respected artists worldwide.
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