Kicking The Wall

Making up for lost hours to work
A silver mirror in the morning sun with the light from County Clare
A soft breeze stirs, gentle laps against the beach
A briskly stride down the prom that puts you right in reach
 
I’m standing on top of a mountain
Looking at little cities
You’re as close as you’re going to get to a Heaven on this earth.
 
Kicking the Wall
 
Children play in the brilliant summer’s day
The elderly content with all their family
The smell of love that drifts across the bay
Holidaymakers, vacationers, in a town where the sun always goes down.
 
I’m standing on top of a mountain
Looking at little cities
You’re as close as you’re going to get to a Heaven on this earth.
 
Kicking the Wall
 
Darkness gathers with high tide and full moon sky
Moonlit shadows of young love with nothing to hide
A pilgrim to some yet a home to one and all
A walk down the prom is my beckon call
 
I’m standing on top of a mountain
Looking at little cities
You’re as close as you’re going to get to a Heaven on this earth.
 
Kicking the Wall
 

Breathe Deep Now

It’s Friday evening
I pick you up, cell phone ringing
She puts her hand on yours
An indescribable feeling
 
And then I tell you “I love you”
But words can only say so much
 
And then you tell me “I love you”
And I know that everything will be okay
 
It’s 3 a.m. and I wait until you get in
Can’t wait to call you
But you call first to say “Thank you”
An indescribable feeling
 
And then I tell you “I love you”
But words can only say so much
And then you tell me “I love you”
And I know that everything will be okay
 
The looking is over
What was right for you now burns
We both can breathe deep now
You’re right for each other
So ask the four big words
Don’t waste another day
 
Just 28 years old
A love life filled with joy and happiness
You look at me and wonder, “what’s going on in your head?”
Well baby, there’s no need to doubt anymore
 
And then I tell you “I love you”
But words can only say so much
And then you tell me “I love you”
And I know that everything will be all right
 

Let Me In

Let me in
Through the door that used to open once before
To a room that’s so familiar I crave it more
I’m looking through the glass like years before
 
Take me back
To a past that’s reconstructed in my head
To a life that we once had but now is dead
Turn the knob to a world that you once had
 
I don’t hold the key
When I need you and you don’t need me
Locked out is a lost place to be
Come back - return to me
 
Turn me in
To the man I never knew I could possess
In an imaginary state of happiness
 
Numb to a world that could care less
 
Turn me on
To the dream that we once had but now is gone
Holding on to something not for long
Reaching out to you in this song
 
I don’t hold the key
When I need you and you don’t need me
Locked out is a lost place to be
Come back - return to me
 
And I can’t win
And I can’t win
 
Let me in
Through the door that used to open once before
Take me to a past I can’t ignore
Turn the knob to a world like years before
 
I don’t hold the key
When I need you and you don’t need me
Locked out is a lost place to be
Come back - return to me
 
And I can’t win
And I can’t win
And I never win
 

The Little Things

I try and I try but I long too much
For a love I don’t have so I’ve given up
It’s me against you trying to make it through
This thing that was never meant to be true
 
Run away
 
It’s the little things that make you smile
Talking on the phone for a while
Even if we have nothing to say
Your voice seems to brighten my worst day
 
For why? I can’t possible know
And I can’t compare this love to anything
 
We’ve lied and we’ve lied to ourselves too long
We can’t keep this up our front is gone
When you want to settle down let me know
Until then I’ll keep moving on
 
Run away
 
The little things make life worthwhile
When you stop and look at me to smile
Even though you have nothing to say
Your soul seems to brighten my worst day
 
For why? I can’t possibly know
And I can’t compare this love to anything
 
The time has come the end is near
Your side of the line’s now more sincere
‘Till death do us part rings in my head
Until then I’ll keep holding on
 
Hold on
 

It’s Been A Long Time Coming

It’s been a long time coming
But I see clearly ahead
There was a holding pattern
Now it’s all sorted in my head
 
So how do I thank you?
And how do I thank you?
 
It’s been a long time coming
Lost sight of what was right
Traveled down the wrong road
With my goals still in sight
 
So how do I thank you?
And how do I thank you?
 
It’s been a long time coming
But you finally straightened me out
You were my compass when I drifted
My only sanity in doubt
 
So how do I thank you?
And how do I thank you?
 
Be careful what you wish for
It just might come true
 

Surrender

Lately I’ve been feeling like no one’s around
They tell me what goes around comes around
 
I’m waiving my white flag
 
Surrender
 
When you want to give in
And your outlook is bleak
Don’t stand your ground
Concede
Give up
Abandon your post
 
Surrender
 
And love
And love
And love
 
Surrender
 
I’m waiving my white flag
 

How Do I Repay You?

I feel resuscitated, restored, radiated
A revelation, a restoration in my head
How do I repay you?
 
Life’s much too complicated, replaced and agitated
Resound in your celebration; clap your hands in jubilation
How do I repay you?
 
Rejoice and renew me
 
Euphoric to be liberated
Imprisoned but now vindicated
Once close to annihilation
A symbol of my procreation
How do I repay you?
 
Stir crazy in appreciation
Set free without navigation
On course with no destination
I feel it’s my obligation
How do I repay you?
 
Rejoice and renew me
 
You won’t find love but love will find you
 
I feel it’s my destiny
 
Open road set me free
Your reinvention
A token of my appreciation
How do I repay you?
 
Rejoice and renew me
 

Love’s Hard To Come By

Love, it’s hard to come by
Even when it passes you by
Love, it’s hard to come by
Girl, I’ll keep walking tonight
 
So I’m standing here right before you
Rain falls soft upon my cheek
And I wait for your return
Week by lonely week
 
And I won't be coming back
for a long time
And I won't be turning back
for a long, lonely time
 
Love, it’s hard to come by
Even when it passes you by
Love, it’s hard to come by
Girl, I’ll keep walking tonight
 
And I won’t be running back
for a long, time
And I won't be turning back
for a long, lonely time
 

Musicians featured on
"This Unsettled Life".

Aside from singing, playing guitar, piano and mandolin on “This Unsettled Life” Jack is joined by some of Chicago’s most accomplished musicians.

James Conway started his musical journey by playing the Irish tin whistle which can be heard on the first track Kicking the Wall. James is also a master on the harmonica. His work can be heard on Long Time Coming. James released his solo album called Mouth Box in 2002. He currently plays with a local traditional Irish ensemble called “The Sprigs.”

Barret Harvey is a drummer extraordinaire. He can be heard on most of the tracks throughout the recording. When not sleeping with his snare drum he plays in the band Burn Rome Burn with his fiancé Aoife. Barret is a Yamaha endorsed artist.

Jackie Moran has been a staple in the Irish music scene since he was a wee lad. Jackie plays bodhran and percussion on tracks Kicking the Wall and The Little Things. He currently plays with the group Gan Bua and his resume is as long as River Liffey.

Last but not least, Aidan O’Toole. Besides playing bass on all of the tracks on This Unsettled Life, Aidan produced, recorded and mixed the entire album. When not playing with Anish(his solo project), The Trinity Irish Dancers or with the Muck Brothers, Aidan dabbles in his home studio Dirty Dish Records.

 

"This Unsettled Life"

The debut album from Jack Callahan is available now at CDbaby.

Feel free to preview the disc by clicking on the left for sound clips and lyrics.