(1976) Produced by Christian artist, session musician, and soon-to-be Grammy winning producer Michael Omartian, I’ve Got a Reason expands on Furay’s newfound faith, although without the usual ham-fisted rhetoric of a recent convert. The songs here are more about looking inward than they are about proselytizing. The banjo-kick-started rocker “Gettin’ Through,” and the opener “Look at the Sun,” makes clear Richie’s emotive tenor, along with his sense of melody and passion for the material.

Personnel

Richie Furay - vocals, guitar
John Mehler - drums
Alex McDougall – percussion
Tom Stipe – keyboards
Steve Cropper - guitar
Don Barber – banjo
Michael Omartian - keyboards, percussion, background vocals
Stormie Omartian - background vocals
Al Perkins - guitar
Jay Truax - bass, background vocals
Myrna Matthews – background vocals
Ann White – background vocals
Carolyn Willis – background vocals

Production

Michael Omartian – producer
Bill Schnee – producer

LOOK AT THE SUN

Words and Music by: Richie Furay and Tom Stipe

Look At The Sun,
Look at the way it comes down shining
Look At The Sun,
Look at the way it comes down shining

I’m just about to catch my breath,
(I’ve) been running hard all night long
Just another hour up for me
Lord, by now you’d think I’d been home

Tossed to and fro, I tumbled like a domino
Then all at once I felt my senses come around
I laughed so hard I cried, I knew my old self had died
I listened close and finally heard a sweet sound

With my back to the wall I couldn’t stand it at all
Though I knew it was easy enough just to fall – no, no
Torn inside what I wouldn’t do
With all that I know and all that is true – yes

Looks like the winds blowin’ again;
And it looks like my ship’s going sailin’ again – un-huh
So I’ll set my sights upon the course
And sing as long as I can or ‘til my throat gets hoarse

Wind on the water as cold as glass
Feeling emotions that I thought had past
Closing the distance between the line
All of the meaning it’s been defined

Look At The Sun,
Look at the way it comes down shining
Look At The Sun,
Look at the way it comes down shining

WE’LL SEE

Written by: Richie Furay

You be ready or not I’ll be going
It’s decided and that’s how it’ll be
And the seeds that are left that are sown
What they become – We’ll See

Most of my life has been makin’ – music
It came naturally
And now that the time has been taken
What it all meant – We’ll See

Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – don’t get caught in the night
Turn on the light
Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – give it all of your might
Help is in sight

Sweet bye and bye’s are forever
Ooooh what a time it will be
Mostly to find that you never
Really have known – but you’ll see

Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – don’t get caught in the night
Turn on the light
Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – give it all of your might
Help is in sight

It simply won’t do – all the things we been through
And oh, what mattered then
It’s as simple as that, if you’ll stop and look back …
You missed again, then whoops it’s the end

Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – don’t get caught in the night
Turn on the light
Ooooh ooooh, run for your life – give it all of your might
Help is in sight

STARLIGHT

Words and Music by: Richie Furay and Tom Stipe

Ooooh Starlight, starbright
First star I see tonight
Will you be the one
Who holds all of the love of my life

When morning’s come – good morning sun
You’ve out lasted everyone
And I can see what you mean to me
In what you’ve done

Oooooh, oooooh – you’re always there
To let me know that you care
And oooooh oooooh, it’s a wonder that you
Could have so much to share

Time’s getting on and I’m homeward bound
And I’ve got to let you know what I’ve found
I’m a singer of songs and I know they belong to you
All the time, everyday, I’m going all the way
You couldn’t get me to stay
Everyone sees the sun, but hey …
Oooooh my, to touch the sky

GETTING’ THROUGH

Words and Music by: Richie Furay and Tom Stipe

If it’s comin’ through quite clearly, like the sun in a clouded sky
If it’s comin’ through to you don’t let it ride
Many times I’ve seen it happen, many times then slip away
Someone’s looking for tomorrow and forgets about today
There’s a story in the song, you can get a feelin’ to belong
Let’ get on

All the times you’ve heard the music, all the times it moved your soul
And you found yourself believin’ in rock and roll
There is music here for certain, there’s enough and maybe more
And I’ll let you know a secret, it’s for you and that’s for sure
Like an arrow straight and true, there ain’t nothin’ you can do
When the sight’s on you

Am I Getting’ Through – is it enough that you just make do
Are you satisfied to drift with the tide
Is it takin’ hold, well – whatever else now you’ve been told
And you’re long over due; am I Getting’ Through

Like the dawn out in the desert, you can’t make the darkness stay
Or live within a shadow tryin’ to keep the light away
Like an arrow straight and true, there ain’t nothin’ you can do
When the sight’s on you

I’VE GOT A REASON

Written by: Richie Furay

Been a child in my life, a child in my dreams
It seemed forever that I’d get a hold of myself inbetween
Nothin’ for certain, at least it seemed so anyway
And I was a wonderin’ – what I would become or what may

Music was my life and finally took everything
Ain’t it funny how you got it all and not a thing
(it’s a gift I can sing)

(And) I’ve Got A Reason for living each day
(And) I’ve Got A Reason for makin’ it pay
If it’s only for a moment and only my way
I’ve Got A Reason, a time and a season

Oooooh I was takin’ it for granted a little more than I should
I had it easy, uummm – was life ever doin’ me good
I had it all written how the story would end
But I ran out of pages and I was left all alone with the pen

The story’s still got a line, the song’ll still rhyme
The names are the same – they’re yours and they’re mine
(I guess you knew it all the time)

(And) I’ve Got A Reason for living each day
(And) I’ve Got A Reason for makin’ it pay
If it’s only for a moment and only my way
I’ve Got A Reason, a time and a season

MIGHTY MAKER

Written by: Richie Furay

Mighty Maker You gotta take her
And tell her just how I feel
I am broken hearted and since we parted
Only You can reveal

The truth in our love that we stopped short of
And changed the course in mid-stream
It just can’t be over, the devil drove her
Away from me and our dream

It ain’t right, no it’s torturing me
And there’s been too many nights like this You can see
It ain’t right, it just couldn’t be
I give You my life – set me free

Maybe there’s a rainbow somewhere in the sky
Touching down, right to the ground – telling me why
I’m seeing blues – the strangest of hues
Still they’re just blues
When I need some love I will look to above and …

I will sing my song to Whom I belong
And trust in You as I go
It’s just an open prayer because I still care
And feel the Someone should know

YOU’RE THE ONE I LOVE

Written by: Richie Furay

Giving it up I can see that it’s better than my way
The stars’ll be brighter, the nighttime lighter someday
You’ve got a plan and I’m makin’ a stand when I say
Giving it up I can see it’s a better way

Seein’ it through when all I could do was just wait
Was hard at the time but I knew she was mine, no mistake
Down to the wire, would our love expire in hate
Seein’ it through all I could do was wait

Oooooh yeah, how did you know and oh why I couldn’t see
Oooooh yeah, it just goes to show – it’s You and not me

Ah, You’re The One I Love
You’re the one I need
Catch a star that’s shinin’ bright
You’re The One I Love

STILL ROLLING STONES

Written by: Richie Furay

Sure tested, sure tried
Makin’ my way stuffed full of pride, un-huh
But who’ll contest it and who’ll deny
Even the fool himself’s gonna die, un-huh
If I step on your toes
Well God only knows I’m polite
But I can’t sing this song
And half way belong and feel right

Read the papers – enough ‘til you find
The devil’s a liar, the worst of his kind
So subtle, always disguised
And never the one in the end with the prize
At first it’s alright
But then it’s your life in a sigh
While you’re still rolling stones
I’m going home – good bye

The truth shakes him, his lies breaks him
And oh, Darling there’s no one that should
Be mistaken, he’s forsaken
And how’s he’s wishing that everyone would, be

OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Words and Music by: Richie Furay and Tom Stipe

Standin’ upon this feeling – Over and Over Again
And little did I know
Written upon the ceiling – Over and Over Again
Were things to come, but slow
Slowly, take your time don’t stumble and run
Slowly, The night has a callin’ but the morning will come

Dancing with a stranger – Over and Over Again
But it’s never quite complete
When the moon don’t shine exchange her and Over and Over Again
You’ve tasted bittersweet
Sweeter, sweeter than honey, sweeter than wine
Sweeter, Living Water taste it and find
The answer

You keep draggin’ along like you never belonged
And it’s dark – as in night, I’ll just have to invite you
Ah, I wish you were here, am I makin’ it clear
Come on and make it today, it ain’t worth it to stay
It’ll cost more if you pay, you’re just a step away
Down to nothin’ and where did it go
Wasted away, you played the sideshow
Ain’t it time that you faced it, ‘stead of lettin’ it go

As the clouds begin to gather, Over and Over Again
The mystery will unfold
And as you touch what really matters, Over and Over Again
All that glitters won’t be gold
Golden, gold and silver – ashes and dust
Golden, Look to the Wind to know what you must
The answer