Just when you think the year is a bust
Something comes your way
A gingko leaf, a different color
As if it wants to say

"Don't worry, there's still hope"
Like grapes on the harvest vine
There aren't as many as last year
But what there is is extra fine

Quantity can be over rated
Quality never is
Just when we think there is no more 
We find what we've dismissed

Chorus
Its not a problem
But an opportunity
Open your squinty eyes
You'll see what I mean

Its been a weird year. Not a bad year, just one where things didn’t turn out as planned or expected.

In several cases, what seemed like a curse was more a blessing or “just as good, but different”.

When I had surgery last May my goal was to be able to go hiking near Bend, Oregon, where we saw the best fall colors we’ve ever seen out west. Due to fires, we switched our trip to Mammoth and it was awesome. Too early for fall colors, but the high sierra hiking and Bodie were spectacular.

Just when I was resigned that this years fall colors would be a bust, I saw that our gingko tree had orange-ish leaves instead of yellow. That is a first, and one had blown to the back deck where I was sitting, hence the lyrics to this song.

There were other health problems in my family, but this “leaf parable” speaks volumes and is more universal.

One fall dewy morning
In my camera did appear
All Fall colors in one small plant
Filled my heart with cheer

Tobacco burst 
Flamed guitars
My favorite colors
They're set apart

The color is so warm
Cooled by morning dew
Colliding gorgeous beauty
These moments precious and few

Like tall soldiers
Protecting their side
They've dropped their leaves
It was their time

Soon enough 
The leaves final dance
During this Autumns
Colorful romance

The northern winds 
Will then come in
Winter snow
Will fall again

After the gold rush
And the harvest
A long winters nap
A holiday fest

Tis marking time
This cycle of fall
The colors are splendid
We're having a ball

Soon its next year
We'll start this again
Winter, Spring, Summer
Then Fall at the end

Rich as a Rockefeller
He's such a smart feller
He knows all that glitters is not gold
At least this I've been told

I feel sorry for he
His commode is gold where he pees
He has no clue about love
Or the planets and stars up above

He is the fool on the hill
His life has been Built to Spill
If I were him I would bail
To avoid yet another lifes' fail