What if a song could linger on the page long after the melody fades?

In Timepieces Selected Lyrics, Canadian folk artist Howard Gladstone offers more than just a collection of lyrics he invites us into a reflective, intimate world where music and poetry intertwine. Spanning over two decades of songwriting, this book isn’t just for fans of folk music. It’s for anyone who believes in the lasting power of words.

Whether you read it with headphones on, or in quiet solitude with a cup of tea, Timepieces hits a rare chord: song lyrics that read like poetry, yet feel like home.

A Songwriter Who Writes Like a Poet

Howard Gladstone isn’t trying to impress you with cleverness. His gift lies in honesty, restraint, and depth. He doesn’t overwrite he reveals.

Take a line from “The Breath in the Wind”:

“The breath in the wind / is the breath in the song / is the breath that unfolds / the life that rolls on.”

That’s not just a lyric. That’s something you’d find scribbled in the margins of your favorite poetry collection. The kind of line you carry with you.

Gladstone writes with the soul of a poet and the instincts of a musician. He knows when to speak and when to leave space. And that’s what makes Timepieces so rich it invites you in, rather than performs for you.

Not Just a Book of Lyrics A Life in Chapters

The book is organized by album, from Sunflowers Light the Room (2002) to Crazy Talk (2024), and each section feels like a chapter in a larger life story.

You’ll journey through:

• Love and loss without cliché
• Reflections on aging, time, and resilience
• Political commentary that’s poetic, not preachy
• A sense of place from New Orleans to Toronto to the Delta

It reads like a memoir in verse. Except every chapter was once a song.

Why This Book Feels Important Right Now

In an era of algorithm driven music and forgettable hooks, Timepieces reminds us that songs used to be stories. They used to mean something. This book gives voice to that tradition.

Gladstone’s work is rooted in folk music’s greatest promise: to tell the truth, simply and beautifully.

And in a time where attention spans are thin, this is a book that rewards you for slowing down. For listening. For reading between the lines.

Standout Pieces You’ll Want to Revisit

• “Healing Hands” A soul-soothing song about empathy in a fractured world. It feels like a hymn for the times we’re living in.
• “Down to Earth” A love song without syrup or spectacle just warmth, humility, and gratitude.
• “Tammy (The Wheels of Justice)” A haunting real-life ballad about wrongful conviction and systemic failure, told with sharp focus and heart.
• “The Road Is Me” A reflective anthem for anyone who’s ever wrestled with purpose, aging, or the simple act of moving forward.

For Writers, Musicians, and Dreamers Alike

If you’re a songwriter, Timepieces is a masterclass in less-is-more lyricism. If you’re a poet, you’ll appreciate the form and flow. And if you’re a casual reader who loves a well-told story you’re in for something rare.

This isn’t just a companion to Gladstone’s albums. It stands alone as literature. And that’s a bold statement but one this book earns, page after page.

Final Thoughts: A Quiet Masterpiece

There are books you read once and forget. And then there are books like Timepieces quiet, humble, and profoundly human. It doesn’t scream for attention. It simply speaks the truth, beautifully.

Howard Gladstone has created something lasting here. And in a noisy world, that’s no small feat.

Where to Find It

Timepieces Selected Lyrics is available now in print and digital editions.
You can also stream his music across all major platforms or better yet, pair the book with the albums for a full sensory experience.

TL; DR?
Timepieces is more than a lyric book. It’s a love letter to storytelling, a celebration of songwriting, and a reminder that the best art doesn’t shout. It whispers. And you’ll want to lean in close.