JODY CARROLL
"He does not play the blues so much as he inhabits them..." No Depression
All songs by Jody carroll Copyright
Thahaylia Music 2011 - 2023
Get inside this house
There used to be some flowers next to the dirt road
But now there's just a fence and a broken down old Ford
Smiles turn to straight lines and the town burns its boards
I heard a mailman start to growl
Get in this house
Oh baby..
Get inside this house
Don't play in the front yard and don't talk to that old man
Don't take a short walk down to the produce stand
Our times have rearranged why don't you understand
That it's a game of cat and mouse
Get inside this house
Oh baby get inside this house
Under the shade of cars something creeping slow
Might be looking for you could they already know
Clean off that summer roof and tighten up for the squall
Put on your pants and pull down that blouse
Get inside this house
Oh baby get inside this house
Cold gloom it falls on the old window pane
Go unlock the Dogs and pray for a little more rain
I know that it's out there somewhere watching and waiting looking at me
Just like the devil It lurks and it prowls
Get inside this house
I heard that it's coming now and your the same as me
Hide all your money man and your foolish destiny
Bind up them floors and break down the plow
Break down that plow
Get inside the house
I said now get inside this house
Shine up your big guns point em at the door
Your friends are all gone now that's what that t.v is for
Don't trust that phone call good luck and all that it will allow
Get inside this house
I said now get inside this house
Get inside this house
You better get in quick
Get inside baby
Drop all that stuff
Get in here now
lock the door
Grab the kids
It's all over now
Things have changed
Times have rearranged
Get inside this house
Dead Man’s Hand
Wild Bill went up to Deadwood and he took his 44
told his friends that he was going to die there
he was standing at death's door
.. standing at death's door
Well the door flew open slowly he’d walk the streets at night
Looking for a card game or maybe a red dirt gun fight
... standing at death's door
Back when he was young folks from all around
They would fear his name every time he’d come into they’re town
.. standing at death's door
All those people up in Deadwood they could a cared less
For some retired old sharp shooting mess
.. standing at death's door
Because up here in Deadwood everybody’s got their toll
If the devil don’t want you man then you have nowhere left to go
.. standing at death's door
For many miles and days he sunk into a haze
Looking for an easy way
to die before his day
.. standing at death's door
Well I came here to find some money a Little gold from these dry lands
That's when I saw old wild Bill walking the street slow at hand
.. standing at death's door
The number 10 saloon It was open way too soon
His back turned to the door and he failed to turn around
.. Aces & Eights fell down
On to California
Under shadows left hiding in the weeds.
Snakes and wind roll around the bone dry ground
Down on the corner where he used to stand
with his compass in hand
Looking out upon no man’s land
The Air is made of frayed memories cost
What they could not take they surly lost
Piles of old dreams cast out on the streets
No left one to revive them anymore, close the door
So, If you need a tire for the long dry miles
Or a tornado to drive you out
Well , The desert wind is always waiting to pull you on
On to California
To California
Was he tired of waiting there all alone
His family gone’ Lost his only home
Pulled up his boots and took off down the road
With a heavy heart and a heavy load of his own
No one came to help them on they’re way
No one gave a heck about that lonely place anyway
Take the homes and glean the marrow from the clay
Can you hear that old record play, for another day
Chorus
Kicking dirt devils down old church road
No one sings about heaven round here anymore
Hard to hear god out in the dust of wind
Maybe it's been too long - So so long..
Chorus
Scrap Iron Pete Blues
Scrap Iron Pete was a good friend of mine
Scrap Iron Pete was a good friend of mine
I never shook his hand
But he’s forever on my mind
In the territory of the forsaken soul
Dig into the dead clay and scrap metal hole
Dust over his time and rocks under head
Sleep until tomorrow comes pardon denied again
Old blood on his tires and either floating through the air
Trapped in Angola prison where nobody cares
The birds lift up his song and love falls from his eyes
They said that he murdered a man, but that was just a lie
Chorus
Up on the hill looking down on the wall
Sing out to his family and try not to fall
Desire and sorrow his time just a memory
Wait until tomorrow comes for his lost destiny
He was a good man all would agree
10000 people watch as he floats away free
Scrap iron money and a cold room to stay
Looks like he finally found a place for his tired head to lay
Chorus
The Mercy is in the Money
Did you lose your place in line
Did you give a roosevelt dime
Well the mercy is in the money
Every time
The banker told the farmer
You better grow yourself a home
Because there ain't no business in friendliness
From here on your on your own
Ol' John the merry maker
He closed down the new grange hall
While miss adaline began to climb
The vine of lies so tall
Chorus
Every man dies for his land
As far as providence will lend a hand
But when the wind turns
Will the engine burn on the vapors left in the sand
I’ll meet you brother up in glory
But lord it will cost you plenty
That cold dream of blood
Is on the plank
Chorus
Churches Bars & Liquor Stores
I walked down to the corner bar just to find myself a friend
But all I ended up with boys was a troubled mind again
Church up on the high hill temptation down below
I’m so tired of waiting around here to die into the hallow I’m gonna go
From buffalo valley we ran the shine to the new Mexico line
The preacher said your gonna fall into a dark life of crime
My father said boy you better turn around and bring yourself back home
A drunken man can't understand till the dirt covers his bones
Churches, Bar’s and Liquor Stores far as the eye can see
They’ll wrap you up in trouble while your just trying to set your soul free
All my brothers lent a hand so rich and happy we’ll be
Gonna get ourselves that piece of land so happy we could not see
Till that federal man with a gun in hand came a rapping at my door
Set my feet down on the state line lord I’m not happy any more
I told my wife and child goodbye I’ll call you when I can
Send you a little money just to hold you in my arms again
Through angel town I walked straight on a friend I could not find
Made my way up to the bay to that cold black diamond mine
Chorus
In the shadow of that mountain that's where I’d make my stand
But temptation lays waste of men and turns them into sand
I thought it might be different but only pain and crosses high
Whiskey from the bottle boys until the very day I die
Chorus
\
County Jail Blues
When I wake up from this dream
I’ll be the fastest thing you’ve ever see
Gonna hit the road and roll far away from here
No sympathy can set me straight no
That big old world will just have to wait
Counting my time with every drop of tear
Stuck in the county jail Lord I'm mad as hell
Doing this time cause i lost my mind
And If I’d a known what could go wrong
Man it wouldn’t a taken me very long
To hit the road and leave this place behind
Ohh… leave this place behind
Time will tell if the judge is right
As i lay awake dreaming... every night
of that good woman waiting for me back at home
Now I can hear the warden bawlin
As I lay pineing in my cell
I can hear the wind squall beyond the wall
Chorus
Wake up boys you know where it’s at
You got ten minutes to eat
then you get yourself back
Back in your hole like a mountain mole
Then you better dig on down
and do just what you're told
Chorus
Now boy’s remember this
Or good times you’ll surely miss
The sunny side is the only road to ever know
Stay away from trouble and strife
Cause sure as hell it will steal your life
And sink you down into the dark dirt below
Chorus
Dead Man’s Shoes
I walk in dead man's shoes
Nowhere to go and nothing to lose
I walk in dead man's shoes
I got the walking dead blues
Here I am before you today
My road is dark, but I’ve found another way
I walk in dead man's shoes back to you
Bury me down those flames of old
I throw down all jokers, silver and gold
These shoes are made of mud, rust and pain
The soles are filled with hurricanes
And with every step I spell my name
I walk in dead man's shoes back to you
I walk in dead man's shoes
Lord I got the walking blues
Slowly i’ve been sinking down
I walk in dead man's shoes
I got the walking dead blues
Searching for my starry crown
Dig a little deeper down in the well
Dark as night and cold as hell
I’ve been on this road many times before it’s true
I’m kicking on down this shotgun door
Closing down the liquor store
I walk in dead man's shoes back to you
Chorus
Long Gone Blues
Long Gone - Long gone
I'm just a poor boy who knows he's done wrong
this train I'm on
This train I'm on
Is long gone
When I left the station, the night was made of rain
Cold chill heart, I hear you call my name
All that I had trusted, has turned its back on me
No one left here to worry, lord this world is killing me
Chorus
I worked on the water and even worked out on the farm
But all I have to show is this a muscle here on my arm
Too much going up, not enough coming back down
Hard luck loves trouble so it's time to leave this town
Chorus
When I was a young man I thought that I knew it all
But now I’m here on this long gone train
With nothing left to haul
She could of up a told me a little more just a let me know
That things had up and changed before I had to get up and go
Chorus
New Way of Livin
From the days of my youth to a world gone wrong
I musta thought the past was long dead and gone
Cause this new way of livin is kill’n me
What about back in 1910 when they lied to the women just like the me
It don’t take a fool to see that we’re right back there again
Cause this new way of livin is killin me
This new way of living is kill’n me
Good lord -
It's got me down on my bending knees
Good lord -
I tell ya this new way of living is kill’n me
Good lord -
I just wish that this cruel world would leave me be
Don’t sell me the future while your livin in the past
Give me something old boy something that will last
Cause this new way of livin is kill’n me
Storm out on the ocean - storm out on the sea
I tell ya this new way of livin boys Is getting old to me
Cause this new way of livin is kill’n me
Chorus
Go tell Buffalo bill that the good ol’ days are on the run
Go tell ol’ Joe Hill that change has yet to come
Cause this new way of livin is kill’n me
Wish I was in up Memphis standing on Beal and Main
Instead I’m down in Mobile town sweat’n in the pouring rain
And this new way of livin is kill’n me
Chorus
Bog Dog Blues
I had a bog dog that old dog was so good to me
I had a bog dog that old dog was so good to me
He came up from the swamp here he comes
Running jumping, happy, muddy and free
Ya he was a good friend of mine
As only that Bog Dog knew just how to be
Golden apparition lazy dog on fire
Weaving through the breeze
He’s a hunter like no other
Little tired rabbits running through the cottonwood trees
Finds me when he needs me only to leave me when he please
He was a good ol’ friend of mine
As only he knew how to be
Chorus
Digging down to china for a bone
and brings it back home Lord before supper time
Swimming in that creek like he grew some gills
Bringing back a frog to bury down in his hill
Watches me when I spark my evening coal
Gonna chew my boots down to my soul
Cause he’s a good ol’ dog
Chorus
Till he stayed too long out in that field
Where the farmers poison dwells
Left for the racoons, crows and all their evil buddies not for my dog no
I buried him in a hole in that hole
So he could chew on them bones all day long
He was good ol’ friend of mine and he’s been gone for way too long
Chorus
Can You Hear that Hammer Ring
John henry
was a steel drivin man
From deep down in the ground
You could hear him digging in
When he was a baby boy
He said ma I want to be a man
So I can fight that evil machine
Using my own hands
She said man is made of earth boy,
Blood, soul and bone
So take this hammer with ya
You'll be the greatest - this worlds even known
Oh.........can you can hear that hammer ring
(Hear that hammer ring)
Oh.........can you can hear that hammer ring
(Hear that hammer ring)
He said I ain't going to wait
For my pie up in the sky
I'm gonna beat that steam drill down
Swing this hammer till the day I die
He tunneled under every mountain
Even under the deep blue sea
He was a steel driving man
And his name was John Henry!
CHORUS
He said, I'm no machine no
and I refuse be a slave
I'll beat that steam drill down
Before they put me down in my grave
Now the moral of this story
Is don't be a modern fool
Turn off that fancy machine
And go find yourself a good mule
CHORUS
Grand Ol’ Opry in the Sky
I dreamt of a place up in the starry sky
Where all those friends from days of old
They gathered to laugh and cry
And began to sing as they did fly
Up to the Grand Ol’ Opry in the Sky
I saw uncle Dave Macon
Riding high upon the hog
Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe and even Charlie Pool
They were singing about the law and life
Whiskey - Love - Betrayal and strife
Up at the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
In the sky
In the sky
Up at the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
Oh how they did sing as they did fly
Off to the sweet bye and bye…
Up at the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
Oh Mr. Williams and Mrs. Cline
Your forever on our minds
And hats off to Minnie pearl as she floats by
Mother Maybelle she led the way
While John and June held hands all day
Up at the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
Old George and grandpa jones
They were humming soft and low
That chorus of forever it began to grow
Yes that sun did brightly shine
And everybody fell right in line
Up at the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
Chorus
The circle is not broken
And the true vine will never die
Up At the Grand Ole' Opry in the Sky
It wraps around us all
So that we can never fall
From the Grand Ol' Opry in the Sky
But when I woke back up
And I turned the radio on
To my surprise all I heard
Was something that in my mind
Was nothing but a low down crime
Up at the Grand Ole' Opry in the Sky
Chorus
Moon Shine
Up in Carolina where the old river rolls
Older than the rocks and older than the bones
The mountain blues have nothing to lose
You can build your own road If you pay your own dues
Well you can pay em on time across the state line’
Then you’ll be in Tennessee where they make the ol’ moonshine
Moonshine it’s light up your mind, but it’s dark as a dungeon
Down in a box of pine
Box of pine filled with good moonshine
One for a nickel - two for a dime
If you take a drink buddy you’ll be singing all the time
Up on sugar mountain losing your mind
Moonshine it’ll light up your mind
But it’s dark as a dungeon down in a box of pine
One for a nickel - two for a dime
If you want to get to sugar mountain
You gotta lose your mind
I heard tell there’s a place you gotta see
You can get so high
You can walk across the sea
Float through the sky with a gleam in your eye
But first you gotta find some good moonshine
Now there's a rock on the right
Right side of the road
And under that rock
There’s an old jaw bone
Under that bone
You can lay your dollar down
Come back in ten minutes
And break it on down
Chorus
Midnight Son
Oh my dear midnight son
Radiant eyes of one
Your beauty's gravity
It pulls up and over me
I am free
Into green velvet shade
Deep blue tides of summer's rain
Waves of other waves
Crash into the breath of day
We are babes
Oh my dear midnight son
Radiant eyes of one
Your beauty's gravity
It pulls up and over me
I am free
Hard Times in the Valley
Come you ladies and you gentlemen and listen to my song
You may think it's right or maybe I got it all wrong
It’s about a little town that you don't know very well
It used to have a big river but now it's dry as hell
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town
Look at all the flowers is what she used to say
Now she prays for rain a dark cloudy day
To wash away her troubles from the yard where they used to play
All those little dreams swept far away
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town
Great grandfather bones and the devil's got our home
Dust is on the table and rust is waiting on the phone
A little bit of rain would shine brighter than gold
Tell ya If I was a dove I'd lead us all home
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town
One day it just stopped the well had run dry
My brother he got sick and she changed on that day he died
We can't bury him here no the wind will blow him away
Tell me How will somebody else think about this place some day
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town
So it's over the hills and down the wrong way
she moved into a room where she still waits today
Shes is Staring out the window out to the concrete yard
I'd go and see her there but it's too too damn hard
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town
Well its ashes to ashes and dust to dust…..
It's s hard times in the valley
East of Angel town.
Mountains in my Way
These mountains in my way
They're so high today
They’re just passing away
Something lost back in time
And If i had you in my lovin arms
could i hold you real close
My words would let you know
Something upon my worried mind
All those miles that i followed
They brought me back to you
Your eyes fly like swallows
Singing soft and blue-
Chorus
I don't want no more whiskey wine or gin
No reason to fall again
Just your loving sweet ways
To remind me where we've been.
I don't have no cause to move along
No reason to get far gone
Lost In some sad country song
When you are near
Chorus
Crow Time
Drunk as my horse sick as my dog
but I can still hear that Old river roll
These are the only bones that I’ve ever know
So why would I ever let them go
Cause I got a devil of a chance as far as I can tell
But I think I’ll pull it over for a little spell
And you know that I would If I only could
Fire up this engine on whiskey wine and wood
I’m rough as this road
Please tell my mother for me
I’m living down at the bottom of the sea
It’s crow time now and I’m facing north
Blue sky is all I can see
Go tell Louisiana Red that I heard every word he said
He said Stella in the morning and breakfast in bed
The train I ride, Is leaving here soon
And if I miss the call buddy you can have my room
So lay me down a palette on the floor
And in the early morning light I’ll slip right out the door
I can hear that old river roll
With the crows I’ll turn back to stone
Chorus
Because I remember these eyes back when they were young
But now I can’t see back to where it all begun
So don’t miss the ferry and don’t get yourself buried
Better get ready for the big jubilee
Chorus
Cold Fall
Everything I have is old and broken
I’m gonna dig up a new crime
Maybe I’ll call back to Paris
Take a cold fall and leave it all behind
Breaking time like an ol’ lead tree
Cold fall into the wide open sea
Will you walk right back into the room again
Maybe then all these towers would fall
All desire’s cost within the lion’s den
Lord send me an angel to let me know
Breaking time like a Ol’ lead tree
Cold fall into the wide open sea
Through this broken window
Like a feather I can easily fly
All the way down to port chicago
To the line where I lose my mind
Breaking time like a Ol’ lead tree
Cold fall into the wide open sea
My blues fill my cup
I’ve read the wall way too many times to cry
In the night your can give it up
Rolling down the mountain as stoned as blind
Breaking time like a Ol’ lead tree
Cold fall into the wide open sea
Lazy old River
Swimming in that Lazy old river.
It's been waiting down there forever
Within the warm glow of summer Time
Passing time under the San Joaquin bridge
When I was young I held no worry
Had no pain to show me how
Had a good mother and a father
But they're so far away.. from me now
CHORUS
Well it's such a lonesome feelin'
When your staring up at the ceilin'
To dark for any healn'
Left to dream all alone
CHORUS
When your off to someplace you’ve never been
Where There’s no returning to back there again
Can you see it in your telescope dreams
Far beyond the dotted line
CHORUS
I like to Talk About You
Took a walk down to the water
Put my feet down in the sand
Rivers like to sing about oceans
And oceans like to sing about dry land
Farmers like to talk about dirt roads
Bankers like to scream about gold
Liar’s whisper about justice
And fools like to talk about what they’ve been sold
But I like to talk about you girl
I like to talk about you
I'd like to talk about love
The way that i love you
I heard somebody talk about yesterday
Tomorrow it will be today
That T.V’s squawking about insanity
It’s crazy how they talk that way
Children like to laugh about everything
And dog’s like to bark at the moon
Preacher’s like to shout about heaven
When they’ll be eating from a silver spoon
Chorus
Sweet as summer wine
Keeps me drunk all the time
And at the end of the day when you say Whats new?
I just want to talk about you
Chorus
Without You Near
Well it drives me to drink
Every time I think
About the way you use that smile
And I remember that day
When you first walked my way
And turned my heart like a radio dial
But now that you're gone
Every station that I'm on
Has got me crying like a baby child
Sitting here without you near
I hear the bartender say no
Poor boy you gotta go
Down that dusty lonely road
But tomorrow you can stay
Right there all day
Until then adios my friend
So now that you’re gone
Every bar stool that I’m on
Has got me crying like a baby child
Sitting here without you near
All my friends they say to me
Buddy now you are free
To move on once again
But this new moons so blue
Without me and you
To talk about where we’ve been
And now that you're gone
This rock that I’m on
Has got me crying like a baby child
Sitting here without you near
Sitting here without you near
Alabama took my baby
Alabama took my baby
My baby took her heart from me
So I think I’ll head back home
And leave Alabama be
Maybe make a stop in ol’ Tennessee
See if Nashville remembers me..
And let that cool Cumberland water
Wash away her memory
And let that cool Cumberland water
Wash away her memory
In a field down by that river
My love and i once did stand
And upon my leaning shoulder
She laid across her sweet hand
We planned to take life easy
And cherish all the coming years…..
Lord But I was such a fool back then
Now my eyes are filled with only tears
Chorus
Tell me when is a saint a sinner
Or a fool a work of art
My used to be something special and i
Lord we had a change of heart
I woke up to find
That nothing is what it seems
And the only way to get close to her
Is to find her in my dreams
Chorus
Jimmie Rodger’s Train
Got dropped off in the valley
Took some time to walk the tracks
Made my way down to the station
Found my seat and laid my head back
Woke up in Asheville
Waitin on that Norfolk train
I could hear that yodel in the pines
Calling out my name
Waiting on Jimmie Rodgers Train
Smoke and ash falling down
Waiting on Jimmie Rodgers Train
To take me far away .from this town
Take me far away …. From this town
I can feel the them steel wheels hummin
They say It’s better on down the road
People tell ya that they understand
Just before they tell you ya gotta to go
Coal mind and an easy hand
I’m a Rollin down the long rail line
Leaving now and ain't ever coming back
The bridge is burning in my mind
Chorus
Bridge….
Maybe I’ll head up the mountain
To where that old river rolls
To that little lost town in the hollow
To where he once loved to go
Well its T for Texas
T for Tennessee…So tell me baby
Why you made a fool….Out of me
Chorus
When That Ship Comes In
We will all get together when that ship comes in
We’ll all begin to sing again
When our sons and daughters come back from war
On the day when that ship comes in
When that ship comes in
When that ship comes in
We’ll all begin to sing once again
When our sons and daughters
Come back from war
On the day when that ship comes in
On that dark cold day when you sailed far away
The sun it refused to shine
And our hearts will weep and our souls will sway
Till the day when that ship comes in
CHORUS
Praying for Rain.
Im praying for rain
Praying for rain
Dry as a bone
It's a losing game
So Im praying for rain
Praying for rain
Dirt down texas
A Midnight glow
That cask of black powder
Soon will blow
Dead flowers refuse to grow
So im Im praying for rain
Im praying for rain
Praying for rain
Cry’n heaven help me on my way
Hand me down my walking cane
I'm praying for rain
I'm praying for rain
Pull me up jesus
Shake me down slow
Heaven and hell begin to blow
My love is all in vain
So Im praying for rain
Im jumping the broom
Running back home
That old gray mule
On the side of the road
He's praying
Praying for rain
Chorus
Fire she set down in my soul
Crows black across the meadow
lightning flashing across the rolling sky
I'm searching this cold night for my darlin
To forget her......... i can't even try
Storm high upon the mountains
Rain and wind begin to bellow and blow
No flood waters lord can ever begin to
Tame the fire that she set down in my soul
Darlin Can you hear me calling
Calling you back to our happy home
Can you feel my poor heart a falling
Into this dark hole so cold and all alone
Chorus
When i finally find my way back to heaven
Then i will truly understand
Why she walked away from me that day
Until then i wonder through this forsaken land
Chorus
Precious Things
When i was a young man the ocean was my friend
There ain't no place in this whole world where i have not been
I Found plenty of silver and plenty of gold
But i lost the most precious thing that a man could ever hold
Her eyes like diamonds
Her touch like the desert sands
And id trade all these precious things
Just to hold her once again
Yes, i trade all these precious things
Just to hold her once again
I'm going back home my treasure lies across the sea
You can keep this silver and gold boys- it don't mean a thing to me
I'm done with this game - count me out i fold
Fore i'm off to find the most precious thing that I could ever hold
Chorus
Talking Dues Blues
Well, In bed with my woman singing the blues
turned on the t.v to hear the fake news
looked like the world had turned itself upside down again
round and round looking around
never an answer to the problem found
dreamed i was in L.A town down on my luck out on the vine
as soon as I woke back up
they said it was all because of me..
there’s a war on don’t you see..
here, stick this in your arm to be free
- nothing like a morning shot of capitulation and fear..
Now I don't want to tell you what to do
cause under this hair I'm just like you
but I've been here and there
and sorta everywhere
seen a thing or 10 or 2
like a bird, man I’ve really flew
new to you may be old to me
But I can plainly see
that you might not understand where I come from....
Well, I've been broke down, let down
waited too long in the wrong town
held a frown in the ice and snow
while shivering from my nose down to my toes
felt that north wind blow slow
across places where I'll never go back to again
- What a sin
Felt the hungry tongue of a tornado
and stood where once did big trees used to grow
let it all go full steam down a rocky mountain road
fell in jail - made bail
pulled a sail and made my way up the mighty san joaquin
all the way to the san francisco bay
- looking for a dollar
- found an earthquake
- man that ground sure did shake
- shook that dollar right out of my shoe
Paid the fines
held a sign
Helped my father out on a picket line
looked for something back in time
Takes a worried man to leave it all behind
Pondered long about something gone wrong
forgot what street I was just on
found my way back to where I'd been
lost it all just to loose it again
- Lone gone
Sold the farm
the sow and the cow
Had no money and wondered how
got turned upside down in a bar room fight
I remember it to be on a long icy moonlight night
thought I was right
but I was wrong
turned a year into a song
it didn't take long
to pick a new train to jump up on
- 600 miles down to the mobile bay
I’ve been lied to
Loved true
Felt the dew of the pines
dripping into the seed anew
I know everything I need
I’ve breathed deep the ocean air of sunny Italy
Felt my soul begin to bleed
Held a new born babies tired finger
Nothing in this world dam gum as sweeter
As that look in her soft, empty, sleepy eyes
I’ve crossed the Snake, Rhine, Cumberland, Antioch and French broad too
Learned dam well how to sing the blues
I’ve been haggled, swaggled, tangled, rangled and unstabled
Cross eyed, turned an eye while painting the sky
Been a hard travelin too...
Over there and back again
Beaten down into this hole I’m in
And I’ve eaten my share of crow
On a sandy bend of the old Sacramento
Where those indians used to go
- Before we killed em all and built a freeway to the future
I’ve laid em low
Learned to grow
Cut my teeth in a traveling freak show
Been offered some - held out for more
Turned back around to even the score
Left the stage looking for the back door
Broke a leg and shot down a star
Walked long roads through heaven
Drove old roads back home
Forgot about things I should have known
Remembered things that I have since grown
- sometimes you have to get young to grow old
I’ve been on skid row, uptown and unglued
I’ve been to talkeetna, Osaka and up to logan county too
Stood under a streetlight in the desert wondering what next to do
Never knew which way the wind had blew
Tasted portland’s green winter rain
Figured out peoples games
Dropped dead, lost my head
Forgot all the b.s I was fed
Laughed like a devil and kissed an angles lips
while listening to the flowers sing
- gathered some too
- takes a good woman to know what I’ve been through
- she’s been there too
I’ve been under the ocean
And across the sea
Never met a politician who could pick like me
But boy how they sure can dance around the truth
Drive you down to your bending knee
But it’s not for free
- Cost you a dime and a quarter and your first born son
I’ve given a damd
Lent a hand
Hit it on the lamb
Woke up gone in a foreign land
Took too long to understand
All that I had learned to do so wrong
Turned around and it was all gone
Pulled the choke - Tied the rope
Got in too deep
And learned how to sink and float
I’ve been kicked down - Ran down - Heard the hounds
Done the rounds on sacred ground
Been dead scared staring into the empty air
Whispered up a prayer to find me out there
Fell off of a cloud just to find the ground
Rocks for a pillow and dirt for a bed
I remember something a preacher once said
- don’t sell your soul for a quarter
- wish I had asked for a dollar
Had my ear to the rail
Took that south bound reefer all the way through New Mexico
Took it slow, but I took it
I’ve been half baked
Forsaked
Give and take’d
Held and fake’d
Gassed and braked
Busted - bent - spent - lent - dent - no rent
Held out on a one night stint in rosarito, escondido me amigo
I’ve been back-ended, jackknifed and turnpiked in a motorhome in Amarillo too………..
Waiting for a big storm to end
But I know where I’ve been
And I’m probably going back there again.
What would Ol’ woody, Bookbinder or Son House do
Bob or Doc or John too
Well, If you don’t want to take it from me?
I’ll just put it back on you
Home Sickness
Looking to find me a little job of my own
One that wont tell me to stay off the phone
One that wont direct me down to the nearest credit store
One that wont kick me out when I walk past the door
Looking to find me a job of my own
A truck of my own One that will always run
That will not jackknife or squeal
One that doesn’t sound too loud
Or turn my driveway Into an oil field
Looking to find me a truck of my own
A horse of my own
One that wont trample down the fence
Or dig that deep into that old soggy ditch
One that already knows the way back home
Looking to find me a horse of my own
A home of my own
Just a lady or a baby or dog
One that won’t bite my leg or chew on my ear
As i listen to the thunder that my little girl fears
Looking to find me a home of my own
I’d go for a crooked boat
One that purrs and sleeps so soundly
It would know how to cook and clean
So me and my lady could go on madly
Looking to find me a home of my own
I try not to dream much about it no
Throw away all that stuff they send me
All those pretty places and things they say I need
Well they’re already held deep inside me
Because I’ve already found
Found myself….
Found myself a home of my own
Break Down the Plow
The night grew dark as midnight
all the rain came tumblin down
ya you better grab your suitcase baby
looks like that long black train is back in town
tell the mule to say a prayer
cause soon he might be flying right through the air
break down that plow
You got to break down the plow
You got to break down the plow
You got to break down the plow
no time left to run, lord you better hit the ground
no water in the hole
the well has run bone dry
the cotton is so high
as the devil goes a dancing on by
you better break down the plow
drop the gun and forget the sow
break down that plow
chorus
its twisting around every corner
every building fallin g right down
no captain left to give and order
no time to call out the hounds
way down in that hole
you could hear that whistle blow
and as the dogs begin howl
you better break down the plow
chorus
Pace Back to You - Song for Woody
-Pacing this ward in Bellevue
Pacing kings county too
I’m going to pace back baby
Pace back to you
This world has hit me in my face
It’s hit me upside my head
Beatn me black and blue, green and red
Beat me down, but I’m not dead
-Pacing this ward in Bellevue
Pacing kings county too
I’m going to pace back baby
Pace back to you
Well if I can’t go east or west
If I can’t go north or south
Then I can still go in and out
Around around and upside down
Around around
Around around
- spinning round
what I going to do
what I going to do
when my dream Time Comes
I’ve never felt so down and lonesome before
What am I even fighting for
If you only knew how blue and empty I am feeling
You’d open up that closed door
- Won’t be pacing this cold floor any more
-Pacing this ward in Bellevue
Pacing kings county too
I’m going to pace back baby
Pace back to you
I saw bird up in the window
Then it flew fast away
If I was a bird in that window
I’d leap into the air and leave here today
- fly away
-but I’m Pacing this ward in Bellevue
Pacing kings county too
I’m going to pace back baby
Pace back to you
Old World
I’ll sing you a song and it’s not very long
About an old world that never did wrong
Suddenly it died one day
The reason why No one would say
The mountains where tall and the rivers so strong
And this is the strangest part of my song
It was always well and good in my head
Then one day it was dead
It all happened so fast so I’ve been told
The sky closed up and the ground turned cold
The people came from all around
But before they could agree they all fell down
Old world been here and gone
Old world what went wrong
Old world sing this song for me
Old world
Old Working Man
My father never had too much money
Never seemed to miss it somehow
And While sitting on the fence I'd watch him round up
The last light of evening with his old rusty plow
I watched him stand out on that union line
In that old Ford listening to George jones
Chasing buck through some back wood haller
That Country boy was deep down in his bones
He's just an old working man
He's just an old working man
Doin all a good man ever can
He used to laugh about the evening paper
He didn't need some reporter to tell him about his day
Just give him a glass of ol’ Irish whiskey
And these are the only words that he'd say
Chorus
Now that I am older I can understand
The want for an easy way of life
That man sure knew how to take it easy
But when he took it.. he sure did it right
Now I’m just an old working man
Now I’m just an old working man
Now I’m just an old working man
Doin all a good man ever can