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The wicked wind blew the raven away, Pisces was swept by a mighty black wave, the mermaids all began to fade, and a children's choir sang a mournful refrain.
Tears wept into the bay, beneath the surface was a cruel display, diamonds became coal, pearls melted away, and the children's choir sang a mournful refrain.
The volcanic geyser vomiting pain, the black plague spread and life was never the same. The people moved on in grief with disdain and the children's choir sang a mournful refrain.
Butterflies stuck in honey, bumblebees caught in hot wax. All the flowers’ pollen is toxic. Pour the ink well into the aquarium and see how the fish act. Separate all the bullies in class, but keep 'em with the underdogs.
Scratch equations on the chalkboard with your fingernails. Pretend it can’t get worse, then watch all your ideas fail.
The wicked wind blew the raven away,
Pisces was swept by a mighty black wave, the
mermaids all began to fade, the children's choir sings a mournful refrain.
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2. |
Termites Got Me Blues
02:40
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Let me just say, I'm a tall tree, but now there's somethin' eatin' me. I had such beautiful leaves, bright and green, but things gone bad with these termites eatin' me. I was ready to bare fruit. It woulda been the sweetest fruit, but it's gone sour with these termites eatin' me.
I can't move on account of my roots, buried deep in my boots, I can't get away. My veins ran with sap and that was mighty fine, but now I got veins with lines and lines of all these termites eatin' me.
I tell ya, I never shoulda let 'em in for a snack. They're takin' advantage, offerin' nothin' back for the trouble they stir in my stomach and toes, in my legs and my face, in my fingertips and elbows. Please, please, please give me some poison to get rid of the devils, thousands of devils eatin' me inside and out. I can't move on with all these termites eatin' me.
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3. |
Rainy Days
02:43
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It hasn't rained in such a long while that if you look at the grass wrong, it'll catch fire. Canyons cracked through the ground. Not a lick of life in the grass to be found, til rain starts fallin' from those clouds. Rain starts fallin' from those clouds, life then will begin to sprout new again.
Yesterday's coffee in yesterday's cup. Dig through the ashtray for yesterday's butts. Ash in the butter, jam on the table top, can't take breakfast to the back porch, cuz rain started fallin' from those clouds. Rain started fallin' from those clouds and my back porch is saturated now.
I go out with my best gal, round town with the top down. We go out but don't make it far. You can't make it far in an open car when rain starts fallin' from those clouds. When rain starts fallin' from those clouds, my best gal is soaked to the bone now.
I get dressed in my Sunday best. Shirt and trousers nice and pressed, I go out for a little stroll, ahh, but wouldn't you know? Rain starts fallin' from those clouds. Rain starts fallin' from those clouds and I'm soaked straight down to my soul now.
I didn't think I liked the rain. I didn't think I liked the rain. No, I didn't think I liked the rain, didn't like the rain fallin' from the clouds, but I'll take the rain any day over a drought. Yeah, I'll take the rain any day over a drought, cuz I realize how precious rainy days are now.
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4. |
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Stuck in my country's capital town, I had to make it down the road. I was just tryin' t get myself back home.
You got money to pay for gas? That's the first thing the driver asked. I said, Yeah, but I don't earn it very fast. Told him how much I had. He was astonished.
You ever think about working he questioned. Offended, I started laughin'. That's quite the presupposition that i don't, just cuz I'm broke.
It's a hard time for a workin' man. Always has been. Why you think we got all these songs?
No one wants to pay for what they want. Why do you do what you do? It's my preference. Doesn't make much money, he told me. I said, No, but it's my preference.
Little further down the road we started just putterin' along. Had to stop and fuel up.
You got money to pay for this trip? I said, Yep, got a little bit. Showed him what I had, he snatched it up quite fast. Needed it more than me, I suppose
We eventually reached our split off point. I said thanks. He went rollin' on up his own way
Had to find myself a bite to eat before I could finish my trip. Asked the lady at the burger joint if she had anything for 57 cents. She said no. Asked her if she had anything for a song. She called the cops.
I made a b-line through that door, nearly forgettin' what I come there for. Red and blue lights off in the distance. I ran down the path of least resistance. Nothin' new.
Played some music outside a grocer. Manager come out said, You're quite the bother. Can't do that here, he told me. I said, Sir, I just need a can of spam, bag of cheese, loaf of bread, piece of fruit, and one bottle of wine, but I gotta get money to get those things, 'less you wanna give em to me. He glared at me like a crocodile, said, You best be goin'. So I went.
So here I am on this road, tryin' t get myself back home. Like one long hallway, plenty of rooms. Not always plenty of room for folks doin' things their way.
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5. |
Keep It Nice
02:41
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Oh, Lord, I say, Touch me once, touch me twice. Please Lord, just touch me nice, and I'll be okay.
Gabriel come to Mary, said, I'm gonna give you a son. Mary said, Touch me once, touch me twice. Just so long as you touch me nice, it's okay.
Jesus come to heal a man's eyes. The blind man said, Touch me once, touch me twice. Please Lord, just touch me nice, and I'll be okay.
Some people didn't like Jesus so much. Jesus said, Nail me twice, nail me thrice, this I make my sacrifice for you.
Some people can't stand a carin' man. They think, I don't know him. Why's he so nice? He must have some terrible vice, and they walk away.
This man stands alone with no home, and all he can say is, all he says is, Lord, touch me once, touch me twice. Please, Lord, just touch me nice, and I'll be okay.
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6. |
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Why you gotta remind me I got the blues? By the time we realize we're sick of arguin', we'll each just be lonely again, but this time with nothin' left to lose.
And I wouldn't be around if it wasn't for you makin' me feel like I was abandonin' you. I never get homesick when you ain't listenin'. You're searchin' through coke bottles tryin' t find somethin' old.
I wanna leave! I left once before and you dragged me kickin' after screamin' through the phone. What kinda devotion is this that's keepin' me home?
I'll admit, Daddy, you make it rain gifts, but what do I need of these? These are just ways to bury me here. I'm up to my neck already and you just keep showerin' me.
I'd love to talk this over, but we won't agree, even to disagree. So don't go, I'll leave. But don't cry too much, Daddy. Baby just needs to breathe.
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7. |
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You're the son of a scoundrel, always wearin' his pinstripe suit despite always knowin' it never suited you.
You always try to fit in his ten-gallon hat, and it fell over your eyes, and you can't live like that.
You saddled up, ya followed yer old man's way, and you charred your hide gamblin' all your money away.
Well, you shoulda known better, and ya did, but you ignored that yer tears got wetter than any time before.
If you go away your way now, could ya say how it's gonna turn out?
Now ain't it nice t be out on yer own with nobody around to tell you how t go? Cuz that's how it works, right?
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8. |
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If I was happy I wouldn't be satisfied, so I'll just sit here and pine.
Lend me your ears and a tale I will tell. My story I'm sure you know well.
I pass each night with booze and a sigh, sad and sullenly satisfied.
I'm just a sad man coverin' my tears the best I can.
I drink every night til I no longer stand, so hand me a beer, lend me some time, cuz that's all I got t get by.
You only get one chance in life and it would kill me if I didn't blow mine.
I had everything and gave it all away. Why I did I could never say.
I had health and plenty and an angel from the sky, but to stay with her woulda been a lie,
cuz I could look her in the face, but never in the eyes. Turned my back on love and left her behind.
When I start to cry my tears fill my beer-stein.
I'm nothin' more than a dirty, boozin' barfly, so hand me a beer, lend me some time, cuz that's all I got t get by.
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9. |
Troubles Behind
02:05
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Gonna leave my troubles behind. Gonna get myself baptized. Goin' down in the river three times. Lord, I'm only comin' up twice, because I know you're always innocent when you dream.
Gonna leave my troubles behind. Gonna lay my head down on a lonesome railway line, and wait for some train to come by and ease my mind, because I know you're always innocent when you dream. You're always innocent when you dream.
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10. |
St. James Infirmery
02:58
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It was down at Old Joe's Barroom, the corner by the square. The usual crowd was assembled and Big Joe McKennedy was there.
He was standin' at my shoulder. His eyes were blood shot red. He looked at the crowd before him. These are the very words he said.
I went down to St. James Infirmary, saw my baby there. She's layin' on a cold white table. So cold, so white, so fair.
Let her go, let her go. God bless her, wherever she may be. She may search this wide world over. She'll never find a sweet man like me.
When I die bury me in my high-top Stetson hat. Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain so God'll know I died standin' pat.
And I want six crap shooters for pall-bearers, a chorus girl singin' my song, and put a jazz band on my hearse wagon. Raise Hell as I roll along.
Let her go, let her go. God bless her, wherever she may be. She may search this wide world over. She'll never find a sweet man like me.
Well, roll out your rubber-tired carriage. Put on your best felt hat. We got 12 men going to the graveyard, and 11 coming back.
Now that you know my story, I'll take another shot of booze, and if anybody happens to ask you, I got those St. James Infirmary blues.
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11. |
Who Was Jesus
03:28
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Hey, preacher man. Hey, Mr. Preacher man. Can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was a preachin' man. Spread the good news all across the land.
Hey, rich man. Hey, Mr. Rich man. Can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was a thief, man. Took what was mine. Put it in other people's hands.
Hey, castaway. Mr. Castaway, can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was a carin' man. Come by, picked me up by my dirty hands.
Hey, military man. Mr. Military man, can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was a peaceful man. Said to love your enemy til he becomes your friend.
That's true.
Hey, homeless man, Mr. Homeless man, can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was a homeless man. Spent his whole life walkin' through the desert sand.
Hey, president. Mr. President, can you tell me what kinda man Jesus was?
Jesus was not a political man. Didn't do what the government said, so they had to hang him.
Hey, Jesus. Hey there, Mr. Jesus, can you please tell me what kinda man you was?
Ahh, just around helpin' my fellow man. That's all. Don't fight over me.
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Brian Gore & The Tender Fritters
Songwriter Brian Gore, with his rotating cast of players, the Tender Fritters, blend Country, Folk, Rock, and Jazz to create
a dynamic accessible while original that carries his tales of the world’s back pages.
"A mix of John Prine and Bob Dylan."
... more
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