1. |
Black Train
04:13
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but mostly its as empty as a long sigh
all signs are pointing in direction of a steep climb
these mountains without peaks they just rise and rise
and i hear the siren split the sky
the rumble and the din the smoke is blending in with the hurricane
long drive its hours upon hours in the moonlight
When your wheels give out beneath you its hard times
high roads beckon you for years but you wont hear it and now the
rails out before you and how you fear it
and i hear the siren split the sky
the rumble and the din the smoke is blending in with the hurricane
black train, not gonna ride on you tonight
not gonna climb aboard your black train
not gonna ride on you tonight
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2. |
Can't Be Trusted
03:46
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I’ve seen moonlight in my whiskey I’ve seen moonlight in my beer
soon I’ll see the sunshine if I dont get ‘long from here
I cant be trusted with your daughter
I cant be trusted with your girl
hidin from the praisin of my good lord upon high
gone broke by the racehounds but I won it back in dice
I cant be trusted with your daughter
I cant be trusted with your girl
wander into trouble and I walk out with a smile
yes I’ve have my good days but you know it’s been a while
I cant be trusted with your daughter
I cant be trusted with your girl
been told in a gunfight you best don’t bring a knife
been told in a gunfight boy don’t bring yer knife
did not heed your warning and it cost me your life
I cant be trusted with your daughter
(but you can trust me with your wife)
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3. |
Femme Fatale
04:14
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sun up, July ten, it’s hotter than the hoof on the bottom of the devil’s leg
sparks fly when hit his feet hit the floor, it’s my shoulder and the angel on others a no show
got a wife a baby girl / And the heart inside just as flawed as the next man
skin and bone, what can I do
sun down, boiling moon, bellied up for one more (then/before) I’ll call it a good night
last call, it’s time to go
but then I saw that femme fatale and she said man I’ve seen you around
we live in a small town / we live in a small town
said, look me up / when you feel like goin down
and with that / she was nowhere to be found
the devil on my shoulder he told me I should hold her
the devil sent his friend the femme fatale
sun up, July five and ten and it all started over again when I saw her at the same place
she reached out her tentacles, started playing my ventricles like a dreadnought Martin box
home sweet home, what my family don’t know, it could hurt em bad
if someone pulls the wool back
sun down, found my way back, but you know my baby tracked me down
by and by
and when she saw that femme fatale, she said man I know you been out runnin around
I been found / god damn a small town
said don’t look me up / when you’re feelin down
and with that / she left this town
the devil on my shoulder twirled his dancin partner
the devil and his friend the femme fatale
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4. |
Cabernet Smile
04:38
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pull the glass bottle down that’s been reflecting my frown
one responsible pour and then twice as much more
you see I’ve had a long day I’m here to get carried away so let me tell you
bout the one who’s got me drinkin whiskey by the fifth tonite
she had a cabernet smile, I seen it once in a while but she mainly drank
white wine, sloe gin, and a lime, called it The Special Refined
she has a cold cold heart, pumps pinot noir and a nose for the
finer things thats why she said she had to leave me behind
I knew it wasn’t so smart to punch above my heart
but a cocksure mind blacks out the bad signs
so we spent a little time sipping Special Refined And I woke up
wondering what it was that made me fall so unbelievably blind
she had a cabernet smile, I seen it once in a while but she mainly drank
white wine, sloe gin on ice, she called it The Devil’s Device
she has a cold cold heart, pumps pinot noir and a nose for the
finer things thats why she said she had to leave me behind
I need some singular joys, a night out with the boys
a little stretch of open road, a proud word in my throat
a brief bout of amnesia to forget I couldn’t pleeeease ya and last but not
least a glass of something’t’won’t remind me of cabernet wine
‘cause that was how she smiled, I need it once in a while but she mainly drank
white wine, sloe gin and a splash, she called it The Gone In a Flash
she has a cold cold heart, pumps pinot noir and a nose for the
finer things thats why she said she had to leave me behind
she’s got a nose for the finer things that’s why she said she had to leave me behind
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5. |
Diggin' Up Diamonds
05:07
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my father said, young man when you settling down
you know your brother’s got children, and mother’s so worried
I said dear father, it aint for lack of tryin
I spend my days mining, but I got nothin to show
my mother said, baby everybody sure loves you
you know you father’s old fashioned, but as long as he’s askin
when will you find a fair skinned angel
to settle on down with, so I tell her right now
I been diggin up diamonds every day of my life
always endin up threadbare, blue or red in the eyes
had a lotta bad luck, but I’m givin it time
I been diggin up diamonds but I got nothin that shines
the rain it was pounding like the crashin of waves
but my baby said, baby lets go anyway
so we went dancing while the thunder did blaze
she was shining ten ways, and the very next day
in the mornin mist rising, we were walkin alone
I said why are you cryin, and what’d you do with your diamond
said, “I been meanin to tell you, when the moment was right”
wish it coulda been different, but now I’m back in the mines
I been diggin up diamonds every day of my life
always endin up threadbare, blue or red in the eyes
had a lotta bad luck, but I’m givin it time
I been diggin up diamonds but I got nothin that shines
been suckin in smoke and dust / I been sufferin all alone
where the sun never shone / where the wind dont blow
every night I strike fool’s gold / in the mornin I’m rust
I been searchin for the mother lode / but I went bust
I been diggin up diamonds every day of my life
always endin up threadbare, blue or red in the eyes
had a lotta bad luck, but I’m givin it time
I been diggin up diamonds but I got nothin that shines
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6. |
Mathis I
03:36
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oh he strolled the shining pavement
lightning blazed along the alley wall
oh i wonder where is blade went
through the heart of Abigail McCall
oh he’d wander through his paces
Friday was his night for alcohol
to kill the pain, then for stasis,
then as a reason for it all
oh, hellbent, hard and shameless
he spotted Abby down the boulevard
oh, his footsteps overcame us
we ducked into Diago’s Billiards Hall
oh, a gypsy band was playin
sharks lit up smokes like pistol fire
oh, we still saw Mathis Davis cuttin through the
masses, eyes as black as iron and we busted down the back door
oh the rain was simply heinous,
it trickled off that switchblade in his hand
oh he told me “boy this aint between us
you better run before I gut you where you stand”
that’s when I came at mathis davis,
one blow and i was laid out on the walk
and when I came to the siren lights were red and blue
and Abbey’s blood was in the gutter running hot
oh he strolled the shining pavement
the sunlight lay along the alley wall
oh, i wonder where is blade went
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7. |
Mathis II
06:14
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the neon rested on his shoulder blades and that old stool kept him awake
and if the rim of his glass heard the questions that he asked it’d be the only one in that whole place
the tenders all know brother mathis, he wears a duster and a ragged flat brim
they thought he had a lover, they couldn’t be sure ‘cause there ain’t always a reason for a ring
he’d drink all night like a statue in a yard, he’d disappear before the lights come up
but you’d never see him leave, you’d turn around and there’d be some old bills underneath an empty cup
god knows where he goes when that bar door swings closed but the devil is his only alibi
but brother Mathis has plans and a blade in his hand and no answer when a whimper asks him “why?”
cuz some men go for the liquor, some might cut it with water
and some men go til they’ve had what they can hold, and some will stay a little longer
well a few years back brother Mathis went missin for a week and three more nights in all
we heard bloodhounds and thunder and it stopped one night
and he came back like nothin was wrong
and the air went cold when he stepped into the crowd like a black fin cuttin through the tide
he took up his post and he said make this one a double
and no one dare asked how he lost his eye
cuz some men drink out of anger, others for the love and the laughter
some men are tryin to escape what’s been done,
and some are practicing for after
oh brother Mathis, we got your bar stool ready, tether your terror outside that old front door
four whiskey glasses filled up with lightning flashes
brother Mathis rest your weary bones, wet your throat
your secrets won’t come known
you’re welcome anytime, just leave your sin and crime
by the side road, we won’t see them here
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8. |
Blue Side of the Road
04:38
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I'm walking on the blue side of the road
ever since my one sweetheart did decide to go alone
she left me dangling, but she was angling for another man
so she left me here on the blue side of the road
I'm walking on the blue side of the road
if my feet will ever take me across the street again
we could meet again or I can find another friend
just as sweet as sin, we'll never be again on the blue side of the road
but until I find a reason, some bright beacon
that we can
both agree would bring us out of the dark
I'll just keep on beatin this here path without ever reaching
anywhere
I'm walking on the blue side of the road
til the mile marker count down no more miles left to go
then with nothin left, I can double back, down the road again
I'll keep continuing on the blue side of the road
I'm walkin on the blue side of the road
where all the broken hearted stumblers out loud wonder
where their women went,
where they hiding them? aw the answer is anybody's guess
but they won't be on the blue side of the road
but until I find a reason, some bright beacon
that we can
both agree would bring us out of the dark
I'll just keep on beatin this here path without ever reaching
anywhere
I'm walking on the blue side of the road
ever since my one sweetheart did decide to go alone
she left me dangling, but she was angling for another man
so she left me here on the blue side of the road
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9. |
River Birch
05:38
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curve of the road where that river birch grows
I’ve got three miles to go until I’m home
heavenly groan, clouds just gather and fold
I’ve got reason to fear the open air
there’s cover for taking and words I’d pay money to hear
bottom is gone what can scatter the crows
it’s every man on his own
whisper a song for them rays of the sun
that don’t light the losing side
don’t ever suggest that they might be denied
buried in stone there’s scholars in coats
demand your opinions and rate em for truth
waiting at home I’ve got letters and poems
that speak on a day I envy and praise
I’ll tell all about it as soon as the rain goes away
curve of the road where that reservoir’s swollen
I’ll soon be on my way
if I ever decide on a road it’s this one I will take
I’ll lean on a river birch and think of whatever I may
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10. |
Pour It Out
04:47
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Mathis was a switchblade and he’s livin on the skids
he’s got nine fingers and he’s got ten kids
he fell in favor of the fine liquids, I think you know what I mean
Mathis wandered into the Old Twin Keg
sat on a stool with a wobbly leg
don’t wait long and he don’t gotta beg, said I think you know what I need
I need somethin in front of me
I need somethin to ease my pain
I need somethin to stare into tonite
I’ll have an ale, I’ll have a stout, draw me in and I’ll pour it out
I’ll have a whisky, I’ll have a stout, pull it down and pour it out
calico darlin and she’s waiting on the moon
in a fine patterned dress, said he’ll be along soon
why believe a lie when only opposite is true, I think you know what I mean
but she’s holdin on to hope like a length old rope
said Mathis wouldn’t dream to abandon me here
but he’s hiding out in Harlem pourin liquor in his ear, Mathis, oh I pray thee near
I need someone in front of me, I need someone to ease my pain
I need someone to lay me down tonite
I’ll have an ale, I’ll have a stout, draw me in and I’ll pour it out
I’ll have a whisky, I’ll have a stout, pull it down and pour it out
Mathis on the lam in the deep deep woods
He’s running from the hounds in the deep deep woods
Shotgun fire in the deep deep woods, Mathis felt a sting in the deep deep woods, he said
I’ve got something inside of me
I need someone to ease my pain
I need someone to lay me down and die
I’ll have an ale, I’ll have a stout, draw me in and I’ll pour it out
I’ll have a whisky, I’ll have a stout, pull it down and pour it out
brother mathis who will see you on the other end of
all the hell you wrought, I think he sent a friend to me
wrap his tail around your wrist to never set you free
cause all you’ve done is all you’ll ever do
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Staggers and Jags Charleston, South Carolina
The eclectic Americana project of James Anderson and G. Stevens.
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