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Johnny Lunchbucket is in the final mix. Cross your fingers, it will be out soon.
 
 
The December 4th show at Silvie's was filmed for our first live performance DVD.
 
 
Mike is volunteering at the Chicago History Museum.If you are planning a visit, ask for his schedule.
 
 
We did a forty minute interview and contributed a couple songs to Whiskey Bender Productions documentary on indie record stores.
 
We are aligned with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
http://economichumanrights.org/ 

 Lost another good friend - LARRY TRACY -2009. We won't see another fella like that. I'm starting to miss folks daily. The Sooners will always have an empty seat in the stadium and I'll always be turning to it for a joke, advice or some unique perspective on the world.

Julius Margolin, labor activist and folk singer passed from our world 8/24/2009. It'll all be harder without him.

JIM DICKINSON - R.I.P. 2009
dickinson.jpg
The unretainable nature of the present creates in Man a desire to capture the moment. Our fears of extinction compel us to record- to re-create- the ritual ceremony. From the first hand-print cave painting to the most modern computer art, it is the human condition to seek immortality. Life is fleeting. Art is long. A record is a "totem," a document of an unique, unrepeatable event worthy of preservation and able to sustain historic life. The essence of the event is its soul. Record production is a subtle, covert activity. The producer is an invisible man. His role remains a mystery. During the recording process there is an energy field present in the studio- to manipulate and to maximize that presence- to focus on the peculiar "harmony of the moment" is the job of the producer. Music has a spirit beyond the notes and rhythm. To foster that spirit and to cause it to flourish- to capture it at its peak is the producer's task.

- Jim Dickinson
We lost LES PAUL too.

My Dad used to work at the Lyon & Healy music store in downtown Chicago. He worked there before the war (he had to pay for a hernia surgery before he could enlist) and after he got back. He was a salesman and didn't care too much about music. He liked putting things together. he was a photographer and a ham radio operator. He built a helluva Lionel train set for me with rat tail plugs that controlled the entire thing through one master box. Later when he worked at Sears he made some lights that would pulsate to the beat of the stereos he was trying to sell and bitched about the morons who wanted to buy the lights instead. This was in the late 50's early 60's.
Les Paul would come in and somehow he struck up a friendship with my dad. They talked about electrical switches, capacitors and resistors. My Dad got into it and got a job with an outfit called Carling Switches. He remembered sending Les a bunch of things that he thought he could use. It was pretty secondary to him that Les played guitar.
They lost touch, of course.
When I started playing guitar and I started to play electric and wanted to buy an amplifier, my Dad said, "Let's make one!" I wasn't having any of that and went out and bought a Silvertone. That, my friends, is one of the biggest regrets of my life. I mourn that decision today as well as the passing of an extraordinary man.

 
 
Hmm...Could this be my great grandfather. Everyone spells our last name with an "O". My grandfather's name was 'Frank'. My uncle's name was 'Stuart'. The mysterious woman from Chicago? Sam Brown the loiterer? And this 'Alice Brooks' who said that Big Frank whomped her on the head with a walking cane....Genealogy noir.

bigfrank.JPG

These are the lyrics for the songs in the new project:.

The working title is "Tossing It Away : Gospel Music for the Unredeemed"

 

TOSSING IT AWAY

I was in Waco before the government took down David Koresh. I was sitting in a Denny's, beat from doing the Austin Record Convention. I just wanted to get a bite and walk back to the motel and sleep.

A couple of cute young girls slid into the booth opposite me and basically asked if I needed Jesus. They said that I looked troubled.

No, I told them, I was just tired. We exchanged some small talk and they said a prayer for me. I told them that I appreciated it.

They went back to their table and I ate my dinner and walked back to the motel.

"You know," I thought, "I have a Bible in my hotel room." I laughed at my pick-up line. The devil was in me.

A few months later, their compound was stormed. I wondered what became of them and I said a prayer for them.

We spend our lives tossing away the better part.

 

 

IN A DEAD LETTER MOTEL ROOM

OUT ON THE RURAL ROUTE

HE DROPPED A KNEE TO SOME BEAT DOWN SHAG

AND THERE HE CRIED OUT LOUD

THE FURNITURE WAS MADE IN TAIWAN

THAT WAITRESS WAS MADE THERE TOO

SHE FOLLOWED HIM WHEN HE TOLD HER

“THERE’S A BIBLE IN MY HOTEL ROOM

 

THEY WERE TOSSING IT AWAY

WITH BOTH THEIR HANDS

LEADING WITH A CHIN

TOSSING IT AWAY

WITH BOTH THEIR HANDS

IT WON’T COME ROUND HERE AGAIN

 

IN THE DARKEST HOUR

OF A THOUSAND NIGHTS

HE WENT DANCING WITH THE GHOST

OF PROMISES BROKE AND WORDS NOT SPOKE

AND THINGS HE SHOULD HAVE DONE

AND THE GIDEONS GAVE THEM THE BIBLE

THERE WAS PORN ON CHANNEL TWO

AND FOR A FIST FULL OF DOLLARS

YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANTED TO

 

WHEN JESUS WAS ON CALVARY

A CALLING TO HIS LORD

WHERE WOULD WE BE IF HE HAD CHOSE

TO TAKE THAT LESSER ROAD

THE DEVIL PLAYED HERE LAST NIGHT

HE PUT ON A HELL OF A SHOW

BUT ALL THAT WAS LEFT

IN THE COLD MORNING LIGHT

WAS THE SMELL OF BURNING SOUL

 

GHOST IN THE HOUSE

 picked up the phrase from
Bundini Brown who used to conjur up the ghost of Jack
Johnson before the Ali fights. Bundini would lead Ali
to the ring shouting "There's a ghost in the house" -
meaning that they were carrying the spirit of Jack
Johnson with them into the fight.
I got me to thinking about the approval of our
forebearers. If our ghosts were with us, would they be
as approving as Jack Johnson would have been with Ali.
I started thinking about Nixon talking to the ghosts
of Lincoln and Jefferson. If those ghosts were walking
the halls of our government, I think they would be
running away - having enough of the lies that were
being told under their names.
In a James Dean jacket verse is about the bad
decisions we make in our youth and ignorance and
sometimes reject the pure hand and heart.
Carrying her panties in the purse - tries to reflect
the confusion carried until adulthood.
I pray dear Lord for Jesus sake ... is the Wobbly song
adapted from the Doxology that is sung in churches -
as we (pray for)seek practical solutions.
The last two verses try and tie it back to how how our
parents dealt with it and then how we blew the promise
of great accomplishments like putting a man on the
moon to go back to the dark ages of putting kids with
weapons in the living rooms of the world.
All the while the ghosts are running from us in
disgust.
Yeah, a lot schizo, but it seems to work

                                   

 

IN A JAMES DEAN JACKET WITH A CIGARETTE

LEANING UP AGAINST YOUTH AND IGNORANCE

SHE GAVE HIM HER HAND

HE WAS TOO  COOL TO TAKE IT

SHE GAVE HIM HER HEART

AND IN HAD TO BREAK IT

 

AND THERE’S A GHOST IN THE HOUSE

AND HE’S LEAVING TODAY

THERE’S A GHOST IN THE HOUSE

AND HE’S RUNNING AWAY

THERE’S A GHOST IN THE HOUSE

AND HE’S LEAVING TODAY

HE’S HAD ENOUGH OF OUR LIES

 

IT’S SUNDAY MORNING

DRIVING HER TO CHURCH

WITH BOURBON ON HER BREATH

AND HER PANTIES IN HER PURSE

SHE GOT A KID IN THE ARMY

ANOTHER IN SCHOOL

SHE’S TWO WEEKS LATE

WONDERING WHAT SHE’S GOING TO DO (chorus)

 

I PRAY DEAR LORD

FOR JESUS SAKE

GIVE US THIS DAY

A T-BONE STEAK

WITH SLICED TOMATOES

ON THE SIDE

I PRAY DEAR LORD

FOR THE LARGEST SIZE (CHORUS)

 

MOM & DAD KNEW JUST WHAT TO DO

SHUT UP WORK HARD FORGET WORLD WAR II

BUT LIES BECAME MANTRA CHANTED REPEATEDLY

AND TRUTH BECAME CONTEMPTUOUS LIABILITY (CHORUS)

 

WE WERE THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THE MAN ON THE MOON

NOW OUR KIDS GOT GUNS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

PICK A FIGHT START A WAR TWENTY WAYS TO EXPLAIN

WHY WRONG’S NOT WRONG JUST A SHADE OF GRAY (CHORUS)

 

 

HOCKEY GAMES IN FRENCH

 

 This is a Michigan song.

I spent a lot of time listening to the radio on clear nights and pulling in the bounce. Used to pick up ore boats talking to each other up on Lake Superior. They were traversing the route the Edmund Fitzgerald took.

I would pick up a lot of French speaking stations from Quebec and Eastern Canada. I always could figure out the French language broadcasts of hockey games.

Sometimes language isn't the barrier. Sometimes it is the distance we place between ourselves and our truths.

 

IT’S DECEMBER AND IT’S RAINING

I JUST DON’T GET THIS SOUTH

IT SHOULD BE SNOWING SHEETS OF WONDER

DRIFTING BY THE HOUSE

I SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE SHORTWAVE

FOR ORE BOATS IN DISTRESS

OVER YOUR GENTLE BREATHING

THERE’S A HOCKEY GAME IN FRENCH

 

BELIVEAU AND COURNOYER

MAURICE ROCKET RICHARD

GUY LAFLEUR AND OLD JACQUE PLANTE

AND BOOM BOOM GEOFFRION

A FACEOFF IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE

A ONE TIME SHOT ON NET

IT USED TO BE NO MYSTERY

THIS HOCKEY GAME IN FRENCH

 

WHEN THERE IS UNBROKEN SILENCE

IN STANDING FIELDS OF PINE

AND THE RADIATORS PLAY THE SALSA

ON SUB-ZERO CITY NIGHTS

YOU CALL AND I DON’T LISTEN

WE STUMBLE AND WE GUESS

TRY TO UNDERSTAND

THIS HOCKEY GAME IN FRENCH

 

WE HOLD ON TO OUR SUMMERS

UNTIL IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY

WE WRAP OUR HEARTS IN RIBBONS

AND GIVE THEM ALL AWAY

THEY SAY THAT GOD COMES CLOSER

WITH EVERY TEAR WE SHED

HE’S WHISPERING SOFTLY IN MY EAR

A HOCKEY GAME IN FRENCH

 

(STAN MIKITA AND NESTERENKO

THE GOLDEN JET BOBBY HULL

KENNY WHARRAM, PIERRE PILOTE

AND IN GOAL GLENN HALL

ON OFFSIDE AT THE BLUE LINE

AND THEN THERE’S FISTICUFFS

IT USED TO BE NO MYSTERY –

THIS HOCKEY GAME IN FRENCH


     LIARS & THIEVES

 

LIARS & THIEVES PRESIDENTS & KINGS (2X)  

THEY ALL HAVE THEIR TEETH

IN A POOR BOY LIKE ME

 

IF I HAD TWO DOLLARS I’D BUY A SHOTGUN SHELL (2X)

GIVE A KISS TO COLD STEEL

BLOW MY ASS RIGHT TO HELL (CHORUS)

 

IF MY LABOR CARRIED ME, YOU KNOW I’D LET YOU RIDE (2X)

IF THEY DIDN’T WANT SO MUCH

YOU KNOW WE’D ALL GET BY (CHORUS)

 

I REMEMBER WHEN I FOUND I DIDN’T HAVE A CHANCE (2X)

I CRIED ALL NIGHT

AND MY FISTS WOULD NOT UNCLENCH  (CHORUS)

 

IF I HAD TWO DOLLARS I’D BUY A SHOT GUN SHELL 92X)

GIVE A KISS TO COLD STEEL

AND BLOW MY ASS RIGHT TO HELL


WE AIN’T GOIN’ AWAY

 

This is my Grapes of Wrath song. We keep coming. We keep showing it up. It doesn't matter and it does.

 

WE AIN’T GOIN’ AWAY (2X)

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO

NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY

WE’RE GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE

WE AIN’T GOIN AWAY

WE AIN’T GOIN’

 

YOU CAN FORECLOSE ON MY MORTGAGE

TAKE AWAY MY PLOW

BULL DOZE ALL I OWN

AND MAKE ME LIVE IN TOWN (CHORUS)

 

YOU CAN HANG US FROM YOUR TREE LIMBS

KILL OUR KIDS IN WARS

HOLD OUR DREAMS UP

AND LAUGH WHEN WE FALL (CHORUS)

 

WHEN THE GOOD LORD BECKONS

YOU KNOW I’LL HEED HIS CALL

BECAUSE HE WAS THERE WITH ME

WITH MY BACK AGAINST THE WALL

 

HE AIN’T GOING AWAY

HE AIN’T GOING AWAY

 

AND THOUGH I WON’T BE HERE

STANDING IN THIS PLACE

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER LIKE ME

WITH A DIFFERENT FACE

 

BECAUSE WE AIN’T GOING AWAY

WE AIN’T GOING AWAY

WE’RE THE PEOPLE

WE’RE THE PEOPLE, LORD

WE AIN’T GOING AWAY

WE AIN’T GOING AWAY


RED SHIRT

 

After watching my Oklahoma team get waxed in the national championship by Southern Cal, there was some talk about how the team had quit. That hurt worse than the loss. I was angered and saddened that these pampered college athletes who were flown first class to Florida in January, put up in a luxury hotel and shown the time of their lives would quit in the face of the adversity of a football game that got out of their control.

I wanted to find out the truth in the quitting story. I typed in "Oklahoma + Quit" in Google.

What I came up with was the story of a nineteen-year old soldier who was leaving his bride and new born child behind to serve his third tour in Iraq. His wife was trying hard to be supportive, but she was frightened. She couldn't stem the tears behind a brave face. Some of the local folks were saying that he had done enough and it was time to quit. He had a sense of duty and purpose and obligation.
No matter what you think of Iraq, this Oklahoma kid was more worthy of our admiration than a lot of our football heroes.

I wasn't able to follow his story. His name was Jason, like the OU quarterback. I don't know if he made it through. I hope that he did.

 

THERE’S THE OLD RED SHIRT

THAT HE USED TO WEAR

THAT COFFEE CUP

HE CARRIED EVERYWHERE

ALL THOSE OLD MEMORIES

OF A LIFE THEY SHARED

BUT HE’S NOT COMING HOME

HE WON’T BE THERE

 

THERE’S HIS OLD DOG STARING A THE ROAD

WAITING FOR HIS FOOTSTEPS AND THE OPENING DOOR

EVERY TIME A STRANGER WALKS OUT OF GLOOM

HE WAGS HIS TAIL, RUNS ACROSS THE ROOM (CHORUS)

 

THERE’S HIS LITTLE GIRL OLDER THAN HER YEARS

THEY GROW UP QUICKED WHEN DADDY’S NOT THERE

SHE’S JUST A KID HOLDING SOMETHING BACK

SHE MIGHT NOT REMEMBER BUT SHE’LL NEVER FORGET (CHORUS)

 

(BRIDGE)HE WON’T BE THERE FOR HER BISCUITS IN THE MORNING

HE WON’T BE THERE FOR HER SECRETS LATE AT NIGHT

HE’LL BE OUT THERE FIGHTING SOMEONE’S BATTLE

SHE’S WAITING HERE HE’S OVER THERE (CHORUS)

 

THERE’S HIS OLD WOMAN WHO COULDN’T GO ON

BUT SHE COULD AND SHE DID SHE LEARNED TO BE STRONG

SHE’S LIVING ON FAITH TAKING IT DAY BY DAY

SHE’S SAYING HER PRAYERS SHE’S GOING HOME HE’S WAITING THERE (CHORUS)


UNANSWERED PRAYERS

 

THERE’S A COLD COLD WIND ON THE MOUNTAIN TONIGHT

THERE’S A COLD COLD WIND BLOWING THROUGH

THERE’S A COLD COLD WIND ON TH EMOUNTAIN TONIGHT

BLOWING FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TRUTH

 

WELL, I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND I WAS SO BLUE

I WAS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TRUTH (2X)

 

I GOT FURTHER AWAY, I GOT FURTHER AWAY

I GOT FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TRUTH

EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY DAY

NO MATTER HOW I PRAY

I GET FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TRUTH

 

WELL ALL THE PREACHERS SAY THAT THE LORD HAS MY NAME

HE KNOWS THE HOUR AND THE DAY

BUT NO MATTER HOW I PRAY

EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY DAY

THE ONLY VOICE I HEAR IS MINE

 

I GET FURTHER AWAY…

 

NOW I KNOW THAT I’M TRAPPED IN A WEB OF MY SIN

AND THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO CAN FORGIVE

I PRAY AND I PRAY EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY DAY

PLEASE TAKE MY HAND AND LET ME LIVE

 

I GET FURTHER AWAY..

 

WELL I WOKE UP THIS MORNING…

 

THERE’S A COLD COLD WIND ON THE MOUNTAIN…


PAUL POWELL  (STEVE GOODMAN)

 

I heard Steve do this song a lot in the 1970's. It was never recorded, but I found a live bootleg and learned it. With the conviction of our ex-Governor Ryan and the corruption charges dogging Chicago politicians, I think this song is pretty fresh. If we would change the names a bit, it would fit current events.

 

PAUL POWELL WENT TO SPRINGFIELD WHEN HE WAS JUST A BOY

HE WAS SWORN TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS

HE WAS SWORN TO SERVE ‘EM YOUNG HE WAS SWORN TO SERVE ‘EM OLD

BUT HE JUST SERVED UP BULLSHIT AND HE KEPT ALL THE GOLD

 

(CHORUS)

YOU’RE A THIEF YOU’RE A BUM

WHERE’S THE MONEY AND HOW COME

YOU LIED TO ALL THE PEOPLE MR. POWELL

 

FOR YEARS THERE HE ENCHANTED US AND WE GAVE HIM THE VOTES

AND THE ONES WE DIDN’T GIVE HE BOUGHT WITH HUNDRED DOLLAR NOTES

HE TOLD US WHAT WE LIKED TO HEAR AND DID A TWO TIME DANCE

AND KEPT US IN THE POCKET OF HIS GREASY GRIMEY PANTS (CHORUS)

 

HE GOT ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT GAVE HIM CONTROL

OF EVERYTHING YOU NEED A PERMIT FOR AND THOSE HE PROMPTLY SOLD

TO FINANCE HIS CAMPAIGNS AND OTHER SUNDRY NEEDS

THE REST HE SHOVE IN A SHOEBOX IN THE CLOSET WITH HIS TWEEDS (CHORUS)

 

THEY SAY YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU BUT OLD PAUL POWELL HE TRIED

BUT HIS SECRETARY FUMBLED THE BALL ON THE NIGHT THE OLD MAN DIED

THE NEWSPAPER AND RADIO GAVE US THE AWFUL NEWS

HOW THE OLD FART HAD PICKED US CLEAN OF EVERYTHING WE’D LET LOOSE (CHORUS)

 

PAUL POWELL WAS LAID TO REST IN A CASKET LINED WITH GOLD

BUT HIS GHOST LIVES ON IN OTHER THIEVES OR SO I’VE BEEN TOLD

AND THERE’S CROOKS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND THIS I KNOW IS TRUE

BUT THE BIGGEST BUMS ARE SOME OF THE ONES WE GIVE OUR POWER TO (CHORUS)

 

IN THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS THERE’S LOTS OF MIGHTY MEN

ALTGELD AND ABE LINCOLN CAPONE AND SOME OF THEM

AND I KNOW TO SLUR A DEAD MAN’S NAME IS A TERRIBLE DISGRACE

SO I WISH HE WAS ALIVE TODAY SO I COULD TELL HIS TO HIS FACE (CHORUS)

 

(CHORUS CODA) YOU BETRAYED THE PUBLIC TRUST

AND I HOPE THAT COFFIN RUSTS

AND YOU DON’T COME AROUND TO ROB US ANY MORE



FORT WORTH

 

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I CAME HOME FROM WORK THE LAST TIME

I REMEMBER THOSE VULTURES CALLIN EMANDING OUR LAST DIME

MOSTLY I REMEMBER THAT WORRIED LOOK IN YOUR EYES

 

(CHORUS)AND I’M  FAILING IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH

MY STARS ARE CROSSED MY THOUGHTS ARE ALL CURSED

STUCK ON THIS OLD HIGHWAY FROM BAD TO WORSE

AND THERE AIN’T TOO MUCH LOVE BETWEEN HERE AND FORT WORTH (REPEAT3X)

 

I REMEMBER THE FIRST THING THAT YOU NEEDED I COULDN’T AFFORD TO BUY

I REMEMBER GOING DOWNTOWN AND STANDING IN THAT LINE

MOSTLY I REMEMBER THAT HURT LOOK IN YOUR EYES (CHORUS)

 

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU CRIED ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

I REMEMBER NOT KNOWING HOW TO SAY, “IT’S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT”

MOSTLY I REMEMBER GETTING SMALL IN YOUR EYES (CHORUS)

 

I REMEMBER GOVERNMENT CHEESE AND ALL THAT POWDERED MILK

I REMEMBER THAT FAT BUREAUCRAT WHO SAID SHE COULDN’T HELP

MOSTLY I REMEMBER THAT QUESTION IN YOUR EYES (CHORUS)

 

I REMEMBER OUR CLOTHES WEARING DOWN UNTIL THEY WERE NOTHING BUT RAGS

I REMEMBER THAT COP SAYING BUDDY, THAT CAR AIN’T FIT TO DRIVE

MOSTLY I REMEMBER YOU ASKING JESUS WHY (CHORUS)


TRAIL OF TEARS

 

I LOVE MY COUNTRY WHERE I WAS RAISED

AND I WANT MY KIDS RAISED THE SAME WAY (PATHKILLER)

BUT YOU WOULDN’T BUY OUR BLANKETS

YOU WOULDN’T BUY OUR BEADS

SO WE SOLD YOU CIGARETTES AND SLOT MACHINES

 

(CHORUS) WE FOLLOW ON FAITH BUT WE’RE PUSHED ASIDE

ALL WE’RE SOLD IS A LIE,LIE,LIE

THE PATH I CHOSE DID NOT LEAD ME HERE

STANDING AT THE END OF MY TRAIL OF TEARS

 

I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT IT SAYS TO ME

GET BACK BOY YOU’RE TOO CLOSE TO ME (SPECKLED SNAKE)

THE RIVER IS RISING SPILLING INTO THE FLAT

GREED IS ROLLING KILLING ALL IN IT’S PATH (CHORUS)

 

I FEEL THE HEART OF THIS HOLY LAND (SITTING BULL)

YOU CAN’T DISGUISE WHAT YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND

DON’T LET ME DIE ON THIS JOURNEY LET ME SEE THE END

REDEEM MY SOUL IN THE PROMISED LAND (CHORUS)

 

I LOVE MY COUNTRY BUT IT’S FAR FROM HERE

MY GRANDFATHERS DREAMED IT BUT THEY DIDN’T GET THERE

IN UNMARKED GRAVES BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

I PICKED UP THERE VISION AND CARRIED THEIR LOAD (CHORUS)


COLD HARD MORNING

 

HIS CAR’S IN THE DITCH AND THE RADIO IS PLAYING

IT AIN’T EVEN TUNED TO HIS FAVORITE STATION

IT’S A COLD HARD MORNING A COLD HARD NIGHT

WHEN YOU CAN’T GET TO SUNDAY FROM SATURDAY NIGHT

 

(CHORUS) SHE LOVED HIS ALL THOSE NIGHTS EXCEPT ONE

WHEN THE MOON CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE SETTING SUN

SHE LOVED HIM ALL THOSE NIGHTS, ALL THOSE NIGHTS

EXCEPT ONE

 

HE HAS A GIRLS IN HIS MEMORY A WOMAN AT HOME

LOTS OF CIGARETTES AND COFFEE ALONE

IT’S A COLD HARD MORNING…

(CHORUS)

 

SHE’S SITTING BY HIS BEDSIDE SQUEEZING HIS HAND

SHE KNOWS HE’S GOING TO THE PROMISED LAND

BUT THERE IS JUST NO FIXING WHAT ONCE WAS BROKEN

SHE COULDN’T LOVE HIM WHEN NO ONE WAS LOOKING (CHORUS)


SALESMAN OF PARADISE

 

HE WENT TO THE SERVICES AT THE STREET CORNER ALTAR

AND HE PRAYED TO THE GOD AS EXPLAINED

BY A FUNNY FAT MAN IN A WHITE HUCKSTERS SUIT

WITH A SMILE LIKE AN OFFERING PLATE

 

(CHORUS) AND HE GAVE HIS LAST NICKEL TO HIM

AND HE GAVE UP HIS LAST DIME

FOR THE GOLDEN BRASS RING AND THE TRINITY

AND THE KEY TO UNLOCK PARADISE

 

HE KNEW THAT THE DEVIL WAS WAITING

AROUND EVERY BEND IN HIS LIFE

AND ONLY THE FAT MAN COULD SAVE HIM

AND TELL HIM HOW TO DO RIGHT

LET’S GO BOMB THE HELL OUT OF HADES

KEEP HEAVEN SAFE ON ALL FRONTS

HOW DO I KNOW? THE LORD TOLD ME SO

IT’S THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS PARADISE (CHORUS)

 

WELL HE DIED ON A RAINY LAST THURSDAY

THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO CRY

SO THEY PLAYED A RECORDING OF SOME WOMEN MOURNING

AND AVE MARIA

AND THE ONE WHO HELD HIS FAITH FOR SO LONG

THE ONE WHO SOLD HIM HIS DREAMS

WAS ALREADY MOVING ON THE MONEY’S ALL GONE

THE KEY TO UNLOCK PARADISE (CHORUS)



ROAD AND RYE

 

RIDING ALONG THE COASTLINE OF IOWAY

SAY THE OCEAN AIN’T TOO FAR AWAY

IT LOOKS LIKE DES MOINES

AND IT DON’T SEEM RIGHT TO ME

 

(CHORUS)AND OH MY LORD I WON’T GO HOME

OH MY LORD I’M GOING TO STAY STONED

I’M GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL I DIE

JUST GIVE ME THE ROAD AND THE RYE

 

I’VE BEEN DRINKING THIS WHISKEY FOR 40 YEARS

AND IF THE GOOD LORD IS WILLING

I’LL BE DRINKING FOR 40 MORE

ASK ME FOR A DRINK AND I DON’T SAY NO NO MORE

(CHORUS)

 

I’VE BEEN RIDING THESE ROADS SINCE ‘69

AND I THOUGHT OF MY HOME FROM TIME TO TIME

BUT OH THAT RYE STANDS BETWEEN MY HOME AND I

(CHORUS)


TAKE A WALK WITH JESUS

 

PREACHER RUSSELL WOULD SLAM HIS BIBLE DOWN

AND SINNER YOU KNOW YOU BEST BE LEAVING TOWN

HE’D SPEAK HIS WORDS OF FIRE AND IF YOU BELIEVED

YOU COULDN’T SIT THERE IF YOU WERE CHAINED TO YOUR SEAT

 

(CHORUS) YOU HAD TO TAKE A WALK, TAKE A WALK

TAKE A WALK WITH JESUS TAKE A WALK

ONCE YOU SING HIS SWEET PRAISES

YOU’LL FEEL YOURSELF RAISING

UP TO HEAVEN TAKE A WALK

 

BETTY THOMPSON WAS THE WAYWARD GIRL IN OUR TOWN

AND HER PARENTS ASKED PREACH IF HE COULD TALK HER DOWN

HE OPENED UP THE GOOD BOOK AND HE SPOKE THE GOOD WORDS

AND HE SAID HEY BETTY WON’T YOU BE A GOOD GIRL (CHORUS)

 

BETTY LOOKED AT THE PREACHER AND SHE MADE HIS HEAD SPIN

MADE HIM FEEL THE WAY THE LORD NEVER DID

SHE SAID HEY PREACH WON’T YOU WALK MY PATHWAYS

THERE’S SO MANY WAYS TO SIN WE CAN DO IT EVERY WAY

 

AND TAKE A WALK TAKE A WALK

TAKE A WALK WITH SATAN TAKE WALK

IF YOU SING HIS SWEET PRAISES

YOU’LL FEEL YOURSELF RAISING

UP TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF HEAVEN WHAT THE HELL.

 

THE TENT OF HOPE WAS QUIET BETTY AND THE PREACHER WERE GONE

ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A NOTE THAT TOLD US ALL

I’VE WRESTLED WITH TEMPTATION, TEMPTATION WON

LEARN FROM MY WEAKNESSES AND WALK THE GOOD WALK (CHORUS)


SOLIDARITY FOREVER (CHAPLIN)

 

WHEN THE UNION’S INSPIRATION THROUGH THE WORKERS BLOOD SHALL RUN

THERE WILL BE NO POWER GREATER ANYWHERE BENEATH THE SUN

BUT NOTHING CAN BE WEAKER THAN THE FEEBLE STRENGTH OF ONE

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

WE HAD NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE GREEDY PARASITE

WHO WILL BULLY AND OPPRESS US AND CRUSH US WITH HIS MIGHT

IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT TO US BUT TO ORGANIZE AND  FIGHT

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

IT IS WE WHO PLOWED THE PRAIRIE BUILT THE CITY WHERE THEY TRADE

DUG THE MINE AND BUILT THE WORKSHOP ENDLESS MILES OF RAILROAD LAID

NOW WE STAND OUTCAST AND STARVING AMID THE WONDERS WE HAVE MADE

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

ALL THE WORLD THAT’S OWNED BY TRUSTS AND FUNDS IS OURS AND OURS ALONE

WE HAVE LAID THE WIDE FOUNDATION BUILT IT SKYWARD STONE BE STONE

IT IS OURS NOT TO SLAVE IN BUT TO MASTER AND TO OWN

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

THEY HAVE TAKEN UNTOLD MILLIONS THAT THEY NEVER TOILED TO EARN

BUT WITHOUT OUR BRAIN AND MUSCLE NOT A SINGLE WHEEL CAN TURN

WE CAN BREAK THEIR REALM OF POWER GAIN OUR FREEDOM WHEN WE LEARN

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

IN OUR HANDS IN PLACED A POWER GREATER THAN THEIR HOARDED GOLD

GREATER THAN THE MIGHT OF ARMIES MAGNIFIED A THOUSAND FOLD

WE CAN BRING TO BIRTH A NEW WORLD FROM THE ASHES OF THE OLD

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG

 

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

SOLIDARITY FOREVER

IT’S OUR UNION IT’S OUR UNION MAKES US STRONG


AGAIN ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS...
Xmas.jpg
..A FIFTH OF WHISKEY AND A HANDGUN