1. |
Bus Ride West
04:29
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I’m traveling west on a Greyhound
As far as my money will go.
I hope that this dog is a good one
‘Cause I’m so far away from my home.
My head’s pressed up to the window.
And I can feel a vibration inside
Of tires clicking on pavement
As mile after mile goes by
Chorus:
I’m going away, don’t know where I’m bound.
There’s a whole lot of country to see.
I’m going away, and I aint lookin’ back
All that I know is I’m free
And this world aint got nothin’ on me.
Some folks would say that I’m runnin’ away
But they just don’t understand
How I could leave such a great opportunity
To be just like my old man.
That’s not my life and it never will be
Not a desk, not a tie, not a suit
My dreams are wilder my heart is softer
My path is less absolute
repeat Chorus:
(bridge)
Well I aint got a whole lot of answers
I coulda made much better plans
But sometimes you just have to take a leap
And trust where you happen to land
We’re west bound on interstate 30 now
Just outside of Little Rock
This ticket will get me to Dallas
Any further and I’ll have to walk
These Arkansas towns just roll on by
Past Benton, past Malvern, past Hope
My dad always said I was beyond hope
The truest words he ever spoke
repeat Chorus:
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2. |
Bury Me
03:32
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Bury me
Down by the old Mill stream
Where trout run thick as thieves
And light cuts like beams through the trees
I’ve never seen such majesty
I could believe, I could believe
Bury me
Down by the old Mill stream
Where breeze whispers through the grass
Urging me to let go of my past
It means nothing to this dirt
I could forgive, I could forgive
(bridge)
Take this burden from my back
Raise my face up to the sun
In the waning of my days I see
Everything is one
Bury me
Down by the old Mill stream
Where the water’s crystal clear
The great blue heron takes to the air
Up above cathedral pines
I do believe, I do believe
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3. |
Lone Train Whistle
04:12
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She’s like a shot of whiskey in a troubled man’s hands
She numbs the pain, but the pain demands
Another shot of something so he keeps coming back
His hands they tremble as he brings her to his lips
She shuts her eyes as she grinds her hips
And a lone train whistle blows way down the line
Mosquito buzzin’ around the bed
The smell of sex and a cigarette
She tries to hide the tears upon her face
He’s lying there just pretends to sleep
Hoping she’ll leave before he has to speak
And a lone train whistle blows way down the line
She wants to jump that train leave this life behind
He wants to jump that train leave this life behind
But they just lie right there listenin’ to that whistle whine.
He pours a cup of coffee with a long dark stare
She’s counting up the wasted nights of this affair
She makes a promise to herself that she won’t keep
He’s a little bit sorry but not enough
To give her just a little what she’s in need of
And a lone train whistle blows way down the line
She wants to jump that train leave this life behind
He wants to jump that train leave this life behind
But they’ll be back next week listenin’ to that whistle whine
Yeah they’ll be back next week listenin’ to that whistle whine
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4. |
The Butter Queen
02:47
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The Butter Queen
Ridin’ in the back of a
’57 Cadillac
A ’57 Cadillac
On the 4th of July
The Butter Queen
Tossin’ out candy from a
’57 Cadillac
A ’57 Cadillac
On the 4th of July
And every kid in town goes home
In a sugar coma haze
Oh they love her in
A ’57 Cadillac
The Butter Queen
Smilin’ at the boys
As she rides by
She says “Hi”
On the 4th of July
The Butter Queen
Feelin’ kinda special
In the big parade
Aint nothin’ she’d trade
On the 4th of July
And tonight she just might kiss a boy
Under exploding skies
Oh they love her in
A ’57 Cadillac
The Butter Queen
She’s got dreams
In a ’57 Cadillac
A ’57 Cadillac
On the 4th of July
The Butter Queen, she wants to
Keep on riding
Doesn’t want it to end
Aint no chores to tend
On the 4th of July
And at the end of this parade she knows
Her life’s gonna be the same
But she loves it in
A ’57 Cadillac
But she loves it in
A ’57 Cadillac
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5. |
Last Goodbye 1863
02:58
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The smoke is rising in the distance
I hear the drums across the field
Run and fetch my coat
There’s not much time to waist
I heard we’re moving out to Vicksburg
I don’t know where that is
I hope it’s not too far a way
Kiss the boys and tell them I’ll be home for Christmas
Dry your eyes its ok
There’s money in a box
Underneath the floor boards
The loose ones by the stove
Don’t forget to pay the mill for their labor
On thirty bags of grain
The bugle’s calling now
I’ve got to go
Hold me one last time
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love … you.
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6. |
Eli's Song
04:42
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Welcome home little man
We’ll raise you up the best we can
Come and take my hand
And walk with me through sacred lands
Don’t be afraid
Don’t turn away
I’m here to say
Live life, hold life
Take it in your hands
Live life, breathe life
Do all you can
There’s a great big world out there for you
We’ll sail the sea
We’ll build a house in that apple tree
I’ll teach you how to ride a bike
And if I have to how to fight
Don’t be afraid
Don’t turn away
I’m here to say
Live life, hold life
Take it in your hands
Live life, breathe life
Do all you can
There’s a great big world out there for you
And as you grow, we’ll grow with you
Through your eyes the world looks new
And when it’s time for you to go
Your mom and dad, oh we love you so
Don’t be afraid
Don’t turn away
I’m here to say
Live life, hold life
Take it in your hands
Live life, breathe life
Do all you can
There’s a great big world out there for you
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7. |
Revelation Road
04:02
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Got my thumb out on the road
Just one bag upon my back
Nothin’ in this world gonna weigh my down
And the sun is shining pretty off the corn so green
Pressed against the clear blue sky
It takes my breath away sometimes
Knowing I’m so small
The things I thought were important then
I see now they don’t matter … they don’t matter at all
Got a ride out in Kansas
In rusted pickup truck
From a man talkin’ crazy ‘bout his lord.
He took me home and fed me and he let me rest my head
On a couch that was tattered and torn
It takes my breath away sometimes
How I prejudge this world
The things I thought I knew back then
I see now they don’t matter … they don’t matter at all
The rain is pouring down
From the brim of my hat
And my body is soaked right to the bone
Not a soul on this highway, not a ride to be found
But I am fine because I am at home
It takes my breath away sometimes
How we truly are alone
The things I held so close to me
I see now they don’t matter … they don’t matter at all
I’m standing on the west coast
Aint no more of this road
There’s nothing but the vastness of the sea
Is it the end of the journey or the start of a life
With a soul that’s finally free
It takes my breath away sometimes
How easy it can be
The things I thought were impossible then
I see now they don’t matter … they don’t matter at all
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8. |
Circus Nights
04:26
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Strike the tent and take it down
It’s on to the next one horse town.
Wash the elephants and put ‘em all away.
Sure has been a long, long day
Come the morning and we’ll all be gone.
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
Put the tiger back in his cage.
The strong man is starting to show his age.
As the clowns debate philosophy,
The girl on the trapeze just laughs at gravity.
Come the morning and we’ll all be gone.
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
There’s a Shriner over there in his underwear.
He looks like of suspicious and he’s been flirting with the dancing bear.
The midgets are talking about a strike,
As the contortionist unwinds for the night.
Come the morning and we’ll all be gone.
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
The tight rope walker has lost his way.
He’s already drunk up half his pay.
The bearded lady’s got a date.
And she must really like him ‘cause she’s bringin’ along her snake.
Come the morning and we’ll all be gone.
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
The ringmaster’s working on his MBA.
A correspondence course from Arizona.
He’s seen the future in a thousand sticky faces.
Ain’t gonna spend another year traveling to all these sad places.
Come the morning and we’ll all be gone.
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
Bye-bye, love, bye-bye
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9. |
Marie
04:19
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Goin’ down to Memphis
I’m gonna find my sweet Marie
She ran off with another man
Made a fool out of me
Goin’ down to Memphis
I’m gonna get me a gun
When I hold it in the air
Gonna watch everybody run
Met her at a county fair
She was lookin’ for a ride
Sweet sixteen and cigarettes
And a tattoo on her thigh
She spoke to me of Elvis
Said she’s gonna go see the king
I told her that the king is dead
She said “You don’t know a thing”
We drove all the way to Louisville
Smokin’ dope and drinkin’ wine
And all the while we’re crossin’
State line after state line after state line
We pulled into a cheap motel
Somewhere off route 65
She took my hand, smiled and said
“I’m gonna show you a read good time”
Well you might think I’m crazy
Crazy as can be
But if you saw her bathed in that dashboard light
You’d done just the same as me
Marie …
What you do to me, do to me, do to me
Marie…
What you do to me, do to me, do to me
Well I woke up on the floor of that
Dirty cheap motel
The door was off the hinges
And my head sure hurt like hell
A note was on the bedside
And this is what it said
“I hope my boyfriend Elvis
Didn’t bust your pretty head
Thank you for the money
And thank you for the ride
We’ll see you down the road some day
That is if you’re still alive”
Marie …
What you do to me, do to me, do to me
Marie …
What you do to me, do to me, do to me
So now I’m goin’ down to Memphis
I’m gonna find that sweet Marie
She ran off with another man
Made a fool out of me
Goin’ down to Memphis
I’m gonna get me a gun
When I hold it in the air
Gonna watch everybody run
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10. |
I Can See You
04:20
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I can see you
With your red dress
Slung across his bed
I can see you
With your hair in a mess
And the lipstick kissed from your face
Girl you’re killin’ me
I don’t want to hear excuses
I don’t want to hear you say
It doesn’t mean a thing to you
It just happened that way
Now I’m standing at his window with a bottle in my hand
And the ache I feel is tearing me apart.
I should go but my feet they won’t take a step
I can’t turn my eyes away as I stand here in the dark … watching you.
I can see you
With your cigarette
And no trace of regret
I can see you
Wrapped up in his arms
And your skin reflecting the blue
Of the TV set
Like the blue of the moon,
Like the blue of the pills I took,
Like the blue that’s come over me
Like the blue of the rock I throw
I don’t want to hear excuses
I don’t want to hear you say
It doesn’t mean a thing to you
It just happened that way
Now you’re standing at his window with the phone in your hand
And I know 9-1-1′s on its way
I should go but my feet they won’t take a step
I can’t turn my eyes away as I stand here in the dark … watching you.
I can see … you
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11. |
I Wish I May
03:17
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I wish I may, I wish I might
Spend some time with you tonight
I’m tired of this road I’m missing home.
I think about you every day
But when I got to San Jose,
I had to stop and drink myself to bed.
It’s the only way to chase you from my head.
I’m sorry that I had to leave
But I can’t help thinking you’re relieved
I’ve made a mess of everything I’ve touched.
Sent you money when I could
A post card from Hollywood
“Wishing you were here” I know it’s trite
But that’s all I had the heart to write.
(bridge)
I’ve got an ache inside that I can’t shake
Leaving you was my mistake
I realize it now it’s much too late
I’m on the road, I’m running blind
Thought I’d find some peace of mind
But all I see are images of you.
I take a drink ‘cause that’s all I can do.
I wish I may, I wish I might
Lie down next to you tonight
I’d take everything back if I could
But I know down deep inside you never would.
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12. |
Keep On Dancing
04:57
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You know my love I don’t dance very well.
That was made clear from the start.
Your toes got bruised on our wedding day.
But I hope I took care for your heart.
Though many years have passed since then,
My footwork has never improved.
Chorus:
But we’ll keep on dancing,
Although it’s not pretty sometimes.
With my two left feet
And your sense of rhythm,
It’s a wonder we ever get by.
But we’ll keep on dancing together
For the rest of our lives.
Sometimes we do-se-do round one another
Brushing our teeth late at night.
And sometimes in the mirror I’ll see the reflection
Of the lovers we were once before.
Though some of that fire has burned itself out,
We’ll dance barefoot through the coals.
Chorus:
Yes we’ll keep on dancing …
Sometimes it’s a tango with blood on our lips
From the rose we keep clenched in our mouths.
And sometimes it’s a slow dance with my arms in your arms
While we’re watching the kids in their beds.
And it’s times like these that I know for sure,
I picked the right partner that night.
Chorus:
And we’ll keep on dancing …
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Chris LaVancher Boston, Massachusetts
“LaVancher writes songs that tell stories of love among the ruins. His characters may not be from the highest rungs of society, but their feelings come through loud and clear.” – Darius Rips
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