Saturday, January 30, 2010

Inbetween

It's gotta be tough
To stand right there
And know I'm trying to catch your eye

Have I heart enough
To not be scared
And walk up to you and just say hi

If you say no
Oh no no
If you say yes
Oh yes yes
But right now
It's just a guess

Caught inbetween
A yes and a no
Caught inbetween
A yes and a no

I feel it deep down
Like something cold
And I know I gotta let it go

If it sticks around
The moment grows old
Rush right in, my foolish soul

If you say go
Oh go go
If you say stay
Oh stay stay
But right now
I just can't say

01.18.10
STE-206
E A G

Wonderful Waterfall

Down by the rapids
We kissed.
White morning matted
With mist.

The restless river
Whorled and rose.
Would our barrel
Withstand the blows?

Wonderful waterfall

We sealed the lid,
We waited inside.
White water,
White noise, wide eyed.

The white barrel
Waltzed around.
We wondered when
We'd tumble down.

Wonderful waterfall


end over end
over end over
end over end


01.03.10
STE-215
capo 2
C G/B Am
coda: C G/B Am G/B

Friday, January 29, 2010

Crepuscular

It's not a light in the room
It's not a light in the sky
It's not a light to be measured
It's not a light for the eyes

It's not a light in the mind
It's not a light in the heart
It's not a light to be caught
It's not a light in the dark

It's not a light from the stars
It's not a light from the sun
It's not a light to be shown
It's not a light for everyone

It's not a light of the prism
It's not a light to pierce the night
It's not a light to be seen
It's in the fading light


01.29.10
STE-214
G D Am C G D
C Am G D

That Old Sound

Trying to find that old sound
Trying to find that old sound
You can feel it more than hear it
You can reel it in and get near it
Trying to find that old sound

Trying to mine that golden sound
Trying to mine that golden sound
You can dig down deep in your soul
You can figure out what keeps you whole
Trying to mine that golden sound

The world goes past
And time flows fast
And love grows
Love grows and lasts

Trying to bind that holy sound
Trying to bind that holy sound
Like angel wings brushing by
Like darkened things crushing by
Trying to bind that holy sound

01.22.10
STE-207
C (x32013)
C6add9 (x30213)
Am7 (x02213)
Fadd9 (xx3213)
Em (022003)
G

Friday, January 22, 2010

Berceuse

Sing me to sleep tonight
Sing me to sleep tonight
Let my thoughts grow calm
Let my oughts be gone
Sing me to sleep tonight

Bring me the deep tonight
Bring me the deep tonight
Let my prayer be to serve
Let my cares have no words
Bring me the deep tonight


01.22.10
STE-208/09/10 (good take)
First song written on Squier Parlor, purchased just a few hours before
Tuned about a 1/2 step flat

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Stirring Stick

She likes my voice
But not the way I talk
She don't want to roll
But she's ready to rock
I said a-come here a-come here a-come here quick
Stir my rocks with your stirring stick
My playing goes
Where my mojo flows

You got the wrong guitar
To be a superstar
And you need a better hat
To make it big like that
She said a-come here a-come here a-come here quick
Stir my bourbon with your stirring stick
My playing goes
Where my mojo flows

She tells me that she don't
Want to know my name
I'm fine with that
Cause then I can't get blamed
She said a-come here a-come here a-come here quick
Stir my jelly with your stirring stick
My playing goes
Where my mojo flows

01.17.10
STE-205
drop D capo 2

Friday, January 15, 2010

Scene From A Brothel

A parlor guitar
And a big boned gal
A shot of bourbon
He's ready now

Got to go up those steps
Before he comes down
Got to close that door
Before he comes back around

The dirty linens
And the creaking beds
The smell of old men
And the thoughts in their heads

Take it easy, she says
And claws his back
He puts a finger in her mouth
And says, I like it like that.

The push and the grunt
And the sudden rush
The holy holy holler
In a collapsing cuss

Put your money on the stand
You were just fine
Got to put your pants on
One leg at a time

His thoughts are calm
He doesn't feel the pull
How can filth and fury
Be so beautiful

01.15.10
STE-201
D Cadd9
Am
G harp

Booze Hound

Go out with some whiskey
And fill the dog's bowl
The neighbor might shoot him
if he hears him howl

Don't let that mutt in
No matter how much he whines
Put the whiskey in his bowl
And he'll pass out in time

Every night's the same thing
I can't believe you got that mutt
He scratches at my back door
And he tracks in mud

I told you no but no
It's been nothing but a pain
You got guns but you don't hunt
Though you talk a big game

Now come over here, sugar
Use your gun and gun me down
Now hear the neighbor shouting
He's gonna kill that hound

Gimme some of that whiskey
I'm trying to get in the mood
Hear that neighbor shouting
He's gonna poison that dog's food

I can't blame him,
I thought about doing it, too
This is my house, my yard
Only that dog belongs to you

Maybe I'll poison your bowl
But it'd be just my luck
You'd die and will that dog to me
And then I'd be stuck


01.15.10
STE-204
capo 1
E F#m A B
C#m B A (second time E)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Blacklist

Never trust a five-star chef
Who's too fat or too lean
Never trust a mechanic
Whose fingers are too clean
Never trust a family doctor
Who sneezes in your face
And don't retain a lawyer
Who's never won a case

Never trust a one-night stand
Who says that she's been tested
Fire that exterminator
Whose own house is infested
Never hire a portly plumber
Who's afraid to show his crack
Steer clear of that body guard
Who doesn't watch your back

Never sail with a captain
Leaning over starboard side
Never trust a groom in Utah
To marry a single bride
Never use a travel agent
Who says she'll never fly
Never trust a Texas judge
Who says you'll never fry

Be wary of the dealer
Who says he doesn't use
And bet against the gambler
Who says he cannot lose
Turn off the local anchor
If she says it's breaking news
Don't pay the electrician
Who cannot find your fuse

Don't view those master artists
If you are colorblind
And forget those modern poets
Whenever they use slant rhymes
Never trust a politician
Never trust a politician
There’s never a condition
When you can trust a politician.


01.10.10 music
early 2000s lyrics
STE-197
key of E

Façade

Samuel tried his very best
To do what he could
And every choice he ever made
Tried to line up with what's good
He said his daily prayers
And monthly he tithed
But when the sun went down
His demons owned the night
Samuel had a secret sin
That darkened his heart
Outside he was calm
Inside he was ripped apart
The sum of his sin
The sum of his grace
Which one shows us
Samuel's true face.

Daniel tried his very best
To do what had to be done
Whether it was the Augean stable
Or runnin' a fool's errand
He drank his blurry days down
And the whores knew his name
But when the moon came up
His saints carried his pain
Daniel had a secret grace
That lit up his heart
Inside he was golden
Outside he was torn apart
The sum of his sin
The sum of his grace
Which one shows us
Daniel's true face

And I tried my very best
To be like one of them
Day after day night after night
I'm not sure who've I been
The mirror holds a face
That can't be the only one
Look into a deeper pool
To see what I've become
Though the heart is hidden
From my neighbor's eyes
Inside and outside
Are engaged in strife
The sum of my sin
The sum of my grace
Which one shows me
My true face

01.10.10
STE-199
E G A B7

The Art In Being Ignored

There is an art in being ignored.
Within a crowd of friendly strangers,
Never expect to be adored.
There is an art in being ignored:
A glance may be your brief reward;
A longing look has lingering dangers.
There is an art in being ignored
Within a crowd of friendly strangers.

01.10.10 music
late 2000s lyrics
STE-200
G C
G C
Em
G C
G C
Em
G C
G C
Em (C-E-G & B-E-G)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

New Year

New Year's Eve and there's a blue moon
Not even midnight, though it'll be here soon
How I listen and how you talk
Your white wine and my bourbon on the rocks
Once upon a time you sat right here
Out with the old, I'm out in the cold
It's a new year.

We'd made plans and set down resolutions
Figured out the world and offered solutions
Nothing would ever alter our arrangements
The road to boredom is paved with enchainments
Once upon a time, our plans were dear
Another round and you can't be found
It's a new year.

The last time I saw you was two winters past
It's funny how forever never really lasts
The moving van's motor was churning out smoke
I couldn't have felt emptier if I were stone broke
Once upon a time, we had no fear
Midnight rings, search for lost things
It's a new year.

The time we had is less than our time apart
Time runs so slow when kept by one heart
The big days last, but the small ones drift away
Day by day another detail fades
Once upon a time, the details were clear
That world is through, it’s now just you
It's a new year.


01.02.10
STE-192
Open D capo 5
000000
020100
020020
004300
002100

Friday, January 1, 2010

Rock And Roll, or The Myth Of Sisyphus

Keep rollin'
That old stone
Keep rollin'
That old stone
When it gets to the top
You know it won't stop
Keep rollin'

Keep roamin'
Back and forth
Keep roamin'
Back and forth
Up and down that hill
Is a measure of your will
Keep roamin'

Keep rovin'
In that rut
Keep rovin'
In that rut
When it's you and the stone
You'll feel so alone
Keep rovin'

Keep goin'
Up that hill
Keep goin'
Up that hill
That rock is going roll
Back down below
Keep goin'


01.01.10
STE-190
E E/G#
A A/C#
E E7/G#
A C
E B7 E

The Empty Chair

Four angels at a table
Wondering what to do
One leans to another and says


He rises & spreads his wings
Spirals off to the blue
Three angels lean back and say


Three angels at a table
Wondering what to do
One leans to another and says


The second one tells the third one
They vanish from the view
One angel leans back and says


One angel at a table
He's sitting next to you
He leans over and then he says


01.01.10
STE-189
capo 3: C F/C

Shadowland

Shadow man, what're doing?
Ya found a job, but ya lost your soul.
Shadow man, shadow man
You cast a shadow wherever you go.
Shadow man, don't be so.

Well the light shines through for everyone
It's bright enough to fill the dark
Take off those shades, see for yourself,
And let the light light your heart
And let the light light your heart

Shadow lady, what's going on?
Ya got a home, but it's so cold
Shadow lady, shadow lady
You cast a shadow wherever you go
Shadowlady, don't be so.

Shadowland, what's all that?
The skies are bleak, the streets are closed
Shadowland, Shadowland
You cast a shadow wherever you go
Shadowland, don't be so.

01.01.10
STE-188

capo 3
Verse
Am G
Am G
Am G
Am G C
Am G C

Chorus
G C
G C
G C
Am G C
Am G C