1. |
Devil On The Road
04:06
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Something that we all know but don’t speak
Something you said, but you heard it from me
The road is too rough to walk it alone
The buffeting winds and the blankets of snow
Stay here inside where it’s safe and it’s warm
Not like the storm outside of that door
But if you must go to see for yourself
There’s something you need to know
When you walk out that door, know there’s a devil on the road
He’ll lead you through fields filled with dusty drying bones
He’ll show you the darkest things that you should never know
And he’ll plant them deep down in your dusty drying soul
Something you heard from over the sea
Something you said, but never to me
‘Cause all of your time was purchased with gold
And shimmering things – you left me in the cold
I did my best to see through your eyes
Something you never tried doing with mine
If you were here I’d tell you to go
But there’s something you need to know
When you walk out that door, know there’s a devil on the road
He’ll lead you through fields filled with your own drying bones
He’ll show you the darkest things you’ll wish you’d never known
And he’ll plant them deep down in your dusty drying soul
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2. |
True
05:41
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You’re wrong, but you think you’re right
And you won’t give up the fight
Drug through the mud
You won’t stop till kingdom come
It takes time to compromise
When you make us all take sides
I’ve been thinking a lot about the words that we’ve got
They got stitches and stains from all the transparent sayings
Overused and undone, simplified all in one
Redundantly wrong and now we’re all but gone
And it’s true – I said I loved you
But now I do know it’s true
It’s such a simple phrase
But when you add it up it just complicates
You know, it’s such a simple phrase
But when you add it up we all sound the same
I’ve been thinking a lot about the words that we’ve got
They got stitches and stains from all the transparent sayings
Overused and undone, simplified all in one
Redundantly wrong and now we’re all but gone
It’s the canvas contrast with all the splotches of red
It won’t change if you squint or transform with a glint
Can’t be fitted or shaped or be made to be draped
It is what it is and it won’t change with your wish
I’ve been thinking a lot about the words that we’ve got
They got stitches and stains from all the transparent sayings
Overused and undone, simplified all in one
Redundantly wrong and now we’re all but gone
And it’s true – I said I loved you
But now I do know it’s through
It’s the canvas contrast with all the splotches of red
It won’t change if you squint or transform with a glint
Can’t be fitted or shaped or be made to be draped
It is what it is and it won’t change with your wish
I’ve been thinking a lot about the words that we’ve got
They got stitches and stains from all the transparent sayings
Overused and undone, simplified all in one
Redundantly wrong and now we’re all but gone
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3. |
Sixteen Men
03:13
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There were sixteen men on the edge of the dock
And a thousand more come just for seeing us off
The scent of the wind blowing over the waves
We were dead where we stood, we were led to our graves
If they told me then I would not see home again
I’d have stayed on the land, plant my feet with you in hand
It was sixteen days since we set out to sea
I said to my friend “I don’t feel all that free.
If something goes wrong there’ll be nowhere to run.”
In less than an hour the storm had begun
If they told me then I would not see home again
I’d have leapt to the sea thinking only of you and me
There were fifteen men washed away out to sea
And left on the wreckage my pistol and me
At that moment I wanted for nothing of food
Of shelter or drink, no I just wanted you
If they told me then I would not see home again
I’d have stayed on the land, plant my feet with you in hand
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4. |
Old Habits Die Hard
03:28
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Anxious for a ride, but apprehension is the failure’s bride. Memories speed through your mind like a steam engine at the speed of light. Perspiration and foreboding thoughts. You yell you’re ready, and they drop the lock. It may be murder but it’s all you’ve got. Old habits die hard. Never looking back, but your lack of longing has its own impact. Tears weren’t shed for you, now you know just what they knew. Told ‘em they were wrong, but you know they’re true. Focus brings a kind of hate, they’re not people, they’re just in your way. Old habits die hard. Back into the zone, the minute hand it’s tickin’ by so slow. Old habits die hard. Unexpected turn, your mind has wandered from the main concern. Flashed before your eyes, you hit the ground before you realize. Old habits die hard.
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5. |
Brotherhood
03:28
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Do you remember us together, growing up on Ohio plains?
Those days are over, now we’re older, but things don’t ever have to change
’96, no neighbor kids to reenact those summer games
So we made good with brotherhood and a two-man relay race
Not twins, but close, with hand-me-down clothes, and the bowl cuts Mother gave
Like blackberries that stained our jeans, those memories never fade
Public pools and nighttime lulls mixed with the smell right after rain
And that lightning bug emotion that I still can never name
Backyard camping, telling ghost stories to keep ourselves awake
And we begged on grass-stained knees, “Please, Summer, stay another day.”
Do you remember us together, growing up on Ohio plains?
Those days are over, now we’re older, but things don’t ever have to change
That lightning bug emotion can still come another way
Those memories give more meaning to who we are today
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6. |
Just Let Me Hang
03:10
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I told her that I would not drink
A promise I never intended to keep
The bottle of whiskey still sings me to sleep
And takes her away again
The sky, it was red on the night that they died
When I lost my dear baby girl and my wife
And I begged God to take back my life
‘Cause I didn’t want it no more
They tell me no women will cry on my grave
No preacher believes I’d be worth it to save
And I heard dyin’ men should be brave
But I ain’t got nothing impressive to say
So just let me hang
Well, I’ve never had much of a plan
It’s always been other men’s dirt on my hands
And I’ve felt like I’m running through sand
Just trying to get home again
So I took about all I could take
But when I see that rope, my hands start to shake
And I pray God that my neck will break
When it comes to the end of things
They tell me no women will cry on my grave
No preacher believes I’d be worth it to save
And I heard dyin’ men should be brave
But I ain’t got nothing impressive to say
So just let me hang low
Down near the people I know
And I’ll go where they go
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7. |
Death Row
04:36
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I saw the setting sun and I knew that here’s as far as I would run
So I turned to face the dogs and gave myself to the long arm of the law
I raised both my hands and I let the warden’s man drag me away
And I looked into those hardened eyes and asked “Son, whatcha think they’ll say after I die?”
“Well drifter, they’ll pilfer all that you know
Starting with the life you left behind before death row
And your momma’s heart won’t heal the hole ‘cuz for your soul when you die
Heaven ain’t nigh”
I heard footsteps approach and I saw them holding what the jury wrote
And I knew what was in store ‘cuz I’ve seen men walk down that hallway before
They clapped both my hands in the tightest iron bands that they could find
And I looked into those steely eyes and asked “warden, what’ll they do after I die?”
“Well drifter, they’ll pilfer all that you know
Starting with the life you left behind before death row
And your momma’s heart won’t heal the hole ‘cuz for your soul when you die
Heaven ain’t nigh”
I walked down the row – you never told me how it feels so much like home
I saw through the coldest eyes that the world has ever made and left outside
Up the stairs I rose to take my rightful place upon my throne
They closed and locked the door and I asked the preacher what awaits me when I die
“Well drifter, they’ll pilfer all that you know
Starting with the life you left behind before death row
And your momma’s heart won’t heal the hole ‘cuz for your soul when you die
Heaven ain’t nigh”
I walked down the row – you never told me how it feels so much like home
They closed and locked the door and I asked the preacher what awaits me when I die
“heaven ain’t nigh.”
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8. |
Whatcha Doin'
02:44
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I saw you on that dusty road
Whatcha doing on your own?
Something I would like to know:
Whatcha doin’ later on?
And if I asked you to the show
Would you kinda maybe wanna go?
Would you make me go alone?
Whatcha doin’ later on?
I saw you on that dusty road
Whatcha doing on your own?
Something I’d still like to know:
Whatcha doin later on?
And if I asked you where to go
Would you tell me what you know?
Would you lead me through the snow?
Whatcha doin’ later on?
I saw you on that same old road
How you doing now we’re on our own?
Something I’d still love to know
Whatcha doin’ later on?
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9. |
The Gospel Song
05:41
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When I reach those pearly gates, I’ll turn around and make it rain
On all those poor old dyin’ souls who thirst below
I’m a bit tied up right now, but when tomorrow rolls around
I will help my fellow man like I’ve been told
Don’t you know your heart is only growing cold?
I will not abet the violence that I see on city streets
But I will watch ten thousand murders on my screen
TV shows or news at night, entertainment I’ll derive
As long as it’s not here and it’s not happenin’ to me
Don’t you know you’re losing your humanity?
Don’t you know the value of a single soul?
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take
Lord knows I took enough souls on my own
Not with bullets from a gun, just ain’t been helping anyone
And when I die, I’ll die like I lived, all alone
Don’t you know a man can’t reach God’s throne alone?
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