Bourbon Street – Songs for Better Singers

Found my feet lost on Bourbon Street

Country blues on city time

Made myself a bet how soon I’d forget

Only children have eternal rhyme

This Big Easy has been awful hard on me

Sleeping down by the M I S S I S S I P P I

Found these feet lost on Bourbon Street

I’m gonna head up the M I S S I S S I P P I

Found my feet lost on Bourbon Street

Hot neon dreams they led me to New Orleans

Kentucky bluebird he came along

Horns blowing bright they lifted a starless night

I was so low inside Keith’s song

This Big Easy has been awful hard on me

Sleeping down by the M I S S I S S I P P I

Found my feet lost on this Bourbon Street

It’s Gonna Hurt – Songs for Better Singers

Once again we’re on the fringe

Looking better than the shape we’re in

There’s enough hurt ‘round here to fill a train

Stacked in piles like rotting grain

It’s only gonna hurt for a while

It’s only gonna hurt for a while

It’s only gonna hurt ‘til I don’t

I’m only gonna hurt because you won’t

Little fairy wings that spread the dust

Will collect the love that they blew on us

Well I’m meek and cold of threads and memories

It’s gonna be tough as you and worn out as me

It’s only gonna hurt for a while

It’s only gonna hurt for a while

I’m only gonna hurt ‘til I don’t

I’m only gonna hurt because you won’t

Helluva Chance – Songs for Better Singers

Hey you got your boots pointed in wrong direction

We were crying before too much reflection

Well the ice was melting off tree branches

We had a three-day beard and took sideways glances

Well that woman was long and her legs were lean

You were black and blue and all serene

You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

Now lights are flashing and women are crying

And the lawyers are ready to start their lying

You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

Hey you gotta slide out cause they got you running

Some Dirty Harry’s gonna come gunning

Left behind your old daddy’s guitar

As payment in kind for a stolen car

Well the pretty woman sings like a bird in a cage

Said you left her in a naked jealous rage

You took a Helluva chance on the angels coming

You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

Now lights are flashing and women are crying

And the lawyers are ready to start their lying

You took a Helluva chance on the angels coming

You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

I Know You’ll Cry – Songs for Better Singers

I know you’ll cry when the rain comes

But that’s alright if it helps you heal

Watch the birds keep flying

And remember how sweet the sunshine feels

I know you’ll cry when you smell pine trees

But that’s alright if you think of home

The country will be inside your soul in New York City, Paris or Rome

I know you’ll cry when you eat wedding cake

But that’s alright if you know its sweet

Think of a white and happy winter

And warm kids playing at your feet

Sometimes you’ll cry without knowing why

But your guardian angel will understand

And hold your shaking hand

I know you’ll cry at certain sad songs

But that’s alright if you still sing

Hear a choir of happy children

When you hear church bells ring

I know you’ll cry when the rain comes

They Don’t Want Me – Songs for Better Singers

It was raining when I came passing through

I was trying to keep dry what could I do

There’s a long list of mothers that have warned their daughters I’d come around

To their town

I was trying to quit lying about my past I want to make things last

I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around

They don’t want me in their town

Well a pretty preacher’s daughter took me in

I swore I never taught her how to sin

There’s a long list of daughters that have lied to their mothers about me

Can’t you see

That I was trying to quite lying about my past I want to make things last

I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around

They don’t want me in their town

Well all I could do was try to make a stand

I was up against the town and a preacher man

There’s a long of preachers with pretty restless wives that run away

So we left that day

I was trying to quit lying about my past I want to make things last

I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around

They don’t want me

They don’t want me

No they don’t want me in their town

Rainmaker – Songs for Better Singers

There’s a gray tomcat outside my door

Crying like he can’t hunt no more

It’s soaking in my skin like tattoos where I’ve been

I can feel him

Well a worn leather Harley beats down the street

There’s no mama on that fender seat

In the summer rain with very little strain he can’t hide his tears

I’m a street-walker lost and found

Turning tricks on virgin ground

I’m a rainmaker

I’m a rainmaker

With empty clouds

With empty clouds

Well count your beads and say your Hail Mary’s

Lower bones into the cemeteries

Well velvet shadows sway mark another day

‘Til we join them

There’s a couple old boys standing outside the bar

Glad I’m driving past in this old car

Or I’d slide right in and I’d have to swim

To get on out of there

I’m a street-walker lost and found

Turning tricks on virgin ground

I’m a rainmaker

I’m a rainmaker

Just a rainmaker

With empty clouds

With empty clouds

Born to Sin – Songs for Better Singers

No use crying about the shape we’re in

Cause after all man was born to sin

Born to sin and born to cry

Waiting for wings so we can fly

Give me wings oh give me wheels

I gotta know how traveling feels

Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in

After all man was born to sin

I’m gonna be gone when dawn comes knocking in the morning

I’ll be missing the kissing you gave out last night

I’ve got a dream it’s gonna smooth things out

Well there ain’t no doubt

Gonna be right tonight

No use crying about the shape we’re in

Cause after all man was born to sin

Born to sin born to cry

Waiting for wings so we can fly

Give me wings oh give me wheels

I got to know how traveling feels

Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in

Cause after all man was born to sin

If I take it slow the way I go it will lead me home

The bucking and trucking rodeo is going to pay

When you see my smiling face I’ll have flowers

In a few short hours ok I’m on my way

Hey, hey, hey, hey

There’s no use crying about the shape we’re in

After all man was born to sin

Born to sin born to cry

Waiting for wings so we can fly

Give me wings oh give me wheels

I gotta know how traveling feels

Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in

Cause after all man was born to sin

Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in

Cause after all man was born to sin

Born to sin

It Won’t Hurt Me – Songs for Better Singers

You’ll say that I’ll run blindly

It’s gonna hurt me

It’s gonna hurt me

Then you’ll haunt the trails behind me

It’s gonna hurt me

It’s gonna hurt me

I will be kicking myself I know that I loved you

Praying for things to set me free

But you won’t cry for me you’ll say I had it coming

It’s gonna hurt me

You might say that I turned outlaw

It’s gonna hurt me

It’s gonna hurt me

I got some red neck in me like my pa

It’s gonna hurt me

It’s gonna hurt me

I can cry with dust in my eyes

Waiting for the thing to set me free

But you won’t cry for me you’ll say I had it coming

That’s gonna hurt me

And if you say you never loved me

That’s gonna hurt me

It’s gonna hurt me

And you won’t be there when they bury me

But that won’t hurt me

That won’t hurt me

That won’t hurt me

On Metal Horses – Songs for Better Singers

Well it’s kind of strange they ride the range on metal horses

Their restless souls can gain control as they cut the wind

On Harley rides they don’t hide from the western sun

Oh they’re having fun oh they love to run

On metal horses

They ride to town they shut them down at the old saloon

Sawdust on the floor they’ve been here before and they like pine smell

They’re raising hell they don’t care to dwell on the bad things they’ve done

Oh they’re having fun oh they love to run

On metal horses

Like one-eyed jacks they ride in black it’s a James Dean thing

They ride through rain but there’s no shame in showing up wet

Yes it’s kind of strange they ride the range on metal horses

But they’re having fun and they love to run on metal horses

On metal horses

Any House – Songs for Better Singers

Dad talked around a cigarette but I heard what he said

He said this old house will keep us warm and keep the rain off of our heads

Some of the windows were broken and in the clearing it looked so all alone

But Mom said with a little love any house can be a home

Any house can be a home if you fix the roof and paint every few years

If you laugh a lot cry some tears drop down on your knees and say your prayers

I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own

But any good mama will tell you with a little love any house can be a home

I was coming home after a party from some big music a road show

Through the tinted windows in my limousine I saw a campfire glow

Under the bridge I told the driver to stop let me walk a little while

I walked over to the campfire and an old man stood and gave me a smile

There was this old man and three young children cooking hot dogs at the end of some stiff kind of a wire

The smallest one said mister you can have mine as he pulled it from the fire

The old man came over there and he said take it so I took it and put a wad of money in his hand

Woman saw tears in my eyes and she said honey did you thank the man

Any bridge can be a home it don’t need a roof it don’t need stairs

You can kneel down by a campfire and under the stars the Lord will take your prayers

I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own

Like any good woman will tell you with a little love I guess anywhere can be a home

It sure shouldn’t have to be that way

Little children sleeping under bridges

We all need to help that situation out

Common folks let’s get these people some houses

We can offer we can always afford things like that

I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own

Like any good mama would tell you any house can be a home

Happy Toad – Songs for Better Singers

Crow sitting on a barbed-wire fence looks singing don’t make no sense

She oughtta get on get on down the road

Cat caught a mouse looks like a dog eating him like corn on the cob

You oughtta get on get on down the road

You oughtta get on get on down the road

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Try to keep a smile planted on your face

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Get on get on down the road

Big girls dancing down at the park little dog comes just to sit and bark

He oughtta get on get on down the road

Hitchhiker standing in the rain he ought to go out and just hop a train

He oughtta get on get on down the road

He oughtta get on get on down the road

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Try to keep a smile planted on your face

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Get on get on down the road

I’ve got Visene for red eyes for what the law won’t legalize

I’ve got to get on get on down the road

When the law comes looking high and low wonder where all the good pickers go

They gotta get on get on down the road

They oughtta get on get on down the road

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Try to keep a smile planted on your face

Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad

Get on get on down the road

Little Bit of Mama – Songs for Better Singers

Off of the concrete on to the dirt roads down to Martha’s place

We love to eat and she likes to cook you can see it on her face

You’re not looking if you don’t see where the love is coming from

There’s a little bit of mama there for boys who don’t have one

She’ll look past your eyes and into your heart if you let down your guard

She’s a little soft on wayward types who like their livin’ hard

She wears a cotton apron full of flour faded from the sun

She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one

Like Mama she’ll tell you when you’re headed down the wrong path

And she’ll give you all the free advice you don’t even have to ask

Stay on the sunny side and say your prayers are things you’ll hear her say

She’ll make you wash behind your ears then send you on your way

If you’re up at dawn she’ll know you played all night we live on the run

She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one

You give her love get back on the bus cause there’s shows to be done

She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one

She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one

Not a Stranger – Songs for Better Singers

It was cold and it was raining my bike wasn’t running right

All across the river as lightening lit up the night

When my bike quit running I commenced to walk

‘Til a car picked me up with a woman who needed to talk

She took me into her comfort in a way I’ll never forget

She wasn’t a stranger just a friend I had not met

Well cowboy bikers talk about freedom as if it grows like wheat

Kind hearted, dry you off and fix you something to eat

When I awoke she was gone I walked into the morning sun

Took off for the Badlands when I got my old bike to run

But I think about that woman I almost forget

She was not a stranger just a friend I had not met

Now I think about that woman and I know I should not forget

She wasn’t a stranger just a friend I had not met