| A
Brighter Day
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
There's a little bitty boy down in Jamaica
Who has the gift of seeing second sight
He sees the world and all its troubles
But inside his heart the sun is shining bright
So everybody shout to your brother
Everybody sing let your spirit fly away
Oh oh oh shout to your brother
So all the people have a brighter day
Well the network news went down
to the island
To try to understand the things he sees
But he just laughed and he waved at the camera
He said open up your mind and follow me
Everybody shout to your brother
Everybody sing let spirit fly away
Oh oh oh Shout to your brother
So all the people have a brighter day
When people go to war it hurts us all you see
They don't feel the need to congregate
I may be just a boy but I am not a fool
Our leaders need to simplify instead of complicate
Everybody shout to your brother
Everybody sing let spirit fly away
Oh oh oh shout to your brother
So all the people have a brighter day
Everybody...yeah yeah...everybody
Everybody shout to your brother
I said everybody sing...can ya hear him say?
Oh oh oh shout to your brother
So all the people have a brighter day
Can you hear him say...?
Everybody shout...to the little bitty boy
Everybody's sing, all the people just gotta believe
Oh oh oh shout to your brother
I want to tell ya'
All the people have a brighter day
Ohh ohhh can you hear what the little boy say?
|
Chateau
Words and Music
by
Pat Simmons
and Ted Templeman
Standing on the back porch
Talkin' to your sister
The walls came down,
And hit me like a twister
Been locked up and they thrown away the key
Now we all got our show on the real TV
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Goin' back, whoa whoa
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Gotta get back, gotta get back
Goin' back to the Château
Goin' back to the Château
Gotta get back
Hangin' in the alley on a Saturday night
Howlin' at the moon feelin' all right
Talkin' trash, you crazy freak
Hit him so damn hard he won't get up for a week
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Goin' back, whoa whoa
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Gotta get back, gotta get back
Goin' back to the Château
Goin' back to the Château
Gotta get back
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Goin' back, whoa whoa
Goin' back, yeah yeah
Gotta get back, gotta get back
Goin' back to the Château
Goin' back to the Château
Goin' back to the Château
Goin' back to the Château
Gotta get back
...all the self-involved navel gazers who stand onstage
staring at their shoes
could learn a thing or two from the Doobie Brothers... See ‘em.
You won’t regret it.
Michael Verity
wnew.com
7.14.2011
|
| Nobody
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
Evil ways of practice
may surround you,
callin' on your inner core of life.
But your father was just a complex man of business,
and your mother merely portioned out your fright.
You're gonna run the risk of a sudden loss,
you got no mama to bear your cross beside you.
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
As midnight angels shine their wings
and time begins just to build a wall all around you.
Nobody, nobody
gonna take my love away from me.
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me.
Settin' out on
a voyage down to Jenner,
givin' all I've got to help the cause.
Need a place just to settle out my pressures,
a place where you and I can sit and pause.
So I can see the sky at night
without a fear of a hidden light to blind me, Mm-mm.
So you see the path is here
and changes will be swayed around me.
Nobody, nobody
gonna take my love away from me.
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me.
Nobody, nobody
gonna take my love away from me.
Nobody, nobody gonna take my love away from me.
This band can ROCK.
They're as rockin' a live act as I've ever heard at Merlefest.
astrangemind.blogspot.com
5.1.2011
|
World
Gone Crazy
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
Tryin' to make my pay
Tryin' to make my monthly rent
Workin' real hard for the U.S. dollar
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
I don't wanna live in the street
Like some folks do
I was raised up on the corner in front of a grocery
store
Shinin' shoes with the daily news for two bits on the floor
But given the chance, I'd go back to the days of the simpler time
'Cause this ol' world's gone crazy
And I'm about to lose my mind
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
Tryin' to make my pay
Tryin' to make my monthly rent
Workin' real hard for the US dollar
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
I don't wanna live in the street
Like some folks do
My brother drives delivery right down on Dauphine street
Had a little house by the railroad track
Kinda small but it was neat
The police came and got him
For robbin' a liquor store
And even though he didn't do it
They got what they came for
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
Tryin' to make my pay
Tryin' to make my monthly rent
Workin' real hard for the U.S. dollar
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
I don't wanna live in the street
Like some folks do
It's a poor man whose life is bittersweet
Doesn't wanna lose that good thing that he's got
But the same old government
That pays you every week
Will come and take your home away
And put you in the street
Workin' real hard in the heart of the city
Noonday sun feelin' hot and sweaty
Tryin' to make my pay
Tryin' to make my monthly rent
Workin' real hard for the U.S. dollar
Livin' real poor gonna make me holler
I don't wanna live in the street
Like some folks do
Repeat
|
| Far
From Home
Words and Music
by
Patrick Simmons/Ted Templeman
Wish you could
have stayed a lot longer
'Cause it only seems like yesterday
You've gotten so much stronger
Now I know you're on your way
We've waited for this moment
Now it's hard to let you go
'Cause baby when you're gone away
I know I'm gonna miss you so
Spread your wings
and fly away
When the rain begins to fall
Just remember that you'll never be that far from home
I looked in your
room today
I saw an old and worn-out shoe
It's one from your favorite pair
I remember when they were new
You used to wear them everywhere
When you used to hold my hand
Time slips through your fingers
Just like a tiny little grain of sand
Baby just...
Spread your
wings and fly away
When the rain begins to fall
Just remember, that you'll never be that far from home
Just remember,
that you'll never be that far from home
(never be that far)
Just remember,
that you'll never be that far from home
(never be that far)
Just remember,
that you'll never be that far from home
(never be that far)
Spread your wings,
and fly away
Just remember, that you'll never be that far from home
(never be that far)
Repeat to fade
|
Young
Man's Game
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
Well there ain't
no rules and regulations
When you're playing rock 'n roll
You got your backbeat in the drivers seat
Your rollin' and it's outta control
Now they say that
it's a young man's game
And that is who is burnin' the flame
But they seem to forget
Who shot the rocket outta the hole
You got your young
string slingers
Burning up and down the fretboard all day
You got your metal on the dark side
Warnin' of the Judgment day
But there is still a lotta guys on the road
And they're knocking down a backbeat load
We've got 30 long years
Of bringing people rock 'n roll
Rockin' music makes
us whole
It doesn't matter if you're young or old
They love to hear it on the radio
It takes your troubles away
I'll tell ya what don't work for me
The crazy ideology
That says that playing that rock 'n roll
Is just a young man's game
Now if you're playing
in the coliseum
Or in a smoky ol' club
Long as all the people rockin'
There's a whole lotta shakin' going on
When you're singin' in harmony
And you're down on your bended knee
Throw your guitar in the trunk
And drive your Cadillac to the show
Rockin' music makes
us whole
It doesn't matter if you're young or old
They love to hear it on the radio
It takes your troubles away
I'll tell ya what don't work for me
The crazy ideology
That says that playing that rock 'n roll
Is just a young man's game
Rockin' music makes
us whole
It doesn't matter if you're young or old
They love to hear it on the radio
It takes your troubles away
I'll tell ya what don't work for me
The crazy ideology
That says that playing that rock 'n roll
Is just a young man's game
I'm here to tell
ya
It drives me insane
To hear that rock 'n roll music's
Just a young man's game
Driving in my car, I'm trying to relax
But those rock 'n roll critics talkin' yak yak yak
I'm here to tell
ya
It drives me insane
To hear that rock 'n roll music's
Just a young man's game
Driving in my car, I'm trying to relax
Have mercy those critics talkin' yak yak yak
|
| Don't Say
Goodbye
Words and Music
by
Patrick Simmons/Ted Templeman
This reminds me
of those things we used to do
As that guy if he'll pour another round
And this crazy love has got a mind of its own
I knew eventually I'd find you in this town
And your eyes always
tell what your lips they can't say
Remember those nights down in old San Jose
Baby I know,
You don't have to say any more
We can do anything you want tonight
As long as we don't say goodbye
From the balcony
that overlooks the pool
We watched the carnival unfolding far below
I thought I saw someone waiting underneath the mango tree
It looked just like that other guy you used to know
And your eyes always
tell what your lips they can't say
Remember those nights down in old San Jose
Baby I know,
You don't have to say any more
We can do anything you want tonight
As long as we don't say goodbye
Baby I know,
You don't have to say any more
We can do anything you want
You don't have to say any more
We can do anything you want tonight
Long as we don't say goodbye
Don't say goodbye...
|
My Baby
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
There is a kind
of light
Shinin' down through the tree
Well there's a bright moonlight
Shinin' down through the tree
And I know my baby's
Comin' down to be with me
She got a basket
on her arm
With my love inside
She got a basket on her arm, babe
With my love inside
Now when she opens up the basket
Things are gonna be all right
Hear my baby callin'
My, my, my, my, my, my baby goodnight, well, well
My, my, my, my, my, my, baby goodnight, yeah, yeah
0h, oh baby goodnight
I hear that bird
a'callin'
Singin' like a Whippoorwill
Well, well, well, I hear that bird a'callin'
Singin' like a Whippoorwill, yeah
And when I hear that bird a callin'
It gives my baby such a thrill
And I think I'll
call my baby
My, my, my, my, my, my baby goodnight, well, well, well
My, my, my, my, my, my, baby goodnight
0h, oh baby goodnight
And I don't believe
you heard me
My, my, talking
about, talking about baby my life
My, my, my, my, talking about baby my life
All my life
0h 0h baby goodnight
And I'm talking
to the preacher
|
| Old
Juarez
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
Well there's a
new gunslinger in Juarez town
Fallin' for a raven haired girl he found
The heat is strong but she wears a ring
That kind of love is a killin' thing
Their eyes are
shinin' bright
Dancin' in the moonlight
And they ain't livin' in the shadows
Down an old Juarez
He don't care about
danger with his kinda love
Goin' six feet under or in heaven above
She can live
but he must die
Her old time lover was livin' a lie
Their eyes are
shinin' bright
Dancin' in the moonlight
And they' ain't livin' in the shadows
Down an old Juarez
Back in the bar
you don't see a tear in her eye
She stands there thinkin'
Drinking through her last goodbye
Tell me baby
In the nighttime
the heat is rising
Out in the street their eyes burning bright
Down an old Juarez
Eyes are shining
bright
Some are watchin' in the shadows
Down an old Juarez
Baby, baby please
You got me down on my knees
Don't let me die in here
I need your love, I need your loving
Dancing in the moonlight
I'm talking baby
Leave me standing here
|
I
Know We Won
Words and Music
by
Pat Simmons/Willie Nelson
There’s a
blackbird sittin' in the old oak tree
Right there on the ranch where we used to be
We'd climb so high, and watch the clouds roll by, you and I
I shared this dream with my best friend
Those summer days we thought they’d never end
Like a river flowin' 'round the bend
Carryin' us away
When hearts are
young they sometimes break
But heal with every breath they take
And if life was just a game we played, I know, I know we won
And if I’m
lyin' I’m dyin'
'Cause I still feel the same old way
The longer that I’m with you
The more I wanna stay
And if life is just a game we played, I know we won
After all is said and done, I know we won
When hearts are
young they sometimes break
But heal with every breath they take
And if life was just a game we played, I know, I know we won
When hearts are
young they sometimes break
But heal with every breath they take
And if life was just a game we played, I know, I know we won
I know, I know we won
I know we won,
I know, I know we won
“He’s the first band member-drummer in a rock
group that was as good as or better than any session player out there,”
Ted Templeman on Michael Hossack
Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion Website
|
| Law Dogs
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
Know a little girl
she drives me mad
She loves her outlaw but he don’t love back
I feel bad 'cause she can stay clean
The future looks bad tell you what I see
Four black horses and a memory
Makin' money lyin'
in bed
Listen to the voices that are in her head
Main Street’s dirty and the mud is dank
With her no good lover in front of the bank
Gonna take all the money and leave this town
But the law dogs gonna track ‘em down
When mornin’
comes she hangs her head
Sittin' there smokin’ a cigarette
Her skin
is pale sittin’ in jail
Hopin’ someone will set her free
Explosions have
rocked the jail
And all the sirens they start to wail
The man in the duster he runs inside
To grab that girl and take her for a ride
Police running
all over the place
They lost that girl it’s a big disgrace, yeah
Gonna run but you sho can’t hide
Yeah, Law dogs
Gonna run now baby
She's a crazy little thing, yeah
Gonna run, baby is sho gonna hide
Law dogs
Little Prayer
Words and Music
by
Pat Simmons
When I wake alone
at night, and you’re so far away
I say little prayer for you, and everything’s okay
There’s sunlight
in your sparkling eyes, and summer in your smile
I’m sending out this little prayer, you’ll stay here for a
while
‘Cause heaven
knows I been lonely
Oh, but mercy came to me
Heaven must have sent you down
To set my poor heart free
So when I fall
asleep at night, your angel face I see
Thank heaven for this little prayer that sent you here to me
‘Cause heaven
knows I been lonely
Oh, but mercy came to me
Heaven must have sent you down
To set my poor heart free
So when I fall
asleep at night, your angel face I see
Thank heaven for this little prayer that sent you here to me
Thank heaven for this little prayer that sent you here to me
|
New York
Dream
Words and Music
by
Tom Johnston
You jump in your
car pull your long hair back
Got your wood grain appointments and your leather is black
With yo dark sunglasses and your flip phone on send
Ridin’ along in your Mercedes Benz
Said, but somethin’
that you left behind
A pesky little detail in the back of your mind
That would
be…your midnight lover
Way across town…sleepin’ under cover
Dressed for work
drinking latte on the balcony
Then you’re meetin’ with your lawyers down on Gramercy
Spendin’ all your daddy’s money on silky lingerie
Savin’ all your loving for the man you hide away
But there’s
somethin’ that you left behind
A pesky little detail in the back of your mind
That would
be…the new young lover
Way across town…sleepin’ under cover
Make up your mind...before it’s too late
Your high heeled thinkin’ will take it all away
Satin seduction
and powder on your face
Expensive way of livin’ that your mind will erase
Playing in the clubs with the in crowd you seek
While the
sun starts risin’ 'n you’re dead on your feet
Another dance another drink of small flirtation
Dropping the names of your rich relations
But nobody cares they just want to get high
While the young men’s attention has just passed you by, bye baby
To your new young
lover
Way across town…sleepin’ under cover
Make up your mind...before it’s too late
Your high heeled thinkin’ will take it all away
That would be…the
new young lover
Way ‘cross town…sleepin’ under cover
Make up your mind...before it’s too late
Your high heeled thinkin’ will take it all away
So what’ll
it be the new young lover
Way across town sleepin’ under cover
Another day of shoppin’ at Saks Fifth Avenue
Better look in the mirror at what’s become of you
|
