40 Miles

Travelin' the country
All the state lines I cross
And all the time I feel so lost
Makin' the days seem long
But it's 40 more miles to my love
40 more miles to my love
Still workin' my way
All the strangers I see
But the one he waits for me

More confused than I was before
Will never quite erase the picture of that door
As it closed
Slammed upon my smile
Now it's 40 more miles and I'll be home
40 more miles and I'll be home
Never felt this far before
Let me find some comfort there

One year later and I'm movin' again
40 more miles to the site of my grave
Well the whiskey, didn't keep me warm at night
And the one timers left me wanting
Oh, the death of our love
Something I could not survive

40 more miles and I'll be gone
40 more miles and I'll be gone
40 more miles and I'll truly be home
Oh, truly be home

Big Winds Blow

Big winds blow, my worries away
Carry me through yet another day
Stay at my back, and move me along
Keep me from doing all those things I do wrong

Sittin' on the porch in my underwear again
Watchin' the clouds as they walk by
Hidden from view, conversing with the trees
Givin' up all my cares to the breeze

Big winds blow, my worries away
Carry me through yet another day
Stay at my back, and move me along
Keep me from doing all those things I do wrong

Lyin' on the grass, my lover by my side
As a light rain is falling down
Tension floats away with the breeze
While we do whatever we please

Big winds blow, my worries away
Carry me through yet another day
Stay at my back, and move me along
Keep me from doing all those things I do wrong

The Darkness

Let’s keep this between you and I
The walls, the floor, the fading sky
The lamps are off, the sun is set
Our eyes haven’t adjusted to it yet

If we take this as far as we can
Maybe then you’ll know who I am
Shadows of doubt cast aside
No longer a need for a place to hide

If you’re goin’ my way, and you’ve got time
Take my hand and we’ll find
The light of a new day

“She addressed her world honestly
searching for something deserving
of the volumes of love
she knew she had within her…”
(Jonathan Safran Foer-Everything is Illuminated)
Everything, everything’s inspired

Don’t let the darkness fool you
I’m reaching out, too
There’s a light waiting to be found
Buried love, illuminating out

If you’re goin’ my way, and you’ve got time
Take my hand and we’ll find
The hope of a new day

High Water

The next door neighbor's been building an ark
the light from heaven invades my dark
But they don't know that I've overheard
that they're planning to lay low the whole world

I've been privy to things been said
and by morning we're all supposed to be dead
But I've got this l'il ol' fishing boat
It ain't much but I'll bet she floats
and I won't be around

I won't be there to see your face
as you attempt to plead your case
Just leave me a line when it all goes down
come hell or high water I won't be around

I'll never save this whole damn town
there's not enough of me to go around
When the water wants to make its way
and the angels hold judgment day
then I won't be around

I won't be there to see your face
as you attempt to plead your case
Just leave me a sign when it all comes down
come hell or high water I won't be around

Lame Excuse

I spent my time waiting on glory
the coming of a promised day
Now I set my sights just a little bit lower
and take what comes my way
Yeah like a snake in the grass
the early bird gets the worm
So I'll eat my hat for Sunday brunch
and teach the lessons I've learned

What're you waiting for, what's your lame excuse
Yeah I've got mine but I'm not sharin'
'cause it's currently in use

It's a waste of time to sit and worry
or pace your life away
'cause back and forth just makes you dizzy
and tired at the end of the day
An old hawk by the side of the road
never works hard for its meals
It watches traffic from an old sign post
and cleans up after the wheels

What're you waiting for, what's your lame excuse
Yeah I've got mine but I'm not sharin'
'cause it's currently in use
It's not much but it's been working
and it's my lame excuse

I spent my time waiting on glory
the coming of a promised day
Now I set my sights just a little bit lower
and take what comes my way
What're you waiting for, what's your lame excuse
Yeah I've got mine but I'm not sharin'
'cause it's currently in use
It's not much but it's been working
and it's my lame excuse
It's not much but it's been working
and it's my lame excuse

Liver & Kidneys

Liver and kidneys, liver and kidneys
doin' the work of five men
Liver and kidneys, liver and kidneys
gonna do it all over again
Don't quit now, can't live without
Get ready boys, cause I'm goin' out
Liver and kidneys, workin' the whole night through

(Well my) girlfriend calls me on the phone
And she asks if I'm sittin' home alone
I say, yes, oh yes, my body is tired
(She says) come on out, see this band
And if you're lucky, you'll meet a man
Doesn't take much, to twist my arm these days

(Well I) went downtown to find my peace
Favorite spot, familiar faces I see
The counterman waits with a question for me
(What'll it be) Jamison or Jack tonight
What will it take to make you feel all right
You can guess the kind of night
when the barkeep knows your sin

Liver and kidneys, liver and kidneys
doin' the work of five men
Liver and kidneys, liver and kidneys
gonna do it all over again
Don't quit now, can't live without
Get ready boys, cause I'm goin' out
Liver and kidneys, workin' the whole night through

Don't quit now, can't live without
Get ready boys, cause I'm goin' out
Liver and kidneys, workin' the whole night through

Living Ghost

It came on rather suddenly -
happened unexpectedly -
and it soaked through my skin - like summer rain.
I felt a rush of blood again.
Damn near almost felt alive -
when I brushed up against -a faint outline.

Spent ten years or maybe more -
in a downward drunken stare -
but sunken eyes may see - what sober won’t.
Back out on the street again -
several blocks from that green door -
I ran smack dab into - a living ghost.

Maybe we both had too much -
but you always looked good high -
when the rain played off that frame -
as the sun still shined.
As the crowd grew thick that day -
damn near almost swept me away -
until I ran smack dab into - a living ghost.

Lonely Dispatch

Peoria, Illinois and Lake Charles, Louisiana
He's heard the names since he was a boy
like Palo Alto and ol' Texarkana
He sends out directions
on the citizen band wave
and he's your lonely dispatcher
he never goes anyplace

He steers you clear of construction delays
and don't use that global satellite tracking
He spends his days just reading his maps
knows the best ways around
the Rush City traffic
He hasn't missed one day in seventeen years
and he's your lonely dispatcher
won't you lend a lonely guy an ear'

That disembodied voice
coming through your dashboard
well it belongs to a four time divorcee
who knows he's missed the last train
bound for Memphis
He can't afford the gas
to up and run away

He's your lonely dispatcher
and you'll probably never see his face
He's your lonely dispatcher
and he never goes anyplace

Pleases You

Honey if I was made of gold-
I'd be worth my weight to you.
You could turn me in to anything you wanted to-
whatever pleases you.
Singing with the hammer's sound-
laughing as I melted down-
you would find this metal true-

Honey if I were made of money-
I would sell my soul for you.
There's no end to the foolish things I'd do-
if it pleases you.
Dancing like a millionaire-
who lost it all and doesn't care-
I would be your simple fool.

Honey if I ruled the world-
I would lay it at your feet.
Choirs would sing you to sleep-
with diamond dust as your bed sheets-
and I would only be complete-
if it pleases you-
if it pleases you.

Ride

It's been good being here with you
and I'm grateful for that
But it's time to go, maybe I'll see you later
put my foot along side that radiator and ride

Time to go 'cause now they know
that I'm not quite who I am
Always try to live up to the life
but here I am failing again

Then I'll ride
'til they don't know who I am
Then I'll lie
and make them think that I'm a better man

Things I've done and things I haven't
have all turned out the same
Think I'll find a way to lead a better life
and then I'll go and buy a better name

Time's run short, map has too
I have no one left to blame
Someday soon I'll find a place to root
But as for now the travels will remain

Then I'll ride
'til they don't know who I am
Then I'll lie
and make them think that I'm a better man

A better man I know I could be,
if only those gates open and set me free.
I'll bet it's like I've been told,
you can forget the debts you've owed.
And, let that world blur by as you ride on down that road.

Then I'll ride
'til they don't know who I am
Then I'll lie
and make them think that I'm a better man

Roulette

Find myself, two-steppin' in Texas, all alone
Up comes a sweet cowboy from Memphis
wants to take me home
How can I pass up on this man, standing here
Holding his guns and a smile from ear to ear
Oh, how can I, oh, pass up on this chance
All I've got is one night to dance
The right choice is starin' me in the face
Don't you turn and walk away

Went to make my peace with Canada
Ohio got in my way
Find myself, oh so mesmerized
by the crooner on the stage
Just enjoyed, didn't think twice
Never thought that's how I'd end up my night
And start the next day
Next thing I knew, sippin' whiskey at the bar
He's at my house, he's strumming my guitar
The right choice is starin' me in the face
Well, I guess I'll let him play

Steeped In Darkness
(Lyrics by Roy Gulfwater, Jr. © Roy Gulfwater Music)

My heart is full it runneth over
There ain't no room for any more
But there's no joy there is no whimsy
It's full of darkness forever more

I am the one who's steeped in darkness
I am the one who cannot love
My heart is once both full and empty
I'm steeped in darkness with no prayer nor hope

There is no room for friends nor family
There is no place for those who care
I've turned away all those who love me
For my darkness they could not bare

I am the one who's steeped in darkness
I am the one who cannot love
My heart is once both full and empty
I'm steeped in darkness with no prayer nor hope

There is no place for me in heaven
The threat of hell offers no fear
And when I die and lay there buried
No one will mourn me nor shed a tear

I am the one who's steeped in darkness
I am the one who cannot love
My heart is once both full and empty
I'm steeped in darkness with no prayer nor hope

To Sea

Oh my love is going off to sea
Darling mother, bring him home to me
Keep him safe, keep him warm
For very soon our baby will be born

This day came word my love he cannot be
For stolen overboard by the rages by the sea
So I weep, for my love won't return
From now until forever, my poor heart will yearn

Despite my tears, a smile on my face
For one day again, my love I will embrace
His words do come, carried on the breeze
His touch it warms as the sun looks down on me