No eyes to the man

5

The street lights are shattered
and the lights don’t turn on
and the sun never comes
to the earth at the dawn
where the sisters and brothers
walk along hand in hand
in the dark of the shadows
and no eyes to the man

It’s a place just as empty
of the hate and the scorn
as the Kentucky coal mines
without any plans
you can sing welcome home
to every baby that’s born
with no black and no white
and no blood on their hands

And no daddies or mommies
to give what they got
and all brothers and sisters
can walk hand in hand
without all the colors
that daddy was taught
at the school in the fear
of the Panthers and the Klan

It’s a world where the brothers
help the sisters feel strong 
where the sun never comes
through the windows at dawn
where the street lights are shattered
and the eyes never see
all the kids can hold hands
as they walk down the streets ©

I won’t tell you take a load off

I won’t tell you to take a load off
cause I’m afraid what’s got ya down
is the only thing you need me for
and why I’m still around
it probably ain’t the wrinkles
I doubt that its my smell
is the reason I’m in heaven
cause you’re goin’ through some hell

I ain’t never met a tear drop
runnin’ down your pretty face
that I wouldn’t try to catch before
your lips could ever taste
and I’m guilty of the pleasure
knowing many suns will set
while holding you till morning
hoping that you won’t forget

I needed you to need me
and darlin’ maybe it ain’t right
but there’s an emptiness that feeds me
keepin’ you with me tonight
like an outlaw needs his freedom
like the moth that needs the light
honey don’t ya take a load off
just cuddle up with me tonight ©

Outside the walls of Camp Lejeune

Tonight he watched her dance along
into the skies of amber June
a daddies eyes are never wrong
the strings of heart are perfect tuned
he softly whispered “don’t forget me”
the lights were on in every room
the winds were blowing through the hickory
outside the walls of camp Lejeune

a wise man knows no better wisdom
than the kind he’s never sold
sometimes the lips that used to kiss him
conceal the lies he once was told
and things go on beyond the history
that don’t get written down as soon
like the wells beneath the hickory
outside the walls of Camp Lejeune

a contribution to his country
a glass of water by his bed
the nights of love beneath old glory
six weeks of hell and war ahead
and semper fi is more than soldiers
he watched her die in that empty room
from the wells beneath the hickory
outside the walls of Camp Lejeune ©

On the corner of salvation, two blocks away from raisin’ hell

You know that I’ve looked in on you
since the day that you were born
trouble seems to be about the only name
your mama calls me every morn’
like the rose outside your window pane
she’s the peddles and I’m the thorn
every time I drive away the rain
she gives you shelter from the storm

And it ain’t easy being lonely
to know I gave you a broken home
my little angel whispers softly
praying her daddy’s not alone
in her heart there’s no relation
between the peddles and the smell
and the thorns outside salvation
two blocks away from raisin’ hell

Darlin’ love will find us a better way
I see the weather in your eyes
the storm that’s blowin’ down your fences
ain’t supposed to be what makes you cry
you can see that I’m unshaven
and where I live don’t treat me well
on the corner of salvation
two blocks away from raisin’ hell  ©

Because you love your man

When I think about
the reasons
for my mind
running circles
chasing memories 
it hurts to find

girl to me
you’re memory
it’s in the wind
blowing back mistakes
I’m running races
I can’t win

in the moment love
completely let me go
far from you
it cuts me
like the scars
you hide I know

never me to be
who seems to
see you’re sad
how bad it hurts
sometimes inside
because you love
your man ©

 

Secrets in the rain

 

took a ride 
can’t deny
the reason
I was lost
out driving
in the rain

on my mind
love I can’t
stop thinking
hit the left
turn signal
onto Main

traffic light
still I keep
repeating
candy words
of her sweeter
changing lanes

park the ride
home in bed
I’m thinking
love should
have no secrets
in the rain  ©

 

 

Lonesome Highway

Something deep inside me
feels that lonesome bitter chill
and I’ll tell you friend
I just ain’t feelin’ right
as those headlights keep a shinin’
this old cowboy keeps on ridin’
down this lost ol’ broken highway
through the night

lonesome highways full of sorrow
desperado full of sin
this ain’t my way but
I know its where I’ve been
will she love me in my sorrow
will I live to see tomorrow
Lord I’m lonely drunk
& broken down again

see my money it’s gone missin’
and my darlin she’s away
singing’ songs I’m feelin’ lonesome
feelin’ dry
getting’ thirsty for that bottle
mixing’ poison with that throttle’s
bound to leave my baby drowned
in tears she cries

lonesome highways full of sorrow
lonely teardrops full of sin
this ain’t my way but
I know its where I’ve been
will I live to see tomorrow
will she love this desperado
Lord I’m lonely drunk
& broken down again

If she see’s me through my sorrow
Lord I know I’ll see tomorrow
but tonight I’m drunk
& broken down again©

I’ll be calling her name

I will write my words this morning, kiss the burning flame
walk to where it’s silent, and call my lovers name
no I won’t take one footstep, until that breeze blows high
oh I will be her sunset, and she won’t leave my mind

So if you hear me cryin’ , I’m just calling her name
and if you see me dyin’, I’ll be calling her name
I’ll be calling her name….

I will write my heart out, till it bleeds across this page
oh I’ll keep finding sunset, until she comes along
will she reach the doorstep, like a moth to burning flame
inside the shadows I’ll smile, will she hear me call her name….

So if you come and hear me cryin’, I’ll be calling her name
when my words run like a lost child, I’m just calling her name
will the flame begin to die down, calling her name
I will reach that final sundown calling her name
I’ll be calling her name…. ©

Midnight’s fallin’ on a rose

Hear that freight train whistle blowin’
every night from down the road
moonlight tears are broken hearted
midnight’s fallin’ on a rose

never did forget my darlin’
never will she care to know
winter windows watch her garden
disappear beneath the snow

moonlight tears can see her partin’
midnight trains won’t let her go
lead this lonely broken hearted
memory from in my bones

hear that freight train whistle blowin’
every night from down the road
moonlight tears are broken hearted
midnight’s fallin’ on a rose

when that pain begins to sharpen
Lord my heart it turns to stone 
don’t care where that trains a goin’
take me far away from home

hear that freight train whistle blowin’
every night from down the road
moonlight tears are broken hearted
midnight’s fallin’ on a rose ©

You’re the light of my life

Darlin’ you cool my water
honey you warm my wine
you can make me feel rich
when I ain’t got a dime
when the nights catch me fallin’
you’re the light I can find
darlin’ you cool my water
honey you warm my wine

when I’m runnin’ on empty
cross the highways I’ve found
not a thing to hold onto 
not a damn thing around
you’re the light on the highway
you’re the light of my life
darlin’ you cool my cool water
honey you warm my wine

when I’ve lost my mind worried
when I’m gone for awhile
you’re the love I hold onto
you’re the life in my smile
and I couldn’t deserve you
spend my whole life just tryin’
be the light in your garden
til the end of all time

darlin’ you cool my water
honey you warm my wine
you can make me feel rich
when I ain’t got a dime
when the nights catch me fallin’
you’re the light I can find
darlin’ you cool my water
honey you warm my wine ©