1. |
Linville Creek
04:49
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Linville Creek
(by Jimmy Davidson)
Down from the Tennessee Valley Divide,
West-northwest on the Tennessee side,
From Bingham Hill and down a piece,
Things are happening on Linville Creek…
A white sky brightens over Grassy Knob,
Apple trees blooming in the morning fog,
Redwing blackbirds beginning to speak--
Things are happening on Linville Creek…
And it’s all downhill from here.
It’s all downhill from here.
Two old-paint horses walking through the mud,
Three cows drinking from an old bathtub,
Tomcat weaving through the summer weeds--
Things are happening on Linville Creek...
Black fence rolling up the side of the road,
Airplane flying from a mailbox post,
Old Christmas trees hitting 25 feet—
Things are happening on Linville Creek…
And it’s all downhill from here.
It’s all downhill from here.
The wind dies down as evening comes,
The hillsides are blinking with lightning bugs
A yellow dog heaves a sigh of relief
Things are happening on Linville Creek…
Dark sky holding up a crescent moon
That’s shining on the footsteps of Daniel Boone.
Stars coming out, people going to sleep--
Things are happening on Linville Creek…
And it’s all downhill from here.
It’s all downhill from here.
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2. |
Down
04:21
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Down
Predisposed to be alone
And I fail my friends out of reckless hibernation
It might be selfish, it might be nothing
It might be my new bad habit.
My hands are still cold from yesterday
Walking in the cemetery’s gray
I don’t know anyone there.
Walking between the rows of headstones
Thinking about all the Sunday clothes
Underneath the plastic flowers.
Under the roof of the great white advantage
Expectation and possession lock me down
I know I’m lucky, I know I’m guilty
I’ve been let down a bit too easy.
My feet are still tired from every day
Walking in the same-old-shit parade
Where the money’s too much like medicine
And though the agenda’s fraught with ghosts
Still I hang around for another dose
Waiting for louder warning.
Down,
Down is just a dagger to the visitor
Down doesn’t share its victims with company or leave on a desperate request.
I wish I could wish these ills away—
An impossible task in this sunken state
Where all advice just hammers the nails right in.
I wish there was more than science,
But the way of the world’s in the way of believing
There’s any option other than waiting it out.
And down…
I’m waiting on a letter.
I’m down;
I’m waiting on a letter.
C. 1999 James M. Davidson
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3. |
Road to Ruleville
03:51
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4. |
Lancaster
04:47
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5. |
On the Day of Recovery
04:59
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6. |
Baton Rouge
03:28
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7. |
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8. |
Philco
04:20
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9. |
The Man W(ho)
04:53
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The Man W(ho)
Ho, ho, ho, ho.
You’re the man, you’re the boss, you’re the pilot;
You’re an ace, and your jokes are a riot;
You’re the prince, you’re the dude, you’re the favorite--
They told you all that, and you fell for it.
But you’ll have to wait to get what you deserve
On account of pity has such a learning curve
Ho, ho.
You can climb right on up in those pockets
If it works well for you, well, why knock it?
If the five of the nine want to fake it,
If everything’s fixed, then why break it?
Familiar faces in the cabinet room
It looks like Daddy’s got a long silver spoon
Cigar ashes all over your bed
They don’t resemble anything you said
Now you’re the golden goose, the trusty mount
You must be getting a little raw where it counts.
Ho, ho, ho, ho.
Where there’s smoke, there is fire,
There are mirrors & wire,
Chains and trap-doors and fancy attire.
Where there’s a big show, it’s a pretty sure bet
There’s a name, and some lines, and a marionette.
The five-star pushers come with fire and lead;
They’re going to wash their hands, soon as they paint yours red.
Your opaque sky holds your false array--
They don’t resemble anything you tried to say.
You can rule the rest with your crocodile pout,
But I’m not gonna let you rule me…
Or rule me out.
Ho, ho, ho.
C. 2001 James M. Davidson
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The Worthless Son-in-Laws Boone, North Carolina
“The songwriting...is through the roof here both melodically and lyrically, bolstered by a band that nails the songs with
pinpoint perfection.... The vocal delivery...is rock solid on what can only be deemed one of the most pleasantly surprising releases of the summer. This one rests near the very top of the ‘highly recommended’ list.”
—Bill Hurley, The Alternate Root
... more
The Worthless Son-in-Laws recommends:
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