LYRICS
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Bittersweet
© 2015 The Squirrel Hillbillies Mama called me Sugar Plum And topped my bottle off with rum That's how I got rotten teeth And my taste for bittersweet Cupboard full of pixy stix 'Frigerator on the fritz A growing child has gotta eat I got my fill of bittersweet Bittersweet Bittersweet Before I even got my teeth I got my taste for bittersweet If you like your peaches ripe And soaked in syrup overnight Find yourself another shop 'Cause bittersweet is all I got Milky chocolates in a box Glass o' bubbly on the rocks Did you miss the candy gram? Bittersweet is who I am Bittersweet Bittersweet Check your box of recipes I'm under "B" for bittersweet Bittersweet Bittersweet Lord knows I’m no beauty queen With my calloused feet and rotten teeth But you can have a piece of me If what you crave is bittersweet Bless You, Man
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Her daddy always liked her style Such a pretty face and a dimpled smile But he says she's not his daughter anymore 'Cause she's married to the girl next door Reaching out she calls to him But her words fall short time again So she puts her palms together in a prayer For a father who isn't really there She says, "Bless you, man Bless your heart and bless your soul Bless you, man, sometimes love means letting go Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man" He had it made when the deal came down Corner office deep in town And on his door he hung a little sign It said, "The highest virtue is the bottom line" Then he called her in and he let her go Said her job was moving down below Packing up and saying her goodbyes She closed her final memo with a sigh She said, "Bless you, man May the blessings always be Bless you man, the most precious things are free Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man" Barren trees and cloudy skies Children hard at work inside Learning red means stop and green means go A stranger is a person you don't know A man comes in with angry eyes There isn't time to run and hide And in the wake of pain and tragedy A grieving father clears his throat to speak He says, "Bless you man Bless you and your family Bless you, man, may the blessings bring us peace Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man" Bury Me Green
© 2019 The Squirrel Hillbillies If I die in New York City I won’t need an airplane ride Float me up the Hudson River To Duchess County’s burial site Nestled in among the hanging vines If I go in Shenandoah Keep the campsite fire ablaze Send me down to Duck Run graveyard Bury me green in a bygone way Seeds and flower petals mark my place Hallelujah, Hallelujah Rising like the sun Rooted in the ground Hallelujah, Hallelujah! The sky my mausoleum The earth my endless vow If we’re sailing on the ocean And my life decides to leave Trim the sails for deeper waters Give my body to the sea I’ll feed the fish and hope they like the feast Hallelujah, Hallelujah Rising like the sun Rooted in the ground Hallelujah, Hallelujah! The sky my mausoleum The earth my endless vow Lingering a lifetime Drifting like the clouds When this life is over Wrap me in a shroud The moon a precious jewel The wind a sacred sound Creatures bearing witness As you lay my body down if I die right here in Pittsburgh As the last breath leaves my lungs Haul me over to Penn Forest Tell Pete my song’s been sung Pet the goats and give the trees a hug Turn the compost for the hungry bugs ”No trace” is a way to show love I hope to leave this world as it was The Carny
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies The carny came in wagons, set up at the edge of town Ropes and cables tangled on the ground Creaky wooden stages and saggy little tents A crooked sign that advertised, “Admission 50 cents” By the time the people from the factory headed home The sun was barely in the sky, the carny was aglow Passing by the wagons sitting empty on the rocks Most of us lined up and dropped our coins into the box The carny show ran through the night, I stayed until dawn As I stepped outside the tent, I heard a little song... The music drew me back inside and everything was wild A monkey walked the tight rope, or perhaps it was a child? Feathers fell from rafters tickling clowns who scratched their heads A man appeared from nowhere and this is what he said: "The wonder and the longing that have brought you in this tent Are fuel for the long journey you're embarking on, my friend If you lose your way, it's OK, just close your eyes Listen for the little song and let it be your guide” I still work the factory, turning knobs and gears Making things nobody needs, my mind is far from here I’m back at the carny balanced high on the tight rope Or maybe it’s not me but just a monkey in a coat? “For a little happiness to help your life along, Step right up, step inside and listen for the song...” Cowboy Song
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies (Note: our lyrics were inspired by the 19-century cowboy poem, "Oh, a man there lived") A man there lives on the western plain Got a ton of spark and an ounce of brain Robs the cattle and herds the trains Plays the fool like it's all a game Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Plays the fool, this cowboy Raised by the wind and the buffalo Moves real fast, thinks real slow Got his schooling in a cactus grove Dusty road is all he knows Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Prickly spines and a cowboy Sets up drinks without a cent Fights like the devil with every young gent Wherever he goes he goes hell bent Mangy dog is his only friend Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Mangy dog and a cowboy Drinks his weight at the dancing hall Head too big, pants too small Gets shot up in a drunken brawl Undertaker takes it all Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Nothing left of this cowboy Rest in peace, cowboy Dharma Jane
© 2015 The Squirrel Hillbillies Down by the place where the three rivers flow The waves paint your face on the waters below The lilt of your voice softly chanting the line Returns as an echo that settles my mind Om mani padme hum Crows in the graveyard, blacken the trees Filling the branches with feathery leaves A lift of your hand as you bid them goodbye The darkness erupts and a storm takes the sky Om mani padme hum High on a hillside, city below Following footsteps left long ago Mind full (mindful) of storms and then still by the edge Whispering words of the mantra you said I’m feeling your spirit today Where have you gone, Dharma Jane I'm hearing your voice in the rain Where have you gone, Dharma Jane Om mani padme hum Engine Blues
© 2010 The Squirrel Hillbillies You may think this is funny, you may say it's untrue But without an engine, my car just won't do It sits like a sculpture, all quiet and demure When it wants to be a 70-mile an hour blur My engine's missing, mislaid, it's a mystery Lost in space someplace between Pittsburgh And Memphis, Tennessee I've lost lots of money and my daddy's pocket knife But I never lost an engine in my whole entire life Was it abducted by an alien race? Or detained for questions in an undisclosed place? My engine's missing, mislaid, it's a mystery Lost in space someplace between Pittsburgh And Memphis, Tennessee Maybe my engine's on a street in New Orleans Being loud, drinking hard, running rough and mean Anyone dares to suggest a repair It'll spit a little oil and just vanish in the air My engine's missing, mislaid, it's a mystery Lost in space someplace between Pittsburgh And Memphis, Tennessee If you see my engine, here is what to say, "You got brand new pistons from Califor-ni-a, So motor down to Memphis, they will fix your pings, And send you home to Pittsburgh to a car again." My engine's missing, mislaid, it's a mystery Lost in space someplace between Pittsburgh And Memphis, Tennessee Fat Cat, Skinny Cat
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies Skinny cat eat on the microwave Fat cat eat on the floor Fat cat eat what skinny cat leave When skinny cat eat no more Skinny cat only like fresh food Fat cat he don't care Skinny cat always hanging out Fat cat hiding somewhere Fat cat, skinny cat Live just two doors down I stop in to see them When their family not around Skinny cat he get a kitty treat But I can't remember when Fat cat he get hairballs Gotta brush him now and then I read all the instructions Put them in this song Fat Cat Skinny Cat They always sing along Fat cat, skinny cat Live just two doors down I stop in to see them When their family not around Skinny cat say to fat cat, "Hey the chickens flew the coop! Time for us to have some fun Let's go and shoot some hoops Paint our nails, curl our hair Play some air guitar Raise the door on the shed out back And drive that nice sports car!" Fat cat, skinny cat Live just two doors down I stop in to see them When their family not around Fat Cat say to Skinny Cat, "Don't want no trouble, man Just leave me be and let me eat There's tuna in that can Them folks of ours they tight, you know They limit what I get Now they gone I'm gonna feast So hand me that baguette!" Fat cat, skinny cat Live just two doors down I stop in to see them When their family not around Firefly
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Dazzling firefly, you mark a year gone by Your luminescence takes me by surprise A thrill to catch and hold, you make my fingers glow Holding on is easier than letting go Among the shadows in the yard You are a fallen star The way the seasons change, the moon that waxes ‘til it wanes I wonder what becomes of what we cannot save There is too much risk in metamorphosis But maybe there's a chance for a gentle shift Among the shadows in the yard You are a fallen star Like synchronicity, are your flashes code or maybe Only random bursts of energy? Inside a spark like yours, so cool and pure I catch a glimpse of confidence and faith restored Dazzling firefly Dazzling firefly You mark a year gone by Gone by Goody Shoes
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Cashed in some vinyl at Jerry's store He gave me twenty dollar then he showed me the door I picked up a guitar, sang him this song He said, "Take your fingerpicky and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your fingerpicky and move along Passed by the police shakin' down a man I said, "Maybe he's doing just the best he can" Man said, "Me? I'm doing all wrong So take your goody shoes and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your goody shoes and move along Saw Saint Peter leanin' on his gate Folks lining up so I had to wait He said to me, "Son, you shoulda listened to your mom Now take your rubbernecky and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your rubbernecky and move Take your fingerpicky and move Take your goody shoes and move along I Can
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I can't save your soul and I can't mend your heart I can't make a whole from all your broken parts I can't pass your test and I can't make your case I can't do your best, I can't take your place I can't read your cards and I can't hide your scars Pocketful of fears and reasons to refuse Leave them all behind and I can sit with you I can't right your wrongs and I can't dig your ditch I can't write your songs or even match your pitch I can't kill your buzz and I can't tell your lies I can't fill you up and I can't cut your ties I can't play your hand and I can't take your stand Staring at the walls, nothing left to lose Listen for the call and I can walk with you I can't make your peace and I can't make your bail I can't tame your beast and I can't set your sail I can't wake you up and I can't change your mind I can't push you hard enough to cross your line I can't pay your debts and I can't face your fears I can't wage your bets and I can't cry your tears I can't play your game and I can't rest your bones I can't take the blame for all your sticks and stones But I can be with you and I can sit with you And I can stand with you and I can walk with you And I can and I can and I can and I can And I can and I can and I can and I can Insane When We're Apart
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies When darkness falls these walls close in on me The old wood floors tip like a ship at sea The leaky faucet drips the rhythm for my heart Seems I go insane when we're apart The telephone it moans when you don't call The clothes you leave behind go traipsing through the hall The mattress and the pillows turn cold and hard Seems I go insane when we're apart Without your hand, I'm out of touch Without your voice, I don't hear much Your burning gaze fills my darkest days with light I hope you bring my senses back tonight When I peer into the mirror there's a face I've never seen My perfume faintly smells of gasoline For comfort, I curl up with a rusty wrecking bar Seems I go insane when we're apart Jitney
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I got a nice clean car, I gotta catch me a fare You got rain on your face and you gotta get somewhere You home for good or only passing through? Climb on in, we got some catching up to do Been a long time, Hon’, what kinda trip you been on? Bet you seen some things you can never tell your mom Them wandering eyes, they take you for a ride I wonder, do you ever look behind? These hills are filled with streets as crooked as a maze And maybe that explains the way I drive And why I don't think straight I’m a lost cause but I know my way around And I ain’t never gonna leave this town Well, I guess you heard I finally paid my tolls I learned to keep my eyes on the road The oldies station plays my favorite songs The rivers keep me here where I belong I can see you got a lotta things to do Filed in that briefcase next to you I’m low on gas and need a cup of Joe Hope you run me down before you go These hills are filled with streets as crooked as a maze And maybe that explains the way I drive And why I don't think straight I’m a lost cause but I know my way around And I ain’t never gonna leave this town Joe & Donna
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies Joe met Donna at the bowling alley He was sittin’ with her best friend Sally Donna come over said, "Who’s this dude? Sally, is this guy bothering you?" Sally said, "Nah, he ain't no trouble 'Fact, he seems your type, baby face and no stubble" Donna took his hand and gave him the eye She said, "Hey boy, wanna go for a ride?" Donna drives an eighteen wheeler Has season tickets for the Steelers Joe knows how to please her... They drive on the parkway and park downtown Dance in the fountain ‘til the sun comes ‘round Donna’s a certified bodyguard Joe feels safe in her arms When she moves her freight it gives him a rush When she flexes her muscles it makes him blush For his Donna Joe cooks all day She likes his cooking and she puts it away After three dozen eggs and a half o’ cow She says, "What you gonna feed me now?" Donna drives an eighteen wheeler Has season tickets for the Steelers Joe knows how to please her... They drive on the parkway and park downtown Dance in the fountain ‘til the sun comes ‘round Through the Squirrel Hill Tunnels ‘cross the Liberty Bridge Donna steers that big ol’ rig Eighteen wheels up McArdle Road Over the rivers and the lights below She parks hanging over the Mon incline, and says, "This is when you ask me to be your bride!" Donna loves her eighteen wheeler ‘Bout as much as a season of the Steelers. But they're off to the new car dealer... Gonna trade in the truck for different rig ‘Cause Joe don’t know how to drive stick shift! Lotus
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Uncle went to Vegas Lost it all on a Jack Grandpa went to Vietnam Never came back Mama’s been sleeping by the subway stop Papa’s in prison wondering how he got caught Hauling rubble by the ton Souvenirs of where I’m from Cut my teeth on trash Learned to hold my nose Dreaming of a sunny day A little grass to mow Some folks say I got no chance But I don’t need luck ‘cause I got me a plan Found an old dog He’s a lot like me Raised in the wild Smarter than he seems Don’t bark much but got sharp teeth He waits by the door every time I leave Blood is thick but thieves are, too Gonna find me a way to slip on through Uncle went to Vegas Lost it all on a Jack Grandpa went to Vietnam Never came back Fruit don’t hang on my family tree So I’m trying to grow something in this mud around me No Bone
© 2010 The Squirrel Hillbillies Open up my fridge, now what do I see? Just empty space staring out at me Fridge say, "Now, what you gonna do?" Little ones are depending on you Stew pot say, "There's not much here" (There ain't much here) Spider moved in late last year (Oh my, oh dear) Stove say, "Go, before it's too late!" (No meat, no fat, no bone) Been so long since the little ones ate (Go now, don't you wait) No meat (No meat!), no fat, no bone No meat, no fat, no bone Well it's gonna make me shout and moan Leave my little ones all alone No meat, no fat, no bone I started on down the street (I started down the street) A big rutabaga come after me (How can that be?) I took it down, I took it home (No meat, no fat, no bone) Fed it to my little ones, so alone (They're so alone) No meat (No meat!), no fat, no bone No meat, no fat, no bone Well it's gonna make me shout and moan, Leave my little ones all alone No meat, no fat, no bone The little ones ate 'til their bellies were full Went to sleep in the mixing bowl Slept on through 'til half past ten (No meat, no fat, no bone) Said, "let's have rutabaga again!" (C'mon let's eat again!) No meat (No meat!), no fat, no bone No meat, no fat, no bone Well it's gonna make me shout and moan, Leave my little ones all alone No meat, no fat, no bone |
Old Dry Bones
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Old dry bones left along the road
I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones Out on the farm there ain’t much alive Dust fills the air when trucks pass on by Dirt roads I used to cross every day Broken pipes covered in rust block the way Them papers I signed with my daddy’s old pen While I joked with the bankers and the company men Told how the gas and the dollars would flow Both ran out a long time ago Now there's old dry bones left along the road I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones I think of my daddy and the way that he lived And I know there’s no chance he’d a done what I did I picture him turning these bones in his hands And mourning what’s happened to his sacred land The load that I carry around in my heart Is enough to tear anybody apart I buried my daddy and all of my kin All I got left is memories of them and these Old dry bones left along the road I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones Omaha
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies I found you in the summertime; lost you in the fall You wanted something better and drove off to Omaha Wandering those streets alone, wondering who to call Winter’s not the best time to be lost in Omaha I could have made a life for you much better than it seemed My thinking had all leveled out in the early spring By the time the snow was gone and ice began to thaw I was wishing you were driving back to me from Omaha I may not be as trusting or forgiving as the rest And what I learn the hard way I don't easily forget When you said you loved me like the others often did I couldn't help but think about the trouble it would bring I still send you letters though I know they’ll be returned Telling you I’m better and not to be concerned About the way you left me here, how you left me in that place Someone who looks a lot like you goes by here everyday Friends who used to know you say you have the life you chose What I have to give you never wanted, I suppose Still sometimes I see myself your rescue from it all But something stops me every time I set out for Omaha On the Loose
© 2015 The Squirrel Hillbillies Mama say, Son, I gotta run The music’s on the loose The band is on the corner Ain’t no time to snoozaroo Drummer’s making thunder With the rumble of the bass Folks swinging from the lampposts In the latest dancing craze Billy the Baker banging pans and pots and Lookout in the fire tower shouts: “Things are getting hot!” Mama say, Boy, did you hear that noise My banjo popped its strings Hand me down my old trombone Gonna make that metal sing Blues are at the crossroads Playing diddley bows and rags Weatherman, he call for rain But we got razzmatazz! Lil’ Cousin Lizzie, belting out high C's and Prisoners in the pokey yell: “We think we found the key!” Mama say, Child, it’s going wild Stretching far and wide Rhythm section’s pounding And the horns are screeching high No time to find your boutonniere Or shine those old black shoes Just grab your axe and pork pie hat I hear my favorite tune! Old Uncle Ernie plays his clarinet and Bones in the graveyard singing: “We ain’t dead yet!” Organic Chemistry
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies You got that free range look Unshaved and barefoot No artificial color schemes You are as real as you seem Loving you comes naturally Must be organic chemistry I like the way you meditate Your gaze puts me in a state You got that gentle healing touch You smooth things out when life gets rough Loving you comes naturally Must be organic chemistry I like the chickens in your yard Your pumpkin patch and your Swiss chard Your gifts are precious and so rare You’re like a good night’s sleep And a breath of fresh air The solar panels on your roof Your loyalty to local food The way you compost and reuse Your being green soothes my blues Loving you comes naturally Must be organic chemistry The yoga poses that you strike The way you look by candlelight I like your elemental properties Bonding with you requires no scientific expertise I’m stuck on you like sap on trees Like nectar from the honey bees Must be organic chemistry Refugee
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Crashing waves, cheap motel Fragile like a broken shell Washed ashore, the undertow has passed Salty tears, rising tide Sifting through what's left behind Pocket full of sand and frosted glass Longing for a place to be Harbored by the gracious sea Refugee Howling wind, drenching rain Branches bend beneath the strain Dark sky stretches outward without end Picket fence, pair of boots Freshly picked, taking root Waiting for the sun to come again Longing for a place to be Sheltered by the patient trees Refugee Bitter cold, frost that bites Guarded like a sheet of ice Pick and shovel buried in the snow Pins and needles, leaves and bark Spindle rolling, catch a spark Daylight breaking as the embers glow Longing for a place to be Fostered by the rising heat Refugee River Rat
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Grassy field and unpaved road Through the crooked trees Little shack stands all alone Where the river meets the reeds Sun don’t shine much anymore On this muddy patch of land Daddy’s gun hangs by the door Mama’s ashes in a can Guided by a gentle breeze And currents flowing north She left her home in New Orleans A padlock on the door She rested at the water’s edge A lazy August day Her cotton dress all dripping wet Her hair a mat of dreadlock braids Digging up the trilobites Sand between my toes She broke the silence with a sigh Words like the water flowed She told me trouble finds her fast Said not to get too near I said Daddy and the river rat Are the only things I fear Devil woman, Daddy warned A bounty on her head And when he found us by the shore His beady eyes turned red I held my breath and I grabbed his gun And broke the barrel down I knew the time had finally come As he pinned me to the ground We tumbled in the river He was swallowed by the depth I felt my body shiver As the water took his breath I turned around onto my back As he sank beneath the rocks And drifted like a river rat To an island of dreadlocks Daddy's buried with his gun Among the crooked trees Unmarked grave beneath the mud Where the river meets the reeds Vines across the empty shack A padlock on the door And the red eyes of the river rat They don't haunt me anymore Sammy’s Old Country Band
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies I played guitar in Sammy’s Old Country Band We hit the radio and little bars now and then Sammy's old now; he can hardly stand He paid us in cash, said he felt like a wealthy man Lara arrived and Sammy said, "Boys, take five" She packed my guitar and headed outside Motor running, Lara said, "Would you please drive?" We pulled away slowly and she put her hand on my thigh Wind whistled, the car at cruising speed Lara said, "We have much more than we ever will need We’ll live like kings in the desert, near old Genesee" The scenery changed and the air became harder to breathe Oh, mama, I have gone astray Chasing a song for so long I keep losing my way I still play guitar but the stations and bars have all changed Lara’s been gone now for years, said she just couldn’t stay Things I’ve seen in the desert they rattle my brain I wish I was with Sammy’s Old Country Band again Soldier
© 2015 The Squirrel Hillbillies The army sent my daddy home with shrapnel in his hands Uncle got him working at the plant He said he felt like he was back behind a prison wall Ma said it was a shame he came home at all The neighbor left us rosaries and magazines and cards She prayed as I played in the yard Daddy left his work boots in the dumpster up the street The foreman said take all the time you need He took up carving figures with a rusty pocket knife His broken hands brought the wood to life He whispered and he hummed while he whittled with his thumbs And told me fairy tales that he made up He talked about the desert and a soldier on a quest And he twitched as he described the sun's relentlessness He pulled the window curtains down and next he took the blinds I wonder if he thought the sun might need his help to shine The flag was like a lookout high above the clinic steps 50 stars and countless cast off cigarettes Mama left the bus fare on the counter with a key I let Daddy have the window seat At night he'd often pace and then he'd curl up on the floor He had a favorite spot near the door One morning Mama kicked him as she hurried off to work He groaned but he didn't say a word When he woke he grabbed his coat and reached out for my hand Then he vanished like an etching on the sand Ma told me that she always knew he'd end up on the street She said it even when the tears rolled down my cheeks Mama got new curtains and a man to share her bed Time for me to move along, she said Uncle bought my ticket and a shiny pocket knife And I'm leaving for the desert with a shadow at my side Something Awful
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies The first time I saw you I fell off my bike And I smiled as my head hit the ground You laughed and you asked was I feeling alright I said you turned my world upside down You kneeled at my side and I reached for your hand You frowned but you didn't resist I lifted my head and got ready to stand Then you knocked me back down with a kiss I love you something awful And that's the awful truth My poor heart will break if your love starts to fade Like the strip from that old photo booth The way that you run with the dogs by the lake The notes that you leave by the door You can say all you want about timing and fate But I know what I'm hoping for The look in your eyes when you're looking at me Makes me stumble and step on your toes I will dance with chickens and talk to the trees If it means that you'll never let go I love you something awful And that's the awful truth My poor heart will break if your love starts to fade Like the strip from that old photo booth Stink Bug Family Reunion
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Heard the buzz? They're here in town! Flew all night and just touched down For the Stink Bug Family Reunion and Semi-Formal Ball Looking smart the way they're dressed In their prehistoric best For the Stink Bug Family Reunion and Semi-Formal Ball Buzzing as they dance through the night Do-si-do-ing left and right Country two step, what a sight! Buzzing as they dance through the night Shake and shimmy left and right Chicken dance, what a sight! Picnic tables full of loot Stolen soybeans, kale and fruit At the Stink Bug Family Reunion and Semi-Formal Ball Parties can be so much fun But we'll be glad when this one's done The Stink Bug Family Reunion and Semi-Formal Ball Strange Life
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies There's a crack across the windshield Don't remember how it got there Seems like something's always kicking up along the road There's a book by Vonnegut My copy worn from reading it Years ago I circled every phrase of, "So it goes" It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life Flowers in the hallway You bought for my birthday Seems they should be wilting but they look just the same Houseplant growing like a tree Tangled in the drapery Seems it wants to fill the world right through the windowpane It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life By the time you realize it You're planning out your exit Divvy up the bank accounts, stereo, TV Documents are written Speeches have been scripted Saying what a wise and gentle person you could be It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life It's a strange life, it's a beautiful, strange life There's a crack across the windshield Don't remember how it got there Seems like something's always kicking up along the road... What You Gonna Do?
© 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Baby crying, ma’am What you gonna do? Flapping her little hands You got them Lord-have-mercy blues Busy talking on the phone At the bus stop heading home Baby feeling so alone World weighing down on you What you gonna do? Boyfriend on the phone What you gonna do? He don’t want to be alone You got them can’t-be-bothered blues Stories running on the screen Way too tired to cook or clean Boyfriend wants to see his queen World weighing down on you What you gonna do? Landlord at the door What you gonna do? Time to pay him more You got them empty-pocket blues Working hard as you can Moving fast without a plan Landlord ain't a patient man World weighing down on you What you gonna do? When I'm Gone
© 2011 The Squirrel Hillbillies I spill the milk, I spill the beans I've run every stoplight I've ever seen I play the wrong chords and I sing out of tune and I tell all the punchlines way too soon When I'm gone pour beer on my grave Sing me a song with a crooked refrain Drive my old car into the sea Just don't forget about me (Singing off key) Don't forget about me I drink too much coffee and keep you awake With stories of nonsense adventures I take I talk to the trees and I sing to the stars And I dance with the chickens out there in the yard When I'm gone pour beer on my grave Sing me a song with a crooked refrain Drive my old car into the sea Just don't forget about me (Talking to trees) Don't forget about me Give my guitar to the girl down the street My coat to anyone cold that you meet When I'm gone I won't cry anymore About hunger and greed, anger and war When I'm gone pour beer on my grave Sing me a song with a crooked refrain Drive my old car into the sea Just don't forget about me (When you're sipping your tea) Don't forget about me (When you smell Patchouli) Don't forget about me Whisk You Away
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Honey, I can't get my fill Never seems enough Convict me if you will I'm recklessly in love Working hard and doing time Penalties are steep I will be your alibi Come on, Babe, let's flee I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Take that burden off your back It can wait awhile Only thing you need to pack's A toothbrush and a file Hurry now and don't be late I'll devise a plan Everyone deserves a break Let's break out while we can I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Walls are made to keep folks out But I'm in here with you Honey, put aside your doubt It's time to fly this coop I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Wooly Old Days
© 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies My old man, drove an old Ford Seersucker suit, knocking on doors Checking his list for the next woman's name He’d sell her a Bible, walking right in He’d talk about life and how loneliness was such a sin Then she'd smile and ask him to stay Fed by the faithful, led by the stars He followed the road and steered with his heart All that he needed coming his way In those days, those wild, wooly old days Dad didn’t leave me his charm or good looks Just the key to his Ford and a stack of Good Books I learned all the verses then gave them away I drove to the heartland and slept with the trees Listened to rivers that washed over me Every bird, worm, and pebble had something to say Living a different American dream Without any junk bonds or pyramid schemes All that I needed coming my way In those days, those wild, wooly old days Words on the page are too small to read Blinded by scenes flashing up on the screen I put on the coffee, pull down the shades My son comes to visit, Sundays at five He lights up the room with the news of his life I smile as I listen, and ask him to stay Someday soon gonna sink through the floor Meet my old man, climb in his Ford All that we need will keep coming our way Like those days, those wild, wooly old days Those days, those wild, wooly old days Those days, those wild, wooly old days |