"More than an Incident in Jasper"

My gal went to Jasper town
not a soul would show her around
she wanted to leave without a sound
wasn't sure what was about to go down

a violent shout from the sidewalk came
mothers pulled their children away
in front of God and in the light of the day
yet another battle in her way

then the sun did split and begin to melt
no tongue can say just how she felt
walkin' thru Jasper with no one to help
a renegade lost in the Bible belt

four guys walked out of a restaurant
tried to give her what she didn't want
though she cried out they were never caught
Jasper ruled that it was her fault

I wonder when everyone will see
that her spirit shouldn't have to bleed
just because she's in love with me
tell me people, ain't we supposed to be free?

don't know...

I feel like I really need to write a chorus, but I can't think of one and it seems like one of those that I'll just forget about in two days and never finish. Should I? No clue. But it is what it is I guess.


I was never one for loving or for petals on the stairs
and I never expected to fall for anyone for a while
but still I find myself forgetting that I don't care
and trying to keep this night from turning wild

you've got some fiery midwest past but I don't mind
someone must have hurt you somewhere back then
didn't know what to think but in a minute you were inside
and I know denying that must be some kinda sin

I'm not sayin' I'm a saint, just mysteriously saved
from whatever it was that tried to bring me down
don't know if you're an angel, but thanks for all you gave
but honey we've got to know each other somehow

'cause now I wake up early and walk across the floor without you
don't know when or how you'll be back to me
is there someone else or do you have something to prove?
or maybe we just can't figure out how to be free

Seems like the moment we stood something made us crawl
and this morning babe I might miss you enough to cry
but instead I'm singing to myself that I ain't gonna fall
if you're lost someplace I wonder if you know why

Something a little different...

Have you forgotten me? I wanna say it.

Mother Carter sings, "..when you won and neglected your frail wildwood flower."

I never used to think much of that song. It was just another sad, traditional country tune that I could slap on the turn table while I got ready for work or school. Not so much anymore. The sky was white like cotton and there was no wind to calm me down and blow me some promise or carry me somewhere else. Or carry me to her.

So where are we now, honey babe? I'm dreaming too much. My hands never felt so empty. My lips never felt so dry. I sat in front of my record player and stared out the window at the empty sky and trees, as if she would just show up and I could let her in to lay down with me for a few moments. Yeah, I've dreamed about it.......her porcelin skin with cinnomon freckles, her voice of pure understanding, her openness to me. Feeling her next to me.....in me.....
I told her I loved her. She told me she loved me.

Every muscle tightened and I realized just how......untouched.......I really was. It's a strange, sick kind of feeling that makes you think you're young and old at the same time. I picked up my mug of luke-warm black coffee and wanted to throw it at the window. Instead I downed it, for lack of anything else to do. I wished I was alone in the apartment so I could break it into fifty pieces without disturbing anyone. Life was so twisted that I didn't know if I wanted to put my fist through a wall or cry. Probably both.

My room felt so harsh. Everything in me was restless; I felt like my limbs, blood, heart, stomach, and the insides of my thighs were on fire. What to do? She was in another town too far away. Too busy, too many responsibilities were heaped on her. Though I knew she was hurting too it felt like at least half of it was heaped on me. My God, I'm HERE. I'm finally alive. I wanna live I wanna love and where is she? Doesn't she feel me? Please I don't want this again I thought I had it I though I had it please.....

My God I hope she isn't in another life too far away.

Today's Blues

"Lover's Blues"

hope you know I'm a-leavin babe
won't be back 'till dawn
don't know where I'm goin babe
but I'll end up back in our front yard
and by the time I reach the door
I'll still be singin' this song
and if you don't let me inside
then Lord I've gone all wrong

the moon is a-sinkin babe
sinking down across the line
and wouldn't it be so beautiful
if something reached me just in time
well the air is so stuffy but
darling don't you look so fine
with the stars in you hair and
someone else on your mind

gonna find me some city babe
made for souls on the run
gonna take all of my sorrows babe
and see what they can become
well you may be a sweet talker but you're
not so good when it comes to love
it I'd known your heart was just wandering
then honey I never would have come

"Fixin' to Die 2009"

(got this from Bukka White's "Fixin to Die". I added my own lyrics, of course.)

feelin' funny in my eyes Lord I believe I'm fixin' to die (x2)
well I don't ever want to and I'd hate to leave my mother cryin'

well my walls are on fire and I'd hate to leave my sister alone(x2)
but I'm a-barely breathin' and my hands are turning cold

I've prayed and I've prayed I guess I didn't do it right (x2)
some say it's a calling but I don't see no light

feelin' funny in my limbs lord I believe I'm fixin' to die (x2)
well I didn't see it comin and I'd hate to leave my lover cryin'

I've got my suitcase and guitar, I need to go on the run (x2)
Lord I hate where I'm livin', I hate where I come from

whiskey can't kill ya as quick as this stubborn town (x2)
some might try to stop me, but they shoulda known I'd leave somehow

feelin' funny in my soul Lord God and I don't wanna die (x2)
please let these wheels take me far past the broken county line

Same Theme Going...

I was listening to Seeger's version of "Walkin Down the Line" and decided to write my own.

Well I'm a-walkin down the line (x3)
my feet'll be flyin'
tell ya 'bout my troubled mind

My pleasures came and went (x3)
my last lone dollar spent
and none of 'em was heaven sent

stranger, don't turn your back on me
don't turn your back on me
don't turn your back on me
I don't got much ya see
wonderin' how it would be
if you could lend a hand to me

Well I'm a-walkin down the line (x3)
no tellin what's inside
too much weighin' on my mind

lost my daisy in the rain (x3)
and no one ever claimed
that I would a-feel this way

He says I should've never gone (x3)
morning's too young
and I'm all wrong
but daddy I just love to run

Well I'm a-walkin down the line (x3)
my feet'll be flyin'
see ya some other time

"Sing a Sad Story"

I left so blindly and travelled so young
through the pines and the cities I've walked
yes I left so blindly and travelled so young
but to you, sweet gal, I give no fault

don't know when I'll see you or my family again
don't know when this restlessness'll fade
'cause the line ain't so clear and the path is torn
and I can't go home this way
no I can't go home this a-way

there ain't one cent in these weary clothes
not a soul here can tell where my heart lies
my own name has become a stranger to me
and I've nothing, dear friend, to leave under the skies

now my bones are too bare and my eyes are too dark
after too many nights unsheltered from the rain
maybe it's fear, Dear Lord, or maybe it's pride
but I can't go home this way
no I can't go home this a-way

For what good it does I'll whisper a prayer
through the icy silver valleys and hills
and may it fly fast to reach you somehow
if we're lonesome enough I know it will

please don't send me no words of forgiveness
or any trinkets to hold, or verses to say
for the day I come back is as unclear as tomorrow
and I can't go home this way
no I can't go home this a-way

a little different....

and inspired by all the folky records I've been listening to (Hootenanny at the Limelight, All-Star Hootenanny at the Gaslight, The Times They are A-Changin, the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, and Hard Travelin' by Woody Guthrie. I highly recommend them.)

"Ballad of the Sparrow"

Oh she was just a young thing
a rebel star kicked out of the sun
when she rode away from her hometown
a ruffled sparrow now on the run

oh she didn't want no diamond ring
or any promise from her loved one
no, she didn't want to follow him down
and now her loved one is a long time gone

her hair was black as the night that made her
the dawn was as gold as the songs that shaped her
she left a town that was dead and gone
a ruffled sparrow now on the run

Who could ever blame her for leaving
when the heat finally burned to her core
and nothin can stop that restless spirit
when you've been kept away from something more

no tongue could tell what she was feelin'
as she went quietly from her father's door
now her road was long, maybe she did fear it
as the electric sky spread further than before

yes I loved her some many years ago
when neither of us knew we had no home
now our footsteps seem a little louder than before
and I hope she finds out what she's running for

Oh she was such an inncocent thing
a lonesome angel kicked out of the sun
when she had to break from her hometown
and sing the songs
of the ruffled sparrow on the run