1. |
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The Last Cowboy (at the Bowling Alley)
he picks up his favorite number twelve
bits of blue still sparkle in its worn shell
the other guys all threw fifteens and sixteens
but they’re gone now anyhow
he takes a long step back
he takes a deep breath
and it flies like it used to
straight and bygone down the arrows
he stands with one foot in the air
just a little longer than he needs to
he was the king of the yucca valley
now he’s just the last cowboy at the bowling alley
there’s an old girl still working at the counter
janet pops the tops off his budweisers
and one time she kissed him in the parking lot
but she pretends not to remember
he takes a long step back
he takes a deep breath
and it flies like it used to
straight back to 1972
the girls all watched as his right toe tapped
on the polished wood
he was the king of the yucca valley
now he’s just the last cowboy at the bowling alley
they always said he was the very best
now he’s just the only one left
buenas noches señorita
he calls to a pretty lady walking in
then he frowns at some school kids
they’re just here to kiss in the benches
he takes a long step back
he takes a deep breath
and it flies like it used to
the pins all fall like a strong wind blew
and the kids don’t notice but somewhere in his heart
he wishes they would
he used to play for the money
but there’s no money here anymore
he used to play for the glory—
god but the glory’s gone
he was the king of the yucca valley
now he’s just the last cowboy at the bowling alley
buenas noches cowboy
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2. |
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Out in Palm Tree Paradise
are you out there in the desert
with your starry blue eyes
singing hallelujah
by the fireside
i’m sure you don’t hurt for lovers
i’m sure you’re doing just fine
but i wondered
if you miss me sometimes
i hope that life has made you happy
out in palm tree paradise
i hope it’s sixty-five and sunny
i hope the stars always shine
oh, i’m sure you’re never lonely
honey, neither am i
but i hope you still miss me sometimes
are you still wrestling with religion
or did you kick that with the booze
did you find a new reason
to sing the worried man’s blues
i know that life is never easy
but you sure make yours hard
always running circles
in your own backyard
i hope that life has made you happy
out in palm tree paradise
i hope it’s sixty-five and sunny
i hope the stars always shine
oh, i’m sure you’re never lonely
honey, neither am i
but i hope you still miss me sometimes
looking back now i can see how
this was never gonna work
i’m too stubborn
you’re too hung up on control
but looking back on the moonlight
and a blanket in the sand
i’d do it all again
i can see you in the desert
with your starry blue eyes
singing hallelujah
by the fireside
oh, i’m sure you’re never lonely
honey neither am i
but i hope you still miss me sometimes
i just hope you still miss me sometimes
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3. |
Tuesday
03:56
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Tuesday
my old friend moved out to memphis
it’s the latest promised land
he said he saw the ghost of elvis
while i’m just sitting here in bed
if i was braver i’d go somewhere
i’d buy myself an old rv
my buddy bobby’s out in l.a.
with the stars and the palm trees
california’s always booming
but they’re counting down their years
it’s due to slide into the ocean
it’s probably safer to stay here
but i got black widows in the backyard and dishes in the sink
i got calls from debt collectors and too much time to think
my mind is like a cartoon this circus in my head
i think tuesday’s probably a wash, folks
i’m going back to bed
some nights i walk down to this beat bar
a local joint down by the train
i tell my secrets to bartenders
‘cause they’ll forget them right away
a couple whiskeys on the table
i’m gonna take a nice boy home
gonna roll him in the bedsheets
then kick him out and sleep alone
‘cause i’ve been sleeping like a baby
i’ve been feeling like hell
i’ve been drinking like a sailor
things are going pretty well
but i got black widows in the backyard and dishes in the sink
i got calls from debt collectors and too much time to think
my mind is like a cartoon this circus in my head
i think tuesday’s probably a wash, folks
i’m going back to bed
i used to have a friend named bobby
he was a singer in a band
looks like bobby hit the big time
so i’m calling him again
maybe he needs a backup singer
maybe he needs a helping hand
i need something to wake up for
maybe we all just need a friend
so won’t you take us all out, bobby
take me dancing tuesday night
heaven knows you’ve got the money
at least call me back sometime
‘cause i got black widows in the backyard and dishes in the sink
i got calls from debt collectors and too much time to think
my mind is like a cartoon this circus in my head
i think tuesday’s probably a wash, folks
i’m going back to bed
i’ll wake up in a better mood
or i’ll wake up in a fight
or i’ll wake up in the same place
except on tuesday night
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4. |
Pink Leather Boots
03:36
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Pink Leather Boots
he had a long day and a long drive
had a bad year and a lonely life
he pulled into the town at half past five
saw “dancing girls!” on the neon sign
truck stop shower, pomade, and a comb
going-out-shoes and cheap cologne
packed his bag in the truck, walked across the road
stopped in for a look at the local show
well she was rolling on the stage when he walked inside
red hair on the floor and one leg up high
he thought she probably tastes like strawberry milk
she wore pink leather boots and not much else
pink leather boots and not much else
he got himself a beer from a girl at the bar
his mind starts racing and he’s seeing stars
now she’s shaking her hips, now she’s on the floor
if this isn’t love, honey, what’s love for?
he’s digging in his pocket for a pile of cash
gonna buy her a big pink cadillac
gonna drive her around with the seats way back
and those pink leather boots up on the dash
pink leather boots up on the dash
now the future spreads before him like a highway in his head
he’ll take her home to meet his mom, he’ll take her out to meet his friends
and still she’ll have those pink boots on when they cuddle up in bed
those pink leather boots and not much else
pink leather boots and not much else
well he’s thinking about rings and a house he’d build
a big texas farm with a couple of children
a roadside stand and a herd of cows
selling pink leather boots and strawberry milk
pink leather boots and strawberry milk
pink leather boots
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5. |
Maybe You'd Hear Me Then
04:02
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Maybe You’d Hear Me Then
burying your head into the daily news
staring at the frost on the windowpane
pour another cup of coffee and read about yesterday
you’re working some nine-to-five
making plans for some better life
the southwest sky and other dreams
you’ll never find
so we’re crawling at the feet of an indifferent god
one step ahead of the welfare line
could you tell me what we’re doing here
other than killing time
you drive the long way home
as if you’ve got nowhere to go
and i pretend to be asleep
when you walk in the door
should i just hold it in
stick my finger in the dam
or wave my arms and scream as loud as i can
maybe you’d hear me then
would you hear me then
i’ve been sitting in your chair since you left again
washed in the glow of the tv set
i’m ready to give up the fight
but it’s not over yet
is this the real world
or is it all just in my head
maybe i’ll set the house on fire
before i go to bed
maybe you’d hear me then
out on the lawn when you drive in
wave my arms and scream
as loud as i can
maybe you’d hear me then
would you hear me then
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6. |
Be Sweet to Me
02:48
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Be Sweet to Me
you shouldn’t be so mean i’ve been sweet to you
i shouldn’t have to work as hard as i do
honey, don’t you know that i’m the best you got
why is keeping you happy like a full-time job
oh, you shouldn’t be so mean
i’ve been sweet to you baby be sweet to me
i beg all week for you to take me out
it’s friday night at a bar downtown
I’m picking up drinks i put my money down
you’re chatting up a girl when i turn around
oh, you shouldn’t be so mean
i’ve been sweet to you baby be sweet to me
got your hair slicked back like you’re james dean
but you care more about your hair than me
your face goes dark you’re stomping around
don’t let the door hit you on the way out
oh, you shouldn’t be so mean
i’ve been sweet to you baby be sweet to me
you want peaches in the summer, apples in the fall
if you don’t want me, honey, go on get gone
you want steak when you’re hungry, whiskey when you’re dry
but when you’re looking for love, boy, you pass me by
oh, you shouldn’t be so mean
i’ve been sweet to you baby be sweet to me
Well don’t be so be so mean
Don’t be so mean to me
Oh you shouldn’t be so mean
I’ve been sweet to you baby be sweet to me
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7. |
Farmer John
04:10
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Farmer John
the pigs are waiting for their breakfast
the horse is getting restless
waiting for the man to start their day
the coffee’s waiting by the door there
it’s starting to get cold there
just another dollar gone to waste
so i start to wash the dishes
scrubbing last night’s dinner
trying to remember if he ever came to bed
if only dogs could tell a story
her eyes are looking worried
offer her a bone but she won’t give away her friend
farmer john, i’m gonna put the kettle on
if you’re not back before it boils
i will telephone your mother
walk down to your brother’s house
and tell him that you’re gone
please don’t make me find out where you are
farmer john
john was too fond of his whiskey
and little bags of stuff he
bought from cousin isaac when he lived across the road
i don’t ask a lot of questions
no need to subject myself
to a lot of details i don’t wanna know
farmer john, i’m gonna put the kettle on
if you’re not back before it boils
i am starting to lose patience
you’ve underestimated me too many times before
oh god, john
please don’t make me find out where you are
a spider’s dancing through the kitchen
helps me with the dishes
crawls up to the ceiling and then looks back down at me
the water’s boiling in the kettle
the clock is ticking double
and i think i lost my appetite for tea
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8. |
Barely Breathing
03:50
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put away my plans
been living in my dreams
i have a strained relation
with reality
got a little place
out by 95
i sit and watch the cars
they’re always speeding by
people drive all night
i can barely breathe
the stars are dim
compared to the city
i’m barely breathing
i could barely breathe
it wasn’t long ago
we were so in love
i see glimpses now
but not so often
we would drive all night
i could barely breathe
we’d stop at some motel
and make love ‘til the morning
i was barely breathing
i could barely breathe
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9. |
Better Days
03:40
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Better Days
my best friend called me crying yesterday
said she stormed out on her husband—splashed her wine across his face
and we laughed a little then we got real quiet
she said i don’t know what’s wrong with me but something isn’t right
it’s not funny is it really anymore
she said my meds aren’t working like they did before
and it leaves me thinking
why do i need these pills just to be ok
where are my better days
a girl i know’s a waitress with a kid
she drinks at work some nights to take the edge off of it
she’s not proud to tell you, today she woke up with a stranger in her bed
she sent him out the back door before her kid came walking in
it’s not funny is it really anymore
she said i’m thirty-five and acting twenty-four
and it leaves me thinking
i can’t let my daughter see me live this way
where are my better days
you know i firebombed my own life a long time ago
i’ve been barely scraping by since i left that home
we were raised with expectations,
lord, i had the highest hopes
but oh no oh no
it’s not funny is it really anymore
i thought by now i’d have more answers
and it leaves me thinking
if i could try again would i do it all the same
where are my better days
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10. |
Don't Blink Honey
03:05
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Don’t Blink Honey
for all you’re supposed to give and what you stand to gain
it’s a losing game, you know, a losing game
you work your whole damn life and still you never win
it’s a losing game, you know, a losing game
but in between the place you start and where you land
that’s your whole life really
you get by, barely
so hold your baby tight
you make hard calls
and you stumble
and you close your tired eyes
to sleep at night
we start off starry-eyed and aiming at the sun
we want it all, you know, i wanted it all
by and by it’s gravity that leaves you on the ground
it’s a struggle at best, sometimes i struggle
but it’s on your back you look up and see the stars
that’s your whole life, really
you get by, barely
so hold your baby tight
you make hard calls
and you stumble
and you close your tired eyes
to sleep at night
don’t blink honey ‘cause you’ll miss something
the world keeps turning and you’ll miss something
and there’s no time to waste
that’s your whole life, really
you get by, baby
you can’t get out alive
you get humbled and you’re grateful
and you close your tired eyes
to sleep at night
for all you’re supposed to give and what you stand to gain
it’s a losing game, you know, a losing game
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Karen Jonas Fredericksburg, Virginia
The Restless (3.3) is “a stunning collection of dreamy and dark alt-country confessionals; a deep exploration of love and vulnerability from one of Americana’s most hopeless romantics” (Holler.Country). As Parklife Mag DC put it, “the voice of country music in the DMV is a big, bright voice that belongs to Virginia native Karen Jonas.” ... more
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