1. |
No Solid Plans
02:20
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Hangin' in the shade of Hotel Verde, That place there that's a shade past shady,
Gloomy men with glarin' eyes, Glancin' at the passers by,
And from my stoop, Let my thoughts regroup,
But still no change, Drift on another day,
I ain't got no solid plans, Just playin' tunes with my two hands,
Ain't it nice, yeah, no regrets, Hackin' darts as the sun sets,
Makin' my way, my way down south, There's sun down there it'll do for now
No destination in my mind, The fact of the matter is I don't mind,
Ain't it great, Still got food on my plate,
I'm not on the run, Just letting go of funds,
Well it's good, as good as drifting goes, But my pants have pockets and they have holes,
Where's my money? It's any ones guess, as far as I'm concerned I just have less
And from my stoop, A damn good view,
Still got a bit of change, At least enough for today,
I ain't got no solid plans, Just playin' tunes with my two hands,
Ain't it nice, yeah, no regrets, Hackin' darts as the sun sets,
Makin' my way, my way back North, Got a line on a job, so on, so forth
With the last couple stops along the way, Spend my last few dollars I got tucked away
And ain't in great, still got food on my plate
I'm not on the run, I'm just low on funds
Workin' my way through the cold wet days, Can never remember so much rain,
Drank out of cold mountain stream, Been bitten yellin' hellish screams,
And from my stoop, With the mountain view
I'm earning my pay, At least for today,
I ain't got no solid plans, Just playin' tunes with my two hands,
Ain't it nice, yeah, no regrets, Hackin' darts as the sun sets
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2. |
Good Ol' John
03:16
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Well I woke up in the morning with stale cigarette breath, I wasn't ahead of the game, though I was fully dressed,
I was having a bit of trouble tryin' to open both my eyes, and with the ringin' in my ears this was a morning to despise,
Trying out my feet but there's a swayin' in the room, It's unfortunate for me this is a too familiar tune,
What's left in my guts is churnin' all the same, And the culprit is clear yes I know who is to blame,
Good ol' John, well he's poisoned me,
I went nearly blind when it took full hold of me,
Good ol' John, just as he's turned on me,
I'm sure something has turned in his brewery,
I'd by no means call him one of my good friends, But we've been in business years, at least ten,
So when I first took that sip, well took me by surprise, Switching that with my beer now that's one cruel disguise,
When at first it occurred, well I swore it wasn't Lucky, it's becomin' quite clear it wasn't meant just for me,
No good man could carry this assault, I know damn well the man who is at fault,
Good ol' John, well he's poisoned me,
I went nearly blind when it took full hold of me,
Good ol' John, just as he's turned on me,
I'm sure something has turned in his brewery,
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3. |
Low Ambitions
02:36
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Keepin' my ambitions low, The same as my hopes,
And getting my sense of pride from being on the outside,
I'd rather spend my dime on drink, And see how low I sink,
Cause going for that big reach, Just doesn't sit well with me,
Down here on the low ground, The gutters got a soothing sound,
Streams might seam filled with dirt, But it'll work if you got the thirst,
Cause I got no big dreams, I'm in no high risk schemes,
Just makin' my way on the low side of things,
Down here at the bottom, Swear the weather's never rotten,
You can always find comfort, when you're down in the dirt,
I've got a good thing going on, With ease like this you can't go wrong,
Its damn near life of luxury, Gettin' by with the breeze,
I'm not much for them ladder climbs, In fact I'm not too fond of heights,
My interests lie on different things, Like strummin' and pluckin' guitar strings,
There haven't been much worries here, The airs been calm, sky's been clear,
Won't often catch me runnin' late, I got no where to be anyway,
Cause I got no big dreams, I'm in no high risk schemes,
Just makin' my way on the low side of things,
Down here at the bottom, Swear the weather's never rotten,
You can always find comfort, when you're down in the dirt.
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4. |
Dead Broke
03:33
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I'm not ready to go today, I haven't yet spent my pay,
when I'm done I'll be dead broke, Down to my last two smokes,
I'd like to leave as I came, Next to nothing not even a name,
Still have the soul of my boots, Best believe that won't wear through,
There's no point in robbing me, I've sold the fillings of my teeth,
Hardly have clothes on my back, A couple trinkets in an old rucksack,
'Cause where I'm going I won't need much, Not even this old crutch,
Won't have to worry about my debts, When they catch up to me I'll be broke and dead,
I'm dyin' dead broke, Dyin dead broke,
When I'm done you know I'll be dead and broke,
Spendin' my last days, Spendin' my last pay,
Spendin' those last times, Along with those last dimes,
I'm not ready to go just yet, I got money wagin' on a few more bets,
I'd like to see how they play through, Lucks on my side, I'll win a few,
Got six bucks on a six dice game, A few on a horse without a name,
Ain't nothin' like an hones wager, No matter how high the stakes are,
Got good folks givin' tips to me, Yes inside tips from the industry,
Ain't no chance with them I'll lose, Easy now to bet a few,
Runnin' risk of gettin' caught, doesn't cross my mind a lot,
If the goons new they'd have my head, When they catch up to me I'll be broke and dead,
I'm dyin' dead broke, Dyin dead broke,
When I'm done you know I'll be dead and broke,
Spendin' my last days, Spendin' my last pay,
Spendin' those last times, Along with those last dimes,
I'm not ready to go today, I have not yet spent my pay,
when I'm done I'll be dead broke, Down to my last two smokes,
I'd like to leave as I came, Next to nothing not even a name,
Still have the soul of my boots, Best believe that won't wear through,
There's no point in robbing me, I've sold the fillings of my teeth,
Hardly have clothes on my back, A couple trinkets in an old rucksack,
'Cause where I'm going I won't need much, Not even this old crutch,
Won't have to worry about my debts, When they catch up to me I'll be broke and dead,
I'm dyin' dead broke, Dyin dead broke,
When I'm done you know I'll be dead and broke,
Spendin' my last days, Spendin' my last pay,
Spendin' those last times, Along with those last dimes.
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5. |
Old Block Roads
02:41
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Loaded on the Kluskus, Clear at one fifty five,
Another days is over, Another day survived,
I'd change my pants, I'd change my shirt, But all I own is covered in dirt,
I'll grab a smoke and crack a beer, and sip these days away from here,
Old block roads, and warm block beers,
Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here,
Cold starry nights and warm fires light,
Sometimes all you need is company and wine,
Gettin' loaded on the Kluskus, I'm drunk before it's dark,
I sat down by a fire then it's off to Billy's bar,
There's a wolf skin on the wall, and wood stoked in the stove,
I'll sit here 'til he's drunken dry, until the sun's back in the sky,
Old block roads, and warm block beers,
Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here,
Cold starry nights and warm fires light,
Sometimes all you need is company and wine,
Where has the time gone, it's almost seven O'clock,
It's almost time to head back to the block,
I'll slip into my worn out boots, Off to drop a stinky deuce,
Load up on some shitty coffee, And shake the aches out of my body,
Old block roads, and warm block beers,
Sometimes I wonder what I am doing here,
Cold starry nights and warm fires light,
Sometimes all you need is company and wine.
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6. |
Ballad
03:57
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When I first hit the switchback, I could barely breathe, Sweating out these demons isn't done with ease,
By the time I hit the second everything is overgrown, Still three more to go before that old block road,
As my brush saw grows heavy and my bones begin to ache, I wonder how many more steps 'til I can start my day,
When I finally find the front of my foul beast, I steal one last glance at my darling as her brush is to the east,
This ain't a lullaby for a child, No it won't help you sleep,
It's not meant for the unpleasant company in which we keep,
It's not a ballad for a bushman, I'll tell you that my friend,
It's for the ear of my dear when the day is at its end,
My boots haven't felt burdened, such as they feel today, It must be all the water that I've collected along the way,
There's life left in these caulks don't get me wrong the grip is good, I'm just sweating out the last week off like any worker would,
By the gas stains on my gloves, I'm nearly hitting stones, And by the hummin' of the motor it's easy to feel alone,
But when the tank runs dry and the engine sputters out, I'll hear the slicin' of her saw amongst the singin' of her mouth,
This ain't a lullaby for a child, No it won't help you sleep,
It's not meant for the unpleasant company in which we keep,
It's not a ballad for a bushman, I'll tell you that my friend,
It's for the ear of my dear when the day is at its end,
As the clock hits quittin' time I'd say I timed that one quite well, I'm short on a witness but I've brushed the gates of hell,
I'll set aside my saw and grab what's left of my lunch, Fasten my empty jerry and journey down to the trucks,
We'll catch our lift to town, down to Bailey Road, The shack there on the left is where we call our home,
Just me and my darling, oh, me and my dear, And if trouble comes your way stay the hell away from here,
This ain't a lullaby for a child, No it won't help you sleep,
It's not meant for the unpleasant company in which we keep,
It's not a ballad for a bushman, I'll tell you that my friend,
It's for the ear of my dear when the day is at its end,
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7. |
West of Hardy
04:41
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There's been ice along the inlet for weeks, The grounds been covered where the geese did graze,
And up and down the empty roads, There's empty houses growin' mold,
Off in the distance cedars should be seen, But they've slipped in the background lost in sleet,
We have yet to share fate with the fern, Just waitin' for the weather to turn,
There's notice that the post will be runnin' late, and the letters goin' out will be late all the same,
The store still has some supplies, Bringin' more would have been wise,
We'll hold up in Holberg for now, It's cold up in Holberg for now
The weather here has yet to clear, And it's clear that winter is still here,
The road into Holberg was slick, The air was harsh the snow was thick,
It's slow but these hours they do pass, Just as the wine in the glass,
The storm it seemed had started inland, And it grew indeed taking no one as its' friend,
It blew all along the ocean boats, Enough so folks were taking note,
There was a blizzard down in Courtenay, up along the way, They've never seen that before, at least that's what they did say,
Well the flakes they fell never the less, Much more than we did expect,
Took a stop along the road for a dark roast, Had been asked where it was we wished to go,
I told here we were traveling west of Hardy, When she spoke of the weather I got wary,
We'll hold up in Holberg for now, It's cold up in Holberg for now
The weather here has yet to clear, And it's clear that winter is still here,
The road into Holberg was slick, The air was harsh the snow was thick,
It's slow but these hours they do pass, Just as the wine in the glass,
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8. |
Thieves and Frauds
03:58
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You might as well leave this place, There's not much good here left,
I'm not sure if it's lost its way, Or if it has lost its' breath,
Looking back it's all a haze, No I can't recall,
I'm not sure if there were warmer days, Oh how those tales seem tall,
I can't tell if the lights gone dim, Or I've just gone blind,
I can't quite tell just where I've been, Or where I have left my mind,
As the trash blows past my feet, And the chill sinks my bones,
Fog rolls along the street, It's hard to see a direction home,
It's been a long ride sinking in everyday, But it's getting cold at night and the frost seems that it's here to stay,
I swear to Christ if there is a god, He doesn't come around here no more, All we've got are thieves and frauds, plucking away at their encore,
There's one thing here that's still alive, And that's the stench of the air,
Nothing else seems so spry, Save the strangers cold glares,
The water's got a murky hue, And those pipes are sure to freeze,
I'd rather another cup of brew, To help to lift this unease
I haven't found a friendly face, Where they abide is not with me,
I probably where mine all the same, Blending into the obscene,
Making my way with unsteady steps, All along the low roads,
Trying to find a place to rest, The aching in my worn out toes,
It's been a long ride sinking in everyday, But it's getting cold at night and the frost seems that it's here to stay,
I swear to Christ if there is a god, He doesn't come around here no more, All we've got are thieves and frauds, plucking away at their own chords,
If I could I'd turn and run, But my lungs they have turned black,
Far to late for being stunned, Like the rats in their traps,
I might as well refill my glass, The one comfort I still find,
Trouble is it's gone to fast, As it lifts the troubles from my mine
I can't tell if the lights gone dim, Or I've just gone blind,
I can't quite tell just where I've been, Or where I have left my mind,
As the trash blows past my feet, And the chill sinks my bones,
Fog rolls along the street, It's hard to see a direction home,
It's been a long ride sinking in everyday, But it's getting cold at night and the frost seems that it's here to stay,
I swear to Christ if there is a god, He doesn't come around here no more, All we've got are thieves and frauds, plucking away at their own chorus.
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9. |
Trudge Along
02:35
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I got up today before the dawn, Brewed my coffee black and strong,
And out the door I see, Another foot there left for me,
But I'll still trudge along, I'll trudge until the day is gone,
There's still a few more steps, But those few more steps caught me short of breath,
When I see the sun hit that landscape, I wonder when I'll turn and escape,
And when I see that sunset, It's one day gone one less day left,
God knows it won't be soon enough, God's groomed that ground much to rough,
All we can do is push on through, I know tomorrow will be here to soon,
'Cause I don't want to work near the Tony, not tomorrow and not today,
No I don't want to die in that valley, It is not where I want to lay,
It's hard to stay how long it's took, Every other step is less than a foot,
It's harder to say how long it'll take, Have to leave the rest up to fate,
Ahead of me is one more creek, One more crossing 'til I am free,
But free until when, I turn around and cross again,
Passing by every tree, The snow has them as oppressed as me,
As I pass by them it seems, They're drooped down in misery,
But God knows it won't be long, God's grown those trees sturdy and strong,
All we can do is push on through, I know tomorrow will be here too soon,
'Cause I don't want to work near the Tony, not tomorrow and not today,
No I don't want to die in that valley, It is not where I want to lay,
I got up today before the dawn, Brewed my coffee black and strong,
And out the door I see, Another foot there left for me,
But I'll still trudge along, I'll trudge until the day is gone,
There's still a few more steps, But those few more steps caught me short of breath.
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Chris Close and Bailey Road Botell Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Chris Close started with an old acoustic guitar, 3 power chords, and screaming vocal chords. Over the years, he learned 7 chords and (almost) how to sing. Him and a friend with a harmonica, a singing dog, and a banjo, had a band until some drunk chick broke the neck of the banjo, then the dog got put up for adoption. A fast four piece was later formed with Chris on mandolin. They played a $50 gig. ... more
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