january 1, 2022
featuring:
tim mechling / piano on "desperation waltz"
cooper dickerson / pedal steel on "desperation waltz"
eli waltz / harmonica on "hail mary"
kenneth pichardo / cowriting on "windsor"
kenneth pichardo / cowriting on "windsor"
hail mary (and start again)
that maple with its hollow pointed finger
stared me down as it beckoned to the sky
it said if you don’t know by now
which way you’re going
them walls are closing
you will be left outside
so read your bible
lace your boots up, comb your hair down
change your name
and draw your curtains in a new town
and if they ever find you there
it’ll be last call my dear
drink all the whiskey, say three hail mary’s
and start again
i put four years swift behind me
i was reborn
the few who knew my voice
would hear it once a year
and i’d pray the clouds
would cover all my housefires
they’ll sniff you out, they’ll come back here
so i put four more years in southern san marino
another five wanderin’ round in baton rouge
and all my closest friends think i’m a preacher
who says i’m not, if they sin too
so read your bible
lace your boots up, comb your hair down
change your name
and draw your curtains in a new town
and if they ever find you there
it’ll be last call my dear
drink all the whiskey, say three hail mary’s
and start again
the desperation waltz
you were a wanderer in north idaho
boots on the gravel for miles
you’d hustle them boys in the ol’ country dives
you’d sleep with your knife by your side
you’ve done a lot more for a lot less before
and this circus has wore you on down
you were a heavyweight down in the ring
enough left in you still for a round
but you promised a man with a silver tipped pen
you would end with your face to the ground
you’ve done a lot more for a lot less before
and this circus has wore you on down
you were a waitress in oklahoma
them boys from the prairie were kind
but they slipped you a note with an offer at hand
and a ten dollar bill on the side
you’ve done a lot more for a lot less before
and this circus has wore you on down
you were a schoolboy no older than ten
well johnny’d been after your hide
you found an old rifle way back in the she'd
no daddy to pay it no mind
you’ve done a lot more for a lot less before
and this circus has wore you on down
you were a barber you cut a clean shave
but you were short when the landlord came by
you sat in the summer heat
eyein’ your blades and the cop always pacin’ in time
you’ve done a lot more for a lot less before
and this circus has wore you on down
windsor
i skinned my hands on the wheel
grippin’ on the ten and two
thinking i was made of steel
but i turn to flesh next to you
i don’t know if this is the last time
i’ll see the lights in columbia
they don’t go by as fast
and i got half a mind to turn around
but i won’t dear, no not, not for now
does my shadow walk your halls
does it creak on your floorboards
do i appear between your wall
in that old house in windsor
i don’t know if this is the last time
i’ll see the lights in columbia
they don’t go by as fast
and i got half a mind to turn around
but i won’t dear
no not, not for now
and i’m not any better than i was
when i left you weeping
and i watched oh lord
how i’ll plead to come back
i’ll be the ghost to your flesh
cuz i don’t know if this is the last time
will i see the lights in columbia
they don’t go by as fast
and i got half a mind to turn around
but i won’t dear
no not, not for now
oh i won’t dear
no not, not for now
in earnest
felt like five generations had passed
saw the wheat grow, saw it turnin’ in your hands
but it was only one course of the moon
til’ those wheels touched the ground at last
and i’d know your name
well my brother, your lantern’s been out
oh my friend, how your garden’s run down
but you write pretty words in the night
so is it worth all the wounds that you count
and am i one, oh am i one
but when you held me that night in the desert
i forgot where i was
lost track of where we’re standing
i was melting into the heavens
with that wide sky above us every star
just watching us swaying
and then i thought to myself
lord is this right, did i lead you on
and then it was gone
come o’er, there’s a ghost that must be named
well it sees its soul in another, but it’s afraid
for if i write you these words in the night
it’s to tell you i don’t feel the same
will i haunt you now, or will you forget my name
no i don’t feel the same
november in omaha
well that big wind’s coming for you darlin
in the night
so gather up your things
write a note for somebody
and sharpen all them knives
to put up your big fight
you always knew this would end bloody
and lay your lead belly down
and follow that iron line, clear out of this town
you left your box of matches on the floor
an empty fifth of whiskey on the table
well i swear on high, i saw your eyes this morning
well the sky sank dark, and i drowned in the stable
and lay your lead belly down
and follow that iron line, clear out of this town
well i woke up to them coyotes
and i climbed up that hill in our yard
and i buried all them memories you left me
and set a blaze of hellfire to the barn
i’ll lay my lead belly down
and follow that iron line, clear out of this town
and i, i’ll leave you behind
and i won’t leave my porch light on
and i’ll forget why oh, why
the moss in my garden
my mind is always walking slow and deep
in these big wide circles around the light of you
as i watch, my eyes grow heavy
and gravity pulls down
in these big wide circles i have no answer to
will i know you
will i see the man you want me to
will i know you how i want to
well you grew like the moss
deep and green in my garden
and every time i’d glance outside
try not to find it, but it was there
well i can’t help them things i don’t know
i can’t seem to help myself
to get some answers, to get my mind right
to not see you everywhere
will i know you
will i see the man you want me to
will i know you how i want to
sabbath song
five bodies on the ground
bent over at your feet
your shaking breath the only sound and harmony
nine bodies on the ground
your jacket frayed and drowning
in the blood of righteousness
may god you reward you now
and when sabbath comes
you’ll sit and bathe in rosy reds and blues
as they shine the light of glory
on the rows of blood stained pews
but in your bones
a black and fiery rage os boiling through
it’ll come
your tintype high upon the wall
my hands all red in alcohol
as you pray for her health
you beg he keeps her well
yeah you’d give it all
you tell the angels up above
hear my lowly cryin’ after all