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Gram's Song Lyrics:

Transcription of songs written or co-written by Gram

Table Of Contents:

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In My Hour Of Darkness

In my hour of darkness
In my time of need
Oh, Lord grant me vision
Oh, Lord grant me speed


Once I knew a young man
Went driving through the night
Miles and miles without a word
With just his high-beam lights
Who'd have ever though they'd build such
a deadly Denver bend
To be so strong, to take as long as
it would till the end


In my hour of darkness
In my time of need
Oh, Lord grant me vision
Oh, Lord grant me speed


Another young man safely strummed his
silver string guitar
And he played to people everywhere
Some say he was a star
But he was just a country boy,
his simple songs confess
And the music he had in him,
so very few possess


In my hour of darkness
In my time of need
Oh, Lord grant me vision
Oh, Lord grant me speed


Then there was an old man
Kind and wise with age
And he read me just like a book and he
never missed a page
And I loved him like my father
And I loved him like my friend
And I knew his time would shortly come
but I did not know just when


In my hour of darkness
In my time of need
Oh, Lord grant me vision
Oh, Lord grant me speed
Oh, Lord grant me vision
Oh, Lord grant me speed

Hickory Wind

In South Carolina there are many tall pines
I remember the oak tree that we used to climb
But now when I'm lonesome, I always pretend
That I'm getting the feel of hickory wind


I started out younger at most everything
All the riches and pleasures, what else could life bring?
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind


It's hard to find out that trouble is real
In a far away city, with a far away feel
But it makes me feel better each time it begins
Callin' me home, hickory wind


Keeps callin' me home, hickory wind

Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man

He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town

Well, he's got him a house on the hill
He plays country records till you've had your fill
He's a fireman's friend he's an all night DJ
But he sure does think different from the records he plays

He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town

Well, he don't like the young folks I know
He told me one night on his radio show
He's got him a medal he won in the War
It weighs five-hundred pounds and it sleeps on his floor

He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town

He's been like a father to me
He's the only DJ you can hear after three
I'm an all night musician in a rock and roll band
And why he don't like me I can't understand

He's a drug store truck drivin' man
He's the head of the Ku Klux Klan
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town
When summer rolls around
He'll be lucky if he's not in town

Return of the Grievous Angel

Won't you scratch my itch sweet Annie Rich 
And welcome me back to town
Come out on your porch or I'll step into your parlor
And I'll show you how it all went down

Out with the truckers and the kickers and the cowboy angels
And a good saloon in every single town

Oh, and I remember something you once told me
And I'll be damned if it did not come true
Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all lead me straight back home to you

`Cause I headed West to grow up with the country
Across those prairies with the waves of grain
And I saw my devil, 
and I saw my deep blue sea
nd I thought about a calico bonnet from 
Cheyenne to Tennessee

We flew straight across that river bridge, 
last night a half past two
The switchman wave his lantern goodbye 
and so long as we went rolling through
Billboards and truckstops pass by the grievous angel
And now I know just what I have to do

And the man on the radio won't leave me alone
He wants to take my money for something 
that I've never been shown

And I saw my devil, 
and I saw my deep blue sea
And I thought about a calico bonnet from 
Cheyenne to Tennessee

The news I could bring I met up with the king
On his head an amphetamine crown
He talked about unbuckling that old bible belt
And lighted out for some desert town

Out with the truckers and the kickers and the cowboy angels
And a good saloon in every single town

Oh, but I remembered something you once told me
And I'll be damned if it did not come true
Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all lead me straight back home to you

Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all lead me straight back home to you

Sin City

This old town is filled with sin,
It'll swallow you in
If you've got some money to burn.
Take it home right away,
You've got three years to pay
But Satan is waiting his turn

This old earthquake's gonna leave me in the poor house.
It seems like this whole town's insane
On the thirty-first floor your gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain

The scientists say
It'll all wash away
But we don't believe any more
Cause we've got our recruits
And our green mohair suits
So please show you ID At the door.

A friend came around.
Tried to clean up this town,
His ideas made some people mad.
But he trusted his crowd,
So he spoke right out loud
And they lost the best friend they had

On the thirty-first floor your gold plated door
Won't keep out the Lord's burning rain

How Much I've Lied

Darling, there is something I must tell you, you must know.
But it's so hard to say the words I feel.
This fancy that I'm on has been going on too long.
It's time we stopped pretending things are real.

'Cause I've been living deep in sin.  I've been living blind.
And I don't know just what's right or wrong.
To take a chance on losing you was such a silly thing to do.
The chance I might wake up and find you gone.

Blue, so blue, my love is burning blue.
Any brighter flame would be a lie.
Blue, so blue, my love still burns for you,
But I know that I'll only make you cry.

A thief can only steal from you.  He cannot break your heart.
He'll never touch the precious things inside.
So one like you should surely be miles and miles away from me,
Then you'd never care how much I've lied.
So try to understand the pain.  It takes so long when I explain.
Please, don't you forget how much I've lied.

Christine's Tune (Devil In Disguise)

She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise

Now a woman like that all she does is hate you
She doesn't know what makes a man a man
She'll talk about the time that she's been with you
She'll speak your name to everyone she can

She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise

Unhappiness has been her close companion
Her world is full of jealously and doubt
It gets her off to see a person crying
She's just the kind that you can do without

She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise

Her number always turns up in your pocket
Whenever you are looking for a dime
It's all right to call her, but I'll bet you
The moon is full and you're just wasting time.

She's a devil in disguise
You can see it in her eyes
She's telling dirty lies
She's a devil in disguise
In disguise

Do Right Woman

Take me to heart and I'll always love you
And nobody else could make me do wrong
Take me for granted, and I'll tag along
Makes willpower weak, and temptation's strong

A woman's only human
This you must understand
She's not just a plaything
She expects love just like a man

So if you want a do right all day woman
You gotta be a do right all night man

They say that it's a man's world
But you can't prove that by me
So as long as we're together, baby
You better show some respect for me

So if you want a do right all day woman
You gotta be a do right all night man
You gotta be a do right all night man
You gotta be a do right all night man

Dark End Of The Street

At the dark end of the street
That's where we'll always meet
Hiding in shadows
Where we don't belong
Living in darkness
To hide our wrong
You and me
At the dark end of the street
You and me

I know that time's gonna take its toll
We'll have to pay for the love that we stole
Cause it's a sin and we know that we're wrong
Oh, but our love keeps coming on strong
You and me
At the dark end of the street
You and me

They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us someday
We'll steal away
To the dark end of the street
You and me

If you take a walk downtown
And find some time to look around
If you should see me, and I walk on by
Oh, darling, please don't cry
Tonight we'll meet
At the dark end of the street
You and me
You and me
You and me

Wheels

We've all got wheels to take ourselves away
We've got telephones to say what we can't say
We've all got higher and higher every day
Come on, wheels, take this boy away

We're not afraid to ride
We're not afraid to die
So come on, wheels, take me home today
Come on, wheels, take this boy away

Now when I feel that my time is almost up
And destiny is in my right hand
I'll turn to him who made my fate so strong
Come on, wheels, make this boy a man

We're not afraid to ride
We're not afraid to die
Come on, wheels, take me home today
Come on, wheels, take this boy away
Come on, wheels, take this boy away

My Uncle

A letter came today from the draft board
With trembling hands I read the questionnaire
It asked me questions about my mama and papa
Now that ain't what I call exactly fair

So I'm heading for the nearest foreign border
Vancouver might be just my kind of town
'Cause they don't need the kind of law and order
That tends to keep a good man underground

A sad old soldier once told me a story
About a battlefield that he was on
He said a man should never fight for glory
He must know what is right and what is wrong

Now, I don't know how much I owe my uncle
But I suspect it's more than I can pay
He's asking me to sign a three-year contract
I guess I'll catch the first bus out today

Juanita

No affection were the words
That stuck on my mind
When she walked out on me
For the very last time
Oh, mama, sweet mama
Can you tell me what to say
I don't know what I've done
To be treated this way

In a cold dirty room
That's where I found myself
With a bottle of wine
And some pills on the shelf
Oh, mama, sweet mama
Can you tell me what to say
I don't know what I've done
And I'm feeling so ashamed

Then an angel appeared
She was just seventeen
In a dirty old gown
With a conscience so clean
Oh, mama, sweet mama
Can you tell me what to say
She's brought back the life
That I once threw away
She's brought back the life
That I once threw away

Hot Burrito #1

You may be sweet and nice
But that won't keep you warm at night
'Cause I'm the one who showed you how
To do the things you're doing now

He may feel all your charms
He may hold you in his arms
But I'm the one who let you in
I was right beside you then

Once upon a time
You let me feel you deep inside
And nobody knew, nobody saw
Do you remember the way you cried?

I'm your toy, I'm your old boy
But I don't want no one but you to love me
No, I wouldn't lie
You know I'm not that kind of guy

Once upon a time
You let me feel you deep inside
And nobody knew, nobody saw
Do you remember the way you cried?

I'm your toy, I'm your old boy
But I don't want no one but you to love me
No, I wouldn't lie
You know I'm not that kind of guy

Hot Burrito #2

Yes, you loved me and you sold my clothes
I love you, but that's the way that it goes
So it goes
Yes, you know how I feel
So it goes
It just couldn't be real

And we know it's wrong
And I don't think it's gonna go on
When I come home carrying my shoes
I've been waiting to tell you some news
And you want me home all night
And you don't want another fight
But you better love
Find some love
You better love me, Jesus Christ

Yes, you loved me and you sold all my clothes
I love you, baby, but that's the way that it goes
So it goes
I guess you know how I feel
So it goes
Yes, it couldn't be real

And you want me home all night
You just don't want another fight
But you better love
Find some love
Love me baby, Jesus Christ

Do You Know How It Feels To Be Lonesome

Do you know how it feels to be lonesome
When there's just no one left that really cares
Did you ever try to smile at some people
And all they ever seem to do is stare

And you remember how it feels to be cold again
When the happiness of love has gone away
And you never want to go out on the street again
And you only seem to live from day to day

Do you know how it feels to be lonesome
When there's just no one left who really cares
Did you ever try to smile at some people
Yes, and all they ever seem to do is stare
Yes, and all they ever seem to do is stare

Still Feeling Blue

Time can pass and time can heal
But it don't ever pass the way I feel
You went away a long time ago
And why you left I never knew
The lonely days and lonely nights
Guess the world knows I ain't feelin' right
And when you're gone the hours pass so slow
And now I'm still feeling blue

And baby
Since you've walked out of my life
I never felt so low
Can't help but wonder why you had to go

There are many girls but I can't say
They come and go but still I feel this way
And ever since the day you said goodbye
No one treats me like you used to do

I hope you're out and happy now
Doing up the town cause you know how
Every time I hear your name I want to die
And now I'm still feeling blue

All right

And baby
Since you've walked out of my life
I never felt so low
Can't help but wonder why you had to go

I hope you're out and happy now
Doing up the town cause you know how
Every time I hear your name I want to die
And now I'm still feeling blue
And now I'm still feeling blue

We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning

We know it's wrong  to let this fire burn between us
We've got to stop this wild desire in you and in me
So we'll let the flame burn once again until the thrill is gone
Then we'll sweep out the ashes in the morning

We're two people caught up in the flame that has to die out soon
I didn't mean to start this fire and neither did you
So tonight when you hold me tight we'll let the fire burn on
And we'll sweep out the ashes in the morning

Each time when we meet we both agree that it's for the last time
But out of your arms I'm out of my mind
So we'll taste the thrill of stolen love tonight until the dawning
And we'll sweep out the ashes in the morning

We're two people caught up in the flame that has to die out soon
I didn't mean to start this fire and neither did you
So tonight when you hold me tight we'll let the fire burn on
And we'll sweep out the ashes in the morning

Yes we'll taste the thrill of stolen love tonight until the dawning
And we'll sweep out the ashes
We'll sweep out the ashes
We'll sweep out the ashes in the morning

A Song For You

Oh my land is like a wild goose
Wanders all around everywhere
Trembles and it shakes till every tree is loose
It rolls the meadows and it rolls the nails
So take me down to your dance floor
And I wont mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there

Jesus built a shop to sing a song to
It sails the rivers and it sails the tide
Some of my friends don't know who they belong to
Some can't get a single thing to work inside
So take me down to your dance floor
And I wont mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there

I loved you every day and now I'm leaving
And I can see the sorrow in your eyes
I hope you know a lot more than you're believing
Just so the sun don't hurt ou when you cry
So take me down to your dance floor
And I wont mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there
And tomorrow we will still be there

Streets Of Baltimore

Well I sold the farm to take my woman where she used to be
We left our kin and all our friends back there in Tennessee
And I bought those one way tickets she had often begged me for
And they took us to the streets of Baltimore
Well her heart was filled with gladness when she saw those city lights
She said the prettiest place on earth was Baltimore at night
Well a man feels proud to give his woman what she's longing for
And I kinda liked the streets of Baltimore

Then I got myself a factory job, I ran an old machine
And I bought a little cottage in a neighborhood serene
And every night when I'd come home with every muscle sore
She'd drag me through the streets of Baltimore
Well I did my best to bring her back to what she used to be
Then I soon learned she loved those bright lights more than she loved me
Now I'm a going back on that same train that brought me here before
While my baby walks the streets of Baltimore
While my baby walks the streets of Baltimore