Sometimes music comes to us as a great big present - a big packaged affair featuring any number of  well-known artists - but other times it comes as a small gift, like back porch jams, living room  listening parties, and the songs of singer/songwriter Greg Jacobs.

 Even though the Oklahoma-born Jacobs has graduated from being the John Prine greatest hits show  and from playing for friends in the living room, his music will forever retain a spiritual kinship to Prine  and flow with the same intimacy found in those small off-the-cuff music gatherings. It's fresh, it's honest, it's memorable, and most of all, it comes with no expectations other than to make a  connection with the listener.

 From tiny Choctaw, Oklahoma, situated just beyond the outskirts of Oklahoma City, the  unassuming singer/songwriter soon found his way to the college town of Stillwater, home to a variety  of musicians including Jimmy LaFave, Bob Childers, The Skinner Brothers, and a guy named Garth  Brooks. It was one of the most fertile music scenes anywhere, and is  now talked about as being the birthplace of the "red dirt" sound.

 After gigging around Stillwater for a few years, Jacobs wound up in Kentucky, where he would  make monthly trips to Nashville. Every so often he would find himself jamming and writing songs  with his old music buddies. "The Skinner Brothers and Garth had this house they were renting in  Nashville and I would come down from Kentucky...We would sit around and jam and think up  songs and such. I remember telling Garth to quit trying to be the next George Strait and find  something else. Well, I guess he did."

 After a few trips to Nashville, Jacobs got the notion to move there with the hopes of being a  successful Nashville songwriter feeding the country music business beast. He eventually abandoned  his dream of being the next Harlan Howard. "Most music being made in Nashville is not for the  serious listener at all," says Jacobs. "Of course there are some exceptions like Mary Chapin  Carpenter who make it without adhering to the same Nashville mentality." Nashville wanted songs  that guys in trucks could hum along and tap their toes to. Jacobs wanted to write something a bit  more personal. 

 Making music again was becoming more and more important to Jacobs, and with a batch of new  songs in his hip pocket he went into the studio to record an album which became "South of  Muskogee Town." This record highlights Jacobs' songwriting/storytelling skills in songs that range  from blues to folk, from western swing to roadhouse rock, with a few plain old history lessons 
 thrown in.

 While the quiet unassuming singer/songwriter feels at home with the more jazzy and blues traditions  that color his music, it is his mastery of genuine acoustic country that gives his style its anchor. One  listen and you will know that you are hearing one of the best singer/songwriters working in music  today. 

 "...more than just a singer-songwriter history lesson. Jacobs'debut album details the  intimate effects he world has on our daily lives..." 

-- Rock & Rap Confidential
 

Special Guests:
Jimmy LaFave - vocal
Tom Skinner - vocal, bass guitar
 
 

"A LITTLE RAIN WILL DO"
(G. JACOBS)

THERE WAS POWDERED DUST ON A SECTION LINE ROAD
LIKE FLOUR SPILLED ON A KITCHEN FLOOR
IT AIN'T RAINED SINCE EARLY SPRING
OVER A HUNDERED THIRTY DAYS OR MORE
THAT LITTLE POND AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL
IT WAS DRYER THAN A JULY WIND
LOADED THE COWS AND TOOKM TO TOWN
THEY BROUGHT NOTHING BROUGHT'EM HOME AGAIN

IT WAS DRY IN 1930
IT WAS DRY IN THIRTY-SIX TOO
DON'T NEED A NEW DEAL HANDOUT
A LITTLE RAIN WILL DO

MY GRANDFATHER SAT BENEATH THE SHADE OF A POST OAK.
PULLED OUT HIS WATCH AND LOOKED AT THE SKY
WONDERED OUT LOUD "WILL IT EVER RAIN?"
"I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS THIS DRY"
THEN HE LOOKED AT HIS WIFE AND HIS DUSTY CHILDREN
PONDERED THE FATE OF A FARMING MAN
"YOU MAKE A CROP AND IT AIN'T WORTH NOTHING
NEXT YEAR THE WEATHER GETS YOU AGAIN"

CHORUS

MY GRANDFATHER SAID THAT HERBERT HOOVER
TRIED TO STARVE THEM TO DEATH BECAUSE THEY WERE POOR
THEY HELD ON FOR THE WANT OF NOTHING
NOTHING'S ALL THEY EVER HAD BEFORE
BUT HE FINALLY GAVE IN, SWALLOWED HIS PRIDE
MADE HIS MARK FOR CREDIT AT IRVING WEST'S STORE
COST HIM A PENNY A POUND FOR HIS COTTON
NEXT YEAR COST HIM 2 CENTS MORE

CHORUS

HE TOLD ME ONCE "BETTER TEND TO YOUR BUSINESS
DON'T BE DRINKING AND ACTING A FOOL,
HELL I SPENT THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE BOY
LOOKING AT THE BACK SIDE OF A MULE"
AND HE TOLD ME "SON BETTER GET YOU SOME SCHOOLING
YOU CAN'T MAKE IT BY THE SLIGHT OF HAND
BUT REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE RAISED
AND KEEP SOME TIE TO THE LAND" IT WAS DRYIN 1930

CHORUS

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L. JACOBS
OKIE WIND Music, BMI
 

"LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHEN I FOUND YOU"
(G. JACOBS)

I WAS A ONE TIME LOSER, A DIVORCEE
YOU WERE YOUNG AND KIND OF PRETTY
AND ATTRACTED TO ME
'CAUSE I COULD PLAY A GUITAR
I COULD SING YOU A SONG
TELL YOU ROMANCE STORIES
WHEN THE NIGHTS WERE LONG
AND I WASN'T JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO
I WAS LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHEN I FOUND YOU

WE DRIFTED TOGETHER FLOWED APART
BUT WE COULDN'T FORGET
AND WE FOLLOWED OUR HEARTS
THEY LED US BACK TOGETHER, WE SAID WE DO
AND WE PROMISED FOREVER
AND A LOVE THAT'S TRUE
AND I WASN'T JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO
I WAS LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHEN I FOUND YOU

WELL A MAN NEEDS A WOMAN WOMAN NEEDS A MAN
IT'S A NEAT LITTLE PACKAGE
BUT A DIFFICULT PLAN
IT'S AN EMOTIONAL RIDE
AN EMOTIONAL STRAIN
THE PRIDE THE LUST THE NEED THE PAIN
AND I WASN'T JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO
I WAS LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHEN I FOUND YOU

THIS AIN'T NOTHING BITTER, AIN'T NOTHING BLUE
IT'S JUST LATELY I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT ME AND YOU
I REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES, FORGOT THE BAD
I DWELL ON YOUR SMILE
AND IGNORE THE SAD
AND I WASN'T JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO
I WAS LOOKING FOR A WOMAN WHEN I FOUND YOU

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L. JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 

"STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT"
(G. JACOBS)

SHE WAS TOO DEEP FOR ME
SOME KIND OF INTELLECTUAL
HAD AN ADVANCED DEGREE
IN PHILOSOPHY OR THE LIKE
SHE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
THE MEANING OF LIFE AND PLATO
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

SHE WAS TOO MUCH WOMAN FOR ME
HAD LONG LEGS IN SPANDEX
UBY RED LIPSTICK
AND ROUGE ON JUST RIGHT
ORDERED SOME KIND OF CAVIAR
I HAD THE TEX-MEX
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

SHE WAS TOO CLEVER FOR ME
SHE SIDE-STEPPED MY EVERY MOVE
WHEN I TRIED TO KISS HER UNDER THE STARS
SHE MOVED QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT
SAID "I WAS JUST GETTING TO KNOW YOUR YEN
NOW YOUR YANG IS COMING THROUGH"
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

THEN SOMETHING CAME OVER HER
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SMILED
AND SAID "WHY DON'T WE LEVITATE
OVER TO MY PLACE FOR AWHILE"
MUMBLED SOMETHING ABOUT INTRODUCING
HER INNER PEACE TO MY INNER CHILD
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

WHEN THE DUST HAD SETTLED
AND WE WERE LYING THERE JUST THE SAME
SHE SAID "NO THE EARTH DON'T MOVE
AND I DO BELIEVE I FORGOT YOUR NAME"
WELL SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID
I THANKED HER JUST THE SAME
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

I ALWAYS SAY
SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID
I THANKED HER JUST THE SAME
IT WAS A STRANGE KIND OF NIGHT

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L. JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 

"SOUTH OF MUSKOGEE TOWN"
(G. JACOBS, B. ERICKSON)

IT WAS MARCH ONE 1899. WORD WAS SENT AROUND
THAT THE DAWES COMMISSION MEETS NEXT MONTH
SOUTH OF MUSKOGEE TOWN
LIKE THE CHOCTAW AND THE CHEROKEE
THE CREEK MUST NOW COME IN
YOU SEE THERE'S WHITE MEN THERE THAT WANT THE LAND
SO LET THE FEAST BEGIN

IT GOES BACK TO THE DAYS OF JACKSON
AND THE DEFEAT AT HORSESHOE BEND
FORCED TO OEDE THEIR LAND AGAIN
THEY DROVE THEM WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI
ACROSS THE HILLS OF ARKANSAS
SAID THE TREATY SAVED THE OLD WAYS
FREE FROM WHITE MANS LAW

IT WAS MARCH ONE, 1899
WORD WAS SENT AROUND
THAT THE DAWES COMMISSION
MEETS NEXT MONTH
SOUTH OF MUSKOGEE TOWN

CHIEF PORTER BROUGHT THE MIXED BLOODS IN
TO SIGN UP ON THE ROLL
GET YOUR HUNRED AND SIXTY BOYS
LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT DOLE
AND THE FREEDMEN CAME TO CLAIM THEIR SHARE
GIVEN BY THE WAR
BUT THE FULL BLOODS HELD THE TREATY
COMPROMISE NO MORE

THEY WERE LED BY CHITTO HARJO
WHO THE WHITES CALLED CRAZY SANKE
REMNANTS OF THE RED STICKS
SOUL OF THE RIBE AT STAKE
HE SAID "WHITE MEN GAVE US MANY PROMISES
WE BELIEVED THEM EVERYONE
SAID THE LAND WAS OURS WHILE THE RIVERS FLOWED
STILL WATERS RUN"

CHORUS

FROM CHECOTAH CAME MARSHALL BENNETT
WITH THE MILITIA AND THE LAW
AND THE MIXED BLOODS TURNED AGAINST THEM
THEY WATCHED THE FULL BLOODS FALL
AND THEY TOOL THEM TOO MUSKOGEE
LOADED ON A NORTH BOUND TRAIN
OFF TOO A WHITE MAN'S PRISON
SOME WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN

CHORUS

IT'S AN ANCIENT CREEK TRADITION
THAT THE WOMEN OF THE TRIBE
MAKE A BLANKET FOR THE DYING
REST THE SOUL INSIDE
WHEN ALLOTMENT WAS COMPLETED
AND THE LAND WAS SOLD FOR GOLD
INSIDE THE BLANKET OF CHITTO HARJO
RESTS THE WHOLE CREEK NATION'S SOUL

CHORUS

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L. JACOBS, BILL ERICKSON
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 
 

"DRIFTER'S DREAM"
(B. CHILDERS)

I'M STAYING WITH A GYPSY PRINCESS
AND I'M LIVING ON STOLEN TIME
IN A LITTLE ONE ROOM CABIN
JUST ACROSS THE BORDER LINE

SOMETIMES WE'D LISTEN TO THE COYOTES CALLING
SOMETIMES WE~ LISTEN TO A FRIEND
SOMETIMES WE'D LISTEN TO THAT CRICKET IN THE CLOSET
THAT'S A TIME I WOULD NOT MIND TO SPEND AGAIN

SOME NIGHTS WHEN THE MOON WAS RIGHT
SHE'D SHAKE HER TAMBOURINE
AND DANCE AROUND ABOVE THE GROUND
LIKE SOME OLD DRIFTER'S DREAM

SOMETIMES WE'D LISTEN TO THE RAIN ON THE WINDOW PANE
SOMETIMES WE'D LISTEN TO THE WIND
SOMETIMES WE'D LISTEN TO OUR HEARTS POUNDING WILDLY
THAT'S A TIME I WOULD NOT MIND TO SPEND AGAIN

REPEAT I ST VERSE

REPEAT 2ND BRIDGE

COPYRIGHT 1997, BOB CHILDERS
WHITE BUFFALO ROAD SHOW
PUBUSHING, BMI
 
 
 

"CAN'T HELP THINKING OF YOU"
(G. JACOBS)

SOMETIMES I SIT BACK
AND I TRY TO EXPLAIN
HOW IN A WORLD FILLED WITH SORROW
HEARTACHE AND PAIN
I FOUND SOMEONE LIKE YOU
AND LOVE'S SWEET REFRAIN
CAN~ HELP THINKING OF YOU
AND THEN OUT ON THE ROAD
EVERY BREATH THAT I TAKE
EVERY SONG THAT I SING
EVERY HAND THAT I SHAKE
MY EYE NEVER WANDERS
DON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE
CAN'T HELP THINKING OF YOU

THE TOSS OF YOUR HAIR
THE WINK OF AN EYE
A WHISPER AT NIGHT
AND A SOFT LITTLE SIGH
I BARELY EXIST
WHEN I'M NOT BY YOUR SIDE
CAN'T HELP THINKING OF YOU

A POET ONCE SAID
'TIMES THEY HAVE CHANGED'
PARTS OF OUR LIVES
HAVE BEEN REARRANGED
SOMETIMES I WONDER
DOES FATE PLAY THESE GAMES
CAN'T HELP THINKING OF YOU

BUT HOW MY LOVE FOR YOU'S GROWN
YOU MAY NEVER KNOW
FROM THE TOP OF MY HEART
TO THE DEPTH OF MY SOUL
NEXT TIME I HOLD YOU I MAY NEVER LET GO
CAN'T HELP THINKING OF YOU

REPEAT BRIDGE

COPYRIGHT 1991, GREGORY L JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 

"PATIENT MAN"
(G. JACOBS)

I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN
DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT SLOW
IVE BEEN ALONE TO LONG
I DON'T WANT TO GO
JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND
I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN

I DON'T WANT TO WINE AND DINE
AND DATE YOU ONCE OR TWICE
I WANT TO HOLD YOU NOW
I WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT
YOU TELL ME A BETTER PLAN
I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN

I SUPPOSE WE COULD TALK AWHILE
DON'T THINK THAT'S A WASTE OF TIME
YOU COULD TELL ME OF YOUR LIFE
I COULD TELL YOU PARTS OF MINE
THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BY THE HAND
I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN

YOUVE GOT THOSE BIG BLUE EYES
YOU'RE PRETTY AS CAN BE
YOUVE GOT THAT CURLY HAIR
YOU LOOK JUST RIGHT TO ME
THATS JUST ABOUT WHERE I STAND
I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN

I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN
DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT SLOW
IVE BEEN ALONE TO LONG
IDON'TWANTTOGO
JUST SD YOU UNDERSTAND
I'M NOT A PATIENT MAN

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L. JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUCC, BMI
 
 
 

"ALL THE ANSWERS"
(G. JACOBS)

IF I KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS
MAYBE THEY WOULD MAKE ME KING
AND PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM MILES AROUND
AND ASK ME MANY THINGS
YOU COULD WRITE ME, YOU COULD FAK ME,
YOU COULD CALL ME ON THE PHONE
IF I KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS
I'D NEVER BE ALONE

IF I HELD ALL THE POWER 
IF MY WORDS WERE CARVED IN STONE
IF MY PICTURE HUNG UPON THE WALL
IN EVERY SINGLE HOME 
THEN THE PEOPLE WOULD ALL LINE UP
JUST TO GET A LOOK AT ME
IF I HELD ALL THE POWER
I'D BE HAPPY AS COULD BE

IF I ONLY HAD ATRUE LOVE
THERE'S NOT A THING I COULDN'T DO
SOMEONE TO HOLD ME LATE AT NIGHT
AND WHISPER I LOVE YOU
SHE'D BE HAPPY JUST TO SEE ME
AND SHE'D SMILE HER PRETTY WAY
IF I ONLY HAD ATRUE LOVE
I'D NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY

IF I KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS
MAYBE THEY WOULD MAKE ME KING
AND PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM MILES AROUND
AND ASK ME MANY THINGS
YOU COULD WRITE ME, YOU COULD FAX ME,
YOU COULD CALL ME ON THE PHONE
IF I KNEW ALL THE ANSWERS
I'D NEVER BE ALONE

COPYRIGHT 1991, GREGORY L JACOBS
OK~E VWND Music, BMI
 
 

"I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES"
(G. JACOBS)

YOU'VE GOT THIS CHIP UPON YOUR SHOULDER
AND DOUBT UPON YOUR MIND
A MEMORY OF YESTERDAY THAT'S WITH YOU ALL THE TIME
YOUR EYES TELL ME YOU WANT TO GO
BUT YOUR LIPS THEY DO REFUSE
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

YOU SAY JUST THE THOUGHT OF LOVE
AND IT STARTS TO RAIN
I'M SOAKING WET HERE HONEY
BUTI WANT YOU JUSTTHE SAME
WITH YOUR ARMS AROUND ME
HOW COULD I LOSE
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW
WHICH WAY IS UP OR DOWN
IVE TURNED A DEAF EAR TO ADVICE
AND LIMPED FROM TOWN TO TOWN
AND EVERY NOW AND THEN
A WOMAN TEARS ME RIGHT IN TWO
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

I KNOW I COULD BE YOUR SOMEONE SPECIAL
CAN'T YOU SEE
THERE'S NEON LIGHTS AND LIGHTNING FLASHING
EVERYTHING POINTS RIGHT AT ME
WE'RE NOT OIL AND WATER
NOT ME AND YOU
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

I'M SENSITIVE AND THOUGHTFUL
I'M PLAYFUL AND I'M KIND
I'M NOT YOUR ORDINARY GUY
I'M KIND OF HARD TO FIND
I~L PICK UP THIS GUITAR AND SING
A LOVE SONG JUST FOR YOU
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

HOW CAN YOU REFUSE ME
I'M SWEET AS I CAN BE
I'LL LEAVE THE SEAT DOWN HONEY
I WON'T TURN ON THE TV
YOUR PLACE OR MY PLACE
THATS ALL YOUVE GOT TO CHOOSE
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE BLUES

COPYRIGHT 1991, GREGORY L JACOBS
OKIE WIND Music, BMI
 
 

LET'S PRETEND
(G.JACOBS)

LET'S PRETEND
BRING YOURSELF ON OVER HERE
LET'S PRETEND
TURN THAT LIGHT OUT, LEAVE YOUR FEAR
WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT LOVE
BUT HONEY EVEN THEN
LET'S PRETEND

LET'S PRETEND
THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS AND END
LET'S PRETEND
I PROMISE I'LL NEVER ASK AGAIN
IF WE LET THIS MOMENT PASS
WE WILL WONDER NOW AND THEN
LET'S PRETEND

WE'VE GOT THE WANT TO GO
WE BOTH KNOW THE WAY
WE'VE GOT THE CURTAINS DRAWN
BABY TODAY IS THE DAY

LETS PRETEND
WE CAN BE LOVERS AND GOOD FRIENDS
LET'S PRETEND
JUST UNTIL LOVE COMES AGAIN
IF WE LET THIS MOMENT PASS
WE WILL WONDER NOW AND THEN
LET'S PRETEND

WE'VE GOT THE WANT TO GO
WE BOTH KNOW THE WAY
WE'VE GOT THE CURTAINS DRAWN
BABY TODAY IS THE DAY

LET'S PRETEND
WE CAN BE LOVERS AND GOOD FRIENDS
LETS PRETEND
JUST UNTIL LOVE COMES AGAIN
IF WE LET THIS MOMENT PASS
WE WILL WONDER NOW AND THEN
LET'S PRETEND

COPYRIGHT 1991, GREGORY L JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 
 

"RIVER RUN DRY"
(G. JACOBS)

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A RIVER BOAT GAMBLER
DRANK STRAIGHT WHISKEY TILL THE DAY THAT HE DIED
I USED TO GO AND SEE HIM IN TOWN ON SATURDAY
PLAY A LITTLE DOMINOES, SIT BY HIS SIDE
HE'D TAKE A SHOT OF WHISKEY AND TALK ABOUT THE RIVER
As IF IT WERE A WOMAN AND SAY WITH A SMILE
'LOVE IS LIKE A RIVER
IT FALLS AND RISES
I'M GONNA LOVE HER TILL THE
RIVER RUN DRY'

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH A PREACHER'S DAUGHTER
BACK IN ST LOUIS, 1889
NEVER LOVED ANYTHING AS MUCH AS THE RIVER
DAYS HE SPENT WITHOUT HER THE SUN NEVER SHINED
SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE LOVED HIM
BUT THEY NEVER COULD MARRY
UNTIL HE SETTLED DOWN AND LEFT THE RIVER BEHIND
'LOVE IS LIKE A RIVER
IT FALLS AND RISES
I'M GONNA LOVE HER TILL THE
RIVER RUN DRY'

SO HE LEFT THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER
AND SAILED DOWN THE RIVER
BUT HE COULDN'T LEAVE HER SMILE OR HER GOLDEN HAIR
TOLD THE MOON AND THE STARS HOW MUCH HE LOVED HER
THE RIVER WOULDN'T LISTEN, NO THE RIVER DON'T CARE
BOUGHT HIMSELF A MULE AND THE TOOLS OF A FARMER
TOOK HER BY THE HAND AND SHE NEVER ASKED WHY
'LOVE IS LIKE A RIVER
IT FALLS AND RISES
I'M GONNA LOVE HER TILL THE
RIVER RUN DRY'

HE SAID 'INSTEAD OF THE RIVER
IVE GOT AN OLD WOMAN
BUT SHE WILL STAND BESIDE ME
UNTIL THE DAY THAT I DIE
LOVE IS LIKE A RIVER
IT FALLS AND RISES
I'M GONNA LOVE HER TILL THE
RIVER RUN DRY'

COPYRIGHT 1991, GREGORY L JACOBS
OKIE WIND MUSIC, BMI
 
 
 
 

"USED TO BE"
(1. SKINNER, B. WILES)

ROADSIDE MOTOR COURT, BUILDINGS MADE OF SANDSTONE
TRAVELING IN STYLE, WAS A SHELTER FROM THE STORM
IF THOSE WALLS COULD TALK, WHAT STORIES THEY COULD TELL SON
ROADSIDE MOTOR COURT, KEEP YOU SAFE AND WARM

NOW THERE'S HOLES IN THE CEILING
WEEDS IN THE FLOOR
BUILDINGS STILL THERE
THEY DONT SEE NO TRAVELERS NO MORE

I GUESS THEY USED TO GROW COTTON
ON THESE TIRED OLD FARMS
LOAD THEIR WAGONS AGRN AND AGAIN
WITH THEIR WEARY ARMS
SELL THEIR COTTON DOWN AT THE GIN

PAY THEIR DEBT DOWN AT THE STORE
THEY WORKED AND THEY SCRATCHED AT THE LAND
TILL THE DIRT GOT POOR

NOW THAT OLD COTTON GINS
SOME KIND OF SECONDHAND STORE
BUILDINGS STILL THERE
THEY DON'T GIN NO COTTON NO MORE

WE USED TO GD DANCING DOWN AT THE LOG CABIN BAR
LAUGHING AND CARRYING ON AND MAKING OUT IN THE CAR
WE'D PUT SOME SAWDUST DOWN ON THAT HARDWOOD FLOOR
WE'D DANCE AND WE'D DANCE AND WEID DANCE
TILL OUR FEET GOT SORE

THEN ONE SUNDAY MORNING
THE LAW SHUT US DOWN
NOW THERE AINT NO PLACE
TO GO DANCE IN THIS TOWN

THERE USED TO BE A PLACE YOU COULD DANCE IN THIS TOWN
THERE USED TO BE A PLACE YOU COULD DANCE IN THIS TOWN

COPYRiGHT 1994, TOM SkiNNER. BOB WILES
CIMARRON SOUL, BMI
 
 

"OKIE WIND"
(G. JACOBS)

THE OKIES WENT WEST IN THE DEPRESSION
WHEN THE BOTTOM FELL OUT OF THEIR DREAMS
WHFN THE SPRING RAINS FFLI IN DECFMRFR
AND THE CROPS DRIED UP WITH THE STREAMS
THE WEATHER ISA FARMERS ONLY FRIEND
THEIR CROPS BLEW AWAY
IN THAT OLD OKIE WIND

THEY GAVE THEIR LAND TO THE BANKERS
FOR THE MORTGAGE THEY COULD NOT PAY
WRAPPED THEIR LIVES ON OLD FLATBED TRUCKS
SLOWLY DROVE AWAY
HEAD TO CALIFORNIA, THERE ISLAND TO LEND
TURN YOUR BACK
ON THAT OLD OKIE WIND

SOME WERE STOPPED AT THE BORDER
SOME ARE STILL THERE TODAY
SOME MOVED ON UP TO OREGON
MANY DIED ON THE WAY
BROKEN LIVES THAT TIME MAY NEVER MEND
SCATTER LIKE DUST
IN THAT OLD OKIE WIND

THE OKIES WENT WEST IN THE DEPRESSION
WHEN THE BOTTOM FELL OUT OF THEIR DREAMS
WHEN THE SPRING RAINS FELL IN DECEMBER
AND THE CROPS DRIED UP WITH THE STREAMS
THE WEATHER ISA FARMERS ONLY FRIEND
THEIR CROPS BLEW AWAY
IN THAT OLD OKIE WIND
SCATTER LIKE DUST
IN THAT OLD OKIE WIND

COPYRIGHT 1997, GREGORY L JACOBS
OKIE WINND MUSIC, BMI