I'm broken down and barrel chested again.
Some people try for all their lives but they never make a dent.
You hang around broke, bored and restless again.
Strung out stripped of all your pride with all your money spent.
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear.
It's not the same when you're not around.
I'm left alone here in this town.
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
And it's not the same when you're not with me, my dear.
I've been trying all night long make that picture clear.
Still, whose to blame if you don't miss me when I'm not here.
Cartoons, clowns and run down towns tend to lose their charms over the years
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
But it's not the same when you're not here.
Let me make that picture clear
It's not the same when you're not around.
I'm left alone here in this town.
And it's not the same when you don't call.
It's not the same that way at all.
But it's just as lame for you,
When you leave me feeling so damn cold.
I'm wishing we could both get old before
Either one of us pass this way again.
Now everything's fine,
But I'm still gonna whine.
You've got eyes that shine,
But they aren't mine unless I pay for them in full.
And that's the rule.
And I guess that's cool.
But I ain't no fool,
And I won't be made to look like I'm some troglodyte.
I won't come home until it's night.
Can't be seen just hanging around,
Unless you come along.
Girl if you go, I'm gonna stay home.
But if you stay, I'll go away,
And I won't come back all night.
No that ain't right, but let's not fight.
These words are trite, but there the only ones I know.
You must have things to do,
And I can't always be with you.
There's a thousand reasons I could name,
But every single one is lame.
You take these chains, break these ties that bind me my whole life.
Take me home, I don't mind, and now we both hate life.
Face down in some bar you'll find me waiting, wife,
Calling out your name.
Now wait a minute dear.
Get yourself another beer.
And as long as you're there,
Get me one too and we'll work this thing all out.
I had no doubt.
Don't you sit there and pout.
What's this all about, oh I forgot again.
Driven to silence, but I'm drowning in sin.
My mandolin hangs on the wall once again.
I can't seem to find the right words from within,
But I won't be looking for long.
There comes a time when nothing seems clear'
Your past out on the front porch with a head full of beer,
Confused and clouded by thoughts of you dear.
But I won't be thinking for long.
So many years ago when I was pure,
I was drunk on direction but afflicted with a cure
For all ailments cynical, that's how things were.
But I didn't stay drunk for too long.
Notions and knowledge came and sobered me up.
I sipped from their bottle; I slammed a whole cup.
That swill seemed to sit well, but I should've thrown it up.
Cause it didn't sit well for too long.
I was a fool. I was stupid because
I was mistaking knowledge for just a good buzz.
Five years drunk on wine and words and wit
Served by cynics and charlatans. They were all full of shit.
Empty cans of frustration and cans of regret
Line the living room floor that you've often swept.
Pop another one open and wretch at the stench.
It's a hard drink to swallow for a thirst you can't quench.
But there'll come a time when it all seems clear.
When your past out on the front porch, your head full of beer.
Confused and clouded by thoughts of you dear,
But I won't be clouded for long.
Now I'm driven to silence, and I'm drowning in sin.
My mandolin hangs on the wall once again.
I can't seem to find the right words from within,
But I won't be looking for long.
I'll stink of drink 'til I let you in,
Then I won't be stinking for long.
Well I've seen you hanging around for awhile,
And I wish that you'd just go away.
Cause I've been stuck in this old town for awhile,
And this town has seen it's better days.
And I'll be damned if I'll let you
Be a part of some new start
And make me lose my will to leave this place.
And I'll be damned if I'll let you
Take my heart and tear it apart
And make me watch the tears fall from your face.
You can find me here each night, and I'll be drinking.
I'm trying to lose these blues and these woes.
Then you'll find me in the morning, and I'll be thinking,
Where did all of my money go?
But I'll be damned if I'll let you
Pick me up and brush me off
And give myself a reason to live.
And I'll be damned if I'll let you
Take me in and be my friend
And give me something all my money can't give.
Guess I finally got my wish. You've gone away.
I guess I've proven that I am a man.
But I know that I'll just go to shit in all my days.
And to this town will be damned; I'll be damned
I'll be damned if I didn't let you
Be a part of some new start
And make me lose my will to leave this place.
And I'll be damned if I didn't let you;
You took my heart and tore it apart
And made me watch the tears fall from your face.
Why ya gotta go and sell your soul?
Why ya gotta talk about Engine Joe
Like he's some guy in a fairy tale book?
Everybody knows that he just cooks
Baked beans and brisket in a BBQ stand
On the dirty side of town.
He's a dirty old man.
But he likes his job more than the rest
Who work with him and consider him the best.
Still he wouldn't care if you called him a rat.
But why ya gotta talk about Engine Joe like that?
In the very same city on the other side of town
Lives a funny little lady and a rodeo clown.
And she swears she's loved him all her life.
Promises one day he's gonna make her his wife.
Have a couple kids and a little plot of land.
Open themselves up a BBQ stand,
Just like Engine Joe on the other side of town.
Funny little lady and the rodeo clown.
Rodeo clown thinks that Engine Joe is fat.
Still he wouldn't talk about Engine Joe like that.
Once upon a time there was a race car racer,
And he had himself a suped up AMC Pacer.
It was shaped like a bubble, but it drove really fast.
Racer couldn't drive so the Pacer it crashed.
Got himself a guy with a truck that could tow her.
Still he said he didn't think that guy could fix its motor.
But that guy he didn't care; he fixed it just the same.
I guess that's how Engine Joe got his name.
Now he wrangles beef in a BBQ stand
Ever since the day that he mangled his hand.
He doesn't care. He just keeps on smokin'
Cigarettes and brisket man
I ain't jokin'
Wally got lost in a patch of weeds, and they found his body floating in the reeds.
He said he'd gone fishing with the boy from across the creek.
Now here you come waking with a smile on your face.
Say you've found someone to love you in this loveless place,
And his name is Billy Prichart, and he don't think you're no freak.
But I don't want him hanging around here, girl.
His eyes are filled with evil.
He's gonna drag you to the depths of hell.
His daddy was a drunk and his mother a whore.
And every night another man would leave her door.
And his daddy'd take the money, and he'd go get drunk some more.
They never spared the rod, but they still spoiled the child
On debauchery and witchcraft and everything wild.
I'm telling you now daughter that he's wicked to the core.
I don't want him hanging around here, girl.
His eyes are filled with evil.
He's gonna steal your heart and then your soul.
Oh yea, my little dove, don't you fly too far.
Don't you leave my aching heart.
I don't want to see you leaving town.
I don't want to see you hanging around;
Don't want to see you hanging out with that weasel'
Cause his eyes are filled with evil.
He's gonna drag you to the depths of hell.
Daddy I don't believe a word you said.
Ever since the day that I learned that my brother was dead.
I've just come from Billy Prichart's and I know why your hands are red.
He said,
You took him and Billy fishing by the old oak tree.
Told them both to wait for you, you had to go pee.
Then you snuck up from behind, and you shot him in the head.
But you made a big mistake, father, don't you see.
They'd exchange hats underneath that oak tree.
You shot your own son, and you blamed it all on Billy.
Well I ain't gonna hang around here still,
Cause your eyes are filled with evil.
I'm gonna tell the world and watch you hang.
Shut your mouth and come inside now, my little dove.
Get my gun, get my coat, get my gloves.
Understand that everything I do is out of love.
Little drunk fists across the tip of my chin.
Guess I should've known that they'd be there again.
Little drunk fists across the width of my jaw.
Gets sometimes to where I just don't feel them at all.
That's OK, I can wait another day
For these stupid concessions to be made.
And you weren't to blame.
We put Jack and Johnny Walkers' names
In the policeman's notebook when he came.
Little drunk fists need some time to there own.
Went out to meet some friends but ended up all alone.
Little drunk fists find and pick up a phone,
But fumble on the numbers when they try to dial home.
(Chorus)
Little drunk fists reach for just one more round.
But end up buying a sixth when the fifth hits the ground.
Little baby fists touch my face; clutch my nose,
Though they'd rather touch their mother's, but she don't know.
Little drunk fists drove the car home last night,
Turned left on Oak Street when they should have turned right.
I'm so sick of writing
Songs about screwing up.
No matter how much I fall down,
It seems it's never enough.
No matter how much good luck
Throws itself my way,
I find some way to ruin it;
Fall down again the next day.
Road rashed, run down, wrinkled from the rain.
The song in my heart makes just one sound,
But I sing along just the same.
And I wonder how long I'll hang around
Before I go insane.
Before I break down
And get gone again
Put myself on trial again for crimes I couldn't see.
My naked aggression was picked up on a charge of indecency.
And I remember how I felt when first it exposed itself to me.
And pray for forgiveness, and a sympathetic jury.
(Chorus)
And it makes no difference what you thought you came here for.
Any plans that you might have had; swept right out the door.
And it makes no difference hoe hard you think you've tried,
Cause what you'll find out in the end is that its just a lie.
There've been girls that loved me,
But I cheated on them,
With a woman named Whiskey,
And Gin, her best friend.
Their affections flow like liquid
To a thousand other men,
Who'll trade loving for liquor;
Salvation for sin.
Gunned down in the middle of things, this thing between you and me.
I had no clue, and neither did you, of anything so unforeseen
You're damn right, you can't fight the need to be your own friend.
But it gets so old, and you're so cold, for the one that's waiting for you in the end.
So come on.
Dumb luck, I guess I messed up, telling you all where to go.
But it seemed so right to try to cause a fight, I guess that goes to show what I know.
You're damn right, you can't fight the need to be your own friend.
But it gets so old, and you're so cold, for the one that's waiting for you in the end.
So come on.
So I say, hell yes, I confess, to always wanting things to stay the same.
But this change you use as your excuse for leaving me behind, well that's lame.
Gunned down in the middle of things, this thing between you and me.
I had no clue, and neither did you, of anything so unforeseen
You're damn right, you can't fight the need to be your own friend.
But it gets so old, and you're so cold, for the one that's waiting for you in the end.
So come on.
So I say, hell yes, I confess, to always wanting things to stay the same.
But this change you use as your excuse for leaving me behind, well that's lame.
And it's too late, I guess that's just great, telling me how things should stay.
But the truth be known, I'd rather be alone than to have to live like this another day.
Come on.
I'm lost in my own town.
I wonder why none of my friends come around anymore,
That's for sure, any more.
I'd like to swing by and pick you up.
I'll put you in the back of my pick-up truck,
And we'll go door to door - door to door....
And get lost in the haze of drink.
I get lost in the haze of drink.
And I don't give a damn what your friends might say.
I don't care what they think
When I'm lost in the haze of drink.
Sun own it chokes this town.
Beckons me, the king, to come and take my crown,
And so I do. I take it straight,
And I stay out late.
Yea, it's sad to say, but in this town
It's the only way I know to lose this permanent frown
From my face.
It's just my fate.....
(Chorus)
It used to be something that we did for fun,
But now it seems all of my friends have moved on
And left me here all alone.
I'll probably wake up in the morning in a pool of sick.
But if you see me on the sidewalk, you can give me a kick.
I'll say thanks and get back up and get back down....
Now it's 3 AM,
And the walls are closing in.
I can hear them whisper, "That fool,
He's done it again."
The air has turned cold,
But I can't reach my window.
So I lay here twisted, and I
Pray for the dreams to flow.
Another day done;
Plenty of work, no fun,
And in a bottle or a T.V. dinner
Solace comes.
One bad day leads to more,
Like the one drink that you pour,
And becomes a lifetime of hopes
And dreams ignored.
I never made any specific plans.
I'd always said you knew I was just a simple man.
And I never made any deals with you.
I never knew that I needed to.
You spend your whole life waiting for something to change.
Something or someone to come around and rearrange.
You spend your whole damn life trying to climb just one rung,
With nothing to do, if it never comes
(c)1997 Bait Sandwich Songs (ASCAP) and Elttilood Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved.