She Got A Rhythm
This is an old song I dusted off & re-did the guitar a little. He put about half the song on here. He wants to add harmony & do a little more work on the instrumental before we put the whole song on. I hope you enjoy the Smokin Twelve String & the fact he is playing lead rhythm bass & percussion all at once.
I wrote this one for my daughter Tammy. She was playing her keyboard on stage & man she was gone! Totally spaced out...lost in her own music. I was watching the crowd & They were just as lost as she was. She had em boy, & didnt even know it. Sadly her music has stopped. & That is truly a tragedy.
Look for a re-mix of this song featuring Bad Pawpaw coming soon!
April 1st, 4am. 43 years ago. The picture at the top was taken later that morning. You know this scene. The soldier dying in his buddies arms.You must have watched it many times in the movies.
For me, it was no movie. I only wish it were.
To hold someone while they are dying. To be the last person ever to see them alive. To look into the eyes of someone & know they are looking out upon the world one last time. I don't care who you are that reaches inside and changes you forever.To hear their final words & know their very last thought. Then to carry the responsibility of remembering & keeping those words for the rest of your life. To hold that scene in your heart- forever. To re-live it over & over. In excruciatingly vivid detail. To protect that moment is a sacred burden you must carry. Not to be forgotten. You have no choice in this. The most Noble of Sacrifices.
Years later Ive had to recite those words & recall those moments to loved ones who had lived with the mystery of that final hour from that day to this, haunted by the same ghosts that live with me. All those years- still Desperately reaching out for answers. Some I turn away knowing they would be unable to bare the gruesome reality that has claimed so much of my life. Darkness too intense to willingly share w/another. Others I take them there. Hold nothing back. & when Im thru they know it like I know it. God help them. David & Terry both died in their sleep. For most death came rather quickly for others not so much.
The Battle of Illingsworth was not our only battle. But it was our worst. & my last. So tonight, I honor that memory and fulfill my sacred duty to my fellow soldiers who never came home.
Almost Home is not one of my best musical offerings. I didnt intend for it to be. This is so much more than a song. How it sounds, does it flow have continuity- a hook? Not relevant here. You see its not a song meant to entertain. Its what has to be done. What should be done. Such a tremendous sacrifice. Must be honored. Treasured. Kept alive at all costs.
When their loss no longer matters to us, then all is truly lost. Are we almost there? As I watch our \"leader\" & his family scorn the Flag in contempt...Old Glory that has meant so much to so many...I fear we are there already.
I wrote this song 15 years before Tim Mcgraw came out with a similar song he called Im already home. So dont be confused about that. This is no knock-off of a commercial endeavor. In truth-this song was written 43 years ago. It was written in blood by teenage boys at the beginning-and the end of their lives.
ALMOST HOME
Just another mission on an ordinary day
Had no way of knowin it would ever end this way…
Who-d be gone…who-d be livin at the end of the day
One moment hes a soldier and hes standing by my side
In a blinding flash a friend becomes a fallin man
He spoke these final words to me as he tightly held my hand
…I don’t know how I got here, Feels like I’m just floating in the air
The angel of death had found him-the end was drawing near
Darkness fell around us and my heart was full of fear
Then in a voice so calm and clear, he whispered in my ear
Almost home, almost there…
I can smell the sweet magnolias in the air
Hold on a little tighter if youre scared…Im not alone
I can hear my Father callin from the throne…almost home
Almost home, almost there…
I can see my granny rockin in her chair…shes not alone
I hear laughter comin from the throne…almost home
Almost home, almost there…
Angels all around you everywhere
Youre not alone…can you hear the father callin from the throne
Almost home, almost there…
Where the eagles have all gathered meet you there
We-re not alone…cant you hear the father callin from the throne
Almost home.
P.S. If you care to honor these men of valor & their ultimate sacrifice, search the web tonight. Look for Fsb Illingsworth-April 1st 1970, a btry 2/32 arty, 1st cav 2/8th echo recon, Pete Lemon medal of honor winner, a book titled Into Cambodia.
You see Im not the only survivor. And those of us still alive will be out there on the berm tonight. Waiting for the incoming to start. Find us. Bring us home.
Rest easy boys. Peace be with you. We are still here. We will never let you go.
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To our Precious much loved Alex & Angel. His lies are not your own. He has always been-will always be a shameless coward. Not everyone that wears a uniform is a hero. One day we will be together & all the world will be right again.
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Each of our Photos are Captioned if you mouse over them.
Recently one of our songs -Im Loving Her Tonight- received attention from a Country Music legend. We have posted his letter below.
Dear Steve and Sherry,
I just got in the truck headed to A****** and had a chance to listen to your songs. I really enjoyed listening to them. Steve, you are an outstanding songwriter. I dont know if theres anything on the cd that I can use. I will tell you that IM LOVIN HER TONIGHT (I hope thats the title) is an extremely well crafted song. I dont know what to do with it but Im going to give it a lot of thought and see if there is someone who will record it. Ill keep my thinking cap on. Thanks for sending me the cd and keep writing. You do a marvelous job.
Your friend,
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I wont use his name. He called me friend. Its enough that you know this man has climbed to the very top of his world, yet took the time to listen to unsolicited music from an unknown artist. He didnt give us a contract. He gave us Hope. Thats always a good thing.
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Most of his music is taken straight from his own wild & chaotic life. Of Cherokee descent...a working cowboy & professional bull rider (yes, theres a difference) a soldier, street preacher & a full-contact marital artist w/300+ fights under his belt. Hes been twice around the world, beaten, bludgeoned & left in the street for dead, shot(twice)& blown up. (for real. Not pretend like drake.)Hailed as a hero & jailed as an outlaw.
(note: Honey, it seems to say Im a full-contact Marital artist... w/300+ fights under my belt. Its spelled m-a-r-I-t-a-l Shouldnt that be Martial Artist?-She thought about it a minute-looked at me stonefaced & said...Leave it.
That 5 1/2ft rattler around his neck says it all. This is the Amazing Story! of an ordinary man. Nearly every event in his life-good or bad took him places most of us never go, forever marking him- Beyond The Ordinary And so it is with his music.
Beyond the ordinary was 1st applied to him on a lock-down psych ward in the Topeka V.A. ( a gentle way to say- Son. You-re crazy! )
They wanted to make my stay permanent-but I got away! Broke out a wire-mesh winda & went down the fire escape. But its okay. They stopped lookin for me years ago. Besides-Im much better now!
I laugh about it but in all seriousness it did make me more than just a little crazy. To those whom I have harmed its not funny. For what its worth I truly regret your pain.
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As most of his songs are real-life events we feature
The Story Behind the Songs at the bottom of the page as a bonus. While the songs are unique on their own, the stories are fascinating, hilarious sometimes tragic just as his life has been. He uses his God given talent to tell you of this outrageous life. This One Wild Ride.
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He records at home on a pc/solo/one man/one guitar
& still...he makes you forget that its just him. On songs like ALMOST HOME, DISTANT FIRE, SWEET STRAWBERRIES & JUST A DREAM hes singing 4 Part Harmony while playing bass/lead & rhythm on that raggedy 12 string guitar.
Im now a Proud member of ASCAP (a proud member thats got no idea what they do or why his kin advised him to join- but I tell ya rat now I aint doin no parades nor protest marches)______________________________________________________
Lyrics page
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Old Family Recipe
I know… when all hope is gone I’ve been there…and I’ve moved on
All the way to the bitter end…yes I been there too…& back again
I know when the world is wrong…You can’t let go and you cant hold on
There was a time I called this home till Sherry gave to me
This old family recipe
You take the….
Wine of the Spirit, Sweet Living Water
Blood of the Son, Breath of the Father…
Stirring so gently-filling completely
With all the Will of God
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Liquor Store Bandit
I just took my medicine I must be 10 feet tall
I come for your silver dollars and Im going to take them all
No bad moves behind the counter,the price you cant afford
Real carefully Submit to me your Life is your reward
(chorus)
I been lookin in the frightened eyes of the man run the liquour store
But I'll never face that mean ol judge down on the court room floor
lay me down on the dirty tile Im checkin out in Outlaw Style
My left hand full of them 10's & 20's
My right around a .44
Last night I saw the devil asleep within my soul
awakened by Tequilla just to let the Bandit stroll
I woke up this morning a richer man indeed
my long streak of luck a warnin that I will never heed
(chorus)
I been lookin in the frightened eyes of the man et run the liquour store
But I'll never see that 10 to Life down on the court room floor
lay me down on the dirty tile Im checkin out in Outlaw Style
My epitaph just a paragraph about a thief who'll steal no more
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Can Horses Be Angels
Written by Sherry & Steve Green
Feb 2013
Can Horses be Angels Id like to know
cause I think I met one some years ago
She was blacker than midnight w/fire in her eyes
She came to my rescue just in time-
& gave me the ride of my life-Carried me so far away
away from my life-far away
& There on the river she broke in-two
did things that only an Angel could do
She outran the lighting lept over the moon
Carried me so far away, away from my life-Far away ...
She came out of nowhere so fierce & wild
& gave up her freedom for the life of a child
The darkness & sorrow we left far behind
She showed me tomorrow full of laughter & light
& gave me the ride of my life-carried me so far away
away from my life-far away
She knew all the things that an Angel would know
She opened my heart She touched my soul
Can horses be Angels Id sure like to know...
We whirled & we danced & we raced with the wind
I gently stepped down-never saw her again...
I smiled & I wondered as I watched her go
Can Horses be Angels, does anyone know?
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She Thinks She Lives in Monterey
She thinks she lives in Monterey, oh she thinks she left me too
She’s sure it ended years ago…but that just isn’t true
If you see her with a stranger wearin someone else’s ring
That’s just a silly rumor…it doesn’t mean a thing
Time moves on…but not for all…believe me if you will
There are those of us who know of ways of making time stand still
First I wish upon our lucky star..then I play this old guitar
Sing our song that always made her cry…count to 3...close my eyes
Turn around & there she’ll be …standing right in front of me
Its 3 am this mornin, as she cries herself to sleep
Doesnt have the slightest notion… that she’s right here with me
I tiptoe from the Shadows…wake her softly with a kiss
In my arms she finds again…all the love shes missed..
I tip toe from the Shadows …wake her softly with a kiss
In my arms again-at last… May I have this dance?
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Hotel full of Pickers
This Hotel is full of pickers thatll never get somewhere
tonight Ill write a song for them that no ones gonna hear
They pour out their heart & soul but only Jesus cares
theyre livin for an audience that isnt really there
theyve given everthing they have but still theyre not quite free
And all thats left in life for them is tryin not to be
CHORUS
Just one more picker in the crowd
Its too late to make the big time now
No Opry show-no caddillac-no shiny diamomnd rings
No true-love waitin in the wings
Ive never seen no ladies here-there must be broken hearts somewhere-
Mothers tellin babies -Daddy might come home this fall-
If you ask em theyll just smile n say the past kept gettin in my way
but ever night I hear the blues come driftin down the hall-
The mornin sunll rise again & burn their blues away
theyll all wake up smilin-thinkin Today might be MY day
But tonight as I lay in my bed tearsll fill my eyes
I know its hopeless hopin & I fully realize
Im just...
(CHORUS)
Well I guess I better move along-keep lookin for that one big song
thatll put me up there on the charts n break my ladys heart
Shes still somewhere back behind she listens for me all the time
waitin for that special song with her name on ever line
She-ll just keep on waitin till the time has all run by
like me shell go to sleep tonight tryin not to cry for just...
(Chorus)
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Burning Old Glory
In the turmoil of the 60’s saw a country change it’s ways…
left a bunch of us old country boys to stagger thru the haze
Buddy, Mark & Ronnie were all good friends of mine
I survived to testify & tell you why they died
When I was barely 17 I rode off to war
Little did I realize I’d never see home no more
Oh I made it thru the jungle…and back across the waves
But when I stepped ashore in Frisco I heard somebody say
They’re burnin Old Glory right before our eyes
Callin us vicious killers much to our surprise
What sends a cold chill right thru my bones
It ain’t what I saw in Viet Nam it’s what I saw at home
( Claude Wright-AKA Chief )
Buddy died last winter from too much alcohol
With a gallon of vodka he tried to drink it all
With both hands on the throttle killed ¾s of the bottle
When his heart came to a halt…Buddy took his final fall
(Mark Stevens)
Mark passed on in Houston about three miles from town
On a lonely stretch of highway somebody run him down
They just kept on headin south never to be found
Lord we wished they could have been there as we laid him in the ground
(Ronnie Crace)
Ronnie died in Tulsa, in a grocery store down town
Under suspicious circumstances mystery surrounds
Ronnie wasn’t goin skiin but he had a ski mask on
Tho he wasn’t goin huntin…he had his daddy’s old shotgun
Me…I spend a lot of time in the “house of brick n’ steel
Cause I could never figure out what is…& isn’t real
And I cannot hold my temper so they keep me in this cage
The folks all think that Viet Nam is the reason for my rage
Jailor won’t you listen…come n’ bring your body near
I’ll tell you where I got these scars …and what I’m doin here
They were burnin Old Glory right before our eyes
Callin us vicious killers much to our surprise
They’re Killin babies…before they’re born-tellin God “Now you ain’t welcome in our classrooms anymore”
What sends a cold chill right thru my bones
It ain’t what I saw in Viet Nam…it’s what I found at home.
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(written for Galveston, The State of Texas & George Strait. Inspired by Hurricane Ike-who tried to kill me.)
Big Wind
Tide rolls in sun goes down big wheel turns the world around
Babys born, Grandpa dies big wind blows the stars across the sky
...thats the way it is for you and I... when that big wind blows the stars across the sky
Dance with me baby while we still have the chance
The time is just right for some love and romance
Like flowers that bloom when the frost is on its way
This night wont last forever we cant let it slip away
Tide rolls in on you and I, theres only now tomorrow lies
Kiss me quick Hold me tight before that big wind blows the stars across the sky
thats the way it is for you and I...when that big wind blows the stars across the sky
Dance with me baby while we still have the chance
the time is just right for some love and romance
like flowers that bloom when the frost is on its way
this night wont last forever we cant let it slip away
Tide rolls in on you and I, theres only now tomorrow lies
Kiss me quick and hold me tight before that big wind blows the stars across the sky...thats the way it is for you and I...when that big wind blows the stars across the sky...oh my... all across the Texas sky...
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ACE IN THE HOLE
In the backroom down at Luckys bar smooth as silk she dealt the cards I couldnt wait to meet her-so I said -Deal me in
She looked at me and flashed a smile said -I bet this jokers wild, tonight we-ll put our hearts down & see whose gonna win
I fell in love that very night-asked the girl to be my wife, thought the game was over when she took that band of gold
Happiness was not to be, there was someone else you see-the lady was holdin an Ace in the hole
chorus
That Ace in the hole will get you some day
its all in the cards when youre dealin that way
I-ll call your bluff & youll have to fold
when I catch you holdin that Ace in the hole
Paradise soon fell apart & even tho it broke my heart thought Id finish out the hand before I hit the road
Im a decent man you see but it did funny things to me knowin she was holdin that Ace in the hole
So early this morning I hurried down town, went by & cleaned out the bank
I hocked all her jewlery too, polished her new car
then stopped off N topped off the tank
By the time that she reads this I will be gone
Probably down to Old Mexico...
And Out in the back yard....under the roses...she-ll find her Ace...in a hole
chorus...Someday I-ll catch you holdin that ace in the hole-Today I caught you holdin that ace in the hole...now whatchu gonna do with your Ace in a hole
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Sherrys Song
When he crossed the Kansas prarie he was just 16 years old
with a pick & pan & a packin mule lookin for the mother-lode
when the sun behind the Rockies went and the Prarie Moon would swing
with the coyotes & the whipporwill you could hear the young lad sing
Gonna cross the Wide Missouri, Sherry no matter what the town folk say
gonna dig all the Gold in the Western Hills, give it all to you someday
Sing-a-tu-ra-le tu-ra-li-ti-o in the mornin Ill be gone
but well buck & wing-gonna heel and toe when I get back home
Well he crossed the Wide Missouri & he found that Mother-lode
earthly treasures could not satisfy the longing in his soul
the Sun Rise found him missin from his Colorado claim
he said Now you might think Im crazy boys but Im leavin just the same
Gonna cross the Wide Missouri, Sherry no matter what the miners say
gonna give all the Gold in the Western Hills, just to be with you today
Sing-a-tu-ra-le tu-ra-li-ti-o in the mornin Ill be home
Gonna say I do,gonna marry you and well never ever be alone
Well his eyes were on her Cabin but he never made the door
as she lay there sleepin she could hear the River roar
he fought the Wide Missouri but the River swept him away
and as his head went under you could hear the young lad say
Gonna cross the Chilly Jordan Sherry, I think some time today
gonna walk upon those Streets of Gold and Ill meet you there someday
Sing-a-tu-ra-le tu-ra-li-ti-o dont mourn for me Im gone
but Ill meet you there in the middle of the air and well dance around Gods Throne
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Dream is a River (John Denver)
The old clock is singin a song of survival hes draggin himself out of bed
Not anticipating the bills that are waiting & a job that just empties his head
He sits at the table & stares out the window at a river of concrete & steel
He tells all the neighbors someday I-ll leave here
But they know that he never will
Dream is a River flowin out of the Yukon where the Wolf & the Grizzly command
Neath snow covered mountains with pine trees surrounded
Freedom in the palm of his hand
Out on the sidewalk lie 3 mornin papers full of bad news that-ll never be read
No ones a-starin at the tv thats blarin, nobodys slept in his bed
At work they-re all talkin, the boss man keeps callin… but nobody answers the phone
& out in the mail box unopened letters theyre all marked Address Unknown
Dream is a River flowin out of the Klondike not charted nor cluttered by man
Neath snow covered mountains, with pine trees surrounded
Freedom in the palm of his hand...
Neath snow covered mountains, with pine trees surrounded
& freedom in the palm of his hand
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(For my babies Alex & Angel-Someday we will be together)
Never-ending Rain
Had no way of knowin when I met you, my life would never be the same
As I watch you disappearin down my drive-way, how can I describe this kind of pain
Its like a Never-endin Rain that last forever, drowning in my tears
Ive never seen such weather and I cant believe my ears
The weather man is callin for another hundred years
This aint youre ordinary Hurricane…Its a Never-ending Rain
You can talk about your clouds with silver linings, the pot of gold at the rainbows end
We can all hold hands and sing the song Tomorrow, tomorrow
But I know the sun will never shine again
This Never-ending Rain-ll last forever, soak you to the bone
Is this the worst torrential down-pour the world has ever known
Or just a lonely man who doesnt wanna be alone
I dont think this damn can take the strain
Of a Never-ending rain that lasts forever, drown your mortal soul
Bout the time I’m sure its over…lightning flash-thunder rolls
Lord I know you…promised not to- flood the earth again
I believe but …could you please explain
This Never-ending Rain …that lasts forever, drownin in my tears....
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Aint no Justice (in Nashville Tennessee)
Standin on the shoulder out of Murfreesboro in the middle of the night
Here come a big ol custom bus nother Icon rollin on by
Hes warm inside n happy to be on the way to his next show
Where he-ll sing all them songs about ME -n let the good times roll
Chorus
I can pick like Roy-sing like Buck
Dance like Elvis n get all shook up
Like Jerry Lee-aint no body lookin at me
Cause they aint no justice in Nashville Tennessee
Nashvilles full of Outlaws they made em all superstars
The trouble w/that its a natural fact They aint never been behind bars
Like you & me now cant you see
They got a record on the wall made of solid gold
My records down at county where my storys told
& they aint no justice in Nashville Tennessee
Chorus:
Charlie made a fortune singin bout ol Saigon
hate to complain but the fact remains I went over n he stayed home
& watched it on tv-while they were shootin at Me!
He carried a fiddle-I carried a gun He got ALL the money n I got none
& they aint no justice in Nashville Tennessee
I can pick like Roy-sing like Buck
Dance like Elvis n get all shook up
Like Jerry Lee-aint no body lookin at me
Cause they aint no justice in Nashville Tennessee
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PERFECT STRANGERS
(Duet for Lee Ann Womack & Clint Black)
Im sorry that I dialed your number, please allow me to explain
Even tho we-re perfect strangers...and I dont even know your name
You see tonight I feel so lonely I took a chance your lonely too
sitting out there in the darkness, as perfect strangers often do
I-se thinking we might get together maybe share a dance or two
sit and talk about the weather as perfect strangers often do...
Did you ever dream a perfect stranger-one night just walks right thru your door
to be all you ever dreamed of...everything youre looking for.
---
You seem to know just what Im thinking... & Its the most amazing thing
As I sat here in the darkness...waiting for the phone to ring
How did you know my heart was breaking... how can it be we feel the same
Even tho we-re perfect strangers...and you dont even know my name
Im thinkin we might get together maybe share a dream or two
sit and talk about the weather as perfect strangers often do
In all my dreams a perfect stranger one night just walks right thru my door
to be all I ever dreamed of...everything Im looking for
We-re thinkin we might get together, see if one and one makes two
and maybe fall in love forever as perfect strangers often do...
and then... we fall in love forever...perfect stranger...I love you
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NUMBER SONG
In a tiny blue blanket in a hospital crib
Big ole nurse walks up…straps a number on my wrist
From that moment I was doomed to be on somebodys list
You can run, you can hide but you’re bound to be missed
My daddy said Son, in this life youll find..
Youre just thirty five…oh four…six-eight-nine
My number came up with my Uncle Sam
I was next in line to go to Viet Nam
They took down my number, gave me two dog tags
Tied one on my boot…hung one on my neck
Case I get blown to pieces theyll be sure to find…
Some of that thirty five-oh-four…six-eight-nine
Somebody always tryin to do a number on you
You can fight it…you can hate it…aint a thing you can do
Odds a million to one the sun will EVER shine
On thirty five 0h four six-eight-nine
Code one eleven! Law is after me
He drive a 57 chevy…he stand 5ft 3
His fingerprints were found on a smokin gun
& he was last seen on highway one-oh-one
Now the county sheriff & the F.B.I….
Lookin for thirty five oh four six-eight-nine
Had a dream last night bout the Mark of the Beast
& I was surrounded by the Number Police!
Ise kickin & screamin while they tattooed my hand
Then they cut off my head & sent me to the Promised Land
St. Peter said Boy! You really in a FIX!…Let me see that Wrist-
You just thirty five oh four 6-6-6!!!!
Somebody always tryin to do a number on you
You can fight it…you can hate it…aint a thing you can do
Odds a million to one the sun will EVER shine
On thirty five 0h four six-eight-nine
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IF SHE TOLD ME TOO
Holding her this close I cant catch my breath
this is just a dance she will soon forget
Little does she know I tremble with each touch
What would she think of me wanting her this much
If she only knew I hear music in her laughter
if she jumped off of the world-Id go runnin after
Tell me what I would not do...if she told me to-if she told me to
Soft as satin lips perfume in her hair
trying to resist I dont have a prayer
oh my beating heart Dont give me away
if this dance is all we have then let the music play
If she only knew I hear music in her laughter
if she jumped off of the world-Id go runnin after
tell me what I would not do-If she told me to-IF She Told Me To!
If she only knew I hear music in her laughter
If she jumped off of the world-Id go runnin after
If I TOLD her that I LOVED her-my dreams would all come true....If she told me TOO-If she told me too
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I wrote this song for Waylan & Willie years before Waylan passed. I dreamed some day theyd sing it together. And Maybe they will.
LONG HARD RIDE
We rode together ever since I can recall
we knew sooner or later, I was bound to fall
but you stayed right in the saddle - we were ridin like the wind
Tomorrow the gallows, but tonight we ride again
(chorus)
Stride for stride we rode across this land
Canadian Rockies on down to the Rio Grande
When the sun comes up this mornin & we cross that great devide
Its good to know youll be there at the end of a long hard ride
Captured in Texas talkin thru the bars
Im the one theyre after but the hangin will be ours
Now to be my friend means dyin, you just smiled and said -Old Friend, tomorrow the gallows but I know
we-ll ride again-
(CHORUS)
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The Last I Love You
Theres never been a time for changin like today
Her minds made up & her bags are packed taxis on its way
If theres ever been a moment to say I Love You then its here-Her hand is on the doorknob & Her eyes are filled with tears
There-ve been trying times Nights that last for years
wanta throw up both your hands & say youre thru
but deep inside your heart No one wants to hear
the last I love you
Theres no time like the present for tryin something new-Shes walkin down the sidewalk you got nothin left to lose
And when its finally over what will it matter then
Which side your on-whos right or wrong
No One really wins
(chorus)...the last I love you ooo no matter what you do-no matter where you go I will always need you
So say to me youll never set me free,cause I dont wanta be...Dont leave never never leave
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This song sounds like Neil young when I do it. The
girl is country music btw.
Just Another Fool
Caint believe I spent my life tryin to make that girl my wife-followed her from town to town
Youd think that I woulda figured it out by now
She took most everything that I had to give except this ring-all she left was this jug of wine
now I know she never will be mine-nother sip of wine-never will be mine
(chorus)
Now here I am heart broke & busted, dont tell my mama you found me here
There she goes-I must go with her, After all is said and done Im just another fool that never learned.
Cheap hotels & honky tonks, park benches & rollin drunks that I been on were not enough-not enough to quench the fires of love
Poured out my heart & soul, she shut me out in the freezin cold-without so much as a backward glance-
she always made me feel I had a chance-never had a chance-Never had no chance.
Now here I am-heart broke & busted...
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Maybe Ill See the Sun
She left us all & calmly went her way
I didnt wait to hear what the preacher had to say
Here comes a rusty pick-up truck …looks like hes slowin down
I tip my hat n just like that Im Amarillo bound
Back on the road where she found me, Lord I pray this rain dont drown me
Like a cloud her memory follows me everywhere I go
Came down so hard in Amarillo…drowned those damned armadillos
I wonder just how far Ill have to go
Maybe Ill see the sun in San Antone
That moon-lit path just aint the same alone
& whod a thought the Rio Grande would ever flood the Alamo
I saw her on the river-walk, she softly called my name
We kissed n then…she was gone again
Look out here comes the rain...here comes that danged old rain
Back on the road where she found me, Lord I pray this rain dont drown me
Her memory still haunting me everywhere I go
San Antone werent any better, oh it just keeps gettin wetter
I wonder just how far Ill have to go
Maybe Ill see the sun in Mexico…
Maybe Ill see the sun…maybe shes still the one…
Baby, Ill see ya soon in Mexico
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A Night to Remember
(I will never forget you boys-I will never let go)
note: the road was the Ho-chi-minh trail
Theres a highway that I know aint marked on any map
no yellow lines & full of mines & assorted booby-traps
I lived in a house beside this road-a very fine place to live
An even better place for a man to die & thats what most men did
Late one night about 12oclock some company come to call-I rounded up some friends of mine and we met them at the wall
They were comin thru the wire bout 20 to one-they had us by the throat
We gotta stop em here or Everybody dies-goodbye thats all she wrote
It was a Night to Remember like the 4th of July-a Night to Remember smoke & fire filled the sky
A Night to Remember like ol Paul Reveres ride
Lord I never thought Id live to see so many people die
Little get together was in full swing like the battle of the Alamo
I must of crawled over a half a dozen men to get some news from the rto
-IM Standin By to Make My Pass-came cracklin on the radio -Ole SPOOKYS here to kick some a** Its time to rock and roll-
Right about the time I asked myself how bad can one man be? The ground started shakin n the sky lit up as the limbs come off the trees-like something straight from hell I heard that mighty dragon scream
Thunder rolled and the blood did flow like a river to the sea
Boogie-Boogie-Boogie back down the trail went the boys in the little grass hats-stepin and a fetchin and a spittin and a gittin and Spooky all over their a** -AND Heres a parting gift for you- I heard ol Spooky laugh -NOW yall come back and see us soon- as he made his final pass
Chorus
It was a Night to Remember....
Lord I never thought Id Want to see so many people die
I apologize for the bad language but try as I may I cant tone this song down more than I already have. Words are just words but sometimes they go beyond something you say & become who youre talkin about. to change that would be to change them & I just cant do that.
Spooky was the soldiers name for a gunship equipped with mini-guns. The call-sign for this particular Spooky Was Blue-Max. Dont recall the number...maybe one-niner? Not all pilots were heroic but this one was. He came on station at our darkest hour & brought hell & death with him. Green tracers (.51 cal anti-aircraft )went up chasing his ship all around. He came in low took big risks. He said just what I said he did. Laughed just like that. They likely would have killed us all. Heres to you Blue Max w/your b#**s of steel.
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Mista Cat-box Blues
Well I woke up this mornin didnt know jus what ta do
that womans nasty cat done went n messed right in my shoe
So I grabbed him by his scrawny tail, gave him a swang or two
I got them no-good worthless low-down...Mista Cat-box blues
Well I kicked him thru the screen do(door-pron.dough)-then flung him in the sky
Them robbins done packed up n left when they thought that cat could fly
Then NASA called this mornin- Sir we found yo astro-cat
We-ll send someone right ova...and that brought that cat right back
I got them no-good worthless low-down, Mista Cat-box Blues
Happened jus this mawnin when that cat messed in my shoe
with my head hung down in sorry tell me whats a boy to do-got them no-good worthless low-down Mista Cat-box Blues
Went down town n bought mysef a bull dawg,He was big n mean n Black Named him MO-opened the do(dough-again) & I sicked him on that cat-
He caught him by the window-man that cat was climbin glass-that bull dawg rat behind im, backed his ears n hit the gas
Now he got them no-good worhtless low-down Mista Cat-box Blues
Happen jus this mawnin when he messed right in my shoe
with his tail hung down n sorrow aint nothin he can do
He got them no-good worthless low-down Mista Cat-box Blues
Now if your woman gotta nasty cat, an it seem they mostly do-better git yoursef a bull dawg n dont forgit to hide your shoes
and feed that cat least twice a day so-s he might be nice to you
cause if you dont you bound to git them Mista Cat-box Blues
Id like to assure all you cat lovers that no cat was harmed in the makin of this song...but thatd be a bald face lie. Thats a GOOD boy, MO!
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This song was written w/Waylan Jennings in mind.
Shortly after (5 mos or so) He came out with his Lone Wolf album. I felt like it was missed destiny.
See Me Fall
See me fall in the darkness, somebody help me Im about to lose my mind
Cause I dont know where shes goin-the night wind blows & the sun wont rise & shine
Hear my call in the night-time, like the lone wolf that I am hear me crrryyyy
See me runnin cold n lonely, Im so hungry for your love I just might die
Chorus
Theres somethin about that pretty painted up face, that sets a fire burnin in my soul
Somethin about that ol red hot chase, takes the midnight chill out of my bones-take it out of my bones
I know shes out there in the darkness, I hear her callin Honey catch me if you can. But if you caint Ill find another- to keep me alive till the sun comes up again
So if youre runnin cold n lonely, in the nighttime you might hear that lone wolf crrryyy
Like a bitter wind shell cut right thru you
Only the strong can survive
chorus
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Terry Dawn
Jesse James robbed banks n trains but he robbed one train too many
They tell me Billy the Kid was shot by a friend
Billy really didnt have any
They chased me down deserted streets & up the darkened allies
Ive done time but Ive done crime I guess we-re even in the finally tally
But Terry Dawn shes innocent at 14 she must wonder
What have I done to put me on the run with these men of fire & thunder-these men of fire & thunder
Chorus
As they rode on thru the night to make their getaway
With that icy stare in the mid-night air you can almost hear him say
This old shotgun on my lap means Im tired of all your trash
These old back roads Im drivin means Im hard to find
Havent always been a preacher, No Ive had the best of teachers
And Ive got Terry Dawn & her freedom-s on my mind
He tried so hard to tell them but they just wouldnt listen
& the very day they were to lock her away
Terry Dawn come up missin
Some suspect the preacher broke his vows that day
& that aint all they say he broke the law & he took her far away-& he took her far away
chorus
....these old back roads Im drivin gonna make me hard to find
Well I tried your law and order, now Im headed for the border
Ive got Terry Dawn and her freedom-s on my mind
Ive got Terry Dawn and her freedom-s on my mind.
(I didnt break any vows that day. Some people naturally think the worst. I just made my position crystal clear w/that 12 ga. Make no mistake I broke the law & had it gone bad Id used that shotgun. Her parents had looked me right in the eye & flat out told me God wanted her dead. I needed no further witness. I took her & her boyfriend across the country to a safe place in Oregon. We circled up thru Montana & Washington then turned back south shadowing Interstate 5 on the back roads down to Portland. 3 days later Mt.St Helens erupted. We had passed by not more than 10 miles from it.)
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WITH EVERY HEAD BOWED
Just a little country church on the banks of the Arkansas
Where the Preacher gave the message & Jesus gave the altar call
And it was there the first time His Spirit stirred my soul
The spark that lit the ember that burns forevermore
With every head bowed…with every eye closed
While no one is lookin around the room
Just slip your hand up…now just stand up
And make your way down this aisle to me
We’ll wait just a moment longer & let the choir sing
Just As I am…soft and low
With every head bowed…and every eye closed
He’s been right here be side me lo-these many years
I’ve watched a thousand times while He dried a million tears
So let this be the first time His Spirit stirs your soul
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done before He already knows
So…with every head bowed…and every eye closed
While no on is looking around the room
Just slip your hand up…now just stand up
And make your way down this aisle to me
We’ll wait a little longer and let the choir sing
Just As I am…soft and low
With every head bowed…and every eye closed
…Slip that hand up…now just stand up
And make your way down this aisle to me
We’ll kneel here at this altar & together with the Father
Let the Blood of Jesus wash you white as snow
With every head bowed…and every eye closed
…Let the Blood of Jesus make you white as snow
With every head bowed…and every eye closed
With every head bowed…He’ll make you white as snow
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Church with No Feet
(w/calypso beat)
There once was a church she had no feet
to carry de body into de street
Where Christ had told dem all to go
So because of De-feet she stay at home
Ah she make with de lie & de lame excuse
The backs of her neighbors she keep dem well-chewed
To de telei-vision her face is glued
With a luke-warm pot she cook her own goose
She had no fire with in her soul
Poor circulation make de body COLD
You need to MOVE de body like de Eskimos
& meet with de seinners nose to nose
Her attendance went up- BUT her morals went down
She start to slip n slide & to fool aroun
The Spirit of God He get mad and leave town
And He say to his Angels: BOYS! BURN ER DOWN!
Ah she make with de lie & de lame excuse
The backs of her neighbors she keep dem well-chewed
To de telei-vision her face is glued
With a luke-warm pot she cook her own goose
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Come Home (written for John Denver)
There used to be a time when we all got along
Mom & dad & all the children…life was but a song
But the winds of change you know…keep on blowin us around
The Angels came for daddy & momma moved to town
At first we pulled together…tried to help each other thru
Another night, another Angel…& Momma left us too
The winds of change were blowin cold as we laid her in the ground
Before the dust had settled her kids could not be found
Come home…come home, they never meant for us to be alone
Come home….oh it’s more than just a song- momma’s callin for her children….Come on home
Sittin on the front porch watchin momma’s hummin birds
As I drive across the pasture, I can still hear daddy’s words
Son the winds of change soon will carry me away
Ya’ll stay close together and I’ll meet you here someday
Come home…come home, Jenny’s down in Dallas all alone
Come home…come home…oh it’s more than just a song
Mommas callin for her children…please come home
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Do-wrong Man (4 Hank Williams Jr.)
Sometimes it gets so bad I just wanna scream
Go out & party with ole Jim Beam
Find a good reason to live thru the night
Then sneak off and leave her in the mornin light
I guess it’s true what they say in the Can…
What goes around comes around… for a Do-wrong man
Started steppin out like a natural born fool
When I turn-a back roun she was steppin out too
She said “What’s good for you is good for me”
Got right up in my face n said “NO! Gimme back my key!”
Now this do unto other thing done got outa hand
What goes around …come back around for a Do-wrong man
Ain’t nothing sacred for a do wrong man
Forget about them rules & get it any way you can
You don’t have to like it…but you best understand
What goes around comes around…for a do wrong man
I rode thru the jungle n I lived to tell
I met a lota people there…& I shot them all to hell
Then one night in Dallas…I got in a fight
There were guns on my left & guns on my right
& Right in the middle was the WRONG place to stand
What goes around comes around ….for a Do-wrong man
If I ain’t raisin hell, I’m out raisin cane
I’m either sewin trouble…or I’m reapin pain
But this Do-wrong livin…it ain’t ALL bad
I kissed a lot of women that I never would’a had
When them bad little girls wanna take me by the hand
I just smile & say…uh huh…what goes around comes around For a Do-wrong man
Ain’t nothin sacred for a Do-wrong man
To hell with all them rules get it any way you can
You don’t have to like it but you best understand
What goes around comes around for a Do-wrong man
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To Shiloh Come (with a fife & a drum)
Calloused hands with an axe & a plow
Filled with a musket & a bayonet now
My neck is red & my blood is too
My heart is steady & my aim is true
To Shiloh come with a fife and a drum
For to see what I can do…for to see what I can do
My brothers blue & I am grey
On the battlefield we-ll meet today
If I lay that yankee in his grave
I can never go home again…
The smoke rose up and the men went down
Left them yankees scattered all around
Face to face and eye to eye
It’s him or me which one will die
The day I left my momma cried…
Go & bring your brother home…son, bring your brother home
He fired & missed & had to reload
The choice was mine & mine alone…
So I drilled that yankee in his ass
And sent him limpin home…
My neck is red and my blood is too
My heart is steady and My aim….was…….true…
To Shiloh come with a fife and a drum for to see what I can do…for to see what I can do….
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Smoke Me Lackadoobie
Smoke me lackadoobie when I die-I dont wanna rot… I wanna fry
Shove me in the oven Love…n turn those burners high
& smoke me lackadoobie when I die
You live…you die…yo momma cries Hes in a better place
You lie there while morticians try to put a big smile on your face
My dont he look peaceful…someone sing Amazing Grace
When we know dang well hes goin straight to hell…so lets cut to the chase
..& smoke im lakadoobie when he dies…he dont wanna rot-he wants to fry
Shove im in the oven, love …N turn those burners high
& lets smoke im lakadoobie when he dies
Ashes blessed & eulogy delivered by the priest
Unsuspecting relatives…all gathered for the feast
Sneak over to the barbeque…n slip me in the pit
When their mouths are full you can tell em’ all why their burgers taste like
….th-i-i-i-s-s
..My theology of comedy has ner yet been tried
It caint hurt to have em laughin when I cross that great devide
With ol St. Peter rollin on the floor Ill just slip inside
If you smoke me lakadoobie when I die
Wellllll…Smoke me lakadoobie when I die-I dont wanna rot-I wanna fry
Shove me in the oven, Love…n turn those burners high
& smoke me lakadoobie…why dont cha smoke me lakadoobie…
Cmon & Smoke me lakadoobie when I die
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For Our precious babies Alex & Angel- One day you will turn around & I-ll be standing there
I L B C N U AGAIN
Here we are-once again we-ve come to say goodbye
Must be brave-Smile & wave just like it wont be very long
Heart be strong for me today…Help me say
I-L-B-C-N-U again
I-L-B-C-N-U again…Oh you cant get rid of me so easy
A 1000 miles or two or three Cross the mountains Cross the sea
On that distant shore rest assured
I-L-B-C-N-U again
Here we go Across that bridge we said we-d cross the day it came
Promise you forever I-ll remember every word
I ever heard you say to me So say to me
I-L-B-C-N-U again
I-L-B-C-N-U again Oh you cant get rid of me so easy
A 1000 miles or two or three Cross the dessert, Cross the sea
On that distant shore we-ll meet once more
I-L-B-C-N-U again a 1000 miles or two or three
Oh you cant get rid of me, cross the dessert cross the sea
On that distant shore Rest assured
I-L-B-C-N-U again
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She Believes
He’d tend to sink was prone to drown
He was always at his best when his world was crashing down
He’d always fall don’t ask why
Would you dare to ask the stars what they’re doing in the sky
From the moment he was born they say she never left her knees
They say she never wavered as he drifted out to sea & that icy wind would blow
Tho it broke her heart it could not break her hold
She believed…she believed…without a single reason why she believed She believed…she believed… tho the rivers all run dry, the mountains fall into the sea...She believed
The years would pass, without a word
Everyday she’d ask had anybody heard
Every night…faithfully- put a candle in the window
Just for him to see...
November rain was falling softly on the scattered leaves
When he walked up to the stone and there…he fell straight to his knees
I would give my heart to God just to hear it once again
We all heard his answer … when she whispered in the wind
I believe I believe I don’t need a reason why I believe
I believe Oh I believe
Tho the rivers all run dry the mountains fall into the sea
I believe
She believes she believes Now he believes and WE believe
Without a single reason why, tho the rivers all run dry
The mountains fall into the sea…
She believes
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Sugah Sugah
Smooth as silk, cold as ice
Can’t afford to play her game at any price
But she makes you think you gotta a chance to have her
So you roll the dice
Sugah sugah-sugah sugah
Sweet sweet sugah
She makes you think ya gotta wanna brand new deal
Flip that card and spin that wheel
Windin up to take a throw
You gotta pull that lever-boy
Let it roll- Let it roll
Sugah sugah…sugah sugah
Sh sh sh sugah be
Sweet sweet sugah bee
Sugah be hangin off of your right arm
Down to your last dollar so you -bet the farm
If you win she will do what you want her to
Better make your point boy, cause if you lose
Sugah be rollin with a brand new daddy
With hopped-up drop-top custom caddy
Sugah be in a penthouse suite
You’ll be staggerin up the street -cryin
Sugah Sugah, have you seen sugah
Sugah sugah, aw gimme sugah
Sugah Sugah ….Have you seen sugah
sh sh sh sugah be
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A little about Can Horses Be Angels
Can Horses be Angels is not just about The Ride, but also about why the ride happened in the 1st place. Abuse at home,relentless & violent drove this 10yr old boy out into the wild arms of mother nature. Contrary to another old country song when youre hurting bad enough there IS no wrong place to look for love. Anywhere you can find it- thatll do.
The story behind Ridin Double
We are old. We bout near seen it all. We-ve been thru a lot in the 31+ yrs we been together...seen a lot of changes. But nothing like what we are seein now. For the 1st time in our lives we really dont know whats going to happen. To us. To our children. To our grandchildren. To our country- or the world for that matter. Im sure none of you do either. Lord-a-mighty boys We got leaders that hate everthing about us-all that we are. Admittedly ashamed of the country theyre leadin?! How-re we supposed to understand that?
Its all new ground we-re coverin. We dont see much we recognize. Nothing familar. Its a little intimidating. More than ever we-re wonderin whats around the next bend. On top of all this...we-re old. Thats new ground too. Shes been havin signs of heart problems. Im slowin down a little myself. Im only stronger than any 5 men now instead of ten.
Our world has become so uncertain & it never was before. Even when we went bust we-d just pick up a splittin mall/or hammer, put our heads down n go to swingin til we come out the other side. With all that said, theres not much we can do but keep on ridin. But of all the unknown we-re facin theres this One Thing I know goes beyond tomorrow. Whatevers comin, we-ll be facin it together. No choice in that. Caint get rid of the woman. Caint out ride her. I spose I could run ol Midnight under a limb, but shed just pull me off with er. Hangs on too tight. Besides. Im pretty much of the mind if I caint ride with her, Id just as soon not go. Yep, ridin doubles bout the only thing that does makes sense these days. We hope you like the song.
The story behind The Ride& Can Horses Be Angels
In the late 50s his family moved from Tulsa to Gore Oklahoma on the Arkansas border at a time when Open Range was still in place. Gore was wedged in between the Arkansas & the Little Illinois River at the end of the Mile Long Bridge at Webber Falls. And it was on the banks of the Illinois that the boys finally caught up with the herd of wild horses they had been chasin for so long. Over the years from time to time he returns to this place to stand on the bank & stare out across the water, lost in the past. For it was here that The Ride took place. He was 10 years old.
It was the dead of winter. The water was so very cold. I can still feel the little panes of ice that stung my face & hands as we crossed over. We came ashore on this side about where that willa tree stands.
About 20-30 yards out her hocks started hittin me in the chest & my knees were draggin along the bottom. Then I hit a fair-size rock & it jarred me aloose. I went under face down & felt a hoof brush past my head. It was kinda like…Hang on & she-ll kick you to death, let go of her tail & you-ll drown. But I managed to wade ashore intact for the most part. I couldnt think of anything else for at least two weeks after.
Fact is it kinda saved my life in a way. Things were pretty bad at home by this time. Thats what I was doin out there on the river. Not bein at home.
Its not that I wanted to die, more like-If what was in front of me was the same as what was behind me,then I guess livin just wasnt all that important like it should-ve been. That pony gave me a different kind of pain. Pain I could deal with. She kinda knocked some sense into me & lit a fire in me all in the same moment. For the 1st time ever I came away knowin that there was REAL LIFE out there & from then on I knew that no matter what happened to me, one day Id be free to go & find it on my own! Didnt make me more cautious by any stretch. The opposite-It made me hungry! I still had to cross that river to get back home. Shiverin blue, teeth chatterin & soggy to the bone, but oh man I was feelin 10 foot tall. I plunged into the icy water w/o a single thought I wouldnt make it to the other side.
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The stories behind Dont Take This Away From Me& The Mission & the Broken Wheel Bar
In the late 70s his brother Randy was a street cop in Sand Springs moonlighting as a limo-driver. It was thru this job he met up with a stock-broker named Bob Bell. The Great Jim Halsey was just starting a new record label in Tulsa called Churchill records which primarily was to find & promote new talent. Bob was working up a prospectus (don’t ask me what that is) for Mr. Halsey. Randy played him a tape of Steve & he asked for a meeting. Steve auditioned for Bob right there in Randys livin room on Riverside Dr. Bob went for it in a big way & set up an audition for Steve w/Mr. Halsey. The meeting never took place. A week before the audition he felt the call of the Master & left to work the Union Rescue Mission in Wichita Kansas. Bad career move? No doubt, but several winos lived to see the spring that year that would not have otherwise.
]When I say I was a street preacher I dont mean the kind that drove down thru skid-row on Sunday afternoon passin out tracs. Thats a good way too, but I lived with my congregation because I learned the hard way that Seizures Dont Just Come on Sundays. Sometimes in a seizure a man-ll bite his tounge & if you aint there when that happens chances are he wont be there for your next sermon.
I stayed out behind the mission in my 66 ford van-the Amarillo Armadillo. It was killin-cold that winter. My brother had given me an arctic parka for xmas. It was a peach! Said to withstand the coldest of temperatures & I-se about to find out. Before I left Oklahoma I rounded up all the hides the boys had taken that deer season. Id long ago learned the art of tanning. So-armed with the Armadillo, the PARKA, a half dozen hides & the Love of God I hunkered down & waited for Spring.
It was bitter cold by December I had already found several of my boysin varying degrees of frostbite & hypothermia. With the parka & the hides I kept relatively warm but a night came it wasnt enough. About 2 am or so I jerked awake w/my survival instincts in high gear. Tho the hides kept my body warm the air I was breathing was stinging my lungs. I was in danger of freezin to death from the inside out.
Knowin I was in trouble I jumped to the front seat & fired up the Armadillo. since the engine is inside the cab you couldnt just run the motor for heat. Been there, done that & liked to near died once before. I had to get somewhere warm right fast. There was an all night Burger King down on Broadway & a cup of coffee sounded real good about then.
I headed down the alley toward Douglas. As I pulled up to the street, I looked to the right & there was Hassle in front of the Renfro Hotel (or maybe it was the pawn shop) pacin back & forth like a wild animal. He was wearin a long sleeve shirt & slacks.
Hassle was a derelict I guess, tho Id never seen him drunk nor drinkin. Ill take a chance & say he was homeless but caint say for sure cause no one had ever seen him except at the mission & he never stayed the night. Hassle didnt talk to anyone. At all. Not a word. He would snicker & whisper to himself like he knew some secret joke. But thats it. He would show up at the mission for his beans then dissappear into the night. He reminded me of the wild animals Id lived w/in the Mojave & up in the Rockies. Hed only come out for food & water.
I pulled out & made a right on Douglas thinkin to myself -Hassle, you are one strange cat- As I pulled away I heard what Id come to know as the Voice of God. STEVE. It is killin cold out tonight.
Yessir Boss. Whyd you make it so cold? Hush a minute son. Its killing cold. You...are wearing a down-filled parka, covered up with animal hides & still you are freezing to death & running for your life. Yessir? Hassle...on the other hand...is wearing a long sleeve shirt & a thin pair of pants. Hassle isnt pacing back & forth because hes strange. Hes pacing back & forth because hes FREEZING TO DEATH!!
Duh. I turned back on St. Francis & circled around the block & pulled back down the alley again. He was still pacin rapidly up & down the sidewalk, his nose runnin like a faucet. I rolled the window down & called to him repeatedly but he wouldn’t come to me. My plan was to get him close enough to the van, then I would jump on him & wrassle Hassle into the van hopin that the warmth of the engine would calm him down before he kicked bit & clawed me to death. But it wasn’t goin to happen. When hed get close Id crack the door open & hed start to bolt. I knew if the door swung open hed be gone & in the mornin hed be dead. I decided to hold the coat out the window & see if hed take it. Oh he wanted it real bad. Hed inch over to me but his feet just couldn’t make the journey. I didn’t know what to do but one thing sure, I wasn’t leavin till he had the coat. Finally in frustration I throwd the coat as far out the window as I could. He come over to it, looked up at me n back down at the coat 7 or 5 times-then evvver so slooowwwly he picked up the coat. As I pulled away he was tyin the hood shut around his face.
Me & Hassle made it thru the night. I saw him next day struttin down St. Francis in his brand new coat with that hood still cinched down tight on his dirty head.
The Mission and The Broken Wheel Bar
Not all my stories had happy endings. One morning about 5 am Id just left the Armadillo to go to work at Manpower. It was painful bitter cold, ice already solid on my beard as I trotted across the warehouse loading docks.
I headed down the alley between the Mission & the Broken Wheel bar. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jim sitting on a gas meter that was buried under a snow drift.
-Hey Jim...hows it go-Oh Jesus, Jim!-
He had frozen to death sitting up, eyes wide open-big smile on his face. I thought he was alive. As I stood there looking at Jim, praying under my breath, my eyes fell on that brown paper sack holding a half empty bottle of Annie Greensprings, tightly clutched in his frozen hands.
He was sitting with his back against the Mission wall, where he would have been safe & alive. His eyes were staring at the very last thing he would ever see-the Broken Wheel bar. His other place of safety. He knew he couldnt take the bottle upstairs to the warm beds. & He couldnt stash the bottle outside someone else might find it. So he chose to stay outside with it. $2 worth of wine. He just couldnt let go. The dark irony hit me. The winos call it anti-freeze. Not because it keeps you from freezin-but because it keeps you from caringthat you-re freezing.
The sun was just coming up & there was more waiting for me just around the corner. It was going to be a very long day.
to be continued-
Next: No Name gets a New Pair of Shoes
The mission, normally quiet in the mornings was buzzing w/activity what with paramedics, coroners & detectives on the scene. After questioning me & at least a dozen jokes revolving around the way we found him-
i.e. Suspect is uncooperative & refuses to answer questions…What are you looking at, are you talkin to me?…Hey! You know we could load this guy up & take him over & set him on the Capt.s front lawn & add him to his collection of yard art. Yeah someone qupped…til spring anyway. One officer went thru his pockets & removed a pack of cigarettes. A paramedic grabbed them & held them up to Jim & said: Non-filter cigarettes!? Buddy don’t you know these things-ll kill ya!? & the worst one- This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase-Assuming room temperature. They finally loaded Jim up & took him away. Don’t judge them too harshly. After so long a time of dealing w/death it loses its impact. If you can find anyway at all to laugh- go for it.
As I came in the door I saw No-name sitting in one of the chairs that lined the wall at the back of the chapel. No-name wouldnt tell/ or didnt know his name so thats what we called him. Down here theres a lot of mysteries like that. (to tell you the truth there were times I myself went by the name of Mr. Smith. & for a short time Abram Lincoln).
Brother Thomi did not allow anyone to hang around the mission during the day. Once they opened the sleeping bay doors-everyone had to hit the street. So it caught my attention that No-name was still inside.
No-name, does Brother Thomi know you-re still here?- Yep. He said I could stay here till my feet warmed up. I looked down at his feet. He had his coat wrapped around them. Convinced he had permission I started to walk off. Then that voice inside my head I know of a certainty is God, said: Steve. (God called me steve back then). Steve, go over & tell No-name you want to take a look at his feet.
Without really knowing why I walked over & asked him to show me his feet. He pulled the coat away & WHOA! Now I know why God told me to take a look.
Hes barefoot & both of his feet are swollen double & they-re greenish- purple & jet black w/flaming red streaks running up his legs above the ankles. Okay. Can you walk? Oh sure he said. They dont hurt at all. Lets go. Im taking you to the hospital. He protested Oh I cant do that. I aint got no money for a doctor. I said, Look. You-re feet dont hurt because they are frozen. They-re dead. They-re not going to warm up or get better. You have gangrene so bad its going to kill you. Ive already been thru this once today & thats enough...so- you can walk or if you need me to Ill carry you- but make no mistake you ARE going to the hospital.
This was a little unsettling for him & I realized Id been too matter of fact. I told him Listen. Lets pray that God save your life & as much of your feet as possible. Thats right. I didnt have enough faith to believe for a complete recovery. But I DID have faith.
In the prayer room hung a picture on the wall of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. The artist had painted both feet in a bowl with a towel over them & Jesus kneeling down to wash them. The left foot was covered almost even with the ankle. The right foot was covered to about the middle of the arch. I said Lets ask God to spare your life, your legs & this much of your feet. Now this was asking no small thing. If youd have seen his feet youd know. He should die or at the very least lose both feet above the ankles.
This seemed to comfort him some & off we went to the hospital. Of course you know the reason I gave you so much detail is that is exactly what they ended up doing. Just like in the picture.
I visited No-name almost everyday as the hospital was just a few blocks north of the mission. He-d talk about the picture in the prayer room & how he KNEW for sure God loved him. He knew it was a miracle.
He told me how his feet got frozen. Hed been living in an old Steffens Dairy delivery truck box. Steffens had their truck yard just across the tracks behind the mission. He-d chosen the truck box as being a refrigerator box it was insulated. & normally it worked w/just a few candles & some blankets he could keep relatively warm. But not this night. This night was a killer.
He was worried about his belongings still in the truck box so I went to get them for him. His belongingsconsisted of a broken hotplate. A half dozen candles, a pile of old clothes & several wool army blankets. Magazines & A tattered photograph of a little girl sitting in a swing.
His possesions were nothing more than rags & paper, yet he absolutely could not rest until he knew they were safe. It was all he had left in this world & he clung desperately to the only thing that tells him he is still alive. Garbage? Yep. But they sometimes will defend that bag of garbage-or the cardboard box they-re living in, as if it were Casa Grande. Thats where this song came from. One day I started dragging a refrigerator box out of the alley when out popped an angry wino who went on the attack.
Most people see a large box in an alley & think its trash. I see a duplex & wonder if anybodys home.
No-name? Oh he recovered. Of course we changed his name to No-feet. tho technically he still had a half a foot. On one of our visits hed asked me to run a few errands. He gave me a list so I trotted over to the annex across the street from the hospital. Im walkin down the aisles & going thru the list when I stop at the mouth wash. Hmm Lets see...he wants a GIANT bottle of Cepacol mouth wash...and uh..- I started to put it in the cart when You Know Who kind of whispers...Steve...what do you think a man like No-name would want with a giant bottle of mouthwash? You are his only vistor. ...Steve?..You gettin this? I turned the bottle around & there on the back ...contains 13% alcohol. Can you imagine? Nearly froze to death-lost his feet has nothing left in this world but a bag of rags & even before he can walk again....his only thought is that next drink. Needless to say he didnt get his cepacol.
The last time I saw him was later that summer. He was shuffling down the street in wooden sandal-like shoes the hospital had made for him before he left there. In his hands?....that damn brown paper bag.
So when you listen to Dont Take This Away from Me- or The Mission & the Broken Wheel Bar-now you know its not just a song I made up. These are people I know & this is their story.
[Country, Christian, R&B]
