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“A great CD talking about everyday life, memories, musings and a poke at those jerks who talk on their cell phones while driving (“Hang it Up”). There is something that everyone can relate to on this CD.” (Phil Peretz, Indie Artists Alliance)
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Click a title to jump to lyrics
I Miss My Town
Gettin’ To My Glory Days
Job for the Money
Roselle
Hang It Up
After a Good Rain
Dogspeed
Dad Built Roads
Where’d the Time Go?
Pack My Mule
I Hope the World
I Miss My Town
Always thought I’d move away – had places to go
Got as far as Love Creek Road
Headed back down my Highway One
To the small town where I’d begun
But it’s different – there are homes where the food used to grow
Where the food’s gonna come from I don’t know
I’m still around
But I miss my town
Takes an hour of gridlock to get down to Main
If anyone asks me, I donít care for the change
It’s ironic ’cause down at our city hall
Seems like nobody’s driving at all
I don’t mind if you build in my yard
But leave a little land – shouldn’t be that hard
I’m still around
But I miss my town
Small country airport, I see a plane coming in
If the planes stopped coming, itíd be some kinda sin
But the city’s on the move – they want to build out here too
What’s a small town boy gonna do?
Southern California’s got nothing on us
But it looks like weíre trying really hard to catch up
I’m still around
But I miss my town
Gettin’ to My Glory Days
As a kid I said I’d walk up on the moon
Join the circus – maybe draw cartoons
That didn’t happen but I’ve no regrets
Of all the things Iíve done I ain’t done yet
Glory days, glory days
I’m still getting to my glory days
My high school friends miss the days back when
You couldn’t pay me to go there again
I never wore a letterman sweater
Left those days behind and life got better
Glory days, glory days
I’m still getting to my glory days
The friends that I make now I make for good
We’ve been here long enough to know we should
Life’s too short now not to take that chance
Gotta love, gotta since, gotta dance
Glory days
One day I’m heading up beyond the blue
Where those footprints in the sand lead me to
Saint Peter I’m praying that you let me know
That’s when my real glory days begin
I’m still getting to my glory days
I’m still getting to my glory days
Job For the Money
Must have been 1984, I didn’t really know what dreaming was for
I must admit I set my sights too high
But it’s not like I was wishing for things you can’t have like horses with wings
So then again, someone tell me why?
I took this job for the money, working for a bunch of fools that I just don’t know
Tip that bottle back my friend – let’s buy a van and go to Mexico
‘Round about 1989, thinking ‘bout things that could be mine
A house, a car, and maybe a swimming pool
Then by 1992, I took a look at who was who
And realized I had been a fool
I took this job for the money, working for a bunch of fools that I just don’t know
Tip that bottle back my friend – let’s buy a van and go to Mexico
Life’s too short you hear ‘em say, but there’s 24 hours in every day
You gotta use them well, it really ain’t that hard
Don’t be fooled by what you hear, or what you didn’t do this year
The grass isn’t any greener in your neighbor’s yard
I took this job for the money, working for a bunch of fools that I just don’t know
Tip that bottle back my friend – let’s buy a van and go to Mexico
I took this job for the money
Roselle
On that 9-11 morning when the planes came down
He was sitting as his desk 80 stories from the ground
We saw it on the tv, and though he didn’t see a thing
When they hit, he reached for her, and she looked up at him
Roselle the guide dog, she was sleeping on the floor
She stood up and knew it was time to hit the door
Roselle didn’t panic or hestitate at all
She just took his hand and led him down the hall
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
A friend who’ll lead you from the dark into the light
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
They went down a stairwell through smoke and broken glass
She kissed the firemen as they ran quickly past
When he felt the other tower fall he just prayed theyíd be all right
Then by the grace of a dog – they walked outside
Outside in the wreckage he wondere’d where to go
Then this yellow lab walked him to a cab
That took ’em both back home
I’ve heard angels walk among us, and I’d say it’s true
’cause I know one walks on four legs
And wags hers tail when she looks at you
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
A friend who’ll lead you from the dark into the light
We all need our own Roselle sometimes
Hang It Up
(Written by Michael Gaither and John Andrew Eddie)
The day started out simple enough
I was heading down the road trying to wake up
Then got a bad bad feeling – ’bout what was lying ahead
Cars swervin’ like balls in a pinball game
It’s official – everybody’s insane
Nobody’s driving — without a phone to their head
Hang it up – hang it up – hang it up
Hang it up – hang it up – I’ve had enough
Saw a loving couple walking hand in hand
Seemed everyday enough, but I didn’t understand
No something – it wasn’t right
They were laughing and talking – but not to each other
I got a little closer – that’s when I discovered
The headsets – and flashing blue lights
Hang it up – hang it up – hang it up
Hang it up – hang it up – I’ve had enough
Everyone’s talking – we’re not saying a thing
Might as well be using — two cans and a string
On stairways and sidewalks in line at the grocery store, too
Alexander Graham Bell — didn’t think this one through
Went to a concert and a guy three rows down
Called his buddies and said, “Hey, can you hear me now”
I said,”We all can – You don’t have to shout”
I’d had it by then – I ran over there
It’s beautiful when a cell phone sails through the air
The usher even smiled —– as he was throwing me out
Hang it up – hang it up – hang it up
Hang it up – hang it up – I’ve had enough
Hang it up – hang it up – hang it up
Hang it up – hang it up – I’ve had enough
After a Good Rain
The rhythm on the roof wakes me at night
Rocks me back to sleep and it’s all right
The gutter clicks like a metronome outside
I could lie here and listen all night
After a good rain I can breathe
The sky never looked so clear to me
There’s a rainbow right behind that cloud and another sunny day
After a good rain
It’s coming down in buckets and in sheets
Like cats and dogs bouncing at my feet
Just let it wash all over me
A thunderstorm it’s just therapy
After a good rain I can breathe
The sky never looks so clear to me
There’s a rainbow right behind that cloud and another sunny day
After a good rain
The rhythm on the roof wakes me at night
Seems to be no end to it in sight
A little rain never hurt no one
The darkest rain leaves the brightest sun
After a good rain I can breathe
The sky never looks so clear to me
There’s a rainbow right behind that cloud and another sunny day
After a good rain
Thereís a rainbow right behind that cloud ñ itíll come again
After a good rain
Yeah after a good rain
Dogspeed
She always talks in her sleep
Runs in place lying at my feet
Wonder what’s she’s chasing in her dreams
She’s moving along at dogspeed
Moving along at dogspeed
Sometimes a little rest is all you need
A dog’s life that’s the life for me
Moving along at dogspeed
I know dogs who work all the time
Herding sheep or guiding the blind
Keeping a cop safe at his side
They don’t complain and they don’t seem to mind
Moving along at dogspeed
Sometimes a little work is all you need
A dog’s life that’s the life for me
Moving along at dogspeed
I get home at the end of a long day
To an unconditional invite to play
A wagging tale tells me all’s okay
Sometimes it just works that way
Moving along at dogspeed
Sometimes a little love is all you need
A dog’s life that’s the life for me
Moving along at dogspeed
They got something on you and me
Moving a long at dogspeed
Dad Built Roads
My father went west in ’48, drove across seven states
And he kept going ’til he reached the sea
Settled here in this little town, looked ’til he finally found
A job with a local construction company
Every Sunday he’d take me out for a ride – didn’t take me long to see that I
Would find the work he did everywhere we roamed
From up in the mountains on down to the beach, he even paved the local city streets
That at the end of the day, took us all the way back home
Never afraid of a hard day’s work, he’d been doing it all of his life
A pretty good mechanic, he could keep machines in line
He ran pavers and graders, trucks and loaders
Stayed late to fix ’em when the guys went home because
Dad built roads
Old roads with names like Blood Alley
Caused more than one fatal crash
Those highways are wider and safer now
Dad had a hand in that
My dad, he never pushed paper around
He worked with his hands
And if you look around today
Dad’s work still stands
Never afraid of a hard day’s work, he’d been doing it all of his life
A pretty good mechanic, he could keep machines in line
With oil, sand, and granite rock
He built highways and driveways, asphalt and blacktop
Dad built roads
I hope I leave a legacy when Iím gone
It might something I wrote in a song
But it’ll pale with his work thatís everywhere I go
He had a canvas that stretched for miles
Goes on as far as you can drive because
Dad built roads
Never afraid of a hard day’s work, he’d been doing it all of his life
A pretty good mechanic, he could keep machines in line
All the way up 5 and down The 101
If you’re in California youíve been on one ñ that my dad built
Dad built roads
Where’d the Time Go?
Saw The Ramones when I turned 17
April 11th looked like Halloween
Gabba Gabba Hey Hey Hey
Wore torn Levis and leather boots
My buddy John came in a giant mouse suit
Santa Cruz Civic – seems like yesterday
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
I stopped keeping track a long time ago
“Rock and Roll High School”, “Blitzkrieg Bop”
Slam dancing, we never stopped
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
We stormed the Coliseum gate
Day on the Green, ’78
ACDC headlined that year
Bon Scott sang “A Long Way To the Top”
Screaming like he’d never stop
Hard to believe he’d be gone within a year
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
I stopped keeping track a long time ago
Singing along with your favorite band
Holding up a lighter ’til it burned your hand
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
When Lennon died in ’80 we all cried
Went to the Sashmill that Tuesday night
They showed “Let It Be” and we sang along
Man, the people who’ve come and gone
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
Driving to work about a few years ago
Heard Warren Zevon on the radio
I knew we’d lost him nobody had to say a word
He sang “Keep My In Your Heart for Awhile”
I started to cry, and then I just smiled
I can map my life by the songs I’ve heard
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
I stopped keeping track a long time ago
You make a mark – sing a song
Time just keeps ticking on
Where’d the time go? I don’t know
Pack My Mule
Once upon a time there were hills I had to climb
It tore me up inside
But nothing comes to you until you make a move
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride
I’m an easy read – I wear it on my sleeve
There isn’t much I try to hide
You got something to say – tell me today
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride
I knew a man – worked with his hands
While he dreams whithered up and died
He said, “Someday, I’ll run”, but that “someday” never comes
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride
A donkey he never hurries
A horse she’ll stop and worry
All that I know is I gotta hit the road
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride (last line 2x)
This is one of those songs that just goes on and on
So I’ll just thank you for your time
I might be here again- I’ll see you then
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride
I’m gonna pack my mule and ride
I Hope the World
I hope the world treated you well today
That everybody listened to whatever you had to say
I know the stars get out of line
Happens that way from time to time
I hope the world treated you well today
You might have made a wrong turn or two
But every one of them brought me here to you
So raise a glass to every one
If this were easy, it wouldn’t be half as fun
You might have made a wrong turn or two
Did it go according to your plan?
If not tomorrow you can try again
Everyday’s a gift, now that’s a fact
Though you’d like to take back
Did it go according to your plan?
Nobody meets by accident
And today’s a tomorrow that already came and went
Laugh a little, shed a tear
You could do worse than end up here
Nobody meets by accident
I hope the world treated you well today
That everybody listened to whatever you had to say
I know the stars get out of line
happens that way from time to time
I hope the world treated you well today
Yeah, I hope the world treated you well today
All lyrics copyright Michael Gaither / MaryLou Tunes / ASCAP, except “Job for the Money,” words and music by Mark Pistrang, copyright Crybaby Rose Publishing / ASCAP). Reprinted by permission.