1. |
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Old Hank’s sitting on the front porch, rocking the days away
Ever since he went blind, you know he ain’t had much to say
And there’s a rice field in the distance up around the bend
Fourteen miles from the river and where it all began
Charlie was old Hank’s boy and the last of a dying breed
A genuine cowboy, he was sturdy as a live oak tree
And if you ever had the pleasure to meet him, you was bound to hear a story or two
And he always did the best with what he had, it was no more than the saints could do
Charlie met this girl named Kate, soon she became his wife
But times was hard back then, and they did what they could to survive
They didn’t have much of nothing, lived in a shack with a cold dirt floor
Till they bought ‘em a two-story Roebuck house with Hank’s pension from the war
And Billy Glenn’s in the back, he’s the youngest of Charlie and Kate’s eight kids
He’s trying to squeeze out another drop from a cow that just won’t give
It was a hard scrabble, a way to come up, but he was his daddy’s son
And he never complained about the work a minute, he just did what had to be done
In that rice field in the distance up around the bend
Fourteen miles from the river and where it all began
It’s where time stood still, and the work it would never end
In that rice field in the distance up around the bend
Charlie died in that rice field, one day his heart just give out
And at his funeral the grown men wept and it was all they could talk about
All the stories that he shared with them and the lessons from him they learned
And the countless things that he’d done for them asking nothing in return
And Kate lived to be ninety-seven and on her dying day
The generations gathered in a circle and all began to pray
Yeah they reminisced about days gone by and sacrifices made for them
In that rice field in the distance up around the bend
Yeah that rice field in the distance up around the bend
Fourteen miles from the river and where it all began
It’s where time stood still and the work it would never end
In that rice field in the distance up around the bend
May the circle be unbroken and the memories never end
Of that rice field in the distance up around the bend
Yeah that rice field in the distance
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2. |
Book of Life
03:48
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Mama tell me why Daddy had to leave?
She said, I don’t know but it ain’t you and it ain’t me
But listen to me son, everything's gonna be alright
Now climb up here, and let me dry your eyes
And try not to worry, gotta let him go
There’s just some things that we can’t control
He may be leaving and it feels like goodbye
But it’s just another page in the book of life
Well, this old friend of mine, he was near the end
He said boy, I never thought I’d live to see you again
I said man, what we gonna do, how we gonna get along
He said never mind it now, just play me another song
And try not to worry, you gotta let me go
‘Cause death is one thing that we can’t control
And I may be leaving and it feels like goodbye
But it’s just another page in the book of life
Well I’ve lived and learned you know I’ve loved and lost
But I’d do it all over no matter what the cost
‘Cause when the ashes have settled and the healing’s begun
I can lean on a mother’s words to her only son
She said try not to worry, gotta let it go
There’s just some things that we can’t control
And sometimes leaving ilike goodbye
But it’s just another page in the book
Yeah, sometimes leaving it can feel like goodbye
But it’s just another page in the book of life
It’s just another page in the book of life
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3. |
Rose Marie
04:01
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Well it’s all right baby now don’t you cry it won’t be long and I’ll be home
‘Cause they said we got to serve our country and when they call my number I’ll be ready
So here’s my ring slip it on your finger
Hold it close to your heart and always remember, always remember
Rose Marie I’ll be coming home to you
And it won’t be too long till I’m going to see you again
Wanna see you again Rose Marie
Well it’s April 5 of ’45 and we lost seven-hundred boys in the blink of an eye
And I’ve done some things that I can’t undo, I don’t know how I’ll ever find my way back to you
But here’s my letter and I hope it makes it; I can’t help but wonder if you’re still waiting, if you’re still waiting
Rose Marie, well I’ll be coming home to you
And it won’t be too much longer till I’m going to see you again, wanna see you again
They said the other day we did it and a few more weeks I’m gonna punch my ticket
And sail around the world just to be with you
And I can picture you on the front porch swinging with my ring on your finger
Just like I remember, honey when I put it there
Rose Marie, well I’ll be coming home to you
And it won’t be too much longer till I’m going to see you again
Wanna see you again, wanna see you again
Oh my darling, Rose Marie
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4. |
The Ott Hotel
05:10
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It was built back in ‘28, just feet from the railroad tracks
And it’s got a solid foundation, you know it was made to last
And all the trains came in from Louisiana, from the land of the rising sun
And when the engines screamed into that depot, all the men began to run
To the Ott Hotel — there was nothing like it around
Lady Ott took all of the money in, from every salesman down that line
For 365 days of the year she ran the finest place in town
But then a rumor began to swell, and things they started to change
And even Bonnie and Clyde, who stayed there one night, said something was mighty strange
About the Ott Hotel — there was nothing like it around
Old man William was the night guard, for fifty some odd years
He saw thousands of souls coming through them doors and all running out in fear
There was the preacher man from Beaumont and the widow from across the bay
Well they both disappeared without a trace on a day just like today
From the Ott Hotel — you know they was never found
Well the trains don’t stop there no more, but folks still come from all around
They say something just ain’t right, in this river bottom town
You won’t see them very often, you gotta catch them while they’re hot
They’re a supernatural attraction, they’re the ghosts of the Ott
The Ott Hotel — there was nothing like it around
The Ott Hotel — there’s nothing like it you will ever find
The Ott Hotel
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5. |
Meant to Be
03:36
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My three ex-wives were real nice ladies but something about marriage just drove me crazy
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t meant to be
Well my first ex-wife was a Memphis gal, and we got together in Austin town
It was the summer of love when we got married
And although we had a real nice family, them pastel colors didn’t agree with me
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t meant to be
I wanted to stay, but it wasn’t meant to be
And then my second ex-wife was a Cajun cutie, Lord have mercy another southern beauty
I had good taste in women it seems
And although she gave it a real good try, there was something about the Brady Bunch life that
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t meant to be
We wanted it to, but it wasn’t meant to be
Then my third ex-wife was the scholarly type, a fine young woman just my style
I had found the one finally
But all honeymoons must come to an end and so did this one my friends
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t meant to be
Well we tried to work it out, but it wasn’t meant to be
You know my three ex-wives were real nice ladies but something about marriage just drove me crazy
I don’t know what it was, but it wasn’t meant to be
Well my next ex-wife I ain’t yet met her, and as the saying goes never say never
But never may come too soon, I’m beginning to think
Because I am what I am, it’s how I’ll always be
And if the shoe don’t fit then mama cest la vie
I said baby, it wasn’t meant to be
Well honey I’m sorry, it wasn’t meant to be
Darling don’t you cry, it wasn’t meant to be
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6. |
Move on J.D.
04:58
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J.D. came home with a Purple Heart, lost his good arm in the war
He spent his days down off Beaumont, behind old man Wiggins’ store
And he’d smile at all of the passers-by as he nursed on an ice cold beer
Till the police came and would run him off; they’d say, J.D. it’s time to move on from here
They’d say move on, move on J.D.; move on from here
You can go anywhere you want, but you just can’t stay here
J.D. carried him a switch blade knife in his hip pocket all the time
He’d sleep it off behind the courthouse with one eye open all night long
But the dreams they’d rage on like a firestorm, every single night of the year
And come morning light the judge would wake him up; he’d say, J.D. it’s time to move on from here
He’d say move on, move on J.D.; move on from here
You can go anywhere you want, but you just can’t stay here
J.D. got his angel wings when the good lord called him home
Now he spends his days down by the fairgrounds, never more a wandering soul
And he smiles down on all of the passers-by, just grinning from ear to ear
And they all say, hey look over there; look who finally made it here
Well it’s move on, move on J.D.; move on J.D. made it here
And he can stay just as long as he wants
Because move on J.D. is welcome here
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7. |
New Year's Day
03:55
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I got this old mug on my shelf, I take it down and pour myself a cup and think of what used to be
You gave it to me second hand, you knew I was just a simple man, and babe, I guess I’ll always be
I said babe, I guess I’ll always be
It takes me to another time, to New Year’s Day of ’99 when I woke up with you lying next to me
We made love to Bell Bottom Blues, and now when I hear it I’m reminded of you, and I wonder do you ever think of me
Because them old times may be forgotten, but some things like it or not, their memories never fade away
Like the look in your lover’s eyes, the way she felt lying beside you there on New Year’s Day
I got this old black and white of us, I take it down and wipe off the dust of all that used to be
And I hold it in my calloused hands and these days I’m just a lonely man and babe, I guess I’ll always be
But I’d give it all to go back in time to New Year’s Day in ’99 when I woke up with you next to me
Because them old times may be forgotten, but some things like it or not their memories never fade away
Like the look in your lover’s eyes, the way she felt lying beside you there on New Year’s Day
Yes, it’s the look in your lover’s eyes, the way she felt lying beside you there on New Year’s Day
I got this old mug on my shelf I take it down and pour myself a cup and think of what used to be
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8. |
Wilson
04:12
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Arkansas a few years ago, a state park in the middle of the road,
That’s when I first laid my eyes on you
Hungry and tired your head down in shame, I knew right then I’d be giving you a name
As I thought to myself man, what else can I do?
I looked at you and you and me, our thoughts transfixed on what might be,
As I said what the hell boy, what do we got to lose?
Come on Wilson, what do we got to lose?
You need me and I need you
So come and go with me back home right now
Come on Wilson let’s go back to town, there’s miles to go before the sun goes down
You gonna be with me forever now
What do we got to lose
Summer days are here again, on the front porch sitting with my old friend after all these years gone, We’re stuck together like glue
And we go chasing squirrels through the city park, we take long walks together till well after dark,
It’s all just another day in the life with you
And we do anything we want to do, we take our coffee in the morning with a donut or two
It’s like I always say boy, what do we got to lose?
Come on Wilson, what do we got to lose?
You need me and I need you
So come and go with me back home right now
Come on Wilson let’s go back to town, there’s miles to go before the sun goes down
You gonna be with me forever now
What do we got, Wilson
What do we got to lose
Oh Wilson, what do we got to lose?
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9. |
In Too Deep
04:01
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You fell on me like a storm that I wasn’t ready for
And I know I can never be half the man you needed me to be
So I went running away again just like I always do
It’s just a means to an end of a game that I’m bound to lose
Because sometimes the darkness overtakes me
It can knock me right down to my knees
I only hope that you’ll remember me when I’m in too deep
And just because I ain’t there with you, it don’t mean I didn’t try
You know I always did my best to keep it between the lines
But sometimes the darkness overtakes me
It can knock me right down to my knees
I only hope that you remember me, oh lord, when I’m in too deep
I only hope that you will come for me when I’m in too deep
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10. |
Little Boys
04:50
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The first time I saw the old man cry was the day his own father died
And throughout all the years, he never shed another tear
Like the one he did when his daddy died
The one he did when his daddy died
Then 40 years flew right by, and suddenly it was my turn to cry
And ever since that day, I never shed a tear the way that I did the day my daddy died
I did the day my daddy died
‘Cause grown men never lose their daddies
Only little boys do
And inside of every man lives a little boy, too
Lives a little boy, too
And when the hour is here for you to scatter me with the wind
Out on that old Seven Hollows Trail, you will understand then
My son you will understand then
That grown men never lose their daddies
Only little boys do
‘Cause inside of every man, lives a little boy, too
Yes inside of every single man, lives a little boy, too
Lives a little boy, too
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11. |
Nothing Gold Can Stay
05:41
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What’s become of my hometown, everything on Main is closing down, and Phil the barber he’s dead and gone
And as the sun is setting on the courthouse steps, looking back I have no regrets, but when I’m here I feel all alone
So I make my way to the Methodist church, and that stained glass don’t do nothing but hurt, and it cuts me because they don’t even know my name
And as I step out in the light of this cool autumn night, I realize nothing gold can stay
And if you drive east on Highway 90 it’s where you’ll find it, it was the jewel of the Trinity
But now all that remains is my love of the name, and memories of being free
I was a free without a past, but my freedom didn’t last
Nothing gold can stay
Grandpa, he’s been gone now hard to believe it’s been twenty years, and every day I still miss him so
Then last year we had to sell off the family home, how I cried when it was time to go
And Daddy he packed up his bags and headed west to San Francisco. He said son, I just have to get away
And as I step out in the light of this cool autumn night, I realize nothing gold can stay
Sometimes I think of how I can never really go back home, but then I just shake it off with a smile
Because I can close my eyes, and I can see that lonesome train rolling, cutting straight through my little town
And all the endless games of 42, the world’s best damn bar-b-que, my family gathered round at Christmas time
I remember all the people and the places and the sights and the faces and the things that we used to do
Yeah, they’re all right there in my mind. I said, Liberty’s always on my mind
And if you drive east on Highway 90, that’s where you’ll find it, it was the jewel of the Trinity
But now that all that remains is my love of the name, and memories of being free
I was free without a past, but my freedom didn’t last
Nothing gold can stay
Nothing gold can stay, lord
Nothing gold can stay
Nothing gold can stay
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Brian Blake Memphis, Tennessee
Brian Blake is an award-winning songwriter based in Memphis, TN.
His debut album,
Book of Life, was released in November 2022 , and was produced by Walt Wilkins and Ron Flynt.
In 2021, Brian was named Songwriter of the Year by the Memphis Songwriters Association.
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