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Book of Life

by Brian Blake

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Gatefold digi-pak in shrink wrap, with liner notes insert. Artwork by Emily Shirley.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Book of Life via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
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
2.
Book of Life 03:48
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
3.
Rose Marie 04:01
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
4.
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
5.
Meant to Be 03:36
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
6.
Move on J.D. 04:58
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
7.
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
8.
Wilson 04:12
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?
9.
In Too Deep 04:01
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
10.
Little Boys 04:50
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
11.
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

about

Debut album by Brian Blake
Releases November 18, 2022

"Brian’s gift of storytelling is true and deep, with a wry, comfortable and literary bent. Book of Life is a sterling collection of songs..." — Walt Wilkins

"Put this one on top of the heap for great songwriters writing in relative obscurity that you need to get to know..." — Melissa Clarke, Americana Highways on "Book of Life"

"Brian Blake's songs feel like a favorite old pair of boots..." — Nancy Apple, 89.9FM WEVL; Memphis, TN

credits

released November 18, 2022

All songs written by Brian Blake (BMI) ⓟ © 2022, HWY90 Music
Produced by Walt Wilkins & Ron Flynt
Recorded & mixed by Ron Flynt at Jumping Dog Studio / Austin, Texas
Mastered by Jerry Tubb, Terra Nova Mastering / Austin, Texas

Brian Blake: Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Chris Beall: Electric guitar
Rich Brotherton: 2nd Acoustic guitar, cittern, dobro, tenor guitar, mandolin, resonator guitar
John Chipman: Drums & percussion
Bart de Win: Accordion
Ron Flynt: Bass, Wurlitzer piano, piano, baritone guitar
Warren Hood: Fiddle
Betty Soo: Harmony vocals
Walt Wilkins: Percussion, harmony vocals

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about

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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