1. |
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The Old New Straitsville Blues
Broke down again on Refugee Road
with smoke comin' out of the hood.
The man at the station says
“Maybe broke down for good.”
The corn was high and so was I
between the smoke, and the shine, and the pills.
I put my thumb out on Route 33
for a ride through the Hocking Hills.
When I get tired of these hard times
paying the traveler's dues
I'm gonna settle down in a Southern Town
with the old New Straitsville Blues
I circled back to Circleville
to find me a girl or two
One of them wouldn't jump out of the fire
so I knew what I had to do
I put my knee down on the frozen ground
and I stole that girl from town
Nobody cares to see my face
when I come back around
So many miles behind me
how many more to go?
Last night somebody offered the jug
I said "no son, I've had enough.”
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2. |
Elmore James
02:26
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ELMORE JAMES
‘Lotta racket being made in the world today.
These drum machines all sound the same.
I think I hear a song-
Mostly just fun and games.
You can call me old fashioned or behind the times
but the one who got the money maker shaking all night
was Elmore James.
Get a little sip of whiskey, put the lights down low
drop a clean needle on the stereo.
Grab her by the belt buckle
and call our her name.
Give her a kiss, spin her around
soon she’ll want to go downtown
to see Elmore James.
Dust my broom, sweep the floor
the waitress just danced out the door.
The boss man said she had to catch a midnight train.
Some girls like to keep it clean,
some girls like to get down and mean
to Elmore James.
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3. |
Another Good Man Down
03:18
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Another Good Man Down
A man can get in trouble a hundred different ways.
sometimes it’s consequential, sometimes it pays.
There’s an old remedy for the tired and broken-
you spend most of your money while few words are spoken.
Get that familiar taste in the back of your throat?
Like a tiger kicked you in the very pit of your soul?
That’s cocaine. Another good man down.
I work hard to get the money to buy you certain things.
Then along comes the man with the powder that sings.
There goes the silver, there goes the light.
Keep the curtains drawn unless you want to watch a fight.
Or watch cocaine take another good man down.
Some sing from experience. Pains and woes.
Some stick in a pipe; others stick it in their nose.
Some rub it on their gums with some whiskey in a jar.
Some take it to the bathroom; others do it in a car.
Cocaine, another good man down.
There’s people living in some foreign town
who can’t even fight back if they can even stick around.
The company boss is tight with the lawman
and nobody can escape their buckle and strap, man.
They’ll cut you as they’re laughing
while you black out in pain
and send your children packing
never to see them again.
That’s cocaine-another family down.
I’m not one for telling folks what to do
I’ll not point my finger at the rider next to you
but every time I come around to this old pill
somebody’s sticking cocaine all up in my grill
and before you know it:
another rider down
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4. |
Jimmie's Texas Blues
02:56
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Jimmie’s Texas Blues (by Jimmie Rodgers)
The way I've been treated sometimes I wish I were dead.
The way I've been treated sometimes I wish I were dead.
Cause I ain't got no place to lay my weary head.
Every time I want you I always find you gone.
Every time I want you I always find you gone.
Listen here sweet mama I'm gonna put your head breaks on.
Some love Chicago some love Memphis Tennessee.
Some love Chicago some love Memphis Tennessee.
Give me sweet Fairbanks, Alaska
where the girls think the world of me.
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5. |
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I’ll Never Punch The Clock Again
I lit out from Defiance. I was pushing twenty-two.
Made it nearly to Chicago ‘fore my boots had worn through.
Took a day job on the Gary docks unloading the freight.
and slept in the boarding house on Washington and 8th.
New Years day I woke up to find that I’d been robbed
by the thugs of the bossman who had given me the job.
I spat on the front door and pissed on the gate.
And swore that I’d never punch the clock again.
I’ll never punch the clock again.
I’ll ride these rails, roads, and rivers, and make a name.
Hold my head high through the wind and rain.
I’ll never punch the clock again.
I headed south for Memphis where the weather had cleared
and took up with a Daisy who made her bitter beer.
I loved her for a fortnight until it was said
I’d have to pay back rent or get out of her bed.
Took a flatboat to Natchez one early Springtime day.
And when the Captain discovered me stowing away,
he offered two choices: to work or to shore.
There might have been a third but I was already overboard.
I’ll never punch the clock again…
Under The Hill I met sweet Jean Louise
who traded me comforts if I’d mind for the police.
We had quite a season fleecing Kaintucks and the like
til’ she lost her head on Silver Street for three bucks and a spike.
I set out for New Orleans with the law not far behind
and took to the backwoods just biding my time.
I held up my own with a knife I had found
sticking out of some poor bastard’s back on the ground.
He’ll never punch the clock again…
There were drunks in the Quarter joining in song
and girls in the bars who would pull you along.
They needed protection and I had a blade
until the Fat Tuesday round-up when they locked us all in jail.
For 95 days I slaved out in the Parish Fields
swinging my hammer and guarding my meals.
Til one midsummer’s eve the line boss stopped to wipe his sweat
and we tied him up and ran by night all the way to Lafayette.
We’ll never punch the clock again…
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6. |
Broken Hearted Man
03:45
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Broken Hearted Man
I walked up high in the highest hills for to ease my mind.
I walked way up high in the highest hills for to ease my troubled mind.
For way up in the highest hills I’ll not see your low kind.
I’m a broken hearted man.
I passed through the falling water and my feet got soaking wet.
I passed through the falling water and my feet got soaking wet.
I wandered and I wondered but I ain’t stop walking yet.
A broken hearted man has no one left to blame.
Darling heartbreaker how do you sleep at night?
Darling heartbreaker how do you sleep at night?
We all pick the poison that helps us to sleep tight.
Sleep tight. I’m a broken hearted man.
Broken hearted man has no one left to blame
A broken hearted man hangs his head in shame
A broken hearted man still calls out your name.
I lost your trail in the dark of the night
and it brought me to my knees.
I lost your trail on the darkest night
and it brought me to my knees.
Now I’m praying for your happiness
so I can find some peace.
I’m a broken hearted man.
A broken hearted man has no one left to blame.
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7. |
Traveling Days
02:15
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TRAVELING DAYS
When I first met you I thought my traveling days were through.
When I first met you I thought my traveling days must be through.
It turns out I was just getting started on my traveling days with you.
I went to bed last night I thought my traveling days must be through.
I went to bed last night I thought my traveling days must be
through.
It turns out I was just getting started on my traveling days with you.
Travel on rider, sing me the news.
Pay a little bit of those traveler’s dues.
Travel on rider, sing me the news.
Welcome back-
Welcome back to your traveling days.
When the sun came up I thought my traveling days must be through.
When the sun came up I thought my traveling days must be through.
It turns out I was just getting started on my traveling days with you.
Travel on rider, sing me the news.
Pay a little bit of those traveler’s dues.
Travel on rider, sing me the news.
Welcome back-
Welcome back to your traveling days.
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8. |
Jesus Protect Me
03:26
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JESUS, PROTECT ME
Jesus, protect me
Jesus, protect me
From your followers
Not all of them
Just the ones
Who turn love into fear and hatred
And the ones who say they are above me
And then point their fingers down at me
And the ones who judge me when I’m troubled
And they tell me on the street that I am lost
And they tell me on my doorstep that I will burn in hell
Jesus, protect me…..
To the ones who only speak with anger
They’re screaming from my television
While stealing from the hand that feeds them
And demanding that you are the only way
While spitting in the face of love
With the one hand on the bible and the other in the purse
Jesus, protect me……
To the ones who turn their back on the dying
And laugh in the face of pain and suffering
They would kill in the name of freedom
To the ones who would manipulate the Constitution
And try to make laws of their opinions
While walking shoulder-to-shoulder with greed and violence
To the ones who would start wars in your name
To the ones who would attack me for this song
I sing
Jesus, protect me…….Jesus, protect me
From your followers
Not all of them
Just the ones
Who turn love into fear and hatred
Don’t turn love into fear and hatred
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9. |
California Bars
02:51
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California Bars
I left my home in '92
I left my home back in '92
I left my only home in '92
and I never crossed that river twice.
I saw my mother in the rear view
I saw my mother in the rear view mirror
I saw my mother crying in the rear view mirror
and my father never stepped outside
I learned to drink and I learned to fight
I learned to drink and I learned to fight
I learned to drink my fill, and I learned to fight
and nobody ever called me an honest man
The moon came up and the sun went down
The moon came up and then the sun went down
The moon came up, and the sun went down
and I killed a man for how he called my name
Now I'll never see that old river again
I'll never see that old river again
I'll never see that old river again
I'll spend my life behind California bars.
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10. |
Baby Come Home
03:53
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Baby Come Home
Sitting here late at night wondering where you might be
Probably just drinking with your friends
Oh that was the life that nearly killed me
Why shouldn't you, by why couldn't you give me a call
Call me right now
Lord there was a couple of nights
when I did you the same
I had you calling all around town
cursin' out my name
I did you wrong and before too long
I was all alone
Baby come home
Baby come home right now
I need you for the rest of my life
Baby come home baby come home right now
I need you I need you
The sun's coming over the hill-
it looks like a warning light.
I want to pick up and drive
until I feel alright.
But I don't know where I would go
and not still feel alone
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Tim Easton Nashville, Tennessee
Songwriter. Traveler.
Campfire propagandist.
Contact page TimEaston.com
for bookings.
Thanks,
TE
Tim Easton recommends:
Nearly Dead & in Persona (Live in Reno NV)
by Darrin Bradbury
I was on tour with Darrin. This is a recording of his set on the last night of the tour. A great set from an excellent songwriter.
go to albumIf you like Tim Easton, you may also like:
J.T.
by Steve Earle & The Dukes
supported by 10 fans who also own “Paco & The Melodic Polaroids”
The best I've heard from Steve Earle in a while. The songs have a subtler, earthier tone, tastefully rendered in authentic sounding country/blues/bluegrass stylings. 'J.T' reminds of earlier records like 'Feel Alright' or 'Train a Comin'. Deep grief, love and compassion is felt on the final track, the only composition from Steve, seemingly written for his son. The rest, composed by JT, do confirm what a great songwriter he really was.
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High Top Mountain
by Sturgill Simpson
supported by 9 fans who also own “Paco & The Melodic Polaroids”
This is a wonderful album. It is personal, senitive, and caring. I love to here Sturgill sing, and wish had found him earlier. I thsnk wnku for playing local artists. I lived in Jackson Ky. And know how sad the drugs have made so many hometowns. Keep singing you are great.
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Age of Apathy
by Aoife O'Donovan
supported by 9 fans who also own “Paco & The Melodic Polaroids”
The instrumentation and songwriting in this album is really top-tier. Aofie is one of my favorite folk/alt-country artists and she performs wonderfully, bringing her unique tone of voice to this project. This album was my first step into Aofie's artistry, and is firmly one of my favorite albums.
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featured on Bandcamp Radio Oct 6, 2020
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This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music.
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