Shawnee Kilgore

 

One Round For Free

 

he couldn't believe

they were givin' it all

to a man at the bar with a song

he stood on the stage

with his prize in his hand

said this ain't somethin' needs to be won

so he raised up his glass

and I raised up my glass

and we all raised our glasses for free

he said everyone drink

'cause the next round's on me

up to one hundred forty three

 

then he kept on playing

'cause we'd asked him to

the guitar that had won him the prize

with his heart on his sleeve

and the same disbelief

and the stage lights reflecting his eyes

but there was no one left 

we were back at the bar

just tryin' to get one round for free

he said i know what it costs now

to clear out the stage

just a hundred and forty three

 

I sat back down

with a glass in my hand

and respect for a man with a song

he had earned what I wanted

and gave it away

and the moral was there all along

and he raised up his glass

and I raised up my glass

and we all raised our glasses for free

and I know what it's worth now

to be here tonight

more than one hundred forty three

 

The Banks of the Old Mississippi

 

the sun it comes up

on the banks of the old mississippi

we carried a boat that was 

carefully crafted to fly

down the blocks to the rocks

on the banks of the old mississippi

three was our company

tommy and kevin and I

 

the sun it shines high

on the banks of the old mississippi

on the backs of old friends

as a new one begins to agree

that there's magic right here

on the banks of the old mississippi

and there's no other place 

that right now I am wanting to be

 

so row your boat to nowhere

and sing a little tune

drift 'til monday morning

turns to sunday afternoon

 

the sun it goes down 

on the banks of the old mississippi

we've long said goodbye

and the stars are beginning to shine

we've a long way to go from 

the banks of the old mississippi

but may always a river

be flowing from your heart to mine

 

so row your boat to nowhere

and sing a little tune

drift 'til monday morning

turns to sunday afternoon

 

Hollow Road

 

something's coming 

maybe thunder

maybe love is in the air

entertain me with a story

tell me what you saw out there

 

I'll be right here

I'll be right here when I go

I'll be right here

lookin' west to hollow road

 

I can't help it

but to wonder

if you have me on your mind

ain't it funny how we got here

old souls in modern times

 

I'll be right here

I'll be right here when I go

I'll be right here

lookin' west to hollow road

 

strange winter

in new england

almost march and hardly snowed

I think the time is now or never

to travel west to hollow road

 

I'll be right here

I'll be right here when I go

iIll be right here

headin' west to hollow road

 

Winter Coats in Spring

 

tryin' to be the angel with the blue dress on

I'm tryin' to be the devil in disguise

tryin' to catch a sunset that's long since gone

tryin' to set the stage before it dries

 

I'm thinking 'bout the time it takes

to raise and lower all the stakes

I can't believe i'm still afloat

I was swimming in my winter coat

this spring

 

thinking of that one song that said it all

I guess i'm tryin' to say it all again

I guess there's an answer for everything

some days are too beautiful to end

 

I'm thinking 'bout the time it takes

to find and fix the fine mistakes

we took our time at taking notes

and sometimes we need winter coats

in spring

 

tryin' to be the angel with her head on straight

still tryin' to be the best you ever had

your hands are touching someone else's skin

why is everything ok except for that

 

I'm thinking 'bout the time it takes

to heal the wounds that healing makes

the lump is going from my throat 

it's too warm for a winter coat 

this spring

 

Second Hand Dress

 

I have a garden 

you have a mansion

I have a second hand dress

I have my day job

you have your millions

I guess now you know what is best

 

so come into my town

tell me I'm lazy

tell me I don't do enough

say to my children

the world needs saving

when saving a penny is tough

 

I had a dream back when I understood

that we all stand together or fall

now my children need food

and I'm trying to be brave

and I don't think you hear me at all

 

sometimes I'm angry

sometimes I hate you

sometimes I don't feel a thing

but one thing's for sure that

it's never been you who's been 

teaching the poor how to sing

 

and I work the jobs that were left

when you took all the rest

and made slaves overseas 

so offer your tax breaks

to folks who can buy them

right here in the land of the free

 

I had a dream back when I understood

that we all stand together or fall

now my children need food

and i'm trying to be brave

and I don't think you hear me at all

 

today was a good day

I voted for change 

in the biggest of mansions I know

'cause while they're getting richer

a damn perfect picture

I'm praying my garden will grow

 

I have a garden

you have a mansion

I have a second hand dress

 

The Perfect Time

 

it was the perfect time to hear that song

I finally understand the meaning

it was the perfect time for waking up

the perfect time to have a dream

 

it was the perfect time to drink that wine

the perfect time to feel the rain

it was the perfect time for tears to fall

the perfect time for making change

 

break it down break it down

every clock in every heaven

tick and tocking after seven

telling us where we belong

shake it down shake it down

'cause I ain't livin' by the time

and I would know but wouldn't mind

to wake and find it was all gone

 

it was the perfect time to be alone

the perfect time to be a friend

it was the perfect time for making love

the perfect time to make amends

 

break it down break it down

every clock in every heaven 

tick and tocking after seven 

'til there is no other sound

shake it down shake it down

while we vie for every minute

we don't realize we're in it

and there's enough to go around

 

break it down break it down

let the rain become the oceans

let the wind become your motions

let your body breathe again

shake it down shake it down

'cause the joys are better measured

by the moments that were treasured

here and now instead of then

 

break it down break it down

let the tides begin inside you

let the constellations guide you

to a universe inside

shake it down shake it down

we were never meant to suffer

we were sent to rediscover

there is nothing to divide

 

it was the perfect time to hear that song

I finally understand the meaning

 

I Do

 

have you been missing

since I've been gone

have union duties kept the minutes

rolling on

have the nights kept you awake

until the dawn

baby I've been thinking of you

all and all along

 

here's to waking 

to the life that we have built

here's to laughing  

at the milk that we have spilt

and if every day we laugh

a little longer than before

I'll marry you forever more

 

from the window

of a train that's heading home

I remember why it is

I need to roam

but let me tell you 

that the wind is at my back

and in your arms

is where i'm fixing to be at

 

here's to waking 

to the life that we have built

here's to laughing 

at the milk that we have spilt

and if every day we smile

a little brighter than before

I'll marry you forever more

 

and I can see you 

in the trees out on the plains

and I can feel you 

in my traveling aches and pains

if you were here

then I'd have kissing on the brain

I'm blowing kisses from this train

 

so here's to falling

here's to you

something borrowed

something old and something blue

here's to coffee 

that's as black as witch's brew

I'm coming home to say I do

 

Last Call 

Words and music by Erin Rubin

 

jumping steps skipping stones

I can see the water running 

not quite sure which way it goes

and I've seen truth

showing skin

and you're spinning 'round in circles 

not quite sure just who's you're in

 

become the image of 

what you know 

the ones you love

you've mistaken me

for someone who is whole

 

hurry up don't be shy

let's begin don't ask why

I’ll never want to do it all again

 

shut the door when you leave

I’ll be bathing in the sorrow

all the heartache and the grief

isn’t it fun knowing that one

last call for help was screaming wolf

and your composure came undone

 

lay back 

be yourself

you’re feeling good 

you’re doing well

I’d hate to see

where all of this is going

 

hurry up don't be shy

let's begin don't ask why

I’ll never want to do it all again

 

you think you’re smart

you’re all the same

and you’re calling me on something

that has sentenced you to shame

say your prayers

mean every word

no one will be listening 

and they always sound absurd

 

stand up for what’s right

sleep through the day 

stay up all night

keep your distance safe 

‘cause I’m ready to explode

 

hurry up don't be shy

let's begin don't ask why

I’ll never want to do it all again

 

Walk With You

 

I know nothin'

I make no claim

but I hear you just the same

you're a beauty and I'm afraid

that my day will come too late

change is comin' 

yeah change is due

and I like the world I'm singin' to

I could show you my flesh and blood

and sing you the songs I love

I will sing you the songs I love

 

it's a fine line we walk instead

between the world we're livin' in

and somethin' better up ahead

and it's a fine sundown we're walking to

someday I will walk with you

 

I hold my head where I can see

and I'm finding words that comfort me

we're all doing what we choose

wearin' different shoes

and I'm workin' my fingers to the bone

just to find my way back home

and I'm sure you could understand

that my life is in my hands

from a girl's heart to a man's

 

it's a fine line we walk instead

between the world we're livin' in 

and something brighter up ahead

and it's a fine sundown we're walking to

someday I will walk with you

 

it's a fine line we walk instead

between the world we're livin' in 

and something that somebody said

and it's fine country we're walkin' through

someday I will walk with you

 

The Last of Songs

 

she said son would you sit next to me

would you lay your worries down

she said son would you stay here with me

'til our souls are heaven bound

she said I can remember your father

but I can't remember when I was so young

please would you stay here with me

'til the last of songs are sung

 

she said son are you resting now

that the war is finally done

she said son are you resting now

the side you're on has won

she said I can remember a time when

those colors ran strong as the river they sprung

and I'll keep on praying for peace 

'til the last of songs are sung

 

he said mum I was wounded deep

can you see it on my face

he said mum I was wounded deep

it was a long hard fall from grace

he said I can remember the crying

but I can't remember the names on their tongues

and I'll wish I could chant them all

'til the last of songs are sung

 

and he told her a story of heartache and glory

and things that he wished he could wash from his skin

and his mouth took to drinking what he wasn't thinking

was too scared to sleep with the monsters within

he had drowned in the blood of a terrorized flood

he had stared in the eyes of the evil he'd done

he had clicked his boot heels and spun tears in the wheels

he had prayed to the lord take his life or his gun

 

son will you sit here with me

will you lay your body down

son will you stay here with me

'til my love is where you drown

'til you won't remember the missiles

and you won't remember the flag that was hung

my heart will be breaking for you

'til the last of songs are sung