When Beggars Ride
Them beggars be riding
They done saddled up
Put a bridle on wishes
Tamed them wild dreams
The sun come a’rising
Out there in the East
Them beggars be riding
They done giddy-upped
Spurred on them old hopes
Lay a crop to the flank
The sun went on setting
Out there in the West
Them beggars be riding
Them wishes it seems
Horses be flying them
Beggars to dreams
Them beggars be riding
As fast as they can
Straight into the shadows
Of a wished promised land
The long shadows when beggars ride
The bright lights when beggars ride
The Blues Call It Out
Red and black, and white
Who needs blue?
Everyone needs the blues
But not to be blue.
I’m so blue all I can do,
is sing boggie woogie boo.
While Bb minor calls it out,
The song takes a major route.
I can shout in every key,
No worries of a replay.
If we keep the blues going,
We’ll never feel blue,
Never feel low, never be down,
Always on the ground, always around.
The blues call it out.
Bottle of the Blues
I’ve got a bottle of the Blues
And I’ll drink from it with you
Get out the cold shot glasses
It pours like old molasses
Sweet and slow
A steady flow
Like teardrops taking pain
Lay down the diamond needle
Into the vinyl groove
Toss back another shot
Poured from the bottle of the Blues
Drown in each other’s sorrows
A peace which can be found
A promise of each other bound
In a bottle made of blue
Sailing on a ship for two
Drink
Drink
Drink with me
From this bottle of the Blues
Can’t Sing My Song Blues
I thought it the right song,
and brought it to the band.
We didn’t work on it long,
a low rung, no demand.
So I went to Improv class
and braved singing “Mean Old World Blues”.
Sat down and let it pass,
then was asked to sing it anew.
Another singer stepped up to the mic
and lo and behold sang my song,
while blowing my psyche.
Where did I go wrong?
I got the I can’t sing my song blues
So Mean Old World is my thing,
as long as the blues rule,
and my song I’ll still sing.
And it will take the blues
to another place
where all songs are game
to sing and play
from the blues to jazz.
10 Cent Angel
Some say she’s an angel who fell
Into the wrong crowd for some
10 cent liquor and a paper towel
She thought she’d take the backroads
As she headed out of town
Walked along the railroad tracks
Until the journey broke her down
Some say she’s the Devil come to steal
Their souls away for a
Song and a sip of cold brew
She thought she’d fly the highway
Back home to where she’d been
Ran head long into trouble
She can never go home again
She can never go home again
10 cent angel still is flying
10 cent angel wings aloft
10 cent angel roaming backroads
10 cent angel wanders free
Though she never cost a dime
At the gates of Heaven and of Hell
She’ll cast her lot with thee
10 cent angel never fell that far from me
10 cent angel never fell that far from me
It Don’t Matter to Me
Although we fell off the track
I won’t hold you back.
What’s left is this song
for the times we went wrong.
It don’t matter to me
if you want to be free.
I’m still on your side
even if the wind rides on by.
Within the mess is less
Outside air is still.
Everywhere music tests
Love on the edge of right.
It don’t matter to me
if you want to be free
I’m still on your side
even if the wind rides on by.
The train leaves tomorrow
I won’t be on it.
But if you want to borrow me,
please pass this way.
It matters to me.
Blue Night
Roll the night out
Slip into the starry sky
There’s more than half a moon
On which to rest our heads
Let the dream carry us
To unfamiliar place
Rest
Morning arrives too soon
You and I and the Blues tonight
It's you and I and the Blues tonight
Morning always arrives too soon
When it's you and I and the Blues at night
Roll the night out
Slip into the starry sky
It's you and I and the Blues tonight
All My Efforts in Vain
All my efforts are in vain
while the dream races.
All my efforts prove no gain
a mirage replaces.
What could not find there
I bypass the storm.
Shoot for somewhere
the myth is reformed.
Illusive conduits deceive
in haphazard formations.
Lopsided circles disbelieve
dreams seeking affirmation.
Before it vanishes
I’ll take my dream.
Open the door that banishes
to the A-train team.
What could not find there
I bypass the storm.
Shoot for somewhere
the myth is reformed.
The dream appears.
I hear it call,
Its image nears.
This time it’s all
This time it’s all
It’s all
Mine.
