1. |
Hard Times
05:03
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Hard Times
Intro:
I had a heart made of gold
been scarred and besieged by mold
love used to course through the folds
Now I'm tending to the wounds
with a polish of dirt and coal.
I had some eyes of the finest glass
through which heaven's light could pass
reveal a rainbow in a pool of gas
then you scraped the lens
and blinded me at last.
I had some feet that could walk a mile
to see friends and down the aisles
past a fad, and their shallow styles
but then you walked along
cut a path to exile.
CHORUS:
Hard times x4
I been rolling through some hard times
I had a soul that could bear it all
a friend's death, or a love's fall.
a sweet kiss and the slow crawl
but you gathered your stones
and tossed me behind the wall.
I had hands that could hold a rose
it's soft scent up to my nose
white petals that inspired prose
but then you stuck me with a thorn
and my bloody fist closed.
CHORUS:
INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS:
I went searching for a saving grace
to hide me from my own face
I had directions to the wrong place
and on the table there
just an apple and a broken plate.
I got a worried and a troubled mind
I stepped out to leave it all behind
now I seek but I just can't find
What I been grasping for
only some hard, hard times.
CHORUS:
Outro:
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2. |
Mad in the Morn'
04:51
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Mad in the Morn'
The sun went down
six hours ago
my head is spinning 'round
my words are falling slow.
the keep cut me off
I slurred and scoffed
Should'a headed out
six hours ago.
Been drinking with the boys.
All means, no ends.
The jukebox was making noise,
a dollar bucks all the trends.
It was just a little fun,
another round, and we'd be done.
But one turned to four
and then four became four more.
CHORUS:
Too much to drink.
Too much to drink.
Too much to drink.
I've got a permanent wink.
Take me home.
I hear you breathing on the phone.
You can be mad in the morn,
Just come and take me home.
I ran up a tab
half a mile long
I'll be sleeping on the slab
by the street out front
If you don't grab your keys
You'll bring me to my knees
And I'd rather not beg
Just because we kicked a keg.
CHORUS:
INSTRUMENTAL VERSE THRU CHORUS:
The sun's coming up
a few hours from now
I think I've had enough
whiskey anyhow.
Now I'm seeing the light
I did you wrong tonight
Next time I'll call
so we can meet up at the bar.
CHORUS:
Tag:
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3. |
Ink Fades
05:52
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Ink Fades
The ink on the page starts to fade
Abandoned my promises in the rain
A watermark soaked by a stain
the remaining words circle the drain.
My beating heart thrown in the sluice
Thin bark gouged on sun-lit roots
treadless soles on brand new boots
Dead barrel stare and no one shoots.
CHORUS:
Now is a moment strung on a line.
A string of pearls doused in brine.
An army of fools stares at the night
weapons ready, no one to fight
a preacher stands and leans a little right
Pull the trigger and you'll see the light
The shining machine armored in mail
found a hero for all to hail
Follow his lead it's an easy trail
Touch his heart, they'll throw you in jail
CHORUS:
INSTRUMENTAL:
Bitter words on the tip of my tongue
The fruit of many, the love of none
a single foot on the bottom rung
a full court for the trial of one.
How did I end with this pen in my hand
Refusal to bend ground me to sand
The distance between ocean and land
Apologies I don't understand… (Repeat two more times)
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4. |
Skeleton Dream
06:41
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Skeleton Dream
Head:
Big sky over me.
Big sky over me.
Can't you see the vultures
circling over my body.
Oh, they pick my bones white
and I'll sleep through the night
on a skeleton dream.
Tucson with a penny to ride
Tucson with a penny to ride
I ain't got no water
and there ain't none in sight
The vultures, they tracked me down
my face is plastered all over town
And I'm a wanted man.
Head:
Thirsty all my life.
Thirsty, my tongue has gone dry.
And I would love to whet my words,
I'd spear the heart of those birds
But my speech went blunt
in a dust-bowl month
and I'm a silenced concern.
Lay me down in low desert sand.
Lay me down and sever my right hand,
so I ain't stealing no more
from the back of Samantha's store.
I only wanted her water
but she's an infidel daughter
to a God fearing man.
I only wanted her water
but she's an infidel daughter
to a God fearing man.
Head:
Big sky over me.
Big sky over me.
Can't you see the vultures
Circling over my body.
Oh, they pick my bones white
and I'll sleep through the night
on a skeleton dream.
Outro:
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5. |
On the Road Home
04:27
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On the Road Home
Head:
It's a long way home
two-hundred miles of road
over the plain
of Western New York
Was in Rochester for a gig
I hit Park Ave. like a pig
and I barely got paid
and my gas is getting low
CHORUS:
Home… It's a long road home
Home… It's a long road home
There's an old man in a car
he's chomping on a cheap cigar
I'll never know his name
but he's putting on a show
An old lady by his side
Regret built behind her eyes.
I bet he feels the same,
but how the hell would I know?
CHORUS & HEAD:
Tire fire on a farm
leapt from the house over to the barn
There a pillar of smoke
like a rising rope of night.
It's next to a fertile field
The crops, they still may yield
I turn ahead with hope
That what burns returns to life.
CHORUS & HEAD:
I watch the sun settle down
behind another nameless town
I pass along the way
On my way back home.
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6. |
Comanche Moon
05:50
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Comanche Moon
Down in Texas, on the edge of Forth Worth
Where the brush dots the range
there's a woman giving birth
to a half-breed child
who should inherit the earth
but he was born in Texas,
on the edge of Forth Worth
Riding and raiding was the law of the land
but the stealing was more
than the settlers could stand
so they threw up fences
and carved lines in the sand
Wild hearts were held
in the palms of wild hands
CHORUS:
Comanche moon, Comanche moon
Shines bright on a blade, while the cacti bloom.
What one man seeks lays another to ruin.
there's blood on this land
Comanche moon.
INSTRUMENTAL:
The Prairie Sun faded, and the buffalo died.
Whiskey soused men
stripped them of their hide.
The carbines cooled
while the Panhandle cried.
Bluecoats road over
bleached bones in the night.
Ghost herd of horses in the canyon below
no blanket could staunch
the sting of the snow.
Desire is a dream
that slays what you hold
Wrinkled hands, war,
a broken arrow.
CHORUS:
INSTRUMENTAL THRU CHORUS:
Down in Texas, on the edge of Fort Worth
where the roofs scrape the sky
above the blacktop turf
a summer moon night,
and the fear that it births,
shines down on Texas,
to steal your breath and your worth.
CHORUS:
Tag:
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7. |
Straight Lines
06:02
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Straight Lines
Head:
These flowers are wilted, but I'ma give 'em to you.
These flowers are wilted, but I'ma give 'em to you.
there's beauty in the wrinkles
It'll be the same with you.
This house is crooked, but we sleep under the roof.
Love ain't a straight line, and we're living proof.
We can brace against the fall
or we can fall on through.
No, love ain't a straight line,
and we're living proof.
MUSICAL BREAK:
I found a pass in the mountains and rolled over the plains
I crossed the great divide and seen it split the rain
I followed your steps in the snow
and dried tears on your face.
I sang my song to an empty room.
gave my heart to the back wall, and a vacant booth.
I turned my eyes to the night
and saw only you.
No, love ain't a straight line
and we're living proof
MUSICAL BREAK:
This car is rusted, but I'ma drive it anyway.
failing tire and broken glass, but I'ma drive it anyway
But no matter how far I go
I can't ever stay
no matter how far I go
the lines are never straight.
MUSICAL BREAK OUT:
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8. |
Harvest the Heart
05:09
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Harvest The Heart
My steel wheels keep on rolling
rolling through the night
My steel wheels keep on rolling
rolling through the night
And my true love
she's waiting for me to arrive.
A clear night, her green eyes,
green eyes blur my mind
A clear night, her green eyes,
green eyes blur my mind.
Their beauty shades
the burning of diamonds in the sky.
INSTRUMENTAL:
The road ahead wends
and winds out of sight
The road ahead wends
and winds out of sight
Those golden lines, to my love,
they do guide.
A scythe blade moon cuts
clear across the sky
A scythe blade moon cuts
clear across the sky
gonna harvest the heart
let the fallow body rise
INSTRUMENTAL (Repeat walk to C):
My steel wheels keep on rolling
rolling through the night
My steel wheels keep on rolling
rolling through the night
And my true love
she's waiting for me to arrive.
Outro:
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9. |
Old Bill
03:29
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Old Bill
Oh, Bill don't you lay your hammer down.
You'll see there's enough work
to get your big hands around.
Take that steel rail
and pin it in the ground
don't ever lay your hammer down.
Oh, Bill hit that spike right on the head
going to make that wood
wail and all the metal dread
there's not a man that can
replace you when you're dead.
don't ever lay your hammer down.
INSTRUMENTAL:
BRIDGE:
Can't you hear that lonesome call?
The engineer swears that all God's angels fall.
Can't you hear that hollow moan?
A coal fire train is calling you…
Oh, Bill went ahead and laid his hammer down
Wandered off into the night
no tracks on the ground.
They still have his suitcase
at the tavern in town
where the boys drink and pass Bill's hammer 'round.
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10. |
Reflection
04:40
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Reflection
Intro:
I can see your eyes, they're angry
But I ain't taking no more blame
the gray skies, they're hanging
I won't be left to soak in the rain.
Your love could use a little warming
The words in your mouth they shape me
They chisel speech with pride and shame
your judgements grade and rate me
batter and defile my name.
Your heart could use a little warming
MUSICAL BRIDGE:
I see your hands, they're shaking
a steady touch fallen out of its place
and you try to force and fake it
a frozen reflection stares at your face.
Your heart could use a little warming
could use a little warming
could use a little warming
could use a little warming
could use a little warming
Outro:
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M.R. Poulopoulos | Rebel Darling Schenectady, New York
“M.R. Poulopoulos is a songwriter with a poet’s nerve and a sharp eye for the telling detail. His latest album, Greenhorn,
is like the distilled dream of a man alone at a roadside tavern: stories of recollection, regret, and warmth.”
- Dan Johnson, Singer/Songwriter
... more
Contact M.R. Poulopoulos | Rebel Darling
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