1. |
I oughta know better
02:57
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Quarter past closing and nowhere to go
Silhouetted in the neon glow
Smoke so thick you can cut it with a knife
Whisky whispers and bourbon eyes
Short term memory skips a beat
... I ought to know better
Make me an offer I can’t refuse
One part magic and two parts blues
Coffee and donuts and streaks of dawn
If I had any sense I’d be long gone
Lightning strikes in the parking lot
... I ought to know better
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
It’ll be the ruin of me – I oughta know better
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
It’ll be the ruin of me --
I oughta know better
Heavy breathin’ on the banks of the river
In a vagabond fog that makes me shiver
Harsh reality shrouded in mist
and a sneakin’ suspicion I recognize this
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
What ya doin’, what ya doin’
It’ll be the ruin of me --
I oughta know better
It’ll be the ruin of me
I oughta know better
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2. |
So late so soon
04:14
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I got the best of intentions
And I mean just what I say
I got the best intentions
At the start of every day
Shit, shave and shower
just like every other guy
Pull up my pants
and I kiss my wife goodbye
Make some breakfast
Check the mail
Read the paper
Every day without fail
Check in with my girlfriend
Ask her what she wanna do
Call my mom
And my ex-wife too
Started bright and early
Got so much to do
Gotta make me some money
Got some love to make too
Drinkin’ coffee in the morning
And whisky after noon
Now the sun’s goin’ down
And I’m starin’ at the moon
Another day older and
And I sure wish I knew:
How’d it get so late so soon?
I got boxes full of memories
Bags full of dreams
Busted satchels full of flattery
I really didn’t mean
Stored up in an attic
In a place not far from here
I got grand ambitions
I’ve been saving up for years
Early afternoon I’ll be
Cleanin’ up my desk
Makin’ lists and doin’ laundry
And then I take a rest
I always got the best intentions
But it doesn’t always go my way
And there’s more unfinished business
in my inbox every day.
Started bright and early
Got so much to do
Gotta make me some money
Got some love to make too
Drinkin’ coffee in the morning
And whisky after noon
Now the sun’s goin’ down
And I’m starin’ at the moon
Another day older and
And I sure wish I knew:
How’d it get so late
How’d it get so late
How’d it get so late
How’d it get so late
How’d it get so late so soon
How’d it get so late so soon?
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3. |
Gimme
03:07
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Gimme whatever change you can spare so I don’t wake up poor
I could steal it from your pocket but I don’t do that no more
I don’t need much money but I can’t live on thin air
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
I had a job and I made good money but I just never could see
why the boss sat around with a fat cigar and made a lot more money than me
I don’t need much money but I can’t live on thin air
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
I sit around and drink my whisky and soda and engage in political debate
I don’t get rich but I don’t get exploited and I’m not a ward of the state
I don’t need much money but I can’t live on thin air
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
Gimme whatever change you can spare so I don’t wake up poor
I could steal it from your pocket but I don’t do that no more
I don’t need much money but I can’t live on thin air
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
I don’t wanna cause you much trouble so give me whatever you can spare.
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4. |
White man
03:14
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White man he come into my village
He say I’m gonna make things better for you
So everybody in my village
They go out and they buy a tin roof
He gonna civilize us
culturize us
colonize us —
if you will.
He gonna civilize us
culturize us —
he gonna show us better ways to kill
White man he come into my village
He say I’m gonna show you how to enjoy life more
So he bring us all a picture
of a bearded man that he call Lord.
He gonna civilize us
culturize us
colonize us —
if you will.
He gonna civilize us
culturize us —
he gonna show us better ways to kill
White man he come into my village
claiming us all in the name of the queen
She got her picture on some funny paper
It’s the funniest lady that I’ve ever seen
He gonna civilize us
culturize us
colonize us —
if you will.
He gonna civilize us
culturize us —
he gonna show us better ways to kill
White man he come into my village
Bringin’ us a drink that he call gin
Don’t know why he brought it to us
Cause if you drink it they call it sin
He gonna civilize us
culturize us
colonize us —
if you will.
He gonna civilize us
culturize us —
he gonna show us better
he gonna show us better
he gonna show us better ways to kill
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5. |
Peaceful coexistence
04:25
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It seems like we’re fighting almost all of the time
you got your opinion and I got mine
that probably means that one of us is wrong
I could be stubborn and insist that I’m right
but to tell you the truth I’d rather not fight
Why don’t we just try to get along
All out war is not an option
it threatens our existence
it’s mutually assured destruction
or peaceful coexistence
Terrible things have been said it’s true
But you said them in anger so I won’t blame you
I’m perfectly willing to negotiate
It’s all on the table - I’m ready to deal
Just make a proposal I can believe is real
As long as you don’t insist I capitulate
The masses are angry – they’re out on the streets
They’re coming for you then they’ll come for me
Maybe it’s time that we put our disputes behind us
we might be better off pretending that we’re on the same side
If you show some contrition I can swallow my pride
Let’s just embrace the animosity that binds us
All out war is not an option
it threatens our existence
it’s mutually assured destruction
or peaceful coexistence
We’ve got nothing to show from our years of hostility
We just might consider a little humility
And accept that we’re condemned to live side by side
In this unholy alliance it’s us against them
cause neither of us can depend on our friends
looks like we need each other to survive
All out war is not an option
it threatens our existence
it’s mutually assured destruction
or peaceful coexistence
All out war is not an option
it threatens our existence
it’s mutually assured destruction
or peaceful coexistence
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6. |
Blind faith
03:55
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If he can look you in the eye
and say trust in me
and you know it isn’t true
but you still believe
then there’s nothing I can say
gonna make you turn away
you been stricken by a case
of blind faith
If she can look you in the eye
and say honey please
how could it ever for a minute
cross your mind to doubt me
and you feel it deep inside
but you still believe her lies
you been stricken by a case
of blind faith
Now there ain’t no cure for blind faith
and the truth is it can drag you down
now you might believe you’re safe
but that’s just blind faith
there’s a lot of blind faith goin’ round
And if they promise you the world
if you’ll only let go
and you ask them how you’ll know it’s true
and they tell you true believers know
and you get down on your knees
and say Lord I believe
You been stricken by a case
of blind faith
Now there ain’t no cure for blind faith
and the truth is it can drag you down
now you might believe you’re safe
but that’s just blind faith
there’s a lot of blind faith goin’ round
so if they promise you a rainbow
on a cloudy day –
free love and nickel beer
a month of Sundays and double pay
it’s too good to be true
but you believe it anyway
You been stricken by a case of blind faith
You been stricken by a case of blind faith
You been stricken by a case of blind faith
You been stricken by a case
… of blind faith
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7. |
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’scuse me but there’s been an error
I ordered mushroom soup and got the war on terror
I ordered calamari with Italian spices
and got an economic crisis
’scuse me could you have a look –
there’s been some confusion on the part of the cook
I said I was on a special diet
but no one ordered up a riot
I believe there’s been a small mistake
I’m quite certain that I ordered steak
I understand that the kitchen’s busy
but what I got was something fishy
The red sauce was blue and the blue sauce white –
I can honestly say you got nothing right
I really don’t want to make a fuss
but I asked for a taxi and you sent a bus
I’m sorry to say this is not the meal
Furthermore this is not the deal
and absolutely not the reality I ordered.
Well I went online to order some stuff
cause when it comes to stuff there’s just never enough –
I ordered sixteen widgets extra small
but when they arrived they were large and tall.
I called customer service and got put on hold
I was there so long that I caught a cold
and when I finally told them my widgets were huge
they dismissed my complaint as just fake news
They said you probably don’t even own a gun –
we could tell right off that you were one –
I said I just wanna get the order straight –
and they said we just want to make America great
Then they cursed me and they cut me off
I gasped and sputtered and started to cough
so I took some drugs and I had a vision
about all that comes from a bad decision
When I came around it was all too real
can’t begin to tell you how bad I feel
no doubt in my mind this is not the reality I ordered
not the reality I ordered
not the reality I ordered
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8. |
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Tell me that you love me so I can get to sleep
Make me a promise that I know you can keep
Hold me till the sun comes up --
don’t leave me alone in the dark
Something happened in the middle of the night
Don’t know what it was but it don’t feel right
Let’s pretend it was just a dream
And everything’s gonna be just fine
Rescue me from this hurricane
Without your love I would go insane
The facts may not be what the facts once were
But the truth will set you free
I had a dream but it seem so real
The law of the land was the art of the deal
The rich were in, the truth was out
You told me you loved me but I had my doubts
So tell me I’m your man and reassure me
So I can close my eyes
and maybe I can get some sleep
Ghosts at the door and monsters in the yard
Why does life have to be so hard
Give me shelter - give me a drink
Don’t leave me alone in the dark
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
When my time is up please don’t make a fuss
And if I die before I wake
it’s on with the show - this is it
Let all my friends and relatives know
then push me off the end of the pier
then push me off the end of the pier
then push me off the end of the pier
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9. |
Please forgive me
03:54
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I been out drinking whisky like it’s water
making promises that I can never keep
I been out spending money like there’s no tomorrow
but tomorrow’s gonna get here ’fore I get to sleep
You don’t have to tell me I been livin too high -
don’t do no good to ask me why
My mama always told me to forgive and forget
so could you do me a favor and forgive my debts
I know I’ve been livin’ way beyond my means
taking chances and ruinin’ my health
Everybody told me it would have to end
so there’s no one to blame but myself
My life’s a mess and it’s all my doin’ -
my reckless ways have led to ruin
I’m lowlife deadbeat with zero credit
I been lying to myself but now I’ve said it
I been out playing poker and I’m losing my shirt
Got a feeling that the deck is stacked
If you front me the money to play one more hand
I promise that I’ll pay you back
Now it’s true if I lose I’ll be deeper in debt
but if don’t play I’m as good as dead
and if I die I can’t pay my bills
Just thinking ’bout it’s got me feelin' ill
So I made me date with the doctor
And I told him I didn’t feel so well
So he gave me some poison and said give it a try
It might work - you just never can tell
Now who am I to question his advice
but come to think of it it's my fuckin’ life
And if taking the cure is worse than the disease
I might as well keep on doin’ what I please
So I’m spendin’ all my money on a girl I just met
Don’t know her too good but I’m willing to bet
My money’s only good till the end of the night
And I’ll be broke and alone when I open eyes
And it aint worth the trouble to do much planning
A happy ending notwithstanding
Credit’s one thing I will never get -
aint no one willing to forgive and forget
And there aint no one - and there aint no one
And there aint no one willing to forgive my debts
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10. |
You don't have to worry
03:28
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You said you like the lyrics
but not the tune
Don’t you worry ’bout it
I’ll be leaving soon
Well - don’t have to worry
I’ll be all right on my own
You’ll be better off without me
I’ll be better off alone
You said you like to cook
I said I like cookin’ too
But when we started cookin'
it got too hot for you
Well - don’t have to worry
I’ll be all right on my own
You’ll be better off without me
I’ll be better off alone
You can tell all your friends
I’m just no good
Don’t have to say you’re sorry
You did the best you could
You don’t have to worry
I’ll be all right on my own
You’ll be better off without me
I’ll be better off alone
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11. |
I lost again
03:52
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You would think by now I’d know better
when you led me to believe we were more than friends
But then you started playin’ with me
and I lost again
I lost again --
you see what I’m saying
I lost again --
I’m through with playin’
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
You would think by now I knew better
when you said let’s go one on one
I really thought I had it made
but what do you know - you won
I lost again –
all the pride that I had
I lost again --
you beat me so bad
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
You would think by now I’d know better
when you said let’s go double or nothing
When you went all in I was sure I would win
I was certain that you were bluffin’
I lost again --
demeaned and defeated
I lost again
I’m sure you cheated
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
I lost again
I’m through with playin’
I lost again
You see what I’m saying
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
I’m through with playin’ with you
I lost again
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12. |
Traveler's tale
03:58
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I get no money in this town
I got to leave my girl behind there
She run away while I be gone
I come back home and I don’t find her
Find her - find her
I got to remind her
what she say to me
She say that she love me
When we say goodbye
She say that she wait for me
But she just talking lies
I got to find her - find her
I got to remind her
what she say to me
She say that she love me
but she just talkin’ lies
She say that she wait for me
but she just talkin’ jive
She say that she always think of me
but she out on the town
She tell me that I’m her lover
but she nowhere around
I always try to be good to her
and I give her all my love
I don’t know what I ought to think
when I find it aint enough
I got to find her - find her
I got to remind her
what she say to me.
Got to find her - find her
I got to remind her
what she say to me
I got to remind her
what she say to me
I got to remind her
what she say to me
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13. |
Crazy ’bout you
03:34
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Just so there’s no mistake
Just so there’s no mistake
Just hold your tongue; don’t tell anyone
Just so there’s no mistake
Just so we don’t get caught
Just so we don’t get caught
Caught in the act; better cover our tracks
Just so we don’t get caught
So look over your shoulder cause we gotta be certain
Turn out the lights and draw the curtains
Lock all the doors
Unplug the phone
Gotta make it look like there’s nobody home
I might be crazy to be taking this chance
Riskin’ everything for a little romance
So whatever I say - whatever I do
Just keep in mind that it might not be true
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
I been crazy before and I’m crazy once more
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
It might not be certain where we’re headed to
I wish I could explain it but I don’t have a clue
And I don’t mind confessin’ that you got me charmed
Just another reason to feel slightly alarmed
Cause whenever I begin to feel like I’m on a roll
Things got a way of spinnin’ outta control
So whatever I say - whatever I do
Just keep in mind that it might not be true
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
I been crazy before and I’m crazy once more
Just cause I’m crazy ’bout you
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14. |
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Some take your money,
some take your time,
some even sell your old guitars
It doesn’t matter
if they come or if they go
That’s what friends
and lovers are for
Now the roof is leaking
and the ceiling’s coming down and
the black dog is sleeping in the hall
I got the feeling
I don’t live here anymore
and the place is as empty as before
All that’s left
is the smell of your perfume
and a scarf and a ribbon
for your hair
Some magic moments
and some half-hearted bliss
Sometimes I wonder
if there’s more to it than this
And you promised me a rainbow
and you promised me the sky
And you told me
we were never gonna part
but lies have come between us
and there’s one thing that I know
that time never mends
this broken heart
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15. |
I seen the light
04:14
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I been livin’ my life in the dark
Thinkin’ that I’m so smart
With a wonderful life
a wonderful wife
I opened my eyes and and I seen the light
I seen the light - I seen the light
I didn’t wanna listen when everyone was hintin’
but now I seen the light and that’s why I’m squintin’
Everybody knew it but me
I don’t know howI didn’t see
When I went to work
she played me for a jerk
now I know the truth and the truth is it hurts
I seen light - I seen the light
I didn’t wanna listen when everyone was hintin’
but now I seen the light and that’s why I’m squintin’
I seen the light - I seen the light
I seen the light - I seen the light
I didn’t wanna listen when everyone was hintin’
now I seen the light and that’s why I’m squintin’
Suddenly I see the light
Everything seems so bright
I woke up one day
I just walked away
I seen the light -- now I been saved
I seen light - I seen the light
I didn’t wanna listen when everyone was hintin’
but now I seen the light and that’s why I’m squintin’
I seen the light - I seen the light
I seen the light - I seen the light
I didn’t wanna listen when everyone was hintin’
but now I seen the light and that’s why I’m squintin’
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Katvanger Netherlands
Katvanger is a blues-tinged trio that defies description with a mix of originals that cannot be easily pigeonholed. Some might call it roots or Americana, but in fact, Katvanger’s idiosyncratic eclecticism defies description. With a conspiratorial wink, they’ve often described it as dubious blues, twisted roots, counterfeit country & western, and improbable jazz. ... more
Katvanger recommends:
Whatever it is I'm against it
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Sleepwalker's last album, released a couple of years before the band broke up. Blues, rootsy , rock 'n' roll, a torch song, lots of horns, and an absurdist Marx Brothers cover for the grand finale.
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Buffalo Nichols
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With virtuosic guitar-playing and evocative singing, Carl “Buffalo” Nichols returns Black stories to folk and blues.
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Soul Provider
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New on Bible & Tire: The searing new Gospel record from Elizabeth King, the Queen of Sacred Soul.
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The second album by French-Moroccan power quartet Bab L' Bluz is packed with dizzying melodies and rich instrumentation.
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