1. |
First Day Of Spring
05:34
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green hills, roll on forever
and dance on the wing of an early spring breeze
soaring, my heart remembers
all that its learned on this first day of spring
i breath the fresh scented meadow
where not long ago the snows gently laid
slowly the sounds are returning
a joyous refrain of life's serrenade
and of all my possessions that i've come to own
there's no one more treasured than the one i behold
for nowhere is life more apparent to me
than high on this hill, on the first day of spring
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2. |
Benny
06:20
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rolling river, murky and brown
rolling slowly through this old foundry town
too deep to wade through, too shallow to haul
but a prettier river I can't seem to recall
my grandfather's fathers settled this land
built this barn and homestead, cleared the fields by hand
planted that orchard way up on the ridge
laid the foundation for the Slackwater bridge
Chorus:
might not be good enough for many
but it's sure good enough for me
and there's never been a question
this is where i was meant to be
so when i meet my maker and i take that final ride
just bring me down to this part of town
and the river will provide
so its just me and Benny and we're shooting the breeze
at his small roadside stand underneath these big trees
talking about the weather and his wife's homemade pies
cool wind blowing for the end of july
and he says change sure comes hard for an old guy like me
this ain't the same world that it use to be
everybody’s running, but they can’t say where to
they just know that they better get there way ahead of you
Chorus
so he asks me, do you and your fella live round this way
I shake my head and smile and try to think of what to say
I say it’s me and my dog, we don’t live too far from your place
and a smile of understanding seems to come across his face
so he says, well we can sure use some strong gals
like you in these parts
and if you keep your heart open, this river gets in your heart
our daughter Judy looks a lot like you do
she and her dog, are mighty happy too
so he threw in some peaches with my dozen ear of corn
thanked me for stopping and not blowing my horn
and as I pulled away I laughed out loud at my luck
I saw a PRIDE sticker stuck there on his old pick up truck.
so if it’s good enough for Benny it’s sure good enough for me
and its never been a question this is where I was meant to be
so when I meet my maker and a take that final ride
just bring me down to this part of town and the river will provide
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3. |
Little By Little
05:30
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I spent a week in my old hometown brought back a memory or two
Of a time not long behind me when my world was young and new
Innocence had a haven in this town with a street for a name
Stretched out on this single highway I’m amazed at what remains
But little by little it’s changing
Mostly it stays the same
It’s been some time, show me a sign
Do you remember my name?
Our summers were endless adventures
with the sweet smell of hay in the breeze
That meandered through the meadows and danced between the trees
Digging for gold in the backyard riding our bikes to the pool
Driving home the backway on a Sunday afternoon
I see how little by little we’re changing
Mostly we stayed the same
It’s been some time, show me a sign
Do you remember my name?
They say time will tell, if we really listen
I say all is well, let’s hear it for the power of tradition
My dad was the last of eleven and me I’m the youngest of two
Who tried hard to be both daughter and the son he never knew
Seems as I’ve always been different a color outside of the line
But now I’m finding some contentment that I’m here in my on time
I see how little by little I’m changing mostly I’ve stayed the same
Rough by design, I’m sure I’ll do fine
If I remember my name
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4. |
Red Tent
05:36
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5. |
Smokin' Dottie
09:35
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Winter wore the polish off me, left me dull and grey
Thinking that the spring would never show
The dust had settled on me and I craved a getaway
So I headed south and drove out through the snow
Loaded with a six pack and a six string for the ride
I threw the map away a half a day back
Knowing there was something I was somehow supposed to find
So far far off this beaten snowy track
Chorus:
Some words are better left unspoken
Some beer tastes better from a jar
Some dreams seem so real, vivid and surreal
Some dreams are better staying where they are
I knew as soon as I laid eyes upon the arrow blinking slow
And the missing lettered sign, I understood
That the hand that fate had dealt me, led me right there now I know
And somehow, I'd be up to something good
I could feel the drumbeat keeping through the floor boards of my truck
Grabbed my guitar case and I skidded my way in
Once inside it seemed that I had had the best of luck
For the blues, old fashioned style, would soon begin
Chorus
Hey you, came a rusty voice from over on the stage
I turned around to see who she might be talking to
When moments on, it began to dawn, and I jumped to the right page
When the boys at the bar said, hey girl, she means you
Well they called her Smokin' Dottie, and it always made her grin
A camel filter stuck between her strings
From the bar came a mason jar, beer filled up to the brim
And she made that Stratocaster moan and sing
Chorus
Well we traded songs the whole night long, like nothing I ever known
Playing riffs I never knew I knew
Later in the summer, I returned to say hello
And to thank her for her lesson in the blues
Smokin' Dottie, now she could turn this place right on its ear
The old woman at the bar had turned to say
So hard to imagine, she's been gone for twenty years
But man alive, that woman sure could play
Chorus
Just the other Saturday, I was cleaning out my truck
And felt an aching chill run down my spine
For underneath the seat, I found a smoky mason jar
And a coaster from a blues bar back in time
Some words will always go unspoken
And my beer tastes better from a jar
Some dreams seem so real, vivid and surreal
But this dream is better played from my guitar.
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6. |
Watching The Clouds
03:57
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Towering trees above me watching a red tail fly
Sitting here watching the clouds roll by
The sun on her wings and catching breezes from way up high
As I’m here watching the clouds roll by
All week it’s hustle and hurry conference call and too much caffeine
But right now, my biggest worry is sweats or faded jeans
A seven knot wind behind me we’re sailing a summer sky
Drifting and watching the clouds roll by
The breeze and the water rock me and sing me a lullaby
As I’m here watching the clouds roll by
All week it’s hustle and hurry conference calls and too much caffeine
But right now, my biggest worry is sweats or faded jeans
A circle of friends surround me we’re watching the embers die
Sitting here watching the clouds roll by
Millions of stars above me funny how time just flies
As we’re here watching the clouds roll by.
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7. |
River Hills Waltz
04:52
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Trouble can find you whenever
Heartache is just round the bend
Sadness can flow like a big river flowing
With no way to see to the end
Still out in this world we all travel
Taking the bad with the good
Knowing the trade of the sun and the shade
We learn early, how to knock on that wood
Chorus:
When the moon settles over the valley
And life breathes a sigh and stands still
Looking back on my day, I'll put troubles away
And find peace in these old river hills
There is peace in these old river hills
Some find their peace in the city
And I'm happy that suits them just fine
They wind down their day at a corner cafe
With some friends and a bottle of wine
But just put me right here in the country
And I'll be happy all the rest of my days
When twilight comes in, I'll sit here with a grin
Breathe deeply, and once again say.
Chorus
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8. |
Ruthie And The Babe
08:04
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Well, baseball fans are funny, it’s hardly win or lose
Sometimes in recollection, we’ve been known to pick and choose
The facts may tend to wonder, when we reminisce a game
But one time in particular, the facts remain the same.
The corn was slowly roasting, there were hotdogs on the grill
It was the bottom of the 9th and all the bases they were filled
The Babe was holding second and Big Mike was on the mound
And I was out in center with my feet on middle ground
Now Big Mike, he was struggling, having walked the last at bat
And the Babe had done his best, to help his pitcher over that
And the tying run was the oldest one, in that summer of '68
When little Ruthie Vogt made her way up to the plate.
Now Locust Grove, it was widely known, was not a hitter's park
And the summer sun was slowly sinking, sinking into dark
And Big Mike, he was ruthless, having called the outfield in
And here is where the legend of that game would soon begin
Chorus:
And they're still talking about it, how it always makes me smile
How that laughing little woman, hit that ball a country mile
And as her swing connected, and Ruthie hit her mark
It sailed clear over the roses, and way out of the park
Well now, everybody stood there, they were kind of slightly stunned
Till Big Mike had the sense to look at Ruthie and say, RUN!
And as she rounded second, old Babe, he tipped his hat
And in his quite laughter, I heard, "Damn, imagine that!"
It was the summer to remember, like a worn familiar page
When all my Aunts and Uncles, they were barely middle age
When the milkman still delivered, and your phone hung on a wall
And I'd be running barefoot way out till the fall
Chorus
She was my cousin's wife's mother, and I didn't know her well
But she had this old guitar she'd play, and the stories she would tell
And on certain Sunday evenings, we'd be finding our own parts
Singing I'll Fly Away Sweet Glory and Oh How Great Thou Art
Now jump ahead in time, as my stories tend to do
We're the older cousins that my family looks up to
And I'm sitting here in my Writing Room, and I'm pondering this song
It's her guitar I'm playing and we all sing along
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9. |
Granny's In The Cellar
01:47
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Bobbi Carmitchell
Oh look! Another singer/songwriter telling us her story! Yep, that's me! I've been playing music since the late 70's and
have been lucky to have traveled most of the country, and a couple other places in between, playing music...what's not to love about that life?
Hopefully one of my songs will be one you might like. Thanks for looking!
... more
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