1. |
Original Sin
03:56
|
|||
Original Sin
When the sun creeps by and your shadow grows
You can run, you can hide, but he’s by your side
And he always knows
Where the skeletons lie and what it’s all about
You can wash your hands but there ain’t no chance
You’ll get the bloodstains out
Right from the very start until the bitter end
Once you feel him bite, the serpent ain't your friend
'Cause when your time is up and the chips are down
You'll wear the bad mistakes like a thorny crown
And the past will haunt you, poison under your skin
We'll all dance in the fire of original sin
At the end of my chain, now it's do or die
And my bones feel old, naked and cold
Without an alibi
I can drown the pain in the devil's brew
Drop down on my knees, but I'll find no peace
Until the debt comes due
When the world is dark and the lights go out
Well, you better believe, there can be no doubt
That it's never too early to see that it's too late
For all the sinner's souls and for the saints who prayed
Don't matter where you're from, only where you've been
We'll all dance in the fire of original sin
The sins of the father, sins of the son
No escape, why bother, you're under the gun
You lied, tricked 'em, confessed to the priest
We all play the victim, we all feed the beast
Born in the crime, inherit the strife
Serving hard time all your life
And the prison you've built will take it's toll
Like the pain and guilt that damn your soul
You can hide your face, change your name
But you've earned your place down in the flame
You can't disguise the demons within
We're all baptized in original sin
|
||||
2. |
Boardwalk Dreams
06:51
|
|||
Boardwalk Dreams
If you’re headed east on Sixth Avenue
You’ll hit a stretch of beach where the sky is blue
And the sea is green
Life is so serene
That’s where we ditched all our hassles
Man, we were grand
Kings building mighty castles in the sand
Like it’s always been
Till the tide rolled in
Young kids just chasing boardwalk dreams
Mama and Daddy used to come down here
The big bands would play and they danced on the pier
Swaying slow and nice
Under starry skies
Now there’s just some twisted pilings where it used to be
Ever since Dora swept it out to sea
Like ashes from an urn
Never to return
Two souls just chasing boardwalk dreams
The carousel and the tilt-a-whirl
Spun me ‘round and ‘round
Took the Ferris wheel to the top of the world
Ended up back on the ground
But the things I find turning in my mind
Have all long gone away
Like the sun that shined
All over yesterday
Lord, I remember
Up on the boardwalk at the penny arcade
Madame Zita told our fortune, made in the shade
The old guy wearing a patch over one of his eyes
Said, “Step right up, young man, you could win a prize”
A greasy corn dog and a bottle of pop
Drove the bumper cars, man, we could not stop
No school, no cares, no plans and summer was our friend
We never wanted it to end
Over at The Crab Pot, they were drunk by noon
Sunburned rednecks jamming to a Skynyrd tune
Babes in bikinis, cold beer in hand
Did the flip flop hip hop shimmy shuffle for the band
They’re having a party out on the deck
From the tattooed guy with a snake on his neck
To the sweet young waitresses and all the in-betweens
Just fools chasing boardwalk dreams
The carousel and the tilt-a-whirl
Spun me ‘round and ‘round
Took the Ferris wheel to the top of the world
Ended up back on the ground
But the things I find turning in my mind
Have all long gone away
Leave them all behind
Let go of yesterday
Down at the beach I remember what I could not save
Where the surfers still wait for the perfect wave
They ride them in
Then paddle out again
Well, they tore down the boardwalk and left no trace
So the Crab Pot crowd moved to Ginger’s Place
They always know
Somewhere to go
I see a young couple strolling hand in hand
Heart with initials etched in the sand
Until the tide
Washes it from sight
New lovers chasing boardwalk dreams
|
||||
3. |
||||
I'm Not Going Back To Jacksonville
Can't get no rest, but I feel fine
I'm headed west, track number nine
That lonely whistle blows
The only song it knows
And so it goes on down the line
There's no loose ends, just severed ties
No sad events or long goodbyes
A point of no return
After those bridges burn
I'll learn to tell myself sweet lies
I tried to play my cards just right
But I watched my house of cards ignite
For all I know, it's burning still
Before the dust had settled down
I knocked off the rust and I got out of town
And I'm not going back to Jacksonville
Just like bad news, I travel fast
But not quick enough to lose the past
And all the miles between
From Starke to Abilene
Don't mean I'm finally free at last
So what's the use, what's done is done
I cut 'em loose then cut and run
And once that line is crossed
Just figure up the cost
Maybe I lost more than I won
Without a plan and without a doubt
When it hit the fan I caught the last train out
I'll let it roll me where it will
There may be a dead end sign
Waiting for me at the end of the line
But I'm not going back to Jacksonville
|
||||
4. |
Shot At The Big Time
02:51
|
|||
Shot At The Big Time
When you're a one-trick pony in a one horse town
And the sanctimony is enough to get you down
Keep sitting tall in the saddle, staying in the hunt
Faith is half the battle, winners ride out in front
To take a shot at the big time
Just like a front runner in his prime
Champing at the bit now, ready to go
Y'know, I'm looking for my shot at the big time
First off the bell when I hear it chime
My number's gonna hit, now, win, place or show
I'll be a big time spender, a player who wins
Just need some legal tender
Some fives and tens and Benjamins
I was out of the running, riding on the edge
Now I'm up and gunning, number one down the stretch
Yeah, I'm the main attraction, so get your bets in late
I'll cover all the action, grab the lead out the gate
Can't wait to take my shot at the big time
Just like a dark horse, you know that I'm
Fired up with speed to burn, hitting my stride
And now I'm headed for a shot at the big time
The way I'm winning ought to be a crime
Coming 'round the last turn, letting it ride
I put my money on a shot at the big time
Quick as a closer getting off the dime
Staying with the front pack, king for a day
I'm cashing in to get a shot at the big time
Straight up the leader board, I'm gonna climb
Running on the fast track, going away
I want my shot at the big time
Ready or not, gonna make it mine...
|
||||
5. |
||||
The Eyes Of The Blind Shall See
As it was told, lo and behold
The truth will set you free
And now I know that it is so
The eyes of the blind shall see
I. Den of Iniquity
I’m not cut out for sainthood, I’m not a perfect man
The list of things I ain’t could stretch from here to Ketchikan
I try to see a half-full cup, just to get along
But I make sure to mess it before it all goes wrong
Once, the hand of fate damn near knocked me off my rocker
So I figured I’d self-medicate in a sea of Johnny Walker
Things go from bad to worse when you partake without control
From the liquid breakfast menu at the local watering hole
My thirst sure needed quenching and each shot went down with ease
Until I came to the attention of the authorities
Two officers approached me, one was surly, one was gruff
The surly one reproached me, said, “I think you’ve had enough”
Well, I smiled and looked straight in his eyes and finished my libation
But he quickly cut me down to size, “Boy, you’re going to the station.”
II. Justice Roll On Like A River
The bailiff said, “All rise, this court is now in session”
And my counsel offered shrewd advice to make a good impression
The bailiff barked, “The Honorable Judge Joseph Robert Braun presiding!” I stood up, let out a yawn, and then things got exciting
For my condition was inadequate to appear in county court
Before the local magistrate, who’s not the friendly sort
The judge said, “Deja vu, it looks like you’re in another jam
Son, what the hell is wrong with you?” I said, “I just don’t give a damn”
Now, be that as it may, and it really, truly was
My rebel roots were on display, I only lacked a cause
And I should’a acted meek and kind, not ornery and rude
But I was out of my fool mind and just not in the mood
I said, “I do admit, and God knows I seek no pardon
For doing all the things I did, but I’m no John Wesley Hardin
It’s true that I can’t hold a job, but I can damn sure hold a grudge
So tell me something, Billy Bob, who died and made you judge?”
I don’t consider consequences, and they say crime never pays
But he sure brought me to my senses, “Ninety days!”
III. The Least Of My Brethren
Sure as clockwork, without fail, it happens now and then
I end up in county jail, “Hey fellas, it’s me again!”
If you’ve never been to lock-up, it’s a bleak road to Perdition
And nothing you can’t chalk up to your own dumb-ass decision
That leads to tears and sorrow and profound misery
For every lost tomorrow you’re condemned to never see
The prison guard took me on that long walk to my incarceration
We dispensed of small talk and sparkling conversation
But he must have found it quite sublime to spout that old cliche,
“You do the crime, you do the time,” Hmm, easy for him to say
He didn’t change expression, kept looking straight ahead
But he made a deep impression, and this is what he said
“The sad dregs of humanity languish in these halls
And I’ve known the sheer insanity of life inside these walls
But I’ve learned a thing or two, it makes no difference whether
You’re a convict or a screw, ‘cause we’re all in this together
Lonely riders in the dust storm who ache for what we’re missin’
But we all wear a uniform, and we’re all stuck in prison.
IV.
The Light Shineth In Darkness
When I stepped into my dingy cell and heard the door slam shut
It rang out like a death knell that echoed in my gut
In the shadows, I suspected, was a room barren and stark
And then my eyes slowly detected an old man praying in the dark
I could not refrain from staring and muttering, “What the heck?”
When I saw that he was wearing a white collar on his neck
As he knelt there on the dirty floor, I asked, somewhat sincere,
“Reverend, what’re you in for, you don’t belong in here”
And like a revelation, he spoke, “We all must sin
For we all dance with temptation and we all give in”
As an unreformed offender, it’s not my nature to console
But I was coming off a bender and he was on a roll
I’ve heard it all before, but I figured, his sacred words can determine
If I’m born again on this here cot due to his fine sermon
He slowly struggled to his feet, so frail it seemed impossible
But his eyes lit up like Bourbon Street when he preached the holy gospel
“Some live with the torment of Faustian agreements
The good in them is dormant and they surrender to their demons
And some reject The Holy Ghost for they cannot see a wraith
Their hearts and minds forever closed to one small leap of faith
But others seek the promised land, then founder on the shoals
Before they feel His mighty hand come down to save their mortal souls
Your path is what you make it, it’s always been that way, of course
If you’ll just choose to take it, and the choice is always yours.”
I’ve often failed to do what’s right, and I’ve never known God’s grace
But I swear a glorious shaft of light beamed through the window on my face
It did
I sat stunned in utter silence, like a blind man when he sees
And as the spirit filled my body, I fell down upon my knees
Thankful for a teacher who revealed to me such glory
I looked up at the preacher who had shared his blessed story
And whispered, “What you say is wise. Are we truly saved, pray tell?”
He looked dead in my eyes and said, “I’ll see you down in Hell”
As it was told, lo and behold
The truth will set you free
And now I know that it is so
The eyes of the blind shall see
The eyes of the blind shall see
|
||||
6. |
Beneath A Solemn Sky
03:37
|
|||
Beneath A Solemn Sky
By a brown and withered garden, there's a chapel in the sand
Where the wicked and the faithful come to make their final stand
As another bitter season ends, now the hour is at hand
For the seeds of hope have fallen on parched and stony ground
Can you hear the prophets calling while the world keeps spinning 'round?
But it all goes with the territory and, for what it's worth,
The meek and brave prepare a grave in the dusty barren earth
While the bones of last week's promises are buried in the square
The saints and doubting Thomases all bow their heads in prayer
But the words can bring no comfort to the foolish or the wise
Till the heavens rain on the brittle grain
Like teardrops from the quiet, solemn sky
Now the thunderclouds are gathering
A shadow on the land
So rejoice you sons and daughters, but wouldn't it be rich
If the holy, healing waters soon undermined the bridge
Rushing up to breach the levy on that long and fateful day
Till the rising flood made it clear as mud
All the sins are washed away
Down the ancient, winding river to the dark and briny sea
Now these old foundations shiver at the sacred memory
Of that brief and blessed moment when providence supplied
A sad lament for the penitent who are damn well sanctified
|
||||
7. |
By The Numbers
05:53
|
|||
By The Numbers
When you need a little sunshine, but the forecast calls for rain
If your odds are slim to none and there’s nothing left to gain
I had me a sure thing but made a losing bet
They really did a number on me, left me in the red
I’ve spent a lifetime looking out for number one
But my glory days are numbered and a sad day’s just begun
I’ve had myself some good times, mmm, I drank deep from that cup
But now my spirit’s running low and I’m afraid my number’s up
You take your chances, but chances are
If you got no place to go, then you go too far
I’ll put it on the line, put my pride up on the shelf
‘Cause I’ve run all the numbers, but I can’t run from myself, no
I had a cause to fight for, but all lost causes fall
Lady Luck lost my number and then I lost it all
So when you count your blessings, count the hopes that die
‘Cause nothing seems to add up and the numbers never lie
***
At the first light, I’ll lay it all out on the table
For a second chance to undergo the third degree
And my fourth draw from this fifth of gin may just enable me to see
Though I walk on, Sixth Avenue is gone
Seventh Heaven looking down from the tower
At the Eighth Wonder of the World in the bottom of the ninth, behind
When your tenth last chance is lost in the eleventh hour, you will find
The time draw’s near and the Twelfth of Never’s here
Time moves on and so do we
The days are numbered to set you free
So count me in, count on me
It’s as easy as one two three
|
||||
8. |
Picture Perfect
04:32
|
|||
Picture Perfect
Curios, pictures in folios, subjects in calm repose
A glimpse of yesterday
Years adorn portraits now creased and torn, images lined and worn
That slowly fade away
Captured in their glory, so innocent it hurts
Each face tells a story of a thousand words
Memories may falter, for time is like a thief
But snapshots never alter such a fine motif
They're picture perfect
Strolls down memory lane were never meant to last
Till one old photograph unlocks the past
I realize something about the eyes, and vaguely recognize
A man I used to know
Strong and pure, eager to strive, endure...ah, but I can't be sure
For that was long ago
When passion was awaking and youth was on our side
The world was for the taking in shades of black and white
Long before the sorrows, forever in his prime
Spared from sad tomorrows and the hands of time
So picture perfect
|
||||
9. |
Get Myself Back Home
03:45
|
|||
Get Myself Back Home
Freedom, it calls to me
Footloose ad far across the sea
Here and there without a care, that's the way to be
But freedom is never free
My days of wandering are gone
And now I'm pondering as I think upon
All my rambling from Timbuktu to Rome
I know one day I'll get myself back home
Trouble, it knows my name
Seems like my only claim to fame
Bad mistakes and lousy breaks, just myself to blame
But trouble, that's a losing game
The time for close escapes is past
Sad woes and narrow scrapes, behind me now at last
I've been running from Timbuktu to Rome
Now it's high time I get myself back home
Get back...
Fortune, well, you can bet
The more your risk the more you get
Add the sum of where you're from to what you can't forget
My fortune lies straight ahead
And on my odyssey I've found
Right where I oughtta be, and that's just where I'm bound
I've been searching from Timbuktu to Rome
For the answer, I'll get myself back home
Back home...
|
||||
10. |
Brand New Skin
02:55
|
|||
Brand New Skin
I went walking through my old town
Where I strolled down favorite streets to say hello
And so I felt inclined to ease my mind by searching high and low
For the world I used to know
I remember days of laughter
Chasing after bright mirages by the shore
But all those secret spaces, hiding places where I roamed before
Don't belong here anymore
(Chorus)
Whoa, it can break your heart
To break the chains you're living in
Whoa, break them all apart
Then you can break some brand new skin
(Repeat Chorus)
For you memories cannot save you
In a brave new world where no-one knows your name
But time will change and re-arrange the sacred ground you used to claim
'Cause nothing here remains the same
|
||||
11. |
Judgment Road
03:15
|
|||
Judgment Road
Distant thunder, restless night, last smoke in the pack
I stopped a stranger, bummed a light and took a long sweet drag
When it burned like hell to pay and turned my fingers black
I crushed it out and walked away, and I ain't looking back
I feel it in my soul, there's something calling me
Out where the dust clouds roll, that's where I'm gonna be
This highway takes its toll before it sets you free
'Round the final bend straight to the end
Of Judgment Road
Racing past the break of dawn across the great divide
Stuck on "E," the rearview's gone, now there's no place left to hide
I drove into the blinding sun, too strung out to sleep
After all is said and done, there's no secrets left to keep
'Cause sins are not forgiven and no one here forgets
The guilty go on living til they die with their regrets
Beyond the far horizon's edge the truth must stake its claim
On that lonely, narrow ledge where there's no one left to blame
For what you are and what you're not, and for the cause you serve
You give it everything you've got and get what you deserve
I feel it in my soul, there's something calling me
Out where the dust clouds roll, that's where I'm gonna be
This highway takes its toll before it sets you free
'Round the final bend straight to the end
Of Judgment Road
|
The Gunboat Diplomats Jacksonville Beach, Florida
The Gunboat Diplomats are a song shop recording pop rock music with a vintage vibe.
Streaming and Download help
If you like The Gunboat Diplomats, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp