“The past is never dead. It is not even past.” – William Faulkner
“Didn’t We?”
Driving through Lexington, Virginia
Haven’t been here since maybe Spring of ‘10
All the boys tip their hats walking your way
Or what’s become of the place you would have been
We got about two feet of snow that winter
Only one on the street with a tractor and plow
I said, ‘come on baby, I’ll teach you how to drive it’
Let’s see if we can’t revive this town
And we did, didn’t we
I remember the first time you took me fishing
It was your way of teaching me all you knew
Probably could have seen what was coming if I’d listened
But I could never take my eyes off you
And the south is hot as hell in the summertime
We were fixed like the center of a wheel
Before long the whole thing started spinning
Held on tight to what we could feel
We did, didn’t we
But sometimes I wonder if we’re really who we once were
Because we sure aren’t those people now
Like driving to a ball game in late September
I asked you what you’d been thinking about
That night I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation
When he said, “Still thinking of telling her goodbye?”
That was the first time I felt my whole heart breaking
You dropped the phone, said ‘baby please don’t cry…’
But we did, didn’t we
“We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get that damned hurt, use it — don’t cheat with it.“ Ernest Hemingway
“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.” Ernest Hemingway
“Reparation’s Road”
Smoke, smoke and mirrors and heart shaped rooms with yellow walls
It’s just as suffocating as trying to talk to you at all and
Lord knows I am no angel
But I’ve got a halo compared to you
All of the demons you’ve let loose upon me
You’ve chosen not to undo
Take, take it all while my back was up against a wall and
Fifteen, I was just fifteen when you robbed me of everything
Should I worship you, dear King
Don’t you think you own this town
A lonesome tale and a Giving Tree
Did you mean to cut me down
Cut me down, cut me down, you scared little boy
You cut me down, cut me down, but what the hell for
Fix you could fix it all, if you would only take the fall
Apologize, just apologize but you would rather live a selfish life than
Travel ten thousand miles
Down reparation’s only road
But I want so bad to want to forgive you
For what you do you do not know
It’s been smoke, smoke and mirrors through these tired wasted years
But fix, you could fix it all
If you would only try
“Virginia Clay”
Tossed some flowers into the sky
Thought you’d chase them down
Ran as fast as you could
But fell upon the ground
On your knees and seeking
The road that’ll lead you astray
What might have been flowers once
Is now Virginia Clay
Kept your heart in a mason jar
Wrapped in ribbon so pure and white
Wondering now which came first
Cause nothing seems to shine so bright
Everything then so green and new
Has turned to shades of gray
It’s broken glass and willows weeping
Somewhere in the Virginia Clay
A cold and lonesome and heavy tear
Mascara burning fair white skin
You’ve got the world at your feet
But you just want to see him again
Desperate and lonesome you tread
But you’re lost somewhere in the stain
Because nothing runs as deep
As that old Virginia Clay
Tossed some flowers into the sky
Thought you’d chase them down
Ran as fast as you could
But fell upon the ground
On your knees and seeking
The road that’ll lead you astray
What might have been flowers once
Is now Virginia Clay
“Home for the Holidays”
No capo; G, Cadd9, Em7, Cadd9
The snow is falling so gently outside
It kind of reminds me of our last decline
And every noise I hear terrifies me
Makes me think it’s you, coming back for all your things
Damn, I really hate the holidays
Damn, I really hate the holidays
And I get so scared to drive down our street
Because I know you’re gonna be there to crucify me
Last time it happened, I barely made it to the light
Before my hands started shaking and I broke down and cried
Damn, I really hate the holidays
Damn, I really hate the holidays
I know I’ll probably see you out somewhere
And you’ll make me feel like a fool just standing there
I’ll get nervous knowing your eyes could be on me
If I look different, it’s because I can’t breathe
Damn, I really hate the holidays
Damn, I really hate the holidays
I’ve been getting by all year just fine, but then you show up right on time
And all of a sudden, it’s like you were never gone
And I’m back, to square one.
Damn, I really hate the holidays
Damn, I really hate the holidays
Your memory plays back in every melody I sing
Knowing you’re right down the road, but you’ll never be with me
And I’ll ask Santa, and maybe Jesus, too
If one of them could please, bring me back to you
Damn I really hate the Holidays
I bet by now you’re already home
Don’t you see what it’s doing to me
Why can’t you just stay gone
If you could just, not come home
Please, don’t come home
Please don’t come home.
“I’ll be Alright”
Disclaimer: I don’t really smoke and although tempting, I’ve never actually lit anything on fire. This is the far more jaded/less innocent version of “Ours.” Sorry Taylor Swift, I love you, but that song makes me sick.
You always said that feelings never go away
Well I guess you’re right, ’cause your love just turned to hate
But that aint fair because I’ve never done you wrong
The worst I’ve done is put you in a song
I’m sitting here trying to figure out why
You’d ever wanna leave me in a ditch to die
The piece you took when you left is so damn big
I’ve been killing myself trying to forget
But I’m gonna wash my hands clean
Of everything you’ve ever done to me
Even if it takes all my life
I’m moving on
I’m letting go
I’ll be alright
It seems I’m down to my last cigarette
I started smoking them the day you left
I always told myself I’d quit
But then I remembered how much you hate it
But I’m gonna wash my hands clean
Of everything you’ve ever done to me
Even if it takes all my life
I’m moving on
I’m letting go
I’ll be alright
That sweatshirt you wanted back so bad is burning in a big ol’ heap out back
Along with all your shit I could never bring myself to throw away
Until now
Because I’ve been treated bad for too damn long
I’m tired of writing you these songs
You don’t know the difference between right and wrong, anymore
And I’m not yours
So I’m gonna wash my hands clean
Of everything you’ve ever done to me
I can’t be like this all my life
Yeah, I’m gonna wash my hands clean
Of everything you’ve ever done to me
I’m so tired of this fight
Yeah, I’m tired of this fight
I’m moving on
I’m letting go
I’ll be alright
“The Girl I Used to Be”
Capo 4;
Intro: G, D, Em, C (x2)
Hold his hand
A little tighter
But, try not to look
So entitled
It’s bittersweet
Irony
Because, you’re the girl
That I used to be
Chorus: So walk your mile in my old shoes
Prove everything you think you can prove
But remember all you stand to lose
Because loving hands can break and bruise
And when he calls you
Late at night
And says I love you, babe
One more time
Try not to look so
God damned pleased
Because, he’s said those words
Before to me
Walk your mile in my old shoes
Prove everything you think you can prove
But remember all you stand to lose
Because loving hands can break and bruise
When you fall off
Your high horse
And he, throws your whole
Damn life off course
It will be
A small victory
Because, you’ll understand
The need for sympathy
Bridge
There is a chance that I am wrong, and that you’ll win
But if that’s the case
The most you’ll ever be, is the girl I was back then
So walk your mile
Prove everything to everyone
Don’t forget where you came from
How does it feel
How does it feel
Tell me, how does it feel
To be me
“Lamb’s Road”
G, D, Am, C; Capo 2 (“Cotton Picking”)
They’re paving a highway through Lamb’s Road
Politicians got their way
Got machines and pockets lined with gold
And all I’ve got are memories
CHORUS Maybe it’s time to move along
Seems the world’s left us far behind
Maybe it’s time to sing a different song
One that doesn’t leave you on my mind
That great oak, where our names are carved
Young love etched in withered old bark
Come tomorrow they’re knocking it down
Ripping our roots, from hallowed ground
Maybe it’s time to move along
Seems the world’s left us far behind
Maybe it’s time to sing a different song
One that doesn’t leave you on my mind
The mountains in the distance, from 1000 years ago
The shadows on the ground, like footprints in the snow
My search for redemption, carved deep on either side
But it won’t ever lie between those solid yellow lines
Maybe it’s time to move along
Seems the world’s left us far behind
Maybe it’s time to sing a different song
One that doesn’t leave you on my mind
In tonight’s horizon, a revelation’s blinding me
The setting of the sun, and all the peace that it will bring
Darkness of the hour, broken by dawn’s shining light
Find salvation from my past, I’ll leave it all behind.
