1. |
What a Life
05:14
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Oh, what a life you've lived
Oh, what a life you've lived
Said the young man to the old man in my head
Then he turns his head and forgets
And soon the old man is dead
Middle-aged man walks his dog sometime around midnight
When suddenly he recalls an old face from the past
He hurries back home and looks at himself in the window
He sighs and thinks his life's movin' too goddamn fast
--
Is there even any reason that I shouldn't be gone?
There's no question that I've wasted time, and now I'm not young
No stories to tell, and I'll have grandkids before too long
It's time to enter into and explore the world to which I belong
The only thing that holds me back
Is the thought that maybe I won't come home
I'm going
I'm gone
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2. |
I Wanna Be a Rebel
03:31
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I wanna be a rebel
Like John Lennon was
And like Jesus was before him
Spreading messages of peace and love
Let loose the inner devil
And create a little chaos
Bust out of here in search of more
The road is lit by the heavens above
A rebel... yes, a rebel
Turnin' tables like a rebel on a rampage
In the name of peace and love
You can take the high road or the low road
I'll take whatever's in between
I'm gonna forge a new path to all that's good
The road well-traveled ain't no good to me
Like Mrs. Tubman and the Underground Railroad
And all the brave souls just tryin' to break free
You gotta get outta there before it explodes
The danger nippin' right at your heels
I wanna be a rebel... yes, a rebel
Turnin' tables like a rebel on a rampage
In the name of peace and love
Sometimes at night the pictures of my ancestors
Come alive and talk to me
They call out my name and wake me up
From the middle of a dream
They say you gotta make your own way through life
Don't let anyone tell you what to do
There are things you could do that you wouldn't dare
Unless you wanna be a rebel too
A rebel... yes, a rebel
Turnin' tables like a rebel on a rampage
In the name of peace and love
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3. |
Trekkin' Across the USA
05:17
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I ain't ever been to Boulder
But I reckon it's pretty nice
I've got my dreams slung over my shoulder
I'm off to take a hike
I think I'll go down to Nashville
Never been there before
I'll ride a boat down the Mississippi
Toss all my cares out the door
Trekkin' across the USA
Before I go and get old some day
I wanna see this land that I was told is mine
Where the countryside is beautiful
And the people are fine
I'm trekkin' across the USA
East to West on the American railway
North to South, follow the rivers winding
Take me home, for what a journey it has been
I'd like to wander through the Ozarks
Then head on down to the Delta, through Arkansas
I'll visit all the towns and the national parks
I've just got to see it all
I could go anywhere I please here
To the places I've always dreamt of
But I wanna be more than just some sightseer
Of this land and the great sky above
(Refrain)
I'll go anywhere in New England
And far away in the Golden and Silver States
Just think of all the folks who I'll befriend
I can hardly even wait
I'm willing to work for transportation
Just give me a job for a bite to eat
I just wanna go around and get to know this great nation
I'm a patriot, not some deadbeat
(Refrain)
...and I know I can't take another step or breath
Unless I set out right now
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4. |
Mandolin Jawn
01:35
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(Instrumental)
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5. |
Mexican Laundry
05:39
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In a Mexican laundry
Quite far south of the Land of the Free
Take a sniff of my freshly washed clothes
Look up and see the sky’s about to close
So I stay to wait out the rain
As she tries to speak to me in vain
And a man selling earrings steps in
With a few tufts of hair on his chin
In a Mexican laundry
Comes a beautiful family of three
Reunited again after years
Now rain and voices fill my ears
And next thing I know a Spanish waitress stops by
And decides to wait on me until it’s dry
When we’re joined by a man and his two sons
Who points to his van and says "we’ve gotta run"
But next comes a man whose face I somehow know
And two chicas from Sinalo
When I realize the man is El Chapo
The most wanted in all Mexico
And so I’m thinking it’s all getting quite absurd
And the taxi man’s ready to leave at my word
But two men come together, and I see that they’re gay
And they’re just so interesting, I’m convinced to stay
In a Mexican laundry
Everyone’s staring at me
And I’m asking them all who knows
How the end of this strange story goes
And I’m starting to feel the drain
Of being out in the sun and the rain
And so I slip off to sleep despite the din
And when I come to, 30 more people’d come in
In a Mexican laundry
There’s now a big family and a birthday party
But they just adopt me and tell me to have fun
And I really don’t know when the rain will be done
So I look out the window and see a guy named Nico
Who’s looking for some kids playing hide seek and go
But suddenly I get sucked back in to the crowded little room
And then we all get swept out as if by a giant Mexican broom
And they’re picking me up and saying "time to go"
As they point in the direction of the giant volcano
And they carry me onward, singing low
More and more join the parade, it’s quite a show
At the head of the line they’re carrying me
I’m an idol to them, it’s easy to see
Well, I have no doubts, I have no fears
I can barely see through the rain of my tears
But I can see a girl now being brought up from behind
And it seemed as if our lives were intertwined
Well, she’s from that big family I met earlier
And they push her up to me on my big fancy carrier
Now they’re setting off fireworks and showering us with gifts
And I think maybe it’s all because I’m working for the DIF
But I’ll just let it happen, I’ll just see how it goes
I can barely even think now for all the scents in my nose
Someone hands me a pink guitar and I start to play
And I realize the rain is all done for the day
So I close my eyes and picture where I’d like to be
And open them again in a Mexican laundry...
Just you and me
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6. |
Oregon Trail
02:47
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Maiden fair
Won't you come along with me?
I've got room in my wagon to spare
I've got blankets, food, and strong arms from the smithy...
I'm headed to Oregon
So climb aboard with me today
Before this chance is gone...
We'll take the Oregon Trail
Trodden by many before us
I know we will not fail
We'll just follow the hoof prints, wheel tracks, and dust
Well, I'm headed to Oregon
So, take my hand, sweet girl
Before your chance is gone...
Darlin' belle
When we arrive on the Oregon coast
We'll set it all right, and there'll be wedding bells
You'll forever be the one I cherish most...
Let's make the journey to Oregon
Together in this wagon...
Across this growing nation...
To make ourselves a new home...
Before our chance is gone...
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7. |
I Have Been A-Travelin'
04:02
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I have been a-travelin' across this great divide
With a sack over my shoulder,
A pistol in my holster, but no horse for me to ride
These boots were made for walkin'
And that's about all I've done
For the past 900 miles back to Nazareth, PA
My home, sweet home
When I get to where I'm goin'
Someplace way out west
I've got a job lined up, waitin' for me
I'll put my fortune to the test
I have worked unjaded, and been trained in many fields
I'm a farmer boy and a jack of all trades
And I can sing some songs to boot
Passin' through the city of St. Louis
A couple hundred miles more to go
Coulda sworn I heard the blues
As i rested and watched the river flow
I turned to look just as she disappeared into the crowd
From that glimpse I knew I'd never seen a girl so pretty
As the one that I just saw
So I ran off in her direction
And saw her walkin' down an alleyway
Through the seedy section
To the Rosebud Café
The music there just took me
And knocked me to the ground
It was the best darn thing that I ever did hear
And I sure have been around
--
Well I just got a-thinkin'
As that ragtime music played
And that sweet girl stood beside me
I just closed my eyes and prayed
I sure felt at peace then
And for a long rest overdue
Think I'll stay here in St. Louis
I ain't goin' travelin' no more
I ain't goin' travelin' no more
No, I ain't goin' travelin' no more
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8. |
One Way to Rockaway
04:25
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Did you hear the Dover train last night?
I was riding the caboose
I leaned on the back rail and watched the city lights
Nearly lost my hat, it was on too loose
I’m gonna leave behind this life of vice and corruption
I’m in over my head – I need an interruption in my life
With my old leather suitcase
I strode up to the ticket clerk and said
“One way to Rockaway,
One way to Rockaway”
Train conductor opened the door right behind me
Nearly scared me half to death
He said, “now, son, why don’t you come inside?”
I had to play it cool and slow my breath
I took a seat in the back next to Old Man Rudy
Who looked like some wise man straight out of a movie
And he asked me, “where ya headed, son?
And what’s with the gun?”
I said, “I’m goin’
One way to Rockaway,
One way to Rockaway”
----
I told him my whole life story
About my upcoming secret marriage
In a safehouse in the hills of Morris
About my fears when I step off this carriage
Of men with guns and a penchant for violence
Who stop at nothing and have no remorse
He held out tickets to the Buffalo Express
He said he didn’t need them, and it might be my only recourse
To get far, far away from here
Or I’ll live my life in fear
I said, “thank you, sir” and tried to refuse
I didn’t want to bring harm his way
But I sure could use the help
If I want to live another day
That train pulled up to Rockaway station
I picked up my suitcase –- my heart just set a-racin’
As I stepped down
And walked along the platform
And far, far away
One way to Rockaway...
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9. |
Distant Rider
03:55
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That distant rider
In the gleam of the sun...
Coming over the ridge --
Come to save everyone.
I know you rider,
Just like I know the sun.
Lord, please don't be no mirage --
No, don't forsake your native son...
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10. |
Ghost Town
03:57
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Ghost man, ghost woman...
Livin’ in a ghost town...
Every day’s the same...
Ghost house, ghost car...
Drivin’ to the ghost bar...
Drink your ghost money away
----
Ghost woman says she can’t wait to die,
And ghost man promises they won’t run dry...
Livin’ off of nothing...
Ghost woman gets up to leave,
And ghost man says, “honey, please,
If you wait a month or so, we can move to Tennessee”
But ghosts can never leave,
And ghosts can never change...
----
Can’t get no reprieve
In this dusty, run-down cage
It’s a permanent disease,
A dreary home on the range
Every day we grieve
The loss of our town’s trains
And bemoan the corporate thieves
Who threw us down the drain
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11. |
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The confederates never reached Annville...
And so I’m walking down this old street facin’ west
These days it's been somber... at its very best
People lookin’ at me funny, I’m dressed up in my pa’s old coat and vest
I’m headin’ up to the graveyard to lay my baby to rest
And it’s so selfish of me, but I can’t seem to cry
I just don’t want to have to say goodbye
Coming back down to Main Street, everyone’s in the bar
But if I go in there, I won’t be getting very far
I’ll tip my hat and walk on, but I’ll refuse to use a car
‘Cause that’s what done came and sent my baby up into the stars
And it’s so selfish of me, but I can’t seem to cry
I just don’t want to have to say goodbye
Well now my baby’s gone, gone up to join her mom
And my dear mama, she’s just a pile of bones
And my pa’s long gone, he died for the Union
Never even met him, just seen his name on a stone
I’ve got nothing now but the lonesome years ahead
Waiting for paradise from an old dusty bed
And I sure hope there’s a place for me there, but I wish I were already dead
It’s so selfish of me, but I can’t stop the tears in my eyes
I just don’t want to have to say goodbye
--
Yeah, it's so selfish of me, but I can't stop to cry
I just don't want to have to say goodbye...
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12. |
La Corona
02:50
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(Instrumental)
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13. |
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I’ve been dreamin' of Alaska
And heaven on earth in Hawaii
What would you do if I asked ya
To get up today and come with me?
Take a trek along our borders
Get out the map and point to somewhere you’ve never been
My brothers and sisters this is not a tall order
To want to go here there and everywhere in between
I’m trekkin’ across the USA
Before I go and get old some day
I wanna see this land that I was told is mine
Where the countryside is beautiful, and the people are fine
I'm trekkin' across the USA
East to West on the American railway
North to South, follow the rivers winding
Take me home, for what a journey it has been
...and I know I can’t take another step or breath
Unless I set out right now...
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14. |
I Come from Pennsylvania
02:30
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Well, I come from Pennsylvania
With a guitar on my knee
From the village of Belfast,
I'm bound for the sea
Yes, in Salem, I'll be a sailor
With a Martin on my knee
It's the only possession
That'll come along with me
Oh, a new life
Is all that I seek
And I come from Pennsylvania
With a Martin on my knee
Dear mama and papa,
I don't mean no harm
But I can't let this chance pass,
And I'm bored on the farm
But I promise that I'll write ya
Every once in a while
And when I sing the songs you taught me,
It'll bring me a smile
Oh, a new life
Is all that I seek
And I come from Pennsylvania
With a guitar on my knee...
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Scott Reagan Nazareth, Pennsylvania
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