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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Bent Not Broken, A Better World, New American Blues, Love Is A Road, and Goodbye Uncle Buzz.
1. |
Muscle Shoals
03:48
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IT'S TIME TO STRUT - TIME FOR SWAGGER,
TIME TO FIGHT LIKE MERLE-FUCKIN'-HAGGARD,
THEY LOVE US DUMB - THEY'D LOVE US DUMBER,
THEY THROW US CRUMBS WHILE WE'RE GOIN' UNDER,
C'MON, DIXIE IT'S TIME WE SAVED OUR SOULS,
SOMEBODY THROW DOWN,
PUT ON SOME MUSCLE SHOALS,
THE SIGNS ARE DOWN - THE WIRES CUT,
THE GATES LOCKED - SLAMMED SHUT,
THEY KEEP US WAY DOWN, DOWN IN THE SQUALOR,
WON'T BE THEIR HOUNDOG - WON'T WEAR NO COLLAR,
C'MON, SCARLETT, IT'S TIME TO FREE OUR SOULS,
PUT DOWN THAT BANJO PUT ON SOME MUSCLE SHOALS.
A HUNDRED CARS BACKED UP A MILE,
LINED UP FOR FOOD BEEN THERE A LONG WHILE,
WE GOT SOME POOR BOYS OUT THERE ON THE ROADS,
SELLING THEY'RE CLOTHES - SELLING THEY'RE CLOTHES,
C'MON, COLONEL IT'S TIME TO ROCK N ROLL,
SOMEBODY THROW DOWN,
PUT ON SOME MUSCLE SHOALS.
TELL THE SISTERS I NEED A HEALING,
TELL THE DOC I LOST ALL FEELING,
TELL THE LANDLORD ALL THE WALLS ARE PEELING,
FROM FLOOR TO CEILING THIS HOUSE IS REELING,
C'MON, PREACHER IT'S TIME TO LIFT OUR SOULS,
SOMEBODY STAND UP,
THROW DOWN SOME MUSCLE SHOALS.
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2. |
Cottonmouth Road
03:04
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WELL, THE DEVIL AND GOD BROKE OUT OF JAIL,
BEAT UP SOME GUARD - STOLE A CAR AS WELL,
GOD SAID,"GO SOUTH" AND THE DEVIL DROVE,
AND THEM BOYS LIT OUT FOR COTTONMOUTH ROAD,
WHILE HALF THE FORCE WAS ON THEIR TAIL,
GOD SAID, "HEY, DEV... TAKE 'ER UP THIS SWALE,
WE'LL LOSE THE HEAT 'N RECLAIM OUR GOLD,
IN THAT OLD CHURCH OFF COTTONMOUTH ROAD",
COTTONMOUTH ROAD THEY NAMED YOU WELL,
YOU GOT MORE SNAKES THAN THEY GOT IN HELL,
SOME OF THEM PREACH AND SOME OF THEM WHORE,
BUT ALL OF THEM KEEP THE POOR MAN POOR.
WELL THEY DROVE PAST SHACKS AND CONFEDERATE GRAVES,
CROSSED RAILROAD TRACKS LAID DOWN BY SLAVES,
PAST VACANT FARMS AND EMPTY TOWNS,
BUT THEY DID NOT STOP OR ONCE SLOW DOWN,
THEY DROVE BY MOMS SELLIN' BABY CLOTHES,
SELLIN' BAGS OF PEACHES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
PAST SIGNS 'A SAYIN'... THE JUDGEMENT'S NEAR,
BUT THEY LEFT IT ALL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR,
WELL THEY MADE THEIR STAND IN THAT ABANDONED CHURCH,
WHERE THE GOLD THEY STASHED LAY UNDISTURBED,
WHEN THE COPS CLOSED IN GOD STRUCK A MATCH,
AND THE DEVIL GRINNED AS HE POURED ON GAS,
THERE WAS SHOUTS AND SCREAMS AND A BALL OF FLAMES,
IT BURNED ALL NIGHT - NOT MUCH REMAINED,
WHEN THEY SHINED A LIGHT THROUGH THE SMOKE-FILLED AIR,
THE DEVIL AND GOD AND THE GOLD WEREN'T THERE,
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3. |
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BACK HOME THEY'RE WORRIED WE GOT GATORS IN OUR BACKYARD,
THEY'RE WORRIED THAT WE'RE FRYING EVERYTHING IN HOG LARD,
THEY THINK WE'RE POSING WITH OUR GUNS AND WATCHING NASCAR,
I GOTTA TELL 'EM THIS AIN'T THE ANTEBELLUM… NO NO NO,
PEOPLE ASK ME IF I HANDLE RATTLESNAKES NOW,
PEOPLE ASK ME IF I'M DOWN HERE SELLING BAIT NOW,
PEOPLE ASKIN' IF WE MADE A BIG MISTAKE NOW,
WELL, SAVE YOUR PITY… WE'RE SITTIN' PRETTY,
YEAH YEAH MAMA BOUGHT A BRICK HOUSE,
YEAH YEAH DADDY'S SIPPIN' WINE,
YEAH YEAH MAMA'S GOT HER FEET UP,
WE GOT THE HEAT UP. WE'RE DOING FINE,
BACK HOME THEY WONDER IF WE'RE WEARING ANY SHOES NOW,
SOMEONE WAS ASKING ME IF MAMA'S DOIN' CHEW NOW,
THEY'RE ALL ASSUMING THAT I'M MAKIN' MY HOME BREW NOW,
I GOT TO SCHOOL 'EM… WE AIN'T ALL DROOLIN' NO, NO NO,
YOU'ALL WONDER IF WE'RE LIVING IN A BOG HERE,
Y'ALL WONDER IF I'M LEARNING HOW TO CLOG HERE,
Y'ALL WONDER IF WE'RE BARBECUING HOG EARS,
THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU, WE LOVE OUR BAYOU,
FOLKS ARE ASKING IF I'M MARRIED TO MY COUSIN,
FOLKS ARE ASKING IF WE GOT OUR INDOOR PLUMBIN'
FOLKS ARE ASKING IF I'M DOWN HERE POSSUM HUNTIN'
I GOTTA LEARN 'EM… WE DON'T EAT VERMIN.
Y'ALL ARE THINKING THAT I'M TALKING WITH A DRAWL,
Y'ALL ARE THINKING THAT I ALWAYS SAY Y'ALL,
Y'ALL THINK WE GOT A DEER HEAD ON OUR WALL,
YEAH, MAMA SNUFFED HIM AND THEN I STUFFED HIM,
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4. |
Life Was Good
03:12
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YOUR HORSE WAS WHITE - YOUR HAT WAS TOO,
YOUR SILVER BULLETS' AIM WAS TRUE,
YOUR INDIAN FRIEND WOULD DIE FOR YOU,
LIFE WAS GOOD... LIFE WAS GOOD, MAN,
LIFE WAS GOOD FOR YOU.
YOUR COTTON FIELD WAS TWO MILES LONG,
BUT THEIR BACKS WERE TOUGH AND STRONG,
THE CASH ROLLED IN FROM DUSK TO DAWN,
LIFE WAS GOOD... LIFE WAS GOOD, MAN,
LIFE WAS GOOD... LIFE WAS GOOD FOR YOU.
ONCE THIS POOL WAS JUST FOR YOU,
THE COLORED KIDS SWAM IN THE SLOUGH,
THE ONLY FLAG... RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.
LIFE WAS GOOD... LIFE WAS GOOD, YEAH,
LIFE WAS GOOD... LIFE WAS GOOD, MAN,
LIFE WAS GOOD FOR YOU.
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5. |
Takin' Back What's Mine
03:09
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WELL SHE STOOD IN LINE FOR HOURS WAITING IN THE COLD,
A FIRST-TIME VOTER AT EIGHTY YEARS OLD,
AND WHEN THOSE WHITE ATTORNEYS,
RE-DREW THE MAP TO KEEP HER IN HER PLACE,
TO KEEP HER IN THE BACK - SHE SAID...
I'M TAKING BACK WHAT'S MINE,
I'M TAKING BACK WHAT'S MINE,
TAKING BACK WHAT'S MINE.
SHE WAS RAISED IN THAT CHURCH WHERE HER PARENTS PRAYED,
THEY TOLD HER WHAT TO THINK - TOLD HER WHAT TO SAY,
AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO QUESTION - BEGAN TO DOUBT,
THEY TOLD HER IT WAS SATAN PUTTING WORDS IN HER MOUTH, AND SHE SAID...
WHEN THOSE LITTLE GRAVES WERE FOUND AT THAT INDIAN SCHOOL,
THE SPIRITS TOLD HIM JUST WHAT HE HAD TO DO,
SO HE... DUG THRU THE RUBBLE TIL HE FOUND THEIR BONES,
HE WRAPPED THEM ALL IN BLANKETS AND TOOK HIS CHILDREN HOME CRYING,
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6. |
Nobody Knows Nuthin'
02:03
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I SEEN A MEAN TORNADO FLIP A BIG WINNABAGO 'N DIDN'T EVEN LEAVE A SCRATCH,
SEEN A BEAR TAKE A LICKIN' FROM A THREE LEGGED CHICKEN,
FOLKS STILL TALKIN' 'BOUT THAT,
I SEEN THE FACE OF ELVIS ON A STRIPPER'S PELVIS,
JUST ANOTHER DAY DOWN SOUTH,
I SEEN A PREACHER GET STUNG WHILE SPEAKIN' IN TONGUES,
PLAYIN' WITH A COTTONMOUTH,
NOBODY KNOWS NUTHIN'... EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT,
NOBODY KNOWS NUTHIN' DOWN HERE,
ROUND HERE WE DON'T KNOW JACK.
I SEEN A CREOLE WIDOW WALKIN' WITH A WIGGLE,
TURN A BLIND MAN'S HEAD AROUND,
I SEEN A CAROLINA HICK WITH NUTHIN' BUT A STICK,
FIND WATER UNDERNEATH THE GROUND,
I SEEN A CHOCTAW HEALER CURE ALLIGATOR FEVER,
WITH SKIN FROM A HUMPBACK TOAD,
I SEEN 'A RAIN COME DOWN SO HARD FOLKS DROWN'D,
JUST WALKIN' ACROSS THE ROAD,
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7. |
Marie
05:27
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TELL MARIE I THINK I'M DONE - I LEFT MY HEART OUT IN THE SUN,
I WASN'T WIRED TO TURN IT DOWN,
NO, I RAN IT WIDE OPEN 'TIL I JUST RAN IT DOWN,
AND HAVE HER TELL THE BOYS I'M GONE,
I KNOW I OWE THEM ONE MORE SONG,
BUT I DON'T FEEL THOSE HYMNS NO MORE,
NO I AIN'T THAT SAME WIDE-EYED SOLDIER BOY,
WHO MARCHED OFF TO WAR,
NO I CAN'T BE THE MAN YOU SEE IN ME, OH, MARIE,
AND I CAN'T PAINT THE CEILING THAT YOU NEED,
IT AIN'T IN ME... IT AIN'T ME.
IF I THOUGHT IT'D CHANGE YOUR MIND,
I'D SAY I'M SORRY ONE MORE TIME,
OH, I KNOW I SAID I'D TAKE THE FALL,
BUT IT'S ALL JUST A GAME NOW ISN'T IT
TO SEE HOW FAR I'LL CRAWL
SO TAKE YOUR BOOT HEEL OFF MY NECK
I'M NOW REGRETTING MY REGRET,
OH, I SHOULD'VE SEEN WHERE THIS WOULD LEAD,
YEAH, IT'S ALL JUST A WAR OF ATTRITION ISN'T IT TO SEE HOW MUCH I'LL BLEED.
AND YOU'RE NOT BLAMELESS MY L'AMOUR,
THERE'S TOO MUCH BLOOD HERE ON YOUR FLOOR,
AND I WILL OWN MY SHARE OF BLAME,
NO I... NEVER ASKED FOR ANYONE TO SUFFER FOR ME - EVERY SIN I'LL CLAIM,
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8. |
Bent Not Broken
02:55
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I SEEN THE OLD MAN LOAD CEMENT,
I SAID DON'T YOU DARE - YOUR BACK'S ALL BENT,
HE SAID, HELL, BOY... IT'S BENT NOT BROKEN,
TEASED MY BROTHER ON HIS BENT-WHEEL BIKE,
HOW YOU GONNA RIDE THAT WHEEL AIN'T RIGHT,
'N HE JUST RODE OFF... BENT NOT BROKEN,
LIFE DOWN HERE'S GONNA KNOCK YOU DOWN,
GOD HELPS THEM THAT GET UP OFF THE GROUND,
OLD MULE SAID WHEN SHE CAME UP LAME,
DON'T YOU PUT NO BULLET, CAP'N, IN MY BRAIN,
'CAUSE THIS MULE'S... BENT NOT BROKEN,
LIFE DOWN HERE'S GONNA KICK YOUR ASS,
GOD HELPS THEM WHO GET UP FAST,
MAMA SAID WHEN SHE TOOK THAT FALL,
I CAN'T STAND STRAIGHT BUT I STILL WALK TALL,
AND THAT'S CALLED... BENT NOT BROKEN,
FOLKS DOWN HERE WHO FOUGHT & LOST,
LOVE THAT REBEL ON THAT CROSS,
'CAUSE THAT BOY... WAS BENT NOT BROKEN,
YEAH, THAT BOY... WAS BENT NOT BROKEN.
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9. |
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WHEN GINNY CAME BACK SHE WAS DRESSED IN BLACK,
AND HER HAIR DYED PINK AND BLUE,
AND SHE LIFTED HER SKIRT JUST ENOUGH TO FLIRT,
AND LET ME SEE HER ROSE TATTOO.
MAN, I WAS GREEN - I WAS JUST THIRTEEN,
SHE BROKE MY HEART IN TWO,
AND ALL THAT’S PASSED HASN’T CHANGED ONE FACT,
NUTHIN' WAS AS COOL - NUTHIN' WAS AS CRUEL,
AS GINNY TAYLOR'S ROSE TATTOO.
IN MY SEVENTEENTH YEAR GINNY LICKED MY EAR,
AT A CLUB IN KALAMAZOO,
NO, I COULDN’T DANCE BUT I GOT MY CHANCE,
TO FINALLY TOUCH THE ROSE TATTOO.
BUT I WAS GREEN - SHE WAS GASOLINE,
AND I WAS NO MATCH IT’S TRUE,
AND ALL THIS TIME NEVER CHANGED MY MIND,
THERE NEVER WAS A CRUSH - NEVER WAS A RUSH,
LIKE GINNY TAYLOR'S ROSE TATTOO.
WHEN GINNY LEFT TOWN I WAS SO FACE-DOWN,
THAT I COULDN’T EVEN TIE MY SHOES,
AND EVERYONE SAID GET HER OUT OF YOUR HEAD,
FORGET ABOUT THE ROSE TATTOO.
SO I BROKE DOWN AND I DROVE DOWN SOUTH,
LANDED IN BATON ROUGE,
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS ONLY ONE THING’S CLEAR,
NOTHING WAS AS REAL - NOTHING WAS THE DEAL,
LIKE GINNY TAYLOR’S ROSE TATTOO.
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10. |
Nuthin' Here To See
04:43
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BLACK HANDS BOUND BEHIND HIS BACK - FACE DOWN IN THE STREET,
YOU KNOW DEATH WHEN YOU SEE IT - IT LOOKS NUTHIN' LIKE SLEEP,
COPS STANDIN' ALL AROUND HIM START TO FEAR THE MOB,
THEY SAY Y'ALL KEEP MOVIN' NOW - LET US DO OUR JOB,
BACK OFF PEOPLE - GO ON HOME,
THIS AIN'T YOUR BUSINESS - PUT DOWN THAT PHONE,
NO NO NO THERE'S NUTHIN' HERE TO SEE,
DON'T YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE YOU GOTTA BE,
AIN'T NUTHIN' HERE TO SEE.
BEFORE THE TRIAL EVEN STARTED THE FOX SMELLED THE BLOOD,
THEY SMEARED AND BLAMED THE VICTIM - CALLED HIM A LOW-LIFE THUG,
THEY LABELED HIM A JUNKIE - A DEADBEAT DAD - A DRUNK,
THEY DRAGGED HIS NAME THRU MILES OF MUD EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH,
THEY SAID HIS LIFE A WASTE OF BREATH,
ALL LIVES MATTER BUT SOME MATTER LESS,
THE TRUTH CAN ALL BE BURIED - THE TRUTH CAN ALL BE CHOKED,
YOU CAN GAG ITS MOUTH WITH RAGS - BIND ITS WRISTS WITH ROPE,
YOU CAN LOCK IT IN SOME CELLBLOCK - TO NEVER SEE THE SUN,
BUT IT WILL RISE LIKE THE GHOST OF CHRIST,
REVEALING WHAT YOU'VE DONE,
SO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THERE WERE NO CHAINS,
THERE WERE NO VICTIMS - THEY HAD NO NAMES,
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11. |
Before It Rains
03:06
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THERE AIN'T NUTHIN' MUCH HERE LEFT,
AND THIS STORM WILL TAKE THE REST,
YEAH IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT AND SCATTER.
THERE'S NO SHED FOR PARTS LIKE US,
WE WILL CRACK BEFORE WE RUST, SO LET'S PEEL
LET'S MAKE SOME DUST BEFORE WE SHATTER,
SO, HOP IN MY OLD REBEL FRIEND,
WE'LL DRIVE UNTIL THE PAVEMENT ENDS,
AND GATHER WHAT REMAINS… BEFORE IT RAINS.
DON'T FORGET TO PACK THAT BOX,
FILLED WITH HOLY BOOKS THEY TOSSED,
YEAH WE'LL SCAVENGE WHAT WAS LOST,
AND MAKE UP OUR OWN PRAYERS,
SO TAKE THE WHEEL YOU OLD MARK TWAIN,
WE'LL SMOKE CIGARS & WRITE REFRAINS,
AND WE WILL HOWL LIKE TWO OLD TRAINS A GOIN' NOWHERE.
OH, HOP INSIDE MY RAGGED FRIEND,
WE'LL DRIVE UNTIL THE PAVEMENT ENDS,
AND GATHER WHAT REMAINS… BEFORE IT RAINS.
THERE'S SOME GOLD STILL IN THAT MINE,
THAT OUR FATHERS COULD NOT FIND,
THAT WE'LL HAMMER INTO RHYME,
BEFORE THEY'RE ALL CLOSED DOWN,
TIME TO TAKE WHATEVER'S WORTH,
KEEPING CLOSE - WHAT YOU UNEARTHED,
WHAT YOU BURIED - WHAT YOU BIRTHED,
WHATEVER YOUR SEARCH FOUND,
SO, HOP IN MY OLD REBEL FRIEND,
WE'LL DRIVE UNTIL THE PAVEMENT ENDS,
AND GATHER WHAT REMAINS… BEFORE IT RAINS.
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Marv & Rindy Ross/ Quarterflash ; Koonce-Ross-Fraser Portland, Oregon
Rindy and Marv Ross have been playing together since getting married in 1971. Best known for their five Top 40 hits in Quarterflash including their iconic hit, "Harden My Heart", the Rosses have garnered gold and platinum albums and were inducted into Oregon's Music Hall of Fame. Koonce -Ross-Fraser's "New American Blues" won album of the year - 2021 Oregon Music Hall of Fame. ... more
Contact Marv & Rindy Ross/ Quarterflash ; Koonce-Ross-Fraser
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