Hayes Carll Album

I got a woman she's wild as Rome
She likes to lay naked and be gazed upon
She crosses a bridge and then sets it on fire
Lands like a bird on a telephone wire

Wine bottles scattered like last night's clothes
Cigarettes, papers, and dominoes
She laughs for a minute about the shape I'm in
Says, "You be the sinner honey, I'll be the sin."

(Chorus)
I'm gonna holler and I'm gonna scream
I'm gonna get me some mescaline
She brings me roses and a place to lean
A drunken poet's dream

There's some money on the table and a pistol on the floor
Some old paper back books of Louis L'Amour
She says, "Honey, don't worry 'bout judgement day."
All these people going to heaven, they're just in our way

Chorus

And all my life I laid around while the colors all turned blue
Closed my eyes and finally found it brought me back to you

I got a woman she's wild as Rome
She likes to lay naked and be gazed upon
She crosses a bridge then sets it on fire
Lands like a bird on a telephone wire

Chorus

The time has come, there is no second chance
We’ve been drifting on an empty aching sea
You were the girl I never knew I wanted
I was the boy you hoped you’d never see

Chorus
And it’s a shame
That we ain’t lovers
We could’ve been something, so big and grand
Just kissin’ for hours
underneath that sweet magnolia
Beggin’ for answers, tryin’ to make a stand

Been burnin’ up the hours, talkin’ to the midnight
Just dreaming of ways I could hold you next to me
But maybe it just wasn’t meant, all things have a reason
Maybe our hearts were just too careless and free

Repeat Chorus

There was a time, when you would have had me
There was a time, I could have had you
But it’s too late, another path has come and gone again
I’m at the back door with a broken window view thinkin’

Repeat Chorus

I’m so tired of writin’, but I can’t put down my pen
It’s too late now to talk or turn back
So just hold on, ‘cause baby here we go again
Headin’ the wrong way down that one way track

Repeat Chorus

There's a girl downtown with freckles on her nose
Pencils in her pockets and ketchup on her clothes
She's a real nice girl, pretty as a plate
The boys call her Katie when they ask her on a date
And who knows Katie? Maybe you could be the one

There's a boy outside standin' in the rain
Hands are in his pockets he's a wonderin' why he came
He's a real nice boy, slower than the fall
The girls call him Billy if they're callin' him at all
And who knows Billy? Maybe you could be the one

(Chorus)
But hearts don't fly, words don't sing
Boys like you can't buy no ring
Loves not stuck, it just moves slow
Turn around a minute and away we go

Billy walked inside and ordered up a drink
He started gettin' nervous and a wonderin' what she'd think
She thought he looked nice, rough around the seams
Just the kind of boy who could listen to her dreams
And who knows Katie? Maybe he could be the one

Well, they stepped outside, took a little walk
Katie held his hand and Billy even talked
They sat by the pond, they didn't make a sound
The night fell easy as the moon came down
And who knows baby? Maybe we could be the one

Chorus

Theres a girl downtown with freckles on her nose
Pencils in her pockets and ketchup on her clothes
She's a real nice girl, pretty as a plate
The boys call her Katie when they ask her on a date

And who knows Katie?
Maybe you could be the one
Who knows Katie?
Maybe you could be the one
Who knows baby?
Maybe we could be the one

Arkansas, my head hurts
I'd love to stick around and maybe make it worse
I got a girl out in Henrietta
Her love’s like tornado weather

It's girls like this that keep me trying
She goes off like and air-raid siren
Comin' completely torn apart
A bad liver and a broken heart
A bad liver and a broken heart

Indian summer Oklahoma sunset
If there’s a nicer place I haven’t been there yet
I’m standing outside of the, the Blue Door
Too tired to sleep
Too drunk for more

It's nights like these that keep me trying
A woman always knows when a man is lying
It ain't me, I’m just playing a part
A bad liver and a broken heart
A bad liver and a broken heart

I’ll get old before I’m good at this
Who’s the president? What year is it?
Doesn’t anybody care about truth anymore?
Maybe that’s what songs are for.

You’re the wind and I’m on fire
This line of work no one retires
Comin' completely torn apart
A bad liver and a broken heart
A bad liver and a broken heart

A bad liver and a broken heart
A bad liver and a broken heart

I saw you leaning on a memory
With your back turned to the crowd
In that little bar on Murphy
Where they play guitar too loud
There were people drinking whiskey
There were hearts about to leave
It was cold as hell for Houston
It was almost New Year's Eve

All the way from Beaumont
With a white rose in my hand
I could not wait forever babe
I hope you understand

The night was feeling lucky
So I asked you to dance
And the way you looked up at me
Made me think I had a chance
But I put my arms around you
I knew you weren't giving in
I hope it will be different
if I pass this way again

All the way from Beaumont
With a white rose in my hand
I could not wait forever babe
I hope you understand

I walked the road to get here
With a guitar and a case
I'd of stopped in Pasadena
If I'd known about this place
But you looked like forever
Where the water meets the shore
I've been thinkin about you, baby
I can't do that anymore

I saw you leaning on a memory
With your back turned to the crowd
In that little bar on Murphy
Where they play guitar too loud
There were people drinking whiskey
There were hearts about to leave
It was cold as hell for Houston
It was almost New Year's Eve

All the way from Beaumont
With a white rose in my hand
I could not wait forever babe
I hope you understand

Eight line machine and a sailor's daughter
Something makes 'em crazy growing up on the water
Playing for my supper six nights a week
Hurricanes, Easter and New Year's Eve
Four tin walls now there ain't much left
Looking like a homeless Cheers on meth
Homer's in the corner, breaking up a fight
Good Lord, I hope I get paid tonight
I got a gig, baby

Burnt fried chicken and Lone Star beer
Cops and the kids drink free 'round here
Girl, behind the bar is taking what she's giving
Lying about her past and trying to make a living
Broke pool table and some hard luck cues
Go tell your mama, I done paid my dues
Every one around here knows my name
Six nights a week in the neon flame
I got a gig, baby
I got a gig

There's an old lion tamer parked behind the bar
Hundred pounds of weed in a stolen car
Oil patch boys and girls who went to college
Rules you don't break and laws that ain't acknowledged
Barefoot shrimper with a pistol up his sleeve
Some will go to heaven, some will never leave
Pills in the tip jar, blood on the strings
Oh Lord, I never thought I'd see these things
I got a gig, baby
I got a gig

Eight line machine and a sailor's daughter
Something makes 'em crazy growing up on the water
I'm playing for my supper six nights a week
Hurricanes, Easter and New Year's Eve
I got a gig, baby
I got a gig
I got a gig, baby
Awwwwwwwww, I got a gig

The record player's scratchin' out an old and dusty tune
On the front porch, on a Sunday, on an Arky afternoon
We were lyin' 'round like gypsies, thinkin' 'bout goin' to town
And Jimmy's drinkin' whiskey straight and lyin' in the shade
Jamie's dancin' round the kitchen with a glass of lemonade
Lookin' like an angel who's never gonna touch the ground

Chorus:

Trouble in mind
How'd we ever lose that time?
Livin' for the best
Leavin' all the rest behind

Now them boys from Morgan County, there a comin' out tonight
With country on the radio and trouble in there eyes
They come walkin' up the driveway, singin' 'bout the night before
And we'll head up to the mountain, pick-up trucks and old guitars
We'll all smoke marijuana as we look up at the stars
Raisin' hell for hours, until we can't take any more

Repeat Chorus

Now there's a picture on the mantle top, filled with old regrets
There are times I can't remember and things I won't forget
I'd call you up and tell you, but baby, we've been gone too long
That porch is just a memory and the record player's broke
The hills have gone to houses and Jimmy's gone to smoke
But I'd do the whole thing over, darlin' just to hear that song

Repeat Chorus

Well I'm wild as a turkey, higher than a Christmas moon
Empty as my wallet on a Sunday afternoon
I come around too fast, and I always leave too soon
Ain't that what they all say?

I come down from Memphis, with a broken down Corvette
A suitcase full of memories, and face you won't forget
You say you'll never love me, but the night ain't over yet
I'm gonna change your mind

Girl I've been a gambler since the age of 21
I've seen my share of troubles and the wrong end of a gun
This whole worlds out to get me just because I have my fun
They ain't gonna slow me anyway

Right ain't right babe, and left ain't always wrong
I bet you're tired of dancing to the same old song
You look like an angel in a place you don't belong
I'm gonna take you away

Just because this place is closing that don't mean it's time for bed
We don't need no sleep girl, we'll get plenty when we're dead
Oh these fools behind you and come with me instead
I'm gonna show you a time

Well I'm wild as a turkey
Higher than a Christmas moon
Empty as my wallet on a Sunday afternoon
I come around too fast, and I always leave too soon
Ain't that what they all say?
Ain't that what they all say?

I walked the highway since I can't remember
I cut my poor family right down to the bone
From the shadows of hell to the winds of December
They dined with the strangers, woke up all alone

Chorus
So dont let me fall, cause iI might not get up again
Just hold me tight, right now what I need's a friend
I've come too far for this to be the end
Dont let me fall, cause I might not get up

God knows I tried to hold on to a feeling
Some old memory to keep in my heart
And I ask forgiveness from those I've forsaken
Forgiveness won't come in and it tears me apart

Repeat Chorus

Killing this pain outside in the rain
One hand holds the bottle one hand holds my shame
I don't know which comes first I don't know which is worst
Riding behind or inside the hearse

[No lyrics]

When I'm lyin' in my bed at night, I don't wanna grow up
Nothin' ever seems to turn out right, I don't wanna grow up
How do you move in a world of fog that's always changing things
Makes me wish that I could be a dog

When I see the price that you pay I don't wanna grow up
I don't ever want to be that way I don't wanna grow up
Seems like folks turn into things that they'd never want
The only thing to live for is today

I'm gonna put a hole in my tv set I don't wanna grow up
Yeah gonna open up the medicine chest and I don't wanna grow up
I don't wanna have to shout it out I don't want my hair to fall out
I don't wanna be filled with doubt I don't wanna be a good boy scout
I don't wanna have to learn to count I don't wanna have the biggest amount
I don't wanna grow up

Well when I see my parents fight I don't wanna grow up
They all go out and drinkin' all night and I don't wanna grow up
I'd rather stay here in my room nothin' out there but sad and gloom
I don't wanna live in a big old tomb on Grant Street

When I see the 5 o'clock news I don't wanna grow up
They Comb their hair and shine their shoes I don't wanna grow up
Rather stick around the old hometown I don't wanna put no money down
I don't wanna get me a big old loan work them fingers to the bone
I don't wanna learn to float a broom fall in love and get married then boom
How the hell did it get here so soon
I don't wanna grow up

i keep knockin over whiskeys
no ones laughin at my jokes
they got me spinnin round in circles
like a tin can in the spokes

when i left town this mornin
with a smile upon my face
ahh babe i swear i never knew
id end up in this place

chorus:
run away little darlin
you dont need me anymore
ive been out here for too long
it aint like it was before

if i get back home to houston
im gonna tip my hat and cry
when i left i was a younger man
too proud to say goodbye
im gonna wake up in the mornin
with a conscience ten feet tall
im gonna lay my head down wiser
or i wont lay down at all

repeat chorus

you used to live out on the border
where no one else could reach
now i cant ask a question
without you givin a speech
you said, i never cared
babe you know that isnt true
its just the only thing you asked of me
was the one thing i cant do

repeat chorus

i drink too much and i smoke too much
i laugh at all my own jokes too much
im hard to tell and soft to touch
and easy at sayin goodbye

i broke your heart, a thousand times
with wasted nights and ramblin rhymes
i thought id leave, you thought behind
but time just wouldnt, let go

chorus:

i walk the streets, i kick the cans
tore down walls with my two hands
and still across, my floor you stand
willing, to love, again

solo

out of all the dreams, in this whole world
howd you get so unlucky girl
to find a shell, that had no pearl
and a man who couldnt, find home

i feel too much, i protect too much
and most times i probably expect too much
i spend my life, on this broken crutch
and you believe i can fly

repeat chorus

and still across, my floor you stand
willing, to love, again

We've been dating since high school, we never once left this town
We used to go out on the weekends and we'd drink 'til we drowned
But now, she's acting funny and I don't understand
I think that she's found her some other man


(Chorus)
She left me for Jesus and that just ain't fair
She says that He's perfect, how could I compare
She says I should find Him and I'll know peace, at last
If I ever find Jesus, I'm kicking His ass


She showed me a picture, all I could do was stare
At that freak in His sandals with His long pretty hair
They must think that I'm stupid or, I don't have a clue
I'll bet He's a commie or, even worse yet, a Jew

Chorus

She's given up whiskey and taken up wine
While she prays for His troubles, has forgot about mine
I'm gonna get even, I can't handle the shame
Why, last time we made love, she even called out His name

Chorus

It could have been Carlos or, even Billy Ortez
But, if I ever find Jesus, He's gonna wish He were dead

Amen