1. |
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JUST A LITTLE WAYS DOWN THE ROAD
Now every time I get the blues I put on my walking shoes
and I find a trail, for I’ve determined that going out is comin’ in
Just a little ways down the road, just a little ways down the road
Where did I come from? Where will I go? Just a little ways down the road
It seems like only yesterday I drove an old beat-up Chevrolet
But it threw a rod and the crankshaft bent. Been riding Shank’s mare ever since
I’m gonna keep on walking and I won’t stop until I reach that mountaintop
And if the weather’s good and I like the view, I might just sit and wait on you
From away up here on the top of the hill I see another higher still
So if you’re comin’, don’t be slow, for the mountains are callin’ and I must go
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2. |
Enough
04:34
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ENOUGH
They say Sequoia needs the fire to free the seed from the cone
But the land of my dreams is an ash-gray monotone
The earth lies scorched, my heart is bereft
Where once was a home just these cinders are left
And the only place safe from the flames is this hard granite stone
I know we need the rain, but I’m drowning in these tears
If they could wash away the pain, lord, I’d be free and clear
I need the hot sun beating on my head
warm sand between my toes in a dry creek-bed
But the river keeps rising, bringing down a flood of fears
I’ve had enough fire, I’ve had enough rain
Lord, I’m so tired of all this pain
Everything I love is disappearing from the land
So I squeeze my eyes shut, for I’ve seen more than I can stand
But then I see the way we used to dance
The fields of flowers, the nights of romance
And I open my eyes again and reach for your hand
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music ASCAP)
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3. |
Texas Wind
04:12
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TEXAS WIND
There’s no shelter from the rain that’s carried on the Texas wind
Comes a-whistling off the plain, reminding me of you again
And I remember when
We were lifted by that wind like two birds upon the wing
Ever higher we’d ascend, two skylarks in the Spring—
We two were one when we would sing
Oh, will the Texas wind
Sing you home to me again?
I never said goodbye to you—I only ever said so long
For so long now my heart’s been true to the memory of a song—
The melody so sweet and strong
The Springtime comes and goes, and the farmer tends his grain
He defends it from the crows, sends a prayer up for the rain
And the wind blows ‘cross the plain
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music ASCAP)
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4. |
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WHY'D YOU HAVE TO BREAK MY HEART SO EARLY IN THE DAY?
I stumbled into the kitchen and turned on the news like I always do
to make sure that the world is still all in one piece as I make my brew
But before the coffee hit the cup, I heard your name and I looked up
and turned my ear to hear what they had to say—
Why’d you have to break my heart so early in the day?
When I first heard your songs I recall that they kind-of blew my mind,
how you’d fit so much ordinary life into every simple-seeming rhyme
But you were mining a deeper vein, right under the corner of 5th and Main
Below the words you had some truth to say—
Why’d you have to break my heart so early in the day?
Now a song’s just a song and it’s probably not gonna change the world
We’ve rhymed every rhyme and every melodical twist has been curled
But damn, man, you had an art—you could make me laugh and then tear out my heart
I want to give back, so I guess that I’ll start by returning the line you once sent my way
Why’d you have to break my heart so early in the day?
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music ASCAP)
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5. |
Quaking Aspen
04:17
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QUAKING ASPEN
Let me tell you about a time, when I was much younger
I moved to the town of Gunnison in the hills of Colorado
Fallen on hard times, had no job, feelin’ earthbound and heavy
Until I found what I came there for—I fell in love with the mountains
Wide blue skies, so clean and clear against the green and golden hills
Leaves are falling to the ground, they toss the sunlight up around you
So I’d go up on windy days when the hillsides were a-blazin’
I’d walk out the the aspen grove, where everything is golden
The grove’s a world unto itself when the noisy leaves are talkin’
Grey skies cannot dim their glow, their own light sets them dancin’
Gilded leaves beneath your feet, shimmer of gold above you
Smooth white bark and olive green—groves of quaking aspen
Wide blue skies so clean and clear, against the green and the golden hills
Radiant with a dying fire, yellow leaves rain down around you
So even now on weary days, when my heart is trembling,
I go back to the aspen grove where everything is golden
(Mark Simos, Kit Lia Ashera/Devachan Music)
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6. |
Trees
02:59
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TREES
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music, ASCAP)
Laurie Lewis, Hasee Ciaccio, George Guthrie, Tom Rozum: Vocals
We stand waiting at the edges of your fields
We stand just waiting for the time
When the plow’s bright blade is turned to rust
And the earth is healed from the vicious cut
We stand waiting at the edges of your fields
You are but the shadow of a cloud across the land
Here a moment, then you’re gone again
And we’ll sprout from your foundations
Break the bounds between your nations
Though you build your monuments, they will not stand
Would you try to turn this whole world into dust?
Don’t you know you cannot wrest the land from us?
For we are patient, we are old
And though we fall, our roots will grow
And you are but the slaves of your own lust
We watch you swarm and spawn, build your cities and then move on
We will reclaim what’s ours when you have gone
For you are but chaff the wind
Kicks up and carries off again
And we know we are the chosen ones
We stand waiting at the edges of your fields
We stand just waiting for the time
When the plow’s bright blade is turned to rust
And the earth is healed from the vicious cut
We stand waiting at the edges of your fields
released April 26, 2024
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7. |
Long Gone
03:11
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LONG GONE
I’ve been long gone, from the stage to the highway to the night grill
and everywhere I went time just stood still
and in every town it all went down the same
I’ve been long gone, and in every dream was the dream that you’d still want me
In every motel room your brown eyes would just haunt me
and in every town I called out your name
I’ve been long gone, set loose again to chase another payday
knowing if I could just hold you I would be okay
Tell me once again that you’re still mine
There was nothing on the highway, there was nothing but the wind
And I couldn’t look ahead, I could just see where I’ve been
From Hartford down to Tampa, Duluth to Malibu
I ran every trick, I told every lie, just to get on home to you
I’ve been long gone, now I’m standing in the doorway of your front hall
Hey, ain’t this better than a letter or a phone call?
Tell me once again that you’r still mine
I’ve been long gone, unpack my bags and throw away the suitcase
Let me know it’s true, let me just touch your face
Tell me that you love me one more time
I’ve been long gone, hey, true love always comes as a surprise
Can you see your reflection in my eyes?
Tell me that you love me one more time
I’ve been long gone, and those nights alone were almost too much to bear
Throw your arms around me and just keep them there
Tell me that you love me one more time
(Bill Morrissey/Bumblebee OBO Dry Fly Music)
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8. |
Hound Dog Blues
04:22
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HOUND DOG BLUES
You went away and left me, left me here with your old hound
And the only thing he’s good for is eatin’ and a-layin’ around
Your old hound dog sure is a lot like you
Every time i see him I always get the hound dog blues
Your old hound dog sure can snap them flies
He can tool them off his tongue just as easy as you told them lies
Johnson City liquor gives a man the wobbly knees
I swear you was a-wobblin’ the night you walked out on me
Now he’s my old hound dog, and he does what a dog’ll do
But at least he’s got a license, which is more than I can say about you
(Iris V M Hall, Tom T Hall/Good Homegrown Music)
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9. |
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THE BANKS ARE COVERED IN BLUE
(Brandon Godman, Laurie Lewis/FiddleMeOne Music BMI, Spruce and Maple Music ASCAP)
Laurie: guitar, vocal
Brandon Godman: fiddle, vocals
Hasee Ciaccio: string bass, harmony vocal
Patrick Sauber: banjo
I walked down by the river where we used to go,
to gather wildflowers in the long-ago
And the Springtime blossomed as it did for me and you
The banks are covered in blue
Forget me not—I’ll not forget you as long as the wildflowers bloom
Forget me not—my heart is still true. The green banks are covered in blue,
the banks are covered in blue
Forget me not—I’ll not forget you till I bid this wide world adieu
Forget me not—my heart is still true. The green banks are covered in blue, the banks are covered in blue
released April 26, 2024
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10. |
Down on the Levee
03:31
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DOWN ON THE LEVEE
I must go down on the levee again, to the muddy water and sky
and all I ask is a stern-wheel boat and some marks to steer her by
The pull of the wheel, ‘scapin’ out on the roof, the pilot house windows shakin’
a full moon in a Missouri sky and a foggy morning breakin’
I must go down on the levee again for river is up, and she’s wide
I hear that lonesome whistle, it’s a call that cannot be denied
Step onboard some southbound boat, sail all the way to the sea
At home on a muddy ol’ river is where I want to be
I must get a job on the river again, for the river is up and she’s wide
paintin’ stairs, movin’ chairs, sleep up on the deck sometimes
Stories heard on the lazy bench, fixin’ the searchlight’s arc
Carrying coffee up to the old man, stumblin’ in the dark
So here's to you, a real steamboat with double-swinging stages,
compound condensing engines, and real old-timey looking gauges
May your wheels be free from driftwood, may you never run aground
May all your winds be tailwinds, and may all your trips be down
(John Hartford/John Hartford Music)
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11. |
The Day is Mine
03:27
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THE DAY IS MINE
I was born n a Spring day, the wind was blowing change through the lovers’ lives
A caucus was peeping through the snow, the moment met with the opening of my eyes
Someday I will turn my gaze into a tunnel of light
Until that time when I am swept away, the day is mine
Now every step I take is a wild one that I make willingly
I cannot leave without accounting for my time and my dancing feet
What I do with a minute or two, how I raise my stakes a little higher
Who I love when the sun goes down, how I hope to wake inspired
(Kate MacLeod/Courier Music)
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12. |
Rock The Pain Away
04:39
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ROCK THE PAIN AWAY
No need to stand so strong and proud
No need to say those words out loud
No need for sugar-coated lies
I see the pain deep in your eyes
Let me hold you for awhile
Enfold you in my arms like a child
And if you could let go
And if you could let me, you know
I would try to rock the pain away
Some people say it just takes time
The storms will pass, and the sun will shine
They say the darkest hour precedes the dawn
And you just shoulder your load and soldier on
When the loss is more than you can stand
Reach out to me and I will take your hand
When the sorrow turns your heart to stone
I’ll stand by you, you need not be alone
(Laurie Lewis/Spruce and Maple Music ASCAP)
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Laurie Lewis Berkeley, California
For fiddler, guitarist, singer, and songwriter Laurie Lewis, the traditions of bluegrass and folk aren’t so much tools in her hands, but burning sources of inspiration that have driven her through a 30+ year career at the forefront of American roots music. A pioneering woman in bluegrass, Laurie has paved the way for many, always guided by her own love of traditional music. ... more
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