THE MYSTIC COWBOYS: Songs For Better Singers

The Mystic Cowboys

Songs For Better Singers

© 1999 Nightshelf Music Publishing (634479489402) (format: CD-R)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

A mixture of country, rock, Dakota folk and a hint of blues.

notes

Political, emotional, spiritual, edgy, hopeful, spirited, inspired, mystical, thought-provoking, a living contradiction, Americana, consisting of styles using shades of country/rock/folk/blues and gospel.

The Mystic Cowboys is an eclectic group of various artists spanning a couple of decades and always led by the tunesmith, Dan Johnson. If you like most of what's playing endlessly on the current radio charts, you'll probably hate this original stuff.

Following are the lyrics for this CD:

***Bourbon Street
Found my feet lost on Bourbon Street
Country blues on city time
Made myself a bet how soon I’d forget
Only children have eternal rhyme
This Big Easy has been awful hard on me
Sleeping down by the M I S S I S S I P P I
Found these feet lost on Bourbon Street
I’m gonna head up the M I S S I S S I P P I
Found my feet lost on Bourbon Street
Hot neon dreams they led me to New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird he came along
Horns blowing bright they lifted a starless night
I was so low inside Keith’s song
This Big Easy has been awful hard on me
Sleeping down by the M I S S I S S I P P I
Found my feet lost on this Bourbon Street

***It’s Gonna Hurt
Once again we’re on the fringe
Looking better than the shape we’re in
There’s enough hurt ‘round here to fill a train
Stacked in piles like rotting grain
It’s only gonna hurt for a while
It’s only gonna hurt for a while
It’s only gonna hurt ‘til I don’t
I’m only gonna hurt because you won’t
Little fairy wings that spread the dust
Will collect the love that they blew on us
Well I’m meek and cold of threads and memories
It’s gonna be tough as you and worn out as me
It’s only gonna hurt for a while
It’s only gonna hurt for a while
I’m only gonna hurt ‘til I don’t
I’m only gonna hurt because you won’t

***Helluva Chance
Hey you got your boots pointed in wrong direction
We were crying before too much reflection
Well the ice was melting off tree branches
We had a three-day beard and took sideways glances
Well that woman was long and her legs were lean
You were black and blue and all serene
You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming
You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming
Now lights are flashing and women are crying
And the lawyers are ready to start their lying
You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming
Hey you gotta slide out cause they got you running
Some Dirty Harry’s gonna come gunning
Left behind your old daddy’s guitar
As payment in kind for a stolen car
Well the pretty woman sings like a bird in a cage
Said you left her in a naked jealous rage
You took a Helluva chance on the angels coming
You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming
Now lights are flashing and women are crying
And the lawyers are ready to start their lying
You took a Helluva chance on the angels coming
You took a Helluva chance on them angels coming

***I Know You’ll Cry
I know you’ll cry when the rain comes
But that’s alright if it helps you heal
Watch the birds keep flying
And remember how sweet the sunshine feels
I know you’ll cry when you smell pine trees
But that’s alright if you think of home
The country will be inside your soul in New York City, Paris or Rome
I know you’ll cry when you eat wedding cake
But that’s alright if you know its sweet
Think of a white and happy winter
And warm kids playing at your feet
Sometimes you’ll cry without knowing why
But your guardian angel will understand
And hold your shaking hand
I know you’ll cry at certain sad songs
But that’s alright if you still sing
Hear a choir of happy children
When you hear church bells ring
I know you’ll cry when the rain comes

***They Don’t Want Me
It was raining when I came passing through
I was trying to keep dry what could I do
There’s a long list of mothers that have warned their daughters I’d come around
To their town

I was trying to quit lying about my past I want to make things last
I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around
They don’t want me in their town

Well a pretty preacher’s daughter took me in
I swore I never taught her how to sin
There’s a long list of daughters that have lied to their mothers about me
Can’t you see

That I was trying to quite lying about my past I want to make things last
I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around
They don’t want me in their town

Well all I could do was try to make a stand
I was up against the town and a preacher man
There’s a long of preachers with pretty restless wives that run away
So we left that day

I was trying to quit lying about my past I want to make things last
I’ve been shiftless I’ve been luckless some say worthless to be around

They don’t want me
They don’t want me
No they don’t want me in their town

***Rainmaker
There’s a gray tomcat outside my door
Crying like he can’t hunt no more
It’s soaking in my skin like tattoos where I’ve been
I can feel him

Well a worn leather Harley beats down the street
There’s no mama on that fender seat
In the summer rain with very little strain he can’t hide his tears

I’m a street-walker lost and found
Turning tricks on virgin ground
I’m a rainmaker
I’m a rainmaker
With empty clouds
With empty clouds

Well count your beads and say your Hail Mary’s
Lower bones into the cemeteries
Well velvet shadows sway mark another day
‘Til we join them
There’s a couple old boys standing outside the bar
Glad I’m driving past in this old car
Or I’d slide right in and I’d have to swim
To get on out of there

I’m a street-walker lost and found
Turning tricks on virgin ground
I’m a rainmaker
I’m a rainmaker
Just a rainmaker
With empty clouds
With empty clouds

***Born to Sin
No use crying about the shape we’re in
Cause after all man was born to sin
Born to sin and born to cry
Waiting for wings so we can fly
Give me wings oh give me wheels
I gotta know how traveling feels
Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in
After all man was born to sin

I’m gonna be gone when dawn comes knocking in the morning
I’ll be missing the kissing you gave out last night
I’ve got a dream it’s gonna smooth things out
Well there ain’t no doubt
Gonna be right tonight

No use crying about the shape we’re in
Cause after all man was born to sin
Born to sin born to cry
Waiting for wings so we can fly
Give me wings oh give me wheels
I got to know how traveling feels
Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in
Cause after all man was born to sin

If I take it slow the way I go it will lead me home
The bucking and trucking rodeo is going to pay
When you see my smiling face I’ll have flowers
In a few short hours ok I’m on my way
Hey, hey, hey, hey

There’s no use crying about the shape we’re in
After all man was born to sin
Born to sin born to cry
Waiting for wings so we can fly
Give me wings oh give me wheels
I gotta know how traveling feels
Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in
Cause after all man was born to sin
Lover won’t you love me for the mess I’m in
Cause after all man was born to sin
Born to sin

***It Won’t Hurt Me
You’ll say that I’ll run blindly
It’s gonna hurt me
It’s gonna hurt me

Then you’ll haunt the trails behind me
It’s gonna hurt me
It’s gonna hurt me

I will be kicking myself I know that I loved you
Praying for things to set me free
But you won’t cry for me you’ll say I had it coming
It’s gonna hurt me

You might say that I turned outlaw
It’s gonna hurt me
It’s gonna hurt me

I got some red neck in me like my pa
It’s gonna hurt me
It’s gonna hurt me

I can cry with dust in my eyes
Waiting for the thing to set me free
But you won’t cry for me you’ll say I had it coming
That’s gonna hurt me

And if you say you never loved me
That’s gonna hurt me
It’s gonna hurt me

And you won’t be there when they bury me
But that won’t hurt me
That won’t hurt me
That won’t hurt me

***On Metal Horses
Well it’s kind of strange they ride the range on metal horses
Their restless souls can gain control as they cut the wind
On Harley rides they don’t hide from the western sun
Oh they’re having fun oh they love to run
On metal horses

They ride to town they shut them down at the old saloon
Sawdust on the floor they’ve been here before and they like pine smell
They’re raising hell they don’t care to dwell on the bad things they’ve done
Oh they’re having fun oh they love to run
On metal horses

Like one-eyed jacks they ride in black it’s a James Dean thing
They ride through rain but there’s no shame in showing up wet
Yes it’s kind of strange they ride the range on metal horses
But they’re having fun and they love to run on metal horses
On metal horses

***Any House
Dad talked around a cigarette but I heard what he said
He said this old house will keep us warm and keep the rain off of our heads
Some of the windows were broken and in the clearing it looked so all alone
But Mom said with a little love any house can be a home

Any house can be a home if you fix the roof and paint every few years
If you laugh a lot cry some tears drop down on your knees and say your prayers
I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own
But any good mama will tell you with a little love any house can be a home

I was coming home after a party from some big music a road show
Through the tinted windows in my limousine I saw a campfire glow
Under the bridge I told the driver to stop let me walk a little while
I walked over to the campfire and an old man stood and gave me a smile

There was this old man and three young children cooking hot dogs at the end of some stiff kind of a wire
The smallest one said mister you can have mine as he pulled it from the fire
The old man came over there and he said take it so I took it and put a wad of money in his hand

Woman saw tears in my eyes and she said honey did you thank the man
Any bridge can be a home it don’t need a roof it don’t need stairs
You can kneel down by a campfire and under the stars the Lord will take your prayers
I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own

Like any good woman will tell you with a little love I guess anywhere can be a home
It sure shouldn’t have to be that way
Little children sleeping under bridges
We all need to help that situation out
Common folks let’s get these people some houses
We can offer we can always afford things like that
I knew these things as a child but I forgot them as a man out on my own
Like any good mama would tell you any house can be a home

***Happy Toad
Crow sitting on a barbed-wire fence looks singing don’t make no sense
She oughtta get on get on down the road
Cat caught a mouse looks like a dog eating him like corn on the cob
You oughtta get on get on down the road
You oughtta get on get on down the road
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Try to keep a smile planted on your face
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Get on get on down the road
Big girls dancing down at the park little dog comes just to sit and bark
He oughtta get on get on down the road
Hitchhiker standing in the rain he ought to go out and just hop a train
He oughtta get on get on down the road
He oughtta get on get on down the road
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Try to keep a smile planted on your face
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Get on get on down the road
I’ve got Visene for red eyes for what the law won’t legalize
I’ve got to get on get on down the road
When the law comes looking high and low wonder where all the good pickers go
They gotta get on get on down the road
They oughtta get on get on down the road
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Try to keep a smile planted on your face
Keep on hoppin’ like a happy toad
Get on get on down the road

***Little Bit of Mama
Off of the concrete on to the dirt roads down to Martha’s place
We love to eat and she likes to cook you can see it on her face
You’re not looking if you don’t see where the love is coming from
There’s a little bit of mama there for boys who don’t have one
She’ll look past your eyes and into your heart if you let down your guard
She’s a little soft on wayward types who like their livin’ hard
She wears a cotton apron full of flour faded from the sun
She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one
Like Mama she’ll tell you when you’re headed down the wrong path
And she’ll give you all the free advice you don’t even have to ask
Stay on the sunny side and say your prayers are things you’ll hear her say
She’ll make you wash behind your ears then send you on your way
If you’re up at dawn she’ll know you played all night we live on the run
She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one
You give her love get back on the bus cause there’s shows to be done
She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one
She’s a little bit of mama for boys who don’t have one

***Not a Stranger
It was cold and it was raining my bike wasn’t running right
All across the river as lightening lit up the night
When my bike quit running I commenced to walk
‘Til a car picked me up with a woman who needed to talk
She took me into her comfort in a way I’ll never forget
She wasn’t a stranger just a friend I had not met
Well cowboy bikers talk about freedom as if it grows like wheat
Kind hearted, dry you off and fix you something to eat
When I awoke she was gone I walked into the morning sun
Took off for the Badlands when I got my old bike to run
But I think about that woman I almost forget
She was not a stranger just a friend I had not met
Now I think about that woman and I know I should not forget
She wasn’t a stranger just a friend I had not met

Copyrighted material - all rights reserved

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

email

Please log in to email this artist.