Monday, December 31, 2007

GRENADE



Let me be clear about this said the man who was made
Let me be clear about this said the man who was made
What I hold in my hand
This is not a grenade

When he stepped to the podium
50 men in the shade
When he stepped to the podium
50 men in the shade
50 men are forbidden
To set eyes on the grenade

Well it fire or its brimstone til the preachers been paid
Well it fire or its brimstone til the preachers been paid
Keep this man from the precipice
He might have a grenade

Seven doctors walked quiet
And they left the parade
Seven doctors walked quiet
And they left the parade
It’s the best you can do when you see a grenade

When the general left town
Only staff people stayed
When the general left town
Only staff people stayed
They have to love and nurture
And learn to live with a grenade

Well my TV set’s wide-eyed
And the stars are turning gray
Well my TV set’s wild-eyed
And the stars are turning gray
When I look out my window
See the nighttime turn to day

Learn to live with a grenade….

© 2004 Chris LeRoy
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP

Saturday, December 29, 2007

CHANGE




Let me tell a story about how I feel
Why you can't love me is no big deal
Sitting home alone is only wasting time
Waiting on you is surely wasting mine
But I can see a change
And I can feel a change
Coming over me

I just held the ladder out a little too long
Wishing I could hold you back but you're too strong
Sitting here static's only wasting time
Sitting here crying's only wasting mine
But I can see a change
And I can feel a change
Coming over me

Can't you hear me talking is it way too loud?
If we knew any better we would lose this crowd
Maybe you were right when you said, "Time destroys,
But we might find each other in the joyful noise."
But I can see a change
And I can feel a change
Coming over me

Chris LeRoy
© 2004 Published by New West Crash Music

I DON'T EVEN KNOW MYSELF



Everything has its place in the world
'less it all blows to hell
How am I to know
Which way the wind will blow
If I don't even know myself?

See that train going straight down the line
Hear the whistle blow fair thee well
How am I to know
Which way the wind will blow
If I don't even know myself?

Well I've been through the mountains
And I been through the hills
I just want to sit down for a spell

Blackbird is calling
He's so far from home
He don't have no time to tell
How am I to know
Which way the wind will blow
If I don't even know myself?

© Chris LeRoy
August 19, 2001
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP

Sunday, December 16, 2007

FOLLOWING A RIVER



Hand me down and hand me down and hand me down my fate
Once I believed in the ever after
Don’t believe so much today
It’s a finer line I crossed this time
It’s humid out this way
And there’s a red sun sinking in the river
And it’s the evening of the day

Photograph of my little dear one
Lost in the fading light
Sending out her love to me tonight

I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea
I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea

Hand me down and hand me down and hand me down my mind
I used to find my way around here
But now I’m moving blind
One lonely child when he was young
They never tried to find him
Now there’s a red sun sinking in the river
And he walks by the waterline

Photograph of my little dear one
Cold by the firelight
Sending out her love to me tonight

I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea
I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea

Hand me down and hand me down and hand me down my name
As I go farther down this water
These rocks just look the same
There’s a blackness in the undertow
Put me in a darker frame
And there’s a red sun sinking in the river
Never going to rise again

Photograph of my little dear one
Cold in the moonlight
Sending out her love to me tonight

I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea
I’m following a river, baby
Following a river…

(SOLO VERSE)

Photograph of my little dear one
Cold by the moonlight
Sending out her love to me tonight

I’m following a river, baby
Following a river to the sea
I’m following a river, baby
Following a river…
Watch me

© Chris LeRoy
July 4, 2005 New West Crash Music

Saturday, December 15, 2007

CLOSE CALL





I guess this is how my life will go now
I talk to machines that won’t answer somehow
The wonders and worries that come to me now
Guess I just had a close call

No use in me rising I’m left out for dead
The funniest shadows afloat in my head
I rest here a moment or head off to bed
Guess I just had a close call

So goodnight my old friends and lovers
I’ll see you in dreams after all
Kinda hung around
Almost touched ground
I guess you could say a close call

I rung up my friend cause I finished a song
It’s better than most songs and not half as long
I said come on over but don’t take too long
Guess I just had a close call

I pulled down the drapes cause I’m tired of the light
I think the sun’s setting I welcome the night
A star doesn’t know when its dropped from the sky
Thinks it just had a close call

CHORUS

The cell phone will never stop ringing away
The sound just gets farther and farther away
A knock at my door but my door fades away
I guess I just had a close call

I wonder who writes all the messages down
For all the lost calls that wind their way round
Like veins through the thin air, like wires to the ground
Will somebody take a close call?

CHORUS

© Chris LeRoy
August 26, 2005 Published:NEW WEST CRASH MUSIC /ASCAP

OH FAITHFUL ONE



Oh faithful one
You make me breathe
You’ve got the prettiest smile
And though I hate to leave
There’s a wide road calling
I might find my fortune there
And it’s going to make me cry

Oh faithful one
You’ve got the prettiest smile
You really know my difference
Kiss me like a child
There’s a wide road calling
I might find my fortune there
And it’s going to make me cry

But when I get home, home
I’m gonna take you down
To a little county fair
Then I’ll walk you home

Oh faithful one
You’re with me all the time
You really make my difference
You really make me smile smile smile
There’s a wide road calling
I might find my fortune there
And it’s going to make me cry

© Chris LeRoy
March 20, 1983 New West Crash Music

LONESOME JOHNNY BLUES



Well, lucky number seven passed me by
Lucky number seven called my name and passed on by
Well he came back don't you know
with his brother six in tow
And that is how number thirteen wound up by my side.

And that is how I got these Lonesome Johnny Blues
How I got these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Got the Lonesome Johnny Blues
and there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues

Here we go

Grim Reaper he pulled up into my drive
Grim Reaper pulled his little old Chevrolet right up onto the goddamn drive
"Johnny, I haven't come for you
but I want someone who's dear to you
and the price you pay is to remain alive"

And I'll stay here with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Stay here with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
With the Lonesome Johnny Blues
and there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues

Woah, no more trouble send him down the road, won't you please.
No more trouble won't you beat him up, won't you send him down the road
Trouble dumped out the trash
Ransacked the place for cash
and he wound up taking much more than I own

And he left me with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
Left me with these Lonesome Johnny Blues
With the Lonesome Johnny Blues
and there's nothing I can do
'Cept sing these sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues

Johnny Blues
the sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues
Johnny Blues
the sad old weary Lonesome Johnny Blues

© Johnny Hickman Bad Altar Boy Music BMI

WEDDING DAY



The devil will send demons to fly around your wedding day
Yeah, the devil will send demons to fly around your wedding day
Don't send no invitation, I don't have much to say

Well, I heard about your man, and I will laugh at him sometime
Yeah, I heard about your man, and I will laugh at him sometime
Cuz I can see his sad day coming when your lies will burn him blind

Well, I'm standing in the churchyard, standing here without a sound
Yeah, I'm standing in the churchyard, standing here without a sound
Wishing I'd been born the kind of man could go in and shoot you down

The devil will send demons to fly around your wedding day
Yeah, the devil will send demons to fly around your wedding day
Well they'll strike you down at midnight, and a-carry me away

© Johnny Hickman Bad Altar Boy Music BMI

SUPERFAN



SECTION 1:
I heard the words, now here I am
You were talking to me, I'm your super fan
I loved you then, I love you still
But if I can't have you, no-one will

Woah!

REPEAT SECTION 1

SECTION 2:
I will make you understand
I'm your super fan

SECTION 3:
I know you like it
I was watching from outside my love
I saw her leaving
She's not right for you my life, my love
I know what hurts you
Sing it to me again my life, my love
I know what hurts you
...I could hurt you

I'll track you down, I'll steal your mail
A lock of hair, some fingernails
A piece of you upon my shrine
Now you're with me all the time

REPEAT SECTION 2

REPEAT SECTION 3

- heavy breathing break -

If I can't have you, no-one will
If I can't have you, no-one will
If I can't have you, no-one will
If I can't have you, no-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will
No-one will

© Johnny Hickman Bad Altar Boy Music BMI

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS



When your only girl betrayed you, boy,
What did you do with your wisdom?
Well you loved that girl again, loved that girl again
Now who you got to blame for your trials and tribulations?

What did you do when you found the man,
The one who stole your good girl?
Well you cut him up and down, heard you cut him all around
Now who you got to blame for your trials and tribulations?

Well I tried to tell you
But you run and hide
Down by the riverbed
Stay drunk all night
It weren't no lady
It was a scorpion
Well, you're just another rabbit on the run

When they dragged you to the courthouse, boy,
What did you do with your wisdom?
Well you cursed the judge again, cursed the judge again
Who you gonna blame for your trials and tribulations?
Well I tried to tell you
But you run and hide
Down by the trestle bridge
With a .45
It weren't no lady
It was a scorpion
Well, you're just another rabbit on the run

© Johnny Hickman Bad Altar Boy Music

THEY BROUGHT A GUN



Stop someone tell me how can this world be?
Down by the station a quarter to three
Four hard-eyed devils a’comin’ for me
You cannot run
They brought a gun

Four killers warming by the devils own fire
Three can’t be truthful the other’s a liar
Headed for town the flames going higher
You cannot run
They brought a gun

Four hungry bastards who move past the gate
No time to call out cause help comes too late
And over my should the cold hand of fate
You cannot run
They brought a gun

Doctor, Oh Doctor, can you stay with me?
I’m sick of this killing. I want to be free
Of all accusations and complicity
You cannot run
They brought a gun

Darling, sweet darling, how can this world end?
I once was your lover, but now I’m your friend
Four faceless horsemen are rounding the bend
You cannot run
They brought a gun

You graceless shadows who come to me know
I offer no penance for I know not how
There’s no one beside me but I made a vow
I will not go gently ‘til God takes the plow
I will not go gently ‘til God takes the plow

© Chris LeRoy June 4, 2004
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP

RADIO CITY




On a windy night radio 63
It was four o’clock it suddenly came to me
I had no choice, I had to surrender a smile
The D.J.’s voice pulled my heart to the dial
He said go to RADIO CITY

On weekend nights there’s plenty to do in this town
You got girls & beers & cigarettes on the ground
But that’s ok I can take it, I can throw it away
I’d rather stay home nights, listen to the radio play
And I go to RADIO CITY

But nowadays the music can’t keep us home
You’ve got to spend big money for fear of being alone
& my heart calls out for radio spirits past
& the D.J.’s voice says he’s sorry but it couldn’t last
Get back to RADIO CITY

© 1980 Chris LeRoy & Johnny Hickman
NEW WEST CRASH MUSIC/BAD ALTAR BOY MUSIC

SUE THE BIBLE STUDY GIRL




Sue the Bible Study Girl
Has a heart of gold and an iron will
Sue the Bible Study Girl
Has all the answers for the world

And Sue wants to save me
Yeah. Sue, she wants to save me
From an eternity in Hell
Cuz her God is really swell
But all I wanna do
Is get my hands on Sue

She knows every chapter and verse
Got a Bible in her purse
She lays on me hands to heal
But tingling quivers all I feel

And Sue wants to save me
Yeah. Sue, she wants to save me
I rom an eternity in Hell
Cuz her God is really swell
Rut all I wanna do
Is kiss the hand of Sue

So 1 finally married Sue
There was nothing left lo do
I got baptized, now I'm saved
And Sue gets morally laid
I have a good time in church
But Sue's lovin' me up first

And Sue's love it saves me-
Yeah, Sue's she really,really me
And she's a lot of fun in bed
Cuz we're Christianly wed
And all I wanna do
Is plant a kiss on Sue

© 2006 Chris LeRoy, Mike Wilkerson,
& Gary Kjorvestad
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP

RESURRECTION TRAIN




I've got my rumpled ticket
Bought it a long time ago
Cuz nobody gets out of here alive
I'm dressed up with nowhere to go

Standing at the station
I feel the spirits moving in
Resurrection train rolling slowly
I see the conductor waving me in
I see the conductor waving me in

When they plant me six feet under
I'll have a door put in my grave
So when the names are shouted out
It will be my moving day

Standing at the station
Got no luggage to hold me back
Resurrection train, yeah, all aboard
Rolling away on silver tracks
Rolling away on silver tracks

© 2006 Chris LeRoy, Mike Wilkerson, Gary Kjorvestad
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG




there's nothing wrong with the things that you live for
nothing wrong with the doubts in your mind
walking on a sharp edge, skin on a razor
nothing wrong with you killing your time
there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong, there's nothing…

there's nothing wrong with your cold hesitation
nothing wrong with the things that you say
talking 'bout your problems, a bad destination
nothing wrong with it anyway
there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong, there's nothing…

talking about your bad habits
talking about your bad friends
talking about your bad feelings
talking about the way its gonna end

there's nothing wrong with the way that you love me
nothing wrong with your useless stare
holding both hands out way up above me
there's nothing wrong and I don't even care
there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong
there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong
there's nothing wrong, there's nothing wrong

© 1981 Chris LeRoy and Tony Bramel
Published by New West Crash ASCAP and Vital Gesture Records BMI

Sunday, December 9, 2007

TREASURE





If you’re walking down the road
Underneath a heavy load
Don’t you worry, there’s a treasure for you here
If you feel you can’t go on
And your heart’s a setting sun
Don’t be troubled, there’s treasure for you here

If you wander through the years
And your eyes are full of tears
Don’t you worry, there’s a treasure for you here
If you stumble and you fall
Afraid to lose it all
Don’t be troubled, there’s treasure for you here

In your mind you’re waiting for connection
But you can’t see no mansion on the hill
Be careful that you never lose direction
There will always be a candle on the sill

If you ever lose your way
Please remember what I say
Don’t you worry, there’s a treasure for you here
There will be blue skies when we meet
You’ll be swept right off you feet
Don’t be troubled, there’s treasure for you here

In your mind you’re waiting for connection
But you can’t see no mansion on the hill
Be careful that you never lose direction
There will always be a candle on the sill

If you’re walking down the road
Underneath a heavy load
Don’t you worry, there’s a treasure for you here
If you feel you can’t go on
And your heart’s a setting sun
Don’t be troubled, there’s treasure for you here
Come on darling, there’s treasure for us here

© 2007 Chris LeRoy
Published by New West Crash Music/ASCAP