Robert Earl Keen

[fox69]

 

[fox69]

"10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar"

"10,000 Chinese Walk Into A Bar"


10000 chinese walk into a bar and order up a beer
The barman says, it's funny you know we don't get many Chinese in here
Now I don't know if I got it right maybe no one knows
It's just a joke I heard one night and that's the way it goes
I'll have one of those

[Chorus:]
Grab a chair and stay all night
Make yourself at home
I may be wrong but that's alright
I am not alone

A little man in this little town, he wears a lot of hats
He's always out tomcattin' around, he's got a thing for cats
Now I ain't seen him with a cat I so ain't really sure
But listen close 'cause when he talks, sometimes you hear him purr
There ain't a cure

[Chorus]

Another man he loved duct tape, he made a duct tape suit
And he had duct tape from the top of his hat to the heel of his cowboy boot
And when he died they buried him down down in that cold cold ground
And they stuff him in that pine box boy and then they taped him down
I was out of town

[Chorus]

And then there was this Irishman who, uh, stayed drunk all time
I'm sorry friend I screwed that up, I told you the punch line
Anyway I got to split, they're just about to close
But I'll be back tomorrow night 'cause that the way it goes
Yeah that's the way it goes

 

[fox69]

"14 Carat Mind"

"14 Carat Mind"


I still recall the morning that I met you
Standing out in front of Wilson's Five and Dime
Staring through the window at the jewelry
Hungry for the things you couldn't buy

Just like a fool I thought that I could please you
I saw you had an eye for things that shine
I paid seven saw mill dollars for a bracelet
Just to satisfy your fourteen carat mind

Layin' by these railroad tracks in Denver
With a hurtin' head and a half a pint of wine
Everything except my soul has been surrendered
Just to satisfy your fourteen carat mind

The cabin that I built in West Virginia
Was not enough to keep you satisfied
'Cause a man that's got a saw mill occupation
Can't afford to feed a rich girls' appetite

I wonder if you're still with Willie Jackson
Sometimes I wonder if he's still alive
Ol' Willie, he gave up his wife and children
Just to satisfy your fourteen carat mind

Layin' by these railroad tracks in Denver
With a hurtin' head and a half a pint of wine
Everything except my soul has been surrendered
Just to satisfy your fourteen carat mind
Just to satisfy your fourteen carat mind

 

[fox69]

"52 Vincent Black Lightning"

"52 Vincent Black Lightning"


Oh says Red Molly to James "That's a fine motorbike.
A girl could feel special on any such like"
Says James to Red Molly "My hat's off to you
It's a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952.
And I've seen you at the corners and cafes it seems
Red hair and black leather, my favourite colour scheme"
And he pulled her on behind and down to Boxhill they did ride
Oh says James to Red Molly "Here's a ring for your right hand
But I'll tell you in earnest I'm a dangerous man.
For I've fought with the law since I was seventeen,
I robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine.
Now I'm 21 years, I might make 22
And I don't mind dying, but for the love of you.
And if fate should break my stride
Then I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

"Come down, come down, Red Molly" called Sergeant McRae
"For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery.
Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside.
Oh come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside"
When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
But he smiled to see her cry
He said "I'll give you my Vincent to ride"

Says James "In my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl.
Now Nortons and Indians and Greeves won't do,
Ah, they don't have a soul like a Vincent 52"
Oh he reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys
Said "I've got no further use for these.
I see angels on Ariels in leather and chrome,
Swooping down from heaven to carry me home"
And he gave her one last kiss and died
And he gave her his Vincent to ride.

 

[fox69]

"99 Years For One Dark Day"
(with Peter Rowan)

"99 Years For One Dark Day"
(with Peter Rowan)



I've been in this prison twenty years or more
I shot my woman with a 44
I'll be right here till my dyin' day
I got 99 years for one dark day

Well the food is bad and the beds are hard
I spend all day breakin' rocks in the yard
Well there ain't no change, gonna stay that way
I got 99 years for one dark day

Ain't no singer that can sing a song
Ain't no one saying that I ain't wrong
His mind's made up, gonna stay that way
I got 99 years for one dark day

I never learned to read, I never learned to write
My whole life's been one big fight
I never heard about the righteous way
I got 99 years for one dark day

I remember a time many years ago
I shot my woman with a 44
I'll be right here till my dyin' day
I got 99 years for one dark day
I got 99 years for one dark day

 

[fox69]

"All I Have Is Today"

"All I Have Is Today"


I woke up in another strange place by a 40 acre parking lot with every kind of sign
I was talking to another strange face who was tellin' me that he didn't have the time

All I want to do is climb that mountain
All I need is the other way
All I am is a lost soul, searchin'
All I have is today

I was walkin' through the sands of silver to the Saphire canyon on the River of Jade
I was followin' a gold sun settin' when suddenly the light began to fade

All I want to do is climb that mountain
All I need is the other way
All I am is a lost soul, searchin'
All I have is today

I was ridin' in a black Tornado with the top pulled down and the lights on dim.
I heard angels singin' in the darkness, singin' some Southern gospel hymn

All I want to do is climb that mountain
All I need is the other way
All I am is a lost soul, searchin'
All I have is today

I was thinkin' ‘bout a man and woman who were tryin' to make a livin' that Sammy wouldn't steal.
I should tell ya if I haven't told ya, this is exactly how I feel

All I want to do is climb that mountain
All I need is the other way
All I am is a lost soul, searchin'
All I have is today

 

[fox69]

"Amarillo Highway"
(originally by Terry Allen)

"Amarillo Highway"
(originally by Terry Allen)



I'm a high straight in Plainview
A side bet in Idalou
An' a fresh deck in New Deal
Yeah some call me high hand
And some call me low hand
But I'm holding what I am the wheel
'Cause I'm panhandlin' manhanlin'
Post holin' high rollin' dust bowlin' Daddy
I ain't got no blood in my veins
I just got them four lanes
Of hard Amarillo Highway

I don't wear no Stetson
But I'm willin' to bet son
That I'm big a Texan as you are
There's a girl in her bare feet
Asleep on the back seat
And that trunk's full of Pear beer and Lone Star

'Cause I'm panhandlin' manhanlin'
Post holin' high rollin' dust bowlin' Daddy
I ain't got no blood in my veins
I just got them four lanes
Of hard Amarillo Highway

Gonna hop outta bed
Pop a pill in my head
Bust the hub for the Golden Spread
Under Blue Skies
Gonna stuff my hide
Behind some Power Glide
Get some southern friend
Back in my hide

'Cause I'm panhandlin' manhanlin'
Post holin' high rollin' dust bowlin' Daddy
I ain't got no blood in my veins
I just got them four lanes
Of hard Amarillo Highway

As close as I'll ever get to Heaven
Is makin' speed up old eighty-seven
Of that hard Amarillo Highway

 

[fox69]

"Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way"

"Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way"


Lord it's the same old tune
Fiddle and guitar.
Where do we take it from here?
Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars;
It's been the same way for years.
We need a change.

Somebody told me when I came to Nashville,
"Son you finally got it made."
Old Hank made it here, and we're all sure that you will.
But I don't think Hank done it this a'way.
(Naw) I don't think Hank done it this a'way.

Ten years on the road
Makin' one night stands
Speedin' my young life away
Tell me one more time
Just so's I'll understand
Are you sure Hank done it this a'way?
Did Old Hank really do it this a'way?

Lord I've seen the world with a five piece band
Lookin' at the back side of me.
Singin' my songs and one of his now and then,
But I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way.
(Naw) I don't think Hank done 'em this a'way.
(Take it home)

 

[fox69]

"Armadillo Jackal"

"Armadillo Jackal"


The evening sun was sinkin' down, a chill north wind a-blows
The new-plowed ground was coolin' fast, the river rolls and flows
Beneath the two-lane concrete river bridge between my place and town
On that hot-bed Farm to Market road they call 1291

I'm sayin' son you'll see me searchin', sizzlin' down that broad hiway
Dollar signs in both my eyes, I'm seekin' out my prey I'm prayin'
"Jesus, will you send me just another three or four?"
They pay two-fifty down in Halletsville, 3 dollars, maybe more.

And more than likely they'll be out tonight a-wanderin' from the farms,
Waddlin' down 1291 to keep their bodies warm.

I'm talking walkin' belts and neckties, and boots for rodeo,
They don't run too fast, don't waste much gas.
I'm makin' lots o'dough.

The armadillo, oh, oh, oh
The armadillo, oh, oh, oh
The armadillo

Never sees me when I hit him with my brights.
His life don't flash
Before his eyes, he's blinded by my lights
and so I hit him with my
Bumper doin' sixty, sixty-five,
they take 'em frozen down in Halletsville
They don't take 'em alive.

The jackal cried
The jackal cried
The jackal cried,
"Look there's two of
Them a-walkin' down the line.

I can't believe my luck tonight this here
Makes twenty-nine!"
And so he rolled the first one runnin'.
The second was too fast.
His breaks and laughter squealin' as he stomped down on the gas.

Good-God, his car was sideways flyin',
When the bridge wall met his door.
The impact shook the river bed his foot went through the floor

Forevermore
Forevermore
Forevermore was his last moment from the bridge wall to the stream, from
The speckled blood around his smile a-spewin' gasoline.
And then he screamed his raspy epitaph, before he turned to flame,
"They pay two-fifty down in Halletsville
I ain't the one to blame"
Ain't it a shame
The jackal cried
The armadillo
The armadillo

 

[fox69]

"Barbeque"

"Barbeque"


Oooh when I was a little boy
Only one or two
The first thing I did enjoy
Was a plate of Barbeque

Barbeque sliced beef and bread
Ribs and sausage and a cold Big Red
Barbeque makes old ones feel young
Barbeque makes everybody someone
If you're feelin' puny and you don't know what to do
Treat yourself to some meat eat some barbeque

Now there was a girl I knew
She treated me so mean
I offered her my Barbeque
She licked my platter clean

Barbeque sliced beef and bread
Ribs and sausage and a cold Big Red
Barbeque makes old ones feel young
Barbeque makes everybody someone
If you're feelin' puny and you don't know what to do
Treat yourself to some meat eat some barbeque

Don't give me no broccoli
Or any Swiss fondue
Baby if you want to rock me
Give me good ole barbeque

Barbeque sliced beef and bread
Ribs and sausage and a cold Big Red
Barbeque makes old ones feel young
Barbeque makes everybody someone
If you're feelin' puny and you don't know what to do
Treat yourself to some meat eat some barbeque

Don't send me to heaven
It ain't where I should go
Cause the Devil's got a charcoal pit
And a good fire down below

Barbeque sliced beef and bread
Ribs and sausage and a cold Big Red
Barbeque makes old ones feel young
Barbeque makes everybody someone
If you're feelin' puny and you don't know what to do
Treat yourself to some meat eat some barbeque

Let your feet hit the street
Find a good place to eat
Get some Barbeque