Robert Earl Keen

[fox69]

"Rolling By"

"Rolling By"


It's a busted old town on the plains of West Texas.
The drugstore's closed down, and the river's run dry.
The semis roll through like stainless steel stallions
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

And the mission still stands at the edge of the plateau.
A stone marks the graves where the old cowboys lie.
Asleep in a time, in a town just a youngster
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

And the drive-in don't play no Friday night picture.
No big silver screen to light up the sky.
Gone are the days of post-war-time lovers
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by.

And me, I stand here at the last fillin' station
Where the wind moans a dirge to the coyote's cry.
I jump in my car; I'm back out on the highway
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by
Goin' hard, goin' fast, goin' wild
Rollin' hard, rollin' fast, rollin' by

 

[fox69]

"Runnin' With The Night"

"Runnin' With The Night"


It's midnight on the interstate and I'm flying like a bird
I was talking to a friend of mine, he said
"Have you heard the word?"
"I've got some people comin' by to celebrate the show,
Some of them are new in town and some of them you know"
I've got a local station on, Tejano music playing
I do my best to sing along but I don't know what they're saying
No le puedo entender but you know that it's alright
I'm headed down to San Antone, runnin' with the night
I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a saxophone, flash of chrome
Runnin' with the night

I lost my job a month ago so I took a small vacation
I went out west to make the best of my lowdown situa-tion
Moved in with my sister you know she works every day
We don't see each other much but I guess it's just that way

I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a swingin' door, a meteor
Runnin' with the night

I've settled down a time or two and tried the other way
But I don't know what to do with myself all day
The sun goes down you give you love one last long goodnight kiss
Then you stay awake thinkin' 'bout everything you miss
I've never been no daytime guy
Love the neon light
I'm a secret plan, a highwayman
Runnin' with the night

I was born in the wintertime under-neath a purple sky
I packed my things at seventeen and I kissed my folks goodbye
Got no complaints, no regrets, I got no grand de-sign
I'll ride the horse that brought me here
'Till I cross that finish line
I've never been no daytime guy, love the neon light
I'm an amber eye, a coyote's cry
Runnin' with the night
I'm a wall of fire, an angel choir

Runnin' with the
Night with the
Night with the
Night with the
Night with the

 

[fox69]

"Shades Of Gray"

"Shades Of Gray"


We made Oklahoma a little after 3
Randy, his brother Bob and my old GMC
We had some moonshine whisky
And some of Bob's homegrown
We were so messed up we didn't know
If we were drunk or stoned
Randy was a sad-sack, tall kinda frail
Bob was a raving maniac, crazy in the head
They been kicked out of high school several years ago
For pushin over port-a-cans at the 4-H rodeo
Since then they've done their little dance
Right outside the law
Popped twice in Oklahoma, once in Arkansas
And I don't know what possessed me
To want to tag along
Cause I was raised a Christian
And I knew right from wrong

Right or wrong, black or white
Cross the line, you're gonna pay
In the dawn before the light
Live and die by the shades of gray

We stole two Charolais heifers from
Randy's sweetheart's paw
Sold them at the livestock sale
Outside of Wichita

We got $900 and never did suspect
The world of hurt we'd be in once
We cashed that check
Next day we heard the story
On the local radio
Made our plans that very night
To go to Mexico
I swear we would have made it
If it wasn't for that shine
I got sick about the time we crossed
That Kansas line

Right or wrong, black or white
Cross the line, you're gonna pay
In the dawn before the light
Live and die by the shades of gray

I was layin in the bar ditch
Prayin I would die
When a light come on above us
And a voice come from the sky
A half a dozen unmarked cars
Came screeching to a halt
They grabbed bob, he started screamin
It was all my fault

There were men and dogs
And helicopter buzzin all around
They had the brothers on the
Pickup hood and me down on the ground
Bob flew all to pieces but randy he
Held tight when a black man in a
Suit and tie stepped out into the light
He told his men to turn us loose
They put down their guns
He said these are just some
Sorry kids, they ain't the ones

Right or wrong, black or white
Cross the line, you're gonna pay
In the dawn before the light
Live and die by the shades of gray

They left us by the roadside
Down hearted and alone
Randy got behind the wheel
Said boys I'm going home
We turned around to face our fate
Downhearted but alive on that
Mornin in late April, Oklahoma, 1995

Right or wrong, black or white
Cross the line, you're gonna pay
In the dawn before the light
Live and die by the shades of gray

 

[fox69]

"Show The World"

"Show The World"


There was a time not so long ago
When the sun shone down on a world moving easy and slow
There was love in the air
More than enough of for everyone to have their share
Now the day has turned to night
But before we lose the light
Here's what we got to do

[Chorus:]
Give your heart, lend a hand
Say you will, say you can
Don't let you love ever end
Show the world you are a friend

There is a child not so far away
Livin' in the rubble where there ain't no place to play
Weary women, broken men
Are in a sea of trouble and they got no strength to swim
Now the day has turned to night
But before they loose the fight
Here's what we got to do

[Chorus]

Open up your door and step into the blue
There's always something more we can do
Here's what we got to do

[Chorus x2]

 

[fox69]

"Sing One For Sister"

"Sing One For Sister"


Summer Sunday evenings around the old home place
I would play my guitar sister'd sing along
Sister's smile would always light up my daddy's face
When they'd get to dancing, they'd dance all night 'till dawn

I would sing one for sister
Play for Papa
Moan one for Mama
And I'd cry one for you

Mama liked the slow ones. She'd shuffle 'cross the floor
Sister liked the fast ones Lord she could step so high
I could see my Daddy dancing "til he could dance no more
When I'd play a sad song you would start to cry

I would sing one for sister
Play for Papa
Moan one for Mama
And I'd cry one for you

Now its just me and this old guitar I've no place to call my own
Mama and Papa have passed away, sister's settled down
You ran off and left me to live here all alone
Now all I play is sad old songs since your leavin' town

I would sing one for sister
Play for Papa
Moan one for Mama
And I'd cry one for you

I would sing one for sister
Play for Papa
Moan one for Mama
And I'd cry one for you

 

[fox69]

"Snowin' On Raton"
(originally by Townes Van Zandt)

"Snowin' On Raton"
(originally by Townes Van Zandt)



When the wind don't blow in Amarillo
When the moon along the Gunnison don't rise
And I cast my dreams upon your love babe
And lie beneath the laughter of your eyes

Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone
Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone

Mother thinks the road is long and lonely
Little brother thinks the road is straight and fine
Little darlin' thinks the road is soft and lovely
I'm thankful that ole road's a friend of mine

Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone
Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone

I'll bid the years goodbye, you cannot steal them
You cannot turn the circles of the sun
You cannot count the miles until you feel them
You cannot hold a lover that is gone

Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone
Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone

Tomorrow the mountains will be sleepin'
Silent 'neath the blanket green and blue
And I shall hear the silence they are keepin'
And I'll bring all their promises to you

Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone
Snowin' on Raton
Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone

 

[fox69]

"So I Can Take My Rest"

"So I Can Take My Rest"


I'm tired to the bone
My back is to the wall
I've been on my own
So long I can't recall

Take me in your arms tonight
Hold me to your breast
Tell me it will be alright
So I can take my rest
So I can take my rest

Maine to Mexico
Across the great divide
Through rain in snow
Oh, oh, I ride

Take me in your arms tonight
Hold me to your breast
Tell me it will be alright
So I can take my rest
So I can take my rest

The time for us is near
The lightning streaks the sky
The thunder in my ears
Echoes with goodbye

Take me in your arms tonight
Hold me to your breast
Tell me, it will be alright
So I can take my rest
So I can take my rest

 

[fox69]

"So Sorry Blues"

"So Sorry Blues"


I don't know what to do
Worse, I don't know why
Could be I have the flu
Undeniably I could die
It could be I'm hungover
Or I'm tryin' not to try

I could use some motivation
But I'm tryin' not to move
Maybe rehabilitation
But there's not much to improve
I've been in this rut so long now
I believe I've found my groove

Start with baby steps
Move one big toe
Try the finger tips
Man watch me go

Don't get ambitious
Hold out one hand
Now make the thumbs-up sign
Yeah, you the man

But I gotta rest myself now pretty baby
I could hyperventilate
Yes I tried to give up smoking
But smoking's just too great
I planned to quit procrastinating
Then decided I should wait

 

[fox69]

"Something I Do"

"Something I Do"


I am the king of burning daylight, holdin' my own
I've been doin' alright, leaving well enough alone
My Daddy told me I was lazy, my momma said, I love you too

I kind of like just, doin' nothing
It's something that I do
I kind of like just, doin' nothing
It's something that I do

I read the sports page, make some coffee, turn the TV on
I feed the gold fish, fix a sandwich, ignore the telephone
My baby tells me, you're so lazy, my baby say we love you too

I kind of like just, doin' nothing
It's something that I do
(He kind of likes just doin' nothing)
It's something that I do

I got a cabin and a campfire, stars up in the sky ("sky" echoes)
I got a ummm, good hearted woman, I think I'm getting by
I tell my baby, I am the ?barritz?, my baby says you move me too

I kind of like just, doin' nothing
It's something that I do
(He kind of likes just doin' nothing)
It's something that I do

Alright

I love a clear day, an open highway, a lonesome fiddle tune
I love a party, with friends and family, napping in the afternoon
I might be lazy, I ain't crazy, I love my baby, she loves me too

I kind of like (he kind of likes just), just doin' nothing
It's something that I do
I kind of like (he kind of likes just), just doin' nothing
It's something that I do
(He kind of likes just doin' nothing)
It's something that I do
(He kind of likes just doin' nothing)
It's something that I do
Alright

 

[fox69]

"Song For Kathy"

"Song For Kathy"


Kathy there was time when I thought
of no one else but me and myself
being on my own.

And how can I start to apologize for
not being there to dry your eyes when
you were all alone

Flesh and blood Kathy,
Eye to Eye,
You're my friend and family,
You've been good kathy,
to me and I know that,
that's as good as good can be

Kathy do you remember when I,
fell in love with one of your friends and,
we left you by yourself.
Your were all torn up inside but,
for my sake you tried to hide the,
hurtin that you felt.

Flesh and blood Kathy,
Eye to Eye,
You're my friend and family,
You've been good kathy,
to me and I know that,
that's as good as good can be

Kathy all grown up now with,
pretty eyes and mountain flower,
coming into bloom.
And sometimes you know the words aren't there to,
say the things you need to hear,
So I wrote this song for you.

Flesh and blood Kathy,
Eye to Eye,
You're my friend and family,
You've been good kathy,
to me and I know that,
that's as good as good can be.
You've been good kathy,
to me and I know that,
you're as good as good can be