Robert Earl Keen

[fox69]

"The Coming Home Of The Son And Brother"

"The Coming Home Of The Son And Brother"


Time for the singer
Time for the singer-boy to make his way back home.
A prodigal, I've been distressed,
This lonely child can't make it on his own.
I've been traveling states away;
I've been playing in a bluegrass band.
Now it's the coming home
Of the son and brother again.

Time has slipped away,
I don't know if I can play another tune.
They want me to build single-handed
A road up to the moon.
They only pay me nickles and dimes
In a game that I can never win.
So it's the coming home
Of the son and brother again.

It's been a long, long time
Since I've seen al of my family and friends.
I want to hear them tell their stories
Tell 'em all about the places I have been.
So open all your doors up wide,
Invite all the neighbors in
For the coming home
Of the son and brother again.

So open all your doors up wide,
Invite all the neighbors in
For the coming home
Of the son and brother again.

The coming home
Of the son and brother again.

 

[fox69]

"The Five Pound Bass"

"The Five Pound Bass"


Up this morning
Before the sun
Fixed me some coffee and a honey bun
Jumped in my pickup
gave her the gas
I'm goin' out to catch a five pound bass

Down by the lake side
Just off the ramp
All them people sleeping in their fishing camp
Some out in the pup tents
Some out on the grass
They all be dreaming 'bout that five pound bass

The early birdie always gets his worm
Me I always get my wish
When you're talking 'bout that five pound bass son
The early wormy gets the fish

Jumped in my john boat
I stow my gear
I fire her up and when I am in the clear
I sail across that water
As smooth as glass
Ready here I come you five pound bass

I find a perfect spot
Some old dead trees
Back in a canyon where you cain't feel no breeze
I tie my lure
I make my cast
It's breakfast time you five pound bass

That old sun is rising
That water is clear
I watch my lure as it's flying through the air
I see a ripple
I hear a splash
Lord have mercy, It's a five pound bass

[Spoken:]
That's a five pound bass son
Aw it's big as a god damned baby

 

[fox69]

"The Front Porch Song"

"The Front Porch Song"


This old porch is a big ol' red and white Herford bull
Standin' under a mesquite tree in Agua Dulce, Texas
He keeps on playin' hide and seek with that hot august sun
Sweatin' and a pantin' cause his work is never done
Oh no, with those cows and a red top cane

This old porch is a steamin' greasy plate of enchiladas
With lots of cheese and onions ans a guacamole salad
You can get them at the LaSalle Hotel in old downtown
With ice tea and a waitress who will smile every time
Oh yeah, I left a quarter tip on my ten dollar bill

This old porch is a palace walk in on a main street in Texas
It ain't never seen or heard the days of G's and R's and X's
And that '62 poster that's almost faded down
And a screen without a picture since Giant came to town
Oh no, I like those junior mints and the red hots too, yes I do

This old porch is like a weathered grey haired seventy years of Texas
Who's doin' all he can not to give in to the city
And he always takes my rent late so long as I run his cattle
He picks me up at dinner time and I listen to him rattle

He says the Brazos still runs muddy like she's run all along
There's never been no cane to grind and the cotton's all but gone
You know this Chevrolet pickup truck, hell she was somethin' back in '60
But now there won't nobody listen to him 'cause they all think he's crazy

This old porch is just a long time of waiting and forgetting
Remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving
And remembering the falling down and the laughter of the curse of luck
From all those son's of bitches who said we'd never get back up

This old porch is a big old red and white Herford bull
Standing under a mesquite tree out in Agua Dulce
He keep's on playing hide and seek with that hot August sun
He's sweating and a panting 'cause his work is never done
I've know a whole lot of bulls in my time, and there work is never done.

 

[fox69]

"The Man Behind The Drums"

"The Man Behind The Drums"


We left New York City, with nuthin' but a song,
she'll be coming' 'round the mountain when she comes.
We wound up in Woodstock, at an old time jamboree,
came to see the man behind the drums.

Levon digs the doghouse, playing in The Band,
when he locks in to that backbeat it ain't hard to understand.
Get your body movin', celebrate your soul,
Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.

Son of a plain dirt farmer, from southeast Arkansas,
he was born in a bare ramblin' shoe.
Up and down the highway, and all around the world,
laying down the rhythm and the blues.

Levon digs the doghouse, playing in The Band,
when he locks in to that backbeat it ain't hard to understand.
Get your body movin', celebrate your soul,
Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.

We were hangin' from the rafters, singing every song,
that big barn band was hot as it could be.
Up there in the spotlight, the man behind the drums,
was takin' all the load off for you and me.

Levon digs the doghouse, playing in The Band,
when he locks in to that backbeat it ain't hard to understand.
Get your body movin', celebrate your soul,
Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.
Yea, Levon digs the doghouse, that's sho-nuff rock and roll.

 

[fox69]

"The Raven And The Coyote"

"The Raven And The Coyote"


I've been riding all day long through the wall of rain
In the shadow of the mountains on the barren plains
To my angel in the village where a lamplight glows
If the dogs there don't betray me, no one will know

In the city of the soldier, in the time of war
There I met my Angelina, I was 24
We made arrangements soon thereafter
Wedding plans were drawn just beyond the sound of laughter

Cannons thundered on when I enlisted in the army, Angelina cried
I whispered to her, "Don't you worry God is on our side"
On the battlegrounds before me His plan was soon revealed
He guided me to fame and glory on the battlefield

Ooh ooh, the raven flies, ooh ooh, the coyote cries

Juan Miguel Ramos Montoya led his rebels well
We fought them through the Emerald Valley to the Sacred Hill
In the end we were defeated, I was left for dead
Juan Montoya took our city, Angelina fled

I took to hiding in the mountains through the wintertime
In the spring I rode to safety across the borderline
I sent word to Angelina, soon I will return
With the full moon in the window, let your lamplight burn

From the bluff above her village, my hope has turned to fright
Only darkness in the windows, not a single light
I cursed my God and shook my angry fists at Him above
Twice forsaken, once in war and now in love

Ooh ooh, the raven flies, ooh ooh, the coyote cries

I ran in rage toward the chapel, stricken by my loss
I vowed to leave my lifeless body upon His holy Cross
But at the altar of the chapel, a lonely candle shown
Across the face of Angelina kneeling all alone

Ooh ooh, the raven flies, ooh ooh, the coyote cries
Ooh ooh, the raven flies, ooh ooh, the coyote cries

 

[fox69]

"The Road Goes On And On"

"The Road Goes On And On"


I don't care what you say
I never liked you anyway
Wouldn't give you the time of day
If I had the time to spend
You're malicious and downright cruel
Superstitious, so uncool
Best wishes, you loudmouthed fool
I hope I never see you again

You're a regular jack in the box
In your clown suit and your goldilocks
The original liar's paradox, you'll have to google that
How in the hell do you think you'll make it
When the real test comes and you just can't fake it
Your sycophants say they can't take it and leave you lyin' flat

Well you started out in the wild wild west
Your tin star pinned to your bulletproof vest
I must say we were all impressed - but not as much as you
But your horse is drunk and your friends got tired
Your aim grew weak and uninspired
You robbed a train but your gun misfired
Blew a hole right through your shoe

Yeah, you're a regular jack in the box
In your clown suit and your goldilocks
All duded up in your cowboy crocs, singing the same old song
How in the hell do you think you'll make it
When the real test comes and you just can't fake it
Your sycophants say they can't take it and leave you on your own

Now you only rant and rave
Piss and moan and misbehave
You lost your grip on that flag you wave
But you wave it right or wrong
They're still tryin to make amends
Maybe win back some of your old friends
Real cowboys say the party never ends
And the road goes on and on and on...

 

[fox69]

"The Road Goes On Forever"

"The Road Goes On Forever"


Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town
She had a reputation as a girl who'd been around
Down Main Street after midnight with a brand new pack of cigs
A fresh one hangin' from her lips and a beer between her legs
She'd ride down to the river and meet with all her friends
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny was a loner he was older than the rest
He was going into the Navy but he couldn't pass the test
So he hung around town he sold a little pot
The law caught wind of Sonny and one day he got caught
But he was back in business when they set him free again
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny's playin' 8-ball at the joint where Sherry works
When some drunken outta towner put his hand up Sherry's skirt
Sonny took his pool cue laid the drunk out on the floor
Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar and walked on out the door
She's runnin' right behind him reachin' for his hand
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They jumped into his pickup Sonny jammed her down in gear
Sonny looked at Sherry and said lets get on outta here
The stars were high above them and the moon was in the east
The sun was settin' on them when they reached Miami Beach
They got a hotel by the water and a quart of Bombay gin
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They soon ran out of money but Sonny knew a man
Who knew some Cuban refugees that dealt in contraband
Sonny met the Cubans in a house just off the route
With a briefcase full of money and a pistol in his boot
The cards were on the table when The Law came bustin' in
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

The Cubans grabbed the goodies, Sonny grabbed the Jack
He broke a bathroom window and climbed on out the back
Sherry drove the pickup through the alley on the side
Where a lawman tackled Sonny and was readin' him his rights
She stepped into the alley with a single-shot .410
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They left the lawman lyin' and they made their getaway
They got back to the motel just before the break of day
Sonny gave her all the money and he blew her a little kiss
If they ask you how this happened say I forced you into this
She watched him as his taillights disappeared around the bend
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Its Main Street after midnight just like it was before
21 months later at the local grocery store
Sherry buys a paper and a cold 6-pack of beer
The headlines read that Sonny is goin' to the chair
She pulls back onto Main Street in her new Mercedes Benz
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

 

[fox69]

"The Rose Hotel"

"The Rose Hotel"


He was walkin' through the alley way
Where the drifters sleep and the wild dogs play
The moon was black, the sky was grey
He thought he was alone

She was waiting at the Rose Hotel
Across the street from the wishing well
Turned the latch and broke a nail
Checked her mobile phone

[Chorus:]
Sometimes you run, sometimes you stall
Sometimes you don't get up at all
Sometimes you run, sometimes you fall

He bought a ticket on the uptown tram
Got off at 8th and Birmingham
Wondered if she gave a damn
About him anymore

She hadn't seen him in a year or so
Why he called she did not know
She had the oldies on the radio
And someone at the door

[Chorus]

He threw a nickel in the wishin' well
Crossed the street to the Rose Hotel
He got no answer when he rang the bell
So he gave a little shout

Tiny watchman with a baseball bat
A cheap cigar and a Persian cat
Told him it was too bad that
She had just checked out

Sometimes you run, sometimes you stall
Sometimes you don't get up at all
Sometimes you run, sometimes you...
Sometimes you run, sometimes you stall
Sometimes you don't get up at all
Sometimes you run, sometimes you fall
Sometimes you fall

 

[fox69]

"The Vacuum Cleaner Song"

"The Vacuum Cleaner Song"


The vacuum cleaner has no name, it has no name
The vacuum cleaner has no name, it has no name
The vacuum cleaner has no name
The vacuum cleaner will remain
Among the things without a name
Without a name at all

The salmon chair it can't tell time, it can't tell time
The salmon chair it can't tell time, it can't tell time
The salmon chair it can't tell time
Still it is a friend of mine
It holds me close, shares my wine
Never lets me fall

The mirror there it makes no sense, it makes no sense
The mirror there it makes no sense, it makes no sense
The mirror there it makes no sense
It turns a frog into a prince
It's only by coincidence
I'm hangin' on the wall

This life of mine it goes its way, it goes its way
This life of mine it goes its way, it goes its way
This life of mine it goes its way
It doesn't hear the things I say
Or else it would be yesterday
Winter would be fall

This life of mine it goes its way

 

[fox69]

"Theme: Road To No Return / Carolina"

"Theme: Road To No Return / Carolina"


Out along the road to no return
Silence rules the day and knows no friend
The troubled past and all her tribe adjourn
To watch your dreams unravel in the wind

But each new morning sunrise
Is just as good as gold
And all the hope inside you
Will keep you from the cold
Bare your soul let your spirit burn
Out along the road to no return

The sweet smell of nighttime rides on the breeze
The river is winding through the hickory trees
The redbones are howling down by Wilson's Bridge
The lawmen stand waiting upon Deadman's Ridge

Ooh Carolina so dark I can't see
Ooh Carolina won't you let me go free

I came here with Lily a year just last fall
We left her old daddy back in Oonegal
We made us a home place of Black Mountain stone
But one cold winter morning I woke up alone

But each new morning sunrise
Is just as good as gold
And all the hope inside you
Will keep you from the cold
Bare your soul let your spirit burn
Out along the road to no return

Days full of silence are so incomplete
Nights without Lily I took to the streets
And in the streets of Asheville I channeled my pain
'Til one raging black night I slept in the rain

I dreamed of a refuge a red velvet world
And I swore my sweet Lily was one of the girls
I loved her so madly I loved her so long
I woke with my dream girl but her life was all gone

Ooh Carolina so dark I can't see
Ooh Carolina won't you let me go free

Love has no boundary sorrow no end
And the lawmen of Asheville have no mercy in them

Ooh Carolina so dark I can't see
Ooh Carolina won't you let me go free

Let me reach Tennessee