I had hoped I might get through a song

cycle this time without another

dedication to a lost talent and

inspiration from my generation...

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Robbie Robertson (1943-2023)

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1  Guided By Light

This is not a condemnation of spiritual beliefs but rather my perception of how organized

religion—led by fellow men and women with a passion, agenda and subjective

interpretations of often antiquated

texts—are allowed to use/abuse the power of

the pulpit and fear of God to manipulate

and insinuate how we must live

our lives or risk eternal damnation. I think

the abuse of such power is not only hypocritical but the greatest sin of all. 

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Enlightened by visions and guided by light
Step by step plans for living your life
With god as our witness we stretch the truth
To hold our fold we’ll even bend the rules

 

Hindu, Islam, the Buddhists too
Dictate what millions can and can’t do
They’ve got answers for everything under the sun
It’s just the way that things have always been done

 

The rabbis and priests with their antiquated texts
Put words in God’s mouth that tell us what to do next
What you can and can’t eat, how to raise your kids
How to do things, they never did

 

2  Night Shift

       This insecure guy’s anxiety over not seeing his partner seems to grow stronger with each verse.

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I’m so sad I’m turning blue

Day and night without you
Working the night shift

When you’re workin’ the night shift

Maybe you’ve had a change of heart?
Can’t wait til death do us part
Workin’ the night shift, you're workin’ the night shift

 

I haven’t seen you for so long 

I try to forget you’re even gone
Workin’ that night shift 

You're just workin’ the night shift

I’m so down when I get up 

Two Gingers swim in my coffee cup
While you’re workin’ the night shift
It’s all about you, honey, working that night shift

 

I finally caught you on your break
Had to do a FaceTime double take
Workin’ the night shift, workin’ the night shift
Is that a tongue ring? A new tattoo?
All dolled up for somebody new?
Who’s workin’ the night shift
Workin' the night shift
 

 3  Man-Child

A tongue-in-check song about busy-bodies who jump to conclusions

based on what they see happening—or not—

outside their neighbor's houses.

As old Hank said, “Mind your own business and you won‘t be minding mine.”

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He’s a man-child, takes no responsibility
Man-child
No more than meets the eye, as far as I can see

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Look at that, honey

He watches his wife cut the lawn
When he’s not inside with the cartoons on
Probably drinking beer while she shovels the snow
How could a guy ever stoop so low?

I'll tell ya how...

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(Chorus)

He's a man-child

Takes no responsibility

Man-child

No more than meets the eye, as far as I can see
 

I hear he lays in bed til almost noon
Looks a lot like the Biebs with those bad tattoos
I swear to God last night it’s true
He was out there on the patio howling at the moon

(Repeat chorus)

 

He never leaves the house, I’ll bet he doesn’t even work
We’ve never even talked, he must be a jerk
One thing’s for sure, it’s easy to see
He’s nothing at all like you and me

(Repeat chorus)
 

4  Neo Mexico
Instrumental.

 

5  The Middle of Nowhere

There are times when I’ve driven through the countryside and thought it might be a good place to isolate one’s self from

the problems of the world. But unless you’re as uncaring and unfeeling as an old stump, war, senseless shootings,

climate change and other problems in the world these days invariably follow you wherever you go. 

​

Out here in the middle of nowhere

Life seems so simple and free
But my worries and cares

Still burn like a fuse inside of me
Across the world a war is raging

People dying or suffering the loss
But it’s quiet out here in these dusty fields

Where just my thoughts can get me lost

 

(Chorus)  
We’re all one but none the same
Family by just another name
Like a hostage tied to the ups and downs
Of this metaphorical merry-go-round

 

I’ve seen children and their teachers
Cry as they run for their lives
The agony of faces, in faraway places
Can make it so hard to sleep at night
But the stars are shining bright tonight
That sunset was one of the best
Nothing much will change by morning out here
Time to call it a day and get some rest

​

(Repeat chorus)

 

6  You Might Not Get What You Want

At one time or another, we’ve all probably pushed too hard for something and

ultimately compromised our chances

of attaining it. Hard work and perseverance may only go so far, particularly

when trying to sway a hesitant or unworthy heart.

​

You might not get what you want

If you're trying too hard to get it

 

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7  Death the Avenger

One of us (probably me) is going to get sick of my rants about the scoundrels

people are voting into office these days. It's disgusting watching how 

self-serving elected officials—disguised as

patriots—are allowed to 

subvert the judicial system, spend taxpayer money on frivolous

      investigations and mislead a gullible (sizable) portion of the general public with a

constant barrage of lies and ignorant bluster.    

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You mine those empty spaces
Minds as still and silent as death itself
Caught in your web of ambition 
A shameless display of power and wealth

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(Chorus)
But you’ll die like a killer, caught in a crossfire
Writhing and squirming in a fit of rage
It is then that you’ll remember
Death the avenger
Will put an end to your crooked ways

 

You’re among the wicked few
Who can destroy the world 
By only thinking of you
Truth social is the ruse
So practiced in the art of subterfuge

 

(Repeat Chorus)
 

8  Rita

Actually written years ago, this song is

about an older man‘s realization and

regrets over his deeply flawed

relationship. “Oh to be young and so wise.”

​

Don’t turn away look me straight in the face
I’ve waited years to be honest
The kids are grown, now they’re out on own
They’ve left this house as empty as a promise

 

Gone are the days when we chose to ignore
Our love for all the wrong reasons
When all our tears fell like words on deaf ears
We broke our hearts and never found the pieces
 
(Chorus)
And Rita, who are we trying to kid?
True love was never ours
We said I do and never did
And Rita, look how we’ve wasted our lives
Oh to be young and so wise

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Our lives are out of phase
I’m the night and you’re the days
We have no rhyme and no reasons
Our talk is cheap, it half puts us to sleep
We made damn sure there’s nothing left between us

​

(Repeat Chorus)

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9  Thanks to Hank

This song feeds off the legend of Hank Williams, whose personal pain and

self-medication with alcohol and other drugs

brought an early end to a celebrated life. He produced classic

songs with a unique style of singing

and left a romanticized view

      of 29 years of tumultuous living that still influences and inspires.

​

(Chorus)
He says old Hank’s to thank 
He’ll tell ya point blank
Your cold, cold heart
Always takes the blame
For keeping him out at night

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It’s the kind of romance
That gets you up to dance
Or makes you feel
Lonesome and blue
One of Hank’s tunes
Makes him a lovesick fool
Or leaves him howling at the moon

​

(Repeat chorus)​

 

It’s hard to disguise
Those faraway eyes
The long gone lonesome these days
When that train whistle blows
He’ll just get up and go
Stranded on the lost highway

​

(Repeat chorus)

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10  Every Waking Minute

An ode to the only one person who accompanies you every step of the way in

      life and will be there when you pass: You! It’s wise to keep that in mind

and as needed, cut this imperfect person a little slack along the way.

​

​

Every waking minute I’ve shared with you
Even our dreams are filled with things we do
Every waking minute I can count on you
Friends come, friends go
Not a one so true

​

(Chorus)
So here’s to my best of friends
Who always has my back in the end
You’re so sweet and nice
But I’m sure you’d agree
I’m nothing without me

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Every waking minute you share the blame
Feel the joy, endure the pain
Every waking minute when I have my doubts
You ease my fears until it all works out

​

(Repeat chorus)

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11  One False Move

Sometimes disagreements between partners happen one too many times

      before you stop and realize the consequences of letting things get too far out

      of hand. Some of us have had to learn the hard way too.

​

We’ve shared enough heartache
We test the limits of give and take
It's such a slippery slope
Gasping for air without losing hope
Till the two of us drown

 

(Chorus)
One false move
One false move
And we’re both going down

​

Love deals in forgiveness
It has the power to forgive and forget
But how many times
Can we try our patience
And cross the line
And drive us out of bounds?

 

(Repeat chorus)
One false move
One false move
And we’re both going down

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(Bridge)
We both know there’s too much at stake
To push us to the point where we lose our way
 

12  Martha in Motion

 Instrumental    

Dedicated to my energetic wife, who hits the ground running every day.

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© Bradford Kissell. All Rights Reserved. Images and music on this site

can only be used with the expressed written permission of the author.

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