Building a Fire - 2004
iTunes - https://music.apple.com/us/album/building-a-fire/275099090
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Building-Fire-Stuart-Mcnair/dp/B01K8MKBZI
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/1Bl3NKRWEj0bGChjjTkWvr?si=8QFA5qCOTMWOMKT2YX8hrw
Come to Caroline
Three days east of LA
picked you up in my Chevrolet
it was suicide hitchhiking that way
it was your 18th birthday
and your daddy would have emptied his gun
if he knew half the things i'd done
me and his little girl on the run
drive into the rising sun
and I asked you "where you gonna go?"
lit a smoke and said you don't know
you're new life on the road
you were scared and it showed
chorus:
but who's to stop you, Mandy,
from coming to Carolina
come to caroline, Mandy
come to caroline, Mandy
come to caroline, Mandy
with me
shared a bed in Tennessee
put my boot through a color tv
when you said you were leaving me
you had better things to see
and i know i ain't got one thin dime
and i've been prosing all your nursery rhymes
but pretty soon if we make good time
we'll be crossing that last state line
chorus
and i know everything will turn out fine
if you come to caroline, Mandy
with me
bridge:
you're a diamond
i'm a rusty nail
and I've been stepping on your fairy tail
at junction 40-23
and I wish that you would stay with me
chorus
and i know everything will turn out fine
if you come to caroline, Andy
with me
No Emergency
she's a perfect little princess
and everyone agrees
so they're dropping their defenses
dropping to their knees
everyone's in love with her
she's redefining "cool"
but she'd sell you in a heartbeat
so don't be fooled
chorus :
don't you know that she's alright?
this is no emergency
she's alright
she's alright
this is no emergency
she's alright
she's sifting through her summer clothes
and the boys will say she's fine
but she can laugh back in their faces
for thinking she's that kind
she never gave permission
she's stamping her little feet
and she's asking for recognition
from everyone she meets
chorus
she's daddy's little angel
and everyone should know
to get out of her way
when she's putting on a show
but I'm standing in your spotlight
breaking all your laws
stealing all you one-lines
receiving your applause
chorus
Persephone
thank the Lord in heaven, i just got home
never been so in need of time alone
gonna lock the door, cut the phone,
pick up my guitar and play
why does everybody have to make life so hard?
nothing else exists except for my back yard
wysteria's in bloom, and April is on her way
and April will turn to May
and sweet Persephone comes home today
hello, how you doing? i haven't caught your name
you could bring me ruin, and i could do the same
we'll run and away, do it now!
wait until the song is done
and i'm taking off her flannel gown, but i haven't kissed her yet
been drinking since the sun went down, and sharing cigarettes
she'll break the virgins, break her vows,
breaking hearts one by one
and that's the way she has her fun
but sweet Persephone brings back the sun
Caesar said to Brutus, et tu brute
Jesus said to Judas, today will be your day
the ides of March, a march to Selma,
and every king will meet an early grave
betrayed by the ones they tried to save
but sweet Persephone comes home today
Building a Fire
well i'm building a fire by the side of the road
building a fire by the side of the road
my heart has been freed, my oats have been sowed
so i'm building a fire by the side of the road
i'm gonna take me a walk through the woods for a while
i'm gonna take me a walk right through those woods for a while
the ties around their necks make it hard for folks to smile
so I'm gonna take me a walk through the woods for a while
how many days will there be
how many more full moons will I see
before the tiny stream that carries me
finally flows back into the sea
we're building a home inside of our minds
building us a home right here inside of our minds
everyone's accepted here and welcome every time
building a home inside of our minds
and we're gonna walk a little closer to the light
we're gonna try and walk a little closer to the light
everything will turn out fine, everything will be alright
if we can only walk a little closer to the light
how many days with there be?
how many more full moons will I see
before the tiny stream that carries me
finally flows back into the sea
hello, hello, hello, hello, there's no need for goodbyes
turn your frown upside down and wipe your weary eyes
i will never fail to stand by your side
until the tiny stream that carries me
finally flows back into the sea
and I'm gonna tell you all exactly how I feel
i'm gonna tell you all right now exactly how I feel
only love brings peace and only love is real
i'm gonna tell you all exactly how I feel
and we're building a fire by the side of the road
building a fire by the side of the road
our hearts have been freed, our outs have been sowed
so we're building a fire by the side of the road
Can’t Be Good
woke up this morning with a pain in my head
i need a doctor and a white linen bed
i'd call for help if only I could
and i know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
to be the eye of a needle in the eye of a storm,
surrounded by chaos since the day I was born
and I'd strike that day from the books if only I could
‘cause I know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
but if I had money, and if I had fame,
generosity and goodness would follow my name
and if a had patience and if I had grace
i'd help everyone that I could
but I know that this can't be good
ain't got wheels, so i'm walking
when I'm walking it rains
when it rains it pours and I'm stuck here again
i'd leave in a second, you know that I would
because I know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
but if I had money and if I had fame
the salvation army would know me by name
if I had freedom and a little good luck
i'd help everyone that I could
but I know that this can't be good
and a winner draws a crowd,
but you're alone when you lose
i could use a hot meal and a new pair of shoes
i can hang laundry, scrub floors and chop wood
and I know my prospects ain't good
i know that this can't be good
and I've always been misunderstood
Alabama
alabama
it'd been too long since I'd been home
alabama
she knows when I'm feeling alone
alabama
she called me and I came
alabama
but now she don't look the same
they put a lightbulb in your face
U.S. Timbre leaves no trace
just a subdivided space
and all the people i have missed
put a chain link around their wrists
and you're losing a losing race
alabama
they pulled the rope-swing from your yard
Alabama
she takes losing so hard
alabama
and now your eyes are full of smoke
alabama
i believe my heart is broke
they put a lightbulb in your face
U.S. Timbre leaves no trace
just a subdivided space
and all the people i have missed
put a chain link around their wrists
and you're losing a losing race
everyone has said goodbye
and i'm so lonesome i could cry
alabama
We all fiddled while your bridges burned
alabama
look, the leaves are beginning to turn
they put a lightbulb in your face
U.S. Timbre leaves no trace
just a subdivided space
and all the people i have missed
put a chain link around their wrists
and you're losing a losing race
Memphis (in a two-seat plane)
I flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane
touch down in the pouring rain
400 miles across the South
still had the taste of bourbon in my mouth
a leather jacket, guitar case
said I'll make a record and we'll leave this place
stood on the runway, it was time to go
but it was four in the morning before you told me no
an empty bottle, an empty seat
Mississippi River running under my feet
flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane without you
and now I'm standing on the I-40 bridge
a long, long way from blue valley ridge
tonight I'm soaking up the Memphis rain alone
flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane
touch down in the pouring rain
I got a pocket full of wet cigarettes
and a heart that hasn't given up yet
the town's asleep, I’m chilled to the bone
would it kill you Kate to pick up the phone?
we been together since we met at school
but now your hometown hero's just a cold, wet fool
An empty bottle, an empty seat
Mississippi River running under my feet
Flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane without you
And now I’m standing on the I-40 Bridge
And long, long way from Blue Valley Ridge
Tonight I’m soaking up the Memphis rain alone
tonight I'm feeling like I'm better off dead
Mississippi River running over my head
flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane alone
touch down in the pouring rain alone
well, I flew to Memphis in a two-seat plane
Separate Ways
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
i'm not a man who walks around
carrying his heart upon his sleeve
but give me a little warning if you leave
i'll pick my feet up off the ground
you'll never see me wallow or grieve
just give me a little warning if you leave
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
the day i bought this piece of land
that was the day we were freed
happiness is freedom from need
i'll break the earth between my hands
everything must grow from a seed
happiness is freedom from need
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
we're flowing like a mountain stream
but there's bound to be rocks along the way
but you've only got to live one day
i see the future in my dreams
i hear it in the trees as they sway
but you've only got to live one day
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
babe, do you love me
or do you want to go your separate way?
Millions
millions and millions and millions
of planets in the universe
millions and millions and millions
have life just like earth
they got death and birth
they got death and birth
millions and millions and millions
of years came and went
millions and millions and millions
of lives have all been spent
without no rent
they didn't have to pay no rent
the whole world isn't ready
the whole world isn't ready to sing along
the whole world isn't ready at all
millions and millions and millions
of stars up above
millions and millions and millions
of ways to show your love
when push comes to shove
you gotta show your love
millions and millions and millions
of songs yet to be sung
millions and millions and millions
of hearts yet to be won
they don't have no fun
and we're all one
the whole world isn't ready
the whole world isn't ready to sing along
the whole world isn't ready at all
love, love, love is the only thing worth a damn
and love, love, love makes me who i am
not uncle sam
he doesn't know who i am
the whole world isn't ready
the whole world isn't ready to sing along
the whole world isn't ready at all
Setting Suns
i've walked seven hours since the break of dawn
looks like I ended up here on your front lawn
maybe I was lonely, maybe I was blue
maybe I couldn't sleep til I talked to you
spent the day thinking about what it all means
new cars credit cars, movies and magazines
nothing is lasting, we'll leave it behind
doesn't matter what's yours or what is mine
but maybe there's some truth to these lines
setting suns and morning showers
they don't last all day
everyone, like every flower
soon will pass away
even this guitar that I hold in my hand
was once in the trees, the earth, the sand
and when it goes back there, back from where it came
it will still have life, but a different name
and maybe for you and me it's the same
setting suns and morning showers
they don't last all day
everyone, like every flower
soon will pass away
winter is cold
but the sun is knocking on the door
the young, they get old
and the rich will soon be poor
setting suns and morning showers
they don't last all day
everyone, like every flower
soon will pass away
see, i had a friend who let me down
blowing everybody else's money all over town
forgiving your debtors, forgiving their debts
it's like forgiving yourself for your regrets
it's like forgiving the sun each time it sets
setting suns and morning showers
they don't last all day
everyone, like every flower
soon will pass away
Window
You been sleeping with your tears
and a pillow soaking wet
i been leaving you for years
but i haven't met you yet
could you discover me before i go too far
before i close the window to my heart
everyone is so afraid of letting down their guard
everyone makes a great escape before it gets too hard
but you'll discover me before i go too far
before i close the window to my heart
bridge:
when the wind blows and the leaves begin to fall
you can close your eyes and pretend not to notice at all
but every now and again you'll be waiting on a call
that very well may not ever come
there's no shelter from a cold hard wind
when the sun disappears in the west
but we'd never be cold again
if i could hold you to my chest
but you’ll discover me before i go too far
before I close the window to my heart
bridge
now way back off the highway
in the woods down past the farm
i'll be wrapped up in the darkness
that should have been your arms
if you'd discovered me before i went too far
before i closed the window to my heart
but i just closed the window to my heart
Walk on Water
Travis McGhee was my best friend
known him for most of my life
one night i came in from Jackson
found him in the arms of my wife
I don't know it all
sure don't
but Jesus, he walked on the water
a long time ago
Francis keeps kids in the morning
she's raised half the folks in this town
her oldest son got life without parole
judge said he shot a man down
i don't know it all
sure don't
but Jesus said love one another
a long time ago
Sandy, she cooks for the soldiers
played piano for most of her life
sometimes the big pots burn her hands
sometimes she slips with a knife
I don't know it all
sure don't
but Jesus, he walked on the water
a long time ago
folks around here read the Bible
folks around here, they believe
folks around here, they scratch for survival
folks around here never leave
I don't know it all
sure don't
but Jesus, he walked on the water
Jesus said love one another
Jesus, he walked on the water
a long time ago
Everyone is You
the rain is in my shoes
but the sun is peaking through
and everything is new
and everyone is you
the clouds are rolling through
but all my skies are blue
and everything is new
and everyone is you
don't want to know their names
it wouldn't feel the same
don’t want to know their names
it wouldn’t feel the same
cause everyone is you
everyone is you
everything is new
and everyone is you
