1. |
W.S.O.T.T.
02:28
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Pelican Johnny on the wrong side of the tracks...blahblahblah
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2. |
Don't Tread On Me
03:45
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I got the call, gonna go down to Texas
and play in a honky-tonk band
First night Austin, then the next stop Houston
Then heading on to Alabam'
That's when it got so clear to me
It's gonna be a long, long ride
I thank my lucky stars I was not shot there in the dark
and I made it to the Georgia line
Don't tread on me, don't tread on others who are not like you
Let's just do what we got paid here to do
Don't tell me about your bigotries, your conspiracies
Just get me back to Austin please
So I can be free
I don't wanna hear about your good ol' time religion
when you smile and you lie through your teeth
I don't wanna talk about guns all day long
Just let me get some sleep here in my seat
I know you could never do no wrong
Even when you're driving off the road again
I wonder who would be the good lord's scapegoat
if he acted like you back then
Don't tread on me, don't tread on others who are not like you
Let's just do what we got paid here to do
Don't tell me about your bigotries, your conspiracies
Just get me back to Austin please
So I can be free
Won't you pay me my money
And get me back to Austin please
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3. |
15 Tiles
04:27
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I’m packing up the van tonight
Even though mama told me to stay
The rain’s coming down
The bridge is out
But I’m going up to PA
In spite of hope I know
There’ll be nobody waiting for me
But down the road I go
Because I need a change of scenery
I wanna feel young
Don’t wanna feel tired
So I met a flight attendant
At a Wayne County diner
Two days later
It was sunny and pretty
We took a train ride up to New York City
I counted fifteen tiles on her ceiling
As I was laying in her bed
But the guiltiness that your dealing
As your voice is running through my head
Says that I should have been with you instead
I hate the way you drive
But I hate the way she drives even worse
Hanging on for dear life
On the Jersey Turnpike
This loneliness is a curse
I’ve got another show
up in Philly tonight
Driving down the highway
towards the big city lights
The rock’n’roll has got me
feeling so giddy
I only wish that you could
be here with me
I counted fifteen tiles on her ceiling
As I was laying in her bed
But the guiltiness that your dealing
As your voice is running through my head
Says that I should have been with you instead
It’s the journey that I take
To make me feel like I did something right
It’s not the money I don’t make
That keeps me fighting and chasing the light
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4. |
13 North & South
02:30
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On a narrow strip of land
Between two coasts
13 runs north and south
but somehow, it's just the end of the road
My father was a prison guard
I know I will be one too
Like the people of the Kentucky coal mines
There's just nothing else to do
If I could save up, I'd be heading out
But I've got nowhere to go
13 runs north and south
but somehow, it's just the end of the road
The neighbor is breaking into our house
And he's pushing us around
The sheriff don't give a good goddamn
In this lawless town
Keep it up man, just keep on pushing
until you're making me explode
13 runs north and south
but somehow, it's just the end of the road
My best friend before he died was a wise & simple man
He said "Son, don't you be like me. You better get out while you can"
Still I do my best to forget that I've got something to lose
I do my best to forget with some help from a bottle of booze
Sometimes on the edge of town
Where the marshes meet the street
I can see way past this place
To where I wanna be
So I'll be saving up and I'll be heading out
To where I don't know
13 runs north and south
but somehow, it's just the end of the road
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5. |
Happy Tonight
03:01
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Staying afloat beside a boat
In the Gulf of Mexico
With no work to think about today
Many times when I’m feeling down
I just turn this head around
And the good times are on their way
It’s not right, it’s never right
But we’re all happy, deep down inside
When I’m singing a song with my friends
Because I can, then I know I’m happy tonight
Late at night with my friends
Hide and seek will never end
No one will be leaving here ‘till two
No booze or drugs are needed
Especially when the music’s bleeding
A melody the whole night through
It’s not right, it’s never right
But we’re all happy, deep down inside
When I’m singing a song with my friends
Because I can, then I know I’m happy tonight
Walking with a girl who’s pretty
Down the sidewalk of the city
It makes me feel like a lucky guy
She’ll be there when times are wrong
And help me sing this special song
On a big beach under a bright blue sky
It’s not right, it’s never right
But we’re all happy, deep down inside
When I’m singing a song with my friends
Because I can, then I know I’m happy tonight
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6. |
My Spirit's High
03:19
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Oh no, I’ve ran my mouth
Someone else wants to kick my ass again
And I do care
But who are they to ruin my day
When you’re around, things are going my way
And you know, you make me smile
My spirit’s high and I know why
‘Cause she’s providing
A reason to look the other way
Looks like I’ve scratched my guitar
My glasses are gone and my ego is scarred pretty bad
And I do care
But when you’re in my car
It helps me to know where my priorities are
And it’s you on the top of my list
My spirit’s high and I know why
‘Cause she’s providing
A reason to look the other way
We'll be heading west to the country
But that’s another day
Right now the busy river city
Will soon be calling my name
But let’s walk in the park
Sneak around after dark
Come on baby, let’s enjoy today
My spirit’s high and I know why
‘Cause she’s providing
A reason to look the other way
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7. |
I Ain't Gonna Kill You
02:40
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Traveling through this bumpy lifelong journey
There are folks who will take and act unkind
They will try and get to you
No matter what you might do
There's a jerk in sheep's clothing all the time
Gossip fiends tell everyone around them
Fairy tales about things I haven't done
I try and take the higher road
But it goes so goddamn slow
So I sing this song and helps me to carry on
I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died
Straight up your ass would be the place for this web of lies
I've never met someone like you who treats me like you do
I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died
Supremacy is an oxymoron
Especially when it's assumed by shits like you
Intelligence you can't tolerate
A poor substitute for hate
Hitler is dead and you should be too
I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died
Straight up your ass would be the place for this foolish pride
I've never met someone like you who treats me like you do
I ain't gonna kill you but I'd be happy if you died
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8. |
I'm Not Mad
03:35
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Seven o’clock in the morning
But I’ve been up since way before
I’ve been awake, yeah man I know
Head straight for the shower
Last refuge before the end of the hour
Into the day I go
And so I’m satisfied
I won’t be obliged
To say
Maybe the reason why
I am pacified today
I’m not mad because
I’m not allowed to be mad
And so, a smile on my face
Anything else would just go to waste
It’s the only way, yeah man I know
Don't bother to try and fight
When you can’t look forward to the things you like
Don’t even try, yeah man I know
And so I’m satisfied
I won’t be obliged
To say
Maybe the reason why
I am pacified today
I’m not mad because
I’m not allowed to be mad
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9. |
See Me Through
02:44
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Well, I guess I’m too damn lazy to wipe this shaving cream off my face
‘cause I’ve not nothing better to do
I’m naked but in socks, standing in a lonely place
There’s just me so there’s plenty of room
The surface of my face is so smooth
But it doesn’t matter none because I can’t rub it on you
So I sit back down and roll around, burning rubber in my chair
Phony smile brings empty stares
I didn’t have the balls to try to fix this mess
There’s something I ain’t never ever gonna get
I’m waiting and saving, not hurrying up and taking
my chance to share
And I wish I could by now
But I don’t think I know how
You’ve been saying I’m faking and there’s no use waiting for me to change
But I know you’ll endure it ‘til the end, to see me through
Early in the morn she’s working hard
Serving cups of coffee to those yuppies in a car
When right across town I’m sleeping sound, I got pillow marks on my face
Sharing thoughts but worlds away
I didn’t have the balls to try to fix this mess
There’s something I ain’t never ever gonna get
I’m waiting and saving, not hurrying up and taking
my chance to share
And I wish I could by now
But I don’t think I know how
You’ve been saying I’m faking and there’s no use waiting for me to change
But I know you’ll endure it ‘til the end, to see me through
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10. |
The Moon Always Wins
04:33
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Somewhere in the dark of night
There’s a spirit roaming free, roaming free
Struggling through her sorrow plight
She’s crying out a sea, crying out a sea
Time, it grows
We fight our fearsome foes
Shouting orders to the wind
She’s lost her only friend
And the moon always wins
When I lay down my head
She will remember me, remember me
When you’re waiting on the road
She’s telling you to go, telling you to go
Time, it grows
We fight our fearsome foes
Shouting orders to the wind
She’s lost her only friend
It’s time for me to go
She’s taking me away, taking me away
I draw one last breath
And we fade into the night, into the night, into the night
Time, it grows
We fight our fearsome foes
Shouting orders to the wind
She’s lost her only friend
And the moon always wins
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11. |
Goodbye Song
02:40
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Oh why, Oh why
Most beautiful girl in the world
Oh why, Oh why
Must you let me down again
I've been thinking and singing about all your reasons
They have nothing to do with your heart
So I’m saying goodbye to this girl
Good bye, Good bye
Most terrible girl in the world
Good bye, Good bye
You won't see me 'round again
I've been thinking and singing about all your reasons
They have nothing to do with your heart
So I’m saying goodbye to this girl
When it all came tumbling down
And you thought I’d be around
Well I'm changing my story now
And I'm cutting my losses now
Gonna put my guns in the ground
For good
Don’t cry, don’t cry
Most beautiful girl in the world
Don’t cry, don’t cry
Better things are still ahead
I've been thinking and singing about all your reasons
They have nothing to do with your heart
So I’m saying goodbye to this girl
This girl
Well I'm changing my story now
And I'm cutting my losses now
Gonna put my guns in the ground
For good
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12. |
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I grab my bike and I head out into the fog
My conscience would kill me if I stayed
Alone, so I called - do you still care at all?
I’m reaching out for help on my birthday
“Don’t try and fight” is what they tell me
But I can’t keep it all inside
Lay down to rest this memory today
I’m hoping that this soul will survive
I’ve spent been fifty nights crying
That pretty ghost won’t let me get no sleep
A relentless heart will never stop from trying
To get back what's been taken from me
To get back my sanity
In the cool autumn air when I combed up my hair
And I was looking like the day when we first met
I plead and I beg to take me back again
A night ensued I won’t soon forget
On that very last night when you held me
And I fell asleep squeezing you tight
Please don’t tell me that this is the end
Let me down easy if you can
I’ve spent been fifty nights crying
That pretty ghost won’t let me get no sleep
A relentless heart will never stop from trying
To get back what's been taken from me
To get back my sanity
I’ve got a missed connection with myself
Chances blown and a controversy made
I can’t seem to help myself
Gone too far and now it’s too late
Please don’t let today be too late
Seven months and a million letters later
I’m looking back to see how far I’ve come
Driving five states now to make myself feel better
I’ve sought and found a little bit of fun
But don’t get me wrong, something’s missing
Like a child who’s been taken from his home
An endless soundtrack that keeps me coming back
To the one I love: this heart will never roam
I’ve spent been fifty nights crying
That pretty ghost won’t let me get no sleep
A relentless heart will never stop from trying
To get back what's been taken from me
To get back my sanity
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13. |
Where I Lay
03:39
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I started out on the wrong side of the tracks
so I followed them tracks
and I ain't looking back
until I see the smoke of the textile mills
I know some folks, got a place to stay
Jan sells the hooch, thats a place to play
And I'm never too far from escape by the rails
It don't matter where I lay
When I lay my body down
As long as I hear that train whistle sound
It don't matter where I sleep
If I hear that whistle weep
I can remember the days spent on those Richmond streets
Burlesque show on a Friday night
The drunks will drink and the edge boys will fight
And the broken hearts, they will go unnoticed
My bicycle's locked next to yours
Lets get out of here and ride to the shores
of the James River and sing away our blues
It don't matter where I lay
When I lay my body down
As long as I hear that train whistle sound
It don't matter where I sleep
If I hear that whistle weep
I can remember the days spent on those Richmond streets
Follow the river down
I think about the years I let others down
I hope they don't remember me this way
I stand on a rock and I look around
I'm thankful for the happiness that I've found
I won't fuck it up this time or at least I'll try
It don't matter where I lay
When I lay my body down
As long as I hear that train whistle sound
It don't matter where I sleep
If I hear that whistle weep
I can remember the days spent on those Richmond streets
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Pelican Johnny Richmond, Virginia
Returning from a 7 year stint in Austin, TX, one-man-band and bandleader, Pelican Johnny, is back in the ol' River City, He had previously spent his musical career playing drums and guitar (recording and touring) in a diverse array of bands from around the country. Now, as a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he employs the same raw energy in his brand of folk-punk Americana. ... more
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