1. Nothing To Do (For Real This Time) What did independence ever get me except free time on my hands The ability to be lonesome The ability to feel lonesome
I tried and I travelled the world around Where has it left me? A stranger in my own town A stranger in my own house
Who can’t put no money down So I’ll just hang around I can’t go home, I burned that bridge and spent my last dime I’ve got nothing to do, for real this time
What did inspiration ever get me except more time by myself While my degree sits on the shelf And I pursue something else
This is what happens when you wake up and you realize it’s all an act That the cool kids in the class Were just actors in a mask
Who can’t put no money down So I’ll just hang around I can’t go home, I burned that bridge and spent my last dime I’ve got nothing to do, for real this time Nothing to do, for real this time
I’ve got nothing to do….not all dreams come true But, at least I got off the starting line (at least I got off the starting line)
I’ve got nothing to do, for real this time
Can’t put no money down So I’ll just hang around I can’t go home, I burned that bridge and spent my last dime I’ve got nothing to do, for real this time Nothing to do, for real this time Spent my money, my last dime Nothing to do, for real this time
Nothing to do, for real this time Nothing to do, for real this time Nothing to do, for real this time Nothing to do, for real this time
2. Shelly Johnson Small town queen with small town dreams Worked the Double R Diner since she was seventeen All things good or evil or caught in between The darkness of the woods, the lake washes clean
Buried in the timber of Washington state Tangled webs are woven in this strange little place Shelly met Leo one night at The Roadhouse Then they met and Shelly dropped out
Now she’s got a whole lotta action right here at home Got a boy named Bobby on the side when Leo’s on the road The way Leo treats her I can’t understand Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man
She works at the diner serving “damn good pies” The whole town’s crawling with the FBI Mysteries and murder, her friends are dying For kids in this town it’s just a day in the life
Now she’s got a whole lotta problems at the end of the day When Leo gets home he treats her like a maid She washes the floor, he’s got a heavy hand Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man
Owls screeching in the dead of the night Shelly pulled the trigger and Leo took flight Leo and Bobby go into a fight Then a shot came through the window in the nick of time Another shot came through the window in the nick of time
They say beautiful women cause men to do bad things It’s not the fault of women, some men have a weakness Muscle and mind are two very different things That’s why small town queens rarely keep their kings
Now there’s not a whole lotta action at home on the couch Bobby’s head is in the game and Leo’s checked out I think Shelly Johnson could use a good plan Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man Shelly Johnson could sure use a better man
3. I'd Die For You The world looks good, the world looks mean A whole lot falls in between It epitomizes dichotomy It seems the truth no longer matters
People have become more extreme Narrowed their focus to their own beliefs Instead of listening to reason, theory reigns supreme It seems the truth no longer matters
I’ve never been one to lay down and die Or worship the lord with 45 Pray for forgiveness, search for the truth Yeah, the truth is I’d die for you Yeah, the truth is I’d die for you
Up is down, flat is round Lies are truth and dumb profound You only get into heaven when you get in the ground It seems the truth no longer matter
Call me names, call me what you will Call me a hack, but it’s paying the bills God said to Moses “go out and kill” It seems the truth no longer matters
I’ve never been one to lay down Or worship the lord with a 45 Pray for forgiveness, search for the truth Yeah, the truth is I’d die for you Yeah ,the truth is I’d die for you
I would die a thousand times Love is worth the sacrifice Life isn’t like the movies Truth ain’t just what you believe No matter your perspective as fate would have it We’ve got to share reality
The sky looks blue, the earth looks green You can argue minutia, but won’t come out clean Corporate Babylon took the American dream It seems the truth should always mattered
I’ve never been one to lay down Or worship the lord with 45 Pray for forgiveness, search for the truth Yeah, the truth is I’d die for you Yeah, the truth is I’d die for you Oh, the truth is I’d die for you
4. Sometimes You Gotta Leave There was a time when I was living to die I ain’t just saying it, I was really trying To live real fast, burn up into ash I was looking wreck myself real bad
Get up in the morning one thing on my mind Countin’ the minutes ‘til the time felt right
Then one by one, ‘til the job gets done But most of the time just get depressed and dumb
Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave The things you love Leave your love Leave your love
I feel grateful when I look back now So many bad ways things could’ve played out An angel on my shoulder, still pushing the boulder Sisyphus was a real rock ‘n’ roller
Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave
Oh it’s a real drag to look back now, thought I was a comedian, but I was playing the clown At times I let pride get in the way All pride ever got me was a fist in the face
Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave Sometimes you gotta leave, sometimes you gotta leave Sometimes you gotta leave, Oh sometimes you gotta leave
5. Middle Man (Tell ‘em Gene)
The moon hangs low tonight Staring out the window at this old familiar sight Memories might bring me to tears I haven’t heard from my old friends in years
Always thought that growing up was a bad idea Stress and strain, loss and pain and fear Spending money to recapture what you had Only appreciating moments once they’ve passed
So, I cut out the middle man And I devised a plan I’m not talking ‘bout some wacked out Neverland Talking ‘bout doing what you want while you can
Life will pass you by if you don’t act fast They say “the good things never last” And the years rise up like a flood And fill the Senate floor like Sumner’s blood
So, I cut out the middle man I devised a plan I’m not talking ‘bout some wacked out Neverland Talking ‘bout doing what you want while you can Talking ‘bout doing what I want while I can
(Hit ‘em again Gene)
6. All Gone Mad I got up, got on the internet, said to myself “what a world” Real live people in real life places posting into virtual I don’t know you and you don’t know me, as long as it’s liked and shared You can move a mountain or get fucked by a stranger In two minutes nobody cares
It’s all gone mad Is it all for nothing? It’s all gone mad Is it all for nothing?
Time keeps tickin’, the world keeps spinnin’ Time and people disappear Hang onto the memory for a little while In the end it’s like they were never there It’s a big ole world and everything in it, someday it’ll all be gone I won’t be here and neither will you, what’s the point of soldiering on?
It’s gone mad Is it all for nothing? It’s all gone mad Is it all for nothing?
Seriously I’m asking, ‘cause I’ve been thinking That if you ain’t Babe Ruth and you ain’t Abe Lincoln If you don’t die trying, you just get old Til you ride down the road, with your blinker still blinkin’
I got up, got on the internet, said to myself “what a world” Real live people in real life places posting into virtual I don’t know you and you don’t know me, as long as it’s liked and shared You can move a mountain or get fucked by a stranger In two minutes nobody cares
All gone mad And it’s all for nothing Has it all gone mad? Is it all for nothing? It’s all gone mad And it’s all for nothing It’s all gone mad
7. Bad Time (To Quit Drinkin') Goodbye to my youth, so long farewell Goodbye to my innocence, see you in hell Goodbye to this town, goodbye to my love Goodbye La Paloma, Goodbye to drugs
The moon hangs over wherever I am tonight I’m so hungover I don’t think I’m alright It’s all I can do to toss and to turn I just want to go home, the bridge has been burned
But if it’s New Hampshire or New Year I know for damn sure I don’t care I’ve nowhere to go, I know I want to get outta here
I want to get outta here Last night I drank my last beer I picked a bad time I picked a bad time I picked a bad time….to quit drinkin’
Wherever I am I look up at the moon And know it’s shining down on you while I’m singing this tune The world keeps on spinning if we’re here of we’re gone You know it’s tragic and beautiful how life just goes on
Life always running is good while it lasts Blink your eyes, the future’s the past Close your eyes for a while, go take a nap Choose your time wisely, you don’t get it back
But if it’s New Hampshire or New Year I know for damn sure I don’t care I’ve nowhere to go, I know I want to get outta here
I want to get outta here and last night I drank my last beer I picked a bad time I picked a bad time I picked a bad time….to quit drinkin’
I picked a bad time, I picked a bad time, I picked a bad time, I picked a bad time...to quit drinkin'
8. Irregardless I’ve watching, been observing I ain’t saying that I am pleased I remember when I was younger There was much more decency
Now it’s gone, been eroded And all we got is the damn TV Leading us from the path to glory I don’t want this reality I don’t want this reality
I remember a time and age I would wake up and birds would sing I could look at the ceiling for hours Imagination doing anything
Then I got a phone, became a drone Glued my eyes to a little screen Shared our thoughts and we shared our feelings No one’s liking what they’re seeing, no one’s liking what they’re seeing
Irregardless, you just keep going You take it in ‘til you tune it out If you’re not happy with what you’re seeing This ain’t the time to take it lying down
I remember when country was country I remember when the blues was black Things change just like the weather Nostalgia ain’t gonna bring it back
Thunderstorms are being born The next generation’s got their own thing Try to fight it, try to spite it All you get is a big nothin’ All you get is a big NOTHING
‘Cause irregardless, you just keep going You take it in ‘til you tune it out If you’re not happy with what you’re seeing This ain’t the time to take it lying down No, this ain’t the time to take it lying down
9. Indiana I hope I never go back to Indiana I hope the highway forgets that it is here I pray my path never again sees Indiana And pray to god of this great land to keep me clear
When I was just a boy I hit the highway Something drove me out away from home In this great land I have gazed upon the glory The rugged mountains, desert diamonds, canyons grand
I’ve stood in ole Kentucky’s hollers Walked across California’s Golden Gate I’ve travelled the North Country’s woodlands Watched the sunrise out in the Western states
I hope I never go back to Indiana I hope the highway forgets that it is here Pray my path never again sees Indiana Pray to god of this great land to keep me clear
Florida has got its sunshine Idaho is a gem of a place In West Virginia they are playing by their own set of rules Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes
Maine has got its quiet harbors Their ocean border gave them a blessed fate Indiana: they have manufactured evil Oh, some say that it’s a hell of a state
I hope I never go back to Indiana I hope the highway forgets that it is here Pray my path never again sees Indiana Pray to god of this great land to keep me clear
I’d be remiss to say that it ain’t worth saving Jesus loves the sinner who hears his call In Indiana the devil rocks the cradle Evil’s in the soil, it’s in the soil, in one and all
I hope I never go back to Indiana I mean not never, forever and amen Oh, the devil is real in Indiana Oh, Indiana I hope to never see again Oh, Indiana, not ever again
10. When The Hammer Falls I always wanted people to like me Be proud of the things I’ve done Accept me and praise me, and sometimes leave me alone
But, life isn’t so simple The world can be hard and mean You know it’s filled with all kinds of people Some are willing to shatter your dreams
When the hammer falls, be ready When battle calls, hold steady What you thought you could count on ain’t what it once was The hammer falls ‘cause it always does The hammer falls ‘cause it always does
I used to think that time was an ocean And I could sail out as far as I could No end is sight, no ties to devotion Rock on the waves, the creak of the wood
But, life isn’t so simple An ocean can be hard and mean The water stops for nothing and no one It knows no difference ‘tween laughter and screams
When the hammer falls, be ready When battle calls, hold steady What you thought you could count on ain’t what it once was The hammer falls ‘cause it always does The hammer falls ‘cause it always does
You’ve gotta question “what does it all mean?” Mark each day like a notch in the wood Bad things happen to good people Bad people get more than they should
But, life isn’t so simple A lot of things can be hard and mean It’s not a fair fight it’s a rumble It takes an army to take on the machine
When the hammer falls, be ready When battle calls, hold steady What you thought you could count on ain’t what it once was The hammer falls ‘cause it always does The hammer falls ‘cause it always does The hammer falls ‘cause it always does