1. |
Get off the Wheel
03:32
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Get Off the Wheel
Refrain
Gonna get off the wheel. Don’t want to let myself feel
These tired old emotions again.
Verse
Running around in circles in my head again.
All it took was a phone call from you.
Then I find my serenity slipping away from me.
It’s time to try something different. Find something new.
Head out my door, find something better to do.
Find me a lover or maybe just a friend to help me
get off the wheel so I won’t have to feel
these tired old emotions again.
Bridge
Someday I’ll look back at this and smile
even now the weight is much less than before.
And maybe, just maybe I’ll open my eyes and realize
That it doesn’t have to be this way anymore.
Verse
When that day arrives, I’ll fling open doors and windows
and let fresh air and light come streaming in.
And go outside running wild Like when I was a child.
This is not a new beginning. Just a fresh start.
I look down inside, still see those scars on my heart.
But I won’t feel the pain and
I won’t lose my way. And I won’t
Get on the wheel. I won’t let myself feel
these tired old emotions again.
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2. |
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The Ballad of the Paper Umbrella © 2014
Words and Music by William Metts
When I was just a boy I remember that my daddy
had a very unusual habit
He’d always put a paper umbrella in his beer
I had to find out why dag-nabbit
You see the boys at school found out that my daddy
would do such an unusual thing
and I’d get teased from the time I got to school
till the time the final bell ring.
So I gathered up my courage,
went down to my daddy sitting in his easy chair
asked why on earth would a man of his stature
put a paper umbrella in his beer!
Here’s what my daddy told me…He said'
When I was in Nam there was a fella in our company
who liked women less than he liked men.
You know, that’s tolerated more today
than it ever was back then.
His name was Louis, we called him Louise.
We made him sit alone when we were eating.
And I’m ashamed to tell you my son
we gave him more than one undeserved beating
When we got the chance to get out to the bars
to have beers and shots with the other fellas
he would order those sweet girly drinks, you know
the kind with a little umbrellas.
One day we found ourselves in a firestorm
bullets flying all around.
We all frozen in fear
when the grenade bounced on the ground.
That’s except for Lewis,
You see, he jumped on it
to shield the rest of us from the blast,
and because of him I’m here looking at you
and Lewis, he’s in the past.
Then my daddy stood up looked down at me
and said son I hope that we are finished here.
I nodded, took the umbrella from his drink
and put it behind my left ear,
and I went to school.
I said go ahead knock it off, I dare you.
I double dog dare you.
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3. |
Animal Lover
02:06
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Animal Lover © Bill Metts
Don’t fall in love with a Robin
though he sings a lovely song
When winter comes and it gets cold
you’ll turn around he’ll be gone.
Don’t get friendly with no snakes.
Don’t ever look in their eyes.
When they speak they never blink
and you end up believing their lies
Chorus
I’m not an animal lover
they belong in the woods or the zoo
I wasn’t surprised when I realized
that we’re all animals too.
Don’t hang around no Jack-Ass.
I’m telling you true
Mule rubs off and before long
you’ll be Jack-Ass too.
Don’t make a skunk your leader.
What the hell are you thinking?
When things get rough and he’s had enough
you’re the one who’ll end up stinking.
Chorus
Don’t hide your head in a hole in the ground
like the ostrich do
Hyenas in the hood will come along
and eat your ass up too.
Don’t pick a porcupine for a pal
find another way to get your kicks
When you feel the love and you give a hug
you’ll find they’re all just pricks.
CHORUS (with howls!)
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4. |
Sail Away
03:14
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Sail Away
Chorus
Sail down to the Islands Singing a happy song.
Sunny all day nothing to do but play.
Don’t you want to come along?
I ain’t never been but sure would like to go
Hop on a boat sail down to Kokomo singing
Hey la la, hey la la, hey la hey la ti da
Verse
You’ll be my woman I’ll be your man
Spend all our time making love in the sand.
Sipping on Pina Colada loving me Bahama Mama.
Oh baby say that we can.
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sail Away yeah.
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sa……il Away
CHORUS
Verse2
Leave the baby with your mamma, papa, sister
or your brother. Anybody you know I don’t care.
Telephone every day blow a kiss and then we say,
“We love you but we’re glad you’re not here”
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sail Away yeah.
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sa……il Away
Chorus
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sail Away. Sail Away yeah.
Sail Away. Sail Away. Sa……il Away
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5. |
Shine
03:48
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Shine © Bill Metts 2015 Key – B (capo 4)
Verse 1
I'm just some guy sittin' in some cafe
Got no false hopes of going very far
One thing I know is that I have a good time
When I come here and play my guitar
My friends said Billy, you need to write yourself a song
I didn't know it'd be so hard and take so darn long
So when I finally sat down to put melody and rhyme
To things inside that I need to share
The melodies came easy but not so the words
So my friends will have to settle for my heart and this prayer
Chorus:
Give me a song to sing that they'll remember
With words that will make our voices one
A melody to make everyone smile
And get stuck in their head in the morning and stay until day is done
Let my voice ring true with the soul that you gave me
Let my fingers do your dance on the guitar strings
You sing harmony in my mind for me Lord
Let me shine with the joy that singing for you brings
Verse 2
I met some gal while I was sittin' outside,
Pickin and singing with my friends
I must have done something to upset the poor girl
She wouldn't even let my song end.
She said you know that a black man
should sing the blues but you don't
I said to that lady I ain't got em so I won't
She said you got a nice voice
and you can play your guitar
But son you just don't look the part
I said listen here lady, you got it all wrong
It's all about makin' a joyful noise from the heart
CHORUS
Let me shine with the joy that singing for you brings
(Shine with the joy…that singing for you brings...REPEAT....
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6. |
Stay Away From the Blues
02:35
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Stay Away from the Blues by William Metts 7/28/2013
Start with yellow. Add a little blue.
Now you’re green with envy, that's not good for you.
Take some red. Add a little blue.
Now you’re purple with rage might could even hurt you.
Rainbows are wonderful things
Foretell of brighter days to be.
But who knows what the future may bring.
I hope you’re listening to me.
Take some black. Add a little blue.
That’s what you feel like when it gets hold of you.
Let this be a cautionary tale. Be careful what you do.
Use all the colors of the rainbow darling,
but stay away from the blues.
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7. |
My Bait's Gone
02:32
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My Bait’s Gone
CHORUS
My bait’s gone but there ain’t no fish
My bait’s gone but there ain’t no fish
My bait’s gone but there ain’t no fish
There ain’t nothing but potatoes on my dish.
I went to the fishing hole with a worm on my line.
Corn bread and catfish was on my mind.
My table was already set, fork knife and dish.
I figure I’d catch me a cute little fish.
CHORUS
Believe me when I tell you that it ain’t no fun.
When you’re still hungry but dinner’s all done.
So eat when you can and don’t come to dinner late.
And do what your mamma told you
And eat everything on you plate
CHORUS
Oh lordy I am so hungry.
I would go down to the meat market but I ain’t got no money.
Guess I’m gonna have to tighten the belt in my pants.
I should’a eaten when I
had the chance
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8. |
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The Ballad of Maggie Brown© by Bill Metts
Here’s a song about a girl I know
name a Maggie Brown.
Spent all her days since she’s born
in a backwoods country town.
Misfortune came one day you know
she fell for a city man.
Packed her bags got on that train
left ol’ Lu’sianne.
Willy Jones weren’t that bad,
he just weren’t too smart.
Never understood the mysteries
of a woman’s heart.
Should'a turned that girl around
put her right back on that train.
What that fool done instead caused a lot of pain.
CHORUS
Poor Maggie wouldn’t want to be in her shoes
Empty pockets and a long way from home.
He helped her find a place to stay,
work to make some dough.
She slipped into his back pocket
wouldn’t let him go.
Tried to make him jealous
hanging with some other guy.
Didn’t work out the way she thought.
Ol’ Willie didn’t bat an eye.
Played that game a bit too long
got knocked up one day.
Went looking for that baby’s dad
he’s long gone away. Oh Lordy…
CHORUS
Wonder how she’s gonna deal
with all the stress and strife.
She's all alone, with an Empty heart,
and a belly full of life.
Some say it was a Dr.’s knife
some say a sorrow thief.
Most folks say that Maggie’s heart
just could not find relief.
Sometimes life just hits you hard
makes no sense to blame.
In the end she lost that child
ain’t never been the same.
CHORUS
That Girl finally got some sense
caught that train back home
Planted roots in her hometown
never more to roam
Got a lot kids now. Got a
good ol’ country man
Got herself a real nice life
back in Lu’sianne
Last CHORUS
Go on Maggie! Everything’s turned out alright.
Got lost along that winding road
but found your way back home.
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9. |
Payday
01:56
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10. |
Uncls Sam Blues
03:06
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Taxman Blues
I got a call from my uncle just the other day.
My Uncle Sam you know him. Here’s what he had to say.
You got nowhere to run son. You got nowhere to hide.
And I won’t stop hounding your ass until I be satisfied
Just fill out those checks. Sign on the line
Everything you think you own is really mine.
He said you in trouble son. Yeah you in deep.
There ain’t nothing that you can beg buy or borrow
That I’m gonna let you keep.
So sell your house and your car. Then he said with a smile.
Billy I don’t care if you gotta sell your first born child.
Just fill out those checks. Sign on the line
Do what I tell you and everything will be fine.
I gave out a wail, a cry and a moan
All that he gave to me was an evil laugh
Then he hung up the phone.
So all I do is work you know. I toil night and day
Then I shuffle on down to that mean boss man
And beg for my pay.
He says that check is all made out. You just sign right here.
And I’ll send it on down to your Uncle Sam to pay tax
For last year
Or was it the year before?
Maybe it was the year before that!
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11. |
Make Me a Pallet
02:27
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Mississippi John Hurt cover
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12. |
Hollow Reed
01:33
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O God, make of me a hollow reed
from the pith of self has been blown.
That I may become a clear channel
Through which Thy love may flow unto others
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13. |
Molly Baker
01:45
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Molly Baker
Molly Baker was a chorus line girl.
When she was dancing she would twitch and she’d twirl.
I want to tell you she was the best by far
And all the fellers at the bar
would say Oh My My! OOO La La!
Big Jim Walker was a trucker big and bold.
No one more handsome in this world I’ve been told.
He had the ladies all stand in line.
But he wouldn’t waste his time.
He had Molly on his mind.
Bridge
He said come on Molly OOO you look fine.
I’ll do anything to make you mine.
Come on sugar babe don’t you say no.
You know I’m gonna love you for a long long time.
Now molly Baker runs a trucking company.
And Big Jim Walker gets his dancing lessons free.
They got three kids two dogs
a cat they dance and laugh.
They’ve each found their better half.
And they live happily ever af…ter.
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Bill Metts Cape Coral, Florida
I have been playing guitar and singing for nearly fifty years now. I Started with American Folk and Blues tunes and finger- style guitar. Had a run in with a Classic Rock band for 6 years or so and I sure was glad when that ended. I spent 15 years playing in nursing homes doing standards from the 30’s and 40’s. Now I mostly write. You will see a bit of all the above in my songs. I hope you like. ... more
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