Goody Shoes, by The Squirrel Hillbillies

Goody Shoes

by The Squirrel Hillbillies

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1.	I Can 03:11	lyrics
I Can © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I can't save your soul and I can't mend your heart I can't make a whole from all your broken parts I can't pass your test and I can't make your case I can't do your best, I can't take your place I can't read your cards and I can't hide your scars Pocketful of fears and reasons to refuse Leave them all behind and I can sit with you I can't right your wrongs and I can't dig your ditch I can't write your songs or even match your pitch I can't kill your buzz and I can't tell your lies I can't fill you up and I can't cut your ties I can't play your hand and I can't take your stand Staring at the walls, nothing left to lose Listen for the call and I can walk with you I can't make your peace and I can't make your bail I can't tame your beast and I can't set your sail I can't wake you up and I can't change your mind I can't push you hard enough to cross your line I can't pay your debts and I can't face your fears I can't wage your bets and I can't cry your tears I can't play your game and I can't rest your bones I can't take the blame for all your sticks and stones But I can be with you and I can sit with you And I can stand with you and I can walk with you And I can and I can and I can and I can And I can and I can and I can and I can
2.	River Rat 04:06	lyrics	buy track
River Rat © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Grassy field and unpaved road Through the crooked trees Little shack stands all alone Where the river meets the reeds Sun don’t shine much anymore On this muddy patch of land Daddy’s gun hangs by the door Mama’s ashes in a can Guided by a gentle breeze And currents flowing north She left her home in New Orleans A padlock on the door She rested at the water’s edge A lazy August day Her cotton dress all dripping wet Her hair a mat of dreadlock braids Digging up the trilobites Sand between my toes She broke the silence with a sigh Words like the water flowed She told me trouble finds her fast Said not to get too near I said Daddy and the river rat Are the only things I fear Devil woman, Daddy warned A bounty on her head And when he found us by the shore His beady eyes turned red I held my breath and I grabbed his gun And broke the barrel down I knew the time had finally come As he pinned me to the ground We tumbled in the river He was swallowed by the depth I felt my body shiver As the water took his breath I turned around onto my back As he sank beneath the rocks And drifted like a river rat To an island of dreadlocks Daddy's buried with his gun Among the crooked trees Unmarked grave beneath the mud Where the river meets the reeds Vines across the empty shack A padlock on the door And the red eyes of the river rat They don't haunt me anymore
3.	Goody Shoes 03:06	lyrics	buy track
Goody Shoes © 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Cashed in some vinyl at Jerry's store He gave me twenty dollar and he showed me the door I picked up a guitar, sang him this song He said, "Take your fingerpicky and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your fingerpicky and move along Passed by the police shakin' down a man I said, "Maybe he's doing just the best he can" Man said, "Me? I'm doing all wrong So take your goody shoes and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your goody shoes and move along Saw Saint Peter leanin' on his gate Folks lined up so I had to wait He said, "Son, you shoulda listened to your mom Now take your rubbernecky and move along" Move along, yeah, move along Take your rubbernecky and move along Take your fingerpicky and move Take your goody shoes and move along
4.	Firefly 03:25	lyrics	buy track
Firefly © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Dazzling firefly, you mark a year gone by Your luminescence takes me by surprise A thrill to catch and hold, you make my fingers glow Holding on is easier than letting go Among the shadows in the yard You are a fallen star The way the seasons change, the moon that waxes ‘til it wanes I wonder what becomes of what we cannot save There is too much risk in metamorphosis But maybe there's a chance for a gentle shift Among the shadows in the yard You are a fallen star Like synchronicity, are your flashes code or maybe Only random bursts of energy? Inside a spark like yours, so cool and pure I catch a glimpse of confidence and faith restored Dazzling firefly Dazzling firefly You mark a year gone by Gone by
5.	Cowboy Song 02:29	lyrics	buy track
Cowboy Song © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies (Note: our lyrics were inspired by the 19-century cowboy poem, "Oh, a man there lived") A man there lives on the western plain Got a ton of spark and an ounce of brain Robs the cattle and herds the trains Plays the fool like it's all a game Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Plays the fool, this cowboy Raised by the wind and the buffalo Moves real fast, thinks real slow Got his schooling in a cactus grove Dusty road is all he knows Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Prickly spines and a cowboy Sets up drinks without a cent Fights like the devil with every young gent Wherever he goes he goes hell bent Mangy dog is his only friend Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Mangy dog and a cowboy Drinks his weight at the dancing hall Head too big, pants too small Gets shot up in a drunken brawl Undertaker takes it all Yippee yi-yi Yippee yi-oy Nothing left of this cowboy Rest in peace, cowboy
6.	Refugee 03:33	lyrics	buy track
Refugee © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Crashing waves, cheap motel Fragile like a broken shell Washed ashore, the undertow has passed Salty tears, rising tide Sifting through what's left behind Pocket full of sand and frosted glass Longing for a place to be Harbored by the gracious sea Refugee Howling wind, drenching rain Branches bend beneath the strain Dark sky stretches outward without end Picket fence, pair of boots Freshly picked, taking root Waiting for the sun to come again Longing for a place to be Sheltered by the patient trees Refugee Bitter cold, frost that bites Guarded like a sheet of ice Pick and shovel buried in the snow Pins and needles, leaves and bark Spindle rolling, catch a spark Daylight breaking as the embers glow Longing for a place to be Fostered by the rising heat Refugee
7.	Wooly Old Days 03:40	lyrics	buy track
Wooly Old Days © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies My old man, drove an old Ford Seersucker suit, knocking on doors Checking his list for the next woman's name He’d sell her a Bible, walking right in He’d talk about life and how loneliness was such a sin Then she'd smile and ask him to stay Fed by the faithful, led by the stars He followed the road and steered with his heart All that he needed coming his way In those days, those wild, wooly old days Dad didn’t leave me his charm or good looks Just the key to his Ford and a stack of Good Books I learned all the verses then gave them away I drove to the heartland and slept with the trees Listened to rivers that washed over me Every bird, worm, and pebble had something to say Living a different American dream Without any junk bonds or pyramid schemes All that I needed coming my way In those days, those wild, wooly old days Words on the page are too small to read Blinded by scenes flashing up on the screen I put on the coffee, pull down the shades My son comes to visit, Sundays at five He lights up the room with the news of his life I smile as I listen, and ask him to stay Someday soon gonna sink through the floor Meet my old man, climb in his Ford All that we need will keep coming our way Like those days, those wild, wooly old days Those days, those wild, wooly old days Those days, those wild, wooly old days
8.	Bless You Man 03:56	lyrics	buy track
Bless You, Man © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Her daddy always liked her style Such a pretty face and a dimpled smile But he says she's not his daughter anymore 'Cause she's married to the girl next door Reaching out she calls to him But her words fall short time again So she puts her palms together in a prayer For a father who isn't really there She says, "Bless you, man Bless your heart and bless your soul Bless you, man, sometimes love means letting go Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man" He had it made when the deal came down Corner office deep in town And on his door he hung a little sign It said, "The highest virtue is the bottom line" Then he called her in and he let her go Said her job was moving down below Packing up and saying her goodbyes She closed her final memo with a sigh She said, "Bless you, man May the blessings always be Bless you man, the most precious things are free Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man" Barren trees and cloudy skies Children hard at work inside Learning red means stop and green means go A stranger is a person you don't know A man comes in with angry eyes There isn't time to run and hide And in the wake of pain and tragedy A grieving father clears his throat to speak He says, "Bless you man Bless you and your family Bless you, man, may the blessings bring us peace Maybe it's true we all do the best we can So bless you, bless you, man"
9.	Lotus 03:05	lyrics	buy track
Lotus © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies Uncle went to Vegas Lost it all on a Jack Grandpa went to Vietnam Never came back Mama’s been sleeping by the subway stop Papa’s in prison wondering how he got caught Hauling rubble by the ton Souvenirs of where I’m from Cut my teeth on trash Learned to hold my nose Dreaming of a sunny day A little grass to mow Some folks say I got no chance But I don’t need luck ‘cause I got me a plan Found an old dog He’s a lot like me Raised in the wild Smarter than he seems Don’t bark much but got sharp teeth He waits by the door every time I leave Blood is thick but thieves are, too Gonna find me a way to slip on through Uncle went to Vegas Lost it all on a Jack Grandpa went to Vietnam Never came back Fruit don’t hang on my family tree So I’m trying to grow something in this mud around me
10.	Jitney 03:05	lyrics	buy track
Jitney © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I got a nice clean car, I gotta catch me a fare You got rain on your face and you gotta get somewhere You home for good or only passing through? Climb on in, we got some catching up to do Been a long time, Hon’, what kinda trip you been on? Bet you seen some things you can't never tell your mom Them wandering eyes, they take you for a ride I wonder, do you ever look behind? These hills are filled with streets as crooked as a maze And maybe that explains the way I drive And why I don't think straight I’m a lost cause but I know my way around And I ain’t never gonna leave this town Well, I guess you heard I finally paid my tolls I learned to keep my eyes on the road The oldies station plays my favorite songs The rivers keep me here where I belong I can see you got a lotta things to do Filed in that briefcase next to you I’m low on gas and need a cup of Joe Hope you run me down before you go These hills are filled with streets as crooked as a maze And maybe that explains the way I drive And why I don't think straight I’m a lost cause but I know my way around And I ain’t never gonna leave this town
11.	Old Dry Bones 04:04	lyrics	buy track
Old Dry Bones © 2012 The Squirrel Hillbillies Old dry bones left along the road I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones Out on the farm there ain’t much alive Dust fills the air when trucks pass on by Dirts road I used to cross every day Broken pipes covered in rust block the way Them papers I signed with my daddy’s old pen While I joked with the bankers and the company men Told how the gas and the dollars would flow Both ran out a long time ago Now there's old dry bones left along the road I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones I think of my daddy and the way that he lived And I know there’s no chance he’d a done what I did I picture him turning these bones in his hands And mourning what’s happened to his sacred land The load that I carry around in my heart Is enough to tear anybody apart I buried my daddy and all of my kin All I got left is memories of them and these Old dry bones left along the road I still hear the lows of the cattle when the wind blows How they make my heart grieve These old dry bones
12.	Whisk You Away 03:14	lyrics	buy track
Whisk You Away © 2013 The Squirrel Hillbillies I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Honey, I can't get my fill Never seems enough Convict me if you will I'm recklessly in love Working hard and doing time Penalties are steep I will be your alibi Come on, Babe, let's flee I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Take that burden off your back It can wait awhile Only thing you need to pack's A toothbrush and a file Hurry now and don't be late I'll devise a plan Everyone deserves a break Let's break out while we can I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away Walls are made to keep folks out But I'm in here with you Honey, put aside your doubt It's time to fly this coop I wanna whisk you away I wanna make an escape, Love If only just for a day I wanna whisk you away I... I wanna open the gate, Love And get you outta this place I wanna whisk you away

about

"Goody Shoes," the Squirrel Hillbillies' second full-length CD of acoustic folk, country and blues, features 12 original songs that tell stories, paint pictures, ask questions, and explore the challenges and rewards of living with others and also with ourselves.

credits

released March 30, 2014

All songs written, arranged and copyrighted by the Squirrel Hillbillies. Tracks recorded using a Neumann TLM103, a Rode NT1-A mic, an Apogee Duet interface, Logic Express software, and a MacBook. Mixing and mastering by Will Russell of Electric Wilburland. Replication and packaging by Oasis Disc Manufacturing. Original watercolor paintings by Julie Stunden based on photographs by Faith Selzer. Special guest Jason Rafalak on upright bass.

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about

The Squirrel Hillbillies Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

From deep within the urban forest of Pittsburgh's East End, the Squirrel Hillbillies often emerge to share their eclectic mix of acoustic roots, spanning folk, country and blues. Duo partners Jenny Wolsk and Gary Crouth have been writing, arranging, recording and performing together since 2010. Their original songs have been played on radio programs in the US, Europe and around the world. ... more