1. |
||||
Verse
Born in a circus tent
mother held me to her breast
tried to keep me warm
fighting for a chance
to survive circumstance
never letting go
Chorus
Oh deep inside the bones
Oh circus is the only life I know
Verse
Eighteen seen the world
no keeps a circus girl distracted for long
tyre tracks and broken hearts
nothing but an empty park
when the tent is gone
Chorus
Oh deep inside the bones
Oh circus is the only life I know
Verse
Ticket stand at fifty five
don’t complain done my time
on swings and tightropes
have a daughter and a son
work the big top neither one
I can tell has high hopes
Chorus
Oh deep inside the bones
Oh circus is the only life I know
|
||||
2. |
Twister
03:11
|
|||
he looked up from her body
put his hand to his head
saw the blood on his fingers
I knew that she was dead
she was lying on a pillow
of butter yellow lace
her golden hair all crimson
crushed across her face
why’d you do it John
take her life like that
she was all I had you knew that
why’d you do it John
take her life like that
she was all I had
I want my mother back
she was kind and simple
he was cold and sad
he’d rage like a twister
when me and my mother laughed
when he started drinking
he’d call my mother names
then when he got fired
he said she was to blame
|
||||
3. |
Banjo Mac
03:17
|
|||
life was simple
when I was a kid
I played in a big back yard
I’d wake up in the morning to my mama’s smile
got to sleep to the sound of her guitar
You could almost hit a home run to my grand-daddy’s house
we’d all gather there our little family band
grand-daddy played the banjo and an old lap steel
that he made out of wood with his hands
time keeps moving
nothing stays the same
and I know there’s no going back
but I still miss the sound of my mama’s guitar
and the songs of Banjo Mac
they called him Banjo Mac
I heard all the stories
‘bout when he was a sailor
he’d bring all the boys back home
they’d drink a lot rum
pick late into the night
fill the kitchen with old sailing songs
|
||||
4. |
Crossroads
04:06
|
|||
I was rollin'
I was flyin' high
cards were fallin' from out of the sky
I was way up
on top of the game
I could see like an eagle
hold my hand in the flame
I knew I had it
the moment was mine
it was all so clear
so frozen in time
I was about to lay it down
was about to let it fly
when from across the room
somebody caught my eye
now you can find a crossroads
make you a deal
take a chance
spin the wheel
strike a bargain
for what you think you need
but you’re gonna get cut
and you’re gonna bleed
I got a little nervous
I hedged my bet
I started thinkin' bout things that hadn't happened yet
I saw the instant
I lost my edge
tryin' to balance out on the ledge
he slid on in
slipped me a name
it didn't mean nothin'
but I knew just the same
he had what I wanted
he made it sound right
said I knew where to meet him
just before midnight
now I know some people
who sold their souls to the devil
and they don't sound nothin'
like Robert Johnson
|
||||
5. |
How About Texas
02:48
|
|||
I still wanna go down to Texas
do you still wanna go
said lack of money wouldn't affect us
but it's really taken its toll
got this ring my sister gave me
I could get a little cash
when we make some money down in Houston
we could come buy it back
put on your boots we're goin' to Texas
you know it's hot down there
put out your thumb we're goin' to Texas
things didn't work out here
but how about Texas
we could drive around in a Chevy pick-up
listen to the radio
sing-a-long to Bob and the Texas playboys
Rose of San Antone
let's not wait another minute
there's nothin' here for us
I'll trade this little diamond
while you pack things up
|
||||
6. |
Long Time Gone
02:53
|
|||
his eyesight is fading
his hearing is short
his knees give him trouble whenever he walks
the one that he lived for
has been gone a year
he hopes every morning soon he’ll follow there
It isn’t a trophy or win he remembers
but the hand that he held
one sweet, warm September
his heart was lost with the very first kiss
he never imagined the ending like this
long time gone
all that worked for
the years that he spent
a crumbling body is all there is left
except for a longing so deep and strong
to be with the one
made his life a song
|
||||
7. |
Pretty Buttons
03:38
|
|||
heard Robeeta was leavin'
I heard it all before
I never thought she would ever be free
from under the spell of that boy
he took her there at 16 years old
out where rattle snakes slide
to a lonely hilltop cabin
where he buried two other brides
oh Robeeta keep runnin'
don't look back as you go
one little hesitation
you'll be laid down low
he took his gun and his shovel
drove along the back road
certain that he would find her
nobody, nowhere would know
she heard his wheels turnin'
saw the dust rising high
tightly her hands held together
Robeeta looked up towards the sky
Robeeta's heart was a big bass drum
pounding in her chest
as she struggled to break free
pretty buttons flew from her dress
he caught sight of her green eyes
raised his pistol to fire
out of nowhere a rattler
took him down in his stride
|
||||
8. |
Don't Go Fallin'
02:37
|
|||
If there’s a hole you’ll find me in it
I have always been a sinner
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
If there’s a rule that can be broke
find me swingin’ on that rope
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
I am broken but not bad
a little crazy a little sad
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
coz I’ll do all kinds of things
you will never comprehend
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
find somebody else to give your lovin’ to
you’ll be disappointed in the things I do
If there’s a hole you’ll find me in it
I take advice and bend it
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
you know a fire starts
where friction makes a spark
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
If there’s a hole you’ll find me in it
I have always been a sinner
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
If there’s a rule that can be broke
find me swingin’ on that rope
don’t go fallin’
don’t go fallin’
please don’t go fallin’
don’t go fallin’ at my feet
|
||||
9. |
Sing A Lullaby
03:03
|
|||
there’s a breeze in the air
and a bird on the wing
and she carries your heart in her song
the years have rolled by
like the clouds in the sky
now it looks like the rain’s comin’ on
puppy love
shines from above
and it waits for you when you get old
stays by your side
just along for the ride
when all you want is a friend’s hand to hold
so sing a lullaby
don’t let your poor heart break down and cry
no matter how you try
it’s so hard to say goodbye
So close your sad eyes
and think about good things
and don’t be too hard on your heart.
‘cause when hard times surround you
there’ll be love all around you
and we’ll never be too far apart
|
||||
10. |
Shelter
02:26
|
|||
he was drinking tequila
and talkin' bout God
I was trying to forget someone I left behind
the music was playin'
we danced for a while
there on the dance floor
got lost in his eyes
I knew what he meant
when he said that he
stumbled through life
sounds a lot like me
I let go to the longing in his smile
we all need shelter on a dark night
I woke in the morning
he wasn't there
I guess there was something
someone waiting somewhere
he never told me
I never asked
we knew it was one night
it wouldn't last
|
||||
11. |
Long, Long Time
03:52
|
|||
down the hall
staring at an old magazine
Henry waits for the shower nurse
to get him clean
it's been a long, long time
since he ran along the beach
or through a girls’ hair with his hand
on the wall pictures of his children and grandchildren
they say they come visit when they're not busy
it's been a long, long time
since he ran the printing press
out at the old abandoned factory
who will come by today
who will go away
Henry sees the hands on the clock moving round
little yellow pills help to drown it out
it's been a long, long time since he ran
his check account
now it's all in attorney's hands
down the hall
flippin’ through an old magazine
Mary waits, waits
|
||||
12. |
When It's Time To Leave
02:40
|
|||
It'd be easy to get stoned
while my baby's waiting at home
take your hand swing a little more
get real close on the dance floor
now hard would it be looking my baby in the eye
it already feels like I got somethin' to hide
you're as sweet as Krispy Kreme
but I know when it's time to leave
don't get out much like before
I got kids, I barely sleep at all
when I get a little time out
it's easy to forget myself
|
Donna Dean Auckland, New Zealand
Donna wrote the title track of 2010 Grammy nominated Bluegrass album 'Destination Life' recorded by America's Rhonda Vincent. Her last 2 albums won N.Z 'Best Of'' industry awards. She has worked alongside America's song writing and music legends Don McLean, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Albert Lee, Willie Nelson, Burt Jansch, Amos Garrett, Gurf Morlix & Redd Volkaert. ... more
Streaming and Download help
Donna Dean recommends:
If you like Donna Dean, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp