1. |
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When God Sets His Sights on You
Mary Ann waits tables nightly
Down at Jack’s on Highway Two
Her daughter Jean started acting strangely
She cut her hair, she’s wearing old men’s boots
Then at home they were getting dinner ready
Jean said she had something to tell
“I’ve started seeing someone pretty steady”
“And mom,” she said, “her name’s Danielle"
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
When god sets his sights on you?
Mary Ann stared at her daughter
She said “I taught you better, I am sure”
Now let’s get on our knees and pray out these demons
I can’t see my daughter anymore
Jean grabbed her coat and she set out running
Down to the river and the creaky bridge
Said her own prayer, sent it up to heaven
Opened up her mouth, and she did sing:
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
When god sets his sights on you?
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
When god sets his sights on you?
She’s got love to give, and she’s got a life to live
Jean spent all night staring at that river
a-splashing and a-racing off so far
the she grabbed her truck, her favorite kitten
her toothbrush, a couple of shirts and her mom’s guitar
She turned the key, flipped on the headlights
They blazed up against the autumn corn
Mary Ann’s face flickered in the doorway
Jean just drove off for Californ’
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
If you believe in the word of god, what are you gonna do
When god
When god
When god
When god sets his sights on you
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2. |
Call You Out
02:55
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Call You Out
It’s true I haven’t met you yet
But I can tell I’d like to make you sweat
Cause I have watched from afar
And I know just what you are
I’m gonna call you out
You’re gonna scream and shout
Cause I can see what you’re all about
I’m gonna call you out
You’re strong of arm and pure of heart
And I know things like to make you start
So as skin grazes skin
Won’t you please, let me in?
I’m gonna call out
You’re gonna scream and shout
Cause I can see what you’re all about
I am a hawk and you’re a hummingbird
Could this be foolishness, is this absurd?
Well mark my words, ooh
That when you fall I’ll kiss you sweet
And you’ll forget who tripped your feet
As we lie on the ground
there’ll be birds all around
I went and called you out
You’re gonna scream and shout
Cause I can see what you’re all about
I’m gonna call you out
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3. |
Dry As Sin
03:28
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Dry As Sin
They’re building prisons in Appalachia, where my family comes from
To keep the brown folks from the city, far away from their homes
And the only other job you can find
Is in the dregs of the old coal mine
Chorus:
They’re building coal plants in Virginia again
And prisons full of thousands of Black and brown men
And guards all make minimum wage at that pen
And the coal dust coats everyone’s lungs
Dry as sin
Senator Byrd put stock in a lie
Coal will be clean and donkeys will fly
Now mountains that stretched from the creek to the clouds
Are craters of dirt, wide gaping mouths
Chorus
When the rain rolls off
The bare mountain tops
Creeks turn to sludge and the fish flop on the moss
We are never too far from the valley of death
And these holes in the hills bring us all closer yet
Name each white man a cop, each brown man a thief
And you’ve paved every back road with certainmost grief
Chorus
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4. |
I Found You
03:05
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I Found You
Hey rock that cradle, hey ring that bell
I found a man, who loves me well well well
And I was searchin’ searchin’ searchin’
For that good lovin’ man
Yes I was flirtin’ flirtin’ flirtin’
But no one does me like he can
Chorus:
Well I found you right where you’d always been
I found you, the one who’d been the best of friends
Just as I was getting ready to give in
I found you, you
No fame nor fortune could fuel my soul
I’ve got a hunger that won’t let go go go
The only thing that feeds my hunger
Is love from you, you love me true
And no I don’t believe in always
But I believe in me and you
Chorus
Here comes the train and it’s a long one
They wrote our names there on the side
I think I’ll ride it till it’s all done
And then say thank you for the ride
Chorus
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5. |
What Is It About Me?
03:30
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What Is It About Me?
Why don’t you do me like you do me when you do me in my dreams?
Cause if you do me like you done me I’d be bursting at my seams
Yeah it’s high time I found a man who gives it like I want it
I can dish it out as well as take it, yeah I’ll make it worth your while
Chorus:
What is it about me that attracts these quiet shy types?
Heaven knows I’m angry and insensitive, I spit and chew and bite
What is it about me?
Why don’t you come around more often, why don’t you stay when you have come?
I crave a moving violation, violate me with your tongue
I know handfuls of boys who’d love to watch me in my underwear
But when you’re in my bed you roll away as if I wasn’t even there
Chorus
So here I am on highway five
Your seat is empty as I drive
Don’t need no man to tell me I’m
The prettiest, prettiest boy alive
I’m gonna do me like you do me when you do me in my dreams
Cause if I do me like you done me I’ll be bursting at my seams
Yeah it’s high time I found a man who gives it like I want it
I can dish it out as well as take it, yeah I’ll make it worth my while
What is it about me?
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6. |
Draw The Line
03:50
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Draw the Line
Wish I could write you a letter
Of all the things I coulda done better
And all the hopes I have for you now that you’re free
It feels like spring in February
And I am not the kind of fairy
Who makes to move like I can carry this sadness so easily
Chorus:
Cause I got all this time
And you are always on my mind
So heaven help me draw the line
That you ain’t mine
Wish there was some way I could say
I never meant it to end this way
You pulled the trigger and I swayed to meet the music
But now it’s all been done
Whether the battle’s lost or the battle’s won
It’s time to empty out our guns and scrub ‘em till they shine
Chorus
How long how long how long till I get it right?
How long how long how long till I find the light?
How long how long how long till I sleep through the night without missing you?
Chorus
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7. |
Siren Song
03:02
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Siren Song
I rise in the early morning
And watch the ocean and the sun
At daybreak the sailors are yawning
They’re not expecting anyone
I know the days of storms are yet to be
Cause the blue horizon never stays with me
I got fever in my bones and blood between my teeth
For every ship that goes down in this blasted coral reef
Their souls are bundled up with mine
(I know) It’s just a matter of time
Till I cut this line
At first it was so easy
To while away the days and nights
Weaving my seaweed purses
Braving those endless seagull fights
I’ve found that as the days grow long
I tire of singing siren songs
Said I need to get on board this ship and sail away
Drink whiskey, wear a red dress and paint my face
I’ve had enough of salt and sand
I’ll give Poseidon the upper hand
I’m gonna join a band
How many oceans must I cross to find the end of this?
Hey what’s the use of song if each man dies upon my kiss?
Is love a myth that has lived out its usefulness?
So now I sing a new song
Sling my guitar across me tight
The boys all sing along
My words have lost their deadly bite
But listen to the bass line creep
My music stands to make them weep
Now I got marrow in my bones and blood here in my veins
And every man who hears my song will rue his mother’s name
Their souls are bundled up with mine
You know it’s just a matter of time
Till I cut this line
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8. |
Now I'm Doing Me
04:18
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Now I'm Doing Me
What made you have to do that?
It’s like you stabbed in the chest just to see if I’d bleed
You dropped me on your doorstep
And now you have the nerve to get on your knees
And beg and plead for one more chance
Well not under under any circumstance
Would I kiss your mouth again
We are over, get it through your fickle head
That we are over, go find some other fool instead
And I’ll do like I did before — You set me free
Now I’m doing me
I saw you at the party
All gussied and laughing with your friends
I tried to hold my head up
And wait until the spinning in my brain would end
I guess I had to see your face
There was no proper hiding place
But I wish I’d gone and left no trace
Cause we are over, I’ll get it through my fickle head
That we are over, I’ll find some other fool instead
And I’ll do like I did before — You set me free
Now I’m doing me
Now I’m doing me
The photos fade
The daisies rot
And in the end ourself is really all we’ve got
I’m walking down the road now
Instead of kissing your sweet face goodnight
I don’t know which way I’m headed
But I will know when it is right
So though I miss your yellow room
And the way you hold your fork and spoon
I’m gonna sing my own damn tune
That we are over, we’ll get it through our fickle heads
We are over, we’ll find some other fools instead
And I’ll do like I did before — You set me free
Now I’m doing me
Now I’m doing me
Now I’m doing me
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9. |
Take It Slow
02:55
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Take It Slow
You’ve got me smelling roses
You’ve got me cleaning up my house
You knew just what I wanted
You filled me up, don’t let me down
There is more to life than falling in love
And there is more to love than letting go
Let’s take it slow
I see you in the papers
And in the rocky river banks
Your face pops up in movies
From Doris Day to young Tom Hanks
I had a lovely life before I met you
But something in your smile says not to let you go
Let’s take it slow
We all got a row to hoe
Let’s plant these seeds and watch ‘em grow
Let’s take it slow
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Eli Conley Sacramento, California
Eli Conley is an indie folk singer-songwriter and activist based in Sacramento, CA. He makes music for queer and trans folks, justice seekers, and anyone who doesn’t fit easily in a box. Eli's voice is tender and heartfelt, with melodies and that can leave you feeling teary-eyed yet hopeful. As a gay trans man from the South, his songs tell stories that aren’t always reflected in roots music. ... more
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