To swim in the fountain To dance in the field To show me the sky, you were first A drink on the mountain A secret revealed A reason to cry, you were first In a boat on a pond In a hollow'd out tree In a west coast bar, you were first On a stage out of town On the way to a party On a bench in the park, you were first I've always been the last to recognize What it is I've done for the worst But in the lowest hour of my life You showed me that you cared, you were first Where the dust has settled down Where the dog digs his holes Where the beer cans pile up, you were first At the outskirts of town At the changing of the rolls At the bottom of the cup, you were first In anger and love From a falcon to a dove For the one up above, you were first After all and after none As the story spins along We still work it out as one, you were first I've always been the last to recognize What it is I've done for the worst But in that lowest hour of my life You showed me that you cared, you were first When the timing is right And they lay my body down I want you by my side, you were first

If you want to keep a clean name don't go looking for a lost claim in a long gone burnt out old flame you've got to do you're best to kill the pain -you must accept the fact, it will never be the same On a late week night in a Summer month I was sitting around stone sober for once so I picked up the yearbook and looked you up that's when I decided that I should be drunk so I got that way The more I drank, the more I thought about the sad old days and all the stuff I'd bought to keep you around and the things I'd sold to give you that circle made of gold and now I wanted it back Well I almost talked myself out of doing what I had already long ago ruined so I didn't see the harm in me pursuing that $800 worth of precious metal that I knew was rightfully mine I needed money, see, to pay off a loan so I took another shot and picked up the phone dialed your number for half the night but it took three hours to get it right and by then I was pissed Your husband answered and I said, "Hey buddy! hand the phone over to that fuddy-duddy I feel the need to beat somebody bloody if I don't get that god-dog wedding ring back!" I remembered just as my yelling stopped that my ex-wife's husband is a deputy cop he knows where I work and he know's what I drive and he's actually even been inside my house and smelled things in there Quickly I said, "Sorry, wrong number!" he said, "Oh, no, I was starting to wonder just how many illegal blunders you were going to make in one phone call and then he proceeded to list off the offences I had already committed There was verbal assault over a telephone line and the threat to commit a violent crime with a claim on a property that wasn't mine... that's when I hung up and hoped he didn't know the trick of dialing *69 Well, of course he had my number traced and in 15 minutes there were at my place by that time I was completely shitfaced and had prepared my alibi to tell the judge But he did not haul me in, instead he sat me down and that kind man said some powerful words that cleared my head that I'll carry with my until I'm dead and I'll share them with you now he said If you want to keep a clean name don't go looking for a lost claim in a long gone burnt out old flame you're ex-wife tells me that you're insane -you must accept that fact, it will never be the same -you've got to do your best to kill the pain

Little man, little man child of the promise land born with fortune in his hand he did know From a quiet country home Little man, he left to roam just a pocket knife and comb he did own Little man went to town just to see what could be found he saw women standing 'round wearing pearls He found sinners at the bar drinking, smoking on cigars making money playing cards and the girls Of the ladies he was keen for he was new on the scene and they loved him for his green and boyish ways But the women and the booze quickly broke apart his ruse and he could no longer choose as grown men say Living in the greed and lust Little man soon soon drank and cussed it was known that he was just twelve years old Little man, little man with a diamond in his hand cheating out the honest man for his gold He was surely too soon caught and his fortune was now wrought with the fate of being shot or to hang Little man, little man did not know to give a damn he just smiled as he heard the angels sing Little man, little man child of the promise land born with fortune in his hand he did know

I run a little stand where the food's no good Open 24/7 at the Edge of the Woods Got a great big light on the hi-way sign Get's the people coming in most all the time We'll pour 7UP in the wine Set out a plate of clementines Cold Cobb salad and boiled beef stew We know how them yankees do Here in the South we like our schemes Passing off shit with a fancy theme Serving sweet baked beans with chicken in a pot Fake crab cakes and Bisquik knots From a tall waitress with her midriff showing To really get those Northerners going Got a pond out back for fresh steamed clams And chowder soup with chunks of ham The men don't mind when the coffee ain't hot Just as long as the counter girl is... Here in the South we like our schemes Passing off shit with a fancy theme Yellow cheese steak on a hot dog bun With a kosher dill pickle just for fun You'll never find a fish plank finer Than the service at the Edge of the Woods Diner

I was down on my knees As a twelve pack was heaved When the thought was conceived I should quit While the church bells were playing On the floor, I was laying And my lips started praying Like this Can you help me, St. Paul? Give your wisdom as I fall I need your truth and hope you understand I'm not a Catholic, I'm a drinker And a very heavy thinker Were it not true I would not call Please help me, St. Paul As I said my first prayer Came a scent to the air It was breakfast prepared In the kitchen Tried to stand but I stumbled Then to my wife I mumbled From whiskey to water, I'ma switchin'! Oh, help me, St. Paul! I'm backed up against this wall Of bottles and cans and pint glasses filled to the brim I need your truth, I need to hear it Please take the poison out of my spirit Were it not true I would not call Please help me, St. Paul

We liked to study the Bible in her bedroom one tiny piece of torn out page at a time In a month we burnt through the book of Revelations and every night we drank the blood of Christ With those onion skin leaves on a cozy winter evening Rainbows and rugburns for us both What the church may shun us for will not stray us from the Lord As Jah will provide, Gideon promotes We'd laugh and dance to songs we remembered reading aloud from the Old Testament Puffing like a chimney in November, yearning for each other's full consent Those onion skin leaves on a cozy winter evening causing rainbows and rugburns for us both What the church may shun us for will not stray us from the Lord For as Jah will provide, Gideon promotes We liked to study the Bible in her bedroom one tiny piece of torn out page at a time In a month we burnt through the book of Revelations and every night we drank the blood of Christ

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I went looking for my sweetie girl Down where the streets are crossed When she wasn't leaning on the light pole I felt surely I was lost 'Cause I always find her here At this time every night When I feel the urge to get me A little early morning delight Walking to the roominghouse My stomach surely sank What if they had picked her up And threw her in the tank? What if she got busted? Or what if she got cut? What if some dumb crazy mark Had sunk a shiv into her gut? Old Morty he was working Behind the flophouse desk Luckily he quickly put My racing mind to rest He had seen my sweetie girl With a new rich customer Who had rented out three rooms And if I wanted to see her, he said Go on, check one-two Or maybe check one-eight You might even check two-seven if you think It's not too late She was here at least an hour ago On what looked like a real hot date So check one-two Or maybe check one-eight So I walked over to room twelve And knocked for half a minute When the cleaning lady came up and said There's no one in it To room eighteen I jumped and Peaked in through the curtain But all I saw was a used up Murphy bed Of that I was certain I took a little stroll Across the parking lot When I got to twenty-seven I didn't need to knock The door was left wide open and The TV was still on and A bright pink piece of rubber Was floating in the john Back to the office I burst through Morty's door Yelling at him that I had not found That horrible woman She was probably out hooking back up town Working on her feet So I slapped the old man and Told him that I can't be beat I checked twelfth avenue Where it crosses eighteenth street On up to old two-seven but Them boys were selling meat That night I didn't find my sweetie girl She had vanished for all I knew But every night since then I still go back and check one-two Yes every night since then I still go back and check one-two

I need to find me That perfect game One when I just lose There ain't no shame That perfect game I've played with them spirits Played in the grass It's easy to learn But you don't win fast Good folks be weary Best mind them rules Stay clear of fast timers Game playing fools

Those men without women Better get them a dog Have to wash their own linens Need a hard working job They get to keep their own money Unless they're divorced Paying out alimony That a judge has enforced Some choose to live for Jesus And some are in jail Those men without women In their own kind of hell I've spent me ten years With a woman I love Four cats and two dogs In three roofs above It has not been perfect But by far no lemon And I wish for goodwill To the men without women Those women without men Better get them a gun 'Cause those men without women Can get dangerous, son And the world closes in On the women without men They gotta cut their own grass Or pay a kid to cheat them School clothes must be bought By the women without men While they make their two jobs To try to pay the rent For the men without women Seems an easier life While the women without men Catch all the strife I've spent me ten years With the woman I love Four cats and two dogs In three roofs above It has not been perfect But by far no lemon And I wish for goodwill To the men without women And I pray for good fortune To the women without men

She's the definition of a hot mess Make a non-believer holler God Bless She can put a whole bottle away And leaves lipstick covered roaches in the tray Bobby says that she never looks back And we all love it when she dresses in black She could make a hundred dollars in five minutes time And spend five-hundred like a couple of dimes There ain't a single rule that she has not broken Nor the dirtiest of words that she has not spoken Lee said she can walk, and that's what she's gonna do Through any door she pleases just laughing at you Some call her a lady, some call her a vamp She could buy the Hope diamond with a postage stamp She feeds on caffeine, THC and fear Got a hundred and thirty-two IQ between her ears Tom tells me that I have to learn to do the dance But I don't think I'm ever gonna get that chance

This old Seiko that I wear on my left wrist Has a new black leather band from the Wal-Mart And though it's water damaged on its antique face Still ticks along like the day it was bought It belonged to the good man, Tommy King Fielder A warrior up against the Cold War lies He came back to raise six kids and work the cattle I found it at the farm after he died I know we've all got those warriors in our lives Once they're gone, we keep a token To remember them by This silver ring I wear on my right hand Forged on a Coast Guard ship out to sea Made from melted down war time five-cent pieces Simply adorned with a carved out letter B It was first worn by the good man, George Lowell Battin A warrior of the big one in France They'd beach the boat and carry on the dead ones And then a fresh group of live ones would advance I know we've all got those warriors in our lives Once they're gone, we keep a token To remember them by This watch and this ring are always on me My momma and my daddy's legacy For the soldiers that they knew as their fathers Two good men that fought to keep the peace