rat snake texastip

I left Oklahoma drivin' in a Pontiac
Just about to lose my mind
I was goin' on to Arizona, maybe on to California
Where all the people live so fine
My baby said I was crazy, my momma called me lazy
I was goin' to show 'em all this time
'Cause you know I ain't no fool and I don't need no more schoolin'
I was born to just walk the line
Livin' on Tulsa time
Livin' on Tulsa time
Well, you know I've been through it
When I set my watch back to it
Livin' on Tulsa time
Well, there I was in Hollywood wishin' I was doin' good
Talkin' on the telephone line
But they don't need me in the movies and nobody sings my songs
Guess I'm just wastin' time
Well, then I got to thinkin', man I'm really sinkin'
And I really had a flash this time
I had no business leavin' and nobody would be grievin'
If I went on back to Tulsa time
Livin' on Tulsa time
Livin' on Tulsa time
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know I've been through it
Livin' on Tulsa time
Livin' on Tulsa time
Livin' on Tulsa time
Gonna set my watch back to it
'Cause you know I've been through it
Livin' on Tulsa time

Silent night, holy night
All is calm and all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace, ooh
Sleep, sleep in heaven, heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories streams from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing, alleluia
Christ the savior is born, he's born
Christ the savior is born

There's no stronger wind than the one that blows
Down a lonesome railroad line
No prettier sight than looking back
On a town you left behind
There is nothin' that's as real
As a love that's in my mind
Close your eyes
I'll be here in the morning
Close your eyes
I'll be here for a while
There's lots of things along the road
I'd surely like to see
I'd like to lean into the wind
And tell myself I'm free
But your softest whisper's louder
Than the highways call to me
Close your eyes
I'll be here in the morning
Close your eyes
I'll be here for a while
All the mountains and the rivers
And the valleys can't compare
To your blue lit dancin' eyes
And yellow shining hair
I could never hit the open road
And leave you layin' there
Close your eyes
I'll be here in the morning
Close your eyes
I'll be here for a while
Lay your head back easy, love,
Close your cryin' eyes
I'll be layin' here beside you
When the sun comes on the rise
I'll stay as long as the cuckoo wails
And the lonesome bluejay cries.
Close your eyes
I'll be here in the morning
Close your eyes
I'll be here for a while [x2]

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence

In a bar in Toledo across from the depot
On a barstool, she took off her ring
I thought I'd get closer so I walked on over
I sat down and asked her name
When the drinks finally hit her she said "I'm no quitter
But I finally quit livin' on dreams
I'm hungry for laughter and here ever after
I'm after whatever the other life brings"
In the mirror, I saw him and I closely watched him
I thought how he looked out of place
He came to the woman who sat there beside me
He had a strange look on his face
The big hands were calloused, he looked like a mountain
For a minute I thought I was dead
But he started shaking, his big heart was breaking
He turned to the woman and said
"You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children and a crop in the field
I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
But this time your hurting won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille"
After he left us, I ordered more whiskey
I thought how she'd made him look small
From the lights of the barroom
To a rented hotel room
We walked without talking at all
She was a beauty but when she came to me
She must have thought I'd lost my mind
I couldn't hold her 'cause the words that he told her
Kept coming back time after time
"You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children and a crop in the field
I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
But this time your hurting won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille
With four hungry children and a crop in the field
I've had some bad times, lived through some sad times
But this time your hurting won't heal
You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille"

Love, comes once they say
If it a real thing, me I feel that way
Knowing you must be there
Waiting for me somewhere
Some people say that I'm a fool
But I'm still looking for you
Yes, I guess is sad
The lovers I've been through
Some, I could have had
But they never were enough
Nobody measures up
lovers and friends I've had a few
But I'm still looking for you
Maybe its wrong
I don't know, maybe I'm just chasing rainbows
But, it's gonna be forever when I fall
But lately my hopes have been sinking
Lately I found, I've been thinking
Maybe you were not really there at all
Tears and years go by
And I haven't found it
Seems the dream should die
But I hang on somehow
Still I keep reaching out
Of all the loves that I've been through
I'm still looking for you

I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me
This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy
I need somebody to heal
Somebody to know
Somebody to have
Somebody to hold
It's easy to say
But it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain
Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to turn to
This all or nothing way of loving got me sleeping without you
Now, I need somebody to know
Somebody to heal
Somebody to have
Just to know how it feels
It's easy to say but it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you helped me escape
Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
And I tend to close my eyes when it hurts sometimes
I fall into your arms
I'll be safe in your sound 'til I come back around
For now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
But now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved

When I was young I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along, it made me smile
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's, so fine
When they get to the part
Where he's breakin' her heart
It can really make me cry, just like before
It's yesterday once more
Lookin' back on how it was in years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad, so much has changed.
It was songs of love that I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
All my best memories come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry, just like before
It's yesterday once more
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling, that they're startin' to sing's so fine
Every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-o-wo-o, still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling

Is anybody out there?
Is anybody listening?
Does anybody really know?
If it's the end of our beginning
A cry, a rush from one breath
Is all we're waiting for
Sometimes the one we're taking
Changes every one before
It's everything you wanted
It's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open
And one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go
Sometimes we're holding angels
And we never even know
Don't know if we'll make it
But we know, we just can't let it show
It's everything you wanted
It's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open
And one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go
Yeah, letting go
It's everything you wanted
It's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open
And one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go
Oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh
It's everything you wanted
It's everything you don't
It's one door swinging open
And one door swinging closed
Some prayers find an answer
Some prayers never know
We're holding on and letting go

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
All my memories gather round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And driving down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads

Picture perfect memories
Scattered all around the floor
Reaching for the phone 'cause, I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweepin' in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk, and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
Whoa oh whoa
Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh baby I need you now

Bet your window's rolled down and your hair's pulled back
And I bet you got no idea you're going way too fast
You're trying not to think about what went wrong
Trying not to stop 'til you get where you goin'
You're trying to stay awake so I bet you turn on the radio and the song goes
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby, baby
The highway won't hold you tonight
The highway don't know you're alive
The highway don't care if you're all alone, but I do, I do.
The highway won't dry your tears
The highway don't need you here
The highway don't care if you're coming home, but I do, I do.
I bet you got a dead cell phone in your shotgun seat
Yeah, I bet you're bending God's ear talking 'bout me.
You're trying not to let the first tear fall out
Trying not to think about turning around
You're trying not to get lost in the sound but that song is always on, so you sing along
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you I can't live without you baby, oh baby
The highway won't hold you tonight
The highway don't know you're alive
The highway don't care if you're all alone, but I do, I do.
The highway won't dry your tears
The highway don't need you here
The highway don't care if you're coming home, but I do, I do.
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby
The highway don't care
The highway don't care
The highway don't care, but I do, I do.
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby (The highway don't care, but I do, I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, but I do I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby (The highway don't care, the highway don't care)
I can't live without you I can't live without you, baby, oh baby (The highway don't care, but I do I do)
I can't live without you, I can't live without you, baby

Runnin' round in this new truck
Bank let's me borrow from month to month
Runnin' out of credit and find a little cash on the radio
Standin' still they're blowin past, numbers on cars goin' Nascar fast
What I wouldn't give for a slow down, don't ya know
Cause where I come from only the horses run
When the day is done, we take it easy

Meanwhile back at Mama's
the porch light's on, come in if you wanna
Supper's on the stove and beers in the fridge
Red sun sinkin' out low on the ridge,
Games on the tube and Daddy smokes cigarettes
Whiskey keeps his whistle wet
Funny the things you thought you'd never miss,
in a world gone crazy as this

Well I found a girl and we don't fit in here
Talk about how hard it is to breathe here,
Even with the windows down can't catch a southern breeze here
One of these days gonna pack it up and leave here

Cause meanwhile back at Mama's
The porch light's on, come on in if you wanna
Supper's on the stove and beers in the fridge
Red sun sinkin' out low on the ridge
Games on the tube and Daddy smokes cigarettes
Whiskey keeps his whistle wet
Funny the things you thought you'd never miss, in a world gone crazy as this

Oh I miss yeah a little dirt on the road I miss corn growin' in a row
I miss being somebody everybody knows there everybody knows everybody
I miss those small town roots, walkin' around in muddy boots
The sound of rain on an old tin roof
It's time we head on back

Cause meanwhile back at Mama's the for sale sign's goin' up and I'm gonna dump this truck and the little I got on a loan to own and a three-acre lot
Put supper on the stove and beer in the fridge
Goin' for broke and we're gonna be rich, watch the sun settin' on the ridge, baby tell me what you think about this
Me and you back at Mama's
Yeah me and you back at Mama's

You think that I can't live without your love
You'll see
You think I can't go on another day
You think I have nothing
Without you by my side
You'll see
Somehow, some way
You think that I can never laugh again
You'll see
You think that you destroyed my faith in love
You think after all you've done
I'll never find my way back home
You'll see
Somehow, someday
All by myself
I don't need anyone at all
I know I'll survive
I know I'll stay alive
All on my own
I don't need anyone this time
It will be mine
No one can take it from me
You'll see
You think that you are strong, but you are weak
You'll see
It takes more strength to cry, admit defeat
I have truth on my side
You only have deceit
You'll see, somehow, someday
All by myself
I don't need anyone at all
I know I'll survive
I know I'll stay alive
I'll stand on my own
I won't need anyone this time
It will be mine
No one can take it from me
You'll see
You'll see, you'll see
You'll see, mmh, mmh

Well you know I'm not much good at writin' letters
So I gave up and decided that I'd call
Now there's really not much news to tell you
Things back here they never change at all
It snowed today, it's cold here for November
But I hear the weather's warm out there
Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds would you shake his hand for me
And tell ol' Burt I've seen all his movies
Well, I hope you make for big time, I hope your dreams come true
But if Hollywood don't need you, honey, I still do
Last night I drove the truck to Amarillo
Some friends and I we had a laugh or two
But lately we don't cut up like we used to
'Cause all that I can think about is you
I know this is what you've always wanted
But I know now that all I want is you
So if you see Burt Reynolds would you shake his hand for me
And tell ol' Burt I've seen all his movies
Well, I hope you make for big time, I hope your dreams come true
But if Hollywood don't need you, honey, I still do
If Hollywood don't need you, honey, I still do

Down the way where the nights are gay
And the sun shines gaily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
But when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down my head is spinning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls swaying to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down my head is spinning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down at the market you can hear ladies
Cry out while on their heads they bear
Ackey rice salt fish are nice
And the run is good anytime of the year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down my head is spinning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sad to say I'm on my way...

When I was a kid Uncle Remus he put me to bed
With a picture of Stonewall Jackson above my head
Then daddy came in to kiss his little man
With gin on his breath and a Bible in his hand
He talked about honor and things I should know
Then he'd stagger a little as he went out the door
I can still hear the soft Southern winds in the live oak trees
And those Williams boys they still mean a lot to me
Hank and Tennessee
I guess we're all gonna be what we're gonna be
So what do you do with good ole boys like me
Nothing makes a sound in the night like the wind does
But you ain't afraid if you're washed in the blood like I was
The smell of cape jasmine through the window screen
John R. and the Wolfman kept me company
By the light of the radio by my bed
With Thomas Wolfe whispering in my head
When I was in school I ran with kid down the street
But I watched him burn himself up on bourbon and speed
But I was smarter than most and I could choose
Learned to talk like the man on the six o'clock news
When I was eighteen, Lord, I hit the road
But it really doesn't matter how far I go

You give to me what life should be for everyone.
You're my pepper, you're my salt, my favorite tea.
You're my sunset on the ocean, my desert dawn.
So much of you is now a part of me.
I know a greater power must have noticed me,
And decided I would meet someone like you.
No-one on this planet thought we could ever be,
Till He gave my heart to you, and yours to me.
You've given us our children and a recipe:
For you and I, love comes naturally.
My love is somehow different than I'd have it be,
An' it's workin' on my heart, not into me.
So I know a greater power must have noticed me,
And decided I would meet someone like you.
No-one on this planet thought we could ever be,
Till He gave my heart to you, and yours to me.

In your heart of hearts there is a voice
It speaks from truth and not from choice
It sees it all not just in part
Deep inside your heart of hearts
A secret place known to your soul
Where you can't hide but you can go
When it's all too much and you fall apart
There's a state of grace called your heart of hearts
Just listen to your life, it's talking to you
There'll always be a light that's running through ya
Flowing from a well that never runs dry
When you're at the point down on your knees
You can find your weakness can be your strength
Cause where one ends, the other starts
Deep inside your heart of hearts
Just listen to your life, it's talking to you
There'll always be a light that's running through ya
Flowing from a well that never runs dry
In your heart of hearts, there is a voice
It speaks from truth, and not from choice
It sees it all not just in part
Deep inside your heart of hearts

Hold on to love, that is what I do
Now that I've found you
And from above, everything's stinking
They're not around you
And in the night I could be helpless
I could be lonely, sleeping without you
And in the day, everything's complex
There's nothing simple when I'm not around you
And I miss you, when you're gone
That is what I do, bay-, bay-, babe
And it's going to carry on
That is what I knew, bay-, bay-, baby
Hold on to my hands
I feel I'm sinking, sinking without you
And to my mind, everything's stinking
Stinking without you
And in the night I could be helpless
I could be lonely, slipping without you
And in the day, everything's complex
There's nothing simple when I'm not around you
And I miss you, when you're gone
That is what I do, bay-, bay-, babe
And it's going to carry on
That is what I knew, bay-, bay-, baby
Bay-, bay-, baby
Bay-, bay-, babe