Lyrics

1.     Brittledown

Accordion: Chuck Bell

There’s a difference between what you see and the truth

Sure, that’s me on the screen, but the soot’s been removed

And if you really knew me you’d laugh ‘cause you know

that I hold up the diamonds and bag up the coal

Oh, would it hurt to let it show?

Oh, let this brittle heart down slow

If I’m honest I don’t wanna see where I’m wrong

In the rose-colored mirror that I gaze upon

But I need you to shine, put my heart in the light

Sentence my envy and call out my pride

Oh, but if you have to let me know

Oh, let this brittle heart down slow

Oh, I’m just bracing for the blow

Oh, let this brittle heart down slow

See, I yearn for a surgeon but can’t stand the knife

And the treatment to save me would cost me my life

But if changing my heart’s my one chance to survive

Just get it out quick before I change my mind

Oh, man, I hate to see it go

Oh, let this brittle heart down slow

Oh, I’m just bracing for the blow

Oh, let this brittle heart down slow  

Come quick, ‘cause the cracks are beginning to show

But let this brittle heart down slow

Let this brittle heart down slow

2.     Daffodils

Additional Vocals: Christy Merrett

Summer is fine but it’s green all the time all around

And I don’t care at all for the brown coat of fall on the ground

When winter is here the grey sky lends a dreary and endless gloom

No, there’s only one season that teases the world from its everyday monochrome tomb

When the daffodils bloom!

When the daffodils bloom!

The flowers know that hope is coming soon

Spring, come sing your tune

When the daffodils bloom

So bring on the days when the red maple haze breaks the chill

Let the early winds blow and the sycamore snow clothe the hills

Paint the redbud in fuchsia, forsythia golden, and dogwood cream

Let the violets riot as color comes back in a shocking kaleidoscope scream

When the daffodils bloom!

The flowers know that hope is coming soon

And they wake the sleeping world with their perfume

Spring, come sing your tune

When the daffodils bloom

3.     Mockingbird

Mockingbird, mockingbird, high up in your tree

Mockingbird, mockingbird, won’t you sing for me?

Mockingbird, mockingbird, pretty as a dove

Mockingbird, mockingbird, won’t you share your love?

Are you going far away from here? 

Are you going far away from here?

Mockingbird, mockingbird, flying from the cold

Mockingbird, mockingbird, fire’s growing old

Mockingbird, mockingbird, sing your little song

Mockingbird, mockingbird, night is coming on

Are you going far away from here? 

Are you going far away from here?

4.     Carolina

Bass: Jay

Last winter we were happy, for a while

The streetlights glowed through sheets of snow

As people passed us by

We found a bar to sit and close the day

A little room where no one knew

And we spoke the night away

Oh, Carolina, I been trying to find a way to stay with you

But hey, you’re so far away

And I guess I must have better things to do

Been drinking whiskey with my friends

And beer when I’m at home

But no drink can touch the sweetness that I feel when we’re alone

Oh, Carolina, I been trying to find a way to stay with you

But hey, you’re so far away

And I guess I must have better things to do

Oh, Carolina, you know I been trying, you know I been trying to stay with you

But hey, you know life gets in the way

And I’m sure there’s more important things to do

But on weekends I’ll keep sneaking back to you

5.     I Was a Dreamer

Additional Vocals: Christy Merrett

Electric: Elijah

The palm trees swayed beneath the sweet summer moon

Their shadows displayed on the sand like some old tattoo

The sea sparkled green, but your eyes were greener

You were a dream and I, I was a dreamer

Dancing beside you, I felt like Fred Astaire

You were my Ginger twirling your long blonde hair

They sang Vida mia es mi bailarina

You were a dream and I, I was a dreamer

Down the vista of time, I still see that silver moon

You put your frail hand in mine and I know you can see it too

If there’s a more beautiful girl I swear I’ve never seen her

‘Cause you’re still my dream and I, I’m still your dreamer

6.     Let You In

He stumbled into town, the stink

Of day old beans and sweat and drink was hot

He needed a flop

A mile from the Espee line

He found a gate with the secret sign in chalk:

A ring and a cross

And it read in hobo code,

You can tell a tale of woe, and love will let you in

He crossed the yard with hat to heart

And rapped that sagging screen door hard,

Sorry ma’am, mind if I come in?

Since Eustace died, she just got by

It was a mystery why they always turned by her fence, but such nice young men

Well, she gives ‘em all she has, a meal, a bed, and bath

Yeah, love will let you in

Before daybreak he lit out in the rain

Caught a cow crate up to Casey, he sang and laughed, and counted her cash

She woke up to an empty dawn

Checked the dresser drawer, found the money gone, and she smiled, and put in another five

And when the sun dried up the fence

The neighbors never knew she went with chalk

And redrew her cross

Another ‘bo rolls down the line

He’d been told about a sign

Where love will let you in

Yeah, love will let you in

Grace is scandalous

7.     You Buried Me

You threw me in the dust

You threw me in the dust

You didn’t think I’d rise back up

But you can’t keep me down

You plowed me underground

You plowed me underground

Well my roots are dug in now

And you can’t keep me down

You can’t keep me down

When you buried me, you thought it meant defeat

But when you buried me, you didn’t know I was a seed

You tried to drown me out

You tried to drown me out

But I’ve grown so much louder now

And you can’t keep me down

You can’t keep me down

You can’t keep me down

When you buried me, you thought it meant defeat

But when you buried me, you didn’t know I was a seed

So go on, you’re making me stronger... go on

The indigenous and enslaved people who were made lowest in this country have instead given it its greatest strengths. This is the way of the Lord

8.     Voyager

When you cross to the outer dark

And the sun recedes from sight

When the moon becomes a memory

You will float into the night

You will sail on to forever

Ten billion miles from your home

But starlight will find you

Guide you wherever you go

You will see distant visions of fire

And strange frozen lands

And behold the sum of humanity

Upon a grain of sand

All must be witnessed in silence

You make your voyage alone

But starlight will find you

Guide you wherever you go

9.     Shine for Me

First firefly in early May

Coming into the field at the close of day

You must’ve woken up too early or too late

But there’s no mistake

You can shine for me, shine for me

Because you’re keeping me going

The night is dark, but I can see you

And you’re making me glow

Your light is beautiful, you know

Even when you’re shining on your own

Don’t ever think that you’re too little

Don’t be afraid to fight the dark

Cause you might be the one to light the whole world with your spark, or just one heart

So shine for me, shine for me

Because you’re keeping me going

The night is dark, but I can see you

And you’re making me glow

Your light is beautiful, you know

Even when you’re shining on your own

There is no one like you are

No, there is no one like you are

You are someone’s shining star…

Last lightning bug of late September

Feels like your time has come and gone

But you’re a living witness to the ember burning long

Till the dawn!

Shine for me, shine for me

Because you’re keeping me going

The night is dark but I can see you

And you’re making me glow

You’re no less beautiful alone

Shine for me until the morning comes

You’re a light, you’re a light, a light among the stars

You’re a light, you’re a light, a light among the stars

10.     My Dear Lucy

Flatpicking: Jay

      My Dear Lucy, 

I hope you’re doing good

I been praying like I should, but it’s so hard to be away

They don’t say much, and they don’t tell what I done

I fear I’ll never see the sun outside this cage.

      My Dear Lucy, 

There’s no liquor in these bars

And you can barely see the stars beyond the cold grey walls

But I can see you each time I close my eyes

And in my dreams I’m running wild, I hear you call,

And I’m coming back

To where the food don’t taste like dirt

Where the wishing doesn’t hurt

I dream I’m coming back

Coming back to you, my love.

      My Dear Lucy, 

Maybe one day, in a song,

I can hold your hand at dawn and watch the roses grow

Maybe so-- There’s time off for acting nice

So if I shave and drop the dice you never know,

I could be coming back

To where the creek flows fresh and clear

To where they’ve never heard of here

Oh my dear I’ve gotta get back

Coming back to you, my love.

      My Dear Lucy, 

This old hound can take his licks

But I’m getting sick of doing tricks to keep the bulls at bay

By the way, gas up the truck on Sunday

‘Cause Monday they’ll be setting this dog free

I said Monday they’ll be setting this dog free

And I’ll be coming back

And when you hit that gravel lot

I’m gonna wed you on the spot

My god, I’m gonna come back

Coming back

And when they ask me where I was

I’ll say my heart stayed home because

I was coming right back

Coming back, coming back,

Coming back to you, my love.

11.     Foolish and Poor                                                                    Mandolin: Jay

Additional Vocals: the Counihan Family, Steve Giove, Wight Greger, Bill Long, and Christy.

Foolish and poor,

I sought to understand

The ways that you deal with man

The hearts and the hands at war

But what dare I demand

From the one who pent up the sea

When the stars blazing over me

Are only the sands beneath your feet?

Foolish and poor, I can’t offer you more

My riches are rust, my wisdom is dust

But my heart is yours

Where are the wise

Who can fathom the way you love?

Why you’re lifting the lowly up

And bringing these bones to life?

And who could appraise

The price that you paid for me?

When you tore down the veil between

Your glory and love of one so

Foolish and poor, I can’t offer you more

My riches are rust, my wisdom is dust

But my heart is yours

Of this I am sure:

While I’m traveling in the flesh

While I hunger for something pure

And thirst after righteousness,

That no cunning thing,

Not the gold of a thousand kings,

Nor my own mortal suffering

Can compare with the joy in store

For the foolish and poor

When this world is reborn

You’ll turn mourning to song,

The small will be strong,

And your word will endure

With the foolish and poor,

I can’t offer you more

My riches are rust, my wisdom is dust

But my heart is yours.