Davey’s Cornet

• 1. Better Than Good
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  Lyrics

  Better Than Good by Tom Shed, ©/(p) Curly Maple Music

  Some people look for love in the dark
  Some people look in the bright light of day
  Some people howl at the Moon in the park
  Some drop to their knees and pray

  Now me I don’t know much about love
  But I believe in what I see
  Right now, I see gorgeous green eyes
  And they are looking back at me

  What are the chances,
  Of a perfect romance?
  Better than good, Better than good
  Better than good, Better than good

  She might be thinking one night stand
  She might be looking for a man of means
  Hey baby, I’m the man with the plan
  Make me a part of your dreams

  Look out! Love’s coming my way,
  Right now I’m livin’ my chance
  Can’t waste time wishin my dreams
  Gotta get on the floor and dance

  Cause’, what are the chances,
  Of a perfect romance?
  Better than good, Better than good
  Better than good, Better than good
  (chorus)
  Breezin’ by, oh my! Cover Girl dream
  Jeans tight, so right, and winkin’ at me!
  Eyes met, heart set, now I’m on fire
  What about you makes me burn with desire?
  (bridge)
  Long hair, cute smile
  Soft kiss, smooth style
  Romance, I’m in deep,
  her love, I’ll keep…

  Don’t live your life with regrets
  You only get so much time
  I’ve got your love right here in my heart
  Took my chance now you are mine

  Now, what are the chances,
  Of a perfect romance?
  Better than good

• 2. Ole Hickory’s Town
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  Lyrics

  Ole’ Hickory’s Town by Tom Shed, ©/p. Curly Maple Music

  Well they came from all around,
  To the place the call Ole’ Hickory’s Town
  Where the cows cross the ford,
  By docks piled high with Naval stores

  The St. Johns flows onto the sea,
  Through the town, past industry
  Then came the shouts from all around,
  Ole’ Hickory’s town
  It’s burning down,
  Ole’ Hickory’s Town
  It’s burning down

  Started out on Davis,
  At the old mattress shop
  The crew sat down for dinner,
  Then the whole place went up

  Now Haney tried to make a stand,
  But the flames drove back his desperate plan
  Many fled to the shore,
  Just a step ahead of the deadly roar

  Some were trapped, where they hid
  Adams Street to Hogans Creek the fires bid
  All it found, raised to the ground
  Ole’ Hickory’s town,
  It’s burning down,
  Ole’ Hickory’s town
  It’s burning down

  Well the people had their fill,
  Of the fire that consumed Ole’ Jacksonville
  So they build this time with stone,
  To protect all the families and their homes

  The city grew, prosperity,
  Rose above the fires fearful tragedy
  And their fame grew all around, the fires out…
  In Ole’ Hickory’s Town
  Ole Hickory’s Town
  Ole Hickory’s Town

• 3. Bolita Sam
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  Lyrics

  Bolita Sam by Don Grooms, ©/(p) Curly Maple Music

  Well the man who ran the numbers, in Florida in ‘53
  Was a grey eyed black man named McCollum
  his pretty wife Ruby
  Now Ruby had a problem, she also had a kid
  By a white doctor in Live Oak, who would like to keep it hid
  chorus
  Bolita Sam, gambling man
  Couldn’t handle what was a going down
  He played his final numbers, but nobody remembers
  That grey eyed black man, Bolita Sam

  Then one Sunday Morning, Ruby couldn’t take it no more
  She shot Doctor Leroy Adams
  Left him dying on the floor
  Sam knew when they came for Ruby, they’d take him if they could
  So he filled a suitcase with money,
  and he left Live Oak for good
  CHORUS
  Now Sam went home to Ocala, Ruby went to jail
  Charged with first degree murder
  Wouldn’t let her out on bail
  Sam never knew what happened, didn’t know she went insane
  Cause he went home to Ocala,
  played his final numbers game

  CHORUS

  Nobody knows what happened, how it came to be
  Sam went to the graveyard
  Ruby went to Chattahoochee
  Sam did not use a pistol, and here’s the reason why
  He said when there is nothing left to loose,
  you gotta lay down and die

• 4. Tate's Hell
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  Lyrics

  Tate’s Hell by Will McLean

  Old Tate left Sumatra along about dark.
  He had his two big dogs and a puppy named Spark.
  An old Long Tom shot-gun, a sharp Barlow knife,
  That panther would sure have the chase of his life

  A little past moon down, the dogs struck the scent;
  Through bramble and titi a-running Tate went;
  For hours and hours, until it was dawn;
  Then Tate knew that he was a long way from home.

  He blowed through his gun-barrel, the dogs did not hear;
  The panther had killed them, and now Tate felt fear;
  The sun was not shining, the mist it was thick;
  "Oh, Lordy," Tate hollered, "I'm lost up the crick."

  He leaned back to rest, and his eyes did not see;
  The big rattler struck him above the bent knee;
  The lick was so hard that a-sprawling he fell;
  This was the beginning of poor old Tate's Hell!

  He opened his Barlow and grabbed him some moss;
  A cut he made one way, another across;
  He wrapped his leg tightly and tied it with string;
  then sickness came on him, his body turned green.

  When Tate was discovered, these words he did tell,
  "My name is Old Tate, boys! I've just been in Hell!"
  These few-spoken words were the last that he said;
  His spirit, it left him. Old Tate, he was dead.

• 5. Fear
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  Lyrics

  Fear by Tom Shed©/(p) Curly Maple Music

  My name is fear, I brought you here
  To take away your life
  You walk with me, it’s destiny
  You never know when I’ll strike

  You walk home, all alone
  I’ll be holding back the light
  You will see, it’s only me
  Blinding you into flight

  Who fears, who fears

  You make plans, I’ll tie your hands
  And destroy the one you trust
  Take your dreams, like some machine
  And grind them all to dust

  I will seek, both brave and meek
  To make sure you belong
  When I attack, don’t hold back
  I am weak when you are strong

  Who fears, who fears

  If you know, how I sow
  You will know me as a friend
  When you see, you are me
  My hold on you will end

  My name is fear, I brought you here
  To take away your life
  You walk with me, it’s destiny
  You never know when I’ll strike

• 6. Davey's Cornet
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  Lyrics

  The Man with the Brass Cornet (Davey’s Cornet)
  © Tom Shed/Janet Goodman CMM/BMI

  Davey blew a cornet
  In a juke joint by the tracks
  Till in '17 we joined the war,
  He volunteered to fight in France
  In his shoes, at five-foot two,
  They wouldn’t let him in the infantry
  So he’d play Taps for the boys each night
  And at dawn, wake them up with reveille

  CHORUS
  No glory words, no stories heard
  About the War to end all Wars
  The only soldier without a gun
  Always the shortest one
  He’s the man with the brass cornet

  Davey came back from France
  Put away his cornet
  Making babies instead of music
  He never spoke of regrets
  Works a union life, loves his kids and wife
  Didn’t talk much about the war
  “Just a bugler”, is all he’d say
  Watch the kids in the yard as they play...
  Content with his life, his family and his favorite cigar

  CHORUS

  BRIDGE
  After he died, we gather inside
  To sort through his life and his dreams
  The truth we all knew, wasn't all that was true
  What we found there. . . , it changed everything,

  Down in the cellar
  In a box, in the dark
  There’s papers from the Army
  Photographs, a Purple Heart
  He spent his time, on the front lines
  With a Red Cross on his sleeve
  Carried the wounded through the blood and the gore
  Now we know how he gave so . . much more
  This man with the brass cornet

  No glory words, no stories heard
  About the War to end all Wars
  The only soldier without a gun
  Always the shortest one
  He’s the man with the brass cornet

• 7. Just a Soft Echo
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  Lyrics

  Just A Soft Echo By Tom Shed, ©/(p) Curly Maple Music

  Sunshine is shinning, on my front door
  But you won’t find me, don’t live there no more
  If you remember, mention my name
  I’ll hear the echo, out on the plain

  I’ve learned from the mountains, to stand my own ground
  Valley’s they taught me, to hear every sound
  When I first touched you, you remembered my name
  Just a soft echo, after the rain

  We’ve shared the laughter, the love and the pain
  Histories moments, the loss and the shame
  And it doesn’t matter, the price we all pay
  Just a soft echo, out on the plain
  Now this life is over, all that I did
  I’m feeling better, so bring on that lid
  Wild birds are calling, calling my name
  Just a soft echo, after the rain

  Memories build, the legend of me
  With whispers of how, a proud son used to be
  Maybe you’ll listen, then think of me
  Just a soft echo

• 8. Does it Hurt to Laugh?
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  Lyrics

  Does it Hurt to Laugh by Tom Shed © (p)

  Does it hurt to laugh, does it hurt to cry
  Do you feel alone, when you sigh
  Can you touch me now, with you’re hands of grace
  Will you sooth me down, with you’re loving face

  And hey, don’t you know
  Love only grows

  Is it all you want, is it all it’s for
  Will you stop today, and want no more
  Do you want me now, deep down inside
  Will you stop the game, of seek and hide

  And hey, don’t you know
  Love only grows

  Will you always walk, in perfections path
  Will you make our love, a life long craft
  Will you love me till, the end of time
  Will you make all joy, yours and mine

  And hey, don’t you know
  Love only grows

  Does it hurt to laugh
  Does it hurt to cry
  Do you feel alone
  When you sigh

• 9. Walk Proud
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  Lyrics

  Walk Proud by Don Grooms
  ©/(p) Curly Maple Music/You’nI Music

  Use it up, wear it out
  Make it do or do without.
  We can’t pay for the things you want to buy.
  Wear your old faded jeans.
  They are patched but they are clean.
  Walk proud, my son,
  And hold your head up high.

  We lived away back in the hills
  With the bears and the whippoorwills
  The closest store was 35 miles away.
  Although I’m now a full grown man,
  When I close my eyes I can
  Hear the words my mother used to say …..

  CHORUS

  Now I’ve got a son of my own
  He’s even got his own telephone.
  Seems like I buy him something everyday
  He’s got everything money can buy
  And it makes me want to cry
  ‘Cause I know he’ll never hear his mother say …..

  CHORUS

• 10. Draw the Line
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  Lyrics

  Draw The Line by Don Grooms ©/p. Curly Maple Music/You’ni Music

  I was working my way cross the country
  Going back to the folks in the land
  I’d say all I can do is sing my songs for you
  And eat supper with you when I can

  Then I found a Georgia share cropper
  He’d never seen me before
  He said all we’ve got is taters and possum
  But there’s always enough for one more

  I said there’s something I ought to tell you
  I don’t eat possum a lot
  But he said possum meat is not that hard to eat
  When possum is all you have got

  Swapped songs with a Louisiana Cajun
  On the banks of a little Bayou
  He said all we got’s crawfish and gator
  But it sure makes a mighty fine stew

  I said there’s something I ought to tell you
  I don’t eat alligator a lot
  But he said gator meat is not that hard to eat
  When gator is all you have got
  Then I sat with a Seminole Indian
  Watching deer meat rot in the sun
  He said we don’t have a whole lot to offer
  But you can share it with us when it’s done

  I said there’s something I ought to tell you
  I don’t eat rotten deer meat alot
  But he said rotten meat is not that hard to eat
  When that’s the only thing you have got
  And then he sang…

  Now I’ve got my own little family
  And every night when the sun goes in
  I never ask them what they’ve got for dinner
  I just sit down and shovel it in
  ‘Cause I will eat most anything you’ve got to offer
  I’ll even tell you snakes and snails are fine
  But everybody draws the line somewhere
  And liver is where I draw mine

  Yes I’ve been all over this country
  And I’ll eat most anything you have got
  But please don’t invite me to dinner
  If liver’s what you’ve got in your pot

  ‘Cause I will eat most anything you’ve got to offer
  I’ll even tell you snakes and snails are fine
  But everybody draws the line somewhere
  And liver is where I draw mine

• 11. Riders in the Sky
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  Lyrics

  Riders in the Sky, by Stan Jones, MPL Music Music Publishing

  A lone cowpoke went ridin' out one dark and windy day
  Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
  When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
  Climbing ‘cross the ragged sky and up a cloudy draw
  Yippee-I-aye, yippee-I-o, The Ghost Herd in the sky
  Their horns were black and shiny and their hoofs were made of steel
  Their brands were still on fire and their hot breath he could feel
  A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
  For he saw the riders comin' hard and he heard their mournful cry
  Yippee-I-aye, yippee-I-o, Ghost riders in the sky
  Their faces drawn, their eyes a’ blurred, shirts all soaked with sweat
  They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught 'em yet'
  For they got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
  On horses snorting fire, as they ride on hear their cry
  Yippee-I-aye, yippee-I-o, Ghost riders in the sky
  As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name
  If you wanna save your soul from Hell a’ ridin' on our range
  Then cowboy change your way or with us you will ride
  Tryin' to catch the Devil's herd across these endless skies
  Yippee-I-aye, yippee-I-o,
  Ghost riders in the sky
  Ghost riders in the sky

• 12. Groove
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  Lyrics

  (Instrumental)