1. |
Goodbye my Bluebells
02:38
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2. |
Peddling Rag
04:24
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Who’s that strumming on the rattle-car coming down the uptown central line
Swingin’ on the back he got a guitar and a jacket, and a little dog running behind
Sits down on the corner pickin’ guitar like he wanna teach your hips how to make your tail wag
Cock an ear from your talkin’ flip a coin as you’re walkin’ past the hobo peddling rag
Peddling rag, peddling rag
He’ll turn your frown right upside down, got a tonic for what’s bad
Peddling rag, peddling rag
A chromatastic, syncopatic beggar from a dusty attic, down here peddling rag
He’s telling it true to the boys in blue who are trying to shut his operation down
Pointin’ at the sign says no moonshine, no busking this side of town
He gathers his possessions and his little coin collection says ‘I’m sorry if I made you mad’
Then he ducks around a corner in a minute he’s on a new pitch and he’s peddling rag
Peddling rag, peddling rag
He’s bringin’ some enjoyment with his method of employment so it can’t be all that bad
Peddling rag, peddling rag
Never says never keeps an eye upon the weather all the while he’s peddling rag
Now comes the priest down a holy street and nobody takes a name in vain
Preachin’ his lesson and givin’ his blessing then he takes a look down beggar’s lane
There he sees like Adam through the trees and he can’t believe his eyes
While a hobo preaches gospel blues to a flock three times his size
Peddling rag, peddling rag
It’s sure not biblical but unequivocally the best you had
Peddling rag, peddling rag
Whether it’s glory or purgatory he’s just peddling rag
Been a long hard day now he’s packing away all the loose change that he earned
Then his ear is drawn to a violin song, sweetest sound that he ever heard
His eyes are poppin’ and before he knows he’s droppin’ all his coins into her hat
She’s winkin’ and smilin’ said there’s room for two ridin’ on my bike if you’re peddling rag
Peddling rag, peddling rag
He escaped the police, outpreached the priest but he finally met his match
Peddling rag, peddling rag
Sittin’ on the handlebars a little dog an old guitar all the while peddling rag
Nobody got hurt it was an honest day’s work now he’s heading home peddling rag
P-e-double d-l-i-n-g, thankyou we’ve been peddling rag
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3. |
Walk on Boy
04:42
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I was born one morning
The rain, a pourin’ down
I heard my mammy say to my pappy let’s call him John Henry Brown
Walk on boy
Further down the road
There ain’t nobody in this whole wide world, gonna help you carry that load
I left my mammy and pappy
Just about the age of ten
Got me a job working on the levvee totin’ water for the hard workin’ men
Walk on boy
Further down the road
There ain’t nobody in this whole wide world, gonna help you carry that load
Well that might be alright for you
But let me tell you son
That you won’t get far all on your own, time’s are moving on
Because the world needs more than a working man
Who breaks down on the road
Too stubborn to reach out for help, they call it, the lazy man’s load
Walk on boy
Further down the road
Your biggest task might be to ask for some help to carry your load
Well let me say John Henry Brown
John Henry let me say
That if you take the hand that’s offered you, you might live to help me back some day
Because great deeds done in solitude
Will crumble when you’re through
But love and help are like boomerangs, well they’re going to come back to you
Walk on boy
Further down the road
Your biggest task might be to ask for some help to carry your load
Your biggest task might be to ask for some help to carry your load
Walk on boy
Walk on boy
Walk on boy
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4. |
Mill Valley Waltz
03:29
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5. |
Rusting Armour
04:18
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I’ve been aching through bone dry winters, waiting for the tears
I always thought there’d be comfort in the passing time
And counsel in the wisdom of the years
And each morning I strap on rusting armour, stumble out into the fray
Crushed between the rank and file
And all the stony faces trying to find their way
And now each night takes longer, to wash the bloodstains of the day
To keep the wounds from turning sour
I swear I’ll drop my sword and walk away
Hoist a white flag from the tallest pole
I’m running from this war
To where the river walks more slowly
I try to forget the things I saw, the things I saw
I’ve half a mind to break free from this shelter, and seek solace in the storm
Let the raindrops beat upon my brow
Until I’ve found the things I’m running from
Hoist a white flag from the tallest pole
I’m running from this war
To where the river walks more slowly
I try to forget the things I saw, the things I saw
I’ve been aching through bone dry winters, waiting for the tears
I’ve been aching through bone dry winters, waiting for the tears
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6. |
Paper Collar Creek
03:26
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I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok, I’d say you’ve seen me around
Cutting wood each working day
Cut a fine figure Friday night in town
I’m a humble man so to look this good, I have to improvise
Strip that bark and stitch it good
It’s got to last me through the night
‘Til the dancing’s done and the band’s gone home at last
A sharp neck line of paperbark
A corsage of daisy and grass
I’m the one that you can’t look past
There’s a skip in my step as I trek into town, there’s a lightness in my heart
Ladies hold on to your hats
I’m gonna tip that apple cart
These threadbare dungarees have seen better days
My socks have holes this coat’s grown mould
But I’m not scared of the public gaze
Because my collar cut was tailor made
I know that you tire of the toffs in the town, and all the farm-bred finery
Fruits of the forest could be fine for you
And you could be fine for me
When I take to the floor and hear that sound
I’m feeling grand as I hold your hand
I’m the talk, of the town
When I turn my collar down
When the night’s over and the dancing is done, it’s a hike back to the creek
Cast off my collar by the river bank
My luck will change next week
Best regards, from Paper Collar Creek
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7. |
Windy and Warm
03:16
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8. |
Wood and Weatherboard
04:27
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Along this curving driveway, the peppermint trees bow
Been so long we’ve been gone
Time’s short, but anyhow
Got ourselves out of the city, a leave of absence from the war
We’re all alone, and right at home
Wood and weatherboard
She’s built up good and sturdy, nestled in the trees
The door swings open easy
You never need the keys
She’s withstood many winters, and been lovingly restored
The slightest lean on brace and beam
Wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
The morning magpie chorus breaks the silence of the dawn
Move slowly in the golden hour
Inhale the midday warm
Step quiet in the gentle dusk, across these creaking floors
The bush can whisper through these walls
Of wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
Now we’re done with dinner and there’s not much left to do
You’re reaching for the violin
We’re humming the same tune
And there’s healing in the singing, as the words wrap round the chords
Gentle echoes ringing
On wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
Wood and weatherboard
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9. |
City of Lights
04:04
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Well you knocked me sprawling, laid me flat
With a one two pow like lickety splat
But the big bright lights they’re calling me back to town
So I’m racing for the station as the whistle blows
Waving my ticket as the last door closes
Grabbin’ for a cabin and I hadn’t hoped for much until now
Fast cars, jazz bars, fireworks on a Saturday night
Cool cats, top hats, in the city of lights
Well there’s a top floor tiny room bachelor pad
In the middle of the centre of the place where it’s at
Just a little base camp from the rat-a-tat-tat below
I got my sights set on a mythological belle
She’s a mystery missin’-me mademoiselle
Don’t write me off yet, you never can tell you know
Champagne, pour again, out dancing on a Saturday night
Billboards, open doors, in the city of lights
Well I’ve paid the tab in every bar
But still no clue to where you are
I guess the city hides the stars from view
Still got a few tricks up my sleeve
In a checkered handkerchief
But the bones are saying it’s time I shot through
Shot through…
And as the sun dawns on this stabbing ache that I made
With every top shelf cocktail my credit could raise
It’s an effervescent lesson for the rest of my days to know
So I’m foiled again but with a fare thee well bow
‘Til the next time we meet ‘til the clock strikes the hour
I’ll be back on the ball we’ll be rollin’ just how it goes
Upstairs, if you dare, light the flares from the highest of heights
Dapper Dan, back again, in the city of lights
In the city of lights
In the city of lights…
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10. |
Snake Run
02:38
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watch out for snakes...
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The Paper Collar Pickers Albany, Australia
The Papercollar Pickers are Rod Vervest and Craig Sinclair, two musicians who share a common love for ragtime guitar, close harmonies and Albany’s granite coastline.
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