An Epic Blues Song

I'm hidin' in the country between three narrow hills
I'm hidin' in the country between narrow grassy hills
Three miles past the washout
'Cause I just can't pay my bills

My fender skirts are rusty my baby's in town
My skirts are getting rusty, my sweetheart's in town 
You're not gonna find salvation
With your mortgage upside down.

I can't buy access, can't go and speak my piece
I can't buy access, can't go and speak my piece
My best friend, my mechanic
Is going to help me with some grease.

My friend, my bootlegger, reads Henry David Thoreau
My bootlegger, the scholar, reads Henry David Thoreau
He says things should be simple
Plant beans and watch them grow.

Sufferin' from arthritis, his dog moans on the floor
Sufferin' from arthritis, Ole Blue's on the floor
He loves that dog more than life itself
He put him down with a 44.

Ridin' back from Springfield, his truck full of booze.
Ridin' back from Springfield, his truck full of booze.
Cop asked if he'd been drinkin'
Said "No, that's too much to lose."


The church bells are ringing, callin' me back home
The church bells are ringing, babe, callin' me back home
God's forsaken the nation
To let it aimlessly roam.

We're packin" to go down south, the last refuge
We're packin" to go down to Dixie, the last refuge
It's more like home there,
Less regulation subterfuge.

The kids don't care about freedom, it's an old man thing
The kids don't care about freedom, it's an old man thing
They'd rather be nested down
And givin' everything

Goin' to the dance tonight, sawdust on the floor
Goin' to the dance tonight, sawdust on the floor
Stick with me tonight, babe
Don't leave me standin' in the door

We'll go into town tonight, see friends and drink
We'll go into town tonight, see friends, eat and drink
You look for some happiness,
When you're livin' on the brink

 Don't leave me tonight, Babe. Don't fall apart
 Don't leave me tonight, Babe. Don't fall apart
Stay close and hold me
There's no reason for Descartes.

My brother collects stuff, he has no perceivable goal
My brother collects stuff, he has no perceivable goal
He's in it for himself
He's got no heart, got no soul.

He took everything, he took my dignity, my youth
He took it all, Man, he took my dignity, my youth
Lost the middle of my life
Trying to get back to the truth.

The house started on fire, I remember what was said
The house started on fire, I remember what was said.
Went to get some help
They all thought I fled.

The preacher's in Waukesha to pay his alimony
The preacher drove to Waukesha to pay his alimony
Claims his ex is a nasty, dirty,
Backstabbin’ bitchy phony.

John's up fishin' there, knows the preacher's ex well.
John's up fishin' there, knows the preacher's ex well.
He agrees with his assesment
He knows just how she fell.

She went to college there on the Madison Mall
She went to college there on the Madison Mall
Mixed drugs with politics
From the high left she did fall.

I work for myself now, I used to be a union man
I work for myself now, I used to be a union man
Payroll taxes are killing me
Now I'm a company man.

I pay the workers, they don't seem to care.
I write the payroll checks, They just don't care.
The street don't greet you kid,
The world's just not fair.

They work for quittin' time, not future growth
They work for quittin' time, not future growth
They get paid first
They're unaware of my oath.


A man can never be sure just what a woman needs
I never know exactly just what that a woman needs
A man just wants his freedom
And all the books he can read.

My baby adores me, wants me to dance and sing 
My baby adores me, wants me to dance and sing
Buys me Scotch and cigars.
Says being a man is the thing.

When I need her the most, she shows up here,
When life is dark and uncertain, she show up here.
She'd give her life for me,
Unless I took her beer. 

My Dad died and left me, he taught me how to vote
My Dad died and left me, he taught me how to vote
Take on responsibilities and
Get paid for what you wrote.

My sister drives a Pontiac, four on the floor
My sister drives a Pontiac, Hurst shifter on the floor
She took the Panama Limited
I can't see her anymore.

My mother dressed the chickens, kept us well fed
My mother dressed the chickens, kept us well fed
"Watch a man's actions
"Talk's cheap," is what she said.

The sun's goin' down now, the sky's glowing red
The sun's goin' down now, the sky's glowing red
The Devil wants my soul tonight
He put a mark upon my head.

Temptation surrounds me, I may be getting weak.
Temptation surrounds me, Lord, I may be getting weak.
Desperation exposes me
The beast knows what I seek.. 

The stoney sky darkens, starts to blow and swirl.
The stoney sky darkens, starts to blow and swirl.
I ask God to protect me;
Me and my best girl.


I went down to the river, to fish the bottom deep
I went down to the river, to fish the bottom deep
Carp and suckers live there
You sew what you reep.

The Congress met today, to help the working man
The Congress met today, to help the working man
There's not one person over there
With a callous on his hand.

The Senator eats with us, drinks and dabs his chin
The Senator eats with us, drinks and dabs his chin
Says if I send money today
Our enemies can't win..

The senator came down here, he's a straight shooter
The senator came down here, he's a straight shooter
He listens to Leo Kotke,
Likes John Prine, and Ry Cooter.

They tell me I'm paranoid, mad, lost my mind
They tell me I'm paranoid, mad, lost my mind
It's not a conspiricy,
They're thoughts are all aligned.


My baby checks the speed limit with her stop watch
My baby checks the speed limit, she has a stop watch
She taught me to slow down.
I help her find the Sasquatch.

Woke up in Illinois again, I should be Dixie bound
Woke up in Illinois again, I should be Dixie bound
The streets are dead up here
The truth is nowhere to be found.

Goin' down the back roads livin' the countryside
Goin' down the back roads livin' the countryside
Looking for salvation
With my baby in my ride.

We need compromise, so women can have their fun
We need compromise, so women can have their fun
Kill all the babies you want
You just have to use a gun.

They think we men always get what we want
They think we men grew up getting everything we want  
You just thought we did.
Cause we acted nonchalant.

Jenny went into the city to get the procedure done
Jenny went into the city to get the procedure done 
It's a small price to pay
Cause girls just want to have fun.  

Walked 500 miles to get here, I never did get paid
Walked 500 miles to get here, I never did get paid
You create more sorrow
Just to see how it's made.

You study the TV, opinions you try to sway
You study the TV, opinions you try to sway

The shadow of verity
Escapes what you say

The fire of your ambition blinds the naked eye
The fire of your ambition blinds the naked eye
Your ruthlessness
Makes your own children cry.

Ted Jones delivers the mail, he gets a good pension
My cousin Ted's a mailman, waitin' for a pension.
He likes to read Franz Kafka
It helps him think and pay attention.


We ride to New Diggings, even though the roads are risky
We ride out to New Diggings, we know it's kinda risky
The country roads are narrow
But they don't sell no whiskey.

Sterling protected Vanilla Ice, he carried a 45
Big Sterling worked for Vanilla Ice, used a 45
It had pearl handles
And kept Ole Vanilla alive

My son, he got arrested, had him flat on the ground
My son, he got arrested, had him flat on the ground
I wouldn't have gone his bail,
But his mother was around.

I worked for Bob Stone, stayed up late breakin' the news
I worked for Bob Stone, worked late breakin' the news
He didn't teach me anything
I couldn't learn from the blues.

My heart's in South, it's where I call home
My heart's in South, it's where I call home
Some day I'll go back there
Never more to roam.

My daughter's beautiful, she doesn't get that from me
My daughter's beautiful, she doesn't get that from me
She's got three fine kids
And a Phi Beta Kappa Key


Crazy Lester was shot last night a mile from his home
Crazy Lester was shot last night a mile from his home
He left his Luger at home last night
To go to a gun-free zone

It's time to move again, last time was in '83
It's time to move again, last time was in '83
My freedom's disappearing here
The city's encroaching on me.

I worked in Arizona, went there to make a wage
I worked in Arizona, went there to make a wage
Couldn't take staying there
Everything was beige.

There are famines and earthquakes in various places
There are famines and earthquakes in various places
Looks like the end is near
I can see it on their faces.

I had a Ford truck, three speed on the column
I had a white Ford truck, three speed on the column
It had a good AM radio
But could not adjust the volume.

Zack's in New York City writing computer code.
Zack's in New York City writing computer code.
The country boy does well there
He might find a back road.


Ruby's self sufficient, she grows her own chives
Ruby's self sufficient, she grows her own chives
She has her own windmill
She adds value to our lives

Fiona is an actress, her face makes people happy.
Fiona is an actress, her face makes people happy.
She looks innocent enough
But she can be scrappy.

Jay's life is confusing, he's torn between two worlds
Jay's life is confusing, he's torn between two worlds
Just when he gets anchored in one
Into the other he is hurled.

Milo is a minderbinder, his life doesn't quiet fit
Milo is a minderbinder, his life doesn't quiet fit
The world isn't right for him
He can't start; he can't quit.

My friend Don is a poet, likes to hunt and shoot birds
My friend Don is a poet, likes to hunt and shoot birds
He's a modern artist,
He's like a cubist with words.

The snow's fallen here, winter won't let go
The snow's fallen here, winter won't let go
Went down to Tennessee
To watch the wind blow.

I'm winding down now, the pages left are few
I get slow sometimes, the pages left are few
When this story's over,
I get to start anew.