vicetown
one dime at a time
12 gauge love affair
black widow stomp
wormwood
asphalt (in my veins)
dustbowl
the axeman (Of New orleans)
chain gang boogie
we 3 (my echo, my shadow and me
1. Vicetown
Here's the story of Mike McCann
he was a good and righteous family man
who'd heard of but never went to Vicetown
Well he'd heard about the booze and dice
and thought about it once or twice
but the chains of life kept him fastened to the ground
But there's one thing he can't deny like Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde
Something burning deep inside his brain
In spite of all his stifled rage he almost nearly went
insane but still he didn't make that drive
His job beat him down his wife stole his crown
his children only though he was a bank
So for every window that he didn't smash
or took the chance to steal some cash
something finally lit that tiny flame
But there's one thing he can't deny like Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde
Something burning deep inside his brain
In spite of all his stifled rage he almost nearly went
insane and decided to make that, to make that drive
down to
Chorus:
Vicetown
Where blow & reefer's sold by the pound
Vicetown
Where you can can drive 105
and there ain't no law around
Gamblin', drinkin', smokin', it's how we pass the time
and if you want a lady's company it's only a dime
and if you think that dimestore tag is some kind of ruse
they'll tell you why that price is nice 'cause they enjoy it too down in
Chorus
2. One Dime at a Time
In central Ohio by the old corn fields, that where
I was born and raised
I was sittin' on a rock, collecting my thoughts, should
I go or should I stay
There's a great big world and I know there's more
than factories and liquor stores
So I took a chance, after failed romance, and nights
of walkin' the floor
Well I never got a chance to find myself 'cause I signed on the dotted line
with a little bit of help from my Pops and my Dad
I made it out just fine
but believe you and me, with time out to sea
with nothing but time on my hands
I honed my craft, and I had a few laughs 9 months
away from land
Chorus:
But I've been writing my songs and for far too long
I've been in the backing band
between truckstop showers and driving for hours, I've made a few loyal friends
but without risk comes no reward, I'm finally singing
and writing my rhymes
But I've paid my dues, I've got nothing to lose, all my dreams and schemes are coming true, and you know I did it all one dime at a time
Well, Ohio, Illinois, Florida , Mississippi, and VA
They're all states where I hung my hat and I worked
both night and day
But in the city of Austin in the Lone Star state
That's where I learned how to play
I was keepin' the time and walkin' them lines
that tip bucket was my pay
Chorus
3. 12 Gauge Love Affair
She sold her belief, faith in the Lord
started getting her answers from the Ouija board
She didn't even show a trace of remorse
put that barrel in his mouth called it "Punk Rock Divorce"
Chorus:
Now the house is falling down, broken windows and rust
Cobwebs, mold, and 7 inches of dust
What's lifted so easy is destined to fall
that 12 gauge love affair painted the wall
What happened next, you don't want to know
In a ramshackle shed on the side of the road
The boarded up windows, that old chipping paint
and sun-faded Venetian blinds covers the stains
Chorus
4. Black Widow Stomp
Eyes that kill, the sharpest blue
When she walks in, she owns the room
Likes her whisky, likes it neat
The smell of her perfume brings you to your knees
Beggin' please for a sweet release from that poison sting
Backseam stockings and a cigarette
She lives for today with no regret
Thin black lines up and down her legs
Every night she makes the Devil get down and beg
5. Asphalt (In my Veins)
When it's time for these bones to roam
and leave Chattanooga town
There's so much goin' on in this world once the sun goes
down
And you know that I can't sit right back and watch the world go by
Knowing that I never even tried
Chorus:
Well the white line's in the middle and the bumps are
on the right
Through rain, sleet, snow, and tidal wave we'll make this
gig tonight
And another city and another town, no need to stop unless we break down
and if we do, we won't be long
'cause the asphalt in my veins would make me go insane
And you'll find us in an old 5 and Dime
Just livin' life to the fullest we can, it's destiny
not a one night stand
all ya gotta do is keep it between the lines
6. Dustbowl
April 14, 1935
Black blizzard came, took everything, and it left
nothing around
Day's as dark as night, I've got 7 mouths to feed
Dried up my well, it's hot as Hell, and they're gonna
take my deed because
Chorus:
That Dustbowl, that damned Dustbowl
it's taken everything (I wish it'd rain)
Lord, hear the pleas of a deperate man
Just tryin' to make a living anyway that I can
I loved out West hoping to farm my land until
That Dustbowl, that damned Dustbowl
it's taken everything (I wish it'd rain)
Now I know that train rolls by
everyday at 9 and I know those folks inside that
coach are eatin' mighty fine
And I know I never thought to live a life of crime
but times have gotten tough as nails and I ain't
got a dime because
Chorus
7. The Axeman (Of New Orleans)
Axeman (comin' for you)
Axeman (ain't a thing you can do)
Just hope and pray you ain't in his sights tonight
Axeman (is he real?)
I heard that (he made a deal)
With goo old Nick underneath that pale moonlight
Chorus:
Oh well he wrote a letter giving you fair heed
The paper made sure you know about his deeds
is he Angel or is he Devil? Impossible to tell
Well he sold his soul to the Lord below
got his PhD in Hell
Becaue that Axeman (comin' for you)
Axeman (ain't a thing you can do)
Just hope and pray you ain't in his sights tonight
'cause it's 1925 just be thankful you're alive
and the Axeman whistled past your house tonight.
9. Chain Gang Boogie
Thought you'd rob a bank and could get away
They found the stolen car in the hidden driveway
Readin' you your rights, gonna put you away, 'cause the
witness identified the license plate
First they cuff ya, then they stuff ya
It's the chain gang boogie tonight
Chorus:
Well the chain gang boogie is what the prisoners sing
while the Warden tosses cells in the old West wing
The chain gang boogie's what the prisoners sing
hear the sounds of the picks and the hammers ring
They keep the beat in the heat
It's the chain gang boogie tonight
Gotta swing that hammer, gonna dig that ditch
if a skeeta bites you try not to itch
'cause you'll mess up the rhythm of that old chain gang
and if the ditch is wrong, you're the one to blame
Boss man got ya workin' in the sun, said the game is over, no place to run
Done messed up gotta pay your dues, and that's why
ya got those work farm blues
Chorus
10. We 3 (my echo, my shadow, and me)
We three, we're all alone, living in a memory
My echo, my shadow and me
We three we're not a crowd, we're not even company
My echo, my shadow and me
What good is the moonlight, the silvery moonlight
That shines above
I walk with my shadow,
I talk with my echo but where is the one I love
We three, we'll wait for you
Even till eternity
My echo, my shadow and me
All material except Track 10 by S.T. Frontz Jr.
copyright 2015 Reformatory Music