WHERE WILD THISTLES BLOOM

(Written by Michael McMillan copyright 2021)

SUNDAYS COMING SOON

 ITS ALWAYS ONE THING OR A LOVER IT WAS THE WAY THAT YOU GOT BY
I SPENT MY LIFE JUST LAYING LOW WHILE YOU WERE GETTING HIGH
AT SCHOOL I USED TO WALK YOU HOME IT SEEMED SO LONG AGO
SO MANY THINGS I WISH I’D SAID BUT I NEVER LET YOU KNOW 

I HEARD ABOUT THE NIGHTS YOU CRIED AND THE WAY HE TREATED YOU
IT ALWAYS MADE ME WONDER WHY YOU SAID THERE’S NOTHING I COULD DO
BUT I HOPED I’D GET A SECOND CHANCE AND THAT YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND
THAT I LOVE YOU AND I ALWAYS HAVE IF YOU’LL LET ME TAKE YOUR HAND. 

WALK WITH ME OUT FROM DARKNESS INTO THE WARM GLOW OF THE SUN
YOUR FEAR WILL MELT AWAY LIKE WINTER AND I PROMISE SPRING WILL COME
AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO A MEADOW WHERE WILD THISTLES BLOOM
IT MAT BE FRIDAY …BUT SUNDAYS COMING SOON.
 

BUT ITS LONELY AS A LAWMAN WHEN NO-ONE WAITS BACK HOME
TO HOLD YOU AND TO SHARE THE PAIN YOU DEAL WITH ON YOUR OWN
MOST NIGHTS I’D WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT FROM 10 TO 7AM
AS PEOPLE CRIED THE CITY SIGHED AND I’D RETURN FROM HELL AGAIN 

 ONE NIGHT I HEARD HIM BRAGGING TO SOME GIRLS INSIDE THE BAR
ABOUT HOW HE’D MADE YOU CRY AGAIN AND THAT HE’D MAYBE GONE TOO FAR
AND THE WIND WOULD HIDE THE THUNDER AND THE RAIN THE FLASH OF LIGHT
AND I SWORE THAT HE WOULD NEVER MAKE YOU CRY ANOTHER NIGHT

WALK WITH ME OUT FROM DARKNESS INTO THE WARM GLOW OF THE SUN
YOUR FEAR WILL MELT AWAY LIKE WINTER AND I PROMISE SPRING WILL COME
AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO A MEADOW WHERE WILD THISTLES BLOOM
IT MAY BE FRIDAY …BUT SUNDAYS COMING SOON.
 YES I WILL LEAD YOU TO A MEADOW WHERE WILD THISTLES BLOOM
IT MAY BE FRIDAY …BUT SUNDAYS COMING SOON.

 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

YOU’LL NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE IF YOU STAND ON HER TOES 
YOU’LL NEVER GET A SECOND GLANCE STANDING IN THOSE CLOTHES
ALWAYS TRY TO LOOK JUST RIGHT OR YOU’LL BE THE ONE THATS LEFT TONIGHT 

IF YOU WANT TO SET THE WORLD ALIGHT YOU NEED TO LEARN ONE LESSON
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION

 ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS HANGING ON YOUR EVERY MOVE
HOPING THAT YOU’LL CLICK TOGETHER LIKE TONGUE AND GROOVE

 TAKE THAT LOSERS LOOK OFF YOUR FACE OR YOU WONT GET TO SECOND BASE
ITS NOT THE RACE BUT THE FINISH LINE THEY WILL BASE SUCCESS ON
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION

 FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT
YOU BETTER LEAVE THEM IN NO DOUBT
YOU WONT GET A SECOND CHANCE. YOU BETTER GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS
JUST STAND UP TALL AND LOOK THEM STRAIGHT IN THE EYE
AND HOPE THAT THEY CAN SEE
YOU’RE A STAND UP GUY 

IF YOU PLAY IT STRAIGHT FROM THE START YOU’LL BE WALKING HOME WITH THAT LADY’S HEART
DON’T HOLD ANYTHING BACK NEVER LEAVE THEM GUESSING
BECAUSE YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE. FIRST IMPRESSION
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION
NO YOU NEVER GET AS SECOND CHANCE

 

DARK SIDE OF THE MAN

THERE WERE TIMES YOU NEVER HAD A CROSS WORD
BUT THE CHOICES THAT YOU HAD WERE IN HIS HANDS
BUT NOW YOUR CHOSEN PALACE IS JUST A POISON CHALICE
AND YOUR LIFE WILL TURN OUT JUST THE WAY HE PLANNED 

IF YOUR LIFE HAS NO DIRECTION ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE
AND YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING IF YOU DON’T STAND
AND IF YOU REALLY CAN’T SAY NO THEN YOUR YES AINT REALLY YES
LIVING IN THE SHADOWS ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE MAN

AND WHEN HE LEAVES  BELIEVE ME YOU WILL LIVE
YOU’VE SPENT YOUR LIFE LIVING BY HIS LEAVE
YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE, BUT WHAT YOU THINK, YOU ARE
WHAT WE WANT ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT WE NEED

BUT IF YOUR LIFE HAS NO DIRECTION ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE
AND YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING IF YOU DON’T STAND
AND IF YOU REALLY CAN’T SAY NO THEN YOUR YES AINT REALLY YES
LIVING IN THE SHADOWS ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE MAN

LET YOUR YES BE YES AND LET YOUR NO BE NO
YOU’LL STOP FEELING SECOND BEST WHEN YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH WAY TO GO

BUT IF YOUR LIFE HAS NO DIRECTION ANY ROAD WILL TAKE YOU THERE
AND YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING IF YOU DON’T STAND
AND IF YOU REALLY CAN’T SAY NO THEN YOUR YES AIN’T REALLY YES
LIVING IN THE SHADOWS ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE MAN
LIVING IN THE SHADOWS ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE MAN

THE OTHER HALF

IN THE HALF LIGHT OF THE EVENING FROM A HALF MOON IN THE SKY,
THERE’S A HALF CUT MAN JUST SITTING WATCHING HALF HIS LIFE GO BY
AND HE NEVER COULD REMEMBER WAS HE HALF RIGHT OR HALF WRONG,
AS HALF THE THINGS HE STARTED FAILED WHEN HALF TIME CAME ALONG
HALF THE TIME, HALF THE PICTURE THE OTHER HALF IS OUT OF REACH,
LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS TORN IN HALF
AND YOU ONLY HAVE HALF EACH
YOU SHARE HALF YOUR LIFE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ALWAYS HALF ASLEEP
AND WHEN YOUR HALF GONE WITH YOUR HALF PINT THEN YOU’RE IN THE HALF THAT’S DEEP AND YOUR NEWLY FOUND HALF BROTHER TALKS YOU IN TO HALF A DAY
THEN YOU END THE NIGHT HALF CRAZY BECAUSE YOU’VE ONLY GOT HALF PAY
HALF THE TIME, HALF THE PICTURE THE OTHER HALF IS OUT OF REACH, LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS TORN IN HALF AND YOU ONLY HAVE HALF EACH
HALF A LOVE HE NEEDED SO JUST LEARNED HALF THE DANCE
BUT WHEN THIS HALF FOOL WAS HALF EMPTY HE JUST WANTED HALF A CHANCE,
BUT IN HALF AN HOUR HIS HALF LOVE WILL BE HALF A WORLD AWAY
AND HE THOUGHT FOR HALF A SECOND THAT HALF HER HEART WOULD STAY
HALF THE TIME, HALF THE PICTURE THE OTHER HALF IS OUT OF REACH, LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS TORN IN HALF AND YOU ONLY HAVE HALF EACH

MONEY FOR WAR

YOU DEAL WITH DEATH AND SORROW, GO HOME HAVING DONE YOUR BEST
NO FLAGS ARE WAVED NO BIG PARADES NO MEDALS ON YOUR CHEST
YOU GIVE IT ALL FROM DUSK TILL DAWN COME BACK AND GIVE SOME MORE
BUT NO-ONE SEES YOU, CRYING LYING CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR.

NO DRESS DOWN DAY IS WORTH THE PRICE YOU PAY AS THE BODIES PILE UP AT  THE DOOR
THEY CAN’T FIND A CENT FOR THAT HOSPITAL BED BUT THEY ALWAYS FIND MONEY FOR WAR

BUT WHERE ARE THE POLITICIANS, THE ONES YOU PROTECT AND SERVE
THE GREY SUITS HIDING IN THE SHADOWS, TAKING MORE THAN THEY DESERVE
THEY TELL YOU IT’S JUST BUSINESS, FOR A HOSPITAL BED OR A TANK
THEY DON’T CARE IF THERES WAR ON SOME FOREIGN SHORE. IF THE MONEY
POURS IN TO THEIR BANK

NO DRESS DOWN DAY IS WORTH THE PRICE YOU PAY AS THE BODIES PILE UP AT  THE DOOR
THEY CAN’T FIND A CENT FOR THAT HOSPITAL BED BUT THEY ALWAYS FIND MONEY FOR WAR

FRONT LINE HEROES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE
WITH THE TEARS AND THE DEATH AND THE VIOLENCE
DOWN ON THEIR KNEES SEARCHING FOR HOPE
LISTENING TO THE SOUND…
OF SIRENS.

NO DRESS DOWN DAY IS WORTH THE PRICE YOU PAY
AS THE BODIES PILE UP AT THE DOOR
THEY CAN’T FIND A DIME TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME
BUT THEY ALWAYS FIND MONEY FOR WAR
THEY CAN’T FIND A CENT FOR THAT HOSPITAL BED BUT THEY ALWAYS FIND  MONEY FOR WAR
THEY WONT GIVE ANY CHANGE TO PUT OUT THOSE FLAMES
BUT THEY ALWAYS WILL FIND MONEY FOR WAR
THEY ALWAYS FIND MONEY FOR WAR
THERES ALWAYS PLENTY OF MONEY FOR WAR

 THE EMPTY CHAIR

ON THE OLD CHAIR BY THE FIRE HE SPOKE OF JESUS AND OF GOD
BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE      WHICH ROAD YOU TRAVEL ON
JUST TREAT YOUR FELLOW MAN THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO TREAT YOU
AND IF YOU LIVE THIS WAY YOU REALLY CANT GO WRONG

FROM HIS CHAIR HE’D TELL US STORIES MAKE US LAUGH AND DRY OUR TEARS
PLAY HIS MUSIC TEACH US HOW TO SING ALONG
TALK WITH US AND LISTEN TO OUR WORRIES AND OUR FEARS
BUT ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING HE WAS GONE. 

THE OLD MAN WAS THE KINDEST THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN
AND I REGRET THE TIMES I DIDN’T SEEM TO CARE
THROUGH OUR TEENAGE YEARS HE MISSED US BUT HE NEVER LET IT SHOW
I LOOKED UP ONE DAY TO SEE…HE WASN’T THERE
JUST AN EMPTY CHAIR.
 

AND THE TIMES HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE MY FACE
AND NOW I WISH THAT I HAD TOLD THEM HOW MUCH THEIR VISITS MEAN
BUT THIS WORLD THEY’RE IN HAS TAKEN UP MY PLACE
IN THE EVENINGS AT THE WINDOW FROM A BATTERED LEATHER CHAIR
MY EYES SWITCH FROM THE STREET BACK TO THE PHONE.
BUT IT NEVER RINGS AND NO-ONE CALLS TO ASK ME HOW I AM
AND ONE DAY WITHOUT WARNING I’M ALONE

DID I TRY TO BE THE KINDEST MAN THAT CHILD COULD EVER KNOW
AND BE THERE WHEN THE WORLD JUST DIDN’T CARE
FOR SO MANY YEARS I’VE  MISSED THEM BUT I NEVER LET IT SHOW
WILL THEY LOOK UP ONE DAY TO SEE…..THAT I’M NOT THERE
JUST AN EMPTY CHAIR.

AMAZING DISGRACE

SOME WILL GO AND SOME WILL STAY SOME WILL FIGHT AND SOME WILL PRAY
SOME WILL HOPE AND SOME WONT CARE BUT SOME WILL BE NO LONGER THERE
PROMISES OF SAFER SKIES A PROMISED LAND WHERE NO-ONE CRIES
PROMISES THAT THEY NOW DENY IS IT JUST THE WAY THIS LAND LIES.

THEY DO EVERYTHING TO TAKE WHAT IS YOURS
THEN THEY SELL YOU THE RED WHITE AND BLUETHEY ASK YOU TO DIE FOR SOME CAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN
BUT DON’T DO WHAT THEY ASK YOU TO DO
THEY HIDE BEHIND WORDS LIKE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND COUNTRY AND FAITH
BUT THEY LEFT YOU TO STAND WITH A GUN IN YOUR HAND
KNEE DEEP IN AMAZING DISGRACE.

 DID YOU GO OR DID YOU STAY DID YOU FIGHT OR DID YOU PRAY
DID YOU HOPE OR DON’T YOU CARE THAT SOME WILL NO LONGER BE THERE
THEY PROMISED YOU SAFER SKIES THAT PROMISED LAND WHERE NO-ONE CRIES
PROMISES THEY NOW DENY YES IT JUST THE WAY THIS LAND LIES.

THEY DO EVERYTHING TO TAKE WHAT IS YOURS
THEN THEY SELL YOU THE RED WHITE AND BLUE
THEY ASK YOU TO DIE FOR SOME CAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN
BUT DON’T DO WHAT THEY ASK YOU TO DO
THEY HIDE BEHIND WORDS LIKE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND COUNTRY AND FAITH
NOW THEY TELL YOU TO STAND WITH THE BOOK IN YOUR HAND
SWORN TO AMAZING DISGRACE

 TELL THE TRUTH AND YOU DON’T NEED A GOOD MEMORY
WHEN YOU’RE WALKING THE PATH OF THE WISE
DON’T LISTEN TO WHATS COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS
BUT LOOK WHAT COMES OUT OF THEIR EYES 

THEY DO EVERYTHING TO TAKE WHAT IS YOURS
THEN THEY  SELL YOU THE RED WHITE AND BLUE
THEY ASK YOU TO DIE FOR SOME CAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN
BUT DON’T DO WHAT THEY ASK YOU TO DO
THEY HIDE BEHIND WORDS LIKE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND COUNTRY AND FAITH
BUT THEY LEFT YOU TO STAND WITH THAT GUN IN YOUR HAND
KNEE DEEP IN AMAZING DISGRACE
KNEE DEEP IN AMAZING DISGRACE
SWORN TO AMAZING DISGRACE

THE GOLDEN CALF 

ITS 4AM  IN VEGAS BUT NO-ONE’S  GOING HOME
AND THEIR PRAYING TO THE GOLDEN CALF FOR LUCK
BUT THERE IS NO GOLDEN NUGGET THE GOLDEN SANDS ARE RUNNING OUT
IN THE TOWN WHERE NO ONE GIVES A BUCK

A JACK, A QUEEN, A KING, AN ACE, WE JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND
TO PAY THEM BACK IN SPADES WON’T MAKE IT RIGHT
SO YOU CROSS THAT BRIDGE AND TAKE ONE FINAL BET AGAINST THE ODDS
FOR A HEART THAT HOLDS A DIAMOND IN THE NIGHT.

THE DEVIL SOMETIMES DEALS THE CARDS BUT WE CHOOSE WHICH ONES TO PLAY
AS WE SHUFFLE WITH THE PACK FROM THE CLUBS IN TO THE COLD
THE JOKER MAKES US LAUGH SOMETIMES WHEN WE THINK WE’VE LOST OUR WAY
BUT IT SUITS WHEN THERES NO BETTER HAND TO HOLD.

A JACK, A QUEEN, A KING, AN ACE, WE JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND
TO PAY THEM BACK IN SPADES WON’T MAKE IT RIGHT
SO YOU CROSS THAT BRIDGE AND TAKE ONE FINAL BET AGAINST THE ODDS
FOR A HEART THAT HOLDS A DIAMOND IN THE NIGHT.

YOU ROLL THE DICE AND YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCE EVERY SINGLE DAY
AND HOPE LADY LUCK WILL CROSS THAT FINISH LINE
BUT SHE TAKES YOUR CASH AND SMILES AS SHE SENDS YOU ON YOUR WAY
AND PROMISES YOU’LL WIN IT BACK NEXT TIME.

A JACK, A QUEEN, A KING, AN ACE, WE JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND
TO PAY THEM BACK IN SPADES WON’T MAKE IT RIGHT
SO YOU CROSS THAT BRIDGE AND TAKE ONE FINAL BET AGAINST THE ODDS
FOR A HEART THAT HOLDS A DIAMOND IN THE NIGHT.

NOTHING MUCH TO SAY

I WORK ON THE PRODUCTION LINE IN A FACTORY DOWNTOWN
WHERE WE TRY TO WRITE HIT RECORDS BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN
JUST NUMBER ONES IS ALL THEY WANT AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS GOLD
THEN SOME WELL KNOWN STAR PUTS THEIR NAME ON IT
BEFORE A SINGLE ONE IS SOLD
FROM 8 TO 10 I’M WITH KATE AND BEN ON A HIT FOR SOME NEW STAR
THEN 11 TO 12 WITH JOHNNY JOE AND CHARLENE AND HER PA
A JOBS A JOB, BUT THE MONEY SUCKS AND THE SATISFACTIONS LOW
A LOVE SONG BY COMMITTEE ITS AS LOW AS YOU CAN GO

THERES NO HEART OR SOUL IN THE COUNTRY THAT THEY’RE SELLING US TODAY
SONGS WRITTEN BY A PROCESS PLANT DON’T INSPIRE IN ANY WAY
NOW THE MAN IN BLACK WEARS A BASEBALL CAP AS HE GOES TO THE GYM EACH DAY.
HE’S GOT HIS NAME ON A MILLION HIT RECORDS  THAT HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO SAY.

SO I WRITE THE WORDS THEY ASK FOR AND THAT HOOK LINE ONE MORE TIME
AND THEY TELL THE WORLD THEY WROTE IT LIKE THE SONG WAS NEVER MINE
BUT TONIGHT AT HOME I’LL WRITE A SONG THAT WOULD MAKE A HARD MAN CRY
BUT NO ONE GETS TO HEAR IT AND IT MAKES ME WONDER WHY
I WORK ON THIS PRODUCTION LINE IS IT PURELY FOR THE CASH
JUST A BIG MACHINE THATS COLD AND CLEAN RECYCLING MORE TRASH
REPLACE CHRIS LE DOUX WITH NOTHING NEW AND CASHVILLE’S IN A MESS
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BEAR YOUR SOUL THESE DAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO BEAR YOUR CHEST

THERES NO HEART OR SOUL IN THE COUNTRY THAT THEY’RE SELLING US TODAY
SONGS WRITTEN BY A PROCESS PLANT DON’T INSPIRE IN ANY WAY
NOW THE MAN IN BLACK WEARS A BASEBALL CAP AS HE GOES TO THE GYM EACH DAY.
HE’S GOT HIS NAME ON A MILLION HIT RECORDS THAT HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO SAY

BRIDGE
WHEN A KID PICKS UP A GUITAR OR A DRUM OR STARTS TO SING
HE’S NOT LOOKING TO BE FAMOUS HE’S JUST LOOKING TO FIT IN
WITH A BUNCH OF GUYS WHO WILL BE THERE
AND ARE PROUD TO KNOW HIS NAME
IT’S THE MUSIC AND THE FRIENDSHIP, IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE FAME

THERES NO HEART OR SOUL IN THE COUNTRY THAT THEY’RE SELLING US TODAY
SONGS WRITTEN BY A PROCESS PLANT DON’T INSPIRE IN ANY WAY
NOW THE MAN IN BLACK WEARS A BASEBALL CAP AS HE GOES TO THE GYM EACH DAY.
HE’S GOT HIS NAME ON A MILLION HIT RECORDS THAT HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO SAY
AND HE’S PROUD OF THOSE HIT RECORDS THAT HAVE NOTHING MUCH TO SAY

DARK DAYS 

HIS MOOD WAS DARKER THAN A FUNERAL SUIT ON A WET NOVEMBER MORNING
BETRAYAL ON A MAJOR SCALE HE WOULD STRIKE BACK WITHOUT WARNING
IT WAS THE ROAD THAT HE HAD CHOSEN THOUGH HE NEVER HAD A SAY
WILD HORSES IN HER UNSTABLE MIND HAD BROUGHT HIM TO THIS DAY

AND THESE ARE DARK DAYS,  DAYS OF THUNDER, WIND AND RAIN
DARK DAYS,  DAYS OF HUNGER SIN AND PAIN,
HARD TIMES THAT CAN DRIVE A MAN INSANE
THESE ARE DARK DARK DAYS

AN EYE FOR AN EYE A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH, IT HAD TO BE THAT WAY
BUT SENSE IS NEVER COMMON WHEN YOU MUST HAVE THE FINAL SAY
AND IF HE TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK IT WOULD BE A CURSE
MORE THAN A BLESSING
SO HE DREW FIRST BLOOD AND TAUGHT THEM WELL, A  HARD AND FINAL LESSON

AND THESE ARE DARK DAYS,  DAYS OF THUNDER, WIND AND RAIN
DARK DAYS,  DAYS OF HUNGER SIN AND PAIN,
HARD TIMES THAT CAN DRIVE A MAN INSANE
THESE ARE DARK DARK DAYS

SHE USED TO QUOTE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND THE LESSONS THAT THEY TAUGHT
THE ONLY ONE SHE STILL REMEMBERS IS THOU SHALT NOT GET CAUGHT
AND YOU MUST LEARN TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR SHE HEARD THE PREACHER SAY
BUT CREEPING IN AGAIN AT 4AM….GOD DIDN’T MEAN THAT WAY

AND THESE ARE DARK DAYS,  DAYS OF THUNDER, WIND AND RAIN
DARK DAYS  DAYS OF HUNGER SIN AND PAIN,
THESE ARE HARD TIMES THAT WILL DRIVE A MAN INSANE
THESE ARE DARK.  DARK DAYS

 

MAYBE YOU SHOULD

YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD APOLOGISE BUT SOMEHOW YOU JUST COULDN’T
AND ITS EASY JUST TO WALK AWAY WHEN YOU REALLY KNOW YOU SHOULDN’T
AND ONCE AGAIN THAT FOOLISH PRIDE ISN'T DOING YOU ANY GOOD
SO IF YOU STILL HAVEN’T SAID IM SORRY
THEN… MAYBE YOU SHOULD 

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK IN THAT MIRROR
MAYBE YOU SHOULD SAY THE WORDS YOU DIDN’T TELL HER
MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE THE MAN YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD
AND IF YOU DIDN’T DO THE VERY BEST YOU COULD
THEN  MAYBE YOU SHOULD
 

DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK ABOUT THE RULES YOUR LAYING DOWN
BUT IT NEVER STOPPED YOU DRINKING WHEN THE BOYS WERE  BACK IN TOWN
DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN YOU COULD
THEN… MAYBE YOU SHOULD

TREAT HER RIGHT SHOW HER LOVE AND YOU WONT HAVE TO WORRY
IF YOU NEED TO HAVE THE LAST WORD THEN TELL HER THAT YOU’RE SORRY
SHE GAVE HER HEART SHE GAVE HER LOVE ANF NOW ITS UP  TO YOU
BUT IF YOU STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK IN THAT MIRROR
MAYBE YOU SHOULD SAY THE WORDS YOU DIDN’T TELL HER
MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE THE MAN YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD
AND IF YOU DIDN’T DO THE VERY BEST YOU COULD
THEN  MAYBE YOU SHOULD
THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD
THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD

 

THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD

(Copyright Michael McMillan and Tim Black 2021)

SHE WATCHED HER SON RISE EVERY MORNING
A SON SET IN HIS FATHERS WAYS
AN ANGEL WITH THE DEVILS HANDS A FIGHTER ALL HIS DAYS
SHE WAITS BESIDE THE WINDOW BUT DEEP INSIDE HER HEART SHE KNOWS
HE’S SEARCHING FOR SALVATION SOMEWHERE ON THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD

SHE PRAYED THE LORD WOULD KEEP HIM
BRING HIM PEACE KEEP HIM SAFE BRING HIM HOME
LET HIM KNOW HE WASN’T FACING EVERY SINGLE BATTLE ON HIS OWN
HE ALWAYS TOLD HER THAT HE LOVED HER THAT HE WAS FINE
BUT IN HIS EYES THE SADNESS  SHOWED
NOW HE’S REACHING FOR REDEMPTION
SOMEWHERE ON THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD

BUT A WAR DOES NOT DETERMINE WHO IS RIGHT…JUST WHO IS LEFT
WHO THE WINNERS OR THE LOSERS ARE IS ANYBODY’S GUESS
HE HAD HEARD A PREACHER SAYING SON LET JESUS SHARE YOUR LOAD
BUT HE CANT REMEMBER SEEING HIM ON THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD

SHE WATCHED HER SON RISE EVERY MORNING A SON SET IN HIS FATHERS WAYS
AN ANGEL WITH THE DEVILS HANDS A FIGHTER ALL HIS DAYS
NOW HE WAITS BESIDE THE WINDOW BUT DEEP INSIDE HER HEART SHEW KNOWS
THAT ONE DAY HE’LL FIND FORGIVENESS SOMEWHERE ON THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD
AND SHE PRAYS HE’LL FIND FORGIVENESS SOMEWHERE ON THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD