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1. |
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Verse 1:
Somebody loved that old truck,
Lyin’ in the woods half rotten
Somebody loved that old truck,
Now they’re lyin’ dead forgotten
Chorus:
If I could be at home,
be at home runnin’ free
If I could be at home runnin’ free
Where somebody loved me
Where somebody loved me
Verse 2:
Somebody loved that old dog
Now the old dog’s dead and gone
Somebody loved that old dog
And they play that old dog a song
Chorus:
If I could be at home,
be at home runnin’ free
If I could be at home runnin’ free
Where somebody loved me
Where somebody loved me
Verse 3:
Momma poppa, they’ve both died
they’ve got graves up on the hillside
I like to rest there sometimes in my mind
With my memories
Verse 4:
This all we’re ever gonna have
This is all we’re ever gonna find
This is all we’re ever gonna see
And it’s comin’ on closin’ time
It’s comin’ on closin’ time
Chorus:
If I could be at home,
be at home runnin’ free
If I could be at home runnin’ free
Where somebody loved me
Where somebody loved me
Verse 5:
Somebody loved that old house
Now the roof’s been all caved in
Somebody loved that old house and they
Never will again
Chorus:
If I could be at home,
be at home runnin’ free
If I could be at home runnin’ free
Where somebody loved me
Where somebody loved me
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2. |
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Verse 1:
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody had a quirk
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody was aaaa jerk
It’s a shame we never got to know him
Before he went berserk
Verse 2:
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody wore a smirk
At the tomb of the unknown artist
and they were piling’ on dirt
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody wore a smirk
...
And they were piling’ on dirt
Verse 3:
At the tomb of the unknown artist
They rolled out a giant garbage can
They said please don’t let this affect
your opimion of the man
At the tomb of the unknown artist
She pulled down her pants
It’s a shame he never got to know her
Before she got implants
and everybody danced
Verse 4:
And everybody danced on the grave
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody danced on the grave
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Screwballs stood in line
With absolutely no percentage
left in their screwball mind
Verse 5:
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Nitwits looked askance
It’s a shame he never got to know her
before she pulled down her pants
And everybody danced
...And everybody danced
At the tomb of the unknown artist
Everybody danced on the grave
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3. |
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Verse 1:
Don’t rush me, there ain’t no place to get to,
Don’t rush me, my bodies all been bitten through
Don’t rush me, don’t try to make me stay in line...
Glad o been’ left behind
Verse 2:
Don’t rush me, the reason I had you over
Don’t rush me, I’m lying’ in the clover
Don’t rush me, know I’m eeling’ overtired...
Maybe I’m just overtired
Bridge:
Drown me, baby, drown my sorrow,
Round me, there’s a cold tomorrow,
Push or steal beg or borrow
I..gonna take my time!
Verse 3:
Don’t rush me, you ]can’t save up the good days,
Don’t rush me, given up on big plays,
Don’t rush me, I Got a lot of mysteries I..never gonna find
Verse 4:
Don’t rush me, don’t hang me by the neck,
Don’t rush me, I won’t be coming’ back,
Don’t rush me, there’s nothin’ I expect to ]find...
Hangin’ round at closing’ time
Bridge:
Drown me, baby, drown my sorrow,
Round me, there’s a cold tomorrow,
Push or steal beg or borrow
I..gonna take my time!
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4. |
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Verse 1:
She’s a great guitar, she’s got a real nice neckD
I picked her up, I can’t put her back
She’s a great guitar, she’s got a sweet sweet sound
Gonna bring her along with me when I ramble ’round
Chorus 1:
The old lady says “man, you don’t need another axe
You got bills to pay, you got no income tax
Dammit this time you’ve gone to far”
But I don’t care! She’s a great guitar!
Verse 2:
She’s a great guitar listen to her sing
She’s got those bass notes, and the high end ring
She’s a great guitar, she’s got a sweet sweet sound
Gonna bring her along with me when I ramble ‘round
Chorus 2:
“Good afternoon, ma’am, this is Bob down at the Guitar Center,
We got an old Gibson come in here your husband’s just gonna love”
“Well thanks for callin’, Bob, I’ll be sure to tell him.”
.........................................................
verse 3:
“He’s got a 335, he’s got Hummingbird,
Got an old SJ, this is my final word.
Gonna be a star at the corner bar”
And I don’t care! She’s a great guitar!
Half Verse:
“Hey honey I’m home, anybody call today?”
“No.”, ”Well, oh, okay.”
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5. |
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Verse 1:
Forty acres we did row across the Forty Acre shoals
We were singing river songs, searching’ for the muskelunge
Row Forty Acres row 2X
Verse 2:
We were singing river songs, Searching’ for the muskelunge
Row Forty Acres row 2X
Verse 3:
It was Forty Acres I dreamed all night, of this mornin’ comin’ bright
Silver spoons dropping’ down, trollin’ for the muskelunge
Row forty acres row 2X
Verse 4:
If spray and water is all I am, out here I”m a happy man
See how my life has gone, driven by the muskelunge
Row Forty Acres row 2X
Verse 5:
It was daybreak when she struck and then we ran the white flag up
Row forty acres row 2X
She was a brave one strong one true and all my life I wanted you
Row forty acres row 2X
Verse 5:
See how my life has gone, driven by the muskelunge
Row forty acres row 2X
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6. |
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Verse 1:
Chippewa Bay is part of me, part of eternity
in a painted scene.
And though I’ve traveled west, the places long the best
to return and dream
Chorus:
In my North Country home I never felt alone
Birds and trees and memories and the places I’ve grown
to kno-o-o-ow
I was raised up where the great north river rolls....
At the [endin’ of a perfect day,
the Cobalt blue turns grey
... Off Chippewa Bay
Off Chippewa Bay]
Off Chippewa Bay
Verse 2:
Chippewa Bay and the Northern Light And the stars of a summer night
...The rainbow’s end
In my Rushton canoe I paddle the current through
The river bend
Chorus:
In my North Country home I never felt alone
Birds and trees and memories and the places I’ve grown
to kno-o-o-ow
I was raised up where the great north river rolls....
At the [endin’ of a perfect day,
the Cobalt blue turns grey
... Off Chippewa Bay
Off Chippewa Bay]
Off Chippewa Bay
The Cobalt blue turns grey
... Off Chippewa Bay
Off Chippewa Bay]
Off Chippewa Bay
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7. |
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Verse 1:
If I had my way, I’d swim to the bottom
I’d take to the river like a diving duck
Not a swimmer, I know, I know, I know, I’ve not forgotten
But I don’t care anymore because I’m river struck
Verse 2:
River struck in the the morning or, more like early afternoon
River struck in the evening when I’m more or less in tune
But I don’t worry, I don’t worry, about feelin’ down on my luck!
There’s a big river out there rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
and I’m river struck, I’m river struck
Verse 3:
River struck, there’s no where and no real rules of my own
River struck, there’s no where and no real way back home
Hey I don’t worry, I don’t worry about feelin’ down on my luck!
There’s a big river out there rollin’, rollin’,
and I’m river struck
I’m river struck
Verse 4:
River struck, on a windy blue sailboat afternoon,
River struck, by the white clouds high above me and you,
I don’t worry, I don’t worry about feelin’ down on my luck!
There’s a big river out there rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
and I’m river struck
I’m river struck
There’s a big river out there rollin’, rollin’, rollin’,
and I’m river struck
I’m river struck
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8. |
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Chorus:
Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road, Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road
It’s started out small and out it growed
We’re goin’ after the big one, Woody!
Verse 1:
Woody’s got worms, Woody’s got leeches, Crab stew in his breeches,
Naw, not really! Woody’s got worms,
We’re goin’ after the big one! Woody!
Woody’s Live Bait is certified, You won’t need no fishing’ guide,
Woody’s a hero in the great outside
Woody’s got wrigglers, Woody’s got crawlers, Canned feeds for all you sprawlers,
You’ll be glad you stepped inside
Chorus:
Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road, Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road
It’s started out small and out it growed
We’re goin’ after the big one, Woody!
Verse 2:
Now Woody’s got 2 dogs, they both is black, Woody’s got 2 dogs, they both is black,
Them two dogs, they got Woody’s back,
They’re a couple of good dogs! Woody!
Woody’s Live Bait is not dead, They’ll be wiggling’ and well fed,
Woody’s live bait won’t die in worm beds,
Woody’s got worms big and trials He fills his hands and he smiles
Woody’s messing’ with your head
Chorus:
Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road, Woody’s Bait and Tackle by the side of the road
It’s started out small and out it growed
We’re goin’ after the big one, Woody!
Outro:
Mommy that man smells like a fish, Mommy that man smells like a fish
That’s because Woody’s in fisherman gear
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9. |
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Verse 1:
It was hard to tell when the nighttime fell and the moonlight came
Came across dark water and called my name
Chorus:
Where did all the years go? Shooting stars underneath the sky
And I...standing by
Do I dream, do I dare to try?
She said keep trying trying maybe soon you’ll get it right
She said keep trying trying maybe soon... .. .. . you’ll get it right
It’s all mixed up in the living sky at night
It’s all mixed up in the look of the sky at night
It’s all mixed up in the look of the sky at night
Verse 2:
When the river flows indigo in the afterglow
We pondered answers nobody knows
Chorus:
Where did all the years go? Shooting stars underneath the sky
And I...standing by
Do I dream, do I dare to try?
She said keep trying trying maybe soon you’ll get it right
She said keep trying trying maybe soon... .. .. . you’ll get it right
It’s all mixed up in the living sky at night
It’s all mixed up in the look of the sky at night
It’s all mixed up in the look of the sky at night
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10. |
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We Rule The The River
Verse 1:
When the sunlight fades We rule the river,
Lit by starlight, We’ll be coming’ round
When the sunlight fades , We rule the river,
Rum runnin’ to a border town
Chorus:
We rule the river, til we drown
We rule the river, til we d-r-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w-n
We rule the river,
Verse 2:
Ride with me now , My soul is approaching
the far shore as the moon goes down
Ride with me now The stars are exploding,
Rum runnin’, to a border town
Chorus:
We rule the river, til we drown
We rule the river, til we d-r-o-o-o-o-o--o-w-n
We rule the river,
Verse 3:
Come steer me home We’ll be silhouettes slipping’ round
Dark islands , just toward dawn
Come steer me home, And we’ll live or we’ll die here,
Rum runnin’, to a border town
Chorus:
We rule the river, til we drown
We rule the river, til we d-r-o-o-o-o-o--o-w-n
We rule the river,
2X
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11. |
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12. |
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Verse 1:
Did you see that star...shinin’ across the river
Consider that star’s been shinin’ since this old world’s been young
And did you hear those melodies ... From the pond beyond the willow trees?
It sounds just like springtime’s comin’ home
Chorus:
I heard a North Country song, Carried on a west wind
Bringing summer, and I remember when the white snow had no end
I heard a North Country song ... it had waited all winter long
to be sung when the ice flows down and the green grass grows again
Verse 2:
Did you see those white flowers, newly growin’,
Showin’ off their color, along the pathway to the well?
And did you ever mind those years we left behind us
Springtime rose, as the evenin’ shadows fell
Chorus:
I heard a North Country song, Carried on a west wind, Bringing summer,
and I remember when the white snow had no end
I heard a North Country song ... it had waited all winter long to be sung
when the ice flows down and the green grass grows again
Verse 3:
Did you see them black crows...in the hemlocks
They been calling’ to each other now the snow is finally gone
And did you hear them voices risin’ ... from the backwoods harmonizin’
It sounds like springtime ... coming’ home
Chorus:
I heard a North Country song, Carried on a west wind, Bringing summer,
and I remember when the white snow had no end
I heard a North Country song ... it had waited all winter long to be sung
when the ice flows down and the green grass grows again
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John Elwood Cook was my neighbor growing up on Wellesley Island on the Saint Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands Region on the NY side of the border with Canada. He passed away a short while ago but left a rich wake of artistic accomplishments behind him between his mastery of the visual arts and painting and his carefully guarded wealth of songwriting. He was an inspiration to me in pursuing my studies as a painter and as a guitar picker, and he left some great songs behind.
There is regional flavor to a lot of the music that comes from the Thousand Islands that is as distinctive as the flavor of music from the Mississippi River that is probably a consequence of being surrounded by the flowing water as a highway to and from the heartland, and John's music has a strong helping of that. I've tried to capture the original feeling but did take some liberties, some intentional and other not so much.
All these songs were written by John and I pretty much learned them by ear from the few youtube recordings and other stray audio that I could find on the web. Some of the arrangements stray far from the original but I have tried to get to the heart of the songs and interpret them the best I can. John was a creative individual and he had mildly pitched to me, on the rare afternoon when he'd stop by camp to shoot the shit with me, some of the roadhouse sort of songs that he had in his bag as perhaps being appropriate for the americana-flavored rock band I played with the past 10 years to play. So I think he would be okay begrudgingly with the ones I maybe interpreted more creatively.
Some rights reserved. Please refer to individual track pages for license info.
