Virgin Guitar

I’m awake and I’m crazy, in the past I was doomed
And I can’t think of anything to describe what I do
It’s just the last breath, catching the next breath I suppose
My heart is aimless, this much I know

They gave me this virgin guitar, you ain’t got no songs
And I’ve no one to sing to, but I’ll keep pressing on
I ain’t your first choice, you ain’t my first choice, I know
But I’ll be your lone voice, my darkness you’ll absorb

The water is deep, child, and the river is long
And I’ll lay my head here, but I won’t call it home
You want a journey, I’m on a journey with no
No destination, we’re on our own

Oh why do I worry, I’m supposed to be lost
Like some floating ember, at a brand new Pentecost
We need the bad things, to make the good things, I know
I hear them singing, no rain, no rose

Broken

Well your mama knows and she sends off a prayer to Jesus
Yeah your mama knows and she sends off a prayer to Jesus
And the pretty women know, but they don’t wanna pick up the pieces
When you’re broken, when you’re broken

Well your daddy knows and he says this too shall pass
Yeah your daddy knows and he says this too shall pass
But you wake up in the morning trying hard not too look back
When you’re broken, when you’re broken

Well the highway knows and it tries to warm your skin
Yeah the highway knows and it tries to warm your skin
And your guitar knows, tries to put you back together again
When you’re broken, when you’re broken

Highway Blood

I hate the morning for every possible reason,
Except for the chance I get to try again
They might say I was betrayed by the kindest season
Oh but autumn, I don’t believe a word they’ve said

Find me, find me, oh I’ve been staring at the stars
Not trying to name ‘em, not trying to blame ‘em
Ain’t got no judgment anymore

When I bleed, I bleed on this highway
So darling, you will know that I’ve been here
And you can plainly see how I survived
So you shouldn’t have any fear

It’s my blood, it’s the same blood that I spilled for you
Don’t deny it, it comes from the inside, and the inside always tells the truth

I’ve been smoking with my boyfriend, we’ve been talking bout his girlfriend
We’ve been saying, love is always touch and go
I tell him I miss you, like a little fire
Misses warming someone as it tries to grow

One more time, one more time, rub your face against my face
Mix our tears, let ‘em smear, one last honest exchange

Rough Johns

Take me to your heaven don’t you leave me this way
I’ve been mumbling like a fool I don’t know what to say
I go on and on, I go on and on
I’ve been kissing your lips, I’ve been kissing your eyes
I’ve been licking your scars, honey I don’t mind
You’ve had some rough johns, you’ve had some rough johns

But I ain’t making no judgments, I ain’t keeping no score
How many times will you let me until you don’t let me no more

Out of Tennessee don’t you know what it’s for
Them boys been calling your name they’ve been kicking your door
They just can’t get enough, they just can’t get enough
You and me we got these bandages from where we been
We’ll just lie right here grow some brand new skin
We’ll heal it all up, we’ll heal it all up

Can’t make it back to your bed, we’ll pass out right on the floor
How many times will you let me until you don’t let me no more

I’ve been chasing the soft ones they’ve been keeping me warm
My dream girl lost a bunch of weight she ain’t my dream girl no more
I need what I need, I need what I need
I’ve been crawling towards you, I’ve been making mistakes
You with all them curves me without no brakes
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me

I’ve been biting your neck, trying to silence my roar
How many times will you let me until you don’t let me no more

Savannah

I’ve been wandering through the valley
I’ve been singing through all my broken songs
I’ve been nailing all the endings
Especially the parts that I used to get wrong
Just like waves falling backwards, just like devils going straight
I ain’t saying that I’m leaving, all I know is that I’m coming home late

Oh, oh, oh, Savannah, oh my child
They might say that I can’t handle ya, but don’t you know they lie

I’ve been stretching across this country,
Been adding to the storm with every breath
And it’s the darkest that it’s ever been,
But we both know that means I’m at my best
Just like sharks swimming backwards, just like angels raising hell
I’m all alone in the desert, trying to remember all the words to your spell

Oh, oh, oh, Savannah, oh my dear
They might say that I can’t handle ya, oh but they ain’t here

Bucket List Grandmas

I slept through the earthquake that leveled this town
I won’t sleep through the next one I’m wide awake now
And all the drugs in this world couldn’t calm me down
All the girls in this city couldn’t turn me around
Except for this one chick, she knows who she is,
She got me speaking in tongues every time we kiss
But I ain’t ready for her, she ain’t ready for me
We’ll meet back up when we’re old when there ain’t nothing left to see

(chorus)
I weep when I’m alone, I smile through the rest
I laugh cause I know the truth, Every light is surrounded by darkness

I stole a bunch of shit from ol’ Blaze Foley
He’s dead now and I’m all alone
I’ve been listening to Donovan they’re kicking my ass
I’ve been singing to these hipsters, they ain’t singing back
I’d love to tell you all the things I’ve seen,
But the truth is something that you never could believe
And I ain’t gonna be there when you die
I’ll be holding up the candle to god’s bloodshot eyes

(chorus)

Y’all got your groupies they hang and they linger
I’ve got bucket list grandmas and young male folk singers
They’re asking me questions trying to get some gigs
I say, don’t be in such a hurry to lose everything
Cause I binged last night and I’m starving today
In this goddamned job there ain’t no consistency

(chorus)
If you see my mama don’t tell her I’m this skinny
If you see my mama don’t tell her bout my fall
If you see my mama maybe the best thing
Is to not tell my mama that you saw me at all
If the cancer don’t kill us then the texting will
Trying to dial in a bone driving off some cliff
(chorus)

Michael Collins

I was born on Halloween, in Roma, Italy
Just another white boy staring at the stars
And when I turned 39 me and the boys we hit the sky
And headed where they’d never been before

(chorus)
One small step for man, Jesus, Goddamn
22 hours hanging in the air
Sometimes you take the fame, sometimes you sit backstage
But if it weren’t for me them boys would still be there

When it came time to land, them boys they shook my hand
They said, “we’ll call you up when we need a ride”
They went down to the ground, and I floated around
With all them stars still twinkling in my eyes

(chorus)

Now the history books will write about that fateful night
Them two fellas dancing on the moon
But they won’t say nothing bout me, waiting patiently
To bring them boys safely back home to you

(chorus)

Live With Less

I’ve been trying hard to live with less
I’ve been trying hard to live with less
Seems the more that lose, the easier that I move
And I ain’t never ever felt so blessed

This city she’s been holding me
I’ve got roses and stumps in my dreams
She gave me a place where I can escape
She takes the time to tend to me

I love it when my neighbor gets high
I love it when my neighbor gets high
She picks up her guitar, I can hear it through the walls
She sounds just like a butterfly

I believe this storm will move on
I can see y’all been rained upon
Yeah you’re just like me, soaking wet and set free
With endless paths to walk along

I’ve been trying hard to live with less
I’ve been trying hard to live with less
Seems the more that lose, the easier that I move
And I ain’t never ever been so blessed

Light Has Dimmed

We’ve been running away, but we ain’t got the chops
To hide our hearts away, even after all that we’ve lost
So we’re coming in, wiser than sin,
Easier than my ancestors sneaking into heaven

Natalie, why you been calling on me
Oh maybe your light has dimmed, maybe your light has dimmed
Maybe, I only got one specialty
So tell me your light has dimmed, tell me your light has dimmed

We’ve both been deceived, yeah these wounds are deep
And time takes it’s sweet ass time no doubt
And they all want my blood but I ain’t giving it up
Honey I don’t know when it’s ever gonna stop
Cause I don’t need no drama and it don’t need me
And I would disappear if it kept you free
Oh but that ain’t what you want

So we’ll just come in tune, like we always do
Effortlessly and true, as real as I’ve known
And it’s a goddamned shame, or it’s the sweetest thing
Oh it’s anybody’s guess, darlin’ ain’t nobody told me yet

Natalie, why you keep calling on me
Oh maybe your light has dimmed, maybe your light has dimmed
Maybe, I only got one specialty
So tell me your light has dimmed, tell me your light has dimmed

I Am California

You try to drown your sorrows, you shouldn’t taught them how to swim
Now you are right back where you began
Winter skies approaching, all alone in the wasteland
Alone is the only way that they let you in

(chorus)
So drink all my wine, cut all my trees
Make love on my beaches, smoke all my weed
I am California, can’t you see
Wherever you roam, you’ll always want me

We struggle with our lovers, we don’t know what to let in
Cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins
Blinded by your shadows, faded on your love
You don’t know how deep you are, till you get pulled back up

(chorus)
Dig all my gold, soak in my springs
Conquer my mountains if that’s what you need
I am California, can’t you see
Wherever you roam, you’ll always want me
You’ll always want me, you’ll always want me, you’ll always want me

All the Salt

I’m through with all this practicing I’m done with this rehearsing
There’s so much I want to leave behind
Some will turn to dust, some will go to rust
And I guess some things will be just fine

I took my phone I skipped it like a stone
Across the river that runs past your house
I guess some things you can’t look up on that little screen
Something’s you got to figure out for yourself

(chorus)
If you come with me all your sorrows will be
As far away as they were when you were young
And if you cross this sea all the salt you will need
Will be in the palm of your hand
And all the things that you thought that you needed
Will be right back where you left them when you get home

They’ll be sunrise in the hills, wild horses in the fields
All the blackberries will be washed off with the rain
I don’t mean to over sell it, all the highs and lows will tell it
But you must admit it’s time for a change

(chorus)

When they told me I would fail, I did not believe them
My disbelief has been my greatest gift
When you’re born a pinky with no road before you
Then your choices are infinite
Yes and you’ll be fine as long as you don’t believe the myth
That a rolling stone gathers no moss, we gather everything
Don’t ask me to explain I do not know
I was not born to walk away but I was born to know when to let go

I never asked for their forgiveness, I never needed their acceptance
Their judgment is their’s and their’s alone
I just hope that they have fun, doing all that they are doing
I won’t be around to see how it goes
(chorus)