The Glow

Going to The Shawnee Rodeo

Silver Jack

The Leppy

Fill up those Glasses, Bartender

THE GLOW
text:Bill Simpson, music: L. Paalgard

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?

From the bright amber coals
To where the blue flame rolls,
The glow is sure there,
And it will draw your stare.

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?

Men set deathly quiet for hours
While the red flame flowers
Without a thought in their head,
Like their mind has gone dead.

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?

No want and no care,
It will just hold you there
In a blank state of mind
With nothing to find.

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?

Well, the poppin’ and the crackin’
Goes on unobserved,
It’s for sure the flames
That hold you so re-served.

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?

The flames are leapin’ and reachin’
And tryin’ to find
A way to penetrate
All through man’s sim-ple mind.

What’s in a fire that pulls a man’s desire
To stare a hard gaze at a campfire blaze?
What’s in a fire?



GOING TO THE SHAWNEE RODEO
Text:Don Bell, music: L. Paalgard

I was fightin’ this Modell T through the Oklahoma clay
The kids all squallin’, God what a day
Had it in low gear, revved up damn tight
Them magneto lamps gave a bright light
She wouldn’t take high, so I kept her in low
I had seven kids and this Indian wife.
Headin’ for Shawnee, to a darn rodeo
I was young and I thought this is life.

I was mad as all hell, guess you can see
No matter how long the river, the river will reach the sea

I stopped at a bootleggers, bought some home brew
My woman didn’t like it, but said it would do
She’s already drunk, and I was gettin’ tight
Still had her in low, going through the night
The kids ate bologna and right damn quick
three was pukin’, and the rest pretty sick.
The old Ford was a missin’, hittin’ on three
I stopped in the mud and let all the kids pee

I was mad as all hell, guess you can see
No matter how long the river, the river will reach the sea

The old lady was drunk, wearing silly grin
We better stopp soon, and get a jug o’ corn
I had side-curtains on but the wind blew in
’Cause I’m getting drunk shor’n your born
The Ford was a-missin’, she jumped and bucked
I told you damn plain, we shouldn’t go
I was fingerin’ them coils, a couple was stuck
Plumb to Shawnee, to the rodeo
She got to hittin’ pretty good and after a time
we plowed on through the red clay and slime

I was mad as all hell, guess you can see
No matter how long the river, the river will reach the sea

I had the Ford shod up on four new Fisk - Thiry by three, about the size of your wrist
Them new tiers wasen’t any worry - Hunting the highway so we could hurry
We rolled into Shawnee, it was just getting’ light
This tribe of Okies was a hell of a sight
The fat, drunk squaw, and all the sick kids
and me so damn nervous, a-bout to blow my lid

I was mad as all hell, guess you can see
No matter how long the river, the river will reach the sea

I met an old pal, he loand me a five - Fed all the kids, lucky alive
I had to give the squaw a slap in the face - A drunk Indian squaw is a plum disgrace
The kids drang a pop, the squaw drank a quart
Threw back her head and took a big snort
I won twelve bucks, still don’t know where it went
When we got back home, I didn’t have a cent

I was mad as all hell, guess you can see
No matter how long the river, the river will reach the sea



SILVER JACK
Text: Anonymous, music: Helge Salemonsen

I was on the drive in eighty working under Silver Jack
Which the same is now in Jackson and ain’t soon be coming back
’Twas a fellow there amongst us with the name of Robert Waite
Kind of cute and smart and tonguey. Guess he was graduate

Kind of cute and smart and tonguey. Guess he was graduate

He could talk of any subject from the Bible down to Hoyle,
And his words flowed out so easy just as smooth and slick as oil.
He was what they call a sceptic and he loved to sit and weave
Highfalutin’ words together tellin’ what he didn’t believe

Highfalutin’ words together tellin’ what he didn’t believe

One day we all were sittin’ round - smokin’ nigger-head tobacco
Hearing Bob expound, hell, he said, was all a humbug
He made it plain as day that the Bible was a fable
We alowed it look that way. Miracles and such alike
were too rank for him to stand

And for him they called the Savior. He was just a common man”

“You’re a liar,” someone shouted, “You got to take it back”
Then everybody started, it was the words of Silver Jack
He cracked his fists together stacked his duds and cried,
’Twas in that thar religion my mother lived and died.”

“In that religion my mother lived and died.”

Though I haven’t always used the Lord exactly right
When I hear a chump abuse him He got to eat his words and fight.
Now, this Bob he weren’t no coward He answered bold and free:
“Stack your duds and cut your capers. There ain’t no flies on me.”

“Cut your capers, there ain’t no flies on me”

They fit for forty minutes The crowd would whoop and cheer
When Jack spit up a tooth or two or Bobby lost an ear.
At last Jack got him under slugged him once and twice,
Straightway Bob admitted the divinity of Christ.

Bob admitted the divinity of Christ.

Jack kept reasoning with him till the poor cuss gave a yell
And ‘lowed he’d been mistaken in his views concerning hell
The fierce encounter ended They riz up from the ground
Someone brought a bottle up kindly passed around.
And we drank to Bob’s religion

And for him they call the Savior he was not a common man
They call him the Savior he was not a common man

THE LEPPY
Text:Brian Brannon, music: L. Paalgard

We couldn’t find him anywhere. Snow was driftin’ in.
Wind was howlin’ across the hills. The air so cold and thin.
We’d found his Mama just that mornin’ already stiff and cold.
She gave her last to see him born. He can’t be two days old.

I bet he’s weak from hunger now this cold won’t help him none.
Unless we get him to the barn his brand-new story’s done.

It’s gettin’ hard to see now. Hearin’s harder yet.
If we don’t find him before it’s dark his livin’ ain’t no bet.
There’s wolves among these hills sometimes. Coyotes every day.
An orphan calf out from the herd is awful easy prey.

Unless we get him to the barn his brand-new story’s done.

We’ll make just one more circle above the one eleven.
If we ain’t found him by that time he’s joined his Mom in heaven.
HEY. What’s that over there that kinda’ reddish spot.
It’s gotta be that leppy calf a layin’ where he dropped.

I bet he’s weak from hunger now this cold won’t help him none.
Unless we get him to the barn his brand-new story’s done.

By Golly son, it is him half covered up in snow.
How he stayed alive this long. I guess we’ll never know.
Let’s get him on your saddle. Lay him ‘cross your lap.
We’ll use the hide of that still born calf to help it’s Mom adapt.

Unless we get him to the barn his brand-new story’s done.

Let’s hurry back to the One-0-Five it seems he’s nearly dead.
He’s got a chance to make it though once we get him warm and fed.
This «T» Triangle takes it’s toll That we’re here to tell.
Sometimes it seems like paradise sometimes it’s Leppy hell.

I bet he’s weak from hunger now this cold won’t help him none.
Unless we get him to the barn his brand-new story’s done.

FILL UP THOSE GLASSES, BARTENDER
Text: Jim Bollers, music: L. Paalgard

Fill up those glasses, Bartender. Hey Cowboys, put your money away,
‘cause I’m going to tell you right now, I’m a spender,
I’ve been savin’ my wages to pay.
You’ve got lots of beer, wine and whiskey, Have you got any women who sell?
I’ve been out on the range for a long time, Boys, and I’m feelin’ frisky as hell.
To pay for just this one evenin’ I’ve looked forward to for so long,
And I did sure hate like hell to make this evenin’ go on wrong.

So fill up those glasses, Bartender, I said fill them up to the brim,
and then you turn the music way up loud and you turn the lights down dim.

All I want is a bottle to empty. All I want is a woman who’ll dance.
I want all you boys to know somethin’ right now, - to know here in advance,
The last damn thing I want is trouble, The last damn thing I want is a fight.
So let’s all proceed with this evening now, and hope to hell everything works out right.

So fill up those glasses, Bartender, I said fill them up to the brim,
and then you turn the music way up loud and you turn the lights down dim.

Honey, ever longed for a man to be tender? Your prayers have been answered tonight.
Now you know I’m a spender, Darling, I intend to treat you just right.
You’ve got the prettiest red dress I ever did see, I’m so happy you dance my style.
You’re built like a million dollars. What a beautiful smile. Darlin’ let’s dance for a while.

So fill up those glasses, Bartender, I said fill them up to the brim,
and then you turn the music way up loud and you turn the lights down dim.

Let me apologize to your missus, Mister, just put away that long shiny knife.
Well, hell. I thought she was your sister, Mister. I never dreamed she was your wife.
I am going to hell in a hurry, Now that should be plain for you to see.
I’d sure hate to take you with me, Mister, but I will if you mess with me.

So fill up those glasses, Bartender, I said fill them up to the brim,
and then you turn the music way up loud and you turn the lights down dim.

Mister, you know I’ve been feelin’ real bad. In fact I get better to die.
But for some reason I keep livin’, Although I’m not really sure why.
So let all the booze flow freely. Let the music loudly play.
There will probably be no tomorrow, And who the hell cares about yesterday.

So fill up those glasses, Bartender, I said fill them up to the brim;
and then you turn the music way up loud and you turn the lights down dim.