Lyrics for The Blind Owl Band’s ‘Rabble Rousing’
- Missoula Montana
The back of your hands know only this place,
The black of your boots know only this place, only this place.
Missoula Montana
Change ain’t got my nine dear sweet lives,
It’s not what’s behind but what lies inside, what lies inside
The streets of Corvallis
- Devils My Witness
Mad mad mary man’s not too sane, living from a bottle cause she’s got no brain
Mountains up high valley’s below, may be surrounded but I won’t let go
Rattlin down that ol dirt road with the devil by my side god rest his soul
Tell my lady man tell her I don’t need her, I don’t mind much god dammit I’ll defeat her
Rattlin down that ol dirt road with the devil by my side god rest his soul
Well I don’t mind this lady I don’t love her, I don’t guard much god dammit Im above her
Mountains up high valley’s below, may be surrounded but I won’t let go
Rattlin down that ol dirt road with the devil by my side god rest his soul
Well damn my damned less believer I wont guard much god dammit I’ll defeat her
Rattlin down that ol dirt road with the devil by my side god rest his soul (2x)
- Revolving Door
And I don’t mind this ol maiden man’s got holes in my socks
And I said don’t listen too long to the siren’s song she’s barely got her mace, I’ve got 10 distant relatives and they barely know their pace well good god
And I’m not blinded by this maiden’s pool time shame, I’m just laughing with a desire to kill and not to blame
Another highway it hums through the rest of the day,
Stand with me I’ll stand with you, walk from me and I’ll walk from you, In my walking shoes babay,
Because I’ve had backs turn and got the scars to prove, but I don’t have to worry baby now, because I got you
Well tell this minister, tell him Ive got holes in my socks (he’s got holes in his socks)
Well my dear old man, I hate to pretend but I don’t like your lace, Ive got 10 distant brothers and they barely know their ways good god
And im not blinded by this minister’s time shame, I’m just laughing with a desire to kill and not to blame
I should have been gone long ago, or so I’m told,
I never felt so free in a hospital bed, never felt so free never been so dead, oh no,
Well I still got my legs, my voice, and my hands, so I’ll walk with you brother into this great land, I wont tell you no.
And my dear old man I hate to pretend but I don’t like your song, I know dead old sirens and they barely get along, so I said damn ol’ mother mary whats up with your song, she said, “I’m blinded by southern lies, and us northerners got shame, I’m just laughing with a desire to kill and not to blame
The sun’s melting the ground below and I’m stuck swimming with no place to go.
I got me a woman, got a thing for bourbon and another one,
Got me a woman got a thing for bourbon and another one,
Got me a woman got a thing for bourbon and I want to have some fun,
Well the trees get cut and the town it grows, and the seasons never over for the seeds I have to sew.
So I yell no betty no (no betty no), so I yell no betty no ( no betty no), and I say yes Charlie yes(yes Charlie yes), and I yell no betty no (no betty no),
Well I still got my legs, my voice and my hands, and I’ll walk with you brother into this great land, I won’t tell you no.
- Fiddle Dont
I was in Arkansas looking for a ride, looking for a ride to a desert, to a desert mountain side, and when I got there I knew where I was supposed to be all my life.
Well devil he sleeps on a worship path, god he sips his good cold drink, devil he sleeps on a worship path, he don’t know what to think
Fiddle don’t play, don’t know, when’s this fiddle gonna play along
Fiddle don’t fray, fiddle come on, when’s this fiddle gonna play my song
I was following the fiddle I was hot on her trail, bow on a string like a train, a train on a rail, and through this land we sail, well she took me left took my right, I had her all day and I had her all night.
Well devil he sleeps on a worship path, god he sips his good cold drink, devil he sleeps on a worship path, he don’t know what to think
Fiddle don’t play, don’t know, when’s this fiddle gonna play along
Fiddle don’t fray, fiddle come on, when’s this fiddle gonna play my song
Lately it seems to be the same, with an itch to leave and rumbling, a rumbling in my veins, yeah a rumbling in my veins, but I’m safe and sound back on the ground, ‘till I choose the change.
Well fiddle don’t play fiddle don’t know fiddle’s got a better sound, fiddle don’t need where fiddle wont grow, fiddle aint around
Fiddle don’t play, don’t know, when’s this fiddle gonna play along
Fiddle don’t fray, fiddle come on, when’s this fiddle gonna play my song
- Needle and Thread
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
Once in Oregon I had a woman but she drift away, then one in Saranac Lake, I thought about her everyday, I swear, well I swear
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
Well I said down down in Oklahoma, Alabama state I’ve got 327,543 women and they don’t even god know my name, yeah they barely know my name
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
This is now and that was then, she was she and I was him, walking down the railroad track needle and thread baby sewn to my back, sewn right to my back.
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
And I said blues brother boy you only know three so I yell out to my soul saving grief, gotta be that one soul saving lord, that one soul saving lord
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
If I had my needle and thread, fine as I could sew, I’d sew that pretty little girl to my side, and down the road I’d go, and down the road I’d go.
And if I had my needle and thread I’d tie her dreary ol head to my knee
- Miss Ol Mary
Oh mister carpenter, your commandeering you own mead, and miss ol mary, miss ol mary’s who you should meet, oh miss ol mary, you marry every good guy you meet
And this whole town will stay around for a while, yes this whole town will stay around for a while
Oh seedy bartender, give this man just one more drink, he needs ol mary, to get his kicks back on the street, but she’s a follower, with lemon scented cardboard feet
And this whole town will stay around for a while, yes this whole town will stay around for a while
But he’s a farmer, and she’s a widowed garbage heap, she roams the streetlights, giving out all her love for free, but he wants nothing, except for the time to speak
And this whole town will stay around for a while, yes this whole town will stay around for a while
Oh mister carpenter, your commandeering you own mead, and miss ol mary, miss ol mary’s who you should meet, oh miss ol mary, you bury every good guy you meet
And this whole town will stay around for a while, yes this whole town will stay around for a while
- Strangers
Well crippled kangaroo you’re only crippled when you’re mad and Ive got seven other lovers here and they only one left mad, is the seventh ugly sister and for her I’ll do my march, I don’t think we’ve reached that place but seven’s a good start oh no
For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so, For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so
And traveling through snow over country brittled stone just to bring my ol’ lady back to me
So I’m overthrown and I ain’t got no home and you aint got no home in me
So I said petty mine ol townsfolk I don’t mean to strut my ears, I aint lifted by your spirit son Im lifted by your fears, so next time you see Richardson out sitting in the sun, well tell him into taking out these zombies boy one by one oh no
For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so, For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so
And traveling through snow over country brittled stone just to bring my ol’ lady back to me
So I’m overthrown and I ain’t got no home and you aint got no home in me
And I said petty mine ol townsfolk I don’t mean to strut my ears, I aint lifted by your spirit son I’m lifted by your fears, so next time you see Richardson out sitting on his throne, calm this lady down my friend and tell her that our boys have won
For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so, For we are all but strangers so, we are all but strangers so
And traveling through snow over country brittled stone just to bring my ol’ lady back to me
So I’m overthrown and I ain’t got no home and you aint got no home in me
- Broken Bells
Well one for the lady who bites the dust and 10 for the mad men under rust, well you’re no living and I don’t agree, I’m running from the lady who ran 5 miles from me, oh well she ran 5 miles from me
Oh and the tambourines are shaking the monuments are breaking, the music that we’re making oh no don’t be mistaken
And broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here, broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here
One for the lady who bites the dust and 10 for the mad man’s troubled lust, and you’re no living and I don’t agree, I’m running from the lady who ran 5 miles from me, oh well she ran 5 miles from me
Oh and the tambourines are shaking the monuments are breaking, the music that we’re making oh no don’t be mistaken
And broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here, broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here
Well one for the lady who bites the dust and 10 for the mad men under rust, well you’re no living and I don’t agree, I’m running from the lady who ran 5 miles from me, oh well she ran 5 miles from me
Oh and the tambourines are shaking the monuments are breaking, the music that we’re making oh no don’t be mistaken
And broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here, broken bells, broken bells, all we sell are broken bells here
- Train Man
And this ol train man, has me boy in a bad hold, I’m too old and my man I’m just too tired to see, and this ol rain man has got me in a bad roll, but now my soul is being sold to a hangman and a blind jury
And now I’m holding up the sky I don’t know why I’ve been waiting for proof, well whats the use, but now my calloused heart’s tearing apart from this familiar abuse
And I said plow man plow man you’ve got no better sound man, but I’ll swing this giant hammer down until I see, so I said law man law man you’ve got no better song man, so the next time you see my lady, tell her Ive got to be free.
And this ol pain man, has got be boy in a bad fold, I used to hop old rusted trains but now Ive settled in the east, and for a sane man, Ive got a good something you should know, and maybe you will find your gold but you will find no release.
And now I’m holding up the sky I don’t know why I’ve been waiting for proof, well whats the use, but now my calloused heart’s tearing apart from this familiar abuse
And I said plow man plow man you’ve got no better sound man, but I’ll swing this giant hammer down until I see, so I said law man law man you’ve got no better song man, so the next time you see my lady, tell her Ive got to be free.
And this old strain man, has got me turning too bold, but man I’ll jump the widest stream and seize all these moments just the same, and it aint the same man, who wore these shoes before, but for a second my son I feel like I can see the change.
And now I’m holding up the sky I don’t know why I’ve been waiting for proof, well whats the use, but now my calloused heart’s tearing apart from this familiar abuse
And I said plow man plow man you’ve got no better sound man, but I’ll swing this giant hammer down until I see, so I said law man law man you’ve got no better song man, so the next time you see my lady, tell her Ive got to be free.
And this ol pain man, has got be boy in a bad fold, I used to hop old rusted trains but now Ive settled in the east, and for a sane man, Ive got a good something you should know, and maybe you will find your gold but you will find no release.
And now I’m holding up the sky I don’t know why I’ve been waiting for proof, well whats the use, but now my calloused heart’s tearing apart from this familiar abuse
And I said plow man plow man you’ve got no better sound man, but I’ll swing this giant hammer down until I see, so I said law man law man you’ve got no better song man, so the next time you see my lady, tell her Ive got to be free.
- Whipporwill
Oh whippoorwill or whippoorwill please I’m sitting here, listening on my knees and I just need a little more bliss another from a lover just a solid little kiss, another from a lover just a solid little kiss
I was once told a tale, by a whale who had all hail, he lived up in the clouds
He lived up in the clouds x3
Well in the waves and in the peaks, it doesn’t really matter where this whale speaks, telling his story gonna break the news, Im gonna be living in this whale’s shoes
Well sunny side up and feathers at ease its him before I who must be pleased, and though may soon to cease, I’m gonna be cleanin this green mean’s teeth
He wasn’t all alone, he had people he called his own, he called them family
He called them family x2
Well in the waves and in the peaks, it doesn’t really matter where this whale speaks, telling his story gonna break the news, I’m gonna be living in this whale’s shoes
Oh whippoorwill or whippor where’s your lover, I don’t mind much with a foot in muddy water, I don’t mind lady cause aint too mean, I aint living in this old dream, I aint living in this old dream
Well we listened to the birds, about the bees and the birds, we didnt call it deceit
No we didnt call it deceit x3
Well in the waves and in the peaks, it doesn’t really matter where this whale speaks, telling his story gonna break the news, I’m gonna be living in this whale’s shoes
- I’ll Be There
And ma’am I built this ship out of brick and wood, and I’d tell that lady off if I could, but she’s no trouble and im no harm, and we’re getting into hell but we’re getting all along, yeah we’re getting into hell but we’re getting all along
Saw her round the station about a quarter to nine,
And baby she said it sure is time, for this train to take us to the outside,
And pray that this city burns down tonight, pray that this city burns down tonight
And ma’am my dog Pharaoh’s got a broken toe, and he needs some food to fill bowl, well darling you know I love him so, and in doing so I will fill his bowl, in doing so I will fill his bowl
I felt older than I do now, spending day to day in country house,
Until one day it burned to the ground, and where I stepped then I won’t step now
Where I stepped then I won’t step now, where I stepped then I wont step now
Well I’m no siren and im no shrew, and I don’t mind much to the likeness of you, but when I’m swimming and im not true, for you I’d be swimming to the big deep blue, swimming to the bottom of the big deep blue
It’s not the load that breaks you down,
It’s how we choose to carry it around, we gave our lives and we gave our ground,
To become the people that we are now, to become the people that we are now
And ma’am Ill slam my feet and snap my toes, but I don’t mind much for this rock and roll, and I’m not one for sitting in the sun, but I’ll be there if you’re the only one, yes I’ll be there if you’re the only one
- Old Wind
There ain’t no way and there ain’t no how you got something to say you best say it now your eyes are screaming but they don’t make a sound we are in this together now baby so scream it loud.
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
Well oh sister I watched you tear upon a strange and a distant illusion that is not here now and is forever gone if you want to change baby you best move along
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
Old wind, roll out my door, you’re the same wind I knew before
- Sparrow
Holy sparrow take me to my homeland, to my homeland to my homeland yeah
And I don’t mind to pay my toll, well this ol sparrow knows himself, and any time I feel two tangled tattered beasts, I don’t think well I don’t think he needs our help
Holy sparrow take me to my homeland, to my homeland to my homeland yeah
And you don’t have to waste your life, build a home for you and I, you don’t have to go far but you will find, that your home is in your mind
Holy sparrow take me to my homeland, to my homeland to my homeland yeah
And with abrasive bounty woes, well I don’t feel I’m wasting time, but this old sparrow seems to sing out when he’s loud and I don’t mean I don’t mean to speak my mind
Holy sparrow take me to my homeland, to my homeland to my homeland yeah
Holy sparrow take me to my homeland, to my homeland to my homeland yeah
- Scorpion
Oh scorpion oh scorpion oh stinger do you try, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, well I wont trust no man with no guitar in his hand and I don’t think I ever will
Oh Jupiter oh Jupiter you soar around in space, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, and I wont trust no lady with a state of mind more crazy than the one I’m already in
And you dance much louder than me now, so I learn not to bustle and boast in your old town
Oh Washington oh Washington you seem so far my friend, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, well I wont trust no man with no guitar in his hand and I don’t think I ever will
Oh interstate oh interstate, oh through this land you bend, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, and I wont trust no lady with a state of mind more crazy than the one I’m already in
And you dance much louder than me now, so I learn not to bustle and boast in your old town
Oh posterman oh posterman the gifts you give are strange, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, well I wont trust no man with no guitar in his hand and I don’t think I ever will
Oh scorpion oh scorpion well stinger do you try, but it doesn’t seem to matter in the end, and I wont trust no lady with a state of mind more crazy than the one I’m already in
And you dance much louder than me now, so I learn not to bustle and boast in your old town
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
And I don’t mind no centerfold for their beating thanks and I aint got no mind likeness for the words I leave to chance so I said mother man oh mother dear, whats up with your knees, she said I’d rather die from starving, than die from disease
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
Deep in that well all my coins have been tossed, for all the wishes, that our paths will cross, well I didn’t find love but I found the cost, and well the more that you leave the less that is lost.
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
And she’s my poison bucket baby she’s got no time no time for me
And tell all these pilgrims Ive got no forbidden ship, just got sands miles for islands and I think much of this trip, so I said mother man oh mother dear, whats up with your knees, she said I’d rather die from
