Singles

Livin’ For The City

Ohhh...

I got a room with a window, if you lean real far,

You can almost see the skyline past the neighbor’s car.

Got a coffee shop downstairs, charges six bucks for a cup,

I asked if dreams came with it—they said, “That’ll be two more bucks.”

My landlord calls it charming, I call it barely wide,

But I got three locks on the door, so I sleep with city pride.

I’m livin’ for the city, where the sirens sing all night,

Where the rent goes up on Monday and your paycheck takes a flight.

Got a million people rushing like they know where they should be,

I don’t know where I’m going—

But the city’s going with me.

Yeah, I’m livin’ for the city,

And the city’s livin’ off of me.

I bought a monthly parking pass, thought I’d finally won the game,

Then somebody stole my bumper, but they left the license plate.

The subway smells like mystery, the bus is running late,

A pigeon stole my breakfast while I argued with my fate.

There’s a man dressed like Elvis selling watches by the train,

He said, “Brother, time is money.”

I said, “Then I’m broke again.”

I’m livin’ for the city, where the sirens sing all night,

Where the rent goes up on Monday and your paycheck takes a flight.

Got a million people rushing like they know where they should be,

I don’t know where I’m going—

But the city’s going with me.

Yeah, I’m livin’ for the city,

And the city’s livin’ off of me.

My neighbor plays the trumpet every morning half past three,

He only knows two notes, but Lord, he plays ’em faithfully.

The lady in the hallway knows everybody’s business too,

She knows who came home Wednesday and what they shouldn’t oughta do.

I tried to find some quiet, paid admission to the park,

Then a marching band walked past me

With a drummer named Big Mark.

But when the sun goes down and those buildings start to glow,

There’s something in those sidewalks makes it hard to let ’em go.

Every broken dream’s still shining underneath a neon sign,

And every fool who came here thinks,

“One of these nights, it’s gonna be mine.”

There’s a woman at the diner who remembers what I eat,

Calls me “Honey,” fills my coffee, says I’m looking incomplete.

There’s a kid playing guitar underneath the avenue,

Singing songs about tomorrow like tomorrow’s overdue.

And suddenly this crazy place don’t feel so hard and cold,

’Cause every stranger’s carrying

A little story made of gold.

I’m livin’ for the city, where the dreamers miss their trains,

Where a thousand broken hearts go dancing in the rain.

Where you lose a little money, lose your patience, lose some sleep,

But you find a million reasons

Why the city gets in deep.

Yeah, I’m livin’ for the city,

With my last ten-dollar bill—

The city keeps on taking,

But I swear I love it still.

Yeah, my rent is due tomorrow,

My refrigerator’s bare,

There’s a taxi blowing kisses

With its horn outside somewhere.

I oughta pack my suitcase,

Find a quiet little hill…

But I’m livin’ for the city—

And I probably always will.

You Got That Right

My baby said, "You never listen," I said, "Honey, that ain’t true,"
She said, "Tell me what I just said," I said, "Was it something ’bout my shoes?"
She rolled her eyes toward heaven, said, "Lord, give this man some light,"
I said, "I may not know the question, baby— but you got that right."

You got that right, you got that right,
I’ve been wrong all day, but I’m feeling right tonight.
My truck won’t start, my dog won’t bark,
My wallet’s looking light,
If you say my luck has gone to hell—
You got that right.

Boss man said, "You’re late again," I said, "Traffic was insane,"
He looked outside that office door—there wasn’t one drop of rain.
He said, "You’re full of excuses," I said, "Sir, you’re pretty bright,"
He said, "One more time, you’re fired!" I said, "You got that right."

You got that right, you got that right,
I’ve been wrong all day, but I’m feeling right tonight.
My bills are high, my cash is low,
My future’s out of sight,
If the banker says, "You’re broke again"—
You got that right.

Doctor said, "You need more exercise, cut back on barbecue,"
I said, "Doc, I walk clear to the fridge—what more you want me to do?"
He said, "Lose ten pounds by Christmas," I said, "That sounds all right—
I’ll just buy a bigger bathroom scale
And move the numbers right."

Preacher said on Sunday, "Son, temptation leads astray,"
I said, "Preacher, I avoid temptation—unless it comes my way."
He said, "The truth will set you free," I said, "That sermon’s dynamite,"
Then my wife leaned over, whispered,
"Try the truth at home tonight."

You got that right, you got that right,
Every woman in this county knows I’m rarely right.
I can lose an argument
Before we even fight,
But when she says, "Don’t say another word"—
You got that right.

I learned two words can save a man
From sleeping with the hound:
Don’t explain, don’t testify,
Don’t spread your logic ’round.
When your sweetheart plants her hands upon her hips
And gives you that look of fright,
Just smile like you’ve got good sense and say,
"Baby… you got that right."

Last night she said, "Do these jeans make me look big?"
I saw my whole life flash,
The pearly gates, my fishing boat, my truck, my secret cash.
I said, "Girl, those jeans look wonderful, you’re a beautiful sight,"
She smiled and said, "You’re learning."
I said, "You got that right!"

You got that right, you got that right,
I finally found the secret to a peaceful married life.
You don’t need no college degree,
No Ph.D. in spite,
Just know when she is talking—
She has probably got it right.

Yeah, you got that right,
Lord, you got that right.
I’ve been wrong since 1982,
But I’m sleeping home tonight.
She said, "Did you just say I’m always right?"
I said, "No, ma’am."

She said, "What did you say?"
…"You got that right."

The Day My Shadow Quit Me

Woke up this morning, sun was shining through the blind,
Reached down for my slippers, left my dignity behind.

Walked out on the sidewalk, something didn’t feel quite right,
Everybody had a shadow—mine had packed up in the night.
Left a note beside the doorway, written underneath my shoe:
"I’ve followed you for forty years—now find somebody new."

Oh, the day my shadow quit me,
Said, "Man, I’ve had enough.
You keep walking into trouble,
And I’m tired of looking tough.
I’ve been stretched out on the pavement,
I’ve been stepped on endlessly—
You can make a fool without me,
So quit blaming it on me."
Yeah, the day my shadow quit me,
Even darkness disagreed with me.

I said, "Shadow, where you going? We’ve been partners all our lives."
He said, "You’ve had three bad jobs, two bad dogs, and four suspicious wives.
I stood beside you at the altar, I was with you at the bar,
I even followed you that evening when you tried to steal your car."
I said, "Technically I owned it," he said,
"That ain’t the point, my friend.
Every time I think you’ve hit rock bottom, you discover a basement."

Oh, the day my shadow quit me,
Said, "I’m filing my release.
I’m tired of all your drama,
I’m pursuing inner peace.
I’ve been dragged through every bad decision,
Every bar from A to Z—
If stupidity needs company,
It ain’t gonna come from me."
Yeah, the day my shadow quit me,
Even darkness disagreed with me.

I found him down in Memphis underneath another man,
Said he’d taken better hours with a blues guitar in hand.
The fellow wore a tailored suit and paid his bills on time,
My shadow said, "He’s boring, but at least he ain’t committed any crimes."
I said, "Come on back, I miss you!" He said, "What’s in it for me?"
I said, "Seven years of bad luck and a lifetime guarantee."

He said, "You blamed me when you gained weight—
Brother, shadows don’t eat pie.
You blamed me for your bald spot—
I’m two-dimensional, not your guy.
You blamed me for your heartbreak,
Your truck, your debts, your knee—
The only thing that’s following you
Is your own stupidity."

Now I walk around at noontime, when a shadow’s hard to see,
So the neighbors won’t discover mine divorced himself from me.
But yesterday at sunset, something stretched across the floor—
My old shadow stood behind me with his suitcase at the door.
I said, "You finally missed me!"
He said, "Don’t flatter yourself, old Jack.
That new guy joined a fitness club—
I ain’t running five miles back."

So my shadow finally joined me,
But we’ve renegotiated terms:
No more dancing on the tabletops,
No questionable tax returns.
He gets Sundays, paid vacation,
And a little dignity—
And if I do something stupid,
He can claim he isn’t me.

Oh, the day my shadow quit me,
I learned something, I suppose:
You can lose your friends and lovers,
You can lose your cash and clothes,
But when the thing that’s stuck behind you

Says, "I’d rather just be free,"
You might wanna reconsider
Your whole damn personality.

Yeah, my woman left on Monday,
My dog left Tuesday night…
But when my shadow left on Wednesday,
I knew something wasn’t right.

Even my shadow had the blues…
And buddy, they were all because of me.

Easier Said Than Done

My woman said, “Quit drinkin’, boy, and straighten up your life,”
I said, “Baby, that sounds simple,” then I poured another twice.
She said, “Get yourself a real job, put some money in the bank,”
I said, “I’m workin’ on my future”—from a barstool by the plank.
I got plans stacked to the ceiling,
But my follow-through weighs none,
Lord, everything worth doin’
Is easier said than done.

It’s easier said than done,
Like outrunnin’ the sheriff in the Mississippi sun.
Like tellin’ your woman she’s wrong
And expectin’ her to say, “Hon, you won.”
I can promise, I can preach,
I can swear I’ve overcome,
But when Monday morning finds me—
It’s easier said than done.

I told myself, “Start savin’, put a hundred bucks away,”
Then I saw a shiny guitar and brought that rascal home that day.
I said, “I’ll eat more healthy, no more bacon, grease, or pie,”
Then Miss Lucy fried some chicken—Lord, I nearly started cryin’.
I said, “Just one little drumstick,”
Then somehow I ate a ton,
Yeah, discipline sounds mighty good—
But it’s easier said than done.

It’s easier said than done,
Like givin’ up gamblin’ when your horse is number one.
Like tellin’ your mama, “Don’t worry,”
When you know exactly what you’ve done.
I can talk like I’m a preacher,
Make excuses by the ton,
But changing this old blues man
Is easier said than done.

My doctor said, “Get exercise, start walkin’ every day,”
So I walked down to the corner where they serve cold beer till eight.
He said, “That ain’t what I meant, son,” I said, “Doc, you weren’t precise,
You told me I should walk more—I walked there and back there twice.”
He just stared across his glasses,
Like the joke had missed its run,
But technically I followed orders—
That’s easier said than done.

My preacher said, “Forgive your foes and turn the other cheek,”
I said, “Reverend, I’m a-tryin’, been attemptin’ that all week.”
But old Leroy stole my parking spot and waved at me with pride,
I forgave him in my spirit—
Then I flattened one back tire.
I said, “Lord, I’m still a-growin’,
Please don’t judge me by this one,”
That whole “love your neighbor” business
Is easier said than done.

I said I’d fix the leaky faucet,
That was 1999.
I said I’d clean the old garage up
When I found a little time.
I said I’d stop procrastinatin’—
And I surely will someday,
Matter fact, I made a schedule...
But I misplaced it yesterday.

Now my woman packed a suitcase, said, “I’m tired of your talk,”
I said, “Baby, I can change now!” She said, “Then show me how you walk.”
So I washed every dish in the kitchen, threw my whiskey down the drain,
Mowed the yard, fixed that old faucet, even stood out in the rain.
She came home and saw me working,
Said, “Well, look what you have done!”
I said, “Losing you was harder
Than all the things I should’ve done.”

It’s easier said than done
Till the one you love gets tired and starts to run.
Then a lazy Delta blues man
Can move faster than a loaded gun.

I quit drinking, fixed the screen door,
Even paid what I’d begun—
But I ain’t sayin’ I’m a new man...
That’s easier said than done.