Get Back in Line

This song was inspired musically by the Flatt & Scruggs song “Get in Line Brother”, lyrically by the old Kinks song “Get Back in the Line”. It’s mostly an excuse for Chris to show off his Scruggs-style guitar playing.

Work within the system, learn to get along
That’s the best way to righten the wrongs
Don’t start fussing that it ain’t good enough
If you keep on making noise things may start to get rough

     Get back in line, my brother, get back in line
     Stick with the duties that you’ve been assigned
     If you want to make a difference, learn to lead from behind
     Get back in line, my brother, get back in line

Patience is a virtue, not a disgrace
Slow and steady will win us the race
Stand near the back when the bosses come around
It’s the nail that sticks up that gets hammered down

Things today are looking mighty bleak
But like it says in the Bible, blessed are the meek
Learn to get along for all that you’re worth
If you don’t rock the boat, you’ll inherit the earth

Six White Horses

This was inspired by songs called “Six White Horses” by both Bill Monroe and Gillian Welch. But I only stole the idea of six white horses, plus the “coming after me” from Welch. The melody is basically “Mystery Train” as heard by the Ridgewood Boys.

Six white horses met the train today
Took up their burden and slowly rode away
Six white horses driving down the road
Heads bowed down by the weight of the load

Six white horses pulling up the hill
Townspeople watching, silent and still
Six white horses coming two by two
Still can’t believe what we asked him to do

Six white horses coming round the bend
Laid down his life for the love of his friends
Six white horses stopping at my door
To bring home the boy who’d gone off to war

Six white horses coming after me
Today the Lord is gonna set me free

Save the Roses

My attempt at a country song.

Once I wanted to climb to the top of the heap
Wanted praise for the things I had done
But now all I want is a good night’s sleep
Save the roses for when I’m dead and gone

     Save the roses for when I am gone
     Don’t need praise for the things I have done
     Just looking for a friend who’ll stand by me to the end
     Save the roses for when I’m dead and gone

I piled up a fortune to see me to the end
Then all my plans came undone
Now nothing’s more precious than the love of a friend
Save the roses for when I’m dead and gone

I wanted people to look up to me
To think that I was the one
But fame has a price, while the good life is free
Save the roses for when I’m dead and gone

Will Work For Food

Another song from Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Boy CD.

Time was a man felt like something
Working for hard earned pay
When you’ve got nothing, nobody gives nothing
Not even the time of day

     Homeless and hungry
     I done everything that I could
     Heartbroke and homeless and hungry
     I will work for food

There’s a ramshackle shack in the country
Where a willow weeps over the door
I wander the streets of your city
No home in this world no more

Policeman told me this morning
Pack up and be on my way
Begging ain’t no part of nothing
Hard times are here to stay

A Jealous Heart and a Worried Mind

Wow, do I love this song by Peter Rowan. It comes from his Bluegrass Boy CD, which I think is a modern classic. Here’s our attempt at it.

When the blues come knocking at my door
I can’t sleep, I walk the floor
On my knees, no peace I find
With a jealous heart and a worried mind

     Those skies is black and I’m so blue
     Why did I give my heart to you
     Talk is cheap and love is blind
     With a jealous heart and a worried mind

A jealous heart, like a ball and chain
I recall your love in vain
You tore apart the ties that bind
With a jealous heart and a worried mind

Worried mind will never let you rest
You hurt the one you love the best
You treat your darling so unkind
With a jealous heart and a worried mind

Meg March as model elder

“In spite of her small vanities, Margaret had a sweet and pious nature,
which unconsciously influenced her sisters, especially Jo, who loved
her very tenderly, and obeyed her because her advice was so gently
given.” (Little Women, Louisa May Alcott)

Cumberland Books is shutting down

UPDATE: Oops, for some reason a bunch of prices in the bookstore did not get lowered. I’ve since fixed the problem. If you noticed something whose price was not lowered (i.e. was above $5) you might want to check again. Sorry for the confusion.

The bookstore business is dying, and so we’ve decided to shut down Cumberland Books. Thanks to all of you who have bought books from us over the past ten years! It’s been a pleasure working with you.

With the exception of a few titles which still sell (the Foxfire and Ralph Moody books) we have lowered the prices of our remaining inventory to $5 or less. Stock levels are low, and when they’re gone they’re gone. Please stop by and see if what we have left might interest you.