My Front Porch @ Two (am) Robert Lindsay Nathan, Jr. Sittin on my front porch at two Moon light sparlin on the mornin dew Playin this old guitar for you A song that's red and but mostly blue But you're a thousand miles away Bound to another, what can I say? I had my chance but I blew it away My stone cold heart is the price that I’ve paid But I adore you I know I rarely said it But I promise that it's true Just listen to this tune Hear my feelings shining through As I play this heartfelt ballad for you Sittin on my front porch, at two. Walkin this front porch and kickin a can Into the next chapter of a tangled up plan I lost a lover but I gained a fan What's that worth to a broken down man? It’s this old porch that’s like a long lost friend Puttin up with me and the time that I spend Sortin out emotions that will never blend Into a story with a joyful end. Still, I do love you I know I rarely said it And I surely do regret it Just listen to this tune Hear my feelings shining through As I play this heartfelt ballad for you Sittin on my front porch, at two. Bridge: A shooting star slips silently by As I stare and softly cry Sittin on my front porch at three Moonlight dancin in and old oak tree To a song that’s in a dissonant key Kickin up memories and settin em free A crowd of clouds go driftin by Murmuring rumors about you and I As thunder mumbles my selfish lie that We were nothing more than just a passing sigh Still, I do love you I know I rarely said it And I sadly do regret it Just listen to these tunes Hear my feelings shining through As I play these heartfelt ballads for you Sittin on my front porch, at two. (Repeat last two lines then last line)

Possun’s Lament Copyright Robert Lindsay Nathan Well, they could tell tales And hers was so sweet But his was much taller It’s why they happened to meet. They both lived together And their stories were told. But the sweetness was leather And the book cover mold. And the train cars were stacked Around thirty years deep When at maximum speed They ran off in a creek. So let it be said And let it be told The story of Possum And the land that he sold. He searched through the wreckage For something to keep Across half of Texas Was a mighty fine heap He found that his partner Was not what she seemed. Her fine linen cloths Were hidden by her jeans. Chorus So he picked up the pieces In an effort to keep her He cut through the crap And he tried to dig deeper Held a gun to the head Of all that they had The memories were better off Dyin’ or dead. Chorus Break Well, they could tell tales And hers was so sweet But his was much taller It’s why they happened to meet. It finished all in Tarpley Near Hondo Creek Where the tales they all endead Now they nevermore speak. Chorus

[Verse 1] It's time for a change I'm tired of that same old same The same old words the same old lines The same old tricks and the same old rhymes Days precious days Roll in and out like waves I got boards to bend I got planks to nail I got charts to make I got seas to sail [Chorus] I'm going to build me a boat With these two hands It will be a fair curve From a noble plan Let the chips fall where they will Because I've got boats to build [Verse 2] Sails are just like wings The wind can make them sing Songs of life songs of hope Songs to keep your dreams afloat [Chorus] [Verse 3] Shores distant shores There's where I'm headed for Got the stars to guide my way Sail into the light of day [Chorus]

Whippoorwill Copyright Robert Lindsay Nathan November 2016 If I were a whippoorwill I’d sleep beneath your window sill And dream of you throughout the day. At dusk when mister sun goes down I’d sing my little whippoor sound And hope that you’d come out to play Oh whippoorwill A night so still A forest dark and grey He sings his song Of love gone wrong So in your heart he’ll stay If I were a moonlit night I’d shine a moonbeam oh so bright Down upon your window sill You’d hear a happy whippoor sound About a love that’s lost then found A darkened night his song will fill Oh whippoorwill A night so still A forest dark and grey He sings his tune To sister Moon So in your heart he’ll stay Break If I were a hummingbird I’d hum some little humming words Along with my friend whippoor-bird In harmony with whippoorwill Our melody would climb and fill Your heart and those around the world Oh whippoorwill And hummingbird They spend the day and night With mister sun And sister moon A flame, your heart, they’ll light Oh whippoorwill A night so still A forest dark and grey He sings his song Of love gone wrong So in your heart he’ll stay

Heartland Copyright 2006 Robert Lindsay Nathan, Jr. F It’s a full blue moon in June Am And all the girls are in full bloom Bb And the farmer’s fields are C F Teaming with new life F And I’m happy as a butter bean Am With the promise of all that’s green Bb And the moonshine sharpens C F My senses, like a knife Bb C But the trains tear out through Terre Haute F Dm Like a cattle stampede through hell Bb C While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley F Dm Like the ringing of a silver bell Bb C I’m wishing they would carry me home F Dm On the mist of a witch’s spell; Bb C Only those who have an empty heart F Dm Know the loneliness I’ve felt Bb C Like the cold steel of that railroad track Bb C F I’m bound by the things I build. G In the fall there comes a time Bm When the fruit of the pumpkin vine C Finally dies D G And withers away G I’d bet a dollar to a dime Bm That that next rail train is mine C D It’ll carry me back to the hills G Where I’ll stay C D But the trains tear out through Old Vincennes G Em Like a cattle stampede through hell C D While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley G Em Like the ringing of a silver bell C D I’m wishing they would carry me home G Em On the mist of a witches spell; C D Only those who have an empty heart G Em Know the loneliness I’ve felt C D Like the cold steel of that railroad track C D G I’m bound by the strings I weld. (8 bar break) (Bridge:) Am Bm I’m Hangin’ in the Heartland G Bm Em Keeping the steel beast on the track C D Wonderin’ if to you G I’ll ever get back A As the winter mist rolls in Dbm I look back to where I’ve been D E And I wonder, just how long A This gig will last A I see the memories that lie Dbm In the days that have gone by D E And the scenery and stations A That I’ve passed D E But the trains tear out through Evansville A F#m Like a cattle stampede through hell D E While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley A F#m Like the ringing of a silver bell D E I’m wishing they would carry me home A F#m On the mist of a witches spell; D E Only those who have an empty heart A F#m Know the loneliness I’ve felt D E Like the cold steel of that railroad track D E A I’m bound by the strings I weld. D E Like the cold steel of that railroad track D E A I’m bound by the things I build. (Outro) A/Dbm/D/E A/E/A

Old Austin Highway (David’s Lament) ©2005 Mahoney/Nathan Life's little dramas, hell life's a big drama I’ve seen a few, I’ll bet you have too But David well now, hell, he's seen ‘em all He'll say with a grin, tis no problem at all Just steer clear, of the next comin’ near Don’t swerve on a curve or spill half your beer. Aces hung high, everything’s gone wild Playin’ for keeps, Austin road style Swerving ‘tween the holes of that Old Austin highway Swervin’ on the shoulder for part of the way Bald tires and bad shocks, with a cracked windshield Doin the best ,with what our lives deal There’s a seedy old portion, toward Austin in motion Out of San Antone, towards Austin, a notion Folks get in trouble out there among the armadillos In motel no-tells and those dark shady villas Cause there’s dark shady dealins', amongst mixed up emotions. Nefarious intentions and a shuffled up stack Some people go there and come back a wreck, Some should have never gone but, aw what the heck? Chorus Still goin’ out there, though it ain’t right, Make it much later on, sometime tonight, Maybe for pleasure, maybe for spite. Some loose their soul, or get they get in a fight Some may come back, steerin’ all out of whack, So our friend David, well hell, he went on back Seems he had another amorous attack He lost his car and his soul but aw, what the heck? Bridge: On that Old Austin highway, his car did get stolen Fell off in a crack in the middle of the road God bless his soul. Chorus On that Old Austin highway, don’t ever let your car get stolen. Swallowed by a hole in the middle of the road God bless your soul God bless your soul

Songsmiths and Poets Copyright 2007 Robert Lindsay Nathan Here’s to the songwriters Bless their lovin’ hearts Getting’ stomped on and broken Generally torn all apart Here’s to the balladeers Bless their lovin’ hearts Livin’ stories to tell Spun up in their art Here’s to the troubadours Bless their lovin’ hearts Travelin’ and traipsing Living lives apart. Chorus: Songsmiths all Forging their wares Songsmiths call So much to share Songsmiths and poets Lived it then wrote it We’d never have known it Save the songsmiths and poets Bridge: So here’s to the writers of songs for our tears Poets and songsmiths, and lone balladeers Setting our hearts free, releasing our fears Here’s to those musicians, bending our ears

Moon Blues and Cowboy Tunes Copyright 1986 Robert Lindsay Nathan I’ve lived in Texas, and North Alabam From Mobile to Sheffield and Guntersville dam And it just don’t matter, wherever I am I love the sounds of a good country band Sounds like Waylon’s a wailin’ and Willie’s a whinin’ Bout honky tonk heros, and livin and dyin’ Sounds like lonely old critters that howl at the moon And lonely old cowboys, that sing out a tune. I’ve heard those old hound dogs , that howl at the moon. And seen lovely creatures, that hatch from cocoons But what of this creature that sings out a tune, As warm as a smile, in a crowded saloon Warm as Waylon’s a wailin’ and Willie’s a whinin’ Bout honky tonk heros, and livin and dyin’ Warm as sweet summers sunshine, and bootleggers moonshine And lonely old cowboys, that sing out a tune. I’ve lived in Texas, and North Alabam From Houston, to Austin, and out in Big Bend I’ve felt her old sunburn, heard the whip of her wind Bama my brother, meet Texas my friend Hear her Waylon’s a wailin’ and Willie’s a whinin’ Bout honky tonk heros, and livin and dyin’ Hear her lonely old critters that howl at the moon And her lonely old cowboys, that sing out a tune. Sing out Waylon’s a wailin and Willie’s a whinin; Bout honky tonk heros, bout livin & dyin’ My heart's still in Texas, a sippin’ Dos Equis But my souls in the Shoals, of North Alabam Yes my souls in the Shoals…...of North Alabam

Perdido Quay Copyright 1986 Robert Lindsay Nathan I had a cabana, south of Havana Down Columbia way Y un señorita, con mucho amor, Mucho amor por me. Caribbean sunrise, I’m caught by surprise, I feel a warm breeze I’m such a fool, for something that’s cool And so damn easy to please. Perdido Key. Why can’t I see? I know love has its cost, When the romance is lost, Perdido Key. Summer sunsets, slowly sail Slowly sail to the sea Pina colada, no tengo nada No tengo nada alli I’m contemplating, cogitating, About la senorita you see Should I be waiting, or hesitating Thinking that I ought to be free? (Chorus) Love’s a glimmer, see it shimmer, Warm as a tropical night Temperature's risin’, I’m agonizin’ How can it be wrong it feels right? Este sonido, esta perdido But tomorrow will be in my head I’ll pack up my things, put on my wings Head back to the states instead (Chorus)

INTRO: Let it go, and let it flow, said the river to the stream. Don’t know where it ends, life as such, it seems, Flows in a giant circle, as oceans turn to steam And rainfall in the forest, and yet, another dream. Verse 1: I know you've that been damaged, but from your wounds will grow New love from the scars of anger, if you’ll let it go. Until you turn it loose, you can never free. Let it go, let it grow, girl just let it be. CHORUS: Let it go, and let it flow, said the river to the stream. Don’t know where it ends, life as such, it seems, Flows in a giant circle, as oceans turn to steam And rainfall in the forest, becomes another dream. Let go of the heartaches, let go of the pain. Let go of the anger, driving you insane. Let go of the worry, regrets will turn to flame. Let it go, and let it flow, so you can love again. VERSE 2: All those little intimations, of the circumstance gone wrong. Ought to be the labor girl, which makes your heart so strong. Until you turn it loose, you can never free. Let it go, let it grow, girl just let it be. BRIDGE: I can take you far away, another place and time. Away from scenes remembered, and sounds that always rhyme But I can never take away, your reminiscent mind The Fire would surely leave, the spakle in your eyes Let go of the heartaches, let go of the pain. Let go of the anger, driving you insane. Let go of the worry, regrets will turn to flame. Let it go, girl, let it flow, so you can love again.

The Last Free Man Copyright September 5, 2014 Robert Lindsay Nathan The last free man Just look out where he stands On a busy street corner Displaying a cardboard sign With nothing to own And no one to owe There’s nothing he has left To be taken away. And no one can know Where he lays his head So there’s no place to aim For a stake or a claim By authority On the last free man. He’s the last free man On a corner with a cardboard sign Making one last stand Sayin’ “Slave, can you spare me a dime?” While the sheep all ran To the comfort of the debtor’s mine And the shepherds all feast On the burdens of their beasts And no one can know Where he lays his head So there’s no place to aim For a stake or a claim They own the law Not the last free man. By the authority Of the last free man.