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The Long Road

by Robert Lindsay Nathan

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1.
Sail Away 04:43
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Sail Away Copyright 1996 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: Cmaj7 Bbm7 Ab(Add G, Add D#) D D7 G Bm Am Bm G Bm Am Bm G Bm Am Bm Sail, (echo "sail" in harmony) G Bm Am Bm Sail Away G Bm Am Bm I can sail, (echo "sail" in harmony) G Bm Am Bm Sail away Like a bird up in the sky Or a delicate butterfly I can Sail Sail Away If the seas of life get rough I'll just smile and say "That's tough!" 'Cause I can Sail Sail Away I can sail (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away Sail (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away Like an eagle on the fly Or a cloud that's gliding by I can sail Sail away If the stress of life gets high And comes tumbling down from the sky I'll just sail Sail away Bridge Dm Cmaj7 Sail Away Bb E E7 Sail Away A Dbm Bbm DbM Sail, (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away Sail (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away Help me launch this weathered dingy Set the sails and they'll start singing "Sail away" In harmony We'll just look for calmer water Where the dolphin and sea otter Play all day Sail away Sail (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away We'll just sail (echo "sail" in harmony) Sail away
2.
Back Bar Blues 03:43
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Back Bar Blues Copyright 1972 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: C Am7 Am C Am7 Am C Am7 Am Low lights and Honky Tonks, C Am7 Am They’re what comfort me. D D7 Since the day you left me, F G You said you wanted to be free. Lonely Bars and whiskey, They make my eyesight dim, As I just sit here wonderin’ How the hell your getting long with him. Chorus: F C There’s nothing’ wrong with me, F C I just need some company. F C What made you that way? D G What made you want to leave that day? Now I’m so sad and lonely I feel so bad inside. Those painted ladies comfort me, They’ve taken all of my pride. When will I find another, Who walks and talks like you? When will I find that special girl To take away these blues? Chorus Low lights and Honky Tonks, They’re what comfort me. Since the day you left me, You said you wanted to be free. My only friend’s Jack Daniels, Occasionally Mary Jane. My blood shot eyes keep telling’ me Their both drivin’ me insane Chorus
3.
Calico Heart 03:59
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Calico Heart (Martha’s Song) Copyright 2007 Robert Lindsay Nathan, Gary Cross A Dbm Two stones that you gave me Bm E Will they save or enslave me? A A(add A#) What do they symbolize? Bm E Are they tears behind eyes? Two stones that you gave me Will the weight of them stay me? Should I carry them light? Like two torches at night? To frighten away All the sins we hold tight Never knowing can‘t empathize With tears behind eyes. D E I know it’s not near enough A F#m To earn your soft and tender touch D E D E But maybe for now, bare with me a while D E D E It’s as much as my Calico Heart, will allow A Dbm Bm E A A(add A#) Bm E Keep it locked away safe Like the face of the stones Nothing gets in Only cold from alone I speak only the truth Of flowers of youth My gem is now dust It’s sparkle now rust As this poetry pains me Your “slipper” sustains me So here’s one more try I’ll aim to explain me. Chorus Bridge: Dm7 Dbm Tell me how it is done Dm7 Dbm Melding two into one Bm B7 Like the heart made of stone E E7 In that song sung by Joan? Outro: D E I know it’s not near enough A F#m To earn your soft and tender touch D E D E But maybe for now, bare with me a while D E D F#m F7 It’s as much as my Calico Heart, will allow D E D E But maybe for now, bare with me a while D E D E It’s as much as my Calico Heart, will allow A Dbm Bm E A
4.
Colbert County Blues 03:25
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Colbert County Blues copyright 1994 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: modulate up(lead modulate down from F#9) G7/// G7/// G7/// G7/// C9/// C9/// G7/// G7/// D9// Db9 C9/// G7/// G#7 G7 G7 There's a place G7 Called Colbert County C9 It's just right south G7 South of Tennessee G7 It's the Heart G7 And home of Dixie C9 And some of that good ole' simple G7 Southern chivalry D9 C9 Where a southern belle and a Rebel yell G7 Go together like a country band playin' like hell, like this... modulate up(lead modulate down from F#9) G7/// G7/// G7/// G7/// C9/// C9/// G7/// G7/// D9// Db9 C9/// G7/// G#7 G7 Well I was raised In Colbert County On the Shoals of the river They call the Tennessee Where a friend Called southern music Was born And grew up with me Where Greg Allman's band and a group called Alabam Got together every now and then to record a jam, like this... modulate up(lead modulate down from F#9) G7/// G7/// G7/// G7/// C9/// C9/// G7/// G7/// D9// Db9 C9/// G7/// G#7 G7 Well if a die In Colbert County Just scatter my ashes In the river they call the Tennesse Cause there's no, no, no, no, no Place else but Texas That I'd Ever Ever want to be Where a blue tick hound and that southern sound Can be heard every evnin' when the sun goes down, like this.... modulate up(lead modulate down from F#9) G7/// G7/// G7/// G7/// C9/// C9/// G7/// G7/// D9// Db9 C9/// G7/// G#7 G7 Outro: D9// Db9 C9// Db9 D9// Db9 C9// Db9 D9// Db9 C9// /C9
5.
Don't Tell Me 03:04
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Don't tell me Copyright 1984 Robert Lindsay Nathan Cma7 Cma6 You said, Cma7 Cma6 The life that I love Cma7 Cma6 Can't be any better Cma7 Cma6 Than the one you had before Dmi7 Dmi6 Dmi7 Without me Dmi6 G13 G7#5b9 Cma9 Darlin' oh darlin', we'll just see But, I say Our love is the best Show me another That could ever stand the test Of the time we've shared The problems we've cared to see through Am So don't tell me E Am E Don't tell me that we're through Am E Am E Am Don't tell me I've gotta find someone new F C 'Cause this is the best that's ever been F Let's see it on though F G Until the end of time Well, you said The love that we;ve lived Can't be any better Than the love we've got to give We'll you know, it's no lie There's more to our lives than meets the eyes And nobody makes me Feel the way you do I always tingle From my head down to my shoes When I'm with you Darlin' I know you feel it too So don't tell me Don't tell me that we're through Don't tell me I've gotta find someone new 'Cause this is the best that's ever been Let's see it on though Until the end of time
6.
Down & Out in Dudeville 03:09
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Down and Out in Dudeville Copyright 2005 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: Dm G C Dm G C Am Em F G C I miss my home in Texas C G A place that I dearly love C I miss migas and beans for breakfast G G And her bluebonnet skies, above Dm G C If I could get off, this company tit, Dm G C And their drip fed bread, I’d take a long trip Am Em Back to my Texas hills and that wide open land F G With a song in my heart, and a Shiner in my hand! Well I miss my friends in Texas Folks that I truly love I miss lovin’ and livin’ that’s reckless It’s all I’ve been thinking’ of. I miss campfires and guitars on starry lit nights Banjos and fiddles, tuned and played right Rednecks and hippies, that howl at the moon For beefsteak and spuds, on the side with a tune! I miss my home in Texas A place that I dearly love I miss migas and beans for breakfast And her bluebonnet skies, above Now I’m lost here in Dudeville, feeling down and out In a hotel here in SoCal in the middle of a drought, Nobody knows me here, nobody cares When I sing my songs of Texas life, all I get are stares. So I miss my home in Texas A place that I dearly love I miss migas and beans for breakfast And her bluebonnet skies, above Break And I miss my friends in Texas Folks that I truly love I miss lovin’ and livin’ that’s reckless It’s all I’ve been thinking’ of. Those blue bonnet skies above Folks that I truly love
7.
Martyr's Song 03:25
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Martyr’s Song (Revisited from circa 1974) Copyright 2008 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: G C(addG) D G C D G (D C G D G) G C(addG) D G C D G G C(addG) All my friends say you’ve done me wrong D G But I know that’s not true. C D G (D C G D G) Yes, I’m the one who’s really hurting you. G C(addG) And I’m just out to hurt myself D G Wanting to love you, C D G Knowing you could never love me true Chorus: C D But now your’s gone and I’m hanging on G C To a memory of love Am7 D G Wondering if I could fall in love again C D I may be wrong to even write this song G C But just in case you hear Am D G I just wanted you to know that I still care I saw you just the other day Another by your side A hopless ghost of ego haunts my pride, (Alt1: No one could know how much it hurts inside Alt2: Another tear-storm tangles with my pride) Yes, I’m a fool for loving you And for feeling this way But I can’t help from wanting you every day Chorus Break Modulating Bridge: Dm7 C That’s the way love goes Bb E A Sharp as a thorn and soft, as a rose Outro (Chorus) D E Yes, now you’re gone and I’m hanging on A D To a memory of you D E A Wondering if I could fall in love again D E I may be wrong to even write this song A D But just in case you hear D E I just wanted you to know… D E That I still love you so D E I just wanted you to know F#m F#… That I still care D E I just wanted you to know A That I’m still here.
8.
Girl From The South 03:28
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Girl from the South Copyright 2004 Robert Nathan/James Mahoney C G Am Fm7 C G Am Fm7 Dm G C C She had a Southern slack jaw G And a long Texas drawl Am I knew she was my type F There was no, pretense or hype. C So we hit it off G And we hit it on Am And I found her by my side F When the moon went to sleep at dawn Chorus (follows each verse): C G Am Fm7 Oh,I love a Girl from the South C G Am Fm7 I love those Girls from the South C G Am Fm7 Gotta love those from the south Dm7 G C Now I could go on And I could go off on how She won’t egg me on She'll never beg or boss She just legs me on As we turn and we toss That slow talkin' girl With a back slidin' drawl She's a slow talking girl This gem from the south And her drawl it's like a pearl That slid from her mouth And her drawl is so slow That time stands quite still With no where to go Just flat out of will I’ll show you the way Where the bonnie belles play Maybe you’ll find one With a Southern slack jaw And a long Texas drawl And maybe you won’t So try not to bawl If even you don’t Find a slow talkin' girl With a back slidin' drawl She’ll make you beg, She’ll make you crawl And her drawl will be so slow That you’ll stand quite still With no where to go You’ll be, flat out of will Outro: Gotta have a girl Gotta love a girl Wanna squeeze a girl Gotta tease a girl Wanna please a girl Oh, I need a girl Have you told that girl, yeah Just wanna hold that girl? And - you - love - her - so.......
9.
My Mother's Smile 03:51
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My Mother's Smile Copyright 2004 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: C Em(7add C) Am7 Dm7 G C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G C Em7(add C) Am7 I was just a child, Dm7 G When first I saw My Mother's Smile C Em7(add C) Am7 When one time late at night, Dm7 G I woke up in a fitful fright F G From visions of that booger cow C Em7 (add C) Am7 Or some scary dream that slips me now F G C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G C Em7(add C) Am7 Dm7 G Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile I barely remember, when I was a kid The trouble I caused or mischief I did. My mother was there to console me When I stubbed my toe or I skinned my knee Comfort came in a little while From the warmth and the love of My Mother's Smile Yes, I remember, My Mother's Smile F G She had charm and she had grace C Am7 She had that sweet southern belle style F G She had warmth she had eclectic taste C Am7 And I’d walk a million miles, F G C If once more I could see, My Mother’s Smile One Halloween, I was in the third grade A Flying Purple Eater suit she made So I could trick or treat that night I left home, a frightful sight I look back after all this while And I'm followed by My Mother's Smile Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile Four month’s after her youngest child wed Before the air turned cool and the leaves turned red She left us on a Friday morn Our hearts bled, our souls were torn It took a while to reconcile It took the memory of My Mother's Smile Yes I remember, My Mother's Smile She had charm and she had grace She had that sweet southern belle style She had warmth she had eclectic taste And I’d walk a million miles, If once more I could see, My Mother’s Smile A year went by and the couple's first born Came into the world, cool waters turned warm I held her namesake in my arms Looked into the eyes of this tiny newborn It took a little while But I swear I saw My Mother's Smile Yes once more I can see My Mother's Smile She'll have charm and she'll have grace She'll have that sweet southern belle style She'll have warmth, she'll have eclectic taste And I'll walk those million miles, Cause once once more I can see My Mother's Smile Outro: Am My Mother's Smile F G C Yes once more I can see, My Mother's Smile
10.
Moments 03:25
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Moments Copyright 2005, Robert Lindsay Nathan C C(add G) C C(add D) Dm All the friends I’ve ever had G7 G7(add D) G7(add C) C Like slices from a loaf of bread C C(add G) C C(add D) Dm Have kept my searching spirit fed G7 G7(add D) G7(add C) C Sustaining this lonely life I’ve led Like diamonds in the shifting sands Or leaves that drift upon the winds Only God knows where it all will end Precious moments with our friends Chorus F G C So don’t let another minute pass F G C Since the one I remember was our last F G The insanity of the vanity C A7 Am That we hold in such esteem Dm7 Is just a ripple Dm7 G On an ocean of this dream So if your sails have lost the wind Think of me your long lost friend I’ll keep foul weather all at bay And guide you to a calmer day Storms behind us never last Like passioned colored petals they will pass To memories that never end From precious moments with our friends Chorus Repeat first Outro: Only God knows where it all will end Precious moments that we spend Fade
11.
Rumpelstilskin 04:08
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Rumpelstiltskin Men (Ode to the Grifters) Copyright 2010 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro G Em Bm G7(3) C Cm G G7 C Cm G Em Am7 D7sus D7 G C D G Em I just thought I’d mention Bm G7 Please pay your abject attention C Cm To the man behind the curtain G Em On this I’m fairly certain C D G C D He's a Rumpelstiltskin man He is no wizard of the ounce Stands idly by to spring and pounce On all your love and labor Grift you with a piece of paper. That Rumpelstiltskin man. C D Bankstesrs, pranksters, politicians G Em Advertise that they’re magicians C D Prognosticating as they stall Am7 D7sus D7 Their house of cards is doomed to fall. I knew something surely stank As I peered into that marbled bank For every Oz that I put in Wiz leveraged it from one to ten Those Rumpelstilskin men And then he turned behind my back And launched a clever sneak attack With the puppet politician He insured his lame positions. Those Rumpelstiltskin men Chorus G Em As Wiz’s leveraged Oz rolls in Bm G7 He’ll sow nothing and pretend C Cm The pyramid will never end G Em These neo Rumpelstiltskin men C Cm That’s the slant that Wiz will spin G Em Don’t bank on Wiz he is no friend C D G C D Those Rumpelstiltskin men G Em Bm G7 Somewhere, under their house C Cm G G7 Of cards there’s glue C Cm G Em Binding puny paper props Am7 D7sus D7 G C D With I Owe You’s G It wouldn’t be my fault C If I became John Galt C D C5add9 Ab G So why oh why don’t you?
12.
Mr. Clark 03:56
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My Hero Mr. Clark Copyright 2005 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: C(add G) C C(add D) C Dm Dm(drop F) Dm G7 Gm7 G7 Gm7 G6 C C(add F) C(add G) C(add G) C C(add D) C Dm Dm(drop F) Dm G7 Gm7 G7 Gm7 G7 Gm7 G7 G Gm7 Gm6 C C(add G) C C(add D) C If a genie jumped from a bottle Dm Dm(drop F) Dm To grant me just one wish G7 Gm7 G7 Gm7 G6 I would not ask for a million bucks C C(add F) C(add G) Or anything so foolish I wouldn’t ask for material things Or a hedonistic lark I’d only ask for a circle of song G Gm7 Gm6 C With My Hero Mr. Clark F Play em all just one more time C About that old gray cat on the wall G7 Or Texas 1947 C C7 And that diesel cannonball F I’m never too old for Coat from the Cold C I love the song you call The Dark G7 Play em all just one more time C My Hero Mr. Clark I'd listen to a couple of his Maybe play a couple of mine And ask him what he thought of my verse And it’s meter and it’s rhyme And wind it all up with Amazing Grace At a designated time Or maybe a verse of My Mother's Smile Would make the evening so fine Bridge Am I can see them all so clear, Em The people, things and places that he holds so dear, Dm7 This troubadour has made his mark G7 Our Hero Mr. Clark Break Play it just one more time About that old gray cat on the wall Or Texas 1947 And that diesel cannonball I’m never too old for Coat from the Cold I love the song you call The Dark Play em all just one more time My Hero Mr. Clark If a genie jumped from a bottle To grant me just one wish I would not ask for a million bucks Or anything so foolish I wouldn’t ask for material things Or a hedonistic lark I’d only ask for a circle of song With My Hero Mr. Clark I’d only ask for a circle of song With My Hero Mr. Clark
13.
Second Hand Lions 04:09
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Second Hand Lions Copyright 2005 R Nathan/J Mahoney Intro: Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C C You know I'm gonna come around Em When I’m really cranky and old Dm7 Looking for a drunken old night G Where memories unfold Of remember whens and thems Mistaken mistakes and unfettered sins. Tales of stuff we might never had done Places we went had so much fun (Add one measure in G then rest) Where pot bellied pickers And sharp city slickers On wooden dance floors Worn out by shit kickers Find gals in tight pants And guys gettin tight They all wind up rantin' Late into the night Tellin' tall tales of Texas These tall tastes of Texas Livin' crazy things done Some just begun Soon to be, Second Hand Lions They'll all be reminiscing With their second hand dreams And the youth that they're missin' Chorus Dm7 G C Ahhh, Second Hand Lions Dm7 G C Playin' forty-two and moon F G C Am As our dominos all shuffle ` F G C In this game, that's ending all too soon Bridge: Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C And with a little luck, From the tailgate of a pick-up truck, Parked backed to a fire at camp We’ll lay one down that's dark and damp. With a melody so sweet and pale Driftin’ through the air like scented ale Warms the soul and sooths the flesh With wicked words so cool and fresh. (Add one measure in G then rest) About unrealized dreams And old unhatched schemes We’re too proud to live And too poor to die. So we've got to unite And stay up all night Lay it all down, Then pick it back up, Like that rusty old pickup truck That never get's stuck We'll know just where to go With our load of rhythm and blues in tow Chuggin’ down that road That we call yesterday, Tomorrow my friend We'll play those surly songs again About us, Second Hand Lions Playin' forty-two and moon As our dominos all shuffle In this game, that's ending all too soon Bridge: Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C Break Chorus Ahhh, Second Hand Lions Playin' forty-two and moon As our dominos all shuffle In this game, that's ending all too soon Outro: In this game, that's ending all too soon Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm slide Em Dm C
14.
The Long Road 03:40
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The Long Road (All Along) Copyright 2005 Robert Lindsay Nathan Intro: Cm7 Cm7(add D) Fm7 Fm7(Add D) Cm7 Cm7(add D) Fm7 Fm7(Add D) Cm7 Cm7(add D) I paid off all my debts Fm7 Fm7(Add D) With a lifetime of regrets. Cm7 Cm7(add D) And I called in all my bets, Fm7 Fm7(Add D) On a dream I ain’t had yet. Dm G And I hit the open road C Am With a pocket full, of empty songs Dm G And I told all my friends C Am That I wouldn’t be gone to awfully long. Dm7 G But my disjointed destiny C Am Knows I’m crazy and I don’t belong Dm G You should’a been with me all along So I sit here once again With paper and a pen And no rhyme to begin Or story line to spin What could be worse, My languishing life or chaotic verse? And what came first, This random route or cantonic curse? When a candle burns at both ends No one knows where the story begins You should’a been with me all along Bridge: Am Em Somewhere on the open range Am Em I began to feel a little strange Dm7 G The cactus spoke; said “you need to change” Am Em I felt my spirit rearrange So all it took at best Was this unplanned trip into the west As the dry air filled my chest A finally felt my soul at rest I'd found a new verse And it's melody began to burst All about A new beginning I began to shout If a candle burns at both ends Slice it though; a new story begins I should’a left you long ago Outro: Cm7 Cm7(add D) Fm7 Fm7(Add D) Cm7 Why‘d I keep your memory so damn long?. Cm7 Cm7(add D) Fm7 Fm7(Add D) Cm7
15.
The Builder 03:36
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The Builder (Shelter Me) Copyright Robert Lindsay Nathan C If you’re wondering why I haven’t written Em Em(addF#,G) Or why I haven’t bothered to call, F It’s not that I’ve lost my feelings for you Dm Or the fact that we’ve ended it all G I’ve been building a fortress of stone Am Around the hope that’s left in my life F And every course that I’ve laid, is a year that I’ve paid G Wondering if my plans could be right Am And the roof will keep out the weather Am G F And the windows will keep out the wind F Em Dm And the dreams that I keep, on the daytime of sleep G Will help this old worn heart to mend So if you’re wondering why I haven’t written Or why I haven’t bothered to call It’s not that I, sit alone and cry Behind this psycho-traumatic wall I’ve been building a fortress of stone Around the hope that’s left in my life And the warmth that’s inside, is what’s left of my pride That your tongue carved away like a knife. And the roof will keep out the weather And the windows will keep out the wind And the door to my past, I can never unlatch Lest the beasts of the night crawl in Shelter me from the weather Shelter me from the wind Shelter me from, all the things that I’ve done Shelter me from what might have been Shelter me from the weather Shelter me from the wind Shelter me from, all that I have become Shelter me from all I have been Oh shelter me……

about

Available in CD format: www.cdbaby.com/cd/robertlindsaynathan2

As the title reflects, this record has been some forty years in the works.

Even though it got put off all these years, it's been number one on my bucket list of things to do; create a studio quality work with world class musicians. I was so lucky to have been advised by my good friend Gary Cross to seek out Mark Hallman and his Congress House Studio in South Austin to produce this work. Mark had the contacts that were needed and the team came together into something that I never dreamed could be.

We started recording in the Fall of 2009 and then had to abruptly stop in the Spring of 2010 as my funding for the project had to be diverted to problems that I was having with the IRS. It took all of five years to resolve this. Finally, in the fall of 2015, I was back on my feet and we concluded the work in the spring of 2016.

Looking back on it all, I don't think that I would have had such a good result had this project been completed 20 years ago. I didn't have the confidence, maturity or experience and I certainly wasn't in the right place.

If you bought my self produced release of San Diego Sessions (recorded in a hotel room in San Diego), you will find several songs from that album on this release. These tracks on The Long Road are much more polished versions.

The Long Road album includes 15 tracks including one hidden bonus track. There is something for everyone here, including one song with a Caribbean/Latin flavor, several folk ballads, a southern rock/blues piece and a country swing song.

And one song for mama.

Enjoy.

RLN - March 30, 2016

PS, I hope to release the CD version within a couple of months of this digital release. Stay tuned to this page for future updates and edits.

credits

released April 15, 2016

Recorded at The Congress House Studio
congresshouse.com

Production and final mixing and mastering by Mark Hallman congresshouse.com/mark-hallman/

Engineering by Andre Moran
congresshouse.com/andre-moran/

Assistant Engineering by John Pearson

Album cover design by Emily Shirley emilyshirley.bandcamp.com

“Hawg–Eye and the Booger Cow” painting for the album cover by eRic Luplow ericluplow.com

Here's the story behind the painting. I asked eRic to paint it for me because the elements contained in it have a lot of meaning to me.

The jeep is a 1948 Willis that from came from my great grandfather's farm in Hendersonville, Tennessee. My dad inherited it from his estate. I spent many evenings with my dad over the years out in the garage working on it. I think the engine was rebuilt at least three times. When we lived in Muscle Shoals, it would take us bird hunting, camping and many excursions to our property out on the south shore of Lake Wilson.

In the late sixties our family moved to Houston and dad eventually acquiesced to letting me drive it to school and using it to deliver news papers in the affluent Memorial drive area of Houston. Needless to say, it was a little out of place with all the high end vehicles but all the kids in school wanted one nevertheless.

Rob Walker, one of my high school friends, one day brought a hood ornament which we affixed to the tow bar on the front. It was a steer skull that he had brought back from a hunting trip in the Texas pan handle. Rob had named the Jeep "Hawg-Eye", after the license plate that was affixed to the front which said "Who is Hawg Eye?". The answer to that question is that he was a political candidate in North Alabama who handed out license tags as part of his campaign.

My brother Larry, who inherited the privilege to drive it while I was off to college at Texas A&M re-named it "Baby Doll".

But the story doesn't end there.

In the early nineties I returned from a job assignment in Kuwait and wound up working on a couple of projects in northwest the Alabama area near Muscle Shoals. It allowed me to be back with my family. Larry and his kids were living there and I got to spend a lot of time with them.

There was a time during this period that Parker, Larry's youngest son, was having nightmare's about something he called "The Booger Cow". We had no idea what he could be so afraid of. He was so young still learning to walk. One Sunday, on our way to church, I was carrying Parker out to the car and was making my way through the garage when Parker pointed to an object on the wall and said "Booger Cow". He was pointing to the old cow skull that had been on the jeep.

The Christmas of 2014, Parker gave me the skull as a Christmas gift and it now resides on the wall of my porch at my Phish Kamp near Canyon Lake. A hungry squirrel chewed on one of the horns this past winter, but it's character has not been diminished.

The old jeep has been pretty much retired for the last few years at my sisters farm near Franklin, Tennessee.

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Robert Lindsay Nathan Canyon Lake, Texas

Robert Lindsay (Bama) Nathan was born in New Orleans on September 24, 1952. He was raised in Muscle Shoals Alabama and formally educated in Texas (Gig 'em Aggies). He has been writing songs since the early 1970's and has circled the globe playing them.

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