1. |
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VERSE 1
Must have been half the town lined along the creek
The preacher dunked the baby and Momma kissed her cheek
Christened her one of us, the strong and the proud
That’s the kind of thing that gets passed down
VERSE 2
Neighbors hung and shook their heads as little Janie grew
She’d kick back by the barrel with the boys drinking booze
Momma warned “That bottle put your daddy in the ground”
And that’s the kind of thing that gets passed down
BRIDGE
And don’t she have Daddy’s eyes?
Dark shiny opals full of pride
Does her best by God to stay clean
But don’t she got the trouble gene
VERSE 3
Mama kept the doors locked and kept the gun unpinned
But damn if that boy didn’t sneak and find a way in
Nine months later Janie borrowed Grandma's Christening gown
And that’s the kind of thing that gets passed down
BRIDGE
And don’t she have Daddy’s eyes?
Dark shiny opals full of pride
Does her best by God to stay clean
But don’t she got the trouble gene
TAG
Must have been half the town lined along the creek
The preacher dunked the baby and Momma kissed his cheek
And that's the kind of thing that gets passed down
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2. |
Move On
03:07
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VERSE 1
He says he’ll change but change is like a mountain
He swears he has the guts to overcome
He holds you close and begs you not to doubt him
Your leaving words dissolve upon your tongue
CHORUS
Move on
Move on
VERSE 2
And so his angel wings quickly grew in
And he was charming for a week or two
But now more than a promise has been broken
Makeup cannot hide what he's done to you
CHORUS
Move on
Move on
BRIDGE
Hold your breath, count to ten
Take a step, step again
Get in the car, shift to drive
Hit the gas, don’t waste time
CHORUS
Move on
Move on
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3. |
Teddy
03:30
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VERSE 1
On family night out
We left the dog at home
When we pulled back in the drive
He watched through the window
We knew he’d been a bad boy
From the guilty look he wore
And the stuffing strewn across the floor told the story
When we opened up the door
CHORUS
We found Teddy in the backyard
On the woodpile near the shed
We found Teddy missing parts
Poor Teddy lost his head
VERSE 2
My daughter cried and cried
For her most beloved friend
I explained his body died
But that his soul was in heaven
Carefully we scooped up the body
Dug a hole by the tree
Said a prayer and placed headless Teddy
Next to armless Raggedy Andy
CHORUS
We found Teddy in the backyard
On the woodpile near the shed
We found Teddy missing parts
Poor Teddy lost his head
BRIDGE
Next time I saw a guy driving with a dog beside him
I nodded his way to say “I know”
How dogs love to stir up trouble
If you don’t take them when you go
CHORUS
We found Teddy in the backyard
On the woodpile near the shed
We found Teddy missing parts
Poor Teddy lost his head
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4. |
Life Begins Right Here
02:50
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VERSE 1
I know your work is never done
And that you hate to leave ends untied
But I’m all alone and I’m waiting
Baby it’s Friday night
A 12-hour day and 8-hour pay
Are just two reasons not to stay
And I could make you see
If you were here with me
CHORUS
By the tiki torch on our little porch
With a cooler full of beer
Get off the phone, get your ass home
Life begins right here
VERSE 2
Can't you just smell the burning coals?
The jasmine vine and lime
Buddy's bringing shrimp right off the boat
He says they'll be right on time
Tell the boss no, say you gotta go
There’s more to do than he’ll ever know
There’s a can to crack
And some kickin back
CHORUS
By the tiki torch on our little porch
With a cooler full of beer
Get off the phone, get your ass home
Life begins right here
BRIDGE
When we look back at all we’ve done
I wanna see a whole lot of fun
A 12-hour day and 8-hour pay
Are just two reasons not to stay
And I could make you see
If you were here with me
CHORUS
By the tiki torch on our little porch
With a cooler full of beer
Get off the phone, get your ass home
Life begins right here
TAG
Barefoot on the sun-baked wood
The dancing kicks in gear
Our lazy hound and good friends around
Life begins right here
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5. |
A Crooked Road
03:46
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A Crooked Road
By Becca Bessinger ©2014
VERSE 1
My father’s cousin, Abraham, left home at sixteen
Left that wooden shack with the front porch sagging and leaning
Left his mama to rock her chair all day with a head full of demons
He learned one thing about life there – it’s silent or it’s screaming
He cried when he said goodbye
But he knew he had to go
CHORUS
Abraham walked away down a crooked road, a crooked road
All he had and all he knows is a heavy load and a crooked road
VERSE 2
Abraham made a family and I grew up with his daughters
As little girls we often saw him spread out on the floor with empty bottles
We never heard the voices that grew louder as he fought 'em
His wife was barely spared as the rocking chair hit the wall at full throttle
He cried when he said goodbye
But he knew he had to go
CHORUS
Abraham walked away down a crooked road, a crooked road
All he had and all he knows is a heavy load and a crooked road
BRIDGE
When his grandson came along he tried to get clean
Swore to be a better man than what his kids had seen
But he missed it all
Painted dreams, throwing ball
For the hug of alcohol
CHORUS
Abraham walked away down a crooked road, a crooked road
All he had and all he knows is a heavy load and a crooked road
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6. |
Not Forgotten
04:20
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VERSE 1
I see clothes pins holding a sundress of indigo
I almost see you with your basket bending low
I know the sun baked your face as you hung linen sheets
Sheets that never made a bed for you to lay your swollen cheek
CHORUS
You used to sing mournful, soulful hymns
In my home town, when this land was all cotton
I can still hear your voice ride on the wind
And I promise you, you are not forgotten
VERSE 2
Kids now play around abandoned relics of the farm
Laughing and climbing, tugging on the wood plow arm
That old plow holds memories your family carried
Now salted and rusted, broken and half-buried
CHORUS
You used to sing mournful, soulful hymns
In my home town, when this land was all cotton
I can still hear your voice ride on the wind
And I promise you, you are not forgotten
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Becca Bessinger Charleston, South Carolina
I write songs that I hope other artists will sing. But they also mean a lot to me! This EP is a 6-song collection of the ones that mean the most right now. I also perform locally sometimes as part of an original, cow-pop band called Satellite Rodeo and as part of an original duo called The Letter Show. This collection of recordings is my first solo record. Thanks for listening! ... more
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