Lyrics

 

1.Viva Las Nowhere

Viva las nowhere. You know I have been there.

This is the place of whatever, who cares.

Viva las nowhere. We can’t stay here.

Riding the wild rapids of our tears.

But if you give me five minutes, I will give you forever.

Beyond the ghost-filled silo and the wounded river.

 

And I feel the silence in the day.

All the streets go one way.

But it’s the wrong kind of silence here.

Like everybody wants to disappear.

Beyond the rusted wagon wheel.

into the heart of steel.

 

Viva las nowhere. There’s nothing for us here.

We know there’s something better out there.

The religion of your body in this palace of time.

We can’t stay here dreaming on a highway dime.

 

See the red and blue banners above the used car dealer.

They flicker in a dying wind. We know a way to begin again.

Beyond the rusted wagon wheel. Beyond these hearts of steel.

Viva las nowhere.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

2. New York City is Paradise #2 

She said, “Not at all, listen to me, Jimmy.

I wouldn’t be tempted by any other city.

I’ve lived all over the U.S.A.

San Francisco. Galveston Bay.

Boston, Austin. New Orleans.

Chicago and everywhere in between.

Beautiful cities. All very nice.

But if you like your honey on the edge of a knife,

New York City is paradise.”

 

Every morning, no matter the weather,

she watches the sun rise over the East River.

Steam from her coffe rising to her face.

Waves of worry. Waves of grace.

14 apartments, 3 broken hearts.

That skinny little grifter really broke it all apart.

She rides the see-saw of virtue and vice.

“If you like your honey on the edge of a knife.

New York City is paradise.”

 

She said, “New York City’s like a giant instrument.

You gotta keep learning how to play it.

Or it plays you. And that won’t do.

You’ll wind up a ghost on the mighty avenues.

If you learn to dance between the dots on the dice.

New York City is paradise.”

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

 

3. The Tide of Love

In an overgrown meadow I found a rusty halo.

And I picked it up and I kicked it.

‘Cause I thought it was a fottball. I thought it was a football.

Sometimes I have terrible vision.

Well it went very high into the clear blue sky.

Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.

 

And when the tide of love,

when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

When the tide of love, when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

 

I thought you were a mermaid. I thought you were a lifeguard.

I didn’t know you were the whole ocean.

And I threw away the road map to your affections.

Oh, please forgive me.

 

For when the tide of love,

when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

When the tide of love, when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

 

I know the uniform of the enemy. It’s the uniform on my body.

And I’m out here somewhere deep in the night.

Singing for you this phantom melody.

 

For when the tide of love,

when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

When the tide of love, when the tide of love is coming in.

I cannot swim.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

4. Vanessa the Vegan Murderess

Vanessa the Vegan Murderess.

She’s the kind of gal doesn’t like much fuss.

She has a little bit of poison. But she takes no joy in

turning purveyors into prey.

 

Fast Henry, the Butcher? He’s gone, yes, he’s gone.

He’s hanging in his meat locker. He’s gone, yes he’s gone.

She slipped a little poison into his tea as he turned around

to slice some salami last Tuesday.

 

Vanessa the Vegan Murderess.

she’s the kind of gal you can trust.

Though you may not agree with her philosophy,

she feels she has integrity.

 

Mabel, the Ol’ Fishmonger? She’s gone, yes, she’s gone.

She was srong the poison was stronger.

she’s gone, yes, she’s gone.

Floating in the sea was her baseball cap.

They found her remains in a lobster trap, that’s that!

 

Vanessa the Vegan Murderess,

I can tell yo first hand, she was delicious.

How would I know? You say, “How would I know?”

They call me “Wild-Eyed Cannibal Joe.”

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

5. Your Complicated Soul

Baby, sometimes, your so cold.

Baby, sometimes, your so cold.

But I always will love

your compicated soul.

 

It’s true, it’s true, every story has been told.

It’s true, it’s true, every story has been told.

Right now I’m telling the one

all about your complicatd soul.

 

There are four seasons,

some are hot some are cold.

There are four seasons,

some are hot some are cold.

For me it’s always the season

of lovin’ your complicated soul.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

6. Lake 48

I see a parade of people walking down the road.

All of these people are more or less alone.

All going down to where life is great.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

There’s tennis court lady with her gin and tonic

walking past the sign that has nothing written on it.

And a street preacher with his tattered bible.

And a young lawyer who sued himself for libel.

All going down to where life is great.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

There’s the tavern owner with his mug of pewter.

And a retired ballerina with her laptop computer.

I see the strides of a New York City nurse.

Who carries a .22 in her alligator purse.

All going down to find the beauty of the way.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

And my Uncle Harry in his alcohol dream.

His battered prayer knocking against the church roof beam.

There’s the lady who’s sure that all that glitters is gold.

And she’s asking you for some change or a blanket because it’s very cold.

All going down to kiss the savior’s face.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

Those who worry all the time about time, end up at Lake 49.

There’s artificial wind in an artificial heaven

when you end up at Lake 47.

It’s hard to be sure. There are no brochures.

Somebody may try and sell you a ticket, but the tickets are bogus.

Custer bought one from Crazy Horse. Crazy Horse laughs.

He thinks about this as he serves the ball to Moses.

 

Many of the world’s great rebels are fishing at the lake.

At dawn a small council of saints stand on the hillside with rakes.

They sing that old city folk song, it goes, “How does it feel?”

As Our Lady of Carbon Sorrows is dancing in the beautiful fields.

 

All going down to where the Great Spirit waves.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

But you and me, baby, we didn’t make it down to that lake.

We didn’t have the kind of stride it takes, that much is clear.

What we thought was “love” was really just a bad idea.

We had all the wrong maps, a broken compass, and bad weather.

Maybe one day I’ll see you down there.

But we won’t get there together.

All going down to see the sky’s changing face.

All going down to breathe the blessings of the day.

All going down to Lake 48.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

7. Last Summer

Last Summer I paid attention

at the opening and the closing of everyday.

Last Summer I felt no tension at the opening

and the closing of everyday.

 

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

 

Last Summer someone made mention of prayer

and the danger of drowning in a dream.

Last Summer I I flet no tension at the taking in

and the letting go of every breath.

 

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

 

Last Summer my little darlin’ kissed me

in the soothing breeze.

Last Summer I felt the wind come

and open every part of me.

 

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

Ears I’m all, eyes I’m all… I’m all sensation.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

8. When the Machine Tells You No

Your mind feels slapped your body feels trapped

When the machine tells you no.

Like a dart in your heart, a dog with no bark.

When the machine tells you no.

 

All your thoughts crash right into

All of the words that are there before you.

White background, letters are blue.

“It’s always a plesaure to serve you.”

 

Where do you go, what do you know?

When the machine tells you no.

There’s no one to blame in a hungry ghost game.

when the machine tells you no.

 

ll your thoughts crash right into

All of the words that are there before you.

White background, letters are blue.

“It’s always a plesaure to serve you.”

 

Sometimes wandering is enough.

Sometimes, nothing but rain on the road

that leads to love.

 

Where do you go, what do you know?

When the machine tells you no.

Is there someone to blame in a hungry ghost game?

when the machine tells you no.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

9. Mama, I Hate to See Your Spirit Fade

 

Mama I hate to see your spirit fade.

Maybe I’ve been blind along the way.

Here I’ll make this vow: I’ll have eyes like an owl.

Maybe I’ve been blind along the way.

 

Mama what is it that your trying to say?

Maybe I didn’t listen the right way.

But if you think it’s relevent,

I’ll have eyes like an elephant.

Mama, I wanna hear what you have to say.

 

Mama I hate to see your spirit fade.

Oh, Mama I hate to see your spirit fade.

Like a mourning dove at dawn,

I will sing you this song,

“Mama I hate to see your spirit fade.”

 

No man can be happy

if the one he loves is feeling low down.

Better make it snappy boy, there’s no guarantee

that the spirit of love will stick around.

 

Mama I want to see your spirit rise.

Always feels like a blessing for my eyes.

To see you in full color, a beauty like no other.

Mama I want to see your spirit rise.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

10. When the Devil Comes Callin’

When the devil comes callin’, don’t you answer the door.

As far as he’s concerned, you don’t live here any more.

 

If you try to sneak a little peak through that door,

his cloven hoof comes right and it’s over, for sure.

 

So keep movin’! Like an axe to the wood, keep movin’!

Stay about your business.

When the devil comes callin’. Is that understod?

 

When the devil comes callin’, don’t you answer the door.

As far as he’s concerned, nobody lives here any more.

 

Though he wears a suit of fire, his fingers are ice cold!

With one hand on your head, while th eother reaches for yor soul.

 

You keep movin’! Like an axe to the wood, keep movin’!

Stay about your business.

When the devil comes callin’. Is that understod?

 

When the devil comes callin’, don’t you answer the door.

As far as he’s concerned, you don’t live here any more.

 

You’ve no need to fear it. No way he can break your spirit.

When the devil comes callin’, you act like you don’t hear it.

 

You keep movin’! Like an axe to the wood, keep movin’!

Stay about your business.

When the devil comes callin’. Is that understod?

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

11. True Love is Hard Work

Why love, do you walk away? When you know of all the reasons to stay?

I know you’ve searched and searched through the long night.

I know you’ve searched and searched. True love is hard work.

 

You say you don’t want to realize only when it is too late.

I know you’ve searched and searched through the long night.

I know you’ve searched and searched. True love is hard work.

 

You study a series of lost lovers. You discover ways you were untrue.

Or when you were true you discover they were false to you.

But the time is coming soon for you to answer the bell.

And the wonders that await you there, no tongue could tell.

 

You’re not going to live forever. And wouldn’y it be a shame

if you’d be the one to blame if you never knew love’s treasures?

know you’ve searched and searched through the wrong night.

I know you’ve searched and searched. True love is hard work.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

12. New Rebel Girl

 

Oh New Rebel girl… Oh new rebel girl.

New Rebel Girl, well I’m on a quest to find you.

New Rebel Girl, help me see the beauty I’ve been blind to.

Help me see all I need to kno wfrom below and from above.

And the dirty tricks of politics that have no breath of love.

Oh New Rebel girl… Oh new rebel girl.

New Rebel Girl, on a dusty road in Pakistan.

New Rebel Girl, hunted by the Taliban.

They board the bus, they shout her name,

they shoot her, then they run.

They wanna kill a girl whose only crime

was wanting an education.

New Rebel girl… Oh new rebel girl.

New Rebel Girl, you may be rich, you may be poor.

New Rebel girl, hand me down clothes or Christian Dior.

From the hallways of government to a shanty town by the riverside.

Look out ladies! Look out gents! Rebel Girls, arise!

Oh New Rebel girl… Oh new rebel girl.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

13. I Can’t Be the One

 See her sittin’ there by the stairway.

Lookin’ like a leafless tree in the month of May.

It’s time she come out of her emotional cemetery

she’s been digging. Her sad heart is buried.

 

But I can’t be the one. No, I can’t be the one.

To help her mend her nest.

Don’t you know she once ripped my heart

right out of my chest.

Oh no. Oh no.

 

She her as she glides by the table.

I will go speak to her when I feel able.

Oh, such grace. Why does she look so pained.

What’s been happening to her?

Why is her spirit in chains?

 

But I can’t be the one. No, I can’t be the one.

To help her mend her nest.

Don’t you know she once ripped my heart

right out of my chest.

Oh no. Oh no.

 

I don’t believe our eyes will ever look into each other’s eyes,

The way we once did. Never again

She was like I was and I was like she was.

Standing in the wrong line

at the carnival of love.

 

But I can’t be the one. No, I can’t be the one.

To help her mend her nest.

Don’t you know she once ripped my heart

right out of my chest.

Oh no. Oh no.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

14. Soldier Of Sin

Whiskey, wine, and women. I’m a soldier for sinnin’.

Tried to be a soldier of love.

I wasn’t successful. I’m not regretful.

I do what I’m capable of.

 

There are snakes in the hillside.

Eels in the deep blue sea.

Nothing can stop the way or will inside of me.

 

Soldier of Sin. I only know how to begin.

And the war it never ends. And the war it never ends,

And, hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

Hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

 

I like my honeys better than money.

You need a little money to get a little honey.

Got my hnad in the hive, I talk some jive.

I f I get stung I feel alive.

 

There are snakes in the hillside.

Eels in the deep blue sea.

Nothing can stop the way or will inside of me.

 

oldier of Sin. I only know how to begin.

And the war it never ends. And the war it never ends,

And, hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

Hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

 

A hooker needs a dollar, a priest needs a collar.

A wolf needs a moon, so he can holler.

The grass needs rain, a player needs a game.

Here we go with that old refrain.

 

There are snakes in the hillside.

Eels in the deep blue sea.

Nothing can stop the way or will inside of me.

 

Soldier of Sin. I only know how to begin.

And the war it never ends. But I love the way the road bends.

And, hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

Hey love? I’ll show you new love, I’ll show ya…

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

15. Wandering Heart

Wandering heart. Why do you roam far away from your home?

See the sunbeams reach through the dawn.

Just like my arms reach for you all night long.

 

Wandering heart. I know you’re gone.

Nothing I can do know. Except try to move on.

 

My friends try to tell me things. But I don’t think they see.

What losing your love is doing to me.

 

It’s cold in town. Don’t think I’ll go.

Down to the bar. Just to feel more alone.

 

And the wild dove, the wild dove has pulled the masks away.

They say it’s love. They say it’s love…love will light our way.

 

Wandering heart. Go on and roam.

One day you’re gonna have to bring

Your wanderin’ heart home.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

16. Rock and Roll is Natural Thing

Rock and roll is a natural thing.

None of us would be here without that swing.

Ancient rhythms in your soul.

Feel it now. You gotta let it go.

Let it sway, let it swing.

Rock and roll is a natural thing.

 

Molly said meet her at Black Oak Hill.

A mile past the quarry there’s a whiskey still.

“We’ll find our own sweet shalimar.

Under the gospel of the stars.

Come on boy, let me hear you sing!

Rock and roll is a natural thing.”

 

Slim Shady on the Bowery headed downtown.

He hears a mighty cough, he turns around.

Shivering Stephen Foster is there.

He says “Shady we could make quite a pair.

I got a bloody banjo. You got rhymes that sing.

Rock and roll is a natural thing.”

 

I’ve been down and I’ve been low.

About as low as a man can go.

I heard “Nadine” on the radio.

My heart says “Go! Go man go!”

 

There’s a silver moon shining bright.

It’ll be a hot time in the hot town tonight.

Kiss me darlin’ with your tender lips.

The full moon in your heart and the ocean of your hips.

Let’s find out what the night can bring!

Rock and roll is a natural thing.

 

17. Lazy Man

Lazy man, lazy man. All day long.

Don’t feel like doin’ anything at all.

 

Where’s your ball? Where’s your ball?

I ask the dog. He just keeps sleepin’

in the shade on the lawn.

 

Lazy man with worried mind.

Tryin’ to slip into the honey of Summertime.

 

I could call you. That would be my doom.

I know your with that executive

in his new air conditioned three bedroom.

 

The sun gives light. The sun, it burns.

Just like love. And that’s about all I’ve learned.

 

Lazy man, with a strong memory.

Trying to learn to let it all be.

 

Lazy man, lazy man. All day long.

 

words & music by Tom Shaner copyright 2015 Gentleman Drifter Music (ASCAP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Real or Get Gone EP