FYC – Calling Long Distance

For Your Consideration – The Hitman Blues Band New Release

Best Contemporary Blues Album

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Photo: Graham Hutton

Song list:
1. We’re Gonna Party Tonight – When the going REALLY gets tough, there’s only one thing to do – throw a party!

2. Calling Long Distance – What do you do when you have to reach someone, even after they’ve passed? Call VERY long distance!

3. Edge Of The Bed – If you’ve ever shared a bed with a “bed hog” (spouse, kids, pets) then you’ve LIVED this song.

4. Blood Alley – A surf/blues instrumental in the style of Link Wray/Dick Dale. This is THE BOMB!

5. Folsom Prison Blues – The classic song by the Man In Black, but done as a great slow blues.

6. Side Pocket For A Toad – One of my favorite beers in the world is made by Tring Breweries in Tring, UK. “Side Pocket For A Toad” is an archaic expression that means “pretty worthless”. After all, what would a toad do with a sidepocket?!?

7. Foolish Pride – Sometimes a minor argument can take on a life of its own, with an estrangement as a possible end. Money, politics, trust, whatever the cause – but sometimes it just comes down to foolish pride.

8. I Know You Rider – Based on the traditional song, with updated words and a completely changed melody and chords.

9. Back To The Blues – Sometimes we think we’re being clever, running our hustles and grifts and convincing ourselves we’ve “pulled it off”.  But sooner or later, it catches up with you.  And then you may find yourself getting back to the blues.

10. Watch That Thing! – Especially when it starts to swing!

11. Sunday Morning Coming Down – Kris Kristofferson’s first big hit, when it was performed by Johnny Cash. Our version is nothing like the original, but I felt it was – at its heart – always a blues song.

12. Wide Old River – Coming from traditional “field hollers” or work songs, this is a modernized version. Yes, it’s a bit on the dark side – or is it?

You can download the entire album by clicking on the happy yellow button!

DOWNLOAD THE FULL ALBUM!

LYRICS

When the going REALLY gets tough, there’s only one thing to do – throw a party!

I ain’t had work since a month gone by
My bank account has long run dry
The ‘lectric bill had gone unpaid
They’ll shut it off in a couple days
Things lookin’ tough, I know it’s true
There’s only one thing left to do

I’m gonna party tonight
I’m gonna party tonight
If the world aint’ right
And the end’s in sight
Well I tried with all my might
Now I’m just gonna party tonight

Well the taxman came and said hello
And left a bill for what I owe
It’s getting rough without a doubt
My baby said she’s moving out
My car got towed to who knows where
At this point I don’t even care

I’m gonna party tonight
I’m gonna party tonight
If the world aint’ right
And the end’s in sight
Well I tried with all my might
Now I’m just gonna party tonight

Old man trouble walked right in
Made himself at home
I’ll just sit and drink all night
Since they shut off my phone

Laugh and dancin’ all night long
I bet a ten to end off strong
Six big numbers, all came in
And just for once, I get to win
So have a drink, my credit’s good
And let’s light up the neighborhood

I’m gonna party tonight
I’m gonna party tonight
If the world aint’ right
And the end’s in sight
Well I tried with all my might
Now I’m just gonna party tonight

©2022 by Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved.

What do you do when you have to reach someone, even after they’ve passed?
Call VERY long distance!

Need to reach my buddy ‘cause I’m in a fix
But he passed away back in ‘96
Now I got some books and they all explain
How to reach somebody on the other plane

I’m calling long distance
Calling way long distance
I’m calling long distance
But all the lines are down

My crystal ball got a great big crack
My tarot cards are missing half the stack
My old dried bones have gotten wet somehow
Even my black cat bone is out of service now

I’m calling long distance
Calling way long distance
I’m calling long distance
But all the lines are down

My Ouija board don’t move at all
And my spirit guide won’t take my call
My crystal of power ain’t workin’ right
And my votive candle won’t even light

I’m calling long distance
Calling way long distance
I’m calling long distance
But all the lines are down

Well I held a séance with Miss DuPree
She said she had a message just for me
There is an easy answer, the message said
I’m gonna spell it out, but then the line went dead

I’m calling long distance
Calling way long distance
I’m calling long distance
But all the lines are down

Miss Catherine told me not to be a fool
Don’t waste my time, don’t bend the rules
She said the tea leaves told her I was in a jam
And I’d find my answer in an old tin can
She said wait an hour till the moon gets high
Go find the place where the seasons die
Count twenty paces to the westward side
Dig a dozen feet and it’ll save my hide

She called long distance
She called way long distance
When I called long distance
Baby all the lines were down

I took the road, I paid the toll
And now I’ve left the murderer’s hole
And the moral here is when it hits the fan
If you can’t fix it, find someone who can

Call long distance
Call way long distance
Call long distance
 Even when the lines are down

©2024 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve ever shared a bed with a “bed hog” (spouse, kids, pets) then you’ve LIVED this song.

I got a king sized bed
With fine satin sheets
But there’s no room for me
When I want to go to sleep
I’m on the edge of the bed
I’m on the edge of the bed
Now I don’t mean to pout
But my baby spreads out
I’m on the edge of the bed

Now if I push her back
Her eyes fill up with tears
She says I want to hug you
Baby don’t you want me here?
I’m on the edge of the bed
I’m on the edge of the bed
Now I don’t mean to pout
But my baby spreads out
I’m on the edge of the bed

I don’t ask for much
I work hard all day
I love my baby’s touch
But I can’t go on this way
I’m on the edge of the bed
I’m on the edge of the bed
Now I don’t mean to pout
But my baby sure spreads out
I’m on the edge of the bed

If it’s a tiny cot
Or fit for a king
No matter what the size
It doesn’t change a thing
I’m on the edge of the bed
I’m on the edge of the bed
Now I don’t mean to pout
But my baby spreads way out
I’m on the edge of the bed

©2024 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved

The classic song by the Man In Black. I’ve always felt this would be a great slow blues.

I hear that train a-comin’
It’s rollin’ round the bend
And I ain’t seen the sun shine since
I don’t know when
I’m stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that train keeps on rollin’, down to the San Antone

When I was just a baby
My mama told me “Son
Always be a good boy
Don’t ever play with guns”
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
Now when I hear that whistle blowin’, I hang my head and cry

I’ll bet there’s people eatin’
In them fancy dining cars
They’re probably drinkin’ coffee
And smokin’ fat cigars
I know I had it comin’, I know I can’t be free
But I hear that whistle blowin’, and that’s  what tortures me

The warden told me “Boy, you killed a man.  A good man, a family man, for no reason at all.  If it was up to me, I’d hang you right now.  But the judge said life.  Ok, that just means I get to kill you one day at a time.

No work detail for you.  Not even a chain gang.  You will never see anything but these four walls.  You will never see the sun.  And you will never be free.”

But you’re wrong, warden.  Because one day, they’re going to carry me out of here.  And on that day, I will be free.  And no grave is gonna hold my spirit down.  And I will ride that train to glory!”

When they free me from this prison
When that railroad train was mine
I’ll probably move it on a little further down the line
Far from Folsom Prison, that’s where I want to stay
And I’ll let that lonesome whistle, blow all my blues away

©1955 Johnny Cash/ All Rights Reserved

One of my favorite beers in the world is made by Tring Breweries in Tring, UK. “Side Pocket For A Toad” is an archaic expression that means “pretty worthless”. After all, what would a toad do with a sidepocket?!?

Out all night
Sleep all day
Never want to do a thing I say
Warn you baby (darling,)
I can’t take this heavy load
(Before I just explode)
You’re useless as a
Side Pocket For A Toad

(You know I)
Bring you beer, from
Down in Tring
But you don’t never do a doggone thing
A little love is the least of what I’m owed
But you ain’t no better than a
Side Pocket For A Toad

Collie’s Dog is gonna hunt you down
‘Cause I’m tired of you just
Running ‘round
Take a hint, better hit the road
Man, you ain’t nothin’ but a
Side Pocket For A Toad

©2022 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved

Sometimes a minor argument can take on a life of its own, with an estrangement as a possible end. Money, politics, trust, whatever the cause – but sometimes it just comes down to foolish pride.

Oh my love, how I wish that you had lied
Oh my love, how I wish that you had lied
Since you told me, and hurt my foolish pride

Tried so hard, tried to keep it all inside
Tried so hard, to keep it all inside
But how am I supposed to fight my foolish pride

I won’t go, I won’t ever leave your side
I won’t go, no I won’t ever leave your side
Because our love, is stronger than our foolish pride
Say our love is stronger than our foolish pride
Ain’t our love stronger than our foolish pride?

©2024 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved

Based on the traditional song, I updated the words a bit, and completely changed the melody and chords. I hope you like it anyway!

I know you rider gonna miss me when I’m gone
Gonna miss your baby from rollin’ in your arms

Well I tossed and turned, I could not sleep last night
I try so hard but you don’t treat me right

Sun’s gonna shine on my back door some day
Take my guitar and play my blues away

I wish I was a headlight on a northbound train
I’d leave this place and won’t come back again

Your pa he told me that my kind ain’t no good
I shoved my fist right through his long white hood

Some cold dark evening you’ll reach out your hand
And you’ll start crying for losing your good man

I know you rider gonna miss me when I’m gone
Gonna miss your baby from rollin’ in your arms

©2024 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
Based on the traditional

Sometimes we think we’re being clever, running our hustles and grifts and convincing ourselves we’ve “pulled it off”.  But sooner or later, it catches up with you.  And then you may find yourself getting back to the blues.

Once I held diamonds in my hand
I thought that I could never lose
Wasting money, wasting time
I took the long way round to get back to the blues

I was building castles, in the clouds
Thought I’d never have to choose
I believed I could have it all
I took the long way round to get back to the blues

Oh I promised, many things
Just to could keep all in play
But I found out, it has to end
And there’s a price you’ve got to pay

Now the road’s been long and hard
And I’m back to paying dues
If it ends in heaven, or if it’s hell
It’s a long way round to get back to the blues

©2024 by Russell Alexander / all rights reserved.

This is a fun song, written by our friend Stuart Maxwell from the group Shufflepack. With his kind permission, we’re covering it!

I got a rod I take everywhere
People always stop and stare

Me and baby were stepping out
Folks in the club began to shout

You gotta watch that thing (watch that thing!) 4x
You gotta watch that thing, ‘specially when it starts to swing

Some girls laugh and some girls moan
And some just won’t leave me alone

I called to my baby come sit right here
She leaned and whispered in my ear

I went to the doctor be so kind
I can’t get that thing off of my mind
He said watch that thing

I called up the preacher sad and blue
I said what can a poor boy do
He said watch that thing

You gotta watch that thing (watch that thing!) 4x
You gotta watch that thing, ‘specially when it starts to swing

©2022 Stuart Maxwell, all rights reserved.

This was Kris Kristofferson’s first big hit, performed by Johnny Cash. It launched his career as a writer, and that led to his career as a performer.

This is our version – it’s nothing at all like the original, but I felt it was – at its heart – always a blues song.

Well I woke up Sunday mornin’, with no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn’t bad, so I had one more, for dessert
Then I fumbled through my closet, for my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt
And I shaved my face and combed my hair and, stumbled down the stairs to meet the day

I’d smoked my brain the night before on, cigarettes and songs that I’d been pickin’
But I lit my first and watched a small kid cussin’ at a can, that he was kickin’
Then I crossed the empty street and caught the Sunday smell of someone fryin’ chicken
And it took me back to somethin’, that I’d lost somehow somewhere along the way

On the Sunday morning sidewalks, wishin’ I was stoned
‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday, makes a body feel alone
And there’s nothin’ short of dyin’, half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin’ city side walks, Sunday mornin’ comin’ down

In the park I saw a daddy, with a laughing little girl who he was swingin’
And I stopped beside a Sunday school and listened to the song that they were singin’
Then I headed back for home and somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringin’
And it echoed through the canyons like the disappointed (disappearing) dreams of yesterday

On the Sunday morning sidewalks, wishin’ I was stoned
‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday, makes a body feel alone
And there’s nothin’ short of dyin’, half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin’ city side walks, Sunday mornin’ comin’ down

©1969 Kris Kristofferson, All Rights Reserved.

Coming from traditional “field hollers” or work songs, this is a modernized version. Yes, it’s a bit on the dark side – or is it?

Keep on ridin’, It’s a wide old river (3x)
Wide old river, gonna carry you home

Storm is comin’, it’s a wide old river (3x)
Storm is comin’ gonna carry you home

Plenty of room in the ground (3x)
Plenty of room, gonna carry you home

Sharp as steel, it’s a blood red river (3x)
Sharp as steel, gonna carry me home

Plenty of room in the ground (3x)
Plenty of room, gonna carry me home

Keep on ridin’, It’s a wide old river (3x)
Wide old river, gonna carry us home

©2024 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved

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