Live Lyrics Page
Here are the lyrics for our show
Follow along, and join in if you’re in the mood!
Full Set
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that after everything goes to hell and things are looking pretty bad, there’s only one thing to do…
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 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
This is based on the famous tune that Blind Willie Johnson recorded in 1927. I changed the lyrics on the verses, and the general feel of the song, but I hope I kept the original emotion.
Nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Now if I should die and my soul gets lost,
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My mama taught me how to pray
My mama taught me how to pray
Now if I don’t pray and my soul gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My daddy taught me how to think
My daddy taught me how to think
Now if I don’t think and my mind gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
My brother taught me to be good
My brother taught me to be good
Now if I choose bad and my life is lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
I should drink water and not wine
I should drink water and not wine
Now if I drink wine and my love gets lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
Now if I should die and my soul gets lost,
It’s nobody’s fault but mine
©2020 Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved
Based on the traditional performed by Blind Willie Johnson
Paul Gilmore turned me on to this saying, which has now become my “go to” phrase. It might become yours, too…
I met this lady with a winning smile
We had some drinks and then we talked awhile
She leaned in close and whispered in my ear
“I hope my boyfriend doesn’t show up here”
She said her ex had kind of lost his mind
On top of that, he was the jealous kind
Special forces, till they kicked him out”
Then she looked around to see if he’s about
She said “be ready, things might get funky”
I said,
“Whoa, not my circus, not my monkeys”
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, but I’m not you
I got a burger from the all-night stand
This guy walks over with an open hand
He says “hey buddy, can you spare some change?
I haven’t eaten and I’m feeling strange”
I said “pick something” but he shook his head
“if you don’t mind, I’d rather have the bread” Um hm,
“if you could spare just a little more
I’ll take you someplace where we both could score”
Now, I’m no angel, but I ain’t no junkie,
I said,
“Not my circus, not my monkeys”
Monkey see, monkey do
Monkey see, but I’m not you
I like to think that I’m a caring man
And we’re all part of a bigger plan
But sometimes when it’s said and done
You got to grab your things and run
The general contractor had a worried frown
He said that ceiling’s got to come on down
But all his crew had a day of rest
And he was trying just to do his best
He pointed up, pointed way up high
Where even pigeons were afraid to fly
Asked me to climb up there and risk my skin
I said “Buddy, I’m just here to plug stuff in
I’d like to help you, but I ain’t that spunky
Not my circus, not my monkey”
©2020 Russell Alexander, Paul Gilmore / All Rights Reserved
Okay, so I got shanghai’d into judging a “King Of The Blues” contest. I was given a list of qualities to check off – ability, presence, originality, versatility, and there, at the end of the page. In capital letters. Bolded (sorry Arlo, couldn’t resist). Question 5 – Blues Content.
Is it blues enough for you?
The criteria sheet must have been written by a frustrated music critic…
Got a black cat bone
Got a mojo in my hand
Got a black cat bone
Got a mojo in my hand
Got the blues so bad
I can hardly even stand
(Chorus)
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it do enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it make the score
Do you want some more
Is that blues enough for ya?
No time to play
‘Cause I work my self to death
No time to play
‘Cause I work my self to death
And I’m running so fast
I can’t ever catch my breath
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it do enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it make the score
Do you want some more
Is that blues enough for ya?
Hard hard times
Don’t know what I’m going through
Hard hard times
Don’t know what I’m going through
Slept on the cold hard ground
By the age of 22
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it do enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it make the score
Do you want some more
Is that blues enough for ya?
Do I show enough pain
Do I bend the strings right
Is the bass too loose
Are the drums too tight?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it do enough for ya?
Is that blues enough for ya?
Does it make the score
Do you want some more
Is that blues enough for ya?
©2011 by Russell Alexander, all rights reserved.
If you’ve ever had your heart broken, you know that it’s not just your heart. It feels like every part of you is shattered.
There were so many times
I held you
And you told me things were alright
But when you thought
I was sleeping
I’d hear you crying in the night
It’s not just my heart
That’s broken
It’s every piece of me
It’s not just my heart
That’s broken
I fell apart
When you walked out on me
I know you tried
You tried to love me
And I know that I
Was hard to understand
I didn’t show
How much I really needed you
Until you had to find another man
It’s not just my heart…
I hope you found someone
To make you happy
I wish that I had been that man
I ever find another love like you gave me
I’ll never lose that love again
It’s not just my heart…
©2011 by Russell Alexander / All Rights Reserved.
Yes, love is grand. But sometimes one partner may not understand how much they affect the other one. It can be a positive, or a negative – or both…
You
You don’t
You don’t know, what you do to me
Chained to the blues
Till I met you
Drowning on dry land
It’s a cold and angry world
When no-one understands
I’m just a low born
Love torn
Struck by a hole in my heart
I’ve been put down
Pushed ‘round
You keep me from tearing apart
You don’t understand
Me
You don’t know, what you do to me
When you smile
My legs go weak
And all my anger fades
But when we fight
My heart might break
If my love should be betrayed
I’m just a low born
Love torn
Struck by a hole in my heart
I’ve been put down
Pushed ‘round
You keep me from tearing apart
You don’t understand
Me
You don’t know, what you do to me
©2020 Russell Alexander/All Rights Reserved
Harlem is a beautiful place, but it can be like the end of the world. When it rains, it can clear the air or it can seem like heaven is crying. Can you capture that in a song?
It’s raining up in Harlem
And I’m just trying to make a call
It’s raining up in Harlem
And I’m just trying to make a call
But that phone just keeps on ringing
There ain’t no response at all
I said I’d call at seven
Now I’m standing in the rain
I said I’d call at seven
Now I’m standing in the rain
If I can’t reach my baby
The sun won’t never shine again
I’m going to leave this cold, cold city
And I’m going home to stay
I’m going to leave this cold, cold city
And I’m going home to stay
I’ve just got to tell my baby
My baby don’t know that I
Changed my evil ways
©1999 by Russell Alexander, all rights reserved.
Sometimes, I have to wonder – is anybody NOT living in a hurricane? Past the age of five, I mean.
Well the storm is breaking
It’s been raining since I don’t know when
There’s a black cloud
Leaves are tremblin’ in the wind
Beg, plead, on my knees
Something starts tearing like a killer disease
Poor boy, living in a hurricane
Just a poor boy, living in a hurricane
Poor boy, living in a hurricane
Try to leave but I just can’t go
Running like the devil but I’m moving too slow
Poor boy, living in a hurricane
The walls and flashing
Crashing before my eyes
There’s danger
Death on the wind tonight
Jump, shout “Who’s out there?”
Nothing but the screaming of the cold night air
Oh god, living in a hurricane
Just a poor boy, living in a hurricane
Poor boy, living in a hurricane
Try to leave but I just can’t go
Running like the devil but I’m moving too slow
Poor boy, living in a hurricane
©2003 by Russell Alexander, all rights reserved.
Our take on the Willie Dixon classic
The gypsy woman told my mother
On the day I was born
You got a boy child comin’
He’s gonna be a son of a gun
He gonna make pretty women’s
Jump and shout
Then the world wanna know
What it’s all about
Because I’m him
Everybody knows I’m him
I’m the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I’m him
got a black cat bone
I got a mojo too
I got the Johnny Conqueror root
He’s gonna mess with you
I’m gonna take all the women
Lead me by my hand
Then the world gonna know
I’m the hoochie coochie man
Because I’m him
Everybody knows I’m him
I’m the hoochie coochie man
Everybody knows I’m him
On the seventh hour
On the seventh day
On the seventh month
The seven doctors say
He was born for good luck
Just you wait and see
I got seven hundred dollars
Don’t you fool with me
©1957 Willie Dixon. All Rights Reserved.
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