What if I just hadn’t done that . . .And what if yesterday was now
What if I just hadn’t said those things to her . . .Those hurtful things that sting and how
And what if I could be more like my Dad . . .No wait that’s where I learned to be so bad
But what if I could do it over . . .Would I do it just the same

What if I just hadn’t done that . . . And what if yesterday was now
And what if I just hadn’t said those things to him . . .Those hateful things that ring and sting and how
And what if I could be more like my Mom . . . No wait that’s where I learned to be no fun
But what if I could do it over . . . Would I do it just the same

Yeah what if Jesus hadn’t done that . . . You know that dark day on the cross
And what if Jesus whispered in your ears . . .To both of you in Jesus name your cleared
And what if next time when he sees ya . . . Well he’ll likely nod and wink and wave
‘Cause through the love and the Grace of Jesus you’ll never feel that way again

Arial Smith & Johnny Derek

Words & Music by: Johnny Derek

Recorded at Lake Studios, Kelowna BC

Once upon a time^Am there was a ^Am tavern
^A7where we used to raise a glass or^Dm two.
^AmRemember how we laughed away the hours ^Am
E7susand dreamed of all the great things we would do^E

Those were the ^Amdays, my friend
we thought they’d never end^Dm
we’d sing and dance ^{G   G7} for ever and a ^Cday
We’d live ^Dmthe life we choose
we’d fight and never lose^Am
For we were young, ^Eand sure to have our way^Am

La la ^Amla la la la la la^Dm la la la la
Those were the ^Edays, oh yes those were the^Am days.

^AmThen the busy years went rushing by us.
We lost ^A7our starry notions on the ^Dmway.
If by ^Amchance I’d see you in the tavern,
^E7suswe’d smile at one another, and we’d say^E

Just tonight^Am I stood before the tavern.
Nothing seemed^A7 the way it used to be^Dm
In the ^Amglass I saw a strange reflection,
^E7suswas that lonely man-child really me^E

Through ^Amthe door there came familiar laughter.
I saw ^A7your face and heard you call my ^Dmname.
Oh, my friend^Am we’re older, but no wiser.
^E7susFor in our hearts the dream are still the same^E

Vocals start at 0:12 sec. – Capo’d on 1st Fret – Intro: F – Fmaj7 – Gm – C7

In a little while from now if I’m not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself and visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to whoever what it’s like when you’re shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church where people saying, my God, that’s tough
She stood him up no point in us remaining
We may as well go home As I did on my own . . . Alone again, naturally

To think that only yesterday I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to well who wouldn’t do the role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt talk about, God in His mercy
Well if he truly does exist why did he desert me
In my hour of need I truly am indeed . . . Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that there are more hearts broken in the world
That can’t be mended left unattended
What do we do . . . . What do we do

Instrumental – Time In 0:00? Time Out 0:00?

And looking back over the years and whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old my mother, God rest her soul
Couldn’t understand why the only man she had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me no words were ever
And when she passed away I cried and cried all day . . . Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally

I knew a man, Bojangles and he danced for you In worn out shoes
Silver hair, a ragged shirt and baggy pants The old soft shoe
He jumped so high He jumped so high . . . Then he’d lightly touch down

I met him in a cell in New Orleans, I was Down and out
He looked to me to be the eyes of age As he spoke right out
He talked of life He talked of life
He laughed, clicked his heels and stepped

He said his name, Bojangles and he danced a lick Across the cell
He grabbed his pants, a better stance Oh, he jumped so high
Then he clicked his heels He let go a laugh
He let go a laugh Pushed back his clothes all around

Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles
Dance

He danced for those in minstrel shows and county fairs Throughout the south
He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and him Traveled about
The dog up and died He up and died . . . After twenty years he still grieves

He said I dance now at every chance in honky tonks For drinks and tips
But most the time I spend behind these county bars He said I drinks a bit
He shook his head And as he shook his head
I heard someone ask him please . . . . Please

Mr. Bojangles . . . Mr. Bojangles . . . Mr. Bojangles . . . Dance

Maybe just do this one live Johnny!

IN MY MIND I’M GONE TO CAROLINA CAN’T YOU SEE THE SUNSHINE? CAN’T YOU JUST FEEL THE MOONSHINE? AIN’T IT JUST LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND? YES, I’M GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

KARIN, SHE’S A SILVER SUN YOU BEST WALK HER WAY AND WATCH IT SHINE AND WATCH HER WATCH THE MORNING COME A SILVER TEAR APPEARING NOW I’M CRYIN’, AIN’T I? GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

THERE AIN’T NO DOUBT IN NO ONES MIND THAT LOVE’S THE FINEST THING AROUND WHISPER SOMETHING SOFT AND KIND AND HEY BABE, THE SKY’S ON FIRE I’M DYING, AIN’T I? GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

IN MY MIND I’M GONE TO CAROLINA CAN’T YOU SEE THE SUNSHINE? CAN’T YOU JUST FEEL THE MOONSHINE? AND, AIN’T IT JUST LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND? YES, I’M GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

DARK AND SILENT, LATE LAST NIGHT, I THINK I MIGHT HAVE HEARD THE HIGHWAY CALL AND GEESE IN FLIGHT AND DOGS THAT BITE THE SIGNS THAT MIGHT BE OMENS SAY I’M GOIN’, I’M GOIN’ I’M GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

WITH A HOLY HOST OF OTHERS STANDIN’ AROUND ME STILL I’M ON THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT GOES ON LIKE THIS FOREVER YOU MUST FORGIVE ME, IF I’M UP AND GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND

IN MY MIND I’M GOIN’ TO CAROLINA CAN’T YOU SEE THE SUNSHINE? CAN’T YOU JUST FEEL THE MOONSHINE? AIN’T IS JUST LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND YES, I’M GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND GONE TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND AND I’M GOIN’ TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND GOIN’ TO CAROLINA IN MY MIND GONE, I’M GONE, I’M GONE SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT ME ‘CAUSE I’M GONE SOUTH NOW GOT TO CARRY ON WITHOUT ME, I’M GONE

When do the vocals come in JD?

/>

(Either play it live JD or use harmonica for the first two chord progressions and adlib another harp solo later on!)

Clouds so swift
Rain won’t lift
Gate won’t close
Railings froze
Get your mind off wintertime
You ain’t goin’ nowhere

Whoowee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
My bride’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

I don’t care how many letters they sent
Morning came and morning went
Pick up your money
And pack up your tent
You ain’t goin’ nowhere

Whoowee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
My bride’s gonna come
Oh, oh, are we gonna fly
Down in the easy chair

Buy me a flute
And a gun that shoots
Tailgates and substitutes
Strap yourself to the tree with roots
You ain’t goin’ nowhere

Whoowee, ride me high
Tomorrow’s the day
My bride’s gonna come
Oh,…

Genghis Khan He could not keep
All his kings Supplied with sleep
We’ll climb that hill no matter how steep
When we get up to it

^{F   Am   F   Am   G}Oh . . .^Am life is bigger, it’s ^Embigger than you
And you are not ^Amme, the lengths that I would go to^Em
the distance in your ^Ameyes . . . Oh ^Emno I’ve said too much . . . ^DmI set it up^G

That’s me in the ^Amcorner, that’s me in the spotlight^Em
Losing my religion^Am trying to keep ^Emup with you
And I don’t ^Amknow if i can do it^Em . . . Oh no i said too much, ^DmI haven’t said enough^G

(Coda)I thought that I heard you laughing^F
I thought that I heard you sing^Am . . . I^F think I thought I heard you try^{Am   G}

^GEvery whisper^Am every waking hour^Em I’m choosing my ^Amconfessions
trying to keep^Em an eye on you
Like a ^Amhurt lost and blinded bull fool un-huh . . . Oh ^Em no I’ve said ^Dmtoo much. I set it up^G

^AmConsider this, consider this the ^Emhint of a century.
Consider this,^Am this slip, that ^Embrought me to my knees . . . Pale
What if all ^Amthese fantasies come^Em flailing around . . . Now I’ve said^Dm too much ^G

(Coda)I thought that I heard you laughing^F
I thought that I heard you sing^Am . . . I^F think I thought I heard you try^{Am   G}

Instrumental Am G F G

^CThat was just a ^Ddream, yeah ^Cthat was just a dream^D

That’s me ^Amin the corner, that’s me in the ^Emspotlight
Losing my religion^Am trying to ^Emkeep up with you
And I ^Amdon’t know if I can do it . . . ^EmOh no I said too much^Dm I haven’t said enough ^G(To Coda)

(Last time chorus)
^FThat was just a dream, ^Amtry, cry, why, try
yeah ^Fthat was just a ^Amdream, just a dream^G Dream

On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolor in the rain
Don’t bother asking for explanations
She’ll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat

She doesn’t give you time for questions
As she locks up your arm in hers
And you follow till your sense of which direction
Completely disappears
By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
There’s a hidden door she leads you to
These days, she says, “I feel my life
Just like a river running through
The year of the cat

^B7Why she looks at you so ^Ccoolly?
^GAnd her eyes shine like the ^Dmoon in the sea
^B7She comes in incense and ^Cpatchouli
you take ^Gher, to ^Ffind what’s ^Cwaiting ^Dinside . . . The year of the cat ^Cmaj7

Well morning comes and you’re still with her
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you’ve thrown away your choice and lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drumbeat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the new-born day
You know sometime you’re bound to leave her
But for now you’re going to stay . . . in the year of the Cat

  Starry, starry ^Gnight
Paint your palette ^Amblue and grey
Look out on a ^Csummer’s day
With ^D7eyes that know the darkness in my ^Gsoul
^GShadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the ^Amdaffodils
Catch the breeze and the ^Cwinter chills
In ^D7colors on the snowy linen land^G

^CGNow I ^Amunderstand
What ^D7you tried to say^G to me ^Em
And how you suffered for your ^Amsanity
^D7And how you tried to set them free ^Em
They would not listen, they did ^A7not know how . . .
^D7Perhaps they’ll listen now^G

  Starry, starry ^Gnight
Flaming flowers that ^Ambrightly blaze
Swirling clouds in ^Cviolet haze
^D7Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china ^Gblue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber ^Amgrain
Weathered faces ^Clined in pain
Are ^D7soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand ^G

^CGNow I ^Amunderstand
What ^D7you tried to say^G to me ^Em
And how you suffered for your ^Amsanity
^D7And how you tried to set them free ^Em
They would not listen, they did ^A7not know how . . .
^D7Perhaps they’ll listen now^G

  For they could not ^Amlove you
^D7But still your love was true^G
EmAnd when no ^Amhope was left in sight
On that ^Cm6starry, starry night
^GYou took your life^F7 as lovers often^E7 do
But I could ^Amhave told you, Vincent
This ^Cworld was never meant for one
As ^D7beautiful as you^G

  ^GStarry, starry night
Portraits hung in ^Amempty halls
Frameless heads on ^Cnameless walls
With ^D7eyes that watch the world and can’t ^Gforget
^GLike the strangers that you’ve met
The ragged men in the ^Amragged clothes
The silver thorn, a ^Cbloody rose
Lie ^D7crushed and broken on the virgin snow^G

^{C G}Now I think I know^Am
D7What you tried to ^Gsay to me^Em
And how you suffered for your ^Amsanity
And ^D7how you tried to set them free^Em
They would not listen, they’re not ^A7listening still ^Am7
D7Perhaps they never will^G

Capo’d on the first fret – Eb Harmonica – And the harp starts right away
D D6 G Bm
A7 Asus

We’ve been through some things together
With trunks of memories still to come
We found things to do in stormy weather
Long may you run

Long may you run,
long may you run
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run

Well, it was back in Blind River in 1962
When I last saw you alive
But we missed that shift on the long decline
Long may you run

Maybe The Beach Boys have got you now
With those waves singing, “Caroline”
Rollin’ down that empty ocean road
Gettin’ to the surf on time

Long may you run, long may you run
Although these changes have come
With your chrome heart shining in the sun
Long may you run

^GDesperado, ^G7why don’t you ^Ccome to your senses^Cm
You been ^Gout ridin’ ^Em7fences for ^A7so long now^D7
Oh, you’re a ^Ghard one^G7
I know that ^Cyou got your reasons^Cm
(But)These ^Gthings that ^B7are ^Em7pleasin’ you
Can ^A7hurt you ^D7somehow^{G B7}

Don’t you ^Emdraw the queen of ^Bmdiamonds, boy
She’ll ^Cbeat you if she’s ^Gable
You know the ^Em7queen of hearts is ^Calways your best ^Gbet ^B7
Now it ^Em7seems to me, some fine ^Bmthings
Have been ^Claid upon your table^G
But you ^Em7only want the ^A7ones that you can’t get^{Am7   Am   D   D7}

^GDesperado,^G7 oh, you ain’t ^Cgettin’ no younger^Cm
Your ^Gpain and your ^Em7hunger, they’re ^A7drivin’ you home^D
And ^Gfreedom, ^G7oh freedom well, that’s just ^Csome people talkin’^Cm
Your^G prison^B7 is walking ^Em7through this ^A7world all ^D7alone ^{G B7}

Don’t your ^Em7feet get cold in the winter ^Bmtime
The ^Csky won’t snow and the ^Gsun won’t shine
It’s hard^Em7 to tell the ^Cnight time from the ^Gday ^B7
You’re ^Em7losin’ all your ^Bmhighs and lows
Ain’t it ^Cfunny how the ^Gfeeling goes away ^{Am7 Am D D7}

^GDesperado,^G7 why don’t you ^Ccome to your senses^Cm
Come ^Gdown from your ^Em7fences, ^A7open the gate^D7
It may be ^Grainin’ ^G7 but there’s a ^Crainbow above you^Cm
You better ^Glet somebody^B7 love^Em7 you, ^{C  C/B   Am7}
You better ^Glet somebody^B7 love^Em7 you, before^Am7 it’s ^D7too late ^G

I wanna live, an I wanna give
I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold
It’s these expressions I never give
That keeps me searchin’ for a heart of gold and I’m getting old
Keeps me searchin’ for a heart of gold and I’m getting old

I been to Hollywood I been to Redwood
I crossed the ocean’s for a heart of gold
I been in my mind it’s such a fine line
That keeps me searching for a heart of gold and I’m getting old

Harmonica Solo

Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold and I’m getting old

Harmonica intro till 0:19 Sec.

Lyrics start @ 0:19 Sec.

^CThink I’ll go out to ^DmAlberta weather’s good ^Gthere in the fall ^C
CI got some friends^Dm that I could go to workin’ ^Gfor
Still ^CI’d wish you’d change your^Dm mind if I ^Gasked you one more time^C
But we’ve been^D through that a ^Fhundred times before^G

Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don’t change come what may
If the good times are all gone
Then I’m bound for movin’ on
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way

And if I get there before the snow flies and if things are looking good
You could meet me if I send you down the fare
But by then it would be winter not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there

Harmonica Solo starts @ 2:42 Sec.

How many times do they do the chorus JD??

^GComes a time^Bm
when you’re driftin’
^DComes a time
^Am7when you ^Csettle down
Comes a light
feelin’s liftin’
Lift that baby
right up off the ground

^GOh, ^Fthis old^C world
keeps^G spinning round
It’s^F a wonder^C tall ^Gtrees
ain’t layin’ down
There ^Dm7comes a time^G

^{Next VS starts @ 0:54 sec.}

You and I we were captured
We took our souls
and we flew away
We were right
we were giving
That’s how we kept
what we gave away

^{Instrumental from 1:38 – 2:02 sec}

Oh, this old world
keeps spinning round
It’s a wonder tall trees
ain’t layin’ down
There comes a time

Lyrics start at 0:08 Sec.

Its just knowing that your door is always open – And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag – Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
And its just knowing I’m not shackled by forgotten words and bonds
And the ink stains that have dried upon some line
That keeps you on the backroads – By the rivers of my memory
It keeps you ever gentle on my mind

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy – Planted On their columns now that binds me
Or something that somebody said – Because they thought we fit together walking
Its just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving – When I walk along some railroad track and find
That you’re moving on the backroads – By the rivers of my memory
And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Though the wheat fields and the clotheslines – And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother – Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence – Tears of joy might stain my face And a summer sun might burn me till I’m blind
But not to where I cannot see you Walking on the backroads By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind

I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin’ cracklin’ cauldron In some train yard
My beard a rustlin’ coal pile And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands ’round a tin can – I pretend I hold you to my breast and find
That you’re waving from the backroads By the rivers of my memory Ever smilin’ ever gentle on my mind

Words & Music by: Bernie Leadon

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
You been out ridin’ fences for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you
Can hurt you somehow

Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can’t get

Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that’s just some people talkin’
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day
You’re losin’ all your highs and lows
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it’s too late

Mother, Mother Ocean, I have heard you call
I wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You seen it all, you seen it all

Watched the men who road you, switch from sails to steam
And in your belly you hold the treasure , few have ever seen
Most of them dreams, most of them dreams

Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannon’s don’t thunder and there’s nothin’ to plunder
I’m a over forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

Yeah I done a bit of smugglin’, I’ve run my share of grass
an I made enough money to buy Miami but I pissed it away too fast
Never meant to last, never meant to last

I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I smoked a few reefs
But I got to stop wishin’ got to go fishin’ down to rock bottom again
With just a few friends, with just a few friends.

Instrumental

I go for younger women, I lived with several awhile
Though I rattled away they’d come back one day
I can still manage to smile
It just takes a while, it just takes a while.

Mother mother Ocean after all the years I’ve found
My occupational hazard’s been
My occupation just not around
I feel like I drowned gonna head up town
Feel like I drown, gonna head up town.

Well good morning again don’t you know it’s all gonna end
And where will you and I be
Well I’m hoping I’m with a friend cause I hope to ascend
to ask all these questions . . . Amen

Like how come the stars or a night at the bar
can both make your eyeballs play tricks
On your head or instead I could ask to be led
to the task of just getting my fix
Yean my fix on the Lord and the path He restored
back when He descended to ask
Why we troubles believing that we’ll all soon be leaving
to be held all accountable when

So good morning again don’t you know it’s all gonna end
the sun and the moon and the stars
An if you’ve made your aamends and asked Him to be friends
then the answers shouldn’t leave any scars

Or like how come it hurts when someone deserts you
after you both said I DO
Or like how can we say that I love you today
and then tomorrow I ain’t even your friend
And like how come the seasons are alot like our reasons
cause we’ve each usually got 3 or 4
More reasons for believin’ that God was just teasing
when He said to our lives there’d be more
Yeah more if we believe in more than we see
and more if we believe we believe
And then more if we need but not more outta greed
cause that’s not what the word more is for

Well good morning again don’t you know it’s all gonna end
And where will you and I be
Well I’m hoping I’m with a friend cause I hope to ascend
to ask all these questions . . . Amen

Or like how bout this deal to most it seems quite unreal
to most it seems just to good to be true
That it’s simply there for the asking’ . . . this life everlasting
and that it might just include me and you

So good morning again don’t you know it’s all gonna end
the sun and the moon and the stars
An if you’ve made your aamends and asked Him to be friends
then the answers shouldn’t leave any scars

Well good morning again don’t you know it’s all gonna end
And where will you and I be
Well I’m hoping I’m with a friend cause I hope to ascend
to ask all these questions . . . Amen

Words & Music by: Johnny Derek

Somebody make . . .The clock stand still until I
I get what I came for . . . Until I found the one who’s . . . really to blame for
The Sun and Moon and the Stars above . . .The Sun and Moon and the Stars above
And all the Notions I had about Love

And somebody stop . . .The party’s winding down and I . . . I wanna get off
This song ain’t mindin’ how I might’a already lost . . . All the ones I truly Love . . .
All the ones I truly Love With all the Notions I had about Love.

So I promised a friend . . . I’d try to write these words . . .And then never again
I’d never be caught dead without a heart or head
To see the ones I truly Love
To see the ones I truly love
And NOT JUST THE MOON AND STARS ABOVE
Yeah not just the Moon and Stars above

Words & Music by: Johnny Derek

Think I’ll go out to Alberta weather’s good there in the fall
I got some friends that I can go to workin’ for
Still I wish you change your mind if I asked you one more time
But we’ve been through that a hundred times before

Four Strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don’t change come what may
If the good times are all gone
Then I’m bound for moving on
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way

And if I get there before the snow flies and if things are lookin’ good
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare
But by then it would be winter not too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there

Still I wish you’d change your mind if I asked you one more time
But we’ve been through that a hundred times before

Four strong winds . . .

Well insult me with your silence
But leave your name and address too
Yeah insult me with your upper hand that handles what you do
Don’t you ever think of anyone the way you think of you
Well if I had almighty druthers I’d tell you what I’d do!!

Well I’d rather wipe a Grizzlies ass than look a little bit like you.
Yeah I’d rather suck on Chipmunk dung than try to sing a song that can’t be sung no matter what you do
And if I had almighty druthers I’d tell you if I knew,
If I knew a song that really sucked I’d sing that song for you!!

Well enlighten me with advice yeah enlighten me with sass!
Why don’t you write it down and roll it up and shove it in your . . . . . . . EAR!
Don’t you ever think about thinking and if you do don’t think of me
Cause if I had my way I’d write a song and this is what’d say

Well I’d rather lick a lion’s ass than be a little bit like you
Yeah I’d rather suck on baboon dung than try to sing a song that can’t be sung no matter what you do
And if I had almighty druthers I’d tell you if I knew,
If I knew a song that really sucked I’d sing that song for you!!

So shut your mouth, cause you’re boring me
And whoring out your intellect is self-abuse you see
Cause when you end a friend and then offend that friend for insecurities
Well then shut your mouth cause you’re boring me
And pretty much the same thing as I said in verses 2 and 3
And let me please reiterate a few chorus’s for free

Well I’d rather wipe a Grizzlies ass than look a little bit like you.
Yeah I’d rather suck on Chipmunk dung than try to sing a song that can’t be sung no matter what you do
And if I had almighty druthers I’d tell you if I knew,
If I knew a song that really sucked I’d sing that song for you!!

(Well it was) Jesus in the morning . . . and Jesus at night
(Yeah it was) Jesus in the morning . . . and Jesus at night
And it was holding on like eagles that kept a wrong from being right

Yeah it was early in the evening round about supper time
Yeah it was early in the evening round about supper time
And it was just me and my baby and a bottle of Schloss n Laderheim

Instrumental

(Well it was) Jesus in the morning . . . and Jesus at night
(Yeah it was) Jesus in the morning . . . and Jesus at night
And it was holding on like eagles that kept a wrong from being right

Words & Music by: Johnny Derek

Its knowing that your door is always open – And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag – Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
And its knowing I’m not shackled by forgotten words and bonds
And the ink stains that have dried upon some line
That keeps you on the backroads – By the rivers of my memory
It keeps you ever gentle on my mind

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy – Planted On their columns now that binds me
Or something that somebody said – Because they thought we fit together walking
Its just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving – When I walk along some railroad track and find
That you’re moving on the backroads – By the rivers of my memory
And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Though the wheat fields and the clotheslines – And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother – Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence – Tears of joy might stain my face And a summer sun might burn me till I’m blind
But not to where I cannot see you Walking on the backroads By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind

I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin’ cracklin’ cauldron In some train yard
My beard a rustlin’ coal pile And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands ’round a tin can – I pretend I hold you to my breast and find
That you’re waving from the backroads By the rivers of my memory Ever smilin’ ever gentle on my mind