Get all 9 Mike Lawson & Friends releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of So Far from Now, Right Place, Wrong Time, Lay It All Down, 3200 W 22nd Court, More Wonders of the Visible World, Evidence Concerning Apparitions, Some Songs in the Key of Poe, Outtakes and Oddities, and 1 more.
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You talk about mercy
Deliver me pain
You say that fire coming from the skies
and it’s about to rain
And I don’t believe it
No! I don’t believe it
I’m trying hard to be kind
And you telling me I’m blind
That’s just the way I was designed
Cuz I got a reprobate mind
You talk about heaven
Then you give me hell
Will I be flying high up in the sky
it’s really hard to tell
When I don’t believe it
No! I just don’t believe it
There’s just so much to unwind
At that table where He dined
That’s just the way I was designed
Cuz I got a reprobate mind
Every story that you tell they sound so wonderful and swell
I think I’m falling for it in the sweet by and by
Start running out of my defenses while I’m coming to my
senses
You know there ain’t nobody gonna have a mansion in the
sky
You don’t like black folks
the brown or the yellow
But you pretend you do in front of me
cuz you’re that kind of fellow
You say you’re believing
When you’re really deceiving
You say that I’ll be left behind
Well I guess that was assigned
That’s just the way I was designed
Cuz I got a reprobate mind
You talk about Jesus
And God and the devil
But I seen the way you really are
so none of that was on the level
You say I receive it!
Oh! If I really believe it
But I saw your pockets that you lined
You should be locked away and fined
That’s just the way I was designed
Cuz I got a reprobate mind
I got a reprobate mind
I got a reprobate mind
I got a reprobate mind
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2. |
My Problems Got Problems
07:01
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Seems like whenever I think I'm ahead
I'm further behind where I started instead
But now I know that problems got to be solved
But each one brings me down till it's resolved
My problems got problems, I can't explain
Pass me the wheat straw, I will try it again
(Problems, problems)
You can see why it takes most of my time
To sort through confusion and uncloud my mind
My problems got problems, if you understand
It's like being caught in a sea of quick sand
My problems got problems, I can't explain
Pass me the wheat straw, I will try it again
(Problems, problems)
(Problems, problems)
You can see why it takes most of my time
To sort through confusion and uncloud my mind
My problems got problems, if you understand
It's like being caught in a sea of quick sand
My problems got problems, I can't explain
Pass me the wheat straw, I will try it again
(Problems, problems)
Oxtail Music - Used by Permission
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3. |
Alone Again (Naturally)
06:45
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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
Wants to know what it's like when you're shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Were 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 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
Oh, if he really 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
Alone again, naturally
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 spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally
Gilbert O'Sullivan
Emi Blackwood Music Inc. O / B / O Grand Upright Music Ltd.
Used by Permission
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4. |
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I put a whole lot of miles between us
And it's a winding road you'll never travel down
I'm not a martyr to that same old used to be
And I ain't ever gonna wear your thorny crown
I remember it well like it was yesterday
Though the days are long passed and the years fade away
This is your ballad of nothing
It's nothing personal I just had nothing to do
Nothing to speak of, nothing is missing
But your know nothing is sacred when you got nothing to lose
I must admit it was a lovely invocation
But the price of admission was more than twice the cost
Don't bother trying to send me no invitation
You know I'll just return it to sender, or say that it got lost
Ain't no turning back, I won't look behind
I'm gonna leave this old world with a satisfied mind
This is your ballad of nothing
Nothing to write home about
Nothing but pain
Nothing to speak of, thanks for nothing
You got nothing to venture, I got nothing to gain
I forgot to remember what you look like
I don't even know your name
How could you possibly think that I would play your game?
So now I sing you a ballad of nothing
'Cuz nothing is further from my mind
Nothing new under the sun, all or nothing
It's nothing to laugh about, you've been nothing but kind
I wrote a ballad for nothing
Nothing left to live for, but noting to die for too
Nothing from nothing leaves nothing
Nothing left to talk about with me and you
Words and Music - Mike Lawson
Psychotronic Music - BMI
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5. |
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Just when he's congratulated himself
For being a person on whom to depend
Along comes a trusting soul and
Benedict rides again
When he's managed to convince himself
That he's an original flower child
Greed knocks on the garden gate
And Benedict rides again
Once he thinks he's got it all together
Learnt ten days about rice and studying zen
Some head gives him a brown hit
And Benedict rides again
After he's marched in a demonstration
To protest war and peace for all men
Then he joins the ROTC
And Benedict rides again
Ride Benedict rides again
Ride Benedict rides again
Ride Benedict rides again
Ride Benedict rides again
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6. |
Positively 4th Street
07:40
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You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you
Words and Music by Bob Dylan
© Universal Music Publishing Group
Used by Permission
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7. |
The System
04:21
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Who will you murder
For democracy
Who's next to be slain
People wait to be
Sucked up
By your genocide campaign
Murdered for
Technology
Natural resources too
While earth faces extinction
You say prayers on the moon
I'm talkin', talkin' about the system (system)
Said I'm talkin', talkin' about the system (system)
I said the funky, funky system (system)
I said the funky, funky system(system)
Promote sociology
Equality of life
We'll only save ourselves
By lessening human strife
Still the system
Stalks the land
And with death goes
Hand in hand
Talking 'bout the system
The funky, funky system (system)
The funky, funky system (system)
The funky, funky system (system)
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8. |
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You can’t go back home to your family
You can’t go back home to your friends
You can’t go back to dreams of glory, fame or love that just pretends
You can keep your eyes in front of you, and always look ahead
The moment that you turn around remember what was said
You can’t run away to exile you will always find you there
Ain’t no ivory tower waiting, ain’t no mansion in the air
You can keep your eyes wide open, keep your options near and dear
When you look behind you, you will find your answer clear
So many paths to take, so many roads
So many lessons so heavy loads
It’s easy to forget but oh so hard to learn
Once you leave home you can never return
Once you leave home you can never return
Walk away from conflict trying to move in on your
Run away from people who will cause you grief and strife
Take along there with you folks who need a helping hand
Never look behind you didn’t leave no promised land
You can’t find someone to save you, ease your burden take your pain
Ain’t no one but you can make the choice to come in from the rain
It once seemed everlasting but is changing all the time
Keep your eyes upon the hills and mountains you have left to climb
So many paths to take, so many roads
So many lessons and so heavy loads
It’s easy to forget but oh so hard to learn
Once you leave home you can never return
Once you leave home you can never return
Once you leave home you can never return
Words and Music – Mike Lawson
Psychotronic Music – BMI
Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved
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Mike Lawson & Friends Nashville, Tennessee
Mike Lawson has, over 30 years, recorded and/or performed together with Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick, Vassar Clements, Pete Sears, Gary Talley, John McEuen, Bob Welch, Dennis Robbins, Joe Louis Walker, Jorma Kaukonen, Phil Keaggy, Jack Casady, Scott Guberman, Dianne Davidson, Noah Wall, Tyra Juliette, Bill Vitt, Rob Wasserman, Michael Cleveland, Phil Madeira, and a host of other amazing friends. ... more
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