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Songs Of Winter And Construction

by The Vermeers

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1.
Brunette 00:43
[instrumental]
2.
Love came late for Lewis Tate When at the age of eighty-three He met a girl so fair with bleach-blonde hair Age of seventeen, boys Age of seventeen Love came soon for Janice Moon When at the age of seventeen She met a man so old but I've been told That he has a lot of money, boys Has a lot of money Tate and Moon planned to wed real soon Janice's wheels were spinnin' She'd kill her beau and get the dough The house, the car, the linen, boys The house, the car, the linen The big day came for man and dame The cake, the dress, the tux He'll have no fun, she bought a gun She's gonna get those bucks, boys She's gonna get those bucks But then Tegan Quin, sweet lesbian She came and saved the day She said, "What the heck, I object!" And that's the end---olé, boys That's the end, olé!
3.
When first I came to Louisville Some pleasures there to find A damsel there from Lexington Was pleasin' to my mind Her ruby lips, her rosy cheeks Like arrows pierced my breast The name she bore was Flora The Lily of the West I courted lovely Flora Some pleasures there to find But she turned onto another man Which sore distressed my mind She stole away my liberty Deprived me of my rest Then go my lovely Flora The Lily of the West Way down in yonder shady grove A man of low degree Conversin' with my Flora there It seemed so strange to me The answer that she gave to him It sore did me oppress I was betrayed by Flora The Lily of the West I stepped up to my rival My dagger in my hand I seized him by the collar And boldly bade him stand Be mad to desperation I pierced him in his breast Then go my lovely Flora The Lily of the West And then I had to stand my trial I had to make my plea They put me in the criminal box And then commenced on me Although she swore my life away Deprived me of my rest Still I love my faithless Flora The Lily of the West The Lily of the West The Lily of the West
4.
Lulu's Song 02:36
[instrumental]
5.
Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill Never worked and he never will Ride, ride, ride Early one mornin', standin' in the rain Round the curve come a long freight train Ride, ride, ride Railroad Bill, he ain't so bad Whooped his mammy, shot a round with his dad Ride, ride, ride Railroad Bill a-comin', a-comin' on soon Killed his lady by the light of the moon Ride, ride, ride Railroad Bill, a mighty bad man Shot that lantern right out of the breakman's hand Ride, ride, ride Kill me a chicken, send me the wing They think I'm workin', I ain't doin' a thing Ride, ride, ride Kill me a chicken, send me the head They think I'm workin', I'm layin' in bed Ride, ride, ride MacNellon had a special train When he got there it was prayin' Ride, ride, ride I got a .38 special on a .45 frame How can I miss when I got dead aim? Ride, ride, ride I got a great big pistol 'bout as long as your arm I'm gonna kill everybody if they do me any harm Ride, ride, ride Gonna drink me my whiskey, gonna drink it in the wind Doctor said it'd cure me, but he didn't say when Ride, ride, ride Railroad Bill, sittin' on a hill Lighting a cigar with a ten dollar bill Ride, ride, ride Well, Railroad Bill, he got into wine Now he goes off to France in his mind Ride, ride, ride
6.
They call her Nina Nina Conti Not Katrina Not Asti Spumante She's the greatest thing they say Since sliced bread I just can't seem to get her Out of my mind (Wait, I messed that line up...) They call her Nina Nina Conti Not Talking Tina Not sit on it, Potzie She's the very best gal That anyone can find I just can't seem to get her Out of my head (Wait, I messed it up again...) Nina, Nina, Nina, Nina Nina
7.
The end of the week, it's Friday night And I'm ready to hit the town My eyes are peeled, my radar's on For any chickies that are around There are girls, girls, girls at the bar But I know, know, know I won't get too far Oh, it seems it must be written in the stars I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar Diggin' in my pocket, scroungin' for some cash Spied a little honey, said, "Hi, the name is Rasch" "Hey, there, baby, let's go back to my place?" Chick hauled off, sucker punched me in the face There are girls, girls, girls at the bar But I know, know, know I won't get too far Oh, it seems it must be written in the stars I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar I said, "Hey, bartender, send a drink To that gal over there in red "That's my wife," he snarls Breaks a bottle on my head There are girls, girls, girls at the bar But I know, know, know I won't get too far Oh, it seems it must be written in the stars I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar There's a gal in blue, a gal in black A gal with a tattoo on her back One in green, one in a short dress One in high heels, Oh, G-d, I'm a mess There are girls, girls, girls at the bar But I know, know, know I won't get too far Oh, it seems it must be written in the stars I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar There are girls, girls, girls at the bar But I know, know, know I won't get too far Oh, it seems it must be written in the stars I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar (once more) I'll get no girls, girls, girls at the bar Ahhh-men
8.
Sometimes you're wonderful Sometimes I wonder why It hurts so much You're like a crutch Why does it hurt? I feel like dirt When you say goodbye Oh, tell me why Time has come to let you go (Goodbye my love, goodbye) I’ll meet you after the show (Goodbye my love, goodbye) I've seen all the signs Candlelight and red wine But none of it's mine Not this time You were playing a tune 'Neath the silvery moon But not for me Why can't you see? Time has come to let you go (Goodbye my love, goodbye) I’ll meet you after the show (Goodbye my love, goodbye) Now it's starting to rain I'm feelin' the pain Where did you go? Oh, I don't know
9.
Roll on, muddy river, roll on for me I got me a notion that you might be goin' my way I got me a woman down in Tennessee She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me Three long months on a sand barge tour How much more can a man endure? It's high time that I was home for sure So roll on, muddy river, roll on, roll on Roll on, muddy river, roll on for me I got me a notion that you might be goin' my way I got me a woman down in Tennessee She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me Down to New Orleans, up in St. Louis Stop by Memphis, Minneapolis too Now back in Nashville I'll be surely soon So roll on, muddy river, roll on for me Roll on, muddy river, roll on for me I got me a notion that you might be goin' my way I got me a woman down in Tennessee She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me I love you, babe, but I'll just call it fate You and I are soon gonna seperate I know you'll be there, but I know you won't wait So roll on, muddy river, roll on, roll on Roll on, muddy river, roll on for me I got me a notion that you might be goin' my way I got me a woman down in Tennessee She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me Roll on, muddy river, roll on for me I got me a notion that you might be goin' my way I got me a woman down in Tennessee She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me She's been waitin' a long time to see little old me
10.
Vera was a pretty young thing, a vain young girl Matter of fact her only thought in this whole wide world Was herself, you see, she had a looking glass And all day long, as the hours would pass She would look at herself, and comb her hair Make up her face, and smile and stare But in this mirror dwelt, so they said The first wife of Adam, if your history's been read Who watched this young girl as she stared Happily admiring herself without a care Ol' Lilith, when she saw her chance Took over her body, with no song nor dance Next thing you know, the girl, who'd always been good Started running around with all the boys in her neighbourhood She'd come home late and lie to her dad Which made the poor old man very sad "No respectable man will have you now, actin' like that You've sorrowed my heart, you little bat!" And the good Lord listenin' up in the sky Heard the father's helpless cry And the Lord decided he'd do just that And he turned the young girl into a bat In the throughs of love, she let out a shriek A bat she was, and a cave she did seek I think she still lives there to this very day But sometimes late at night, they say You can hear her cry her apology, "I'm sorry for my vanity"
11.
Wicked Gin 02:11
I'm not lookin' to fall in love 'Cause I just know that it will have to end All I'm hopin' is that we two can Maybe make amends, yeah I need some wicked gin I need some wicked gin With Jin Wicked I need some wicked gin With Jin Wicked With a top hat on I said a top hat on I said a top hat on I need some wicked gin I need some wicked gin With Jin Wicked With Jin Wicked With a top hat on With a top hat on
12.
I asked my love to take a walk Just to walk a little way And we did walk, and we did talk All about our wedding day Then only say that you'll be mine And in no other's arms entwine Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio I took her by her lily white hand And led her down the banks of sand I plunged her in where she would drown And watched her as she floated down Then only say that you'll be mine And in no other's arms entwine Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio Returnin' home between twelve and one Thinkin', Lord, what have I done? I'd killed the girl I love, you see Because she would not marry me Then only say that you'll be mine And in no other's arms entwine Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio Then only say that you'll be mine And in no other's arms entwine Down beside where the waters flow Down by the banks of the Ohio
13.
Through the highs And the lows I can't trust you And it shows You promised me love Then you stole all my clothes I need new glasses (Where are my glasses?)
14.
Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum balalayke, shpil balalayke Tum balalayke, freylik zol zayn Shteyt a bocher un er tracht Tracht un tracht a ganste nacht Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen Vemen tsu nemen un nit farshemen Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum balalayke, shpil balalayke Tum balalayke, freylik zol zayn Maidel, maidel, ch'vel bay dir fregn Vos kon vaksn, vaksn on regn? Vos kon brenen un nit oyfhern? Vos kon benken, benken on trern? Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum balalayke, shpil balalayke Tum balalayke, freylik zol zayn Narisher bocher, vos darfstu fregn? A shteyn kon vaksn, vaksn on regn Liebe kon brenen, un nit oyfhern A harts kon benken, benken on trern Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum bala, tum bala, tum balalayke Tum balalayke, shpil balalayke Tum balalayke, freylik zol zayn
15.
She don't go out to the parties no more She don't smoke till she can't touch the floor She no longer lays in the bed, poundin' a fifth She ain't the gal I fell in love with No, she ain't the gal I fell in love with I hear she's got a steady man, with a steady job Now she don't talk to me, she thinks I'm just a slob She don't do drugs, just paints and knits She ain't the gal I fell in love with No, she ain't the gal I fell in love with So fare thee well, darlin', I'll call you in a while Can't do it right now, 'cause I'm too drunk to dial (ad nauseum)
16.
It was on one cold, windy night When the wind blew across the wild moor T'was there Mary wandered alone with her child Till she came to her own father's door Why did I leave this fair spot Where once I was happy and free? For I'm now left alone in this cold world to roam And nobody cares about me Oh, father, take pity on me Come down and open the door For the child in my arms she will perish and die From the winds that blow across the wild moor But the old man was deaf to her cries Not a sound from her voice did he hear And the watchdog did howl, and the village bells tolled And the winds blew across the wild moor Oh, how the old man must have felt When he came to the door the next morn And he found Mary dead, but the child still alive Still wrapped in her dead mothers arms In anguish he tore his grey hair And his tears down his cheeks they did pour When he saw how that night she had perished and died From the winds that blew across the wild moor In grief the old man pined away And the child to its mother went soon And no one they say lives there to this day And the cottage to ruin has gone But the villagers point out the spot Where the willows droop over the door Saying there Mary died, once a gay village bride From the winds that blew across the wild moor
17.
You in the corner with the lampshade on What's your name?

about

From the sounds of the honky tonks on a Saturday night to the sounds of the Eastern European shtetl to the sounds of the English music halls, singing and playing songs of unrequited love, songs of revenge, songs of whimsy, songs of drinkin', lovin', and folk heroes... In short, SONGS OF WINTER AND CONSTRUCTION. So wake up Ol' Blue, crack open a beer, and hit the open road with The Vermeers!

credits

released July 23, 2007

Matt Rasch - vocals, guitar, keyboard, concertina, bass, jew's harp
Nik McLane - vocals, mandolin, guitar, keyboard
Kevin Paul - guitar
Ryan Cole - percussion
Brad Winkler - banjo, guitar
Eric Jaqua - bass
Sam McKenney - vocals

All tracks written by M. Rasch; except 3, 5, 12, 14, 16 traditional, arr. by M. Rasch; 8 by M. Rasch and N. McLane; 9 traditional, arr. by N. McLane and B. Winkler; 17 by N. McLane

Recorded at Plattdeutsch Studios
Mixed and engineered by Matt Rasch
Cover photograph by Mandee Edwards
Produced by Vermeers, Ltd.

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The Vermeers Boyne City, Michigan

Alt country meets indie folk pop meets rock 'n roll barn dance, The Vermeers have been doin' what they do since 2006!

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