DOGWOOD CATS (Jefferson Ross)
THE DOGWOOD CATS WERE ROCK AND ROLL PICKERS
A VETERAN THREE PIECE BAND
THEY SAID KID YOU CAN PLAY THAT THING
WE NEED ANOTHER MAN
MAMA SAID NO CHILD WHAT ARE YOU THINKING
THAT AIN’T WHERE IT’S AT
YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN
PLAYING WITH THE DOGWOOD CATS
WELL, I WAS ONLY 14 AND I HAD NOT STARTED WORK
WAS PLAYING LEAD AND STEEL GUITAR AT THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH
THE PREACHER SAID YOU’RE GONNA GO TO HELL
IF YOU DO THIS OR THAT
I SAID IF I’M GOING ANYWAY I’LL GO WITH THE DOGWOOD CATS
(CHORUS)
AND WE PLAYED, OOH, BYE BYE LOVE
AND GO YOUR OWN WAY
AND, OOH, START ME UP
I GOTTA PLAY
SHE WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT ROW AND I QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE
AS SOON AS I SAID I DO SHE SAID I’VE HAD ENOUGH
YOUR GUITAR PICKING DAYS ARE THROUGH AND HONEY THAT IS THAT
THE SCREEN DOOR SLAMMED AS OFF I RAN
TO GIG WITH THE DOGWOOD CATS
(REPEAT CHORUS)
ARVIN (Jefferson Ross)
ARVIN WAS A FRIEND OF MINE, WE CALLED HIM OLD COYOTE
HE PLAYED THE RAGTIME BANJO IN HIS OVERALLS
TO HIS LITTLE DOG WHO LOOKED LIKE TRUMAN CAPOTE
HE WOULD QUOTE WALT WHITMAN WITH A GEORGIA DRAWL
ARVIN HAD HIM ONE TRUE LOVE, HIS RECORD COLLECTION
HE SAID THEY DON’T TALK BACK BUT THEY SING ALONG
AND THEY KEEP ON SPINNIN’ IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AND LORD THAT’S A COMFORT WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG
(CHORUS)
HEY BUDDIES THANK YOU FOR THE LAUGHS
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS GATHERING OF FRIENDS
HEY BUDDIES RAISE ANOTHER GLASS
IT’S A SHAME IT EVER HAS TO END
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN HE CRASHED HIS OLD TOYOTA
THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOW OF THE BURGER KING
HE JUST WAITED ON THE COPS WITH AN ORANGE SODA
A DOUBLE WHOPPER AND SOME ONION RINGS
(REPEAT CHORUS)
HIS BROTHER READ THE EULOGY, YOU KNOW THAT WAS A HARD ONE
THE PREACHER SHUT HIS BIBLE AND IT WAS TIME TO GO
I SAID HEY LET’S GET A DRINK, LET’S GO BACK TO ARVIN’S
WE’LL SPIN SOME VINYL ON THE STEREO
(REPEAT CHORUS)
SLAP IT ON (Jefferson Ross)
I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT CLAUDE MONET
HE PAINTED SUNLIGHT FLOWERS AND LILY PADS UNTIL HIS DYING DAY
HIS HAIR WAS GRAY AND HIS BEARD WAS WILD
HE SPORTED A BIG ROUND BELLY AND THE EYES OF A CHILD
I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT AUGUSTE RENOIR
HIS BRUSH STILL SCRIBBLED THOUGH HIS HAND GOT CRIPPLED
DOWN TO A SPECKLED PAW
BEING FEEBLE AND FRAIL DIDN’T BOTHER OLD GUS
HE PAINTED SWEET YOUNG GIRLS ON PICNICS
SMILING BACK AT US
(CHORUS)
WELL THERE’S YOUR HALLELUJAH, YOUR MOUNTAIN OF TRUTH
YOUR FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH IF YOU’LL CLAIM IT
HEY YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER, YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD
WELL THE WORLD IS JUST THE WORLD AS YOU PAINT IT
SO PAINT IT
SLAP IT ON
WELL THE MONA LISA HANGS IN FRANCE
HER EYES DO A SERIOUS MYSTERIOUS VICTORY DANCE
SOME SAY SHE WAS A WOMAN OF WEALTH
SOME SAY SHE WAS LEONARDO’S SECRET INNER FEMININE SELF
(REPEAT CHORUS)
WELL THE CANVAS IN MY ROOM IS WHITE
IT’S UP THERE ON THE EASEL AND IT’S PRIMED AND STRETCHED REAL TIGHT
AS PERFECT AS A SNOWY DAY
BUT LORD I GET TO SCREW IT UP IN THE MOST EXCITING WAY
(REPEAT CHORUS)
CONFEDERATE JASMINE (Jefferson Ross, Thomm Jutz)
SHERMAN RIDES IN LIKE A COLD BLUE WIND, IT’S CHRISTMAS ’64
SOMEBODY TOLD HER HERE COME THE SOLDIERS
BUT SHE DOESN’T CARE FOR WAR
BUT WAR IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS SO JASMINE CANNOT COMPLAIN
SHE’S YOUNG AND SHE’S FAIR WITH LONG RAVEN HAIR
SHE STRUTS BACK TO WORK AGAIN
(CHORUS)
CONFEDERATE JASMINE, YOU BLOOMED FOR A MOMENT
BUT NOW YOU ARE BLOWING A KISS THROUGH TIME
SO HERE’S TO THE SWEET SIN, THE LONESOME, THE HAS BEEN
THAT FADE ON THE VINE LIKE CONFEDERATE JASMINE
UP AND DOWN BROUGHTON THEY’RE LOADING THE COTTON
SHE FLIRTS BY THE MARSHALL HOUSE
WAVES AT THE BOYS WITH A LOOK ON HER FACE
LIKE SHE IS THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
AND MANY MEN PAY HER A VISIT AND LAY THEIR MONEY DOWN
THE MARCH MADE THEM TIRED AND FULL OF DESIRE
AND SHE IS THE JEWEL OF THE TOWN
(REPEAT CHORUS)
SOME LEFT HER WITH PRESENTS AND PASSIONATE KISSES
SOME LEFT HER WANTING MORE
ONE HAD TO LEAVE HER WITH A RAGING FEVER
THAT RAVAGED AND BURNED AND ROARED
IT BURNED ITSELF OUT LATE ONE NIGHT IN A LONELY BACK ALLEY ROOM
CONFEDERATE JASMINE SO PRETTY IN MAY
DIED ON THE FIRST DAY OF JUNE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
THE RUSTLE OF A SILK CRINOLINE DRESS DOWN BY PERRY STREET
THE NOTION THAT SOMEONE’S BEHIND YOU
IN THE WEIGHT OF THE THICK AUGUST HEAT
A WHIFF OF PERFUME IN THE EVENING BREEZE
FLOATING THROUGH CHIPPEWA SQUARE
YOU SWEAR YOU SAW SOMETHING MOVING
YOU TURN AND THERE’S NOBODY THERE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
SORE FINGERTIPS (Jefferson Ross)
GO AND BLOW THE DUST OFF OF THAT GUITAR
IT IS IN THE CASE BENEATH YOUR BED
FORGET ABOUT YOUR NOGGIN, GET THEM FINGERS THROBBIN’
THE TRUTH IS IN YOUR HANDS AND NOT YOUR HEAD
(CHORUS)
SORE FINGERTIPS THERE AIN’T NO EASY WAY
SORE FINGERTIPS THROUGH G, C, D OR A
YOU’LL GET DOWN TO BOOGIE TOWN IF YOU’LL PAY THE TOLL
SORE FINGERTIPS ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL
SOME ZEALOUS PEOPLE SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES PRAYING
THEY FAST JUST TO EASE THE PAIN AND STRIFE
BUT SIX STRING MEDITATION IS THE ONLY MEDICATION
IT’S THE PENTATONIC TONIC FOR MY LIFE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
NOW OVER YONDER THINGS JUST MIGHT BE EASY
IN GLORYLAND WHEN THIS LIFE IS DONE
BUT WHILE WE’RE STILL HERE BREATHING
GET THOSE DIGITS BLEEDING
THERE’S A WHOLE LOT OF SCALES WE’VE YET TO RUNE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
BROTHER WILL (Jefferson Ross, Thomm Jutz, Jon D. Weisberger)
A PREACHER WITH NO PULPIT, BROTHER TO A DRAGONFLY
A FRIEND TO EVERYBODY WHETHER YOU WERE BLACK OR WHITE
HE MARCHED IN MISSISSIPPI, DRANK CORN IN TENNESSEE
WITH THE LOSERS AND THE SINNERS LIKE THE MAN FROM GALILEE
(CHORUS)
YOU GOTTA LOVE ‘EM ALL, AT LEAST YOU GOTTA TRY
IT’S BEEN PLAYING IN MY MEMORY NOW THAT BROTHER WILL HAS DIED
WHEN I’M STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS OF WHAT’S EASY AND WHAT’S TRUE
ALL I NEED TO ASK MYSELF IS WHAT BROTHER WILL WOULD DO
SITTING ON A HICKORY STUMP PICKING OUT THE BLUES
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF TOBACCO, PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS
HE DIDN’T TAKE AN OFFERING, THE MESSAGE WAS FOR FREE
IF THE GOOD LORD SEES THE GOOD IN US, THEN GOOD LORD WHY CAN’T WE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
NOT THE THUNDER (Jefferson Ross, Thomm Jutz, Andrea Zonn)
(CHORUS)
LET YOUR PEACE BE YOUR POWER
STAND IN SILENCE AND IN WONDER
IT’S THE RAIN THAT GROWS THE FLOWER
NOT THE THUNDER, NOT THE THUNDER
EVERYBODY’S SHOUTING, IT’S BURNING IN MY EARS
BUT WHEN YOU’RE ALWAYS YELLING, HOW MUCH CAN YOU HEAR
I GUESS IT COMES FROM ANGER AND ANGER COMES FROM FEAR
AS FOR ME I NEED TO TURN AWAY
(REPEAT CHORUS)
JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE QUIET DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE WEAK
SOMETIMES IT’S THE MOMENTS BETWEEN THE WORDS THAT SPEAK
A RESPITE FROM THE STORM IS THE REFUGE THAT I SEEK
SURRENDER DOES NOT MEAN I’M BACKING DOWN
(REPEAT CHORUS)
(BRIDGE)
WHO’S TO SAY WHO HAS THE ANSWER
IT’S A QUESTION OF BEING KIND
(REPEAT CHORUS)
GOOD MORNING, DANIEL (Jefferson Ross)
(CHORUS)
GOOD MORNING, DANIEL
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN
HE SAID I’VE BEEN TALKING TO THE LORD
OVER IN THE LION’S DEN
THE LAST TIME I SAW DANIEL HE HAD A BIG SMILE ON
HE WAS SINGING SOMETHING, LORD HE WAS A STRUTTIN’ THROUGH
DOWNTOWN BABYLON
(REPEAT CHORUS)
HE SAID I SERVED KING DARIUS, I WAS LOYAL TO THE CORE
BUT SOME EVIL MEN THEY TRIED TO DO ME IN
‘CAUSE I WAS PRAYING TO THE LORD
SO THEY THREW ME TO THE LIONS BUT GOD WAS IN THAT PLACE
AND I AIN’T BRAGGIN’ BUT THEY GOT THEIR TAILS TO WAGGIN’ AND
ONE OF THEM LICKED MY FACE LIKE HE WAS SAYING…
(REPEAT CHORUS)
WHEN THEY FINALLY ROLLED THE STONE BACK THE KING GOT QUITE A SHOCK
AND THOSE EVIL MEN THEY THREW THEM FELLOWS IN
AND THE LIONS LICKED THEIR CHOPS
AND THEN APPEARED THE ANGEL LIKENED TO THE SON OF MAN
HE SHINED SO BRIGHT WITH A HEAVENLY LIGHT AND
THEN HE TOOK MY HAND AND SAID…
(REPEAT CHORUS)
TROUBLE IS (Jefferson Ross)
TROUBLE IS I’M A STUBBORN MAN
WOUND UP TIGHTER THAN A RUBBER BAND
HARD TO HOLD AND HARD TO UNDERSTAND
AND SLOW TO SHARE MY HEART LIKE THIS
TROUBLE IS YOU’LL NEVER KNOW
HOW FAR YOU’LL SINK INTO A HELL BELOW
UNTIL YOU’VE WATCHED HER TURN HER BACK AND GO
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TROUBLE IS
TROUBLE IS IT’S REALLY LATE AT NIGHT
YOU SWALLOW WHISKEY THEN YOU SWALLOW PRIDE
YOU WANT TO RING UP AND CRY CRY CRY
AND TELL HER EVERYTHING YOU MISS
BUT YOU CAN HEAR IT HOW HER LOVE’S GROWN COLD
SHE REACHES IN TO SNATCH YOUR HELPLESS SOUL
UNTIL YOU’VE STARED INTO THAT DEEP DARK HOLE
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TROUBLE IS
(BRIDGE)
LORD DAMN MY EYES
ONE MORE SUNRISE
LORD LAY ME DOWN
I NEED SOME MERCY NOW
(SOLO)
LORD DAMN MY EYES
ONE MORE SUNRISE
LORD LAY ME DOWN
I’VE GOT THE ANSWER NOW
TROUBLE IS THE TROUBLE’S CLEAR
IT’S STARING AT ME IN THE MIRROR
I’M THE REASON SHE’S NOT STANDING HERE
I AM WHAT THE TROUBLE IS
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE (Jefferson Ross)
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE LOVE TO OPEN THEIR MOUTHS
WHEN THEIR LIVIDLY LOUD, PREACHY AND PROUD
OPINIONS COME SPEWING OUT
THEY’RE NIXING WHAT NEEDS FIXING AND FIXING WHAT AIN’T BROKEN
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE WITH THEIR MOUTHS WIDE OPEN
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE NEVER GO ANYWHERE
THEY’VE CONQUERED ALL DOUBT, SUSSED IT ALL OUT
WHILE SLOUCHING IN THEIR EASY CHAIR
TAKING INBRED THEORIES AND MAKING THEM OUTSPOKEN
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE WITH THEIR MOUTHS WIDE OPEN
(CHORUS)
AND THEY SCREAM ON THE LEFT AND THEY BARK ON THE RIGHT
AND IT’S ALL SUCH A DOGGONE WASTE
AND THE OTHER IS THE DEVIL AND GOD’S ON THEIR SIDE
IT’S AS PLAIN AS THE NOSE ON THEIR FACE
OH FATHER CAN YOU HELP US, PROTECT US WITH YOUR GRACE
FROM CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE, CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE ARE CERTAIN THAT THEY’RE IN THE KNOW
THEY’LL QUOTE YOU VERBATIM THE DUBIOUS DATA THEY HEAR ON THE RADIO
IT REALLY WOULD BE FUNNY BUT THOSE PEOPLE THEY AIN’T JOKIN’
CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE WITH THEIR MOUTHS WIDE OPEN
(REPEAT CHORUS)
GREAT BIG GARDEN (Jefferson Ross)
SHE’D BEEN A PLOWING AND A DIGGING SINCE 1908
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF STORE BOUGHT TEETH
AND A WIG THAT WOULDN’T STAY ON STRAIGHT
SHE GREETED LIFE WITH OPEN ARMS
EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN A HARD ONE
SHE HAD A LITTLE WHITE HOUSE AND GREAT BIG GARDEN
SHE WORKED IN THE FACTORY SEWING THEM RAIN COATS ALL DAY LONG
BUT WHEN THE CARPOOL LET HER OUT SHE’D SLIDE THEM WORK GLOVES ON
CULLING AND A THINNING SOME SEEDLINGS SHE’D BEEN STARTIN’
IN HER LITTLE WHITE HOUSE THEN HER GREAT BIG GARDEN
(CHORUS 1)
AND SHE’D GROW TURNIP GREENS, BUTTER BEANS
AND OKRA, MY OH MY
AND ROWS AND ROWS OF SWEET CORN
IF THE SUMMER DIDN’T STAY TOO DRY
CANTALOUPES AND CARROTS AND PEACHES BY THE SCORE
AND TOMATOES BIG AND ROUND ENOUGH
TO LAY BEFORE THE LORD
SHE WAS NOT FAN OF SQUIRRELS BUT SHE HAD RESPECT FOR SNAKES
SAID HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW BUT THEY’D BETTER NOT EAT MY GRAPES
WHAT SHE DIDN’T CAN IN MASON JARS SHE’D FREEZE IN OLD MILK CARTONS
IN HER LITTLE WHITE HOUSE AND HER GREAT BIG GARDEN
(CHORUS 2)
AND SHE’D GROW SUGAR BEETS AND CROWDER PEAS
AND PEPPERS, MY OH MY
AND THEM LITTLE YATES APPLES
THAT TASTE SO GOOD IN PIES
PLUMS AND WATERMELONS, CUCUMBERS BY THE SCORE
AND TOMATOES BIG AND ROUND ENOUGH
TO LAY BEFORE THE LORD
WHEN SHE WAS IN HER NINETIES SHE FINALLY HAD TO SIT ON DOWN
SHE SAID HERE COMES THE HARVEST AND LORD I’, TUCKERED OUT
THE ANGEL SAID HEY WILLIE LOU IT’S TIME FOR CROSSING JORDAN
WHERE YOU’LL HAVE A HUGE WHITE HOUSE AND A GREAT BIG GARDEN.
(REPEAT CHORUS 1)
MANY MANSIONS (Jefferson Ross)
(CHORUS)
MY FATHER’S HOUSE HAS MANY MANSIONS
HE’S PAID IT ALL, THE PRICE IS FREE
MY FATHER’S HOUSE HAS MANY MANSIONS
THERE’S ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR ME
HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR COLOR
HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR CREED
JUST SO YOU ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER
HE’S PREPARED A PLACE FOR THEE
(REPEAT CHORUS)
HE DOESN’T CARE WHOM YOU’VE WOUNDED
JUST MAKE IT RIGHT AND ASK FOR HELP
AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN
AND SO YOU CAN FORGIVE YOURSELF
HE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR STATURE
WHETHER YOU ARE RICH OR POOR
ONLY LOVE IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN
IT WILL OPEN UP YOUR DOOR
(REPEAT CHORUS)
GEORGIA LULLABY (Jefferson Ross)
I AM SUNRISE IN SAVANNAH, I AM DOGWOODS IN THE SPRING
I AM STARS AND BARS AND SOUPED UP CARS AND MARTIN LUTHER KING
I’M THE GHOSTS OF CHICKAMAUGA, I AM TYBEE IN JULY
LIKE AN OLD SWEET SONG WE SING ALONG I’M YOUR GEORGIA LULLABY
I’M THE STRENGTH OF YOUNG ATLANTA, I’M THE GRACE OF THOMASVILLE
I’M THE JUKE JOINT IN THE VALLEY AND THE CHOIR UP ON THE HILL
I AM PEANUTS, PECANS AND PEACHES AND A CARVING ON STONE MOUNTAIN’S SIDE
I AM FIDDLE DEE DEE AND ROBERT E. LEE, I’M YOUR GEORGIA LULLABY
(CHORUS)
SO GOODNIGHT CAROLINA, GOODNIGHT TENNESSEE
GOODNIGHT ALABAMA, YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME
MAY YOU ALL DREAM OF HEAVEN AND YOUR GLORIOUS HOME IN THE SKY
I CAN PROMISE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE GEORGIA
AND I’M YOUR GEORGIA LULLABY
(SOLO)
SO GOODNIGHT CAROLINA, GOODNIGHT TENNESSEE
GOODNIGHT LOUISIANA, YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME
MAY YOU ALL DREAM OF HEAVEN AND YOUR GLORIOUS HOME IN THE SKY
I CAN PROMISE IT LOOKS JUST LIKE GEORGIA
AND I’M YOUR GEORGIA LULLABY.