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| Disclosure |
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| A five year relationship had just blown up in
a big way. My girlfriend fell in love with a married co-worker of
ours. It was this huge scandal. So, as any man in this situation might
do, I made a complete ass of myself. I confronted him at work - and
threw a cup of hot coffee in his face. Then, I went promptly home
and wrote this song. I wrote it - and sing it - from his perspective.
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| *footnote: It was a scandal that lasted for years
in Texas. Destiny won out - they are happily married today in Tennessee.
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| Glad You Were Mine |
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| A buddy of mine was recently divorced. It was
killing him to be away from his daughter - the one thing he and his
wife ever agreed on. Regardless of how painful the divorce was - he
was thankful for their union. He once told me that every time he looks
at his daughter he is reminded of how beautiful his marriage once
was. |
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| *footnote: I wrote this as a duet. This was actually
a 'scratch demo' we did in the studio. It was the first time I ever
sang it outside of my living room. A few weeks ago I carried my guitar
up to where he works - and sang it for him on his break. |
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| Better Left Unsaid |
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| I was flat broke. I didn't even have 2 bucks to buy
my girlfriend at the time an anniversary card. I thought about making
her one out of construction paper - but I didn't have any. Finally,
I just sat down in the living room and prayed: "God, help me
write her a song." Forty-five minutes later it was done. |
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*footnote: Thanks, God.
*footnote, part II: Another one that got smart and moved on. She's
happily married in Atlanta with a big, beautiful family. |
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| Little Cowgirl |
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| This one's for my 18 month old goddaughter, Ashley.
She lives in Amarillo, Texas with a couple of dogs, a cat, 2 pygmy
goats and a horse. |
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| *footnote: She's not allowed to date until she's 30. |
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| Marrying Kind |
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| I am a hopeless romantic. In fact, the girls I've
dated would say I'm just plain 'hopeless'. This song is so autobiographical
that it hurts. |
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| *footnote: I haven't given up on myself. Well, not
yet. |
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| Chelsea Bay |
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| I lived in the Caribbean for 3 years. Didn't always
have running water or electricity - clothes were washed by hand and
hung on the line. It was a very spiritual time for me. Those sunsets
were so healing |
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| *footnote: Shortly after I left, the island's volcano
erupted - spraying ash and lava everywhere. I need to make a pilgrimage
back here...the thought just makes me sad somehow. |
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| U-Haul Van |
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| Written for my sister, Shei. Her heart had been broken
so much. I couldn't sleep one night for thinking about her. It was
about 3 AM - and I was overcome with this sadness for her. I picked
up my hundred dollar guitar and just started strumming. By daybreak,
it was finished. |
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| *footnote: As we were finishing the album, she was
critically ill - on the ventilator in the ICU in Atlanta. We weren't
sure she was going to make it...so I just had to have it on this album.
For her. |
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| Bowling Love |
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| A med school friend of mine inspired this one. She
was from Saudi Arabia and was fascinated by bowling. She kept asking
me to explain how bowling fit into the social fabric of America. I
answered her with this song. |
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| *footnote: I was drunk when I wrote it. My apologies.
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| What Eyes Are For |
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| I wrote this song during that 'reflective' period
that comes after a disastrous relationship (see "Disclosure").
You know... when your heart has finally started beating again and
you aren't balling every time you turn on the radio. |
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| *footnote: Does the end justify the means? Sometimes.
I hope. |
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| Single Mothers |
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| Before I left Texas, I was an
Intern in Pediatrics. I couldn't believe how many fathers weren't
involved in their children's lives AT ALL. The strength of these mothers
consistently amazed me. Still does. |
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| The Forgotten |
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| It was while standing in the food-stamp
line in the early 90's that I realized that 'The System', though well-intentioned,
is inherently flawed. I wrote this song in frustration at watching
my sister, Teri and her husband work so hard to raise their two daughters.
I reflected back on how I felt in that line - and the lengths a man
might go to provide for his family. |
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| Queen Of The Hardware Store |
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| West Texas. Country girls. I highly
recommend them both. |
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| Tail Lights Of Dixie |
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It was Louisiana; the winter of 1989. I was spiritually
lost and homeless. Slept in my jeep until I was taken in and given
a job. Couldn't afford a mattress so I used one of those inflatable
things you lay on in the pool. It would deflate in the middle of the
night...I would patch it with duct tape and try to go back to sleep.
Lived on crawfish and Pecan Twirls.
One night I decided I'd had enough. I can remember so vividly holding
that loaded pistol to my head - finger on the trigger. I don't know
how - but, I set that gun down. The next morning, I gathered what
little I owned, and headed for the Caribbean. |
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| *footnote: The way it happened is the way I wrote
it. |
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