Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions

Talk on Indolence

Well I’ve been lockin’ myself up in my house for sometime now
Readin’ and writin’ and readin’ and thinkin’
And searching for reasons and missing the seasons.
The Autumn, the Spring, the Summer, the snow.
The record will stop the record will go.
Latches latched the windows down,
The dog coming in the dog going out.
Up with caffeine and down with a shot.
Constantly worried about what I’ve got.
Distracting my work but I can’t make a stop
And my confidence on and my confidence off.
And I sink to the bottom and rise to the top
And I think to myself that I do this a lot.
World outside just goes it goes it goes it goes it goes it goes…
And witness it all from the blinds of my window.
THREE, FOUR

I’m a little nervous ’bout what you’ll think
When you see me in my swimming trunks
And last night in New York I got raging drunk
Remember one time I got raging drunk with you

Now, I can recall a time when we made the city
Streets our playground, kissing in the fountains
Filled with cigarettes and bottles
Sped through Italian city streets of cobblestone

Because we had to
Because I loved you
Because the damned alcohol
Beacuse what ever at all

Now I’ve grown to aware of my mortality
To let go and forget about dying
Long enough to drop the hammer down
And let the indolence go wild and flying through

Because we had to

Pretty Girl from Feltre

Susanna, Italiana, what do you want to do?
I thought I had figured it out nut that was before you

Walking a mile into town
Hoping to see you around
Hoping your man is nowhere to be found
And hoping we’ll go to your room
And hoping we’ll go to your room

Quietly act like you love me until I leave Feltre
And when you learn of my return
Watch what the townspeople say

Riding in your cargo van
Driving your mom’s cargo van
If you only knew how charming it was
The lure of your folks cargo van
The lure of your folks cargo van

Go tell Max
Be clear with the facts
Leave me a letter to there
I still have the one from before
From when I turned twenty four

Colorshow

Be loud let your colors show
Try to keep the madness low
If they hear and it’s wrong
And they come with torches on
Yeah come on

Be loud let your colors show
Try to keep the madness low
I tell them no with my hands
Make them understand the plan of it
Bright and gone

And I’m done forever
It’s you and me forever
Cause I’m done forever
It’s you and me forever

Be loud let the others know
First a whisper then it grows
I tell them go with my hands
Make them understand the last of it
Yeah come on, pain and all

Leave out pack your things and go
Leave the baby makers home
There’s a time (now) and a place (now)
Someone built to take the race
When it calls you go head down

Head down don’t you make a sound
Keep your plans all to yourself
They’ll come true they follow you
They’re what you’re obligated to
Don’t you listen to nobody else

And I’m done forever
It’s you and me forever
Cause I’m done forever
See it’s you and me forever

Distraction #74

I was in love with your beauty from the day you walked my way.
Oh how I wish that was enough to have made me want to stay.
See I’m as true as I try to be and I must say my girl.
I tried the best to give to you all of the truest in the world.

But when I left your house that morning in that ragged thunderbird
Tried so hard to fight the voices from the devil’s that I heard.
See there’s a highway to the right of us I took it years ago.
And since a year ago can’t drive past, without turning down that road.

And I knew it,
I never should have turned the wheel
And I knew it,
The voices calling me were real
I knew it
Listen to the song they sing
I knew I was wrong
And I knew I was wrong

So give me a try at describing just how difficult it is.
When you kinda love two girls to figure out which one you miss.
Stumble away from your stairway with your perfume on my clothes.
Well I kinda loved two girls but now I’ve kinda lost ‘em both.

And I knew it,
I never should have turned the wheel
And I knew it,
The voices calling me were real
I knew it
Listen to the song they sing
I knew I was wrong
And I knew I was wrong

And if I could gather up the damage that I rendered in my life.
Place it on a scale and weigh against the damage done that night.
Then it’d be safe to say the weight of all I did and didn’t do.
Would surely float against the lightest straw I ever did to you.

Sixteen in July

What was it like for you
I can tell you in truth what it was like for me
To be sixteen in July, sixteen in July
License in my hand
Freedom on my mind
I was sixteen in July, sixteen in July
With summer to my left
And no one to my right

What did you want to hear on your radio
Even if it did not come in clear
You’d still be sixteen in July, sixteen in July
With license in your hand
and freedom on your mind
If you’re sixteen in July, sixteen in July
With summer to your left
And no one to your right

For me it was shortcut road
The girl was new and the car was old
Were you in love like me?
Or at least as in love as you can be?
When you’re sixteen in July, sixteen in July
With license in your hand
and freedom on your mind
I was sixteen in July, sixteen in July
With summer to my left, and no one to my right

Left on Laura Left on Lisa

Nobody knows it but I am so sad
Nobody knows it but I am so sad
And that is the saddest of all my girl
That is the saddest of all

We climbed the ladder to the top of my house
Never letting go of your hand
The sky trades the moon for the sun my girl
The sky trades the moon for the sun

And I gave to you my ugly brown coat
You made it pretty when you put it on
Warmth in the early morning chill my girl
Warmth in the early April

Then you said you'd trade the love of a man
Tears fell soft from your face to my hands
Said you'd trade your heart for mine my girl
I traded my heart for those days

And you made it clear it was strictly a deal
Of springtime love and that's how I should feel
So I set the clock back an hour my girl
I set the time a just right

You see somewhere back there when I was boy
Furious I had become by the point
That men are just liars and thieves of sorts
Men are just liars and thieves

But I still believe and I stand by my words
I don't know what you have seen or you've heard
But somebody's lying to you my girl
Somebody's lying to you

You really made me believe I could stay
Part with you actions in part what you said
But that was just foolish pride my girl
And those are only feelings inside

So I'm going back to the place where we met
I'm going to find the beer bottle we left
Wedged in the limbs of the tree that we sat in
Wedged in the magnolia tree

Well we hid for days like a proud pair of thieves
Too sure we were right too stubborn too leave
Wasted with the moment we lifted my girl
Stolen forever with you

A Lover Like You

Do I need to tell you?
I don’t need to be untrue
Not when I have a lover like you.

Now it don’t take that much thought
Not with all the love you’ve got
And you give it to me free
Some might take that for granted but certainly not me
No not when I have a lover like you

I haven’t eyes for anyone else
I’m thinking of you and nobody else
I haven’t eyes for anyone else but you
Yooouuu….

She may be all on my case
Want to kiss me on my face
Put my hands on her waist
Take me back to her place
I would happily follow
But not when I have a lover like you.

I haven’t eyes for anyone else
I’m thinking of you and nobody else
I haven’t eyes for anyone else but you
But yooouuu….
But yooouuu….
But yooouuu….
But yooouuu….

Pretend Love

Don’t be fooled by my words
Don’t be fooled by my song
If you choose to belive them
You’ll plainly be wrong

I have love for my family
I have love for my friends
That’s as far as it goes,
And I must let you know
My love for you was pretend.

Pretend love, pretend love,
Don’t be mistaken, I’ve only been fakin’
Pretend love

Don’t you know I’ve a gift
And I’ve wraped it in truth
Your birthday’s tomorrow,
But the gift is not for you,

But if I came with a present
I would bring you a clue
Hopes you’d finally see
That your feelings for me
Will never be returned

Pretend love, pretend love
Don’t be mistaken, I’ve only been fakin’
Pretend love

Pretend love, pretend love
Don’t be mistaken, I’ve only been faking
Pretend love

Matrimony

Things didn’t work out like they should,
Farther from how you thought they would
Do you still want my hand?
Do you think I’m still your man?
I’ll change everything I can.
Matrimony…

Holy plans and holy gifts
Holy shit what did we get
You said you’ve got plans of your own
You’re gonna work and I’ll stay home.
Do you still want my hand?
Do you still think I’m your man?
I’ll change everything I can.
Matrimony…

My dog is loud and my dog is wild
We’re too young to have a child
Can you keep the dog next week?
I’ll be gone the next three.
Do you still want my hand?
Do you still think I’m your man?
I’ll change everything I can.
Matrimony…

I ain’t through I ain’t walking out
Leaving ain’t what I’m about,
You may scream and I may shout.
But baby I love you.

The Lowering: A Sad Day in Greenville Town

If I had known, your heart was down
That lonely day in Greenville town
Then I would have been more concerned
But later on I truly learned
How it can feel in every bone
To really see you’re all alone

But I’ll kiss your head
When death finds your bed
And you are gone

And if I had seen,the way it would be
I’d hushed your cries, when you came to me
If I could do what I did to you
The same to me that I would love for you to see
That I sleep with remorse
And regret hangs round my door…
For ever more.

If I had known the lowering tide
Was lowering with the way you felt inside
If I had known all hope was gone
A broken heart and a broken home
That pierced, my lover’s past
And carved a lonely path…
For her to walk

So if ever someone one says to you,
Life isn’t fair, get used to it
Then you should say Well it might be
If folks like you would let it be

But I’ll kiss your head
When death becomes my bed
And I am gone

The Fall

Well bring me something new that I haven’t felt before
Like messages of love and directions to your door
But please talk slowly, I don’t hear good anymore
And we all fall down
And we all fall down

Don’t die on me lady, only good things can come
To those who practice reason and recognize good fun
Your absence is the bullet and the past is your gun
And we all fall down
And we all fall down

She still doesn’t answer though she knows she’s done wrong
We buried the memories along with the songs
When she wakes up, I hope that we are gone
And we all fall down
And we all fall down

There’s a visitor in black at my neighbors house
My neighbor says tomorrow the visitor says now
When he comes here please tell him that I’m out
And we all fall down
And we all fall down

Famous Flower of Manhattan

And I found a flower in a field
A field of cars and people; rows of concrete, paint, and steel
Manhattan is where it grew

And I thought to cut it from it’s stem
And take it from the cracks between bricks that it lay in
And save it from city strife
Away from the city life

Then someone they whispered in my ear
A county girl can’t be made out of anybody here
Don’t touch it, it loves you not
Don’t touch it, it loves you not

Cause blue birds don’t fly without their wings
And when we put them in a cage the world can’t hear them sing
So selfish when greed sets in
Possession, the king of sin

And people don’t ever let you down
Forever find a way to kill whatever life they’ve found
A heart beat and I want it too
Manhattan is where she grew

So I left and I let the flower be
And yesterday saw the flower on cable TV
Much prettier than here with me
For all of the world to see
Much prettier than here with me

40 East

Sleep darling rest your mind
I’ll drive all night to get to you
Please moan softly if you must moan at all
I’m moving through the night toward you

Sleep darling, sleep darling
I’m on my way to you
I’m on my way to you

Rest my angel, not one word,
Between you and I on the telephone line
You are weary and need your sleep
So leave the hard thinking and the driving to me

Sleep darling, sleep darling
I’m on my way to you
I’m on my way to you
Let go

Gimmeakiss

Gimme a dance, gimme a chance, gimme your hands
Give me just a little bit of your sweet romance
Give me your hands
I know what they say about me
Hell, I started most of them rumors myself you see
So give ‘em to me

It wont take long for me to tell you who I am
You hear my voice right now well that’s pretty much what I am

So gimme a smile, gimme a while, gimme a mile
Give me just a little bit of your sweet devine
Just give me a smile
I know what you said about me
I think maybe if I had a preachin’ judge then I’d forgive you see
So give ‘em to me

It wont take long for me to tell you what I am
You hear my voice right now well that’s pretty much what I am

I’m bailin on my life
Cause I’m wailing on my life
So please just gimme a kiss

Well I know you’re waiting for a ring
Ease up little lady, see, I’m not promising anything

So gimme a chance, gimme a dance, gimme your hands
Give me just a little bit of your sweet romance
Just give me your hands
I know what they say about me
Hell, I started most of them rumors myself you see
So give ‘em to me

It wont take long for me to tell you who I am
Well you hear this voice right now well that’s pretty much all I am
I’m bailin on my life
Cause I’m wailing on my life
So please just gimme a kiss

Denouncing November Blue

November came and went,
Like a summer that I spent,
With a no name girl that walked in jelly shoes.
I returned to my home,
With a heart part made of stone,
And I cried all night for a girl I never knew.
From the east it comes,
Her love and the rising sun,
And I pray each time they come, it’s not the last.
You see I’ve got strong,
I made it through what came along,
But I can’t move on for the beauty of the past.

Came across a pretty girl,
For about a month she was my world,
And I held her hand, and swore we’d never part.
I moved on, she stayed behind,
I said I’d call, she said she’d write,
We lost touch the moment I drove off.
I left town like a gambler with,
The sense of cashin’ all the chips,
Before I lost them all on a bad deal.
I made believe I was in a race,
Drove ten thousand miles in seven days,
While writing a book called "Being A Free Man".
Met more people than the president,
The good times came and the good times went,
And I learned how to ignore my hunger pangs.
I looked ahead to the open road, thought about the people and what they know,
And wrote a book called "People Don’t Know Nothin".
(no matter what they tell ya, man)

Once I spent my last dime,
And counted the ratio of miles to time,
I looked up to my disdain and my surprise.
I had driven my car around the world,
Ended back in the town with the girl,
So I wrote a book called "Life in Prison".

(Volume. 1)

I see that girl every now and then,
And we drink to having such good friends,
And apologize for the way it did not last.
Funny thing that it’s all true,
And I’ll always love November Blue,
But I turned her down for the beauty of the past.

November came and went,
Like a summer that I spent,
With a no name girl that walked in jelly shoes.
I returned to my home,
With a heart part made of stone,
And I cried all night for a girl I never knew.

Four Thieves Gone

Four thieves gone
One woke up
Said we can’t use the songs we wrote
Swear I’ve heard that very line
I can’t claim this music mine

Three thieves left
One got smart
I saw him leaving in his car
From the road
I heard him scream
It lacks originality

Two thieves left
They both agree
They live and die off melody
One just fell dead
On his back
When we listen to the track

One thief left
He went to jail
He left a mile on paper trail
He’s in for life
He doesn’t care
It’s worth the songs that put him there

Four thieves gone
Four thieves gone
Four thieves gone
Four thieves gone

Pretty Girl from Rowan County

Didn't she say, didn't she say, didn't she say
I don't love you anymore, I don't need you anymore
I can't call you anymore, I don't feel you anymore
I got my own cross to bear and I can take it anywhere
And if I choose to take it elsewhere then I will

Now everyone of us got something to say
And everyone of us got someone to pay
Everyone of us at the end of the day says what have I done

Now everyone of us got something to see
And everyone of us got somewhere to be
Everyone of us got something to bleed when we're on our own

But didn't she say, didn't she say, didn't she say
I don't love you anymore, I can't feel you anymore
I can't call you anymore, I don't love you anymore
I got my own cross to bear, I can take it anywhere
And if I choose to take it elsewhere then I will

Now everyone of us got something to find
Over where the train hits the end of the line
Everyone of us got something to cry about all night long
But anyone can see there's a reason to ride
And anyone can see there's a reason to fly
Anyone can see there's a reason to try if you're on your own

But didn't she say, didn't she say, didn't she say
I don't love you anymore, I don't need you anymore
I can't call you anymore, I don't feel you anymore
I got my own cross to bear and I can take it anywhere
And if I choose to take it elsewhere then I will

Now I can take it to the sea
And I can take it away
I can take it to the hills
And I can take it away
I can keep it to myself, when no one else can tell
And live my life in secret misery

But didn't she say, didn't she say, didn't she say
I don't love you anymore, I don't need you anymore
I can't call you anymore, I don't feel you anymore
I got my own cross to bear, I can take it anywhere
And if I choose to take it elsewhere then I will
If I choose to take it elsewhere then I will
If I choose to take it elsewhere then I will

The Bloody Apology

And I hope I didn't do you in
I hope I see you again
I'm lookin to apologize
For all of my childish lies
I'm ashamed I broke my word

And I'd like to catch up with your father now
And show him exactly how
The hate that has grown for him
How I've not the strength to forgive
Such a sin as this

Apologies roll off his tongue
I toned down his talkin' said I am the one
That came here to make good and right
To ease this girl's pain by taking your life
Apology's mine
Apology's mine
Apology's mine tonight

Love for a daughter you don't have to wait
Love can't explain it nor god's will nor fate would account for all you've lost

It might be over but it's not too late
Trading my freedom for setting things straight with a man that has it coming

And I bring in form of a violent deed
Revenge, my apology
The life of an evil man
His severed molesting hands
And a quiet relief for you

Apologies roll off his tongue
I toned down his talkin' said I am the one
That came here to make good and right
I'll ease this girl's pain by taking your life
Apology's mine
Apology's mine
Apology's mine tonight

The Strangest Thing

What happened back there?
Nothing has gone like we planned
All of our dreams, they just fell by the way
The true love I once had is dead

Looking through old photographs
Pulled by a print from the past
Yeah we called it love but please don't close the book
Might not have ever been that

Forget the morningtime, I'll be asleep
My fix from last night did a number on me
Awake I'd be awful company to keep
Have your breakfast this morning alone

I'll share myself when I'm good and ready
I've got gold and I've got confetti
I'll give to you and you'll give back to me
And forever our song we will sing

The strangest thing that came to me was last night in my sleep
I dreamt you never left
I looked up to thank the moon And saw a set of lights
A set of red tail lights
I said to myself
I thought that I would never change
but when I woke that night
The strangest thing had come to me, I finally was awake
I slept for seven years

What happened back there?
Nothing has gone like we planned
All of our dreams, they have fell by the way
The true love I once had is dead

And forever our song we will sing

The Worst Thing

Where are you?
I'm not asking what town you know what I mean
Yes, you guessed it
I'm not that concerned with being sweet to you
A gentleman would never say the words that I am about to

Who are you? I'm not asking your name you know what I mean.
Lets cut through all this courtesy
And just tell me what you need
A gentleman would never say the words that I am about to

You're the worst thing
You're the worst thing
That ever happened to me

You're the worst thing
You're the worst thing
That ever happened to me
To me

Where are you?
I'm not asking what town you know what I mean