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HoJames Band

by HoJames Band

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1.
Old Imperial 05:49
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Just two days down from Hunstville, already feels like ten, Never thought I’d be wishin for a cell back in the pen But this is where they send you when they say you’ve done a crime This is where they send you, when you haven’t got a dime Workin,’ says the chaplain, makes me think about my sin About a life lived without virtue, stained with blood and soaked with gin But I got no time for preachin, no time for the rich man’s lies, ‘cause down here in the canebrake I’m just trying to stay alive CHORUS Just two days down from Huntsville, and Lord I want to run But if the cottonmouths don’t get you, it’s that damned old Texas sun And that river looks like freedom, but that river smells like death Don’t want to taste that muddy water when I take my dyin breath The captain so they tell me, was once a decent man Had a wife and two small children and no blood upon his hands Ridin’ shotgun on the work line was more than he could take Ten years on the Brazos turned him meaner than a snake A black hat and a white horse, he’s got a certain style But he’ll kill you as soon as cuss you, and cuss you as soon as smile Our hands are numb and bleeding, but we don’t dare set em down “Keep that cane a comin’, boys, or I’ll put you in the ground” CHORUS They turn us out at sunup, with bullwhips and their guns, Ain’t no need to chain us, ‘cause there ain’t no place to run Was a man when I first came here, might be one once again but For now I’m just an animal, with the devil as my friend I ain’t saying I’m a good man, ain’t sayin I’ve done no wrong But what they’re callin’ justice is a place no man belongs How much blood, how many tears to pay that debt in full How much of my soul do I have to give to that Old Imperial CHORUS FINAL CHORUS Just two days down from Huntsville, and Lord I want to run But if the cottonmouths don’t get you, it’s that damned old Texas sun And if I make it back to Houston, I’ll have a tale to tell ‘bout doin’ time on the Brazos, about that livin’ hell
2.
Grandjo's Cadillac 02:49
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Well it was decked out in chrome from one end to the other Some were close, but like it there was no other Always spotless inside and out If I seen it comin’ I’d jump up and shout, “It’s Grandjo’s, powder blue, Cadillac With just the weight of her shoe it’d do a hundred and three A high heel, that’d usually be Find it most days, down at Whataburger The one on Beckham, (as if there was another) it was Grandjo’s, powder blue, Cadillac AM/FM/8 track was its jam Leather seats rivaled only by her divan Power seats’ windows, locks, and antenna Better buckle up, if you was ridin’ with her. In Grandjo’s, powder blue, Cadillac Oh what I’d give for just one more ride Smile on her face ridin’ by my side Up to speed it felt more like a glide In my pride I was justified ridin’ in Grandjo’s, powder blue, Cadillac
3.
Wish You Were Gone 04:44
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THERE WAS A TIME THAT I HATED THE ROAD ANOTHER DAMN WEEKEND, ANOTHER DAMN SHOW BANOTHER EMPTY HOUSE WITH ME ALL ALONE JUST A QUICK KISS AND YOU WERE GONE WHEN YOU WERE GONE, OH YOU WERE LONG LONG GONE THEY SAY DISTANCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER BUT SOMETIMES IT MAKES THE SOUL WANDER I GOT STRONGER WITH EVERY LONELY NIGHT LESS HEARTBREAK WITH EVERY FADING TAIL LIGHT WHEN YOU WERE GONE WHEN YOU WERE LONG LONG GONE I TRIED TO TELL YOU HOW I WAS FEELING THESE WALLS ARE MY WAY OF DEALING I GOT TIRED OF BEING ALONE GOT TIRED OF RAISING THESE KIDS ON MY OWN WHEN YOU WERE GONE WHEN YOU WERE LONG LONG GONE NOW WHEN YOU PACK UP AND LEAVE DON’T EXPECT A TEAR FROM ME I HATED BEING ALONE FOR SO LONG BUT I FOUND MYSELF WHEN YOU WERE GONE WHEN YOU WERE GONE, OH I WISH YOU WERE GONE
4.
Scratch and Smoke 02:28
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THEY GOT SCRATCH OFF TICKETS AND MARLBORO LIGHTS FORTY OUNCERS ON ICE JUST RIGHT SMOKES BY THE CASE AND SMOKES BY THE CARTON DOWN AT THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME LOOKIN FOR BOTTLES OF WATER DONUTS, OR CANDY BARS CAUSE THEY AINT GOT EM NO FOUNTAIN DRINKS OR HYGIENE PRODUCTS DOWN AT THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE SCRATCH YOUR TICKETS AT THE COUNTER ALL DAY LONG CHECK YOUR NUMBERS EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THEY’RE WRONG BUY A CARTON WITH NICKELS DIMES AND PENNIES DOWN AT THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE SEEN A GIRL IN COWBOY BOOTS AND A BIKINI A MAN WITH NO SHOES, YOU KNOW HE WAS NEEDY PEOPLE BEGGIN FOR ENOUGH FOR A FORTY DOWN AT THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE WELL THEY’VE ALL GOT ONE THING INCOMMON THEY’VE NOTHIN TO LOOSE, THEY’VE HIT ROCK BOTTOM JUST TRYIN TO SCRAPE ENOUGH NICKELS TOGETHER TO HEAD DOWN TO THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE THEY OFFER THREE THINGS AT THIS VENUE THEY COULD ALL MAKE YOUR WILDEST DREAMS COME TRUE STOP ON IN, THEY’LL WELCOME YOU DOWN AT THE SCRATCH AND SMOKE
5.
Castaways 05:41
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It’s just two weeks since we came ashore, but I can’t remember my life before It seems to me there was something more, but it’s gone, long gone Watchin my skin as it turns red, uniform hangs in tattered shreds, But for the conch we’d all be dead, I’m sure, I’m sure CHORUS There was a time when we stood in line, civility had a sacred shine But it slipped away, an ocean away He always knows which way is right, but he has no stomach for the fight Hides his face in fear at night, till dawn, cold dawn The hunters they dance while the fire dies, I see the bloodlust in their eyes The jungle echoes with Simon’s cries, and he’s gone, all gone CHORUS The fragile cords that bind us to, our hopes and dreams are torn in two The lord of the dark collects his due, and we’re gone, so gone CHORUS
6.
Trailer House Blues 06:44
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I COME HOME THE OTHER EVENING, AND MY WIFE WAS GONE TOOK EVERYTHING SHE OWNED PLUS, MY TOM’S PENUT JAR WELL, I WAS TELLIN THIS OLD BOY ABOUT IT AND HE SAID, “MAN, YOU AINT EVEN GOT NOT NO BLUES” THEN HE TOLD ME THIS STORY HERE COME HOME LAST NIGHT, BUT MY HOUSE WASN’T THERE COME HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT, BUT MY HOUSE WASN’T THERE CAUSE MY WIFE DONE HOOKED IT UP, HAULED IT OFF SOMEWHERE CHORUS SEE I’VE GOT THE BLUES, GOT THEM TRAILER HOUSE BLUES LORD KNOWS I’VE GOT THE BLUES, GOT THEM TRAILER HOUSE BLUES CAUSE MY WIFE DONE LEFT ME, TOOK MY HOUSE, TOO. SO, I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO SOME WHERE TO CLEAR MY HEAD LORD KNOWS I NEEDED TO GO, SOMEWHERE TO CLEAR MY HEAD SO, I JUMPED IN MY OL’ FORD, BUT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD CHORUS
7.
Black Heart 04:48
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UNDERNEATH THAT BEAUTIFUL SKIN IS A HEART AS BLACK AS NIGHT IT’S ALIVE AND WELL AND ITS PUMPIN, BLOOD COLD AS ICE YOU MIGHT SEE A GLIMMER OF RED, IF YOU HOLD IT UP TO THE LIGHT JUST ENOUGH TO GIVE FALSE HOPE, TO KEEP UP THE FIGHT. SHE CAN’T HELP WHO SHE IS. DON’T THINK SHE WAS BORN THAT WAY TOO LATE TO MATTER NOW. SHE IS WHO SHE IS ‘CAUSE, UNDERNEATH THAT BEAUTIFUL SKIN IS A HEART AS BLACK AS NIGHT IT’S NOT DEAD IT’S STILL PUMPIN, BLOOD COLD AS ICE
8.
Karaoke Queen 04:29
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Like clockwork every Thursday night First one on when they dim the lights Cord in her left hand, mic in the right, she’s the Karaoke Queen Somethin to see several years ago Now she’s showin more than she oughta show All dressed up with no place to go, she’s the Karaoke Queen CHORUS She’s all in, she believes what she sings When her song comes ‘round she’s always on key Her pain’s so real, it’s what gets to me, she’s the Karaoke Queen CHORUS When her moment ends she gets right back in line, Reba, Miranda, Bonnie if she’s feelin’right Livin’ in her own world, even if it’s a lie, she’s the Karaoke Queen CHORUS
9.
Alone in a Country Song 03:31
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SHE WAS A SMALL TOWN TEXAS CHEERLEADER, DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL DADDY’D DO ANYTHING FOR HER, GIVE HER ANYTHING IN THIS OL’ WORLD AND SHE LOVES HER MOMMA, MOMMA DID NOTHING WRONG SHE CAN’t HELP IT SHE NEEDS TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY SONG CHORUS SHE LIKES DRINKIN’ WHISKEY WITH STAPLETON TALKIN’ JESUS WITH JINKS BACK ROADIN’ WITH MIRANDA THEY''RE LIKE THELMA AND LOUISE RATHER STAY IN THE AIRWAYS MOTEL, THAN THE HOLIDAY INN SHE’S HER OWN BEST COMPANY WHEN SHE’S ALONE IN A COUNTRY SONG CHORUS WELL HER BEST FRIEND IS A GYPSY, WHO’D GLADLY DIE IN HER PLACE GOT A MAN THAT LOVES HER, TWO KIDS WHO THINK SHE’S A SAINT BIG HOUSE UP ON A HILL, CHURCH PEW IN THE BACK THINGS AIN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM, SHE NEEDS TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY SONG CHORUS
10.
Ribbons in the Desert 05:53
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YOUNG BRAVE HE CLIMBS A MESQUITE TO SEE THE MAIDEN SHES OUT OF THE TIPI THEN HE PRACTICES WITH HIS BOW, A REAL BRAVE HE’S GONNA SHOW ’EM THE PAINTED BRAVE HE RIDES BY BUT HE DOESN’T SIGNAL TO THE YOUNG BRAVE HIS DAY IT HAS NOT COME FOR TO RIDE INTO WAR CHORUS 1 NOT KNOWING HIS GREAT GRANDSON WOULD PROP HIS FOOT AND LEAN AGAINST A BRICK WALL BY THE RIBBONS IN THE DESERT HE’D PRACTICE WITH HIS BOW AS HE RODE HIS PONY PAST THE MAIDEN AS SHE HELPED HER MOTHER STRETCH THE SKINS HER LONG BLACK HAIR A TOUCH OF VERMILLION BLOWN BY THE WIND NEVER FORGIVEN SHES NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR THE YOUNG BRAVE SO HE WAITED FOR LOVE AND WAR CHORUS 1 FINALLY THE WARRIOR HE RODE BY AND GAVE THE SIGNAL, TO THE YOUNG BRAVE BLOOD RED HANDPRINT ON HIS PONY, NOW HE’S A WARRIOR TO BE BOW IN HAND AND QUIVER LOADED HIS PAINTED PONY DISAPPEARING WAR PAINT IS NOT FOR PLAY HE’D LONG AWAITED THIS DAY CHORUS THE YOUNG MAIDEN SHE WATCHED EVERY DAY FOR A SILHOUETTE IN THE DESERT THEN HE RODE UP SLOWLY AND LIFTED HER ON HIS PONY, A MAN HE PLEASED HER FATHER WHAT A GREAT WARRIOR HE HAD BEEN THE CEREMONY WAS SOON AS WAR SURELY LOOMED CHORUS 2 NOT KNOWING THEIR GREAT GRANDSON WOULD PROP HIS FOOT AND LEAN AGAINST A BRICK WALL BY THE RIBBONS IN THE DESERT GREAT IRON HORSES GATHERED FROM THE RIBBONS IN THE DESERT SIGN SAYS DON’T GIVE THE INDIANS MONEY THEY’LL ONLY SPEND IT ON WHISKEY SPEND IT ON WHISKEY AND PROP THEIR FOOT AND LEAN, AGAINST A BRICK WALL BY THE RIBBONS IN THE DESERT I GAVE THEM EACH A FIN, ONE SAID HOW BOUT MY BROTHER HE’S SICK UNDER THE OVERPASS, I GAVE HIM ANOTHER I GUESS HE’LL PROP HIS FOOT AND LEAN AGAINST THE BRICK WALL BY THE RIBBONS IN THE DESERT
11.
Bucket Boy Blues 03:15
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Never met a story, with so many holes, See him lyin in the river grass with a fishin’ pole Bottle of Bud, and a smoking bowl It’s pick your poison, which one would you choose? I’d take anything but the Bucket Boy Blues His wild kingdom, is way beyond compare, rattlesnakes and alligators, even a grizzly bear We could talk about the horses but then that wouldn’t be fair He’d be a thousand years old if all his stories were true, I can’t imagine living with the Bucket Boy Blues Went upstairs to look around, didn’t know what I would find, but Bucket Boy had been there first, left his callin card behind Makin tracks for the water hole while everybody is stayin late, just forty more pounds to go till he gets to gator-wrestlin’ weight The cat came back, he didn’t like it on his own You know he hates to ask you this but can he have a loan? Says”I’ll pay you back when I win place and show” Hey where’s he going with everybody’s tools? The best bet is his fast track to the Bucket Boy Blues Did fumes get to him, inside his sleepin mind ? Or maybe its just the residue of what he left behind His life sits at the bottom of a pail for everyone to find I believe I’d end it all, if I were you, a bullet in the brain is a kinder fate than the Bucket Boy Blues
12.
Not Like That 04:58
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It’s a grey Morning, I go to work, we haven’t said anything for three days We used to talk, I want to talk, but you roll over and pretend your sleepin’ A whiskey bottle, under the sink, and those pills, she got from a friend They make her calm, they keep her sane, make her feel like, she’s not at the end CHORUS Hey ya, it’s not like that, not like that, I didn’t mean it I wasn’t thinking, you weren’t thinkin, I didn’t mean it, I know you’re not like that Simple wit, and some simple words, a simple lie is, no better than that And I say, hey it’s okay, if that’s what you want, you’re gonna have it anyway So I go out, out drinkin’, try to forget, where you are and who you’re with I’d like to think, it’ll be alright, so I hold it in, no I won’t be laughin’ tonight CHORUS She says hey you know, I never messed around, but she knows, that I know better than that But I believe, just for a while, then I wake up and I know that I don’t know her And she says there has to be something more, and I know, that somethin’ it just ain’t you She packs her things, in the dark, drives away, while I pretend I’m sleepin’ CHORUS This whiskey, it’s sure contagious, I pour a drink, and I wait for the ambulance to come CHORUS 2 Hey ya, it’s not like that, not like that, I didn’t mean it You werent’t thinking, I wasn’t thinkin, I guess you meant it cause I know you’re just like that
13.
The One for Me 03:17
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THEY SAY BEHIND EVERY GOOD MAN IS A GOOD WOMAN YOU’LL SEE I’M NOT THAT GOOD BUT I’M BETTER THAN I OUGHTA BE WHATEVER I AM IT’S ONLY BECAUSE SHE’S STANDIN’ NEXT TO ME CHORUS I FOUND HER STANDIN’ BY THE COON DOG PUNCH SHE WAS WEARIN’ THAT MINI SKIRT BIG BEAUTIFUL EYES LORD THEY MADE ME HURT I KNEW SHE WAS THE ONE FOR ME IT WASN’T EASY IT WOULDN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT I NEEDED WORK BUT SHE’D PUT IN THE TIME I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE ROUGHER THAN SOME DON’T KNOW WHERE I’D BE IF SHE HADN'T COME CHORUS THEY SAY THAT LOVE IS A CHOICE BUT I DISAGREE I WAS HELPLESS SHE HAD A SPELL ON ME MY HEART BEATS AND MY LUNGS BREATH MY LOVE FOR HER IS THE SAME TO ME CHORUS CHORUS

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released June 29, 2023

Recorded and produced by Robin Hood Brians at Robinhood Studios, Tyler, TX.

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HoJames Band Tyler, Texas

HoJames Band is an original Southern Americana band from Tyler, TX. We blend Blues, Bluegrass, Folk, Rock, and Country with a Jam Band ethic to create a sound we are proud to call our own.

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