Get all 10 The Coal Porters releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of EP Roulette, The Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts, Turn the Water on, Boy!, Durango, Find The One, No. 6, How Dark This Earth Will Shine, Los London, and 2 more.
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keep on believin' that the sun's still heavin'
a little light our way
bright enough to keep us warm & motivate the day
keep on hopin' that the sun ain't jokin'
& rain will stay away
cause we got plans to hear the band
who's setting up today
to lose your blues you gotta lose your shoes
no socks, no never mind
there's music in the village square
and watermelon on the vine
a crow aged eight to eighty
all tapping feet in time
27 strings pick Glendale Train
in summer's bright sunshine
strolling past a statue of a soldier so forlorn
he's thinking of a battle
fought before, fought before
fought before I was born
Mister, it's all over
put down your gun and stay
the fiddler's hot! (the banjo's not)
but listen to them play
the sun ain't leavin' so stop your grieving
you're gonna make me yawn
nothing could feel better than
barefoot on the courthouse lawn
to lose our blues
you gotta lose your shoes
no socks, no never mind
no sandals & no sneakers
the fresh cut grass feels fine
sippin' cool mint juleps
the band plays on & on
you never could feel better than
barefoot on the courthouse lawn
nothin' could feel better than
barefoot on the courthouse lawn
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2. |
Never Right His Wrong
04:01
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he came back one hot September night
he said " I've been so lost but I can make it right"
you know I fed you lies, lest we forget
here I am, love, the rest I regret
he hung his hat up on that 'ol nail in the wall
looked around, thought man she's a doll
so many days and nights, that starry prairie sky
all he'd been lookin' for is some kind of sign
Chorus
his arms were open, his yes like the dawn,
but she ain't the same since he's been gone
his mind was made up, the past an older song
but she knew then that he'd never right his wrong
she turned her back, wiped the sweat from her brow
knew she couldn't bear even one more row
poured him a glass of his ol' Yukon Jack,
lookin' at the floor, her heart felt the cracks
excuse me honey, I'll be right back.
she crept downstairs, found some kind of sack
threw in some memories, said can't do this no more
turned on her heel and just bolted out that door
Chorus
the rain had come but she couldn't feel a thing
past the wheat fields, you could almost hear them sing
now the whistle of her own harvest train
takin' her away, its tune a sweet refrain
no more grain and gas and yellow canola fields
her eyes are waitin' on Pacific Ocean teal
the sky is clear now, a west coast eagle soars
this train is bound for that Rocky Mountain shore
Chorus
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hush you babe, keep it quiet
no more tears, you best deny it
we're on our own, we had to try it
hush child, don't you cry or weep
pray the Lord your soul to keep
this train, it has no track of time
but this family is still all mine
dear heart, we're so alone
just remember , we're headed home
you trust your Ma, we love you so
yes, I'm scared, what can I do?
so very scared, right through & through
Good Shepard, please bless this road
for your cargo's a heavy load
full of hope & right & rage
but better Death than another cage
ten miles a night without a word
sshhh, is that a hound I heard?
you know what happens if we're found
side by side we'll lay in Heaven's ground
Poppa's right, we must not fall
till we rest 'neath Selema Hall
then cross the Ohio on a raft of birch
to raise our voices loud in Town Clock Church
I smell the magnolia on the vine
just taste the air, as sweet as wine
hush you babe, there's little time
sound like someone getting close
I pray it is not the Holy Ghost
a few more miles, then we're there
I love you all, I do I swear
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5. |
Heroes
05:19
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I, I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing will keep us together
We can beat them, for ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes, just for one day
I, I will be king
And you, you will be queen
Though nothing will drive them away
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day
I, I can remember (I remember)
Standing by the wall (by the wall)
And the guns shot above our heads (over our heads)
And we kissed, like nothing before (nothing before)
And the shame was on the other side
Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever
We can be Heroes, just for one day
We can be Heroes, just for one day
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6. |
Red-Eyed & Blue
03:28
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the curtain stayed up on our three act romance
we didn't sleep so we'd more time to dance
scenes set at moonrise, the sun's early glances
first coloured us red-eyed and blue
our second act was a radio play
phoned-in performances three times a day
walking the line versus playing away
would leave one of us red-eyed and blue
red-eyed and blue over you
red-eyed and blue over you
my rainbow's colours are down to just two
I'm red-eyed and blue over you
all her friends said he would ramble and roam
but her infidelity started at home
what could he do? red-eyed and blue
tried to get even but only got more
red-eyed and blue over you
picture the scene in some heartache hotel
no pool but whisky and where his tears fell
sounds like the neighbours are getting on well
as the red neon light turns to blue
daytime and sunshine a porch and a swing
older and greyer he still feels the sting
given the chance would he do the same thing?
and he laughs but his eyes say it's true
red-eyed and blue over you
red-eyed and blue over you
my rainbow's colours are down to just two
I'm red-eyed and blue over you
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7. |
Ask Me Again
03:05
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ask me once, ask me twice
ask me over, ask me nice
ask me softly, ask me slow
ask me later, why I don't know
I get the feelin' you're reelin' me right in
I get the warmest glow of lovin' ever been
I get the feelin' some fun will soon begin
ask me again, please ask again
in a tavern, in a bar
it don't matter where we are
in a motel on the bed
in my own mind, in my head
I get the feelin' you're reelin' me right in
I get the warmest glow of lovin' ever been
I get the feelin' some fun will soon begin
ask me again, please ask again
ask me once, ask me twice
ask me over, ask me nice
ask me softly, ask me slow
ask me later, why I don't know
I'll be believin' the pleasing once again
I'll be conceding your love will never end
I'll know the answer to the question from my friend
ask me again, ask me again
ask me again, ask me again
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8. |
Brand New Home
03:04
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I've got the keys to my brand new home
met a man in Memphis
he showed round his home
said we don't all live in Graceland
I'm a rolling stone and this land is mine
from shore to golden shore
when you don't live anywhere you keep an open door
I've got the key to my brand new home
a place that I can call my own
nothing set in stone
be my guest at my brand new home
people say I'm invisible but they can't see
life was all ladders then I found a tree
I found branches that even I could climb
life in this great outdoors is only borrowed time
don't do no names but I'm big on faces
and where they all belong
resting place is a state of grace
and I won't be here for long
used to live in a library, now it lives in me
I built my home in there one page at a time
then I found the key to a world
that won't turn anyone away
my house is your house join the thousands who all stay
I've got the key to my brand new home
a place that I can call my own
nothing set in stone
be my guest at my brand new home
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9. |
Gospel Shore
04:42
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who's that walking on the gospel shore?
who's that walking on the gospel shore?
who's that walking on the gospel shore?
beneath a lamp His head did bow
beneath a lamp, saw His head go bow
beneath a lamp His head did bow
alone, alone, all alone was He
alone, alone, all alone was He
alone, alone, all alone was He
a restless soul in agony
Chorus
I come from Abyssinia
gonna walk to Galilee
I seek to lose these shackles
I seek to set men free
gonna march right with my brothers
gonna stand beside the sea
when the pharaoh comes to cut us
he'll drown in our victory
the blind live on but they do not see
the deaf live on but they do not hear
the mute live on tho' they do not speak
and we march on and we do not fear
they come as one they come in threes
they come as one they come in peace
they come as one they march with me
2nd chorus
from a chasm so hard slanted deep within my soul
a savage place abandoned
a rock which never rolls
a king's shadow once demanded
its right to block the sun
a thousand campfires burn alike
their light becomes our one!
the wind blew high, the sun dipped low
the wind blew high, the sun dipped low
the wind blew high, the sun dipped low
and still He walked but He's walking slow
ash and sand along the gospel shore
the weight of the world
now for evermore
ash and sand along the gospel shore
if Heaven awaits, what are we livin' for?
if Heaven awaits, what are we livin' for?
Chorus
I come from Abyssinia
gonna walk to Galilee
I seek to lose these shackles
I seek to set men free
gonna march right with my brothers
gonna stand beside the sea
when the pharaoh comes to cut us
he'll drown in our victory
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if you love them and you leave them
if you love them not for long
then you'll soon see love in shadows
you'll only miss her when she's gone
once I had a darlin' pal
I loved her every day
she was pure as mountain air
and so I said I'd stay
then came time to preacher up
then came time to pray
I lit out for my Southern home
left my wedding far away!
Chorus
once I knew a pretty gal so I snag to her my song
she joined right in on harmony
her melody so strong
this music that we made for life
could capture any ear
but I see me as a soloist
so I said I couldn't hear
it was Gatlinberg in Tennessee
one day in mid-July
I found myself a-waltztin' sweet
with a gal named Nellie Bly
I knew she was a match for me
and I told her by and by
then I met her husband Hank
and I went away to cry
Chorus
now you've heard my story
now you've heard my song
if you find someone to love
you'll know where you belong
Chorus
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11. |
Farmers' Hands
02:59
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these will never be farmers' hands
farmers' hands
these will never be farmers' hands
when I was a boy, there really was no question
I would farm the way my father did
made a choice to plough a different furrow
these will never be farmers' hands
living off the land, it is the oldest story
all this going away and looking back
all these songs still asking us to sing them
wishing we had farmers' hands
these great calloused hands
not for keys and buttons
'til the box and fiddle take the air
then the tunes come flowing from these fingers
these are surely farmers' hands
I can understand living far from the sea
but how we can live so far from the land?
we'd like to think we know what it is
to dig and sow in our best-laid plans
these will never be farmers' hands
don't know what I'd say today to guide my children
if I'd made the farmers' life my own
killing fields, making people crazy
you got by with farmers' hands
these will never be farmers' hands
farmers' hands
these will never be farmers' hands
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12. |
Paint It, Black
03:39
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I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore
I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by
dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see a line of cars
and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love
both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens every day
I look inside myself
and see my heart is black
I see my red door
and must have it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up
when your whole world is black
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the settin' sun
My love will laugh with me
before the mornin' comes
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore
I want them to turn black
I see the girls go by
dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
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13. |
Heroes (Single Edit)
04:19
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The Coal Porters London, UK
The Coal Porters claim to be the world’s first “alt-bluegrass” act, demonstrating the power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo,
acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies and memorable melodies.
They have taken this sound around the world being featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in the USA and having recorded a live session for Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2.
... more
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