I’ve been to the mountaintop, seen the promised land
Time and again the gods laughed at my plans
You might knock me down, but don’t ever think I’m out
Whatever I do , I got to make it count

Snake-oil salesmen ,fool me once ,shame on me
Grinning in my face, thinking I can’t see
Well Karma is a nasty witch, she don’t fool around
If you want to take a shot at me , better make it count

Win , lose or draw, none of this will last
The scores get lost and forgotten in the misty past

Write another chapter for the book, that’s what it’s about
You got to get the story right, and make it count

When God created time, he sure made a lot
I’m gonna use all mine, taking my best shot
Up or down , wheels turning round and round
Everything I do, gonna make it count

A change is due, I need something new
Time for a brand new song
Stop reading the news, get back to the Blues
Before anyone sees that I'm gone
Time speeds up, time slows down
But it never waits for no-one
You got a lifetime of being old, just a moment of being young
I spent too many sleepless nights wondering what went wrong
I'm gone, I’m gone
I done stayed around here way too long
I'm gone, I’m gone
I done stayed around here way too long



Spent more money then a millionaire,
I could've owned half the town
Drank enough whiskey to fill the sea,
But I never quite did drown
Mama said you're on the wrong path, son,
Papa – he just frowned
I ran through the red lights full speed ahead,
And never once looked down
Life on the edge has a charm all of its own
I'm gone, I’m gone
I done stayed around here way too long
I'm gone, I’m gone
I done stayed around here way too long

Against all odds I'm still in the game
But even water grinds down a stone
It gets so crowded on the gravy train
But you pay the price all alone
All of my fair weather friends have flown, taken off for parts unknown
Left me standing all alone
in my glass house,
throwing stones
The earth just keeps on turning while you’re staring at your phone...
I'm gone,I’m gone
I done stayed around here way too long

I'm gone, I'm gone,
I done stayed around here
I’ve been laying around here
whined and complained around here way too long

I keep losing my temper, slamming fists against the wall
Been clutching at straws, trying to stop this free fall
I’m having crazy dreams, I’m wide awake before dawn
Got a hole in my soul, feeling battered and torn

So if I fly off the handle, please understand that I’m trying
I just got to find a way to get a little bit of peace of mind

25 Years gone by , the time sure flies
Ten thousand cups of coffee, six thousand hours overtime
Now the lights have been dimmed, silence echoes through these halls
I’ll be gone by November and no one will remember us at all

You know I’m ain’t sentimental, that ain’t a tear in my eye
I just got to find a way to hold a smile through this long goodbye


I got a fine loving woman, so sweet and wise
Shines a light through my darkness, pulls the wool off my eyes
So I make sure to count my blessings , it’s a daily routine
I Keep my eyes on the horizon, and try to wipe the slate clean

But you can’t unring a bell, can’t unsay what’s been said
I just got to find a way to drown out these voices in my head

All through the night all through the day
The way she moves the way she sways
I just can't say why I can't explain
It feels so right it feels so wrong and it feels insane
Here she comes in through the door
I see her walking across the floor
She's an island of calm in the eye of the storm
I just want a little more….of that magic

The sound of her voice, the swing of her hips
The scent of her skin, the smile on her lips
Time stands still when I look in her eyes
I got a grin on my face, blood starts to race, and my tongue's getting tied
I don't want to hold her hand
I don't need her to understand
I don't have any long-term plans
I just want a little taste …. of that magic

All the other men in town
Just want to chase her down
I don't mind 'cause she loves my sound
She just wants a little bit of my….magic
Together we make magic…

Feels like I'm playing with crooked dice
I've been taking all the wrong advice
I'm the only one that lightning strikes twice
Feeling like I’m born to lose
You’re my bad luck charm,My bad luck charm
You’re my bad luck charm and I think it’s time to cut you loose

You smile at babies and they start to cry
You drive my car and the battery dies
We went to a party and to my surprise
The police came and shut it down
You're my bad luck charm, you're my bad luck charm
You're my bad luck charm , it's bad luck just to have you around

Seems like all we ever do is fight
Nothing ever seems to turn out right
You got me so I can’t sleep at night
I’ve had enough and I believe -
You’re my bad luck charm,My bad luck charm
You’re my bad luck charm and I think it’s time for me to leave

I wish I never met you at all
I curse the phone every time you call
I gotta run , or fly, even crawl
Get out before I get stuck
You’re my bad luck charm,My bad luck charm
You’re my bad luck charm and it’s time for me to change my luck

I’m like a losing fighter, been knocked down for the count
Got to get back on my feet, and fight another round
But I been hit so hard , just want to stay down on the ground

They say the darkest hour is just before dawn
And they say what doesn't kill you, will only make you strong
They say everything happens for a reason - but you know they could be wrong

My eyes are on the prize
I try not to despair
Blues is my one true faith
I know she’ll take me there

I lost my job, the future’s in a haze
Been kicked to the curb, discarded and disgraced
Can’t say what’s on my mind, I don’t think too straight these days

She sleeps like a child
Her conscience is clean
I watch her through the night
And I think of all my sins

She tells me not to worry, everything's gonna be alright
I sing her name in the morning, thank the gods for her each night
With you in my corner baby, I can win most any fight

You know I’m leaving baby , won’t be coming back
Can’t take the way you treat me, can’t stand the way you act
You thought I was your fool, lying all the time
Let me tell you baby, good fools are hard to find

I know we had some good times, but that was way back when
Going to tear it down now, and start all over again

I don’t hate you baby, you know I wish you well
Why we never made it , you know I just can’t tell
I’ve heard your jive too many times, I ain’t listening no more
That story don’t mean nothing , as I’m walking out the door

Big grin on my face now, big weight off my chest
I’m gonna tear it down now, and start all over again



Been worried such a long time, confused and all alone
I didn't want to face it, break up my happy home
I know this is a hard road, with a heavy price to pay
Now my mind is made up, and I’m on my merry way

I ain’t looking back now, I got no regrets
Time to tear it down now, and start all over again

Dedicated to the memory of “King” Earnest Baker (1939-2000)

He was born in Mississippi, but they could not keep him down
When he made it to Chicago, he was the hottest man in town
Worked a day job in LA, but he never lost his faith
Because he knew that the Blues will always find a way

And your hips would shake, your heart would break
He’d rock your soul every time he’d sing
And I can’t forget the day
That I first saw him play - and I knew that Earnest was a King

Time stood still when he performed, it was magic when he danced,
Played each show as though he knows that it might be his last
Always sharp-dressed ,giving his best, in a full house or empty room
You always felt like Earnest was singing just for you

And he had a smile, could light up the room,
He walked with grace and quiet dignity
I never saw him raise his voice,he never lost his cool
Because Earnest had the soul of a King

He never made million bucks or the Hollywood walk of fame
Never cracked the big time, but he’s a legend just the same
He lived the Blues and triumphed without anger or despair
And I’m grateful for the fortune of the short time that we shared

After all these years, I still smile
Every time I think of my friend King
He left us way too soon, finally got his wings
Now the angels get to hear King Earnest sing

No need to hurry, take your time
Take all the worry from your mind
Just relax enjoy the groove
Tonight we’re gonna dance the Blues

Despair comes seeping through the cracks
Hard to separate lies from facts
Can’t tell the satire from the news
Just keep it real and dance the Blues

Your soul is weary your heart feels bound
Just want to lay your burden down
Just lift your head , kick off your shoes
Come on down and dance the Blues

I think of all the wrong I’ve done
Of battles lost and friendships gone
But when your pride is badly bruised
Just come on down and dance the Blues

Making love in the middle of the morning
Stay up all night drinking red wine
Let the phone ring, I ain't taking no calls
I'm just sitting here taking my time

Baby smiles and says to me
"You’re my number one guy tonight
Might even keep you all through the weekend
I like the way you're taking your time"


Some day when I'm old and grey
Thinking back on the days of my life
I might forget all the hurrying and worrying
But I'll be glad that I took my time

Call me the wilderness generation
Try to speak my mind but I’m lost in translation
The road less traveled is my inspiration
The path means more than the destination
Living in the east but my heart’s in the west
Exiled for life , but I must confess
Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m cursed or blessed
But my mind is free and I live the quest
Bluesoul - never tamed never growing old
Bluesoul - got nothing to lose and nowhere to go




I used to play ball with the kids from the ghetto
They called me the Bird ,said “that white boy can play,yo”
Other people told me I should stick with my own
But I been color blind ever since the day I was born
My heroes are all colors shapes and sizes
I got people in my family from all sides
Some folks are good, some are bad - here’s a word to the wise
Ain’t no chosen people, stop spreading that lie

Bluesoul - never tamed never growing old
Bluesoul - got nothing to lose and nowhere to go

I toil and grind for each line and rhyme
To tell the story straight, satisfy my mind
All I need is one lucky break, just one time
Could’nt quit if I wanted so I keep on trying
I fought , never bought, never sold my soul
Almost reached for the gold, but chose the burning coal
These days I try to keep my fire under control
I stay cool on the surface, but I boil below

Bluesoul - never tamed never growing old
Bluesoul - got nothing to lose and nowhere to go