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Traveller's Moon

by Adam McBride-Smith

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1.
Blue 03:11
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Blue Blue shadows in the morning Blue window full of rain Is it because I know I’m leaving? Blue ticket on the train Is it because I know I’m leaving That all my colors change in hue? I’ve spent half my time escaping from something And the rest trying to get back through Now there’s blue flame on the kitchen burner Blue words echo up the stairs Blue telephone is ringing Blue song hanging in the air Is it because I’m always leaving That all my colors change in hue? I spend half my time escaping from something And the rest trying to get back through And now I’m blue Blue And in those old church house windows When the sun is shining through Saints and devils round the borders And every one of them was blue Blue all along the western ocean Blue darkening into night And it was blue in the beginning And blue long after the flight And I see blue shadows in the evening From the city to the coast The wind blew cold in through the curtains A blue thread pulsing in your throat Is it because I’m always leaving That all my colors change in hue? I spend half my time escaping from something And the rest trying to get back through And now I’m blue Blue
2.
If I Can't Have You 02:12
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If I can’t have you If I gotta be alone Like old St. Paul Lay me down on stones Till the angels call You know I seen that light Shine from overhead But it never leads me To your bed If I can’t have you If I can’t have you Gonna make do with someone else instead Well some have eaten bitter weeds With the wolves and sparrows Some fell to the flames And some to flights of arrows But don’t that wall look high, babe And ain’t that fire red? And if I can’t have you If I can’t have you Gotta make do with someone else instead I know a fool ain’t nothing but a faithful man Who ended up on the wrong side of the truth Well I’m down on my knees in the rocks and reeds Just praying for a little bit of living proof Well I ain’t no saint But this much I know That we love them best Who drag us down most low And when the shame it burns ‘Round your head Gotta turn your cheek Like the good book said If I can’t hurt you If I can’t hurt you Gotta take it out on someone else instead
3.
The Devil and the Delta Queen 03:06
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The Devil and the Delta Queen I hitched a ride on the Delta Queen Headed down to New Orleans Fire in her belly And the river rolling wild I’ve cut cards on many a shore Some leave rich and some leave poor Some they never leave at all But me I just keep moving Through the smoke and the gaslight glare In the deck saloon they turned to stare A score of ragged gamblers Their faces pale and worn And at the head the dealer sat In a bearskin coat and a silk cravat A silver watch hung upon a chain And I sat down to join the game So round the room the cards did fall And the bets were placed and the raises called I had two diamonds in the hole And the queen on the table And in the dark the wind turned round And nearly stove the boat a ground The rain came tumbling from the sky To batter on the boards At last the dealer he did call And the diamonds from my hand did fall But a straight flush fell straight across the face Of the timid queen I courted So I reached to open up my purse And found that I was doubly cursed For stolen or mislaid it was Nowhere to be found “Fear not my friend,” the dealer said “For having fallen in the red, We offer credit to he who renders Up a minor guaranty.” I said, “No property of merit Nor of wealth did I inherit.” Said the dealer with a devilish grin, “Then on your soul we’ll wager.” Now I’m headed down to New Orleans With the devil and the Delta Queen Fire in her belly And the river rolling wild And the pitch black men by the boiler door You can hear them cry beneath the floor Singin’ “oh my lord, deliver me!” But the wheel keeps on turning And like so many men before I left my home upon the shore I lost the last I had to give But still the game goes on And if I ever win it clean And I get off the Delta Queen Gonna dig a hole by the river side And lay my money down
4.
Kingdom 02:50
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Kingdom By the time we made the junction The winter had set in The road a sheet of glass The freight cars cornered round the bend Those highway lights were halos When I felt that hunger stir But when walking turned to wandering I could hardly say for sure Ain’t no kingdom coming down Ain’t no kingdom coming down It was in the roadside rushes Where that rusted giant sprawled Through a twisted mouth of metal For my company he called So the hem of blind misfortune Shakes loose providence at times For them that take no sides Between the living and the dying But ain’t no kingdom coming down Ain’t no kingdom coming down I’ve seen the fields gone to wrack and weeds I saw the rain bring a mountain down But I still ain’t seen that kingdom yet Though I wear my need like a golden crown The bottle and the powder And the bitterest of blooms That flowers in strange seasons In loose time with the moon And stranded on that white sea With no country and no name Gazing past the weathered glass Some foreign shore to claim I saw my kingdom coming down I saw my kingdom coming down
5.
Miracle Child 02:58
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Miracle Child Must be a miracle child To go down with the flood Once you were skin and bones Now you’re flesh and blood Your pockets full of ticket stubs Your mouth filled up with weeds Count the wounds the long night left And step into your dress of reeds Must be a miracle child To have fallen so low From your high garden wall To the dark streets below Trumpet vine and devil’s wine And corn silk round your head Count your blessings, they’re silver stars See them shine above your bed Come the thunder and lightening All you do is run and cry, cry, cry Don’t you know you’ve got to look your savior in the eye? Must be a miracle child Like a flame under glass Through the smoke and the sawdust You saw the wires creep past And now you stand on the fatal step And turn to face the stalls With the lights all burning far below Like angels bound to break your fall
6.
Bad Habit (honey honey) 03:39
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Bad Habit (honey honey) Honey honey, you pretty thing Your daddy bought you a diamond ring He wonders where all the money goes It must be for your Sunday clothes ‘Cause I saw you walking down the street Looking oh so fine Your face white as the falling snow And your eyes red as the cherry wine Ooh-la-da-da First you wind up on the floor Ooh-don’t I know Then you’re coming back for more You better break that bad habit Gotta fake that bad habit Gotta shake that bad habit ‘fore that habit’s shaking you Saw you out on the town Trying to paint it red But you fell down at the station and it Painted you instead Now honey honey on the cornerside Trying to get a lift But there was no one in this lonesome town Who could even catch your drift Ooh, lord they say It’s a long way down Ooh, but honey’s taking The short way around You better break that bad habit Gotta fake that bad habit Gotta shake that bad habit ‘fore that habit’s shaking you Every time I come around You’ve got your window shades pulled down Pour yourself another round of Misery and royal crown You can’t change a rainy day Into a sunny sky But you can always change your heart Honey if you’ll only try And you can break that bad habit You can fake that bad habit You can shake that bad habit ‘fore that habit’s shakin you
7.
Traveller's Moon 02:46
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Traveller’s Moon When the day is done And the sky goes dim Would you lead me up the stairs To your room again? I been gone a long time from your arms If I could erase The trouble from your eyes In its place I’d set the light Of the morning skies I been gone a long time from your arms If the wind should turn And shower us with dust Though the sun may burn And the rain may rust I’d still walk alone Down each twisted street Until I find the road runs straight Underneath my feet In the darkest hour I’ll be coming soon Find me by the parting light Of the traveller’s moon I been gone a long time from your arms Chorus When the day is done And the sky goes dim Would you lead me up the stairs To your room again?
8.
Your Only One 02:46
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Your Only One Come let me spin you around I’ll be your shadow Under the bright lights And no one will know where we’ve been Out on the edge of town Driving that same road That we travelled down Watching the markers flash by My love with the wandering eye And you move so easy no iron fence could hold you Like the tall grass sways when the day is done Play that old song one more time now Make me believe I’m your only one Out on a Saturday night The lights on the dance floor Don’t shine quite as brightly As when I first walked through that door But ain’t it a hell of a note They’re playing that old song But the timing is all wrong And the sweet words just sound like a lie To my love with the wounded eyes And you move so familiar you’re hard to let go of And where would I go if I knew how to leave? So spin me round slowly till the dancing is done I’ll let you believe I’m your only one Come turn that wheel once again If we could make Utah And the old Moke Dugway We’d park and just watch the world spin Moving in three quarter time We’ll put to rest all the worst and the best And we’ll dance till the sun starts to rise My love with the light in your eyes And the dancing is easy when there’s no fence to hold you The tall grass sways and the day is done Play that old song one more time now Make me believe I’m your only one Make me believe I’m your only one
9.
Rockingchair Blues 03:56
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Rockingchair Blues Could it be the whiskey or the wine Could it be the whiskey or the wine Put me on that old Virginia line? Out all night until the break of day Out all night until the break of day Watched my money as it rolled away I got trouble on the other line I got trouble on the other line All last night I had you on my mind I went back to Tulsa just to hear the news I went back to Tulsa just to hear the news But the only station played those heartsick blues Got a letter from a friend I used to know Got a letter from a friend I used to know Said he’d never shake off all the debts he owes Honey give me back my rocking chair Honey give me back my rocking chair Gonna rock away all my lonesome cares I sung for glory I’ve been sanctified I sung for glory I’ve been sanctified Looked at heaven from the other side
10.
Too Cool 02:41
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Too Cool Honey there was a time Before you were mine When I walked these empty streets Wandered up and down This cold, hard town With no empty arms to meet Saw those window lights Shine clear through though the night How they’d flash like strings of jewels Here you come my way And my friends all say You’re too cool, too cool, too cool Come on honey we can head on down See those city lights shine like stars Red-eye stations at the end of the line Well we never seem to make it that far Well it wasn’t your dress Or some cry of distress That swept me off my stool You’re no dancing queen But I must confess You’re too cool, too cool, too cool Be that as it may Still you’re not too cool to say What’s really on your mind from day to day Some girls get hot Trying to game the shots Want to play you for a fool You never made yourself out To be what you’re not You’re just too cool, too cool, too cool Come on honey we can head on down See those city lights shine like stars Red-eye stations at the end of the line Well I wonder when we’ll make it that far Well now time goes by And we’ve all seen trials And temptations cloud our eyes But I’ve come a long way Since my back step days And I’d rather be by your side You got charm to spare You’ve got savoir faire But you ain’t nobody’s fool Here you come my way And my friends all say You’re too cool, too cool, too cool
11.
The Uninvited Guest 03:06
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The Uninvited Guest The dawn was breaking in my bones But the night lay deep around my door Sometimes the hard choices that are left to you Are the only ones you’re running for One road shines like silver And the other rolls down like a fold in a dress But on down the way, is there any place to stay For the uninvited guest? Of all the stones that you cast aside Some are lost and some find the river shore And all the words that you use to hide Will come ringing round at your backdoor One road burns with tongues of flame And the other one is aimless at best But on down the way, there must be some place to stay For the uninvited guest The coat you wear is too thin to keep The moon from slipping through your sleeve As you rise to face the morning sun Climbing slowly through the winter leaves One road goes to no place that you know And the other runs through the wilderness But either way, is this any place to stay For such an uninvited guest?
12.
Panamanian Road Gang 03:07
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Panamanian Road Gang Black dirt country back in ‘41 Every year it comes a little more undone Word gets around about a government check A crowd commenced to form down by the courthouse steps Last thing I remember’s that dotted line But they get you through the door before you change your mind And you wake up in the morning and you’re way down low Working on a Panamanian road We tore through the jungle with a saw and chain Engine just a bawlin’ like an old freight train Mynah birds cryin’ in the dead of night Pretty girls sway under the paper lights Last thing I remember’s that sweet palm wine But they get you through the door before you change your mind And you wake up in the morning and you’re way down low Just working on a Panamanian road Through the locks and quays Saw the black boats glide With the fruit from the south and the steel from the north Oil from the east and the guns from the west And whose hands will mend What man divides? I saw the fever and the fits of fire Bad news walking on a telephone wire Black tar stretched out like a snake’s new skin The devil keeps time and you’re flying round the bend The best that I remember didn’t pay no mind When you measure out your days a couple feet at a time And where the hell we’re headed, oh the lord only knows We’re just working on a Panamanian road Best that I remember didn’t pay no mind When you measure out your days a couple feet at a time And where the hell we’re headed, oh the lord only knows We’re just working on a Panamanian road
13.
Pale Horse 04:57
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Pale Horse At the end of a blue blue highway I saw that pale horse turn around Flecks of fire caught in his step Though the black wire ringed him round Silver tracks and dead smoke stacks Silver coins we tried to keep Silver stars that steal our hearts When we’re lying in our beds asleep Jesus when I first met you You were just a stranger out on the road But I knew it was you by the way you laughed When you shouldered up my heavy load You walked beside me for a little while Kept me company in your way In the crowd’s hungry grip I guess you gave me the slip And I was sorry you couldn’t stay You dark-eyed wanderer Still your step till I come By this way again Cause over yonder There will be no driver’s lash No mark to wear upon your skin The devil he crossed my way a time or two When I was tangled up and stuck And I knew it was him by the way he shook my hand And wished me luck Still I could not blame him If he had better places to go Fine promises to make, finer souls to stake Higher hearts to drag down low As I travel this hard dusty road It’s all I can do to laugh For I am bound by promises Someone must have made on my behalf But at the end of this blue blue highway I saw that pale horse turn around Flecks of fire strung through his step Though the black wire ringed him round Chorus I saw him dance like a coil of smoke Between the wild weeds and the sky And the silos and the radio towers never spoke they just Cast their long shadows back in reply Silverbacks and dead smokestacks Silver planes that trail the sun Silver crosses that guard our losses And leave us no room to run But I won’t need any promise of glory On that final waking day I just need that pale horse To bear my body away
14.
King Magpie 06:10
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King Magpie Up from the lowlands with a railman’s smile A blue flame burning at the bottom of the dial Singing one for the rounders with their backs against the wall King Magpie has come to call You’d know that wounded gait at a glance You’ve seen him spinning in a barroom dance Talking like losing was the sweetest tune And singing, “Fare thee well, Kentucky moon” He’s seen the scrapyards and refinery fires Heard starlings chatter like electric wires A furl of black ash lifted by the heat To settle aimless on the evening street But he’s been up and down the broken coast Rolled in the arms of the holy ghost Followed the falling of a dying star ‘Till it was lost in the bright lights of the boulevard He brings you colored glass and tinfoil flowers Ornaments to brighten up your lonely hours Penny postcards, kisses sweet as wine King Magpie is on the line He says, “You are my child, you are my darling one, You are the chains I thought I could outrun Whatever trinkets I have failed to fence You may claim as your inheritance.” So you go walking through the midnight air Along those roads only the wild birds share Through the static and the bare-faced shills The whispered hush of all your nameless ills Follow him out into the carnival night Down past the dark end of the station lights Where that wild unbounded country lies Under the shelter of the starblown skies The meadowlark sings sweetest psalms Forsaken lovers all the mourning dove calms And through the evening air the swallows fall King magpie swallows them all

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released April 20, 2012

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Adam McBride-Smith Portland, Oregon

Adam McBride-Smith grew up in Oklahoma, but has called many places home since then. His first album, "Good and Gone" was released in 2007. Adam's 2nd album, "Traveller's Moon", was recorded with the help of the War Eagles (backing band for Langhorne Slim) along with fiddler Abe Streep and singer Marisa Frantz. It was released in 2012 on Wild Honey Records. Adam lives in Portland, OR. ... more

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