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Out The Gate (And Down The Road)

by Jerry Axson

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1.
Big River 03:35
Big River ©Jerry Axson Big river running through my town, Big river gonna’ roll on down, to the bottom of the big blue sea... far away from you and me... Gonna’ save every tear I cry, and when you ask me why - I can show you the living proof... I’m still in love with you... And it doesn’t matter if I leave this place... Big river runs no mans race... all the begging in the world won’t change... Big river wears no mans’ chains... Big river running through my eyes, dark river but it can’t disguise, broken lines all around my face... broken promises can leave that trace... Keep waiting for the well to dry, hear them whisper but I know I tried - to cup the water up to my mouth... couldn’t help it when it all ran out...
2.
Across The Dirt Road ©Jerry Axson She lived across the dirt road, sometimes I saw her out back, five empty acres behind our house, we lived on the wrong side of the tracks... She had an indepedant momma’, ran around and drank a lot, my Daddy told me it was 64’, she messed around and got herself shot... for what she was and was not... I watched you then like I want you now, from a distance - without a sound, every night of every day, I have hoped and I have prayed - that somehow - maybe - some way - you will wake up and see... that your love belongs to me... Through the years I have seen you grow, so close and yet so far, boys would come and boys would go, I’d catch the tail lights of their cars, it seems to me you can’t fill up, that empty place in your heart, Well, I’ve got something to say to you girl, and it’s a good place to start... this is a good place to start... you will wake up and see... that your heart belongs to me...
3.
Nothing Between Us (But My Pride) ©Jerry Axson Here she comes, on a Friday night, in her green Camaro, 1969, I’m so lucky, all the boys step aside, there aint’ nothing between us, but my pride... And if it weren't for the tears that I've cried over her - I might say it's all in vain... It doesn't matter, she drives me insane... All I wanted was a kiss from you - just to see what it might do - instead it lay broken like an arrow in my side... nothing between us but my pride... nothing between us but my pride... Well she walks, Oh, so very fine, and I don't mind looking, every single time, I’ve been lucky, I never had the blues, til' I went down on my knees, all because of you, And if it weren't for the tears that I've cried over her - I might say it's all in vain... It doesn't matter, she drives me insane... SOS I’m in distress...SOS I’m just a mess... All I wanted was a kiss...your lips on mine...taste so fine...
4.
I Don’t Want To Know ©Jerry Axson The things I’ve done for you - the things I’ve done for love, there is a great divide in my heart, a pain I can’t rise above - Your lips could sway me - but not one kiss was real, and as your eyes betray me - so this is how it feels... I don’t want to know - where you go tonight, even if he’s there, you’ve got to keep it out of sight, cause’ all our friends will talk - about the way you do, and I don’t want to know, even if it’s true... I’m holding on forever - I’m holding out for you, I must believe in something, I don’t know what else to do - Your lips could sway me - but not one kiss was real, and as your eyes betray me - so this is how it feels...
5.
She Thinks I’m Sleeping ©Jerry Axson She thinks I’m sleeping, as I lay awake in the dark, I count her breathing, with every beat of my heart, and I’ve been thinking, that maybe I should go - she thinks I’m sleeping, she doesn’t even know - That everything I’ve done... and everything I’ve said... it’s a lie... I never meant for this - to get so out of hand... and pass us by... I’ve been dreaming, of someone else at night, I try to stop this - because I know that it’s not right, and I fear I’m losing, this place for you in my heart, she thinks I’m sleeping, and it’s taring me apart That everything we’ve done... and everything we’ve said... was a lie... I never meant for this - to get so out of hand... and pass us by... I think she’s sleeping, as the tears fall from her eyes...
6.
You and Me and Jealousy ©Jerry Axson Well I get up every morning and I go to work - I wear the same shoes, same pants, I wear the same shirt, I punch that clock and I work so hard, to keep a two car garage and a well groomed yard - and if I decide to go out with the boys... we may sink a few drinks - we might make a little noise... (but it don’t mean nothin’!!!) You and me and jealousy - somebody gave the police a call... standing out in the yard at three - the neighbors got a good look at it all... Friday night through Sunday morn - it never fails to rear it’s head - you and me and jealousy - sleeping in a crowded bed... I took it all serious when we stood before the man - I said “I do”, cause’ I know that I can, I don’t make no promises that I can’t keep, there’s a ring on my finger and my love runs deep - I just may be the last of a dying breed... I’m a one woman man with a one -- woman -- need... (and that’s that baby!!!) I don’t mind the regular stuff, life might up and throw, I can deal with just about anything girl - but this has got to go...
7.
If I Hurt You ©Jerry Axson Sad lovers, dancing in the moonlight, sad lovers, holding on so tight, the one thing they want is the one they can’t have, stumble in the dark because they’re off the beaten path, Not just anyone in this world would do, not just anyone could measure up to you, I think I know now why the walls tumble down, you hurt me like I hurt you - it’s all over town... If I hurt you I’m sorry for that - if I hurt you I take it all back, if I hurt you the joke is on me, do anything but please - don’t set me free... Sad lovers, faces in a crowd, sad lovers, crying out so loud, their eyes never lie - they will give them away, saving up those tears for a rainy day, Not just anyone in this world would do, not just anyone could measure up to you, I think I know now how the walls tumble down, you hurt me like I hurt you - it’s all over town...but girl...
8.
Cowboy Boots (The BIG Song) ©Jerry Axson Well I left Ma and Pa sittin' on the porch, lookin' out the screen door - tired and coarse, took consultation with a good friend of mine, said I will write you if I find the time, I'm gonna' be big...so big... I'm gonna' be big...so big... Lookin' through the window of that Greyhound bus, humming this refrain, "Leave the driving to us", never really noticed how small that town seemed, nice place to visit - if you know what I mean, what I mean...you know what I mean... what I mean...you know what I mean... Cowboy Boots and a young mans' smile, pickin' and a-grinnin' as we roll the miles, I'm gonna' be a legend - a country music star, big diamond rings and drive small foreign cars... Skyscraper shadows falling down on me, carbon monoxide so thick you can't see, pushers and shovers and feminine men, sometimes I wonder is this how it begins?, I wanna' be big...so big... I’ve got to be big...so big... I got five whole dollars here in my pants, I can smell success - all I need is a chance, some like a little - some like a lot, but I want it all - got to take my shot, I'm gonna' be big...so big... I’ve got to be big...so big...
9.
That Much More Away From You ©Jerry Axson I don't know why I can't play the games you do, I guess that's why I can't see this thing through, Every time I turn around, you're beating something else in the ground, Another day - and I move that much more away from you... I get the feeling you don't want me anymore, I come home, my things are piled up by the door, If you don't want me in your life, you don't have to say so twice, Another word - and I move that much more away from you... I don't have to find out about, the boys that take you out, to places across town we don't speak of... And there's a burning feeling here, that drowns my heart in tears, and washes away the traces of a once-had love... I've looked around enough to recognize the truth, and I believe what goes around will come back too, By the time that you get home, I'll be up and long gone, Another mile - and I'll move that much more away from you... Another mile - and I'll move that much more away from you... Another mile - and I'll move that much more away from you...
10.
Once Lovin' Girl ©Jerry Axson Well i've been watching for a long time, waiting in the shadows, at the rate you're wearing her down, well, it won't be long before- You better tell her what's' going on, you better tell her you don't love her, because if you don't I will, yes, she's bound to discover, All the talk around town that implicates you, doing all those things you know you shouldn't do, one of these days you'll look around and see, your once lovin' girl is loving me... Your once lovin' girl- is loving me... Your once lovin' girl- is loving me... It takes a fool to treat her like this, you just don't know what you're doing, all the tears on her pillow, all her love you've been using, Well I've been biding my sweet time, cause' I can see where its' going, I'm gonna' take her in my arms, when the time comes for showing,
11.
Can’t Buy A Good Name (In A Small Town) (2016 Remix) ©Jerry Axson I used to be Momma’s sweet little baby - I used to be Daddy’s pride and joy, ever since I landed in the county jail, Lord - they do their very best to avoid - running into me on the street, it’s hard to be polite but discreet... I used to run with the neighborhood bad boys - I used to spell trouble every way, people said I got just a little “too crazy”, every time the sun went and slipped away - behind the hills over our town - I’d get so wound up when it went down... Oh, you can’t buy a good name in a small town... Oh, you better strap yourself in if you’re gonna’ settle down... you can hear all about it on the telephone line - read it in the paper if you’re so inclined... Oh, you can’t buy a good name in a small town... Oh, you can’t buy a good name in a small town... I used to spend my money like water - I used to be the “high - rolling” type, now I’m rolling pennies at the kitchen table - you can find me there most every night - worrying bout’ the bills over my head - thinking I’d be better off dead... Help me... their beating down the door now - Help me... they’re gonna’ take me away - Help me... I’ve got to pull myself together - Help me... before I fade to grey...
12.
Black Mule 07:43
Black Mule ©Jerry Axson I don't want to be your fool, some dead weight you drag behind, so far gone now it's just cruel, will you say goodbye this time, All your friends - they talk me down, say I'm just no good for you, but it's the soul - no, not the crown, that sees my spirit on and through... And I don't want to be your black mule, meant to carry only you, Black mule is a poor mans' tool, for the unlucky few, I don't want to be your - I don't want to be your - I don't want to be your black mule... I don't want to be your - I don't want to be your - I don't want to be your black mule... Say goodbye to this boy now, out the gate and down the road, I would leave without a sound, and I will carry a heavy load, "precious, precious" is your name, though you don't seem to be like that, I could have died inside your flame, never - ever coming back...never - ever coming back!
13.
Half Cocked (free) 03:37
Half Cocked ©Jerry Axson Little boy came running into the house, cried out "Hey Daddy tell me what's this about?" the little girl next door - she has gave me a kiss, I don't want to go off half cocked but what have I missed? I don't want to go off half cocked - but what have I missed??? Cowboys, Indians, the little girl, and me, I was a brave Ranger while she kept the Teepee, in later years my sins did take me away, never meant to go off half cocked and now I must pay - never meant to go off half cocked - and now I must pay... It's time to wake up... to rise and meet this day... I'm not the man you fell in love with... you're not the little girl... who gave that kiss away... This boy has laid down deep in your arms, I've tasted your lips and you drank from my charms, Cowboys, Indians, and how the west was won, I don't want to go off half cocked, my eyes to the sun, I don't want to go off half cocked......

about

Plain and simple I wanted to write and record a Country/Rock/Pop project with the emphasis on Country, (or at least as close as I could possibly get to it!). My Father was a pedal steel guitarist and in his small hometown he was considered the “real-deal” back in his day, I was always aware of this growing up even though I did not meet him until I was sixteen so I guess even though I created Rock and Pop music deep down in the murky depths of my crippled and messed up psyche I was drawn to Country music. Long story short you could call this a purging but in a good way, a very good way. There were some good songs here – some I had written a few years previously and the rest I wrote during the actual project itself. “Big River” kicks it off and I always have felt this was a great little Country/Pop tune, I envisioned Hootie & The Blowfish recording this one and I know they would have nailed it. “Nothing Between Us (But My Pride)” was a rocker with one of the best flowing endings I think I have done – it had a great feel on the exit with that tempo and structure change. “I Don’t Want To Know” and “She Thinks I’m Sleeping” were crafted as close to traditional Country Music models as I could get. “You And Me And Jealousy” is one of my personal favorites from this project, not only is it a kicking song but the title gets a gold star also! “If I Hurt You” was another tearjerker from the heart with some really beautiful production on the song as well. “Cowboy Boots (The BIG Song)” was a lot of fun writing and arranging, I love the chickens at the start of the song, (I have no shame). “Once Lovin’ Girl” was originally a Pop song back in my Altered Moods live days but I had an idea to transpose this to an upbeat Country/Rock tune and it worked out really nicely, the lyrics just leant themselves to it naturally. Also loved the synthesizer and banjo intro to the song, it sounds strange I know but it worked out beautifully. “Can’t Buy A Good Name” was written back when I was with The Edisto River Band – we had a classically trained lady on piano and boy she could burn it down! “Black Mule” was an odd number but I always felt the lyric was very clever – you’ll have to read them to understand. It was a bit “Bluesy” but it still fit on this project nicely. “Half Cocked” was another odd number – very Country/Western I recorded it raw with an old acoustic guitar on open microphone and an unprocessed vocal, the kicker is the full orchestra I put in at the end that comes crashing down on top of the listener out of nowhere – very surprising.

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released June 1, 2007

Jerry Axson

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Jerry Axson Columbia, South Carolina

To me simplicity is the root of all great thoughts. The secret thrill for me, the architect, is delivering that thought with unobtrusive complexity. Writing songs and composing music satisfy my soul and because of this I know exactly what I am designed to do, it’s just that simple. - Jerry Axson ... more

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