Mountain Town

 

I heard they sold the diner

They’re just giving this town away

Mama works a factory job

To make sure the bills are paid

And then she dons her apron

And serves them tea and cake

As the sun goes down

On this pretty little mountain town

 

Grandpa used to chop the wood

That kept the fire lit

But pride has gotten in his way

And he’s destined not to quit

Says he’ll burn out like a candle 

At the end of his wick

As the sun goes down

On this pretty little mountain town

 

In modesty we’re fighting

To be the king of all that’s bland

While hard edged fingers cracked and scarred 

Gently caress the land

So we can have our fortunes

And luxuries at hand

And the sun goes down 

On this pretty little mountain town

 

Her screaming fell on deaf ears

As they pulled her from the trial

A hedge fund of ideas

That were tossed upon the pile

And out she wandered searching

For the hang mans only child

As the sun goes down 

On this pretty little mountain town

 

Somewhere out on the city streets

Of Chicago or L.A

A young man just sold his soul

And shot it through his veins

And I sit in this coffee shop

And dream about the good old days

As the sun goes down

On this pretty little mountain town

 

Once I was a younger man

With anger in my blood

But now I’m riding biding time

And rolling in the mud

But like Noah or Goliath

I’ll stand tall against the flood

As the sun goes down 

On  this pretty little town

 

-John Hewitt-

​

If Not For Her

 

She was raised on the farm

Papa always kept his little girl from harm

Until he died in his sleep

Don’t weep, for it could have been worse

If not for her

 

I was laying in the gutter

And my legs were all broke

And I would still be on the street

Don’t weep, for it could have been worse

If not for her

 

He was on the edge of his life

Could have been the rope could have been the knife

But they had mouths to feed

Don’t weep, for it could have been worse

If not for her

 

Now the beggar sits on the stand

He’s begging God for the upper hand

And all the jury sees is a creep

Don’t weep, for it could have been worse

If not for her

 

I pray though I don’t believe

I just hope she too receives 

All the glory she’s given me

But don’t weep for it could have been worse

If not for her

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Don’t Cry Molly

 

Don’t cry Molly, the mine shaft has fallen

Your dear Edward won’t be coming home

 

What shall I do? A poor young housewife

How shall I raise these children all on my own

I shall embrace you with my cold ghostly hands

And I shall hold you until the end of all time

 

I can almost feel your touch my dear Edward

The touch of your cold ghostly hands upon mine

But I shall never find another lover

I shall never seek a new love of mine

 

Yes you may seek a new love Molly

For to help you raise these children of mine

But my dear Edward how could I?

Ever lay beside another man

 

My dear Molly we’ve departed

Until the good Lord brings us together again

 

Now my Molly, I will walk beside you

I will walk with you to know you are safe

Just make sure my full name is written

Upon the stone that sits above where I lay

 

How shall I raise these children

Without the man who planted their seed

You shall raise them and they shall prosper

In their good deeds you shall always see me

 

How my Edward shall I grow old

Old and wise without you by my side

You shall grow old and wise

And you shall enjoy the fruits of this life

 

What shall I do a poor young housewife?

How shall I raise these children all on my own

Don’t cry Molly, my shift ended early

Your dear Edward can’t wait to come home

 

-John Hewitt-

​

It’s a Funny Little World

 

It’s a funny little world

That makes a man feel this way

It’s a funny little world

That makes a man feel this way

 

And I know it’s wrong 

But I can’t go on living this way

And I know it’s wrong

But I can’t go on living this way

 

It’s a pretty little world

I think I’l hang it on a string

It’s a pretty little world

I think I’ll hang it on a string

 

And I know it’s wrong 

But I can’t go on living this way

And I know it’s wrong

But I can’t go on living this way

 

It’s a funny little world

That gets a man to feel this way

But it’s a pretty little world

I think I’ll hang it on a Christmas tree

 

And I know it’s wrong 

But I can’t go on living this way

And I know it’s wrong

But I can’t go on living this way

 

-John Hewitt-

​

And I Think About Her

 

Sometimes she, comes to me

In the dead of night

Whether it’s wrong or right

And I think about her

And I think about her

 

Brown shaggy rug

Crystal blue drapes

Her love slipped away

Down the fire escape

And I think about her

And I think about her

 

Dead pan stare

Skin so fair

Modest and cruel

Like the mind of a fool

And I think about her

And I think about her

 

Concrete heart 

Do your part

I can’t see 

Why she’d do that to me

And I think about her

And I think about her

 

Sometimes at night

When I can’t sleep

My mind takes a walk 

Down a dead end street

And I think about her

And I think about her

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Man of Constant Sin

 

The rain has swept my baby

It’s swept her off her feet

As I wait here for her phone call

From a pay phone down the street

I won’t ever let you down

I won’t ever let you down

Like a jester to the crown

I won’t ever let you down

 

After all my debts repay her

And for that I’ll find a way

She was never meant to be here

Still I hoped that she would stay 

I won’t ever let you down

I won’t ever let you down

Like a jester to the crown

I won’t ever let you down

 

Now as I stand beneath this street light

And all this rain comes crashing in

I’m a man of constant sorrow

I’m a man of constant sin

I won’t ever let you down

I won’t ever let you down

Like a jester to the crown

I won’t ever let you down

Until all that’s lost is found

I won’t ever let you down

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Reconsider Me

 

At a bus stop in Arkansas
I could see your soul go by

Through the window of a Greyhound bus

That was carrying a true love of mine

 

And after dawn I awoke in vain

With my head in my hands and my feet out in the rain

To cease my mind and to cool by brain

From the echoes of my wildest dreams

 

I really hope you’re gonna change your mind

I really hope you’ll be my honey bee

I really hope you’re gonna change your mind

I really hope you’ll reconsider me

 

I was born on a mountain top

Down a long the Alberta line

My head got heavy and my feet got hot

And I was destined to do my time

 

I really hope you’re gonna change your mind

I really hope you’ll be my honey bee

I really hope you’re gonna change your mind

I really hope you’ll reconsider me

 

All along the road that brought me here

I could see those shadows crawl

Up towards my mama’s grave

Damn you spirit leave her alone

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Too Far to Give Out

 

She had a library in her car

She was impressed by the commotion

From Prime Ministers to Tzars 

She was going through the motions

From T.S Eliot to Rimbaud

She was destined for the wasteland 

Like some toxic puppet show

Where the master gives you the backhand 

 

So she left him at the alter

She put her honey on a shelf

Said sometimes you gotta stand for something

I’ve come too far to give out 

 

Washing machines and pipe dreams

Clean the dirt from the back of my mind

But the lonesome stench of all I’ve lost

Will always linger close behind

The electric force of the highway

As tumble weeds fly past the door

I’ve got gold and I’ve got diamonds

But they don’t buy much anymore

 

So she left him at the alter

She put her honey on a shelf

Said sometimes you gotta stand for something

I’ve come too far to give out

 

She was allergic to wool

So counting sheep was not an option

So I bought her an alpaca

Cause I knew she hadn’t got one

Now I’m singing out here just for you

As my voice echoes through the mountains

Singing songs is just my lifeblood

That drains out of the good Lord’s fountain

 

So I left her at the alter

I put my honey on a shelf

Sometimes you gotta stand for something

I’ve come to far to give out

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Ramblin’ in My Blood

 

Maybe I’ve got Ramblin’ in my blood

But that don’t mean that I don’t care

And it sure don’t mean I won’t be there

Maybe I’ve got ramblin’ in my blood

 

Maybe I’ve got whiskey on my breath

But if you’d seen the things I’d seen

You’d down a pint of kerosene

Maybe I’ve got whiskey on my breath

 

Lord help me Jesus

If it pleases you to know I’m doing fine

I’ll sit down in the grass

And get myself a glass of Spanish wine

 

Maybe I was much too hard to tame

Thoughts unchecked and out of sight

A roving gambler on wild nights

Maybe I was much too hard to tame

 

Maybe I’ve got Ramblin’ in my blood

But that don’t mean that I don’t care

And it sure don’t mean I won’t be there

Maybe I’ve got ramblin’ in my blood

 

Lord help me Jesus

If it pleases you to know I’m doing fine

I’ll sit down in the grass

And get myself a glass of Spanish wine

 

Maybe I’ve got ramblin’ in my blood

 

-John Hewitt-

​

Colorado

​

I’ve got friends in Colorado

And I’ve got friends in New Orleans

I know Lawyers out in Cincinnati 

And I learned to love on a river boat queen

 

Oh my love, I do it all for you

If you could do it for me too

 

I’ve got enemies down in Houston

And I’ve got family in Ontario

But I couldn’t tell you what they look like

Cause it’s been so long since I’ve been home

 

Oh my love, I do it all for you

If you could do it for me too

 

She broke down along the Mississippi

And ended up in Memphis Tennessee

They were’t buying what she’s selling

That’s how she ended up with me

You can tell those bastards out in Vegas

That I’m too sick Lord to make the call

I’ll put my money where my life is

And honey for you I’d bet it all

 

Oh my love, I do it all for you

If you could do it for me too

 

-John Hewitt-