Signs of life
(Gates)

Last night I saw some rock star showing his house off on TV
Man, that place was big, and it was pretty as it could be…
All the latest gadgets, famous paintings on the wall
But it was big and quiet and empty – no signs of life at all

Well, there’s signs of life - all over this house,
That bring me home, remove all doubt
When I wonder what I’m doing it for - I just take a look and see…
All the signs of life my family left for me

There’s a painting in the kitchen by a Rembrandt in third grade
And a Picasso on the carpet where the Kool-aid left a stain
There’s books in the kitchen, and shoes in the hall and though we try real hard
And it looks like Toys ’r Us exploded right in our backyard

chorus

Solo

Yesterday the dog chewed a hole in my favorite chair
Looks like the girls played tic tac toe on the wall over there
Aladdin is on the TV, for the hundred-millionth time,
Sitting on the couch with my family, at home and feeling fine

chorus

 

 

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HOLDING ON
(Gates, Roach)

Out of luck and more bad news
Too broke to even pay my dues
Throwing pennies in a wishing well that’s long gone dry…
Talked my way out of another job
Told my boss I felt that I’d been robbed
He said “Son, you’re gonna learn someday
That nothing really pays…
So now what ya got to say?”
I’ve been taken for a ride
And I’m too full to swallow my pride,
So I do what I can do
To keep on
Holding on
Holding on
Holding on an hoping and praying and
Holding on all day long

Uphill paddlin’ a down hill stream
Spending evenings with a broken dream
Tried to call a few good friends but no one was around
Never been one to sit and doubt
So I picked myself up and I took myself out
Drove around but I got nowhere
I guess I’ll get myself a beer
Cause I just want to see things clear
And I know what would set things right-
If I could find a girl to share my night
Cause you know it’s true
Gotta keep on –
Chorus

 

 

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Kisses on the sly
(Gates, Deveney)

When I first met you I was finding my way up
After spending far too long down on my knees (sam stone)
You yourself were worse for wear
Time rolls on and hearts repair
& lately you look so different to me

Funny how this thing is turning out
It’s not at all what we talked about
Supposed to be casual, just friends - you and I
Now you’re slipping me kisses on the sly

Every day I grow a little closer, you come closer too
Every day we’re just a little bolder – hoping it might come true
Some day, some way….. I’m praying I will see
you and me - turning to we

chorus
solo

I’m not saying that I know where this thing is going
Far from where I’ve been is all I hope
I’m not out there trying to change the river flowing
I’m just trying to stay in the boat

 

 

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WONDERING
(Gates)

I woke up this morning, and I did what I always do
Brushed my teeth, made the coffee, and sat there thinking about you
I wondered how you’re doing; I wondered if you’d call
I wondered if there’s any chance that I’d stop wondering at all

It’s been so long since you’ve been gone I can’t remember it any other way
But thoughts of you still crowd my mind, every single day…
Looks like you’re doing better than you ever did with me
And I’m left trying to grab at a future that I just can’t see

And I’m hoping – that you’re coming back to me
And I’m wondering – just how long it’s gonna be
And I’m praying to the Lord, my poor soul to take
Cause living without your love is more than I can take

Solo

Another day has come and gone without you, it seems
But I know I’ll see you – if only in my dreams…
I never saw it coming – that’s probably why you’re gone
And still I sit here wondering, and hoping that you’ll call

And I’m wondering – just how long it’s gonna be
And I’m hoping – that you’re coming back to me
And I’m praying to the Lord, my poor soul to take
Cause living without your love it more than I can take

 

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This Town
(Gates)

They say home is where the heart is, man I guess that much is true
For a while broken-hearted and homesick was the best that I could do
But the pieces fell together, just like they fell apart
And this time when I came home I found what was missing from the start

Ain’t got no destination – but I know just where I’m bound
man it’s good to be alive….. I love this town

Got friends in this town, I’ve known since I was 10
I’ve tried leaving once or twice, but I always come back again.
This is where I was born; this is where I was raised
We’ve grown up together, through all the long, hard days

Here I got God and Family – and both feet on the ground
Ain’t no place like it – I love this town

I found god and love and beauty
In these hills, as the sun was beating down
And home in the waters that run through town
She’s grown into a city; I’m trying to be a man
Both of us are doing the best that we can

The people here are still crazy- in old, familiar ways
And there’s still music playing at the end of every day

Ain’t got no destination – but I know just where I’m bound
Man, it’s good to be alive….. I love this town

I grateful for all it’s given me, and I’m gonna try to pass it down
To my kids, like it was done to me – in my home town
I love this town
I love this town

 

 

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One Last Chance
(Gates)

I drank my last beer sitting on our couch alone
My last cigarette went out back some time ago
I’ve had my last affair with a dancer named Blue
But I’d still like one last chance to make it up to you.

One last chance is all it’ll take
One chance to clean up my mess before my heart breaks
With God’s help I know that I can do what I must do
Please give me one last chance to make it up to you

When I was a young man I was wild and crazy and free
Being all the things a guitar player can be
Friday nights going up and Sunday mornings coming down
Somewhere along the way - you & we went to town

As a man grows older seems like he’s supposed to grow up
A wife and some kids, a little piece of land and such
But I just kept going with all of my careless ways
Never meaning to hurt you, but doing it just the same

Chorus
SOLO

The night you left I was too big a mess to say goodbye
All I could do was keep on drinking, and just sit there and cry
Some time round morning, I prayed “God, show me what to do”
To get me one last chance to make it up to you

Chorus + Tag
I drank my last beer sitting on our couch alone

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Southern Man
(Gates)

I was born in Austin, spent some time in San Antone..
Traveled all across this land, but this is where I call home.
Spent some time in Hollywood, and Georgia by the sea,
but no matter where I went I took a piece of this with me...

There's a little piece of Texas
that's a great big part of me -
Gotta tell you mister, ain't nothing I'd rather be
than a Southern Man
Whoa, whoa, I'm a Southern Man

Brought up on family - mama's cooking and sunday school
You always knew just where you stood between a whipping and the golden rule.
Go to work on Monday, getting high on Friday night...
Pray to God on Sunday... gonna make everything all right.

(Chorus)

Lord, I have seen some hard times - been to hell and back again.
Had to find my way back home and start all over again.
Found the love of a good woman, found the strength of a good friend,
and I thank the Lord that I'm Southern-born and I'm with my people again...

(Chorus)

 

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How The Hell…
(Gates, Deveney)

When I woke up this morning things were looking bad
And I’m having trouble piecing together the good time that I had
Things come back in pieces, and things don’t come back at all
there’s a empty bottle and one left shoe
and a phone number on the wall

I got a -
Head full of hurt, heart full of pain
Wallet full of empty - how’d I end up here again?
I had the of best intentions, but it always goes the same
Leaves me sitting & wondering just how the hell I ended up here again

At 5 o’clock I came home from work, just like every other day
changed my clothes, washed my face, and tried to get on my way
I went out to meet some friends, that much is still clear
There was a pretty little waitress in a shiny black dress
and it was all downhill from there

(Chorus)

(Bridge)
How did I end up here again?
1 or 2 became 3 or 4
or 5 or 6 or 10...then the
Cocktail waitress’ and neon lights
Start to make my poor head spin
is it any wonder that I ended up here again…

awe…somebody drive me home…

(Solo)

I seem to recall something about tequila and a mechanical bull
that would explain the pain in my side and the ringing in my skull
& I think I recall getting thrown off a bus - don’t know what happened to my car...
Got a new tattoo, says “Gina forever”, but I just can’t remember that part.

(Chorus)

 

 

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Quiet Love
(Gates)

You said “I love you” for 15 years
Before I could ever say it back out loud
But I know there was never a moment
That you thought my love in doubt
We gave our all to each other
We gave it all to the kids
Worked and played and lived our lives
Always caught up in
A quiet love

Times were hard and money scarce
Seem like I was always gone
Trying hard to scrape together
Enough for house and home
Times I would have broken, you helped me to bend
Knowing when I came home I’d still find myself in
A quiet love

There’s things that I’d do different
There’s things I wouldn’t do at all
But you’re the one thing, baby
That stands above it all
The best thing I ever did was saying that “I do”
And on days like this I’m glad that I’m still standing next to you.

Solo

Everyone’s here, and the service was almost
As beautiful as you
The boys dress themselves
Just like you taught them to
It’s good to see you smiling
After all the pain
I know you’re in God’s hands now
And I’m still living in
A quiet love

Caught up in a quiet love
One of the few things I know that I’m sure of
Days like this I thank the lord above
For giving me your quiet love

 

 

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Round & Round
(Gates)

I’ve always heard that what you don’t know can’t hurt you
But the things that I don’t know are killing me
I spend too much time with my heart upon my shirtsleeve
Loving you will be the death of me

Round & Round & Round we go
And where we stop nobody knows
And where all this is headed I just can’t see
Round & Round & Round we spin
And wind up on our ass again
Love beats the hell out of me

I recall the day that I first met you
I had money in my pocket, baby I was carefree
Now they say I’ve lost my sense of humor
Sacrificed the laughter for a dream

Round & Round & Round we go
And where we stop nobody knows
And where all this is headed I just can’t see
Round & Round & Round we spin
And wind up on our ass again
Love beats the hell out of me

(Solo)

Now they say the time has come for leaving
But I just can’t seem to make it out the door
We drive each other crazy for no reason
Sometimes I think that’s what true love is for

(chorus)

 

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Then There’s You
(Gates)

Seems like such a long way from Lakeshore Drive to Travis Heights
It’s just a few damn blocks, been trying to get there my whole life
I climbed the ladder of success, but it was leaning’ against the wrong wall
And everybody took a piece until there weren’t much left at all

And then there’s you
You always catch me when I fall
Then there’s you,
When I am 10 feet tall
You always seem to know
Just what to say and do
Then there’s you…
Then there’s you…

Been down so many roads trying to find the end
Always end up where I started – stuck in my own skin
This time I took a right where I usually take a wrong
And there you stood, waiting to bring me home

Chorus

Bridge:
You’re my shattering weakness, You’re my guiding light
You’re the one that I turn to in the middle of the night
you’re my beginning, and you’ll be my end
a lifetime together - lovers and friends…

Solo

I wasted damn near half my life searching for a clue
Trying to figure out what it’s all about, and what the hell to do
I always thought the answers were out there somewhere in the stars,
Turns out all this time they were right in my own yard

 

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Independence Day
(Gates)

Scotty was a man without a country making his last stand
Charging up the hill at Iwo Jima with a whiskey bottle in his hand
Take that hill every morning, get pushed back every night
Till a little piece of shrapnel called Jim Beam took that young soldier’s life

Singing Yeah, yeah yeah – I’m on my way
Yeah, yeah yeah - it’s Independence Day
Hey it’s Independence Day!

Sally’s under the table – says she’s looking for her keys
Sally’s under the table again, but she ain’t fooling me…
I’m pretty sure we didn’t drop none
I’m pretty sure it’s gone
But Sally’s gonna keep on looking man
Long past time to go home

Well Mark is dead, and Todd is dead, and Scot won’t ever be the same
Flakey’s still wandering round out there somewhere
And Sean just came in from the rain
Me I’m just hanging around, nothing much to say
Doing what I gotta do to get by
Till Independence Day

 

 

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Reason to Believe
(Gates)

All alone at the end of the evening
Looking back on me & you
All those times I thought our days were numbered
All the times I thought we were through

And I don’t know how it happened
Or how it ever came to be
So much has changed, and still we remain,
And you’ve given me a reason to believe

Sitting at the kitchen table
Bare bulb burning bright
Going through a book of memories
And holding on with all my might
Looking back at all the pictures
Letters and post cards too
Sifting through the rubble of the good times and bad
The unlikely story of me and you

And I don’t know how it happened
But I’m glad it came to be
I pray it won’t change, and we’ll always remain
Cause you’ve given me a reason to believe –
Oh yes I believe

Solo

You’ve given me a reason to believe
Forever me & you
You’ve given me a reason, reason to believe
A reason to believe
That dreams come true
Oh yeah….

 

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Fade Away
(Gates)

I’ve worked real hard all my life to get to where I am
and there’s plenty of times along the way it didn’t seem worth a damn
Hand to mouth, heal to toe, no one to call my own
Cheap guitars and broke down cars and no place to call home

And it’s hard
Livin’ this a way
And it gets harder
Every day
This ain’t no kind of life for a man my age
But there ain’t no way to stop and there’s no turning back
So I guess I’ll just fade away

The booze and dope have taken their toll so I had to put them away
Twenty five years of playing for beer have left me with bills to pay
There’s been lots of girls at the end of the night, but I always end up alone
This glamorous life up here under the lights can chill you right down to the bone

chorus

The choices I’ve made have been hard ones, you see - but I don’t want you to think I complain
I’m living the life that I dreamed of – just sometimes it drives me insane
But there just ain’t nothing, like the sound - of a sweet guitar’s ring
The call from above that opens my heart, and the music that still makes me sing

And it’s hard
Livin’ this a way
And it gets harder
Every day
This ain’t no kind of life for a man my age
But there ain’t no way to stop and there’s no turning back
So I guess I’ll just fade away
Wouldn’t quit if I could – you know it’s all good
Guess I’m gonna Fade away

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