I hear you kids are into irony. My buddy Tom Thomas often says something like, "My mental health is great, I pump irony daily." See if you can spot the irony in this tune from my "Best of Marc Bristol – Country, Vol. 1" CD.
Bought myself a new old car
drove it down to my favorite bar
I walked right in, grabbed a beer
said to myself - who's that over there
Then she hit me with a smile like a ton of bricks
I'd have tried to fight back but I was gettin' my kicks
Now she may break my heart in two
But at least she helped me get my mind off you
She turned out to be a married gal
but her husband was off on a trip to SoCal
She got too drunk, so I drove her home
then I sure meant just to leave her alone
but she asked me in for one last beer
we sat on the couch, a little too near
if her man finds out, I don't know what he'll do
but at least she helped me get my mind off you
She helped me get my mind off you
without her I know just what I'd do
Order myself up another beer
sit and think about my favorite year
and wonder why some women just can't be true
but at least she helped me get my mind off of you
I don't think her old man'll ever find out
but that ain't no reason to jump and shout
she did me so fine I don't know what to say
now I sit and think about her every day
She had the kind of body make you lose your mind
she had the kind of lovin' that ain't easy to find
It's makin' me feel like a crazy fool
but at least she helped me get my mind off you
She helped me get my mind off you
without her I know just what I'd do
Order myself up another beer
sit and think about my favorite year
and wonder why some women just can't be true
but at least she helped me get my mind off of you
(repeat chorus)
Well heck though, how about a bit of Rock'n'Roll? I wrote this one after listening to all 10 or 12 albums in Charly Records' box set of Jerry Lee Lewis' Sun recordings - complete with all the outtakes. I was going to listen again and tape the tracks I wanted, but instead sat down and wrote this song, and a couple others inspired by Jerry Lee's music. This tune is on both my "Rockabilly Rhythm & Blues" CD, and the "Jukebox Fever" compilation.
I ain't a gonna be your 'Mr. Right'
It don't mean we can't get it on tonight
And you ain't gonna be my only one
It don't mean we can't have a little bit of fun
Let's shake it - ain't gonna break it
We can make it, if we take it - so let's shake it!
I got a great big fancy car
and you look just like a movie star
this could be our scene to steal
come on baby show me how you feel
Let's shake it - ain't gonna break it
we can make it, if we take it - so let's shake it
(bridge)
You don't wanna, I don't wanna
you don't wanna, I don't wanna
let our peaches rot
come a-hugga, come a-squeeza
come a hugga, come a squeeza
show me what you got - whooooooooo!
let's shake it - ain't gonna break it
we can make it, if we take it - so let's shake it!
(repeat bridge after solos)
Here's another sad Country song with a taste of irony, from the same CD.
You said if I really love you, I'd be glad to give up something else I love
I'd give up playin' music, and leave that to them bright stars up above
But a man that don't have dreams is a man that don't have much he's livin' for
So if you really love me, don't say 'if you really love me' any more
You said that if I really love you, I wouldn't care what job I had to do
I'd go out and work real hard, and I'd bring everything I made back home to you
But even when I did that, you were never really happy like before
So if you really love me, don't say 'if you really love me' any more
I'll stay home and tend the baby, and you can get a job to pay the man
and I'll make a little money, playin' music on the weekend with the band
I wrote you pretty love songs, and you agreed to come and live with me
You knew right from the start, me and my poet's heart were wild and free
I didn't have a dime, but I was happy, and that ain't bein' poor
So if you really love me, don't say 'if you really love me' any more
If you really love me, don't say 'if you really love me' any more.
OK, guess I have to give you another of the Jerry Lee inspired Rock'n'Roll tunes! This one is on the Filé Gumbo CD "Big Big Love", and also "Best OF Marc Bristol - Country, Vol. 1".
I'm gonna turn my lovelight on and let it shine, shine shine
And when I turn my lovelight on we both are gonna feel so fine
I got to find me a woman who can stand in the light
'cause when I turn it on you know it's GONNA BE BRIGHT!
I'm gonna turn my love light on and let it shine, shine shine!
I'm gonna turn my true love loose and I'm gonna let it flow
And when I turn my ture love loose, the whole wide world gonna know
I'm gonna lay it on you, we gonna feel so right
Both keep shinin' all through the night
now I'm gonna turn my love light on and let it shine, shine, shine.
I'm gonna turn my lovelight on and let it shine, shine shine
And when I turn my lovelight on we both are gonna feel so fine
I'm a passionate man, as you very well know
I don't wanna hold back you know I wanna LET GO!
I'm gonna turn my true love loose and I'm gonna let it flow!
If you don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree
but I want to be your best friend, baby now can't you see
that I want to love you - any way you'll let it be
I want to be your best friend baby, now can't you see?
Well baby I ain't no circus dog - I won't jump through hoops for you
but if you want to get it on with me, that's exactly what we'll do
ain't gonna play no silly games, like who is bigger than who
you just tell me what you want from me, and I'll do the same for you
Littel girl I ain't gonna be just another heart on your chain
but when you finally decide that you're through with that game
and you want a little REAL lovin', I know you'll be calliln' my name
and who knows baby, maybe I will still feel the same
If you don't like my peaches, why don't you try one of my plums?
and it that don't work out, we'll jus' go down and get drunk with the bums
Or if you've got somethin' better, hell I wish you'd just up and give me some!
but first, aw baby please - spit out that chewin' gum!
(repeat first verse)
This one has a bit of Southern Rock feel. I wrote it on the back side of a song poem a woman I knew wrote to me called "My High Way". There were a few more verses, but this is how the ones go on the Filé Gumbo CD "Travelin' Mood".
She told me My Way is the high way
if you ain't goin' my way your way's the low way
I told her 'no dice, I tell ya baby no way'
You ain't goin' my way, it's the highway
We coulda had some fun, and I guess we did
But you couldn't let it go at that, or let me keep my feelin's hid
You had to dig and pry, you had to push and shove
Tellin' me I should make room for love
Well I have, you're gone, and I'm blowin' off the lid!
(chorus) She told me My Way is the high way
if you ain't goin' my way your way's the low way
I told her 'no dice, I tell ya baby baby no way'
You ain't goin' my way, it's the highway
I guess if you never try, you'll never know
but don't be afraid to turn around, if it ain't the right way to go
well it's a bad sign if you're wishin'
that she'd just leave, so you could go fishin'
but remember honey, one monky don't stop the show
(repeat chorus)
You traveled 7 hours just to see me
and then you tell me that I'm in jail, and you're here to free me
well I ain't no Boston Whaler
but I'll bet my harpoon that you're my jailer
just open that cell door honey and set me free!
(repeat chorus twice)
Here's another Blues tune, which appears on both the "Sweet Misery Moan" CD (fingerpicked Country Blues version) and Filé Gumbo's "Big Big Love" CD. That version has more of that Jimmy Reed type groove. I think this tune could easily have the gender reversed and be sung by a woman, and I tried to pitch it to Barbara Pittman, but she didn't ever do any mroe recording after that.
Come kiss me baby, want to hold you real tight
Let's make love in the broad daylight
take my hand, we'll go out in the woods
I got somethin' make you feel so good
I an't a stranger, there ain't no danger
Let me be your lovin' Man
Somethin' in your eyes haunts me night and day
got so much soul make me kneel and pray
please baby, please, let me come inside
don't be afraid, don't you run and hide
I ain't a stranger, there ain't no danger
Let me be your lovin' man
sometimes it's wrong, and sometimes its RIGHT!
sometimes it lasts all day and all night
I think you would fit me like a glove
come on baby now let's make love!
I ain't a stranger, there ain't no danger
Let me be your lovin' man
Now I ain't tryin' to take the rest of your life
I don't want to make you be my wife
I just want some of your sweet love
under that moon shinin' up above
I ain't a stranger, there ain't now danger
Let me be your lovin' man
(repeat first two verses)
Filé Gumbo plays the whole spectrum of Louisiana sounds, and I've written the majority of the original material we've recorded with that band. Here's one I could imagine Jimmy Buffet singing, with a bit of the Big Easy rhumba feel. I wrote it for my lovely wife Gaby, to try and get her to move from Germany to here and be with me. After this third song in the trilogy, it finally worked! It's on the "Travelin' Mood" CD too.
This guy wants to hug ya - he'll plant kisses all over your face
that's a lot of love honey, to let it just go to waste
He says his love will fill the sky, and all of that empty space
That's a whole lot of love, to let it just go to waste
it's goin' to waste, aw baby, don't let it go to waste
I can tell you're a sweetheart, you're a girl with impeccable taste
This man don't fall for just anybody - he's mostly just pure and chaste
you know he really loves you honey, don't let him go to waste!
This guy would bring you flowers, you could move right into his place
that's a lot of love honey to let it just go to waste
He'd tell you every day that he loves you, and no other girls would he chase
now that's a whole lotta love for you to let it just go to waste
it's goin' to waste, aw baby, don't let it go to waste
I can tell you're a sweetheart, you're a girl with impeccable taste
This man don't fall for just anybody - he's mostly just pure and chaste
you know he really loves you honey, don't let him go to waste!
This guy writes you love letters full of eloquence and grace
That's a lot of love honey, to let just go to waste
And when he takes you in his arms, your heart begins to race
Now that's a whole lot of love for you to let it just go to waste
it's goin' to waste, aw baby, don't let it go to waste
I can tell you're a sweetheart, you're a girl with impeccable taste
This man don't fall for just anybody - he's mostly just pure and chaste
you know he really loves you honey, don't let him go to waste!
you know he really loves you honey, don't let him go to waste!
That's just 8 of Marc Bristol's songs - he's written about a hundred! Let us know if you like 'em - buy the CDs! (sites linked above) And we'll post some more if you want them! E-mail Marc