tindog music & stuff
​
a
project
Each album has its own page with lyrics, track lists, and personal notes. (because we no longer have real albums with inserts or booklets)
This album is a collection of songs I've written (and a couple with my late partner Rus Stedman) that are influenced, or at least informed by my southern roots. I wouldn't say it's "pure" country or western, because I'm not, but then... who is?
Two Ways - 3:33
Coffee Cups and
Candy Wrappers - 4:18
The Drive - 3:39
Painted Skies - 4;32
Saline Solution - 4:07
Give Her My Best - 4:24
Puttin' Out Fires - 3:27
Roped and Tied - 2:45
The Lie - 3:30
Complacency - 3:04
All Over Broken - 2:58
Dear Love - 3:26
Sudden Stop - 3:28
(**Lyrics not included in CD booklet)
Click on the artwork or title for each song to go to its Bandcamp download page!
Two Ways **
by Richard Schweitzer
My knees get to knockin’ when you walk in the room
That shouldn’t happen after all we’ve been through
Just look how that skirt, floats ‘round you’re a…
and listen to that West Texas drawl
You’ve gotta take some bad with the good
And honey you’re good and you’re bad and I want it all
You want it your way, I want it mine
But there’s an our way down the middle of that line
It’s a question of balance, walkin’ that fence
And we can help each other not to fall
You know that with the pleasure you get a little pain
And I may be a little pain but the pleasure makes it worth it all
He said she said…love ain’t no good that way
You can’t two-step while I’m trying to shuffle
If we dance together, we can swing this place
Cause love only goes two ways
Two ways, that’s foreplay, now we say, that’s just fine
The good days, and the bad days, love only goes two ways
Yours and mine
Look at it this way, or look at it that
Upside down or sideways as a matter of fact
I’ve seen it with you in it, and I’ve seen it with you out
This ain’t no judgment call
You know you get some wrong with the right
And honey I believe we were right and that ain’t wrong at all
He said, she said… love ain’t no good that way
You can’t two step while I’m trying to shuffle
If we dance together, we can swing this place
Cause love only goes two ways
Two ways, that’s foreplay, now we say, that’s just fine
The good days, and the bad days, love only goes two ways
Yours and mine
Working at a bar they call the Corner Pocket
Wiping up behind the drunks and the billiard wizards
Tips are earned with smiles and jokes, an extra shot and idle talk
Just settin’ ‘em up for the weekend warriors and the social suicides
But you sit at a corner table every other night
And seem to understand the struggle between me and my pride
Then you’re gone and all I’ve got is what you leave behind
Just coffee cups and candy wrappers
Standin’ out back, takin’ a break, thinkin’ of you
My finger tips are wrinkled from the beer in the bar rags
Falling starlight streaks the darkness to graze another moonless sky
And I’ve only got so many wishes wished upon a desert night
And you sit in a quiet corner and only order twice
First you ask for coffee and a refill when I have the time
And soon you get a candy bar, the check, and tip me with a smile
And coffee cups and candy wrappers
Crickets fill the night outside the Corner Pocket
A warm wind rushes by me and my eyes start to water
Keys, they jingle loudly in the quiet as the city sleeps
I sigh into the seat, behind the wheel, and shut the door
And resign myself to a lonely house and the late, late show
But you sit at a corner table every other night
And seem to understand the struggle between me and my pride
Then you’re gone and all I’ve got is what you leave behind
coffee cups and candy wrappers
coffee cups and candy wrappers
Just coffee cups and candy wrappers
Headed north that fall out of Abilene
Forty hard ridin’ boys and young Billy Green
With a thousand head rustled up from Mexico
Mr. Bridger ridin’ point and Cookie in tow
And Billy sang Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yay
Montana’s ‘bout a hundred million miles away
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yo
Lord I hope we hit the territories
‘fore the snow
Ki Yo Singin’ Yippi Ki Yay Ki Yo
Come an early frost set to Lexington
Cookie’s coffee liked to kill us but it kept us warm
The Platte was so swollen, took a day to cross
Most the herd made it, but little Billy was lost
Singin’ Ki Yi Yippi Ki yay
Lord we’re sendin’ little Billy home today
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yo
What a fine fine way
for a cowboy to go
Ki Yo Singin’ Yippi Ki Yay Ki Yo
Made it to Billings without a day to spare
Mr. Bridger tellin’ tales of what was waitin’ there
An honest game of poker, a forever blue sky
And all the whiskey and women that short pay can buy
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yay
Tellin’ all the pretty girls we’re comin’ back someday
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yo
Darlin’, I can only stay
‘til there ain’t no snow
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yay
Yes, Abilene’s a hundred million miles away
Ki Yi Yippi Ki Yo
But a cowboy’s gotta roam
Like a river flows
Ki Yo Singin’ Yippi Ki Yi Yay Ki Yo
Yippi Ki Yo
Yippi Ki Yi Yay Ki Yo
by Richard Schweitzer
My gun belt’s cut the blood off and my legs are numb and sore
My pony has been limping, but there’s just a few miles more
I’ve got to get a fresh horse or I’ll ride her ‘til she dies
I could never handle this endless desert if it weren’t for painted skies
I hear firewood crackling, the beans are finally hot
The coyotes are yapping, and the whiskey hits the spot
I’ve got bruises in my knee joints, and cramps up in my thighs
I could never handle all this riding, cowboys,
if it weren’t for painted skies
Hey, Boss, look what you’ve made
Look at all the colors in the clouds
If that’s where you put your feet Boss, I couldn’t look you in the eyes
I’ll just get some sleep and dream about a horse that never tires
And I could never take this hard living, Boss,
if it weren’t for painted skies
I used to be a lawman, I used to wear the star
I’ll still take the pay if there’s trouble where we are
But I hung up my guns, at least I had to try
I could never handle all this killing, cowboys,
if it weren’t for painted skies
It only takes a look to make a madman draw his gun
And I have put men down, but I feel sorry when it’s done
They always plead for life after the murders and the lies
I could never handle these hangings, cowboys,
if it weren’t for painted skies
Hey, Boss, look what you’ve made
Look at all the colors in the clouds
If that’s where you put your feet Boss, I couldn’t look you in the eyes
I’ll just get some sleep and dream about a fire that never dies
And I could never take this hard living, Boss,
if it weren't for painted skies
by Richard Schweitzer
The steering wheel was hard to hold just an hour or so ago
My hands start to sweat when I think of you
But now they’re dry as ashes knowing they’ll touch you nevermore
It’s hard to take that halo from above you
Now I held certain strong beliefs about the way you felt
And I don’t know what to do with the admission in your eyes
I could kill your lover but he’s only half at fault
I could never hurt you and don’t know what else to do
So I’ll just take the saline solution… and cry
It’s a long long way from where I’m at to where I plan to be
And what I do when I get there’s still a mystery to me
But distance doesn’t matter I’ll spend nights pacing the floor
Wondering when you think of me what is the image that you see
Now I held certain strong beliefs about the way you felt
And I don’t know what to do with the admission in your eyes
I could kill your lover but he’s only half at fault
I could never hurt you and don’t know what else to do
So I’ll just take the saline solution… and cry
But I know what went wrong
Too human to deny desire, not enough to be strong
And what makes this so sad
If we weren’t still in love we wouldn’t be so awfully mad
Well I’ve pressed my case so hard by now my knuckles have turned white
The wheel feels like the bones of some old snake
And I’ve been in my head so long the sky is near too bright
The urge to stop and call you’s like an earthquake
Now I held certain strong beliefs about the way you felt
And I don’t know what to do with the admission in your eyes
I could kill your lover but he’s only half at fault
I could never hurt you and don’t know what else to do
So I’ll just take the saline solution… and cry
Now I held certain strong beliefs about the way you felt
And I don’t know what to do with the admission in your eyes
I could kill your lover but he’s only half at fault
I could never hurt you and don’t know what else to do
So I’ll just take the saline solution… and cry
I’ll cry... Mmm, I’ll cry
by Richard Schweitzer
I remember walkin' hand in hand on South Padre Island
We took my truck and a cooler to the beach to spend the day
I can still see her hair in tiny circles drippin' Gulf Coast sunshine
God help my heart if I don't remember her that way
So give her my best if you see her and tell her I still feel the same
and I'm comin' to terms, 'stead of comin' all apart
But tell her yes, I'm still alone, and might just stay that way
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
I dream about the moonlight in her eyes this side of Austin
Stuck on 35 without a spare and no help for miles
I was kickin' and screamin' like I thought
it was the truck's fault we were stranded
She was holding back the laughter but couldn't hide the smile
So give her my best if you see her and tell her I still feel the same
I'm not comin' all apart...
But tell her yes, I'm still alone...
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
She up and bought a home on the Dallas side of Waco
I know she could never afford to do that by herself
And I can still see her hair in tiny circles drippin' Gulf Coast sunshine
God help my heart cause my heart can't help itself
So give her my best if you see her and tell her I still feel the same
and I'm comin' to terms, 'stead of comin' all apart
But tell her yes, I'm still alone, and might just stay that way
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
How can I love another with her living in my heart?
by Richard Schweitzer
You see Jimmy over there's in a world of hurt
See that pack of smokes in the sleeve of his shirt
Well a month ago, Jimmy told Susie he'd quit
Now he's been comin' here night after night
While Susie's been workin' he's lightin' them lights
And tonight's the night Susie caught him doin' it
Just wait a minute till things get settled down
I can give you an explanation that's true and sound
I don't know what you've been told
But I can tell you now it's a crock of ...gold
And I'll tell you why soon as things get settled down
I gotta help Bob, he's in a helluva mess
His wife was expectin' a raise, I guess
She went out and bought a fancy dress cut to fit
Well I heard Bob say "You didn't hear me good
I said I got some praise, not a raise, but I should"
And in the fight that followed that fancy dress got ripped
Just wait a minute till things get settled down
I can give you an explanation that's true and sound
I don't know what you have heard
But listen good to me, it's beyond absurd
And I'll tell you why soon as things get settled down
Now, where'd you hear that, it's a damnable lie
I just come here just to get pie in my eye
And there ain't no girl named Silky, that's the gospel truth
Well Jimmy can tell you and Bob knows it too
I sit at the bar and get quietly stewed
And play Cricket or Pool, and besides her name is Ruth... oh shit
Just wait a minute till things get settled down
I can give you an explanation that's true and sound
Now I don't know how that got in your head
But what you hear isn't always what's said
and I'll set you right soon as things get settled down
Just wait a minute till things get settled down
I can give you an explanation that's true and sound
I got excuses and reasons to waste
But I'm puttin' out fires all over the place
And I’ll get back to you soon as things get settled down
by Richard Schweitzer
It wasn’t in her looks
It wasn’t in her smile
It wasn’t in the cut of her clothes
It ain’t like she unleashed all her womanly wiles
Like I’d even fall for that, god knows
I can’t explain it, It ain’t natural
I can’t even run and hide
Cause I’m wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
Wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
I tried to look away
Pretend I didn’t notice
It’s not as simple as that
She caught me lookin’ all sly like in the reflection
Pretendin’ to examine a bottle of Jack
I can’t explain it, It ain’t natural
I can’t even run and hide
Cause I’m wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
Wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
I checked my watch
Looked at the door
Deciding which option was best
Feeling the panic
Shaken and stirred
And Trey Gray pounding a beat in my chest
I was out of the gate
and kickin’ up track
Leaving nothing but a vacuum behind
I was runnin’ like a racehorse runnin’ for the roses
But that was only in my mind
I can’t explain it, It ain’t natural
I can’t even run and hide
Cause I’m wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
Wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
Wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
Wrapped around her finger, caught in her trap
Penned up like a show horse, roped and tied
by Richard Schweitzer
You look so peaceful sleepin' there
Like the halo of an angel on your pillow lays your hair
I never thought I'd say the things I'm gonna say to you
I hope that somewhere in your heart you don't believe it's true
I don't love you, never did
You were just too wonderful for me to commit
We were a mistake I knew you'd fix later on
No, I don't love you so you shouldn't feel bad movin' on
There was an accident tonight
And I begged the ghost that came to take me just to say goodbye
You can't hear me now but you'll remember what I say
And you won't understand but I hope it's better this way
I don’t love you… never did
I turned around and flew across the stars to my new home
And I saw my Savior sitting on the edge of his throne
He said, "I forgive you, I know why you lied"
So I'll spend the rest of her life just sittin' by his side, singing...
Lord, I loved her, always did
She was just too wonderful, I thought she was your gift
Promise she'll remember me, when she comes home
and that I love her, so she shouldn't feel bad movin' on
Complacency **
by Richard Schweitzer
I went off to work an hour early just this morning
And I got home so late I thought that you’d be packed for goin’
I was hopin’ you’d be angry, pacin’ up and down
But you were sleepin’, smiling’, dreamin’, don’t I feel the clown
Cause when I got to work, well I just sat there in my car
And after work I’s sittin’ by myself in some old bar
Thinkin’ how I’d feel if you were me and I was you
I’d be mad as hell, but you were busy sawin’ wood
You done ceased to care… you don’t give a damn
‘bout what I do, with who or why or where I even am
So darlin’ you just sit there on your laurels, wait and see
If you don’t lose me solely due to your complacency
Yesterday I brought some roses home and you said “thanks”
And where’s the milk and eggs and did I put gas in the tank?
Cause you were off to see your mother, if that’s all right…
Yeah, that’s okay, I know you haven’t seen her since last night
Damn good thing we never got around to having kids
I know they’d be devastated, seein’ us like this
Cause you were once not long ago the center of my life
Now I’m on the outside lookin’ in and think’ twice
I hope I’m still around when you realize I’m the one
Who cared and kept on carin’ when the care in you had gone
You done ceased to care… you don’t give a damn
‘bout what I do, with who or why or where I even am
So darlin’ you just sit there on your laurels, wait and see
If you don’t lose me solely due to your complacency
So darlin’ you just sit there on your laurels, wait and see
If you don’t lose me solely due to your complacency
Cause you don’t seem to care, and you don’t give a damn
I've been hearing stories, yes the word is on the street
When I'm out on the road, you're ridin' in the rumble seat
with every pair of snakeskin boots through your revolving door
I told you once, I told you twice, I ain't telling you no more
Cause I'm, all over broken, worn inside and out
So mad I'm smokin', and too hoarse to shout
This time I ain't jokin', my forgivin' days are through
cause I'm, all over broken, and head to toe fed up with you
You always say it don't mean nothin' but it means somethin' to me
when you're takin' home for dinner every fish that's in the sea
I can't even go out with my friends and have a beer
cause every time I leave the house all my friends come here
And I'm, all over broken, worn inside and out
So mad I'm smokin', and too hoarse to shout
This time I ain't jokin', my forgivin' days are through
cause I'm, all over broken, and head to toe fed up with you
You swear it's all so innocent...I can't believe the things I'm told
I believe you ain't been innocent since you were six years old
And now I believe...
That I'm... all over broken, worn inside and out
So mad I'm smokin', and too hoarse to shout
This time I ain't jokin', my forgivin' days are through
cause I'm, all over broken, and head to toe fed up with you
All over broken, all over broken in two...
Dear Love **
by Richard Schweitzer
Dear Love, I had to drop a line to say
Dear Love, I wish it wasn’t this way
I tried holding on but now I know
that was wrong
Dear Love, though part of me still wishes I could stay
I have to take my heart away
We’ve been hangin’ on to special moments
our bodies can’t deny
We must be doing something wrong somewhere
I know we’ve tried all there is to try
My heart keeps sayin’ it’s a big, big ocean
You won’t be lonely for too long
P.S. Dear Love, though you may not believe it, I’m gonna miss us
Dear Love, though part of me still wishes I could stay
I have to take my heart away
It isn’t right or wrong or good or bad
it’s just the way it is
We believed that Cupid’s aim was true
not we’re learning he can miss
It’s not enough for you to say you love me
I need to see it in your life
P.S. Dear Love, though you were never lookin’, I was reachin’ out
Dear Love, I had to drop a line to say
Dear Love, I wish it wasn’t this way
I tried holding on but now I know
that was wrong
Dear Love, though part of me still wishes I could stay
I have to take my heart away
Oooo, I have to take my heart away
Sudden Stop **
by Richard Schweitzer
She says yes, and I get excited
I'm like a kid, I can't hide it
then I get all worked up for not bein' alone
It goes good, it gets better
All of a sudden I get that letter
And I can't even get her to answer the phone
Pardon me for bendin' your ear
Let me make this perfectly clear
It's not the "up" that gets me worried
What goes up 'sgotta come down again
It's not the fallin' I'm afraid of
It's that... sudden stop at the end
She's got the goods, and you got the needs
She's the supply that demands you to please
She's like a treat and you know that you're gonna give in
She melts in the heat and you gotta lick it
Sticky and sweet like a drug, you can't kick it
And then you find out she was just using you to get him
Pardon me for bein' so straight
I admit, I took the bait but...
It's not the "up" that gets me worried
What goes up 'sgotta come down again
It's not the fallin' I'm afraid of
It's that... sudden stop at the end
I'm not bitter but don't get me started
I'm not to blame for the things that my heart did
Broken and beaten, neglected the way that it was
It's a game of roulette, as soon as you're in it
You can reach out and still reach your limit
And if they don't have an excuse then it's "just because"
She melts in the heat and you gotta lick it
Sticky and sweet like a drug, you can't kick it
And then you find out she was just using you to get him
Pardon me for bendin' your ear
Let me make this perfectly clear
It's not the "up" that gets me worried
What goes up 'sgotta come down again
It's not the fallin' I'm afraid of
It's that... sudden stop at the end