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GET ON BOARD  2009

Song List

1.  Get On Board * 3:35

2.  Rainbows 4:20

3.  Breakdown and Cry  3:46

4.  Candy Lane 4:28

5.  Every Single One 4:20

6.  Taken With You 4:52

7.  Honorable Mention  4:00

8.  Never Been In Love  2:00

9.  On My Way 3:30

10.  Night Train *  3:53

11.  Western Plains Blues  5:24

12.  What I Saw  4:53

13.  Too Late Now  7:40

Credits

Tom Ovans – vocal, acoustic & electric guitar, harmonica, tambourine

Larry Chaney – Electric Guitar

Vicente Rodriquez – Drums, tambourine, percussion

Phil Ajjarapu – Bass Guitar

Lou Ann Bardash – vocal

Jesse Hester - Piano on “Every Single One”

DD Dagger, Mike Vasquez – Horns on “Night Train”

Horn arrangement by DD, Mike and Larry 

Recorded  by Mike Vasquez

Mixed by Mike and Tom

at Sweat Box Studio, Austin, TX

* Additional recording and mixing at Barking Dog

Mastered at Sound Mine by Peter Blackwell

Produced by Lonesome Duane

Executive producer – L.A. Bardash

Design by Joe Montgomery

Artwork - Mot Sha

Photo – Kid Flash

Words & Music by Tom Ovans © & Ⓟ 2009 (BMI)

 

 

 

Lyrics

 

Get On Board

 

I got lucky like an accident

I guess you better get on board

Had me a moment but it came and went

I guess you better get on board

 

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

 

Tumbled through the dark into the day

I guess you better get on board

Now I’m just a rider on this lost highway

I guess you better get on board

 

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

 

Has anybody seen my baby

I guess you better get on board

You know lately I’ve been going crazy

I guess you better get on board

 

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

I guess you better get on board my friend

I guess you better get on board

 

Rainbows

 

It didn’t take much of anything or anybody

To realize everything was already pretty fucked up

You grow up rich you grow up poor

Seems like nobody around here ever did quite get enough

From the rusting factories to the unemployment lines

Things were getting pretty grim back east

I was just a working class kid

I didn’t know nothing about love and peace

 

There was rainbows 

There was music

There was love

There was heartache

There was beauty

In the stars above

 

Hitch hiking west through the great heartlands

Across the Rocky Mountains and the deserts beyond

I’d seen the glory of God and the destruction of men

And the road that just kept going on

I found myself standing out on Telegraph Avenue

Out in Berkley California

But it seem like every where I went

The dream was over and nobody had nothing left good to say

 

There was rainbows

There was music

There was love

There was heartache

There was beauty

In the stars above

 

I was looking at you, you were looking at me

Beneath your halo beneath the trees

Where the rivers ran through the concrete sand

I reached for you, you took my hand

 

Sitting around a campfire near Big Sur

The whole crazy damn country at our backs

We could see the future coming like we could hear that train

Crawling down some coastal track

I drank some wine I played my guitar

I sang one last song

When your eyes caught mine I just had to smile

Cause I knew you were already gone

 

There was rainbows

There was music

There was love

There was heartache

There was beauty

In the stars above

 

 

 

Breakdown And Cry

 

Everybody wants something sometime

It don’t matter what

I found myself across that line

Looking for some of that

A rambling boy rambling ‘round

Oh you know how it is

I came and went I paid no rent

I burned every single bridge

 

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

 

Only you knew what I wanted

Only you knew what it meant

While everybody was acting a fool

Playing at being against

I went out to California

All the way to Monterey

I stood on the shore I heard the roar

Of a thousand million waves

 

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

 

How many times have I tried

To find my way back in

How many times have I realized

I’ll never see you again

 

Now the leaves are starting to turn

Season’s going to change

I like to think I’m in the autumn of my youth

Though people just say I’m deranged

I know time is running short

The writing’s on the wall

A faded laugh a photograph

I recall it all

 

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

Breakdown and cry babe

Breakdown and cry

 

 

 

 

Candy Lane

 

If you’re missing your life

Turn off your T.V.

If you’re missing your wife

Don’t you come looking for me

I know it ain’t easy

You need someone to blame

I know it ain’t easy

You need someone to name names

 

I’ve been up all night

Looking at an art book

I’ve seen nude pictures of men, women

Saints, sinners and crooks

I’ve been reading a poem

By a man named Ezra Pound

I guess he was looking for something

He ain’t never found

 

I live down town

Just across the interstate

On the eastside of nowhere

Where it never gets too late

I know a woman here

Lord, I love to watch her work

I give her all my money

Cause I’m in love with her

 

Candy Lane

Candy Lane

Candy Lane 

Candy Lane…

 

 

 

 

Every Single One

 

Beneath a windblown light I’d seen something go by

I felt a strangeness in heart I’d seen the blood in my eyes

She looked at me, but I just turned away

I just couldn’t face what she needed to say

 

Last night I heard some mother say to her son

Said, “Go say a prayer for everyone”

Every, every, every single one

Every, every, every single one

 

I walked down the street I felt the earth begin to shake

With every tremor, with every quake

I found myself on a park bench alone

For the first time in a long time I felt so far from home

 

Last night I heard some mother say to her son

Said, “Go say a prayer for everyone”

Every, every, every single one

Every, every, every single one

 

 

 

 

Taken With You

 

When you find someone that’s true

Your heart will tell you what to do

There is nothing to know

Just let your feelings show

 

And you will see a brand new day

And you’ll believe in true love’s ways

When you admit like I will do

I’ve been taken with you

 

If it’s love he will call

And no teardrops will fall

And when he lays you down

There will be a joyous sound

 

And you will see a brand new day

And you’ll believe in true love’s ways

When you admit like I will do

I’ve been taken with you

 

So baby, baby don’t you fear

I’m sure he’s standing pretty near

Have a little faith in the night

Honey don’t you ever give up the fight

 

And you will see a brand new day

And you’ll believe in true love’s ways

When you admit like I will do

I’ve been taken with you

I’ve been taken with you….

 

 

Honorable Mention

 

See him walking down the street with his hands on his knees

Blowing kisses to the trees cause he don’t know how to feel

He’s been inside out he’s been outside in

He’s been looking too hard cause he don’t know where he’s been

He’s in trouble now seeing double now

He’s got a lot of information but no education

He just gets honorable mention

Honorable mention

Honorable mention

 

I got a breeze on shoulder as I try to shake my head

But I just get colder and I have to go to bed

There’s spiders on the wall someone left them there

It don’t make no sense at all cause they just disappeared

I’m in trouble now seeing double now

I got a lot of inspiration but no reputation

I just get honorable mention

Honorable mention

Honorable mention

 

Baby I’ve been hurt I’ve been left high and dry

Please don’t tell what it’s worth cause it just makes me cry

I can see it every day I can hear it on the street

It’s driving me to pray it’s driving me too sleep

I’m in trouble now seeing double now

I got a serious situation and a world on vacation

I just get honorable mention

Honorable mention

Honorable mention

Honorable mention….

 

 

 

Never Been In Love

 

Baby, baby the moon’s on fire

Baby, baby heart’s filled with desire

But do you think he’ll understand

Well I’m not sure cause I really don’t know

But he’s never been in the darkness

And he’s never been in love before

 

I should’ve known by the way he talks

I should’ve seen by the way he walks

He never looks me straight in the eye

With a face like that how could he ever know

I don’t know how he can stand it

Cause he’s never been in love before

 

I’m sorry baby if I’m late

But you know I don’t want to be here

But he’s got me working so much overtime

After all these taxes I can’t get clear

 

Maybe in another week or two

I can make it back to you 

But now I see him coming this way

Why he’s so mad I think I better go

Cause I don’t think he’s going to believe me

Cause he’s never been in love before

Before

Before

 

 

 

On My Way

 

I’m getting ready

I leave today

Across that mountain

Swim that bay

On this train 

Gypsy bound

I’m on this train 

I can’t be found

Cause I can see

You don’t love me 

So I’m on my way

On my way 

 

I got some friends

I’ll try to find

I got some troubles 

I’ll leave behind

Down this road

Just to see them smile

Carry this load

One more mile

Cause I can see

You don’t love me

So I’m on my way

On my way

 

Holy Moses what have we done

Look at this heaven that we’ve fallen from

From the gates of hell to these cities of steel

I tell you baby my love is real

 

Night is dark

Days are long

A broken heart

Must stay strong

Say goodbye 

To this old town

Can’t let bad love

Bring me down

Cause I can see

You don’t love me

So I’m on my way

On my way

 

Night Train

 

I’ve been riding on the night train baby

Trying to make my way on back too you

Hoping that you kept a candle burning

Praying that your love for me is still true

Cause I been gone

And I know I was wrong

Cause I’ve come to realize that true love never dies

So I’m coming back home to you tonight

 

Thought I’d make it in that big northern city

Thinking somebody might dig the way I sound

Only to discover that it wasn’t what I wanted

That I left my heart in a small Georgia town

And I was a fool

Forever leaving you

Cause I’ve come to realize that true love never dies

So I’m coming back home to you tonight

 

Outside my window darling I see the night rushing by

I remember the day I left girl and the tears in your eyes

Now I can only hope that you can find a way to understand

And give me one more chance to be your man

 

Please be there waiting for me darling

Telling me that you still love me true

Cause I can hear these steel wheels turning

Bringing me closer and closer to you

And I will do anything

If you’ll wear my ring

Cause I’ve come to realize that true love never dies

So I’m coming back home to you

Yeah I’m coming back home to you

Yeah I’m coming back home to you

Tonight

I’m coming home….

On the night train

 

 

 

 

Western Plains Blues

 

I don’t think I can take it no more

Papa says we can’t make it

I don’t think I can take it no more

Mama says we can’t make it

Oh but every man here

Must learn how to fail

Oh but every man here

Must spend some time in jail

 

Johnny’s on that highway

Johnny won’t you please come home

Rose Marie’s in the city

Rosy you’re playing all alone

Oh won’t somebody tell that girl

Her pain ain’t nothing new

Oh won’t somebody tell that boy

The God-awful truth

 

The whole world is burning

Smoke is in the sky

The wheels at the mill ain’t turning

The rivers have all gone dry

Last night I heard the preacher say

Heaven help us all

As I sat by my window

I heard my baby call

 

Sally is my true love

It’s a secret we can’t tell

I meet her when that moon’s up above

Down by her daddy’s well

Sometimes I take her hand

And kiss her on the lips

Sometimes we lay down in the sand

She pulls me to her hips

 

I know I should be leaving

There’s nothing for me here

Like my brother and my sister

I should just disappear

Then I hear my mama cry

When she thinks she’s alone

Then its there I realize

I’m already gone

I don’t think I can take it no more

Papa says we can’t make

I don’t think I can take it no more

Mama says we can’t make it

Oh but every man here

Must learn how to fail

Oh but every man here

Must spend some time in jail

 

 

 

What I Saw

 

Grew up in the valley praying for rain

Grew up in the valley praying for rain

Well I heard a lot of thunder

But the rain never came

 

Went to the city eyes open wide

Went to the city eyes open wide

Well I seen a lot of people

And I heard a lot of lies

 

Standing at the auction waiting to be sold

Standing at the auction waiting to be sold

Another earthly body

Another heavenly soul

 

Tell me Mister what good are you

Tell me Mister what good are you

Well your heart is rotten

And your words aren’t true

 

Lights on the river, lights on the shore

Lights on the river, lights on the shore

Well there ain’t no light

For my baby no more

 

Went to the desert looking for the lord

Went to the desert looking for the lord

Now nobody believes me

When I tell them what I saw

 

 

 

 

 

Too Late Now

 

I was leaning on a fence

Down by the basketball court

In the land of giants

It don’t pay to be short

Had one eye on the game

One on a girl passing through

Something about her

Reminded me of you 

 

It was in the city of angels

City of the dead

He brought you wine

He brought you bread

Through the hot summer days

Through cold winter nights

They hung on each other

With all their might

Just when things were looking up

It all came crashing down

He never heard those boys

Laughing in their suits uptown

And on that final night

With the city in flames

I can still hear 

Her calling his name

Ooh, ooh baby

I needed you 

To save me

Somehow

 

Where do you turn

On a subway train

When all of the faces

Are crying out in pain

Hang on by your feet

Get out at the next stop

Run for your lives and pray 

That it ain’t the cops

 

He could have been something

He could have been a star

He had the talent baby

He had the heart

But there was something inside

A line he couldn’t cross

Why he didn’t even give a damn

When everything got lost

And the snow fell down

On old Saint Marks Place

As the tears rolled and froze

Upon her face

And the band played in that dive

All night long

And I can still hear him

Singing this song

Ooh, ooh baby

I needed you 

To save me

Somehow

But it’s too late now

 

Well it’s getting late

Time to go back home

The game’s all but over

And that girl is gone

I’ve been thinking lately

About going back west

To try and do something

With this life I got left

But sometimes at night

When I’m on this street

I still feel the anger

The hunger and heat

And I remember that girl

With the darkness in her eyes

And I’ll never forget

The words she cried

Ooh, ooh baby

I needed you

To save me 

Somehow

But it’s too late now

 

Too late now….

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